| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US09271805B2 |
Isomark needle
A device for marking a treatment isocenter on a patient's body includes a base including alignment indicia; a marker disposed over the base and positioned relative to the indicia for marking the isocenter on the patient's body; and an actuator for actuating the marker and causing a mark indicating the isocenter to be made on the patient's body. The actuator can include a button and a spring coupled to the marker. Compressing the actuator causes the marker to travel through an ink well prior to piercing the patient's skin. The device is disposable as intended for a single use. |
| US09271804B2 |
Method for tracking objects using optical and non-optical sensors
Systems and methods that utilize optical sensors and non-optical sensors to determine the position and/or orientation of objects. A navigation system includes an optical sensor for receiving optical signals from markers and a non-optical sensor, such as a gyroscope, for generating non-optical data. A navigation computer determines positions and/or orientations of objects based on optical and non-optical data. |
| US09271800B2 |
Medical device system, medical device and floor-mounted frame for a medical device
A medical device (10), for use in an operating room, has a basic body (20) with a mechanical ceiling interface (22) for mounting on a mounting bracket (210) of a ceiling mounting system (200). The basic body (20) has a mechanical frame interface (24) for mounting on a floor-mounted frame (100). |
| US09271795B2 |
Medical workplace
A medical workstation includes a position provided for medical personnel during a medical activity on a patient, and storage units for receiving medical instruments or tools. The storage units are arranged in the shape of an arc of a circle around the position provided for medical personnel. |
| US09271791B2 |
System and method for monitoring ablation size
A system for monitoring ablation size is provided and includes a power source including a microprocessor for executing at least one control algorithm. A microwave antenna is configured to deliver microwave energy from the power source to tissue to form an ablation zone. An ablation zone control module is in operative communication with a memory associated with the power source. The memory includes one or more data look-up tables including data pertaining to a control curve varying over time and being representative of one or more electrical parameters associated with the microwave antenna. Points along the control curve correspond to a value of the electrical parameters and the ablation zone control module triggers a signal when a predetermined threshold value of the electrical parameter(s) is measured corresponding to the radius of the ablation zone. |
| US09271787B2 |
Recanalizing occluded vessels using radiofrequency energy
A method and systems for treating chronic total occlusions, particularly those that are difficult to treat, is disclosed. In this approach, recanalizing the CTO is achieved using a combined antegrade and retrograde approach. The proximal end of the occlusion is penetrated using an antegrade wire, using a traditional approach. Using collateral vessels, the distal end of the occlusion is crossed in a retrograde fashion. By appropriately maneuvering each member and applying radiofrequency energy between the proximal and distal ends of the occlusion, a continuous channel is created. |
| US09271782B2 |
Assessment of electrode coupling of tissue ablation
An electrode catheter and a method for assessing electrode-tissue contact and coupling are disclosed. An exemplary electrode catheter comprises an electrode adapted to apply electrical energy. A measurement circuit is adapted to measure impedance between the electrode and ground as the electrode approaches a target tissue. A processor determines a contact and coupling condition for the target tissue based at least in part on reactance of the impedance measured by the measurement circuit. In another exemplary embodiment, the electrode catheter determines the contact and coupling condition based at least in part on a phase angle of the impedance. |
| US09271777B2 |
Unilateral moveable interbody fusion device and method of use
An interbody fusion device including a body member, at least one side member engaging the body member, and at least one movement mechanism that engages at least one side member and the body member. A surgical method for maintaining a space between two vertebral bodies in a spine, including the steps of obtaining a medical device, such as an interbody fusion device, and inserting and coupling an expansion tool into an opening within the medical device. The surgical method also including slidingly inserting the medical device into a space between two vertebral bodies and rotating the expansion tool to move the at least one side member in a direction relative to the body member. The method may further include detaching the expansion tool from the medical device and removing the tool from the space between the two vertebral bodies in the spine. |
| US09271774B2 |
Securing fasteners
A fastener, for example a bone screw, is sized to pass into an aperture of an implant, for example a bone plate, the fastener having an anchor portion engageable with body tissue, and a head portion formed by an assembly of an insert and an anchor extension. The implant has an aperture with a reduced entry dimension. The insert and anchor extension cooperate to form a reduced dimension passable into the aperture, and an expanded dimension not passable out of the aperture. The size of the assembly is configurable by bending resilient tabs of the anchor extension or the implant, using ramped surfaces, or an expanding diameter of a threadable insert. |
| US09271772B2 |
System and method for fracture replacement of comminuted bone fractures or portions thereof adjacent bone joints
A system and method facilitating replacement of comminuted bone fractures or portions thereof adjacent bone joints. The system and method employs a prosthesis to replace at least a portion of the comminuted bone fractures. The prosthesis serves in reproducing the articular surface of the portion or portions of the comminuted bone fractures that are replaced. In doing so, the prosthesis serves in restoring joint viability and corresponding articulation thereof. |
| US09271769B2 |
Bone plate and fixation system comprising a bone plate
A bone plate and to a fixation system comprising two types of bone screws. The bone plate has two intersecting stepped round holes which are different in size and in the upper regions of which a circumferential rib extends. The upper region of the smaller round hole is designed to slidably guide a bone screw having a partially spherical heads and a screw having a thread or conical head. The lower region of the larger round hole is used to support a conical head. |
| US09271768B2 |
Orthopedic fixation devices and instruments for installation thereof
Embodiments herein are generally directed to rod reduction clips that can efficiently attach to orthopedic fixation devices and reduce rods therein. Other embodiments herein are generally directed to coupling elements having removable extended tabs for use in orthopedic fixation devices. |
| US09271767B2 |
System for anchoring an elongated implant to a vertebra of a patient spine
A tool set for implanting a rod in a human spine in conjunction with bone screws. The tool set includes a pair of end guide tools that receive opposite ends of the rod in channels and under manipulation by a surgeon facilitate transport of the rod toward the bone screws attached to the guide tools. Intermediate guide tools having guiding pass through slots are utilized to guide intermediate locations along the rod toward associated bone screws. An attachment structure operably connects the guide tools to the bone screws. The guide tools each include a lower guide and advancement structure to allow a closure top with mating structure to be rotated and driven downward against the rod and to cooperate with similar structure in the bone screw to seat and lock the rod therein. A method utilizing the tool set allows a surgeon to percutaneously implant the rod in the patient. |
| US09271758B2 |
Bone fastener and methods of use
A bone fastener includes a proximal member having an inner surface that defines an implant cavity and an outer surface including a first threaded portion configured for penetrating fixation with tissue and a second portion. The proximal member defines a longitudinal axis. An intermediate member includes an inner surface extending between a proximal portion connected with the second portion and a distal portion. A distal member includes an outer surface extending between a proximal portion disposed with the distal portion of the intermediate member and a distal portion configured for penetrating fixation with tissue. The distal member is configured for axial translation relative to the intermediate member. Methods of use are disclosed. |
| US09271755B2 |
Minutely controlled dermabrasion hand piece and a method for controlling thereof
A minutely controlled dermabrasion hand piece includes a main hand piece body for holding the hand piece by a user, a treatment head to provide negative pressure to a treated tissue and a vacuum tube to provide negative pressure to the treatment head through the main hand piece body. The main hand piece body includes at least one opening to control the supply of negative pressure to the treatment head. The opening is blockable by the user holding the hand piece. |
| US09271753B2 |
Surgical device
A seal comprises a first sealing member and a second sealing member. The sealing members each have an accessway to facilitate access from one side of the sealing member to the other side of the sealing member. The accessways are offset to facilitate sealed access of an object through the sealing members. |
| US09271751B2 |
Ultrasonic surgical system
An ultrasonic surgical system includes an ultrasonic transmission member having a proximal end and a distal end. An ultrasonically actuated end-effector is attached at the distal end of the transmission member. A pressurized fluid delivery system includes a fluid nozzle in communication with at least one fluid source. The fluid nozzle is arranged and configured to deliver pressurized fluid to soft tissue at a rate to move the soft tissue away from the end-effector during use. |
| US09271747B2 |
Complex wire formed devices
The devices and methods described herein relate to jointless construction of complex structures. Such devices have applicability in through-out the body, including clearing of blockages within body lumens, such as the vasculature, by addressing the frictional resistance on the obstruction prior to attempting to translate and/or mobilize the obstruction within the body lumen. |
| US09271746B2 |
Retrieval snare for extracting foreign objects from body cavities and method for manufacturing thereof
A retrieval snare for entrapping and retaining a foreign object located in a body and a method for manufacturing of the snare are provided. The snare comprises a structure having a proximal portion and a distal portion and includes a plurality of filaments. The filaments extend from an end of the proximal portion towards the distal portion and return to the end of the proximal portion to form a plurality of loops. The loops are not interconnected at the distal portion, but each side of each loop are connected to a side of an adjacent loop in the proximal portion at more than one point, thereby providing structural rigidity and dilatation ability to the snare. |
| US09271745B2 |
Cross pinning guide devices and methods
Methods and devices are provided for implanting a cross-pin through a bone tunnel, such as in an arthroscopic surgical procedure. In general, the methods and devices allow a cross-pin hole to be formed in a medial side of a knee bone such that it intersects a bone tunnel formed in the knee bone. In one embodiment, a cross-pinning guide device is provided that can be configured to angularly position the cross-pin hole relative to the bone tunnel to allow the cross-pin hole to intersect the bone tunnel without passing through another side, e.g., a lateral side, of the knee bone. The knee bone can be a femur or a tibia such that the cross-pin hole and the bone tunnel can each be entirely formed in the femur or in the tibia. |
| US09271743B2 |
System for joint fusion
Techniques for joint fusion are described, including a drill guide assembly having a drill guide and a pin sleeve, the drill guide including a drill guide head having an opening, a shaft configured to receive the pin sleeve, a drill guide tip configured to engage a bone, and a cannula configured to receive an implant, a first guide pin configured to guide placement of the drill guide, a striker tube configured to fit over at least a portion of the pin sleeve, a cannulated drill bit configured to drill a pilot hole in a bone tissue, a stop collar configured to be placed over the cannulated drill bit and to be attached to the cannulated drill bit using a ridge, and a parallel spacer instrument configured to guide placement of a second guide pin at a distance from the implant after the implant is implanted into the bone tissue. |
| US09271742B2 |
System for joint fusion
Techniques associated with a system for joint fusion are described, including a drill guide assembly having a drill guide and a pin sleeve, the drill guide including a drill guide head having an opening, a shaft configured to receive the pin sleeve, a drill guide tip configured to engage a bone, and a cannula configured to receive an implant, a striker tube configured to fit over the pin sleeve, the striker tube having an edge configured to fit over the drill guide head, a cannulated drill bit configured to drill a pilot hole in a bone tissue configured to receive the implant, a stop collar configured to be placed over the cannulated drill bit, and a packing plunger assembly having a packing tube and a plunger partially inserted into the packing tube, the packing plunger assembly configured to pack the implant with a material. |
| US09271740B2 |
Precessional-motion bone and dental drilling tools and bone harvesting apparatus
This document provides orthopedic and dental devices and methods for their use. For example, novel bone drills and dental drills are described. The bone and dental drills have at least some centers of mass that are offset from the drills' axis of rotation. Accordingly, the bone and dental drills may rotate and cut using a precessional pattern of motion. The design facilitates bone cutting, chip formation and hauling capacity, irrigation and bone harvesting. In some embodiments, the bone chips are collected in a removable apparatus fixed to the distal portion of the drill, and the collected bone chips can be used for bone grafting. |
| US09271737B2 |
Automatic surgical ligation clip applier
An applier for ligation clip is provided. The applier includes: an outer tube having mounting bosses; a pair of jaws pivotally connected to the mounting bosses, the jaws having actuating projections; a feed tube located in the outer tube and configured to move axially within the outer tube, the feed tube having actuating slots in which the actuating projections are located; a clip lock arm located in the outer tube and configured to move axially within the outer tube; and a clip advance arm located in the outer tube and configured to move axially within the outer tube, the clip advance arm having flexible pinchers at one end of the clip advance arm. A method of applying a ligation clip is also disclosed. |
| US09271736B2 |
Braided medical device and manufacturing method thereof
An medical implantable occlusion device (100) is disclosed having a collapsed state and an expanded state and comprising a braiding (101) of at least one thread, and a distal end (102) comprised of said braiding. The distal end comprises loops (103, 104, 204, 304) formed by loop strands (105, 106, 206, 306) of the at least one thread, wherein, at least in said expanded state, each loop strand has a curved shape and extends away from a center point (117) of the distal end, whereby an apex point (107, 108, 208, 308) of each of the loop strands corresponds to the turning point of the curved shape and to the point of each of the loop strands being arranged closest to the center point. At least one of the loop strands is displaced from the center point by a center distance (109, 110, 210, 310), and the apex point lie at a distance from a periphery (113) of the distal end. |
| US09271735B2 |
Method and system for ligating a body part
A ligature device and method of use are disclosed. More specifically, a ligature device capable of maintaining a ligature band in an elongated position, applying a preformed ligation band to an object to be ligated, manually releasing the ligation band from an elongated position, and securing a ligation band in a tensioned position is described. The ligation device may be used to apply ligation bands to various body parts of various animals. |
| US09271732B2 |
Multi-chamber automatic feed medical screwdriver
A fastener system for placing screws into bone or tissue structure during a medical procedure is disclosed. The fastener system comprises a drive shaft and driver tip that securely and removeably interlocks with the fastener head and drives the fastener into the surgical site, then disengages the fastener and withdraws. The fastener system comprises a multi-chamber cartridge, which can be either reloadable or a pre-loaded disposable one-use unit. Each chamber holds a fastener using one or more of several alignment systems. Example of alignment systems are cantilevers with springs, spring-clips, or molded features within the chamber to hold the fastener in place until the driver tip engages the fastener head. The fastener head also can latch onto the driver tip. As an example, the fastener head can have hooks that lock into a ridge on the driver, and disengage when the driver tip withdraws. |
| US09271725B2 |
Method and apparatus for surgical fastening
A surgical fastener system includes a plurality of fasteners having a throughbore with a non-circular cross section portion. The fasteners may engage with a splined mandrel that passes through the throughbore of the fasteners and rotates the fasteners relative to the mandrel to move at least one of the fasteners along the mandrel, e.g., along the mandrel's longitudinal axis. A distal end of the mandrel may be inserted into a material, such as a tissue, prosthetic or other, and a fastener may be deployed from the distal end of the mandrel while the distal end is positioned in the material. |
| US09271724B2 |
Medical device having a position indicator
A medical device is described, the medical device comprising a moveable member, moveable between a first position and a second position; an actuating member coupled to the moveable member, directly or indirectly, for manipulating the moveable member, that is for causing the movement of the moveable member; and an indicator coupled, directly or indirectly, to the actuating member, said indicator having a first state and a second state; the indicator and actuating member being cooperatively operable such that the indicator automatically transitions between the first state and the second state to indicate advancement of the member to the second position from the first position upon a predetermined actuation of the actuating member. |
| US09271721B2 |
Port closure device
The present invention provides devices for safely closing an opening in tissue using suture. In one embodiment, the device includes an elongated main body constructed to permit visualization longitudinally through the main body from the proximal end to the distal end, the distal end defining a support surface to support the suture and protect distal body structures. A flange is connect to the main body adjacent the proximal end and projects laterally therefrom in first and second lateral directions. First and second guide holes extend longitudinally through the flange, and are structured to direct a suturing instrument longitudinally towards the support surface for passing the suture. |
| US09271719B2 |
Method and apparatus for treating a hip joint, including the provision and use of a novel suture passer
A suture passer including a shaft having an axis; a first jaw mounted to the shaft in alignment with the axis, the first jaw being configured to releasably support a length of suture thereon; a second jaw movably mounted to the shaft; and a needle movably mounted to the shaft, the needle having a hook and being configured to reciprocate in alignment with the axis so that the hook can selectively pass by the second jaw and engage suture releasably supported on the first jaw; wherein the first jaw includes a spring for selectively binding the suture to the first jaw. |
| US09271717B2 |
Bone anchor delivery system device and method
A bone anchor delivery system device (10) has a retractable punch driver assembly and a locking mechanism (32). The punch driver assembly has a retractable punch shaft (30) and a guide (20) for receiving the retractable punch shaft (30). The guide (20) is rotatable relative to the punch shaft (30) and the shaft has an extended length with bone penetrating tip (35) at a first end (33). The locking mechanism (32) for locking the retractable punch shaft (30) from linear movement and rotational movement relative to the guide (20) is positioned at an opposite second end. The retractable punch shaft (30) has a reduced diameter end (33) extending from the tip (35) toward a shoulder stop for receiving a releasable punch (12). The releasable punch (12) has a hollow opening for receiving the reduced diameter end (33) of the punch shaft (30). The punch (12) is profiled to pierce and form a bone anchor hole. |
| US09271715B2 |
Suture anchor with pulley
Methods and devices are provided for anchoring suture to bone. In one exemplary embodiment, a cannulated suture anchor is provided and it includes a suture-engaging member formed therein and configured to receive a suture therearound such that trailing ends of the suture can extend through the suture anchor. The present invention also provides exemplary sutures and drivers that can be used with the various methods and devices disclosed herein, or with other methods and devices known in the art. |
| US09271714B2 |
Methods and devices for anchoring suture in bone
An elongate rigid suture anchor is provided which is driven and impacted directly into bone. It has two ends: a distal end, which forms a hole in the bone, and a proximal end that penetrates the sidewall of the bone hole as the anchor is displaced proximally in the hole. A proximal force is applied to the suture anchor to displace the anchor proximally and cause tilting of the anchor. As the anchor is displaced proximally, the proximal end of the anchor enters obliquely into the sidewall of the hole. |
| US09271708B2 |
Suturing device and method for sealing an opening in a blood vessel or other biological structure
A suturing device includes a handle, an elongated body, at least one suture snag, at least one pair of needles, and at least one suture pair. The suture snag is moveable between a deployed position in which two distal arm portions thereof radially extend away from the elongated body and a retracted position in which the two distal arm portions are disposed within the elongated body. The suture pair is slidingly disposed through the needle pair. The suturing device deploys the suture snag within a vessel adjacent to an arteriotomy, extends the needle pair through a vessel wall around the arteriotomy and through the deployed suture snag, extends the suture pair beyond the distal ends of the needle pair, and then utilizes the suture snag to capture the extended suture pair by retracting the suture snag to pull first or distal ends of the sutures back into the suturing device. An inflatable balloon or an expandable suture capture component may be alternatives to the suture snag for capturing the suture ends. |
| US09271703B1 |
Anesthesia delivery device
An anesthesia delivery device with a syringe receiving chamber, a cannula joint, a thin resilient tubular member, a string member and a string retaining member. The thin tubular member is attached to one end of the syringe receiving chamber. The tubular member includes a plurality of small apertures for allowing anesthesia out to surrounding tissue. The cannula joint is attached at the proximal end of the thin tubular member. A syringe can be attached to the cannula joint. The tubular member includes a pair of opposing tabs that each include an aperture for allowing the string member to pass through to form a loop that can surround the shaft of a tendon harvesting tool. The string member ends can be held in place by the string retaining member. A preferred embodiment includes the thin tubular member is approximately twenty-seven centimeters long and includes a plurality of distance identifying markings. |
| US09271700B2 |
Tissue removal device and method of use
A biopsy device for acquiring more than one tissue sample is disclosed. The biopsy device can have at least two tissue engaging elements, where at least one element contains a helical feature. A control mechanism can be used to spin an outer element relative to an internal element, resulting in transport of multiple tissue samples from the mass of tissue to an accessible collection chamber. The outer element may have a sharp distal end which may sever the samples from the mass of tissue. Samples may be stored sequentially in the collection chamber and be removed by the operator. |
| US09271699B2 |
Ultrasonic device, probe, electronic instrument, diagnostic device, and processing device
An ultrasonic device includes an ultrasonic element group, a first to an Nth driving electrode lines, first and second terminals. The ultrasonic element group includes a plurality of ultrasonic elements forming “N” columns arranged along a second direction intersecting with a first direction with each of the “N” columns including a plurality of the ultrasonic elements arranged along the first direction, “N” being a natural number that is equal to or more than 2. The first to the Nth driving electrode lines are arranged along the first direction. An ith driving electrode line is connected to the ultrasonic elements constituting an ith column among the “N” columns, with “i” being a natural number equal to or less than “N”. The first terminal is connected to one end of the ith driving electrode line, and the second terminal is connected to the other end of the ith driving electrode line. |
| US09271697B2 |
Ultrasound imaging with speckle suppression via direct rectification of signals
Described herein are systems and methods for suppressing speckle noise in ultrasound imaging. In an embodiment, speckle noise suppression is provided by incoherently summing echo waves that impinge the active aperture of the transducers. This incoherent summation prevents echo waves from destructively interfering and therefore prevents the signal ‘nulls’ that characterize speckle noise. In an exemplary embodiment, the incoherent summation is performed by sub-dividing a transducer into a plurality of smaller transducers and incoherently summing the electrical signals from the smaller transducers. In one exemplary embodiment, each of the smaller transducers is coupled to a separate rectifier, which rectifies the electrical signal from the respective transducer into a rectified signal. The rectified signals from the rectifiers are then summed to provide the incoherent summation. |
| US09271688B2 |
System and method for contrast agent estimation in X-ray imaging
The disclosed embodiments relate to determining an amount of a contrast agent in an image. For example, a computer-implemented method of image processing includes generating, from a first polychromatic contrast-enhanced X-ray image obtained at a first energy and a second polychromatic contrast-enhanced X-ray image obtained at a second energy, a simulated first monochromatic contrast-enhanced X-ray image and a simulated second monochromatic contrast-enhanced X-ray image. The simulated first monochromatic contrast-enhanced X-ray image includes first regions of enhanced contrast and the simulated second monochromatic contrast-enhanced includes second regions of enhanced contrast. The method also includes isolating the first and second regions of enhanced contrast from other regions of the image, and determining an amount of the contrast agent within the first and second regions of enhanced contrast based at least on a derived partial signal attributable to the contrast agent. |
| US09271682B2 |
Introduction of an object in a body under real time imaging via correlation of images obtained by different imaging apparatuses
An imaging system and method are disclosed for monitoring a body. The system is constructed and arranged such that the method of use includes the acquisition of a first image and the acquisition of a second image. In the exemplary embodiment the first image is a volumetric three-dimensional image and the second image is a two-dimensional image. |
| US09271677B2 |
Intraocular pressure measuring and/or monitoring device
Intraocular pressure measuring and/or monitoring device comprising a soft contact lens and a pressure sensor united with the soft contact lens, the pressure sensor being located such that it is applied against an eye of a user for sensing the intraocular pressure (IOP) of the eye when the soft contact lens is worn by the user, wherein the soft contact lens is softer than a surface of the eye and is configured to adapt its shape to the shape of the eye under the effect of capillary force maintaining the contact lens on the eye when the user is wearing the contact lens. |
| US09271676B2 |
Method for measuring of edema
The invention relates to a method for measuring tissue edema. By a method in accordance with the invention an electromagnetic probe (24) is placed on the skin, and the capacitance of the probe is proportional to the dielectric constant of the skin and subcutaneous fat, which is proportional to the water content of the skin. The edema is scored by measuring the capacitance of the electromagnetic probe, so called open-ended coaxial cable, at a high frequency, approximately 20-500 MHz. |
| US09271675B2 |
Muscular-skeletal joint stability detection and method therefor
An orthopedic implant having a three-axis accelerometer is disclosed. The three-axis accelerometer is used to detect micro-motion in the implant. The micro-motion can be due to loosening of the implant. The implant is configured to couple to the muscular-skeletal system. In one embodiment, the implant is configured to couple to bone. An impact force is imparted to the bone or implant. The impact force can be provided via a transducer coupled to the implant. In the example, the impact force is imparted along a single axis. The three-axis accelerometer measures the impact force along each axis. Resultant peaks of the quantitative measurement and the frequencies at which they occur are measured. The peaks and frequencies of the measurements correspond to micro-motion. Typically, the frequency of interest is less than 1 KHz to determine if micro-motion is occurring. |
| US09271674B2 |
Optogenetic magnetic resonance imaging
Disclosed herein are systems and methods involving the use of magnetic resonance imaging and optogenetic neural stimulation. Aspects of the disclosure include modifying a target neural cell population in a first region of a brain to express light-responsive molecules. Using a light pulse, the light-responsive molecules in the target neural cell population are stimulated. Multiple regions of the brain are scanned via magnetic resonance imaging. The scans allow for observation of a neural reaction in response to the stimulation in at least one of the multiple regions of the brain. |
| US09271670B2 |
Connectors for making connections between analyte sensors and other devices
Analyte sensor connectors that connect analyte sensors, e.g., conductive members of analyte sensors, to other devices such as sensor electronics units, e.g., sensor control units, are provided. Also provided are systems that include analyte sensors, analyte sensor connectors, and analyte sensor electronics units, as well as methods of establishing and maintaining connections between analyte sensors and analyte sensor electronics units, and methods of analyte monitoring/detection. Also provided are methods of making analyte sensor connectors and systems that include analyte sensor connectors. |
| US09271667B2 |
Lancing device with independent drive core
A medical lancing device including an independent drive core mechanism incorporating all or a substantial portion of the functional components of the lancing device, whereby the independent drive core mechanism can be incorporated into multiple different external housing configurations for more efficient design and manufacture. Axial adjustment of the position of the independent drive core mechanism within the housing provides lancing penetration depth control. |
| US09271665B2 |
Fabric-based pressure sensor arrays and methods for data analysis
A fabric-based pressure sensor array includes: (1) a first layer including M elongated conductive strips coated thereon; (2) a second layer including N elongated conductive strips coated thereon, the M elongated conductive strips extending crosswise relative to the N elongated conductive strips to define M×N intersections; and (3) a unitary textile sheet extending between the first layer and the second layer so as to overlap the M×N intersections, the textile sheet having a variable resistivity in response to applied pressure so as to define M×N pressure sensors at locations corresponding to the M×N intersections. |
| US09271664B2 |
Combined field location and MRI tracking
A composite tracking system for a medical device comprises a field location tracking system including at least one field location sensor structured to be coupled to a medical device, a magnetic resonance tracking system including at least one tracking coil structured to be coupled to a medical device, and a composite tracking processor operably coupled to the field location tracking system and the magnetic resonance tracking system. The composite tracking processor is operable to receive and process field location parameters from the field location tracking system and positional coordinates from the magnetic resonance tracking system to register a field location coordinate system to a magnetic resonance coordinate system. |
| US09271663B2 |
Flexible instrument localization from both remote and elongation sensors
A system and method of tracking a flexible elongate instrument within a patient is disclosed herein. The system is configured to obtain remote localization measurement data of the flexible elongate instrument and obtain elongation measurement data of the flexible elongate instrument. This data is combined and transformed to a coordinate reference frame to produce a localization of the flexible elongate instrument that is more accurate than the remote localization measurements or elongation measurement data alone. The combined localization is then provided to a localization consumer. |
| US09271662B2 |
Magnetic resonance method and apparatus for obtaining a set of measured data relating to a breathing object of interest
In a method and apparatus to acquire a measurement data set of a breathing examination subject by magnetic resonance, the measurement data set is acquired in multiple shots each composed of a number of k-space trajectories (views), with the number Nv of views per shot being selected. The number of shots is determined in order to completely fill k-space to be scanned. The views of the shots are associated with sectors in k-space, with approximately the same number of views in each sector, and with all views in a sector have a similar distance from the k-space center. A respective view of each sector is associated with a respective one of the shots, corresponding to the orientation of the respective shot. The views that are associated with the same sector and different shots respectively assume the same time position within the shot. |
| US09271658B2 |
Methods, systems and computer program products for non-invasive determination of blood flow distribution using speckle imaging techniques and hemodynamic modeling
A non-invasive method for measuring blood flow in principal vessels of a heart of a subject is provided. The method includes illuminating a region of interest in the heart with a coherent light source, wherein the coherent light source has a wavelength of from about 600 nm to about 1100 nm; sequentially acquiring at least two speckle images of the region of interest in the heart during a fixed time period, wherein sequentially acquiring the at least two speckle images comprises acquiring the at least two speckle images in synchronization with motion of the heart of the subject; and electronically processing the at least two acquired speckle images based on the temporal variation of the pixel intensities in the at least two acquired speckle images to generate a laser speckle contrast imaging (LSCI) image and determine spatial distribution of blood flow rate in the principal vessels and quantify perfusion distribution in tissue in the region of interest in the heart from the LSCI image. |
| US09271654B2 |
Thermoacoustic imaging with quantitative extraction of absorption map
A method of thermoacoustic imaging of an object includes providing thermoacoustic signals representing a mechanical wave response to a delivery of electromagnetic energy into the imaged object, reconstructing an energy deposition image representing a local energy absorption within the object based on the thermoacoustic signals, and decomposing the energy deposition image into a quantitative absorption image representing a distribution of a local absorption coefficient in the object and at least one further image component. |
| US09271653B2 |
Intra-operative molecular imaging
A system for detecting tumor margins includes a topical protease-specific, fluorescence imaging probe that is activatable by enzymatic activation to produce a visually differentiated signal upon topical application to a targeted cancer cell that secretes an enzyme that activates the protease-specific, fluorescence imaging probe, an applicator for topically administering the imaging probe to the cancer cell; and an imaging device to detect activation of the imaging probe administered to the cancer cell. |
| US09271648B2 |
Eye tracking apparatus
An eye tracking apparatus for monitoring a user's eye, for use in conjunction with secondary optical apparatus such as binoculars or night vision goggles. An optical assembly is adapted directly to image the eye from within the user's field of vision, and relay the image to a sensing element, which can be located outside the field of vision. Additionally the scene is imaged, also optionally from within the user's field of vision, which allows for scene imaging through the secondary optical apparatus. The optical assembly typically extends across the eyepiece of for example binoculars, and can be provided in a small form factor so as to interfere minimally with the view through the eyepiece. Both eye image and scene image can be relayed through the optical assembly, resulting in further space efficiencies. |
| US09271646B2 |
Wavefront interactive refraction display
Embodiments of this invention generally relate to systems and methods for wavefront interactive refraction display and more particularly to systems and methods for capturing and displaying eye wavefront interactive refraction data based on the desired refractive state of the patient's eye. |
| US09271645B2 |
System and method of scan controlled illumination of structures within an eye
There is provided a system, apparatus and methods for enhancing the illumination of structures of the eye using predetermined scan patterns of an illuminating light beam. The systems, apparatus and methods further provide for obtaining enhanced single images of multiple structures of the eye. |
| US09271642B2 |
Ophthalmology apparatus and method of controlling ophthalmology apparatus
An ophthalmology apparatus includes: an aberration measuring unit configured to measure an aberration of an eye to be examined on the basis of returned light from the eye to be examined irradiated with measurement light, and a change unit configured to change a size of an irradiating area in the aberration measurement unit to be irradiated with the returned light. |
| US09271639B2 |
Surgical introducer and access port assembly
A surgical apparatus for permitting access to tissue includes an elongated introducer and a surgical port. The introducer includes an outer wall segment defining a longitudinal axis, a longitudinal port passage extending therethrough and a longitudinal slot in communication with the port passage. The introducer is dimensioned for at least partial introduction within an opening in tissue. The surgical port includes a port body mounted to the introducer with one of its leading and trailing ends disposed within the port passage and with the intermediate segment extending through the longitudinal slot and the other of the leading and trailing end external of the elongated introducer. The port body is dimensioned to be advanced within the port passage for deployment through the opening in the tissue and is adapted to transition from a compressed state to a released state. |
| US09271636B2 |
Surgical illuminator
The present invention provides a surgical illuminator. The surgical illuminator includes: a cylindrical lens barrel, a base, a printed circuit board, a light emitting diode, an aspheric lens, and a double-convex lens. Methods of using the surgical illuminator are also provided. |
| US09271627B2 |
Household appliance having a physical alteration element
A household appliance for treating at least one item according to at least one cycle of operation, includes a treating chamber for receiving the at least one item for treatment according to the at least one cycle of operation, a treating chemistry dispenser receiving a unit dose container having an optically sensible element, a physical alteration element located proximate to the treating chemistry dispenser and operable to physically alter at least a portion of the optically sensible element, and a sensor to sense the physical alteration. |
| US09271621B2 |
Robot cleaner
A robot cleaner includes a main body, a light transmitting unit, an image sensor, a base, a rotation drive unit, a tilting unit, and a tilting drive unit. The light transmitting unit emits light. The light emitted from the light transmitting unit and reflected or scattered is formed on the image sensor. The base supports the light transmitting unit and the image sensor and is rotatably disposed in the main body. The rotation drive unit rotates the base. The tilting unit tilts the light transmitting unit and the image sensor. |
| US09271619B2 |
Floor care appliance with a plurality of cleaning modes
A floor care appliance is provided for cleaning bare surfaces such as tile, marble, linoleum and wood. The floor care appliance is comprised of a base portion having a suction nozzle and a brush block having a plurality of vertical axis rotary agitators for cleaning bare floors. The rotary agitators are driven by an independent motor for agitating the floor surface. With the addition of an accessory hose and tools, the cleaning utility can be expanded to areas wherein the suction nozzle cannot normally reach such as behind the toilet, shower walls, and the grout between tile. While used in the capacity for cleaning bare floors, the floor care appliance can be moved between three modes by a rotating a member located on the upper housing. The first mode is dry mode, the second mode is wet scrub mode and the third mode is wet pickup mode. The accessory tools are stored in an accessory caddy that is placed freestanding over the suction nozzle and in front of the housing. |
| US09271618B2 |
Handheld vacuum cleaner and docking assembly for connecting to a central vacuum system
A hand held vacuum cleaner unit and docking assembly for a central vacuum system is shown. The hand held vacuum cleaner has a handle, a suction nozzle, a trigger switch to turn on a battery powered suction motor and an outlet port. The docking assembly fits into a central vacuum cleaner mounting plate, and provides a cradle to store the hand held vacuum cleaner. Recharging contacts, a latch mechanism, seals and an intake port are provided on the docking assembly. When the hand held unit is in the docking assembly it may be electrically charged, and emptied of dirt and debris by activation of the central vacuum system. The docking assembly also includes an access port for a conventional central vacuum hose. |
| US09271617B2 |
Release mechanism and fixed block for toilet lids
A release mechanism including a fixed block with a rotating shaft for toilet lids is described. The release mechanism includes a shell, a fixed block, a rotating shaft, and a U-shaped clamping spring. The shell includes a notch for the rotating shaft. The fixed block includes a U-shaped recess that corresponds to the notch on the shell. The rotating shaft rests inside the U-shaped recess and the notch, connecting the toilet lid to the seat ring. The U-shaped clamping spring engages with the U-shaped recess and clamps the rotating shaft in place. |
| US09271614B2 |
Universal back washing-massaging unit
A portable back scrubbing and massaging device is provided that can be used in and out of the shower for effectively cleaning and massaging a back of an individual. The portable device has brushes that can be removed and replaced with other brushes or massage accessories. This permits an individual to select from a wide variety of brushes and massage accessories that have varying amounts of thickness, softness, firmness and/or length. The brushes can also be reconfigured into different arrangements or patterns that allows a person to get a cleaning or massage that matches the contours of that person's back. |
| US09271610B2 |
Bathtub/shower tray support
A floor support structure for a bathtub or a shower tray floor, taking the form of a separate element to be used in conjunction with a traditional bathtub or shower tray floor, or as a unitary shower tray floor formed with the support structure integrated therein. The supports include a hollow plastic shell having a lower surface for lying on a planar subfloor, an upper surface contoured to the desired shape and a peripheral sidewall extending there between. Preferably, a drain hole is formed in the plastic shell which also interconnects the upper and lower surfaces thereby defining a hollow interior cavity. The cavity is filled with expandable thermoplastic foam beads which are expanded in place with steam in order to substantially fill the interior cavity thermally bonding the beads together and to the shell interior wall. The expanded foam bead is capable of being compressed without substantial permanent set. |
| US09271607B2 |
Apparatus for holding a bin-liner on a barbecue grill assembly
Disclosed is an apparatus for holding a bin-liner on a barbecue grill assembly. The apparatus includes a supporting unit and two frames. The supporting unit is connected to the barbecue grill assembly. The first frame is pivotally connected to the barbecue grill assembly. An upper portion of the bin-liner can be flipped and placed on the first frame. The second frame is pivotally connected to the first frame. The first frame is kept in a horizontal position as the second frame is supported on the supporting unit. |
| US09271605B2 |
Hybrid apparatus for preparing beverages
A device for preparing hot beverages which includes an arrangement for circulating a liquid to a beverage supply exit and a combustion heater, such as a burner, for supplying combustion heat to the liquid that is circulated to the supply exit. The combustion heater can be associated with an electric heater for additionally or alternatively supplying electric heat to the liquid that is circulated to the supply exit or with a heat regulator for controlling the amount of heat supplied to the liquid from the combustion heater, the electric heater or both heaters. |
| US09271600B2 |
Ergonomic capsule extraction device
A device (1) for receiving an ingredient cartridge (2) and extracting the ingredient by passing heated liquid through the cartridge, comprises: a cartridge seat (10) that has an open configuration for receiving and/or removing a cartridge from such device and a closed configuration for extracting the ingredient; and a force generation means (46) for assisting a closure or opening movement of the cartridge seat. The force generation means can be associated with a dampening means (47, 48) for dampening the closure or opening movement of the cartridge seat when assisted by the force generating means. The device can have a user-movable handle (41) that is associated with an end-of-stroke feed-back means (50) for providing a corresponding feed-back to a user actuating the handle. |
| US09271599B2 |
Infusion assembly
An infusion assembly, wherein a piston is positioned facing an open end of a cup, and is movable along a first axis to insert a container of powdered material into the cup; the container having been arrested, in use, by a gripper-type stop device in a position coaxial with the first axis and inside a through channel interposed between the piston and the cup; the gripper-type stop device being movable with and by the piston to perform a work movement towards the cup; and the cup having a second axis, and being mounted to oscillate, about a third axis perpendicular to the first axis, between a normal unloading position, in which the open end of the cup faces downwards, and a work position, in which the second axis is coaxial with the first axis. |
| US09271597B2 |
Single serving reusable brewing material holder
A single serving beverage filter cartridge is formed by placing a single serving portion of brewing material into a reusable coffee holder having a lid and a base. The reusable coffee holder includes a recessed annular region at the bottom of a base of the holder and is insertable into a cartridge housing of a single serving coffee maker having an offset needle reaching up vertically from the base of the housing, the recessed annular region avoiding the offset bottom needle. The coffee holder defines a frustoconical exterior and includes mesh filtering material for retaining brewing material inside the coffee holder. The mesh material may be a metal mesh or plastic mesh. The reusable coffee holder is configured for use in single serving coffee makers having the offset bottom needle and designed for single use cartridges. |
| US09271596B2 |
Egg cooking apparatus
Egg cooking apparatus comprises a cradle (13, 14) for the egg including resistance means (22), and control circuitry for heating the resistance means. The cradle comprises flexible sheet means wrappable round the egg, mounted in a pair of half-shell units (10, 11) mounted for opening and closing around the egg. The half-shell units are of a silicone elastomer with crimped resistance wire incorporated therein, and each backed by a set of resilient fingers. The control circuitry includes temperature sensing means adjacent to the resistance means, and means (15) for setting the desired temperature and cooking time. |
| US09271595B2 |
Lid for vacuum cooking pot and cooking pot using same
A lid handle having vacuum and overflow prevention function is installed in a lid for a vacuum cooking pot, the lid being locked to a container using a locking member installed in a container handle. The lid handle may have a check valve having an open-close flange, a top unit, a central hole flange, a connecting section connecting the open-close flange with the central hold flange to form a relief path, and a flange formed in between the top unit and the open-close flange. The locking member may include a locking slider, a guide member for guiding the locking slider, and an elastic clip that determines the position of the locking slider. |
| US09271594B1 |
Apparatus and method for improved food steaming
Apparatus using a method of steam cooking food items in two consecutive steps whereby the food items contained in a food carrier are first preheated in water in a container which is being heated by a heater. After the food items are at or near the cooking temperature, the food carrier is raised above the water and into the steam zone produced by the boiling water for the purpose of steam cooking the food items. A cover is placed on the container so as to retain and concentrate the steam within the container to affect steam cooking of the food items. |
| US09271592B2 |
Adjustable tension-mounted curved rod assembly
An adjustable rod assembly includes first and second tubes having first and second arcuate portions, third and fourth tubes of generally straight configurations, first and second end supports, and a tension rod mechanism fixedly secured within the third tube. A first end of the first tube is telescopingly received within the third tube and a second end of the first tube is telescopingly received within the second tube. The third tube is rotatable relative to the first tube and is rotatably secured within the fourth tube. The fourth tube is secured to the first end support and the second tube is secured to the second end support. The tension rod mechanism rotates with the third tube and has a threaded portion configured to extend from an interior of the third tube to an interior of the first tube. |
| US09271586B2 |
Magnetic frame assembly and magnetic frame
A magnetic frame assembly includes an outer portion including an outer perimeter, an inner perimeter, a front side and a back side; an inner portion configurable with said outer portion, said inner portion including an outer perimeter, a front side and a back side, and a magnetic material disposed on at least one of the back side of the outer portion and the back side of the inner portion. The inner perimeter of the outer portion defines a nesting region configurable with the outer perimeter of the inner portion such that said inner portion is removably insertable into said nesting region. |
| US09271582B1 |
Stackable object dispenser
A stackable object dispenser for selectively and sanitarily dispensing an individual object from a plurality of stacked objects. The stackable object dispenser generally includes a base and a plate member secured to an upper end thereof. The plate member includes an opening over which is positioned a retention member for retaining a stack of objects. Portions of dispensing retainers abut into the opening to prevent any of the objects from prematurely being dispensed. Upon activation of an external lever or knob, a dispensing assembly acts to push a pair of dispensing members inwardly to squeeze and push down the lowest object in the stack to be dispensed into a cavity and retrieved through a frontal opening of the base. |
| US09271579B2 |
Adjustable mattress with foam inserts and air chambers
A foam-air mattress includes a mattress housing, including a top layer and a bottom layer; a plurality of air chambers, disposed between the top layer and the bottom layer, wherein the plurality of air chambers are configured to be connected to a pumping system via a tubing assembly; and a plurality of compartments formed by the mattress housing and the plurality of air chambers, configured to accept foam inserts. The plurality of air chambers, when inflated by the pumping system, are configured to compress foam inserts disposed within the plurality of compartments so as to increase the density of the foam inserts. This arrangement has applications in both the consumer and medical airbed contexts, as well as in other support system contexts, such as seat cushions for chairs. |
| US09271577B2 |
Ejector mechanism for electric bed
A reciprocating ejector mechanism for an electric bed comprising an aperture formed on a bed board. An ejector mechanism is mounted in the aperture. The ejector mechanism includes an ejected part, which is arranged parallel to the bed board. At least one first connecting rod with one end is connected with the ejected part and another end is hinged with a slider. The slider may slide along the guide bar fixed on the bed board. A second connecting rod with one end can be hinged with the middle part of the first connecting rod and another end hinged with the bed board. The ejector mechanism may have a driving device fixed on the bed board and connected with the linkage to drive the first connecting rod to rotate, so that the ejected part is driven to move parallel to the bed board. |
| US09271574B2 |
Fitting for an item of seating furniture
A fitting for an item of seating furniture and item of seating furniture.The fitting includes a pivotable leg support segment, wherein the fitting has a separate spring which serves to secure the leg support segment in a storage position while not being used. |
| US09271571B2 |
Retractable vented attic storage system
A closet or enclosure 100 (closet) fit into an attic. A panel (110) forms the bottom of the closet. The panel can be lowered to the living space below manually or by using a return spring or electrical means. The panel holds a cabinet, box, or other storage item (105 or 2225). Air space (150) around the cabinet or items insulates it from thermal contact with the walls. Alternatively a cabinet is hung from a restraining member (145), or arm (1105), so it can be raised for storage and lowered for access. In this aspect, the panel is secured to the bottom of the cabinet. Optional vents (155) and fan (160) urge circulation between the air space and the living space, reducing temperature extremes in the air space and hence the cabinet. In other aspects, air treatment units (HVAC, dehumidifier, etc.) condition the air within the closet or enclosure. |
| US09271570B2 |
Foldable display unit
The invention relates to a foldable display unit comprising a lower half supporting an upper half. The lower half includes a lower right wall and a lower left wall, housed therein. The upper half comprises an upper right wall and an upper left wall, housed therein. The walls of the right side are interconnected in a hinged manner, and the walls of the left side are also hinged. Each half includes shelves that are pivotally connected thereto. Once the lower left and right walls, the upper left and right walls and the lower and upper shelves are housed, the upper half rotates over the lower half supported on the hinged connection existing between the lower and upper left walls and the hinged join existing between the lower and upper right walls, thereby the display unit is folding in two parts. |
| US09271555B1 |
Composite cosmetic container
A composite cosmetic container has a first sleeve, a driving assembly, multiple vessels and a second sleeve. The driving assembly is mounted in the first sleeve and has a first rotating tube, multiple seats and a second rotating tube. The first rotating tube is coactively mounted in the first sleeve. The vessels are respectively mounted in the seats of the driving assembly. The second sleeve is coactively mounted on the second rotating tube of the driving assembly. The composite cosmetic container facilitates easy control of the vessels to selectively move upward and downward by the relative rotation between the first sleeve and the second sleeve. Multiple cosmetic products are respectively contained in the vessels and are easy to dispense. Accordingly, the options of the cosmetic products contained in the container are increased. |
| US09271551B2 |
Umbrella rib connector
A rib connector is provided that has a first arm, a second arm, and a transverse member. The first arm has an inner wall, a first recess in the inner wall, and an inclined surface that extends toward the first recess. The second arm has an inner wall and a second recess. The second recess is positioned opposite to the first recess. The transverse member is located between the first arm and the second arm. The transverse member connects the first arm and the second arm. The transverse member is disposed adjacent to a space located between the first and second arms. The space is configured to receive an umbrella rib. A varying distance is provided between the inclined surface and the inner wall of the second arm such that the distance is less at a first position along the inclined surface than at a second position along the inclined surface. The first position is between the first recess and the second position. |
| US09271548B2 |
Slider for slider fasteners
Provided is a slider for slide fastener. A pull-tab has a cam portion, and when the pull-tab is rotated from a laid-down state where the pull-tab is laid down toward one side of a slider main body to an erected state, the pull-tab is urged with using the cam portion in a direction in which the pull-tab reruns to the laid-down state by an elastic force of a spring part. The slider has a restraining part configured to prevent the pull-tab from rotating further from the erected state and prevent the pull-tab from being laid down toward the other side of the slider main body. |
| US09271547B2 |
Molded hook and loop fastener
The molded hook and loop fastener has multiple hook and loop fastener parts on which multiple engaging elements are disposed, and a connection member for connecting the hook and loop fastener parts. The hook and loop fastener parts have fixing parts which fix the connection member to backings. The backings have forward and rearward extensions that extend in the longitudinal direction from the positions where the fixing parts are disposed. The dimension in the longitudinal direction of the connection member at a connection part is set to be longer than the minimum interval between adjacent hook and loop fastener parts, thereby allowing the molded hook and loop fastener to be bent easily in the width direction, and allowing the forward and rearward extensions to prevent foam resin material from directly hitting lateral walls. |
| US09271545B2 |
Clamping apparatus for clamping at least one strap
A clamping apparatus for clamping at least one strap (3), wherein the clamping apparatus has a basic body (1) on which are arranged at least two basic body clamping bodies (5, 17) which are realized as webs for winding the strap (3) around, characterized in that at least one third basic body clamping body (4), which is realized as a lever which is pivotable in relation to the basic body (1), is arranged on the basic body (1), wherein the third basic body clamping body (4) is pivotable into a clamping position for locking the strap (3) between the basic body clamping bodies (5, 17) which are realized as webs and the third basic body clamping body (4). |
| US09271540B1 |
Cleats and footwear for providing customized traction
A removable cleat includes a plurality of projections, dividing into sets, with each set of projections made of different materials. The cleat includes a coupling element, for attachment to a shoe, and a ground contacting element. The ground contacting element contains a plurality of projections, with the projections divided into at least two sets. The projections may be disposed about the perimeter of the ground contacting element, such that each set of projections does not extend more than half the perimeter. Additionally, some of the plurality of projections may be located interior to the perimeter. Further, each set of projections may be oriented in a particular direction with respect to a plane formed by the perimeter. Each interspersed set of projections may be made of a different material, or each projection may itself be made of a different material. |
| US09271537B2 |
Energy diffusing helmet assembly
An energy diffusing helmet assembly includes an outer hard shell and an inner fluid filled bladder. The hard shell defines a head cavity into which a head of a wearer is inserted. The fluid filled bladder is positioned within the outer hard shell. There is further provided a fluid filled impact dispersal field mounted on a torso of the wearer. A connective conduit connects the fluid filled bladder and the impact dispersal field. A force of impact exerted upon the fluid filled bladder increases pressure in the impact dispersal field through fluid via the connective conduit. |
| US09271536B2 |
Biomechanics aware protective gear
Protective gear includes an outer shell layer connected to a middle shell layer through an outer energy and impact transformer layer. The middle shell layer is connected to an inner shell layer through an inner energy and impact transformer layer. The outer and inner energy and impact transformer layers flexibly connect the shell layers to absorb impact forces, rotational forces, shear forces, etc., and allow the various shell layers to move and slide relative to the other shell layers. The outer and inner energy and impact transformer layers may be constructed using gels, fluids, electro-rheological elements, magneto-rheological elements, etc. The protective gear may be formed as helmets or body protection for various activities and protect users from not only impact and penetrative forces, but rotational and shear forces as well. |
| US09271531B2 |
Detachable wrist coach
A detachable wrist coach has a detachable sheet of football plays in a transparent pocket joined to a sweatband by hook-and-loop fasteners. The detachable sheet can be separated from the sweatband so that the sweatband can be cleaned without degrading the transparent pocket or getting water into it. One or more flaps with transparent pockets can be attached to the detachable sheet by a hinge that multiple pages of plays may be viewed by opening the flap. The flap is held down by a second hook-and-loop fasteners with a lower peel strength than the sweatband's hook and loop fasteners so that a top flap can be opened without removing the detachable sheet from the sweatband. |
| US09271530B2 |
Wearable implement
Water absorbing material provided in a planar shape over the substantially entire surface of a front side surface of cooling clothing is layered with an intermediate cloth having air permeability and a waterproof material or sheet, which is waterproof, to be sandwiched and wrapped therewith. By sewing or by sealing and joining the intermediate cloth and waterproof cloth or sheet, waterproof water dividers having length in the horizontal direction are provided at a suitable inclined angle of locations. Water that is inserted from a water inlet in the upper part of the cooling clothing by a PET bottle or the like flows toward the lower part of the cooling clothing between the surface of the water absorbing material and the waterproof cloth, meandering left and right continuously or in a stepwise shape, and making a puddles arise like terraces in prescribed locations here and there. |
| US09271529B2 |
Portable vaporization apparatus
A portable vaporization apparatus is a is a compact re-useable apparatus that attaches to an existing electrical source, such as a battery pack of an existing electronic cigarette/personal vaporizer, in order to vaporize a plurality of dried solid compounds as well as liquid compounds with a low viscosity into an inhalable aerosol. The portable vaporization apparatus utilizes a mouth piece, a lower housing which contains an interior chamber, a battery mount, and a wickless ceramic heating element. The ceramic heating element is securely engaged to the battery mount which is engaged to the lower housing forming a hermetic seal at the lower portion. The ceramic heating element is positioned within the interior chamber while the upper portion of the interior chamber is temporarily sealed by the mouth piece. With vaporizable material in the interior chamber, the user would connect the electrical source powering the ceramic heating element. |
| US09271528B2 |
Multi-flavored electronic cigarette
This invention relates to a multi-flavored electronic cigarette, including liquid storage components adapted for reserving liquid smoke and heaters adapted for atomizing liquid smoke to smoke, the electronic cigarette being further provided with at least two atomizing chambers therein adapted for allowing a kind of liquid smoke to be atomized therein to become smoke, each atomizing chamber reserving a kind of liquid smoke and provided with one of the heater, the electronic cigarette being further provided with a heater control circuit board therein electrically connected with each heater, a battery electrically connected with the heater control circuit board and a control switch disposed on an outer shell of the electronic cigarette. This kind of multi-flavored electronic cigarette has multiple atomizing chambers, and satisfies the requirement for free choice of one flavor, multi-flavors or a combination of optional flavors. |
| US09271525B2 |
Electronic cigarette case
The present invention relates to an electronic cigarette case, including a case body, a frame module disposed in the case body, a battery module, and a printed circuit board (PCB) module. The electronic cigarette case further has a touch control method for performing at least a predefined function. The touch control method includes: defining a touch zone on the case body, and providing a touch control module in the case body. The at least a predefined function is performed to indicate an electric quantity of a battery when a finger touch gesture is detected on the touch zone by the touch control module. The electronic cigarette case is durable, waterproof and dustproof, rapidly response, space saving, and easy to use. |
| US09271523B2 |
Rotor assembly with one-piece finger member
A rotor assembly for extruding randomly shaped food items includes a one-piece finger member. The one-piece finger member reduces the downtime of the extruding machine containing the rotor assembly by reducing the number of parts in the rotor assembly and reducing the adjustment necessary after finger replacement. The proprietary threaded interface between the finger member and the improved extruder machine allows for quick swap out during extruder maintenance. |
| US09271521B2 |
Inhibitor for liver cancer onset and progress
The present invention provides a prophylactic or therapeutic agent, a pharmaceutical composition and a health-promoting food, which are used for human or other animal for the inhibition of the onset or progress of liver cancer, namely, an inhibitor of the onset or progress of liver cancer, which contains isoleucine, leucine and valine as active ingredients, wherein the weight ratio of isoleucine, leucine and valine is preferably 1:1.5 to 2.5:0.8 to 1.7 and the daily dose is 2.0 g to 50.0 g. |
| US09271520B2 |
Stable beadlets of lipophilic nutrients
The invention disclosed in this application relates to novel stable beadlets of lipophilic nutrients comprising an inert core having a coating of stabilizing antioxidants, lipophilic nutrients, or mixtures thereof. The beadlets may be coated with one or more coatings to protect the lipophilic ingredients from the atmosphere, specifically the coatings can be used to protect against moisture and/or oxygen. The invention also relates to a process for the preparation of the stable beadlets. The beadlets can be used in medicines and dietary supplements intended to facilitate the reduced risk of macular degeneration, cataract, and several forms of cancer. |
| US09271518B2 |
Monogastric animal feed
The present invention relates an improved feed additive or food supplement formulation obtained from more than one strain of Lactic acid bacteria. The feed additive or supplements is used to feed monogastric animals such as avian, fowl. Moreover, the feed provides better growth and feed utilization for monogastric animals. Further, the animal feed can be used for controlling food intake in the animals. |
| US09271513B2 |
Connection piece
The aim of the invention is to be able to arrange or secure an elastic nozzle in a device, especially a casting machine, using simple design measures while allowing the nozzle to be quickly replaced in the device using simple mounting steps. Said aim is achieved by a connection piece (1) which is particularly suitable for securing an elastic nozzle (3) in a casting machine. The connection piece (1) preferably has a hollow cylindrical shape and includes a securing mechanism (4), especially a thread, at one end. A clamping unit (2) is connected to the connection piece (1). The connection piece (1) and/or the clamping unit (2) has/have a receptacle for the nozzle (3), and the nozzle (3) is connected to the connection piece (1). |
| US09271512B2 |
Crystal growth inhibitor for fats and oils
An inhibitor for crystal growth of fats and oils, containing a polyglycerol fatty acid ester, which is an esterified product formed between a polyglycerol and a fatty acid, the polyglycerol having a hydroxyl value of 850 mg KOH/g or less and a ratio of primary hydroxyl groups to all the hydroxyl groups of the polyglycerol of 50% or more, wherein the polyglycerol fatty acid ester has a hydroxyl value of 100 mg KOH/g or less. Since the inhibitor for crystal growth of fats and oils of the present invention can inhibit crystal growth of fats and oils by adding the inhibitor to fats and oils, storage property of the fats and oils in a refrigerator, cold climates, or the like, so that the inhibitor can be suitably used in liquid fats and oils such as salad oil for which transparency is important. |
| US09271509B2 |
Poultry chiller with multi-blade long-pitch auger
An auger-type poultry chiller having an auger with multiple long-pitch auger blades. The blades of the auger create pockets that spiral around the auger shaft and extend the length of the auger. While the product in the chiller is locked into a certain pocket, it is not locked into a certain spot lengthwise in the chiller. The product, therefore, is able to distribute evenly along the length of the chiller within its pocket even if there are gaps in loading time or if unloading stops momentarily. |
| US09271506B2 |
System for conveying carcasses or carcass parts of quadruped slaughter animals
A system for conveying carcasses or carcass parts of quadruped slaughter animals includes at least one carrier. The carrier includes a first jaw element, which has an engagement face for engaging the carcass or carcass part, a second jaw element, which has an engagement face for engaging the carcass or carcass part. The carrier further includes a tensioning structure, the connection between the first connection zone of the tensioning structure and the first jaw element and the connection between the second connection zone of the tensioning structure and the second jaw element being such that when the jaw elements move relative to each other when receiving a carcass or carcass part in the retaining part of the holding slot, the first connection zone moves along with the first jaw member and the second connection zone moves along with the second jaw member, which movement of the connection zones causes elastic deformation of the tensioning structure, the elastic deformation providing a clamping force to the engagement faces of the jaw elements such that the carcass or carcass part is retained in the holding slot by clamping a part of the carcass or carcass part between the engagement face of the first jaw element and the engagement face of the second jaw element. |
| US09271501B2 |
Use of strobilurin type compounds for combating phytopathogenic fungi resistant to QO inhibitors
The present invention relates to the use of strobilurine type compounds of formula I and the N-oxides and the salts thereof for combating phytopathogenic fungi containing a mutation in the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene conferring resistance to Qo inhibitors, and to methods for combating such fungi. The invention also relates to novel compounds, processes for preparing these compounds, to compositions comprising at least one such compound, to plant health applications, and to seeds coated with at least one such compound. |
| US09271500B2 |
Fused heterocyclic compound
The fused heterocyclic compound represented by formula (1), or an N-oxide thereof, has excellent effectiveness in pest control. In the formula G1 represents a nitrogen atom, etc.; G2 represents a nitrogen atom, etc.; A1 represents a nitrogen atom, etc.; A2 represents a nitrogen atom, etc.; A3 represents a nitrogen atom, etc.; A4 represents a nitrogen atom, etc.; A5 represents a nitrogen atom, etc.; R1 represents a C1-C6 chain hydrocarbon group, etc., optionally having one or more atoms or groups selected from group X; R2, R3 and R4 are the same or different, and represent a C1-C6 chain hydrocarbon group, etc., optionally having one or more atoms or groups selected from group X; R5 and R6 are the same or different, and represent a C1-C6 chain hydrocarbon group, etc., optionally having one or more atoms or groups selected from group X; and n represents 0, 1, 2. |
| US09271499B2 |
Pesticidal arylpyrrolidines
The invention is directed to arylpyrrolidines compounds which exhibit excellent insecticidal efficacy and which may be used as in the agrochemical field or in the field of veterinary medicine. The compounds are represented by formula (I): wherein the respective substituents are defined in the specification. |
| US09271498B2 |
Antimicrobial PHT coatings
Methods for making antimicrobial coating materials are described. Antimicrobial materials and antimicrobial material precursors are formed from hexahydrotriazine and/or a hemiaminal material and a non-fouling material and adhesive material may be incorporated into the antimicrobial materials and antimicrobial material precursors. The hexahydrotriazine and/or hemiaminal material may be made from a diamine and an aldehyde. Metal ions are also incorporated into the antimicrobial material precursors to form an antimicrobial material. |
| US09271490B2 |
Compositions
Acidic aqueous compositions for elimination of spores of spore forming bacteria comprise from about 100 to about 2000 ppm dissolved chlorine dioxide and a surfactant system having both a wetting effect and a spore solubilising effect. |
| US09271488B2 |
Isethionic acid salts in field ready spray and tank mixes
Embodiments of the present invention disclose an agricultural composition that is a field ready spray or a tank mix that includes at least one isethionic acid salt neutralized with sodium, at least one agriculturally active ingredient, and at least one surfactant. |
| US09271487B2 |
Protein stabilized antimicrobial composition formed by melt processing
A method for forming an antimicrobial composition that includes mixing an antimicrobially active botanical oil (e.g., thymol, carvacrol, etc.) and protein within a melt blending device (e.g., extruder) is provided. Despite the problems normally associated with melt processing proteins, the present inventors have discovered that the processing conditions and components may be selectively controlled to allow for the formation of a stable, melt-processed composition that is able to exhibit good mechanical properties. For example, the extrusion temperature(s) and shear rate employed during melt blending are relatively low to help limit polypeptide dissociation, thereby minimizing the impact of aggregation and embrittlement. While the use of such low temperature/shear conditions often tend to reduce mixing efficiency, the present inventors have discovered that a carrier fluid may be employed to enhance the ability of the botanical oil to flow into the internal structure of the protein where it can be retained in a stable manner. The composition is also typically anhydrous and generally free of solvents. In this manner, the protein will not generally disperse before use and prematurely release the botanical oil. |
| US09271484B2 |
Bobbin holder for tying thread for making fishing flies and method for fastening dubbing using this bobbin holder
A bobbin holder (2) for tying thread (F) for making fishing flies comprises, essentially, means (21) for holding a bobbin (3) of tying thread (F) and a thread (F) guide tube (20) through which the thread (F) from the said bobbin (3) is threaded. The bobbin holder (2) also comprises, spaced radially in relation to the thread (F) guide tube (20) and apart from each (4; 4′) other (4′; 4), at least two retaining hooks (4; 4′) around which a tying thread (F) can be partially wound. The bobbin holder is used for fastening dubbing onto the fish hook of a fishing fly. |
| US09271475B2 |
Multi-functional leash with security function
A multi-function leash system incorporating anti-theft features is provided. The leash system includes a leash portion and a harness connectable to the leash portion. The leash portion includes an elongate leash, the elongate leash including at one end an attachment component, and at the other end a handle, wherein the handle is formed to be achieve a locked position in which the handle forms a closed loop, and an open position in which the handle is open at one end, and is operable to be wrapped around a fixed article, and then locked around the fixed article. The harness is formed to put on a pet, wherein the harness is adjustable to achieve a snug fit relative to the pet's body using one or more adjustable elements, wherein the harness is formed so that once the harness has been locked on the pet, and attached to the leash portion, the harness is difficult to remove from the pet's body. The pet is safe from theft when the harness is locked on the pet, the harness is connected to the attachment component, and the handle loop is looped around the fixed article suitable for fixing the system, and the handle is placed in the locked position. |
| US09271473B2 |
Separable toilet pad for housebreaking animal companions
There is disclosed a separable toilet pad for housebreaking animal companions including a protection layer covering an exterior surface; an absorbent layer absorbing and storing urine; and a waterproof layer preventing the absorbed urine from leaking, wherein the waterproof layer includes a waterproof layer cut unit configured to divide or cut the waterproof layer into a plurality of areas, when an external force is applied, and the absorbent layer is arranged in a surface of the waterproof layer and includes a gap with both sides with respect to the waterproof layer cut unit and includes a gap having a distance from both sides of the waterproof cut unit, and a filling part is arranged in the gap and includes a filling part cut unit corresponding to the waterproof layer. |
| US09271469B1 |
Soybean cultivar S140157
A soybean cultivar designated S140157 is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of soybean cultivar S140157, to the plants of soybean cultivar S140157, to the plant parts of soybean cultivar S140157, and to methods for producing progeny of soybean cultivar S140157. The invention also relates to methods for producing a soybean plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic soybean plants and plant parts produced by those methods. The invention also relates to soybean cultivars or breeding cultivars, and plant parts derived from soybean cultivar S140157. The invention also relates to methods for producing other soybean cultivars, lines, or plant parts derived from soybean cultivar S140157, and to the soybean plants, varieties, and their parts derived from use of those methods. The invention further relates to hybrid soybean seeds, plants, and plant parts produced by crossing cultivar S140157 with another soybean cultivar. |
| US09271466B1 |
Maize inbred PH1W0N
A novel maize variety designated PH1W0N and seed, plants and plant parts thereof. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprise crossing maize variety PH1W0N with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PH1W0N through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. Hybrid maize seed, plant or plant part produced by crossing the variety PH1W0N or a locus conversion of PH1W0N with another maize variety. |
| US09271465B1 |
Maize inbred PH1TRS
A novel maize variety designated PH1TRS and seed, plants and plant parts thereof. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprise crossing maize variety PH1TRS with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PH1TRS through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. Hybrid maize seed, plant or plant part produced by crossing the variety PH1TRS or a locus conversion of PH1TRS with another maize variety. |
| US09271464B1 |
Soybean variety XB35Y13
The invention relates to the soybean variety designated XB35Y13. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety XB35Y13. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety XB35Y13 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety XB35Y13 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods. |
| US09271460B1 |
Soybean variety 10GR3552-50
Disclosed is the seed of a novel soybean variety, designated 10GR3552-50, a sample of which is deposited under ATCC Accession No. PTA-122186. Also disclosed are plants, or parts thereof, grown from the seed of the variety, plants having the morphological and physiological characteristics of the 10GR3552-50 variety, and methods of using the plant or parts thereof in a soybean breeding program. |
| US09271459B2 |
Variety corn line HDI4942
The present invention provides an inbred corn line designated HDI4942, methods for producing a corn plant by crossing plants of the inbred line HDI4942 with plants of another corn plant. The invention further encompasses all parts of inbred corn line HDI4942, including culturable cells. Additionally provided herein are methods for introducing transgenes into inbred corn line HDI4942, and plants produced according to these methods. |
| US09271458B2 |
Soybean cultivar HI1016703-1
The present invention is in the field of soybean variety HI1016703-1 breeding and development. The present invention particularly relates to the soybean variety HI1016703-1 and its progeny, and methods of making HI1016703-1. |
| US09271456B2 |
Method for identifying plant material that shows a reduced discolouration, plants thus identified and use of the identified plants for the production of commercial crop plants showing a reduced discolouration
The invention relates to a method for testing a plant or plant part for exhibiting a reduced or absent wound-induced surface discoloration as compared to a control plant or plant part, which method comprises providing a plant or plant part that is obtained from a plant population that shows genetic variation, in particular a gene bank; optionally creating a wound surface on the plant or plant part; incubating the plant or plant part or the wound surfaces created thereon to allow for discoloration to occur therein or thereon; observing the discoloration in or on the plants or plant parts; comparing the observed discoloration with the discoloration that is observed in the control plant or plant part to assess whether the plant or plant part shows no discoloration or a discoloration that is reduced as compared to the control plant or plant part; and identifying a plant or plant part that shows no discoloration or a discoloration that is reduced as compared to the control plant or plant part as a plant that harbors the reduced wound-induced surface discoloration trait. |
| US09271455B2 |
Soybean polymorphisms and methods of genotyping
Polymorphic soybean DNA loci useful for genotyping between at least two varieties of soybean. Sequences of the loci are useful for providing the basis for designing primers and probe oligonucleotides for detecting polymorphisms in soybean DNA. Polymorphisms are useful for genotyping applications in soybean. The polymorphic markers are useful to establish marker/trait associations, e.g. in linkage disequilibrium mapping and association studies, positional cloning and transgenic applications, marker-aided breeding and marker-assisted selection, hybrid prediction and identity by descent studies. The polymorphic markers are also useful in mapping libraries of DNA clones, e.g. for soybean QTLs and genes linked to polymorphisms. |
| US09271453B2 |
Anchoring device for self-propelled irrigation system
An anchoring device for a self-propelled irrigation system includes a screw pile and drive assembly that drives the screw pile into the ground to anchor a drive tower of the irrigation system to the ground. The screw pile is rotatably driven about a vertical axis and movable vertically relative to the drive tower. The drive assembly can include an electric motor with a suitable gear reduction that causes the screw pile to be rotated slowly with a large amount of torque. The drive assembly can be mounted stationary to the drive tower, or it can be mounted on tracks so as to move vertically together with the screw pile. A low voltage electrical system with one or more batteries can be used to power the electric motor. A solar battery charger or other charging system can be used to maintain an electrical charge in the batteries. A controller is provided to activate the drive assembly when adverse weather conditions are detected, or upon receiving a remote command from the operator. |
| US09271452B2 |
Green wall planting support apparatus and a hanging plate thereof
A green wall planting support apparatus includes at least one hanging plate, a plurality of containers and a water supply system. The hanging plate includes a channel portion that is elongated in a lengthwise direction of the hanging plate and that has a first channel, and a hanging portion that is made in one piece with the channel portion and that is disposed in the lengthwise direction. The containers are detachably connected to the hanging plate for receiving plant and each includes a hanger portion that is detachably connected to the hanging portion. The water supply system includes at least one water dispensing unit that is mounted on the channel portion for conveying water to the container. |
| US09271447B2 |
System for flexible crop residue management
An agricultural harvester with a flexible crop residue management system. A pivotal swath door and displaceable windrow chute are coordinated to be displaced between positions in which all of crop residue is spread laterally and another position in which straw in the crop residue is directed in a windrow by a windrow chute and the chaff is directed laterally. |
| US09271445B2 |
Stalked crop harvesting header and method for harvesting stalked crop material
A tensioning system for maintaining the tension in a chain conveyor extended over at least one drive sprocket and one idler sprocket, and a method for maintaining the tension in a chain conveyor, in particular for example for a stalked crop harvesting header. The tensioning system comprises a first tensioning arm and a second tensioning arm rotatably connected to one another for rotation around a shaft onto which one of the sprockets is mounted, the second tensioning arm rotatably connected to a fixed point of a supporting plate, wherein the tension in the chain conveyor is maintained by rotational movement of at least one of the drive sprocket or the idler sprocket around a fixed point of the supporting plate. |
| US09271441B2 |
Spreader device
A material spreader having a beater bar that meters the supply of small quantities of material to the discharge opening of a material spreader hopper eliminating the need for a gate. The beater bar has one and preferably several paddles that rotate adjacent the discharge opening and as the paddle passes the opening, discharges only the amount of material on the paddle. The material spreader uses a high ratio transmission and low rpm motor to allow for extremely slow rotation of the beater bar. The motor speed can be controlled to allow very slow rotation and very small amounts of material to be discharged from the hopper. The spreader does not require a gate. The discharge of material is metered electronically. |
| US09271439B2 |
Autonomus air seeder apparatus with remote operator override
An air seeder includes a combination tank propulsion vehicle with mounted product tanks, and metering devices dispensing product from each product tank. A furrow opener implement is towed by the vehicle and an engine rotates the vehicle wheels and two or more implement wheels. A pneumatic distribution system conveys dispensed products to the furrow openers. The external guidance system sends location signals indicating a location of the implement frame to the operator. Steering, metering, and distribution signals are sent by both the external guidance system and an operator with a remote operator control, and operator signals override signals from the external guidance system. |
| US09271438B2 |
Agricultural implement tool support system
Systems for mounting a plurality of agricultural tools on a transverse support bar and a method for operating an agricultural implement having a transverse support bar. The systems include a lateral positioning structure that can attach to the transverse support bar and a detachable base that can be releasably coupled to the lateral positioning structure. |
| US09277684B2 |
Self-wrapping EMI shielding textile sleeve and method of construction thereof
A self-wrapping, textile sleeve for routing and protecting elongate members from electromagnetic interference and a method of construction thereof is provided. The sleeve has an elongate wall constructed from interlaced yarns. At least one of the yarns is provided as heat-settable polymeric yarn that is heat-set to bias the wall into a self-wrapping configuration about a longitudinal central axis of the sleeve to bring opposite edges into overlapping relation with one another to provide a generally tubular cavity in which the elongate members are received. Further, at least one of the yarns is provided as a bi-component metallic wire having an aluminum core and an outer layer of copper. |
| US09277681B2 |
Electronic control apparatus
An electronic control apparatus includes housing members, and a circuit board. At least one of the housing members is opposed to a heat-generating region which is heated by the heat-generating electronic component. A heat radiating portion of the housing member includes a convex portion protruding from an inner wall surface at a location opposed to the heat-generating region, and a concave portion opened to an outer wall surface at a location shifted from the convex portion in a thickness direction. The convex portion is close to the heat-generating region through a clearance. The concave portion has a lateral wall formed in a tapered shape such that an opening area of the concave portion is larger than a bottom area of the concave portion. A thickness of the heat radiating portion is smaller than a thickness of a region peripheral to the heat radiating portion in the housing member. |
| US09277679B2 |
Heat sink fin including angular dimples
A heat sink fin that has a first substrate. The first substrate includes a first angular dimple and a first micro air channel in fluid communication with the first angular dimple. The first angular dimple includes a first surface that forms an angle relative to a first plane of the first substrate. The first angular dimple includes a first micro diameter hole in fluid communication with the first angular dimple. The heat sink fin also has a second substrate folded against the first substrate. The second substrate includes a second angular dimple and a second micro air channel in fluid communication with the second angular dimple. The second angular dimple includes a second surface that forms an angle relative to a second plane of the second substrate. The second angular dimple includes a second micro diameter hole in fluid communication with the second angular dimple. |
| US09277677B2 |
Cooling an electronic device using a thermally conductive loop
A continuous loop of thermally conductive material is provided with a first portion in frictional contact with a casing of an electronic device and a second portion located within a cooling region. The loop is advanced such that the first portion is located within the cooling region and the second portion is in frictional contact with the casing. |
| US09277675B2 |
Electronic apparatus
According to one embodiment, an electronic apparatus includes a heating component, a housing, and a heat pipe. The housing accommodates the heating component and includes a wall. The wall includes a first region configured to receive heat from the component and a second region configured to have a lower temperature than a temperature of the first region. At least a portion of the heat pipe is buried in the wall from the first region to the second region. |
| US09277667B2 |
Display
A display which thickness is allowed to be reduced is provided. A display includes: a display panel; and a back-face member having rigidity and provided on a back face of the display panel, the back-face member covering the back face, or the back face and other part of the display panel. |
| US09277666B2 |
Display device
According to one embodiment, a display device includes a display, a circuit substrate, connector terminals, a first cover, a second cover, and a fastening member. The circuit substrate includes a first side and a second side adjacent to the first side, and overlaps a second face of the display. The connector terminals are disposed at a vicinity of each of the first side and the second side. The first cover includes a first opening exposing the connector terminals therethrough, and covers the second face. The second cover includes a linking portion and a noncircular through hole, and covers the first opening across the first side and the second side. The linking portion is positioned in between the first side and the second side. The fastening member is inserted through the through hole so as to fix the second cover, the circuit substrate, and the display. |
| US09277665B2 |
High-voltage installation with a desired breaking point
A material-saving, cost-efficient and simultaneously safe high-voltage system for energy transfer includes a busbar and at least one high-voltage device connected to the busbar by an electrically conductive connecting device or connector. The connecting device or connector has a predetermined breaking point which is constructed in such a manner that the predetermined breaking point will break if a predetermined force is exerted between the busbar and the high-voltage device. |
| US09277651B2 |
Differential passive equalizer
Disclosed in the present specification is a circuit board. The circuit board includes a first reference plane and a second reference plane, wherein the second reference plane includes a defected ground structure. The circuit board also includes a signal trace coupled to a signal via, wherein the signal trace is disposed above the first reference plane. The circuit board additionally includes a spiral inductor positioned adjacent to the defected ground structure, wherein the spiral inductor is coupled to the signal via. |
| US09277645B2 |
Method of manufacturing a printed circuit board
A method of manufacturing a printed circuit board includes the initial steps of providing a first layer stack and providing a second layer stack. The first layer stack includes a first electrically-insulating layer. The first electrically-insulating layer includes a first surface and one or more electrically-conductive traces disposed on the first surface. The second layer stack includes a second electrically-insulating layer and a first electrically-conductive layer. The second electrically-insulating layer includes a first surface and an opposite second surface. The first electrically-conductive layer is disposed on the first surface of the second electrically-insulating layer. The second layer stack further includes a cut-out area defining a void that extends therethrough. The cut-out area is configured to receive therein at least a portion of a device to be coupled to the first surface of the first electrically-insulating layer and electrically-coupled to one or more of the one or more electrically-conductive traces. |
| US09277644B2 |
Capacitance touch panel module and fabrication method thereof
A method of fabricating a capacitance touch panel module includes forming a plurality of first conductive patterns on a substrate comprising a touching area and a peripheral area along a first orientation, a plurality of second conductive patterns along a second orientation, and a plurality of connecting portions in the touching area; forming a plurality of insulated protrusions, in which each insulated protrusion covering one connecting portion, and forming an insulated frame on the peripheral area; and forming a bridging member on each insulated protrusion. |
| US09277643B2 |
S-shaped ceramic feedthrough
An electrical interconnect has a non-planar ceramic substrate with opposing first and second ends. A first conductive layer having first and second opposing sides is disposed within the ceramic substrate with one of the first and second opposing sides exposed at the first end and one of the first and second opposing sides exposed at the second end. The electrical interconnect is useful to join an integrated circuit in a hybrid package to a circuit board in high frequency communication applications. |
| US09277636B2 |
Plasma torch
To lengthen the service period on DC plasma abatement devices a modified DC plasma torch is provided with an electrically conductive cathode and an electrically conductive anode spaced apart from one another to form a gap therebetween; a metal swirl bush at least partially located within the gap and comprising a channel adapted to permit, in use, a gas to flow through the gap; and a ceramic element interposed between any one or more of: the cathode and the swirl bush; and the anode and the swirl bush. |
| US09277633B1 |
Radio frequency powered gas-filled lamps
A method and system for powering gas-filled lamps using radio and/or microwave frequencies is disclosed. The method and system may include a gas-filled lamp, an antenna positioned proximal to the gas-filled lamp, a conductive element surrounding the gas-filled lamp, and a power source connector coupled to the antenna. |
| US09277632B2 |
Emergency lighting monitoring and reporting system
An emergency lighting system with central batteries power remote LED fixtures and exit signs, with all components integrated throughout a single or multiple buildings. Status reports are available on demand and the system will generate written records required by the Life Safety Code. A wide range of fixtures optimized for emergency lighting are available for interior and exterior applications and all can be monitored via internet, with report displays available on any digital device. Easy access to batteries, automated testing, high lumen outputs, efficient optics and long lamp life ensure the lowest possible life cycle costs. |
| US09277631B2 |
Lighting apparatus having a lighting means comprising at least one LED
A lighting apparatus is provided. A lighting means of the apparatus has one or more LEDs. A first device of the apparatus cooperates with a pulse width modulation device for optionally adjusting brightness of the LED. To simplify the maintenance of the lighting apparatus, a memory and a second device are provided. The memory stores information relating to the lighting means. The second device generates a signal, which encodes the information using the pulse width modulation device. As a result, the signal can be transmitted by the LEDs as a pulse width-modulated light signal. |
| US09277625B2 |
Dimming system and dimming converter and load dimming method thereof
A dimming system and a dimming converter and load dimming method thereof are provided. In the dimming converter, a cutting phase determination unit is connected with an input terminal and configured to determine phase angle information of a power supply signal of an output of a load terminal in a dimmer; an output unit is configured to output a dimming signal corresponding to the phase angle information determined by the cutting phase determination unit from a dimming output terminal to a load of the dimming system according to a correspondence relationship between the phase angle information and the dimming signal stored in a storage unit and to output a phase-cut power source signal from a supply output terminal to the load. The dimming system can be compatible with a large number of loads with different dimming requirements to thereby improve the dimming efficiency of the loads. |
| US09277623B2 |
Load current control circuit
A system and method for operating one or more light emitting devices is disclosed. In one example, the intensity of light provided by the one or more light emitting devices is adjusted responsive to current feedback from the one or more light emitting devices. |
| US09277618B2 |
Monolithic LED chip in an integrated control module with active circuitry
A lighting device includes a monolithic LED chip flip-chip mounted onto an interconnect structure. The monolithic chip includes LED junctions formed from a single LED junction. An active electronic component is also mounted onto the interconnect structure at a distance from the monolithic chip that is less than five times the maximum dimension of the monolithic chip. The active electronic component controls LED drive currents independently supplied to the LED junctions. Different types of phosphor are disposed laterally above the various LED junctions. A color sensor measures the light emitted from the lighting device when drive currents are supplied to first and second LED junctions. The active electronic component then supplies more drive current to the first LED junction than to the second LED junction in response to the color sensor measuring the light emitted when the prior LED drive currents are supplied to the first and second LED junctions. |
| US09277615B2 |
LED drive circuit
The purpose of the present invention is to provide an LED drive circuit that is capable of ameliorating insufficient lighting and improving power utilization efficiency. This LED drive circuit is an LED drive circuit wherein the number of LEDs that are turned on varies in accordance with the voltage of a commercial alternating-current power supply, the LED drive circuit being characterized by having an LED row in which multiple LEDs are connected in series, a current detection resistor for detecting a current that flows in the LED row, a bypass circuit that is connected to an intermediate connection part of the LED row, and a current-limiting circuit that is connected to an end of the LED row, wherein the bypass circuit includes a first current-limiting component, the current-limiting circuit includes a second current-limiting component, the first current-limiting component is controlled on the basis of a voltage across the ends of the current detection resistor or a voltage that is obtained by dividing the voltage across the ends of the current detection resistor, and the second current-limiting component is controlled by the divided voltage that is obtained by dividing the current detection resistor. |
| US09277613B2 |
Method for driving LED
Method and means for driving one or more LEDs. The method includes turning a power switch on to provide current through an inductor and the power switch, measuring voltseconds of the LEDs at a cycle time, comparing the measured voltseconds to a reference signal at an end of the cycle time, generating a signed discrete logical signal based on a difference between the measured voltseconds and the reference signal, and generating a control signal using the signed discrete logical signal to regulate a peak current through the power switch by keeping the cycle time voltseconds substantially constant. The reference signal may be proportional to a set average LED voltage. |
| US09277611B2 |
LED driver with high dimming compatibility without the use of bleeders
A switching converter detects when a dimmer circuit supplying power to the switching converter changes from a conducting state to a nonconducting state or from a nonconducting state to a conducting state; an equivalent input resistance of the switching converter is changed to a first, higher value when the dimmer circuit is in the conducting state and to a second, lower value when the dimmer circuit is in the nonconducting state, thereby drawing a minimum current from the dimmer circuit while the dimmer circuit is in the nonconducting state. |
| US09277610B2 |
Power converter circuit for low power illumination device, control circuit thereof and method thereof
A power converter circuit of a low power illumination device includes a boost converter circuit, a buck converter circuit, and a control circuit, for cooperating with a dimmer and an electric transformer. The control circuit configures the boost converter circuit to alternatively operate in a current conducting mode and an off mode, to draw current from the electric transformer in the current conducting mode, and to stop drawing current from the electric transformer in the off mode. The control circuit further configures the buck converter circuit to generate the required output signals to the low power illumination device according to the configuration of the dimmer so that the low power illumination device may perform the required dimming function. |
| US09277608B2 |
Circuit for operating parallel light emitting diode strings
A circuit for operating a light-emitting diode assembly, wherein the light-emitting diode assembly comprises a plurality of strands connected in parallel of one or more light-emitting diodes which are arranged in series and through which in the operational state a particular partial current of an operating current flowing through the light-emitting diode assembly flows, comprises a current source for providing the operating current. The circuit is designed to detect the greatest partial current and to control an operational value provided by the partial current source on the basis of said greatest partial current such that none of the partial currents exceeds a predetermined maximum current. |
| US09277605B2 |
Solid-state lighting apparatus and methods using current diversion controlled by lighting device bias states
A lighting apparatus includes a string of light emitting diode (LED) sets coupled in series, each set including at least one LED. The apparatus further includes a plurality of current diversion circuits, respective ones of which are coupled to respective nodes of the string and configured to operate responsive to bias state transitions of respective ones of the LED sets. In some embodiments, a first one of the current diversion circuits is configured to conduct current via a first one of the LED sets and is configured to be turned off responsive to current through a second one of the LED sets. The first one of the current diversion circuits may be configured to conduct current responsive to a forward biasing of the first one of the LED sets and the second one of the current diversion circuit may be configured to conduct current responsive to a forward biasing of a second one of the LED sets. |
| US09277598B2 |
Induction heating cooker
An induction heating cooker including a cooking plate on which a cooking vessel is placed, a plurality of heating coils disposed while being adjacent to one other below the cooking plate, and a Printed Circuit Board (PCB) on which circuits configured to drive the heating coils are placed, wherein the PCB is divided into a high frequency circuit part on which circuits characterized by high frequency are placed and a low frequency circuit part on which circuits characterized by low frequency are placed, and the high frequency circuit part is spaced apart from the low frequency circuit part by a predetermined distance. The interference between the high frequency circuit part and the low frequency circuit part is minimized while enhancing the operation efficiency of each heating coil. The assembly efficiency and the working efficiency are enhanced when an inverter circuit is wired to a corresponding heating coil. |
| US09277597B2 |
Electrically extensively heatable, transparent object, method for the production thereof, and use thereof
An electrically extensively heatable, transparent object includes at least one electrically conductive, transparent coating on an electrically insulating substrate. An electrically conductive band is connected to two electrical busbars and is applied on the coating and at least partially surrounds the periphery of a data transmission window. The electrically conductive band has at least one interruption that separates a greater part of the electrically conductive band from busbars. |
| US09277595B2 |
Heating lamp having base to facilitate reduced air flow about the heating lamp
Embodiments of heating lamps and heating lamp arrays are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, a heating lamp may include a heating lamp envelope having a filament disposed within the heating lamp envelope; a base coupled to the heating lamp envelope to support the heating lamp envelope; and one or more recesses formed in the base to provide an improved grip for a user. In some embodiments, a heating lamp array for use in a semiconductor process chamber may include a plurality of heating lamps, each heating lamp comprising a heating lamp envelope having a filament disposed within the envelope and a base coupled to the heating lamp envelope to support the envelope, the base having one or more recesses formed in the base to provide an improved grip for a user, wherein a distance between adjacent heating lamp bases is about 0.02 inches to about 0.08 inches. |
| US09277592B2 |
System for bearer binding and event reporting function relocation and method thereof
The present invention discloses a method for a bearer binding and event report function relocation so as to implement deferred linking of the policy and charging control session in the roaming scenario. The present invention implements the deferred linking of the policy and charging control session in roaming scenarios of home roaming and local breakout by establishing a new subsession of the S9 session between a visited PCRF and a home PCRF in a process of the BBERF relocation, and linking the new subsession of the S9 session to the Gxx session established between the destination BBERF and the visited PCRF and the corresponding Gx session. |
| US09277591B2 |
Channel steering for implementing coexistence of multiple homogeneous radios
Techniques are disclosed for controlling, in a network device, multiple radio circuits operating in a same or similar frequency band and in close physical proximity. In some embodiments, the radio circuits operate on the same network protocol. The network device can include a coexistence controller coupled to the network circuits. According to some embodiments, the network circuits are each assigned a priority, and the coexistence controller can control operations between the network circuits by selectively adjusting one or more transmission operating parameters of a respective network circuit based on a plurality of operating criteria, which include each network circuit's priority. Among other benefits, the embodiments disclosed herein can increase wireless network bandwidth and reduce mobile device power consumption by providing coordination among the radio circuits so that the transmitting and receiving operations are performed in a way that they do not interfere with their respective antennas. |
| US09277590B2 |
Active antenna arrays
In order to reduce the weight, cost and complexity of an active antenna array, designed for use with a plurality of different mobile telecommunications systems (multi-band system), the array comprises a plurality of antenna elements, which are divided into a plurality of antenna groups; a plurality of RF transceivers, which are divided into transceiver sets, wherein each transceiver of a set is arranged to operate on a different mobile telecommunications system, and including respective phase shifting and feeding networks coupled between each transceiver set and a respective antenna group, so that each transceiver of a set is coupled to each antenna element of the respective antenna group. |
| US09277585B2 |
Methods, wireless communication station, and system for WLAN channel selection through beacon requests
Embodiments of a user station (STA) and methods for WLAN channel selection through beacon requests are generally described herein. In some embodiments, a STA requests that an access point (AP) transmit a beacon signal on a first sub-band. The first sub-band may include a channel of interest to the STA. The STA may determine that the AP supports the first sub-band if the AP transmits the requested beacon signal. |
| US09277583B2 |
Enhanced dedicated-channel signaling in a CELL—FACH state
A new set of random-access preamble signatures are introduced to differentiate new-release UEs from UEs compliant only with earlier releases. Additional new features of a random-access procedure are also disclosed, including an ability to deploy multiple transmission-time-intervals TTIs) in a given area. An example mobile terminal, according to some embodiments of the present invention, selects a TTI from two or more possible TTIs. The mobile terminal then selects a preamble signature from a group of one or more preamble signatures associated with enhanced-uplink resources and associated with the selected TTI, and transmits a random-access channel (RACH) preamble, using the selected preamble signature. In some embodiments, the mobile terminal selects between a 2-millisecond TTI and a 10-millisecond TTI. |
| US09277581B2 |
Communication apparatus, communication method, program and storage medium
A communication apparatus (101) includes: receiving means for receiving a communication parameter, which is necessary for communication, from another communication apparatus; storage means (103, 212) for storing the communication parameter; first detecting means for detecting a connection instruction for connection to a network; and connecting means which, if the connection instruction (S401) has been detected by the first detecting means, is for executing processing for connecting to the network using a communication parameter already stored in the storage means (212), or processing for connecting to the network after a communication parameter is received from another communication apparatus by the receiving means, in accordance with the type of communication parameter already stored in the storage means (212). |
| US09277578B2 |
Enabling combinational services in a communications network
A combinational service is made enjoyable on the terminal of a user of a communication network in a simplified way. The user establishes a call on the circuit domain, and on his/her terminal, menu options are made available related to the enjoyment of the combinational service in consequence of the establishment of such call on the circuit domain. |
| US09277570B2 |
Efficient location updates, paging and short bursts
A mobile terminal in a wireless communication network may be one of several modes of operation. When in an idle mode, the mobile terminal may avoid a lengthy random access procedure normally associated with responding to a page from a base station, if the base station includes in the page an indication of a resource that the mobile terminal may utilize when responding to the page. Additionally, the mobile terminal may transmit an efficient location update MAC header to a base station, whether prompted to by a page from the base station or not. Furthermore, without leaving the idle mode or a sleep mode, the mobile terminal may exchange short data burst messages with a base station. |
| US09277568B2 |
Method, apparatus and system for random access
A method can be used for facilitating a random access procedure between a first transceiver and a second transceiver within a cell. The first transceiver selects a signature sequence from a set of signature sequences, incorporates the signature sequence into a signal, and transmits the signal to the second transceiver. The set of signature sequences being obtained from a Zadoff-Chu sequence with zero correlation zone. |
| US09277567B2 |
Systems and methods for improved communication efficiency in high efficiency wireless networks
Systems, methods, and devices for wireless communication are described herein. In some aspects, a method of wireless communication includes transmitting a first message for reserving a communication medium utilizing a first transmission characteristic such that the first message is decodable by at least a first subset of a plurality of wireless devices. The method may further include subsequently transmitting a second message for clearing a reservation of the communication medium utilizing a second transmission characteristic such that the second message is decodable by at least a second subset of the plurality of wireless devices and not the first subset of the plurality of wireless devices, thereby clearing access to at least one communication channel for the second subset of the plurality of wireless devices. |
| US09277566B2 |
Cross-subframe control channel design
Certain aspects of the disclosure relate to performing cross-subframe control channel signaling for wireless communications. A method may be provided for signaling downlink control channel resource allocations and/or physical control format indications in a subframe different from the subframe in which a downlink data transmission may be performed. In one aspect, the method may include transmitting PDCCH and/or PCFICH during a first subframe to allocate resources for a PDSCH during a second subframe and transmitting the PDSCH during the second subframe. |
| US09277564B2 |
Method and apparatus to facilitate support for multi-radio coexistence
A method of wireless communication includes monitoring coexistence issues among supported radios in a User Equipment (UE). The method includes determining a coexistence policy for communication resource operation within a user equipment (UE) and configuring communication resources of the user equipment in accordance with the determined coexistence policy. The policy may give priority to an LTE modem, an ISM modem, or may implement a variable priority scheme. The policy may be communicated to each modem from a host over a software messaging communication line. Modems in the UE may communicate with each other through logical lines providing real time communication. The policy may determine the operation of each modem and the treatment of the logical lines by each modem. |
| US09277561B2 |
Channel allocation notifying method, communication method, and communication apparatus
The number of communication channels necessary for communication with a terminal is calculated by using type and volume of data to be transmitted. When calculated number of communication channels is one, a single communication channel is allocated based on quality information of a communication line to the terminal and, when calculated number of communication channels is more than one, then more than one communication channels are allocated based on the quality information. Allocation information used for notifying of allocated communication channels is generated based on virtual channels, which are defined in advance as channel units having a combination of a plurality of consecutive communication channels, and the allocation information is transmitted to the terminal. |
| US09277560B2 |
Wireless communication devices
A telecommunication network is described in which information relating to access to resources such as the world wide web, may be transferred between wireless communication terminals at least one of which is a client of a server connected to the network and providing access to the resources. A method of transfer and a terminal suitable therefor are described. |
| US09277559B2 |
Sharing radio resources among devices of different device classes
A base station may receive a resource request, from a device, that includes a request to access a radio resource. The base station may determine a device class to which the device belongs. The base station may determine an amount of radio resources permitted to be allocated to devices belonging to the device class, may determine an amount of radio resources being utilized by devices belonging to the device class, and may compare the amounts. The base station may determine whether radio resources are available to be allocated to the device based on comparing the amounts, and may process the resource request based on the determination. The base station may grant the resource request when radio resources are available to be allocated to the device, and may deny or postpone the resource request when radio resources are not available to be allocated to the device. |
| US09277555B2 |
Apparatus and method for transmitting/receiving data in communication system
A data transmission apparatus in a communication system includes a verification unit configured to verify a basic frequency band capable of being used for transmitting and receiving data to and from a plurality of terminals, and a multi-bandwidth mode in the basic frequency band; a generation unit configured to generate data packets in the multi-bandwidth mode; and a transmission unit configured to transmit the data packets in the multi-bandwidth mode, wherein the multi-bandwidth mode includes a ½× bandwidth of the basic frequency band, a basic bandwidth, a 2× bandwidth of the basic frequency band, a 4× bandwidth of the basic frequency band and an 8× bandwidth of the basic frequency band. |
| US09277554B2 |
Servers and methods for operating a communication system
A server includes a memory device configured to store a plurality of computer-executable instructions, and a processor coupled to the memory device. When the processor executes the plurality of computer-executable instructions, the processor is programmed to determine an available spectrum of frequencies within a location over time, and receive a request from a wireless device to access the available spectrum for a predefined duration. The processor is also programmed to select a frequency band within the spectrum that is available to be used by the wireless device for the predefined duration, and transmit an authorization message to the wireless device to use the selected frequency band. |
| US09277552B2 |
Optimized system access procedures
A base station subsystem (BSS) and a method are described herein for improving an Access Grant Channel (AGCH) capacity when a downlink Temporary Block Flow (TBF) is established for at least one mobile station and used for sending the respective downlink payload. Plus, a mobile station (MS) and a method are described herein for improving the AGCH capacity when the mobile station is sent information required for establishing a downlink TBF on which it receives its respective downlink payload. |
| US09277548B2 |
Physical structure and reference signal utilization of enhanced physical downlink control channel for OFDM/OFDMA systems
A two-level physical structure is defined for better diversity for both distributed and localized transmission in enhanced physical downlink control channel (ePDCCH). First level is a physical unit of enhanced resource element groups (eREGs), where the group of REs is predefined for each eREG. Second level is a logical unit of enhanced control channel elements (eCCEs), where the group of eREGs is predefined or configurable by higher layer for each eCCE. For distributed transmission of ePDCCH, eCCE consists of several eREGs that are distributed in multiple non-contiguous PRBs spreading over the whole channel frequency. Downlink control information (DCI) is transmitted on a number of aggregated eCCEs according to the modulation and coding level required. The utilization reference signals of antenna ports for ePDCCH demodulation is based on the logical order of eCCEs and the aggregation level for DCI transmission. |
| US09277547B2 |
Method and apparatus for transmitting control information
A method of receiving uplink control information at a communication apparatus in a wireless communication system configured for Time Division Duplex (TDD) operations and having a plurality of cells is described. A first set of at least one of one or more Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH) signals and one or more Physical Downlink Shared Channel (PDSCH) signals are transmitted within M downlink subframes, where M≧1. A second set of at least one of one or more PDCCH signals and one or more PDSCH signals are transmitted within N downlink subframes, where N≧1. Acknowledgment information is received on an uplink subframe, the acknowledgment information including first acknowledgment information corresponding to the first set and second acknowledgment information corresponding to the second set. |
| US09277546B2 |
System and method for signaling control information in a mobile communication network
A method of operating a wireless communication terminal includes receiving one or more downlink control messages that each contain scheduling information scheduling the wireless terminal to receive a downlink transmission on either a primary carrier or a secondary carrier. The method also includes determining, for each of the downlink control messages, whether that message includes scheduling information for the primary carrier or for a secondary carrier. Additionally, the method includes selecting a format for an uplink control message based on whether any of the downlink control messages includes scheduling information for a secondary carrier, generating an uplink control message based on the selected format, and transmitting the uplink control message to the base station. |
| US09277544B2 |
Method and apparatus for allocating resources of a control channel in a mobile communication system using orthogonal frequency division multiplexing
Methods and apparatuses are provided for wireless communication. Control symbols are mapped to a plurality of resource element groups (REGs) which is not assigned to a physical channel format indication channel (PCFICH) or a physical hybrid automatic repeat request indicator channel (PHICH). The mapped control symbols are transmitted on a packet dedicated control channel (PDCCH). A number of a plurality of resource elements (REs) in each of the REGs depends on an index of an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) symbol and a number of configured reference signals. A number of the REGs in a physical resource block (PRB) on an OFDM symbol depends on the index of the OFDM symbol and the number of configured reference signals. |
| US09277543B2 |
Mobile communication system, base station device, mobile station device, communication method, and integrated circuit
A mobile communication system, a base station device, a mobile station device, a communication method, and an integrated circuit that each can efficiently transmit HARQ-ACK and/or channel state information are provided.A mobile station device includes means for receiving a first parameter that is used for instructing whether simultaneous transmission of information relating to HARQ-ACK and channel state information is allowed or not; and means for receiving a second parameter that is used for instructing whether simultaneous transmission of the information relating to HARQ-ACK and the channel state information is allowed or not, and controls a transmission method of the information relating to HARQ-ACK and the channel state information based on the first parameter, the second parameter, and whether or not the information relating to HARQ-ACK corresponds to transmission on a single physical downlink shared channel only on a primary cell. |
| US09277540B2 |
System, apparatus and method for control channel configuration in wireless communication systems
In accordance with aspects of the disclosure, a method, apparatus, and computer program product are provided for wireless communication. The method, apparatus, and computer program product, in an implementation, may be configured to provide separate control channels for each of downlink grant information and uplink grant information, encode the control channels with an identifier known only to receiving nodes that are configured to decode the control channels with the identifier, and convey information to the receiving nodes that the identifier is known to the receiving nodes. The method, apparatus, and computer program product, in an implementation, may be configured to determine an aggregation level of a common search space related to common control resources, wherein the aggregation level is less than four, and receive control data from one or more candidates in the common search space that include contiguous control channel elements according to the aggregation level. |
| US09277539B2 |
Method for performing inter-cell device-to-device (D2D) communication in wireless communication system and device therefor
A method for performing inter-cell D2D communication includes: receiving a first signal which is a D2D communication request signal including information on a D2D terminal selected from D2D terminals within a cell to which a base station belongs; determining whether the selected D2D terminal is a D2D terminal within the cell using information on the selected D2D terminal; transmitting a second signal, for requesting inter-cell D2D communication to a base station belonging to a neighboring cell, if the selected D2D terminal is a D2D terminal belonging to the neighboring cell; receiving a third signal for approving the inter-cell D2D communication, from the base station cell as a response to the second signal; and transmitting, to the D2D terminal within the cell, information on a resource allocated for communication between the D2D terminal within the cell and the selected D2D terminal according to the third signal. |
| US09277538B2 |
Node selection in a packet core network
A method of allocating user plane nodes to a connection being established across a packet core network is described. The method comprises maintaining at a Domain Name System (DNS) server one or more DNS resource records for each available user plane node in the packet core network, wherein the one or more DNS resource records comprises a fully qualified domain name (FQDN) for each area identity, each area identity represents a group of user plane nodes, associated with a user plane node in the packet core network; processing a connection establishment request originating from a user equipment (UE) to a core network node within the packet core network; sending a DNS query to a DNS server, the query containing at least one criterion for selecting a user plane node; receiving the query at the DNS server and, on the basis of the or each criterion, identifying one or more DNS resource records satisfying the criteria/criterion, and returning the identified DNS resource record(s) to said core network node; and receiving the DNS resource record(s) at the core network node, and using the fully qualified domain names (FQDNs) representing each area identity associated with a user plane node in the packet core network that are contained in the or each DNS resource record(s) when allocating a user plane node to said connection. A core network node arranged to allocate user plane nodes to a connection being established across a packet core network, and an apparatus configured to operate as a Domain Name System (DNS) server are also described. |
| US09277536B2 |
Method and system for WiFi communication utilizing full spectrum capture
A single receiver is operable to utilize full spectrum capture to capture signals over a wide spectrum comprising a plurality of WiFi frequency bands, extract one or more WiFi channels from said captured signals and aggregate a plurality of blocks of said WiFi channels to create one or more aggregated WiFi channels. The WiFi frequency bands include 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz WiFi frequency bands. A plurality of blocks of the WiFi channels may be aggregated from contiguous blocks of spectrum and/or non-contiguous blocks of spectrum in one or more of said plurality of WiFi frequency bands. One or more non-WiFi channels may be filtered out from the captured signals. One or more aggregated WiFi channels may be assigned to one or more WiFi enabled communication devices. At least a portion of the one or more aggregated WiFi channels may be dynamically assigned to one or more other WiFi enabled communication devices. |
| US09277531B2 |
Downlink inter-cell interference cancellation with cell aggregation coordinated multi-point
A method includes receiving at a user equipment from a network access node a temporary identifier associated with an interference cancellation group to which the user equipment is assigned; decoding a control channel using the temporary identifier to determine a downlink resource allocation for the user equipment and to determine a downlink resource allocation for at least one other user equipment assigned to the same interference cancellation group; and receiving a downlink signal in accordance with the determined downlink resource allocation for the user equipment while canceling interference from the downlink signal that is associated with the at least one other user equipment by using the determined downlink resource allocation for the at least one other user equipment. Apparatus for performing the method are also disclosed. |
| US09277530B2 |
Delivery of push notifications to an inactive computing device
A method performed by a notification handler process running on a device includes receiving a first push notification for a first application while the recipient device is inactive; determining that delivery of the first push notification would cause the device to become active without prompting a user of the device to interact with the first application; in response to determining what delivery of the first push modification would cause, locally storing the first push notification; receiving a second push notification for a second application while the recipient device is still inactive; determining that delivery of the second push notification would cause the device to become active prompting the user to interact with the second application; and in response to determining what delivery of the second push modification would cause, delivering the received second push notification to the second application and the stored first push notification to the first application. |
| US09277526B2 |
Location trust score
A gateway can be configured to receive measurement data that can characterizes measurements taken at a mobile device. The measurement data can include location information for the mobile device. The gateway can also be configured to calculate a location trust score for the mobile device. The location trust score can characterize the likelihood that the location information is at least one of accurate and trustworthy. The gateway can be further configured to generate trusted location information that characterizes a location of the mobile device based on the location trust score. |
| US09277525B2 |
Wireless location using location estimators
A wireless location system is disclosed including one or more location centers for outputting locations of mobile stations (MS) for both local and global MS location requests via Internet communication between a distributed network of location centers. The system uses a plurality of MS locating technologies including those based on: two-way TOA and TDOA; pattern recognition; distributed antenna provisioning; GPS signals. Difficulties, such as multipath, poor location accuracy and poor coverage are alleviated via such technologies in combination with: (a) adapting and calibrating system performance according to environmental and geographical changes; (b) capturing location signal data for continual enhancement of an historical database; (c) evaluating MS locations via heuristics and constraints related to terrain, MS velocity and MS path extrapolation, and (d) adjusting likely MS locations. The system is useful for 911 emergency calls, tracking, routing, people and animal location including applications for confinement to and exclusion from certain areas. |
| US09277524B2 |
Cooperative localization of portable electronic devices
A method, computing device and computer readable memory for cooperative localization of a portable electronic device is provided. Location identification messages are received each providing a known location of a respective portable electronic device and an associated transmitter identification (ID) of the respective portable electronic device and stored. Location request messages providing one or more transmitter IDs in communication range with a query portable electronic device and a transmitter ID of the query portable electronic device are received and location information from the stored location information associated with the one or more transmitter IDs received in the location request message is retrieved. A location of the query portable electronic device is estimated based on the retrieved location information and stored with the associated transmitter ID of the query portable electronic device. |
| US09277523B2 |
Method and apparatus for assisted positioning in a wireless communication system
Systems and methodologies are described herein that facilitate reduced complexity network-assisted device positioning in a wireless communication system. As described herein, a mobile device and/or other suitable device can utilize positioning assistance messages received from a location server, a serving network cell, and/or other entities, to assist in position fixing based on reference signals (e.g., positioning reference signals (PRSs)) detected from nearby network cells. Positioning assistance messages as described herein can include, for example, information relating to PRS bandwidths, transmit antenna configurations, and/or other parameters of respective cells from which reference signals are detected by a device during positioning. As further described herein, messaging load can be reduced by providing bandwidth and/or antenna configuration information relative to a given reference cell, such that parameters of non-reference cells that are equivalent to corresponding parameters of the reference cell can be omitted from transmitted positioning assistance data. |
| US09277521B2 |
Synchronization of a radio device
The present disclosure relates to a method for synchronizing a radio device with a network node of a Global System for Mobile Communications, GSM, radio communication system. The method comprises obtaining a reference array based on a known training sequence, TSC, of a synchronization burst, SB, of a synchronization channel, SCH, of the network node. The method also comprises receiving an SB including the TSC from the network node and forming a received array. The method also comprises comparing the reference array to the received array for finding a sequence of the received array which has identity with the reference array, and thereby finding the position of the TSC in the received SB. The method also comprises determining whether the identity of the found sequence with the reference array is above a predefined threshold, in which case the radio device can be time synchronized based on the found TSC. |
| US09277520B2 |
Methods and arrangements for ad-hoc wireless networks
A method, User Equipment (UE), and network node in an ad-hoc network. The UE determines a node in the ad-hoc network that is able to provide a reference signal comprising a pattern that can be used for synchronization purposes when the UE is in DRX mode in the ad-hoc network. The node is determined by requesting the node to indicate whether the node is able to provide the reference signal, and receiving an accept signal or message from the node. The UE then receives the reference signal from the determined node, enters DRX mode, and uses the received reference signal to maintain synchronization while in the DRX mode. |
| US09277519B1 |
Method for performing mobile communications and mobile terminal device
A method for performing mobile communications may include comparing a received digitized signal with a local reference synchronization sequence to generate a plurality of candidate timing estimates. Each of the plurality of candidate timing estimates may represent an estimated temporal location of a synchronization sequence in the received digitized signal. The method may further include demodulating the received digitized signal according to each of the plurality of candidate timing estimates to produce a plurality of reliability metrics, wherein each of the plurality of reliability metrics may be associated with one of the plurality of candidate timing estimates. The method may additionally include selecting one of the plurality of candidate timing estimates as a selected timing estimate based on a comparison between one or more of the plurality of reliability metrics and performing synchronized mobile communications using the selected timing estimate and a frequency offset value associated with the selected timing estimate. |
| US09277517B2 |
Macro-network synchronization based on nearby FM radio
Exemplary methods and systems may generally be implemented to allow a macro-network base station without access to a GPS reference signal to provide some or all of the functionality for which existing macro-network base stations typically rely on GPS. In a first aspect, an exemplary macro-network base station may determine its location using a location-determination technique that is based upon the angles of arrival of FM radio signals from nearby FM stations. In a second aspect, an exemplary macro-network base station may stabilize its local oscillator by phase-locking its local oscillator to an FM radio signal, and periodically adjusting its local oscillator to account for phase drift of the FM radio signal. And in a third aspect, an exemplary macro-network base station may synchronize its frame-start timing with a nearby base station using a frame-start timing signal that the base station has synchronized to frame transmissions from the nearby base station during a setup routine. |
| US09277513B2 |
Terminal apparatus for controlling downlink transmission power and method for same
A terminal apparatus for controlling downlink signal transmission power and a method for same are disclosed. The present invention is a method and a terminal apparatus for transmitting downlink transmission power, a method for the base station controlling the downlink transmission power in a wireless communication system comprising the steps of: transmitting a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) to the terminal through a carrier comprising orthogonal frequency distribution multiplexing (OFDM) symbols which do not have a cell-specific reference signal (CRS); and transmitting an upper layer parameter for controlling the transmission power of the physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH), wherein the upper layer parameter comprises information on at least one of PDSCH energy per resource element (EPRE), channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS) EPRE, and demodulation reference signal (DM-RS) EPRE. |
| US09277511B2 |
Method of setting UE mode switching for RPD reduction
A UE communication device is provided having a transmitter architecture that transmits SRS transmissions and PUSCH transmissions. A reference mode chosen from a LPM, an MPM and an HPM is selected based on a present power mode of the SRS transmission or based on a predicted power mode that the PUSCH transmission following the present SRS transmission will likely operate in. The transmitter architecture has an exemplary extended switching point structure allowing the RPD between the SRS transmission used for pre-quarter selection and the subsequent PUSCH transmission applying the pre-quarter to be minimized. |
| US09277509B1 |
Dynamic power boosting based on contiguous and non-contiguous coverage
A method, system, and medium are provided for dynamically activating and deactivating power boosting operations in a mobile communications network. A determination of whether a power boosting operation is appropriate or not is made based on the network's coverage contiguity characteristics. Power boosting operations are activated when the network exhibits contiguous coverage and deactivated when the network's coverage is non-contiguous. |
| US09277505B2 |
Methods for power control and link adapation in LTE-based mobile communication system
Provided is a power control and link adaptation method for compensating for a long round trip delay time and slow channel fading in a long term evolution (LTE)-based mobile communication system having a long round trip delay time, similar to a satellite mobile system, the method that may compensate for the long round trip delay time of the satellite mobile system in which a distance between a base station and a terminal is relatively long, when compared to a terrestrial LTE system, support a modulation and coding scheme (MCS) level requested by a terminal, by predicting a channel after the round trip delay time elapses, maintain compatibility within an existing LTE frame, by generating a transmit power control (TPC) instruction for an uplink closed-loop power control, on a frame by frame basis, and compensate for slow channel fading of the satellite mobile system. |
| US09277502B2 |
Hibernate mode for chat service
Methods, apparatuses and systems directed to hibernating a client of an instant messaging service. A user wishing to conserve battery life and connection overhead in a mobile device may transmit a hibernate command to a chat server. Although the user's connection is torn down, the user will still maintain a presence on the instant messaging service and be able to receive messages. |
| US09277501B2 |
Envelope tracker driven transmit beamforming
A method and telecommunication device in which the telecommunication device is provided with multiple antennas and power amplifiers to provide a beamformed transmit stage. An envelope tracking circuit helps achieve significant power savings in the power amplifier and can be used to provide the power supply for the multiple power amplifiers. A single envelope tracking power supply may be used to produce the supply voltage to the individual power amplifiers that operate on the transmit signal and its phase shifted variant. Accordingly, the user equipment experiences the benefits of both reduced power consumption using the envelope tracker and beam formed transmission. |
| US09277500B1 |
Power efficient wireless connectivity
Described herein are systems and methods for reducing power consumption in a device while maintaining a wireless local area network connection. An interface processor of a wireless interface is configured to maintain a network connection while an application processor is in a low power mode. The interface processor may awaken the application processor to a high power mode upon receipt of a wakeup signal, loss of network connection, detection of a network suitable for connection, or other pre-determined event. |
| US09277496B2 |
Cell selection
A first base station for use in a communications network, the first base station having a first cell operating range, comprising: means for obtaining data relating to at least one characteristic of a signal transmitted by a second base station having a second cell operating range which is different from and overlaps with the first cell operating range of the first base station; means for determining a cell selection bias value for the first or second base station using the obtained data; and means for transmitting the determined cell selection bias value to a user device within the first cell operating range of the first base station. |
| US09277492B2 |
Enhancement to PLMN selection process while roaming
A method and apparatus for a mobile wireless device configured to adaptively scan for a preferred wireless network while roaming is described. In one embodiment, at least a portion of a database including characteristic information regarding wireless networks can be stored within the mobile wireless device. Network characteristic information can include mobile country codes, mobile network codes, location area codes and cell-IDs. When the mobile wireless device is connected to a network that is not a preferred network, the mobile wireless device can use the database information in conjunction with characteristics from a connected wireless network to determine when to scan for the preferred wireless network. |
| US09277490B2 |
System and method of locating wireless connection among a plurality of wireless connections
A system and method of locating a wireless connection among a plurality of possible wireless connections. More particularly, a system and method of locating a user preferred wireless connection among a plurality of possible wireless connections. The method includes scanning for available networks and determining whether the available networks satisfy one or more user preferences. The method further includes establishing a secondary network connection with one of the available networks based on one or more user preferences being satisfied. |
| US09277482B2 |
Adaptive reoptimization rate for unstable network topologies
In one embodiment, the network stability of a communication network is determined based on one or more network metrics related to stability, and then based on the network stability, a particular frequency at which to perform route reoptimization is determined, where the frequency inversely corresponds to the network stability. As such, distributed route reoptimization is triggered in the communication network at the adaptively determined frequency. |
| US09277480B2 |
Cloud controller for next generation data network
A Next Generation Data Network is described. It leverages the “cloud” for data management, low frequency data computation and analytics. The wireless network is a single frequency network that permits limited non-line of sight operation. The wireless network using packet switched beams, the beams are formed and switched electronically. It utilizes advanced signal processing to compensate for low transmit signal power and multipath reflections that can be frequency or flat fades. |
| US09277477B2 |
Method and apparatus for locating communities over an ad-hoc mesh network
An approach is provided for locating communities over an ad-hoc mesh network. Community identifiers are used to locate communities and community members over an ad-hoc mesh network. The community identifiers are also associated with keys to authenticate members of the community and to protect the privacy and anonymity of information exchanged between the members. |
| US09277474B2 |
Wireless communication system, mobile station, base station, and communication method
A wireless communication system includes a serving base station, a mobile station, and peripheral base stations. The mobile station communicates with the serving base station. The serving base station includes a sending unit. The sending unit in the serving base station sends, to the mobile station, a signal indicating that communication is going to be performed in cooperation with the peripheral base stations. The mobile station includes a sending unit. The sending unit in the mobile station broadcasts a predetermined request signal to the peripheral base stations in accordance with the reception of the signal. The peripheral base stations, which have received the predetermined request signal, each include a notifying unit. The notifying units individually notify the serving base station of selection information that is information on the peripheral base station that is going to communicate with the mobile station in cooperation with the serving base station. |
| US09277472B1 |
Determining user experience metrics for different communication networks
One or more user experience metrics are obtained for one or more types of wireless communication networks. One or more user experience indicators may be displayed on a screen in conjunction with a signal strength indicator. Different sets of user experience metrics may also be obtained, each set being associate with an application on a user device. Each set of user experience metrics may be displayed in conjunction with a list of applications. A user may provide user input selecting a wireless communication network and the user device may be configured to use the selected wireless communication network. |
| US09277469B2 |
Method for cell reselection and cell handover in a wireless communication system
A method for cell reselection and cell handover in a wireless communication system.The method comprises performing a cell reselection or handover between a user equipment connected to a radio access node and a neighbor cell, said neighbor cell having a subscriber list of subscribed user equipments.Said user equipment is not in said subscriber list and the method further comprises: a. generating, said radio access node, a closed subscriber group (CSG) list containing said user equipment and at least one neighbor cell detected; b. communicating, said radio access node, said CSG list to a management entity; c. reporting, said management entity, to said at least one neighbor cell included in said CSG list an invited neighbor subscriber group list, or INSG list, containing said authorized user equipment; and d. performing said cell reselection or handover between said authorized user equipment and the neighbor cell if said authorized user equipment is included in said INSG list. |
| US09277468B2 |
Maintaining neighbor cell list
Access terminals are provisioned to conduct intra-frequency, inter-frequency, and inter-RAT measurements and report physical layer identifiers of detected cells. The provisioning may involve cycling through all or a portion of a defined superset of physical layer identifier one subset at a time. In addition, the physical layer identifiers may be prioritized to improve the search procedure. Measurement report messages (including physical layer identifiers of the detected cells) are received at an access point as a result of the provisioning. A neighbor cell list for the femtocell is maintained based on the received measurement report messages and, optionally, other information. This other information may related to, for example, one or more of: physical layer identifier information received from access terminals that register with the access point, physical layer identifier information received via network listen operations, information regarding co-located cells, or physical layer identifier information received from a network entity. |
| US09277467B2 |
Communication system with adaptive handover controller and method of operation thereof
A method of operation of a communication system includes: estimating a channel; calculating a predicted signal within the channel; evaluating a prediction accuracy of the predicted signal; and adjusting a handoff parameter when the prediction accuracy of the predicted signal is within a threshold range for communicating through a mobile station. |
| US09277463B2 |
Method and system for managing security in mobile communication system
A method, an apparatus, and a system for solving and managing security problems, which may occur during a handover of a User Equipment (UE) between PLMNs in a mobile communication network, by using a Non-Access Stratum (NAS) protocol are provided. By the method, a UE can perform a security mode command and an authentication with a network. Further, the method can prevent interruption of communication due to authentication or security during a handover of a UE between Public Land Mobile Networks (PLMNs). |
| US09277460B2 |
System and method for providing voice service in a multimedia mobile network
User Equipment (UE) receiving non-voice packet switched service in an Evolved Universal Mobile Telecommunications System Terrestial Radio Access Network (eUTRAN) cell undergoes handover to a circuit switched GSM/Edge Radio Access Network (GERAN)/UTRAN cell in response to a requirement for voice service. The voice service is established in the circuit switched domain of a GERAN/UTRAN cell to ensure service continuity regardless of UE mobility that would otherwise not be possible if the voice service was established in the eUTRAN cell. A Gs-like interface between a Mobile Switching Center (MSC) of the CS Core Network and the Mobility Management Entity (MME) of the Evolved Packet Core provides an interface for page requests and location update procedures to be performed. |
| US09277457B2 |
Efficient data delivery in cellular networks
Apparatus for use within a radio access network of a cellular communications network, where the cellular communications network belongs to an operator domain. The apparatus comprises a radio control unit for controlling radio channels within one or more cells of the radio access network, and a data source for maintaining or accessing data content, the data source being allocated in use an IP address that is unique at least within said operator domain. The apparatus further comprises an IP packet classifier configurable to inspect packets received from a client and to identify packets addressed to said IP address, and to redirect such identified packets to said data source. The apparatus also comprises an IP packet route selector configured to react to the establishment of a connection between a client and said data source by routing data content packets from said data source to the client via a radio channel or channels controlled by said radio control unit. The IP packet route selector is further able to react to a handover of the client to a peer apparatus responsible for a different set of radio channels by routing data content packets from said data source to the client via an IP backbone network. |
| US09277453B2 |
Method and a system for transmitting pilot
The disclosure discloses a method for transmitting a pilot, which includes the step of: selectively transmitting or not transmitting a demodulation pilot in a subframe according to a setting, in a control signaling, of triggering or not triggering a demodulation pilot transmission in the subframe. A system for transmitting the pilot is further disclosed, which includes a pilot selectively transmitting unit configured to selectively transmit or not transmit a demodulation pilot in a subframe according to a setting, in a control signaling, of triggering or not triggering a demodulation pilot transmission in the subframe. The method and system of the disclosure are capable of reducing the pilot overhead and improving the capacity of the LTE/LTE-Advanced system. |
| US09277451B1 |
Reduction of network loading due to multiple device connections in wireless data networks
In systems and methods for reducing network traffic generated by a plurality of wireless devices operating over a communication network, an indication is received at an access node when a plurality of wireless devices assigned to a subscriber operate simultaneously as active wireless devices over a communication network. A priority list of the active wireless devices arranged according to the highest priority based on operating parameters of the active wireless devices is compiled. One of the active wireless devices is selected as a wireless host device based on the active wireless devices based upon the compiled priority list. Channel state data received from the active wireless devices at the access node is correlated to determine whether the active wireless devices and the wireless host device are in close proximity with each other. A wireless connection is established between the wireless host device and the active wireless devices, that are found to be in close proximity of wireless host device. |
| US09277445B2 |
Wireless end-user device with differential traffic control policy list and applying foreground classification to wireless data service
A wireless end-user device has wireless wide-area network (WWAN) and wireless local-area network (WLAN) modems. One or more processors classify whether an application is interacting with a user in a user interface foreground of the device. At a time when Internet service activities are communicated through the WWAN modem, the processors use a differential traffic control policy list to determine whether or not to apply a differential traffic control policy to an application requesting Internet service access. When the policy is applicable, and the application is not classified as interacting with a user in the device user interface foreground, the Internet service access request is blocked. |
| US09277438B2 |
Devices for determining a reference subframe and determining a mode
A wireless communication device for determining a reference subframe is described. The wireless communication device includes a processor and instructions stored in memory that is in electronic communication with the processor. The wireless communication device determines a reporting subframe n. The wireless communication device also determines a reference subframe n−nreference based on a limit and at least one limiting criterion. The wireless communication device further generates a report based on the reference subframe if the reference subframe is determined. The wireless communication device additionally sends the report during the reporting subframe if the reference subframe is determined. |
| US09277436B2 |
Minimizing drive test logged data reporting
This disclosure pertains to a method in a network node, a method in user equipment, a network node and user equipment in a wireless communications network. More particularly, there is provided methods and platforms for network based control of report messages comprising logged measurements in a wireless communications network. In accordance with some example embodiments, a UE (30) that has stored logged data i.e. logged measurements that are bigger than a single transmission packet, i.e. report message, segments the logged measurements and sends only a portion of the logged measurements that fits into a single report message. The UE (30) also indicates to a network node (28) that additional logged measurements exist at the UE buffer (44). |
| US09277435B2 |
Method and apparatus for transmitting channel state information in a wireless communication system
The present invention relates to a wireless communication system. A method for a terminal to transmit channel state information to a plurality of transmission points in a wireless communication system comprises the steps of: receiving a configuration for reporting the channel state information; and selecting at least one subband for reporting the channel state information to each of a first transmission point and a second transmission point in accordance with the configuration for reporting the channel state information, wherein the configuration for reporting the channel state information comprises information on whether or not to select the subband for the first transmission point same to be the subband for the second transmission point. |
| US09277433B2 |
Wireless end-user device with policy-based aggregation of network activity requested by applications
A wireless end-user device has a wireless wide-area network (WWAN) modem and supports multiple wireless network types. A network service activity control policy set has a policy element that associates one or more Internet activity access controls with at least one end-user application. One or more processors determine whether to apply the Internet activity access controls to an Internet access request by or on behalf of the end-user application, based at least on which of the wireless network types is configured to support Internet service activity. The determination may further be based on whether or not the application is interacting with a user. When the controls are to be applied, network activity for the Internet access request is delayed until it can be associated with network activity for one or more other requests not associated with the application. |
| US09277432B2 |
Systems and methods for automated on-device performance testing of mobile applications
Methods and systems for measuring the performance of a mobile application and its associated user page flows include a communication link configured to connect a plurality of mobile client devices to an application server running the mobile application. The system includes a first module configured to implement a plurality of mobile network protocols; a second module configured to implement a plurality of mobile carrier protocols; a third module configured to implement a plurality of mobile operating systems; and a processing module configured to download the application and user pages from the application server and measure performance on each of the plurality of mobile client devices using different combinations of the plurality of mobile network protocols, the plurality of mobile carrier protocols, and the plurality of mobile operating systems. |
| US09277431B1 |
System, method, and computer program for generating mobile subscriber network experience indicators based on geo-located events
A system, method, and computer program product are provided for generating mobile subscriber network experience indicators based on geo-located events. In use, one or more call trace logs are received including protocol flow information between User Equipment and one or more network elements associated with a network. Additionally, one or more call detail records are generated utilizing the one or more call trace logs, each of the one or more call detail records including an associated international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI). Further, the one or more call detail records are geo-tagged with location information associated with the one or more call trace logs. In addition, the one or more geo-tagged call detail records are aggregated based on the international mobile subscriber identity associated with the one or more geo-tagged call detail records, such that a subscriber corresponding to the international mobile subscriber identity is associated with at least one of the aggregated geo-tagged call detail records. Furthermore, a plurality of key performance indicators are identified for the subscriber, utilizing the at least one aggregated geo-tagged call detail record associated with the subscriber. Moreover, a network experience indicator associated with the subscriber is generated utilizing one or more of the plurality of key performance indicators. Still yet, the network experience indicator associated with the subscriber is displayed utilizing a graphical user interface. |
| US09277429B2 |
Monitoring probe for identifying a user plane identifier of a user device
Methods of identifying a user plane identifier of a user device by a monitoring probe in communication with a network device, the monitoring probe, and the system using the same are disclosed. In an embodiment, the monitoring probe includes a monitor, a comparator and a user plane identifier output. The monitor monitors a network device for receipt of a first control plane message comprising a first control plane identifier and a user device identifier, and monitors the network device for receipt of a second control plane message comprising a second control plane identifier and a user plane identifier. The comparator compares the first with the second control plane identifier to determine whether the control plane identifiers correspond. The user plane identifier output outputs the user plane identifier being identified as that of the user device, when the control plane identifiers correspond. |
| US09277428B2 |
Method and apparatus for responding to a potential mass random access event
A radio controller monitors a radio channel for a first period of time and determines a first indication of signals received without detecting synchronization or with detecting synchronization but failing error correction during that time. Responsive to determining that the first indication is above a predetermined threshold indicative of an interference condition, causing an instruction to be broadcast identifying a subset of subscriber devices allowed transmitting random access requests on the radio channel. The radio controller monitors the radio channel for a second period of time and determines a second indication during that time. If the second indication is an improvement over the first indication, the radio controller determines that the interference condition is caused by the mass random access event. |
| US09277425B2 |
Systems and methods for automatic frequency control for mobile communication systems
System and methods are provided for communicating with multiple wireless networks using a mobile communication system. An example mobile communication system includes a first communication device configured to communicate with a first wireless network and generate a reference signal for determining a first frequency deviation between the first communication device and the first wireless network, and a second communication device configured to communicate with a second wireless network and determine a second frequency deviation between the second communication device and the second wireless network based at least in part on the reference signal. |
| US09277420B2 |
Concentric cells in a wireless communication system
Aspects described herein relate to a base station for providing air-to-ground wireless communication over various altitudes. The base station includes a first antenna array comprising one or more antennas configured to form a first cell coverage area extending substantially from a horizon up to a first elevation angle away from the first antenna array to a predetermined distance from the first antenna array. The base station further includes a second antenna array configured at an uptilt elevation angle to form a second cell coverage area extending at least from the first elevation angle to a second elevation away from the second antenna array, wherein the first cell coverage area and the second cell coverage area are concentric to define the ATG cell at least to the predetermined distance and up to a predetermined elevation. |
| US09277419B2 |
Device, system and method of indicating station-specific information within a wireless communication
Some demonstrative embodiments include devices, systems and/or methods of indicating station-specific information within a wireless communication. For example, a device may include a wireless communication unit to transmit a wireless communication frame to a plurality of stations using a respective plurality of beamforming configurations, wherein the wireless communication unit is to transmit to the stations beamforming configuration information including station-specific information corresponding to the plurality of beamforming configurations, respectively. |
| US09277418B1 |
Methods, devices and systems for separating overlappingly transmitted signals and enabling joint spectrum access
In one example embodiment, a device includes a memory configured to store computer-readable instructions therein and a processor. The processor is configured to execute the computer-readable instructions to receive a mixture signal, and determine a first signal and a second signal from the mixture signal, the first signal being a signal of a first technology and the second signal being a signal of a second technology, the first and second signals being overlappingly transmitted signals, at least one of the first signal and the second signal being used for processing of information associated with the at least one of the first signal and the second signal. |
| US09277416B2 |
Method and apparatus for scheduling radio resources
Embodiments of the disclosure provide methods and apparatuses for scheduling radio resources in a communication system. According to the method, in response to receiving a request for accessing a target frequency band utilized by a Macro BS and a LPN from a frequency-shared system, a first notification is transmitted to the Macro BS, such that the Macro BS deactivates the target frequency band, and a second notification is transmitted to the LPN, such that the LPN extends its coverage. Then, information on the extended coverage is received from the LPN. |
| US09277415B2 |
Resource sharing priority
A device implements multiple protocols that share overlapping resources. In some cases, a first operation, such as a scan, may have a resource conflict with a second operation associated with a different protocol. In some cases, determining grant normal priority level requests associated with the first operation over those at the normal priority level associated with the second operation may lead to operator-noticeable degradation in device performance. A protocol controller may request a selected portion of the first operation at a low priority level. Requesting the selected portion at the low priority level may allow the second operation to selectively override the portion of the first operation. The selective overriding of the first operation may allow for execution of the first and second operations without operator-noticeable performance degradation. |
| US09277414B2 |
Wireless communication system, base station, and mobile station
A wireless communication system 1 performs inter-cell coordination control that coordinates a pico base station 100 and a macro base station 200 with each other and transmits a signal to a mobile station 10 of a picocell. The pico base station 100 includes a controller 100a and a communication unit 100b. The controller 100a interleaves resources of an E-PDCCH of the picocell corresponding to a predetermined resource unit based on a coordinated area ID that is an identifier common to the pico base station 100 and the macro base station 200. The communication unit 100b transmits a control signal to the mobile station 10 of the picocell using a first resource of the E-PDCCH of the picocell that corresponds to at least a part of the predetermined resource unit and is to be decoded by the mobile station 10 of the picocell. |
| US09277413B2 |
Cooperative cognitive radio spectrum sensing using a hybrid data-decision method
A spectrum sensing method for cognitive radio to detect spectrum holes in an environment of bandwidth scarcity. The method comprises first receiving a wireless signal at a cognitive radio user, and then discovering the frequency edges of allocated frequency bands by using wavelet transform coefficients to detect discontinuities in the power spectral density of the received signal. After determining the allocated frequency bands, the method determines frequency band availability by detecting the in band energy using a bi-threshold energy detector, where the energy detector makes hard decisions and soft decisions. Finally, a fusion center combines hard and soft decisions collected from a cooperative spectrum sensing network of cognitive radio users and makes a final decision using a hybrid of data fusion and decision fusion to determine the final decision regarding spectrum availability. |
| US09277407B2 |
Methods for authentication using near-field
Authentication methods are used to authenticate, a device1 having an ESN1 (electronic serial number), a device2 having an ESN2, and/or a user of the devices. In one implementation, device1 receives the ESN2 in a near-field signal; derives an authentication result as a function of the ESN1 and ESN2; and sends the authentication result to an authenticator device to use in completing authentication. Authentication is confirmed when the device1 authentication result matches an authentication result independently generated by the authenticator device, which is provisioned with the ESN1 and ESN2. In a second implementation, device1 generates a RAND1 (random number) and sends the RAND1 to device2 over a near-filed link. An authenticator device confirms authentication upon receiving the same RAND1 from both device1 and device2. |
| US09277406B2 |
Methods and system for secure communication between an RFID tag and a reader
Methods and a system involve secure communication between an RFID tag and a reader via the over-the-air interface, and to corresponding RFID tags and corresponding readers. A modification of the Rabin method is employed wherein within the framework of the encryption of a plaintext M into which an identification element of the RFID tag or of an object furnished therewith is incorporated, there is computed by the RFID tag, the Montgomery residue (Montgomery reduction) of the square of the plaintext M modulo n with respect to a Montgomery base R, i.e. C*=M2R−1 mod n, and the resultant ciphertext C* is employed for authenticating the RFID tag. The modulus n=p·q is the public key of the reader, the prime numbers p, q are the private key of the reader, and the Montgomery base R is an integer that is larger than the modulus n. |
| US09277405B2 |
Access control interfaces for enhanced wireless router
A wireless router provides access control to information resources stored at the wireless router. The wireless router supports user profiles and/or device profiles that respectively enable user level and/or device level access control. The wireless router may register users via a user registration interface presented by the client device. The wireless router may register client devices using a device identifier. Requests to initiate a communication session may be received by the wireless router from client devices over a wireless local area network. The wireless router may authenticate a client device based on a device identifier and/or authenticate a user based on user credentials obtained via a login interface presented by the client device. The wireless router may control access to information resources stored at the wireless router during the communication session based, at least in part, on access privileges for the authenticated client device and/or authenticated user. |
| US09277404B2 |
Method for registering a wireless communication device at a base device and corresponding system
A method for registering a wireless communication device at a base device may include the steps of: transmitting from a wireless authentication device a piece of authentication information; receiving at the wireless communication device the piece of authentication information, e.g., using in-band communication; transferring the piece of authentication information from the wireless communication device to the base device; analyzing at the base device the transferred piece of authentication information; and incorporating the wireless communication device into a network depending on the result of the analysis. A corresponding system and to a use thereof are also provided. |
| US09277402B2 |
Systems and methods for secure high-speed link maintenance via NFC
Systems, methods, and devices for communicating with a second apparatus in a wireless communications network are described herein. In some aspects, a first wireless communication unit is configured to communicate with the second apparatus via a first wireless protocol. The first wireless communication unit may transmit a first message to the second apparatus. A second wireless communication unit is configured to communicate with the second apparatus over a communication link via a second wireless protocol. The second wireless communication unit may be further configured to disconnect the communication link if the first wireless communication unit does not receive a second message from the second apparatus within a predetermined amount of time after transmission of the first message. |
| US09277401B2 |
Device utilizing an optical signal to access an access point
Disclosed is a device that receives an optical signal having an authorization code that allows the device to utilize an access point to obtain access to the Internet and other networks. The device may include: a modem; a light sensor; and a processor. The light sensor may receive an optical signal from a light source. The processor may execute operations including: processing the received optical signal to identify an authorization code and to connect the device through the modem to the access point based upon the authorization code such that the device may obtain access to the Internet and other networks. |
| US09277398B2 |
User equipment capability signaling
A user equipment (UE) configured for signaling UE capability is described. The UE includes a processor and instructions stored in memory that is in electronic communication with the processor. The UE sends an indicator regarding whether the UE can support different time division duplex (TDD) configurations on different bands for a band combination. The UE also sends an indicator regarding whether the UE can support concurrent transmission and reception on different bands for the band combination. The UE additionally sends an indicator regarding whether the UE can support different uplink timing adjustments for the band combination. |
| US09277396B2 |
Method and apparatus for managing user equipment history information in wireless communication network
A method and an apparatus for managing User Equipment (UE) history information are provided. The method for managing user equipment history information in a wireless communication network includes determining if a recording event occurs when the user equipment enters into an idle mode; recording information about the recording event in idle mode user equipment history information when the recording event occurs; and transmitting the recorded idle mode user equipment history information to a base station when the user equipment accesses the base station. |
| US09277393B2 |
Communication supporting method and apparatus using non-access stratum protocol in mobile telecommunication system
A method and apparatus for supporting Non-Access Stratum (NAS) communication between a User Equipment (UE) and a Mobility Management Entity (MME) efficiently by addressing the signaling problems occurring between the UE and the MME in a situation where it is necessary for a network node to identify the UE and acquire UE information, if there is any, from another network node to which the UE has been attached, are provided. The method for communication between the UE and network based on the NAS protocol messages and operations is implemented with the involvement a UE, an MME, and an old MME or an old Serving General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) Support Node (SGSN) to which the UE has been attached before so as to facilitate discovering a best node using the UE information acquired from the old MME or old SGSN during the communication between the UE and the network, resulting in a reduction of a communication delay between the UE and network and an improvement of communication efficiency. |
| US09277390B2 |
Mobile payment and identity verification system
Techniques are disclosed relating to facilitating transactions via mobile devices. In one embodiment, an account that is linked to a mobile telephone number of a mobile device is established at a computer system. In such an embodiment, the account permits a user to make and receive payments, and is not accessible without using the mobile device. In some embodiments, the account is established without setting up a username and password. In one embodiment, a request is sent from a payment application of the mobile device to the computer system. In some embodiments, the payment application is made active on the mobile device in response to a user input within a different application running on the mobile device. After the payment application is active, a purchase is confirmed within the payment application such that the request is sent responsive to the confirming and without authenticating the user within the payment application. |
| US09277386B1 |
Object location tracking system and method
A system for tracking the location of an object in an area having a plurality of electronic devices, connected via a network through a variety of communication protocols, comprises a location server in communication with the network and each of the plurality of electronic devices. Each of the electronic devices is associated with a last-known device location within the area that is stored in the location server. An electronic tag that is fixed with the object has a control circuit that enables wireless communication with the network both through any of the electronic devices and through any of the variety of communication protocols. The control circuit maintains at least periodic contact and GPS location reporting with the location server through the network, preferably through one of the electronic devices designated as the owner device, or any of the other electronic devices. |
| US09277385B2 |
911 assist by wireless charger with NFC in the vehicle
A method for requesting emergency assistance for a vehicle involved in an accident. The method includes the following: storing vehicle operating conditions prior to the accident in a storage device; detecting the accident; after the accident, deactivating charging of a smartphone being charged on a wireless charging pad; transmitting to the smartphone the vehicle operating conditions stored prior to the accident; transmitting the vehicle operating conditions from the smartphone to emergency authorities; and calling the emergency authorities using the smartphone and initiating handsfree communication with the emergency authorities. |
| US09277380B2 |
Method for controlling call termination based on gaze, and mobile communication terminal therefor
A mobile communication terminal for controlling call termination based on a user's gaze includes a call answer and decline judging unit configured to compare a user's gaze movement frequency with preset call answer and call decline frequencies and judge a call answer or a call decline according to frequencies coinciding with each other; and a call termination control processing unit configured to perform a call mode or a call refusal mode according to the judgment of the call answer and decline judging unit. |
| US09277378B2 |
Short message service validation engine
A method, performed by a computer device, may include receiving a Short Message Service (SMS) message. The method may further include analyzing one or more sender parameters associated with the received SMS message to validate the one or more sender parameters; determining whether the one or more sender parameters have been validated based on the analysis; rejecting the SMS message in response to determining that the one or more sender parameters have not been validated; analyzing message content included in the SMS message to validate the message content; determining whether the message content has been validated based on the analysis; rejecting the SMS message in response to determining that the message content has not been validated; and forwarding the SMS message to a recipient, in response to validating the one or more sender parameters and in response to validating the message content. |
| US09277376B2 |
Method and apparatus for persistent connections to a device through the use of multiple physical network connections and connection hand-offs between multiple bands, modes and networks
Embodiments communicate messages between mobile devices and destination devices. An exemplary embodiment includes a first border server operable to establish a first communication connection to the mobile device over a first network operating under a first protocol, a second border server operable to establish a second communication connection to the mobile device over a second network operating under a second protocol, and a transport management server communicatively coupled to the first border server and the second border server, and operable to establish a third communication connection to the destination device over a third network operating under a third protocol. The first protocol is configured to communicate a first encapsulated portion of the message. The second protocol is configured to communicate a second encapsulated portion of the message. The third protocol is configured to communicate the first encapsulated portion of the message and the second encapsulated portion of the message. |
| US09277369B2 |
Method for determining location of wireless devices
Methods for determining a location of a client device in a wireless network having at least a first other network device with a known location are disclosed. Transmission-to-self calibrations are performed at the first other network device and/or the client device to determine RF group delay of the first other network device and/or the client device. The client device receives messages and acknowledgements from the other network devices and determines its location based on information received including the time at which it received the messages, the acknowledgements and the RF groupdelay of the first other network device. As such, the location calculation can be refined by accounting for the RF group delays of the first other network device and/or the client device. |
| US09277367B2 |
Method and device for providing augmented reality output
Methods and devices for generating an augmented reality output are described. In one aspect, the method includes: obtaining camera data from a camera associated with an electronic device, the camera data defining an image representing a card having a graphic disposed thereon; obtaining sensor data from a sensor associated with the electronic device; and generating an augmented reality output on an output interface based on the sensor data and the graphic. |
| US09277361B2 |
Methods and systems for cross-validating sensor data acquired using sensors of a mobile device
Methods and systems for cross-validating sensor data are described. An example method involves receiving image data and first timing information associated with the image data, and receiving sensor data and second timing information associated with the sensor data. The method further involves determining a first estimation of motion of the mobile device based on the image data and the first timing information, and determining a second estimation of the motion of the mobile device based on the sensor data and the second timing information. Additionally, the method involves determining whether the first estimation is within a threshold variance of the second estimation. The method then involves providing an output indicative of a validity of the first timing information and the second timing information based on whether the first estimation is within the threshold variance of the second estimation. |
| US09277358B1 |
Providing information to a mobile device based on an event at a geographical location
A system, method, and computer readable medium for providing information to a mobile device based on an event comprising detecting an occurrence of the event, determining if the event is a specific event and if the event occurred at or near a geographical location and sending an alert of the event to at least one mobile device if the event is the specific event, if the event occurs at or near the geographical location, and if the at least one mobile device is located at or near the geographical location. |
| US09277357B2 |
Method and system for map generation for location and navigation with user sharing/social networking
Methods and systems for map generation for location and navigation with user sharing/social networking may comprise a premises-based crowd-sourced database that receives images and location data from a plurality of users of wireless communication devices, and for each of said plurality of users: receiving a determined position of a wireless communication device (WCD), where the position is determined by capturing images of the surroundings of the WCD. Data associated with objects in the surroundings of the WCD may be extracted from the captured images, positions of the objects may be determined, and the determined positions and the data may then update the premises-based crowd-sourced database. The position of the WCD may be determined utilizing global navigation satellite system (GNSS) signals. The elements may comprise structural and/or textual features in the surroundings of the WCD. The position may be determined utilizing sensors that measure a distance from a known position. |
| US09277355B1 |
Cellular telephone tracking techniques
Communications device includes a device speed determining unit that determines a speed of movement of the communications device, and a responsive unit that analyzes the speed of movement of the communications device and determines or enable a determination of whether it is indicative of walking of a holder of the communications device or indicative of motorized transport of the holder of the communications device. |
| US09277351B2 |
Wireless transmission duration and location-based services
The exemplary embodiments provide a computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer usable program code for managing location-based services provided via a wireless access point. A signal is received from a client device by at least one wireless access point. A distance the signal has traveled to the at least one wireless access point is determined. A determination as to whether the client device is within an allowed range of the at least one wireless access point is made based on the determined distance. Responsive to a determination that the client device is within an allowed range, a location of the client device is determined. Location-based service information is sent to the client device based on the determined location of the client device. |
| US09277345B2 |
Signal strength indicator for multicast broadcasting in a wireless network
The quality of a multicast broadcast that is being received by a mobile device may be determined. In one implementation, a method may include receiving a radio signal corresponding to a multicast broadcast of content; measuring a strength of the received signal; determining a minimum signal strength to receive the content associated with the multicast broadcast; determining a signal quality metric, associated with the multicast broadcast, the signal quality metric being based on a difference between the measured strength of the signal and the determined minimum signal strength; and providing a visual indication of the signal quality metric. |
| US09277344B2 |
Multi-dimensional audio transformations and crossfading
A method for creating a multi-dimensional audio map is provided. The method includes assigning a first audio attribute to a multi-dimensional space comprising at least three dimensions. The method also includes creating, by a computer processor responsive to user input, a first audio attribute layer within the multi-dimensional space, including a first dimension representing an audio attribute value of the first audio attribute for a location defined by at least two other dimensions. A method for generating a mixed output using the multi-dimensional audio map is also provided. |
| US09277341B2 |
System and method for producing a narrow band signal with controllable narrowband statistics for a use in testing a loudspeaker
An apparatus may include a signal generation module for generating a signal to test a loudspeaker. The signal generating module may be configured to receive a plurality of inputs identifying parameters relating to a test signal for the loudspeaker, generate a plurality of narrowband signals based on the plurality of inputs, sum the narrowband signals together to produce a broadband test signal, and transmit the broadband test signal to the loudspeaker to generate sound based on the broadband test signal. |
| US09277339B2 |
Sound source detection apparatus
In a sound source detection apparatus that detects a sound source of a detection subject on the basis of collected sounds, sounds are collected by at least one sound collector, an autocorrelation between sounds collected in time series by the sound collector is calculated, and a determination as to whether or not the sound source of the detection subject exists is made on the basis of the autocorrelation. More particularly, sounds are preferably collected respectively by two or more sound collectors such that the existence of the sound source of the detection subject is determined by determining whether or not the autocorrelations of the sounds collected by the two or more sound collectors satisfy a predetermined condition. By using the autocorrelation to detect the sound source of the detection subject in this manner, high robustness against an S/N ratio is exhibited, leading to an improved detection performance when detecting the sound source of the detection subject. |
| US09277337B2 |
Generating an adapted audio file
The present idea refers to an apparatus for generating an adapted audio file. The apparatus comprises an identification unit (51) for supporting identification of a frequency range (fr) associated with an auditory disorder of a user of the apparatus, and an adaptation unit (52) for adapting a frequency characteristic of an audio file (af) representing a track of music which adaptation is subject to the identified frequency range (fr). An audio player (6) is provided for playing the adapted audio file (aaf). |
| US09277336B2 |
Vented dome
A hearing device includes a BTE unit and a thin acoustic tube. The BTE unit includes a microphone, an amplifier, a power source, and a receiver and is configured to mount behind or on a user's ear. The tube includes a proximal end and a distal end with the proximal end and the distal end being connected to the receiver and to a flexible mounting insert respectively. The insert comprises a dome shape part and at least one core hole permeable for sound transmitted from the tube, which is configured to arrange in a user's ear canal to transmit sound generated by the BTE unit to a tympanic membrane of the user. The inserts diameter is adapted to at least have the same diameter as user's ear canal diameter to close the ear canal of the user and has at least one internal vent pathway located on the circumference of the core hole. |
| US09277333B2 |
Method for adjusting the useful signal in binaural hearing aid systems and hearing aid system
A method operates a hearing aid system and the hearing aid system has at least two hearing aid devices, between which a signal path is provided, and with at least one signal processing unit, which is provided to process audio signals. In the method the signal processing apparatus filters first audio signals with a filter predetermined for a defined spatial direction, from which a useful signal arrives, so that second audio signals are generated, in which the components of the useful signal in the second audio signals are equalized to a greater degree than in the first audio signals. The second audio signals are then filtered with an adaptive filter, so that third audio signals are generated, in which the components of the useful signal are equalized to an even greater degree than in the second audio signals. |
| US09277331B2 |
Techniques for testing compatibility of a wireless communication device
Techniques for testing a wireless communications device are disclosed. In one particular exemplary embodiment, the techniques may be realized as a system and method for testing a wireless communications device. The method may comprise generating an audio test signal. The audio test signal may be transmitted to a wireless communication device through a wireless base station simulator via a VoIP application. The method may also comprise receiving an output signal, where the output signal may be generated by the wireless communication device and transmitted to a telecoil probe. The method may further comprise processing the output signal by comparing the output signal with the audio test signal. |
| US09277328B2 |
Condenser microphone
A handheld condenser microphone is provided with a condenser microphone unit having two unidirectional condenser elements. A conductive fabric 221 is put between a lock ring 213 and the second condenser element 10b, when an acoustic-electric transducer 220 is fixed inside a unit case 210 by fastening force of the lock ring 213. |
| US09277326B2 |
Miniature speaker
A miniature speaker is disclosed. The miniature speaker includes a frame providing a receiving space, a magnetic circuit positioned in the receiving space and a vibration unit including a diaphragm and a voice coil driving the diaphragm. The magnetic circuit includes a main magnet positioned on a center of the lower plate, a pair of auxiliary magnets positioned spaced from the main magnet for forming a magnetic gap, a pole plate attaching to a top surface of the main magnet, and an upper plate. The upper plate includes a pair of main segments attached to top surfaces of the auxiliary magnets, and a pair of connecting beams connecting with the main segments and located between the two auxiliary magnets. The magnets are prevent from being attracted to each other by virtue of the upper plate. |
| US09277317B2 |
Tunable inductive device for parametric audio systems and related methods
An apparatus and method for optimizing a parametric emitter system having a pot core inductive device coupled between an amplifier and emitter. The pot core inductive device allows for adjustments of the air gap formed between the two halves of the pot core structure to adjust its inductive value. This post-manufacture adjustability allows for corrections of differences caused by operations of other components in the audio system and to account for slight differences in the electrical circuit of different amplifier/emitter combinations. As efficiency of the system is dependent on the functional relationship between the amplifier, inductive device, and emitter, this allows for fine tuning of the signal to obtain high quality. |
| US09277316B2 |
Sound processing device and sound processing method
A sound processing apparatus which can improve precision of analyzes on ambient sounds, carries out analysis on the ambient sounds based upon collected sound signals acquired by two sound collectors. The sound processing apparatus is provided with a level signal converter that converts the collected sound signal into a level signal, which indicates an absolute value of the collected sound signal from which phase information is removed. A level signal synthesizer generates a synthesized level signal in which the level signals acquired from the collected sound signals of the two sound collectors are synthesized, and a detector/identifier carries out analysis on the ambient sounds, based upon the synthesized level signal. |
| US09277312B2 |
Electronic device with bone conduction vibrator
An electronic device includes: a main body; a screen panel disposed on a surface of the main body and configured to display an image; a frame-shaped cover panel disposed on the surface of the main body to cover an outer periphery of the screen panel; a bone conduction vibrator incorporated in the main body and attached to a rear surface of the screen panel, and an adhesive layer fixedly attaching the cover panel at a rear surface thereof to an outer peripheral portion of the surface of the screen panel. The adhesive layer extends along the outer peripheral portion of the surface of the screen panel and has a missing portion in which an area to be located in the vicinity of the bone conduction vibrator is missing. The missing portion-provides a gap between the surface of the screen panel and the rear surface of the cover panel. |
| US09277310B1 |
Audio playback system
An audio playback system for an audio signal generated by an audio output device includes a generally U-shaped headphone arrangement having two opposing ends each terminating with an audio transducer. A top enclosure of the headphone arrangement includes a remote control holder, a personal attachment holder, and a headphone circuit. A remote control is adapted for selective engagement with the remote control holder of the headphone arrangement and is fixable to a personal attachment and worn by the user. Control signals are transmitted to the headphone arrangement by the remote control in response to the person interacting with the remote control. The headphone circuit alters the audio output of the headphone circuit in accordance thereto. The headphone circuit receives the audio signal directly from the audio output device, the network, or indirectly from the remote control. The remote control is also adapted for controlling the audio output device and network. |
| US09277309B2 |
Detachable wireless listening device
Broadly speaking, the embodiments described herein relate to a media apparatus that can be used in conjunction with a host device to provide an end user a pleasurable listening experience especially during periods of physical activity. In the described embodiments, the host device can take the form of a portable media player. In particular, the media apparatus can include a listening device. |
| US09277305B2 |
Suspension for a sound transducer
An object of the present invention is to provide a suspension for a sound transducer which has a central portion serving as a center diaphragm and which has a cover layer and a copper pattern partially removed to prevent a decrease in sound pressure from being caused by an increase in weight of a vibration system. According to the present invention, there is provided a suspension for a sound transducer which includes a central portion, a peripheral portion, and a support portion for connecting the central portion to the peripheral portion, the suspension comprising: a base film, a conductive film attached on the base film by means of an adhesive, and a cover layer attached on the conductive film by an adhesive, wherein at least part of the cover layer disposed on the central portion is removed. |
| US09277301B2 |
Optical unit and optical device
A signal processing element that modulates beam from an input/output unit, an optical substrate mounting the signal processing element, and a temperature controller that controls a temperature of the signal processing element are included, the signal processing element includes an incidence surface on which the beam is incident, a modulation layer that modulates the beam from the incidence surface, and a driving substrate for controlling the modulation of the beam arranged on the opposite side of the incidence surface, the temperature controller is arranged opposite the driving substrate, the incidence surface is connected to the optical substrate by a first connection portion, the driving substrate is connected to the temperature controller by a second connection portion, and an area on the temperature controller side of the second connection portion is more greatly deformed than that on the driving substrate side according to change in volume of the temperature controller. |
| US09277299B2 |
Line switching device
A line switching device includes multiple input ports to which signals are input and that include first input ports and second input ports different from the first input ports; multiple output ports that include given output ports; a branch unit that branches first signals input from the first input ports; and a switch that selectively outputs, among second signals input from the second input ports and branched signals branched from the first signals by the branch unit, signals that are to be switched to an output port among the given ports. |
| US09277288B2 |
Systems and methods to attenuate intermodulation interference
The present invention is directed to systems and method for attenuating intermodulation interference. In particular, methods and systems to attenuate intermodulation interference contained within an aggregate signal having a transmitted signal that was transmitted over a communications channel having channel effects that produce the intermodulation interference are provided. The communications channel may be a cable television distribution network and the signal may be a cable television signal. A method is provided to predict when intermodulation interference will be large, so that actions within a receiver can be taken to reduce the impact of the interference and improve overall receiver performance. |
| US09277285B2 |
Broadcasting method and system with variable audio/video program menu
A broadcasting system for AV program selection comprising a network, an AV signal providing system, a user device and a digital AV signal processing device is proposed. The network, the AV signal providing system, the user device and the digital AV signal processing device are in communication with each other via the network. A broadcasting method is applied to the AV signal providing system. The broadcasting method comprises steps of: providing a plurality of AV programs for selection; and transmitting an AV signal corresponding to a selected one of the plurality of AV programs to the digital AV signal processing device in response to a user's selecting operation on an AV program menu revealed by way of the digital AV signal processing device, wherein the AV program menu contains information of only partial the plurality of AV programs, and is created by way of the user device. |
| US09277280B2 |
Method for controlling digital film play-count and a system thereof
The invention discloses a method for controlling digital film play-count and a system thereof, wherein a play-count parameter is added into a KDM file where a key delivery message used for controlling film play is embedded, detecting the play-count parameter for a playing film, setting RSA key abstracts of an FDM packager of all authorized contracting film producers, safely importing the KDM and play-count into a security module, detecting the play-count parameter for a playing film. The film is not permitted to play unless existing play-count is less than the authorized play-count in the FDM. The invention fulfills the requirements and demands for controlling the distribution and playback of digital films in the second-tier market using technologies such as the authorized play-count and a method to charge on the basis of play-count. |
| US09277278B2 |
Systems and methods for enhancing audience measurement data
The present disclosure provides systems and methods for enhancing audience measurement data. Offline and online audience measurement data may be compared and correlated to improve the quality of each data and source set. Positive correlations between the offline and online data sets related to a particular event may indicate demographic traits that are likely true, such that outliers may be removed from the set or considered at a reduced weight. Negative correlations may indicate that demographic information within a source set, such as the online measurement data, may be false or suspect. |
| US09277267B2 |
Content output system, information display apparatus, content output apparatus, and content information display method
A content output system includes a content output apparatus; and an information display apparatus, the content output apparatus and the information display apparatus being capable of communicating with each other. The content output apparatus includes a selection section configured to select, in response to a selection instruction, one piece of content from among a plurality of pieces of content that can be output, as content composed of a video signal and/or an audio signal; and an output section configured to output the content selected by the selection section. The information display apparatus includes a display section; and a control section configured to allow the display section to display, as content information display, information on the plurality of pieces of content that can be output from the content output apparatus in a state in which content that is output from the output section of the content output apparatus is displayed so as to be distinguished from remaining pieces of content that can be output. |
| US09277262B2 |
Content orchestration for assembly of customized content streams
There is provided a content orchestration system and a method for use by the content orchestration system to enable assembly of one or more customized content streams. In one implementation, such a content orchestration system includes a computing platform having a processor, and a content orchestration engine for execution by the processor. The content orchestration engine is configured to receive data describing multiple content sources capable of providing content for use in assembling a customized content stream. The content orchestration engine is also configured to identify customization guidelines corresponding to a destination of the customized content stream, and to determine instructions for assembling the customized content stream based on the data and the customization guidelines. |
| US09277261B2 |
Information processing apparatus and control method thereof
An information processing apparatus which communicates with an image capturing apparatus and reproduces video data obtained by the image capturing apparatus, comprises a unit which requests a segment list in which information of segments of video data is written; a unit which acquires the requested segment list; a unit which decides which segment, from the segments in the acquired segment list to request; a unit which requests the decided segment from the image capturing apparatus; and a unit which acquires the requested segment, in the case where a number of segments in the acquired segment list is greater than a first threshold, a predetermined segment from the segments in the segment list is requested and the predetermined segment is neither the latest segment nor the earliest segment in the segment list. |
| US09277260B2 |
Media convergence platform
Device capabilities, media rights, and content are managed using a convergence platform to allow seamless consumption of content across disparate devices. Media content can be paused on one device having a particular set of capabilities and rights and resumed on a different device having another set of capabilities and rights. A user can play media on a mobile device, continue playing the media on a desktop computer, and subsequently move to a large screen television and capabilities and rights are automatically identified to seamlessly provide the most appropriate authorized content. Personalized media content information can be provided based on maintained information for user playback stoppage events and the user can resume playback of any number of media streams. |
| US09277255B1 |
Metering of internet protocol video streams
A processor-implemented method meters IP video streams. The processor implements a meter. The method includes detecting, by the processor, a video watch page; harvesting, by the processor, data from the video watch page; storing, by the processor, the harvested data as current page data; detecting, by the processor, a video play button operation indicating a video playing; and inferring, by the processor, the video playing correlates to a video referenced in the current page data. |
| US09277254B2 |
Transport stream multiplexers and methods for providing packets on a transport stream
Examples described include transport stream multiplexers that may not need to search for an appropriate source to use to generate a transport stream packet. Instead, the source to use may be indicated by a position (e.g. an entry) in a memory table, e.g. a metadata array. Methods for placing transport stream packets on a transport stream and initializing the metadata array are also described. |
| US09277251B2 |
Geographically independent determination of segment boundaries within a video stream
A method for creating an announcement stream for a geographic region is provided. The method receives, at a designated computer system, characterizing metadata for a first audio/video stream; analyzes a second audio/video stream to obtain characterizing metadata for the second video stream; compares, with the computer system, the characterizing metadata for the first video stream to the characterizing metadata for the second video stream to generate offset data; and calculates timing information corresponding to segment boundaries for the second video stream using the offset data. |
| US09277250B2 |
Network based video analytics through an application program interface (API) with metric triggered notifications
A video surveillance system ingests a video stream from a remotely located video capture device. An application programming interface (API) provides an interface for functions to interface between the video surveillance system and the remotely located video capture device. An analytics engine of the video surveillance system receives video sent through the API. The analytics engine compares an extracted metric from the video stream against at least one previously established value as part of assessing a previously established condition to generate either a TRUE or a FALSE result. When and only when a TRUE result is generated, is a notification action performed that conveys a notification over a network using internet protocol communications to a previously designated user. |
| US09277249B2 |
Method and system for providing on-demand and pay-per-view content through a hospitality system
A method and system for providing content to a receiving device from a local headend is set forth. The local headend communicates channel data for content stored at a video server to a receiving device, receives a selection of the channel data to form selected content from the receiving device and communicates content corresponding to the selection to the receiving device. The local headend stores a purchase record corresponding to the selection at the local headend, associates the purchase record with the receiving device within the local headend and communicates a request for a callback from the local headend to the receiving device. The receiving device communicates a callback signal from the receiving device to an external headend comprising purchase data corresponding to the purchase record. |
| US09277242B2 |
Parameter update method for entropy coding and decoding of conversion coefficient level, and entropy coding device and entropy decoding device of conversion coefficient level using same
Methods and apparatuses for decoding and encoding video are provided. A method includes obtaining bit strings corresponding to current transformation coefficient level information by arithmetic decoding a bitstream based on a context model that indicates a probability as to whether a bit from a bit string is a one or a zero, updating or maintaining a previous binarization parameter based on a comparison of a predetermined value and a size of a previous transformation coefficient, obtaining the current transformation coefficient level information by performing de-binarization of the bit strings using the determined current binarization parameter, and generating a size of a current transformation coefficient using the current transformation coefficient level information. |
| US09277241B2 |
Context reduction for context adaptive binary arithmetic coding
A reduction in the number of binarizations and/or contexts used in context adaptive binary arithmetic coding (CABAC) for video coding is proposed. In particular, this disclosure proposes techniques that may lower the number contexts used in CABAC by up to 56. |
| US09277237B2 |
User interface remoting through video encoding techniques
Methods, techniques, and systems for user interface remoting using video streaming techniques are provided. Example embodiments provide User Interface Remoting and Optimization System (“UIROS”), which enables the efficient remoting of pixel-oriented user interfaces on behalf of their guests using generic video streaming techniques, such as H.264, to send compressed user interface image information in the form of video frame encoded bitstreams. In one embodiment, the UIROS comprises server side support including a UI remoting server, a video encoder, and rendering support and client side support including a UI remoting client, a video decoder, and a display. These components cooperate to implement optimized UI remoting that is bandwidth efficient, low latency and CPU efficient. |
| US09277235B2 |
Image processing apparatus and method
The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus and method that can improve encoding efficiency while preventing an increase in load.An extraction circuit 71 of a filtering prediction circuit 64 extracts motion compensation images for generating a prediction image in a high-resolution enhancement layer from reference frames in a low-resolution base layer. A filtering circuit 72 of the filtering prediction circuit 64 performs filtering, which involves upconversion and which uses analysis in the time direction, on a plurality of motion compensation images in the base layer extracted by the extraction circuit 71 to generate a prediction image in the enhancement layer. The present invention can be applied to, for example, an encoding apparatus and a decoding apparatus. |
| US09277233B1 |
Parameter update method for entropy coding and decoding of conversion coefficient level, and entropy coding device and entropy decoding device of conversion coefficient level using same
Methods and apparatuses for decoding and encoding video are provided. A decoding apparatus includes a parser, a parameter determiner, and a syntax element restorer for obtaining current transformation coefficient level information by performing de-binarization of bit strings using a current binarization parameter, and generating a size of a current transformation coefficient using the current transformation coefficient level information. |
| US09277226B2 |
Image decoding device and method thereof using inter-coded predictive encoding code
An image encoding device and corresponding decoding device are disclosed for achieving a high rate of compression. The encoding device includes an image conversion module that converts the direction of the images using right-left symmetry mode convention or up-down symmetry mode conversion. Encoding modules are used to encode both the unconverted and converted images. A mode selector module compares the quantity of codes in the encoded unconverted images and the quantity of codes in the encoded converted images, and selects codes that are smaller in the quantity of codes for output. |
| US09277224B2 |
Method and apparatus for encoding video, and method and apparatus for decoding video
Disclosed are method and apparatus for encoding and decoding an image which divides a current picture into blocks with various sizes and varies a number of intra prediction modes according to the sizes of the divided blocks. |
| US09277219B2 |
Encoder and decoder and methods thereof for encoding/decoding a picture of a video sequence
An object of the embodiments is to achieve an improved reference picture handling. That is achieved by taking into account whether the reference pictures in the decoded picture buffer are long-term reference pictures or short-term reference pictures when determining how they should be marked when the information of the reference picture set is received. The reference pictures are marked as “used for short-term reference” or “used for long-term reference” in the Decoded Picture Buffer (DPB) depending on whether they are included as short-term pictures or long-term pictures in the RPS of a current picture. |
| US09277216B2 |
Systems and methods for wavelet and channel-based high definition video encoding
A wavelet transform (WT) is applied to a data stream of high definition video frames, each comprising one or more data channels digitally representing the same image. A WT is applied to each channel. Visual-quality preserving data filters and data substitution techniques are selectively applied that typically lead to at least 90-to-1 compression of the final encoded video frame. Image edge data is extracted and preserved and image noise is reduced to enhance compressibility. After the first WT, primarily low frequency (LL) image data is retained. With each later WT, more non-LL data is retained. Temporal sequences of LL images that result from the final iteration of the wavelet transform are compressed by means of a chain of invertible differenced images. Any color space can be used. Cross-channel conditional substitution is applicable. Complete multi-resolution scalability is incorporated into the encoded product. Extra-high definition video encoding is also achievable. |
| US09277207B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and program for generating multi-view point image
There is provided an image processing apparatus including a left eye image input unit configured to input a left eye image (L image) which is a left eye image signal applied to three-dimensional image display, a right eye image input unit configured to input a right eye image (R image) which is a right eye image signal applied to three-dimensional image display, a parallax information generating unit configured to generate parallax information from the left eye image (L image) and the right eye image (R image), and a virtual view point image generating unit configured to receive the left eye image (L image), the right eye image (R image), and the parallax information, and generate virtual view point images including a view point image other than view points of the received LR images. |
| US09277204B2 |
Modular LADAR sensor
A lightweight, low volume, inexpensive LADAR sensor incorporating 3-D focal plane arrays is adapted specifically for modular manufacture and rapid field configurability and provisioning. The present invention generates, at high speed, 3-D image maps and object data at short to medium ranges. The techniques and structures described may be used to extend the range of long range systems as well, though the focus is on compact, short to medium range ladar sensors suitable for use in multi-sensor television production systems and 3-D graphics capture and moviemaking. 3-D focal plane arrays are used in a variety of physical configurations to provide useful new capabilities. |
| US09277203B2 |
Stereoscopic camera, system and network
The present invention provides a new and improved stereoscopic camera, system and network of such for acquiring stereoscopic image data and, in particular, stereoscopic images of a location or points and objects within a location. Some of the benefits of these include simultaneous left/right view acquisition, a system where the display is remote from the stereoscopic camera, stereoscopic digital zoom wherein a subset of pixels is displayed, pan-tilt-zoom choice of the displayed image, interactive adjustment of images, and a network of stereoscopic cameras with a common image processing unit. The invention is capable of producing high resolution, real-time stereoscopic image data while avoiding or mitigating the deleterious effects of spurious parallax. |
| US09277202B2 |
Image processing device, image processing method, image display apparatus, and image display method
A motion vector detecting unit 12 detects a motion vector V1 of an input image X(n), and an interpolating vector generating unit 13 generates an interpolating vector V2 in accordance with the motion vector V1. In a two-dimensional display mode, the input image X(n) is output as an original image, and an image generating unit 16 generates an interpolated image X(n+0.5) in accordance with the interpolating vector V2. In a three-dimensional display mode, the input image X(n) is output as a left-eye image L(n), and the image generating unit 16 generates a right-eye image R(n+0.5) in accordance with a sum of the interpolating vector V2 and a parallax vector V3 input from the outside. The image generating unit is shared in a frame rate conversion process and a three-dimensional conversion process, and the right-eye image is generated at the same location as the interpolated image in time axis. In this way, image quality is increased when a moving image is displayed with a small amount of circuit. |
| US09277188B2 |
Method for initiating a consumable-based cycle of operation
A method of initiating a cycle of operation based on a consumable includes providing a consumable reader having a software architecture configured to image data, communicate over a network, and identify functionalities of appliances based on a unique identifier associated with each instance of a functionality, imaging data about the consumable using the consumable reader; retrieving cycle data associated with the consumable based on the imaged data; ascertaining in the software architecture at least one functionality associated with the cycle data; selecting from the plurality of appliances an appliance having the at least one functionality using the unique identifier associated with an instance of the at least one functionality; and communicating the cycle data to the selected appliance over the network of appliances wherein the selected appliance can conduct a cycle of operation associated with the consumable using the cycle data. |
| US09277185B2 |
Intelligent video verification of point of sale (POS) transactions
A method of monitoring a point of sale (POS) transaction including: receiving non video data regarding the POS transaction; defining exceptional transaction rules based at least on predetermined non video POS data events; inferring a potentially exceptional transaction based on a corresponding exceptional transaction rule and the received POS non video data; and verifying the inferred potentially exceptional transaction with video data regarding a corresponding POS transaction. |
| US09277182B2 |
Method and system for interrupting inserted material in a content signal
A system and method includes an automation system generating a modified content signal from a content signal by inserting insertion material into the content signal during a break and a monitoring system monitoring the content signal. The automation system controls the automation system to return to the content signal in response to monitoring the content signal when the break ends on the content signal before an end of the insertion material. |
| US09277176B2 |
Offloading a video portion of a video call
A method for offloading a video portion of a video call form a cellular network to a WLAN is provided. The method can include a wireless communication device participating in a video call with a remote device over a connection between the wireless communication device and a cellular network. The video call can include a first video stream carried over a first bearer on the cellular network and an audio stream carried over a second bearer on the cellular network. The method can further include the wireless communication device establishing a connection between the wireless communication device and a WLAN; performing a call setup procedure with the remote device to establish a second video stream over the WLAN; terminating the first video stream; and using the second video stream and the audio stream to continue the video call. |
| US09277174B2 |
Information processing apparatus, information processing method and information processing program
In a video communication performed by using an imaging unit and a video display device, a communication terminal acquires a video captured by the imaging unit, stores at least a part of the acquired video in a storing unit, and determines a video of a predetermined interval after a start of the video communication being currently in progress from the stored video, as a replacement video. Then, the communication terminal is triggered when a predetermined start condition is satisfied during the output of the video captured by the imaging unit, and outputs the replacement video instead of the video. |
| US09277166B2 |
Map your movie
A method of displaying an interactive geographical representation associated with a video content item is described. The method includes: playing the video content item, wherein the video content item includes at least one scene; requesting relevant metadata associated with the at least one video scene, the relevant metadata including a geographical representation and geolocation metadata associated with the at least video scene; receiving the relevant metadata; and displaying an interactive geographical representation along with at least one visual indication, wherein the at least one visual indication is associated with the at least one video scene and positioned at a location indicated by the geolocation metadata. Related systems, apparatus and methods are also described. |
| US09277165B2 |
Video surveillance system and method using IP-based networks
A technique capable of preventing an increase in the load of a system and a IP-based network that perform both a process of transmitting information in real time and a process of storing and searching history information and of improving the scalability of the system. A video surveillance system includes: plural cameras that capture images; a monitoring apparatus that displays the images captured by the cameras; an information generating apparatus that generates information for searching the images captured by the cameras; and a search apparatus that searches the images captured by the cameras. The information generating apparatus acquires the images captured by the cameras, generates retrieval data from the acquired images, and transmits the generated retrieval data to the search apparatus. The search apparatus stores the retrieval data received from the information generating apparatus in a storage device, and notifies the monitoring apparatus that the retrieval data has been stored. |
| US09277159B2 |
Display apparatus, and remote control apparatus for controlling the same and controlling methods thereof
A display apparatus and a display method are provided. The display apparatus includes: a receiver configured to receive a plurality of contents; a signal processor configured to obtain image frames by processing the received plurality of contents; a display configured to output a plurality of content views including a first content view and a second content view by sequentially outputting the obtained image frames; a remote control signal receiver configured to receive a control command from a remote control apparatus; and a controller configured to, when the received control command is to control the first content view, determine whether the received control command is a control command that has an influence on the second content view. |
| US09277156B2 |
Universal parallel television remote control
A portable control unit that interacts with a variety of types of media equipment. The control unit searches for media equipment (including media players) located within an area and retrieves user interaction information corresponding to discovered media players. The control unit can be instructed to control any of the discovered media players. The control unit uses the retrieved user interaction information to adapt. The control unit may periodically, or when relocated, look for new media players in its neighborhood. The control unit interacts with multiple multimedia sources that supply video and/or audio to the media players. The control unit may have a screen on which it displays a video in addition to controlling selection and presentation of a video and/or an audio in any one of the discovered media players. The control unit maintains an updateable media guide that provides a list of multimedia elements available for viewing and/or listening. |
| US09277153B2 |
Image pickup device and image pickup display system
Provided is an image pickup device that includes: pixels each including a photoelectric conversion element and one or more switching elements; control lines provided to perform open/close control of at least one first switching element; a buffer circuit provided for each control line, and configured to output a voltage to each control line; second switching elements each provided between corresponding one of the control lines and a power source of the corresponding buffer circuit; and a switch control circuit that is, upon image pickup driving, configured to control one of the second switching elements, provided between a defect holding line that includes an electrically short-circuited part in the plurality of control lines and the power source of the buffer circuit of the defect holding line, to be in an open state, and configured to control another one of the second switching elements to be in a closed state. |
| US09277152B2 |
Photographing optical lens assembly, image capturing unit and mobile device
A photographing optical lens assembly includes, in order from object side to image side, a first lens element, a second lens element, a third lens element, a fourth lens element, a fifth lens element and a sixth lens element. The first lens element with positive refractive power has object-side surface being convex in a paraxial region thereof. The second lens element has positive refractive power. The third and fourth lens elements have refractive power. The fifth lens element with negative refractive power has an image-side surface being concave in a paraxial region thereof. An object-side surface and the image-side surface of the fifth lens element are aspheric. The sixth lens element with refractive power has an image-side surface being concave in a paraxial region thereof. When specific conditions are satisfied, it is easier to miniaturize the photographing optical lens assembly and achieve better image quality in a limited space. |
| US09277150B2 |
Image pickup apparatus and camera system capable of improving calculation accuracy of defocus amount
An image pickup apparatus includes an image pickup element that includes imaging pixels and focus detection pixels and that performs a photoelectric conversion of an object image, a readout unit that reads a pair of image signals from the focus detection pixels with a predetermined period, a storage unit that stores the pair of image signals read by the readout unit and optical information of the pair of image signals, an addition unit that adds a plurality of signals of time-series continuous frames of the pair of image signals, and a conversion coefficient determination unit that determines a conversion coefficient that converts an image shift amount of a pair of image signals of an addition frame obtained by the addition unit into a defocus amount, and the conversion coefficient determination unit determines the conversion coefficient of the addition frame based on the time-series continuous optical information. |
| US09277148B2 |
Maximizing perceptual quality and naturalness of captured images
A method, system and computer program product for improving the perceptual quality and naturalness of an image captured by an image acquisition device (e.g., digital camera). Statistical features of a scene being imaged by the image acquisition device are derived from models of natural images. These statistical features are measured and mapped onto the control parameters (e.g., exposure, ISO) of the digital acquisition device. By mapping these statistical features onto the control parameters, the perceptual quality and naturalness of the scene being imaged may be based on the values of these control parameters. As a result, these control parameters are modified to maximize the perceptual quality and naturalness of the scene being imaged. After modification of these control parameters, the image is captured by the image acquisition device. In this manner, the perceptual quality and naturalness of the image captured by the image acquisition device is improved. |
| US09277141B2 |
System, method, and software for image processing
According to certain embodiments, an image processing system includes a computing system that receives a video signal including data for one or more images and determines a region of interest in a particular image of the one or more images. Using the determined region of interest, the computing system instructs the camera to generate a peripheral region of one or more subsequent images having a reduced information intensity level relative to the information intensity level with which the region of interest of the one or more subsequent images are generated. The region of interest of the one or more subsequent images corresponds to the region of interest of the particular image. The peripheral region including portions of the image other than the region of interest. |
| US09277137B1 |
High frame rate interleaved imagers
Two or more imagers having associated frame rates are each configured with a global shutter having an exposure interval less than a frame interval. The exposure interval for a first imager is offset from the exposure interval of a second imager such that the first imager is exposed while the second imager is not exposed. When interleaved, an effective frame rate exceeds the individual frame rates provided by the individual imagers. This interleaved imaging system may be used to recover, at high frame rates, images that are projected from spatial light modulators. |
| US09277133B2 |
Imaging apparatus supporting different processing for different ocular states
An imaging apparatus includes an imaging unit, a first display unit, a second display unit, and a controller. The imaging unit is configured to obtain an image of an object. The first display unit is configured to be observed through an ocular lens. The second display unit includes a touchpanel. The controller is configured to cause the first display to display a live view which is based on the image obtained by the imaging unit and temporarily store the image in a first state. The controller is configured to cause the second display unit to display the image temporarily stored and obtain information concerning image processing based on an output from the touchpanel in a second state. |
| US09277116B2 |
Imaging device, display device, control method, and method for controlling area change
An imaging device includes an imaging unit that receives light coming from a subject and thus generates electronic image data; a display unit that displays an image corresponding to the image data; an angle-of-view setting unit that an angle of view to be changed for the image displayed by the display unit according to a first signal input from the outside; and a control unit that starts control of change to a predetermined angle of view set by the angle-of-view setting unit according to a second signal different from the first signal. |
| US09277110B2 |
Tracking device and tracking method for prohibiting a tracking operation when a tracked subject is obstructed
A tracking device includes an imaging part for repeatedly acquiring image data on a subject image, a tracking processing part for setting a tracking position based on first image data to perform tracking processing on a subject in the tracking position based on second image data, and a relative distance information calculating part for calculating relative distance information using (1) a determined information about a distance to the tracking position and (2) a determined information about a distance to a surrounding area around the tracking position. When the tracking processing part determines that another subject in the surrounding area is located at the closer range than the subject in the tracking position, the tracking processing part prohibits tracking processing. |
| US09277105B2 |
Self-leveling camera heads
In one embodiment, a self-leveling camera head may include an eccentric leveling weight assembly that is supported inside an outer housing for free rotation about an axis. The leveling weight assembly may be removably coupled to a separate camera module assembly supported inside the outer housing for rotation about the axis so that its images will be “upright,” i.e. earth normal. |
| US09277100B2 |
Method to control a color printer or color copier with the aid of additional printed positioning markings
In a method to control a printer or copier, a color measurement unit is provided for determining a measurement value of a print marking in a measurement region of color measurement unit. The print marking is printed on the printing substrate web. In addition a positioning marking is also printed on the printing substrate web in a predetermined position relative to the print marking in order to determine a relative position between the print marking and the measurement region of the color measurement unit. The positioning marking comprises at least two partial regions printed in different colors, the partial regions being formed such that a determined color value of the positioning marking changes given a movement of the measurement region of the color measurement unit transverse to a movement direction of the printing substrate web. A real color value is determined with the color measurement unit if the measurement region of the color measurement unit is arranged in a region of the positioning marking. A relative position between the print marking and the color measurement unit is determined depending on a real color value. The measurement value of the print marking is determined and the printer or copier is controlled depending on the measurement value of the print marking. |
| US09277095B2 |
Distribution evaluation apparatus and method, distribution determining apparatus and method, image processing apparatus and method, and computer readable medium
A distribution evaluation apparatus includes an evaluation value calculating unit that calculates weighted energy, as an evaluation value representing distribution of located objects x and y, by calculating a product resulting from multiplying weighting function values ω(x) and ω(y) and probability density function values φ(x) and φ(y) representing densities or sizes of the located objects x and y, by a mutual influence value determined by a function fr having as a variable a distance between the located objects x and y, and then by summing the resulting products with respect to all the located objects x and y into the weighted energy, and an evaluating unit that evaluates the distribution of the located objects in accordance with the evaluation value calculated by the evaluation value calculating unit. |
| US09277093B2 |
Method, apparatus, and computer product for managing image formation resources
Common portions of applications are extracted as common system service. A platform is formed by the common system service and a general purpose OS. A printer application, a copy application, and various applications are mounted on the platform. As a result, each software (application) corresponding to a printer, a copier, a facsimile device, and so on can be developed efficiently and the productivity of the apparatus as a whole can be improved. |
| US09277091B2 |
Embedding information in paper forms
This disclosure provides methods and systems of embedding and extracting information in a printed document. According to one exemplary embodiment, a method is provided wherein information is encoded by one or more partial or complete gaps in a line associated with a form, and the line gaps are patterned to provide N-bit codes. |
| US09277090B2 |
System and method of document reproduction
A document reproduction system includes an optical scanning device configured to output an electronic representation of a document comprising both machine printed and non-machine printed elements; and a computing device in communication with the optical scanning device. The computing device is configured to distinguish between the machine printed and non-machine printed elements in the electronic representation of the document. The computing device is configured to selectively print or store only the machine or non-machine printed elements based on user input. A method of document reproduction includes scanning a document having both printed and non-printed content to produce an electronic image; and automatically distinguishing between the printed and non-printed elements in the electronic image of the document. |
| US09277089B2 |
Method to control image processing apparatus, image processing apparatus, and image file
A method to control an image processing apparatus includes obtaining linkage information representing a relation between a plurality of image files and recording the linkage information as metadata in each of the plurality of image files. This method ensures that a large number of image files are more easily and conveniently classified since linkage information representing relations between a plurality of image files is recorded as metadata in each of the plurality of image files. |
| US09277088B2 |
Information processing apparatus, control method for the same and computer-readable medium
An information processing apparatus for searching, from a plurality of photo book templates, for a photo book template to lay out a plurality of images therein, comprises: a unit configured to compare position information defined for each of a plurality of image frames included in the photo book templates with position information of each of the plurality of images, and to lay out, in an image frame among the plurality of image frames, an image among the plurality of images that matches the position information defined for the image frame; and a unit configured to search for a photo book template to lay out the plurality of images therein based on the number of images laid out by the layout unit and a layout of the thus laid-out images. |
| US09277087B2 |
Systems and methods for routing a facsimile confirmation based on content
A method for routing a confirmation of receipt of a facsimile or portion thereof according to one embodiment of the present invention includes analyzing text of a facsimile; detecting at least one document feature of the facsimile based on the analysis; comparing one or more detected document features to a plurality of document features, each of the plurality of document features corresponding to one or more known document types; and routing the confirmation to one or more destinations based on at least one of the comparison and the analysis.Systems and computer program products are also presented. |
| US09277085B2 |
Information processing apparatus enabling transmission of file containing link information, control method therefor, and storage medium storing control program therefor
An information processing apparatus that is capable of accessing to a destination file even when a file including effective entity data and link information to the destination file is transmitted to an external apparatus. An obtaining unit obtains a destination file when a designated file to be transmitted contains link information to the destination file that is different from the designated file. An edition unit edits the link information contained in the designated file so as to become valid link information to the destination file even when the destination file obtained by the obtaining unit and the designated file will be transmitted to an external apparatus. A transmission unit transmits the designated file containing the link information edited by the edition unit and the destination file to the external apparatus. |
| US09277084B2 |
Data processing device, data processing system, and data processing method
A data processing device including a first reception unit configured to receive data and store the data in a first storage unit; a process control unit configured to acquire the stored data and sequentially execute process units with respect to the acquired data; a second storage unit configured to store data corresponding to an execution result obtained up to one of the process units, when the one of the process units is suspended; and a moving unit configured to move the data stored in the second storage unit to the first storage unit in response to receiving a request to process the data stored in the second storage unit. The process control unit executes the process units from and beyond the suspended one of the process units, with respect to the data that has been moved from the second storage unit to the first storage unit. |
| US09277081B2 |
Multi-functional device having scanner module and image scanning apparatus employing the scanner module
A multi-functional device comprising an image forming apparatus to form a printing image and a scanner module to scan an image. The scanner module includes an illuminator to illuminate a light to a document mount, a sensor unit to read an image information of an object placed on the document mount, and an imaging lens to focus the light reflected from the object onto the sensor unit. The illuminator includes a light source to emit light, a light guiding unit and changes a traveling path of the light emitted from the light source to illuminate the document mount, and a guide holder which comprises an installation part where the light guiding unit is installed, and a mounting part where the light source holder is mounted to provide the light source at least one side of the light guiding unit. |
| US09277079B2 |
Image forming apparatus and method for displaying application screen of image forming apparatus that ensures display of application screen on operation panel with different resolution
An image forming apparatus into which applications are installable includes an operation panel and a resolution comparing circuit. The operation panel has a display resolution. The resolution comparing circuit compares the display resolution with resolution of an application screen that an installed application displays. If the resolution comparing circuit determines that the display resolution is higher than the application screen resolution, the image forming apparatus displays the application screen as a screen provided with a frame. |
| US09277077B2 |
Image forming apparatus having power save function, control method thereof, and storage medium
An image forming apparatus, having an SSD as an auxiliary storage device, which is capable of preventing loss of data in the auxiliary storage device caused by lapse of a retention period in a power save state or a power off state. In a case where the auxiliary storage device is determined to be an SSD based on type information that is acquired when the image forming apparatus is activated, a predicted retention period is calculated, and is set in a part of the apparatus that operates in the power save state. The part of the apparatus that operates in the power save state causes the image forming apparatus to transit from the power save state to a normal state based on the set predicted retention period. |
| US09277056B2 |
Conference room audio/video cable interface device
A cable management hub for use in providing an interface between one or more pieces of audio-visual presentation equipment and a laptop. The cable management hub comprises a first portion that includes one or more cables that mate with respective cables from the laptop. The cable management hub further includes one or more buttons, each of which is configured to generate an electrical signal when pressed by a user that indicates a desire by the user to transfer control of the audio-visual presentation equipment from a previous user, if one exists, to the user that pressed the button. If no one had control, then the user that presses the button would gain control of the audio-visual equipment. The cable management hub further includes one or more illuminated indicators configured to illuminate in a manner indicative of a received status condition signal. |
| US09277054B2 |
Apparatus and method for integrating computer-telephony and search technology
Call center, automatic call distribution (ACD), with computer telephony integration (CTI) providing a search engine that is automatically fed with the calling line identifier (CLI) such that a search can be performed to find related documents, emails, URLs using private or public databases that may be accessed for free or only after having paid a subscription. The application also mentions that the system can be applied to outgoing calls in which case the dialed number is used for performing the search. |
| US09277052B2 |
Pre-call recording
A recording of a subject is covertly generated prior to, and subsequent to an operator answering the call. The recording of the subject prior to the operator answering the call involves recording the subject and/or enabling the operator to listen in on the subject prior to indicating to the subject that the operator is communicating on the line. The subject is connected and a ring tone is generated and played back to the subject while audio received from the subject on the connection is recorded or otherwise monitored. Playback of the ringtone leads the subject to believe a connection has not yet been established. The operator may listen to the audio transmitted by the subject without the subject knowing the operator is covertly ascertaining situational information. The operator may provide a selection or answer the call to begin bi-direction communication with the subject which causes the ring tone to cease playing and lead the subject to believe the connection has just been established. |
| US09277034B2 |
Spring unit and sliding mechanism
A spring unit including a zigzag spring 40A, 40B; a first sliding unit 20A including a first spring securing part 22 securing a first end of the spring, a first spring accommodating part 28A, 28B accommodating the spring; first slide guiding parts 25 on both sides of the first sliding unit; a second sliding unit 30A including a second spring securing part 32 securing a second end of the spring, a second spring accommodating part 36A, 36B accommodating the spring, second slide guiding parts 35 on both sides of the second sliding unit, wherein the first and second slide guiding parts 20A and 30A are engaged to mutually slide, and the spring 40A, 40B is held inside a space formed between the first and second spring accommodating parts 28A, 28B, 36A, and 36B while the first and second slide guiding parts 25 and 35 are engaged. |
| US09277033B2 |
Server for communicating with multi-mode devices using multi-mode applications
Multi-mode communication devices capable of multiple wireless and/or wired 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, the devices are configured to communicate in any available mode while for other activities (e.g. high bandwidth communications), they are restricted to certain mode(s). Component applications for execution by the devices can specify message delivery properties to indicate the mode(s) to be used. The network gateway comprises at least one communication subsystem for communicating with the multi-mode device in accordance with selectable modes of communication; a message processor for processing messages for sending to the multi-mode communication device; and a mode selector for selecting a mode for sending a particular message in response to delivery mode properties received from the multi-mode communication device. |
| US09277028B2 |
Synchronizing user relationship across computer systems implementing workspaces
Computer-implemented methods, computer software, and computer systems for synchronizing user relationship across computer systems implementing workspaces. A computer system that provides features accessible by users by executing a workspace is accessed. Features provided to the users by remaining computer systems depends on the relationships between the users. A triggering event that represents a change to the computer workspace—for example, addition or removal or a user in the workspace, addition or removal of content in the workspace—is detected. Features provided to a first user by the remaining computer systems is affected by the change. Changes in relationships between the first user and the remaining users responsive to the change are determined, and provided to one or more of the remaining computer systems as respective messages that include the changes in the relationships. |
| US09277026B2 |
Cache stickiness index for content delivery networking systems
Various embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a cache stickiness index for providing measurable metrics associated with caches of a content delivery networking system. In one embodiment, a method for generating a cache stickiness index, including a cluster stickiness index and a region stickiness index, is disclosed. In embodiments, the cluster stickiness index is generated by comparing cache keys shared among a plurality of front-end clusters. In embodiments, the region stickiness index is generated by comparing cache keys shared among a plurality of data centers. In one embodiment, a system comprising means for generating a stickiness index is disclosed. |
| US09277025B2 |
Distributed content caching
A content server farm in a host network may be configured to receive a message indicating that content is to be downloaded to a content consumer device in the host network different from a partner network. A first copy of the content is stored at an originating content provider device in the partner network. A path for downloading the first copy of the content from the originating content provider device in the partner network to the content consumer device in the host network includes peering points that connect the host network to the partner network. The content server farm may determine whether a second copy of the content is cached at the content server farm in the host network, acquire the content when the second copy of the content is not cached at the content server farm in the host network, cache the content as the second copy at one or more locations in the content server farm in the host network, and generate indices that correspond to the second copy of the content and the locations at which the second copy of the content is stored. |
| US09277024B2 |
Suppressing content of a social network
A method of suppressing content of a social network, the method comprising monitoring for a number of gestures of rejection of content on the social network from a number of users, generating suppression data based on the gestures of rejection, receiving input from a first user among the number of users indicating that the suppression data is to be leveraged, and suppressing content based on the suppression data. |
| US09277023B1 |
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. |
| US09277019B2 |
Systems and methods to provide communication references to connect people for real time communications
Methods and apparatuses to present communication references to connect people for real time communications in response to requests to terminate the presentation of documents. One embodiment includes: responsive to a request from a user to terminate a presentation of a document, determining a reference to an entity based on a content of the document; presenting the reference with information about the entity to terminate the presentation of the document; and responsive to a request made via the reference, establishing a connection for real time communications between the entity and the user. |
| US09277018B2 |
Mobile device detection of wireless beacons and automatic performance of actions
A mobile device may perform actions based on sensing a wireless beacons. The action to take, for a particular beacon, may be determined based on a query to a remote database or server. For example, in one implementation, a method may include detecting a wireless beacon that is in proximity to the mobile device; querying, based on the beacon identifier, a remote computing device for attribute information relating to the wireless beacon; and determining, based on the received attribute information, one or more actions to perform by the mobile device. |
| US09277014B2 |
Handling of auxiliary NAS
Various exemplary embodiments relate to a method and related network node including: receiving, at the network device, a traffic message including an IP address; identifying the traffic message as belonging to a new session; generating a request message based on identifying the traffic message as belonging to a new session, wherein the request message includes the IP address; transmitting the request message to a policy server; and receiving, from the policy server, a policy message including a policy. Various exemplary embodiments relate to a method and related network node including: receiving, at the policy server, a request message from a network device, the request message including a subscriber IP and a network device identifier; identifying a subscriber session associated with the IP address; recording the network device identifier in association with the subscriber session; retrieving a policy associated with the subscriber session; and transmitting the policy to the network device. |
| US09277011B2 |
Processing an unsuccessful write request in a dispersed storage network
A method begins by a first device of a dispersed storage network (DSN), when a number of successful write requests of a set of write requests is equal to or greater than a threshold number but less than all, identifying one or more unsuccessful write requests of the set of write requests. The method continues with first device sending the one or more unsuccessful write requests to an auxiliary writing unit of the DSN. The method continues with the auxiliary writing unit, for an unsuccessful write request, identifying a storage unit of the DSN to produce an identified storage unit, sending the unsuccessful write request to the identified storage unit, and verifying successful execution of the unsuccessful write request by the identified storage unit. |
| US09277006B2 |
Peer-to-peer communication of non-common data
In individualized data communication of a data entity (200) between peers of a group, the data entity (200) includes at least one common data piece (210) and at least one non-common data piece (220). The at least one common data piece (210) is shared by all peers of the group, whereas the at least one non-common data piece (220) is shared by a subgroup of the group. A non-common data identifier (600) is used to identify the at least one non-common data piece (220). By receiving the non-common data identifier (600), one peer of the group may determine whether another peer of the group is sharing the same non-common data piece (220). |
| US09277005B2 |
Optimized consistent request distribution for balanced load distribution in a content delivery network
Some embodiments provide a proprietary 64-bit consistent distribution scheme that preserves the efficiencies of CARP while providing a significantly more balanced distribution of requests that is on par with schemes reliant on computationally expensive cryptographic hashes. The scheme performs hashing of requested URLs and identifiers of available servers over a 64-bit space while optimizing the hashing to remove computationally expensive operations. Some embodiments provide a variant of the scheme to provide a differentiated distribution on the basis of one or more differentiating factors. A first variant utilizes load factor values to adjust the resulting hashes and to produce a first distribution of differentiated content that varies from a second distribution of undifferentiated content. A second variant identifies requests for differentiated content from requests for undifferentiated content and utilizes a first scheme to distribute the differentiated content and a second altered scheme to distribute the undifferentiated content. |
| US09277001B2 |
Determining location of hardware components in a cloud computing environment based on hardware components self-locating other hardware components
A method, system and computer program product for managing hardware components in a cloud computing environment. Each hardware component in a data center of the cloud computing environment detects and identifies other hardware components within a communication range of the hardware component using a wireless protocol. Furthermore, each hardware component determines its actual location as well as its relative location with respect to the detected hardware components, such as based on a triangulation of the wireless signals. Such information is transmitted to an administrative server. An inventory of the hardware components in the data center, including their current location, is then compiled by the administrative server. In this manner, a hardware component can be more easily located after being relocated in the data center. Furthermore, the administrative server will be able to balance a workload across these hardware components based on their location. |
| US09277000B2 |
Providing a user with virtual computing services
Systems and methods for providing a user with virtual computing services are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method for providing virtual computing services to a specific user, may comprising: detecting a request generated from a user device of the specific user to access data; in which the data is not accessible by applications installed on the user device; identifying a file type of the data; and providing the specific user access to a remote application or a virtual desktop, in which the remote application or the virtual desktop is configured to allow the specific user to open, execute, edit, and/or access the data. |
| US09276999B2 |
System and method for providing a service
According to one example of the present invention, there is provided a system for providing a service. The service is accessible from a client application and is provided through a service application using a set of service provider resources. The system comprises a mapping module for generating mapping data, the mapping data being generated in part from an enterprise architecture definition, in part from a vocabulary definition; and in part from a client context definition. The system additionally comprises a communication module for receiving a communication request, transforming the communication request using the generated mapping data, and processing the transformed communication request. |
| US09276991B2 |
Method and apparatus for providing a dynamic tool menu based upon a document
A method, non-transitory computer readable medium, and apparatus for providing a tool menu based upon a document displayed on an endpoint device are disclosed. For example, the method opens the document requested by a user in the endpoint device, detects one or more portions of the document that require data entry, determines a type of data entry that is required for the one or more portions of the document that are detected to require data entry, detects one or more configuration settings of the endpoint device and displays one or more tools selected from a plurality of tools on the tool menu based upon the type of data entry that is required for the one or more portions of the document and the one or more configuration settings of the endpoint device. |
| US09276984B2 |
Distributed on-demand media transcoding system and method
A method for delivering media content over a network includes transcoding the media content to generate multiple copies of the media content, each of the multiple copies having a different destination type or a different source type or both, storing the multiple copies in a cache, receiving requests for the media content, and selecting and delivering a copy of one of the multiple copies in response to each of the requests. A further method for providing media content transcoding services includes fetching media content, selecting one of multiple transcoders for transcoding from multiple source types to multiple destination types, wherein the one transcoder is selected based at least on the destination type, sending the media content to the selected transcoder, transcoding the media content to the destination type, thereby generating transcoded media content, and transmitting the transcoded media content. |
| US09276983B2 |
Content delivery network video content invalidation through adaptive bitrate manifest manipulation
A method for invalidating content segments of a bitstream. The method comprises a step of delivering a manifest file from an origin server to a content delivery network. The manifest file may have a time-to-live value and may be redelivered based on the time-to-live value. The method comprises a step of delivering one or more content segments from the origin server to the content delivery network. The manifest file may contain pointers to the content segments. The method comprises a step of modifying the manifest file at the origin server to include invalidation information based on an input signal. The method comprises a step of invalidating the content segments throughout the content delivery network based on the invalidation information. |
| US09276979B2 |
System and methods for resilient media streaming
A computer implemented method of streaming media on a computing device is disclosed in which a streaming protocol adapter is provided on the computing device for streaming media to a local streaming client on the computing device with enhanced resiliency. The streaming adapter downloads one or more stream files that include the media file formatted for delivery according to a transfer protocol, and also include streaming template transactions for supporting communicating from the streaming adapter to the streaming client. The streaming client may be a standard real-time streaming protocol (RTSP) client, and the streaming adapter may be an RTSP adapter. |
| US09276975B2 |
Method and apparatus for monitoring quality of service of network
When capturing packets at the application level for the purpose of QoS monitoring, a QoS monitor needs to be bound to the same IP address and port as those of a media player. However, due to the unicast duplicate binding problem, a unicast packet captured by the QoS monitor will not be received by the media player, which means the QoS monitor have affected the operation of the media player. The present invention provides a solution to make the QoS monitor, upon the receipt of a unicast packet, forward the packet to the socket of the media player. In order to guarantee that the forwarded packet can be received by the socket of the media player, the QoS monitor needs to keep the port unchanged and replace the destination IP address with the local host address (127.0.0.1). According to the invention, the QoS monitor can sniff the media player without interference to the normal operation of the media player. |
| US09276974B2 |
Topical activity monitor and identity collector system and method
A method for identifying respective networked devices in a social communications network, which networked devices communicate messages relevant to an article. The messages may include posts, shares, likes, votes, ranks, and other comments. A server of the social communications network maintains a respective identity (e.g., user name or handle) for each connected networked device, respectively, of the social communications network. The server includes an API for requests. The method includes receiving a search item from a data communications network, collecting articles related to the search item from each of the at least one source of articles of the data communications network, storing in a database, for each respective one of the article from the step of collecting, a respective unique identifier representing the article, comparing the search item to each respective unique identifier, respectively, of the database, to determine similarity of the respective unique identifier to the search item, compiling a result set of each respective unique identifier determined similar to the search item in the step of comparing, communicatively detecting the share count of the messages of the social communications network related to the result set, deriving a score based collectively on all of the share counts from the step of communicatively detecting, the score represents topical activity of networked devices of the social communications network for the search item, calling the API of the server intermediating communications among the networked devices of the social communications network, receiving the identities of the networked devices of the social communications network; and storing the identities in a database in a storage. |
| US09276973B2 |
Peer-to-peer data storage
A determination is made of users that form a group within a social network in which the users communicate with each other over a network with electronic devices in a client-server architecture. The users in the group within the social network form a peer-to-peer (P2P) storage group within a P2P storage network. In the P2P storage network, users are peers that act as a client and a server for each other. |
| US09276972B2 |
Real-time media optimization over remoted sessions
Real-time media optimization may be provided. First, a remote session may be established with a remote computing device. Then, during the remote session, non-real-time media data may be exchanged with the remote computing device over a server path. Moreover, real-time media data may be exchanged with the remote computing device over a media path during the remote session. |
| US09276969B2 |
Method and system for providing a setup timer in a SIP-based network
A system and method for providing a setup timer in a SIP-based network including initiating a session by transmitting one or more messages to a first user. The system and method also comprises starting a first timer upon transmitting the one or more messages, wherein the first timer is configured to expire after a first predetermined time period. The system and method further comprises starting a second timer upon transmitting the one or more messages, wherein the second timer is configured to expire after a second predetermined time period. The system and method furthermore comprises transmitting one or more instructions upon expiration of at least one of the first timer and the second timer, and taking one or more actions based at least in part on the one or more instructions. |
| US09276968B2 |
Automatically configuring a web-enabled portable device to access the internet
Automatically configuring a portable electronic device for accessing a site on a public network is disclosed. The method and system include establishing a connection to at least one server for establishing and maintaining website accounts, and sending information uniquely identifying the electronic device to the at least one server. The at least one server sends user account information to the device, including an account ID and password, created based on the electronic device information. The user account information is stored on the device for use the next time the device accesses the website, whereby the user does not have to enter account information in order to establish the ISP connection or the website account before accessing the public network or, if the user account is not completely set up, to establish the user account a next time the device connects to the at least one server. |
| US09276967B2 |
System and method for determining optimal bandwidth for streaming to a client device in an adjustable bit rate video system
A system and method for selecting an initial bandwidth setting. A determination is made that a client is initiating a communication session. Network conditions for the client are determined. A bandwidth setting for the client is selected utilizing the network conditions and a previous bandwidth setting saved in a memory. The communication session for the client is initiated utilizing the bandwidth seating. |
| US09276957B2 |
Systems and methods for handling SSL session not reusable across multiple cores
The present invention is directed towards systems and methods for managing SSL session persistence and reuse in a multi-core system. A first core may indicate that an SSL session established by the first core is non-resumable. Responsive to the indication, the core may set an indicator at a location in memory accessible by each core of the multi-core system, the indicator indicating that the SSL session is non-resumable. A second core of the multi-core system may receive a request to reuse the SSL session. The request may include a session identifier of the SSL session. In addition, the session identifier may identify the first core as an establisher of the SSL session. The second core can identify from encoding of the session identifier whether the second core is not the establisher of the SSL session. Responsive to the identification, the second core may determine whether to resume the SSL session. |
| US09276955B1 |
Hardware-logic based flow collector for distributed denial of service (DDoS) attack mitigation
Methods and systems for an integrated solution to flow collection for determination of rate-based DoS attacks targeting ISP infrastructure are provided. According to one embodiment, a method of mitigating DDoS attacks is provided. Information regarding at least one destination within a network for which a distributed denial of service (DDoS) attack status is to be monitored is received by a DDoS attack detection module coupled with a flow controller via a bus. The DDoS attack status is determined for the at least one destination based on the information regarding the at least one destination. When a DDoS attack is detected the flow controller is notified of the DDoS attack status for the at least one destination by the DDoS attack detection module. Responsive thereto, the flow controller directs a route reflector to divert traffic destined for the at least one destination to a DDoS attack mitigation appliance within the network. |
| US09276953B2 |
Method and apparatus to detect and block unauthorized MAC address by virtual machine aware network switches
The disclosure relates to a method and apparatus for detecting and blocking unauthorized MAC addresses used by virtual machines. In one embodiment, the disclosure provides automated and consistent verification of VM traffic against values assigned to each VM by network administrator. In another embodiment, the disclosure provides for validating a newly discovered VM by comparing its attributes with the corresponding description of the known VMs stored at a database. A re-validation check may also be implemented. If the VM is validated, the VM will be processed according to network policy to support features including VMReady. If the VM fails validation, other actions can be taken. |
| US09276948B2 |
Method and apparatus for identifying a threatening network
A system and method for identifying a threatening network is provided. The system comprises a network movement before/after algorithm that provides a graphical plot of changes in networks' communications activity from before to after a key event occurs, so that an analyst is able to identify anomalous behavior; a network progression algorithm that provides a graphical plot to analyze behavior in small increments of time without specification or emphasis upon a particular event, so that the analyst is able to see a trend in behavioral changes; a statistical network anomaly ranking algorithm that provides as output a ranked list of the networks; and an anomaly trend graphs algorithm that analyzes and visualizes the networks' anomaly scores over time, so that the analyst is able to see which networks are consistently suspicious, which networks accumulate more suspiciousness in response to an event, and which networks are trending toward more suspiciousness. |
| US09276947B2 |
Identifying misuse of legitimate objects
A query is received from a client device regarding an object. The query includes an identifier of the object and a set of associated usage attributes describing a usage of the object on the client device. A set of usage facts associated with the identified object is identified. The set of usage facts describe typical usages of the object on a plurality of client devices. A determination is made whether the usage of the object on the client device is suspicious based on the set of usage facts associated with the object and the set of usage attributes included in the query. A report is provided to the client device based on the determination. |
| US09276946B2 |
Blacklisting and whitelisting of security-related events
A disclosed computer-implemented method includes receiving and indexing the raw data. Indexing includes dividing the raw data into time stamped searchable events that include information relating to computer or network security. Store the indexed data in an indexed data store and extract values from a field in the indexed data using a schema. Search the extracted field values for the security information. Determine a group of security events using the security information. Each security event includes a field value specified by a criteria. Present a graphical interface (GI) including a summary of the group of security events, other summaries of security events, and a remove element (associated with the summary). Receive input corresponding to an interaction of the remove element. Interacting with the remove element causes the summary to be removed from the GI. Update the GI to remove the summary from the GI. |
| US09276945B2 |
Method and system for providing security aware applications
Instructions for monitoring and detecting one or more trigger events in assets used to implement an application are generated. Instructions for implementing at least one responsive action associated with each of the one or more trigger events is generated. At least part of instructions for monitoring and detecting the one or more trigger events is provided to an asset used to implement the application. The at least part of the instructions for monitoring and detecting the one or more trigger events are used by the asset to detect a trigger event. The instructions for implementing the at least one responsive action associated with each of the one or more trigger events is then used to automatically implement the at least one responsive action associated with the detected trigger event. |
| US09276937B2 |
Determining eligibility to access downloadable content associated with physical media
In embodiments, apparatuses, methods and storage media are described that are associated with provisioning of downloadable content. In various embodiments, an image may be taken of physical media under control of a content consumer, such as a videodisc or CD (or of packaging associated with such physical media). A piece of downloadable content may be identified that is associated with the physical media. After determination of whether provisioning of the downloadable content is authorized, the downloadable content may then be provisioned to the content consumer. In various embodiments, streaming content may be similarly provisioned. Other embodiments may be described and claimed. |
| US09276923B1 |
Generating authentication challenges based on preferences of a user's contacts
Generating user authentication challenges based in part on preferences of one or more contacts of a user includes receiving an authentication request from a user. One or more contacts of the user associated with the authentication request are determined. One or more preferences of the close contact or contacts are determined. An authentication challenge based on the one or more preferences of one or more of the user's contacts is generated. The authentication request is allowed or denied based on the completion on the authentication challenge. |
| US09276922B2 |
Border property validation for named data networks
One embodiment provides a system for distributing packets within a trust domain. During operation, the system receives, by an ingress node in the trust domain, a message. The system creates a property vector for the message, where the property vector indicates a number of properties that have been determined for the message. The system generates a first authenticator for the message based on the property vector and a secret key shared by a plurality of nodes in the trust domain. The system transmits the message, the property vector, and the first authenticator to another node in the trust domain, thereby facilitating secure and efficient distribution of messages within the trust domain without requiring intermediate nodes to determine the properties indicated in the property vector. |
| US09276921B2 |
System and method for establishing a communication session
A server in a communications network establishes a communication channel between a user's device and another device having a display. Particularly, the server generates a Quick Response (QR) code utilizing one or more parameters, and sends it to a device for display to a user. Using his or her device, the user captures an image of the displayed QR code and extracts the parameters using an image analysis technique. The device then sends the extracted parameters back to the server, which then utilizes them to authenticate the user and establish the communications session. |
| US09276920B2 |
Tunneling using encryption
A scalable access filter that is used together with others like it in a virtual private network to control access by users at clients in the network to information resources provided by servers in the network. Each access filter uses a local copy of an access control data base to determine whether an access request is made by a user. Each user belongs to one or more user groups and each information resource belongs to one or more information sets. Access is permitted or denied according to access policies which define access in terms of the user groups and information sets. The first access filter in the path performs the access check, encrypts and authenticates the request; the other access filters in the path do not repeat the access check. The interface used by applications to determine whether a user has access to an entity is now an SQL entity. The policy server assembles the information needed for the response to the query from various information sources, including source external to the policy server. |
| US09276918B2 |
Computer-readable medium, information processing device, information processing method and information processing system
An example system causes a computer of an information processing device including a restriction unit for restricting use of functions and a handwritten input receiving unit to carry out functions of requesting an input of a handwritten signature, sending, to a server, a result of a handwritten input which has been input in response to the request of the signature input, and receiving the input of authorization information which has been issued by the server that has received the handwritten input result and which shows that the use of the functions is authorized, and moreover cancelling the restriction by the restriction unit when the input of the authorization information is received. |
| US09276915B2 |
Privacy system
The disclosure relates generally to mobile device applications, and more particularly, to a privacy system for a mobile device application. In one embodiment, a computer-implemented method of sending and receiving encrypted messages between users within an associated group of users is provided. The method includes: receiving a first message from a first user within the group of users, wherein the first message includes proprietary information; encrypting the first message into ciphertext; transforming the ciphertext into a second message, wherein the second message includes quotidian information; and sending the second message to a second user within the group of users. Once the second user receives the second message, the second user will assay the second message to be an encryption of an unknown first message. The second message is received from the second user, and is decrypted into the first message, which is displayed to the second user. |
| US09276914B2 |
Auto-user registration and unlocking of a computing device
A computing device provides an indication that the computing device accepts dynamic user registration of user accounts over a wireless connection. A wireless mobile device automatically connects to the computing device, establishes an encrypted connection, and receives, over the encrypted connection, and passes an encrypted account token over the encrypted connection to the computing device, all without physical interaction with the computing device. The computing device automatically contacts a remote account server to retrieve a user account associated with the account token and registers the user account with the device. |
| US09276911B2 |
Secure and scalable mapping of human sequencing reads on hybrid clouds
System and methods are provided for performing privacy-preserving, high-performance, and scalable DNA read mapping on hybrid clouds including a public cloud and a private cloud. The systems and methods offer strong privacy protection and have the capacity to process millions of reads and allocate most of the workload to the public cloud at a small overall cost. The systems and methods perform seeding on the public cloud using keyed hash values of individual sequencing reads' seeds and then extend matched seeds on the private cloud. The systems and methods are designed to move the workload of read mapping from the extension stage to the seeding stage, thereby ensuring that the dominant portion of the overhead is shouldered by the public cloud. |
| US09276909B2 |
Integrity protection and/or ciphering for UE registration with a wireless network
Techniques for performing registration with a wireless network using integrity protection and/or ciphering are described. A user equipment (UE) may perform a security procedure with the wireless network for a first session and may generate UE security context data at the UE. The UE security context data may include a cipher key used for ciphering, an integrity key used for integrity protection, a temporary UE identity, and/or other information. The UE may use the UE security context data for secure communication with the wireless network during the first session. The UE may store the UE security context data upon termination of the first session. The UE may thereafter use the stored UE security context data for registration with the wireless network for a second session following the first session. The UE may perform integrity protection and/or ciphering for message(s) for registration based on the stored UE security context data. |
| US09276907B1 |
Load balancing in a network with session information
Methods and systems for balancing load among firewall security devices (FSDs) are provided. According to one embodiment, session data, including session entries representing previously established traffic sessions from a particular source to a particular destination and forming an association between the previously established session and a particular FSD, is maintained for each port of a session-aware switching device. When a TCP SYN packet is received, the switching device: (i) reduces its vulnerability to a DoS attack by foregoing installation of a forward session entry for the forward traffic session within the session data until a processed TCP SYN/ACK packet associated with the corresponding reverse traffic session is received; (ii) selects an FSD to associate with the forward traffic session and a corresponding reverse traffic session by performing a load balancing function on the TCP SYN packet; and (iii) causes the TCP SYN packet to be processed by the selected FSD. |
| US09276891B2 |
Mobile communication device
The present invention aims at offering a mobile communication device allowing the user to identify the sender when the user selects or opens a mail in a mail list by outputting an image and music that have been registered to the address book. Accordingly, when a mail is selected in the mail list of the mail box 401, or when a mail is opened and the mail message is displayed, the received mail display control unit 140 searches a mail address of the sender of the received mail in the address book 301. If the image/music data ID information 303(?) that has been registered in association with the sender of the mail address is present in the address book 301, the received mail display control unit 140 reads image data or music data from the image/music information 302 of the information storage unit 100 based on the image-music data ID information 303. After the brightness of the image is raised so that the image has enhanced contrast, the image is displayed on the display unit 120 as a background image of a mail list or a mail message while the music is output by the audio processing unit 104. |
| US09276890B2 |
System and method for providing notifications on a mobile computing device
A system and method for providing notifications on a mobile computing device are disclosed. The method comprises enabling multiple applications that operate on the mobile computing device to generate notifications in response to event occurrences. A plurality of notification representations are presented in a notification bar on the display. The plurality of notification representations are individually generated by a corresponding application in response to an event occurrence. The plurality of notification representations are represented in a first portion of the notification bar and with a number that represents how many notification representations from an application have been generated and not dismissed by a user. |
| US09276884B2 |
Intelligent notification system and method
An intelligent notification system configured for receiving and processing any suitable input message, determining whether or not an output notification should be sent and for sending such output notifications with the appropriate information to the appropriate parties according to predetermined business rules. |
| US09276878B2 |
Method and system of centralized control and management for fiber channel over Ethernet networks
A method implemented in an FCoE controller and manager (FCM) coupled to a first fiber channel over Ethernet (FCoE) data forwarder (FDF), the method comprising sending to the first FDF a first Controlling FDF Information (CFI) request that requests the name of the first FDF, receiving from the first FDF a first CFI acceptance comprising the name of the first FDF, receiving from the first the second CFI acceptance associated with a second FDF, wherein the first CFI acceptance and the second CFI acceptance allow the FCM to develop topology information for a FCoE network comprising the FCM, the first FDF, and the second FDF, creating a first base forwarding table for the first FDF, and creating a second base forwarding table for the second FDF, wherein the second base forwarding table is different than the first base forwarding table. |
| US09276873B2 |
Time-based QoS scheduling of network traffic
Quality of service may be achieved in a network using time-bases queues that are associated with different maximum latency periods. A device may receive a request to allocate resources for a packet flow, the resources being allocated at a number of network devices. The device may select, in response to the request, a set of queues that includes a queue selected at each of the network devices, the selected queue, at each of the network devices, being associated with a maximum latency period. The device may transmit one or more messages, to the network devices, indicating that the selected set of queues are to be used for buffering of the packet flow during packet scheduling. |
| US09276872B2 |
Sharing IP network resources
A system and method for sharing access to an internet protocol (IP) network among multiple internet service providers (ISPs) uses multiprotocol label switching (MPLS). End-users are coupled to a broadband customer access network. Each end-user is also associated with at least one of the ISPs. An aggregation router interfaces the customer access network with a network backbone. The network backbone includes a border router for interfacing between the network backbone and the network of an ISP. When the border router is activated, it creates a forwarding equivalency class (FEC) corresponding to the ISP. The border router stores a label for the FEC and the interface for reaching the ISP in an FEC table. The border router advertises the label binding for the FEC to all upstream nodes. An intermediate node receiving the label binding creates its own FEC table, associates a new label with the FEC, and advertises the new label binding to its upstream nodes. The aggregation router receives and builds a FEC table containing the label bindings for all ISPs reachable over the network backbone. When the aggregation router receives a data packet from an end-user, the aggregation router determines the ISP associated with the end-user, labels the data packet with the label corresponding to the FEC for that ISP, and routes the packet on the network backbone. The packet eventually reaches the border router, which pops off the label and passes the packet to the ISP. |
| US09276868B2 |
Maintaining packet order in a parallel processing network device
A plurality of packets are received by a packet processing device, and the packets are distributed among two or more packet processing node elements for processing of the packets. The packets are assigned to respective packet classes, each class corresponding to a group of packets for which an order in which the packets were received is to be preserved. The packets are queued in respective queues corresponding to the assigned packet classes and according to an order in which the packets were received by the packet processing device. The packet processing node elements issue respective instructions indicative of processing actions to be performed with respect to the packets, and indications of at least some of the processing actions are stored. A processing action with respect to a packet is performed when the packet has reached a head of a queue corresponding to the class associated with the packet. |
| US09276867B2 |
Hierarchical scheduling system with layer bypass including updating scheduling information of a scheduling layer for each item whether or not it bypasses the scheduling layer
In one embodiment, a hierarchical scheduling system including multiple scheduling layers with layer bypass is used to schedule items (e.g., corresponding to packets). This scheduling of items performed in one embodiment includes: propagating first items through the hierarchical scheduling system and updating scheduling information in each of the plurality of scheduling layers based on said propagated first items as said propagated first items propagate through the plurality of scheduling layers, and bypassing one or more scheduling layers of the plurality of scheduling layers for scheduling bypassing items and updating scheduling information in each of said bypassed one or more scheduling layers based on said bypassing items. In one embodiment, this method is performed by a particular machine. In one embodiment, the operations of propagating first items through the hierarchical scheduling system and bypassing one or more scheduling layers are done in parallel. |
| US09276866B2 |
Tuning congestion notification for data center networks
A system, method or computer readable medium to provide efficient congestion notification is described herein. In various embodiments, a packet is received at an intermediate node of one or more data center networks. A current queue length at the intermediate node is determined. A threshold value for the current queue length is tuned by dynamically computing an upper bound and a lower bound based at least in part on the network. The packet is marked to indicate possible congestion in the one or more data center networks when the current queue length exceeds the threshold value. In some embodiments, the packet is marked when it is being de-queued. In a further embodiment, Flexible Initial Packet Size (FIPS) may be utilized to improve the efficiency of the tuning. |
| US09276864B1 |
Dynamic network traffic throttling
Information about the transmission of packets or other information can be inferred based at least in part upon the state of one or more queues used to transmit that information. In a networking example, a hook can be added to a free buffer API call from a queue of a NIC driver. When a packet is transmitted and a buffer freed, the hook can cause information for that packet to be transmitted to an appropriate location, such as a network traffic control component or control plane component, whereby that information can be compared with packet, source, and other such information to infer which packets have been transmitted, which packets are pending, and other such information. This information can be used for various purposes, such as to dynamically adjust the allocation of a resource (e.g., a NIC) to various sources based at least in part upon the monitored behavior. |
| US09276862B1 |
Telecommunications and network traffic control and rate deck synchronization system
A telecommunication and network traffic throttle and control and rate deck synchronization system including one or more processors coupled to a communications network. The system is configured to monitor, control, and throttle network traffic and to generate and synchronize rate decks to limit and block unwanted and harmful traffic to optimize performance of and protect telecommunications and network infrastructure. Received routing requests are parsed for subscriber identifiers that have assigned current rate decks. Routing requests are forwarded only for subscribers having unexpired assigned rate decks. When new assigned rate decks are generated with prospective effective times, the current date decks are modified to expire before the effective time, and subscribers are sent URLs having embedded security hashes, which must be downloaded before the current assigned rate decks expire. Routing requests cannot be forwarded upon expiration, and until subscribers download the new rate decks and an associated rate deck file hash. |
| US09276861B2 |
Selecting among multiple concurrently active paths through a network
Methods and systems for selecting among multiple concurrently active paths through a network are provided. According to one embodiment, a method is performed by a network interface of a source node within a loop-free, reverse-path-learning network. The network is divided into multiple virtual networks. A packet destined for a destination node and specifying an address for the destination or including information from which the address can be derived is received from the source. A set of virtual networks that can be used to transport the packet from the source node to the destination node is determined. Each virtual network in the set of virtual networks provides a different path through the network from the source to the destination. A particular virtual network from the set of virtual networks is selected, thereby effectively selecting a particular path from multiple selectable paths between the source and the destination. |
| US09276859B2 |
Enterprise cognitive radio integrated with laser communications
A wireless data access system is provided to ameliorate bursty traffic occurring in a radio communications link such as a WiFi, WiMAX, 3G or cellular telephone link to a wireless network access device. A data traffic event is detected relating to traffic in the link. The traffic event may be a traffic burst exceeding a predetermined threshold. Based on detecting the data traffic event, a free-space optical communications link is established to the network access device to handle the traffic burst. The established radio link may be used to set-up and coordinate the free-space optical link. |
| US09276856B2 |
Slipstream bandwidth management algorithm
In accordance with disclosed embodiments, there are provided methods, systems, and apparatuses for implementing a slipstream bandwidth management algorithm including, for example, means for executing an application a computing device, in which the application is to communicate with a remote computing device over a public Internet; means for approximating outgoing bandwidth for communications from the computing device to the remote computing device; means for approximating incoming bandwidth for communications received at the computing device from the remote computing device; means for allocating multiple simultaneous Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) connections in support of the application based at least in part on the approximated outgoing bandwidth and based further on the approximated incoming bandwidth; and means for iteratively adjusting bandwidth communicated for the application between the computing device and the remote computing device based at least in part on latency between the computing device and the remote computing device. Other related embodiments are disclosed. |
| US09276847B2 |
Systems and methods for providing a ReNAT virtual private network
Included are systems and methods for providing a ReNAT virtual private network (VPN). Accordingly, some embodiments include receiving, at a network operations center (NOC), external packets from a client workstation on a private network and providing source addressing for the external packets to identify the private network from where the external packets were received. Similarly, some embodiments include receiving data from the external packets from a ReNAT twin NAT, where the ReNAT twin NAT includes both a destination public address and a public source address for the data and decrypting the data and forwarding the data with the public source address to the ReNAT twin NAT. In some embodiments the NOC provides a virtual private network within the NOC for facilitating communication of the data between a remote computing device across a wide area network and the client workstation in the private network. |
| US09276844B2 |
Distributed media access controller transmitting network coded cells via optical transmitters
In one embodiment, a method comprises receiving, by an apparatus, a Media Access Control (MAC) frame destined for a destination device; dividing, by the apparatus, the MAC frame into frame fragments; coding the frame fragments into encoded cells; and causing, by the apparatus, transmission of selected subsets of the encoded cells, as distinct flows of the encoded cells, by respective optical physical layer transmitter devices reachable by the destination device. |
| US09276838B2 |
Software defined network virtualization utilizing service specific topology abstraction and interface
A computer program product comprising computer executable instructions stored on a non-transitory computer readable medium such that when executed by a processor cause a service specific virtual topology base, positioned in a network stratum, to receive a virtual service negotiation initiation message from an application stratum component, wherein the initiation message comprises a plurality of network source addresses, a plurality of network destination addresses, and a service specific objective, obtain a plurality of computed network paths that traverse a network of network stratum Network Elements (NEs) between the network source addresses and the network destination addresses and meet the service specific objective, and calculate service specific virtual topology that abstractly represents the computed service specific network paths. |
| US09276836B2 |
Method and apparatus for advertising border connection information of autonomous system
A method and an apparatus for advertising border connection information of autonomous system are disclosed. Moreover, the method includes: establishing and maintaining, by a border node of the autonomous system, the border connection information of the autonomous system; flooding the border connection information within the autonomous system; and receiving, by nodes of the autonomous system, the border connection information. The method and the apparatus for advertising border connection information of autonomous system of embodiments of the present invention may adapt to dynamic change of network topology, and dynamically advertise the border connection information of the autonomous system within the system in time, so as to optimize networks and improve quality of service of the networks. |
| US09276832B2 |
Buffer sizing for multi-hop networks
A wireless network node can include a wireless network antenna, a processor in communication with the wireless network antenna, and a non-transitory computer readable medium containing computer-executable code. The processor can be configured to calculate an initial buffer size. The processor can be configured to adjust the initial buffer size to a current buffer size based on a current network load. |
| US09276831B2 |
Determining network latency with limited computing resources
Disclosed are techniques for accurately determining network latency. The techniques include steps for transmitting a latency packet between a network test device and a remote network node. The techniques particularly include steps for recording timestamps upon transmission and receipt of the latency packet by the respective network device and the remote network node. Network latency is determined based on a difference between timestamps of the network device (transmitting and receiving the latency packet) and a difference between the timestamps of the remote network node (transmitting and receiving the latency packet). |
| US09276828B2 |
System and method for a service metering framework in a network environment
A method is provided in one example embodiment executed at a service metering framework (SMF) engine including a processor, and includes interfacing, by an event listener at the SMF engine, with an application being executed in a cloud by a remote client device, detecting a metering event associated with the application during execution of the application, receiving a value of at least one metering attribute associated with the metering event, and storing the at least one metering attribute and the value as a formatted metered record in a SMF database searchable according to the metering attribute. In a specific embodiment, the event listener exposes an application programming interface (API) of the SMF engine to the application to facilitate definitions of the metering event and the at least one metering attribute in the application. |
| US09276823B2 |
Dynamic fusion management
A system and method for managing a network of nodes that share sensor data is presented. In one embodiment, the system and method clusters groups of nodes into subnets. Nodes in a common subnet share sensor data with other nodes in the subnet at one rate, while nodes that are not in a common subnet share sensor data at a second substantially reduced rate. |
| US09276818B2 |
Mesh network commissioning
Securely joining devices to a mesh network using Datagram Transport Layer Security (DTLS) is described. A secure commissioning session is established between a joiner device and a commissioning device of the mesh network, in response to a joiner router receiving a DTLS-ClientHello message from the joining device, which is requesting to join the mesh network, and relaying the received message, encapsulated in a DTLS Relay Receive Notification message, to the commissioning device. The commissioning device transmits commissioning messages to the joining device over the secure session to enable the joining device to join the mesh network. The joiner router receives an indication from the commissioning device, that the joining device is to be entrusted to receive network credentials for the mesh network, and receives a key to securely transmit the network credentials from the joiner router to the joining device to complete commissioning the joining device to the mesh network. |
| US09276815B2 |
N-node virtual link trunking (VLT) systems management plane
Aspects of the present invention include an N-Node virtual link trunking (VLT) system comprising a set of N nodes collectively provide a logical fabric-level view that is consistent across the set of N nodes. Embodiments of the N-Node VLT system comprise a control plane mechanism to provide Layer 2 multipathing between access network devices (switches or servers) and the core network. The N-Node VLT system provides a loop-free topology with active-active load-sharing of uplinks from access to the core. Accordingly, the N-Node VLT system eliminates the disadvantage of Spanning Tree Protocol (STP) (active-standby links) by allowing link aggregation group (LAG) terminations on multiple separate distribution or core switches and also supporting a loop-free topology. Additional benefits of an N-Node VLT system include, but are not limited to, higher resiliency, improved link utilization, and improved manageability of the network. |
| US09276814B2 |
Migration of profiles between virtual connect domains
Migration of profiles between virtual connect domains is described. In an example, a plurality of validations are performed on a profile from a first virtual connect domain virtualizing devices using a first configuration. The profile is updated based on a second virtual connect domain virtualizing devices using a second configuration. The profile is moved for use by a device in the second virtual connect domain. |
| US09276811B1 |
Providing virtual networking functionality for managed computer networks
Techniques are described for providing virtual networking functionality for managed computer networks. In some situations, a user may configure or otherwise specify one or more virtual local area networks (“VLANs”) for a managed computer network being provided for the user, such as with each VLAN including multiple computing nodes of the managed computer network. Networking functionality corresponding to the specified VLAN(s) may then be provided in various manners, such as if the managed computer network itself is a distinct virtual computer network overlaid on one or more other computer networks, and communications between computing nodes of the managed virtual computer network are handled in accordance with the specified VLAN(s) of the managed virtual computer network by emulating functionality that would be provided by networking devices of the managed virtual computer network if they were physically present and configured to support the specified VLAN(s). |
| US09276808B2 |
Peer, application and method for detecting faulty peer in peer-to-peer network
An application, peer and method for determining a faulty peer in a structured Peer-to-Peer overlay network. The overlay network includes plural peers besides the faulty peer. The method includes determining that a message sent from a given peer to a target peer along a first path did not reach the target peer; determining an intermediate peer at which the message had arrived; using a second path to send the message from the given peer to the target peer; determining that the message had arrived at the target peer on the second path; adjusting a node identifier (nodeID) of at least one of the target peer and the intermediate peer to obtain a new target peer or a new intermediate peer; and reusing the first and second paths to send the message to the new target peer or the new intermediate peer until the faulty peer is detected. |
| US09276807B2 |
Redundant communication framework
A device determines a communication failure associated with a first network, and selects, based on the communication failure, a failover device from a list of failover devices. The device and the failover devices communicate via short-range communications, and the selected failover device connects to a second network. The device provides, to the selected failover device, a request to receive a service from the first network, and determines whether the selected failover device accepts the request. When the selected failover device accepts the request, the device establishes a communication channel with the selected failover device, and receives the service from the first network via the selected failover device, the communication channel, and the second network. |
| US09276804B2 |
Systems and methods for broadband backup
A method and system for providing a payment network via a plurality of multiprotocol label switching networks using a network interface device are provided. The method includes receiving, a first network message containing financial transaction data from a first one of a plurality of multiprotocol label switching networks, determining a destination of the financial transaction data from the network message, transmitting the financial transaction data to a second one of the plurality of multiprotocol label switching networks using a second network containing the financial transaction data, where at least one of the first one and the second one of the plurality of multiprotocol label switching networks is an Internet-based network that provides back-up access for transmitting the financial transaction data between a payment card interchange network and at least one of an issuer bank and a merchant bank using a Generic Routing Encapsulation (GRE) tunnel inside an IPSec connection. |
| US09276802B2 |
Systems and methods for sharing information between virtual agents
Systems, methods, and apparatus for use with at least one first virtual agent executing on a first device. In some embodiments, the at least one first virtual agent is programmed to: share information with at least one second virtual agent executing on at least one second device different from the first device, wherein the at least one first virtual agent is associated with a first user and the at least one second virtual agent is associate with a second user; and use the information shared between the at least one first virtual agent and the at least one second virtual agent to make a joint recommendation for the first and second users. |
| US09276800B2 |
Single frequency synthesizer based FDD transceiver
The present invention relates to a single frequency synthesizer based FDD transceiver. A single frequency synthesizer generates and provides a carrier frequency so that frequency up-conversion and frequency down-conversion can be performed at the time of transmission and reception. Accordingly, the area, power consumption, and design complexity of the entire system can be reduced, and the performance of the system can be improved. |
| US09276798B2 |
Non-recursive digital calibration for joint-elimination of transmitter and receiver I/Q imbalances with minimized add-on hardware
A digital calibration circuit is used to provide joint-elimination of transmitter and receiver I/Q imbalances. Digital I and Q quadrature signals are received and converted to analog I and Q quadrature signals on I and Q for transmission on output channels. An output mixer is used to convert the quadrature signals to an unbalanced RF output. An unbalanced RF signal is received selectively either externally or from the RF output using a source follower, and the received signal is mixed to provide analog I and Q quadrature signals, using a local oscillator (LO). The LO adds an additional 90 ° phase shift between I and Q quadrature channels of the unbalanced RF input. Parameter estimating the transmitted digital I and Q quadrature signals and providing estimations of I and Q quadrature imbalance conditions. |
| US09276795B2 |
Data transmission coexistence within television white space channels
Methods, systems, and/or devices are provided that permit data transmissions over unused television channels. A method operational in a receiver device, includes monitoring one or more repurposed channels within a television broadcast frequency spectrum for data waveforms, wherein waveforms of different bandwidths coexist within the one or more repurposed channels, and at least a larger waveform has a first bandwidth larger than a channel bandwidth for each repurposed channel. The method also includes receiving a waveform over a repurposed channel from among the one or more repurposed channels, wherein the received waveform has a second bandwidth smaller than the channel bandwidth. The method further includes processing the received waveform by applying a downclocking factor to a clock of the receiver device that causes the receiver device to process the received waveform according to the second bandwidth to obtain a data payload from the received waveform. |
| US09276790B2 |
Phase rotation for preambles within multiple user, multiple access, and/or MIMO wireless communications
Phase rotation for preambles within multiple user, multiple access, and/or MIMO wireless communications. An appropriately designed phase rotation vector and/or appropriately designed cyclic shift delays (CSDs) are applied to respective sub-band components of the preamble. With appropriately designed CSDs, certain fields within the preamble are not modified. For example, a legacy short training field (L-STF) of the preamble is not changed when using appropriately designed CSDs. The respective CSDs may be implemented as integer multiples of a common CSD (e.g., 0×CSD, 1×CSD, 2×CSD, etc. such that one of the values of such a CSD vector may be zero [0], another may be the common CSD itself, etc.). Also, by employing an appropriately designed phase rotation vector and integer multiples of a CSD to a preamble, the respective peak to average power ratio (PAPR) between different respective fields within the preamble may be minimized. |
| US09276787B2 |
Transmission of signaling messages using beacon signals
Techniques for sending signaling messages with beacon signals in a wireless communication network are described. In one design, a transmitter station may map a signaling message (e.g., a reduce interference request) to multiple code symbols. The transmitter station may select multiple resource elements from among a plurality of resource elements based on the multiple code symbols. In one design, each code symbol may be sent across frequency by selecting one of multiple subcarriers in one symbol period. In another design, each code symbol may be sent across time by selecting one of multiple symbol periods on one subcarrier. The transmitter station may generate a beacon signal having transmit power on the selected resource elements and no transmit power on remaining resource elements. The transmitter station may send the beacon signal to at least one receiver station. |
| US09276786B2 |
Noise-based gain adjustment and amplitude estimation system
Methods and systems for amplitude estimation and gain adjustment using noise as a reference are described. An example receiver can include an antenna and a front end amplifier coupled to the antenna. The receiver can also include a detector circuit coupled to the front end amplifier. The receiver can be configured to determine a power of a received signal at the antenna based on a gain of the receiver. The gain of the receiver can be determined based on a noise figure of the front end amplifier and a noise amplitude. |
| US09276780B2 |
Calibration of single-ended high-speed interfaces
A method for calibrating signal swing and a trip reference voltage. The signal swing of a system can be calibrated in a symmetric or asymmetric technique through adjustment of a drive parameter such as a supply voltage for a transmitter or a drive termination. The trip reference voltage of the system can also be calibrated in a symmetric or asymmetric technique through sampling of a data pattern to determine an ideal level of the trip reference voltage. |
| US09276779B2 |
System and method for providing a full fail-safe capability in signal transmission networks
Systems and methods for providing a full fail-safe capability in signal transmission networks are disclosed. For example, a system for providing a full fail-safe capability in signal transmission networks includes at least a first electronic circuit to transmit and receive signals or data, at least one driver unit coupled to the at least a first electronic circuit, and at least one receiver unit coupled to the at least a first electronic circuit and the at least one driver unit. The at least one receiver unit includes at least one offset signal generating unit, a signal comparing unit, and a switching unit to couple an offset signal from the at least one offset signal generating unit to an input of the signal comparing unit. |
| US09276777B2 |
Method for determining feedback information and circuit to perform such method
A method includes receiving a first signal at a circuit from a first base station and receiving a second signal at the circuit from a second base station different from the first base station. The method further includes determining a first channel estimate based on the first signal, determining a second channel estimate based on the second signal and determining a feedback information based on the first channel estimate and based on the second channel estimate. |
| US09276772B2 |
Method and apparatus for transmitting and receiving data based on secured path bandwidth in network established by using audio/video interface
A method and apparatus for transmitting and receiving data. The method and apparatus previously determines a validity of a data transmission path for transmitting a stream from a source device to a sink device. The validity of the transmission path is verified by checking and securing the data transmission path, thereby executing a streaming service based on the validity. |
| US09276770B2 |
Network connecting device and method
A network connecting device includes: a wired LAN connection detection section that detects connecting of a LAN cable; a profile management section that manages a profile; a profile selection section that selects in sequence at least one profile that indicates wired LAN connection; a network configuration section that sets a network configuration based on the selected profile; a network identification information acquisition section that acquires network identification information; a network determination section that determines whether or not a wired LAN with which a connection is formed by the LAN cable and a network indicated by the profile match each other; and a network connection section that applies the profile when it is determined as a match. |
| US09276764B2 |
Enhanced carrier sense multiple access (CSMA) protocols
Systems and methods for enhanced carrier sense multiple access (CSMA) protocols are described. In various implementations, these systems and methods may be applicable to Power Line Communications (PLC). For example, a method may include attempting to access a communications channel to transmit a frame after a backoff time proportional to a randomly generated number within a contention window (CW), the CW having an initial value carried over from a previous transmission of a different frame. Additionally or alternatively, some of techniques described herein may facilitate the spreading of the time over which devices attempt to transmit packets, thereby reducing the probability of collisions using, for example, Additive Decrease Multiplicative Increase (ADMI) mechanisms. |
| US09276763B2 |
Intermittently operable communication apparatus with different carrier sense levels switched between transmission and reception and method therefor
The communication apparatus intermittently carries out receiving operation during a predetermined reception period. The apparatus includes a wireless communication section for carrying out wireless communication, which includes a carrier sensor for sensing a carrier at the beginning of the communication, and a carrier sense switching section for using carrier sense levels different between packet transmission and reception to switch the carrier sense level of the carrier sensor according to the packet. Thus, the apparatus can use and flexibly adjust the optimum carrier sense level for the intermittent receiving operation within the reception period. |
| US09276756B2 |
Synchronization of multicast information using incremental updates
Techniques that enable a network device such as a router to provide multicast routing services without interruption, even in the event of a switchover. An incremental updates technique is used to synchronize multicast information maintained by a first processor and multicast information maintained by a second processor. The first processor may be a management processor operating in active mode in a network device and the second processor may be a management processor operating in standby mode in the network device. The second processor may also be a processor on a linecard of the network device. |
| US09276755B2 |
Channel occupancy efficient, low power wireless networking
An apparatus and method are provided for efficiently sharing a single wireless channel and for providing improved power saving. Automatic beacon “sliding” establishes a round-robin contention-free channel schedule among multiple IBSSs. Entering an idle state immediately following communication after a beacon saves power. Further power savings occur when presumptions of pending traffic may be made. |
| US09276752B2 |
System and method for secure software update
A secure software update provides an update utility with an update definition, a private encryption key and a public signature key to a target device. A software update package is prepared on portable media that includes an executable update program, a checksum for the program that is encrypted with a symmetrical key, an encrypted symmetrical key that is encrypted with a public encryption key and a digital signature prepared with a private signature key. The update process authenticates the digital signature, decrypts the symmetrical key using the private encryption key, and decrypts the checksum using the symmetrical key. A new checksum is generated for the executable update program and compared to the decrypted checksum. If inconsistencies are detected during the update process, the process is terminated. Otherwise, the software update can be installed with a relatively high degree of assurance against corruption, viruses and third party interference. |
| US09276751B2 |
System and method for circular link resolution with computable hash-based names in content-centric networks
One embodiment of the present invention provides a system for constructing a linked object. During operation, the system constructs a first portion of the linked object. The first portion includes at least one or more data items and a computable identifier calculated based on the one or more data items, and the first portion is referenced by a self-certified name associated with the linked object. The system constructs a second portion of the linked object. The second portion includes at least the computable identifier and an external link that references a second linked object using a self-certified name associated with the second linked object. |
| US09276750B2 |
Secure processing environment measurement and attestation
Embodiments of an invention for secure processing environment measurement and attestation are disclosed. In one embodiment, a processor includes an instruction unit and an execution unit. The instruction unit is to receive a first instruction associated with a build or a rebuild of a secure enclave. The execution unit is to execute the first instruction. Execution of the first instruction, when associated with the build, includes calculation of a first measurement and a second measurement of the secure enclave. Execution of the first instruction, when associated with the rebuild, includes calculation of the second measurement without calculation of the first measurement. |
| US09276749B2 |
Distributed validation of digitally signed electronic documents
Systems and methods are presented for distributed validation of a digitally signed electronic document. A computing device accesses both a representation of the electronic document and a digital signature for the electronic document that includes a digest generated by the digital signature's creator by applying a one-way function to the electronic document. The computing device applies the same one-way function to the accessed representation of the electronic document to generate a new digest, and includes both the digital signature and the new digest in a request sent to a separate validation server. The request does not include the electronic document. The validation server generates validation results that depend on comparing the digest from the digital signature with the new digest, and that do not depend on having the electronic document available to the validation server. The computing device receives the validation results from the separate validation server. |
| US09276747B2 |
Remote profile security system
A method comprises storing, at the server computer system, user profile information for the remote user. The user profile information for the remote user (or a link to the user profile information) is encrypted using authentication information. The user profile information is associated with user identification information, at the server computer system, using the authentication information, which is selectively made available by the remote user via the network to the server computer system in order to enable the server computer system to associate the user profile information with the user identification information. |
| US09276746B2 |
Encryption system, encryption processing method of encryption system, encryption device, decryption device, setup device, key generation device, and key delegation device using a user identifier for a user who belongs to a k-th hierarchy in an organization
In a wildcard-applicable anonymous hierarchical identity-based encryption system, it is aimed to make the number of pairing operations a fixed number. A user identifier ID and a pattern P are used. The user identifier ID includes k number of hierarchy identifiers. The pattern P includes either of a hierarchy identifier, a wildcard value and a blank value for each hierarchy. An encryption device 400 extracts a key value H corresponding to a hierarchy of the wildcard value and a key value H corresponding to a hierarchy of a pattern value from a public key PK, calculates a cipher value C1 and a cipher value C3, and outputs ciphertext data CT including plaintext cipher value C0, the cipher value C1, and the cipher value C3. A decryption device 300 extracts the hierarchy identifier of the hierarchy corresponding to the wildcard value from the user identifier ID, decrypts the plaintext cipher value C0 included in the ciphertext data CT using the extracted hierarchy identifier, the cipher value C1 and the cipher value C3 which are included in the ciphertext data CT, and outputs plaintext data M. |
| US09276742B1 |
Unified storage and management of cryptographic keys and certificates
Cryptographic resources, such as those including PGP keys and certificates, are transformed such that they are understood by certificate repositories, such as in a format understood by the Java JAVA tools of JAVA KEYSTORE (JKS). JAVA is one example of a general-purpose computer programming language that is concurrent, class-based, object-oriented. JAVA KEYSTORE is one example of a repository of security certificates, such as authorization certificates and public key certificates, used for instance in SSL encryption. The transformation of the cryptographic resources is completed such that the necessary metadata for retrieving the original cryptographic resources, or artifacts thereof, are retained. In that way, cryptographic resources are effectively hidden within the certificate repository until needed. The security program applies an algorithm to generate keys for JKS storage such that the keys “masquerade” in a JKS canonical format until the time in which the resources are needed to be in a PGP canonical format. |
| US09276738B2 |
Digital tachograph
A digital tachograph has a security module. A public key, a secure private key, and a signage are stored in the security module. Vehicle-relevant data and the corresponding checksum are encoded using a secure private key and stored in the digital tachograph in a data format by the security module. |
| US09276736B2 |
Connection key distribution
A system and a method implementing the method pertaining to securely providing a mobile device with a cryptographic key in a vehicle. The method includes generating a cryptographic key pair. The key pair may include at least a first cryptographic key and a second cryptographic key. The method may further include creating a label using a scannable image readable by a mobile device; the scannable image may be based on the second cryptographic key. And the method may include providing the label to the vehicle for displaying the scannable image. |
| US09276729B2 |
Determination of a noise and interference covariance measure
A method includes receiving a signal including a two-dimensional signal pattern in a time-frequency representation, the two-dimensional signal pattern including first reference resource elements at predetermined positions in the two-dimensional signal pattern. The method further includes determining a first covariance measure based on the first reference resource elements of the signal pattern. The method further includes determining a second covariance measure based on resource elements of the signal pattern different from the first reference resource elements. The method further includes determining a noise and interference covariance measure of the received signal based on the first covariance measure and based on the second covariance measure. |
| US09276728B2 |
Interference avoidance-based communication apparatus and method
Provided is an interference avoidance-based communication apparatus and method, the apparatus including an interface to receive operating channel number information transmitted by another communication apparatus in response to an event occurring in the other communication apparatus, and a processor to verify a current use channel of the other communication apparatus based on the received operating channel information, allocate a first weighted value to a remaining channel, aside from the verified current use channel and a second weighted value to the verified current use channel, and generate channel map information for use in hop selection based on the remaining channel to which the first weighted value is allocated and the current use channel to which the second weighted value is allocated. |
| US09276725B2 |
Method and apparatus for transmitting and receiving feedback on channel state information
A method for performing a channel state information (CSI) report in a wireless communication system, can include receiving, at a user equipment, a configuration message on each of a plurality of downlink component carriers (DL CCs), the configuration message including cell indexes indicating serving cells and information used for configuring the CSI report of the serving cells, and transmitting, at the user equipment, a CSI report of only a single serving cell in a corresponding subframe, wherein the transmitting of the CSI report of only the single serving cell including when CSI reports of two or more serving cells of the plurality of serving cells collide with each other in the corresponding subframe, dropping one or more CSI reports having lower priorities, and when CSI reports of different serving cells having a same priority collide with each other in the corresponding subframe, dropping CSI reports of one or more serving cells other than one serving cell having the lowest cell index. |
| US09276722B2 |
Expanded search space for R-PDCCH in LTE-A
Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide techniques and apparatuses for providing an expanded search space for a relay-specific control channel on a backhaul link. According to certain aspects, due to inband interference, a Relay Physical Downlink Control Channel (R-PDCCH) may be signaled utilizing resources reserved for backhaul data. According to certain aspects, a two-dimensional search space may be provided for R-PDCCH. R-PDCCH may be transmitted in one of a plurality of layer-specific search spaces corresponding to one of a plurality of antenna ports. Further, in a layer-specific search space, R-PDCCH may be transmitted using at least one of multiple R-PDCCH decoding candidates from a common search space and/or a relay node-specific search space. |
| US09276721B2 |
Decoding data in group search space based on group control information
Provided is a method and apparatus for decoding data by a user equipment (UE) in a wireless communication system. The method comprises the following steps: receiving group control information identified by a group identifier (ID) allocated to a plurality of UEs including the UE, wherein the group control information includes scheduling information indicating a group search space that is a wireless resource area through which data for the plurality of UEs can be transmitted; receiving data through the group search space; and decoding the data on the basis of a unique ID of the UE in the group search space. |
| US09276719B2 |
Method and apparatus for generating pilot tone in orthogonal frequency division multiplexing access system, and method and apparatus for estimating channel using it
The present invention relates to a pilot tone generating method and apparatus of an orthogonal frequency division multiple access system and method, and a channel estimation method and apparatus using the same. The channel estimation apparatus includes a pilot tone extracting unit for extracting a pilot tone, which is inserted within a frame with data tone, masked with an orthogonal code; a pilot tone unmasking unit for unmasking of the pilot tone extracted from the pilot tone extracting unit by using an orthogonal code information; and a channel estimation operating unit for estimating a channel by calculating an average of the pilot tones which is unmasked in the unmasking unit. |
| US09276718B2 |
Method and a system for bandwidth aggregation in an access point
A method and a system for providing communication between at least one wireless client device through a connectivity to a corresponding dedicated access point, as well as locating and recognizing a plurality of neighboring access points, the method including notifying, by the dedicated access point, a predetermined absence period to a wireless client device to which the dedicated access point communicates, the dedicated access point becoming a client to a second access point during the predetermined absence period, receiving, by the dedicated access point as a client, data corresponding to a backhaul bandwidth of the at least second access point and aggregating the received backhaul data from the second access point to the dedicated access point's own backhaul data, and sending, by the dedicated access point, the aggregated backhaul bandwidth data to the wireless client device after the predetermined absence period has lapsed. |
| US09276716B2 |
Sensor data transport and consolidation within communication nodes in a network
In one embodiment, sensor data is transported in a network to a rendezvous point network node, which consolidates the information into a consolidated result which is communicated to the destination. Such consolidation by a network node reduces the number of paths required in the network between the sensors and the destination. One embodiment includes acquiring, by each of a plurality of originating nodes in a wireless deterministic network, external data related to a same physical event; communicating through the network said external data from each of the plurality of originating nodes to a rendezvous point network node (RP) within the network; processing, by the RP, said external data from each of the plurality of originating nodes to produce a consolidated result; and communicating the consolidated result to a destination node of the network. In one embodiment, the network is a low power lossy network (LLN). |
| US09276708B2 |
Secondary system usage in multicarrier networks
After an evolved Node-B (eNB) has selected primary component carriers and secondary component carriers, the eNB can transmit (for example, by broadcast), the information for secondary usage (such as certain conditions) to devices. The devices can also be machines or the like that are able to operate on cellular system resources, for example, machine-to-machine type communication in a cellular system. The devices can figure out component carrier utilization in the cells they can detect. Furthermore, the devices can estimate the interference caused by themselves based on the eNB's broadcasting conditions as well as upon additional information, in some circumstances. Finally, the devices can then decide whether to establish device-to-device (D2D) or other secondary communication connection themselves by using the secondary component carriers. |
| US09276701B2 |
Apparatus and method for communicating FEC mode and alarming mismatch
A multi-mode transmission unit processes data to form an error correction code in accordance with one of a plurality of selectable processes. The data, correction code and a process identifier can be transmitted to a receiving unit which can carry out error correction of the data in accordance with the identified process. |
| US09276700B2 |
Methods and apparatus to report link quality measurements for downlink dual carrier operation
Methods and apparatus to report link quality measurements for downlink dual carrier operation are disclosed. Example methods and apparatus disclosed herein implement one or more example techniques for reporting link quality measurements involving, for example, modifying measurement reporting messages to increase the number and/or types of link quality measurements that can be reported, permitting mobile stations, when appropriate, to use different reporting messages capable of supporting more link quality measurements, and/or prioritizing certain link quality measurements to be reported when the reporting messages do not contain sufficient space to report all requested and/or specified link quality measurements. |
| US09276697B2 |
Network evaluation apparatus and network evaluation method
A network evaluation apparatus that evaluates a design of an optical network, the network evaluation apparatus including: a processor that selects two nodes, between which a lightpath is to be set up, from a plurality of nodes based on a traffic volume demand values, calculates a decreased amount of cost based on numbers of the plurality of nodes and a plurality of routers for relaying a signal transmitted between the two nodes selected, calculates an increased amount of cost based on a transmission distance of the lightpath and a number of a plurality of repeaters to be inserted according to a segment distance, and determines a value of the optical network based on the decreased amount of cost and the increased amount of cost. |
| US09276695B2 |
Method and apparatus for construction of compact optical nodes using wavelength equalizing arrays
Example embodiments of the present invention relate to An optical node comprising of at least two optical degrees; a plurality of directionless add/drop ports; and at least one wavelength equalizing array, wherein the at least one wavelength equalizing array is used to both select wavelengths for each degree, and to perform directionless steering for the add/drop ports. |
| US09276690B2 |
Distributed electrical cross device, and system and method thereof for implementing sub-network connection (SNC) cascade protection
The present invention discloses a distributed electrical cross apparatus, and a system and method for the distributed electrical cross apparatus implementing an SNC cascade protection. The apparatus includes a backboard and at least four single-boards integrated with electrical cross units, wherein the single-boards are inserted in the limited number of slots in the backboard, and these single-boards also set line-side service access units, client-side service access units and backboard access units. The present invention has both accessing of line-side services and accessing of client-side services in the same single-board, access and flexible scheduling of various services such as line-side services and client-side services and so on are implemented on the backboard with limited number of slots, and the function of the distributed electrical cross system processing various services is increased in the case of low cost. |
| US09276686B2 |
Distributed antenna systems and methods of wireless communications for facilitating simulcasting and de-simulcasting of downlink transmissions
Distributed antenna systems (DASs) can include a plurality of spatially separated remote antenna units. According to at least one example, a first group of remote antenna units can simulcast downlink transmissions on a first carrier with a particular sector identity (ID). A second group of remote antenna units, including at least one different remote antenna unit from the first group, can simulcast downlink transmissions on a second carrier with the same sector ID. According to at least one other example, two or more remote antenna units which include respective coverage areas that are non-adjacent to one another can be employed to simulcast downlink transmissions. |
| US09276676B2 |
Visible ray communication system and method for transmitting signal
A visible ray communication system and method that improve transmission rate and remove an influence of inter-color interference to improve the communication quality. A transmission apparatus included in the visible ray communication system allocates each carrier signal component of an OFDM signal, which is modulated into transmission information, to a plurality of LEDs of different colors. The information is added to a combination of a carrier frequency and an LED wavelength, when a carrier signal is allocated to an, in addition to each carrier signal being modulated into the information. |
| US09276672B2 |
Method, transport apparatus, and system for detecting submarine optical cable line
A method for detecting a submarine optical cable line includes: splitting a detection signal input to a first optical functional unit in an optical functional module of an optical cable line into a first detection signal and a second detection signal; directly coupling and looping back the first detection signal to an output end of a second optical functional unit in a direction opposite to the first optical functional unit to constitute a first loopback path, and outputting a first detection loopback signal; looping back the second detection signal passing through the first optical functional unit to the output end of the second optical functional unit to constitute a second loopback path, and outputting a second detection loopback signal; and detecting a status of the submarine optical cable line according to power of the first detection loopback signal and power of the second detection loopback signal. |
| US09276671B2 |
System for determining a propagation time of an optical signal between two optical devices using an optical link
A system is provided for determining a propagation time of an optical signal between two devices in an optical transmission network. The first device is designed to determine the propagation time following the transmission of an optical measurement signal in a propagation direction towards a second device using an optical link while passing through an intermediate device, which includes at least one amplifier and one chromatic-dispersion compensation module that introduces a delay, and following the reception an optical return signal from the second device using the same optical link in a direction opposite to the propagation direction. The measurement system is configured to extract the return signal output by the intermediate device; regenerate the extracted return signal; feed the regenerated signal into the optical link, at the input of the intermediate device; and obtain a return signal-reception time while taking account the delay introduced by said compensation module. |
| US09276670B2 |
Self-diagnostic method for PON protection system, and PON protection system
A self-diagnostic method for PON protection system, in which optical switch-related failure can be previously inspected, and a PON protection system. A circuit is configured while an optical switch is switched so that signal light from an ONU is input to both a normal system OSU and a redundancy system OSU of an optical access network including the ONU, and there are conducted a circuit configuration test in which the signal light to the normal system OSU and the signal light to the redundancy system OSU are monitored for a predetermined period of time, and when the signal light to one of the OSUs and the signal light to the other do not correspond to each other, it is judged as abnormality and an open state test in which an optical switch is opened so that the signal light from the ONU is input to only the normal system OSU of the optical access network including the ONU, a circuit of the redundancy system OSU and the ONU is brought into an open state, the signal light to redundancy system OSU is monitored for a predetermined time of period, and when the signal light to the redundancy system exists, it is judged as abnormality. |
| US09276668B2 |
Sonic fast-sync method and system for bluetooth
A method, apparatus and computer program product for fast-synching a wireless Bluetooth connection using a first device's wireless identifier is provided. One implementation of the present invention modulates the wireless identifier as a sonic Bluetooth code over a sonic carrier signal. To send the wireless identifier, one implementation accesses a storage area associated with the first wireless device holding the sonic carrier signal. Aspects of the invention then transmit the sonic Bluetooth code as modulated over the sonic carrier signal. A sonic transducer, such as a microphone on the second wireless device, receives the sonic carrier signal and wireless identifier for demodulation. In response, the second wireless device requests to establish a physical channel with the first wireless device using the wireless identifier received over the sonic carrier signal. |
| US09276664B2 |
Mobile interactive satellite services
A system for providing mobile interactive satellite services includes a satellite operable to communicate with mobile units, a terrestrial base transceiver station operable to communicate with mobile units, and a ground station in communication with the satellite and the terrestrial base transceiver station to provide mobile interactive satellite services. The mobile interactive satellite services include a multicast component and an interactive component such that the ground station provides both the multicast component and the interactive component using the satellite, with the terrestrial base transceiver station used to provide an ancillary terrestrial component. A device for communicating with a mobile interactive satellite service system includes an antenna, a transceiver coupled to the antenna and operable to communicate with a mobile interactive satellite service system, a user input device, an output device, a processor unit, and a network interface. The processor unit is coupled to the user input device, the output device, and the transceiver such that the processor is operable to output received information from the transceiver using the output device, to receive interactive information from the user input device, and to transmit data based on the received interactive information using the transceiver. The network interface is coupled to the processor such that the processor is operable to side load information. |
| US09276657B2 |
Space-time block coding systems and methods
Although orthonormal space-time coding matrices provide for optimal communication system performance in that associated correlation matrices include no non-zero off-diagonal elements, unity code rate orthonormal coding matrices are difficult to identify for arbitrary communication network equipment. According to embodiments of the present invention, non-orthonormal space-time coding matrices, for which associated correlation matrices include non-zero off-diagonal elements, are used to encode data symbols. The non-orthonormal space-time coding matrices are more easily determined, and undesirable effects of the non-zero off-diagonal components are reduced by selecting a coding matrix from among a number of such matrices. For example, a particular space-time coding matrix may be selected from a number of generated space-time coding matrices based on a number of non-zero off-diagonal elements or a power of a trace of the associated correlation matrices. |
| US09276656B2 |
Method and system for improving uplink performance
The present invention is directed to improvements for distributed antenna systems and more particularly to methods and systems for improving uplink communications. In one embodiment, Aggregation Point Noise Blocking provides for blocking or filtering the noise contributed by one or more of the branches coupled to an aggregation point that are not carrying the signal from a particular terminal. Signal activity from a given terminal on a particular branch can be identified and that information can be used to selectively block or filter the signal noise contributed by the other branches to an aggregation point. The selective blocking or filtering can also include an attenuation function to attenuate the signal and provide dynamic range smoothing. In another embodiment the signal can be regenerated to produce a signal that has a restored or very high SNR. An uplink regeneration block can be provided which demodulates the uplink signal to recover the transmitted information and then re-modulates the transmitted information to regenerate a signal at a restored or very high SNR. |
| US09276654B2 |
Transmitter and signal transmitting method thereof
A signal transmitter and receiver are provided. The transmitter includes: a Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) precoder configured to, in response to a first input signal and a second input signal, generate a first transmission signal and a second transmission signal by performing MIMO precoding by pre-phase shifting or pre-phase shifting/hopping the second input signal, and superposition encoding the first input signal and the pre-phase shifted or pre-phase shifted/hopped second input signal; and an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) modulator configured to OFDM modulate the first transmission signal and the second transmission signal. |
| US09276648B2 |
Method and system for performing multiple access in wireless OFDM cellular systems considering both space and frequency domains
The method comprising a base station equipped with a large number of antennas according to a two-dimensional rectangular array and a number M of cell users, said rectangular array comprising N1 antenna elements along one axis with a regular spacing dx and N2 antenna elements along a perpendicular axis with a regular spacing dy, said users being characterized by angles (θ,φ) in a spherical coordinate system, where in order to achieve orthogonal multiple access the method comprises: selecting a grid spacing (Δu,Δv) in the (u, v) domain; discretizing the (u, v) domain; constructing a set of signals ST[k,l,f]; calculating time-domain excitations AT[n,m,t]for the antenna elements in the array given by coordinates (ndx,mdy) for generation of the downlink transmit signals; and obtaining the frequency contents SR[k,l,f] of the complex baseband signals received from the M users in the uplink.The system implements the method of the invention. |
| US09276646B2 |
Method of managing cooperating set for coordinated multiple point transmission and reception and related communication device
A method of managing cooperating set for a network in a wireless communication system supporting a technology of coordinated multipoint (CoMP) transmission/reception includes periodically updating a cooperating set of CoMP for a user equipment of the wireless communication system; wherein the cooperating set of CoMP represents a set of transmission points directly and/or indirectly participating in data transmission to the user equipment in the wireless communication system. |
| US09276645B2 |
Inductive charger for providing radio frequency (“RF”) signal to a portable electric device
An inductive charger for a portable electronic device is provided. The portable electronic device has a radio frequency (“RF”) antenna configured for receiving an outgoing RF signal, as well as a secondary coil. The inductive charger includes a primary coil configured for creating a magnetic flux. The magnetic flux is configured for coupling to the secondary coil in the portable electronic device to induce current. The inductive charger includes RF coupling assembly that receives an incoming RF signal. The RF coupling assembly is configured to radiate the outgoing RF signal that is based on the incoming RF signal. The inductive charger includes a radiator configured to receive the outgoing RF signal from the RF coupling assembly. The radiator is configured to radiate the outgoing RF signal to the RF antenna of the portable electronic device. |
| US09276643B2 |
Mobile wireless communications device providing near field communication (NFC) unlock and tag data change features and related methods
A mobile wireless communications device may include a near field communication (NFC) transceiver and a controller coupled with the NFC transceiver. The controller may be configured to receive tag data from at least one NFC tag when in close proximity thereto via the NFC transceiver, verify the tag data, and when the tag data is successfully verified, perform at least one device unlock operation. The controller may be further configured to determine whether the tag data should be changed based on a predetermined schedule, and if it is determined that the tag data should be changed, communicate with the at least one NFC tag to change the tag data. |
| US09276640B2 |
Near field communications-triggering for wireless display/docking
Described herein are techniques related to devices with wireless docking capabilities and more particularly near field communications-based techniques for docking and undocking devices. This Abstract is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. |
| US09276639B2 |
Wirelessly charged electronic device with shared inductor circuitry
An electronic device may contain an input-output device such as a speaker, vibrator, or near field communications antenna. The input-output device may include an inductor. The inductor in the input-output device may be shared by wireless charging circuitry in the electronic device so that wireless charging signals can be converted into power to charge a battery in the electronic device. A separate inductor may also be provided within an input-output device to support wireless charging. A drive circuit may supply drive signals to the input-output device such as audio signals, vibrator control signals, or near field communications output signals for external near field communications equipment. An input amplifier that is coupled across the inductor in the input-output device may be used in receiving near field communications signals. |
| US09276637B2 |
Communications on power systems
A power and data supply system that includes circuitry for supplying power and data to an output via a common transmission line is provided. The circuitry comprises a DC power source, a data signal source, a modulator configured to generate a modulated signal in dependence on the data signal, and an inverter, wherein the inverter is controlled by the modulated signal, such that the inverter generates an AC signal for output to the transmission line. |
| US09276628B1 |
Photovoltaic cell and E-ink display on the front side of a cell phone case
A cellular telephone case has front and back panels. A cellular telephone is coupled to the case by pushing the telephone into the case such that the main dock connector of the telephone engages a plug on the back panel. When the telephone is in this position, a back surface of the telephone is held in place on an inside surface of the back panel. The front panel is hinged so that it folds over and covers the telephone. In this folded position, the upward and outward facing outside surface of the front panel includes an E-ink display, a plurality of photovoltaic cells for charging a rechargeable battery of the case, and several buttons. Image information from the telephone is transferred to the case through the dock connector, and then viewed on the display using energy stored in the battery, even after the telephone has been decoupled from the case. |
| US09276624B2 |
Antenna system with self-identifying antenna
According to one embodiment disclosed herein, there is provided an antenna module including a self-identification mechanism that may be used by one or more wireless circuits for management purposes. The self-identification mechanism may, for example, take the form of an integrated circuit (IC) device or chip that stores a serial number that may function as a unique identifier for an antenna on which it is mounted or associated. In one embodiment, a wireless module, for example containing RF components for sending and receiving signals from the antenna, queries the serial number device, and acquires the serial number for the antenna. The wireless module can use the serial number for any number of purposes, and in particular to verify that the antenna connected is a compliant antenna that will operate within the range, within the limits, and/or with the performance specified for the radio circuits within the wireless module. |
| US09276620B2 |
Second-order input intercept point (IIP2) calibration method of a mixer in a wireless communication system and the mixer using the same
A mixer included in a receiver of a wireless communication system is provided. The mixer includes a switching unit including a plurality of transistors receiving a Radio Frequency (RF) signal and a Local Oscillation (LO) signal, and outputting a baseband signal, and a voltage controller outputting a voltage control signal controlling a body voltage of at least one transistor from among the plurality of transistors to thereby control a threshold voltage of the at least one transistor. |
| US09276616B2 |
Integrated circuit chip inductor configuration
An integrated circuit chip including a first inductor; a second inductor having n1 turns and located a distance r1 from the first inductor; and a third inductor having n2 turns and located a distance r2 from the first inductor; wherein the second and third inductors are coupled so as to cause current to circulate around the second inductor in a first rotational direction and around the third inductor in a second rotational direction opposite to the first rotational direction; and wherein n1, n2, r1 and r2 are such that current induced in the first inductor due to magnetic coupling from the second inductor is negated by current induced in the first inductor due to magnetic coupling from the third inductor. |
| US09276614B2 |
Buffer management in a turbo equalization system
A plurality of partially-decoded codewords that have been processed at least once by a first and a second error correction decoder is stored. A plurality of metrics associated with how close a corresponding partially-decoded codeword is to being successfully decoded is stored. From the plurality of partially-decoded codewords, a codeword having a metric indicating that that codeword is the closest to being successfully decoded by the first error correction decoder and the second error correction decoder is selected. The selected codeword is output to the first error correction decoder. |
| US09276607B2 |
Padding after channel encoding repetition and interleaving
Described herein are techniques related to the generation of data blocks that collectively include padding appended before a first or after a last of the data blocks. This Abstract is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. |
| US09276604B2 |
Feed forward double-sampling modulator
Representative implementations of devices and techniques provide analog to digital conversion of an analog input. A multistage modulator using a feed-forward technique can alternately convert integrated samples of the analog input to digital representations. For example, the modulator is arranged to alternately output the digital representations to form a digital representation of the analog input. |
| US09276601B2 |
Converting circuit with control circuit to detect signals input into the converting circuit, and communication device
A converting circuit and a communication device are provided. The converting circuit includes: a sample hold circuit for receiving an analog signal; a Digital to Analog Converter (DAC); a comparator being connected with an output end of the sample hold circuit and an output end of the DAC; and a control circuit being connected with an output end of the comparator, wherein when the sample hold circuit receives an analog signal, the control circuit controls the sample hold circuit and the comparator to work, controls an output of the DAC based on an output of the comparator, and outputs a corresponding digital signal; and when the control circuit detects a digital signal is input, the control circuit controls the DAC to convert the digital signal into an corresponding analog signal and output the corresponding analog signal. The converting circuit can reduce chip area and chip cost. |
| US09276600B2 |
Output changing method for an A/D conversion apparatus and A/D conversion apparatus
An output changing method of an A/D conversion apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes a pulse delay circuit in which delay units are connected in series, and an encoding circuit which detects the number of stages of the delay units, through which a pulse signal passes during predetermined measurement time, and generates numeric data corresponding to the number of stages. The apparatus receives an analog input signal as power supply voltage of the pulse delay circuit to perform A/D conversion for the analog input signal. The method includes determining whether or not the analog input signal is within an allowable voltage range in which the apparatus operates normally, outputting the numeric data as an A/D conversion value if the analog input signal is within the range, and outputting numeric data formed of a specified value as the A/D conversion value if the analog input signal is not within the range. |
| US09276596B1 |
Analog to digital converting apparatus and initial method thereof
An analog to digital converting apparatus and an initial method thereof are provided. The analog to digital converting apparatus includes a first and a second switching capacitor units, a circuit unit, a first and a second initialization switches, a third and a fourth capacitors and a logic buffer. The first and the second switching capacitor units respectively couple first capacitors and second capacitors to a first logic voltage, a second logic voltage or a first or a second input voltage according to a first control signal, and respectively generate a first and a second voltage. The circuit unit compares the first voltage and the second voltage to generate the first control signal. The first and the second initialization switches are respectively connected in series between the first and the second voltage and a common-mode endpoint. The logic buffer outputs the first or the second logic voltage to the common-mode endpoint. |
| US09276593B2 |
Injection locked oscillator
An injection locked frequency divider includes a ring oscillator, an input terminal, an output terminal and a control voltage terminal. The ring oscillator has a three-stage cascade connection of a first amplification circuit including an N-channel MOS type transistor and P-channel MOS type transistors, a second amplification circuit configured in the same manner as the first amplification circuit and a third amplification circuit configured likewise. A high frequency signal is input to a gate terminal of each P-channel MOS type transistor. A predetermined DC control voltage is supplied to a gate terminal of each P-channel MOS type transistor. |
| US09276592B2 |
Multimedia interface receiving circuit
A multimedia interface receiving circuit includes a phase-locked loop (PLL) and four signal processing channels. Each of the channels includes a phase detecting circuit. In a High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) configuration, one of the processing channels is disabled, and the PLL provides a locked clock signal to the other three processing channels. Each of the other three processing channels adjusts the phase of the locked clock signal to generate a sampling clock signal. In a DisplayPort (DP) configuration, the PLL changes to connect to the phase detecting circuit of one of the four signal processing channels to form an analog clock data recovery (ACDR) circuit to generate a fundamental clock signal. Each of the three other processing channels adjusts the phase of the fundamental clock signal to generate the sampling clock signal. |
| US09276587B2 |
Clock generation system
A clock generation system provides a low power approach for generating clock signals. The clock generation system may use a free running clock and, at intervals, maintain the accuracy of the free running clock. The free running clock may be the source of other system clocks, such as a 32 KHz clock for system timing and a 13 MHz clock to facilitate audio playback, e.g., MP3 decoding and playback. The clock generation system eliminates the need for two different crystal oscillators and a complex PLL for generating the low frequency clock. |
| US09276584B2 |
Compensated oscillator
An oscillator includes a compensated current source that adjusts an output current based on process, supply voltage, and temperature (“PVT”) variations of an integrated circuit device. The oscillator generates an output signal having a frequency based, in part, on the output current of the compensated current source. Accordingly, the output signal has a relatively low sensitivity to PVT variations. |
| US09276581B2 |
Nonvolatile programmable logic switch
A nonvolatile programmable logic switch of an embodiment includes: a cell including: a first memory including a first terminal connected to a first wiring line, and a second terminal; a second memory including a third terminal connected to a second wiring line, and a fourth terminal connected to the second terminal of the first memory; a first transistor, of which one of a source and a drain is connected to the second and fourth terminals, the other of the source and the drain is connected to a third wiring line, and a gate is connected to a fourth wiring line; and a second transistor, of which one of a source and a drain is connected to the second and fourth terminals, the other of the source and the drain is connected to a gate of a pass transistor, and a gate is connected to a fifth wiring line. |
| US09276580B2 |
Time division multiplexed limited switch dynamic logic
A dynamic logic circuit includes a precharge device configured to precharge a dynamic node in accordance with a first and second evaluation clock signal. A first evaluation tree is configured to evaluate the dynamic node to a first value in response to one or more first input signals in accordance with the first evaluation clock signal. A second evaluation tree configured to evaluate the dynamic node to a second value in response to one or more second input signals in accordance with the second evaluation clock signal. |
| US09276575B2 |
Low leakage state retention synchronizer
Described is an apparatus which comprises: a first memory unit having an input and an output, wherein the first memory unit operates on a first power supply which is operable to be turned off; a second memory unit having an input coupled to the output of the first memory unit, and an output, wherein the second memory unit operates on a second power supply which is always on; and a control logic coupled to the first and second memory units, the control logic to provide one or more control signals to each of the first and second memory units. |
| US09276573B2 |
High-performance low-power near-Vt resistive memory-based FPGA
A Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) of the island-type comprising a plurality of cluster-based Configurable Logic Blocks (CLBs), whereby each of the cluster-based CLBs is surrounded by a global routing structure formed by a plurality of multiplexers and pass/transmission-gates organized in Switch Boxes (SBs) and Connection Blocks (CBs), the switch boxes and the connection blocks comprising at least a first plurality of resistive memories inserted in a data path of a first routing architecture of the switch boxes and the connection blocks. Each CLB contains Basic Logic Elements (BLEs), as well as local routing resources. |
| US09276566B2 |
Dual edge-triggered retention flip-flop
A dual edge triggered retention flip-flop reduces clock tree power dissipation in an active mode and leakage power in a low-power (e.g., standby) mode. For example, a first latch can be used to latch a first state of an input to a flip-flop in response to a first (e.g., positive-going) edge of a clock signal and a second latch can be used to latch a second state of the input to the flip-flop in response to a second (e.g., negative-going) edge of a clock signal. A retention latch can be used to latch and retain the state of the flip-flop when the first and second latches are disabled to save power in the low-power mode. The retention latch can also be used to initialize at least one of the first and second flip-flops when exiting the low-power mode. |
| US09276558B2 |
Surface acoustic wave device including a confinement layer
In a surface acoustic wave device, a plurality of surface acoustic wave elements include piezoelectric bodies having the same cut-angle. A propagation azimuth of a surface acoustic wave in at least one of surface acoustic wave elements is different from a propagation azimuth of a surface acoustic wave in at least another one of the surface acoustic wave elements. In each of the surface acoustic wave elements, a confinement layer configured to confine the surface acoustic wave inside the piezoelectric body is disposed on the piezoelectric body at the side opposite to the side where an electrode is located. |
| US09276553B2 |
Impedance matching device and control method
In an impedance matching device, a storage unit stores a control value representing a load value and a value equivalent to input impedance in advance. The control value identifies inductance and capacitance values matching a predetermined impedance value by use of either a first or second matching circuit. An impedance estimation unit estimates input impedance of the power transmission antenna. The load value estimation unit estimates load value of a circuit connected to a power reception antenna and consuming transmitted electric power. A circuit selection unit electrically connects the first matching circuit, the second matching circuit, or a through circuit per the load value and the input impedance equivalent value. A control value output unit reads out the control value stored in the storage unit based on the load value and the input impedance equivalent value, and outputs the control value to the circuit selected by the circuit selection unit. |
| US09276552B2 |
Output match directional coupler
A directional coupler that provides directional coupling and an impedance transformation is disclosed. In one embodiment, the directional coupler includes a low pass filter having a filter inductor that is coupled between an input port and an output port and a filter capacitor coupled between the output port and ground. The directional coupler also includes detector circuitry wherein the filter inductor is magnetically coupled to a detector inductor in the detector circuitry such that current passing through the filter inductor generates a detector current through the detector inductor. Furthermore, the low pass filter and the detector circuitry cooperate to transform a first impedance presented at the output port to a second impedance presented at the input port. Accordingly, the filter inductor is used in the low pass filter to provide an impedance transformation so as to operate with the detector circuitry to provide a detector current for directional coupling. |
| US09276551B1 |
Impedance tuners with rotating multi-section probes
A new slide-screw impedance tuner structure uses multi-segment, disc-shaped, rotating metallic probes. This ensures probes covering multiple frequency bands to be served using a single vertical control mechanism, instead of multiple axes, motors, motor control and double or triple carriages. Additional benefits are high resolution in the area where the gap between center conductor and probe is small (high GAMMA), smooth increase of proximity between probe and center conductor (basic anti-corona discharge form) and the possibility to compensate for the negative phase slope at higher GAMMA, native to traditional slide screw tuners. |
| US09276550B2 |
Impedance matching switch circuit, impedance matching switch circuit module, and impedance matching circuit module
An impedance matching switch circuit module includes a first switch device connected to first and second high-frequency input/output terminals, a second switch device connected between the first high-frequency input/output terminal and a first matching terminal, and a third switch device connected between the second high-frequency input/output terminal and a second matching terminal. Impedance matching elements having appropriately set element values (inductances or capacitances) are connected to the first and second high-frequency input/output terminals and the first and second matching terminals, and on/off control is performed for the first, second, and third switch devices. |
| US09276549B1 |
Via system of printed circuit board and method of making same
A printed circuit board (PCB) includes a top outer layer, a bottom outer layer, a signal transmission layer, an inner signal transmission layer, and a via system defined in the PCB. The via system includes two pairs of vias configured to transmit signals from a transmitter to a receiver. A signal transmission pathway is defined in the top outer layer, the signal transmission layer, and the inner signal transmission layer. Signals are sent from the transmitter to a first pair of vias, the signals are transmitted from the first pair of vias to a second pair of vias, and the signals are sent from the second pair of vias to the receiver. The two pairs of vias and the signal transmission pathway provide impedance matching to the signals. |
| US09276548B2 |
Stacked LC resonator and band pass filter using the same
Provided are a stacked LC resonator and a band pass filter using the same. The stacked LC resonator includes a flat metal base layer; a plurality of spiral inductors disposed layer by layer, corresponding to the flat metal base layer; and a plurality of dielectric layers, formed between the spiral inductors, and between the flat metal base layer and the spiral inductor corresponding to the flat metal base layer. The band pass filter includes two resonators with symmetrical structures, wherein the spiral inductors of the two resonators are disposed corresponding to each other. |
| US09276547B2 |
Systems and methods of stacking LC tanks for wide tuning range and high voltage swing
A cascaded arrangement of resonant tanks capable of widening frequency selection and tuning within an RF circuit is presented. Moreover, usage of DTC allows for larger frequency tuning per tank as well as handling of higher voltage swings while maintaining high linearity across the tuning range. |
| US09276546B2 |
Electromagnetic interference filter assembly
An assembly and method for providing electromagnetic interference isolation. The assembly includes an enclosure which has a first panel and a second panel. Bus bars extend through the first panel and the second panel. A mounting plate is positioned between the first panel and the second panel. The mounting plate has locating members thereon. A plurality of inductive cores are positioned proximate the locating members, the inductive cores having openings through which the bus bars extend. The inductive cores are precisely positioned in the enclosure to facilitate the electromagnetic interference isolation. |
| US09276545B2 |
Method of power amplifier switching power control using post power amplifier power detection
Various embodiments described herein relate to a power management block and one or more amplification blocks used in the transmitter of a communication subsystem. The power management block provides improved control for the gain control signal provided to a pre-amplifier and the supply voltage provided to a power amplifier, both of which are included in a selected one of the amplification blocks. The power expended by the power amplifier is optimized by employing a continuous control method in which one or more feedback loops are employed to take into account various characteristics of the transmitter components and control values. Post power amplifier transmission power is detected for input into the one or more feedback loops executed in the power management block. A controller for the power amplifier is design to stabilize the system with respect to gain expansion in the power amplifier. |
| US09276532B2 |
High speed amplifier
A circuit may include one or more transistors connected directly to an output, and an inductance network. The inductance network may connect to a source node of at least one of the transistors, to compensate capacitance of the output. Thus, the response time of the circuit may decrease, and a non-dominant frequency response pole frequency of the circuit may increase. |
| US09276524B2 |
High frequency oscillator circuit
An oscillator circuit includes a field effect transistor and a resonant circuit having a first terminal connected to the field effect transistor. The resonant circuit includes an inductance and a capacitance and has a second terminal for connecting to a radiator. The field effect transistor includes a gate electrode coupled to a source of gate voltage, a source electrode, a drain electrode and a graphene channel disposed between the source electrode and the drain electrode and electrically connected thereto. The graphene channel is disposed relative to the gate electrode for being biased by the gate electrode into a negative differential resistance region of operation. The oscillator circuit is capable of generating a continuous wave THz frequency signal, and is further capable of being enabled and disabled by the bias applied to the gate electrode. |
| US09276523B1 |
Panel washing systems and methods
Embodiments disclose automated systems and methods for washing solar panels. The solar panels may be arranged in rows with varying lengths. A washing device unit may be configured to clean a first row, and a second washing may be configured to clean a second row, wherein the first row may include more solar panels than the first row. The first washing device may be configured to receive cleaning fluid from a fluid source and supply the cleaning fluid to the second washing device in areas that the second row is adjacent to the first row. |
| US09276522B1 |
Mass damper for solar tracker
In an example, the system has a mechanical isolator comprising an elastic material configured to separate the panel rail from the torque tube cause destructive interference with a natural resonant frequency of the system without the mechanical isolator to reduce a mechanical vibration of the system. |
| US09276521B2 |
Clamp for solar panel array
A clamp for securing photovoltaic panels to a support tube of a photovoltaic panel array has a lower brace for positioning on the support tube perpendicular to the support tube. The lower brace has a central web with a pair of side walls depending from opposite edges of the web. Support shoulders are formed in the side walls. Straps have tabs on an upper end that land on the support shoulders. An upper brace has flanges for engaging upper edge surfaces of adjacent ones of the panels. At least one deflectable standoff positions the upper brace a distance from the lower brace that is selected to be greater than a thickness of the adjacent ones of the panels. Tightening bolts between the braces deflects the standoff and draws the upper brace toward the lower brace to clamp the adjacent ones of the panels between the lower and upper braces. |