Document Document Title
US08732857B2 Client-side access control of electronic content
Systems, methods and computer program products for controlling access to electronic content on a client device are provided. Whether access to electronic content is allowed or blocked is based on information and processes performed at the client device. Controlling access to electronic content on a client device can involve locally determining whether access to the electronic content will be allowed, blocked, or will depend upon further analysis performed by a remote device, such as a server. If a webpage is requested, for example, a client device may compare the URL address of the requested webpage, along with keywords and phrases found on the webpage, to locally-stored updateable lists of banned URL addresses and banned keywords and phrases to determining whether access to the electronic content will be allowed, blocked, or will depend upon further analysis.
US08732853B1 Web-based system providing sharable content item links with link sharer specified use restrictions
A system and method providing sharable content item links with link sharer specified use restrictions. The method includes: receiving, from a device used by a link sharer, a request to share a server-stored content item as a sharable link; causing a user interface to be presented at the device that allows the link sharer to specify one or more restrictions on how the sharable link is used to access to the content item; receiving, through the user interface presented at the device, a specification of at least one of the restrictions; receiving, from a device used by a link submitter, a request to access the content item at the sharable link; determining whether the at least one restriction prevents the link submitter from the requested access; and granting the requested access only after determining that the at least one restriction does not prevent the link submitter from the requested access.
US08732848B2 File-distribution apparatus and recording medium having file-distribution authorization program recorded therein
A file-distribution apparatus includes a file-distribution unit configured to distribute an image file received from an image-forming device to a terminal device, a source-reference-information storage unit configured to store source-reference authorization information, and a security-management unit configured to determine whether a source-apparatus identifier corresponding to the image file is included in the source-reference information, and thus permits distribution of the image file if the determination is affirmative, and denies distribution of the image file if the determination is negative.
US08732847B2 Access control model of function privileges for enterprise-wide applications
Techniques are provided for access control in a system. A request is received for checking whether a subject has a privilege for a resource. A security class that defines a plurality of privileges that include the requested privilege is determined. One or more access control lists have been configured for the security class. The one or more access control lists comprise one or more access control entries. Each of the one more access control entry defines whether one or more subjects has been granted or denied to zero, one or more of the plurality of privileges defined in the security class. Based on the access control lists configured for the security class, it is determined whether the subject should be granted the privilege for the requested resource.
US08732846B2 Platform for providing a social context to software applications
The present invention provides a system and method for providing a social context to software applications. According to one embodiment of the invention, a user of a social network authorizes access by an external software application to information available in the social network. At some time later, the user of the social network uses an application designed by a third-party software developer. The application contacts the social network provider for permission to access the information available in the social network. If access has been authorized, the application incorporates the information from the social network into its interaction with the user, providing a social context to the user's interaction with the application.
US08732841B2 Software license server with geographic location validation
A computer software license management system wrapper for use in a local computer is described. The software wrapper includes a wrapper interface that provides controlled access to a computer software application file. The software application file is encapsulated by security software code to protect it from unauthorized access. The software wrapper also includes a software license key identifying a license policy specifying a use limitation within a geographic boundary. In addition, the software wrapper includes a license validation mechanism that periodically determines compliance with the license policy. The license validation mechanism permits access by another process operating on the local computer through the wrapper interface in response to a valid license confirmation signal received from the license server. A license server that utilizes and an electronic storefront that sells software license wrappers having software use limitations within a geographic boundary also are described.
US08732838B2 Evaluating the effectiveness of a threat model
Evaluating a threat model for structural validity and descriptive completeness. A threat modeling application provides a progress factor or other overall score associated with the structural validity and descriptive completeness of the threat model being evaluated. The structural validity is evaluated based on a data flow diagram associated with the threat model. The descriptive completeness is evaluated by reviewing descriptions of threat types in the threat model. The progress factor encourages modelers to provide effective models to a model reviewer, thus saving time for the model reviewer.
US08732835B2 System, method, and computer program product for interfacing a plurality of related applications
A system, method and computer program product are provided for interlacing a plurality of applications. Initially, a signal is received at an interface indicating that a first application has responded to an event with a first response. The interface, in turn, prompts a second response to the event by a second application.
US08732834B2 Systems and methods for detecting illegitimate applications
A computer-implemented method for detecting illegitimate applications may include 1) identifying an installation of an application on a computing system, 2) determining, in response to identifying the installation of the application, that at least one system file with privileged access on the computing system has changed prior to the installation of the application, 3) determining that the application is illegitimate based at least in part on a time of the installation of the application relative to a time of a change to the system file, and 4) performing a remediation action on the application in response to determining that the application is illegitimate. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.
US08732830B2 Scripting engine externalized function execution control
Various embodiments include at least one of systems, methods, software, and data structures to evaluate function calls within a host, such as a scripting or application programming interface (API) host, prior to execution. Such embodiments may determine if a called function is authorized for execution. When the function is not authorized for execution, the function is not executed. Authorized and unauthorized functions may be set in a representation including one or both of authorized and unauthorized function functions. The representation may be stored external to the host so as to be modifiable.
US08732825B2 Intelligent hashes for centralized malware detection
A suspicious entity is identified. An intelligent hash for the suspicious entity is generated, wherein the intelligent hash includes a set of metadata that is specific to the suspicious entity and at least some of the metadata is invariant over changes to the suspicious entity. The intelligent hash is transmitted to a server for evaluation of whether the suspicious entity corresponds to the malware entity. The server is adapted to determine whether the suspicious entity corresponds to the malware entity based on the intelligent hash. A result is received from the server specifying whether the suspicious entity corresponds to the malware entity.
US08732820B2 Method for inputting usernames and passwords to access or use different assets
A method for imputing different usernames and passwords using an input device with a display to use different protected assets that requires the inputting of a preselected username into a username enter box and the inputting of a preselected password into a password entry box immediately prior to use. The method includes the steps of designating two or more username keys on said input device, each said username key being assigned with a unique letter or number located on said input device and to a unique username made of a plurality of alpha-number characters, designating two or more password keys on the input device each being assigned with a letter or number located on said input device and to a unique password made of a plurality of alpha-number characters. Next the protected asset is then accessed and the username key and keyword key assigned to the asset is imputed.
US08732819B2 Method and a device for generating a secret value
A device and a method for graphical passwords. A device displays an initial image comprising a plurality of graphical elements, each graphical element having at least two variants; receives user input to select a variant of a number of the graphical elements, thereby generating a modified image; and generates the secret value from at least the selected variants of the graphical elements. The graphical elements are advantageously seamlessly integrated in the images, thereby making the system resistant to shoulder surfing attacks.
US08732818B2 End-to-end authentication of session initiation protocol messages using certificates
End-to-end authentication capability based on public-key certificates is combined with the Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) to allow a SIP node that receives a SIP request message to authenticate the sender of request. The SIP request message is sent with a digital signature generated with a private key of the sender and may include a certificate of the sender. The SIP request message my also be encrypted with a public key of the recipient. After receiving the SIP request, the receiving SIP node obtains a certificate of the sender and authenticates the sender based on the digital signature. The digital signature may be included in an Authorization header of the SIP request, or in a multipart message body constructed according to the S/MIME standard.
US08732816B2 Method and apparatus for exchanging data between a user equipment and a core network via a security gateway
The present invention concern a methods and an apparatus for exchanging data between a user equipment and a core network via a security gateway. The invention concerns the establishment of an inactive pair of tunnel mode security associations between the UE and the security gateway, as well as the application of the pair of security associations when the UE detects attachment to or need to attach to an untrusted access network.
US08732813B2 Method and system for securing data from an external network to a non point of sale device
A data control system allows non-point of sale devices (135, 155) on the LAN to receive data from an external network (160) when established conditions are met. The data control system may allow the data to be sent to a non-point of sale device (135, 155) only if the data has not been received via a secure connection reserved for point of sale devices (125, 145). The secure connection is, for example, a virtual private network connection. The data control system may also allow the data to be sent to a non-point of sale device (135, 155) only if the data is associated with a communication session initiated by the non-point of sale device (135, 155). The data control system may also allow the data to be sent to the non-point of sale device (135, 155) only if it is not received from a restricted source. The restricted source may be, for example, a payment host (170), a secure host (180) or any unidentified source.
US08732808B2 Data plan activation and modification
A method, implemented by a router device, for guiding a user in establishing access privileges for a data exchanger includes causing the data exchanger to establish a remote link with a data service provider. Access content is obtained from the data service provider and presented to a client device. Access data provided in response to the presenting of the access content is received. The access content when presented by the client device enables a user to supply the access data. The access data is useable by the data service provider to set access privileges associated with the data exchanger that enable the data exchanger to be utilized to perform a desired function. The access data is returned to the data service provider via the remote link. The data exchanger is utilized to implement the desired function.
US08732807B2 Method and system using a cyber ID to provide secure transactions
A method and system for securing a user transaction involving a subscriber unit (“SU”) (having a processor, memory, and a display configured to accept user input), a credential information manager (“CIM”) (having a processor and memory), and a transaction service provider (“TSP”) (having a processor and memory). A cyber identifier (“CyberID”), a subscriber identifier (“SubscriberID”), and subscriber information, each associated with the user, is stored in the CIM. A transaction request is sent from the SU to the TSP, which creates a transaction identifier (“TID”), stores it in the TSP memory and transmits it to the SU. The SU transmits an authentication request, the TID, and SubscriberID to the CIM, which authenticates the SubscriberID and verifies the TID to the TSP. The TSP verifies the TID and reports it to the CIM, which transmits the CyberID and subscriber information to the TSP, and transmits a transaction authorization to the SU.
US08732798B2 Automatic disabling of enabled connection profile for wireless network
To reduce automatically a number of enabled connection profiles in a mobile station, for example, while the number of enabled connection profiles is at its maximum, a mobile station automatically selects one of the existing enabled connection profiles to disable and automatically disables the auto-selected connection profile.
US08732797B2 Host usability and security via an isolated environment
Architecture that addresses security concerns while still providing transparent user experience with ability to perform tasks. When a user machine is considered incompliant or compromised due to, for example, a suspected infection, the user machine can be blocked from further access to a network or other computing hosts until the incompliance is resolved. A notification is presented that indicates the nature of the problem, and a way to access an automatically configured isolated environment via which to continue working. The user can be automatically routed to use the alternative isolated environment for temporary access to network resources. Once the user finishes activities in the isolated environment, the system hosting the isolated environment is reverted back to a known good state.
US08732796B1 Addressing security in asymmetrical networks
Security in an asymmetrical network is addressed. At a security element, a handshake message is received on a path within the asymmetrical network. The handshake message is associated with an attempt to establish a session. A determination is made as to whether there is an entry for the handshake message in a local state table. When there is no entry in the local state table, then an entry is generated in the local state table, a notification of the handshake message is sent to a centralized computing platform that tracks handshake messages received by a plurality of security elements in the asymmetrical network, and the handshake message is allowed to pass along the path. A notification is received from the centralized computing platform that the session associated with the handshake message is allowed, based on associated handshake messages received at the centralized computing platform.
US08732794B2 Browser plug-in firewall
A browser plug-in firewall manages data exchanged between a browser and a plug-in according to a pre-defined list of rights.
US08732789B2 Portable security policy and environment
The present invention provides a portable security policy and environment, which can accompany a user conveniently, wherever the user goes. The portable security policy and environment involves authenticating the identity of a client end, checking the security environment of the client end, generating policy based on the security environment, and delivering policy to network devices.
US08732785B2 Transmission system and relay device
Provided is a system for supplying a power from a sink device to a source device. Not only the source device but also a cable or a repeater device to be connected thereto has compatibility in power supply. A physical address obtained from information of an EDID memory forms a base of CEC message exchange, but a physical address of the cable or repeater device is overlapped with the source device or unknown. The cable or a repeater device uses changes the type of a message while using the same physical address as the source device or use such a message having the physical address information of the source device is described in a parameter of the message using the unknown physical address. The message having a supply or reception current for each device described therein is exchanged with the sink device or the source device to adjust current reception.
US08732782B1 Systems and methods for providing communication services over telephone lines
A system and method is described for providing communication services, including voice communications, data communications, audio/video-on-demand, and broadcast audio/video, over twisted-pair telephone lines. The system and method are based on broadband transmission techniques, such as fiber-to-the-neighborhood (FTTN) and digital subscriber line (DSL) techniques. This approach can be applied to develop an access network comprising an array of remote terminals connected to one or more telephone central offices by fiber optic cables and connected to subscriber nodes by twisted-pair lines. Each remote terminal has the capacity to support multiple subscribers and to switch broadcast channels onto subscriber lines. Each subscriber is provided the capability to individually select via the DSL interface one or more a broadcast channels from a larger set of channels.
US08732778B1 On-demand mobile wireless broadcast video delivery mechanism
A mobile broadcast service center and a mobile wireless network to deliver broadcast video to mobile wireless devices. When the mobile broadcast service center receives a request to deliver a broadcast video channel to a target mobile wireless device, it designates as target an intermediate node in the network that serves the target mobile wireless device. The mobile broadcast service center first determines if an existing channel bundle is routed to the target intermediate node. If this first determination is negative, the mobile broadcast service center routes a new channel bundle to the target intermediate node, including the requested broadcast video channel. If the first determination is positive, the mobile broadcast service center then determines if the requested broadcast video channel is in the existing channel bundle. If this second determination is negative, then it adds the requested broadcast video channel to the existing channel bundle.
US08732776B2 End of show handling
A content delivery system that works in a broadcast and linear content environment causing real time display of received linear content. The system limits the display of the linear content by determining a time to automatically change the display of the linear content based upon program guide information and other factors, unless a signal is or has been received from a user indicating further interest in the content.
US08732771B2 System for providing DBS DSL video services to multiple display devices
Systems and methods for providing direct broadcast satellite (DBS) and digital subscriber line (DSL) video services to multiple display devices are disclosed. Generally the disclosed system receives a plurality of DBS channels and DSL content. The system receives a first user-initiated video selection and generates a first television signal based on the first user-initiated video selection. The first television signal combines video from at least one DBS channel and video from DSL content for simultaneously displaying at least a portion of the video from at least one DBS channel and at least a portion of the video from the DSL content on a display device. The first television signal is then transmitted to a first display device. Additionally, the system receives a second user-initiated video selection, generates a second television signal based on the second user-initiated video selection, and transmits the second television signal to a second display device.
US08732769B2 Wireless video transmitter
A technique is offered which is applied to a system for wirelessly sending and receiving control commands and which permits mutual communications owing to the control commands between a wireless video transmitter and wireless video receivers to be operated stably with low delay. The transmitter makes a decision as to whether commands received from the receivers are certain commands. If so, the transmitter assigns transmissible periods, in which the receivers can send commands, more preferentially to the wireless video receiver that has sent out the certain commands than the other wireless video receivers.
US08732768B2 System and method for providing virtual AV service
A system for providing virtual AV service includes a local device middleware (LDM) media server which stores AV contents and a resource cooperation server (RCS) which separates the AV contents from the LDM media server into video contents and audio contents. The video contents and the audio contents are reproduced by an LDM video renderer and an LDM audio renderer, respectively. An LDM control point (LDMCP) controls the LDM media server and the LDM media renderers using the LDM protocol and a virtual device ensembler (VDE) controls the RCS and the LDMCP.
US08732766B2 Video object tag creation and processing
Methods, and systems, including computer programs encoded on computer-readable storage mediums, including a method for presenting a video content item in a first display area; concurrently presenting, with the video content item in the first display area, objects that are displayed during the presentation of the video content item in a second display area, wherein the objects persist in the second display area after the object is no longer displayed during the presentation of the video content item in the first display area; receiving an indication identifying one of the objects presented in the first display area or the second display area; and processing a tag associated with the object, the tag comprising a reference to a media item, wherein the processing comprises: accessing the media item referenced by the tag; and presenting the media item at least partially in the first display area or the second display area.
US08732765B2 Electronic television program guide schedule system and method with remote product ordering
An electronic program schedule system with product ordering capability which includes a data processor for receiving program schedule information for a plurality of programs, and a user control apparatus, such as a remote controller, for generating user control commands and transmitting signals to the data processor in response thereto. The television program schedule information is displayed on a display apparatus such as a television receiver. A video display generator receives video control commands from the data processor and program schedule information and displays a portion of the program schedule information on the receiver. The program schedule information indicates the availability of a product or service for certain of the programs included in the program information, wherein the product or service is associated with the program, such as a program transcript or videocassette. The viewer utilizes the remote control apparatus to generate a first command for displaying information on the receiver describing the product or service, and a second command for placing an order for the product or service. The data processor receives the user control commands and in response to the first command causes the video display generator to display information describing the product or service and in response to the second command generates an order for the product or service.
US08732762B2 Information providing apparatus, information acquisition terminal, broadcast reception terminal, information providing system, information providing method and program
An ECG server, which provides program contents-related ECG information to a television terminal and a user terminal, comprises a storage unit that stores the program contents-related ECG information, a configuring unit that configures an ECG module in correspondence to the program contents, made up with a plurality of sets of ECG information including tuning information to be used to allow the television terminal to select the program contents, a setting unit that sets timing information, which will allow the ECG module to be provided to the user terminal by linking with consignment of the program contents and a providing unit that provides, in conformance to the timing information, the ECG module to an user terminal capable of providing the tuning information to the television terminal. By utilizing the ECG server, the ratings of the program contents can be improved and the program contents can be more easily selected.
US08732761B2 Content discovery and delivery with multiple servers
A system may include a client and a home media server in communication with the client. The home media server may be configured to receive a request for media content from the client; determine content restrictions associated with the client; discover at least one other home media server; receive content listings of media content from the at least one other home media server; aggregate the received content listings to create a unified content listing including instances of media content stored on multiple home media servers; filter the unified content listing according to the content restrictions; and send the filtered unified content listing to the client.
US08732759B2 Method of browsing recorded news program and browsing apparatus for performing the method
Provided are a method of browsing a recorded news program and a browsing apparatus for performing the method. The method includes grouping moving picture news reports included in a plurality of news programs according to news report, and selecting one moving picture news report from among each of a plurality of groups according to preference information input by a user, thereby reproducing only a user desired part from contents of a moving picture news report. Thus, the method can be used to rapidly and efficiently browse the plurality of news programs.
US08732758B2 Television system with aided user program searching
A system having an adaptive browse feature and an adaptive flip feature is provided. The adaptative browse and flip features may be selected to receive program viewing suggestions. The system may provide a suggestion by displaying an adaptive browse region or adaptative flip region including a program suggestion. The system identifies programs to suggest based on a user=s viewing activity. The system uses different algorithms that are user-selectable and user-adjustable to identify program suggestions. The system may query a program guide database to build a list of programs having attributes similar to the attributes of the current program or the last viewed program. The system may use an adaptive learning algorithm such as a neural network. The neural network may be trained by the program guide by monitoring user-viewing activity.Each algorithm may be personalized for multiple users.
US08732757B2 System and method for targeted advertisement display responsive to user characteristics
A system and method for utilizing data stored in an EPG database for modifying advertisement information. In this way, a service provider and/or an advertiser can transmit a single advertisement to all the television stations regardless of their geographic location and other user specific information, and need not re-transmit the advertisement even if there is a change in the show's program description. When the advertisement is displayed, the correct updated information is retrieved from the EPG database and inserted into the advertisement.In one aspect, the present invention describes a method for modifying an advertisement in an EPG comprising the steps of: storing television schedule information in a first database; storing advertisement information in a second database; incorporating a portion of the television schedule information into a portion of the advertisement information to form a modified advertisement; and displaying the modified advertisement on a screen.
US08732754B2 Expanded programming guide
Systems, methods and computer program products utilize a content receiver to generate a dynamically modifiable expanded programming guide with a grid containing a plurality of regions. Each region is associated with a plurality of channels over a timeframe. The content receiver transmits the expanded programming guide to a content display. The grid may be utilized to navigate through regions and therefore across a large amount of programming information associated with a wide range of channels and timeframes. The content receiver may transmit a magnified view of the expanded programming guide and may display content-related information associated with a subset of regions for the associated channels and timeframes.
US08732749B2 Virtual desktop services
Methods and apparatus are described for providing access to arbitrary applications via an interactive television service using a pool of remote virtual desktops.
US08732746B2 System for and method of targeting broadcast messages
A system for and method of targeting a broadcast message to a subset of potential electronic receivers in a broadcast network is presented. The system and method may comprise collecting identifying information associated with designated electronic receivers of a targeted broadcast message, generating, using a computer processor, a data set structure using the identifying information, associating the data set structure with the targeted broadcast message, and broadcasting the targeted broadcast message and the data set structure to a plurality of electronic receivers, wherein the data set structure provides information allowing at least one of the plurality of electronic receivers to determine whether the targeted broadcast message is targeted to the at least one electronic receiver.
US08732743B2 Passenger information control device and method for providing video data for passenger information control device
A passenger information control device having a video display controller that transmits video data sent from a ground transmission controller to display devices in a train includes: a storage unit that stores a program table and the video data, the program table storing a number of times an advertisement video has been presented, a validity period of the advertisement video, a time period from the last presentation time to the present, and a volume of the video data, being associated with each advertisement; a deletion determining unit that determines whether to designate the video data as a candidate for deletion based on a program table; and a deleting unit that deletes the video data stored in the storage unit based on determination by the deletion determining unit.
US08732740B2 Content control in a device environment
Devices and methods are disclosed for controlling content within a device environment through interaction among electronic devices of the environment. The device has a transmitter, receiver, memory storing interaction rules and content rules and a processor for implementing the interaction rules and content rules in association with the transmitter, receiver, and other devices of the environment. Methods involve obtaining content information of the media about to be played and comparing the content information to the content rules stored at a device. An instruction about playback of the media content is generated. Methods may also involve seeking rights information for media content and determining whether rights information exists for identified media content in response to the request. When rights information does exist for the identified media content, a message is sent that includes the rights information.
US08732735B2 Method and apparatus for managing presentation of media content
A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a set top box having a controller to monitor for a triggering event that is associated with viewing of media content, retrieve a screen saver from a remote server when the triggering event is detected, and apply the screen saver to a display device connected with the set top box. Other embodiments are disclosed.
US08732733B2 Optical disc driving device having shaft upwardly protruding from chucking mechanism
There is provided an optical disc driving device including: a sleeve holder fixed to a base member; a sleeve fixed to the sleeve holder; a shaft rotating while being inserted into the sleeve; a rotor hub fixed to the shaft and rotating together with the shaft; a chucking mechanism fixed to the rotor hub and having a disc mounted thereon; and an upper case forming an internal space, together with the base member, wherein the shaft is protruded upwardly from the chucking mechanism.
US08732731B2 Streaming server administration protocol
Network server information has traditionally been obtained through the use of operating systems functions and calls. By adding URL protocol code to the network server, such data may be obtained by use of a URL. In the URL, path information for the container in the server where such data resides is included. Specific server data may be retrieved, or such data may be retrieved recursively among several levels of containers. System calls and other functions may also be added to the URL path name for searching for particular data, or similar types of data through successive levels of containers. The protocol allows server administrators to access server data, in real time, from any user device in a network in which the server resides.
US08732728B2 System and method to allow multiple plug-in applications real-time access to a camera application in a mobile device
A mobile device having a camera application is provided. The mobile device includes a camera and a controller coupled to the camera. The controller is configured to launch a first plug-in application within the camera application. The controller is also configured to launch a second plug-in application within the camera application. The first and second plug-in applications communicate with the camera application through an application programming interface. The controller is further configured to receive, from a user of the mobile device, a selection of one of the first and second plug-in applications. Based on the selection from the user of the mobile device, the controller is configured to update a user interface of the camera application to correspond to the selected plug-in application.
US08732727B2 Agnostic execution cluster for an agnostic execution environment
The disclosed subject matter facilitates an execution environment in which services can be made available for use by one or more devices independently of such devices' hardware, operating systems, or run-time environments. The services can be abstracted and accessed by way of a Service Programming Interface (SPI). Execution environment devices can be members of one or more execution clusters and can interoperate by way of a logical bus, for example by contemporaneously signaling among member devices on an electronic signaling logical bus (ESLB). Signaling can be by way of event messages, which can facilitate distributed computing and/or agnostic execution behavior.
US08732726B2 Managing internode data communications for an uninitialized process in a parallel computer
A parallel computer includes nodes, each having main memory and a messaging unit (MU). Each MU includes computer memory, which in turn includes, MU message buffers. Each MU message buffer is associated with an uninitialized process on the compute node. In the parallel computer, managing internode data communications for an uninitialized process includes: receiving, by an MU of a compute node, one or more data communications messages in an MU message buffer associated with an uninitialized process on the compute node; determining, by an application agent, that the MU message buffer associated with the uninitialized process is full prior to initialization of the uninitialized process; establishing, by the application agent, a temporary message buffer for the uninitialized process in main computer memory; and moving, by the application agent, data communications messages from the MU message buffer associated with the uninitialized process to the temporary message buffer in main computer memory.
US08732723B2 Execution apparatus and method
An execution apparatus that executes a computer program executes the computer program and loads a class that is requested while the computer program is being executed. The loaded class is the class in response to the computer program that is being executed.
US08732721B2 Method for reducing trap overhead when executing a guest in a virtual machine
A processor includes a VM trap logic and a buffering logic. The VM trap logic determines whether or not an instruction acquired from a VM (Virtual Machine) satisfies a predetermined VM trap condition. The buffering logic determines whether or not the instruction acquired from the VM satisfies a predetermined buffering condition.
US08732715B2 Resource management method, device and program thereof
There are resource managers provided for various kinds of resources including hardware and software, and a system resource manager that manages the entire system including the resource managers. Configuration management of the system resource manager grasps the system configuration by XML-based definition information and detects a control method of each of the resources. Accepting an operation instruction to a resource, the system resource manager specifies a target resource to be controlled under configuration management and sends an event to a resource manager that manages the target resource by event control. The resource manager that receives the event specifies the target resource to be controlled under configuration management and sends a control instruction to the target resource by event control to operate the target resource.
US08732707B2 Composing and executing service processes
A computer-implemented method for automatically and dynamically composing and executing workflow-based service processes may include receiving a request, the request including a user-selected service type, guided by one or more rules for questionnaire creation, dynamically generating a sequence of one or more electronic inquiries in accordance with the user-selected service type, receiving information based on the sequence of the one or more electronic inquiries, based on the information received, creating a goal for the request by constructing logical state representations of a current state constituting a pre-condition of the goal and of a target state constituting a post-condition of the goal and generating a service process by determining a sequence of services which together fulfill the goal, where the services are selected from a plurality of services such that pre-conditions and post-conditions associated with the selected services together match the pre-condition and the post-condition of the goal.
US08732700B2 Virtualization system with a remote proxy
A remote proxy provides remote control to a virtualization system. The virtualization system includes a computer having virtualization software executing on the computer, and one or more virtual machines executing on the computer by way of the virtualization software, each of the virtual machines having a guest operating system. The remote proxy receives over a network connection a plurality of logical channels of a multi-channel remote control protocol at a first domain of a plurality of domains of the virtualization system. Each of the logical channels convey information corresponding to one of the domains. For each logical channel, the remote proxy identifies the corresponding domain. Further, for each of the logical channels corresponding to a domain other than the first domain, the remote proxy forwards the logical channel to the corresponding domain.
US08732699B1 Migrating virtual machines between physical machines in a define group
In a system including plural physical machines containing virtual machines, a first group including a subset, of the plural physical machines is defined. A controller is provided in the first group for identifying a placement of virtual machines on the physical machines in the first group. Migration is performed of at least one of the virtual machines between or among the physical machines in the first group according to the identified placement.
US08732698B2 Apparatus and method for expedited virtual machine (VM) launch in VM cluster environment
Method and apparatus for expedited virtual machine (VM) launch in VM cluster environment. In one embodiment, at least one VM is launched within a host platform. Once initialized, a VM may issue a hypercall to a VM monitor (VMM) of a VM host platform. In response, the VMM may capture a runtime image of the VM. In one embodiment, the VMM loads the runtime image of the VM within a node of the host platform as a child VM. In an alternative embodiment, the VMM issues a VM clone command to a VMM of a next host platform including the runtime image of the VM. In response, the VMM of the next platform loads the runtime image of the first VM within a node of the second host platform as a cloned VM. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US08732697B2 System, method and apparatus for managing applications on a device
The disclosure provides a system, a method and a computer program product that facilitate access to one or more applications by a computing device. The disclosure includes a step of determining one or more contexts associated with the computing device or a user of the computing device, such that the one or more contexts describe environment or activity of the user or the computing device. The disclosure also includes a step of generating at least one contextual tag corresponding to the one or more contexts, after which the one or more applications associated with the at least one contextual tag are identified and the computing device is enabled to access the one or more applications.
US08732695B2 Method of distributing software and supplemental display data to a client device
A method of distributing software and supplemental display data and a client device having the same. The method reduces the cost of providing software to a number of devices on a multi-cast network. The software allows the user to gain access to the multi-cast network, and the supplemental display data is transferred to the client device over the network.
US08732693B2 Managing continuous software deployment
Concepts and technologies are described herein for managing continuous software deployment. A deployment controller can manage deployment of code to a data center. The deployment controller can execute workflows for checking in, verifying, deploying the code, or other processes. The code can be deployed using a differencing disk that includes data indicating changes between software hosted by the data center and a version of software resulting from deployment of the code. The differencing disk can be linked to the disk or virtual resource hosting the software and executed collectively to provide an updated version of the software. Traffic to one or more virtual machines of the data center can be controlled by the deployment controller. If errors are detecting during deployment or after updating, the update can be rolled back.
US08732692B2 Deployment and management framework
A system and method for deploying and managing software components to a plurality of network devices of an extended data communications network. In one embodiment of the invention, a client type defining software components required for at least one network device of the plurality of network devices may be determined. At least one network device of the plurality of network devices corresponding to the client type may be determined. The software components may be provided to the at least one network device based in part on the client type. The software components may be installed on the at least one network device such that functional capabilities of the software components may be employed by the network device. In another embodiment, a record of the software components installed on the at least one network device on a hub server associated with the extended data communications network may be stored.
US08732686B2 Generating optimal instruction sequences for bitwise logical expressions
A sequence generator generates a table of optimal instruction sequences for all bitwise expression having a specific number of variables. An index generator generates a bit-string index that corresponds to a particular bitwise expression. The bit-string is generated from a truth table. A table lookup unit is coupled with the index generator. The table lookup unit finds an optimal instruction sequence for the bitwise expression from within the table of optimal instruction sequences based at least in part on the generated bit-string index.
US08732685B2 Methods and system for executing a program in multiple execution environments
A method and medium are disclosed for executing a technical computing program in parallel in multiple execution environments. A program is invoked for execution in a first execution environment and from the invocation the program is executed in the first execution environment and one or more additional execution environments to provide for parallel execution of the program. New constructs in a technical computing programming language are disclosed for parallel programming of a technical computing program for execution in multiple execution environments. It is also further disclosed a system and method for changing the mode of operation of an execution environment from a sequential mode to a parallel mode of operation and vice-versa.
US08732684B2 Program conversion apparatus and computer readable medium
According to one embodiment, a first program code including a plurality of variables is converted to a second program code to be executed by a multi-core processor including a plurality of cores. Specifically, an access pattern of each variable in the first program code is decided. All variables in the first program code are classified into a plurality of groups each of which variables belong to the same access pattern. A member structure of each group having variables belonging to the same access pattern is created. Each member structure includes variables of one group. A route-pointer indicating an address (in a memory) of variables of the member structure is created. The variables in the first program code are converted to the member structure and the route-pointer (in the second program code) that indicate the variables. The second program code is outputted to the multi-core processor.
US08732683B2 Compiler providing idiom to idiom accelerator
A wake-and-go mechanism may be a programming idiom accelerator. As a processor fetches instructions, the programming idiom accelerator may look ahead to determine whether a programming idiom is coming up in the instruction stream. If the programming idiom accelerator recognizes a programming idiom, the programming idiom accelerator may perform an action to accelerate execution of the programming idiom. A compiler may recognize programming idioms and expose the programming idioms to the programming idiom accelerator within the resulting machine language instructions.
US08732682B2 Systems and methods for detecting and tolerating atomicity violations between concurrent code blocks
The system and methods described herein may be used to detect and tolerate atomicity violations between concurrent code blocks and/or to generate code that is executable to detect and tolerate such violations. A compiler may transform program code in which the potential for atomicity violations exists into alternate code that tolerates these potential violations. For example, the compiler may inflate critical sections, transform non-critical sections into critical sections, or coalesce multiple critical sections into a single critical section. The techniques described herein may utilize an auxiliary lock state for locks on critical sections to enable detection of atomicity violations in program code by enabling the system to distinguish between program points at which lock acquisition and release operations appeared in the original program, and the points at which these operations actually occur when executing the transformed program code. Filtering and analysis techniques may reduce false positives induced by the transformations.
US08732679B2 Loop transformation for computer compiler optimization
A new computer-compiler architecture includes code analysis processes in which loops present in an intermediate instruction set are transformed into more efficient loops prior to fully executing the intermediate instruction set. The compiler architecture starts by generating the equivalent intermediate instructions for the original high level source code. For each loop in the intermediate instructions, a total cycle cost is calculated using a cycle cost table associated with the compiler. The compiler then generates intermediate code for replacement loops in which all conversion instructions are removed. The cycle costs for these new transformed loops are then compared against the total cycle cost for the original loops. If the total cycle costs exceed the new cycle costs, the compiler will replace the original loops in the intermediate instructions with the new transformed loops prior to generation of final code using the instruction set of the processor.
US08732678B2 Methods and apparatus for dynamic best fit compilation of mixed mode instructions
Methods and an apparatus for dynamic best fit compilation of mixed mode instructions are provided. In one embodiment, a provided method includes receiving a non-native software instruction at a device, generating a first native software instruction from a first instruction set based on the non-native software instruction, the generation of the first native software instruction occurring at the device, executing the first native software instruction at the device, generating a second native software instruction from a second instruction set based on the non-native software instruction, the generation of the second native software instruction occurring at the device, and executing the second native software instruction at the device.
US08732677B2 System and method for extending legacy application with undo/redo functionality
In a system and method for recalling a state in an application, a processor may store in a memory data representing a first set of previously executed commands, the first set representing a current application state, and, for recalling a previously extant application state different than the current application state, the processor may modify the data to represent a second set of commands and may execute in sequence the second set of commands.
US08732673B2 Automated debugging system and method
System and method for automatically identifying a source of a run-time error in a computer system comprises a static analysis system (SAS), an instrumentation system (IS) and a post-execution analysis system (PEAS). The is arranged to generate static analysis data on computer program code (CPC) for the computer system, including information on possible behaviors of the CPC when executed. The IS is arranged to instrument the CPC by inserting marker triggers into the CPC that, generate a marker associated with each of a number of predetermined points in the CPC that would be reached during execution of the CPC. Each marker is, uniquely identifiable. The predetermined points are determined in dependence on the static analysis data. The PEASpost execution analysis system is arranged to processes data on a run-time error produced by execution of the instrumented CPC, wherein the generated markers and the static analysis data to identify the source of the run-time error.
US08732672B2 Constraint derivation in context following for use with object code insertion
A method of creating constraints for use with object code insertion technology can include deriving an A-representation and a B-representation of values produced by execution of instructions of a portion of object code, wherein prior to object code insertion the A-representation and the B-representation of a value produced by same instruction(s) are equivalent. The method further can include identifying equalities between A-representations of values produced by different instructions and determining constraints from the identified equalities using B-representations, where the constraints are observed after object code insertion.
US08732670B1 Ensuring determinism during programmatic replay in a virtual machine
Aspects of an application program's execution which might be subject to non-determinism are performed in a deterministic manner while the application program's execution is being recorded in a virtual machine environment so that the application program's behavior, when played back in that virtual machine environment, will duplicate the behavior that the application program exhibited when originally executed and recorded. Techniques disclosed herein take advantage of the recognition that only minimal data needs to be recorded in relation to the execution of deterministic operations, which actually can be repeated “verbatim” during replay, and that more highly detailed data should be recorded only in relation to non-deterministic operations, so that those non-deterministic operations can be deterministically simulated (rather than attempting to re-execute those operations under circumstances where the outcome of the re-execution might differ) based on the detailed data during replay.
US08732669B2 Efficient model checking technique for finding software defects
A method for detecting defects in a computer program. The method steps include obtaining source code and a potential defect definition; identifying, based on the potential defect definition, a set of program objects associated with a potential defect in the source code; extracting an executable program slice having the potential defect from the source code; generating, by a processor, an abstracted model of the program slice by: modeling, using data abstraction, the set of program objects as data-abstracted variables, identifying, within the program slice, a set of control statements including predicates necessary for evaluating the set of control statements, modeling, using predicate abstraction, the predicates as predicate-abstracted Boolean variables, and creating, based on the data-abstracted variables and the predicate-abstracted Boolean variables, a finite state machine (FSM) model of the program slice; and identifying an error state of the FSM indicating an occurrence of the potential defect within the program slice.
US08732668B2 System and method of error handling in a platform as a service environment
A system and method of improving error handling in a development environment created by a platform provider in which a third party developer develops applications for use by customers The method includes storing business objects and error messages, where the error messages corresponds to potential errors during run time processing of the plurality of business objects. The method further includes receiving a first user input regarding an error situation, where the error situation includes a resolution of the error situation, and receiving a second user input that associates the error situation with a sub-subset of a subset of the error messages. In this manner, the usability of the platform is improved.
US08732665B2 Deploying environments for testing by providing instantaneous availability of prebuilt environments
Environments for testing are deployed. A library of different topology groupings is provided. An interface is presented to a user for receiving environment definitions. Elements from the library of different topology groupings are automatically provided to the user for creating a test environment according to the received environment definitions. The platform delivers fully configured instantaneous topology deployments of all flavors for product development and testing efforts. The topology deployment service platform is used to create reliable topologies of varying layers of complexity, varying machine providers, different roles, different product builds, integration with partners and varying product configurations. The ability to launch and create multiple test and development environments trivially in an automated reliable fashion allows complicated customer scenarios and configurations to be deployed.
US08732664B2 Document serialization and comparison via object model
Technologies are described herein for serializing in-memory objects of an application program for purposes of comparison. A request to serialize in-memory objects of an application program is received. A list of one or more objects, properties, or methods to be serialized is read from a serialization driver file and the one or more objects, properties, or methods in an object memory of the application program are accessed through an object model exposed by the application program. Values from the one or more objects, properties, or methods in the object memory are serialized and stored in a generic object container that facilitates comparison between the serialized values from the application program and corresponding values from other versions of the application program.
US08732658B2 Layered interface in an industrial environment
System(s) and method(s) are provided for implementing a set of interface components across a set of layers of an industrial environment, and for managing at least one interface component or at least one layer of the industrial environment. To implement an interface component in at least one layer in the set of layers, a specification that defines the interface component is acquired and, based at least on the specification, a service is generated. Execution of the service implements the interface component. The managing includes deploying or discovering the at least one interface component or the at least one layer of the industrial environment. The managing also includes indexing specific functional feature(s) of the at least one interface component and searching across the set of layers for one or more interface components that satisfy specific functional criteria. Moreover, the managing can include supplying metadata related to interface component(s) or layer(s).
US08732656B2 Development environment for managing database aware software projects
Embodiments of the invention introduce development tools that connect various artifacts in a database aware fashion. For example, embodiments of the invention integrate SQL query builders across multiple application development interfaces (e.g., a source code editor, XML editor, database scripting tools, etc.), significantly improving developer productivity, reducing development cost and time. Thus, the process of consuming heterogeneous artifacts in an application (or creating them for consumption) becomes a very productive experience, eliminating the need to manually cut/paste information in multiple project files in many cases.
US08732655B2 Systems and methods for metamodel transformation
Some aspects relate to systems to determine a first metamodel conforming to a first meta-metamodel supporting metamodel class inheritance at the first metamodel level, identify one or more segments of an aggregation-free tree of nodes of the first metamodel, identify a lowest-level node of one of the one or more segments, identify all higher-level nodes of the one of the one or more segments, and consolidate attributes of each of the identified nodes of the one of the one or more segments into a node of a second metamodel conforming to a second meta-metamodel.
US08732653B1 System and method of providing resource modification in a virtual community
A system and method of modifying a resource in a resource based virtual community is disclosed. The method of modifying a resource includes the steps of (a) accessing the resource, (b) selecting a sub element of the resource for modification, (c) making modifications to the sub element, and (d) submitting the modifications to a virtual community server. Alternatively, a method of displaying a modified sub element of a resource in a resource based virtual community includes the steps of (a) accessing a virtual community server, (b) receiving the modified sub element of the resource in the virtual community server, (c) applying the modified sub element to the resource, (d) and displaying the modified resource.
US08732652B2 System and method for creating multi-mode applications
Multi-mode wireless communication devices capable of wLAN and WAN wireless network communication modes can be configured to communicate for backend services (e.g. Web Services, database, events) via a network gateway to operate in response to available modes. For example, for some activities (e.g. notification messages), the devices may be configured to communication in any available mode (WAN or wLAN) while for other activities (e.g. high bandwidth communications), the devices may be restricted to one mode only (e.g. wLAN). Component applications for execution by the devices can specify message delivery properties to indicate the mode(s) that may used for a particular message. A programming tool and method are described for configuring such component applications to specify mode delivery properties and to be responsive to mode information generated by a runtime environment generating, executing and supporting the component applications.
US08732647B1 Method for creating physical connections in 3D integrated circuits
An electronic design automation method implemented in a computing system is provided for creating a physical connections netlist for a pre-floorplan partitioned design file of 3D integrated circuits. The inputs are a 3D stack defining the topology of multiple dies, and a given design partitioning. The design partitioning defines the logic implemented in each die. The method identifies through-silicon-vias (TSVs), bump pins (BPs) and net connections.
US08732646B2 PLD architecture for flexible placement of IP function blocks
In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a hole is formed within an LE array of a PLD by interrupting the LE array base signal routing architecture such that a hole is left for IP function block to be incorporated. An interface region is provided for interfacing the remaining LE array base signal routing architecture to the IP function block.
US08732645B2 Placement and routing cells on integrated circuit chips
Methods and apparatuses to place and route cells on integrated circuit chips along paths. In one aspect of the invention, methods to layout an integrated circuit are based on placing and routing cells along paths. In one embodiment, a method to layout an integrated circuit including: routing a wire to connect a first cell of the integrated circuit and a second cell of the integrated circuit; and placing a third cell of the integrated circuit after the wire is routed to connect the first cell and the second cell. In one example, the first, second and third cells are on a first path; and, the third cell is connected to one of the first and second cells on the first path by only one net. The first path is selected from a set of paths; and the first and second cells are placed before the wire is routed to connect the first cell and the second cell. Timing is analyzed using a route of the wire connecting the first cell and the second cell to select a second path from the set of paths before a cell is placed on the second path.
US08732640B1 Methods, systems, and articles for multi-scenario physically-aware design methodology for layout-dependent effects
Disclosed are methods, systems, and articles of manufacture for implementing multi-scenario physically-aware design of electronic circuit design(s). In some embodiments, the method captures layout dependent effect(s) when a critical component instance, which corresponds to multiple candidate configurations, is being created in a physical design to enable a designer to create partial layout(s) from layout alternative(s) and to extract parameter(s) from the partial layout(s) in different layout contexts. The method may extract parasitics between components and analyzes impact(s) of layout dependent effect(s) on an electronic design by performing simulation(s) with layout dependent effect(s) in the schematic domain and may perform some partial routing based on some routing style(s) in each of the different layout contexts to generate just enough interconnects that may affect the electronic design.
US08732638B1 Verifying proper representation of semiconductor device fingers
A system for verifying that device fingers of a semiconductor circuit have been properly represented by a corresponding layout diagram. The system determines a plurality of sub-circuits, from within a netlist of a schematic diagram, to be verified. Each sub-circuit of the plurality of sub-circuits includes a multi-finger device. The system also determines a first number of fingers included in the plurality of sub-circuits as represented by the schematic diagram. The system also determines a second number of fingers included in the plurality of sub-circuits as represented by the corresponding layout diagram. The system compares the first number of fingers against the second number of fingers. The system reports an error if the first number of fingers does not correspond to the second number of fingers.
US08732637B2 Formal verification of bit-serial division and bit-serial square-root circuit designs
Methods and apparatuses are described for formally verifying a bit-serial division circuit design or a bit-serial square-root circuit design. Some embodiments formally verify a bit-serial division circuit design using a set of properties that can be efficiently proven using a bit-level solver. In some embodiments, the set of properties that are used for verifying a bit-serial division circuit design does not include any terms that multiply a w-bit partial quotient with the divisor. Some embodiments formally verify a bit-serial square-root circuit design using a set of properties that can be efficiently proven using a bit-level solver. In some embodiments, the set of properties that are used for verifying a bit-serial square-root circuit design does not include any terms that compute a square of a w-bit partial square-root.
US08732636B2 Method, system, and computer program product for implementing multi-power domain digital / mixed-signal verification and low power simulation
Disclosed are a method, system, and computer program product for implementing various embodiments of the methods for implementing multi-power domain digital or mixed-signal verification and low power simulation. The method or the system comprises automatically generating one or more net or terminal expression, set, or one or more overriding net or terminal expression by reading, importing, or interpreting the power data file for the electronic circuit design; identifying one or more schematics of the electronic circuit design; generating an annotated schematic of the electronic circuit design by automatically annotating at least one of the one or more schematics with some of the one or more net or terminal expression, set, or one or more overriding net or terminal expression; and performing verification of the electronic circuit design by using at least the annotated schematic.
US08732635B2 Apparatus and methods for power management in integrated circuits
A programmable logic device (PLD) includes a non-volatile memory, a configuration memory, and a control circuitry. The control circuitry couples to the non-volatile memory and to the configuration memory. A set of voltages are derived from the outputs of the control circuitry, and are applied to circuitry within the PLD.
US08732629B2 Method and system for lithography hotspot correction of a post-route layout
Disclosed herein are correcting methods and devices for lithography hotspots of the post-routing layout, used for correcting lithography hotspots detected in the post-routing layout. At least one two-dimensional pattern of changeable size or position of the number of hotspots in the local area is selected and adjusted, so that the simulation value of the aerial image intensity of various local areas is optimized. The simulation value of the aerial image intensity is derived through calculation with respect to a set of optical simulation model cells that can be determined by the numerical value of distribution of the aerial image intensity of a number of basic two-dimensional patterns. After adjustment, the aerial image intensity of the local area can be calculated with respect to a set of optical simulation model cells, and a number of cells in the simulation model cells are selected to synthesize the two-dimensional pattern after the change.
US08732628B1 Method and system for photomask assignment for double patterning technology
A method comprises: selecting a circuit pattern or network of circuit patterns in a layout of an integrated circuit (IC) to be fabricating using double patterning technology (DPT). Circuit patterns near the selected circuit pattern or network are grouped into one or more groups. For each group, a respective expected resistance-capacitance (RC) extraction error cost is calculated, which is associated with a mask alignment error, for two different sets of mask assignments. The circuit patterns in the one or more groups are assigned to be patterned by respective photomasks, so as to minimize a total of the expected RC extraction error costs.
US08732627B2 Method and apparatus for hierarchical wafer quality predictive modeling
A method for performing enhanced wafer quality prediction in a semiconductor manufacturing process includes the steps of: obtaining data including at least one of tensor format wafer processing conditions, historical wafer quality measurements and prior knowledge relating to at least one of the semiconductor manufacturing process and wafer quality; building a hierarchical prediction model including at least the tensor format wafer processing conditions; and predicting wafer quality for a newly fabricated wafer based at least on the hierarchical prediction model and corresponding tensor format wafer processing conditions.
US08732622B2 Input apparatus and display control apparatus
In an input apparatus, a display portion displays a plurality of function items on a screen to form a plurality of rows that are parallel in a predetermined row direction. The function items are provided with selection regions, respectively. One of the selection regions is selected, using a pointer according to a predetermined selection manipulation, and is determined according to a predetermined determination manipulation. When a first function item in a first row of the plurality of rows is selected, a selection region of the first row is enlarged in a direction directing at a row next to the first row.
US08732621B2 Method and apparatus for information visualized expression, and visualized human computer interactive expression interface thereof
A method, interface, and apparatus for expressing data objects is described. A method for expressing information can comprise the steps of: extracting attributes of a plurality of data objects, wherein the attributes reflect information associated with the data objects; hierarchically grouping the data objects based on the attributes of the data objects to form a hierarchical data object structure; establishing basic representation units, wherein each basic representation unit is described using multimedia attributes and each unit corresponds to at least one data object; establishing a multi-dimensional mapping relationship between distinct attributes of a subset of the data objects that correspond to each basic representation unit and the multimedia attributes used to describe that unit and displaying the basic representation units to reflect the hierarchical grouping of the data objects on a multimedia display device, wherein the mapping relationship is used to determine the multimedia attributes of the basic representation units.
US08732619B2 Methods and systems for interactive user interface objects
Methods and systems for interactive user interface objects are provided. The user interface allows for users to manipulate different objects represented by icons within a user interface, such as that of an iPhone or iPad or other touch screen devices. Users may bump objects together, flick one object towards another, bump an object against the edge of a screen, flick an object towards a certain area such as a dock, or otherwise manipulate the objects. The user's actions or manipulations of objects may result in an action by the objects or may have no effect. Depending on the compatibility of objects, the objects may be neutral towards one another, may attract each other, or may repel. The objects that attract may share content or communicate with each other via a one-time interaction, or may establish links or connections with each other that enable longer term communication or broadcasts that occur upon pre-determined triggers.
US08732615B2 Unified interface for display and modification of data arrays
In an embodiment, a method is provided for displaying data arrays in a graphical user interface. In this method, a first data array and a second data array are accessed. Here, the second data array is nested in the first data array. The first data array comprises first data elements and the second data array comprises second data elements. A hierarchical tree structure of the first and second data arrays is constructed where the first data array is ranked higher than the second data array in the hierarchical tree structure based on the nesting of the second data array in the first data array. An arrangement of the first and second data elements is displayed in the graphical user interface, where the arrangement is based on the hierarchical tree structure.
US08732614B2 Toolbar document content sharing
A system may provide a toolbar in a browser at a client, where the toolbar permits user selection from multiple different services for sharing document content. The system may receive a selection of a first one of the multiple different services from a user via the toolbar and may receive a selection of content of a first document browsed by the user. The system may post the selected content in a second document associated with the first one of the multiple different services.
US08732607B1 Seamless integration of non-native windows with dynamically scalable resolution into host operating system
A method for integration of dynamically scalable non-native windows into a host operating system (OS), including launching a Virtual Machine (VM) running a guest OS on a computer system with the host OS and a host desktop being displayed to a user; displaying a window of a non-native desktop on the host desktop; and scaling the window in response to user action, so that items displayed in the window are scaled with the same ratio, wherein the VM interfaces to a virtual adapter for its maintenance of the window, and wherein a resolution of the displayed window changes dynamically in response to the user action.
US08732606B2 Computer implemented methods and apparatus for dynamic windowing in user interfaces
Disclosed are implementations of methods, apparatus, systems, and computer-readable storage media for rendering information. In some implementations, user interface data including content capable of being displayed on a page is received. A dynamic window including one or more links linked with respective identifiable portions of the content on the page can be generated. The page of content and the dynamic window can be displayed in a user interface on a display of a computing device. The user interface can have a first state in which a first view of the page of content is displayed and a second state in which a second view of the page is displayed, where the second view is different from the first view. The dynamic window is capable of remaining displayed independent of a change of the user interface from the first state to the second state.
US08732602B2 System and method for altering a user interface of a power device
A system and method for altering a user interface of a power device is provided. The user interface includes an interface structure. The method includes acts of receiving user preference information, determining additional configuration information of the power device, adapting the interface structure based at least in part on the user preference information and the additional configuration information and providing at least a portion of the adapted interface structure to a user via the user interface.
US08732601B2 Clinical review and analysis work flow for lung nodule assessment
An image display system includes user configurable viewports for the review and analysis of image data. The user configurable viewports include a review viewport and an analysis viewport. The review viewport displays in a review mode, a plurality of image views of the image data. The analysis viewport displays in an analysis mode, a plurality of image views of the image data. The review viewport and the analysis viewport may be configured for simultaneous display of related image data.
US08732596B2 Transformation of hierarchical data formats using graphical rules
There is provided a method of creating computer instructions for transforming inbound instances, being instances of a hierarchical inbound data format, into outbound instances, being instances of at least one hierarchical outbound data format, wherein each inbound instance is transformed into zero, one or more outbound instances, the inbound and outbound data formats each having a number of segments arranged in a hierarchical manner, the method using a computing device having at least a processor, a memory, a display device and an input device, and the method including: retrieving from the memory and providing on the display device a number of operation icons each representing at least one operation to be performed on data; and enabling a user of the computing device to select and arrange at least some of the operation icons on the display device.
US08732593B2 Shared virtual area communication environment based apparatus and methods
Improved systems and methods for navigating and interacting in virtual communication environments are described. At least some of these systems and methods provide a framework that includes one or more virtual areas and supports realtime communications between the communicants. At least some of these systems and methods provide an interface that includes navigation controls that enable a user to navigate virtual areas and interaction controls that enable the user to interact with other communicants in the one or more virtual areas.
US08732586B2 Complex system function status diagnosis and presentation
Status of complex system functions is diagnosed and reported by analyzing traffic on a data network of the complex system. The network traffic may be placed on the data network by systems that perform functions for the complex system. A user may make a view selection via a remote user interface. The view selection identifies rules for determining a status of a selected subset of the functions or a status of selected ones of the functions for a selected state of operation, such as during initial power-up. The status of the functions may be determined from the network traffic using the rules and presented to the user via the user interface. The user may interact with the presentation to make different view selections. Multiple different view selections made via multiple different user interfaces may be supported simultaneously.
US08732582B2 Display control apparatus, display control method, display control program, and display system
A display control apparatus which realizes display capable of providing an overview of a group of thumbnail images and which includes an object controller (52a) for performing control to, when a viewer (52) allocates images to be displayed to a predetermined number of image-frame objects (52g), in the case where the number of the images to be allocated to the individual image-frame objects exceeds the number of the image-frame objects (52g), allocate a plurality of images to at least some of the image-frame objects (52g) and, when the plurality of images are allocated to each image-frame object (52g), display all the images to be displayed within a certain time by switching the images to be displayed at predetermined time intervals.
US08732580B2 Imaging apparatus and user interface
A screen ST1 of an LCD with which a digital camera is provided displays an icon of a folder F1 indicating that the folder F1 has been selected. Image files P11 and P12 are captured reproduced images. A display frame SC displays a currently captured picture of an object, files P11 and P12, and the icon of the folder F1. To switch the folder F1 to a folder F2, the user presses a down button of a cross key 27. When the user presses the down button on the screen ST1, the screen ST1 is switched to a screen ST3 through a screen ST2. On the screen ST2, the number denoted in the icon is changed. The screen ST2 displays a state of which the folders are being switched. An icon displayed on the screen ST3 indicates that the folder F1 was switched to the folder F2.
US08732578B2 System and method for using a cursor to convey information
Methods and systems are provided for the controlled cursor's behavior. According to one example method, any desired data may be linked to a cursor and a desired cursor behavior could be defined to convey the linked data using the cursor. When a change in the linked data is detected, the example method includes using the desired cursor behavior to convey the changed data independent of a location where the cursor is placed on a screen.
US08732577B2 Contextual, focus-based translation for broadcast automation software
Contextual, focus-based language translation within a broadcast radio automation software application allows the user interface to enable interaction with users having various written or graphical language requirements. The software does not require special training or learning to enable the translation of text within the application. When the user enters a translation mode and selects a text string in the original language, the program displays a corresponding text string in a second language based on the specific display area, e.g., child window. The translated text string can be displayed proximate to original first text string within the specific display area, and can further be displayed as an entry in a table of a translation window which also displays additional text strings in the second language corresponding to additional text string fields for the specific display area.
US08732574B2 System and method for parameterizing documents for automatic workflow generation
One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a method for generating a new workflow for an application. The method includes generating a parameter tree related to a current workflow, wherein the parameter tree includes a different node corresponding to each parameter included in one or more documents associated with the current workflow, modifying a value associated with a first node included in the parameter tree based on an input, wherein the first node corresponds to a first parameter included in a first document associated with the current workflow, evaluating a second document associated with the current workflow based on the modified value associated with the first node, and generating the new workflow based on the evaluated second document.
US08732573B2 Visual display of room information
An apparatus and method for the visual display of room information for multiple units. Information of interest is graphically displayed in a manner which conveys the information to in a form which aids in comprehension of the information. Specifically, the information is preferably conveyed on the unit level through the use of a matrix. A graphical cell is used to represent each room in the unit. Components of the cell indicate key considerations for every room. Additional information may also be displayed by clicking on a component of the cell.
US08732566B2 Methods and apparatus for digital content handling
In one aspect, the invention provides a content handling system that comprises a digital data store containing a plurality of instruction sets, each defining a content handling workflow. The system further includes a content handling engine in communications coupling with the store, wherein the content handling engine identifies an embedded code in an article of content. The engine executes on at least that article of content one or more of the instruction sets associated with the embedded code. The instruction set can specify, for example, one or more destinations for articles of content (e.g., e-mail addresses, local or network file system folders, and on-line data stores).
US08732564B2 Error floor reduction in iteratively decoded FEC codes
A method which makes use of the syndrome information at each iteration, combined with the bit reliability information available at a FEC decoder, to extract the minimum estimated bit error configuration, i.e. the block which is closest to the transmitted codeword during the decoding process, and to select such block if the result at the final decoding iteration has a higher number of estimated bit errors.
US08732558B1 MPE-FEC system capable of selecting an FEC mode, a forward error correcting method performed in the MPE-FEC system, and an FEC mode selecting method performed in the MPE-FEC system
A forward error correcting method in a multi protocol encapsulation-forward error correction (MPE-FEC) system, in which FEC modes are selected. The forward error correcting method includes comparing a number of received ERASUREs with a number of reference ERASUREs, selecting an ERASURE ONLY mode in which FEC is performed based on information about locations and sizes of errors, when the number of received ERASUREs is less than or equal to the number of reference ERASUREs, wherein the ERASURE ONLY mode is an FEC mode, selecting a NORMAL RS mode in which FEC is performed with respect to errors whose locations and sizes are not known, when the number of received ERASUREs is greater than the number of reference ERASURES, wherein the NORMAL RS mode is an FEC mode, and performing FEC in the selected FEC mode.
US08732557B2 Data protection across multiple memory blocks
Data protection across multiple memory blocks can include writing a first portion of a codeword in a first memory block and writing a second portion of the codeword in a second memory block. The first memory block and the second memory block can be different memory blocks. The first portion of the codeword can be written in a different location in the first memory block than the second portion of the codeword is written in the second memory block.
US08732553B2 Memory system and control method thereof
The embodiments include an error correction processing unit and an error correction history recording unit. The error correction processing unit performs an error correction process based on data read from a non-volatile semiconductor memory and a second-step error correction code corresponding to the data. The error correction history recording unit records error correction history indicating whether first error correction is successful through the first error correction process, in association with unit data. When error correction history of target unit data to be read indicates that correction is not successful, the second error correction process is executed without executing the first error correction process.
US08732549B2 Data recovery in a solid state storage system
Methods for data recovery and memory systems are provided. According to at least one such method, when defective data is read from a memory location, the data is recovered by an XOR operation on the remaining good data and associated RAID data to reconstruct the defective data. The defective data is excluded from the XOR operation.
US08732541B2 Error correction for a persistent resource allocation
Methods and apparatus for communicating and utilizing persistent allocation of resources are described herein. A base station may allocate persistent resources to a client station, and may associate the client station or persistent resource allocation with a particular shared NACK channel. The base station may monitor the NACK channel for a NACK indicating a map error. The base station may monitor the resource allocation to implicitly determine a map error. The base station may resend one or more persistent resource allocation information elements in response to the NACK or implicit error determination. A client station having a persistent resource allocation may monitor persistent resource allocation information elements in map messages and/or may indicate failure to receive a persistent resource allocation information element in a NACK message on a shared NACK channel.
US08732535B2 Method of detection of erroneous memory usage
A method of detection of erroneous memory usage is provided. The method includes starting a computer and executing a program and a monitoring tool to collect calls to a memory during execution of the program, detecting a call to the memory using the monitoring tool, extracting lines of code which request access to a memory address via the call to the memory, detecting a set of variables to which access is granted via the call to the memory, extracting, after execution of the predetermined program, the set of variables for each of the lines of code, detecting erroneous memory usage by matching the extracted lines of code with the set of variables, and determining the call as erroneous upon access being granted to the memory corresponding to the set of variables during execution of the predetermined program when access is not possible during the execution of the program.
US08732532B2 Memory controller and information processing system for failure inspection
An information processing system comprises a memory module having a plurality of unit memory regions, a memory controller, connected to the memory module via memory interface, configured to control access to the memory module, an error detector, which is in the memory controller, configured to perform an error detection on data read from the memory module, a failure inspection controller configured to switch a mode of the memory controller from a normal mode to a failure inspection mode, read data from an address, where data was written, to be inspected for each of the plurality of unit memory regions, cause the error detector to detect an error in the read data and perform a failure inspection and a determining unit configured to determine a memory failure or a transmission path failure on the basis of the state of the error detected from the unit memory regions.
US08732517B1 System and method for performing replica copying using a physical copy mechanism
A system that implements a data storage service may maintain tables in a data store on behalf of clients. The service may maintain table data in multiple replicas of partitions of the data that are stored on respective computing nodes in the system. In response to detecting a failure or fault condition, or receiving a service request from a client to move or copy a partition replica, the data store may copy a partition replica to another computing node using a physical copy mechanism. The physical copy mechanism may copy table data from physical storage locations in which it is stored to physical storage locations allocated to a destination replica on the other computing node. During copying, service requests to modify table data may be logged and applied to the replica being copied. A catch-up operation may be performed to apply modification requests received during copying to the destination replica.
US08732516B2 Method and system for providing customer controlled notifications in a managed network services system
An approach for supporting automated fault isolation and recovery is provided. A notification configuration option is transmitted to a browser interface utilized by a user associated with a customer network that is monitored by a service provider, wherein the user selects the notification configuration option to input notification information. The notification information is received, via the browser interface, from the customer. A notification message is received from a platform configured to create a workflow event in response to an alarm indicative of a fault within the customer network, wherein isolation and recovery of the fault is performed according to the workflow event, the notification message including information about the customer network during the fault isolation and recovery process. The notification message is transmitted in accordance with the stored notification information.
US08732514B2 Using pulses to control work ingress
Clock pulses of a variable speed clock are adjusted relative to system utilization. A load monitor periodically collects sensor measurements of resources and based on the sensor measurements, the load monitor adjusts the clock speed up or down.
US08732512B2 Semiconductor device having DLL circuit
A semiconductor device with a clock control circuit that outputs an internal clock signal configured by delaying external clock signals based on at least a feedback clock signal; a plurality of output buffers that output data in synchronization with the internal clock signal; an output replica that is a replica of the output buffers and that generates the feedback clock signal in synchronization with the internal clock signal and supplies the feedback clock signal to the clock control circuit; and a clock tree that receives the internal clock signal from the clock control circuit and transmits the internal clock signal to the plurality of output buffers and the output replica such that signal line are substantially equal to one another.
US08732511B2 Resistor ladder based phase interpolation
An apparatus comprising a reference circuit, a resistor ladder, and an output circuit. The reference circuit may be configured to generate a reference signal in response to (i) a clock signal, (ii) a first phase signal and (iii) a second phase signal. The resistor ladder circuit may be configured to generate a tap voltage in response to the reference signal. The tap voltage may be generated by enabling one or more of a plurality of tap resistors. The output circuit may be configured to generate an adjusted clock signal in response to (i) the tap voltage, (ii) the clock signal, (iii) the first phase signal, (iv) the second phase signal, and (v) a reset signal. The adjusted clock signal may have an adjusted phase with respect to the clock signal.
US08732505B2 Method for reducing the energy consumption of an electronic terminal by modifying timeout-before-standby duration, corresponding terminal and computer program
A method and apparatus are provided for reducing the energy consumption of an electronic terminal. The method implements a step of modifying the timeout-before-standby duration for said terminal after an action performed by and/or on said terminal at a current instant, depending on the membership of the current instant in a given temporal category, from among at least two predefined temporal categories.
US08732504B2 Conserving power by reducing voltage supplied to an instruction-processing portion of a processor
One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that facilitates reducing static power consumption of a processor. During operation, the system receives a signal indicating that instruction execution within the processor is to be temporarily halted. In response to this signal, the system halts an instruction-processing portion of the processor, and reduces the voltage supplied to the instruction-processing portion of the processor. Full voltage is maintained to a remaining portion of the processor, so that the remaining portion of the processor can continue to operate while the instruction-processing portion of the processor is in reduced power mode.
US08732503B2 Information processing apparatus and controlling method thereof
An information obtaining unit provided inside a system controller obtains operation states of processing units and processing units respectively of cabinets, calculates an average utilization of CPUs of the processing units, and determines whether or not any processing unit can be disconnected. When a hardware resource can be disconnected as a result of the determination, an electric power control determining unit calculates possible combinations of hardware resources to be disconnected and performs a disconnection by a cabinet unit when there is a combination enabling a disconnection by a cabinet unit.
US08732498B2 System and method of modifying power use within an information handling system
A system and method of modifying power use within an information handling system is disclosed. In one form, a method of managing power within an information handling system is disclosed. The method can include establishing a threshold power level of a first information handling system, and detecting a first power demand of a first operating state in excess of the threshold power level. The method can also include detecting a request to invoke a first forced reduced power state of the first information handling system, and determining a first alternative power state different from the threshold power level and the first forced reduced power state. The method can further include initiating the first alternative power state.
US08732491B2 System and method for adjusting an energy efficient ethernet control policy using measured power savings
A system and method for adjusting an energy efficient Ethernet (EEE) control policy using measured power savings. An EEE-enabled device can be designed to report EEE event data. This reported EEE event data can be used to quantify the actual EEE benefits of the EEE-enabled device, debug the EEE-enabled device, and adjust the EEE control policy.
US08732483B2 Methods and apparatus for securing keystrokes from being intercepted between the keyboard and a browser
The invention described herein provides a method and system for foiling a keylogger by creating a custom keyboard driver and passing the keystrokes directly to the browser in an encrypted format. The browser (which is used to access the Internet) has a component that decrypts the keystroke before it is sent to the website. Thus the present invention enables the user to go to any website and enter sensitive information (passwords, credit card numbers, etc.) without the keystrokes being intercepted by Keyloggers. In general terms, the invention described herein provides a method and system for (1) modifying the keyboard driver, (2) encrypting the keystrokes between the keyboard driver and the browser, and (3) notifying the user if the invention has been compromised.
US08732482B1 Incremental encryption of stored information
A method and apparatus are utilized to incrementally encrypt stored information, and can be applied to an existing medium storing unencrypted information. Information can be conditionally encrypted and/or decrypted as necessary and a separate storage area can be used to record whether a given block of information is stored encrypted or unencrypted. An embodiment of the present invention can be used as a retrofit device in a mechanism to encrypt information without causing undue interruption of normal operations. A variety of mechanisms and policies can also be used to manage, set and eliminate encryption keys.
US08732474B1 Safe installation of browser extensions
Methods and apparatus for installing browser extensions are disclosed. An example method includes receiving a browser extension installation package in a main browser process, validating a digital signature of the installation package and launching a sandboxed sub-process of the browser application. The example method includes, in the sandboxed sub-process: respectively transcoding or recoding at least one of the plurality of constituent files, where the transcoded and/or recoded files replace their corresponding original constituent files. The example method includes, after the transcoding and/or recoding, passing the constituent files from the sandboxed sub-process to the main browser process and installing the browser extension to the browser application using the transcoded and/or recoded files.
US08732473B2 Claim based content reputation service
In some embodiments, a system may comprise a database and one or more servers. The database may, for example, store a plurality of content claims for previously evaluated data items, with each of the plurality of content claims being associated in the database with a corresponding stored digital fingerprint of a previously evaluated data item. The server(s) may, for example, be configured to receive a determined digital fingerprint of a data item from a client device on another network node, to submit a query to the database using the determined digital fingerprint as a primary key, and to transmit one or more content claims returned by the query to the client device. In some embodiments, the server(s) may be further configured to receive the content claim(s) and the digital fingerprint associated therewith from one or more computers on another network node, and to cause the received content claim(s) and digital fingerprint associated therewith to be stored in the database.
US08732470B2 Storage system in which fictitious information is prevented
According to one embodiment, a storage system includes a host device, a secure storing medium, and a non-secure storing medium. The secure storing medium includes a memory provided with a protected first storing region which stores secret information sent from the host device, and a second storing region which stores encoded contents, and a controller which carries out authentication processing for accessing the first storing region. The host device and the secure storing medium produce a bus key which is shared only by the host device and the secure storing medium by authentication processing, and which is used for encoding processing when information of the first storing region is sent and received between the host device and the secure storing medium. The host device has the capability to request the secure storing medium to send a status.
US08732466B2 Semiconductor memory device
According to one embodiment, a device includes a first memory area to store a first key. A second memory area stores encrypted secret identification (ID) information generated from secret ID information with a family key. A third memory area stores a family key block including data generated from the family key with an ID key. An authentication module performs authentication. A second key is generated from a first number with the first key, a session key is generated from a random number with the second key, and authentication information is generated from the secret ID information with the session key. The encrypted secret ID information, family key block and the authentication information is output.
US08732454B2 Key setting method, node, and network system
A key setting method executed by a node transmitting and receiving a packet through multi-hop communication in an ad-hoc network among ad-hoc networks, includes receiving a packet encrypted using a key specific to a gateway and simultaneously reported from the gateway in the ad-hoc network; detecting a connection with a mobile terminal capable of communicating with a server retaining a key specific to a gateway in each ad-hoc network among the ad-hoc networks; transmitting to the server, via the mobile terminal and when a connection with the mobile terminal is detected, the encrypted packet received; receiving from the server and via the mobile terminal, a key specific to a gateway in the ad-hoc network and for decrypting the encrypted packet transmitted; and setting the received key specific to the gateway in the ad-hoc network as the key for encrypting the packet.
US08732451B2 Portable secure computing network
As provided herein, when using an untrusted network connection, a secure online environment can be created for a remote machine by connecting to a trusted computer with a trusted network connection. A proxy server is installed on a first computing device and shared encryption keys are generated for the first device and a portable storage device. A connection is initiated between a second computing device (e.g., remote device), connected to an untrusted network, and the first computing device, comprising initiating a proxy server protocol from the portable storage device (e.g., attached to the second device), using the second computing device. A secure connection between the first and second devices is created using the encryption keys.
US08732450B2 System and method for configuring option ROM
An information handling system includes a processor, a first memory, a device, and a management controller that includes a second memory. The management controller obtains configuration data for the device and stores the configuration data in the first memory while the processor is powered off, and configures the device based upon the configuration data from the first memory in response to booting the information handling system.
US08732449B2 Changing the personality of a device by intercepting requests for personality information
A method and system for a target to adopt the personality of a source without loading the personality information of the source onto the target is provided. The personality system extracts personality information from the source and stores the personality information on a removable storage medium. The storage medium is then connected to the target. The personality system intercepts requests of the target to retrieve personality information, which but for the interception would be serviced based on personality information of the target. When a request is intercepted, the personality system retrieves the personality information from the connected storage medium, rather than from the personality information of the target. The personality system then replies to the request with the retrieved personality information.
US08732446B2 Selectively compressing blocks of a bootable snapshot image during booting
Provided are a booting apparatus and method using a snapshot image. A snapshot image may be divided into a plurality of blocks. Each of the blocks may be stored in a nonvolatile memory in a compressed or non-compressed format. The snapshot image may be incrementally loaded in units of the blocks during booting. The loading and decompression of the blocks may be performed in parallel.
US08732437B2 Low-overhead misalignment and reformatting support for SIMD
Systems and methods for performing single instruction multiple data (SIMD) operations on a data set. The methods may include examining a structure of the data set to determine what reorganization may be necessary to facilitate SIMD processing. The method may include selecting a stored bit mask corresponding to the organization of the data set and loading the bit mask into an application specific register (ASR). Subsequently, the data may be reorganized inline according to the ASR as the data is loaded into the SIMD functional unit such that the SIMD functional unit may operate on the data set. The results of the SIMD operation may be written to a results register.
US08732431B2 Logical address translation
The present disclosure includes methods for logical address translation, methods for operating memory systems, and memory systems. One such method includes receiving a command associated with a LA, wherein the LA is in a particular range of LAs and translating the LA to a physical location in memory using an offset corresponding to a number of physical locations skipped when writing data associated with a range of LAs other than the particular range.
US08732429B2 Preserving a deleted data volume
An apparatus, system, and method for preserving a deleted storage volume. One embodiment of the apparatus includes a receiving module, a reference module, and a preservation module. The receiving module receives a deletion command to delete a data volume managed by a storage controller. The data volume is associated with one or more deletion parameters specifying that data of the data volume is to be preserved upon deletion of the data volume. The reference module references the deletion parameters. The preservation module preserves the data of the data volume prior to the storage controller deleting the data volume. The preservation module preserves the data of the data volume according to the deletion parameters.
US08732428B2 Computer system and its control method
Provided is a system in which, when connecting an external storage apparatus to a primary storage apparatus, the setting of an external volume to be mapped to the primary storage apparatus can be set to the external storage apparatus by a volume creation request to the primary storage apparatus without requiring direct setting processing on the external storage apparatus. When an administrator registers, in the primary storage apparatus, a command for setting a volume to the external storage apparatus and the administrator executes processing for setting a volume to the primary storage apparatus, if the primary storage apparatus determines that it is necessary to create a volume in the external storage apparatus, the primary storage apparatus sends the registered command to the external storage apparatus so that the administrator can set the volume to the external storage apparatus via the primary storage apparatus.
US08732427B2 Systems and methods for collapsing a derivative version of a primary storage volume
Disclosed is a method of collapsing a derivative version of a primary storage volume into the primary storage volume. The method comprises generating the derivative version of the primary storage volume that contains a plurality of data items stored in a secondary storage volume, wherein the derivation version comprises a plurality of blocks, identifying changed blocks of the plurality of blocks that changed as a result of modifying at least one of the data items, identifying which of the changed blocks of the plurality of blocks that changed remain allocated, and collapsing the derivative version of the primary storage volume into the primary storage volume by copying those blocks identified as changed and allocated to the primary storage volume.
US08732426B2 Scheduling of reactive I/O operations in a storage environment
A system and method for effectively scheduling read and write operations among a plurality of solid-state storage devices. A computer system comprises client computers and data storage arrays coupled to one another via a network. A data storage array utilizes solid-state drives and Flash memory cells for data storage. A storage controller within a data storage array comprises an I/O scheduler. The characteristics of corresponding storage devices are used to schedule I/O requests to the storage devices in order to maintain relatively consistent response times at predicted times. Should a device exhibit an unscheduled behavior which may be indicative of the device being in an unknown state, the scheduler may schedule one or more reactive operations on the device configured to cause the device to enter a known state.
US08732425B2 Electronic apparatus
An electronic apparatus is provided with an arrangement of discrete circuit elements designed to reduce power consumption. Such an arrangement comprises a memory; a memory controller to generate a control signal which controls the memory according to a predetermined operating clock; and a transmission line disposed between the memory controller and the memory to allow the control signal to be transmitted to the memory, wherein the timing of the control signal is controlled by a change of the operating clock.
US08732421B2 Storage system and method for reallocating data
The present invention comprises a virtual volume 50, which is a virtual storage area comprising multiple virtual page groups, a pool 60, which is a storage area comprising multiple pool page groups having different access performance, and a controller 13, which comprises a corresponding relationship between the virtual page and the pool page, and accesses the pool page corresponding to the virtual page based on accesses to the virtual page from other apparatuses, and the controller 13, based on an access load trend with respect to each virtual page in each time slot, executes processing for deciding an ideal pool page allocation destination for each virtual page in each time slot, and reallocating a virtual page to the ideal pool page at a time, which is prior to a start time, so that the ideal pool page can be allocated to each virtual page by the start time of each time slot.
US08732419B2 Maintaining multiple target copies
Provided are techniques for maintaining instant virtual copies. A request to perform an instant virtual copy operation to create an instant virtual copy from a first volume to a new volume is received. It is determined that the first volume has not been modified since a last instant virtual copy operation has been performed. It is determined whether an intermediate volume and an intermediate map have already been created. In response to determining that the intermediate volume and the intermediate map have not already been created, the intermediate volume and the intermediate map are created, the intermediate volume is made dependent on the first volume in a dependency chain based on the intermediate map, and the new volume is made dependent on the intermediate volume in the dependency chain.
US08732418B1 Shadow registry
This disclosure relates to a method, article of manufacture, and apparatus for backing up and restoring a registry. In some embodiments, this includes detecting one or more changes to a registry by a first thread of a backup application, wherein the backup application runs a plurality of threads, wherein a buffer is associated with each thread, generating a snapshot of the changes, storing the snapshot to the buffer associated with the first thread, synchronizing the first thread and one or more other threads in the plurality of the threads, and writing the snapshot from the buffer to a file.
US08732417B1 Techniques for creating snapshots of a target system
Techniques for creating snapshots of a target system are disclosed. In one particular exemplary embodiment, the techniques may be realized as an apparatus for creating snapshots of a target system comprising a module for tracking modifications to a target system after a given time, a module for storing information from the target system in a read-only snapshot and a writable snapshot, and a module for modifying the writable snapshot after the given time.
US08732415B2 Write data mask method and system
In various embodiments, dedicated mask pins are eliminated by sending a data mask on address lines of the interface. A memory controller receives a request for a memory write operation from a memory client and determines the granularity of the write data from a write data mask sent by the client. Granularity, as used herein, indicates a quantity of write data to which each bit of the received write data mask applies. In an embodiment, the memory controller generates a particular write command and a particular write data mask based on the granularity of the write data. The write command generated is typically the most efficient of several write commands available, but embodiments are not so limited. The write command is transmitted on command lines of the interface, and the write data mask is transmitted on address lines of the interface.
US08732414B2 Control device, controller module, and control method
A control device including: a storage device that includes a first storage area including a plurality of blocks into which data can be written more than once and a second storage area into which data can be written only once, wherein the first storage area further stores a flag for each of the blocks, the flag indicating whether or not the block is allowed to be used; a flag management information creation unit configured to create, on the basis of the flag, a flag management information for managing whether or not data can be stored in each block of the storage device; and a management information controller configured to cause the flag management information to be stored in the second storage area.
US08732411B1 Data de-duplication for information storage systems
Technologies for eliminating duplicate data within a storage system can efficiently identify and eliminate duplication by remapping borrower regions to share physical storage space with lender regions. Block-level de-duplication can co-exist with storage architectures for thin provisioning and snapshot management. Lending maps can track redirected pointers from borrower regions to shared physical storage from lender regions. The lending maps can track the freed status of regions to support efficient write I/O operations without defaulting to unnecessary read-modify-write cycles to complete data writes. Redundancy of de-duplicated data can maintain one or more copies to support recovery from media errors. Candidate regions for de-duplication can be identified by monitoring the times and patterns of data access operations. A sampled mechanism for calculating and comparing signatures of data blocks can support the efficient identification of duplicated data within the storage system.
US08732406B1 Mechanism for determining read-ahead length in a storage system
A storage system tracks statistical behavior of client read requests directed to a storage device to form prediction about data that the client will require next. The storage system collects the size of read sequences for various streams into a data structure, which summarizes past behavior of read requests. This data structure reports the number of streams in each equivalence class of stream sizes that is tracked. The data structure is then used to determine expected size of a selected read stream. The data structure is also used to improve predictions about an expected size computed by a known technique.
US08732405B2 Method of reducing response time for delivery of vehicle telematics services
A method of operating a predictive data cache includes receiving a request for telematics service from a telematics service requester, determining the subject matter of the request, querying a predictive data cache to determine if the predictive data cache includes a service response to the subject matter of the request and, if the predictive data cache includes the service response, then providing the service response to the requester and updating the predictive data cache using the subject matter of the request. The subject matter can include one or more of: an event description, an event period, or an event location based on the request.
US08732401B2 Method and apparatus for cache replacement using a catalog
Methods and systems to intelligently cache content in a virtualization environment using virtualization software such as VMWare ESX or Citrix XenServer or Microsoft HyperV or Redhat KVM or their variants are disclosed. Storage IO operations (reads from and writes to disk) are analyzed (or characterized) for their overall value and pinned to cache if their value exceeds a certain defined threshold based on criteria specific to the New Technology File System (NTFS) file-system. Analysis/characterization of NTFS file systems for intelligent dynamic caching include analyzing storage block data associated with a Virtual Machine of interest in accordance with a pre-determined data model to determine the value of the block under analysis for long term or short term caching. Integer values assigned to different types of NTFS objects in a white list data structure called a catalog that can be used to analyze the storage block data.
US08732400B2 Data store maintenance requests in interconnects
Interconnect circuitry for a data processing apparatus is disclosed. The interconnect circuitry is configured to provide data routes via which at least one initiator device may access at least one recipient device. The interconnect circuitry comprises: at least one input for receiving transaction requests from the initiator device(s); at least one output for outputting transaction requests to the recipient device(s); a plurality of paths for transmitting said transaction requests between the at least one input and the at least one output; wherein at least one of said transaction requests comprises a data store maintenance request requesting a data store maintenance operation to be performed on data stores within the data processing apparatus; and control circuitry for routing the received transaction requests from the at least one input to the at least one output; wherein the control circuitry is configured to respond to receipt of the data store maintenance operation by transmitting the data store maintenance operation along at least one of the plurality of paths followed by a barrier transaction request, the control circuitry being configured to maintain an ordering of at least some transaction requests with respect to the barrier transaction request within a stream of transaction requests passing along the at least one of said plurality of paths, such that at least some transaction requests subsequent to the data store maintenance request in the stream of transaction requests are held behind the data store maintenance request by the barrier transaction request.
US08732399B2 Technique for preserving cached information during a low power mode
A technique to retain cached information during a low power mode, according to at least one embodiment. In one embodiment, information stored in a processor's local cache is saved to a shared cache before the processor is placed into a low power mode, such that other processors may access information from the shared cache instead of causing the low power mode processor to return from the low power mode to service an access to its local cache.
US08732393B2 Apparatus, method and program product for determining the data recall order
To provide a technique for optimizing the processing order of recall requests in which the average latency time of a host apparatus is minimized. A storage manager accepts a request of the host apparatus for the recalling data from a tape library, and stores the request in a queue table. In response to storage of the request, the storage manager calculates the latency time for each request in all the conceivable execution orders for all the requests stored in the queue table. The storage manager determines the execution order which minimizes the total calculated latency time for all the requests including the active request, and rearranges the requests in the queue table.
US08732392B2 Systems and methods for determining the status of memory locations in a non-volatile memory
Systems and methods are provided for storing data in a portion of a non-volatile memory (“NVM”) such that the status of the NVM portion can be determined with high probability on a subsequent read. An NVM interface, which may receive write commands to store user data in the NVM, can store a fixed predetermined sequence (“FPS”) with the user data. The FPS may ensure that a successful read operation on a NVM portion is not misinterpreted as a failed read operation or as an erased NVM portion. For example, if the NVM returns an all-zero vector when a read request fails, the FPS can include at least one “1” or one “0”, as appropriate, to differentiate between successful and unsuccessful read operations. In some embodiments, the FPS may also be used to differentiate between disturbed data, which passes an error correction check, and correct data.
US08732389B2 Memory wear control
The disclosure is related to systems and methods of controlling wear of a memory. In a particular embodiment, a system is disclosed that comprises a memory and a performance governor circuit coupled to the memory. The performance governor circuit is adapted to control a wear of the memory as a function of time.
US08732387B2 Flash memory apparatus with automatic interface mode switching
A flash memory controller with automatic interface mode switching is applied to a flash memory apparatus with a plurality of flash memories and the controller contains: a memory interface, a microprocessor, and an interface mode controller. The microprocessor recognizes the supported interface mode of every flash memory connected with the memory interface in an initial setting process, and individually sets the corresponding interface mode setting value into the interface mode controller. Thus, when the flash memory apparatus is operating in a normal operation state, the interface mode controller can output the corresponding interface mode setting value according to the present enabled flash memory, and the memory interface can adjust and switch the interface mode according to the interface mode setting value outputted by the interface mode controller. Thereby, the present invention can achieve the purpose whereby the flash memory apparatus can speed up accessing and increase efficiency.
US08732384B1 Method and apparatus for memory access
A device and methods are provided for accessing memory. In one embodiment, a method includes receiving a request for data stored in a device, checking a local memory for data based on the request to determine if one or more blocks of data associated with the request are stored in the local memory, and generating a memory access request for one or more blocks of data stored in a memory of the device based when one or more blocks of data are not stored in the local memory. In one embodiment, data stored in memory of the device may be arranged in a configuration to include a plurality of memory access units each having adjacent lines of pixel data to define a single line of memory within the memory access units. Memory access units may be configured based on memory type and may reduce the number of undesired pixels read.
US08732381B2 SAS expander for communication between drivers
A SAS expander that includes a virtual device manager and a communications manager. The virtual device manager is to generate a virtual device table comprising virtual device PHYs associated with virtual device drivers for host device drivers to allow communication between the host device drivers. The communications manager is to receive a request from a first host device driver of a first host to communicate with a second host device driver of a second host, and in response to receipt of the request, establish communication between the first host device driver and a virtual device PHY associated with a virtual device driver of the second host device driver.
US08732380B2 System and method for using a multipath
In a path determination unit of a SAS expander connected to a SAS initiator and connected via first and second paths to a SAS target, an SSP controller receives an SSP command frame received from the SAS initiator; a requested-data-length manager stores a requested data length of the SSP command frame in a requested-data-length storage unit; and a data-transfer-amount manager selects one of the first and second paths having a smaller one of the data transfer amounts stored in a data-transfer-amount storage unit, and adds the requested data length to the data transfer amount of the selected path. The SSP command frame is transmitted to the SAS target via the selected path. Upon receipt of an SSP response frame responding thereto, the requested data length is deleted from the requested-data-length storage unit, and the requested data length is subtracted from the data transfer amount of the selected path.
US08732379B2 Adapting legacy/third party IPs to advanced power management protocol
An apparatus adapts a pre-designed circuit module not supporting a power management protocol to a power management protocol. The apparatus disconnects a bus interface, disables interrupt and stops a clock to the pre-designed circuit module on a external idle request signal.
US08732376B2 Data forwarding circuit, data forwarding method, display device, host-side device, and electronic apparatus
The timing controller determines the number of data lanes (11, 12, 13), which are used to transfer data, based on information in relation to an amount of data to be transferred during a predetermined time period. Out of the plurality of data lanes (11, 12, 13), the determined number of data lane(s) (11, 12, 13) are used to transfer data. Further, a data lane(s) (11, 12, 13) which is not used in the data transfer is deactivated.
US08732374B2 Subscriber node of a communication system having a functionally separate transmission event memory
A subscriber node of a communication system, a communication system and a method for transmitting a message in the communication system. The message is transmitted from a first subscriber node of the communication system via a data bus of the communication system to a second subscriber node of the communication system. An application program of the first subscriber node files the message, that is to be sent, in a message memory, from where it is retrieved by a communication controller, upon a sending command of the application program, and is transmitted via the data bus. In particular in the case of a cancellation of the transmission job, in order to be able to improve the capacity utilization and the efficiency of a host CPU, it is provided that a transmission event for the message, that is to be sent or that has been sent, is stored in at least one transmission event memory, that is functionally separate from the message memory, and that the application program is able to access the data stored in the event memory at any time.
US08732370B2 Multilayer arbitration for access to multiple destinations
An arbiter is provided for arbitrating for access to a shared resource by a plurality of requesters and by a background requester in a processing system. A priority value is assigned to each of the plurality of requestors. A multilayer arbitration contest is performed to resolve each conflict in transaction requests to the shared resource, however, a requester of the plurality of requesters having a highest priority value does not always win an arbitration contest. An arbitration contest will be overridden whenever the background requester initiates a transaction request, such that the background requester always wins the overridden arbitration contest. The shared resource is accessed by the winner of each arbitration contest.
US08732367B2 Bus host controller and method thereof
A bus host controller and a method thereof are provided. If a terminal device coupled to the bus is a non-periodic device, the bus host controller places a higher priority on data packet transferring request than start-of-frame (SOF) packet transferring request.
US08732366B2 Method to configure serial communications and device thereof
In response to a reset condition, the state of a steady-state signal at an I/O pin of the serial communication port of an integrated circuit die is determined. The serial communication port is configured to support one of the plurality of serial communication protocols based upon the detected steady-state condition.
US08732363B2 Data processing apparatus and data processing method
A data processing apparatus may include a data conversion unit that arranges the input data in each transfer data in the conversion unit using one transfer data as one transfer unit and a predetermined number of transfer units as one conversion unit when converting a plurality of input data input sequentially into transfer data having a bit number identical to a predetermined bit number of a data bus and sequentially transferring the converted transfer data. The data conversion unit may include a data generation unit and a first data arrangement changing unit. The first data arrangement changing unit may include a bit change number calculating unit, a bit change number analysis unit, a first data sorting unit, and a data coupling unit.
US08732360B2 System and method for accessing memory
A storage system and method for storing information in memory nodes. The storage or memory nodes include a communication buffer. Flow of information to the storage nodes is controlled based upon constraints on the communication buffer. In one embodiment, communications between a master controller and a storage node have a determined maximum latency.
US08732359B2 Data sharing in high-fidelity simulation and real-time multi-core execution
When executing a graphical model of a dynamic system that includes two or more concurrently executing sets of operations, a processor is configured to create a first buffer and a second buffer within the executable graphical model. A first set of operations is configured to write data to the first buffer during a first execution instance of the first set of operations. The first set of operations is configured to write data to the second buffer during a second execution instance of the first thread. A second set of operations is configured to read the data from the first buffer during an instance of the second thread that executes contemporaneously with the second execution instance of the first set of operations. Determinations regarding access to the first buffer and second buffer by the first thread and second thread are self-contained within the first thread and second thread, respectively.
US08732358B2 Circuit systems and methods using prime number interleave optimization for byte lane to time slice conversion
Circuit systems and methods use prime number interleave optimization for byte lane to time slice conversion of incoming data streams. Generally, the systems and methods buffer data for at least a number of samples equal to the number of byte lanes. Then the samples are transferred to a bank of buffers whose width is the smallest prime number greater than or equal to the number of byte lanes, N. Thus, the systems and methods utilize P minus N phantom lanes. As data is transferred, the data is circularly interleaved (position*N modulo P) so that all data which will be needed at the same time wind up in different readable devices, i.e. the buffers. By appropriate addressing, the data in the different readable devices may then be read in the form of time slices. The process can be reversed for time slice to byte lane conversion.
US08732356B2 Storage system, and access path state update method
A storage system includes: an access path management unit managing a state of each access path for each logical disk; an I/O speed calculation unit storing, for each of the access paths, a data size and required time obtained when an I/O is executed, and calculates an I/O speed for every calculation cycle; a path candidate selection unit selecting an access path in the available state as an I/O use candidate; and a path candidate exclusion unit which excludes access paths of which speed is slow from the candidates, using a highest speed value among the speed values of the access paths selected as candidates, and the access path management unit sequentially changes the states of the access paths, out of the remaining candidates, to the I/O use states, in order of the I/O speed from the fastest until the number of access paths reaches the maximum number of paths.
US08732353B2 Transmitter device, receiver device, transmission method, reception method, and transmitter/receiver device
There is provided a transmitter device including an interface unit that is an interface for connection to a receiver device via a transmission path, a pre-emphasis unit configured to generate a pre-emphasis signal, the pre-emphasis signal being obtained by adding to an input signal another signal for compensating for a high-frequency component of the input signal, and a transmission control unit configured to acquire identification information indicating whether the receiver device is capable of performing a process of receiving the pre-emphasis signal, switch the receiver device to a state in which the receiver device is capable of performing the process of receiving the pre-emphasis signal in accordance with the identification information, and control the pre-emphasis unit to generate the pre-emphasis signal.
US08732347B2 Automatic attachment and detachment for hub and peripheral devices
A device comprises circuitry and a transceiver. In operation, the device is configured to cause the transceiver to: receive a first message from another device to support at least one aspect of attachment of the device and the another device, send, to the another device, a second message after the first message and prior to attachment, receive, from the another device, a third message that is sent after the second message and prior to attachment, send, to the another device, a fourth message after the third message and prior to attachment, receive, from the another device, a fifth message that is sent after the fourth message and prior to attachment, and send, directly to the another device, data utilizing at least one channel for data transfer utilizing a second one of the addresses for identification in association with the device on the shared wireless communication medium.
US08732340B2 Transport agnostic SCSI I/O referrals
The present invention is a method for providing multi-pathing via Small Computer System Interface Input/Output (SCSI I/O) referral between an initiator and a storage cluster which are communicatively coupled via a network. The method includes receiving an input/output (I/O) at a first target device from the initiator via the network. The I/O includes a data request. The method further includes transmitting a SCSI I/O referral list to the initiator when data included in the data request is not stored on the first target device, but is stored on a second target device. The referral list includes first and second port identifiers for identifying first and second ports of the second target device respectively. The first and second ports of the target device are identified as access ports for accessing the data requested in the data request.
US08732339B2 NPIV at storage devices
One embodiment is a storage device that has multiple physical ports receiving input/outputs (I/Os) from a host computer. Each of the ports presents plural virtual ports using N_Port ID Virtualization (NPIV) to prioritize the I/Os.
US08732335B2 Device communications over unnumbered interfaces
A method and a network device for enabling communication between unnumbered interfaces are provided. A device level address may be assigned to a network device. The network device may announce the assigned device level address to a neighboring network device over a link. A corresponding device level address associated with the neighboring network device may be received over the link. A route may be stored including the received device level address associated with the neighboring network device and the link. In some implementations, the announcement of the assigned device level address is performed during protocol configuration.
US08732334B2 Storage area network multi-pathing
Provided are a method, computer program product and system for network multi-pathing. Paths to a storage system are through a first network type and a second network type. The first network type has a higher Input/Output (I/O) per second performance characteristic than the second network type. A length is determined from a received I/O request. The I/O request is sent on one of the paths to the storage system through the first network type in response to determining that the length of the I/O request is below a threshold length. The I/O request is sent on one of the paths to the storage system through the second network type in response to determining that the length of the I/O request is above the threshold length.
US08732329B2 Media player with integrated parallel source download technology
A media player implements an integrated parallel source download technology to receive a media file from streamed and segmented media file sources. A first source streams delivery of streamed media packets of the media file in sequential packet number order to the media player, while a second source provides segmented delivery of segmented media packets of the media file in random order to the media player. The media player combines the streamed media packets and the segmented media packets to produce the media file.
US08732324B2 Keep-alive hiatus declaration
In an embodiment, a method is performed by one or more processors and comprises obtaining a hiatus declaration that indicates that a network device will be incommunicable; suspending communication with the network device until expiration of a hiatus time period during which the network device is expected to be incommunicable; resuming communication with the network device in response to any of: determining that the hiatus time period has expired; obtaining a keep-alive message from the network device; or obtaining other indication that the network device can communicate.
US08732319B2 Context awareness proximity-based establishment of wireless communication connection
A mechanism for context awareness proximity-based establishment of wireless communication connections can be implemented in Bluetooth-compatible devices for simplifying procedures for device discovery, connection, service discovery, and content exchange. In response to determining to execute a context task associated with an application associated with a first communication device, the first communication device can determine whether a second communication device is within a threshold detection distance from the first communication device. If the second communication device is within the threshold detection distance from the first communication device, the first communication device can establish a communication link with the second communication device based, at least in part, on one or more connection parameters associated with the second communication device. The first communication device can determine whether to execute the context task based, at least in part, on a service list associated with the second communication device and the context task.
US08732301B1 Video aware pages
Analytics describing video data published to one or more destination sites are calculated. Metrics describing performance of the video data, such as performance in different geographical areas, in different demographics and in different devices are calculated. An interface simplifies calculation of the video metrics to simplify analysis by allowing a user to identify different videos or sets of videos for analysis. Additionally, interaction with one or more web pages including the video data is also captured and combined with video data performance metrics. For example, a report describing interaction with one or more web pages within a website and video data included on the one or more web pages is generated.
US08732300B2 Application monitoring in a stream database environment
Methods and systems for monitoring a stream application are disclosed. The stream application is composed from a plurality of processing elements executing on one or more compute nodes. A graphical user interface display presents a user with at least a portion of an operator graph in a running stream application. The operator graph represents the plurality of processing elements, and links between processing elements, corresponding to a flow of data tuples through the stream application. A monitoring application then monitors user interactions with the presentation of the portion of the operator graph on the graphical user interface display and identifies at least a first modification to the stream application based on a processing state of the stream application and the monitored user interactions.
US08732297B2 Time-based graphic network reporting navigator
The presently disclosed embodiments are directed to representing network performance information using a network map by partitioning a graphical affordance representing a network element in the network map into segmented sections in accordance with a temporal encoding scheme to encode temporal information in the network map. The segmented sections are encoded using a performance encoding scheme to identify a level of performance associated with the segmented sections so that the network map depicts a performance of the network element over time.
US08732293B2 System and method for tracking individuals on a data network using communities of interest
The current invention relates to a system and method for tracking or locating a target entity on a data network, such as the public Internet, by analyzing network traffic and communication among interacting network nodes. The invention describes a system of creating an information set of data related to the traffic patterns associated with a specific entity over a time period, and comparing the information set to other information related to the traffic patterns associated with a group of entities over the same time period. By excluding information that is common to both the specific entity and the group of entities from the information set, the information set is left with only the information that helps identify the specific entity on the network.
US08732290B2 Virtual workplace software based on organization characteristics
Virtual workplace server software may be selected for and/or provided to an organization server based on various characteristics of the organization. One or more inputs may be received corresponding to organization characteristics, for example, organization type and size, along with other potential organization characteristics and additional relevant information. Based on the organization characteristics and/or other relevant information, virtual workplace software may be selected for an organization server. The selection of the virtual workplace software may be output and/or the corresponding software may be downloaded and installed to provide desktop virtualization at the organization server. After the virtual workplace software is installed at a desktop virtualization server, the software may be used to provide virtual desktops to authorized end users and management functionality to authorized administrators.
US08732285B2 Upgradeable persistent virtual storage
A method to provide at least one of a scalable, a replaceable, and an upgradeable device via remote access solution virtual media includes emulating a physical plug-and-play universal serial bus device to a managed host server system as a virtual media device using firmware in a service processor and a virtual media engine of a remote access solution comprising a remote access card disposed in the managed host server system, the physical plug-and-play universal serial bus device disposed in the remote access card, proxying data communications between the physical plug-and-play universal serial bus device and the managed host server system through the service processor, and allowing remote access to the physical plug-and-play universal serial bus device by a remote management client using the firmware in the service processor and the virtual media engine via an out-of-band dedicated remote access card network interface card disposed in the remote access card.
US08732281B2 Actively updating clients with selected data
In an embodiment, a data processing apparatus comprising one or more electronic digital processors; Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) server logic coupled to the one or more processors; an active leasequery channel response logic coupled to the DHCP server logic which when executed causes the one or more processors to perform receiving, from a particular DHCP client among a plurality of DHCP clients, an active leasequery initiation message requesting the DHCP server logic to actively send update messages about changes in network address leases that the DHCP server logic manages; wherein the active leasequery initiation message comprises a channel identifier value; determining whether the channel identifier value matches a client class that the DHCP server logic manages; in response to determining that the channel identifier value does match a client class identifier that the DHCP server logic manages, sending, to the particular DHCP client, one or more DHCP response messages describing any changes in network address leases that the DHCP server logic performs only for a subset of the DHCP clients that are in the matched client class.
US08732277B1 Pre-loaded identifiers to identify media content for mobile devices using captured audio
In general, embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to techniques for determining a user's potential exposure to defined audio content (e.g., television and audio advertisements) using a mobile device. In one example, a method includes receiving first audio content. The method further includes generating a first digital representation of the first audio content. The method also includes accessing a data structure, wherein the data structure contains at least a second digital representation of at least second audio content. The method also includes comparing the first digital representation to at least the second digital representation contained in the data structure and if there is a match between the first digital representation and at least the second digital representation contained in the data structure, transmitting a message to a remote server indicating the match.
US08732273B2 Data inquiry system and method for three-dimensional location-based image, video, and information
This invention discloses a data inquiry system for three-dimensional location-based image, video, and information, which comprises a client device and a remote server. The client device provides space parameters and lens parameters to the remote server through a transmission module. The remote server determines a space inquiry range by the space parameter and lens parameter, inquires an object data of an object space position parameter at the space inquiry range, shows the object data in an image data displayed by the client device to facilitate users to identify the desired viewing object, and further inquires the object data and related image and/or video data.
US08732272B2 Methods and apparatus for obtaining integrated content from multiple networks
A method and apparatus for obtaining location content from multiple networks is disclosed. The method may comprises: obtaining coarse location content at a wireless communication device (WCD) from a first network using a first protocol, wherein the coarse location content includes information defining locations of geographic coverage regions for one or more second networks which use a second protocol, obtaining WCD location information, determining from the WCD location information and the coarse location content if the WCD is within the geographic coverage region of a second network, accessing the determined second network using the second protocol, receiving from the accessed second network fine location content, and generating an integrated location content item by combining the coarse location content with the fine location content.
US08732271B1 Sponsored message network based on community preferences
The invention described here is a system and method for efficiently presenting sponsored messages to the user of a participating information site or service, based on the level of interest recently expressed in those messages by other visitors to the same site. Presentation of sponsored messages may also be based on the level of interest expressed by other visitors across the network who are in the individual user's geographic region.
US08732270B2 Controlling communication among multiple industrial control systems
A communication control method and system for controlling communication among multiple industrial control systems connected via a network. The communication control system includes: a communication relay apparatus for relaying communication between at least two of multiple industrial control systems; a monitoring section for monitoring the multiple industrial control systems; and a control section for switching, if the monitoring section detects an anomaly from at least one of the multiple industrial control systems, communication between an industrial control system detected with an anomaly and a second industrial control system so that the communication is performed via the communication relay apparatus.
US08732268B2 Global traffic management using modified hostname
A particular method includes receiving a request from a client at a server and sending a global traffic management identifier in response to the request from the client. The global traffic management identifier is determined based on an attribute of the client. In response to the client requesting access to a service based on a modified hostname of the service, a data center associated with the service is identified based on the modified hostname of the service. The modified hostname identifies the global traffic management identifier, and the identified data center is useable by the client to access the service.
US08732265B2 Reconciliation and remediation with communication archives
Techniques for reconciliation and remediation of messages sent by a server for storage in an archive are described. Some techniques may comprise receiving a message to be reconciled corresponding to a message sent by a server to be stored in an archive. The received message may be categorized for reconciliation, and a delivery confirmation query may be issued to the archive according to categorization of the message for reconciliation. Based on the response to the delivery confirmation query, it can be determined with certainty whether the message sent to the archive for storage is indeed stored at the archive. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US08732256B2 Message challenge response
A system and method are disclosed for registering a email sender for the purpose of sending an email message to an email receiver including receiving a challenge message wherein the challenge message includes a machine answerable question; processing the challenge message to determine that it is a challenge message sent for the purpose of authorizing delivery of the email message; analyzing the question to determine a valid response to the challenge message; and sending the valid response that includes the answer wherein a nontrivial amount of resources are required to send the valid response.
US08732250B2 Provision of secure RSS feeds using a secure RSS catcher
A device that resides behind a firewall and receives content to be further directed towards one or more users, such as high-volume emails. The device captures the incoming content that is delivered over a secure communication channel from an external content source and creates personalized RDF or XML files for the intended recipients. The URLs associated with the files include a unique code that is generated using at least a portion of the addressing information or other parameters of the message. An RSS reader can then be employed to read the content from the RDF or XML file.
US08732248B2 System and method for providing multi-media services to communication devices over a communications network
A method of processing multi-media service requests received at a multi-media services provider computer system, including a processor coupled to a media gateway controller and to a media server. The method includes receiving a message from a SIP INVITE-enabled communication device at the media gateway controller. The message is processed at the media gateway controller for generating an instruction message with unique indicators, which is communicated to the media server in a SIP INVITE format. The media server processes the instruction message to provide media services and collect user-information from the communication device. The media server processes the user-information and generates a first message in an HTTP form POST format with unique indicators, which includes the user-information and which can be processed at the processor. In this manner, the multi-media services provider computer system is compatible with the SIP INVITE-enabled device.
US08732245B2 Method, system and computer software product for pre-selecting a folder for a message
In a computer system, a system, method and computer program product for pre-selecting a folder for a current message. The system, method and computer program product involve (a) providing a folder pre-selection cache having n configurable entries, n being a predetermined positive integer greater than one, each configurable entry being configured to include an associated pre-selection criterion for matching with the current message, and an associated folder identification for identifying an associated folder in the plurality of folders; (b) for at least one entry in the folder pre-selection cache, comparing a comparison criterion, obtained from the current message, with the associated pre-selection criterion to determine a matching entry in the folder pre-selection cache; and, (c) pre-selecting the folder identified by the associated folder identification of the matching entry when the message comparison module determines the matching entry in the folder pre-selection cache.
US08732243B2 Method and system for application layer link control
The present invention discloses a method and a system for application layer link control. The method comprises: judging whether the number “a” of links which have been established between an exterior IP and a multimedia messaging service gateway (MMSG) in current granularity is less than a threshold number “A” of links for establishing a connection with the MMSG in the current granularity (S1); if it is determined to be “yes”, subtracting the “a” from the “A” to obtain a threshold number “B” of links for establishing a connection with the MMSG in a next granularity (S2), wherein B=A−a; and otherwise, obtaining the threshold number “B” of links for establishing a connection with the MMSG in the next granularity, wherein B=0, and rejecting a request that the exterior IP initiates to establish a connection with the MMSG in the next granularity. With the present invention, effective control for establishing a link with the MMSG is realized, the MMSG link resource is distributed fairly and perfect distribution of the link resource is realized.
US08732242B2 Methods and systems for bandwidth adaptive N-to-N communication in a distributed system
Methods and systems for bandwidth adaptive computing device to computing device communication are described. Bandwidth adaptive communication includes receiving a communication from a first participant, storing the payload data of the communication in a channel memory element associated with the first participant, and transmitting the payload data to a second participant.
US08732231B2 Provision of services through communication networks
Disclosed is a method for providing services through a communication network to an end user device connected to the communication network, the method comprising allowing a service to be defined by providing a pointer to a standard format file comprising content for the service, reading content from the standard format file, and sending at least some part of said content through said communication network to the end user device.
US08732230B2 Computers and microchips with a side protected by an internal hardware firewall and an unprotected side connected to a network
A computer or microchip comprising an internal hardware firewall configured to separate a protected side from an unprotected side of the hardware of the computer or microchip, the unprotected side being configured to connect to a network of computers; the protected side of the computer or microchip being protected by the internal hardware firewall and including at least one microprocessor or processing unit; the unprotected side of the computer or microchip being located outside of the internal hardware firewall and including one or more additional microprocessors or processing units and hardware network communications components; and the one or more unprotected microprocessors or processing units being separate from the internal hardware firewall. The unprotected side can include two or more unprotected microprocessors or processing units that are configured for parallel and/or multitasking processing.
US08732228B2 Publishing documents in a publish/subscribe data processing system
Documents are published in a publish subscribe data processing system. A first document to be published may have an associated topic. The first document is retained as a retained document. A second document to be published is retained as the retained document in response to receiving the second document before a predetermined time interval has passed. A copy of the second document is sent to a subscriber of the topic. A copy of the retained document is sent to the subscriber of the topic in response to a determination that the predetermined time interval has passed.
US08732222B2 Integrating specialized knowledge sources into a general search service
Embodiments are described for a system for integrating expert sources of knowledge into a general search service. The method can include a general search engine interface to receive a search query with at least one search term from a user. An expert knowledge engine can enable retrieval of expert information and analyzes. A predictive model module can be used to determine a probability that an expert knowledge engine may provide a valuable response to the query. The search query can be routed to the expert knowledge engine based on a cost-benefit analysis. A query reformulation module can reformulate a query for use by the expert knowledge engine. A display module can be employed to combine the expert search results with other search results.
US08732220B2 Virtualized file system
File system views are created for each application executed by a user, where this user-specific view comprises operating system files needed to run the application and file system changes made with this application for this user. Changes made to the file system during execution are allowed (in accordance with the user's permissions), but by default, those changes are not visible to other applications or to other users. Optionally, a user or administrator may specify that one or more file system views are to be accessible from other views. The view-specific isolation of file system changes applies also to system files and meta-data alterations that might be made to the operating system. In one alternative approach, file system views may be created for an application without regard to individual users, where that application's view is then used for all users who execute the application.
US08732219B1 Method and system for determining correlated geographic areas
A method of determining a geographic area having similar characteristics to a first geographic area associated with a user includes receiving a plurality of inputs related to characteristics of a plurality of geographic areas and constructing a feature vector for each of the geographic areas based on the plurality of inputs. The method also includes receiving a plurality of inputs related to characteristics of the first geographic area and constructing a feature vector for the first geographic area associated with the user. The method further includes receiving an input from the user related to a city of interest, comparing the feature vector for the first geographic area to feature vectors associated with geographic areas located in or adjacent to the city of interest, and ranking the geographic areas located in or adjacent to the city of interest using the comparing step.
US08732209B2 Computerized system and method for rendering reports in a healthcare environment
Computerized systems and methods for dynamically rendering reports in a healthcare environment are provided. In accordance with one method of the invention, two XML files are provided. The first XML file contains data representing information to be presented in the report. The second XML file contains data representing a format for the report. The second XML file is converted to an XSL stylesheet and applied to the data contained in the first XML file to create a third XML file. The third XML file contains the data representing the information to be presented in the report and the data representing the format for the report. The report is rendered using the third XML file.
US08732207B2 Attribute-based linked tries for rule evaluation
An embodiment for evaluating rules pertaining to an event includes providing a rule trie comprising multiple nodes, wherein match conditions must be met to trigger a given rule, and each match condition corresponds to a different node. An attribute trie is provided for a string attribute, which includes a node sequence having a value. The string attribute is extracted from the event and also has a value. The value of the extracted string attribute and the value of the node sequence are compared, by traversing a path extending along the node sequence. Responsive to determining that the values of the extracted string attribute and the node sequence are the same, notice is provided that the match condition of a particular node of the rule trie has been met by an attribute of the received event.
US08732205B2 Universal device identifier for globally identifying and binding disparate device identifiers to the same mobile device
Embodiments of the invention are directed to determining a universal device identifier (UDID) for a client device, based on multiple service-dependent identifiers (SDIDs) used by client applications, websites, or other services to identify the client device. SDID types are prioritized with pre-assigned weights. A received SDID causes a single database read to access all other SDIDs, and any existing UDID(s) associated with the client device. A final UDID is created or selected based on the SDID weights. The database is updated in a sequence that enables self recovery of a prior UDID in case of database error during update. First, any non-selected UDID records are updated with the final UDID. Next, lower weighted SDID records are updated. The final UDID record is updated. The highest weighted SDID record is updated last, to preserve the prior UDID as long as possible in case of update error, which aborts the remaining update.
US08732203B2 Image forming apparatus and control method thereof
An image forming apparatus includes a first storage medium to store a storage target file, without storing storage management information of the storage target filed. The image forming apparatus may also have a controller to control storing the storage management information of the storage target file separately from the storage target file. Therefore, without the storage management information that is indispensable for accessing the storage target file the file is secure regardless of detaching the first storage medium from the image forming apparatus.
US08732196B2 One-stop shopping system and method
A system and method are disclosed for one-stop shopping for health-care services and related needs. The one-stop shopping system and method provide objective information for the system enrollee to assess and decide on health-care insurance and services. The system and method provide this objective information in a way that is easily accessible by system enrollees in an economical and rapid manner.
US08732194B2 Systems and methods for generating issue libraries within a document corpus
A computer-implemented method of generating an issue library from a corpus of documents defining a citation network includes semantically linking, by a computing device, electronic documents within the corpus of documents by pairing reasons-for-citing in citing documents with cited-text-areas in cited documents and storing citation entries associated with the semantically-linked electronic documents in a citation-pairing metadata file. The method may further include searching the citation-pairing metadata file for reasons-for-citing and cited-text-areas that are semantically similar to at least one issue to thereby group similar documents and reasons-for-citing by issue, and storing information regarding groups of semantically-similar reasons-for-citing and cited-text-areas in a plurality of issue library metadata entities. Each issue library metadata entity is associated with an individual issue.
US08732192B2 Searching for web pages based on user-recalled web page appearance
In a method for searching for a previously visited web page, a first computer receives a plurality of search parameters from a second computer. The plurality of search parameters include a parameter identifying a characteristic of an element of a previously visited web page and a parameter identifying a weight of confidence in a recollection of a user that the element has the characteristic. The first computer searches for the characteristic of the element in a database including one or more characteristics of elements of indexed web pages. The first computer finds a match between the characteristic of the element and a characteristic of an element of an indexed web page of the indexed web pages. The first computer creates a list including an identification of the indexed web page. The first computer sends the list to the second computer.
US08732191B2 System and method for improving application connectivity in a clustered database environment
A clustered database environment (e.g. Oracle Real Application Cluster (RAC)) includes multiple database instances that appear as one server. An application server (e.g. WebLogic Server (WLS)) can use a data source (e.g. an Oracle GridLink data source) and connection pools to connect with the clustered database. In accordance with an embodiment, a data source configuration allows for specification of a preferred affinity policy, such as a data affinity, temporal affinity, and/or session or session-based affinity policy. In accordance with an embodiment, the system includes a number of features that improve application connectivity in the clustered database environment, including a select-only case for application continuity, wherein an application-independent infrastructure, e.g. implemented within a Java Database Connectivity (JDBC) driver, enables recovery of work from an application perspective and masks system communications, hardware failures and hangs.
US08732190B2 Network calling privacy with recording
Compliance with a privacy database and call-specific applications is provided within a network. A service control function (SCF), in communication with a privacy database, selectively establishes a call between an origin and a destination. Based on origin or destination identifiers, call parameters are determined for further operations associated with the call. A server, responsive to the call parameters, performs monitoring of the call or post-call disposition to update the privacy database.
US08732188B2 Method and system for providing contextual based medication dosage determination
Methods and devices for statistical determination of medication dosage level such as bolus amount based on contextual information are provided.
US08732176B2 Web-based tool for detecting bias in reviews
One embodiment provides a computer system for detecting associations between a reviewer and an entity under review. During operation, the system estimates a relationship strength between the reviewer and the entity under review, and determines whether the relationship strength between the reviewer and the entity under review exceeds a predetermined threshold.
US08732170B2 Method and apparatus for real-time multi-dimensional reporting and analyzing of data on application level activity and other user information on a mobile data network
A method and apparatus for real-time, multi-dimensional reporting and analyzing of data on application level activity and other user information on a mobile data network. A report manager communicates with a data manager to develop and test real-time reports about aggregate and user-level network usage. The data manager provides a database of non-aggregate, user-specific event data and a set of tables specifying combinations of monitored variables satisfying a set of defined reports. The report manager comprises a report generation module, which receives operator instructions for aggregate usage information. The report module determines whether the requested information can be satisfied by combinations of monitored aggregate variables, or whether it must be retrieved from a non-aggregate, user-specific, event data database. Furthermore, the report module is responsive to operator instructions to add a test report to the set of defined real-time reports.
US08732169B2 Lateral search
A search query is received. Personal information for a user is then determined. A search is performed in a general subdomain of general content using the search query. For example, the general subdomain of general content may be a WWW search. Then, a vertical subdomain is determined based on the personal information. A search is then performed in the vertical subdomain of specialized content using the search query. The search performed in the general subdomain and the search performed in the vertical subdomain generate general search results and vertical search results. The results may be combined and outputted to a client.
US08732167B1 Identifying digital resources relating to entities
Methods, apparatuses, and systems for identifying and ranking digital resources relating to entities. A keyword included in a search query that is received, is determined to be a name of an entity. A database of names of distinct entities that uniquely identifies distinct entities that have a same name is searched. It is determined that the database associates the keyword with a first and a second entity. First and second resources, determined to be relevant to the first and the second entity, respectively, are identified from the database. In response to receiving the search query, search results directed to the first entity and separate search results directed to the second entity are provided. The search results include one or more links to the provided one or more resources.
US08732163B2 Query optimization with memory I/O awareness
System, method, computer program product embodiments and combinations and sub-combinations thereof for tuning query execution performance in a database management system are described. In an aspect, query optimization in a database management system (DBMS) with memory I/O (input/output) awareness includes determining compensated physical I/O (PIO) values indicative of memory I/O operations, including an approximate cache occupancy level, of an executing query in a DBMS, and utilizing the compensated PIO values as feedback to a query optimizer of the DBMS for optimization of future query execution.
US08732161B2 Event based organization and access of digital photos
Architecture and its implementation of an event-based media management system and method are disclosed. A generic model for events is used for developing architecture for media management, called Eventcentric Media Management (EMMa) system. The system focuses on event experiences and provides flexible functionality for media management. The system and method analyze cross-media files for features to extract atomic events and apply algorithms to cluster files including similar or related features. Thus, the EMMa system allows unified media indexing of multiple media types, better abstraction of the real world, use of context, media processing operations to compute and store features and tags, and a more intuitive support for multiple users. It provides environments for querying and browsing media related to events and authoring of multimedia presentations for sharing with other individuals.
US08732158B1 Method and system for matching queries to documents
Methods, systems, and articles of manufacture for the analysis of large document archives by matching queries against documents are disclosed. These include generating an ordered sequence of query tokens for each query, generating an ordered sequence of document tokens for each document, selecting an ordered sequence of document tokens from the tokenized one or more documents, selecting an ordered sequence of query tokens from the tokenized one or more queries, configuring a buffer to hold a subsequence of the selected ordered sequence of document tokens, comparing the selected ordered sequence of query tokens to successive subsequences of the selected ordered sequence of document tokens in the configured buffer where each of the successive subsequences and the selected ordered sequence of query tokens have the same length in tokens, and determining a match result based upon the comparison.
US08732146B2 Database integrated viewer
A database integration viewer that allows additional properties to be associated with a record as viewed in a single record or table, even though those additional properties are not owned by the record in the underlying source record or table in the database. Using this integration view, a viewed version of record or table may be different than the actual structure of the source record or table. In the viewed version of the record or table, the viewed record or table or may include some or all of the properties for the records of the subject record or table, while incorporating one or more additional properties for the record into the viewed table. The properties may be scalars, or may be computed to populate the viewed version of the record or table.
US08732143B2 Reducing locking during database transactions
Concepts and technologies are described herein for reducing locking during database transactions without using a cache. In accordance with the concepts and technologies disclosed herein, a server application generates a changeset in response to receiving an operation for modifying base data stored in a database. The changeset is stored as a set of tables that are stored at the database with the base data, and include a first table reflecting records in the base data that have been created and/or modified by the operations. The changeset further can include a second table reflecting records in the base data that have been deleted by the operations.
US08732142B2 Generation of suggestions to correct data race errors
A method of removing a first data race condition by generating a list of suggested solutions is provided. The method comprises detecting the first data race condition involving a shared resource that is accessed first by a first thread and then by a second thread; suggesting one or more solutions using a lockset mechanism; suggesting one or more solutions using a vector clock mechanism; suggesting that a user create a new synchronization object; suggesting that a user replicate the shared resource; and displaying the list to the user.
US08732137B2 Separating content from noisy context in template-based documents for search indexing
In one embodiment, a mechanism for separating content from noisy context in template-based documents for search indexing is disclosed. In one embodiment, a method includes selecting a plurality of documents for index comparison, identifying one or more identical elements found in each of the plurality of documents, and removing the one or more identical elements from consideration in an indexing process of the plurality of documents.
US08732134B2 Collection of data associated with storage systems
Example embodiments provide various techniques for collecting data associated with the performance of a storage system. In one method, an attribute associated with the storage system is detected and a data collection policy associated with the attribute is identified. Here, the data collection policy defines a type of data associated with the performance to be collected. With the data collection policy identified, the data are then collected based on the data collection policy.
US08732130B2 Virtualization switch, computer system, and data copy method
A virtualization switch connected to a host computer and a plurality of physical storage devices includes a plurality of communication line connection terminals and storage virtualizing unit allowing the host computer to recognize a storage area generated by combining some or all of storage areas of the plurality of physical storage devices as a virtual storage device, a plurality of copy process unit copying data in the storage area, and control unit controlling a copy process operation by assigning copy sessions based on instructions from the host computer to the plurality of copy process unit. When the number of copy process units is larger than number of copy sessions, the control unit performs control to distribute part of a copy process in the one or copy process units that are currently performing the copy process to the one or more copy process units that are not performing the copy process.
US08732128B2 Shadow copy bookmark generation
Systems and methods for generating a bookmark for a snapshot of one or more volumes of a production server include initiating a snapshot process to capture a shadow copy of a snapshot-volume set, which includes one or more volumes of the production server. The snapshot process (e.g., Volume Shadow Copy Service of Windows™ operating system) may include (a) temporarily freezing operations on a file system of the production server, and (b) releasing a freeze of operations on the file system of the production server. A bookmark for the shadow copy (representing a consistent state of the associated volumes) may be generated such that the bookmark corresponds to a completion of the temporarily freezing or releasing a freeze of the operations. The bookmark may include a point in time of the completion of the temporarily freezing or releasing the freeze of the operations.
US08732127B1 Method and system for managing versioned structured documents in a database
A method for processing a query for a versioned structured document includes providing vNodes representing objects of at least one version of a structured document. Each vNode includes versioning information associated with a version(s) of the structured document. A query for a version(s) of the structured document is received. The query includes a vFunction having an argument(s) relating to versioning information associated with versions of the structured document. In response to receiving the query, a first vNode is identified that represents a first object in at least one version of the structured document and that includes versioning information satisfying the query. The first vNode is then used to determine a version(s) of the structured document that satisfies the query.
US08732126B2 Filtering workload for database replay
A method and apparatus for capturing database system workload and replaying that workload in a database system is provided. According to one aspect, in order to subject a test database system to the same workload to which the production database system actually would be subjected, a database server in the production system captures and records workload that the database server receives from external entities. This captured workload is processed. Processes external to a database server in the test database system send the processed workload to that database server. As a result, the test database system is subjected to the same workload to which the production database system originally was subjected. The foregoing technique permits a database administrator to determine how the production database system will fare if the difference that is present in the test database system is introduced into the production database system.
US08732124B1 Multisite replication with coordinated cycle switching
Handling asynchronous data provided by at least two sources includes synchronizing data between the at least two sources, coordinating cycle switching between the at least two sources, where an asynchronous cycle of data from one of the sources corresponds to an asynchronous cycle of data from an other one of the sources, receiving asynchronous data corresponding to a data cycle from at least one of the sources, and saving at least some of the received data. A first portion of data for a particular cycle may be transmitted from one of the sources and a second portion of data for the particular cycle, different from the first portion of data, may be transmitted from an other one of the sources and the first portion and the second portion together may correspond to all of the data for the particular cycle.
US08732120B1 Concurrent editing of large geographic data sets
Systems, methods, and computer storage mediums are provided for collaboratively editing geographic features in a shared geographic database. An example method includes receiving a request from a first user to edit data associated with a plurality of geographic features geocoded within a first geographic area. The first geographic area is selected by the first user and defined by a first set of coordinates. The method then determines whether the first geographic area intersects a second geographic area. The second geographic area is selected by a second user and defined by a second set of coordinates. The intersection between the first and second sets of coordinates is determined by comparing the coordinates of the first and second geographic areas. When the first and second geographic areas do not intersect, the method locks the first geographic area to prevent other users from editing the geographic features geolocated within the first geographic area.
US08732119B2 Concurrent engineering conflict manager
A conflict manager according to the present invention is provided for managing concurrent engineering. A common work area is provided and accessible by engineers who also maintain local work areas. The conflict manager immediately notifies users when a drawing file on the common work area is modified. The conflict manager further includes locking, versioning and conflict functionalities.
US08732113B2 Method for quantifying and modeling degree of nonlinearity, combined nonlinearity, and nonstationarity
A degree of nonlinearity based on intra-wave frequency modulation is proposed here with the value substantially between 0 and 1. The degree of nonlinearity is used for obtaining the state rather than a system. The data required for defining the degree of nonlinearity is the state of the motion or the observed data. For a complicate state with more than one IMF containing prominent energy density, the degree of nonlinearity has also considered the amplitude variations. The combination of the intra-wave frequency modulation and the amplitude variation gives the Combined Degree of nonlinearity. With the definitions of degree of nonlinearity, the nonlinearity characteristic can be quantified, and the discussion of nonlinear effects could be conducted more precisely.
US08732111B2 Method and system for performing root cause analysis
A root cause analysis engine uses event survival times and gradual deletion of events to improve analysis accuracy and reduce the number of required calculations. Certainty factors of relevant rules are recalculated every time notification of an event is received. The calculation results are held in a rule memory in the analysis engine. Each event has a survival time, and when the time has expired, that event is deleted from the rule memory. Events held in the rule memory can be deleted without affecting other events held in the rule memory. The analysis engine can then re-calculate the certainty factor of each rule by only performing the re-calculation with respect to affected rules that are related with the deleted event. The calculation cost can be reduced because analysis engine processes events incrementally or decrementally. Analysis engine can determine the most possible conclusion even if one or more condition elements were not true, because analysis engine can calculate the certainty factor of rule even if one or more events were not notified to analysis engine.
US08732110B2 Method and device for classifying a packet
A method and a device for classifying a packet, in the field of communications technologies, are provided to reduce rule duplication in a classification process and improve classification efficiency. The method classifies a packet by receiving a packet; searching for a rule matching the packet in at least one created decision tree (created after an original rule set is divided based on a segmentation code); and classifying the packet according to a found rule. The method and the device may be applicable to a router.
US08732109B1 Structured requirement generation and assessment
A method and apparatus comprising a requirement generator and a quality assessor. The requirement generator is configured to generate a group of elements of a requirement. The quality assessor is configured to identify a quality level for the elements based on words in the elements and quality criteria.
US08732108B2 Rule authoring for events in a grid environment
A rules engine can be initialized as part of an object grid, wherein the rules engine is executable code executing using computer resources. The rules engine updates a business mapper. The rules engine receives a business rule definition to form a business rule. The rules engine determines business terms are present in the business rule. The rules engine converts the business terms to technical terms based on the business mapper, responsive to a determination that business terms are present. The rules engine determines that the business rule comprises a temporal rule. The rules engine receives rule criteria, wherein the rule criteria is at least one selected from the group consisting of frequency, delay and timing dependency, responsive to the determination that the business rule is a temporal rule. The rules engine stores the business rule to the rules engine. The rules engine publishes the business rule to a publish-subscribe topic.
US08732104B2 Method, system, and apparatus for determining a predicted rating
Embodiments of the invention can incorporate a method and interface to accomplish one or more of the following three processes: input, analysis, and output. With respect to input, the user(s) identifier(s), item(s) identifier(s), and user(s)-item(s) rating data 22 can be accepted through an interface 23 from an application 21. With respect to analysis, the method and interface can then take the actual user-item ratings 31 and process 32 the data to generate and store item predictor information 33. The predicted user-item ratings 41 and the actual user-item ratings 42 can then be outputted by, for example, passing these outputs to the application via an interface 44.
US08732101B1 Apparatus and method for providing harmonized recommendations based on an integrated user profile
In certain implementations, a system may receive attribute data corresponding to attributes of a plurality of users and to one or more venues for which the plurality of users has an affinity. A user personality matrix may be calculated for one or more of the plurality of users based on interrelational nodal link strengths between the one or more users and the venues. The user personality matrices may be merged to calculate a combined personality matrix representing a unified taste profile for the one or more users. A candidate list of venues having the highest link strength with the combined personality matrix may be determined. One or more recommended venues from the candidate list of venues that have the strongest links to the combined personality matrix may be determined, and recommendation data corresponding to the recommended venues may be output.
US08732100B2 Method and apparatus for event detection permitting per event adjustment of false alarm rate
Method and apparatus for object or event of interest detection which minimizes the level of false alarms and maximizes the level of detections as defined on a per event or object basis by the analyst. The invention allows for the minimization of false alarms for objects or events of interest which have a close resemblance to all other objects or events mapped to the same multidimensional feature space, and allows for the per event or per object adjustment on false alarms for objects or events of higher interest.
US08732093B2 Systems and methods for enabling duty determination for a plurality of commingled international shipments
Various embodiments of the present invention provide systems, methods, and computer program products for enabling duty determination for each of a plurality of commingled international shipments being shipped to a plurality of consignees located in a country, the plurality of commingled international shipments being packed in an over packed carton. In general, various embodiments of the invention involve receiving information for each of the commingled international shipments that identifies the consignee for each of the commingled international shipments, creating an individual shipment identifier for each of the commingled international shipments, and associating each individual shipment identifier with the information for the corresponding commingled international shipment. Further, various embodiments of the invention involve transmitting the information for each commingled international shipment to a customs system to enable customs to consider each of the commingled international shipments separately for purposes of determining duty due for each of the commingled international shipments.
US08732090B2 Optimizing procurement spend compliance
Managing spend compliance may include receiving a set of spend transaction records containing one or more spend attributes, one or more compliance business rules and one or more investment scenarios that increase spend compliance. The compliance business rules may be applied to the transaction records and segments of transactions with predetermined high savings opportunities may be determined. A prioritized investment plan over one or more time periods that yield optimized return on investment may be generated based on applying the segments of transactions and the investment scenarios.
US08732087B2 Authorization for media content alteration
A classification method and system for possible content alteration of a media work may include criteria regarding content that is feasible for alteration. Such criteria may be maintained in records that are accessible to an interested party. Some embodiments may include a record of authorization rights applicable to a possible content alteration. Some embodiment implementations may include a derivative version of the media work wherein substitute content, such as an alterable component element having one or more designated aspects, is associated with a real-world entity or person.
US08732086B2 Method and system for managing rights for digital music
A method is described for managing rights for digital music, including registering music players, from among a plurality of music players, with digital archives that store songs, from among a plurality of digital archives, wherein songs can be copied from digital archives to music players, and from music players to digital archives, permitting a music player to copy a song from a digital archive for which it is registered, permitting a digital archive to copy a song from a music player that is registered with the digital archive, restricting a music player from copying a song from a digital archive for which it is not registered, and restricting a digital archive from copying a song from a music player that is not registered with the digital archive. A system and a computer-readable storage medium are also described.
US08732076B2 Methods and systems for providing a savings goal
Example embodiments describe a method and a system to control activities of a financial account. In example embodiments, a secondary account is linked to a primary account. Within the secondary account, a spending account and a savings account are established. A savings goal in the savings account of the secondary account that enables a portion of the savings account of the secondary account to be set aside is created. The savings goal includes a goal amount. An automatic purchase of a product associated with the savings goal upon the goal amount being met may be allowed.
US08732075B1 System and method for personalized commands
Various embodiments of a system and method for personalized commands are described. The system and method for personalized commands may include a payment service including a command management component. Such payment service may be responsive to one or more base commands. The command management component may be configured to generate a user interface for specifying personalized commands that correspond to the base commands. The command management component may be configured to generate mapping information from the information received via the user interface. The command management component may be configured to receive one or more messages that may include commands for the payment service, including personalized commands. From the personalized commands, the command management component may be configured to determine a corresponding base commands (e.g., based on the mapping information). Once the base command is determined, the payment service may perform the base command.
US08732072B2 System and method for establishing or modifying an account with user selectable terms
The present invention relates to methods for allowing an account holder to easily customize the terms of an account such as a loan account, an asset account, a mortgage account, an insurance account, or a brokerage account. Exemplary embodiments of the invention allow the user to specify various preferred terms such as cost (e.g., APR and annual fee), rewards programs, card design, affiliates, credit line, and payment due date, among others. The financial service provider issuing the account, e.g., the issuing bank, may make the various available terms for the account easily accessible to the user, for example through an internet website or an automated phone system, enabling the user to easily specify his or her preferences. The customization methods may be applied to the process of opening a new account or customizing an existing account. The customization methods may dynamically update the available terms as the user begins to select his or her desired terms.
US08732069B2 Systems and methods for monitoring credit of trading counterparties
Systems and methods are provided which monitor trades entered into and cleared by counterparties, track the net and gross positions of counterparties and the counterparties' parent entities, trigger warnings when counterparties or their parent entities exceed a warning limit, and shut-off counterparties' trading ability when counterparties exceed a credit limit. An operator of a credit system using these systems and methods is provided with a variety of interfaces through which the operator can set up new counterparties, search a list of counterparties, view and edit basic information for counterparties, view financial information for counterparties, view and edit notes regarding to counterparties, view and edit limits of counterparties, view position versus limit information for counterparties, view the current day's position information for counterparties, and view cumulative position information for counterparties.
US08732066B2 Method and apparatus for facilitating a transaction between a buyer and one seller
A seller server receives an offer which specifies a type of product (e.g. a seat on a flight), at least one condition (e.g. destination and date of departure), and an offer price specified by a buyer. The seller server also receives an associated payment identifier that specifies a financial account, such as a credit card account. The payment identifier essentially “guarantees” the offer in that the seller may receive payment from the financial account even if the buyer attempts to renege. The seller determines whether to accept the offer, based on various factors such as the offer price and the availability of appropriate products to satisfy the conditions of the offer. If the offer is accepted, payment is provided to the seller using the payment identifier.
US08732064B2 System and method for processing and displaying quantity information during user-configurable time periods
A system and method for displaying quantity related information determined for a plurality of time periods are described. According to one method, a trader may define one or more time periods for which a trading application may determine traded quantities, traded buys, traded sells, or other quantity related information at a plurality of price levels during the defined time periods. The trading application may then graphically display the quantities for each time period in relation to the static axis of prices. The method further includes periodically updating the displayed traded quantity to reflect the quantity during the defined time period, where the quantity is updated based on subsequent market updates that are received from the exchange for the tradable object.
US08732059B2 Method and system for building an investment portfolio
Methods and systems are disclosed that enable the leveraging of financial instrument research at an individual financial instrument level but across multiple classifications of financial instruments to efficiently build an investment portfolio for an investor based on a desired portfolio objective through a plurality of graphical user interfaces (GUIs).
US08732057B1 Systems and methods for administering self-service mutual fund and IRA distributions to participants
A self-service distribution system and method to request a withdrawal of funds from tax-deferred accounts (i.e., a distribution), such as individual retirement accounts (IRAs). The system may retrieve information about a participant's age and type of account from which a distribution is requested. A series of checks defined by rules and regulations that apply to tax-deferred accounts may be run against participant and account information retrieved by the system. A sequence of user interfaces may present information and warnings, such as tax consequences of the distribution, to the guide the participant. The participant may request distributions having a certain frequency, amount, and timing through the presented user interfaces. After all of the information is entered to initiate the distribution, a verification page is presented such that the participant may confirm the enter information is correct. Upon submitting the request, a confirmation is presented.
US08732055B1 Method and system for performing a financial rewind
A computing device of a user, including a processor, a memory, an electronic organization application comprising software instructions stored in memory and executed on the processor to store a plurality of activities associated with the user, and a rewind application configured to interact with the electronic organization application and including software instructions stored in memory and executed on the processor to present at least one question associated with each of the plurality of activities stored in the electronic organization application, receive a response to the at least one question, determine whether each of the plurality of activities is of a predetermined category based on the response received to obtain a subset of the plurality of activities, and store, in a repository, data associated with the subset of the plurality of activities for use in a financial application.
US08732053B2 Trading orders with decaying reserves
In various embodiments, an apparatus includes a processor and a memory. The memory is communicatively coupled to the processor. The memory stores software instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to receive a trading order for a particular quantity of a trading product. The trading order specifies that a first portion of the particular quantity is a displayed quantity and that a second portion of the particular quantity is a reserved quantity. The trading order specifies at least one of a decay rule, a decay interval, a decay rate, decay quantity, and one or more conditions. The software instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to cause the reserved quantity to decay based at least in part on at least one of the decay rule, the decay interval, the decay rate, and the decay quantity, and one or more conditions.
US08732051B2 Device, system, and method of generating a customized trade article
Some embodiments include devices, systems and/or methods of generating a customized trade article. In one embodiment, a trade-article generator application is to receive trade information including a plurality of values of one or more trade-related parameters defining at least one trade with respect to at least one financial instrument, and to automatically generate a customized electronic trade article corresponding to the trade based on a predefined trade-article layout. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US08732050B2 Stochastic control system and method for multi period consumption with goal satisfaction reporting
The present invention relates to dynamic optimization of system control over time. The need for dynamic optimization arises in many settings, as diverse as solar car power consumption during a multi-day race and retirement portfolio management. We disclose a reformulation of the control problem that overcomes the so-called “curse of dimensionality” and allows formulation of optimal control policies multiple period planning horizons. One optimal control policy is for power consumption by a solar car during a race, which involves many course segments, as course conditions vary through a day. Another is for risk in and consumption from a portfolio intended to support retirement. Both multi-period control policies take into account future uncertainty. Particular aspects of the present invention are described in the claims, specification and drawings.
US08732048B2 Automated trading system in an electronic trading exchange
An electronic exchange system network includes a trader site having an automated trading system capable of submitting orders and/or quotes to an exchange site. The automated trading system determines whether an order or quote should be submitted based on, for example, the current market price of an option and theoretical buy and sell prices. The theoretical buy and sell prices are derived from, among other things, the current market price of the security underlying the option. The theoretical buy and sell prices are calculated when underlying factors that contribute to the theoretical prices change. Computation times of the theoretical prices may be reduced by using precalculated values and/or using interpolation and extrapolation. Other techniques may be used in addition or in the alternative to speed automatic decision-making. In addition, a system of checks may be conducted to ensure accurate and safe automated trading. The automated trading system may be capable of automatically submitting orders in connection with the underlying security in order to hedge part of the delta risk associated with the automated option trades.
US08732043B2 Charging diversification using a modified online charging indicator
A system is configured to receive an indication that a session, associated with a user device, is to be established; obtain a profile, associated with the user device, that identifies one or more services to which a user, of the user device, has subscribed; determine that a service, associated with the session, corresponds to one of the services, where the profile identifies one or more charging actions that correspond to the service; instruct a first device to initiate online charging, when the service corresponds to a first type of service; instruct a second device to initiate offline charging, when the service corresponds to a second type of service; and instruct a third device to not initiate online charging or offline charging when the service corresponds to a third type of service.
US08732039B1 Allocating regional inventory to reduce out-of-stock costs
Methods and systems for allocating regional inventory to reduce out-of-stock costs are described. A method may include identifying a total number of units of an item to be stored in a plurality of regions and determining an order forecast for the item in each of the plurality of regions. The method may also include receiving a unit out-of-stock cost of the item in each of the plurality of regions and calculating an expected cost for each of the plurality of regions based, at least in part, on the total number of units of the item, each region's respective order forecast, and each region's respective unit out-of-stock cost. The method may further include allocating a portion of the total number of units of the item to each of the plurality of regions to reduce a sum of the expected costs.
US08732037B2 Method and system for providing a record
A method to facilitate network-based commerce includes determining a site that a user accesses, the site being one of multiple sites operated by a network-based commerce facility. A category list available for the site is retrieved, the category list identifying categories of offerings available via the site. The category list is communicated to the user. The site is a regional site, and the category list is a region-specific category list.
US08732036B2 Supplier/buyer network that provides catalog updates
Embodiments for a supplier/buyer (S/B) network providing catalog updates are disclosed. One method includes the S/B network receiving a request for an update of product information of a catalog. The S/B network receives a profile request of at least one supplier from a buyer. The S/B network confirms that the at least one supplier supports product updates. If the at least one supplier supports product information updates, then the S/B network receives the request for a product information update from the buyer, and requests the product information update from the at least one supplier. The S/B network receives the product information update from the at least one supplier, and the S/B network updates the catalog based on the product information update.
US08732033B2 Computer-based right distribution system with temporal variation
An automated ticket auctioning system receives and evaluates bid information records received from a plurality of remote terminals. Each bid information record corresponds to at least one bid for one or more desired seats at a venue. Each bid information record may also include a plurality of additional bids identified for different seats in the venue. The separate bids in each bid information record are prioritized. The automated ticket auctioning system includes a central controlling computer operable to receive the bid information records and determine, in order of priority, whether any of the bids in a bid information record is accepted. If one bid in a bid information record is accepted, all lower priority bids in that bid information record are dismissed.
US08732030B2 System and method for using image analysis and search in E-commerce
Embodiments described herein provide a system and method for providing merchandise items at a network site. According to an embodiment, an image of a merchandise item is obtained. The image is programmatically analyzed to determine information about the merchandise item. The information is used to generate a presentation that includes the merchandise item.
US08732026B2 User interface for a complex order processing system
A method for processing complex orders is disclosed. The method includes generating a customer portal view including a list of products and services associated with an account, a list of quotes associated with the account, a list of orders associated with the account, and a plurality of user-selectable options. The plurality of user-selectable options includes a move option to transfer a service profile by defaulting the existing services at an old location to a new location.
US08732024B2 Self-checkout method and apparatus
A point-of-sale self-checkout terminal includes a code reader device for automated entry of a product identification code present on items for purchase and a customer input device for receipt of data from a customer. A customer can initiate a purchase of a non-scannable item and, in response, a database is queried to identify items based on a prediction of purchase of the items, and the identified items are displayed for selection by the customer to purchase the item. Image processing and voice processing, can also be implemented to assist customers with the purchase of non-scannable items.
US08732023B2 Increased visibility during order management in a network-based supply chain environment
A system, method and article of manufacture are provided for a first business entity to provide a network-based supply chain framework for collaborative order management between at least a second and a third independent business entity, such as a service provider, vendor, reseller, manufacturer and the like. A request for an order is received over a network with an automated system, from at least a second business entity. The order is transmitted over a network, with an automated system, to at least the third business entity. Information is received from the third business entity relating to a status of completion of the order by the third business entity using a network. The progress in completing the order is tracked based on the information received from the third business entity. Progress reports from the tracking are generated periodically; and transmitted to the second business entity using the network.
US08732010B1 Annotated advertisements and advertisement microsites
An advertisement distribution system can generate advertisement creatives having annotations and advertisement microsites using content extracted from landing web page documents. An advertisement module of the advertisement distribution system can analyze landing pages and other documents to identify relevant information, such as a phone number for a click-to-call annotation, an address for a merchant, and additional product information. The advertisement module can automatically generate the advertisement creatives and/or microsites using the extracted content. The microsite can include less data intensive content than the landing page and be linked to the advertisement creative. In this way, the less data intensive microsite can be downloaded and displayed in response to a user selecting the advertisement creative rather than downloading the landing page. This supports quicker advertisement browsing and is especially useful for serving advertisements on wireless devices having slower download speeds.
US08732008B2 Display ads testing tool for rich media developers
An ad test tool allows rich media developers to test ads in both a stand-alone environment and within live web pages. The ad test tool includes a stand-alone ad test tool, a live site ad test tool, and a rules and compliancy engine. The stand-alone ad test tool tests ads in a stand-alone environment by providing the ad rendering framework necessary to render ads on the user's local device. The live site ad test tool tests ads on live web pages. The live site ad test tool includes a proxy that intercepts ad requests from web pages and replaces the ads on the web pages with test ads. The rules and compliancy engine checks test ads for compliancy for security and privacy purposes and also verifies that click tracking and/or impression tracking operate properly.
US08732004B1 Automated analysis of data to generate prospect notifications based on trigger events
Systems and methods are described for identifying a subset of interest from a general population and for monitoring a database of daily activity logs associated with the general population in order to identify database entries indicative of an occurrence of a pre-defined trigger event that is associated with a member of the subset of interest. In particular, systems and methods are described that allow a massive database of daily activity logs to be monitored to identify trigger events that have occurred within the past twenty-four hours or other very recent time period. Embodiments are described that may be advantageously used by a provider of credit-related products and/or services who wishes to accurately target prospective customers, identified by the system, based on occurrence of a trigger event, as being in a decision-making phase of credit shopping, for purposes of making a timely and targeted offering relevant to the customers' current activities.
US08732001B2 Apparatus and method for rewarding consumers
In order to reward a consumer for trying or learning about a product, the customer is given a unique identification number, preferably an unvalidated ATM readable card, and instructions for completing a test or survey by telephone or on the Internet. Upon successful completion of the test by the consumer, the identification number is validated so that the consumer may withdraw a cash reward from a temporary bank account funded when the identification number is validated via an ATM. Where the consumer is the patient of a physician, the patient may receive the number and card from the physician along with a prescription for redemption at a pharmacy whereat the pharmacy dispenses a supply of the drug to the patient and is paid by the manufacturer of the drug through the former's insurance payment processing system.
US08732000B2 Method for determining toll fees in a road toll system
Method for determining toll fees for vehicles in a road toll system including vehicle-onboard units and positionally distributed beacons capable of communicating with the onboard units via radio signals. The method includes: providing a toll fee level and a validity time frame; retrieving an identifier of the onboard unit, the toll fee level and the validity time frame from the onboard unit as a data record; resetting the toll fee level, if the validity time frame has expired; increasing the toll fee level and storing the updated data record in the onboard unit and the beacon; transmitting a request for deletion of stored data records for this identifier to other beacons; transmitting the data record from the beacon to the central station, if no deletion request for the data record arrives within the validity time frame; and deleting the data record in the beacon.
US08731998B2 Three dimensional visual representation for identifying problems in monitored model oriented business processes
A computer implemented method and system for monitoring a business process of an executing business application. Runtime information of a business process element of the executing business application is received. The runtime information is then associated with design time information of the executing business application by a processor. Next, a representation of the business process associated with the business process element is generated to determine a problem in the business process of the executing business application.
US08731996B2 Method and system for supporting business process design by modeling role relationship
The invention provides a method for extracting and evaluating risk information and synergy information arising out of role relationships among persons which are an essential part of a business process and realizing a safe and appropriate business process.A business process design support system in the invention includes: the business process definition unit 201 of the business process definition system 2 which receives role relationship information defined by a designer, etc. and transmits the information to the risk/synergy evaluation system 3; the risk/synergy extraction unit 301 which extracts risk/synergy factors and occurrence mechanism information based on the role relationship information; and a risk/synergy measures evaluation unit 401 which calculates risk/synergy measures candidates and estimated effects based on the risk/synergy factors and the occurrence mechanism information.
US08731995B2 Ranking products by mining comparison sentiment
A method of ranking a plurality of products includes obtaining a numerical user score for each of the plurality of products, calculating an opinion score for each of the plurality of products for which a written comparison sentiment applies, determining a final score by combining the numerical user rating and the opinion score for each of the plurality of products, and ranking the plurality of products based on the final score. The opinion score is derived from one or more written comparison sentiments containing a first product name and a second product name. In another aspect, a computer readable medium has instructions stored thereon which, when executed, cause a computer to perform a method of ranking a plurality of products including at least a first product and a second product.
US08731991B2 System and method of information technology application deployment
The invention generally relates to IT, and more particularly, to a method and system to achieve project-based diffusion of IT innovations. In accordance with aspects of the invention, the system comprises three integrated components. The first component is directed to the project management stages taken by an organization to deploy new technology innovations. This in turn consists of four stages: visioning, matching vision, deployment, and evaluation and improvement. The second component is directed to knowledge barriers to IT innovation diffusion. The third component is directed to critical success factors (CSF) of IT innovation implementations. In one embodiment the system includes of a Program Management Module (PMM) to implement corporate strategy for project management and to transform the organization into a learning one. In further embodiments, system is explained in detail using an example of ERP implementation. In this manner, implementations of the invention may be used to manage the lifecycle of IT innovation deployment using knowledge from other projects as well as knowledge fed back into the lifecycle.
US08731989B2 Project management systems and methods thereof
Project management systems and methods to streamline project planning, task management, time management, and other similar applications. The method includes filing a request to start a project on a project management system. The method further includes receiving notice that role handlers have been assigned to a plurality of tasks required to complete the project. The method further includes performing at least one task of the plurality of tasks. The method further includes receiving notice that the at least one task has been reviewed by at least one of the assigned role handlers.
US08731983B2 System and method for designing effective business policies via business rules analysis
Methods and systems are provided for analyzing the business rules, business metrics, and decision parameters for a firm or organization, processing a subset of such data to form output, and offering access to selective views of such output including evaluation and comparative data regarding execution of such business rules, information on corresponding business metrics or sets of business metrics, information on corresponding decision parameters or sets of decision parameters or scenarios, and other useful analytic information which can help a firm or organization evaluate and modify business policies based on said rules, metrics, and parameters. In addition to said rules, metrics and/or parameters, the data for the business rule analysis can include conventional historical data or hypothetical data based on simulations which the current system and method provide based on prescribed random and non-random algorithms. The simulated or hypothetical data enables users to conduct rule analysis based on historical data, simulated data, or hybrid models. In this manner, the methods and systems described in this invention provide for both an evaluation of a firm's current policies as well as an evaluation of policy modifications not actually executed but for which hypothetical data can be provided and analyzed.
US08731977B1 System and method for analyzing and using vehicle historical data
A system and method for analyzing and using vehicle historical data is provided. The system and method may include obtaining vehicle history data from a vehicle history data system, and analyzing various vehicle variables to determine final factors associated with such vehicle variables. The vehicle variables may be categorized based on the age of the vehicle, the amount of time that has occurred since some event, or other time period. The final factors can be combined to score particular vehicles. Vehicle history scores can be used to evaluate risk associated with a particular vehicle, including use in underwriting and rating insurance policies, vehicle financing, or vehicle warranties.
US08731976B1 System and method for providing a guarantee within a deferred annuity for insuring a security
A system for providing a guarantee within a deferred annuity for insuring a security against a change in value of the security is disclosed which comprises a computer system configured to have entered information related to a security to be insured by the guarantee within the deferred annuity, the computer system configured to prepare the guarantee within the deferred annuity based upon the entered information related to the security to be insured, the deferred annuity having an account value, and the security to be insured being held in an account separate from the account value of the deferred annuity.
US08731975B2 System and method for active insurance underwriting using registration data of IP-addressable devices
A system and method are disclosed herein for maintaining an inventory of assets located at an insured property covered under an insurance policy based on data received from IP-addressable devices located at the property. The system includes an inventory database for storing inventory information about assets located at an insured property, a communication interface for receiving registration and operational data associated with an IP-addressable device, and a business logic computer. The business logic computer creates a data structure for storing inventory information about assets located at the insured property in the inventory database for each insured property. The business logic computer determines, for the insured property, the inventory information about the insured property's assets based on registration and operational data received from its IP-addressable devices located at the property. The business logic computer stores the insured property's inventory information in its associated data structure in the inventory database.
US08731972B1 Method and system for market performance analysis
Methods and systems are disclosed for allowing a user to quickly and easily generate market performance analysis reports. The methods and systems use data mart and on-line analytical processing (OLAP) technology to provide users with summary and detailed information without requiring the user to have specific programming skills. In one implementation, the methods and systems may provide a data mart optimized for the auto insurance industry. Such a data mart may contain data pertaining to auto insurance policies, vehicles, operators, coverage, and incident. Data cubes may be used to organize the data in the data mart according to one or more dimensions. Corresponding perspectives may be constructed to allow the user to access the data in the data cubes. Report templates provide a starting point from which the user may modify for dynamic data exploration or dive deeper into the data “on the fly.”
US08731966B2 Systems and methods for real-time data ingestion to a clinical analytics platform to generate a heat map
The clinical analytics platform automates the capture, extraction, and reporting of data required for certain quality measures, provides real-time clinical surveillance, clinical dashboards, tracking lists, and alerts for specific, high-priority conditions, and offers dynamic, ad-hoc quality reporting capabilities. The clinical informatics platform may include a data extraction facility that gathers clinical data from numerous sources, a data mapping facility that identifies and maps key data elements and links data over time, a data normalization facility to normalize the clinical data and, optionally, de-identify the data, a flexible data warehouse for storing raw clinical data or longitudinal patient data, a clinical analytics facility for data mining, analytic model building, patient risk identification, benchmarking, performing quality assurance, and patient tracking, and a graphical user interface for presenting clinical analytics in an actionable format.
US08731965B2 Collaborative multi-facility medication management system
A computer implemented method and system is provided for managing health care and obtaining analytical insights using information related to health care in a collaborative environment. Health care users and health care providers access a medication management platform in the collaborative environment. The medication management platform comprises a medication management application and a research repository. The health care users and the health care providers interact and communicate with each other in the collaborative environment using collaborative tools provided on the medication management platform. The medication management application acquires health care information of the health care users' personal health records populated from health care information sources. The medication management application monitors and tracks the acquired health care information. The medication management application updates the de-identified research repository by consolidating the monitored and tracked health care information. The medication management application analyzes the consolidated health care information for obtaining the analytical insights.
US08731964B2 Integrated system for generation and retention of medical records
A system for populating patient records by use of evidence-based relational database, which compares the medical practitioners diagnoses to predetermined responses, to produce accurate patient chart notes and the integration of stored and generated data into clinical and administrative medical record keeping and billing. Episodic encounters are developed into cases for a specific patient under the care of a practitioner. The subjective symptoms from the patient and the objective observations of the care provider concurrent with the episode are used to form a diagnosis which presents a treatment regimen from an evidence-based relational database and populates medical and administrative templates. Patient history and updated information are retained in the database. “Best practice” treatment plans are continually placed in the relational database from practice guides and experts in the field.
US08731963B1 Sensitive drug distribution system and method
A drug distribution system and method utilizes a central pharmacy and database to track all prescriptions for a sensitive drug. Information is kept in the database regarding all physicians allowed to prescribe the sensitive drug, and all patients receiving the drug. Abuses are identified by monitoring data in the database for prescription patterns by physicians and prescriptions obtained by patients. Further verification is made that the physician is eligible to prescribe the drug by consulting a separate database, and optionally whether any actions are taken against the physician. Multiple controls beyond those for normal drugs are imposed on the distribution depending on the sensitivity of the drug.
US08731961B2 Method and apparatus for verification of clinical trial adherence
A system and method of confirming administration of medication in a clinical trial is provided. The method comprises the steps of receiving information identifying a particular medication prescription regimen in accordance with the clinical trial, determining one or more procedures for administering such prescription regimen and identifying one or more activity sequences associated with such procedures. Activity sequences of actual administration of such prescription regimen are captured and then compared to the identified activity sequences to determine differences therebetween. A notice is provided if differences are determined.
US08731960B2 System and method for comparing and utilizing activity information and configuration information from multiple medical device management systems
A method of aggregating and using medical device data from a plurality of remote institutions. The system and method electronically receives at a central computer system a plurality of established medical device data, each of the plurality of established medical device data being received from a respective medication delivery system, each of the respective medication delivery systems having a respective plurality of medical devices within the respective remote institution, such as medication delivery pumps, associated therewith and utilized therein. The system and method electronically combines and stores the plurality of established medical device data from each of the plurality of remote institutions within a memory, and electronically provides a remote client computer access to at least one of a central reporting application adapted for providing summary information to the remote client computer about the medical device data, and/or other applications.
US08731959B2 Spectroscopic chemical compound identification
A spectroscopic chemical compound identification system includes a container, a memory, a spectrometer, and a processor. The container receives unknown chemical compound. The memory stores a plurality of spectral signatures corresponding to known chemical compounds. The spectrometer measures a spectral signature of the unknown chemical compound through the container. The processor is connected to the memory and the spectrometer, performs a comparison of the spectral signature with at least one of the plurality of spectral signatures, and determines the identity of the unknown chemical compound from the comparison. The system can be housed in a portable handheld housing. A chemical compound can include a pharmaceutical or controlled substance. The system can be also be used to determine if a pharmaceutical or controlled substance is present within an unknown mixture of chemical compounds.
US08731955B2 Ultrasonographic device
A technology that prevents leak of patient data, which is personal information, stored in a storage medium without requiring labor is disclosed. According to the technology, when a command for bulk-deleting pieces of data stored in memories 4 to 7 is entered using an operating unit 1 (Step 1), the pieces of data stored in the memories are bulk-deleted (Step S2). When a hospital name, a language to be used, a time zone, preset data, or user-customized data registered in advance is changed, a device is judged to have been resold. The pieces of data stored in the memories are bulk-deleted (Step 2).
US08731953B2 Methods and systems for linking an electronic address to a physical address of a customer using a delivery point identification key
An electronic account links an electronic address to a physical address of a customer. Services provided to the customer using the electronic account can be delivered to the physical address or the electronic address of the customer. If the customer requests to receive only physical mail, the link between the addresses can be used to deliver any electronic mail to the physical address of the customer.
US08731952B2 Apparatus and method for enhancing transactions using rule information to communicate with multiple applications
A method and apparatus provides information to enhance at least one of: a sales, a service and an administrative transaction by communicating with a plurality of applications from a group of applications in accordance with rule information and based on at least two of the received: end user identification information, client identification information and transaction type information. In one example, the apparatus includes a rules engine, an application integrator, an integration and presentation module, and an integrated user interface. The rules engine causes the application integrator to communicate with a plurality of applications in accordance with the rule information, and at least two of: the end user identification information, the client identification information, and the transaction type information. The application integrator then generates integrated output information received from the plurality of applications to produce the integrated user interface that includes output from the plurality of applications. Based on end user input, the integrated user interface then provides interactive user response information to the application integrator which passes the interactive user response information to the rules engine. The rules engine then determines which of at least one additional supporting application of available applications to use in a next stage of the transaction, which may be the same as or different applications from the plurality of applications. The application integrator then communicates with the additional supporting applications and accordingly updates the integrated output information on the integrated user interface to include output from the at least one additional supporting application.
US08731949B2 Method and system for audio encoding and decoding and method for estimating noise level
The present invention relates to a method and system for audio encoding and decoding and a method for estimating a noise level, and the method for estimating a noise level in the present invention comprises: estimating a power spectrum of an audio signal to be encoded according to a frequency domain coefficient of the audio signal to be encoded; and estimating a noise level of a zero bit encoding subband audio signal according to the power spectrum obtained by calculating, and this noise level for controlling an energy proportion of noise filling to spectral band replication during decoding; wherein a zero bit encoding subband refers to an encoding subband of which allocated bit number is zero. The present invention can well reconstruct the uncoded frequency domain coefficients.
US08731948B2 Audio signal synthesizer for selectively performing different patching algorithms
An audio signal synthesizer generates a synthesis audio signal having a first frequency band and a second synthesized frequency band derived from the first frequency band and comprises a patch generator, a spectral converter, a raw signal processor and a combiner. The patch generator performs at least two different patching algorithms, each patching algorithm generating a raw signal. The patch generator is adapted to select one of the at least two different patching algorithms in response to a control information. The spectral converter converts the raw signal into a raw signal spectral representation. The raw signal processor processes the raw signal spectral representation in response to spectral domain spectral band replication parameters to obtain an adjusted raw signal spectral representation.
US08731947B2 Coding method, decoding method, codec method, codec system and relevant apparatuses
A coding method, a decoding method, a coding-decoding (codec) method, a codec system and relevant apparatuses are disclosed. The coding method includes: obtaining an amplitude vector and a length vector corresponding to a vector to be coded; sorting elements of the amplitude vector and elements of the length vector; and obtaining a position index value according to the sorted amplitude vector and the sorted length vector. A decoding method, a codec system, and relevant apparatuses are also provided.
US08731945B2 Method for recognizing and interpreting patterns in noisy data sequences
This invention maps possibly noisy digital input from any of a number of different hardware or software sources such as keyboards, automatic speech recognition systems, cell phones, smart phones or the web onto an interpretation consisting of an action and one or more physical objects, such as robots, machinery, vehicles, etc. or digital objects such as data files, tables and databases. Tables and lists of (i) homonyms and misrecognitions, (ii) thematic relation patterns, and (iii) lexicons are used to generate alternative forms of the input which are scored to determine the best interpretation of the noisy input. The actions may be executed internally or output to any device which contains a digital component such as, but not limited to, a computer, a robot, a cell phone, a smart phone or the web. This invention may be implemented on sequential and parallel compute engines and systems.
US08731940B2 Method of controlling a system and signal processing system
A method of controlling a system which includes the steps of obtaining at least one signal representative of information communicated by a user via an input device in an environment of the user, wherein a signal from a first source is available in a perceptible form in the environment; estimating at least a point in time when a transition between information flowing from the first source and information flowing from the user is expected to occur; and timing the performance of a function by the system in relation to the estimated time.
US08731937B1 Updating speech recognition models for contacts
Systems, methods and apparatus for generating, distributing, and using speech recognition models. A shared speech processing facility is used to support speech recognition for a wide variety of devices with limited capabilities including business computer systems, personal data assistants, etc., which are coupled to the speech processing facility via a communications channel, e.g., the Internet. Devices with audio capture capability record and transmit to the speech processing facility, via the Internet, digitized speech and receive speech processing services, e.g., speech recognition model generation and/or speech recognition services, in response. The Internet is used to return speech recognition models and/or information identifying recognized words or phrases. The speech processing facility can be used to provide speech recognition capabilities to devices without such capabilities and/or to augment a device's speech processing capability. Voice dialing, telephone control and/or other services are provided by the speech processing facility in response to speech recognition results.
US08731936B2 Energy-efficient unobtrusive identification of a speaker
Functionality is described herein for recognizing speakers in an energy-efficient manner. The functionality employs a heterogeneous architecture that comprises at least a first processing unit and a second processing unit. The first processing unit handles a first set of audio processing tasks (associated with the detection of speech) while the second processing unit handles a second set of audio processing tasks (associated with the identification of speakers), where the first set of tasks consumes less power than the second set of tasks. The functionality also provides unobtrusive techniques for collecting audio segments for training purposes. The functionality also encompasses new applications which may be invoked in response to the recognition of speakers.
US08731934B2 System and method for multi-modal audio mining of telephone conversations
A system and method for the automated monitoring of inmate telephone calls as well as multi-modal search, retrieval and playback capabilities for said calls. A general term for such capabilities is multi-modal audio mining. The invention is designed to provide an efficient means for organizations such as correctional facilities to identify and monitor the contents of telephone conversations and to provide evidence of possible inappropriate conduct and/or criminal activity of inmates by analyzing monitored telephone conversations for events, including, but not limited to, the addition of third parties, the discussion of particular topics, and the mention of certain entities.
US08731932B2 System and method for synthetic voice generation and modification
Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media for generating a synthetic voice. A system configured to practice the method combines a first database of a first text-to-speech voice and a second database of a second text-to-speech voice to generate a combined database, selects from the combined database, based on a policy, voice units of a phonetic category for the synthetic voice to yield selected voice units, and synthesizes speech based on the selected voice units. The system can synthesize speech without parameterizing the first text-to-speech voice and the second text-to-speech voice. A policy can define, for a particular phonetic category, from which text-to-speech voice to select voice units. The combined database can include multiple text-to-speech voices from different speakers. The combined database can include voices of a single speaker speaking in different styles. The combined database can include voices of different languages.
US08731921B2 Frame erasure concealment technique for a bitstream-based feature extractor
A frame erasure concealment technique for a bitstream-based feature extractor in a speech recognition system particularly suited for use in a wireless communication system operates to “delete” each frame in which an erasure is declared. The deletions thus reduce the length of the observation sequence, but have been found to provide for sufficient speech recognition based on both single word and “string” tests of the deletion technique.
US08731913B2 Scaled window overlap add for mixed signals
A method for overlap-adding signals useful for performing frame loss concealment (FLC) in an audio decoder as well as in other applications. The method uses a dynamic mix of windows to overlap two signals whose normalized cross-correlation may vary from zero to one. If the overlapping signals are decomposed into a correlated component and an uncorrelated component, they are overlap-added separately using the appropriate window, and then added together. If the overlapping signals are not decomposed, a weighted mix of windows is used. The mix is determined by a measure estimating the amount of cross-correlation between overlapping signals, or the relative amount of correlated to uncorrelated signals.
US08731911B2 Harmonicity-based single-channel speech quality estimation
Speech quality estimation technique embodiments are described which generally involve estimating the human speech quality of an audio frame in a single-channel audio signal. A representation of a harmonic component of the frame is synthesized and used to compute a non-harmonic component of the frame. The synthesized harmonic component representation and the non-harmonic component are then used to compute a harmonic to non-harmonic ratio (HnHR). This HnHR is indicative of the quality of a user's speech and is designated as an estimate of the speech quality of the frame. In one implementation, the HnHR is used to establish a minimum speech quality threshold below which the quality of the user's speech is considered unacceptable. Feedback to the user is then provided based on whether the HnHR falls below the threshold.
US08731910B2 Compensator and compensation method for audio frame loss in modified discrete cosine transform domain
The invention provides a compensation method for audio frame loss in a MDCT domain, the method comprising: when a frame currently lost is a Pth frame, obtaining a set of frequencies to be predicted, and for each frequency in the set, using phases and amplitudes of a plurality of frames before a (P−1)th frame in a MDCT-MDST domain to predict a phase and an amplitude of the Pth frame, and using the predicted phase and amplitude to obtain a MDCT coefficient of the Pth frame at each corresponding frequency; for a frequency outside the set, using MDCT coefficients of a plurality of frames before the Pth frame to calculate a MDCT coefficient value of the Pth frame at the frequency; performing an IMDCT for the MDCT coefficients of the Pth frame to obtain a time domain signal of the Pth frame.
US08731909B2 Spectral smoothing device, encoding device, decoding device, communication terminal device, base station device, and spectral smoothing method
Disclosed is a spectral smoothing device with a structure whereby smoothing is performed after a nonlinear conversion has been performed for a spectrum calculated from an audio signal, and with which the amount of processing calculation is significantly reduced while maintaining excellent audio quality. With this spectral smoothing device, a sub band division unit (102) divides an input spectrum into multiple sub bands; a representative value calculation unit (103) calculates a representative value for each sub band using an arithmetic mean and a geometric mean; with respect to each representative value, a nonlinear conversion unit (104) performs a nonlinear conversion the characteristic of which is further emphasized as the value increases; and a smoothing unit (105) that smoothes the representative value which has undergone the nonlinear conversion for each sub band, at the frequency domain.
US08731908B2 Method and apparatus for performing packet loss or frame erasure concealment
The invention concerns a method and apparatus for performing packet loss or Frame Erasure Concealment (FEC) for a speech coder that does not have a built-in or standard FEC process. A receiver with a decoder receives encoded frames of compressed speech information transmitted from an encoder. A lost frame detector at the receiver determines if an encoded frame has been lost or corrupted in transmission, or erased. If the encoded frame is not erased, the encoded frame is decoded by a decoder and a temporary memory is updated with the decoder's output. A predetermined delay period is applied and the audio frame is then output. If the lost frame detector determines that the encoded frame is erased, a FEC module applies a frame concealment process to the signal. The FEC processing produces natural sounding synthetic speech for the erased frames.
US08731906B2 Systems and methods for gathering research data
Methods and systems are provided for gathering research data that includes information pertaining to audio signals received on a portable device, such as a cell phone. Frequency domain data is received or produced, a signature is extracted from the frequency domain data and an ancillary code is read from the frequency domain data.
US08731903B2 Handheld electronic device and method for disambiguation of compound text input and for prioritizing compound language solutions according to completeness of text components
A handheld electronic device includes a reduced QWERTY keyboard and is enabled with disambiguation software that is operable to disambiguate compound text input. The device is able to assemble language objects in the memory to generate compound language solutions. The device is able to prioritize compound language solutions according to various criteria, including the degree of completeness of the text components of a compound language solution.
US08731902B2 Systems and methods for accessing applications based on user intent modeling
In one embodiment, the present invention includes a computer-implemented method comprising storing information in a datastore, the information corresponding to a plurality of computer applications, wherein the plurality of computer applications have associated annotations, receiving an input from a user, providing a first verb and a first noun corresponding to a user intent based on said input, and specifying one or more of said plurality of applications based on the verb and noun annotations for the plurality of applications and the first verb and first noun corresponding to the user intent. The annotations comprise a verb describing one or more activities performed by an associated application and a noun describing work objects on which the activities are performed. Users access the applications in the datastore.
US08731901B2 Context aware back-transliteration and translation of names and common phrases using web resources
Described within are systems and methods for transliterating and translating source non-Romanized language text strings from a plurality of electronic sources to Romanized target language text strings by converting the source non-Romanized language text strings to a standard document encoding format, splitting the source non-Romanized language text strings into smaller units, transforming the smaller units into entity profiles, processing the entities profiles with data from external databases, translating the entities in the entity profiles into a Romanized target language, and outputting the entities into a plurality of data formats for external systems.
US08731897B2 Tape emulating disk based storage system and method with automatically resized emulated tape capacity
A data protection and storage system includes an array of disk drives for data storage. Data is received for storage on the disk drive via an interface that is configured to emulate a tape drive interface. A virtual tape data structure is created and stored on the disk drives. The allocated capacity of the virtual tape is dynamically and transparently alterable in response to data storage demand within the virtual tape.
US08731895B2 System and method for accessing and configuring field devices in a process control system
A system includes a client that presents a user interface to a user, where the user interface is associated with a field device in a process control system. The system also includes an interface component having (i) an emulator that emulates a device manager associated with at least the field device and (ii) a communication manager that communicates with the field device over a communication link using a specified protocol. The system further includes a server that provides a request to the emulator based on input from the user provided through the user interface, where the emulator provides the request to the communication manager for communication to the field device. The communication manager could include a communication DTM, and the emulator could emulate at least some functions of a device DTM. A device description (such as a DD/EDD file) could also be used to generate the user interface.
US08731893B2 Circuit simulation of MOSFETs
An arithmetic device calculates the surface potential of a silicon layer by performing computation based on a mathematical expression and device parameters stored in a storage device. Likewise, the arithmetic device calculates the surface potential of a bulk layer under a buried oxide film when the silicon layer is in a partially depleted state and when the silicon is in a fully depleted state. The arithmetic device then performs computation based on the calculated surface potential of the silicon layer, the calculated surface potential of the bulk layer, and mathematical expressions stored in the storage device, and obtains the surface potential of the bulk layer by iterative calculation. The arithmetic device performs computation based on the surface potential of the bulk layer obtained by iterative calculation and mathematical expressions stored in the storage device, and calculates the lower surface potential of the silicon layer.
US08731886B2 Simulator for estimating life of robot speed reducer
A simulator (10) for estimating a life of a speed reducer includes a rotation speed and load calculator (21) for simulating the operation program of a robot (12) and calculating the rotation speed of the robot speed reducers (G1-Gm) and the load exerted on the individual speed reducers; a storage (22) for chronologically correlating the rotation speed and the load and storing the rotation speed and the load; a speed reducer life calculator (23) for calculating the life of the individual speed reducers, based on the rotation speed and the load; an operating ratio setter (24) for setting an operating ratio of the robot; and a speed reducer life estimator (25) for estimating the life of the speed reducers, based on the life of the individual speed reducers and the operating ratio.
US08731883B2 Techniques for thermal modeling of data centers to improve energy efficiency
Techniques for modeling a data center are provided. In one aspect, a method for modeling a data center is provided. The method comprises the following steps. Spatially dense three-dimensional thermal distribution and air flow measurements made in the data center using a mobile off-line surveying system are obtained. A temperature and air flow model for the data center is created using the spatially dense three-dimensional thermal distribution and air flow measurements. The temperature and air flow model is used to make thermal distribution and air flow predictions of the data center. The thermal distribution and air flow predictions are compared with the thermal distribution and air flow measurements made using the mobile off-line surveying system to produce a validated model for the data center.
US08731879B2 Device for balancing a simulation platform, and associated method
Balancing a simulation platform including a nonlinear aeronautical system, the balancing including servoing of an output value of the system to a recorded value, including a first filter producing an inversion of a simplified model of the system for generating a control for the system based on a model correction information item estimating a modeling error of the simplified model and an information item on difference between the output value and the recorded value, and a modeling corrector looping including a second filter using the simplified model to calculate, based on the control and the output value, the model correction item to be supplied to the first filter.
US08731875B2 System and method for providing data corresponding to physical objects
There is provided a system and method for providing a visualization of data describing a physical structure. An exemplary method comprises defining an unstructured grid that corresponds to a three-dimensional physical structure, the unstructured grid comprising data representative of a property of interest. The exemplary method also comprises defining a probe as an object that comprises a set of topological elements, at least one of which does not share a common plane. The exemplary method additionally comprises providing a visualization of the unstructured grid data on the geometry defined by the probe.
US08731867B2 System and method for measuring performance of electronic products
A system and method for measuring performance of an electronic product using a measurement control device that connects to a measuring machine and a display device. A component of the electronic product is determined according to a coordinate array, and a physical factor of the component to measured is determined according to performance specifications of the electronic product. A sensor corresponding to the physical factor of the component is selected from sensors of the measuring machine, and a physical factor of each the component is measured by the selected sensor. The system indicates whether the electronic product is workable or unworkable by comparing the physical factors of the components with the performance specifications of the components, and generates a measurement report for evaluating the performance of the electronic product according to the indication results.
US08731866B2 Location system for street light monitoring
A street light monitoring system has a small fraction of the street lights in the system being anchor nodes that are configured to detect and store their own actual fixed position, thereby acting as reference points. Further, the other street lights are referred to as blind nodes and do not have their actual fixed position but can derive their position using the coordinates of the anchor nodes and estimating their distance to them. The distance estimation for any blind node can be performed using a received signal strength indication (RSSI) measured at the respective blind node for small distances of up to a threshold value and a link quantization technique takes advantage of the typical placement of the street lights. Inferred distances between the street lights can be assigned to pre-determined categories of distances for a coarse estimation and further position adjustment to a closest possible “real” position.
US08731865B2 Mobile image capture system
A mobile image capture system, a system comprising: a sensing unit for attaching to a vehicle, the sensing unit having a camera constructed and arranged to view a participant on the vehicle, the camera capturing at least one image; and processing electronics for storing data representing the captured at least one image or for relaying data representing the captured at least one image to a computer or a network.
US08731864B2 System and method of sensor installation validation
A glassbreak detector or motion detector includes circuitry responsive to an installation process. Data concerning the installation process can be automatically stored in non-volatile memory. The stored data can be retrieved as part of an after-installation review.
US08731863B2 Analyzing system, data processing apparatus, and storage medium
An analyzing system, data processing apparatus, and application program are provided that can display the measurement results and/or analysis results of a plurality of different types of measuring apparatuses on a user interface that is easily comprehended by the user. The data processing apparatus is capable of displaying on a screen the measurement results and analysis results of a plurality of measuring apparatuses that perform mutually different kinds of measurements of specimens. A plurality of measurement item group switching buttons are provided on the display screen, and specimen information tables that correspond to each measurement item can be displayed by a user clicking on the buttons.
US08731861B2 Gas sensor control device
For an A/F sensor 10 equipped with a sensor element 11, a cover 12 that covers the sensor element, and a heater 13 that raises the temperature of the sensor element 11 and provided to an exhaust system of an engine, an ECU 1A has timing estimation means for estimating a timing of vaporizing and disappearing of cover condensed water that is condensed water generated inside and outside of the cover 12 and determining whether an estimated timing has come, and heater control means for supplying a current to the heater 13 so that the temperature of the sensor element 11 becomes equal to a temperature at which the sensor element 11 does not crack even if the sensor element 11 is moistened until the estimated timing estimated by the timing estimation means at which the cover condensed water vaporizes and disappears comes.
US08731859B2 Calibration system for a force-sensing catheter
An apparatus, consisting of a rolling element, which is resting on a surface, and a force-sensing device, which is coupled to the surface. The force-sensing device is configured to make a first measurement indicative of a force exerted in a direction perpendicular to the surface. The force is exerted by a force-sensing probe pressing against the rolling element so as to hold the rolling element stationary. The apparatus further includes a calibration processor, which is configured to collect the first measurement from the sensing device, to collect a second measurement indicative of the force from the force-sensing probe, and to calibrate the force-sensing probe based on the first and second measurements.
US08731856B2 Frequency spectrum analyzing apparatus
A frequency spectrum analyzing apparatus for performing a frequency spectrum analysis with respect to a detected value of an operating parameter of an internal combustion engine in synchronism with rotation of the engine, is provided. The operating parameter is sampled at predetermined time intervals, and the sampled value is converted to a digital value. Intensities of first and second elements are calculated with respect to a predetermined number of the sampled values, wherein the first and second elements respectively correspond to a plurality of frequency components contained in the detected value, and a phase of the second element differs from a phase of the first element by 90 degrees. Frequency component intensities corresponding to the plurality of frequencies are calculated in synchronism with rotation of the engine, using the first element intensities and the second element intensities. Offset components contained in the first element intensities and the second element intensities are calculated, and the frequency component intensities are calculated after removing the offset components from the first and second element intensities.
US08731854B2 Utility meter with wireless pulse output
An arrangement for measuring electrical energy consumption includes an input circuit operable to generate a first signal representative of a line voltage waveform and a second signal representative of a line current waveform. The arrangement further includes a processing circuit operable to generate energy consumption data based on the first signal and the second signal. The processing circuit is further operable to generate a first pulse waveform having a plurality of output pulses based on the energy consumption data, each output pulse corresponding to a quantity of energy consumed. The arrangement further includes a wireless transmitter coupled to the processing circuit, the wireless transmitter configured to transmit an RF signal each time the first pulse waveform changes state. The arrangement also includes an external device positioned remote from the electrical utility meter, the external device including a receiver configured to receive the RF signal.
US08731851B2 Method for reconstructing an acoustic field
Disclosed herein is a method of reconstructing a sound field. The method comprises receiving measured values indicative of a first acoustic quantity measured at a set of measurement locations; defining a set of virtual source locations; and computing a second acoustic quantity for at least one target location from one or more wave functions each representative of a respective sound field originating from a respective one of the defined set of virtual source locations; wherein the one or more wave functions are weighted by respective one or more weighting factors, and wherein computing comprises determining the one or more weighting factors from a least-norm fit of the one or more wave functions to the received measured values.
US08731850B2 Method and device for detecting leaks in the intake tract of an internal combustion engine
A method for detecting a leak in an intake tract of an internal combustion engine involves operating the engine at two operating points and comparing a deviation of measured mass flows from expected mass flows at the first and at the second operating points.
US08731843B2 Oligomer sequences mapping
Mapping oligomer sequences includes receiving a set of related oligomer sequences, applying one or more key patterns derived from a set of oligomer sequence relationships to obtain one or more keys that are consistent with the set of related oligomer sequences, modifying positions within these keys, and locating the one or more keys in an index configured to map a plurality of candidate and/or validated keys to their respective possible and/or validated locations in a reference.
US08731842B2 Compositions and methods for biological remodeling with frozen particle compositions
Certain embodiments disclosed herein relate to compositions, methods, devices, systems, and products regarding frozen particles. In certain embodiments, the frozen particles include materials at low temperatures. In certain embodiments, the frozen particles provide vehicles for delivery of particular agents. In certain embodiments, the frozen particles are administered to at least one biological tissue.
US08731840B2 Compositions and methods for therapeutic delivery with frozen particles
Certain embodiments disclosed herein relate to compositions, methods, devices, systems, and products regarding frozen particles. In certain embodiments, the frozen particles include materials at low temperatures. In certain embodiments, the frozen particles provide vehicles for delivery of particular agents. In certain embodiments, the frozen particles are administered to at least one biological tissue.
US08731838B2 Fresnel zone fat ray tomography
A stable method for using fat-ray tomography to determine a high-resolution velocity model of the subsurface from seismic data (71). The velocity model (72) may be used in migrating the seismic data (76) to image the subsurface. Rays are traced from a subsurface reflection point to surface source and receiver locations (73), using Fresnel zone construction methods (74) that honor correct initial conditions, with the Fresnel radius being a function of velocity.
US08731834B2 Apparatus and method for providing user's route information in mobile communication system
An apparatus and a method search a route using a portable terminal. A controller establishes a call connection with another party and exchanges positional information with the other party. An analyzing unit analyzes the route information using a first positional information of the portable terminal and a second positional information of the other party. A displaying unit outputs the route information analyzed by the analyzing unit. The controller provides the route information analyzed by the analyzing unit.
US08731831B2 Method for representing linear features in a location content management system
Representation of linear features in a location content management system is disclosed. A linear feature is represented using a sequence of routing points that define a unique path when routed on a map through those points. A routing point consists of latitude, longitude, and optional stack position. Stack position defines an upper or lower level of a double-decker bridge or road. The data representing the linear feature is stored outside of a geographic database.
US08731829B2 Flow line detection system, flow line detection method, and flow line detection program
A flow line specification unit selects, for each piece of mobile object identification information, position-score correspondence information that satisfies a criterion from among position-score correspondence information stored in state storage unit, as definite position-score correspondence information. The flow line specification unit repeatedly performs a process of reflecting the definite position-score correspondence information in position-score correspondence information of a time nearest a time corresponding to the definite position-score correspondence information and setting the position-score correspondence information of the nearest time as definite position-score correspondence information. And the flow line specification unit specifies a flow line of a mobile object from a score in position-score correspondence information of each time.
US08731822B2 Systems and methods for interleaving navigational directions with additional audio in a mobile device
A method and apparatus for managing audio conflicts and priorities is disclosed. A mobile device (110) initiates a navigation application (410) and an audio application (415), each configured to utilize audio input and/or output components. The mobile device identifies (430, 435) a priority of a communication associated with the audio application and manages (440, 445) the audio input and output components based on the priority and other factors. In particular, the mobile device or components thereof can delay (440) an indication of the communication until a sufficient break in a route traversal is reached, can mute (445) the audio input component while the navigation application utilizes the audio output component, and/or can perform other functions related to the audio conflicts and priorities of the applications.
US08731818B2 Navigation system for motor vehicles
A navigation system for motor vehicles includes a receiving unit for receiving traffic messages to which a location information object is in each case assigned. A display unit for displaying a digital road map and a control unit. The control unit is coupled to the receiving unit and the display unit, and is operatively configured such that cutouts of a digital road map to which the traffic messages relate are successively displayed of the display.
US08731816B2 Method for classifying an object as an obstacle
A method for classifying objects into obstacles and non-obstacles for a vehicle is described. The vehicle comprises a sensor for covering the surroundings that detects stationary and moving objects in a scene in front of a vehicle. Where required, the path of the motion of the objects is tracked. The method provides one or several observers, wherein one observer classifies an object according to predetermined features and contributes to an overall classification result when there are several observers. An observer detects the path of the motion of vehicles in the surroundings of at least one stationary object and classifies the stationary object in dependence thereon.
US08731814B2 Multi-modal navigation system and method
One or more embodiments may include a multi-modal navigation system and method. Route information may be received for generating a navigation route which may comprise multiple modes of transportation to a destination. GPS data may also be received. The navigation route to the destination across the multiple modes of transportation may be determined. The route may be updated as the route is traversed. The navigation route across the multiple modes of transportation may be output based on the GPS data.
US08731813B2 Method and system for identifying and defining geofences
The preferred embodiments of the present invention are directed to an improved mapping and navigational system. Specifically, the present invention is directed to a system for defining and assigning geographical boundaries to points of interests on a graphical map, where the geographical boundaries preferably correlate to spatially defined boundaries of the respective points of interests. In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the points of interest, along with the respective defined geographical boundaries, can be transferred from a personal computing device to a telecommunication device, such as a portable communication device, so as to be used for mapping purposes and to set off proximity alerts when the portable communication device, equipped with a GPS unit, enters or exits the geographical boundary of a particular point of interest.
US08731811B2 Methods and systems for displaying a taxi clearance
Methods and systems are provided for completing and displaying a taxi clearance for an aircraft at an airport. One exemplary method involves receiving an input taxi clearance including a first taxi path of a plurality of taxi paths at the airport and a second taxi path of the plurality of taxi paths that succeeds the first taxi path in the input taxi clearance, and determining a plurality of possible taxi routes between the first taxi path and the second taxi path. The method continues by identifying an optimal taxi route from among the plurality of possible taxi routes, and graphically indicating that the taxi clearance for the aircraft includes the optimal taxi route between the first taxi path and the second taxi path.
US08731803B2 System and method to estimate intake charge temperature for internal combustion engines
An engine includes an intake manifold mixing an intake air flow and an exhaust gas recirculation flow to provide an intake charge flow. A method to estimate an intake charge temperature of the intake charge includes monitoring system conditions for the engine, determining an effect of the mixing upon a specific heat coefficient of the intake charge flow based upon the monitored system conditions, estimating the intake charge temperature based upon the effect of the mixing upon the specific heat coefficient of the intake charge flow and the monitored system conditions, and controlling the engine based upon the estimated intake charge temperature.
US08731801B2 Fuel injector heater element control via single data line
A system, heated fuel injector, and controller for closed-loop temperature control of a heated fuel injector having simultaneous two-way data communication over a single-line data connection. The system includes a voltage source to output a heater enable signal and a variable current sink configured to draw a current value indicative of a temperature value related to the heated fuel injector. The heater signal and the current value are simultaneously present on the single-line data connection. The configuration reduces the effect of ground shift on the accuracy of determining a feedback signal from the heated fuel injector. The feedback signal is a temperature value related to the heated fuel injector and is indicated by a current value. Because the feedback signal is a current value, the feedback signal is generally immune from being influenced by ground shift between the controller and the heated fuel injector.
US08731796B2 Device for the energy management of a vehicle
A device for the energy management of a vehicle, which has an air-conditioning system and a controller controlling the air-conditioning system. The air-conditioning system includes an air-conditioning compressor coupled mechanically to the drive train and a thermal storage unit. The controller controls the air-conditioning compressor in such a way that the energy efficiency of the vehicle is improved.
US08731795B2 System and method for reducing brake fade
A vehicle braking control system includes a vehicle brake associated with a wheel on the vehicle. A pedal activated by an operator of the vehicle controls application of the brake. An electronic control unit determines a grade mode of the vehicle and controls application of the brake independent of the operator activating the pedal while in an automatic braking mode. The electronic control unit sends a control signal to apply the brake in a manner to reduce brake fade while controlling a speed of the vehicle when the electronic control unit is in the automatic braking mode and the vehicle is in a downhill grade mode.
US08731790B2 Torque control system and method for shift assist
A control system includes a shift detection module, a request generation module, and a request setting module. The shift detection module detects when a transmission is executing a shift. The request generation module generates a transmission torque request to cause an engine to increase a transmission input shaft speed to a desired speed at a desired gear ratio when the transmission is executing the shift. The request setting module selectively sets the transmission torque request equal to a default torque request when the transmission torque request is greater than a first torque and the engine is coupled to a drive wheel.
US08731785B2 Dynamic stability control systems and methods for industrial lift trucks
A lift truck includes systems and methods for improved stability control. Stability control features reduce or eliminate motion of the truck in one or more of the X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis. Some embodiments may include, alone or in combination with the stability control, vibration control to further stabilize the motion of the truck.
US08731778B2 Vehicle steering apparatus
An electronic control unit determines the steering direction of rear wheels on the basis of the turning operation direction of a steering wheel when a detected vehicle speed is “0”, i.e. when the vehicle is stopped. If the steering direction of the rear wheels is a return-side steering direction to obtain a neutral steering position, the unit operates a rear wheel-side steering mechanism by driving and controlling an electric motor, whereby allowing return-side stationary steering for the rear wheels.
US08731774B2 Systems, methods, and computer-readable media for controlling suspension of vehicle
The present invention provides systems, methods, and computer-readable media for controlling a suspension for a vehicle in which a platform model and a suspension model are provided and a first neural oscillator model and a second neural oscillator model that feed back an output to each model to acquire displacements of the platform model and the suspension model from displacements inputted into a tire, acquire feedbacks of the first neural oscillator model and the second neural oscillator model from the displacements of the platform model and the suspension model, and acquire pressing force required in the suspension for the vehicle from the feedback of the second neural oscillator model.
US08731772B2 Dialogue system for a motor vehicle
In a dialogue system for a motor vehicle, the dialogue system including a plurality of control keys, assigning at least one of at least on of the control keys a function from a predefined set of functions in such a manner that the function is executed upon actuation of the control key. The control key can be assigned a primary parameter, which is automatically required for executing the function, and at least one secondary parameter which relates to the method for executing the function, in such a manner that the function is executed in the manner defined by the secondary parameter upon actuation of the control key.
US08731768B2 System and method to provide telematics data on a map display
A system and method are disclosed herein to determine an insurance premium discount based on telematics data. The system includes a computer memory and a processor in communication with the computer memory. The computer memory stores data indicative telematics data received from a sensor within a vehicle, including at least one of geo-position information of the vehicle and vehicle kinematics data. The processor is configured to identify safety events and associated safety event locations based on the telematics data. The processor is further configured to display to the driver indications of the safety events on a map display along with indications of safety events associated with other drivers.
US08731764B2 Automotive scan tool with enhanced audio, video and voice recognition functionality
A diagnostic tool for a vehicle, includes a signal translator communicating with the vehicle in at least one protocol, an input unit for inputting information, a processor controlling a software according to the input information from the input unit and communication with the vehicle from the signal translator, the processor controlling a reception of diagnostic data of the vehicle through the signal translator, an input and output unit receiving and transmitting audio and video signals controlled by the processor, a memory storing a software controlled by the processor, the memory storing audio and video information, and transferring the audio and video information through the input and output unit; and a display unit displaying information according to the received and processed audio and video signals stored in the memory.
US08731763B2 Method for controlling battery replacement based on distance data and system thereof
A method for controlling battery replacement based on distance data and a system thereof are provided. The method includes: reading current distance data of an electric vehicle, wherein the current distance data indicates the total distance that the electric vehicle has traveled; receiving related recharge information for the electric vehicle submitted by a user, wherein the related recharge information includes a distance account, and the distance account indicates that the user currently adopts a billing policy in which the user is credited with a fixed amount of distance in a fixed period of time; and determining whether to perform an operation of replacing a battery of the electric vehicle according to the distance data and the billing policy. By using the present invention, distance data of an electric vehicle and distance account information can be obtained, and by using the distance data and the distance account information battery replacement can be controlled conveniently, which ensures continuous electricity provided for the green operation of the electric vehicle.
US08731758B2 Vehicle control apparatus, control method thereof, and control software
A vehicle control apparatus includes state measurement means for measuring states of the vehicle; required power estimation means for calculating an estimated required power indicating a motor power required to operate the vehicle based on the states of the vehicle measured by the state measurement means; critical power estimation means for calculating a critical power when the motor power saturates based on the states of the vehicle measured by the state measurement means; modified reference input means for modifying a reference input so that the estimated required power falls within the estimated critical power when it is determined that the estimated required power estimated by the required power estimation means exceeds the estimated critical power estimated by the critical power estimation means; and control means for controlling a motor of the vehicle based on the reference input modified by the modified reference input means.
US08731754B2 Controller and control method for a motorised vehicle
A controller for a motorised vehicle is provided which is arranged to receive control signals from a user input device and the controller is configured to control a motor arrangement of the motorised vehicle in dependence on the control signals. The controller comprises an acceleration control unit configured to determine a centripetal force factor corresponding to a centripetal force which is currently acting on said motorised vehicle as a result of the control signals and is configured to calculate an acceleration limit for the motorised vehicle in dependence on the centripetal force factor. The acceleration control unit is configured to apply the acceleration limit by modifying a response of the controller to the control signals, such that the motorised vehicle does not exceed the acceleration limit.
US08731753B2 Control of engine start for a hybrid system
A powertrain includes an electric motor providing propulsion torque to a transmission input shaft, an internal combustion engine, and an engine disconnect clutch selectively providing torque transfer between the engine and the motor. A method to control a flying engine start in the powertrain includes monitoring an output torque request, determining the propulsion torque to the transmission input shaft based upon the output torque request, determining a compensation torque to be provided to the engine disconnect clutch for the flying engine start, and controlling the motor to provide a motor torque based upon a sum of the propulsion torque and the compensation torque.
US08731752B2 Distance based battery charge depletion control for PHEV energy management
In a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV), the vehicle may be operated in a charge-depleting (CD) mode to ensure that the battery is effectively discharged or in a charge-sustaining (CS) mode in which the battery state of charge is maintained by operating the internal combustion engine predominantly for propulsion. In trips that are longer than that which fully depletes the battery storage, it is possible to control the proportion in a manner that is between CS and CD modes to provide overall higher efficiency while still effectively discharging the battery over the course of the trip. Such higher efficiency operation is possible when information about the distance until the next charging event is available.
US08731750B2 System for augmenting the coverage, information and robustness of automatic identification devices of ships
A system for augmenting the coverage, information and robustness of an automatic identification system of ships incorporates standard AIS-type means, satellite links, coastal stations and processing centers handling the coordination of the means (maximizing the coverage of the system in time) and the processing of the data (merging of different information to create extended context information). The system implements a scheduling algorithm for the resources mobilized, in order to optimise the coverage by ensuring a given level of redundancy for the purposes of reliability and responsiveness of the system.
US08731748B2 Predictive mapping system for anglers
A method includes receiving, at a computing device, a search request that includes one or more search criteria for a body of water. The one or more search criteria include an identification of a fish species. One or more locations on the body of water that satisfy the one or more search criteria are identified. The one or more locations include at least one predicted location of the fish species within the body of water. The one or more locations are highlighted on a map of the body of water.
US08731744B2 Method and device for aiding the control of guiding modes transitions of an aircraft
The guiding mode transition aiding device includes a target heading determining device and a mode transition triggering system. The target heading determining device is configured to determine a target heading which represents the heading value reached by the aircraft at the end of a procedure of folding the wings of the aircraft flat from a current operating state. The mode transition triggering system receives the target heading and compares the target heading to a desired heading to be reached by the airplane to assist with triggering a transition between a rolling angle holding mode, in which the aircraft flies with a constant rolling angle, to a heading holding mode, in which the aircraft flies with a constant heading. This device and associated methods may be used during in flight refueling operations.
US08731734B2 Dynamic growing system
A method for adjusting the vertical position of hydroponic supports of a growing system is provided. The supports are used for growing crops. A relative position between the two supports is adjustable. Actual vertical position data for the supports is received and compared with the desired data. The actual vertical position of a first support is adjusted relative to an adjacent second support when the actual data is different from the desired data. A growing system for optimizing crop production comprises generally horizontal hydroponic supports adapted to receive nutrients for feeding the crops. A position actuator is connected to the supports to vertically move them relative to one another. A position-adjusting module receives actual vertical position data of the supports and compared it with the desired data. An actuation command is transmitted to the position actuator when the actual position is different from the desired position.
US08731728B2 Power distribution system
A power distribution system is provided, including at least one capacitor bank with a capacitor bank controller, a transformer, at least one voltage regulating device with a voltage regulating device controller, and a controller. The capacitor bank is selectively connected to the feeder and a capacitor bank controller. The capacitor bank controller controls a switch for selectively connecting the capacitor bank to the feeder. The transformer delivers power to the power distribution system through the feeder. The transformer converts a transmission or a sub-transmission voltage into a distribution voltage. The controller is in communication with the capacitor bank controller, the voltage regulating device, and the transformer. The controller selectively switches the at least one capacitor bank to adjust voltage in the feeder. The controller selectively sends commands to the voltage regulating device to change a source voltage.
US08731727B2 Method for controlling a digital hydraulic controller
A digital hydraulic controller has a feed line, a drain line, an output line and a plurality of individually switchable on/off valves which selectively connect the feed line to the output line or which connect the output line to the drain line. A controlled quantity is detected which includes a pressure and/or a flow rate of a fluid in the output line. One of the valves is selected to be switched to control the amount and direction of fluid passing through the valve for controlling the controlled quantity to approach a target value. A test sequence is performed including calibration of the individual valves by alternately opening two of the valves, one of which connects the feed line to the output line and the other connects the output line to the drain line, and by calculating and setting calibration values for the individual valves.
US08731725B2 Truck compartment verification system with alternate truck ID
A fluid overfill detection and control system for controlling the transfer of fluid into a transport vehicle having multiple fluid compartments includes a plurality of overfill sensors that are connected in series with one another and that each produces an output pulse when the fluid level in its associated compartment is below a threshold level. A diagnostic line connected to each of the overfill sensors provides a diagnostic signal indicative of the number of overfill sensors that generate an output pulse, while a module on the vehicle provides an indication of the total number of overfill sensors located in the vehicle. To prevent a hazard due to the possible bypass of a overfill sensor, the controller compares the overfill sensor count signal to the diagnostic signal and inhibits the transfer of fluid into the vehicle if the values do not match.
US08731724B2 Automated fault detection and diagnostics in a building management system
Systems and methods for building automation system management are shown and described. The systems and methods relate to fault detection via abnormal energy monitoring and detection. The systems and methods also relate to control and fault detection methods for chillers. The systems and methods further relate to graphical user interfaces for use with fault detection features of a building automation system.
US08731723B2 HVAC controller having a parameter adjustment element with a qualitative indicator
An HVAC controller is described that is configured to be more intuitive and user friendly to program and operate than convention HVAC controllers. In some instances, the HVAC controller may include a touch screen interface that provides greater flexibility in displaying information to the user and/or soliciting information from the user.
US08731721B2 Continuous polymer synthesizer
Described is a system and method for synthesizing polymeric molecules such as oligonucleotides and polypeptides. The system is capable of continuously synthesizing molecules by providing an array of reaction sites and an array of stations for carrying out synthetic manipulations. The reaction sites in the former array can be placed in a fixed order and at fixed intervals relative to each other. Similarly, the stations can be placed in a fixed order and at fixed intervals relative to each other. The two arrays can be moved relative to each other such that the stations carry out desired steps of a reaction scheme at each reaction site. The relative locations of the stations and the schedule for the relative movement can correlate with the order and duration of reaction steps in the reaction scheme such that once a reaction site has completed a cycle of interacting with the full array of stations then the reaction scheme is complete.
US08731720B1 Remotely controlled self-balancing robot including kinematic image stabilization
Systems and methods as described for providing visual telepresence to an operator of a remotely controlled robot. The robot includes both video cameras and pose sensors. The system can also comprise a head-tracking sensor to monitor the orientation of the operator's head. These signals can be used to aim the video cameras. The controller receives both the video signals and the pose sensor signals from the robot, and optionally receives head-tracking signals from the head-tracking sensor. The controller stitches together the various video signals to form a composite video signal that maps to a robot view. The controller renders an image to a display from that portion of the composite video signal that maps to an operator view. The relationship of the operator view to the robot view is varied according to the signals from the pose sensors and the head-tracking sensor.
US08731719B2 Robot with vision-based 3D shape recognition
The invention relates to a method for processing video signals from a video sensor, in order to extract 3d shape information about objects represented in the video signals, the method comprising the following steps: providing a memory in which objects are stored in a 3d shape space, the shape space being an abstract feature space encoding the objects' 3d shape properties, and mapping a 2d video signal representation of an object in the shape space, the coordinates of the object in the shape space indicating the object's 3d shape.
US08731718B2 Dual sensing end effector with single sensor
Systems, methods, and computer programs are presented for an end effector with a dual optical sensor. One end effector includes an arm, a mapping sensor, and a load sensor. The arm has one end connected to a pivoting joint, and a light signal is routed around the arm through a single light path. The mapping sensor is used for identifying the presence of the wafer when the wafer is not loaded on the end effector. The load sensor is used for identifying presence of the wafer on the end effector when the wafer is loaded on the end effector. The load sensor is defined by a second segment in the single light path such that the wafer intersects the second segment and interferes with the single light path when the wafer is loaded. A control module determines if an interruption in the single light path corresponds to an interruption of the single light path in the mapping sensor or the load sensor. As a result, one single light sensor is used to sense for two different conditions in the end effector.
US08731717B2 Methods for manipulating cutting elements for earth-boring drill bits and tools
Methods include one or more of robotically positioning a cutting element on an earth-boring tool, using a power-driven device to move a cutting element on an earth-boring tool, and robotically applying a bonding material for attaching a cutting element to an earth-boring tool. Robotic systems are used to robotically position a cutting element on an earth-boring tool. Systems for orienting a cutting element relative to a tool body include a power-driven device for moving a cutting element on or adjacent the tool body. Systems for positioning and orienting a cutting element on an earth-boring tool include such a power-driven device and a robot for carrying a cutting element. Systems for attaching a cutting element to an earth-boring tool include a robot carrying a torch for heating at least one of a cutting element, a tool body, and a bonding material.
US08731710B2 Library apparatus
A library apparatus includes a rack that holds a magazine loaded with plural tape cartridges, the rack including an insertion slot through which the magazine is inserted, a conveying mechanism that attaches the plural tape cartridges to the magazine and detaches the plural tape cartridges from the magazine, the conveying mechanism including a reader for reading an identifier provided on each of the plural tape cartridges, and a control device that moves the conveying mechanism, prior to the magazine being inserted into the insertion slot, to an identifier reading position enabling the reader to read the identifiers as the magazine is inserted through the insertion slot.
US08731705B2 Data generator, computer readable recording medium, and sewing machine
A data generator includes a memory and a processor. The memory may store a plurality of predetermined colors. The processor may control the data generator to assign a color, to display an embroidery pattern, to designate a color of the thread color data, and to allocate the designated color. The color, which is extracted randomly from the plurality of predetermined colors, may be assigned as a thread color data of each of a plurality of color-based pattern portions. The embroidery pattern may be displayed to a screen with the color assigned to each of the plurality of color-based pattern portions. The color of the thread color data designated from each of the plurality of color-based pattern portions may be included in the displayed embroidery pattern. The designated color may be allocated with priority over the plurality of predetermined colors for each of the plurality of color-based pattern portions.
US08731692B2 Method and device for automatically integrating sensor devices in a central controller
The invention relates to a method for automatically modularly integrating sensor devices (16) in a central controller (11) of a network having at least one first server comprising at least one first communication module (12) and the central controller (11) for at least one part of the network. The method comprises at least the following steps: a.) determining the sensor devices (16) actually associated with the at least one first server by the at least one first communication module (12); b.) comparing the determined actual sensor devices (16a, 16b) to a quantity of detectable sensor devices defined in a detecting order and determining matching sensor devices (16a); c.) transmitting data associated with the matching sensor devices from the first communication module (12) to the central controller (11); d.) automatically integrating predefined control modules in the central controller (11) based on the transmitted data, wherein the predefined control modules (16a) are each associated with the data of the matching sensor devices. The invention further relates to a device for performing the method, and to a computer program having program code means for performing all the steps of the method.
US08731691B2 HMI devices with integrated user-defined behavior
The claimed subject matter provides a system and/or method that facilitates utilizing a human machine interface (HMI). An interface component can facilitate receipt of data. A human machine interface (HMI) component communicatively coupled to the interface component can include a device with a pre-programmed primitive; the device employs a user-defined functionality via the received data.
US08731690B2 Light system controller and method for controlling a lighting scene
The invention relates to the control, for example the creation or modification of a lighting scene with a lighting system, and the invention particularly relates to a more easily and user oriented controlling of the creation and modification of the lighting scene. An embodiment of the invention provides a light system controller (10) for controlling a lighting scene created with a lighting system (12) comprising an user interface (14) for receiving at least one user defined lighting scene descriptor as an user input (16), processing means (18) being adapted for modifying the properties of the actual lighting scene created with the lighting system in accordance with a received user defined lighting scene descriptor and outputting an appropriate modification output (20), and a lighting system interface (22) being adapted for receiving the modification output from the processing means and for outputting appropriate control signals (24) for light sources (26) of the lighting system for creating a lighting scene in accordance with the input received from the processing means. The light system controller allows a user to easily create and modify lighting scenes, which are created with a complex lighting system.
US08731688B2 Processing apparatus and method for acquiring log information
A processing apparatus, which contains a processor that executes a program includes a series of instructions, includes a log recording unit configured to record an operation log of the processing apparatus; a managing unit configured to control a recording operation performed by the log recording unit and read the operation log recorded in the log recording unit; an input unit configured to detect, from among the series of instructions of the executed program; a start instruction that starts a process for delivering a control instruction destined for the managing unit to the managing unit and deliver the control instruction to the managing unit in response to the start instruction; and an output unit configured to receive the operation log read by the managing unit.
US08731684B2 Method and apparatus for aligning an ablation catheter and a temperature probe during an ablation procedure
Apparatus for aligning an ablation catheter and a temperature probe relatively for an ablation procedure includes an ablation catheter with a first antenna for ablating tissue at an ablation site in a patient's body and a temperature probe for placement in a body passage having a wall portion adjacent to the ablation site so that a second antenna in the probe is positioned opposite the first antenna. A microwave source provides a pulse modulated microwave signal to one of the antennas and a radiometer is in circuit with the other antenna. A synchronizing device in circuit with the microwave source and the radiometer enables the radiometer to synchronously detect the microwave signal so that the radiometer provides an alignment signal whose strength reflects the degree of alignment of the first and second antennas which signal may be used to control an alignment display. An alignment method using the apparatus is also disclosed.
US08731675B2 Neurostimulation system and method for providing therapy to patient with minimal side effects
A method comprises conveying a pulsed waveform between an electrode and a stimulation site of a spinal cord, thereby evoking the antidromic propagation of action potentials along a first sensory neural fiber creating a therapeutic effect in the tissue region, evoking the orthodromic propagation of action potentials along the first sensory neural fiber potentially creating paresthesia corresponding to the tissue region, and evoking the antidromic propagation of action potentials along a second sensory neural fiber potentially creating a side-effect in another tissue region. The method further comprises conveying electrical energy between an electrode and a blocking site rostral to the stimulation site, thereby blocking the action potentials propagated along the first sensory neural fiber and reducing the paresthesia, and conveying electrical energy between an electrode and a blocking site caudal to the stimulation site, thereby blocking the action potentials propagated along the second sensory neural fiber and reducing the side-effect.
US08731674B2 Method of stimulating fastigium nucleus to treat neurological disorders
A method of treating a neurological disorder comprises introducing an electrical stimulation lead within a patient's head, locating the stimulation lead within the 4th ventricle of the patient's head, and placing the stimulation lead adjacent the fastigium nucleus of the patient's brain. The method may further comprise stimulating the fastigium nucleus with the stimulation lead to treat the neurological disorder, for example, by increasing the flow of blood within the patient's brain.
US08731664B2 Reduced diameter axial rotary pump for cardiac assist
The pump is of an axial flow rotary type suitable for implantation into the human heart or vascular system. The pump has an elongate tubular casing (1) including an electric motor (4) and defining an inlet (2) for blood, an outlet (3) for blood longitudinally spaced from the inlet and a substantially axial blood flow path (8) from the inlet to the outlet. An elongate rotatable element (7) is arranged to fit within the casing with spacing (15) between an outer surface of the rotatable element and an inner surface of the casing; the rotatable element comprises an electric motor rotor portion (10) arranged to be driven by the electric motor stator and a primary substantially axial blood flow path along the inside of the rotatable element. A rotary impeller (11) is provided axially spaced from the rotor portion for impelling blood along the primary flow path.
US08731656B2 Closed-loop therapy adjustment
Techniques for detecting a value of a sensed patient parameter, and automatically delivering therapy to a patient according to therapy information previously associated with the detected value, are described. In exemplary embodiments, a medical device receives a therapy adjustment from the patient. In response to the adjustment, the medical device associates a sensed value of a patient parameter with therapy information determined based on the adjustment. Whenever the parameter value is subsequently detected, the medical device delivers therapy according to the associated therapy information. In this manner, the medical device may “learn” to automatically adjust therapy in the manner desired by the patient as the sensed parameter of the patient changes. Exemplary patient parameters that may be sensed for performance of the described techniques include posture, activity, heart rate, electromyography (EMG), an electroencephalogram (EEG), an electrocardiogram (ECG), temperature, respiration rate, and pH.
US08731654B2 System, method, apparatus, device and computer program product for automatically detecting positioning effect
An automated system, method, apparatus, device and/or computer program product for detecting positioning effect is set forth, the apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment may include an output operable to couple to one or more stimulating electrodes to stimulate one or more peripheral nerves of the patient, an input operable to couple to one or more recording electrodes to record resultant electrical waveforms generated by a nervous system of a patient in response to the stimulating module, and one or more processors operable to identify the positioning effect based on the resultant electrical waveforms.
US08731650B2 Single Trial detection in encephalography
An EEG cap (8) having 64 or 128 electrodes (10) is placed on the head of the subject (11) who is viewing CRT monitor (14). The signals on each channel are amplified by amplifier (17) and sent to an analog-to-digital converter (20). PC (23) captures and records the amplified signals and the signals are processed by signal processing PC (26) performing linear signal processing. The resulting signal is sent back to a feedback/display PC (29) having monitor (14).
US08731647B2 Method and system for analyzing the cardiac activity of a patient and uses thereof
This method for analyzing the cardiac activity of a patient are comprises the steps for acquiring (20) at least one cardiac said electric signal comprising at least one elementary signal corresponding to a heart beat, for extracting (29) from said elementary signal, at least one elementary wave, the general shape of which may be expressed by x(t)=x0+x1 cos(Φ(t)), wherein Φ(t) is the phase of said elementary wave, and for analyzing (30) said elementary wave, comprising the steps for determining an expression of a phase equation F ⁡ ( Φ ) = ⅆ Φ ⅆ t of said elementary wave and determining an expression of the phase Φ(t) of said elementary wave as a functions of parameters measuring the anharmonicity of said elementary wave and its morphology, from p cosn and p sinn functions defined by: p ⁢ ⁢ cos n ⁡ ( t , r ) = ∑ k = 1 ∞ ⁢ cos ⁡ ( kt ) ⁢ r k k n ⁢ ⁢ and ⁢ ⁢ p ⁢ ⁢ sin n ⁡ ( t , r ) = ∑ k = 1 ∞ ⁢ sin ⁡ ( kt ) ⁢ r k k n .
US08731644B2 ECG device with impulse and channel switching ADC noise filter and error corrector for derived leads
The present invention provides a device and method for filtering impulsive noise and channel switching noise at ADC in an ECG device with multiplexed ESCs. The filtering is based on an implementation of Burst Sampling technique also a method for correcting errors in derived leads caused by time delays due to sequential sampling of different ECG signals is also provided. Real time digital FIR filters are used for removing other types of noise in ECG signals. The ECG device is compact and light weight and includes features of self calibration, clip detection and drawing of power from USB port of a PC, batteries or an external power source. The ECG monitoring device of the present invention measures real time ECG signals with automated data recording, data storage and retrieval, data transmission/transfer to an external system, along with parameter extraction for ECG analysis in an efficient manner for quick and reliable ECG measurement, in an extremely cost effective manner.
US08731643B2 Imaging system and methods for medical needle procedures
A method for planning a needle path is provided. The method includes displaying a restricted region on a display, the restricted region being defined by spatial limitations of an imaging system and a location of a selected target point; and selecting a skin entry point outside the restricted region.
US08731637B2 Intra-subject medical system, method of operating body-insertable apparatus and operative treatment
Provided is an intra-subject medical system which includes a body-insertable device and a physical quantity generator. The body-insertable device is to be introduced into a subject, is covered by a capsule-shaped exterior member, and includes a physical quantity detecting member which has a directivity to detect a predetermined physical quantity; at least one functional member which has a necessary function for examining or treating inside the subject; and a switch control unit which controls an on/off state or operation mode of the at least one functional member when the physical quantity detecting member detects a physical quantity. The physical quantity generator has a physical quantity emitting unit which emits a temporary physical quantity inside the subject; and a physical quantity direction changing unit which changes an emission direction of the physical quantity.
US08731630B2 Transcutaneous analyte sensor
The present invention relates generally to systems and methods for measuring an analyte in a host. More particularly, the present invention relates to systems and methods for transcutaneous measurement of glucose in a host.
US08731629B2 Interface device for a high temperature superconductor degaussing system junction box
A junction box is provided which allows serial connection of the individual conductors of at least one high temperature superconductor (HTS) wire bundle. The junction box includes an electrical interface device disposed within a junction box housing. The interface device is configured receive both ends of each conductor of each HTS wire bundle, and to provide a superconductive electrical connection between respective first ends of conductors to respective second ends of other wire bundle conductors to form at least one superconductive multi-turn electromagnetic winding.
US08731626B2 Mobile media device enclosure, method of use of mobile media device enclosure, and method of providing mobile media device enclosure
In some embodiments, a mobile media device enclosure can include: (a) an enclosure having an interior, an exterior, a top side, a bottom side, a right side, and a left side, the interior configured to form a cavity, the cavity is sized to retain a mobile media device therein; (b) a vertical boundary, the vertical boundary having a substantially vertical orientation and configured to substantially bisect the mobile media device enclosure from the top side to the bottom side; and (c) a horizontal boundary, the horizontal boundary having a substantially horizontal orientation and configured to substantially bisect the mobile media device enclosure from the left side to the right side. The vertical boundary and the horizontal boundary are further configured to substantially divide the mobile media device enclosure into four sections. Each of the four sections is elastically coupled to two other sections of the four sections. Other embodiments and related methods are also disclosed herein.
US08731622B2 Method and apparatus for system acquisition while maintaining a defined battery life span
A method and an apparatus for system acquisition at a wireless device while maintaining a predetermined battery life span, include determining a level of remaining battery power upon entering an out of service state. A duty cycle, comprising a search time and sleep time, of acquisition attempts is determined such that the level of remaining battery power lasts for the defined battery life span. The duty cycle is determined by adjusting at least one of the search time and the sleep time, depending on how long the remaining battery power is required to last.
US08731621B2 Method for executing application during call and mobile terminal supporting the same
A method and a mobile terminal for executing application during a call and a mobile terminal supporting the same are provided. The method for executing application during a call includes determining whether an orientation state of a mobile terminal is changed after forming a call channel and when the orientation state of the mobile terminal is determined to be changed, executing a preset application. The method and mobile terminal for executing an application during a call can momentarily execute a specific application when desired by the user.
US08731618B2 Portable electronic device
Portable electronic devices are provided. A device may include cover glass with a light mask. The light mask may be microperforated to allow light to pass through the light mask. The microperforations may allow light to pass through the light mask. The devices may include sensors and light emitters that receive and transmit light through the microperforations. The devices may include a variable cantilever spring as part of a button assembly. The spring may be flattened against itself without exceeding its elastic limit. The devices may include display modules. The display module may include structures that block light from leaking out of the module. The structures may include opaque tapes, opaque enclosures for the display module, and other suitable structures.
US08731617B2 Initiating a call from a mobile device to a number that is not hyperlinked
The present disclosure describes a method and communication device for initiating voice calls. Number strings are identified in displayed text. Number strings are displayed in different formats depending on whether the number strings meet predetermined criteria. A list of user selectable functions is displayed when predetermined user input is detected. The list of user selectable functions includes a voice call function for initiating a voice call to a selected number string. A voice call to the selected number string can be initiated when the voice call function is selected.
US08731613B2 Mobile phone, imaging system employing mobile phone and imaging method employing mobile phone
This mobile phone includes a control portion controlling an imaging portion to execute an imaging operation when detecting that a communication state established by taking a telephone call has been disconnected after a ringtone in taking the telephone call is repeated the first number of times in a case where a first communication portion capable of telephone communication takes the telephone call from an operating-side mobile phone.
US08731605B1 Wireless tune away based upon wireless device location
What is disclosed is a method of operating a wireless communication device. The method includes, while at an initial location, entering a first wireless communication mode that requires tuning to a first frequency spectrum. In response to entering the first wireless communication mode, the method includes setting a timer for monitoring a second wireless communication mode. When the timer expires, the method includes determining if a present location of the wireless communication device is beyond a threshold distance from the initial location. If the present location is beyond the threshold distance from the initial location, then the method includes tuning away from the first frequency spectrum to a second frequency spectrum for the second wireless communication mode and monitoring information for the second wireless communication mode, and if the present location is not beyond the threshold distance from the initial location, then resetting the timer for monitoring the second wireless communication mode.
US08731602B2 Network selection methods and apparatus with home network prioritization after network signal recovery or power-on
A network selection method for a mobile station which is associated with a Home Public Land Mobile Network (HPLMN) identified by a home Mobile Network Code (MNC) and Mobile Country Code (MCC) pair. The mobile station identifies a plurality of PLMNs in a geographic area, and selects a non-home PLMN identified by a non-home MNC/MCC pair and designated as a Registered PLMN (RPLMN). In response to regaining signal coverage from an out-of-coverage condition with the RPLMN, or being powered-on from a power-off s, tate entered while operating with the RPLMN, the mobile station selects the HPLMN if the HPLMN identified by the home MNC/MCC pair is available. Otherwise, if the HPLMN is unavailable and the RPLMN identified by the non-home MNC/MCC pair is available, the mobile station selects the RPLMN. However, if the RPLMN is unavailable, the mobile station selects an alternate PLMN in accordance with an automatic or manual network selection method.
US08731598B2 Access point power control
There is described a method of controlling a basestation in a cellular wireless communications network, the method comprising, within the basestation, autonomously and dynamically adapting a maximum value for a total transmit power of the basestation, such that interference between the basestation and other access points in the vicinity is minimized.
US08731596B2 LTE-A system and uplink power control method thereof
An LTE-A system and power control method for controlling cell interference based on codeword-specific transmission power adjustment with a transmission power control offset parameter. The method includes transmitting a parameter KS signaled by a higher layer and codeword-specific power control parameters from a base station to a terminal; calculating gains at the terminal, using the codeword-specific power control parameters and the parameter KS; calculating, at the terminal, codeword-specific transmit powers according to the gains; and transmitting, from the terminal to the base station, at least two codewords at the codeword-specific transmit powers.
US08731591B2 Method and apparatus relating to secondary use of radio resources
According to aspects of the invention, a radio signal that constitutes a secondary use is provided with a predefined identifier (11) that identifies the radio signal as a secondary use. The identifier (11) can be any suitable signal characteristic that somehow can be detected by a suitable radio receiver. The identifier (11) enables identification of an origin of the radio signal. That is, whether it originates from a primary user or a secondary user. It therefore becomes possible to give all secondary users a more equal status, facilitating resource sharing. A transmitter is provided with an identifier inserter (25) for providing the identifier (11) in a transmitted radio signal. In a corresponding manner, a receiver is provided with identifier detector (29) for detecting a presence of the identifier in a received signal.
US08731586B2 Method and system for blocking undesirable messages
The present invention relates to a method for blocking undesirable messages (MMs), which includes the following steps: a message is sent from a sender (MMS UA A) to a transmitter (MMS R/S A); the message is sent from the transmitter (MMS R/S A) to a service (MMSE SP B); the message is transmitted from the service (MMSE SP B) to a recipient (MMS UA B), such recipient being serviced by the service provider. The message is transmitted from the service provider only if the sender does not figure on a list of exclusions. Preferably, the list of exclusions is managed by the service.
US08731581B2 System and method for providing information based on geographic position
A system and method for providing position information using a three-dimensional based grid is provided. The position information may be relayed to an electronic device by providing location information to a database and receiving location-centric information at the electronic device. The system may include a network for continuously updating the database in real-time.
US08731580B2 System and method for terminal location
A terminal positioning system and terminal positioning method are provided. The system includes: a first distance acquiring module acquiring a first distance between a first base station and a terminal located in an overlapped coverage area of the first base station and a second base station according to first time offset information of the terminal; a second distance acquiring module acquiring a second distance between the second base station and the terminal according to second time offset information; an angle acquiring module acquiring a first signal arrival angle of the terminal relative to the first base station and a second signal arrival angle of the terminal relative to the second base station; a first positioning module obtaining an initial location of the terminal according to the first and second signal arrival angles, and a second positioning module determining the accurate location of the terminal.
US08731579B2 Enhanced angle-of-arrival positioning
The position of a mobile device served in a cell of a serving node of a wireless communication network is estimated by estimating an angle-of-arrival (AoA) between the mobile device and the serving node based on a precoding matrix indicator (PMI) determined for the serving node in a downlink direction or for the mobile device in an uplink direction. Also estimated is the AoA between the mobile device and a non-serving neighbor node of the wireless communication network based on a PMI determined for the neighbor node in the downlink direction or for the mobile device in the uplink direction. The downlink and/or uplink AoA estimation can be further enhanced by employing interference cancellation in the mobile device and in the radio node, respectively. The position of the mobile device is estimated based on the estimated AoAs.
US08731572B2 Localized dynamic channel time allocation
Techniques for localized dynamic channel allocation help meet the challenges of latency, memory size, and channel time optimization for wireless communication systems. As examples, advanced communication standards, such as the WiGig standard, may support wireless docking station capability and wireless streaming of high definition video content between transmitting and receiving stations, or engage in other very high throughput tasks. The techniques help to deliver the desired user experience in such an environment and address the need to meet latency and throughput requirements while limiting memory footprint.
US08731571B2 Radio base station device and radio resource connection switching method
For example, in a radio communication system using an OFDMA method, frequency bandwidth allocated to each sector is modified according to, for example, the number of terminals existing in each sector, and the effective utilization of radio sources is promoted. A radio base station device includes unit to determine the amount allocated to each sector from the amount of radio resources in the base station and unit to switch over the connection states of a plurality of radio resources obtained by dividing the entire radio resources that can be allocated to each sector in the base station according to the determined amount of allocation.
US08731569B2 Cell phone extension using wireless piconet
In accordance with the principles of the present invention utilizing the BLUETOOTH specification Cordless Telephony profile, incoming calls to a cell phone including a Gateway role can be routed to another piconet device (e.g., another cell phone including a Terminal role. Two cell phones with BLUETOOTH capability each include the Cordless Telephony Profile. The cell phone receiving the call acts as a PSTN cordless telephone Gateway cell phone via the cellular network, while the other cell phone acts as a cordless telephone Terminal cell phone. The cordless telephone Terminal cell phone then acts as an extension to the Gateway cell phone allowing both calls to the Gateway cell phone to be answered at the Terminal cell phone, and even allowing calls by the Gateway cell phone to be originated by the Terminal cell phone.
US08731568B1 Device for managing coexistence communication using an interference mediation strategy
Aspects of the disclosure provide a device for managing wireless communication. The device can include an interface module coupled to at least a first wireless device. The first wireless device can communicate with a second wireless device using a first radio frequency (RF) signal that potentially interferes at least a second RF signal communicating between a third wireless device and a fourth wireless device. Further, the device can include a coexistence communication manager (CCM) configured to instruct at least the first wireless device to change at least the first RF signal according to an interference mitigation strategy that is determined based on status profiles of at least the first wireless device when the first RF signal interferes with at least the second RF signal.
US08731566B2 Device and a method for multiple numbers for one user
The invention discloses a method (500) for a cellular communications network (100), according to which there can be a plurality of users (110, 120) in the network; said network comprises control functions (NodeB, RNC, MSC, HLR) for receiving, connecting and directing traffic to and from users. According to the method (515), at least a number of said users are associated with individual user identities which are unique in said network, and least two addresses such as numbers which may be used by a first user (110) in order to establish communication with a second user (120) in the network are mapped (525) to the unique user identity which is held by the second user, so that the entering or dialling of either of said at least two addresses by said first user will result (540) in an attempt by the network to establish communication with the second user.
US08731559B2 Method for processing handover capability and base station
The present invention discloses a method for processing handover capability and a base station, wherein the method includes: before the Radio network Resource Control Re-establishment (RRC) is initiated in User Equipment (UE), a target base station of a target cell of the UE obtains Closed Subscriber Group (CSG) handover capability of the serving cell from the serving base station; when the RRC connection is in reestablishment, the target base station of the target cell processes the RRC connection reestablishment according to the obtained CSG handover capability. The present invention enables the behavior in UE and in the network keep in alignment after the UE finishes RRC connection reestablishment in the target cell while before it receives the first RRC connection reconfiguration message which is transmitted by the target cell.
US08731556B2 Radiophone apparatus, hand-off method in radiophone apparatus, and communication system
A wireless telephone device, a hand-off method in a wireless telephone device and a communication system are provided to enable the occurrence suppression of instant disconnection in a MAHHO as much as possible. A wireless telephone device (1) includes a communication unit (11) for selecting one of a plurality of frequencies to carry out wireless communication with a base station, a control unit (12) for switching a frequency used by the communication unit (11) to control the communication unit (11) and a speaker for outputting a communication voice in accordance with a voice signal received by the communication unit (11). When the communication unit (11) receives a command to carry out a complement processing for a hand-off candidate frequency during a telephone call, the control unit (12) makes the speaker output a pseudo voice and carries out the complement processing of switching the present frequency in use to the hand-off candidate frequency.
US08731554B2 Cell reselecting method and mobile station device
The mobile station device has: a first step of selecting a plurality of base station devices meeting a predetermined handover condition, based on reception levels of a plurality of signals transmitted from the plurality of base station devices; and a second step of reselecting, if the plurality of base station devices selected in the first step include a plurality of base station devices for specific subscribers, a base station device to be accessed from among the plurality of base station devices for specific subscribers, by using a predetermined correlation between frequencies and priorities. Accordingly, the number of frequencies can be reduced, and the ping-pong phenomenon can be suppressed.
US08731550B2 Method and apparatus for providing enhanced interference management at restricted access points
Methods and apparatuses are provided that facilitate providing access point measurements to restricted access points. Restricted access points can lessen restrictions to allow devices to register with the restricted access point for providing measurements thereto. Additionally or alternatively, access point measurements can be provided to a minimization of drive tests (MDT) server for providing to the restricted access points. Thus, restricted access points can obtain the access point measurements for performing enhanced interference management or other functionality based at least in part on the measurements.
US08731545B2 Method, apparatus, and system for implementing service roaming
The present invention discloses a method for implementing service roaming. The method includes: receiving a roaming registration request that includes a service identifier (ID); obtaining a physical access address of a service according to the service ID, and generating and storing service registration route information that includes the service ID and the physical access address of the service; obtaining an address of a home service router or a service router to which the service belongs before the service roams, and sending a roaming notification message to the home service router or the service router to which the service belongs before the service roams. In this way, a user may access the service, thus the user experience and the universality of services created by the user are improved.
US08731543B2 Method and apparatus for reporting a logged measurement in a wireless communication system
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for reporting a logged measurement in a wireless communication system. A terminal receives a minimization of drive tests (MDT) configuration from a cell of a first radio access technology (RAT), and logs a measurement based on the MDT configuration so as to collect the logged measurements. The terminal transmits a logging indicator, which indicates the availability of the logged measurements, to a cell of a second RAT.
US08731537B2 Wireless communication devices in which operating context is used to reduce operating cost and methods for operating same
A mobile device has operating resources available to it. A measurement generator provides measurements of the operating resources and a context awareness engine identifies which of the operating resources may be efficiently utilized by a service application in view of context conditions in which the mobile device is operating. A selection controller selects, based on the measurements, at least one of the identified operating resources for use by the service application to improve or optimize a cost of the mobile device.
US08731536B2 Automated LAC assignments for enterprise Femtos
In accordance with an example embodiment, there is disclosed herein an apparatus comprising an interface, and processing logic coupled with the interface. The processing logic receives via the interface a list of location area codes detected by an access point associated with a site group to be provisioned with a location area code (LAC). The processing logic removes from a predefined list of location area codes the location area codes detected by the access point. The processing logic selects a LAC from the predefined list for the site group after removing the location area codes detected by the access point. The processing logic provisions the access point with the selected LAC via the interface.
US08731535B2 Group communication sessions in a wireless communications system
In an embodiment, an access terminal (AT), requests a non-exclusive floor (NEF) for a group communication session (GCS) in response to a detection that a user of the AT intends to speak to an associated communication group (CG). In another embodiment, the AT later requests that its NEF for the GCS be revoked in response to a detection that the user of the AT no longer intends to speak to the CG. In another embodiment, another AT holds a NEF for the GCS, and a user of the AT decides to revoke the other AT's NEF such that the AT sends a floor-revocation request to an application server (AS) that is arbitrating the GCS. In another embodiment, the AS grants NEFs to multiple ATs, selectively mixes media received from the ATs for transmission to the CG, and selectively revokes NEFs from one or more of the multiple ATs.
US08731529B2 Management of mobile applications
In particular implementations, a mobile device management system allows network administrators to control the distribution and publication of applications to mobile device users in an enterprise network.
US08731523B1 Push notification delivery system with feedback analysis
A push notification delivery system includes a server system including a processor, a network interface, and memory storing program instructions having code segments for receiving a received push notification, code segments for determining at least one of a favorable push time and a favorable message format based upon a database of received push information developed from a plurality of prior sent push notifications, and code segments for pushing the message to the destination in accordance with the at least one of a favorable push time and a favorable message format. A method for delivering push notifications includes receiving a received push notification including a message and a destination, sending a sent push notification derived from the received push notification to the destination in accordance with at least one favorable condition, receiving received push information related to the sent push notification, and storing the received push information in a database.
US08731519B2 Mobile handset extension to a device
System(s) and method(s) are provided for extension of mobile operation to a device. An extension interface comprises a client component within a mobile that is linked to a client component within the device. Extension of mobile operation is secured via delivery of credentials associated with the mobile to the device. Delivery of credentials is temporary and typically spans the period during which mobile operation is extended to the device. Mobile's application(s) and content(s) can be conveyed to the device for utilization therein. An emulation component that can reside at least in part on the client component within the device can emulate mobile operation. Client component within the mobile can include at least in part (i) a component that downloads drivers for communication with, and utilization of, the device to which mobile operation is extended, and (ii) a component that can scan for wireless-capable devices to extend mobile service thereto.
US08731517B1 Feature management of a communication device
A system and method for the real-time management of a device, and more particularly to the establishment and enforcement of policies or rules associated with the feature or functions that may be performed with the device, such as making and receiving calls, exchanging data, playing games and music, sending and receiving email, accessing web sites, and paying for goods and services. If a child or employee is using the device, there may be a need to regulate how that device can be used and to determine who will pay for what goods or services. In addition to providing all of the features associated with a device, service providers need to be able to establish and enforce rules (policies) regulating how and when that device can be used and who will pay for a good or service requested by the user of the device.
US08731509B2 Methods and apparatus for signal monitoring in a wireless communication network
Techniques in a mobile communication device for signal monitoring in a wireless communication network are described. The mobile device operates for communications over a communication channel of the wireless network. During operation, the mobile device periodically obtains measurements of signal quality of the communication channel at a rate R. In addition, the mobile device obtains a measurement of velocity or acceleration of the mobile device. In response to an increase in the measure of velocity or acceleration, the mobile device increases the rate R. Conversely, in response to a decrease in the measurement of velocity or acceleration, the mobile device decreases the rate R. The measurements of the signal quality may be used to determine whether to initiate a handover to a different wireless network. In one illustrative environment, the initial wireless network is a wireless local area network (WLAN), the other wireless network is a wireless wide area network (WWAN), the signal quality is a received signal strength indication (RSSI) of the communication channel, and the monitoring involves obtaining samples of the RSSI.
US08731507B2 Frequency conversion device for wireless systems
A frequency conversion device for transforming a frequency of an input signal, the device comprising: a signal generator for providing a plurality N of first signals at a first frequency, where N≧1, from an input signal having an in-phase component I and a quadrature signal component Q; an oscillator for generating N parallel oscillation signals, wherein the N oscillation signals are stepped in phase with respect to one another; a mixer comprising N mixing components, each mixing component being coupled to receive a respective one of the plurality of first signals and coupled to receive a respective oscillation signal for mixing the respective first signal with the corresponding oscillation signal to provide an output signal; and a common amplifier for receiving the N output signals from the N mixing components in N sequential phases for transmission.
US08731505B2 Programmable IF output receiver, and applications thereof
A tuner system for receiving a plurality of frequency bands includes a low noise amplifier coupled with a band selection filter to select a desired band. The tuner system further includes a complex RF filter to produce a complex RF signal from the selected band. The tuner system includes two double-quadrature converters, the first double-quadrature converter frequency down-converts the complex RF signal to a complex baseband signal. The complex baseband signal passes through a baseband filter that contains two identical lowpass filters for obtaining a baseband in-phase (I) signal and a quadrature (Q) signal. The second double-quadrature converter up-converts the baseband I and Q signals to respective IF I and Q signals that are significantly free of the positive third IF harmonic. The third IF-harmonic free I and Q signals are further processed by a complex bandpass filter. The bandpass filter has a programmable frequency center and a programmable bandwidth.
US08731504B2 System and method for performing RF filtering
A method of filtering and a RF filtering circuit comprising a LO adapted to generate in-phase and quadrature LO signals; a quadrature passive mixer operatively connected to the LO; a filtering impedance operatively connected to the quadrature passive mixer, wherein the voltage at an input node of the quadrature passive mixer comprises the voltage across the filtering impedance up-converted to a frequency of a LO signal received by the quadrature passive mixer. Preferably, the voltage across the filtering impedance comprises a frequency of an input signal of the quadrature passive mixer down-converted by a frequency of the in-phase and quadrature LO signals and filtered by the filtering impedance.
US08731502B2 Integrated circuit comprising frequency generation circuitry for controlling a frequency source
An integrated circuit comprises frequency generation circuitry for controlling a frequency source for use in an automotive radar system. The frequency generation circuitry comprises low-path modulation circuitry arranged to generate a first, low-path control signal for providing lower frequency modulation of the frequency source, the low-path modulation circuitry comprising a Phase Locked Loop (PLL) arranged to generate the low-path control signal for controlling the frequency source and a fractional-N divider located within a feedback loop of the PLL, and frequency pattern control module operably coupled to the fractional-N divider and arranged to control the fractional-N divider, by way of at least a first, lower frequency pattern control signal. The frequency generation circuitry further comprises high-path modulation circuitry arranged to generate a second, high-path control signal for providing higher frequency modulation of the frequency source.
US08731498B2 Temperature correcting an envelope power supply signal for RF PA circuitry
A direct current (DC)-DC converter and radio frequency (RF) power amplifier (PA) circuitry are disclosed. The DC-DC converter provides an envelope power supply signal to the RF PA circuitry based on a first power supply output control signal. As a temperature of the RF PA circuitry changes, the envelope power supply signal may need to be adjusted to meet temperature compensation requirements of the RF PA circuitry. With adequate thermal coupling between the DC-DC converter and the RF PA circuitry, adjustments to the envelope power supply signal may be based on temperature measurements of the DC-DC converter. A desired correction of the first power supply output control signal is determined based on a measured temperature of the DC-DC converter and the temperature compensation requirements of the RF PA circuitry. The first power supply output control signal is adjusted based on the desired correction.
US08731497B2 Method and arrangement in a communication system
Method and arrangement in a first carrier controller, associated with a network node. The method aims at providing distributed power management of a plurality of power amplifiers within a sector. The first carrier controller, the network node and the power amplifiers are comprised within a communication system. Also, at least one further carrier controller is comprised within the communication system. The first carrier controller is arranged for scheduling power allocation at each power amplifier of the radio frequency power estimated to be used by at least one carrier controlled by the first carrier controller. The method comprises allocating the estimated power usage to be used by the at least one carrier controlled by the first carrier controller during a predetermined time frame on one or more power amplifiers within the same sector. The allocation is based on a priority value of each carrier, dedicated to that sector or to a power amplifier within that sector.
US08731496B2 Power amplifier power controller
A power amplifier power controller in the power amplifier system monitors various operating conditions of the power amplifier, and controls the output transmit power of the power amplifier by coordinated control of both the input drive level to the power amplifier and the gain of the power amplifier. The power amplifier power controller controls the input drive level to the power amplifier so that the input drive level does not change substantially while adjusting the gain of the power amplifier to maximize the transmit power. The power amplifier power controller may also adjust the input drive level by some portion of the overall change required to the power of the power amplifier, while adjusting the gain of the power amplifier by the remaining portion of such overall change.
US08731493B2 Wireless local area network test system with forced transmit rates during protocol-based testing
A system for performing wireless local area network testing of wireless devices may include a wireless local area network tester and a device under test. The tester and device under test may communicate over a wireless link. To ensure that the tester accurately analyzes test data, a data rate table is used that specifies fixed data transmission rates to be used by the device under test under both high-quality link conditions and low-quality link conditions. This forces the device under test to transmit control packets at the same high data rate during packet loopback testing, regardless of link quality. When the captured control packets are analyzed at the tester, both low-link-quality data and high-link-quality data may be analyzed using a common test template, ensuring accurate results.
US08731492B2 System for monitoring and controlling the power of a radio frequency (RF) signal in a short-range RF transmitter
A system for monitoring and controlling the power of a Radio Frequency (RF) signal in a short-range RF transmitter. An RF signal-generation unit generates the RF signal. A power amplifier amplifies the RF signal. An impedance-matching network matches the output impedance of the power amplifier to input impedance of an antenna. One or more RF power monitors monitor the voltage amplitude of the RF signal at the output of at least one of the RF signal-generation unit, the power amplifier and the impedance-matching network. The one or more RF power monitors further generate at least one alarm signal, based on the voltage amplitude of the RF signal. A control unit modifies at least one operating parameter of at least one of the RF signal-generation unit and the power amplifier, based on the at least one alarm signal generated by the one or more RF power monitors.
US08731490B2 Methods and circuits for detuning a filter and matching network at the output of a power amplifier
In transmitter modules or power amplifier (PA) modules there is at least a possible path for a second and even a third harmonic of a low band to crossover unfiltered into the high band path and reach the antenna and hence cross band isolation is necessary. Forward isolation is necessary in order to limit the input crossing over the PAs into the antenna port. According to the methods and the circuits such cross band isolation and forward isolation is improved by detuning the filter and matching network at the output of the PA. The circuit comprises a trap at the harmonic frequencies of the low band thereby at least reducing the impacts of the cross band and forward isolation.
US08731486B2 High-frequency circuit module
Provided is a high-frequency module that can prevent a transmission signal from reaching a reception circuit and that can achieve high mounting density. A first duplexer for a first frequency band is mounted on a circuit substrate, and a second transmission filter and a second reception filter that constitute a second duplexer for a second frequency band are embedded in the circuit substrate. The second transmission filter and the second reception filter are embedded in the circuit substrate in locations that overlap at least a part of a projection region that is formed by projecting the first duplexer in a thickness direction of the circuit substrate. The first frequency band and the second frequency band are separated from each other by at least a prescribed frequency range.
US08731484B2 Mitigating interference in a communication network
Aspects relate to mitigating interference in a communication network that does not employ a centralized scheduler. A transmission sent on a subset of resources is evaluated to determine a number of communication pairs that have selected that subset of resources on which to transmit. If there are a large number of communication pairs transmitting on that subset, the transmission is ignored by a receiving device. The number of degrees of freedom that contain energy on the subset is evaluated to determine if an expected number of degrees of freedom that should have energy is met or exceeded. If the expected threshold number is met or exceed, the transmission is decoded by the receiving device, else the transmission is not decoded.
US08731482B2 Controller notification system
A method of associating a controller to a console comprises, at the controller, establishing a connection with the console such that the controller is assigned to one of a plurality of different ports of the console over which different controllers may separately communicate with the console. A visual indication is then provided on the controller to indicate to the user of the controller which one of the plurality of different ports of the console has been assigned to the controller and over which the controller communicates with the console.
US08731481B2 Device, device base, and system for data sending and receiving processing
A system and method for data sending and receiving processing using a secondary data transmit channel is disclosed. The system comprises a device and a device base in which a secondary data transmit channel on the device is enabled when the device is coupled to the device base and receives a triggering signal from the device base. The system implements a 2T2R RF design in which the use of an additional data transmit channel increases the uplink transmit gain and coverage and reduces the deployment costs of base stations.
US08731479B2 Preserving cell phone battery life
A method of operating a mobile electronic device includes connecting, by an electronic device, to a network and transmitting, by the electronic device, at least one communication to the network. The method also includes identifying, by a processor of the electronic device, at least one communication parameter of the at least one communication and determining, by the processor of the electronic device, a first disconnect time as which to disconnect from the network based on the at least one communication parameter identified by the processor. The method further includes disconnecting from the network at the first disconnect time.
US08731477B2 Performing inter-frequency measurements in a mobile network
Methods, apparatus and articles of manufacture for performing inter-frequency measurements in a mobile network are disclosed. An example method in a mobile station disclosed herein comprises receiving, from a network, a list specifying a set of frequencies for which measurements are to be performed, and if the set of frequencies exceeds a monitoring capability of the mobile station, prioritizing measurement of a subset of frequencies from the set of frequencies based on information separate from the list obtained from the network.
US08731476B2 Device for and method of characterizing an object
A device for characterizing an object (100, 503, 504) is provided wherein the device comprises a first sensor element (310) and a determination unit (508), wherein the first sensor element (310) is adapted to measure a value of a physical parameter of an object (100, 503, 504), wherein the physical parameter has an impact on a signal of a contactless transmission element arranged (511, 512) on the object (503, 504), and wherein the determination unit (508) is adapted to determine an impact value based on the measured value of the physical parameter.
US08731475B1 Method and system for determining environmental characteristics of a called communication device
A first communication device receives a communication from a second communication device. The communication could be part of the signaling used to establish a call to the second communication device or an audio signal that the second communication device conveys after its user has answered the call and started speaking. Based on the communication from the second communication device, the first communication device provides a user-discernible indication regarding the environment in which the second communication device is being used, such as an indication that the second communication device is being used with a speakerphone. If the second communication device is being used in a vehicle, the first communication device may also provide a user-discernible indication regarding the operational status of the vehicle, such as whether the vehicle is in motion and/or the number of occupants in the vehicle.
US08731461B2 Repeater for MIMO signals in a network
A system to repeat MIMO signals in a network by orthogonally polarizing the signals and maintaining the orthogonal polarization.
US08731457B2 System and method for locating WiMAX or LTE subscriber stations
A system and method for estimating a location of a subscriber station receiving a first signal from a first base station and receiving a second signal from a second base station where the first and second base stations are nodes in a WiMAX or LTE network. A message may be received from the subscriber station containing first and second information, and a range ring determined from the first base station using the first information. A location hyperbola may be determined using the second information wherein the location hyperbola has the first and second base stations as foci. A location of the subscriber station may be estimated using the range ring and the location hyperbola.
US08731455B2 Computer-implemented method for facilitating creation of an advanced digital communications network, and terminal, system and computer-readable medium for the same
A method for facilitating the creation of a digital communications network by collaborative interaction among users at computer interfaces, the method comprising, at a terminal in a digital communications network: receiving question data; collecting answer data, collaboration data, and selection data relating to the terminal; transmitting the collected answer data to at least one first remote terminal; receiving answer data from the at least one first remote terminal responsive to identical question data as the received question data; receiving collaborative data from the first remote terminal; one or more of storing and displaying the question data and responsive answer data; and displaying answer data from the at least one first remote terminal in accordance with whether the at least one first remote terminal is assigned to a same predetermined first-tier group as the terminal in an answer data driven device hierarchy. A terminal, system and computer-readable medium are also disclosed.
US08731452B2 Bionanocomposite fuser topcoats comprising nanosized cellulosic particles
Exemplary embodiments provide materials and methods for a fuser member used in electrophotographic devices, wherein the fuser member can include an outermost layer containing a plurality of nanosized cellulosic particles dispersed in and/or bonded to a fluoropolymer matrix.
US08731450B2 Nip plate configuration for a fixing device
In a fixing device for thermally fixing a developer image transferred onto a recording sheet, a nip plate is disposed on an inner surface of a tubular flexible fusing member which is flexibly deformable in such a manner that permits the fusing member to slide along the nip plate, and configured to be heated by a heating element disposed inside the fusing member. The fusing member is nipped between the nip plate and a backup member to form a nip portion between the fusing member and the backup member. The nip plate is bent to form a recessed portion which opens on the inner surface of the fusing member and holds a lubricant.
US08731446B2 Developer supply device for supplying charged development agent to intended device and image forming apparatus having the same
A developer supply device includes a developer-carrying body having a developer-carrying surface that faces an intended device in a first position and moves in a moving direction, a first transfer board that faces the developer-carrying surface in a second position upstream relative to the first position in the moving direction and transfers the developer to the second position in a direction opposite to the moving direction in the second position, an electrification member facing the developer-carrying surface in a third position downstream relative to the second position and upstream relative to the first position in the moving direction, and a second transfer board that faces the developer-carrying surface in a fourth position downstream relative to the first position and upstream relative to the second position in the moving direction and transfers the developer to a developer storage section in a direction identical to the moving direction in the fourth position.
US08731439B2 Coupling, image forming apparatus and cartridge
A coupling which may include a driving side member, a driven side member, and an intermediate member interposed between the driving side member and the driven side member. The intermediate member may be configured to transmit a driving force from the driving side member to the driven side member. The driven side member may include a first driven side rotating body having a first engaging portion and a second driven side rotating body having a second engaging portion. Further, the second driven side rotating body may be configured to rotate relative to the first driven side rotating body about a common axis of rotation with the first driven side rotating body. Additionally, the second engaging portion may be disposed outside of the first engaging portion with respect to a radial direction of the first driven side rotating body.
US08731436B2 Positioning system for a charge roller and printer using the same
A printer includes a photoconductor, a charge roller, and a positioner. The photoconductor includes an outer surface defining a seam region and a non-seam region while the charge roller is configured to rollingly engage the outer surface of the non-seam region. The positioner is operably coupled to the charge roller and includes a discrete step drive configured to maintain a minimum spacing between the charge roller and the seam region of the outer surface when the seam region passes underneath the charge roller.
US08731435B2 Process cartridge for an imaging device
A cartridge that can be detachably installed within an imaging device, which includes a cartridge casing, a photosensitive drum driving assembly located on the casing, and a control mechanism for controlling extension and retraction of a force receiving head in the photosensitive drum driving assembly. The control mechanism includes a control rod, which can rotate around a pivot on the cartridge casing, and a elastic means mounted on the control rod. The cartridge of the invention uses a control mechanism to control extension and retraction of the force receiving head in the photosensitive drum driving assembly, and as a result when the cartridge is removed of the imaging device, the force receiving head does not become stuck by a driving head of the imaging device.
US08731426B2 Information input apparatus and image forming apparatus
An information input apparatus is constituted of an operation panel that inputs various types of information and an operation panel board that controls the operation panel. The operation panel includes an LCD that is the displaying unit that displays the information input screen for inputting various types of information, and a touch panel that is the input instructing unit that executes an input instruction from an input region (virtual keys) provided on the information input screen. The LCD displays on the virtual keys information different from information previously assigned to the virtual keys on the information input screen.
US08731425B2 Bias application control in an image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus is provided. The image forming apparatus includes an image carrier, a conveyance belt which conveys a recording sheet via a position opposing the image carrier, a belt cleaner which removes adhered matters on the conveyance belt, a driving unit which drives the image carrier and the conveyance belt, a bias applying unit which applies a cleaning bias to the belt cleaner, and a controller which controls the driving unit and the bias applying unit such that when the image carrier is driven at a first speed, the cleaning bias is applied to the belt cleaner, and when the image carrier is driven at a second speed slower than the first speed, the cleaning bias is not applied to the belt cleaner.
US08731422B2 Image forming apparatus and method for re-executing duplex printing
According to one embodiment, an image forming apparatus includes: a first paper feeding unit; a second paper feeding unit; a fixing unit configured to fix a developer image transferred onto a sheet; a conveying path configured to convey sheets; a receiving unit configured to receive an execution instruction for duplex printing for continuously printing an image on one surface and on the other surface of a sheet; an acquiring unit configured to acquire, in the printing on one surface, information concerning presence or absence of an image on the other surface; and a processor configured to change, in the printing on one surface, if a result of the acquisition concerning the sheet fed from the first paper feeding unit indicates that an image is present, a paper feeding unit from the first paper feeding unit to the second paper feeding unit and performs control for re-executing the duplex printing.
US08731421B2 Method and apparatus to optimize the transfer of developer fluid in an electrophoretic printing apparatus
In a method or apparatus to optimize transfer of a developer fluid having toner embedded in a carrier fluid in an electrophoretic printing apparatus, charge images of print images are generated on an intermediate image carrier. The print images are inked into toner images by means of a developer station with the developer fluid. The toner images are transfer printed onto a printing substrate in a transfer printing zone by a transfer unit. The toner embedded in the carrier fluid is thus transported from the developer station to the intermediate image carrier in a first transport path segment and from the transfer unit to the printing substrate in a second transport path segment. A temperature acting on the carrier fluid in the first transport path segment is above a melting point of the carrier fluid, and a temperature acting on the carrier fluid in the second transport path segment is below the melting point of the carrier fluid.
US08731416B2 Electronic device, malfunction determining method, and computer program product
An electronic device including a first motor, the electronic device including: a first movable body that is driven to move by the first motor; a detecting unit that detects a signal according to rotation of the first motor or movement of the first movable body; an analyzing unit that performs frequency analysis of the signal and generates an analysis result with respect to each frequency; and a determining unit that determines presence or absence of malfunction of the first motor or the first movable body based on an analysis result of a first frequency preset with respect to the first motor or the first movable body out of frequencies, and determines presence or absence of malfunction of a part other than the first motor and the first movable body on the basis of an analysis result of a second frequency preset with respect to the part out of the frequencies.
US08731412B2 Common base circuit with output compensation, current-to-voltage circuit configured with common base amplifier, and optical receiver implemented with the same
An amplifier implementing with a common base circuit is disclosed. The amplifier includes the common base circuit, a current shunt, and a current supplement. The common base circuit receives an input current. The current shunt shunts the input current based on the average of the output of the pre-amplifier. The current supplement supplements a current shunted by the current shunt.
US08731411B2 Polarization fluctuation compensation device and optical communication system
A polarization fluctuation compensation device, when WDM light received by, for example, an optical reception device includes a polarization scrambled optical signal and a non-polarization scrambled optical signal, collects information related to whether optical signals having respective wavelengths are polarization scrambled, obtains a target value of control parameters which are different from each other, according to the speed of polarization fluctuations in the non-polarization scrambled optical signal based on the collected information, and performs reception processing of the non-polarization scrambled optical signal by using a control parameter set as the target value. As a result, an influence of fast polarization fluctuations generated resulting from an interaction between optical signals having respective wavelengths can be reliably compensated for, thereby enabling to realize excellent reception characteristics.
US08731409B2 Method for controlling polarization multiplexed optical signal
An optical signal transmitter includes: first outer modulator to generate first modulated optical signal, the first outer modulator including a pair of optical paths and a first phase shifter to give phase difference to the pair of optical paths; second outer modulator to generate second modulated optical signal, the second outer modulator including a pair of optical paths and a second phase shifter to give phase difference to the pair of optical paths; combiner to generate polarization multiplexed optical signal by combining the first and second modulated optical signals; phase controller to control the phase difference by the first phase shifter to A−Δφ and control the phase difference by the second phase shifter to A+Δφ; and power controller to control at least one of the first and second outer modulators based on AC component of the polarization multiplexed optical signal.
US08731408B2 Network system with energy efficient fiber port
An approach for saving power in a fiber ports of a network system is provided. An instance of a period of inactivity for a fiber port of the network system is determined. Power delivery to a transmit laser of an SFP (small form-factor pluggable) device of the fiber port is terminated during at least a portion of the period of inactivity. Power delivery to the SFP device is maintained while power delivery to the transmit laser is terminated.
US08731406B2 Apparatus and method for generating high resolution frames for dimming and visibility support in visible light communication
For use in a visible light communication (VLC) network, a method for generating high resolution visibility frames for visibility or dimming support. The method includes determining a required visibility for the high resolution frames. The method also includes generating a pattern that meets the determined required visibility, the pattern having a first quantity of first low resolution frames and a second quantity of second low resolution frames. The method further includes transmitting the pattern to achieve the required high resolution frames.
US08731403B2 Multicast optical switch
A multicast optical switch includes a free-space optical assembly of discrete splitters, cylindrical optics, and a linear array of reflective switching devices, such as microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) mirrors, to provide low-loss, high-performance multicast switching in a compact configuration. The assembly of optical splitters may include multiple planar lightwave circuit splitters or a multi-reflection beam splitter that includes a linear array of partially reflecting mirrors, each of a different reflectivity.
US08731399B2 Power saving method, system and optical network unit in passive optical network
A power saving method in a passive optical network, including: when receiving an upstream burst timeslot allocated by the Optical Line Terminal (OLT) after a power supply of the Optical Network Unit (ONU) is turned off, the ONU dividing the upstream burst timeslot into one or more upstream burst timeslots; and the ONU turning on own laser in the upstream burst timeslot belonging to the ONU, and after sending one or more emergent Physical Layer Operations, Administration and Maintenance (PLOAM) messages to OLT in each upstream burst timeslot, promptly turning off the own laser. A power saving system in a passive optical network and an optical network unit is provided. The invention can decrease the power supply volume of an electric supply installation in a power-off ONU and reduce the cost of the electric supply installation.
US08731398B2 Optical network system and WDM apparatus
An optical network system that performs transmission of N:1 protection includes a node that includes transmission-side operating muxponders that multiplex client signals for every M-channel signal bundle and convert multiplexed signals into optical signals having different wavelengths, transmission-side optical couplers that branch the client signals into two channels of operating and redundant, transmission-side optical switches each selecting one channel from redundant signals as a redundant client signal, and a transmission-side redundant muxponder that performs a predetermined transmission-side process according to an accommodation mode set on the redundant client signal and then multiplexes the redundant client signals, converts the multiplexed signal into an optical signal having a wavelength different from that of the operating signal, thereby making the accommodation mode settable for each channel in an independent manner.
US08731396B2 Camera system
Disclosed is a system configured to operate with a hand-held camera. The hand-held camera is configured to operate with a film cartridge. The film cartridge defines an opening to enable entry of a driven film-feeding member into engagement with film edge perforations, the film-feeding member being driven by the camera for movement in a rectilinear path whereby successive film edge perforations are engaged so as to intermittently move the film past the exposure aperture. The system comprises a housing configured to be moveably engageable with the camera, in place of the film cartridge; a detector configured to generate a first signal in response to detecting a movement of the film-feeding member; and circuitry configured to write signals from an image sensor into the memory, according to an addressing mechanism that is responsive to the first signal.
US08731394B2 Lens apparatus
Provided is a lens apparatus including: an optical member; and an operation member, which is connected to the optical member and is operated to drive the optical member, in which: the lens apparatus is capable of working in a checking mode for checking a specified set value of the lens apparatus; and in the checking mode, the operation member moves to a position corresponding to the specified set value so as to display the specified set value.
US08731391B2 Reduced pre-flash for LED flash based camera devices
A mobile device comprising a processor, a camera module, and a flash configured to generate at least one of a reduced pre-flash, a standard pre-flash and a flash. The processor, in response to receiving an image capture request, is configured to receive a brightness value and determine a flash status based on a flash setting with the flash status being one of an off mode, on mode, and auto mode. In the event the flash status is one of the on mode and auto mode, determine whether there is sufficient light to capture an image based at least in part on a comparison of the brightness value and a flash threshold. In the event the brightness value is greater than the flash threshold, cause the flash to generate a shortened pre-flash and obtain only a white balance measurement and an auto-exposure measurement during the shortened pre-flash.
US08731390B2 Electromagnetic actuators for digital cameras
Electromagnetic actuators for digital cameras, in particular miniature cell-phone and tablet cameras, include an electromagnet with a first elongated ferromagnetic member surrounded coaxially in part by a conductive coil along a first longitudinal axis, and a elongated second ferromagnetic member with a second longitudinal axis. The first and second ferromagnetic members have respective first and second operative surfaces and are aligned such that their longitudinal axes are parallel and such that respective operative surfaces overlap each other across a gap. The two members are mechanically coupled to respective frames. A frame hinge connects the frames and enables a relative tilt motion between the ferromagnetic members when current passes through the coil. The tilt motion is convertible into a linear displacement along an optical axis of an optical element coupled to the actuator. Two actuators can be combined into an assembly capable of providing double-axis tilt.
US08731389B2 Auto-focus mechanism for vision system camera
This invention provides an electro-mechanical auto-focus function for a smaller-diameter lens type that nests, and is removably mounted, within the mounting space and thread arrangement of a larger-diameter lens base of a vision camera assembly housing. In an illustrative embodiment, the camera assembly includes a threaded base having a first diameter, which illustratively defines a C-mount base. A motor-driven gear-reduction drive assembly is mounted internally, and includes teeth that engage corresponding teeth on the outer diameter of a cylindrical focus gear, which has an internal lead screw. The focus gear is freely rotatable, and removably captured, within the threaded C-mount base in a nested, coaxial relationship. The internal lead screw of the focus gear threadingly engages the external threads of a coaxial lens holder. This converts the drive gear rotation into linear/axial lens holder motion. The lens holder includes anti-rotation stops, which allow its linear/axial movement but restrain any rotational motion.
US08731377B2 Image recording apparatus, dynamic image processing apparatus, dynamic image reproduction apparatus, dynamic image recording apparatus, information recording/reproduction apparatus and methods employed therein, recording medium with computer program stored therein
The image recording apparatus according to the present invention is provided with a conversion device that converts an optical image of a subject to an electrical signal, a recording circuit that records the electrical signal achieved through the conversion device in a storage device as image data and a display control circuit that detects an available capacity at the storage device and the length of time that power supply by a source is possible and displays them on a display as available capacity information and remaining power supply time information. The available capacity information indicates the length of available recording time remaining at the available capacity that has been detected.
US08731376B2 Recorder control apparatus and control method
A recorder control apparatus which controls execution of broadcast program recording in a plurality of recorders connected thereto, comprises an acceptance unit configured to accept a request to execute broadcast program recording, an acquisition unit configured to acquire, from each recorder, reservation information related to reserved program recording to be executed by the recorder after a point at which the execution request is accepted, a selection unit configured to select, from the plurality of recorders, a recorder capable of executing broadcast program recording corresponding to the execution request for a longest duration, based on the reservation information, and a request unit configured to request the recorder selected by the selection unit to execute broadcast program recording corresponding to the execution request.
US08731374B2 Video format for digital video recorder
Some embodiments provide a video camera. The video camera includes image sensing circuitry for capturing a sequence of video pictures, a user interface for allowing a user to select a video encoding format from a temporally compressed encoding format and non-temporally compressed encoding format, encoding circuitry for encoding the video pictures according to the format selected by the user, and random access storage for storing video clips.Some embodiments provide a video editing application for a computer. The application includes a first module for (i) receiving video clips stored on the video camera and (ii) storing a first set of video clips that are non-temporally compressed on the video camera in a storage of the computer, and a second module for (i) transcoding a second set of video clips that are temporally compressed on the video camera and (ii) storing the transcoded second set of video clips in the storage.
US08731373B2 Managing and editing stored media assets
Methods and systems are described for providing editing tools that allow a user to manipulate media provided by a media content source. Media editing tools may include content analysis tools capable of extracting information from the media content itself, and may include segment identification and editing tools. Editing tools may be created by a user, and stored or shared with other users. Users may be able to specify and customize a set of storage space requirements that impose constraints on the type, quantity and content of stored assets. Automatic storage management tools provide tools with which stored and to-be-stored assets may be transformed in order to maintain satisfaction of storage preferences and requirements.
US08731370B2 Method and device for transmitting audio and video for playback
A video stream from a first source and an audio stream from a second source are received at a multimedia processing device such as a set-top box for play back. A first offset time is determined based upon user input, whereby playback of the video stream relative to playback of the audio stream is adjusted to facilitate synchronization of the audio and video stream.
US08731368B2 Video data processing apparatus and video data processing method
According to one embodiment, a video data processing apparatus includes a file receiver, an analyzer, and a recorder. The file receiver receives a data file. The analyzer analyzes the data file, divides the data file into first data blocks of first data units, and adds index information to each of the first data blocks. The index information includes particular verification data located at a first position in the index information, and management information for playback of the each first data block. The recorder records each of the first data blocks with the index information.
US08731367B2 Image processing apparatus
An image processing apparatus includes a storage unit which stores data of a plurality of medical images at different imaging angles or different imaging positions with respect to the same region, a display unit which displays the data of the medical image read out from the storage unit, and a control unit which controls the storage unit and the display unit to play back the plurality of medical images as moving images and pause playback of the medical image.
US08731366B2 D1451 radiation curable supercoatings for single mode optical fiber
The first aspect of the instant claimed invention is a method of formulating radiation curable Supercoatings for application to an optical fiber used in a telecommunications network. A Multi-layer Film Drawdown Method useful in the Method of formulating radiation curable Supercoatings is also described and claimed. Single mode Optical fibers coated with specific radiation curable Supercoatings are also described and claimed.
US08731365B1 Optical fibers
An optical fiber, which is less likely to increase its transmission loss even when it is exposed to a high-humidity environment or immersed in water, is provided. The optical fiber comprises a glass fiber and at least two coating layers (a soft layer and a hard layer) coated at the circumference of the glass fiber, wherein the limit-adhesion strength between the glass fiber and the coating layer under a hot and humid environment is 0.5N/10 mm or more. Preferably, the glass-transition temperature of the hard layer is less than 90° C.
US08731359B2 Extraordinary light transmission apparatus and method
An optical apparatus that provides extraordinary light transmission through a sub-wavelength-sized light transmitting region of the apparatus includes a core region of dielectric material having a complex dielectric constant, ∈1, surrounded by a metallic cladding material having a complex dielectric constant, ∈2, wherein the core region has a maximum dimension, 2a, further wherein 2a is less than λ, where λ is the free-space wavelength of light incident on an input side of the apparatus, and further wherein |∈1| is greater than 0.5|∈2|, ∈1 has a positive real part, and ∈2 has a negative real part, whereby the incident light will be transmitted by and exit the apparatus from an output side with extraordinary transmission.
US08731358B2 Multi-cladding fiber
Multi-cladding optical fibers to be used in the context of fiber amplifiers and fiber lasers are described herein. Embodiments of optical fibers include a rare-earth doped core into which the signal field is to be amplified. The doped core is surrounded by multiple claddings that guide the pump field to be absorbed by the reactive core material. The first cladding has a depressed refractive index to improve high-order mode bending losses without incurring significant fundamental mode bending losses.
US08731347B2 Lens standoff and protection for optical communication systems
An opto-electronic system includes a substrate, an opto-electronic chip mounted on the substrate, a frame, and a lens device retained in the frame. A frame mounting portion of the frame is in contact with an upper surface of the opto-electronic chip. A lens mounting portion of the frame is spaced above the frame mounting portion. A lower surface of the lens device is in contact with the lens mounting portion. The spacing of the lens mounting portion and frame mounting portion determines the spacing between the upper surface of the opto-electronic chip and the lower surface of the lens device.
US08731344B2 Method for manufacturing semiconductor optical modulator and semiconductor optical modulator
A method for manufacturing a semiconductor optical modulator includes forming a p-type semiconductor layer on a main surface of a p-type semiconductor substrate; forming a pair of stripe-shaped masks on the p-type semiconductor layer, the stripe-shaped masks extending in a first direction along the main surface of the p-type semiconductor substrate and being spaced apart from each other; simultaneously forming a hole and a pair of stripe structures extending in the first direction by etching the p-type semiconductor layer through the stripe-shaped masks, the pair of stripe structures defining the hole; after removing the stripe-shaped masks, forming a buried layer in the hole; forming a core layer on the buried layer and the stripe structures; and forming an upper cladding layer on the core layer. The buried layer is made of a semiconductor material with a lower optical absorption loss than that of the p-type semiconductor layer.
US08731342B2 Fiber-optic sensor for liquid-immersion detection and fiber-optic detection system for liquid-immersion detection
A fiber-optic sensor for liquid-immersion detection includes an optical fiber and an interface material layer. The optical fiber has an angled physical contact (APC) surface. The interface material layer contacts with the APC surface. The interface material layer has a rough surface when in a dry state to produce a diffusion reflection. The interface material layer has a smooth surface to produce a specular reflection when the interface material layer absorbs a liquid in a wet state.
US08731340B2 Systems and methods for minimally-invasive optical-acoustic imaging
An imaging guidewire can include one or more optical fibers communicating light along the guidewire. At or near its distal end, one or more blazed or other fiber Bragg gratings (FBGs) directs light to a photoacoustic transducer material that provides ultrasonic imaging energy. Returned ultrasound is sensed by an FBG sensor. A responsive signal is optically communicated to the proximal end of the guidewire, and processed to develop a 2D or 3D image. In one example, the guidewire outer diameter is small enough such that an intravascular catheter can be passed over the guidewire. Techniques for improving ultrasound reception include using a high compliance material, resonating the ultrasound sensing transducer, using an attenuation-reducing coating and/or thickness, and/or using optical wavelength discrimination. Techniques for improving the ultrasound generating transducer include using a blazed FBG, designing the photoacoustic material thickness to enhance optical absorption. Techniques for distinguishing plaque or vulnerable plaque may be used to enhance the displayed image.
US08731335B2 Method and apparatus for correcting rotation of video frames
A method and apparatus for correcting a rotation of a video frame are described. According to a method, an amount of the rotation of the video frame with respect to a reference is determined. The rotation of the video frame is corrected based at least in part on the detected amount of the rotation of the video frame.
US08731331B2 Apparatus, system, and method of communication, and recording medium storing communication control program
In a communication system, a communication terminal displays an image based on display data being displayed and sent by an external apparatus. The communication terminal sends first resolution data specifying a resolution of a display of the communication terminal to the external apparatus. The external apparatus determines a resolution of the display data to be transmitted, based on the first resolution data, and second resolution data specifying a resolution of a display of the external input apparatus. The external apparatus sends the display data, which is converted to have the determined resolution, to the communication terminal.
US08731330B2 Apparatus and method for composing images in an image processing device
An apparatus and method for composing images in an image processing device are provided. The method includes identifying an object in an overlap region of a plurality of images; generating a Gaussian curve for the object; determining an alpha mask for the overlap region using the Gaussian curve; and blending the plurality of images based on the alpha mask.
US08731326B2 Object recognition system and method
An object recognition system including an image data storage unit to store a captured image, a feature extraction unit to extract an image having a predetermined rotational component among rotational components of the image stored in the image data storage unit and to extract feature vectors based on the extracted image, a database unit to store object information, a recognition unit to determine whether an object corresponding to the captured image is present in the database unit through comparison between the feature vectors extracted by the feature extraction unit and the object information stored in the database unit and to recognize information on the object stored in the database unit based on determination as to whether the object corresponding to the captured image is present in the database unit, and a system administration unit to receive the information on the object recognized by the recognition unit.
US08731323B2 General banding and codec banding artifact removal
A method and apparatus are disclosed for identifying and removing banding artifacts (i.e., false contours) resulting from insufficient bit depth caused by digital image quantization, conversion, and/or compression. This method includes: explicitly identifying texture block and flat block; de-termination of filter window sizes with the consideration of handling transitions between texture block and flat block; de-banding filtering with edge protection; and noise shaping according to de-banding filter result.
US08731321B2 Image processing device, image processing method, image processing program, and recording medium with recorded image processing program
An image processing device (10) includes: a line segment extracting section (14) for generating a line segment image obtained by extracting contour line segments contained in a contour of a subject in a captured image; a candidate quadrilateral calculating section (15) for (i) putting at least one virtual line segment in the line segment image (ii) selecting four line segments from a set containing the at least one virtual line segment and the contour line segments, and (iii) identifying a quadrilateral defined by four straight lines containing respective selected four line segments; and an image correcting section (17) for correcting a distortion in perspective transformation of the captured image based on the quadrilateral identified by the candidate quadrilateral calculating section (15). With the configuration, the distortion of the subject can be corrected without manually adjusting a degree of correction, even in a case where the subject having sides is partially not contained in the captured image or the subject is not a document image.
US08731320B2 Image processing using a bilateral grid
A method of processing a digital image. The method comprises: populating (100) a bilateral grid (10) comprising a plurality of cells (20), based on information obtained from the image, each cell comprising at least one value; then cumulatively integrating (110) the at least one value over the bilateral grid to form an integrated grid comprising integrated values; generating (120) a modified bilateral grid, comprising computing the sum of the at least one value over a predetermined rectangular box of cells of the bilateral grid, by using the integrated values corresponding to the corners of the box; and slicing (130) the modified bilateral grid to generate an output image.
US08731319B2 Image layer stack interface
In an example embodiment, a system and method is illustrated that includes receiving a layering instruction that includes an image, the image including a layer. Further, the system and method includes generating a sub layer through filtering the layer, the sub layer including a property of the layer. Additionally, the system and method includes editing the property to create an edit, the edit including a change to the property of the layer. Also the system and method includes storing the edit into the sub layer as an edit associated with the sub layer. A system and method is also shown to receive a layered image that includes an image layer stack, the image layer stack including an image with a layer and a sub layer, and an edit associated with the sub layer. The system and method also includes displaying the layered image in a display area.
US08731318B2 Unified spatial image processing
A method for enhancing an input image to produce an enhanced output image is provided. The method includes constructing a photographic-mask intermediate image without low-contrast details and a temporary-image intermediate image with enhanced mid-contrast details, retained high-contrast details, and reduced low-contrast details, and employing values for the photographic-mask intermediate image and temporary-image intermediate image to produce the enhanced output image that is globally and locally contrast-enhanced, sharpened, and denoised.