| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US09526564B2 |
Electric stapler device
An end effector assembly adapted to couple to an electrosurgical instrument, the end effector assembly including a plurality of spaced apart small seal plates on opposing jaw members where each seal plate forms a pair of seal plates with the corresponding seal plate on the opposing jaw member. Each pair of seal plates is individually activatable, and the pair of seal plates are activated in sequence. When the opposing jaw members are in an approximated position, the pairs of seal plates around the periphery of each jaw member define a gap therebetween that is larger than the gap between pairs of seal plates along the center of each jaw member. |
| US09526561B2 |
Radio frequency ablation cooling shield
A medical assembly and method are provided to effectively treat abnormal tissue, such as, a tumor. The target tissue is thermally ablated using a suitable source, such as RF or laser energy. A cooling shield is placed in contact with non-target tissue adjacent the target tissue, and actively cooled to conduct thermal energy away from the non-target tissue. In one method, the cooling shield can be placed between two organs, in which case, one of the two organs can comprise the target tissue, and the other of the two organs can comprise the non-target tissue. In this case, the cooling shield may comprise an actively cooled inflatable balloon, which can be disposed between the two organs when deflated, and then inflated. The inflatable balloon can be actively cooled by pumping a cooling medium through it. In another method, the cooling shield can be embedded within the non-target tissue. In this case, the cooling shield can comprise one or more needles. If a plurality of needles is used, they can be embedded into the non-target tissue in a series, e.g., a rectilinear or curvilinear arrangement. The needle(s) can be actively cooled by pumping a cooling medium through them. |
| US09526556B2 |
Systems and methods systems related to electrosurgical wands with screen electrodes
An electrosurgical wand for treating tissue at a target site within or on a patient's body is described, having an elongate shaft with a handle and a distal end portion. The distal end portion has an active electrode, an insulative spacer body and a return electrode; the active electrode supported by the insulative spacer body and spaced away from the return electrode. The active electrode has both lateral and medial edge surfaces. The insulative spacer body has an aspiration cavity fluidly connected with an aspiration lumen, and at least one tapered aperture extending beyond at least one of the electrode medial edge surfaces and directed to the aspiration cavity. |
| US09526553B2 |
Screw insertion instrument
An instrument for selectively coupling with a pedicle screw is disclosed. The instrument includes an inner shaft, wherein the distal tip is configured to engage a pedicle screw and the proximal end configured to be selectively engaged with a knob, and a knob assembly configured to advance over the inner shaft, wherein the distal end is configured to engage the tulip of the pedicle screw and the proximal end is configured to selectively engage the inner shaft. A method for selectively coupling the instrument to a pedicle screw is also disclosed. |
| US09526550B2 |
Methods and apparatus for treating vertebral fractures
Methods and apparatus for treating bones, including, in one or more embodiments, methods and apparatus for treatment of vertebral fractures that include an inflation device for cavity creation and an inflation and containment device for maintaining vertebral height and cement containment. Methods for treating a bone comprising: creating a cavity in the bone; inflating a containment jacket in the cavity; inflating a balloon within the containment jacket so that the balloon occupies a first portion of the containment jacket; introducing a first filler material into a second portion of the containment jacket, wherein the second portion of the containment jacket is not occupied by the balloon; removing the balloon from the containment jacket; and introducing a second filler material into the first portion of the containment jacket. |
| US09526548B2 |
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. |
| US09526543B2 |
Modular fracture fixation system
A fracture fixation plate system for use on a long bone having a metaphysis and a diaphysis, includes at least one end plate having a head portion for the metaphysis, and at least one diaphyseal plate having a first end and a second end with a plurality of screw holes therebetween. The end plate includes mating structure adapted to mate with and securely couple to at least one end of the at least one diaphyseal plate. The system preferably includes several end plates and diaphyseal plates to accommodate anatomy of various sizes. A method for coupling the plates to the bone is also provided. |
| US09526538B2 |
Methods and apparatus for treating vertebral fractures
Methods and apparatus for treating bones, including, in one or more embodiments, methods and apparatus for treatment of vertebral fractures that include a containment assembly for cement containment and/or a balloon assembly for maintaining vertebral height. A containment assembly comprising a containment jacket adapted to be deployed inside bone; and a dividing wall that separates the interior of the containment jacket into a proximal region and a distal region, the dividing wall having an opening for providing access to the distal region from the proximal region. |
| US09526534B2 |
Orthopedic implant system
A surgical instrument configured to introduce a spinal fixation rod into a vertebral implant. When the spinal fixation rod is engaged with the surgical instrument and the surgical instrument is put into a retention configuration, the spinal fixation rod cannot be removed from the surgical instrument until the spinal fixation rod is properly oriented with respect to the surgical construct and the surgical instrument is released from the retention configuration. The surgical instrument includes a surgical instrument body, an actuator, an engagement assembly, and a transfer assembly that extends between the actuator and the engagement assembly. The surgical instrument can also be used as part of a method for introducing a spinal fixation rod or part of a kit for introducing a spinal fixation rod. |
| US09526526B2 |
Pedicle screw
The present invention includes a pedicle screw made with a bone fastener and a rod coupling head, the rod coupling head comprising an upper rod coupling: the lower rod coupling having a lateral rod opening adapted to receive a permanent rod; an angled bore extends into the lateral rod opening; and a permanent rod fastener in the angled bore to engage a permanent rod in the lateral rod opening; and a upper rod coupling having an upper rod opening adapted to receive a temporary rod, wherein the upper rod opening is formed to receive a temporary rod fastener; wherein the upper rod coupling is detachable from the lower rod coupling at a transition and a temporary rod is temporarily affixed into the upper rod opening during a bone realignment and a permanent rod is positioned in the lateral rod opening and engaged by the permanent rod fastener upon final bone alignment. |
| US09526523B2 |
External fixation device and fixation device set
A fixation device set S includes an external fixation device which is attached on one end-side of first and second pins; and a pin fixture which is attached on the other end-side. The external fixation device includes a first and a second permanent magnets disposed with their same poles opposed to each other; a first holding portion provided in the first permanent magnet; a second holding portion provided in the second permanent magnet; first limiter portions sandwiching the first and the second permanent magnets from a second direction; and second limiter portions connecting the first limiter portions to each other. The first pins are inserted through through-holes in the first holding portion, whereas the second holding portion is attached to the second pin via a ball joint. |
| US09526522B2 |
Interventional medical systems, tools, and assemblies
A tether holder has a locking portion, for securing a proximal end of a tether, and a pin portion that may fit within a receptacle of a handle assembly of a tool. A distal member of an inner assembly of the tool engages an implantable medical device, from which the tether extends, through at least one lumen of the inner assembly and out through a proximal port of the handle assembly, which is located in proximity to the receptacle. An enlarged distal-most portion of a deployment tube of the tool contains the distal member and the device, and is moveable, relatively to the inner assembly and the device, to deploy the device out through a distal opening of the tool. The handle assembly may also include a flush lumen and a tether engaging conduit, both in fluid communication with the at least one lumen of the inner assembly. |
| US09526517B2 |
Probe, treatment device, and treatment system
A probe which is configured to treat a bone by ultrasonic vibration, includes: a treatment section which is arranged on a distal end side of a vibration transmitting section, to which the ultrasonic vibration is transmitted through the vibration transmitting section. The treatment section includes: a cutting blade that includes a treatment surface, and cuts and treats the bone by the treatment surface; a protrusion that is provided at a position different from the cutting blade, protrudes in a direction different from the protruding direction of the treatment surface of the cutting blade, marks the bone, and defines a position of the bone to be treated with the cutting blade; and a regulation surface that is formed at a position where the protrusion is provided, and regulates entrance of the protrusion into the bone beyond a predetermined level. |
| US09526515B2 |
Device for positioning an ultrasound transducer inside a MR scanner
A device (16) positions an ultrasound transducer (14) for ultrasound therapy to focus a treatment beam (12) emitted by the ultrasound transducer (14) at tissue of interest. The device (16) includes at least three anchors (20) which support the ultrasound transducer (14). The device (16) further includes at least three extendable structures (24), each with a coupling (22) that supports a corresponding one of the at least three anchors (20). A drive mechanism (100) of the device (16) independently drives each of the at least three extendable structures (24) towards or away from a subject to move the ultrasound transducer (14) within at least three degrees of freedom. |
| US09526514B2 |
Patient-specific assemblies, jigs, and methods for a personalized total hip arthroplasty system
A patient-specific total hip arthroplasty system including surgical guide and jig instrumentation modeled by computer aided design using image data derived from a specific patient's relevant anatomy. Patient-specific jigs fit surface topography of portions of the acetabulum and femur of the patient and are designed to guide surgical implantation at very precise geometries unique to each patient. Patient-specific pin-locating jigs, pin-rail and spacer systems, acetabular reaming and impacting jigs, and femoral resection and version jigs are fabricated pre-operatively according to the models. Methods for fabricating jig components of the system and methods of performing a total hip arthroplasty utilizing the system are also disclosed. |
| US09526513B2 |
Void filling joint prosthesis and associated instruments
A bone void filling prosthesis, which includes a body and a plurality of legs. The body includes an aperture extending therethrough. The plurality of legs are each connected to the body. Each of the plurality of legs includes at least one selectively removable portion for adjusting a length of each of the plurality of legs. |
| US09526512B2 |
Universal double offset surgical instrument
Instruments for use in anterior approach total hip arthroplasty. Instruments according to certain embodiments of the invention connect to a shaping member such as a broach, reamer or osteotome that is used to prepare the intramedullary canal of a desired femur or other bone for total hip arthroplasty. Such an instrument according to such embodiments can be configurable to allow operation on either the left or right leg, and in doing so to provide lateral offset and anterior offset of the instrument handle relative to the shaping member so that the patient's gut, musculature or other bodily portions may be avoided while still providing desired leverage and control over the shaping member to prepare the intramedullary canal. |
| US09526511B2 |
Depth controllable and measurable medical driver devices and methods of use
Disclosed are devices and methods for creating a bore in bone. The devices and methods described involve driving a rotating bit in an axial direction such that both rotation and linear movement are controlled and measurable. The instrument is useful for a surgeon to control and simultaneously measure the travel of the tool into the bone and prevent injury to surrounding structures. |
| US09526500B2 |
Flexible transoral endoscopic gastroesophageal flap valve restoration device and method
A transoral gastroesophageal flap valve restoration device has sufficient flexibility and dimension to be passed through the mouth, throat, and esophagus of a patient into the patient's stomach. The device includes a first member and a second member hingedly coupled to the first member. The first and second members are configured to flex in a direction to follow the esophageal path into the stomach and to be substantially rigid when forming the restored gastroesophageal flap valve. |
| US09526495B2 |
Articulation control for surgical instruments
A surgical instrument comprises an elongate shaft having a proximal end, a distal end, and an articulating portion. An end effector is on the distal end and an actuator is on the proximal end. A rod is in the shaft having a proximal end with a cam follower, a distal end operably connected to the articulation portion, and a longitudinal axis extending between the proximal and distal ends. A disk is in the actuator rotatable in response to user input in a plane substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the rod. The disk has a cam slot receiving the cam follower such that rotation of the disk moves the rod longitudinally to articulate the elongate shaft at the articulation portion. |
| US09526494B1 |
Bone anchor delivery system device and method
A bone anchor delivery system device has a retractable punch driver assembly and a bone anchor assembly for attachment onto the punch driver assembly. The punch driver assembly has a retractable punch shaft and a guide for receiving the retractable punch shaft. The punch shaft is linearly movable relative to the guide and the punch shaft having an extended length with bone penetrating tip at a first end. The bone anchor assembly has a bone anchor having a hollow body, a punch, an intermediate lock. The intermediate lock is stowed at a distal end portion inside the hollow body of the bone anchor near a proximal end of the punch and when moved toward a proximal end of the bone anchor the intermediate lock moves inside and expands the hollow body diametrically increasing in size to secure the bone anchor to a bone opening. |
| US09526492B2 |
Threaded knotless anchor
A suture anchor for deployment in a preformed bone hole to secure soft tissue to bone in a knotless manner. The suture anchor comprises a hollow outer member and an inner member longitudinally movable within the outer member. Suture is directed distally between the wall of the bone hole and the outer anchor member from the soft tissue to be attached to the bone transversely across an eyelet situated at the distal end of the inner member and proximally between the wall of the bone hole and the outer anchor member. A rib/groove suture-locking mechanism is provided by moving the inner member proximally relative to the outer member in order to engage the suture-locking mechanism. |
| US09526491B2 |
Dermal tabs
Approaches for implanting a donor dermis (e.g., skin) in or on a patient body are provided. A device includes a piece of donor dermis and at least one tab formed in or on the donor dermis, wherein the tab is adapted for accepting a suture. A method includes manufacturing a device including a piece of donor dermis and at least one tab formed in or on the donor dermis, wherein the tab is adapted for accepting a suture. Another method includes fastening tissue using a device including a piece of donor dermis and at least one tab formed in or on the donor dermis, wherein the tab is adapted for accepting a suture. |
| US09526490B2 |
Device and method for fixating a suture anchor in hard tissue
A tool for fixating a suture anchor in a hard tissue opening with the aid of a material having thermoplastic properties and energy transmitted to the suture anchor for in situ liquefaction of at least part of the material having thermoplastic properties, includes a distal face, an axial channel and a substantially tube-shaped interface piece fitting into the axial channel of the tool, wherein the axial channel and a proximal end of the interface piece are equipped with catch elements cooperating for catching the interface piece in the axial channel when the interface piece is moved in a proximal direction in the axial channel. |
| US09526489B2 |
Load-sharing rip-stop double row repairs
A load sharing rip-stop construct and technique for soft tissue repair, particularly rotator cuff repair. A suture tape is inserted through the soft tissue (rotator cuff) at a first location. At least one suture anchor is inserted into bone, adjacent the soft tissue, the anchor being loaded with at least one length of an suture with two ends. The ends of the suture are passed through the soft tissue at a second location which is medial to the first location, and secured in bone at the second location with an anchor. The suture tape is then passed over the soft tissue and secured into the bone at a third location which is lateral to the first and second locations. The suture tape acts as a “rip-stop,” not only providing resistance to tissue cutout for the suture, but also enhancing load distribution. |
| US09526480B2 |
Devices and methods for profiling microbiota of skin
Devices and methods for profiling microbiota of skin are described which include a microbe profiling device including a device head and a hand-held housing, the device head including an epidermis-engaging component and an access window and configured to dislodge microbes from a skin surface, and the hand-held housing defining an opening aligned with the access window, the hand-held housing including a motor operably coupled to a motivatable component, a substrate disposed in relation to the motivatable component and including a microbe-capture region, a location-capture component to detect a location of one or more regions of the skin surface as the epidermis-engaging component contacts said one or more regions, at least one sensor component to detect one or more signals emitted or reflected from the microbe-capture region, and a computing component including circuitry to associate the location of said one or more regions of the skin surface and the detected one or more signals. |
| US09526479B2 |
Endoscopic instrument for retrograde biopsy, in particular synovial biopsy
The present invention relates to an endoscopic instrument for retrograde biopsy, in particular synovial biopsy, comprising a head unit (12) having a distal tip portion (36) for penetrating tissue, a jaw part (24) with a tissue engaging formation (38) for removing the biopsy specimen, the jaw part (24) being pivotable from an idle position to an operating position in the direction of the distal tip portion (36) and back, wherein the tissue engaging formation (38) is essentially oriented away from the distal tip portion (36) in the operating position, as well as a first fluid channel area (76) open to the surrounding area in the region of the head unit (12), wherein the first fluid channel area (76) is at least open to the surrounding area via at least one channel opening (78) provided in the jaw part (24), when the jaw part (24) is in idle position. |
| US09526475B2 |
Point source transmission and speed-of-sound correction using multi-aperture ultrasound imaging
A Multiple Aperture Ultrasound Imaging system and methods of use are provided with any number of features. In some embodiments, a multi-aperture ultrasound imaging system is configured to transmit and receive ultrasound energy to and from separate physical ultrasound apertures. In some embodiments, a transmit aperture of a multi-aperture ultrasound imaging system is configured to transmit an omni-directional unfocused ultrasound waveform approximating a first point source through a target region. In some embodiments, the ultrasound energy is received with a single receiving aperture. In other embodiments, the ultrasound energy is received with multiple receiving apertures. Algorithms are described that can combine echoes received by one or more receiving apertures to form high resolution ultrasound images. Additional algorithms can solve for variations in tissue speed of sound, thus allowing the ultrasound system to be used virtually anywhere in or on the body. |
| US09526474B2 |
Ultrasound diagnostic apparatus
An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus includes a monitor simultaneously displaying in blocks a series of examination items on an ultrasound diagnosis within a screen in chronological order and a controller causing the monitor to highlight a block of an examination item being currently executed among blocks indicating the series of examination items displayed on the monitor. |
| US09526472B2 |
Method and arrangement for estimating mineral density of a bone
An arrangement is adapted to determine an estimate for mineral density related to a patient's first bone, wherein said first bone is associated with a femoral head, neck and/or a lumbar spine. The estimate determined by determining a first parameter, which is related to a property change in a measurement signal, most preferably an ultrasonic signal, launched towards some second bone of said patient other than the first bone after the measurement signal has been in interaction with said second bone. This is followed by determining an estimate for mineral density related to said patient's first bone by using said first parameter. |
| US09526471B2 |
Phantom and method for image quality assessment of a digital breast tomosynthesis system
A phantom for image quality assessment of digital breast tomosynthesis apparatus includes at least one set of beads arranged as a first ramp and as a second ramp in respective proximate parallel vertical planes in a reverse staircase pattern along a vertical direction with a final bead of the first ramp and an initial bead of the second ramp being located at substantially the same intermediate height within the phantom. The beads and additional test objects may be positioned in non-overlapping locations within the phantom to facilitate determination of multiple image quality parameters with a single scanning sequence of the phantom. |
| US09526465B2 |
Radiography system, console and electronic cassette
For identification of individual electronic cassettes, a different label is attached to each of the electronic cassettes. Selection buttons for selecting one of the electronic cassettes are provided on a console in correspondence with the respective electronic cassettes. A cassette ID is assigned to each of the electronic cassettes, and the console communicates with the selected electronic cassette using the cassette ID assigned to the selected electronic cassette. Data of correspondence between the cassette ID and the label is memorized for each electronic cassette. The same label is displayed on the selection button as the label on the corresponding electronic cassette, allowing confirming whether the electronic cassette actually positioned for imaging coincides with the electronic cassette selected on the console. |
| US09526463B2 |
Radiation shielding
Various configurations of shielding materials within shielding layers, such as for use in shielding radiation from implanted radioactive carriers, are discussed herein. |
| US09526460B2 |
Tissue-characterization probe with effective sensor-to-tissue contact
The present invention relates to a device for tissue-characterization, designed for effective sensor-to-tissue contact. The device includes an element, having a rigid surface of a linear cross-section, on which at least one sensor is arranged, and a mechanism for applying a force to a soft tissue, the line of force being at an acute angle with the rigid surface, for stretching or stretching and pushing the soft tissue against the rigid surface, thus achieving effective contact between the tissue and the at least one sensor. In consequence, the accuracy of the sensing is improved. In accordance with another embodiment, a plurality of sensors is employed, arranged along a curved element, for providing three-dimensional information regarding the tissue, for example, by small-scale computerized tomography. |
| US09526458B2 |
Cough analysis
A computer-implemented method comprises: (A) receiving first acoustic data representing a first cough train of a first human subject, wherein the first cough train comprises at least one first cough of the first human subject; (B) identifying at least one first value of at one first acoustic property of the first acoustic data; and (C) determining, based on the at least one first value of the at least one first acoustic property, whether the first acoustic data indicates that the first human subject has a severe respiratory illness. |
| US09526457B2 |
Predictive intervertebral disc degeneration detection engine
Systems, methods and computer program products for facilitating the prognosis of degenerative disc disorder (DDD) are provided. In one aspect, intervertebral disc loss is predicted based on receiving image data comprising one or more images of the human spine; segmenting, using a processor, disc regions of said one or more images; generating, using the processor, individual biomarkers based on texture features of said segmented disc regions; generating, using the processor, a predicting intervertebral disc loss based in part on the prognostic marker generated from the individual biomarkers. |
| US09526456B2 |
System and method for evaluating a patient status for use in heart failure assessment
A system and method for evaluating a patient status from sampled physiometry for use in heart failure assessment is presented. Physiological measures, including at least one of direct measures regularly recorded on a substantially continuous basis by a medical device and measures derived from the direct measures are stored. At least one of those of the physiological measures, which relate to a same type of physiometry, and those of the physiological measures, which relate to a different type of physiometry are sampled. A status is determined for a patient through analysis of those sampled measures assembled from a plurality of recordation points. The sampled measures are evaluated. Trends that are indicated by the patient status, including one of a status quo and a change, which might affect cardiac performance of the patient, are identified. Each trend is compared to worsening heart failure indications to generate a notification of parameter violations. |
| US09526449B2 |
Detection and treatment of abnormal esophageal sphincter functionality
An esophageal device is used to recognize, diagnose, characterize, or relieve an impact of an abnormal or defective UES anatomy, physiology, or functionality. In one implementation, the esophageal device measures a UES response to esophageal fluid infusion to detect or characterize an abnormality or defective UES anatomy, physiology, or functionality. An Upper Esophageal Sphincter compression device is used to increase intra-luminal pressure within the Upper Esophageal Sphincter of a patient in order relieve an impact of an abnormal or defective UES anatomy, physiology, or functionality. |
| US09526446B2 |
Testing member for eliciting a blood sample
A testing member for eliciting blood samples is provided that can be rotatably mounted inside a cartridge and having a lancet for lancing a body part of a user. The lancet can protrude from an edge of the testing member. The testing member also can have a second blood collection part, and second contact pads, where the second contact pads being electrically connected to the second blood collection part, the second blood collection part and second contact pads together being configured to facilitate an analysis of the quantity of blood in a first blood sample in the second blood collection part. A blood analysis part and first contact pads can be included, where the first contact pads are electrically connected to the blood analysis part, the blood analysis part and first contact pads together being configured to facilitate an analysis of a second blood sample in the blood analysis part. |
| US09526443B1 |
Force and/or motion measurement system and a method of testing a subject
A force measurement system includes a force measurement assembly configured to receive a subject thereon, at least one visual display device having an output screen, and one or more data processing devices configured to generate a screen image comprising a plurality of substantially concentric bands on the output screen of the at least one visual display device that is configured to create a visual stimuli for the subject disposed on the force measurement assembly. A plurality of methods for testing a subject is also disclosed herein. The methods for testing a subject utilize a force measurement assembly and/or augmented reality glasses. A measurement system including a motion detection system, an object position detection system, and/or an eye movement tracking device is additionally disclosed herein. |
| US09526442B2 |
System and method to capture and process body measurements
The present invention is directed to system and method capture and process body measurement data including one or more body scanners, each body scanner configured to capture a plurality depth images of a user. A backend system, coupled to each body scanner, is configured to receive the plurality of depth images, generate a three dimensional avatar of the user based on the plurality of depth images, and generate a set of body measurements of the user based on the avatar. A repository is in communication with the backend system and configured to associate the body scanner data with the user and store the body scanner data. |
| US09526438B2 |
Microwave stethoscope for measuring cardio-pulmonary vital signs and lung water content
A microwave stethoscope measurement method and sensor design employ a microwave transmission sensor and a microwave reception sensor placed on a patient's chest in spaced-apart side-by-side configuration for monitoring patient vital signs, lung water content and other critical measurements. The side-by-side sensors are spaced apart a separation distance of about 1-3 cm in lateral chest orientation. The sensors may be formed with a textile fabric for wearer comfort and to improve contact with the patient's skin. The microwave sensor measurements are digitally processed using a modified short time Fourier Transform (STFT) spectrum windowed-averaged algorithm. Output data extracted from the microwave sensor measurements may be transmitted wirelessly to a mobile device such as a smartphone for remote monitoring of the patient's medical condition. |
| US09526433B2 |
Wrist-mounted electrocardiography device
Wearable devices are described herein including a housing and a mount configured to mount the housing to a wrist of a wearer. The wearable devices further include first and second electrical contacts configured such that the first electrical contact is in contact with skin proximate of the wrist when the wearable device is so mounted. The second electrical contact is disposed on a surface of the wearable device away from the wrist such that, when the wearer contacts the second electrical contact with a finger or other element of the arm opposite the wrist, an electrocardiographic waveform of the wearer can be extracted from voltage fluctuations between the first and second electrodes. Such wearable devices can be used for periodic logging or other applications of the electrocardiographic waveforms of the wearer. Such logged electrocardiographic waveforms could be used to determine a medical or health state of the wearer. |
| US09526431B2 |
System for noninvasive optical measurements of physiological properties in tissue
Embodiments of the present invention comprise systems and methods for noninvasion measurements of physiological properties of tissues. The system comprises a light emitter, an optical detector, a mechanical sensor and a processor. The light emitter is capable of emitting light of at least two different wavelengths and comprises at least one light source. The processor is capable of evaluating physiological properties of the tissues from measurements of the optical and the mechanical sensor. More precisely, the processor is capable of evaluating physiological properties of venous blood by using data measured by the mechanical sensor and the optical detector. For example, the oxygenation of venous blood can be measured. Furthermore, the systems can optionally comprise a light emitter which emits three wavelengths and/or the light emitter and the optical detector are arranged in reflection geometry and are located at a distance of at most 10 mm from each other. |
| US09526429B2 |
Apparatus, system and method for chronic disease monitoring
An apparatus, system, and method for monitoring a person suffering from a chronic medical condition predicts and assesses physiological changes which could affect the care of that subject. Examples of such chronic diseases include (but are not limited to) heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, and diabetes. Monitoring includes measurements of respiratory movements, which can then be analyzed for evidence of changes in respiratory rate, or for events such as hypoponeas, apneas and periodic breathing. Monitoring may be augmented by the measurement of nocturnal heart rate in conjunction with respiratory monitoring. Additional physiological measurements can also be taken such as subjective symptom data, blood pressure, blood oxygen levels, and various molecular markers. Embodiments for detection of respiratory patterns and heart rate are disclosed, together with exemplar implementations of decision processes based on these measurements. |
| US09526427B2 |
Compact light sensors with symmetrical lighting
Provided are methods and systems for concurrent imaging at multiple wavelengths. In one aspect, an imaging device includes at least one objective lens configured to receive light backscattered by an object, a plurality of pixel array photo-sensors, a plurality of bandpass filters covering respective photo-sensors, where each bandpass filter is configured to allow a different respective spectral band to pass through the filter, and a beam steering assembly in optical communication with the at least one objective lens and the photo-sensors. The beam steering assembly directs light received by at least one objective lens from the tissue of a subject to at least one pixel array photo-sensor in the plurality of pixel array photo-sensors. |
| US09526424B2 |
Apparatus, systems, and methods of in-vivo blood clearing in a lumen
In one aspect, the invention relates to a computer-implemented method of triggering optical coherence tomography data collection. The method includes collecting optical coherence tomography data with respect to a vessel using an optical coherence tomography probe disposed in the vessel; determining a clearing radius and a quality value for each frame of optical coherence tomography data collected for the vessel using a computer; determining if a blood clearing state has occurred using at least one clearing radius and at least one quality value; and generating a trigger signal in response to the blood clearing state. |
| US09526421B2 |
Mobile wireless customizable health and condition monitor
A method and system for wellness monitoring using one or more wellness indicator inputs and values is provided. One or more wellness indicator monitoring devices may be provided for measuring wellness indicator input. The wellness indicator monitoring devices may have one or more sensors and a microcontroller in communication with the one or more sensors. One or more servers may communicate with the one or more wellness indicator monitoring devices over a network. A processor may be configured to manipulate the wellness indicator input, and one or more output device may create a desired output based on the wellness indicator values. |
| US09526418B2 |
Device for storage of intraluminally generated power
A device for storing power generated from intraluminal pressure changes may comprise: (a) an intraluminal pressure change-receiving structure operably coupled to the generator; (b) a intraluminal generator; and (c) an energy storage apparatus.A system for storing power generated from intraluminal pressure changes may comprise: (a) means for receiving an intraluminal pressure change; (b) means for converting the intraluminal pressure change into energy with an intraluminal generator; and (c) means for storing the energy in an energy storage apparatus. |
| US09526417B1 |
Projector for adaptor-less smartphone eye imaging and associated methods
A projector and associated method allows adaptor-less smartphone eye imaging. The projector includes at least two line generators for projecting a pattern onto a face of a subject, and a structure for positioning the line generators relative to a camera of the smartphone. The pattern facilitates positioning of the smartphone relative to the subject's eye such that an image of the eye captured by the camera is optimal for evaluation. |
| US09526415B2 |
Ophthalmologic apparatus
An ophthalmologic apparatus of an embodiment includes an examination part, a moving mechanism, an information obtaining part, and a controller. The examination part is configured to include an optical system for optically examining an eye. The moving mechanism is configured to move the optical system. The information obtaining part is configured to obtain information for carrying out position matching of the optical system to the eye. The controller is configured to carry out first control for the moving mechanism based on the information obtained by the information obtaining part to move the optical system, determine whether information optically obtained by the optical system after the first control is appropriate to the examination or not, and when it is determined that this information is not appropriate, carry out second control for the moving mechanism in response to a prescribed trigger to move the optical system. |
| US09526413B2 |
Method and apparatus for measuring a property of an eye of a subject
According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of measuring a property of an eye of a subject using an apparatus which is: arranged to provide a bleaching light, a background light ostensibly invisible to rods (e.g. substantially red, and/or having or being a wavelength greater than 580 nm) and a target light ostensibly visible to rods (e.g. substantially green, and/or having or being a wavelength less than 580 nm and greater than 400 nm, e.g. around 514 nm+/−50 nm), the background light and/or target light (together) being suitable for rod-dominated stimulation, the background light and target light being superimposable upon one another, and the target light being presentable to the subject such that the target light is incident on a parafoveal region of the subject's retina; the method comprising: a) stimulating the subject's retina with a low level bleach using the bleaching light; b) after the bleach has been undertaken, modulating a target light at an initial luminance at which modulation of the target light is not perceivable by the subject, whilst a background light remains substantially constant; c) increasing the luminance of the modulated target light; d) receiving an input from the subject when modulation of the target light is perceivable by the subject, thus indicating a rod-related threshold; e) after said input, decreasing the luminance of the modulated target light; and f) repeating parts c) to e) of the method to determine a series of rod-related thresholds over a period of time. |
| US09526410B2 |
Eye surgery system and method of inserting an intraocular lens
A method of inserting an intraocular lens into an eye comprises: determining preoperative values of an eye; selecting an intraocular lens based on the preoperative values; inserting the intraocular lens into the eye; determining intraoperative values of the eye; providing an eye model, wherein the eye model includes plural parameters; determining the second value representing a postoperative visual defect of the eye using the eye model, wherein the preoperative values of the eye are assigned to a first subset of the plural parameters of the eye model and wherein the intraoperative values of the eye are assigned to a second subset of the plural parameters of the eye model; and correcting the position and/or the orientation of the inserted intraocular lens or inserting a different intraocular lens based on the value representing the postoperative visual defect of the eye. |
| US09526402B2 |
Endoscope apparatus
The endoscope apparatus effects shifting without disappearance of a side observation image until a boundary between the side observation image and a non-image-forming region reaches an end of a light receiving surface so that a displacement of a shift distance K is produced between an optical axis of an imaging optical system and a center position L of the light receiving surface of an imaging section, adjusts a magnification of the imaging optical system, and magnifies and displays a combined image of a front observation image and the side observation image. |
| US09526395B2 |
Automatic dishwasher
An automatic dishwasher includes a heat pump device for heating washing liquid. The heat pump device includes an evaporator, a fan adapted to supply ambient air to the evaporator, and a device for wet dust collection connected upstream of the evaporator in the flow direction of the ambient air. |
| US09526392B2 |
Protective handle for a scrubbing device
A protective handle for a scrubbing device is disclosed by this invention. The protective handle protects the fingernails, knuckles and digits of a user during use. The protective handle is flexible and malleable. The user grips the protective handle and rolls it over their fingernails, digits, upper knuckles and lower knuckles and tucks their thumb either behind or in front of the handle. The protective handle then protects the user's fingernails, knuckles and digits during use. The protective handle for a scrubbing device is versatile and has a crevice cleaning position and an edge cleaning position. |
| US09526391B2 |
Cleaning system and maintenance station thereof
A cleaning system includes a robot cleaner having an opening unit and a first dirt container funneled to the opening unit, and a maintenance station to which robot cleaner is docked to discharge dirt stored in the first dirt container. The maintenance station includes a first inlet hole configured to intake dirt from the first dirt container through the opening unit, a first outlet hole configured to blow air into the first dirt container, a circulating passage provided between the first inlet hole and the first outlet hole, a second dirt container disposed on the circulation passage to store dirt taken in from the robot cleaner, a draft apparatus having a draft fan and a fan motor to drive the draft fan to circulate air through the circulating passage, and a second outlet hole configured to discharge air inside the circulating passage of the maintenance station to an outside. |
| US09526390B2 |
Robot cleaner
A robot cleaner includes a main body that defines an external appearance of the robot cleaner. The robot cleaner further includes a plurality of dust sensors that are located at different positions on the main body and that are configured to sense dust that is located in a traveling route of the robot cleaner. The robot cleaner further includes a control unit that is configured to control movement and a cleaning operation of the robot cleaner based on sensing data from the plurality of dust sensors. |
| US09526389B2 |
Surface cleaning head including openable agitator chamber and a removable rotatable agitator
A surface cleaning head includes an openable agitator chamber to provide access to an agitator, such as a brush roll, for purposes of removing debris and/or removing the agitator. The openable agitator chamber is covered by an external cover that is movable between an open position and a closed position. A sealing member may be located between the external cover and a surface cleaning head housing and around a perimeter of the agitator chamber. A surface cleaning head includes a removable rotatable agitator, such as a brush roll, which is driven by a drive mechanism that axially engages the driven end. At least one end of the removable agitator may be secured in the agitator chamber by the external cover. The surface cleaning head may also include one or more transparent regions (e.g., on the openable cover) to allow visual inspection of the agitator during use. |
| US09526388B2 |
Upright vacuum
A slide shoe is detachably mounted on the underside of a cleaning head and has a hole congruent with the suction hole of the cleaning head. The slide shoe can be retrofitted to the cleaning head of an already existing floor vacuum cleaner. On its underside, the slide shoe has a slide surface that can be moved easily over a soft carpet. At the same time, the slide shoe mounted on the underside of the cleaning head increases the distance between the bearing surface of the cleaning head and the brush roller compared to the bearing surface of the cleaning head without a slide shoe. |
| US09526384B2 |
Wet or dry wipe dispenser and container
An improved wet or dry wipe dispenser for one hand use and minimal user dexterity. The dispenser is made up of a carry-handle (106), handle cap (108), lid (102) and bucket (104). The handle cap (108) forms a light contact seal to the lid (102) and retains moisture, but vents excess pressure of volatile liquids. The lid (102) forms a liquid tight seal to bucket (104). The lid (102) is removable allowing replacement of wipe media. An integrated carry-handle (106) and handle cap (108) allows easy portability. The bucket (104) has a liquid level and media window (120) for viewing indication of measurement of wet wipe liquids and for viewing remaining wipe media (702). |
| US09526377B2 |
Lid storage system
The Lid Storage System provides an organized and secure method of storing pot lids, decorative plates or other similar items on a mounting surface in an approximately vertical position. The system in its simplest form consists of one top bracket and two lower brackets for each lid. Each bracket may include a double-sided adhesive pad to affix each bracket to the mounting surface but may also include a passage for a fastener if needed. The top bracket includes a top flange that is longer than the lower flange of each lower bracket, which provides the needed clearance for the lid to slide up into the top bracket and clear the lower flange of each lower bracket for insertion and removal of the lids. The top bracket is arranged on the centerline of the lid and the lower brackets are arranged one on either side of the center line. The lid nests within the brackets in the stored position in which the lid also remains secured during any movement of the mounting surface such as a cabinet door. |
| US09526376B2 |
Barbecue oven and method of operation
A barbecue oven that enables operator control of the combustion process through selective control of gas flow through and/or around a hot, oxygenated bed of coals and further enables automatic control of oven temperature through thermostatic regulation of forced draft. |
| US09526375B2 |
Connecting structure for barbecue grill
A connecting structure for a barbecue grill contains: a body and a holding mount. The holding mount includes a first side plate, a second side plate, a third side plate, a fourth side plate, and a pull bar. Each of the first and second side plates has a plurality of connecting elements, and each connecting element has a head portion and an extension, the third side plate has multiple first retaining slots, and the fourth side plate has multiple second retaining slots. Each first retaining slot has a first notch and a second notch, the pull bar has two positioning pieces which correspond to the first side plate and the second side plate, respectively. Each positioning piece has a connection groove which has a wide section and a narrow section, a diameter of which is less than the wide section and within the head portion and the extension. |
| US09526372B2 |
Beverage dispensing machine
A machine for dispensing hot beverages, e.g. coffee, comprising a liquid heater, in particular for heating water intended for human consumption, provided with a container, adapted to be at least partially filled with a first liquid to be heated, and a heating electric resistor arranged outside the container, in contact with the bottom of said container, so as to indirectly heat said first liquid through said bottom. |
| US09526371B2 |
Capsule based system for preparing and dispensing a beverage
The present invention relates to dispensing of a substance from a container by means of a dispensing apparatus. Specifically, the exemplary embodiment of the present invention relates to (1) a container and (2) the automated method for opening such container and (3) the automated method of dispensing of the contents from such container into a customer receptacle or glass. |
| US09526369B2 |
Infusion extracting apparatus and method
A piston-type extraction apparatus and methods for making and using the same are disclosed. The apparatus includes a cylindrical container with lid and pour spout, a container insert, and plunger element including piston, rod, handle, and filtration chamber. The container insert is designed to catch coffee grounds or other infusible material which may be easily removed from the container when the container is empty or when the extract fluid remains in the container. The filtration chamber is adapted for use with a paper filter. The plunger element may temporarily couple with the insert to allow the insert to be pulled up through the container with the grounds of other infusible material captured between the insert and the plunger element allowing for quick and easy cleanup. The extraction apparatus is adapted for a use in a variety of sizes and may be adapted for manufactured at low cost. |
| US09526368B2 |
Single cup coffee and tea brewing system
The first embodiment of the disclosure presents a single cup coffee brewer comprised of two components: a dripper component and a drip rate control component. The dripper component has a brewing container with a flat bottom having a drainage part, and a cylindrical tube member that fits inside the brewing container. A single sheet of Number 4 filter paper is wrapped around the cylindrical tube member, fitting snugly against the drainage part, thereby forming a dripper having a flat bottom using standard filter paper.The drip rate control component is attached to the dripper component, and has a lever that controls the drip control rate from zero to a maximum value. The coffee brewer can therefore be used as a dripper with a user controlled drip rate, or as an infuser followed by a dripper where the user controls the drip rate. |
| US09526367B2 |
Cooking utensil for cooking food under pressure that has an improved control device
Provided is a utensil for cooking food under pressure including: a vessel and a lid; at least one locking member mounted to move on the lid between a locking position and an unlocking position; a control device for controlling the movement of the locking member, including an operating member suitable for being actuated by a user in such a manner as to cause the locking member to move; wherein the locking member is mounted on the lid in such a manner as to be urged by positioning resilient return means towards its locking position; and the operating member is mounted to be drivingly linked to the locking member in a manner such that the action by the user on the operating member causes the locking member to move towards its unlocking position. |
| US09526358B2 |
Apparatus for displaying spectacles
The invention relates to an apparatus for displaying spectacles, having a basic body (1) and having a plurality of accommodating devices (2), which are carried by the basic body (1) and are each intended for accommodating a pair of spectacles, wherein each accommodating device (2) comprises at least one bearing region (3) on which to rest the pair of spectacles. The apparatus is characterized by the provision of a contactlessly operating removal-prevention means (5) which in the handling region, immediately in front of the bearing region (3), defines a detection region which is influenced when the pair of spectacles is removed by hand and/or when the spectacle frame is moved past it. |
| US09526357B2 |
Store frames tooth profiles
A universal store frame bracket profile is provided for coupling to one of multiple different store frame openings. Embodiments of the bracket include a bracket body with a platform support surface, a first tooth feature, and a second tooth feature. The first and second tooth features extend in a first direction from an edge of the bracket body. In embodiments, the first tooth feature includes an upper and lower portion, while the second tooth feature includes a lower portion. A cavity formed between the first tooth feature and the bracket body, and the second tooth feature and the bracket body, provides a coupling mechanism for mating the universal bracket to one of multiple store frames. |
| US09526354B2 |
Air distribution system for temperature-controlled case
A temperature-controlled case including a base having a deck and an air flow device located below the deck, a tower having a cavity, and an air distribution system. The air distribution system includes a duct and one or more air diverting devices which permit a first portion of an air flow to be received into the tower and direct a second portion of the air flow toward the deck. Sub-portions of the first portion may be directed at the rear portions and front portions of one or more shelves. The tower includes an exterior wall having openings through which air is directed by the air diverting devices. The exterior wall may be faceted and the cavity may be segmented into channels corresponding to the facets. |
| US09526353B2 |
Door for a freezer cabinet
A door for a refrigerated cabinet has an insulated glass unit of rectangular shape mounted in a pair of horizontally disposed aluminum rails and a pair of vertically disposed plastic rails connected to and across the pair horizontally disposed rails. A plastic breaker is mounted on each aluminum rail and a sealing gasket of open rectangular shape is mounted in each breaker and in each plastic rail to seal against a planar surface of the refrigerated cabinet in the closed position of the door. |
| US09526352B2 |
Wireless video transmission system for liquid crystal display
The exemplary embodiments herein provide a sealed transparent LCD assembly having a front and rear glass panel with a spacer positioned between the two panels to provide a sealed cavity containing a liquid crystal display (LCD). A wireless transmitter/receiver may be placed within the sealed cavity to receive image or video data wirelessly. The sealed transparent LCD assembly may be used with a display case which defines a cavity housing a second wireless transmitter/receiver which can push the image or video data to the wireless transmitter/receiver contained within the sealed cavity between the two glass panels. |
| US09526351B2 |
Product securement and management system
A merchandising system that improves the merchandising of product by limiting the number and the frequency with which product can be removed from, for example, a merchandising shelf. The merchandising system may include a base configured to support product and a housing configured to engage the base. The housing may comprise a top wall, a first side wall, a second side wall, and a front retaining wall mounted to the base at an angle. The system may further include a spring-urged pusher movably mounted on the base. The system may further include an opening defined by the first side wall and the front retaining wall through which product may be removed. |
| US09526350B2 |
Arrangement convertible into baby care items
An arrangement convertible into several baby care items. The prior art knows solutions to combine some baby care items, such as a chair padding and a bag, but these combinations are difficult to use and more items are required to carry with when traveling with a baby. The present arrangement can be converted into a folded form forming a bag, into a semi-folded form forming chair padding, and into an unfolded form forming, when the material is set the first side up, a changing mat for diaper changing, or, when the material is set the second side up, an infant carrier, which can be fastened to a chair or carried by a person. |
| US09526349B2 |
Patient support cover
A cover for a mattress for supporting a patient is adapted to provide a generally smooth top surface over the mattress while still accommodating the movement of portions of the mattress or changes in thickness of the mattress, for example, when turning the patient. |
| US09526347B2 |
Platform bed frame
A platform bed frame includes two frame segments connected by hinge connections, leg assemblies connected to the two frame segments, a rotating hook member pivotally secured to one of the frame segments; and a securing extension attached to the other frame segment, and the rotating hook and extension allow two bed frames to be secured together. Alternately, the frame may include an extension and T-slot to connect two frames. A related improvement is a suspension leg including telescoping sections and a compressible, resilient member controlling movement of the telescoping sections. Another related improvement relates to a frame structure with connected angled supports and slats connected thereto to form the mattress supporting surface. |
| US09526346B2 |
Adjustable mattress support facility
This disclosure concerns an adjustable bed with a deck-on-deck appearance. A concealing assembly is attached to the center frame of an articulating bed, wherein the concealing assembly is situated below the mattress platform and conceals the base frame as the center frame moves along the base frame when the bed articulates. In other embodiments, such as for non-wall hugger beds where the center frame is stationary, a concealing assembly may still be used but will also be stationary. |
| US09526345B2 |
Botulinum toxin assay with improved sensitivity
Methods and compositions are provided where a transfected cell that produces a hybrid protein with a reporter-containing portion and a botulinum toxin cleavage site is contacted with a botulinum toxin at elevated temperatures and/or in media having a reduced sodium concentration. Kits that include such media and a botulinum toxin are also described. |
| US09526339B2 |
Control assembly for chair
A control assembly for a chair including a base structure including a first pivot point and a second pivot point spaced from the first pivot point, and a seat support structure directly pivotably coupled to the base structure for rotation about the first pivot point, a back support structure pivotably coupled to the base structure for rotation about the second pivot point, wherein the back support structure is adapted to move between a first and second position, a control link having a first end operably coupled to the seat support structure, and a second end operably coupled to the back support structure, and a biasing assembly exerting a biasing torque about the second pivot point that biases the back support structure from the second position toward the first position, wherein the biasing torque is adjustable between first and second magnitudes when the back support structure is in the first position. |
| US09526338B2 |
Mounting bracket for slide assembly
A mounting bracket for a slide assembly includes a side wall, an end wall, at least one installation member, a stop, and a resilient member. The end wall is substantially perpendicular to the side wall. The at least one installation member is connected to the end wall. The stop is pivotably connected to the side wall and includes a first portion and a middle portion which is connected to the first portion. The middle portion has a first end portion. The resilient member provides a force to the stop to position the first end portion of the stop to be located corresponding to the end wall. |
| US09526336B2 |
Storage system
A storage system including an alignment rail mounted to a wall and configured to engage with a first rail mounted on one or more storage members to align the storage members for attachment to a wall and to each other. The storage members may include a second rail and may be mounted to the wall through the first and second rails and attached to each other via fasteners extending through pre-formed apertures in sidewalls of the storage members. |
| US09526323B2 |
Tissue cleaner and oral care implement
An oral care implement is provided, in one embodiment, with a plurality of spaced-apart tissue cleaning pads (400) radially arranged around a central axis (450) to form a grouping, each pad having an inner region (420, 430) close to the central axis and an outer region spaced away from the central axis, the inner region (420, 430) being raised relative to the outer region and having scraping surfaces along certain edge regions for improved cleaning of the soft tissue in an oral cavity Each pad further preferably includes one or more protrusions (920, 930) along an upper surface thereof. |
| US09526320B2 |
Case for a mobile device with a screen
A case for a mobile device with a screen, the case comprising a band arranged to surround the edge of the device. The band comprises a layer of flexible polymer (1) and a layer of a damping material (3) which is softer than the flexible polymer provided within the flexible polymer layer. The damping material (3) has a plurality of protrusions (2) projecting inwardly from a substantial portion of the inner periphery of the band to engage with the device. The protrusions are arranged such that, in normal use there is substantially no contact between the band and the device other than through the protrusions. |
| US09526317B2 |
Bottle with mating clip
An improved bottle having a mating clip is disclosed. The bottle includes a guide, preferably located on opposing sidewalls of the bottle, to direct attachment features of a clip toward mating attachment features of a bottle in order to facilitate attachment of the bottle to the clip in a tactile fashion. The guide further serves as a release mechanism, in which an inward force applied to the guide will cause deflection of the bottle to separate the clip from the bottle. |
| US09526311B1 |
Battery powered hairdryer
A battery powered hairdryer configured with improved efficiency. The hairdryer is powered by a rechargeable lithium ion battery. The heat from the battery is directly used to heat the forced air created by the hairdryer fan. This is accomplished by situating the battery in the path of the forced air, or by connecting the battery to a heat sink and disposing at least part of the heat sink in the path of the forced air. To further improve efficiency, the fan motor is situated in the path of the forced air. All circuitry within the hairdryer is either disposed in the path of the forced air, or thermally connected to the heat sink which is at least partially disposed in the path of the forced air. In this way, any heat created by the hairdryer's electrical components is used to preheat the forced air within the hairdryer. The preheated air is then further heated by the heating element within the hairdryer. |
| US09526310B2 |
Attachment for a hand held appliance
A hairdryer comprises a handle, a body comprising a duct, a fluid flow path extending through the duct and from a fluid inlet through which a fluid flow enters the hairdryer to a fluid outlet for emitting the fluid flow from a front end of the body, a primary fluid flow path extending at least partially through the body from a primary fluid inlet through which a primary fluid flow enters the hairdryer to a primary fluid outlet; a fan unit for drawing the primary fluid flow through the primary fluid inlet, and wherein the fluid flow is drawn through the fluid flow path by fluid emitted from the primary fluid outlet, and an attachment for adjusting at least one parameter of fluid emitted from the hairdryer, the attachment being attachable to the hairdryer so that the attachment protrudes from the front end of the body. |
| US09526309B2 |
Magnetized liner for storage and holding bags
Disclosed is an liner comprising magnets which can be inserted in handbags and suitcases. Such an insert is useful for holding one or more metallic objects in place. Also, disclosed is a magnetic storage and holding bag useful for holding objects, such as metallic jewelry or firearms. |
| US09526307B1 |
Threaded driving structure for automatic umbrella
A threaded driving structure for an automatic umbrella contains: a first stick section and a second stick section fitted on and sliding relative to the first stick section. The first stick section includes a first fixing sleeve disposed on a top end thereof, and first fixing sleeve has a first orifice defined thereon. The second stick section includes a second fixing sleeve mounted on a top end thereof. The first stick section also includes a first support member with inner threads, and the second stick section includes a screw rod with outer threads, wherein an upper end of the screw rod is connected with the second fixing sleeve, and a lower end of the screw rod is screwed with the inner threads of the first support member via the first orifice, a lower end of the first support member is joined with a power apparatus. |
| US09526306B2 |
Umbrella assembly
An umbrella assembly, in one embodiment, includes a housing for a canopy. The umbrella assembly has a mechanism powered to open and close the canopy. During opening, the canopy slides upward through the housing and extends outward in a blooming formation. |
| US09526304B2 |
Versatile jewelry
A versatile jewelry includes a semi-rigid or rigid main body defining a circumferential groove having a bottom and sidewalls extending between the bottom and the outer surface. The main body defines first and second opposing end portions with a clearance therebetween. At least one hair accessory having an elasticity is adapted to be disposed in the groove and span the clearance. The main body has a rigidity arranged to distribute pressure from the at least one hair accessory away from the wrist. The elasticity of the at least one hair accessory is arranged to force the at least one hair accessory against the bottom of the groove to secure it within the groove and the at least one hair accessory spanning the clearance is arranged to facilitate disengagement of the at least one hair accessory from the groove. |
| US09526301B1 |
Adaptable buckle system
An adaptable buckle system that can be secured to a loop in a strap or cable to replace a broken buckle or add a buckle. The present invention includes two component members, a male connector and a female connector, which removably engage to form a fastening buckle. Both components have an interlocking side-release mechanism at the end opposing the connector. The interlocking side-release mechanism comprises a receiver on one side of the component member configured to receive a prong extending from the free end of a flexible arm pivotally affixed to the other side of the component member. The flexible arm may be fed through a loop in a strap or cable. Ridges that line the inner surface of the prong and inner wall of the receiver cause a cross-biting action that secures the prong in place. The prong is released when the arm is twisted thereby rotating the prong. |
| US09526299B2 |
Adjustable bladder system with external valve for an article of footwear
An adjustable bladder system for an article of footwear is disclosed. The bladder system includes an outer bladder that may be inflated using an external pump. A valve member may be disposed externally to the outer bladder. In addition, one or more tensile members may be disposed within the outer bladder to control deformation of the outer bladder during compression. |
| US09526293B2 |
Method of knitting a knitted component for an article of footwear
An article of footwear incorporates a textile upper. The upper comprises a knitted component. The knitted component may be warp knitted. The knitted component has an outer side and an inner side that can have different knit configurations. The knitted component can also incorporate portions of a single layer construction and portions of a double layer construction. The double layer construction forms pockets on portions of the knitted component. Inserts can be placed into the pockets to provide support, stability, or other desired properties to the portions of the knitted component. |
| US09526290B2 |
Adhesive mountable stack of removable layers
An eye protector includes a lens configured to protect the wearer from projectiles, and an optically clear stack attached to the lens. The stack can have one or more removable layers. The eye protector also includes an optically clear dry mount adhesive layer attaching the stack to the lens. The dry mount adhesive may be self-wetting to attach the stack to the lens so that air between the stack and the lens can be removed after the stack is attached and/or adhered to the lens, for example, by applying pressure across the surface of the stack. The refractive indices of the lens, the dry mount adhesive, and each removable layer are matched to within about 0.2. |
| US09526277B2 |
Seat pad for cycling garment
A seat pad for a cycling garment includes a rear portion oriented to align with a buttocks region of a cyclist and an intermediate portion oriented to align with a perineum region of the cyclist, the rear portion being separated into two seat surfaces including a padded area and having an elongated groove extending from one of a front end or a rear end of the seat pad towards the intermediate portion, the elongated groove having a length longer than a width at the respective one of the front end and the rear end of the seat pad. It also relates to a cycling garment including the seat pad. |
| US09526272B2 |
Electronic cigarette
The present invention discloses an electronic cigarette. The electronic cigarette includes a battery container, an outer sleeve connected to the battery container, a battery assembly received in the battery container, an atomizer seat defining a second through hole, a glass fiber tube defining a channel and an atomizer electrode defining a first through hole. ALL of the atomizer seat, the glass fiber tube and the atomizer electrode is received in the outer sleeve. The battery container defines at least one air inlet. A first gap is formed between the atomizer electrode and the battery assembly in an axial direction. The air inlet is communicated with the first gap. The air inlet, the first through hole, the second through hole and the channel form an air flow loop. When a user hands the electronic cigarette, his/her fingers would not plug up the air inlet. |
| US09526261B2 |
Drying of foodstuffs
An apparatus for drying foodstuffs involves a pallet supporting a stack of containers containing the foodstuffs. The pallet has a perimeter on which the stack of containers is sealingly supportable. The top of the pallet has at least one aperture to permit air flow therethrough, and the top, bottom and sides of the pallet define a ventilation duct for receiving air through the top of the pallet. A low pressure plenum in fluid communication and sealingly engaged with the ventilation duct draws air down vertically through the foodstuffs through the top of the pallet and out of the ventilation duct into the plenum. A drying installation involves the apparatus in a climate controlled room. A method of processing foodstuffs involves controlling temperature, relative humidity or both temperature and relative humidity of air in the room and drawing the air in the room vertically down past the foodstuffs until the foodstuffs are processed. The apparatus, installation and method are particularly useful for drying grapes by an Appassimento drying method. |
| US09526260B2 |
Systems and methods for maintaining perishable foods
Disclosed are packaging systems and methods useful in extending the storage-life of foodstuff such as fresh fish. The packaging systems and methods can be used to transport or store the foodstuff for an extended period of time. The packaging systems preferably employee a high headspace and flexible architecture and may use a fuel cell to maintain a reduced oxygen level in a high carbon dioxide environment surrounding the foodstuff. Also disclosed are methods useful in extending the storage-life of foodstuff such as fresh fish. The methods can be used to transport or store the foodstuff for an extended period of time. The methods preferably use a low oxygen gas source to maintain a reduced oxygen level in the environment surrounding the foodstuff. |
| US09526258B2 |
Process and apparatus for rapid preparation of dry sausage
A process for manufacturing dry sausage. The process includes preparing a dry sausage meat mixture, stuffing the mixture into a casing or mold, fermenting the mixture, heat treating the mixture, cooling the mixture to a temperature sufficiently low to permit slicing, slicing the sausage, placing the sausage onto a conveyor, and passing the conveyor and sausage through a chamber. The process also includes introducing a supply of conditioned air into the chamber, the air having a relative humidity below about 60% and a temperature in the range of at least about 40° F. to 130° F., and introducing a supply of microwaves into the chamber. The air supply and microwaves are selected to reduce the moisture content of the meat to a predetermined moisture to protein ratio. |
| US09526249B2 |
Biocidal composition of 2,6-dimethyl-m-dioxane-4-ol acetate and methods of use
Provided is a biocidal composition comprising 2,6-dimethyl-m-dioxane-4-ol acetate and an isothiazolinone biocidal compound. The composition is useful for controlling microorganisms in aqueous or water containing systems. |
| US09526247B2 |
Uses of thaxtomin and thaxtomin compositions as herbicides
There is a need for a selective, low-risk herbicide that can be used to control weeds in cereal cultures and turf. The present invention discloses that a bacterial secondary metabolite, thaxtomin and optionally another herbicide is an effective herbicide on broadleaved, sedge and grass weeds. Thaxtomin A and structurally similar compounds can be used as natural herbicides to control the germination and growth of weeds in cereal, turf grass, Timothy grass and pasture grass cultures with no phytotoxicity to these crops. As a natural, non-toxic compound, thaxtomin can be used as a safe alternative for weed control in both conventional and organic farming and gardening systems. |
| US09526241B2 |
Dispersants for agricultural applications
An agrochemical formulation and its method of manufacture comprising an agrochemical active and a dispersant polymer comprising a copolymer of benzylmethacrylate, acrylic acid and 2-acrylamido-2-methyl propane sulfonic acid. |
| US09526239B2 |
Virtual hunting devices and uses thereof
Embodiments of the present invention concern a virtual hunting apparatus that employs an imaging device mounted on top of the barrel of a simulated firearm such as a rifle or other toy. A cable can be used to connect the imaging device to the trigger of the simulated firearm. An imaging device can run a variety of applications and play videos. Pulling the trigger of the simulated firearm takes a picture of a target animal, records a video or plays a video of interest within the imaging device, without displacing a bullet or pellet to injure or kill the target animal. |
| US09526238B2 |
Chemical delivery system for controlling beetle populations in a poultry house
A chemical delivery system for controlling virus-carrying beetles in a poultry house includes a water line in communication with a water source and chemical injector. The system includes an outer shell and bracket configured to mount the water line to a poultry house wall, the water line having a plurality of spaced apart holes such that, when the water and chemical are actuated, delivers a continuous stream of chemical onto the wall and litter bed so as to neutralize the beetles from spreading virus to poultry. |
| US09526237B2 |
Trap for crawling pests
A reusable trap (100) and a fully disposable trap (200) include two opposing panels or walls (102, 202), each with a patterned adhesive portion (132, 232) on an inner surface. The trap is configured to provide easy access to crawling pests from all sides, and the patterned adhesive portion provides non-adhesive paths deep into the trap, such that crawling pests may venture further into the trap before encountering adhesive, thereby increasing the trapping capacity. The opposed panels or walls are configured to be urged together by the user, for example by stepping on the trap, to encase trapped pests therebetween, avoiding potential harmful exposure to the user during disposal. |
| US09526236B2 |
Foldable frame for transporting fishing equipment
Foldable frame devices designed to transport fishing equipment and assorted items while functioning as a table and which are capable of being stored in confined spaces are disclosed. In an aspect, a foldable frame device may be carried by a user. The foldable frame device includes a rotating flat surface area which may be moved between a folded position and a usable position. In the folded position, the foldable frame device has a compact profile, thereby occupying a small amount of space for transportation or storage when not in use. In the usable position, the flat surface area extends away from the frame and may support items, such as fishing equipment. |
| US09526232B2 |
Squirrel proof suspended bird feeder
A squirrel proof bird feeder comprising a seed container having a seed tray located at the outlet so as to receive seeds from the seed container, a shroud extending about the seed tray, a cover attached to the shroud, an upper ring housing secured to an upper end of the seed container, the upper ring housing having a central portion located within the seed container, a rod located within the central portion, the rod having a first end secured to the central portion and a second end extending through the cover for hanging the bird feeder, a compression spring extending about the rod, the compression spring having a lower end biased against a lower stopper and an upper end biased against an upper stopper such that a predetermined weight on the shroud will compress the spring and cause the shroud to move downwardly. |
| US09526231B2 |
Pet chew toys of rubber and polyamide, and methods of manufacture thereof
A pet chew toy comprising a blend containing a polyamide terpolymer and a diene elastomer, wherein the diene elastomer is crosslinked and the polyamide terpolymer has a Tm in the range of 120° C. to 250° C. |
| US09526228B2 |
Predation detection fish tracking tag
A tracking tag for aquatic animals may detect the occurrence of a predation event. The tag may include a pH sensitive material that degrades in the environment of an animal's gut. The degradation of the pH sensitive material causes a change in a detectable characteristic of the tag, which allows the tag to detect the predation event and adjust its operation accordingly. |
| US09526227B2 |
Animal excretion disposal sheet
To allow a consumer to easily recall a product image derived from the scent of an animal excretion disposal sheet from the appearance of the product, to thereby improving the product image of the scented animal excretion disposal sheet. The animal excretion disposal sheet including the liquid permeable top sheet, the liquid impermeable back sheet, and the absorbent body disposed between the top sheet and the back surface sheet is configured to be an animal excretion disposal sheet in which the fragrance ingredient is applied to the top sheet or the absorbent body; the evocative information composed of at least one of color, graphic, and character that can evoke the scent of the fragrance ingredient is displayed on the top sheet or the absorbent body; and the evocative information can be visually recognized from the back sheet side. |
| US09526226B2 |
Self-cleaning litter box
The present disclosure is directed towards a self-cleaning litter box. The self-cleaning litter box includes a litter tray having a bottom surface, a first and second side wall, a home end, and a waste end, the bottom surface having an upwardly sloping ramp directed towards the discharge end, A carriage assembly is supported between the first and second side walls, and has a rake positioned thereon. A drive assembly is removably attached to the home end of the litter tray. The drive assembly is operably connected to the carriage assembly to drive the carriage assembly along a path between the home end and discharge end of the litter tray. A waste receptacle positioned adjacent to the discharge end of the litter tray, the waste receptacle includes a selectively openable lid. The drive assembly includes all of the electronics of the litter box. This permits the litter tray to be separated from the drive assembly, and cleaned without damaging the electronics in the drive assembly. |
| US09526224B2 |
Safety valve device
A safety valve device for a milking installation for milking milk-producing animals having a first valve with a first port and with a first port connector, a second valve with a second port and with a second port connector, a third valve with a third port and a third port connector, a drive, a common actuator, and at least one valve spring, and arranged so that the first port connector of the first valve is in fluid communication with the second port connector of the second valve, and the safety valve device can be moved between a first switching position, in which the first valve and the second valve are closed in order to block the first port and the second port and the third valve, is open a transition position, in which the first valve, the second valve and the third valve are closed, and a second switching position, in which the first valve and the second valve are open to connect the first port to the second port and the third valve is closed to block the third port. |
| US09526222B1 |
Maize inbred PH24SA
A novel maize variety designated PH24SA and seed, plants and plant parts thereof. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprise crossing maize variety PH24SA with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PH24SA 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 PH24SA or a locus conversion of PH24SA with another maize variety. |
| US09526213B2 |
Agricultural square baler
An agricultural baler comprising a controller, sensor and an actuator connected such that in a first position of a bale chute upon sensing of the movement of a completed bale ready to be lowered by the sensor a signal indicative of said movement is fed to the controller by the sensor upon which the controller controls an actuator such that the bale chute is pivoted to the second position which is sufficiently inclined to the horizontal such that the trailing end is sufficiently lowered to prevent a completed bale from toppling or being damaged, wherein the controller is configured to control the actuator such that the bale chute is pivoted from the first position to the second position after receiving the signal indicative of movement from the sensor. |
| US09526212B2 |
Baler automatic stopping sequence
A system is provided that automatically stops a tractor based on position of a twine arm assembly in a round baler. A control system monitors position(s) of the twine arm assembly when an automatic twine-wrapping cycle is initiated. This may include starting a twine arm position monitoring procedure when an initial position change of the twine arms is detected. One or more sensors may be mounted on the baler to detect position characteristics of twine arm assembly, which may include presence or absence of the twine arm assembly at certain locations relative to a bale chamber of the baler and/or movement of the twine arm assembly. When the control system determines that the twine arm assembly is in an insert preparatory position, the control system sends a tractor halt command which automatically stops tractor at the same time that the wrapping procedure begins. |
| US09526210B2 |
Draper platform with center section and lateral sections arranged laterally to the center section
A draper platform for a combine harvester has a center section attachable to a feed channel of the combine harvester. Lateral sections are arranged laterally on opposite ends of the center section. The center section has a center frame; the lateral sections have a lateral frame and are pivotable relative to the center section about a pivot axis that is oriented in travel direction of the draper platform. A cutter bar is provided and pivotable arms having a first end connected to the cutter bar and a second end connected to the center frame or the lateral frames connect the cutter bar pivotably to the center section and the lateral sections. Drive devices are operatively connected to the cutter bar and conveying devices that convey cut stalk material. The pivotable arms are arranged such that less than one of them is present per meter of working width of the draper platform. |
| US09526208B2 |
Tree mounted tarp device
A tree mounted tarp device couples a tarp to a tree under branches of the tree. The device includes a plurality of panels pivotally coupled together such that the panels are formable into a closed loop wrapping around a trunk of a tree. Each of a plurality of hooks is coupled to and extends from a top end of an associated one of the panels. Each of the hooks is directed towards a center of the closed loop for engaging the trunk of the tree facilitating suspension of the panels at a fixed height on the trunk of the tree. A tarp is coupled to the panels by a frame coupled to the panels. The frame supports the tarp in a deployed position wherein the tarp extends outwardly relative to the panels such that the tarp extends around the trunk of the tree under branches of the tree. |
| US09526203B1 |
Fork and shovel combination assembly
A fork and shovel combination assembly includes a frame with a first wall and a second wall. The first wall has a first edge and a second edge positioned opposite of each other. The second wall has a proximal edge attached to and being continuous with the second edge. The first wall has a front surface and a rear surface and the second wall has a first surface forming a 90° angle with the front surface. A handle is attached to the rear surface of the first wall and is oriented perpendicular to the rear surface. A plurality of linear tines is attached to the frame and extends forward therefrom. Each of the tines has an attached end abutting the front surface and each tine abuts the first surface. The tines are each oriented parallel to the longitudinal axis of the handle. |
| US09526200B2 |
Farm implement having a frame supported by a lift wheel assembly and a pair of gull wings
A method and apparatus for automating some of the tasks that heretofore required operator action at headland turns or similar events are provided. The present invention automates operation of lift assist wheels and/or gull wings, such as those found on a stack-fold implement, based on the position of the tractor hitch to which the implement is coupled. An operator may control the position of the implement, such as at a headland turn, by raising and lowering the tractor hitch using a remote control. The invention enables the planter to compare the tractor hitch position relative to an implement position and control operation of the implement accordingly without additional user inputs. |
| US09532488B2 |
Rack for computing equipment
Provided is a datacenter chamber having racks configured to hold arrays of rack-mounted computing devices. The datacenter chamber comprises three or more racks, each rack having a plurality of receptacles configured to hold a computing device; a chassis configured to secure each of the racks in spaced relation relative to one another, wherein the chassis is configured to secure the racks facing outward from an interior chamber defined by a back-side of the racks, and wherein the chassis is configured to position the racks facing at least three different directions; and an integrated cooling system configured to drive a cooling fluid along computing devices mounted in the racks and through the interior chamber. |
| US09532486B1 |
Card edge connector with heat spreader plate
In one general embodiment, a system includes a first end having a plurality of first contacts configured for coupling with a circuit device, and a second end having a plurality of second contacts configured for coupling directly with a card edge of an electronic device. The system also includes a plurality of leads extending between the first and second contacts. A heat spreader plate extends along the leads between the first and second ends, the heat spreader plate having at least one of: a conducting pad extending beyond the first end and a conducting pad extending beyond the second end. |
| US09532482B2 |
Communications bladed panel systems
A fiber panel system includes a chassis and at least a first blade configured to moveably mount to the chassis. Each blade includes a base, a frame, and front couplers. The base of each blade defines at least one opening at a location spaced rearwardly from the front couplers. The front couplers may be smart or passive. |
| US09532480B2 |
Server
A server includes a chassis, a transfer board, a hard disk drive cage, two hard disk drive trays, two mother board trays, two mother boards, first hard disk drives and second hard disk drives. The chassis has an accommodation space. The transfer board is disposed on the first side plate and the second side plate to divide the accommodation space into a first accommodation region and a second accommodation region. The hard disk drive cage is located in the first accommodation region. The hard disk drive cage includes storage sections for disposing the first hard disk drives. The two hard disk drive trays for disposing the second hard disk drives are located in the second accommodation region and insert into the transfer board. All the two hard disk drive trays and the two mother board trays are randomly arranged in rows and columns and insert into the transfer board. |
| US09532478B1 |
Strengthening electronic equipment
A system includes an equipment case configured to hold equipment, a strengthening bracket, and one or more releasable couplers physically coupled to the equipment case and the strengthening bracket. The releasable couplers may be configured to release the strengthening bracket from the equipment case without requiring a tool. In some embodiments, the strengthening bracket comprises a first end and a second end, and one of the releasable couplers are coupled to each end of the strengthening bracket. In some embodiments, the releasable couplers each comprise a flexing member and a protrusion member coupled to the flexing member and the first end and the second end of the strengthening bracket each comprise a slot for receiving the protrusion member of a corresponding coupling member. A corresponding method includes coupling the strengthening bracket to the equipment case with the at least one releasable coupler. |
| US09532474B2 |
Device mounting system with locking lever
A mounting system for removably mounting a portable electronic device to an object comprises a base, a mount, and a locking component. The base includes a central aperture and connects to an object on which the portable electronic device will be mounted. The mount includes a coupler and a device connector for connecting to the portable electronic device. The coupler includes a shaft that may be at least partially received within the central aperture of the base. The locking component is integrated with the base and is shiftable between a locked mode in which it retains the coupler in the base and an unlocked mode in which it allows the coupler to be released from the base. The locking component includes a ring with a detent, a catch that engages the detent, and a lever which can shift the locking component between the locked mode and the unlocked mode. |
| US09532471B2 |
Perpendicular and orthogonal interconnection system and communications device
An interconnection system includes a first board group, a second board group orthogonal to the first board group, and a center backplane arranged between the first board group and the second board group. The first board group includes a number of first boards parallel to each other and the second board group includes a number of second boards parallel to each other. Curved male connectors re arranged on each of the first boards and curved female connectors are arranged on each of the second boards. The curved male connectors and the curved female connectors directly cooperate and are connected in one-to-one correspondence. |
| US09532470B2 |
Resin casing
A resin casing includes a resin case and a resin cover attached to the resin case. A plurality of depressions is formed respectively on an outer surface and an inner surface of a top plate of the resin cover. The depressions are alternately arranged on the outer surface and the inner surface along a predetermined direction as seen in a plan view. |
| US09532468B2 |
Printed wiring board and method for manufacturing printed wiring board
A wiring board includes a first resin insulating layer, conductor pads on the first insulating layer including first and second conductor pads, a second resin insulating layer on the first insulating layer covering the first and second pads, an outermost conductor layer on the second insulating layer including first and second outermost wiring layers, via conductors through the second insulating layer including a first via conductor connecting the first wiring layer and first pad and a second via conductor connecting the second wiring layer and second pad, and a solder resist layer on the second insulating layer such that the solder resist layer is covering the first wiring layer and has one or more openings exposing the second wiring layer. The first wiring layer includes first main metal, and the second wiring layer includes second main metal which is different from the first metal of the first wiring layer. |
| US09532463B2 |
Methods and apparatus for reducing the occurrence of metal whiskers
Methods and apparatus for reducing the occurrence of metal whiskers on surfaces are disclosed herein. In particular, the present disclosure teaches providing at least one source of electromagnetic energy to emit energy to reduce the occurrence of metal whiskers on a surface. |
| US09532462B2 |
Printed circuit board and manufacturing method thereof
The present invention provides a structure of a printed circuit board and a manufacturing method thereof. The method includes: (a) forming a circuit pattern on an insulating layer in which a seed layer is formed; (b) embedding the circuit pattern into the insulating layer by a press method; and (c) removing the seed layer. According to the present invention, a fine pattern may be formed without occurring alignment problem by forming a circuit pattern directly on an insulating layer and reliability of the formed fine pattern may be increased by performing a process of embedding protruded circuits into the insulating layer. In addition, possibility of inferior circuit occurring due to ion migration between adjacent circuits may be reduced by performing over-etching a circuit layer to be lower than a surface of the insulating layer during the etching process of removing a seed layer. |
| US09532460B2 |
Transmission control module
A transmission control module includes a printed circuit board. The circuit board has conductor tracks routed on at least one layer of the circuit board and configured to electrically connect a carrier substrate to electrical components. The circuit board has an inner conductor track layer arranged between two insulating layers. A first outer insulating layer, at least on a first side of the circuit board, has a recess. Surfaces of conductor track sections of conductor tracks of the at least one inner conductor track layer are arranged at the bottom of the recess. The carrier substrate is inserted into the recess and makes electrical contact with the surfaces of the conductor track sections. The recess is filled with a moulding compound which covers at least the carrier substrate and the conductor track sections to protect the carrier substrate and the conductor track sections from transmission fluid. |
| US09532459B2 |
Electronic module and method of manufacturing the same
According to an exemplary aspect an electronic module is provided, wherein the electronic module comprises an electronic chip comprising at least one electronic component, a spacing element comprising a main surface arranged on the electronic chip and being in thermally conductive connection with the at least one electronic component, and a mold compound at least partially enclosing the electronic chip and the spacing element, wherein the spacing element comprises a lateral surface which is in contact to the mold compound and comprises surface structures. |
| US09532457B2 |
Audio and video reproduction apparatus having main board on which surface mount type connectors are mounted
Provided is a video and audio reproduction apparatus including a display unit; a speaker unit; a main board; and a power supply unit, and the main board includes a printed circuit board; a first connector area which is formed on a front side of the printed circuit board; a second connector area which is formed on the front side of the printed circuit board; and a main chip which is surface-mounted on a back side of the printed circuit board. |
| US09532456B2 |
Bonding structure of touch panel and flexible circuit board
A bonding structure of a touch panel and a flexible circuit board includes a touch panel, a flexible circuit board and a conductive adhesive film. The touch panel includes a shielding layer and multiple transmission wires disposed on the shielding layer. The flexible circuit board is under the touch panel and includes a substrate and multiple connection wires on the substrate. Each the connection wire includes a first connection portion and a second connection portion, and the two connection portions are separated from each other by an interval and electrically insulated from each other. The conductive adhesive film is between the transmission wires of the touch panel and the connection wires of the flexible circuit board, in which the first connection portions and the second connection portions of the connection wires are electrically connected to the transmission wires via the conductive adhesive film so as to form an electric loop. |
| US09532454B2 |
Monolithic ceramic component and production method
A film stack made from compacted green films and capable of being sintered to form a ceramic component with monolithic multi-layer structure is disclosed. The film stack includes a functional layer comprising a green film comprising a functional ceramic and a tension layer comprising a green film comprising a dielectric material. The tension layer is directly adjacent to the functional layer in the multi-layer structure. The multilayer structure also includes a first metallization plane and a second metallization plane. The functional layer is between the first metallization plane and the second metallization plane. |
| US09532445B2 |
Suspension board with circuit and producing method thereof
A suspension board with circuit includes a metal supporting layer and an insulating layer formed on the metal supporting layer. The insulating layer is made of a single layer, a concave portion is formed in the insulating layer, an opening portion that exposes the metal supporting layer is formed in the concave portion, and an electrically conductive metal portion is formed in the opening portion. |
| US09532439B2 |
Discharge lamp driving device, projector, and discharge lamp driving method
A discharge lamp driving device includes: a discharge lamp driving unit which supplies drive power to a discharge lamp; and a control unit which controls the discharge lamp driving unit according to a waveform of the drive power. The waveform has n launching periods and a low-power mode lighting period. The n launching periods include a first launching period in which the drive power increases toward refresh power that is equal to or above drive power in a low-power mode and equal to or below rated power, and (n−1) launching periods in which the drive power is maintained at the refresh power. The control unit, in an x-th launching period, supplies the discharge lamp with a drive current having a drive frequency equal to or below a drive frequency of a drive current supplied to the discharge lamp in an (x−1)th launching period. |
| US09532438B2 |
System and method for wirelessly controlling LED lighting
A system for wirelessly controlling LED lighting includes: a plurality of LED lamps, each lamp being equipped with a wireless communication module; and a smart device being in communication with the wireless communication module and configured to be controlled by a user. The smart device is configured to generate a unique lamp ID for each LED lamp, and embed the unique lamp ID into a signal for controlling each LED lamp through the wireless communication module so that the unique lamp ID is detectable in a form of visible light. The signal for controlling each LED lamp is a PWM signal, while data rate of the lamp ID is higher than that of the PWM signal. A method for wirelessly controlling LED lighting is also provided. |
| US09532436B2 |
Lighting control system and lighting control method
The centralized lighting and air conditioning controller controls the light emission of lighting devices using brightness configuration values, and an environmental sensor transmits illuminance measurement values to the centralized lighting and air conditioning controller by wireless communication. The centralized lighting and air conditioning controller receives the illuminance measurement values, and based on the change in the illuminance measurement values and the change in the RSSI when the illuminance measurement values are received, acquires the degree of influence on the environmental sensor by the light from each of the lighting devices, and acquires the unknown or indeterminate position of the environmental sensor based on the degree of influence. |
| US09532435B2 |
System and method for occupancy sensing with enhanced functionality
A system and method provide fail-safe operation of a lighting system. A lighting level detector is used to obtain a baseline lighting level for a low-intensity light. If the detector measures less than the baseline level when an occupancy sensor determines the space is unoccupied, a high-intensity light is energized and an indication is provided to a user that the low-intensity light has failed. A method provides daylighting operation of a lighting system. An occupancy sensor can have Wi-Fi functionality to enable remote configuration of the sensor. A line voltage occupancy sensor can include an interface with low voltage devices. An occupancy sensor can include an integral interface to enable an external control system to override the sensor's normal logic under emergency conditions. An occupancy sensor can include an active temperature compensation feature. An occupancy sensor can also incorporate an automatically adjustable coverage area. |
| US09532433B2 |
Methods and apparatus for controlling a lighting fixture utilizing a communication protocol
Methods and apparatus for controlling a lighting fixture utilizing a communication protocol transmitted over the power line that feeds the lighting fixture. Data may be transmitted to a plurality of lighting fixtures (40) via altering the output voltage transmitted to the lighting fixture through switching of a transformer (120) connected to the output voltage. Data may be received at a lighting fixture (40) via receiving an encoded output voltage and comparing the voltage level of a plurality of sine cycle periods of the output voltage to determine an incoming data packet. One or more aspects of the lighting fixture (40) may be controlled based on the received data. |
| US09532432B2 |
LED driver apparatus
A light emitting diode (LED) driver apparatus is provided. The LED driver apparatus includes an input unit, a PWM signal generation unit, a DC-DC converter, an LED driving unit, and a synchronization unit. The input unit is configured to receive a dimming signal. The PWM signal generation unit is configured to generate a PWM signal using an oscillator having a preset frequency. The DC-DC converter is configured to provide a driving voltage to an LED array using the generated PWM signal. The LED driving unit is configured to drive the LED array using the received dimming signal. The synchronization unit is configured to reset the oscillator based on a driving state of the LED array. |
| US09532430B2 |
Stretchable display device
A stretchable display device includes: a stretchable substrate; a plurality of light emitting units on the stretchable substrate; and a plurality of reflective mirrors positioned to correspond to the light emitting units, respectively, and reflecting light emitted from the light emitting units, respectively. |
| US09532429B2 |
Operating device for luminous elements
Operating device for a luminous element (42), wherein the operating device (50) has a primary side (61) and a secondary side (62) and comprises a radio interference suppression element (59), the radio interference suppression element (59) being arranged between the primary side and the secondary side (62), and a filter (73) for suppressing interference, coupled to the radio interference suppression element (59). |
| US09532422B2 |
Method of prioritizing and synchronizing effect functions in an illumination device
The present invention relates to an illumination device comprising a number of light sources arranged in a first group and in a second and controlling means adapted to control the first group and said second group individually. The controlling means is further adapted to control of light sources based on an input signal indicative of at least a first effect function and a second effect function. The first effect function generates a first output related to the light sources and said second effect function generates a second output light sources. The first and second effect functions are stored in a memory in the in the illumination device. The that controlling means is adapted to control the first and the second group of light sources based on a priority schema and/or synchronizing schema both stored in a memory in the illumination device. The priority schema comprising a number of priority rules defining how the first effect function and the second effect must be executed in relation to each other, and the synchronizing schema comprises a number of synchronizing functions defining how the controlling means must execute the first effect function and the second effect function in relation to time and in relation to each other. The present invention relates also to a method of controlling such illumination device. |
| US09532421B2 |
LED driving device and control method for LED driving device
The present disclosure discloses a LED driving device and a control method for the same. The LED driving device includes a conversion unit, a dimming switch circuit and a control unit. The control unit includes a dimming control unit and a conversion control unit. The dimming control unit includes a comparison circuit, a constant-voltage dimming circuit and a constant-current dimming circuit. The comparison circuit compares a first signal that represents an output voltage output from the conversion unit with a reference signal, and outputs a first enabling signal and a second enabling signal. The constant-voltage dimming circuit receives the first enabling signal, and outputs a first driving signal to at least one second switch to perform constant-voltage dimming; and the constant-current dimming circuit receives the second enabling signal, and outputs a current-reference to the conversion control unit to perform constant-current dimming. |
| US09532418B2 |
Switched mode power supply
A switched mode power supply comprising: a rectified voltage terminal and a rectified ground terminal for receiving a phase-cut rectified voltage; a power switch and an inductive element connected in series between the rectified voltage terminal and the rectified ground terminal; a switch controller having a floating ground terminal and a dimming input terminal, wherein the dimming input terminal is for receiving a dimming voltage signal indicative of a required dimming level, wherein the switch controller is configured to control the switch in accordance with the dimming voltage signal and wherein the inductive element is connected between the rectified ground terminal and the floating ground terminal; and a dimming level controller configured to set the dimming voltage signal in accordance with the rectified phase-cut voltage with respect to the floating ground terminal. |
| US09532414B2 |
Lighting device
A trigger-signal-output part sets a burst time cycle to a time period N (integer of two or more) times as long as a constant first cycle, and outputs a trigger signal M (positive integer of N or less) times during an operation period so as to synchronize it with the first cycle, and does not output the trigger signal during a stop period except the operation period of the burst time cycle. Alternatively, a trigger-signal-output part sets a burst time cycle to a time period N times as long as an output cycle of a trigger signal in an operation period, and sets the operation period to a time period M times as long as the output cycle, and sets a stop period except the operation period of the burst time cycle to a time period generated by multiplying the output cycle by a difference between N and M. |
| US09532413B2 |
LED current generation
Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, are provided for LED current generation. In one aspect there is provided a method, which may include receiving, at combiner circuitry, a first current from a light emitting diode driver circuitry; receiving, at the combiner circuitry, a second current from at least one of a capacitor or a battery; combining, by the combiner circuitry, the first current with the second current to form an augmented current, wherein the augmented current is based on at least a first value of a first resistor and a second value of a second resistor; and outputting, by the combiner circuitry, the augmented current to drive at least one light emitting diode. Related systems, articles of manufacture, and the like are also disclosed. |
| US09532412B2 |
Lighting apparatus capable of reducing flicker
Disclosed is a lighting apparatus which includes LEDs and reduces flicker. The lighting apparatus may secure a charge voltage by performing a charge operation using a current corresponding to a rectified voltage equal to or more than a preset level, and compensate for the rectified voltage provided to a lighting unit including LED groups by performing a discharge operation for the charge voltage in response to the rectified voltage less than the preset level, thereby reducing flicker. |
| US09532411B2 |
Lighting fixture with application controller
More efficient full spectrum lighting technology provides new lighting possibilities. A system that implements full spectrum lighting technology includes a lighting fixture that includes one or more light sources, in which the lighting fixture spectrally varies a light output of the one or more light sources in response to an electronic output signal. The system further includes a light sensor that monitors an output light spectrum provided by the one or more light sources. The system also includes an application controller that determines whether the output light spectrum from the one or more light sources follows a program. The application controller generates an electronic output signal to spectrally vary the light output of the one or more light sources in order to follow the program. |
| US09532410B2 |
Modular light fixture with power pack
A light fixture including a support structure and a plurality of LEDs coupled to the structure and spaced apart along at least a portion of a length of the structure. The light fixture further includes a power pack, the power pack including a driver configured to be electrically coupled to the plurality of LEDs, power input wiring that is configured to receive power for the light fixture, and a cover provided substantially over the driver and the power input wiring. A modular power input connector is accessible without removing the cover, wherein the modular power input connector is coupled to the power input wiring, and wherein the modular power input connector is configured to accept a power cord. |
| US09532409B1 |
Microwave irradiation apparatus and substrate treatment method
In accordance with an embodiment, a microwave irradiation apparatus includes a chamber and a polarizing plate. The chamber is configured to accommodate a substrate and is provided with an introduction port to introduce the microwave applied to the substrate from a direction at an angle within a range of ±45 degrees to a direction horizontal to a surface of the substrate. The polarizing plate is installed between the introduction port and the substrate, and selectively transmits a microwave where an amplitude direction of a magnetic field or an electric field is vertical to the surface of the substrate. |
| US09532408B2 |
Heating cooker
A casing, a heating chamber that is provided in the casing and that has an opening on a front face thereof, an exhaust tube for guiding exhaust from inside of the heating chamber to front face side of the casing, a cooling fan that is provided in the casing, and an exhaust duct having an exhaust inlet to which the other end of the exhaust tube is connected are provided. Position along height direction of a cooling air inlet into which cooling air flows from under the exhaust duct is lower than position along the height direction of the discharge ports of the exhaust duct, and the position along the height direction of the cooling air inlet of the exhaust duct is lower than position along the height direction of the exhaust inlet of the exhaust duct. A heating cooker is provided that prevents the exhaust from the inside of the heating chamber from flowing into a main body thereof even if a fan for supplying air that is to be mixed with the exhaust breaks down. |
| US09532407B2 |
Induction cooking hob with a number of heating zones
The present invention relates to an induction cooking hob (10) including a number of heating zones (12, 14, 16, 18). Each heating zone (12, 14, 16, 18) comprises or corresponds with at least one induction coil. Each induction coil is connected to a generator. Two or more heating zones (12, 14, 16, 18) are linked or can be linked into a cooking area by a user. The linked heating zones (12, 14, 16, 18) are controlled by a common power setting. An operator interface is provided for operating the heating zones (12, 14, 16, 18). A control unit is provided for controlling the heating zones (12, 14, 16, 18). The operator interface includes actuating elements corresponding with predetermined links (20) between the heating zones (12, 14, 16, 18). The control unit is provided for synchronizing the generators of the linked heating zones (12, 14, 16, 18) by one common controller. |
| US09532401B2 |
Susceptor support shaft with uniformity tuning lenses for EPI process
Embodiments of the invention generally relate to susceptor support shafts and process chambers containing the same. A susceptor support shaft supports a susceptor thereon, which in turn, supports a substrate during processing. The susceptor support shaft reduces variations in temperature measurement of the susceptor and/or substrate by providing a consistent path for a pyrometer focal beam directed towards the susceptor and/or substrate, even when the susceptor support shaft is rotated. The susceptor support shafts also have a relatively low thermal mass which increases the ramp up and ramp down rates of a process chamber. In some embodiments, a custom made refractive element can be removably placed on the top of the solid disc to redistribute secondary heat distributions across the susceptor and/or substrate for optimum thickness uniformity of epitaxy process. |
| US09532398B2 |
Portable cellular network system
A system for setting up a cellular network is provided. The system includes a base station module and a core network module. The base station module has a transmitter, a receiver, and a processor configured to provide base station functions to handle transmission and reception of radio signals to and from cellular devices within the cellular network via the transmitter and receiver. The core network module has a processor configured to provide core network functions to handle cellular communication services for the cellular devices. The system has a switch connected to supply power to the base station module and the core network module from a power source. Activating the switch causes the base station functions and core network functions to be automatically and systematically started up to enable full functionality of the cellular network system. The system is sufficiently compact so that it can be carried by hand. |
| US09532397B2 |
Method for providing communication service and electronic device thereof
An apparatus and method for providing an LTE service in an electronic device. The method includes: transmitting or receiving a voice signal through a first antenna and a data signal through a second antenna when the electronic device provides a multi-communication service. At least one switch connects at least one antenna and at least one communication interface with each other. When the electronic device provides a single communication service, transmitting or receiving a data signal or a voice signal through the first antenna, using the at least one switch. |
| US09532393B2 |
Base station and control method thereof
A pico base station PeNB #1 in a mobile communication system that supports a carrier aggregation technology defined in a 3GPP standard, communicates with a macro base station MeNB via an X2 interface. The pico base station PeNB #1 requests the macro base station MeNB to limit use of a component carrier or to release the component carrier from the use limitation. |
| US09532391B2 |
Device selection
A technique for wireless communication is provided. According to an example embodiment, the technique comprises carrying out a proximity-based device selection for a second device in response to receiving, from a first device, one or more control messages that indicate presence of said second device and invoking at least one of one or more predefined actions in dependence of identity of said second device in response to said proximity-based device selection having resulted in selecting said second device. |
| US09532390B2 |
Method, apparatus and system for implementing PDN connections
A method, apparatus and system related to a packet data network (PDN) connection for a radio access network (RAN) are provided. The PDN connections between eNB of the RAN and an Evolved Packet Core (EPC) are forward though Ethernet switching network. A controller at Evolved Packet Core (EPC) site such as EPC controller or centralized switch controller is configured to configure flow table entries along the transport path from eNB to a gateway of the EPC. |
| US09532387B2 |
Ancillary data for an emergency services call
A system can include an emergency call routing element comprising one or more computing devices. The emergency call routing element can be configured to provide locator key and routing information for an emergency services call initiated by an end-user device employed by a caller, wherein the routing information identifies a Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP). The emergency call routing element can also be configured to provide a notification of the emergency services call. The system can also include an ancillary data server comprising one or more computing devices. The ancillary data server can be configured to receive the notification of the emergency services call and query an information source for information related to at least one of the end-user device and the caller in response to the notification. The ancillary data server can further be configured to provide a web service interface that outputs ancillary information that characterizes ancillary data. |
| US09532385B2 |
Method and apparatus for performing backoff in wireless communication system
A method and apparatus for performing backoff in a wireless communication system is provided. A user equipment (UE) identifies a prioritized access, receives a backoff parameter from a network, and determines whether or not to apply the received backoff parameter according to the prioritized access. The prioritized access corresponds to one of emergency access, high priority access, control element/information in media access control (MAC), radio link control (RLC) or packet data convergence protocol (PDCP), data radio bearer (DRB) for voice/video service, signaling radio bearer (SRB) 0, SRB 1, SRB 2, multimedia telephony service (MMTEL)-voice, MMTEL-video, and voice over long-term evolution (VoLTE). |
| US09532384B2 |
Mobile communication method and radio base station
A mobile communication method according to the present invention includes executing an RA procedure between a mobile station (UE) and a radio base station (eNB) when the mobile station (UE) in a DRX state makes a return to a non-DRX state in order to perform call origination processing. The method comprises: a step A of causing the radio base station (eNB) in the RA procedure to transmit “Call Identification Request” to the mobile terminal (UE); a step B of causing the mobile terminal (UE) in the RA procedure to notify the radio base station (eNB) of “Call Identification” in response to the “Call Identification Request”; and a step C of causing the radio base station (eNB) in the RA procedure to determine whether to allow the abovementioned return on the basis of the “Call Identification”. |
| US09532382B2 |
Channel access method and node
A channel access method and a node are disclosed. The method includes randomly selecting a backoff period XB according to a backoff exponent BE, where XB=X×aUnitBackoffPeriod, and X is an integer randomly selected from 0−(2BE−1); when X is greater than or equal to a predetermined value, determining a middle backoff, where the middle backoff is less than the backoff period, performing a backoff until the middle backoff ends and then performing a CCA; if a channel is clear, performing data transmission, and if the channel is not clear, continuing the backoff until the backoff period ends and then performing a CCA, and executing a channel access operation according to a result of the CCA performed when the backoff period ends. Therefore, data transmission is performed when a channel is clear, which can reduce a data transmission delay. |
| US09532381B2 |
Hidden node detection method and apparatus in wireless communication system
Provided is a hidden node detection method and apparatus in a wireless communication system, the apparatus including a sensing unit to sense a first communication device transmitting a data signal from among a plurality of communication devices sharing a wireless channel, a transmitter to generate a reception notification signal in response to the sensing, and transmit the reception notification signal to the a plurality of communication devices through a band identical to a transmission band of the data signal, and a controller to prevent a collision with the data signal transmitted from the first communication device through the wireless channel by delaying processing of a data transmission request when the data transmission request is input from a second communication device among the plurality of communication devices while maintaining the transmitting of the reception notification signal. |
| US09532379B2 |
Transmitter, transmission method used by the same, receiver for receiving a radio signal from transmitter and wireless communication system including the same
A receiver has an ID that includes three signal detection intervals (S1, S2, S3). The three signal detection intervals (S1, S2, S3) are detected as the receiver detects a signal consisting of a value larger than a threshold at each of the detection timings (DT1 to DT4). The transmitter transmits four radio frames (FR1 to FR4) such that each of the radio frames straddles the corresponding one of the detection timings (DT1 to DT4) in the receiver. |
| US09532377B2 |
System level information for discontinuous reception, cell reselection and RACH
A wireless transmit/receive unit is configured to receive system level information, including discontinuous reception (DRX) information, cell selection information, and RACH information. The system level information is received as defined parameters assigned to system information blocks or signaled through dedicated RRC signaling. |
| US09532375B2 |
Using an uplink grant as trigger of first or second type of CQI report
Channel state feedback is provided from a UE to a base station as a first, detailed or a second, less detailed type of channel state feedback information. Initially it is determined whether the UE has received an uplink grant from the base station or not. If the UE has received an uplink grant, a first type of channel state feedback information is transmitted to the base station on the granted resource. If, however, the UE has not received an uplink grant, a second type of channel state feedback information is transmitted to the base station. Different types of channel state feedback information enables a UE and an associated base station to use available resources more efficiently, when requesting for and delivering channel state feedback information. |
| US09532372B2 |
Systems and methods for transmitting radio link control (RLC) data blocks
In one aspect, the invention provides apparatuses and methods for wirelessly transmitting application data utilizing priority information for each radio link control (RLC) data block transmitted. Advantageously, the application data with a relatively high transmission priority is not substantially delayed by the transmission of application data with substantially lower transmission priorities. |
| US09532371B2 |
Method and apparatus for scheduling user equipment
Embodiments of the disclosure provide a method and apparatus for scheduling a UE, wherein a BS serves the UE and employs a non-normal subframe to coordinate inter-cell interference, and wherein transmission power in the non-normal subframe is lower than that in a normal subframe. In the method according to embodiments of the present invention, channel quality information for the non-normal subframe may be adjusted based on information on transmission power of downlink packets and reference signals; and a target MCS may be determined according to the adjusted channel quality information, so that the BS schedules the UE based on the target MCS in the non-normal subframe. |
| US09532369B2 |
Dynamic configuration of subframes in a radio communications system
The technology disclosed provides the ability for a subframe to be dynamically configured in time division duplex (TDD) communications between a UE radio terminal and a radio network node. A frame structure includes one or more subframes preconfigured as a downlink subframe, one or more subframes preconfigured as an uplink subframe, and one or more dynamically configurable subframes. Each dynamically configurable subframe includes a guard time period and at least a downlink part for transporting a dynamically configurable amount of downlink information, and in some embodiments, uplink information. A configuration for dynamically configurable subframes is determined for transmission and/or reception between the UE radio terminal and the radio network node. |
| US09532367B2 |
Radio base station, user terminal, radio communication method and radio communication system
The present invention is designed to prevent the decrease of throughput and also reduce the overhead of CSI feedback when CoMP transmission is applied. A radio base station is configured to be able to perform coordinated multiple-point transmission/reception with a user terminal, and includes a detection section configured to detect a retransmission control signal fed back from the user terminal, and a CQI updating section configured to update a CQI for coordinated multiple-point transmission/reception using received quality information in each cell, and the CQI updating section updates the CQI using a calculating formula that is defined with the received quality information in each cell and a variable which changes the value depending on the content of the retransmission control signal. |
| US09532365B2 |
Communication channel selection apparatus and methods
Apparatus and methods for communicating between an apparatus, such as a medical device, and a remote device are provided. One method includes determining a first indicator representative of a long-term availability for each of a plurality of channels for communication between a medical device and a remote device. The method further includes receiving a communication request from the remote device and, in response to the communication request, determining a second indicator representative of a short-term availability for each of the plurality of channels. The method further includes selecting a communication channel from the plurality of channels based on the first and second indicators. |
| US09532358B2 |
Resource allocation method, radio network controller, and base station
Embodiments of the present invention disclose a resource allocation method, a radio network controller, and a base station. The method includes: generating resource instruction information according to capability information of the maximum number of a monitored HS-SCCH of a terminal configured in an HSDPA multiflow transmission mode, and sending the resource instruction information to abase station; receiving resource allocation information returned by the base station, where the resource allocation information includes the number of HS-SCCH channels allocated by the base station for the terminal in a serving cell corresponding to the base station, and the number of HS-SCCH channels allocated for the terminal in the serving cell corresponding to the base station is smaller than or equal to the maximum number of a monitored HS-SCCH of the terminal configured in the HSDPA multiflow transmission mode. |
| US09532356B2 |
Component carrier configuration
A method of configuring a component carrier includes determining how timings of receiving and/or sending data for at least two aggregated component carriers in at least one time period are related; and setting the timing of receiving and/or sending data for the at least two aggregated component carriers based on the determining. |
| US09532352B2 |
Method and apparatus for incremental-redundancy HARQ process
A method controlling wireless communication of a data block from a terminal device to a base station includes: making a first uplink data transmission for the data block in association with a first retransmission protocol process and obtaining a corresponding first acknowledgement indication indicating whether the data block has been successfully communicated to the base station; making a second uplink data transmission for the data block in association with a second retransmission protocol process and obtaining a corresponding second acknowledgement indication, the second transmission initiated before the first acknowledgement indication is obtained; determining whether to avoid scheduling a data retransmission in association with the first retransmission protocol process based on the first and second response signallings, avoiding retransmission of data in association with the first retransmission protocol process if either one of the first or second acknowledgement indication indicates the data block has been successfully communicated to the base station. |
| US09532351B2 |
Downlink control information transmitting method, detecting method, base station and user equipment
A method for transmitting downlink control information, a detecting method, a base station and a UE are provided in the present invention. The detecting method includes: the UE detects downlink control information beared by ePDCCH in a resource block according to a resource block set and pre-defined information configured by the base station; wherein the pre-defined information at least includes one of the followings: sub-carrier position information detected in the resource block set, enhanced control channel unit information detected in the resource block set, a mapping mode of the ePDCCH, aggregation level configuration information detected in the resource block set, the amount of candidate set corresponding to the detected aggregation level in the resource block set and a downlink control information format. In the present invention, the UE is agilely indicated to detected the downlink control information beared by the ePDCCH in the corresponding physical resource block according to the configured resource block set and the pre-defined information, so as to save resources of space detected and searched by the UE, thus scheduling efficient of the system is improved. |
| US09532348B2 |
Apparatus and method for obtaining information related to removing interference based on structural identifier allocation in wireless communication system
A method for operating a terminal in a wireless communication system is provided. The method includes receiving control information masked with an identifier allocated according to a predefined rule for structural allocation, the control information being transmitted from a neighboring base station, and processing the control information by using the identifier. |
| US09532346B2 |
Method and apparatus for determining uplink control channel resources
User equipment (UE), includes: a receiver configured to receive a specific parameter configured for a mapping manner of an enhanced physical downlink control channel (E-PDCCH) of the UE by an eNB, wherein the specific parameter configured for the mapping manner of the E-PDCCH corresponds to a localized mapping or a distributed mapping; and a processing circuit coupled to a memory configured to determine uplink control channel (PUCCH) resources of the UE according to the specific parameter corresponding to the localized or distributed mapping of the E-PDCCH of the UE and a PUCCH calculation formula. |
| US09532345B2 |
Method and apparatus for processing UCI and method for transmission thereof based on MIMO system
The present invention provides a method and apparatus for processing uplink control information (UCI) and a method for transmitting the UCI based on a multiple input multiple output system, which processing method comprises: repeating ACK/NACK source bits and/or rank indicator (RI) source bits in the uplink control information to form M groups, with each group corresponding to a code word (S302), wherein M is the total number of code words; carrying out channel encoding on the ACK/NACK source bits and/or RI source bits of each code word to obtain QACK*Li output bits (S304), wherein QACK is the channel encoding output bits corresponding to each layer in a certain code word, L is the total number of layers, and the layer number corresponding to the i-th code word is Li; and multiplexing and interleaving the output bits and the data bits of the corresponding code word (S306). The present invention solves the problems of transmission and channel encoding of the ACK/NACK and/or RI in the multiple input multiple output (MIMO) system, and at the same time takes into account high load situations and backward compatibility. |
| US09532341B2 |
Allocation of communication resources
The disclosure relates to allocation of resources for wireless communications. An index for an uplink control resource is determined in accordance with a predefined rule. The determining takes into account an index associated with a physical downlink resource and the amount of downlink resources to be mapped on the uplink control resource. |
| US09532337B2 |
Method and apparatus for transport block signaling in a wireless communication system
User equipment determines a transport block size column indicator representative of a number of resource blocks based on a number of allocated resource blocks, an adjustment factor, and a limiting factor. The transport block size column indicator is determined by applying the adjustment factor to the number of allocated resource blocks and comparing a result of applying the adjustment factor to the number of allocated resource blocks to the limiting factor. The transport block size column indicator is selected as either the result or the limiting factor based on the comparison. |
| US09532333B2 |
Method and system for transmission of muting configurations
Method and system for transmission of muting configurations involve a plurality of transmission configurations available for transmitting an information carrying signal from the transmitting node to the receiving node. The transmitting node determines a plurality of muting configurations and selects a transmission configuration. Each muting configuration corresponds to at least one transmission configuration. The transmitting node transmits a dynamic configuration message identifying the at least one muting configuration that corresponds to the selected transmission configuration to the receiving node and transmits the information carrying signal to the receiving node according to the selected transmission configuration. The receiving node receives the dynamic configuration message and the information carrying signal and decodes the received information carrying signal taking the at least one muting configuration into account. |
| US09532332B2 |
Node device for releasing allocation of the unused channel to the radio interface
A node device 100 is configured to: allocate a channel for communication to each of radio interfaces; between the radio interface and a radio interface which is included by an adjacent node device and to which the same channel as the channel allocated to the radio interface is allocated, establish a communication link using the channels; and, by using a communication link (a use communication link) set for the destination of received data among established communication links, transfer the data to the adjacent node device. The node device 100 specifies an unused channel that is other than a channel used by a communication link set as the use communication link among already allocated channels (101), and releases allocation of the unused channel (102). |
| US09532328B2 |
Methods and apparatuses for improving quality of positioning
Methods and apparatuses of improving quality of positioning are disclosed. According to aspects of the present disclosure, a transition from a short training field to a long training field in one or more communication messages between two wireless stations may be detected. A station may then determine a first arrival correction time based on the transition from the short training field and the long training field. With the first arrival correction time, more accurate timing of communications between the two wireless stations may be determined and used for improving quality of positioning applications. |
| US09532324B2 |
Communication device and method of determining communication method
A communication device and a communication scheme judgment method that enable reception of frames of different communication schemes without setting a common synchronization signal in the frames for each communication scheme. A signal including synchronization information corresponding to a communication scheme is receivable via a frequency band within which a frequency band of a channel corresponding to a first communication scheme overlaps with at least a portion of a frequency band of a channel corresponding to a second communication scheme. Using the synchronization information, when synchronization of one communication scheme out of the first communication scheme and the second communication scheme is establishable, processing of the signal is performed using the one communication scheme, and when the synchronization of the one communication scheme is not establishable and synchronization of the other communication scheme is establishable, processing of the signal is performed using the other communication scheme. |
| US09532319B2 |
Method and apparatus for power control
A power control method includes obtaining power headroom information of an aggregated carrier of a User Equipment (UE). The aggregated carrier includes at least one component carrier group and at least one first carrier, or includes at least one component carrier group, or includes at least two first carriers. The component carrier group includes at least two second carriers, and the first carrier and the second carrier are single carriers, The method also includes adjusting transmit power of the aggregated carrier according to the power headroom information. |
| US09532316B2 |
PUCCH resource compression for EPDCCH in TDD mode
Techniques are described for compressing the PUCCH resources reserved for acknowledging downlink data transmissions when those resources are implicitly signaled by EPDCCHs that schedule the downlink transmissions in TDD mode. An acknowledgement resource offset field transmitted in the EPDCCH is configured to correspond to one or more values that compress the region in PUCCH resource index space that would otherwise be reserved for the subframes of a bundling window. |
| US09532315B2 |
Wireless communication device and method for controlling transmission power
Disclosed is a wireless communication device that can suppress an increase in power consumption of a terminal while preventing the degradation of SINR measurement precision resulting from TPC errors in a base station. A terminal controls the transmission power of a second signal by adding an offset to the transmission power of a first signal; an offset-setting unit sets an offset correction value in response to a transmission time gap between a third signal transmitted the previous time and the second signal transmitted this time; and a transmission power control unit controls the transmission power of the second signal using the correction value. |
| US09532310B2 |
Receiver state estimation in a duty cycled radio
A method for receiver state estimation includes communicating, from a first communications device to a second communications device, a first plurality of wake-up frames: receiving, at the first communications device from the second communications device, an indication of a received wake-up frame of the communicated first plurality of wake-up frames; determining, by the first communications device, a time at which the second communications device is in a ready state based on the received indication; subsequently communicating, from the first communications device to the second communications device, a second plurality of wake-up frames. The first plurality is greater than the second plurality, the reduction in number from the first plurality to the second plurality being based on the determined time at which the second communications device is in a ready state. |
| US09532305B2 |
Controlling VoLTE service at vehicle telematics units
A system and method of controlling a VoLTE-capable vehicle telematics unit includes: detecting the location of the vehicle telematics unit; determining that one or more cell towers within a range of the location have begun supporting a modern cellular protocol in addition to one or more other cell towers supporting an earlier cellular protocol; and wirelessly transmitting an over-the-air (OTA) message to the vehicle telematics unit commanding the vehicle telematics unit to detach from an attached cell tower and re-attach to a cell tower using an IP multimedia subsystem (IMS) protocol. |
| US09532303B2 |
Increasing time interval between successive searches for signaling of neighboring cells of a different wireless technology
A mobile station attached to an access network receives a control message identifying neighboring cells of a different wireless technology than the access network. The mobile station searches for signaling of the neighboring cells of the different wireless technology, and in response to not being able to detect the signaling of the neighboring cells, the mobile station increases a time interval between successive searches for the signaling. |
| US09532302B2 |
Communication network having proximity service discovery and device self-organization
Methods and systems for establishing and/or maintaining communication cluster environments that support a plurality of communication devices. The plurality of communication devices can be configured to communicate with one another utilizing the communication cluster environment. The communication within the communication cluster environment can include device-to-device communications between two or more of the plurality of communication devices. Further, the device-to-device communications can utilizes one or more non-3GPP wireless communication protocols and/or standards. |
| US09532297B2 |
Software defined network and mobility management method and controller thereof
A software defined network (SDN) and a corresponding mobility management method and a corresponding controller are provided. The SDN includes a controller, a plurality of switches and a plurality of edge devices. The controller manages a topology and routing actions of the SDN. When a user equipment (UE) attaches to a target edge device in the edge devices, the target edge device transmits a notification message to the controller. The controller updates flow entries in the switches and the edge devices according to the notification message. |
| US09532293B2 |
Localized forwarding
Systems and methods for call localization are provided. The call localization can be provided in a radio access network by detecting a call flow between mobile node such as user equipment (UE) served by the same radio access network device. For example, a gateway can detect a call localization opportunity and the call can be localized with an evolved nodeB (eNB). The method provides for efficient routing, reporting of billing information, lawful monitoring, and mobility if one or both user equipment leave the common eNB. |
| US09532291B2 |
Network system and communication log analyzer
This invention provides an apparatus that associates a location where a terminal uses communication or travel route in use of the communication, with a connection destination of the terminal. The apparatus includes a communication log analyzer that aggregates communication logs collected by network apparatuses that constitute the mobile network and analyzes it. The communication log analyzer estimates travel route of the terminal connected the network using: log information generated by a base station to be connected to the terminal at the time of starting the connection, log information generated by a base station to be connected to the terminal at the time of a handover of the connection, and log information generated by a base station connected to the terminal at the time of detaching the connection. |
| US09532287B2 |
Handover apparatus and method for avoiding in-device coexistence interference
The present disclosure relates to a handover apparatus and method capable of avoiding in-device coexistence interference. In order to prevent handover failure due to in-device coexistence interference, an SeNB provides TDM information (including TDM pattern information or TDM activation information) to a UE during a handover procedure, and the UE performs the handover with a TeNB according to the provided TDM information. By the disclosure, the UE can perform ISM signal transmission/reception and LTE signal transmission/reception with the TeNB in a discriminated manner according to a particular TDM pattern, so as to prevent handover failure due to the in-UE coexistence interference. |
| US09532286B2 |
Controlling communication of data for different user personas
Data for a first persona of a user of an electronic device is communicated in a first access network, according to a first agreement between the user and a first service provider of the first access network. Data for a second, different persona of the user is communicated in the first access network, according to a second, different agreement. |
| US09532285B2 |
Handing off a terminal among wireless access points
A method and system for handing off a terminal among a plurality of wireless access points (APs) connected to a central management AP. The method comprising: receiving network condition information of a terminal communicatively connected to a first wireless AP among the plurality of wireless APs. Determining a second wireless AP the plurality of wireless APs to which the terminal is to be handed off based on the network condition information of the terminal. The second wireless AP is virtually connected to the terminal. Submitting a handoff request to the second wireless AP. Notifying the terminal to hand off to the second wireless AP in response to receiving a handoff response from the second wireless AP. |
| US09532280B2 |
Electronic system with search mechanism and method of operation thereof
An electronic system includes: a communication channel configured to connect a first device to a second device; a search channel configured to search for a third device in parallel to the communication channel connected to the first device and the second device; and a communication unit configured to handover the communication channel to connect the first device and the third device without the second device. |
| US09532277B2 |
Method and apparatus for determining source SGSN
Embodiments of the present invention provide a method and an apparatus for determining a source SGSN. The method for determining a source SGSN includes: obtaining addressing information of a source SGSN through a NAS message sent by a UE; and sending the addressing information of the source SGSN to a target MME or a target SGSN, so that the target MME or the target SGSN determines the source SGSN according to the addressing information of the source SGSN. The embodiments of the present invention may ensure that an MSC obtains latest addressing information of a source SGSN of a UE, so that a target MME or a target SGSN obtains prepare bearer information of the UE from a correct source SGSN. |
| US09532276B1 |
Hybrid call continuity for a wireless communication device
A wireless communication device (WCD) is configured to receive and maintain concurrently in data storage at least two different IMS transfer-addresses, such as one for use when the WCD's transition between radio access networks (RANs) is a single-radio transition and the other for use when the WCD's transition between RANs is a dual-radio transition, and/or one for use when the WCD's transition between RANs is packet-to-packet and the other for use when the WCD's transition between RANs is packet-to-circuit. Upon transitioning between RANs, the WCD may then select the appropriate one of these IMS transfer-addresses and transmit the selected IMS transfer-address to a network node to facilitate handover of an ongoing call to be via the WCD's new serving RAN. |
| US09532275B2 |
Body contact communication optimization with link key exchange
The present disclosure relates generally to a method and a wireless communication device that optimizes communication between devices which is body contact initiated. The method, performed in the wireless communication device comprises pairing with another wireless communication device using a first communication technology, wherein the first communication technology is Body Coupled Communication, BCC, technology, exchanging, between the wireless communication device and the other wireless communication device, using BCC technology, device specific information associated with pairing in a second communication technology and connecting with the other wireless communication device, using the second communication technology, thereby performing a handover from BCC technology to the second communication technology. |
| US09532274B2 |
Determination of appropriate radio resource to be requested in case of a circuit-switched (CS) fallback procedure
A system and method for implementing fallback on a wireless device for circuit switched fallback from a first network that does not provide a circuit switched domain service is presented. A paging message is received from the first network. The paging message instructs the wireless device to implement circuit switched fallback to a circuit switched network. The paging message is inspected for information indicative of a service associated with the paging message, and a channel type suitable for the service is determined from the information indicative of the service. A request message for initiating the establishment of a radio connection is transmitted. The request message identifies the suitable channel type, and the service is used on the circuit switched network. |
| US09532272B2 |
Methods for managing radio resources between multiple radio modules and communications apparatus utilizing the same
Communications apparatus includes first and second radio modules and an antenna array coupled to the first and the second radio modules and includes multiple antennas. When the first and the second radio modules operate at the same time, the first radio module negotiates with a first communications device an amount of antenna(s) to be used by a first message, so that the first radio module operates with the amount of the antenna(s) and second radio module operates with at least one of the remaining antenna(s). |
| US09532264B2 |
Buffer state reporting method and apparatus
Embodiments of the present invention disclose a buffer state reporting method and apparatus. The buffer state reporting method includes: triggering transmission of current buffer state report BSR information of a user equipment; and if the user equipment will transmit media access control protocol data unit MAC PDU data packets to a base station and the MAC PDU data packets include a newly transmitted MAC PDU data packet, carrying the BSR information in the newly transmitted MAC PDU data packet for transmission to the base station. In the buffer state reporting method and apparatus of the embodiments of the present invention, when multiple MAC PDUs are transmitted at the same time, BSR information is carried in a newly transmitted MAC PDU, so that a base station acquires BSR information on a user side in a timely manner, thereby improving performance of uplink scheduling for a user. |
| US09532261B2 |
System and method for wireless network offloading
A method comprising obtaining, by a server, wireless-network performance data from a plurality of end user devices; generating, by the server, a prioritized network list from the wireless-network performance data; and provisioning, by the server, the prioritized network list to an end user device comprising a radio interface for receiving the prioritized network list from the server, the radio interface being identified to receive the prioritized network list based on a characteristic associated with the end user device; a radio configured to identify available wireless networks, the available wireless networks being different than a current wireless network to which the end user device is currently connected; a prioritized network selection engine for using the prioritized network list to select one of the available wireless networks; and a network connection engine configured to initiate disconnection from the current wireless network and connection to the selected wireless network. |
| US09532260B2 |
Initiating network assistance in a wireless network
In MIMO scenarios, a mobile terminal (1400) can be exposed to signals intended for wireless terminals (640) other than the mobile terminal (1400). If the mobile terminal (1400) is capable of performing interference cancellation, then a network node (1000), such as a base station (610, 620) or RNC (630), can provide the mobile terminal (1400) with interference information so that the mobile terminal (1400) can efficiently cancel interferences due to these interfering signals. The network node (1000) may provide the mobile terminal (1400) with interference information if it determines that mobile terminal (1400) will benefit from the information. The mobile terminal (1400) may cancel the interfering signals from the received signal based on the interference information. |
| US09532253B2 |
Systems and methods for multi-connectivity operation
A method for sending a power headroom report (PHR) by a User Equipment (UE) is described. The method includes obtaining a value of a power headroom for each activated serving cell with configured uplink corresponding to a second radio connection. The method also includes generating an extended power headroom MAC control element based on the obtained values and information related to power management corresponding to a first radio connection. The method further includes transmitting the extended power headroom MAC control element. |
| US09532245B2 |
Enhancement of in-device interference
Disclosed are apparatuses, methods and computer program instructions which receive or detect an in-device coexistence interference condition change in a user equipment equipped with a plurality of transceivers, send an indication of the in-device coexistence interference condition change to an access point and receive a media access control element configured for muting/unmuting at least one of a plurality of transceivers from the access point. The condition of in-device coexistence interference relates to interference among transceivers such as a long term evolution advanced transceiver and a Bluetooth transceiver in the same user equipment. The media access control element can be configured to either promote a measurement gap pause or short discontinuous transmission during a condition of in-device coexistence interference. |
| US09532243B2 |
WLAN and LTE coexistence in unlicensed radio frequency bands
A wireless local area network (WLAN) device processes received samples for a radio frequency channel in an unlicensed radio frequency band to detect radio frequency interference from a long term evolution (LTE) wireless communication system. The WLAN device performs a correlation of received time-domain samples to detect the presence of a cyclic prefix for an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) symbol used by the LTE wireless communication system. The WLAN device searches for cross-correlation peaks (1) that exceed a peak power threshold value, (2) that a ratio of which exceed a ratio threshold, and (3) that are separated by a time period corresponding to the OFDM symbol. The WLAN device detects the presence of the LTE wireless communication system without decoding the OFDM symbols. |
| US09532239B2 |
Wireless network location techniques
Improved wireless network location techniques are described. In one embodiment, for example, an apparatus may comprise circuitry and a communications management module for execution on the circuitry to send a timing announcement element comprising a sounding preamble count parameter indicating a number of sounding preambles, send a null data element comprising a number of sounding preambles equal to the sounding preamble count parameter, receive timing reply information comprising the number of sounding preambles equal to the sounding preamble count parameter, and determine a time of flight based on the timing reply information. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US09532236B2 |
Methods and arrangements for setting properties of a relay/repeater node in a radio communication network
The present disclosure provides methods and apparatuses for setting properties of a forwarding node. The forwarding node represents a relay or a repeater. The method includes establishing a connection for sending Direct Transfer messages between the forwarding node and a radio network node and sending to the radio network node a first Direct Transfer message. The first Direct Transfer message includes a relay indication, indicating to the radio network node that the first Direct Transfer message was sent from a forwarding node. The method also includes receiving from the radio network node a second Direct Transfer message, comprising setting information for setting properties of the forwarding node and setting the properties of the forwarding node based on the setting information. |
| US09532230B2 |
Method and apparatus for transmitting LTE waveforms in shared spectrum by carrier sensing
A method of operating a long term evolution (LTE) communication system on a shared frequency spectrum is disclosed. A user equipment (UE) is initialized on an LTE frequency band. A base station (eNB) monitors the shared frequency spectrum to determine if it is BUSY. The eNB transmits to the UE on the shared frequency spectrum if it is not BUSY. The eNB waits for a first time if it is BUSY and directs the UE to vacate the shared frequency spectrum after the first time. |
| US09532220B2 |
Apparatus and method for authentication in wireless communication system
The present disclosure relates to a communication method and system for converging a 5th-Generation (5G) communication system for supporting higher data rates beyond a 4th-Generation (4G) system with a technology for Internet of Things (IoT). The present disclosure may be applied to intelligent services based on the 5G communication technology and the IoT-related technology, such as smart home, smart building, smart city, smart car, connected car, health care, digital education, smart retail, security and safety services. A method and an apparatus of a server in a communication system are provided. The method includes receiving identifier information of a user equipment (UE), obtaining, if an error is detected for a first authentication key corresponding to the identifier information, information on a second authentication key for authenticating the UE, and authenticating the UE based on the information on the second authentication key. The server includes a transceiver configured to communicate with at least one of a network node and an external server, and a controller configured to receive identifier information of a UE, if an error is detected for a first authentication key corresponding to the identifier information, obtain information on a second authentication key for authenticating the UE, and authenticate the UE based on the information on the second authentication key. |
| US09532215B2 |
Secure deployment of terminals in a wireless network
A method for securely deploying a communication device in a communication network, the method comprising: storing a device identity and an associated token in the network; receiving, in the network, a device identity, a token and an indication of a data routing point; determining whether the received device identity and the received token correspond with a device identity and associated token stored by the network; and, if so, determining that the communication device corresponding to the received device identity has been validly deployed in the network and storing the data routing point as a destination to which data associated with the validly deployed communication device should be routed by the network. |
| US09532209B2 |
Customer care mobile application
A system and method is provided for providing contact center services via a mobile application on a mobile device. Status of a service request that is transmitted to a contact center is monitored. When a change in the status is detected, a notification is automatically transmitted to the mobile application. An interaction request is received from the mobile application in response to the notification. The interaction request identifies the service request. A party handling the service request is identified in response to receipt of the interaction request. The identified party is invited for engaging in interaction with the mobile device. |
| US09532206B2 |
Devices and methods for information about PLMN ID
A mobile station (110) for use in a Radio Access Network, RAN (102), connected to a core network (101) in which there is one or more Public Land Mobile Networks, PLMNs (103, 104, 105). The mobile station (110) is arranged to select one of said PLMNs (103, 104, 105), and is arranged to communicate with its RAN (102) by means of Radio Link Control, RLC, data blocks. The mobile station is arranged to include the identity, ID, of its selected PLMN in an RLC data block, and to inform the RAN (102) of the presence of the ID of the chosen PLMN in the RLC data block by means of including a reserved or pre-defined value in the length indication field of the RLC data block. |
| US09532201B1 |
Apparatus and method for a web programmable telephone
A web programmable telephone and a method for operating a web programmable telephone are disclosed. In one embodiment of the present invention, a voice module of a wireless household telephone is controlled by an internal web module that can retrieve and execute data operations from a remote portal or server thus adding data functionality to the conventional functions of a telephone. The programmable web module controls all functionality of the web programmable telephone so that every function of the telephone can be programmed and customized by a user. |
| US09532198B2 |
System and method for initiating communication from actual, notional, or dissociated previewed images
A communication device includes a communication circuit, an imager, and one or more processors. One or more memory devices store one or more reference images. The one or more processors can receive an image being previewed by the imager and determine whether the image being previewed by the imager corresponds to a stored image of the one or more reference images. Where the image being previewed by the imager corresponds to the stored image, the one or more processors can determine a communication identifier associated with the stored image and initiate communication with a remote device using the communication identifier. Where the object is a plurality of objects, the one or more processors can initiate a group communication with remote devices corresponding to all or a subset of the plurality of objects. |
| US09532193B2 |
Changing topology of wireless peer-to-peer group
A device in a peer-to-peer (P2P) group has the role of group owner. A different device in the P2P group may take on the role of group owner without ending the P2P group and create a new P2P group. Multiple P2P groups may be merged into a single P2P group. A single P2P group may be split into multiple independent P2P groups, each with its own group owner. A group owner of a P2P group may notify the client devices in the P2P group that it is about to leave the P2P group. A client device in a P2P group may be appointed in a new role of backup group owner, to take on the role of group owner in the event of a departure of the group owner, thereby providing continuity. Techniques for maintaining upper layer continuity through changes in topology of P2P groups are disclosed. |
| US09532192B2 |
Configurable phone with interactive voice response engine
A land-based or mobile phone and methods are provided for receiving inbound communications as either voice or text, and then based on the user's configuration settings, the inbound communication is provided to the user as it was received or is automatically converted into a format that is desired by the user. The phone also takes voice or text that is input by the user of the phone and converts the user's input to either voice or text based on the configuration settings stored in the user's contact list or otherwise. The outbound communication is configured according to how the intended recipient wants to receive a communication based on the configuration settings stored in the user's contact list or otherwise. The phone includes a controller that determines how the phone will handle and process inbound and outbound communications. The controller includes a speech recognition engine. |
| US09532190B2 |
Embedded advertising in MMS stationery
An electronic device includes a communication circuit configured to establish a communication over a wireless network, and a messaging circuit operative to create messages for transmission to other devices via said communication circuit. The messaging circuit is configured to automatically include into a user-composed message multimedia data that corresponds to an entity subsidizing the electronic device. |
| US09532189B2 |
Intercom system, master station, and communication control method
A master station of an intercom system is connected to an internal radio. When a substation communicates with an external radio of another wireless system, the master station outputs an audio signal received from the substation to the internal radio, and the internal radio transmits the audio signal to the external radio. The master station stores group setting information of a plurality of substations and destination group setting information indicating to which group of the plurality of substations the audio signal is to be transmitted. With reference to the group setting information and destination group setting information, the master station transmits the audio signal received from the substation to the substations in the group indicated by the destination group setting information. |
| US09532188B1 |
Creating a group based on proximate detection
A system and method for creating a group based on proximate detection are disclosed. In one implementation, the system includes a current device, a subsequent device, a completion determination module and a group creation module. The current device detects a subsequent device via a proximity detection technique and sends group data including a current user identifier to the subsequent device. The subsequent device receives the group data and, responsive to receiving the group data, modifies the group data to include a subsequent user identifier. The completion determination module determines that a completion pattern exists when the completion determination module determines that the subsequent user is a group creator. The group creation module creates an online, social networking group, responsive to the existence of the completion pattern. The group includes a plurality of users associated with a plurality of user identifiers of the group data. |
| US09532187B2 |
Interleaver for physical layer protocol data unit in a high efficiency wireless LAN
The present invention provides a method and apparatus for transmitting using an interleaver applied to a PPDU in a HE WLAN. In an aspect of the present invention, a method for transmitting data to a plurality of STAs through transmission channel by an AP in a WLAN system, wherein the transmission channel is divided into a plurality of subchannels which are allocated to the plurality of STAs respectively, the method may include interleaving a plurality of data units for the plurality of STAs based on characteristics of the plurality of subchannels allocated to the plurality of STAs to generate a plurality of interleaved data units; and transmitting, through the transmission channel, a Physical layer Protocol Data Unit (PPDU) frame including the plurality of interleaved data units respectively on the plurality of subchannels to the plurality of STAs. |
| US09532185B2 |
Achieving fast EMBMS channel switching and adding in LTE
A method, an apparatus, and a computer program product for wireless communication are provided. The apparatus receives a first MTCH. The apparatus stores MBMS control information for at least a second MTCH. The apparatus subsequently determines to receive the second MTCH. The apparatus then accesses the stored MBMS control information for the second MTCH upon determining to receive the second MTCH. The apparatus receives the second MTCH based on the accessed MBMS control information without acquiring the MBMS control information for the second MTCH after the determination to receive the second MTCH. |
| US09532181B2 |
Device retrieval server, method of retrieving device, and program for device retrieval server
The present invention is to provide a device retrieval server, a method of retrieving a device, and a program for a device retrieval server, which can easily select a device with a function that a user desires. The device retrieval server 10 communicatively connected with a device 200 previously associates and stores an identifier and location data of the device 200 with function data on an executable function of the device 200; receives a retrieval request for a location and a function from a user terminal 100; and references the location data and the function data stored in the device retrieval server 10 in response to the retrieval request and transmits an identifier of the device 200 to the user terminal 100. |
| US09532172B1 |
Zone-based away messages
One embodiment provides a system for generating shopping incentives for users based on purchasing patterns of the users. The system performs operations including determining one or more zones within a venue based on wireless signals transmitted by one or more wireless sensors. The operations further include, for at least one zone, determining a current state associated with the zone, monitoring the zone, and, in response to detecting a device entering the zone, notifying the device of the current state associated with the zone. Each zone is assigned to a zone owner. A current state associated with a zone is based on a real-time location of a device carried by the zone owner. |
| US09532171B2 |
Geo-location based event gallery
A computer implemented method may include receiving geo-location data from a device of a user; comparing the geo-location data with a geo-location fence associated with an event; determining that the geo-location data corresponds to the geo-location fence associated with the event; responsive to the determining that the geo-location data corresponds to the geo-location fence associated with the event, supplying user-selectable event gallery information, associated with an event gallery of the event, to the device for addition to a destination list on the device; detecting selection of the user-selectable event gallery information in the destination list by the user of the device; and/or responsive to the detecting of the selection of the user-selectable event gallery information by the user of the device, adding the user as a follower of the event, with access to the event gallery. |
| US09532170B2 |
Positioning mobile terminal based on electromagnetic signals
Example positioning techniques include: generating an initial particle set, randomly allocating different moving step lengths for each particle in the initial particle set, updating position information of each particle at a previous moment to obtain a current particle set, rating usability of each particle according to position information of each particle in the current particle set and a signal fingerprint received at a current moment, acquiring a moving step length of each particle having a rating higher than a first predetermined threshold in the current particle set, and updating a moving step length of each particle having a rating lower than the first predetermined threshold according to the acquired moving step length. The techniques of the present disclosure obtain a moving step length closest to the actual step length of a person, and update the moving step length in time with the change of the step length of the person. |
| US09532163B2 |
Short range radio communication system and short range radio communication terminal
When a predetermined cooperative application is activated, communication in a predetermined protocol used in the predetermined cooperative application is connected rapidly. A mobile communication terminal separates authentication information required for authenticating an application registered in a vehicle apparatus from a series of processing for connecting a profile to acquire from a vehicle apparatus. That is, the mobile communication terminal authenticates the application registered in the vehicle apparatus before a user performs an operation of start of the predetermined cooperative application. After the user performs the operation of start of the predetermined cooperative application by the vehicle apparatus, the authentication can be omitted, and the predetermined profile used in the predetermined cooperative application can be performed rapidly. |
| US09532160B2 |
Method of determining user intent to use services based on proximity
A method for accessing functionality of a mobile electronic device through a vehicle system onboard a motor vehicle. The method includes making functionality of the mobile electronic device accessible through the vehicle system based on where a sensor that the mobile electronic device is paired with is physically located about the vehicle. |
| US09532158B2 |
Reflected and direct rendering of upmixed content to individually addressable drivers
Embodiments are described for a system of rendering spatial audio content in a listening environment. The system includes a rendering component configured to generate a plurality of audio channels including information specifying a playback location in a listening area, an upmixer component receiving the plurality of audio channels and generating, for each audio channel, at least one reflected sub-channel configured to cause a majority of driver energy to reflect off of one or more surfaces of the listening area, and at least one direct sub-channel configured to cause a majority of driver energy to propagate directly to the playback location. |
| US09532156B2 |
Apparatus and method for sound stage enhancement
A non-transitory computer readable storage medium with instructions executable by a processor identify a center component, a side component and an ambient component within right and left channels of a digital audio input signal. A spatial ratio is determined from the center component and side component. The digital audio input signal is adjusted based upon the spatial ratio to form a pre-processed signal. Recursive crosstalk cancellation processing is performed on the pre-processed signal to form a crosstalk cancelled. The center component of the crosstalk cancelled signal is realigned to create the final digital audio output. |
| US09532154B2 |
Method and apparatus for customizing audio signal processing for a user
A method and apparatus for customizing audio signal processing for a user by a mobile device is provided. The method includes identifying hearing characteristics of the user by testing hearing abilities of the user, by the mobile device, at a plurality of frequencies; adjusting a dynamic range of each of the plurality of frequencies based on the hearing characteristics; processing a decoded audio signal based on the adjusted dynamic range of each of the plurality of frequencies; and outputting the processed audio signal. |
| US09532151B2 |
Body worn sound processors with directional microphone apparatus
A sound processor, for use with a cochlear implant, that includes directional microphone capabilities. |
| US09532148B2 |
Method of operating a hearing aid and a hearing aid
A method of processing a signal in a hearing aid (50) comprises splitting an input signal into a multitude N of hearing aid frequency bands, receiving an input signal from an acoustical-electrical transducer, splitting the input signal into a multitude N of hearing aid frequency bands using a first filterbank, estimating speech, noise and hearing loss levels in said frequency bands, using an auditory model of the cochlea for a hearing impaired person to provide excitation values for speech and noise in said frequency bands, using said excitation values to calculated a speech intelligibility measure and optimizing said speech intelligibility measure by iteratively varying the applied gain in the hearing aid frequency bands. The invention also provides a hearing aid (50). |
| US09532145B2 |
Low-profile speaker
A low-profile speaker that includes a low-profile frame, and a first magnet assembly disposed in the low-profile frame. The first magnet assembly has a first cage and a plurality of magnets disposed in the first cage. The low-profile speaker also includes a support assembly having a cone and a support ring attached to the cone, and a voice coil attached to the support ring. The support ring and voice coil are suspended in relatively close proximity to the magnet assembly such that the support ring and voice coil oscillate in response to electrical signals in the voice coil. |
| US09532143B2 |
Low frequency equalization for loudspeaker system
A method of optimizing the low frequency audio response emanating from a pair of low frequency transducers housed within a cabinet. The low frequency transducers are electrically connected to a power amplifier and source of audio content. The resonant frequency (Fs) and amplitude (Q) are characterized as to the high-pass pole of the low frequency transducers as they are mounted within the cabinet. An equalizer is placed between the amplifier and source of audio content for canceling the complex pole of the low frequency transducers and for establishing a new complex pole at a cut off frequency below which the sound generated by the low frequency transducers will diminish. |
| US09532142B2 |
Embedded speaker protection for automotive audio power amplifier
A digital circuit can be used in a speaker system. An intermediate node provides a speaker protection control signal. A first latch for receives an offset control signal. A first logic gate receives a play control signal, the offset control signal, and the speaker protection control signal. A second logic gate is coupled to the first latch for receiving the play control signal and the speaker protection control signal. A second latch is coupled to the first logic gate for providing a forced mute signal. A third latch is coupled to the second logic gate and to the intermediate node. |
| US09532141B2 |
Protection apparatus for sound signal converting device
An audio signal output from a tone generator 14 is fed into a coil 16 provided in a transducer for vibrating a sound board, so that a sound signal is generated by the vibration of the sound board. A microcomputer 30 obtains temperature values of the coil 16 measured by two different methods, and suspends supply of audio signals to the coil 16 or reduces the amount of audio signals supplied to the coil 16 if the difference between the two coil temperature values is outside a predetermined range. In a case as well where one of the two coil temperature values has risen excessively, the microcomputer 30 suspends supply of audio signals to the coil 16 or reduces the amount of audio signals supplied to the coil 16. |
| US09532140B2 |
Listen to people you recognize
One example device includes a camera; a display device; a memory; and a processor in communication with the memory to receive audio signals from two or more microphones or a far-end device; receive first location information and second location information, the first location information for a visual identification of an audio source of the received audio signals and the second location information identifying a direction of arrival from the audio source; receive a first adjustment to a first portion of a UI to change either a visual identification or a coordinate direction of a direction focus; in response to the first adjustment, automatically perform a second adjustment to a second portion of the UI to change the other of the visual identification or the coordinate direction of the direction focus; and process the audio signals to filter sounds outside the direction focus, or emphasize sounds within the direction focus. |
| US09532135B2 |
Bone conduction speaker unit
Problem is to provide a bone conduction speaker unit which is compact as a whole, and can be used, being simply and neatly mounted to a great variety of pieces of existing communication equipment, such as mobile phones. A unit case 1 is provided which incorporates a bone conduction speaker 2 such that a diaphragm 3 is exposed, with an earphone-jack mating plug 4, which is connected to the bone conduction speaker 2, being disposed on the unit case 1, and by connecting the plug 4 to an earphone jack 22 on a cabinet 21 of a piece of communication equipment, such as a mobile phone, the piece of communication equipment is allowed to be used as a speaker. |
| US09532132B2 |
Hearing-impaired person assistance speaker
It is a purpose of the present invention to provide a hearing-impaired person assistance speaker that emits sound waves having an increased sound pressure level so as to provide improved original sound production capabilities. The inner circumferential face of a coupler 199 is bonded to one end of a bobbin 124 that is the other end thereof around which a coil 148 is wound. A portion of the coupler 199 configured so that it extends outward is bonded to a vibrating unit 121. As described above, the bobbin 124 and the vibrating unit 121 are coupled with each other via the coupler 199, instead of a line-contact connection structure that connects them. This reduces an amount of adhesive agent that can lead to degradation in the sound clarity. Thus, the present embodiment provides improved sound clarity of the sound to be received by a hearing-impaired person. |
| US09532131B2 |
System and method of improving voice quality in a wireless headset with untethered earbuds of a mobile device
Method of improving voice quality using a wireless headset with untethered earbuds starts by receiving first acoustic signal from first microphone included in first untethered earbud and receiving second acoustic signal from second microphone included in second untethered earbud. First inertial sensor output is received from first inertial sensor included in first earbud and second inertial sensor output is received from second inertial sensor included in second earbud. First earbud processes first noise/wind level captured by first microphone, first acoustic signal and first inertial sensor output and second earbud processes second noise/wind level captured by second microphone, second acoustic signal, and second inertial sensor output. First and second noise/wind levels and first and second inertial sensor outputs are communicated between the earbuds. First earbud transmits first acoustic signal and first inertial sensor output when first noise and wind level is lower than second noise/wind level. Other embodiments are described. |
| US09532128B2 |
Charging of wireless earbuds
A storage and charging capsule for a pair of wireless earbuds is presented. The storage and charging capsule has a base part, an elongate intermediate part, the intermediate part having a longitudinal major axis, and a cover part being retractable over the intermediate part. The intermediate part has a first end attached to the base part, a second end, and an earbud chamber formed between the first and second ends. The earbud chamber is adapted to receive the pair of wireless earbuds arranged one after another along the longitudinal major axis of the intermediate part. The capsule further has a power source for charging the pair of wireless earbuds when placed in the earbud chamber in the intermediate part. |
| US09532127B2 |
Earbuds and in-ear adapter for earbuds
An earphone or adapter for attaching to an earphone includes an ear portion including a tubular sidewall. In one embodiment, the tubular sidewall includes an inner surface defining an air channel extending through the sidewall. The air channel redirects sound at an angle to the speaker axis, and may have a smooth contour to maintain sound quality. In one embodiment, the inner surface has a twin cone shape including a converging cone portion extending from the first end and a diverging cone portion extending from the converging cone portion to the second end. The outer surface of the tubular portion may include a plurality of outwardly extending fins In one embodiment, the tubular portion includes both a plurality of fins, and a twin cone air channel. |
| US09532126B1 |
Audio earbud headphone for improved in-ear retention
Earbud headphones configured for use with a portable media player that include a main body portion with an extended curvature configuration. In one example implementation, the earbud headphones include a speaker housing and an extension that form a gap between the speaker housing and the extension. A user can secure a portion of the user's outer ear in the gap (i.e., between the extension and speaker housing), such that the earbud is securely and comfortably held in place within the user's ear. Additionally, the earbud headphones can include interchangeable components, such that a user can customize the size, fit, and style of the earbud headphones. |
| US09532122B1 |
TV shelf with speakers
The present invention is a wall mounted shelf that is capable of holding a heavy flat-panel television set and associated accessories. The shelf is hollow and contains speakers mounted within the hollow interior of the shelf to provide enhanced sound production for the television. The shelf mounts on a mounting bracket that attaches to the wall's studs via screws and that is completely concealed by the shelf. The mounting bracket has vertical bracing that engages the wall to prevent sagging of the shelf and horizontal pipes that insert into pipe receivers provided within the hollow shelf to provide additional support for the shelf. |
| US09532117B1 |
System and method for identifying orphaned utility meters
Systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with recovering orphaned utility meters are described. In one embodiment, a method includes selecting, from an electronic database, a plurality of candidate meters that are located proximate to an orphaned meter as determined based, at least in part, on ping information received from the orphaned meter. The orphaned meter is a utility meter that is actively transmitting the ping information to a utility company and is not associated with a customer account. The example method may also include evaluating the plurality of candidate meters according to the ping information to generate comparative metrics that define similarities between the orphaned meter and each of the plurality of candidate meters to identify whether one or more of the plurality of candidate meters correlate with the orphaned meter. The method also includes generating an electronic output based, at least in part, on the comparative metrics. |
| US09532103B2 |
Multi-user support for set top boxes and game consoles
Systems and techniques are described for multi-user support on set top boxes and game consoles. A described technique includes executing a hypervisor that monitors a plurality of virtual machines that execute a set top box operating system or a game console operating system, providing a selection menu to a first display device, receiving a first selection of a first virtual machine, executing the first virtual machine, providing a first stream of content for a first user interface of the first virtual machine to the first display device, providing the selection menu to a second display device, receiving a second selection of a second virtual machine, executing the second virtual machine, and providing a second stream of content for a second user interface of the second virtual machine to the second display device while providing the first stream to the first display device. |
| US09532101B2 |
Digital broadcast receiver unit
Digital broadcast receiving apparatus including: a receiver receiving at least three different video programs in one transport stream, including a plurality of different video signal formats having different combination of scan lines and scan method; an isolator to isolate a video signal; a decoder to decode the video signal; a processor to execute a plurality of video processing sub software programs, providing video processing according to a different combination of the number of scan lines and a scan method; a controller using information obtained from the digital multiplexed signal to determine a combination of the number of scan lines and a scan method, and selecting one video processing of the video processing sub software programs to perform video processing according to the determined combination of the number of scan lines and the scan method; and a display to display the video signal processed by the processor. |
| US09532100B2 |
Systems and methods for selecting sound logos for media content
Methods and systems are disclosed herein for a media guidance application that presents an appropriate audio cue based on a search request received from a user. For example, the media guidance application may determine that a media asset corresponding to the search request is of particular relevance to the user (e.g., it belongs to the user's favorite genre). The media guidance application may then determine an audio cue (e.g., a well-known sound effect) associated with the media asset and generate the audio cue for presentation. The media guidance application may also determine an animated image cue associated with the media asset and generate that for display as well. This may allow users, especially those with vision-related disabilities, to more easily identify media assets that may be particularly relevant to them. |
| US09532095B2 |
Mobile device with smart gestures
Methods for automatically buffering and displaying video feeds associated with a live event are described. The video feeds displayed on the mobile device may comprise live video feeds or replays associated with the live event. A replay may comprise a playback of one or more buffered video feeds in a particular sequence and at a particular playback rate. The particular sequence may be determined based on the viewing behavior of the end user of the mobile device and/or the viewing behaviors of one or more other end users using other mobile devices at the live event. In some cases, the replay may comprise a shared replay in which a group of end users attending the live event may interact with each other while sharing a common replay. |
| US09532092B1 |
Multiple bitrate format-agnostic streaming architecture
A method and apparatus for delivering a content stream is implemented within a content delivery network (CDN) and, in one embodiment, includes the high level functions of recording the stream using a recording tier, and playing the stream using a player tier. For a live stream, the step of recording the stream includes a set of sub-steps that begins when the stream is received at a CDN entry point in a source format. The stream is then converted into an intermediate format (IF), which is an internal format for delivering the stream within the CDN and comprises a stream manifest, a set of one or more fragment indexes (FI), and a set of IF fragments. The player process begins when a requesting client is associated with a CDN HTTP proxy. In response to receipt at the HTTP proxy of a request for the stream or a portion thereof, the HTTP proxy retrieves (either from the archive or the data store) the stream manifest and at least one fragment index. Using the fragment index, the IF fragments are retrieved to the HTTP proxy, converted to a target format, and then served in response to the client request. The source format may be the same or different from the target format. Preferably, all fragments are accessed, cached and served by the HTTP proxy via HTTP. |
| US09532091B2 |
Dynamic synchronization of media streams within a social network
A method of synchronizing first and second streams of a multimedia content program is operable for determining a temporal difference indicative of a relative timing between first and second streams of the program, the first stream being provided to a first multimedia processing resource (MPR) and the second stream being provided to a second MPR. The method includes manipulating at least one of the streams to reduce the temporal difference until the temporal difference is less than a predetermined threshold and enabling a viewer of the first stream to interact with a viewer of the second stream regarding the program. Interactions are visually detectable on a first display screen corresponding to the first MPR. |
| US09532089B2 |
Session-based encryption for delivering content on-demand
The specification and drawings present a new method, apparatus and software related product (e.g., a computer readable memory or storage device) for a session-based encryption (e.g., a common-tier encryption) for delivering a content (e.g., video, data, multi-media content and the like) on demand using multiple encryptors. According to an embodiment, the STB's request for a VOD session may be routed by a session resource manager (SRM) to receive content from an appropriate encryptor chosen from multiple encryptors based on a predefined criteria. This approach can minimize a number of encryptions/encryption devices (such as ECM generators) needed in a cable network. However, the simulcrypt encryptor can be also used, if necessary, e.g., when CAS-only encryptors are fully loaded with a traffic. |
| US09532088B2 |
Trick-play streams for adaptive bitrate streaming
A method of generating a trick-play stream is provided that includes providing a master trick-play stream having a plurality of groups of pictures, wherein each group of pictures comprises a leading intra-coded frame and a plurality of inter-coded frames, and frames within of each group of pictures encoded with a temporally scalable hierarchical encoding relationship, deriving a trick-play stream from the master trick-play stream for a particular temporal resolution by skipping a consistent pattern of frames from each group of pictures that are not needed to decode other frames at the particular temporal resolution according to the temporally scalable hierarchical encoding relationship, and providing the trick-play stream to a client device, wherein the trick-play stream is packaged to appear to the client device as a standards-compliant adaptive bitrate stream. |
| US09532087B2 |
System and method for metamorphic content generation
A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a device having a controller programmed to detect an object within an image of a first occurrence of a repetitive portion of a video program. The object is modified based on instructions, resulting in an updated object, and another portion of the image of the repetitive portion is left unmodified, resulting in a first modified repetitive portion of the video program. The object is detected within an image of subsequent instances of the repetitive portion of the video program and modified each time differently from the updated object and from subsequent modifications of the object, while maintaining the another portion of the image unmodified. Other embodiments are disclosed. |
| US09532085B2 |
Methods and systems for online advertising
A portal webpage or other entry content is provided that includes a selectable region of content. A video-rich icon is enabled. The video-rich icon may encourage a user to select the selectable region of the content. An indication of selection to the selectable region of content is received. Destination content is provided and may include an additional selectable region of content. An additional video-rich icon is enabled on the provided destination content. The additional video-rich icon may encourage a user to select the additional selectable region of content. |
| US09532084B2 |
Switching of the source for television content
A set-top box or media server device may operate to switch the source of incoming television content to, for example, improve power efficiency of the device. In one implementation, the device may receiving a television channel as part of a modulated television signal and extract, by a tuner associated with the device, the television channel from the modulated television signal. The device may determine to switch reception of the television channel from the modulated television signal to a packet-based video stream corresponding to the television channel. The device may provide the television channel, as received via the packet-based video stream, to the display device in place of the television channel received via the modulated television signal. |
| US09532083B2 |
Cooperative caching method and apparatus
Embodiments of the present invention disclose a cooperative caching method and apparatus, relating to the field of network technologies, to improve the local hit ratio without increasing the local server costs. The technical solution provided in the present invention includes: obtaining, according to cache information, end-to-end delay between a local server and a neighbor server, and popularity in a cache list, a consolidated gain value of a cached video segment and a consolidated gain value of a candidate video segment in the local server; and replacing the cached video segment with the candidate video segment when the consolidated gain value of the cached video segment and the consolidated gain value of the candidate video segment in the local server meet a replacement condition. |
| US09532078B2 |
Filtering method for removing block artifacts and/or ringing noise and apparatus therefor
Provided are a filtering method and apparatus for removing blocking artifacts and ringing noise. The filtering method includes transforming video data on a block-by-block basis, and detecting the presence of an edge region in the video data by checking the distribution of values obtained by the transformation. Accordingly, it is possible to completely remove blocking artifacts and/or ringing noise by more effectively detecting the presence of an edge region in video data. |
| US09532077B2 |
Filtering method for removing block artifacts and/or ringing noise and apparatus therefor
Provided are a filtering method and apparatus for removing blocking artifacts and ringing noise. The filtering method includes transforming video data on a block-by-block basis, and detecting the presence of an edge region in the video data by checking the distribution of values obtained by the transformation. Accordingly, it is possible to completely remove blocking artifacts and/or ringing noise by more effectively detecting the presence of an edge region in video data. |
| US09532074B2 |
Method and system for video coding system with loop filtering
A method and apparatus for encoding of video data incorporating loop filtering are disclosed. The method and apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention determines an initial loop filter level for a frame of the video data according to quality setting of the frame. The information associated with the initial loop filter level is incorporated in the bitstream corresponding to compressed video data. The loop filtering is applied to a macroblock without the need to wait for the whole frame reconstruction to complete. In another embodiment according to the present invention, the initial loop filter level may be refined according to stability associated with the frame. In yet another embodiment according to the present invention, the method may include determining whether segment mode is on or off and determining a frame-level or segment-level initial loop filter level accordingly. |
| US09532070B2 |
Method and device for processing a video sequence
The present invention concerns a method and device (10, 20) for the processing, in particular coding or decoding or more generally compression or decompression, of a video sequence (110) consisting of a series of digital images (401 to 407) comprising a current image (401) to process. The method comprises the steps consisting of: —generating (511, 603, 720, 812) a first reconstruction of a first image (402 to 404) in the sequence, so as to obtain a first reference image (517, 610, 717, 810); —generating (519, 612, 720, 812) a second reconstruction of the first image (402 to 404) different from the first reconstruction, so as to obtain a second reference image (518, 611, 718, 811); and—predicting (505, 606, 705, 806) at least part of said current image (401) from at least one reference image selected from the generated first and second reference images (516, 608, 716, 808). |
| US09532067B2 |
Decoding of inter-layer reference picture set and reference picture list construction
A method for video coding is described. Signaling of a maximum number of sub-layers for inter-layer prediction is obtained. A sub-layer non-reference picture is also obtained. It is determined whether a value of a temporal identifier of the sub-layer non-reference picture is greater than the maximum number of sub-layers for inter-layer prediction minus 1. The sub-layer non-reference picture is marked as “unused for reference” if the value of the temporal identifier of the sub-layer non-reference picture is greater than the maximum number of sub-layers for inter-layer prediction minus 1. In some cases a sub-layer non-reference picture is also obtained. It is determined whether a value of a temporal identifier of the sub-layer non-reference picture is greater than the maximum number of sub-layers for inter-layer prediction. The sub-layer non-reference picture is marked as “unused for reference” if the value of the temporal identifier of the sub-layer non-reference picture is greater than the maximum number of sub-layers for inter-layer prediction. |
| US09532063B2 |
Electronic device for encoding a buffer parameter
An electronic device for sending a message is described. The electronic device includes a processor and instructions stored in memory that is in electronic communication with the processor. The electronic device determines whether a picture is allowed to be decoded on a sub-picture level. If the picture is allowed to be decoded on a sub-picture level, the electronic device generates at least one of a buffer size parameter and a buffer scale parameter. The electronic device sends at least one of the buffer size parameter and the buffer scale parameter. |
| US09532062B2 |
Controlling player buffer and video encoder for adaptive video streaming
A mechanism is disclosed to adapt in real-time the encoding bitrate of a video source in an adaptive video streaming system with the aim of avoiding playback interruptions and to guarantee the best possible video quality. The mechanism is made of a feedback loop in which a controller computes the encoding bitrate that the sender (the video server) transmits to a receiver (client) employing a packet switching network such as the Internet. The mechanism can be used in video streaming systems employing scalable encoding (f.i. H.264 SVC, VP8, VP9) or multi bit-rate encoding (stream-switching). The automatic control that computes the video encoding bitrate can be executed either at the server or at the client. |
| US09532060B2 |
Two-level error correcting codes for color space encoded image
Embodiments of the present disclosure can include devices for storing and exchanging color space encoded images. The encoded images can store input data into high capacity multi-colored composite two-dimensional pictures having different symbols organized in specific order using sets in a color space. The encoding can include performing two-level error correction and generating frames based on the color space for formatting and calibrating the encoded images during decoding. The decoding can use the frames to perform color restoration and distortion correction. The decoding can be based on a pseudo-Euclidean distance between a distorted color and a color in a color calibration cells. In some embodiments, an encoded image can be further divided into sub-images during encoding for simplified distortion correction. |
| US09532048B2 |
Hierarchical motion estimation employing nonlinear scaling and adaptive source block size
Systems, devices and methods are described including applying nonlinear scaling to a current image frame and a reference image frame to generate at least a corresponding current image layer and a corresponding reference image layer. Hierarchical motion estimation may then be performed using the nonlinearly scaled image layers. Further, source block size may be adaptively determined in a downsampled image layer and hierarchical motion estimation may be performed using the adaptively sized source blocks. |
| US09532046B2 |
Reference picture set prediction for video coding
In one example, a device for decoding video data includes a video decoder configured to decode one or more syntax elements of a current reference picture set (RPS) prediction data structure, wherein at least one of the syntax elements represents a picture order count (POC) difference between a POC value associated with the current RPS and a POC value associated with a previously decoded RPS, form a current RPS based at least in part on the RPS prediction data structure and the previously decoded RPS, and decode one or more pictures using the current RPS. A video encoder may be configured to perform a substantially similar process during video encoding. |
| US09532043B2 |
Wireless transmission of real-time media
A method, wireless communication device, and computer readable medium, are disclosed, for wireless transmission of real-time media from a source to a sink over a wireless transmission channel. The wireless device initiates a peer-to-peer communication session between the sink and the source, and determines based on a time-allocation for the wireless transmission, an available bandwidth for the wireless transmission. The wireless device encodes the real-time media for the wireless transmission such that a time-required for transmission of the first frame-type is less than or equal to a period-of-availability for transmission defined in the time-allocation for the wireless transmission. |
| US09532042B2 |
Inter-prediction method and apparatus for same
An inter-prediction method according to the present invention comprises the steps of: deriving motion information of a current block; and generating a prediction block for the current block on the basis of the derived motion information. According to the present invention, computational complexity can be reduced and encoding efficiency can be improved. |
| US09532037B2 |
Fast-acting low voltage liquid crystal stereo glasses
The invention relates to the field of optoelectronics and display technology and can be used in high speed stereoscopic glasses when working with any type of 3D display, designed to operate with active stereo glasses with standard (60-160 Hz), high (hundreds of Hz) and ultrahigh (several kilohertz) frame rate. According to the invention in optical shutters of high-speed stereo glasses a layer of the helix-free ferroelectric liquid crystal (FLC) with optimized physical parameters is used. The technical result is an increase of the optical contrast of FLC shutters, reducing the amplitude of the control voltage. |
| US09532036B2 |
Stereo source image calibration method and apparatus
An image processing apparatus and a method implemented by the image process apparatus generates a vertical disparity map through regression analysis, based on a difference between vertical coordinate values from feature correspondence information of left and right source images. A geometric difference through image warping is calibrated before depth information is restored through depth estimation. Thus, a process of optimizing a camera model may not have to be performed, and occurrence of black areas that may be caused by image rotation may be reduced. |
| US09532035B2 |
Imaging system mounted in flight vehicle
An imaging system on an aerial vehicle, includes: a group of rotating camera including at least a first and a second rotating cameras on the aerial vehicle; and a control part which controls a first virtual rotation track of the first rotating camera and a second virtual rotation track of the second rotating camera and allows shots to be taken at multiple photograph-shooting points on the first virtual rotation track and the second virtual rotation track; wherein the control part controls a set of multiple photograph-shooting points on the first virtual rotation track and those on the second virtual rotation track to be substantially in a grid shape. Accordingly, a 3D image could be acquired by using the group of rotating cameras on the aerial vehicle during a relatively short endurance flight and more information on images created in such a method could be estimated. |
| US09532033B2 |
Image sensor and imaging device
An image capturing element comprising photoelectric converting elements that are arranged two-dimensionally and photoelectrically convert incident light into an electric signal; aperture masks that correspond one-to-one with the photoelectric converting elements; and color filters that correspond one-to-one with the photoelectric converting elements. Among n adjacent photoelectric converting elements, where n is an integer no less than three, apertures of the aperture masks corresponding to at least three of the photoelectric converting elements are included within each pattern of a color filter pattern formed from at least two types of the color filters that respectively pass different wavelength bands, and are positioned to respectively pass light from different partial regions within a cross-sectional region of the incident light, and photoelectric converting element groups that are each formed of the n photoelectric converting elements are arranged in series. |
| US09532027B2 |
Methods for controlling scene, camera and viewing parameters for altering perception of 3D imagery
Mathematical relationships between the scene geometry, camera parameters, and viewing environment are used to control stereography to obtain various results influencing the viewer's perception of 3D imagery. The methods may include setting a horizontal shift, convergence distance, and camera interaxial parameter to achieve various effects. The methods may be implemented in a computer-implemented tool for interactively modifying scene parameters during a 2D-to-3D conversion process, which may then trigger the re-rendering of the 3D content on the fly. |
| US09532026B2 |
Interlaced 3D video
A video processing device (100) for processing 3D video is coupled to a 3D display device (120). The device receives the 3D video data according to a high resolution interlaced 3D format. A video processor (106) generates a 3D display signal according to a display format. 3D display capability data indicates at least one interlaced 3D display format accepted by the 3D display device, the interlaced 3D display format having a lower resolution than the high resolution interlaced 3D format. The device has a storage unit (21, 31) for storing the 3D display capability data and 3D conversion capability data. The 3D conversion capability data indicates a capability of the video processing device for interlaced down conversion for enabling a selection mechanism to control the processing of the 3D video information by selecting the interlaced 3D display format and the interlaced down conversion. A2D version of the 3D video information is selected when 3D playback is not possible. Advantageously the user is provided with the best possible 3D or 2D view. |
| US09532024B2 |
Color calibration and use of multi-LED flash modules
Systems, methods, and computer readable media to identify the operating characteristics of a multi-LED flash module for use with a image capture device are described. Flash modules having multiple LEDs have been found to exhibit large module-to-module variation in the light spectrum they emit. It has been determined that such variations make defining a “golden module” impractical. To overcome this and other issues, techniques to characterize the operational behavior of a flash module having multiple LEDs using easily obtained measurements are disclosed. Such characterizations permit the characterization of each flash module to account for the particular lighting capability of its specific LEDs during image capture operations. |
| US09532023B2 |
Color reproduction of display camera system
A method including: outputting, for display on a display device, a plurality of test patterns; obtaining, from a camera, a plurality of test images of a subject exposed to the plurality of test patterns displayed on the display device; generating a first color transformation based on the plurality of test images; and adjusting a color balance of the camera based on the first color transformation. |
| US09532017B2 |
Light sensitivity controlling apparatus and projection-type display device equipped with same
The light sensitivity controlling apparatus comprises an optical semiconductor, an amplifier element, a resistor unit, an A/D converter, and a controller. The optical semiconductor receives a plurality of colors of light emitted from a light source in a time division. The amplifier element converts optical current flowing to the optical semiconductor into voltage by receiving the plurality of colors of light. The resistor unit switches the gain for converting the optical current inputted to the amplifier element into voltage, for each of the plurality of colors of light. The A/D converter converts the voltage outputted by the amplifier element from an analog signal into a digital signal. The sensitivity controlling apparatus controls the resistor unit so that the output level corresponding to the various colors of light outputted from the A/D converter will remain substantially same level. |
| US09532010B2 |
Observation instrument with a symmetrical image field given use of asymmetric image sensors
An observation instrument has a hollow shaft in whose distal end region there is arranged an optoelectronic imaging system which has on the image entrance side a distal deflection prism whose deflection faces lead an image into an optical lens system which images the image onto the image plane of an image sensor arranged proximally from the lens system, the image sensor having an active region which is situated asymmetrically relative to the outer contour of the image sensor. A first plane, which is defined by the main beam and a first orthogonal on the image plane of the image sensor, and a second plane, which is defined by the main beam and a second orthogonal on the deflection faces of the distal deflection prism, being rotated relative to one another about the main beam in such a way that it is possible to produce a sight cone which is symmetrical relative to a midplane of the hollow shaft and whose image area is situated fully in the active region of the image sensor. |
| US09532009B1 |
Systems and methods for detecting contaminants using laser beam path length differences
A system for detecting a contaminant in a container is provided. The system includes a laser source configured to emit a laser beam into the container, an imaging array configured to detect the laser beam as imaging data, and a computing device communicatively coupled to the imaging array. The computing device is configured to determine, from the imaging data, a plurality of beam path length differences due to the contaminant, and calculate, from the beam path length differences, a volume of contaminant in the container. |
| US09532008B2 |
Display control apparatus and display control method
A display control apparatus includes a control unit of a client configured to specify a privacy mask zone in a panoramic area, display a graphic pattern larger than the specified privacy mask zone over the privacy mask zone, and accept an operation to shift the privacy mask zone corresponding to the displayed graphic pattern. |
| US09532007B2 |
Method and system for remotely requesting recording at a user network device for a user recording system
A method and system for recoding content includes a user network device, a user recording device, a partner service provider and a primary service provider communicating program guide data to a partner provider from a primary service provider. The program guide data includes a content identifier. The partner service provider communicates the program guide data to the user network device which is associated with a user identifier. The user network device selects content and communicates the content identifier to the partner provider through a network. The partner service provider communicates the content identifier and a user identifier to the primary provider. The primary service provider generates a recording instruction at the partner service provider in response to the content identifier and the user identifier and communicates the recording instruction to a user recording device associated with the user identifier. The user recording device records the content in response to the recording command. |
| US09532005B2 |
Methods and apparatus for persistent control and protection of content
A novel method and apparatus for protection of streamed media content is disclosed. In one aspect, the apparatus includes control means for governance of content streams or content objects, decryption means for decrypting content streams or content objects under control of the control means, and feedback means for tracking actual use of content streams or content objects. The control means may operate in accordance with rules received as part of the streamed content, or through a side-band channel. The rules may specify allowed uses of the content, including whether or not the content can be copied or transferred, and whether and under what circumstances received content may be “checked out” of one device and used in a second device. The rules may also include or specify budgets, and a requirement that audit information be collected and/or transmitted to an external server. In a different aspect, the apparatus may include a media player designed to call plugins to assist in rendering content. A “trust plugin” is disclosed, along with a method of using the trust plugin so that a media player designed for use with unprotected content may render protected content without the necessity of requiring any changes to the media player. In one aspect, the streamed content may be in a number of different formats, including MPEG-4, MP3, and the RMFF format. |
| US09532003B2 |
Information processing apparatus, information processing system, and non-transitory computer readable medium
A non-transitory computer readable medium stores a program causing a computer to execute a process for synchronous display of a document for use at a conference on multiple terminals connected via a network and for transmission and reception of media data including at least one of audio data and video data. The process includes, in accordance with whether or not each of multiple users has a right to access a document selected by a first user on a first terminal, controlling content for display on multiple terminals used by the multiple users, and controlling transmission and reception of the media data between the first terminal and each of the multiple terminals. |
| US09531996B1 |
Method and design for optimum camera and display alignment of center of the room video conferencing systems
Systems for videoconferencing are designed for where people are seated around a video conferencing system. The systems include a camera so the far site can see the local participants and the systems include displays that show the far site. The displays are properly aligned with the cameras so that when people at the far site view the displayed images of the near site, it looks like they have eye contact with the near site. Obtaining the alignments of the camera and the displays to provide this apparent eye contact result requires meeting a series of different constraints relating to the various sizes and angles of the components and the locations of the participants. |
| US09531986B2 |
Bitmap device identification in a wireless communication system
A method and apparatus for identifying devices using a bitmap are disclosed. In one embodiment, the method comprises: accessing a memory to obtain one or more bitmaps that map each bit location in the bitmap to an index value, where one index value is assigned to each remote wireless media device of a wireless network in a wireless communication system; and examining those bitmaps and determining at least one characteristic of a remote wireless media device and a device identifier that identifies the remote wireless media device in the wireless network based on the bit position in those bitmaps. |
| US09531983B2 |
Decoding interdependent frames of a video for display
A module may provide codec-independent services including determining frame display order, frame dependency sets, and queuing the dependency frames in advance so as to enable display of a video. The module enables a video to be played forwards or backwards at a variety of playback speeds from any position within the video. In one implementation, a device communicatively coupled to a plurality of decoders accesses a video that includes a plurality of frames. One or more of the frames are decodable by one or more of the communicatively coupled decoders. The device identifies a frame in the video that is to be displayed, and determines a plurality of dependency frames in the video upon which decoding of the frame to be displayed depends. The device provides an indication that one or more associated dependency frames are to be decoded. |
| US09531982B2 |
Multiple stage modulation projector display systems having efficient light utilization
Dual or multi-modulation display systems comprising a first modulator and a second modulator are disclosed. The first modulator may comprise a plurality of analog mirrors (e.g. MEMS array) and the second modulator may comprise a plurality of mirrors (e.g., DMD array). The display system may further comprise a controller that sends control signals to the first and second modulator. The display system may render highlight features within a projected image by affecting a time multiplexing scheme. In one embodiment, the first modulator may be switched on a sub-frame basis such that a desired proportion of the available light may be focused or directed onto the second modulator to form the highlight feature on a sub-frame rendering basis. |
| US09531981B2 |
Customized mute in a videoconference based on context
System and method for user interfaces using remote control devices. More specifically, these user interfaces may be particularly useful for providing an intuitive and user friendly interaction between a user and a device or application using a display, e.g., at a “10 foot” interaction level. The user interfaces may be specifically designed for interaction using a simple remote control device having a limited number of inputs. For example, the simple remote control may include directional inputs (e.g., up, down, left, right), a confirmation input (e.g., ok), and possibly a mute input. These user interfaces may allow a user to quickly browse and filter lists of items, efficiently provide input (e.g., having multiple data types), customize directional and/or mute functionality of the remote control, perform camera control (e.g., for videoconferencing), etc. |
| US09531977B2 |
Semiconductor integrated circuit and image sensor
According to an embodiment, a semiconductor integrated circuit includes an amplification unit, a comparison unit and a control unit. The amplification unit is configured to amplify a pixel value with an amplification factor that is set in a variable manner, the pixel value being according to an intensity of light irradiated on a pixel. The comparison unit is configured to compare an output value given by the amplification unit and a reference value. The control unit is configured to cause the amplification factor to be higher than a present amplification factor, only when the output value given by the amplification unit is not saturated even where the amplification factor is caused to be higher than the present amplification factor, based on the comparison result of the comparison unit. |
| US09531976B2 |
Systems and methods for operating image sensor pixels having different sensitivities and shared charge storage regions
An image sensor may have control circuitry and an array of pixels having corresponding photodiodes. The pixels may be arranged into groups. Photodiodes in each of the groups may share a common charge storage region. Each photodiode has an associated sensitivity provided by a corresponding color filter element. The control circuitry may perform multiple charge transfer operations to transfer charge accumulated in high sensitivity photodiodes in the group to the shared charge storage region, may readout image signals corresponding to the transferred charge, and may combine the image signals to generate final image signals for the photodiodes. The control circuitry may transfer charge accumulated in low sensitivity photodiodes in the group to the shared charge storage region after the image signals generated by the high sensitivity photodiodes have been read out, thereby increasing the maximum signal to noise ratio of the low sensitivity photodiodes without causing charge blooming. |
| US09531965B2 |
Controller in a camera for creating a registered video image
Methods and apparatus to create and display panoramic images on a mobile device are disclosed. Such a mobile device can be a mobile phone. Apparatus is provided to control the position of a lens in relation to a reference lens. Methods and apparatus are provided to generate multiple images that are combined into a panoramic image. A panoramic image may be a static image. It may also be a video image. A controller provides correct camera settings for different conditions. An image processor creates a panoramic image from the correct settings provided by the controller. A panoramic camera is applied in a computer gaming system. |
| US09531962B2 |
Image set alignment and combination processing
A method includes identifying feature points in an image in images generated of a scene by a camera and identifying locations of the identified feature points in remaining images in the images. The method also includes selecting a group of the identified feature points indicative of relative motion of the camera between image captures and aligning a set of the images using the selected group of feature points. The method may further include selecting a reference image from the set of aligned images, weighting other images the set, and combining the reference image with the weighted images. Weighting of the other images may include, for each other image in the set, comparing the other image and the reference image to identify one or more moving objects in the other image and applying a weight to pixel locations in the other image. |
| US09531961B2 |
Systems and methods for generating a digital image using separate color and intensity data
A system, method, and computer program product for generating a digital image is disclosed. The system includes a first image sensor configured to capture a first image that includes a plurality of chrominance values, a second image sensor configured to capture a second image that includes a plurality of luminance values, and an image processing subsystem configured to generate a resulting image by combining the plurality of chrominance values with the plurality of luminance values. The first image sensor and the second image sensor may be distinct image sensors optimized for capturing chrominance images or luminance images. |
| US09531958B2 |
Image processing device, imaging device, image processing method, and program having different exposure start times
A device and method are provided to generate an image with a wide dynamic range, based on one photographed image. An exposure time control is executed in which different exposure times are set in units of rows of a pixel portion, in units of pixel regions, or similar, and different, multiple pixel information which are the pixel values of the pixels set with different exposures are obtained. For example, high sensitivity pixel information is obtained from long exposure pixels, low sensitivity information is obtained from short exposure pixels, and a pixel value for the output image is calculated based on the pixel information with these different sensitivities. For example, for high luminosity regions, the sensitivity pixel information may have a saturated value, and so a large weight is set to the low sensitivity pixel information, also for low luminosity regions, the SN ratio of low sensitivity pixel information is estimated to be poor, and so a large weight is set to the high sensitivity pixel information to determine the output pixel value. |
| US09531956B2 |
Image display apparatus that adjusts pixel gradation values using a lower limit value and control method thereof
An image display apparatus according to the present invention, includes: a first acquisition unit configured to acquire captured image data from an image capturing apparatus; a second acquisition unit configured to acquire operation information representing a user operation performed on the image capturing apparatus, from the image capturing apparatus; an image processing unit configured to generate processed image data by carrying out image processing corresponding to the operation information acquired by the second acquisition unit on the captured image data acquired by the first acquisition unit; and a display unit configured to display a processed image based on the processed image data on a screen. |
| US09531955B2 |
Information processing device, information processing system, and storage medium storing program
There is provided an information processing device including an image obtaining unit configured to obtain an image including a plurality of objects, and a display control unit configured to, after an operation has been performed on a first object of the plurality of objects, control identification information associated with a second object, the identification information indicating the second object. |
| US09531952B2 |
Expanding the field of view of photograph
Aspects of this disclosure relate to generating a composite image of an image of and another image that has a wider field of view. After an image is selected, the visual features in the image may be identified. Several images, such as panoramas, which have wider fields of view than an image captured by a camera, may be selected according to a comparison of the visual features in the image and the visual features of the larger images. The image may be aligned with each of the larger images, and at least one of these smaller-larger image pairs may be generated as a composite image. |
| US09531950B2 |
Imaging system and imaging method that perform a correction of eliminating an influence of ambient light for measurement data
An imaging system using a transmission light source unit includes a sensor unit (imaging unit) that detects light emitted from a light source unit, a storage unit that stores correction data for eliminating the influence of ambient light, and a signal processing unit that performs correction for eliminating the influence of ambient light on measurement data, which is obtained by measurement using a subject, based on the correction data. The correction data is calculated based on a difference between first reference data obtained by imaging in a state where a light shielding plate having an opening is disposed between the light source unit and the sensor unit and second reference data obtained by imaging in a state where no light shielding plate is disposed. |
| US09531947B2 |
Gesture mapping for image filter input parameters
This disclosure pertains to systems, methods, and computer readable medium for mapping particular user interactions, e.g., gestures, to the input parameters of various image processing routines, e.g., image filters, in a way that provides a seamless, dynamic, and intuitive experience for both the user and the software developer. Such techniques may handle the processing of both “relative” gestures, i.e., those gestures having values dependent on how much an input to the device has changed relative to a previous value of the input, and “absolute” gestures, i.e., those gestures having values dependent only on the instant value of the input to the device. Additionally, inputs to the device beyond user-input gestures may be utilized as input parameters to one or more image processing routines. For example, the device's orientation, acceleration, and/or position in three-dimensional space may be used as inputs to particular image processing routines. |
| US09531943B2 |
Block-based digital refocusing system and method thereof
A block-based digital refocusing method includes a capturing step, a dividing step, a selecting step, a refocusing step and a combining step. The capturing step is for capturing at least one picture datum. The dividing step is for dividing the picture datum into a plurality of block data. The selecting step is for defining a regional datum according to each of the block data. The refocusing step is for conducting a refocusing computation to obtain a refocused block datum according to each of the regional data. The combining step is for combining each of the refocused block data based on each of the regional data to form a refocused picture datum. |
| US09531941B2 |
Imaging apparatus
A focus detection apparatus of an imaging apparatus includes an imaging optical system for forming a plurality of optical images with divided light fluxes that have passed through an imaging lens, on a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements. A viewing field mask is disposed more on a side of the photoelectric conversion elements than an expected imaging surface of an imaging lens, and determines contours of the optical images formed on a detection plane. A focus detection element includes focus detection regions each for detecting an optical image. A termination pixel disposed outside an optical image and a termination pixel disposed inside the optical image are provided in each of the focus detection regions. A control unit obtains data of adjustment values indicating effective ranges of the focus detection regions from a storage unit, performs focus detection for the imaging lens, and controls a focus adjustment operation. |
| US09531933B2 |
Camera module
Exemplary embodiments of a camera module are proposed, the camera module including a PCB (Printed Circuit Board) mounted with an image sensor, a base installed at an upper surface of the PCB and formed with a window at a position corresponding to that of the image sensor, an IRCF (Infrared Cut Filter) installed at an upper surface of the base, and an adhesive member fixing the IRCF to the base. |
| US09531931B2 |
Asymmetric multiphase boost for display backlights
An asymmetric multiphase boost that provides flash functionality for display backlights. A backlight power management module for a display backlight may implement and control an asymmetric multiphase boost that includes two boost phases: a primary boost phase for typical display backlighting, and a secondary or flash boost phase that provides flash functionality via the display backlight when needed. The primary boost phase may be sized to provide high low-load efficiency, high inductance, and low switching frequency for normal display backlight operations. The flash boost phase may be sized for high current and peak power, low inductance, and high switching frequency for pulsed current applications. Via the asymmetric multiphase boost, the backlight power management module may, for example, be used to provide a camera flash function for front facing cameras. |
| US09531930B2 |
Surveillance device
A surveillance device includes a shell, a sensing assembly and a transparent cover. The transparent cover is detachably disposed on the shell, to form an accommodating space together. The sensing assembly is disposed in the accommodating space. The transparent cover comprises a first light-transmitting cover, an annular light baffle and a second light-transmitting cover. The first light-transmitting cover is disposed on the shell and having a through hole. The annular light baffle disposed at the through hole has a first limiting surface and a second limiting surface. The first light-transmitting cover is pressed against the first limiting surface. The second limiting surface faces oppositely away from the accommodating space. The second light-transmitting cover is disposed on the annular light baffle and pressed against the second limiting surface. The first limiting surface and the second limiting surface prevent the second light-transmitting cover from moving toward the accommodating space. |
| US09531929B1 |
Camera module and method for manufacturing the camera module
A camera module includes a main circuit board defining a nonopaque area, a lens socket, a lens assembly, a sub circuit board and an image-sensing chip. The lens socket is mounted on a top surface of the main circuit board. The lens assembly assembled in the lens socket, includes at least one imaging lens which makes an optical axis formed by the lens assembly penetrate through the nonopaque area. The sub circuit board is adhered to a bottom surface of the main circuit board and is electrically connected with the main circuit board. The image-sensing chip is fastened in and is electrically connected with the sub circuit board. The method for manufacturing the camera module is described hereinafter. Prepare a main circuit board. Prepare an image-sensing chip and a sub circuit board. Prepare a lens socket and a lens assembly. |
| US09531928B2 |
Gimbal system with imbalance compensation
A gimbal assembly may include an imbalance compensation system having a driver operatively connected to a movable weight. A controller may determine a compensating position for the movable weight to counterbalance an effective moment imparted on the gimbal assembly by one or more movable components therein. The controller may command the driver to relocate the movable weight to the compensating position. |
| US09531927B2 |
Optical system
An optical system includes a first lens having positive refractive power, of which both surfaces are convex, a second lens having negative refractive power, a third lens having positive refractive power, and a fourth lens having negative refractive power. The first to fourth lenses are sequentially disposed from an object side. Whereby, an aberration improvement effect may be increased, high resolution may be implemented, sensitivity of lenses may be improved, and a demand for miniaturization may be satisfied. |
| US09531926B2 |
Piezoelectric actuator for camera module
In some embodiments, a camera component includes an annular lens holder component having a threaded interior surface for translating rotational motion of an optics barrel component into motion along an optical axis of the optics barrel component. In some embodiments, the threaded interior surface of the lens holder component includes one or more threads complementary to one or more threads of a threaded exterior surface of an optics barrel component. In some embodiments, the optics barrel component is movably mounted on the threads of the threaded interior surface of the lens holder component for rotational motion within the lens holder component. In some embodiments, the optics barrel has a threaded exterior surface with one or more threads complementary to the threads of the threaded interior surface of the lens holder component. Some embodiments include a piezoelectric motor fixedly mounted to a base component. |
| US09531922B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and computer readable storage medium for improving sharpness
An image processing apparatus acquires an evaluation value concerning noise for each region of an image frame corresponding to the image data, and controls image processing of each region of the image frame corresponding to image data in accordance with the evaluation value. |
| US09531919B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and recording medium that color-convert an input image into an output image suitable for a color gamut of a printing apparatus
In the image processing apparatus, a color gamut information storage unit stores terminal information, color gamut determination information and color gamut information in association with one another; an input image determination unit determines whether the input image is a standard color gamut image or a non-standard color gamut image based on the color gamut determination information acquired based on the terminal information; and a first color conversion unit converts the input image as determined to be the non-standard color gamut image into an output image suitable for a color gamut of a printing apparatus based on the color gamut information acquired based on the terminal information so that the input image printed by the printing apparatus may be equal in color to the input image displayed on the display unit of the terminal device. |
| US09531917B2 |
Device and method for extracting correlation parameters between colour planes for prediction, and a recording medium for the same
The present disclosure relates to extracting correlation parameters between color planes for prediction by extracting optimum correlation parameters between the color planes using neighboring blocks when a prediction screen is generated through the use of the correlation between the color planes in video encoding. The technology includes neighboring block searching unit responsive to a second block of a reconstructed previous plane corresponding to a first block to be encoded of a current plane, for searching for a third block belonging to neighboring blocks of the second block and having smallest difference in pixel value from the second block; correlation parameter calculator for calculating correlation parameters between the third block and a fourth block reconstructed of the current plane and corresponding to the third block, based on the third block and the fourth block, and predictor for predicting the first block based on the second block and calculated correlation parameters. |
| US09531916B2 |
Preventing pattern recognition in electronic code book encryption
In general, in one aspect, noise is injected into a bitmap associated with content to be presented on a display to create a noisy bitmap. The noisy bitmap is encrypted using electronic code book (ECB) encryption. The resulting ciphertext does not include recognizable patterns from the content as is typical with ECB encryption. The injection of noise may include modifying pixel values for at least a subset of pixels in the bitmap. The pixel values may be modified by using a counter, a known modification pattern, or a random number generator. The bitmap may be analyzed to determine how the bitmap can be modified to maximize the randomness of the bitmap while ensuring that the noisy bitmap is visually perceptually similar when presented. The noise may be injected into a block of pixels prior to the block being encrypted. |
| US09531915B2 |
Image encoding system and method thereof
An image encoding system is disclosed. The image encoding system comprises a wavelet transform unit and a processing circuit. The wavelet transform unit performs a multiple-line-based wavelet transform on plural consecutive component lines to generate a wavelet transformed image comprising wavelet coefficients of plural sub-bands. The processing circuit coupled to the wavelet transform unit for quantizing, scanning and encoding the wavelet coefficients to generate a compressed image. Here, a number of the plural consecutive component lines is a multiple of 2 and less than 5. Since the wavelet transform unit performs the multiple-line-based wavelet transform to reduce the storage amount and maintain a good compression quality, an image encoding system of the invention can use SRAM buffers instead of a DRAM buffer. |
| US09531913B1 |
Image processing apparatus and method for generating correction formula
An image processing apparatus includes a support member to support a sheet, a light source that extends in a main-scanning direction and is configured to move in a sub-scanning direction and irradiate light on the sheet as the light source moves in the sub-scanning direction, a conversion unit configured to generate multiple line image data based on light reflected by the sheet and incident thereon, as the light source moves in the sub-scanning direction, and a processing unit configured to carry out a correction process with respect to each of the line image data using a different correction formula for each of the line image data. |
| US09531909B2 |
Communication apparatus and communication system
A communication apparatus according to the present disclosure includes a communication control section and a sending control section. The communication control section performs facsimile communication by way of an IP network. The sending control section performs connection confirmation processing of controlling the communication control section to send connection confirmation data in the form of image data for confirming connection to a receiving communication apparatus which the facsimile communication is directed to, and determining whether reception information indicating reception of the connection confirmation data has been sent back from the receiving communication apparatus, before sending target sending image data via the facsimile communication. |
| US09531908B2 |
Image forming apparatus that detects removal of option devices configured to be attachable/detachable to/from a body portion of the image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus according to one aspect of this disclosure has a sensor unit, a program registration unit, and a judgment unit. The sensor unit detects removal of an option device, which is configured to be attachable/detachable to/from a body portion of the image forming apparatus, with respect to the body portion. The program registration unit receives a setting relating to processing which is executable by the image forming apparatus, and then generates programs which cause the image forming apparatus to execute the processing based on the received setting and also causes a storage unit of the image forming apparatus to store the generated programs. The judgment unit judges, when the sensor unit detects removal of the option devices, whether at least one of the programs to be stored in the storage unit becomes non-executable due to the removal of the option devices. |
| US09531907B2 |
Method for selecting sheet feed portion for image formation, image forming apparatus, and information processing apparatus
An image forming apparatus or an information processing apparatus obtains information-corresponding-to-keyword representing a correspondence relationship between a keyword, and each of a plurality of sheet feed portions. Further, the information processing apparatus or the image forming apparatus detects the keyword included in the information-corresponding-to-keyword, from at least two of three data that are subject-to-be-printed data, additional text data, and a digital watermark which are included in a print job. Further, the information processing apparatus or the image forming apparatus selects the sheet feed portion associated with the keyword detected in the information-corresponding-to-keyword, as a feed source of a sheet material for execution of the print job. |
| US09531904B2 |
Information processing apparatus, control method of information processing apparatus, and recording medium
An information processing apparatus is configured to adjust a data size of a facsimile transmission job. The data size exceeds a buffer size of an image processing apparatus if the acquired data size of the facsimile transmission job is smaller than or equal to the acquired buffer size of the image processing apparatus, and transmit the facsimile transmission job to the image processing apparatus. |
| US09531902B2 |
Scanner module and image scanning apparatus employing the same
A scanner module and an image scanning apparatus employing the same. The scanner module comprises an illuminator for illuminating light on an object to be scanned. The illuminator includes a light emitting diode, a light guide extending in a main scanning direction to change a direction of the light received from the light emitting diode, and at least one elastic member to elastically support at least one longitudinal end of the light guide. As the light guide is elastically supported by the elastic member, convex deformation or bowing of an emission face of the light guide due to thermal expansion can be reduced. |
| US09531898B2 |
Image forming apparatus
A control portion shifts a state of a self-apparatus to a power saving mode if a duration of an operation event wait state has reached a preset power saving shift set time. Further, the control portion temporarily changes the power saving shift set time to a longer time if an extension condition is satisfied. The extension condition includes occurrence, with a predetermined frequency, of a situation where a target parameter value satisfies a predetermined short-term return condition. The target parameter value is a duration of the power saving mode at a time of state return or a value of a parameter which changes in accordance with the duration of the power saving mode. |
| US09531896B2 |
Image-reading device detecting edge of sheet by dynamically setting mask region
An image-reading device reads an image of a sheet while conveying the sheet. The image-reading device sets target lines in the image for searching an edge pixel representing a sheet edge in the image. The target lines include first and second lines that are sequentially arranged. When the first target line includes an edge pixel, a mask region is set on the image. A detection unit searches an edge pixel by sequentially referring to the target lines except the first line according to a line order from the second line and detects a positional coordinate of the edge pixel from among pixels outside the mask. Once the edge pixel is included in the first target line, the mask region is set continuously and dynamically from the first target line to a target line on which detection of the edge pixel ends. |
| US09531894B2 |
System, method, and non-transitory computer readable medium
A system includes a storage unit, a display control unit, and an output unit. The storage unit stores label information used for book management, the label information being obtained on the basis of information for specifying a publication. The display control unit causes a display unit to display a screen for receiving a user operation conducted after the label information is obtained but before a label image expressing the label information is formed on a medium. The output unit responds to an instruction based on the user operation received while the screen is displayed, and outputs data for forming the label image on a medium. |
| US09531892B2 |
Image processing system, portable terminal apparatus, file processing method, and recording medium
An image processing system includes an image processing apparatus and a portable terminal apparatus. The image processing apparatus includes: a first USB connector; and a command transmitter that transmits a file manipulation command. The portable terminal apparatus includes: a second USB connector; a detector that detects that the portable terminal apparatus is connected to the first USB connector via the second USB connector; a memory being capable of storing a plurality of first folders; a register that registers address information of a Web service, the Web service being combined with at least one first folder stored on the memory; a mounting portion that accesses the Web service and mounts at least one second folder of the Web service onto the at least one first folder; and a controller that obtains a file from the Web service to transfer to the image processing apparatus upon the file manipulation command being received. |
| US09531889B2 |
Media stiffness sensor assembly for an imaging device
A media stiffness sensor assembly for an imaging device. The assembly comprises a translation mechanism coupled to a contact member, a drive mechanism coupled to the translation mechanism and a position sensor for providing a signal indicative of the position of the contact member. The assembly is mounted within an imaging device so that the contact member is moved into bending contact with a cantilevered portion of a media sheet in the media path. The energy used to translate the contact member from a home position into the cantilevered portion of a media sheet in the media path to deflect the cantilevered portion is used to determine a weight of the media sheet. |
| US09531882B1 |
Methods and systems for confirming message delivery
Methods and systems for processing messages and providing notifications regarding the same are described. An optional embodiment includes a telecommunications interface, a data network interface, and an answering system coupled to the telecommunications interface and the data network interface, the call processing system configured to receive a first call from a caller via the telecommunications interface, store a message from the caller, transmit a message notification using the data network to the intended recipient of the call via which the intended recipient can access the message, and transmit information related to the intended recipient's receipt of the message. |
| US09531881B1 |
Forecasting and scheduling campaigns involving sending outbound communications that generate inbound communications
Various embodiments of the invention provide methods, systems, and computer program products for generating a roster template used in scheduling agent resources to conduct a campaign involving sending outbound communications using a first channel of communication to generate inbound communications using a second channel of communication. Specifically, a forecast is generated establishing a success rate for generating an inbound communication using the second channel of communication as a result of sending an outbound communication using the first channel of communication and an average response time to receive the inbound communication. Further, the forecast identifies a number of inbound communications predicted to be received for the campaign. From the forecast, a number of agent resources needed to handle the inbound communications is identified and a roster template is generated that comprises shifts identifying agent resources to schedule based on the number of agent resources needed to handle the inbound communications. |
| US09531880B2 |
Optimization in workforce management using work assignment engine data
Contact centers strive to match the demands and preferences of their customers with the skills and abilities of the agents who process work items associated with the customers (e.g., contacts). However, the preferred agent may be unavailable, non-existent, backlogged or otherwise ineligible to accept the work item. An agent who is non-preferred but still qualified may be utilized to process the work item, such as an agent with adequate skills with respect to a particular attribute of the work item. Reports for the selection of the non-preferred but qualified agents are provided herein. A contact center may then utilize such reporting to identify underserved areas of their customer base. |
| US09531879B1 |
Networked contact center user interface approach
This document is directed to, among other things, communication systems involving networked contact center interfaces. One example method includes presenting a frame on a user interface to present information in a selectable format. Another example method includes using a circuit device to detect selection of a frame as displayed and causing display of further graphical information in an un-selectable format. |
| US09531873B2 |
System, method and apparatus for classifying communications in a communications system
The present invention provides a system, method and apparatus for automatically classifying voice communications, such as voice messages and phone calls in prerecorded voicemails (one speaker) and two-way conversations, as either spam or legitimate signals in a communications system (e.g., SIP, IMS, UMA, etc.). More specifically, the present invention classifies a voice communication session by receiving one or more voice communication packets associated with the voice communication session, extracting one or more properties from the received voice communication packets and classifying the voice communication session based on the extracted properties. The present invention can also be implemented as a computer program embodied on a computer readable medium wherein each step is performed by one or more code segments. |
| US09531870B2 |
Method for providing custom ring-back tones
A method is provided for providing customized ring-back tones to callers on a wireline network such as a public switched telephone network having an advanced intelligent network or a VoIP network. When a call request is received from a calling party to connect to a called party through a wireline telephone network it is determined if the calling party is identified in a screening list for the called party. If so, then a customized audible ring-back tone is played to the calling party until the called party is connected to the calling party or until the call request is terminated. |
| US09531868B1 |
Methods and systems for authenticating a user on a call
Methods and systems described in this disclosure allow customers to quickly be authenticated. In some embodiments, a device and a user verifier are associated with a user profile. When a call is received from the device, the user may be requested to input the user verifier. After verifying that the device is unique to the user and that the user verifier matches the user verifier associated with the user profile, the user may be authenticated to the call or activity. |
| US09531862B1 |
Contextual linking module with interactive intelligent agent for managing communications with contacts and navigation features
A system to optimize a user's messaging by having a mechanism to recommend that a user utilizes an alternative communication channel. The invention relates to mobile messaging applications and to analyzing message content and providing feedback to the user in the form of a graphical or spoken output containing an offer of an alternative communication mode, wherein processing content of the user input comprises analyzing message content to collect parameters relating to message priority, channel type, channel availability, user schedule, user time zone, relationship of user to recipient calculated using a familiarity index, type of content, and number of recipients. |
| US09531852B2 |
Wireless communication terminal
To achieve the above objectives, a wireless communication terminal of the present invention comprises: a case having a bent hole formed in one side thereof; an antenna carrier disposed in the case such that a side thereof faces the bent hole, and including a duct passing through one side and the other side thereof; a fan disposed on the other side of the antenna carrier; and an antenna disposed on the antenna carrier and the top surface of the fan and having an antenna pattern for transmitting and receiving wireless signals, wherein the wireless communication terminal has the antenna and a heat dissipating structure disposed in proximity such that one member performs two or more functions, so as to provide a wireless communication terminal making good use of internal space. |
| US09531850B2 |
Inter-domain service function chaining
In one embodiment, a method includes receiving a packet in a service function chain at a network device located at a border of a first administrative domain, the packet comprising a service function path identifier and a service index, processing the packet at the network device, wherein processing comprises modifying the packet based on the service function path identifier and the service index to direct the packet to a second administrative domain, and forwarding the packet from the network device to the second administrative domain for processing in the service function chain. The service function chain extends over the first and second administrative domains. An apparatus and logic are also disclosed herein. |
| US09531849B2 |
Method of splitting a packet into individual layers for modification and intelligently stitching layers back together after modification and an apparatus thereof
Embodiments of the apparatus for modifying packet headers relate to pointer structure for splitting a packet into individual layers and for intelligently stitching them back together. The pointer structure includes N+1 layer pointers to N+1 protocol headers. The pointer structure also includes a total size of all headers. A rewrite engine uses the layer pointers to extract the first N corresponding protocol layers within the packet for modification. The rewrite engine uses the layer pointers to form an end point, which together with the total size of all headers is associated with a body of the headers. The body of the headers is a portion of headers that are not modified by the rewrite engine. After all the modifications are performed and modified headers are compressed, the modified layer pointers are used to stitch the modified headers back together with the body of the headers. |
| US09531848B2 |
Method of using generic modification instructions to enable flexible modifications of packets and an apparatus thereof
Embodiments of the apparatus for modifying packet headers relate to programmable modifications of packets by applying commands to generalized protocol headers. Each protocol header of incoming packets is represented in a generic format specific to that protocol to enable modifications to packet headers. Missing fields from a protocol header are detected, and the protocol header is expanded to a maximum size such that the protocol header contains all possible fields of that protocol, including the missing fields. Each of the fields has the same offset irrespective of which variation of the protocol the protocol header corresponds to. Modification uses a set of commands that is applied to expanded protocol headers. All of the commands are thus generic as these commands are independent of incoming headers (e.g., size and protocol). |
| US09531844B2 |
Automatic internet connection sharing among related devices
Internet connection may come through a single host computer and sent to appliance computers, as in a laptop or camera. This application intends to automatically connect the appliances to the Internet established by the host computer by means of either electronic communication or preprogramming both computers with the same network access information. |
| US09531841B2 |
Communications method, client, and terminal
A communications method, a client, and a terminal. The method includes receiving, by a first client, information from a second client; obtaining, by the first client, first driving data from the information, where the first driving data is used for controlling an action of a virtual image of a user of the second client, and the virtual image of the user of the second client is presented on a terminal in which the first client is located; and controlling, by the first client, the action of the virtual image of the user of the second client according to the first driving data. In the embodiments of the present invention, a receiving end obtains driving data from information sent by a sending end, and controls an action of a virtual image of a user of the sending end using the driving data. |
| US09531838B1 |
Predictive prefetching of data from remote client-state cache from server to update local client-state cache
Response delay associated with a state-based client-server application can be reduced with utilization of an application state server-side cache. A server caches data for a set of one or more possible states of a client-server application that may follow a current state of the application. The server rapidly responds to a client request with data that corresponds to an appropriate new state of the application in accordance with the application state server-side cache. The server determines that the application will transition to the appropriate new state from the current state of the application with the application state server-side cache based, at least in part, on an operation indicated by the client request. |
| US09531833B2 |
System and method for use of network services in receiving content and data
A first device implements an application platform that is shared with a second device. The application platform can be implemented so that the first device and the second device operate to have a same identity to at least the network service. The first device provides a user interface in order to receive input for accessing or using the network service. Additionally, the first device communicates input received in response to providing the user interface to the network service. The first device can receive a token from the network service in response to communicating the input. Additionally, the first device can communicate a set of data items to the second device. The set of data items includes the token and one or more identifiers that enable the second device to access and use the network service while appearing as the first device to the network service. |
| US09531832B2 |
Migrating social connections from a first profile to a second profile
In general, aspects of the present disclosure are directed to techniques for migrating social networking connections in a social network from one profile to another profile. A first incoming connection from a third profile in a social network to a first profile in the social network may be determined. A first outgoing connection to a fourth profile in the social network from the first profile in the social network may be determined. A second incoming connection from the third profile to a second profile may be created based at least in part on the first incoming connection. A second outgoing connection to the fourth profile from the second profile may be created based at least in part on the first outgoing connection. |
| US09531821B2 |
Server, distribution information generation method, and recording medium
A server includes a terminal information acquisition unit, a region specifying unit, and a distribution information generation unit. The terminal information acquisition unit acquires from each of a plurality of first terminal devices, terminal information including measurement information used to calculate a distance from each of second terminal devices to each of the plurality of first terminal devices for each second terminal device present near the first terminal device and position information of the first terminal device. The region specifying unit specifies a region in which the second terminal device is disposed at a distance according to the measurement information from the position of each of the first terminal devices. The distribution information generation unit generates the information indicating the distribution of the positions of the first terminal device and the second terminal device based on the region specified by the region specifying unit. |
| US09531818B2 |
Information notification methods, apparatuses and electronic devices
There is disclosed an information notification method, apparatus and first electronic device. The information notification method is used in a first electronic device having first user identification, comprising the steps of transmitting a request to talk with a second electronic device via a first application module; determining whether it receives voice data collected from the second electronic device during a communication process when the communication process ends, and obtaining a determination result; and automatically switching to a second application module for transmitting a notification if the determination result indicates that no voice data has been received during the communication process. According to the embodiments of the present disclosure, it automatically switches to a second application module if the called party does not answer a call, so that the user may transmit a notification by using the second application module, to inform the called party of the thing, which is convenient to the user. |
| US09531817B2 |
Technique for providing interoperability between different protocol domains
The disclosure relates to a technique for providing interoperability between an Internet protocol multimedia subsystem (IMS) domain and a non-IMS domain. A method implementation of this technique comprises the steps of receiving on a service layer a service invocation message from a non-IMS domain, analyzing the message to identify the message as a request to invoke a service within the IMS domain, converting non-IMS session control protocol elements contained in the message into IMS session control related protocol elements, and generating an outgoing IMS message to establish an IMS control session. |
| US09531812B2 |
Method and device for setting priority of data transmission
A method and a device for setting priority of data transmission are provided. A terminal, which is set to transmit low priority data to a network, transmits a connection request to the network in order to transmit normal-priority data, and receives and stores priority information on data transmission from the network. |
| US09531811B2 |
Method for sharing application
For sharing an application between mobile devices, an application share program is installed on mobile devices. The application share program is able to establish a link between at least one host mobile device and at least one client mobile device. A host mobile device shares a share session. An application of the share session is shared and installed on to the at least one client mobile device. And the application is uninstalled from the at least one client mobile device when the share session is terminated. |
| US09531810B2 |
Optimal source interface selection
Aspects of the subject matter described herein relate to selecting a source interface with which to establish a connection. In aspects, a profile for each network location a host has seen is maintained in a data store. The profile includes information about the network interfaces available to a source host at the network location. This information indicates, among other things, the reliability of each interface of the source host. Based on the profile, an interface is selected with which to establish a connection. If the interface is unsuccessful in establishing the connection, the interface is de-prioritized and another interface may be selected. |
| US09531808B2 |
Providing data resource services within enterprise systems for resource level sharing among multiple applications, and related methods, systems, and computer-readable media
Providing data resource services within enterprise systems for resource level sharing among multiple applications, and related methods, systems, and computer-readable media are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method for providing a data resource service within an enterprise system is provided. The method includes receiving a user data request from a web application having application logic located outside of an enterprise system to access user data stored in memory within the enterprise system. The method further includes accessing the user data stored in the memory within the enterprise system in response to the user data request from the web application. The method also includes providing access to the user data stored in the memory within the enterprise system to the web application in response to the user data request. |
| US09531806B2 |
Method and apparatus for requesting media replication in a collaborative communication session, and method and apparatus for assigning a communication medium for a collaborative communication session
In a method for requesting media replication in a collaborative communication session, a message is sent which specifies that a communication medium for a collaborative communication session, which is currently being transmitted to at least one terminal, should additionally be transmitted to at least one other terminal, with the at least one other terminal being indicated in the message as the recipient of the communication medium. In a method for assigning a communication medium for a collaborative communication session, a corresponding message is received, and the communication medium is assigned to the at least one other terminal as the recipient of the communication medium. The methods are carried out by appropriately designed apparatuses. |
| US09531804B2 |
Optimizing resource downloads or streams using a collection of trusted network connected endpoints
In an approach to improving resource downloads, one or more computer processors detect a request to download a resource from an original source to a user's computing device. The one or more computer processors determine a cost of the download of the requested resource from the original source. The one or more computer processors determine whether the cost of the download of the requested resource from the original source exceeds a predefined threshold. The one or more computer processors determine a group of trusted network connected endpoints. The one or more computer processors determine whether the requested resource exists in the group of trusted network connected endpoints. Responsive to determining the requested resource exists in the group of trusted network connected endpoints, the one or more computer processors download the requested resource from at least one of the trusted network connected endpoints. |
| US09531790B2 |
SAAS network-based backup system
A system fetches consistent datasets in batches for a given period of time and provides the ability to retrieve each batch. Batches of data may be fetched for an interval of time. The present system may fetch new or changed data from different cloud/on-premise applications. It will store this data in the cloud or on-premise to build data history. As the system fetches new data, existing batches of data will not be overwritten. New batches of data are created as new versions so that change history is preserved. Past batches of data for a past time period may be provided to one or more tenants. |
| US09531785B1 |
Ad hoc injection of IMAP objects
Some embodiments include a method to inject ad-hoc IMAP objects into results of IMAP commands. These IMAP objects may appear in the inbox or in any other IMAP user folder of a user on any IMAP capable device, and may feel like an Email to the user, although the IMAP objects were never sent over an SMTP server or protocol. Information that is stored in these IMAP objects can include advertising, promotions, service alerts or any other content. When a MAIL client requests a list of emails for an IMAP user folder from the IMAP server, the IMAP server will ad-hoc inject IMAP objects into the result list. The rules that define which objects are to be injected and in which schedule and to which target persons and the position of them in the result list may depend on object- and/or user-profiles and other targeting parameters. |
| US09531784B2 |
Identity service management in limited connectivity environments
A system and technique for identity service management in limited connectivity environments includes: a computing environment comprising a plurality of managed endpoints; and a mediator located between the computing environment and an identity management service provider. The mediator comprises adapters for interfacing with the managed endpoints, and the mediator is configured to: extract account data from the managed endpoints; store the extracted data when a direct connection between the mediator and the identity management service provider is unavailable; and export the stored data to the identity management service provider in response to a direct connection between the mediator and the identity management service provider becoming available. |
| US09531780B2 |
Coding for real-time streaming under packet erasures
A computer-based real-time streaming system under packet erasures wherein created messages can be decoded within a fixed delay form their creation is presented. Various code construction methods and corresponding hardware implementation for different cases of erasure link models are also presented. |
| US09531778B2 |
Message rate mixing for bandwidth management
Disclosed are systems and methods for controlling an amount and rate of security related information (e.g., content encryption or rights management information) being transmitted in a content stream to a user device. In one aspect, the disclosure provides a method and related apparatuses for reducing bandwidth usage required when sending transitional security related information during a transition point of different content in a content stream. |
| US09531772B2 |
Dynamic profile sharing using expiring tokens
Access to a user profile of a user device at a location may be provided to a destination device upon detecting that the location is within a proximity of a destination location. An expiring token may be generated, associated with the user profile, and communicated to the second device. Access to the user profile provided to the destination device may be terminated upon an expiration of the expiring token. |
| US09531758B2 |
Dynamic user identification and policy enforcement in cloud-based secure web gateways
A cloud-based secure Web gateway, a cloud-based secure Web method, and a network deliver a secure Web gateway (SWG) as a cloud-based service to organizations and provide dynamic user identification and policy enforcement therein. As a cloud-based service, the SWG systems and methods provide scalability and capability of accommodating multiple organizations therein with proper isolation therebetween. There are two basic requirements for the cloud-based SWG: (i) Having some means of forwarding traffic from the organization or its users to the SWG nodes, and (ii) Being able to authenticate the organization and users for policy enforcement and access logging. The SWG systems and methods dynamically associate traffic to users regardless of the source (device, location, encryption, application type, etc.), and once traffic is tagged to a user/organization, various polices can be enforced and audit logs of user access can be maintained. |
| US09531757B2 |
Management of security policies across multiple security products
A management entity discovers security devices connected to a network. Each security device controls access to resources by devices associated with the security device according to a corresponding native security policy that is based on a corresponding native policy model associated with the security device. The management entity imports the native security policies from the corresponding security devices over the network, and normalizes the imported native security policies across the security devices based on a generic policy model, to produce normalized security policies that are based on the generic policy model and representative of the native security polices. The management entity receives security events from the security devices, and processes the received security events among the security devices based on the normalized security policies. |
| US09531751B2 |
System and method for identifying phishing website
The present invention discloses a system and method for identifying a phishing website. The system comprises: a domain name acquisition unit, a domain name statistic unit and a website identification unit; the domain name acquisition unit being configured to collect all links found in a website to be identified so as to acquire the domain names corresponding to the links; the domain name statistic unit being configured to carry out a statistic on the number of times that the domain names occur in the website to be identified, and finding the domain name which has the most number of occurrences and mark it as a target domain name; and the website identification unit being configured to judge whether the website to be identified is a phishing website on the basis of the target domain name and the domain name of the website to be identified. |
| US09531749B2 |
Prevention of query overloading in a server application
A system for processing a transaction request. A transaction request is received by a server computer that includes a user identification and an associated request token, to execute on an application on the server computer. It is determined by the server computer whether available resources on the server computer to perform the transaction are below respective threshold values. In response to determining, by the server computer, that the available resources on the server computer to perform the transaction are below the threshold value, the server computer determines whether the user identification is allowed access to the application. In response to determining that the user identification is allowed access to the application, the transaction is executed on the server computer. In response to determining that the user identification is not allowed access to the application, the transaction is rejected. |
| US09531748B2 |
System, method, and computer program product for reacting in response to a detection of an attempt to store a configuration file and an executable file on a removable device
A system, method, and computer program product are provided for reacting in response to a detection of an attempt to store a configuration file and an executable file on a removable device. In use, a first device removably coupled to a second device is identified. Additionally, an attempt to store on the first device a configuration file for the first device and an executable file is detected. Further, a reaction is performed in response to the detection of the attempt. |
| US09531746B2 |
Generating accurate preemptive security device policy tuning recommendations
An approach is provided for determining a likelihood of an attack on a first computer system of a first business. Characteristics are determined for target businesses having target computer systems currently or recently under attack by an entity whose Internet Protocol (IP) address was selected from a list of suspicious IP addresses. Percentages associated with the characteristics are determined. Each percentage indicates a percentage of the target businesses whose associated characteristic matches a corresponding characteristic of the first business. A score is incremented by an amount for each of the percentages that exceeds an associated threshold. The score is incremented by twice the amount if the IP address matches an address of a source or destination of traffic through a security device in the first computer system. A recommendation to change a security policy for the first computer system is generated if the score exceeds twice the predetermined amount. |
| US09531742B2 |
Detection of malicious network connections
In one embodiment a method, system and apparatus is described for detecting a malicious network connection, the method system and apparatus including determining, for each connection over a network, if each connection is a persistent connection, if, as a result of the determining, a first connection is determined to be a persistent connection, collecting connection statistics for the first connection, creating a feature vector for the first connection based on the collected statistics, performing outlier detection for all of the feature vector for all connections over a network which have been determined to be persistent connections, and reporting detected outliers. Related methods, systems and apparatus are also described. |
| US09531731B2 |
Method for establishing a plurality of modes of operation on a mobile device
A method, device and system for establishing plural modes of operation on a mobile device, including: associating each application on the mobile device with one of a plurality of modes; and restricting access to data on the mobile device to only a subset of applications based on the mode associated for the each application. A system includes connection of an untrusted device to a trusted device and restricting data access for restricted data to a subset of trusted applications on the untrusted device. |
| US09531728B1 |
Controlled delivery and assessing of security vulnerabilities
A method for providing security vulnerability information is provided. The method may include checking for the security vulnerability information product supplier servers. The method may further include sending alerts to a security vulnerability administrator associated with a client environment. Additionally, the method may include performing a security check on the security vulnerability administrator to authorize the security vulnerability administrator to receive the security vulnerability information. The method may also include authenticating customers associated with the client environment to authorize the customers to receive the security vulnerability information. The method may further include prompting the authorized security vulnerability administrator to acknowledge an information confidentiality reminder. The method may also include sending an audit record to the product supplier server. The method may further include presenting the security vulnerability information to the authorized security vulnerability administrator and the authorized customers associated with the client environment. |
| US09531725B2 |
Optimizing infrastructure support based on authenticated access, validation and context related information retrieval
fSystems and methods for infrastructure support optimization are described. The system includes an authorization module to verify a user, based on authorization rules, to provide access to the user to one or more infrastructure elements, and obtain ticket attribute data from a ticketing system, based on the verification, where the ticket attribute data comprises a plurality of attributes associated with a ticket to be resolved by the user. The authorization module also receives a support action, to be performed on the infrastructure element to resolve the ticket, where the support action includes at least one of an operation to resolve the ticket, and a standard support service. Further, the system includes a log generation module to append the support action to an operation log with corresponding ticket attribute data. |
| US09531715B1 |
Method and system for protecting credentials
A method and system for accessing local resources. The method includes intercepting, by a proxy, a request from an application to access a local resource, where the application is executing in an application virtual machine (AVM) on a computing device and where the proxy is executing on a service virtual machine (SVM) on the computing device. The method further includes replacing, by the proxy, a placeholder credential in the request with a local resource credential to obtain a second request. The method also includes sending, by the proxy, the second request to the local resource, receiving, by the proxy, a response to the second request from the local resource, and providing the response to the application. |
| US09531713B2 |
Method and system for enabling and disabling execution of computer instructions
In a computer implemented method or system, users are enabled to associate usage rights with at least a first entity and a second entity. The first entity and second entity are selected from different ones of the module, a processing circuitry and the one or more files. Execution of the module is only enabled when the associated usage rights allow both use of the first entity by the second entity and use of the second entity by the first entity, i.e. mutual usage rights for at least two entities exist. Execution of the module is disabled when the associated usage rights prevent at least one of use of the first entity by the second entity and use of the second entity by the first entity. |
| US09531709B2 |
Securely unlocking a device using a combination of hold placement and gesture
A method includes receiving input from a touchscreen of a mobile electronic device, and receiving input from a plurality of contact sensors of the mobile electronic device, wherein the contact sensors are positioned along an external surface of the mobile electronic device. The method further includes unlocking access to the resources of the mobile electronic device in response to receiving input from the touchscreen meeting predetermined touchscreen input criteria and receiving input from the plurality of contact sensors meeting predetermined contact sensors input criteria. Optionally, the method may further receive input from a camera of the mobile electronic device, and only unlock the device in response to further receiving input from the camera meeting predetermined finger position criteria. |
| US09531708B2 |
Systems and methods for using wearable technology for biometric-based recommendations
Methods and systems are disclosed herein for determining a biometric state of a user or an emotional state of a user. Based on the determined biometric state or emotional state, a determination is made whether information about a location is restricted. In response to determining that information about a location is restricted, a portion of the information about the location is identified, and access to the portion of the information is disabled. |
| US09531707B1 |
Convenient and secure biometrically authenticated system and method for delivering E-mail and parcels
A computer implemented method that includes receiving a biometric identifier from a biometric reader, generating an identifier associated with the biometric identifier, and generating a postmark, wherein the postmark comprises the identifier associated with the biometric identifier. A second computer implemented method that includes scanning a postmark comprising an identifier, wherein the postmark is associated with a message, piece of mail, or parcel, retrieving or determining a first biometric identifier based on the identifier, receiving a second biometric identifier of a recipient, if the first biometric identifier matches the second biometric identifier of the recipient, then authorizing delivery of the message, piece of mail, or parcel to the recipient, or confirming delivery of the message, piece of mail, or parcel to the recipient. |
| US09531702B2 |
Two-factor authentication systems and methods
Systems and methods for authenticating defined user actions over a computer network. An authentication service receives an authentication request from an authenticating service to perform an action on behalf of a user. The authentication service then sends a permission request to a mobile device associated with the user, asking the user whether or not the action should be allowed. The user sends a permission response via the mobile device to the authentication service, granting or denying the action. The user may automate future similar responses so long as at least one automation criterion is met (e.g., the physical location of the mobile device), eliminating the need to manually provide a response to future permission requests. Information necessary to determine whether the automation criterion is met is stored locally on the mobile device. |
| US09531701B2 |
Method, device, and system of differentiating among users based on responses to interferences
Devices, systems, and methods of detecting user identity, differentiating between users of a computerized service, and detecting a cyber-attacker. An end-user device interacts and communicates with a server of a computerized service, or with a local application or Web-browser running on the end-user device. A usage interference is injected or introduced, or an input/output mismatch or abnormality is created, causing an output displayed on the screen of the end-user device, to be non-matching to the expected or intended output that is typically displayed in response to regular non-interfered user gestures or regular non-interfered user input. The reaction or corrective manual actions of the user are tracked and analyzed, to differentiate among users, or to differentiate between an authorized human user and a human cyber-attacker, or to differentiate between an authorized human user and a computer bot or an automated computerized script. |
| US09531697B2 |
Configurable adaptive access manager callouts
A framework, which conforms to the OAuth standard, involves a generic OAuth authorization server that can be used by multiple resource servers in order to ensure that access to resources stored on those resource servers is limited to access to which the resource owner consents. Each resource server registers, with the OAuth authorization server, metadata for that resource server, indicating scopes that are recognized by the resource server. The OAuth authorization server refers to this metadata when requesting consent from a resource owner on behalf of a client application, so that the consent will be of an appropriate scope. The OAuth authorization server refers to this metadata when constructing an access token to provide to the client application for use in accessing the resources on the resource server. The OAuth authorization server uses this metadata to map issued access tokens to the scopes to which those access tokens grant access. |
| US09531696B2 |
Apparatus, system and method for secure payment
Embodiments of the invention generally relate to apparatus, systems and methods for authentication, in particular, apparatus, systems and methods for authenticating an entity for computer and/or network security, secure authorization of a payment or for funds transfer and for selectively granting privileges and providing other services in response to such authentications. In addition, embodiments of the invention relate generally to apparatus, systems and methods for the communication of information between a mobile user-device and a point-of-sale device to securely provide authorization for a financial transaction. |
| US09531692B2 |
Method of securing mobile applications using distributed keys
Aspects of the present disclosure are directed to methods and systems for securing mobile computing applications with distributed keys. In one aspect, a computer implemented method or computer readable media include steps electronically receiving, at a computer processor of a computing device, a first security key fragment based on a user input to the computing device; electronically receiving, at the computer processor, a second security key fragment from a network connected storage entity; and electronically concatenating, at the computer processor, the first security key fragment and the second security key fragment to generate a third security key. |
| US09531688B2 |
Approach for message level encryption for service APIs
Disclosed are requesting party and responding party computer systems which perform a message level encryption for messages sent through the computer systems. Using the message level encryption, the computer systems may prevent those with access to an unsecured zone in one or more of the computer systems from viewing the messages. |
| US09531687B2 |
Techniques for secure message offloading
Techniques for secure message offloading are presented. An intermediary is transparently situated between a user's local messaging client and an external and remote messaging client. The user authenticates to the local client for access and the intermediary authenticates the user for access to the remote client using different credentials unknown to the user. Messages sent from the local client are transparently encrypted by the intermediary before being passed to the remote client and messages received from the remote client are transparently decrypted before being delivered to the local client. |
| US09531686B2 |
Statutory license restricted digital media playback on portable devices
Systems and methods are described for, e.g., providing a statutory audio content service on a portable device that complies with the provisions of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). The user can select a playlist subject to DMCA restrictions but cannot access individual items. Content playback, including skipping of content, is restricted to enforce relevant DMCA provisions. Encryption used to implement digital rights management (DRM) may be modified to enforce such content play rules or, alternatively, an additional layer of encryption may be imposed. Limitations on playback are stored along with the playlist structure in a form that is protected against modification. Information logging content playback is maintained in protected form to be uploaded and relayed to the service provider for the purpose of calculating royalty payments. |
| US09531685B2 |
Providing forward secrecy in a terminating SSL/TLS connection proxy using Ephemeral Diffie-Hellman key exchange
An infrastructure delivery platform provides a proxy service as an enhancement to the TLS/SSL protocol to off-load to an external server the generation of a digital signature, the digital signature being generated using a private key that would otherwise have to be maintained on a terminating server. Using this service, instead of digitally signing (using the private key) “locally,” the terminating server proxies given public portions of ephemeral key exchange material to the external server and receives, in response, a signature validating the terminating server is authorized to continue with the key exchange. In this manner, a private key used to generate the digital signature (or, more generally, to facilitate the key exchange) does not need to be stored in association with the terminating server. Rather, that private key is stored only at the external server, and there is no requirement for the pre-master secret to travel (on the wire). |
| US09531681B2 |
Method for the authentication of applications
Authentication method of at least one application using resources stored in a security module associated to an equipment connected to a control server via a network. The control server receives via the network, analyzes and verifies identification data comprising at least an identifier of the equipment and an identifier of the security module, generates a cryptogram comprising a digest of the application, the identification data and instructions intended for the security module and transmits the cryptogram, via the network and the equipment, to the security module. The latter verifies the application by comparing the digest extracted from the cryptogram with a calculated digest, wherein, during at least one of initialization and activation of the application, the security module executes the instructions extracted from the cryptogram and either releases or blocks access to certain resources of said security module according to a result of the verification of the application. |
| US09531677B1 |
Method and system for managing network access
In general, embodiments of the invention relate to a method and system for managing network access for applications. More specifically, embodiments of the invention provide mock Internet Protocol (IP) addresses to the applications, where the applications may use the mock IP address to communicate with other systems. Each mock IP address may be associated with one or more policies, where the policies dictate how packets that include the mock IP address is processed. |
| US09531676B2 |
Proxy methods for suppressing broadcast traffic in a network
Some embodiments use proxies on host devices to suppress broadcast traffic in a network. Each host in some embodiments executes one or more virtual machines (VMs). In some embodiments, a proxy operates on each host between each VM and the underlying network. For instance, in some of these embodiments, a VM's proxy operates between the VM and a physical forwarding element executing on the VM's host. The proxy monitors the VM's traffic, and intercepts broadcast packets when it knows how to deal with them. The proxy connects to a set of one or more controllers that provides a directory service that collects and maintains global information of the network. By connecting to the controller cluster, the proxy can obtain information that it can use to resolve broadcast requests. In some embodiments, the connection between the proxy and the controller cluster is encrypted and authenticated, to enhance the security. Also, in some embodiments, the connection is an indirect connection through an agent that executes on the host device and connects the proxies of the host device with the controller cluster. |
| US09531672B1 |
Network device implementing two-stage flow information aggregation
A network security device includes a network flow statistics processing engine to process network flow information related to network flows. The network flow statistics processing engine includes a first processing stage performing per-flow information aggregation and a second processing stage performing per-destination system component information aggregation, with each processing stage implementing a threshold-based data export scheme and a timer-based data export scheme. In this manner, up-to-date flow information is available to peer system components regardless of the varying flow rates of the network flow. |
| US09531670B2 |
System and method for network virtualization and security using computer systems and software
Methods and systems are provided for network security. In one embodiment, the method involves receiving a data packet (e.g., from a firewall). The method also involves running an inspection of the received data packet within a virtual network, the virtual network duplicating at least a portion (e.g., servers(s) and/or application(s)) of a protected network. The method further involves sending the inspected data packet, or portion and/or modified version thereof, to the protected network, in response to the data packet passing the inspection within the virtual network. The method also involves blocking passage of the data packet to the protected network, in response to the data packet failing the inspection. |
| US09531667B2 |
Peer-to-peer connection establishment using TURN
A relay service enables two peers attempting to communicate with one another to each connect to a publicly-accessible relay server, which servers are associated with an overlay network and are selected by a directory service. After end-to-end connectivity is established, preferably the hosts communicate with each other by relaying data packets via the overlay network relay servers. Communications (both connection control messages and data being relayed) between a host and a relay server occurs at an application layer using a modified version of the TURN protocol. |
| US09531664B2 |
Selecting between domain name system servers of a plurality of networks
Managing domain name system services for a plurality of networks is disclosed. A computer identifies information for the plurality of networks to which a client device is connected. The computer receives a request to identify a domain name. In response to the request, the computer selects a particular set of domain name system servers of a particular network in the plurality of networks based on the information for the plurality of networks and a set of rules for selecting the particular set of domain name system servers when identifying the domain name for the Internet protocol address. The computer then sends the request to identify the domain name for the Internet protocol address to a domain name system server in the particular set of domain name system servers. |
| US09531660B2 |
Dynamic encoding of email addresses
Embodiments of the invention may provide the ability to convert a non-supported email address (i.e., an email address that conforms to a standard that is not supported by the receiving device) into a supported email address (e.g., an email address that conforms to a standard that is supported by the receiving device). Embodiments of the invention may perform this conversion, for example, when an email communication containing a non-internet-standard email address is to be delivered or synchronized to a mobile device that only supports standard internet addresses. Similarly, embodiments of the invention may perform this conversion when a calendar entry, a task, a contact, or other data package containing such a non-supported email address is to be delivered or synchronized to a mobile device that does not support such an email address. |
| US09531654B2 |
Adding contacts from a hovering interface
Providing supplemental contact information for an individual referenced in an electronic message typically includes receiving an electronic message, examining the electronic message, detecting an identifier for a referenced individual contained in the electronic message, and making supplemental contact information for the referenced individual available to a recipient of the electronic message. The supplemental contact information may include information that is in addition to information contained in the electronic message. The supplemental contact information may include at least one of an e-mail address, a screen name, a telephone number, a facsimile number, and a mailing address, each of which is associated with the referenced individual. |
| US09531651B1 |
Methods for displaying notifications
A method includes obtaining, at one or more computers, information regarding a notification to be delivered to a device associated with a user at a first time, obtaining, at the one or more computers, information associated with the user, and determining, at the one or more computers, a probability that the user will be available at the first time based on the information associated with the user. If the probability that the user will be available at the first time is below a threshold, the method includes delivering the notification to the device associated with the user at a second time prior to the first time. |
| US09531649B2 |
Identification of message recipients
In general, the subject matter described in this specification can be embodied in methods, systems, and program products for identifying a recipient for an electronic post. An electronic post that was authored by an authoring user is received. The post is detected to include text that partially, but not fully, identifies a target recipient for the post. The text that partially identifies the target recipient is determined to be associated with a valid first user account for a first domain or a valid second user account for a second domain. The first user account or the second user account is selected as a selected user account for the target recipient based on the determining. The electronic post is transmitted to a different remote computing device that is associated with the selected user account. |
| US09531644B2 |
Methods and apparatus for a distributed fibre channel control plane
In some embodiments, a system includes a set of network control entities associated with a distributed multi-stage switch. Each network control entity from the set of network control entities is configured to manage at least one edge device having a set of ports and coupled to the distributed multi-stage switch. Each network control entity from the set of network control entities is associated with a unique set of identifiers. A network control entity from the set of network control entities is configured to assign a unique identifier from its unique set of identifiers to a port from the set of ports of the at least one edge device in response to the network control entity receiving a login request associated with the port. |
| US09531642B1 |
Distributing routing updates according to a synchronous mode
Techniques and solutions for distributing routing updates using timing information are described. For example, inter-device messaging protocols can support timing information (e.g., routing protocols be extended to support timing information). The timing information can comprise an indication of a time at which the routing update is to be put into effect. Using the timing information, a number of routing devices can put the routing update into effect at the same time (e.g., at an update reference time) according to a synchronous mode. Routing updates can be managed between routing devices that support timing information and routing devices that do not support timing information. |
| US09531640B2 |
Sharing bandwidth between plurality of guaranteed bandwidth zones and a remaining non-guaranteed bandwidth zone
A bandwidth management system includes a plurality of queues respectively corresponding to a plurality of zones. An enqueuing module receives network traffic from one or more incoming network interfaces, determines a belonging zone to which the network traffic belongs, and enqueues the network traffic on a queue corresponding to the belonging zone. A dequeuing module selectively dequeues data from the queues and passes the data to one or more outgoing network interfaces. When dequeuing data from the queues the dequeuing module dequeues an amount of data from a selected queue, and the amount of data dequeued from the selected queue is determined according to user load of a zone to which the selected queue corresponds. |
| US09531639B2 |
Systems and methods for allocating online resources
Various embodiments are described herein for methods and systems for managing online resource allocation between a plurality of virtual computers. A plurality of resources can be provided via a host server. The host server can define a plurality of resource pools, where each resource pool defines an associated group of resources. Each virtual computer can be assigned to an associated resource pool. The host server can then automatically provide access for each virtual computer to the group of resources corresponds to the resource pool to which they were assigned. The host server can then determine a pool usage profile by monitoring the usage of the resources in the resource pools and store the pool usage profile. The pool usage profile may be used to re-define the resource pools or re-assign virtual computers. |
| US09531637B2 |
System, apparatus, and methods for server and computer interaction via web cookies
A computer and a server may communicate via a web cookies such as local shared objects. The computer may detect the presence of one local shared object and generate a second local shared object based on the first local shared object. The computer may perform an action based on the second local shared object. |
| US09531633B2 |
Control plane optimization of communication networks
Optimization of control plane in a software defined network includes obtaining peer information of at least one neighbouring network controller by a network controller and determining a traffic profile variation. The method further includes computing of a self payoff value indicative of one of optimum utilization, underutilization and overutilization of the network controller. The method further includes initiating a non-zero sum game based network control plane optimization operation based on the self payoff value and the traffic profile of the neighbouring network controllers, and may include one of activating additional network controller(s), transferring control of one or more network devices managed by the network controller(s) to a neighbouring greedy network controller, deactivating the network controller, and transferring control of one or more additional network devices managed by the neighbouring network controller(s) to the greedy network controller. |
| US09531629B2 |
Fibre channel over Ethernet switch system
An FCoE switch system includes a switch IHS that is directly connected to a first endpoint IHS through a first edge port and to a second endpoint IHS through a second edge port. The switch IHS is receives an FCoE communication through the first edge port from the first endpoint IHS that includes an FC header, a source MAC address, and a destination MAC address. The switch IHS then creates a derived MAC address using information included in the FC header, and replaces the destination MAC address in the FCoE communication with the derived MAC address. In response to determining that the second endpoint is directly connected to the second edge port, the switch IHS replaces the source MAC address in the FCoE communication with a local FCF-MAC address. The switch IHS then forwards the first FCoE communication to the second endpoint IHS through the second edge port. |
| US09531628B2 |
Content delivery network map generation using passive measurement data
A routing method operative in a content delivery network (CDN) where the CDN includes a request routing mechanism for routing clients to subsets of edge servers within the CDN. According to the routing method, TCP connection data statistics are collected are edge servers located within a CDN region. The TCP connection data statistics are collected as connections are established between requesting clients and the CDN region and requests are serviced by those edge servers. Periodically, e.g., daily, the connection data statistics are provided from the edge servers in a region back to the request routing mechanism. The TCP connection data statistics are then used by the request routing mechanism in subsequent routing decisions and, in particular, in the map generation processes. Thus, for example, the TCP connection data may be used to determine whether a given quality of service is being obtained by routing requesting clients to the CDN region. If not, the request routing mechanism generates a map that directs requesting clients away from the CDN region for a given time period or until the quality of service improves. |
| US09531618B2 |
Method and apparatus for distributed control of an interfacing-device network
A local controller maintains a local database which stores information associated with a set of interfacing devices of a local-area network. The local database can include a database mirror for a remote database, of a remote controller, that stores information for a set of provisioned interfacing devices. When a remote controller hosting the remote database is offline, the local controller can maintain primary control of interfacing devices within the local area network. However, when the local controller determines that the remote controller has come online, the local controller can rescind primary control of interfacing devices within the local area network to the remote controller. |
| US09531616B2 |
Method and system for counting data packets
The disclosure provides a method for counting data packets, which includes the following steps: counting packet pulse signals when a low bit counter is in a count state, and sending a carry signal when the low bit counter is full; and acquiring data from an address of a Random Access Memory (RAM) corresponding to the low bit counter which sends the carry signal, adding 1 to the acquired data and then writing the added data into the address. The disclosure also provides a system for counting data packets. According to the technical scheme of the disclosure, the occupancy rate of logical resources is reduced while the counting of the data packets in a network is finished at a high speed. |
| US09531615B2 |
Available bandwidth estimating system, method, and program
The available bandwidth estimating system is provided with a transmitting device and a receiving device, and estimates available bandwidth for a network that connects the transmitting device and the receiving device. The transmitting device is provided with a packet transmission means that transmits a packet train, comprising a given number of packets with packet sizes which are incremented by a certain increment, so that each packet is at even intervals. The receiving device is equipped with a receiving means that receives the packet train from the packet transmission means and calculates the cumulative queuing delay for the packets included in the packet train, and an available bandwidth calculating means that calculates an estimated value for available bandwidth by detecting a point of variation in the overall change of the cumulative queuing delay. |
| US09531611B2 |
Device management system and method
A device management apparatus in a device management system storing and managing first client information on a client and a device installed in a client network of the client, acquires incident data from a incident management apparatus in a incident management system which is in accordance with second client information different from the first client information, and identifies, from the first client information, a client corresponding to the incident data based on identification information of a target device (i.e., a device ID) included in the incident data. |
| US09531610B2 |
Computation of storage network robustness
Embodiments of the invention include a method for determining the health of a storage network of electronic devices. In some embodiments, the method may include determining a data size of a catalog of data items stored in one or more electronic devices within a network of electronic devices; determining a storage capacity of the network of electronic devices; determining a storage health of the network of electronic devices based on the data size of the catalog of data items and the storage capacity of the one or more electronic devices; and outputting the storage health of the network of electronic devices. |
| US09531600B2 |
Automatic extraction, modeling, and code mapping of application user interface display screens and components
Managing user applications is provided. A visual model of user interface display screens of a user application is generated by mapping components displayed within the user interface display screens to screen position coordinates and by mapping the screen position coordinates corresponding to the components to original source code of the user application. A runtime policy for each component in a selected set of components within the user interface display screens of the user application is generated based on user interaction with the generated visual model of the user interface display screens. The generated runtime policy for each component in the selected set of components is sent to a client device via a network. Activity of each component in the selected set of components in the client device is tracked using data that is tracked and logged on the client device based the generated runtime policy for each selected component. |
| US09531599B2 |
Virtual optical network provisioning based on mapping choices and patterns
Virtual optical network (VON) provisioning using implicit encoding of mapping constraints may include evaluating mapping choices to exclude certain mapping patterns before evaluating the mapping patterns. For each virtual node in a VON request, candidate physical nodes may be assigned and evaluated for compliance with constraints associated with the VON request. The constraints may be expanded to allow for various selection criteria for the VON request. Multiple VON requests may be simultaneously evaluated to find optimal solutions for the physical network. |
| US09531598B2 |
Querying a traffic forwarding table
Computer implemented methods include querying a traffic forwarding table at a device in a computer network, the traffic forwarding table having entries which are accessible using a key. The methods further include identifying a forwarding address for use in querying the traffic forwarding table, where the forwarding address constitutes only part of a key and where a remaining part of the key is an embedded index in the traffic forwarding table. The methods additionally include combining the forwarding address with a plurality of embedded indices of the traffic forwarding table to generate a set of keys for querying the traffic forwarding table; and generating a query message for the forwarding table using at least one of the set of keys. |
| US09531592B2 |
Distributed method for selecting a configuration in mobile networks
A method for determining the configuration of a set of nodes and/or links of a cluster possessing a cluster head comprises: triggering an information request by interrogating one or more nodes or links and asking the said nodes or the said links to evaluate for each communication channel an index of communication quality, and then selecting a configuration when the cluster head has received the indices of communication quality; verifying whether the indices of quality received comply with a given constraint, retaining the indices which satisfy the largest number of nodes or links, and triggering a configuration selection procedure; if the configuration retained satisfies the set of nodes or links interrogated, then updating the list of channels and communicating this configuration to the nodes or links of the cluster; if not, updating the list of communication channels, or remaining in the initial configuration of the set of nodes or links. |
| US09531589B2 |
Automating monitoring using configuration event triggers in a network environment
An example method for automating monitoring using configuration event triggers in a network environment is provided and includes receiving a change request for a configuration change, creating a change impact monitor according to a profile associated with the configuration change, taking a first snapshot of performance indicators when the configuration change is applied, taking a second snapshot of the performance indicators a predetermined duration after applying the configuration change, and generating a change impact notification describing the first snapshot and the second snapshot. The profile can specify the performance indicators for the configuration change. A change agent that creates the change impact monitor may also be invoked. In some embodiments, the method can further include receiving a soak command, and taking a third snapshot of the performance indicators before applying the configuration change. |
| US09531586B1 |
Methods and apparatus for performing reverse auto-negotiation in network communication
The present invention relates to methods and apparatus for performing reverse auto-negotiation, in which one network device establishes a link with another network device at a preferred operating mode (e.g., the lowest speed) common to both devices without linking twice. The physical layer of a local network device (local PHY) may stall the normal auto-negotiation process with the link partner, while receiving the abilities of the link partner. The local PHY may then transmit a signal having only the preferred common operating mode (e.g., the lowest speed) encoded within. The link partner may then conclude that the local PHY is only capable of the preferred common operating mode (e.g., the lowest speed) and a link between the two devices may be established at that common mode. |
| US09531585B2 |
Network bootstrapping for a distributed storage system
Embodiments are directed towards configuring a distributed storage system over a network. Master computers and Subordinate computers may separate components of the distributed storage system. Each subordinate computer may perform actions when connected to the network. When the network provides for site-level multicasting, the subordinate computer broadcasts site-level multicast request(s) for a network address of master computer(s) assigned to that subordinate computer. When the network supports a local domain name system (DNS) server, the subordinate computer provides a DNS query to the local DNS server to obtain from an external server the network address for the master computer(s) assigned to that subordinate computer. When then network supports a master computer as a DNS server, the subordinate computer provides the DNS query to the master computer DNS server to obtain from the external server the network address of the master computer(s) assigned to that subordinate computer. |
| US09531584B2 |
Bi-directional ring network having minimum spare bandwidth allocation and corresponding connection admission control
The present invention provides for a method for reserving spare bandwidth for a link in a communication network including a plurality of links. The method provides for monitoring the volume of traffic routed through each link of the communication network. A single link failure for each link is then simulated and the volume of traffic which would be rerouted through each link for maintaining communication and the volume of traffic removed from each link are determined for each simulated single link failure. The difference between the volume of traffic which would need to be rerouted through each link and the corresponding volume of traffic removed from each link is then computed, and a maximum difference value is determined for each link for all simulated single link failures. An amount of spare bandwidth equivalent to the determined maximum difference is then reserved for each link. |
| US09531579B2 |
Session control for media stream transmission
A method for controlling the transmission of a media stream comprising a plurality of consecutive stream elements Is described. The method comprises the step of obtaining (32) a media description of the media stream, the media description indicating an initial element of the stream elements. A request for the initial stream element is sent (34) and a session control procedure is initiated (36) for a session. The media stream is associated (38) with the session in the session control procedure. The transmission of a subsequent element of the stream elements is controlled in accordance with a control rule of the session. Devices and further methods embodying the invention are also described. |
| US09531578B2 |
Connecting devices to networks
Illustrative aspects described herein relate to assisting wireless devices, such as dependent devices, in connecting to an access point or associated wireless network. Dependent wireless devices may lack user interfaces, which may make it difficult for a user to input credentials for accessing the access point directly from the wireless device. Assisting the wireless device in connecting to the access point may be done through the access point or through other devices, such as host devices. Additionally, the wireless device may connect to the access point using other devices having user interfaces. |
| US09531572B1 |
Interface circuit for high speed communication and system including the same
A system may include an interface circuit coupled to a wire bus. The interface circuit may receive a multi-level symbol according to a status of the wire bus. The interface circuit may include a clock recovery circuit configured to generate a recovered clock based on the multi-level symbol. The interface circuit may latch the multi-level symbol based on one of an external clock and the recovered clock according to an operation speed of the system. |
| US09531570B2 |
CML quarter-rate predictive feedback equalizer architecture
A system for reduced-rate predictive DFE. In one embodiment a plurality of sampler-multiplexer blocks, each including two samplers and a multiplexer-latch, controlled by a multi-phase clock, sample the received analog signal one at a time, and the output of each multiplexer-latch, which may represent the value of the last received bit, is used to control the select input of another multiplexer-latch, so that the other multiplexer-latch selects the appropriate one of two samplers, each applying a different correction to the received analog signal before sampling. Each multiplexer-latch is a clocked element that tracks the data input when the signal at its clock input has a first logic level and retains its output state when its clock input has another (i.e., a second) logic level. |
| US09531568B2 |
Signal transmission system
A signal transmission system includes a transmitter configured to encode a transmission signal to generate 2N (N: integer larger than or equal to two) binary signals among which a number of 0s and a number of 1s are equal to each other, and to transmit the 2N binary signals, 2N signal lines configured to transmit the 2N binary signals, respectively, and a receiver configured to detect a bit pattern among a plurality of possible bit patterns of the 2N binary signals in response to a plurality of differential components between 2N received signals received through the 2N signal lines, and to decode the detected bit pattern. |
| US09531563B2 |
Efficient fairness allocation in powerline CSMA/CA protocols
Transmission over a communication channel using carrier sense multiple access collision avoidance (CSMA/CA) may be performed by determining for each frame if the communication channel is busy after a backoff time proportional to a randomly generated number within a contention window (CW). When the channel is not busy, a frame of data may be transmitted. When the channel is busy, the device may periodically determine if the communication channel is busy after subsequent backoff times. The value of CW is adjusted for each subsequent backoff time using a fairness protocol, in which the value of CW is increased until the value of CW reaches a maximum CW value; and then the value of CW is held until a fairness number of backoff repetitions reaches a fairness threshold; then the value of CW is reduced incrementally until the value of CW reaches a minimum CW value. |
| US09531562B2 |
Communication system with proactive network maintenance and methods for use therewith
A transmitter for use in a cable modem termination system includes a data processing module that generates a plurality of OFDM symbols from a data packet. A probe symbol generator generates a probe symbol, as one of a plurality of probe symbol types. The probe symbol is selectively inserted within the plurality of OFDM symbols, at a pre-defined probe symbol interval. |
| US09531560B2 |
Method and apparatus for using rendezvous server to make connections to fire alarm panels
A method and system for using a rendezvous server to make connections to fire alarm panels. In one aspect, an external computer is used to communicate with an authentication computer in a secure overlay network in order for the external computer to establish a secure connection with the secure overlay network and to communicate with a rendezvous server in order for the external computer to, in turn, communicate with the target alarm panels in the secure overlay network. In another aspect, the rendezvous server receives a communication from the electronic device, with the communication indicative of the electronic device seeking to communicate with only devices in the secure overlay network, in response to the communication, accesses information to communicate with the target fire alarm panels and uses the accessed information in order for the electronic device to communicate with the target fire alarm panels. |
| US09531558B2 |
Network and user equipment for handling MBMS MDT in wireless communication system
A method of handling a multimedia broadcast multicast service (MBMS) minimization of driver test (MDT) for a network of a wireless communication system includes transmitting a first MBMS measurement configuration to instruct a first user equipment (UE) to perform an MBMS MDT operation; receiving a first MBMS measurement result and a first multicast-broadcast single frequency network (MBSFN) area identity (ID) which indicates that the first MBMS measurement result is generated for a first MBSFN area identified by the first MBSFN area ID, from the first UE; and processing the first MBMS measurement result according to the first MBSFN area ID. |
| US09531555B2 |
Apparatus and method for transmission of cached data in a wireless telecommunications system
A method and apparatus for transmitting data to terminal devices in a wireless telecommunications system. The data may be user-plane data associated with a repeating Multimedia Broadcast/Multicast Services (MBMS) session to be transmitted using MBMS over a Single Frequency Network (MBSFN) in a network including at least one relay node supported by a donor base station. The method includes delivering the data from the base station to the relay node in advance of a scheduled transmission to terminal devices at a first time, and transmitting the data from the relay node to a terminal device at the first time. The relay node is configured to store the data in a cache. The relay node may then retrieve the data from the cache in advance of a scheduled transmission to terminal devices at a second time, and transmit the retrieved data to a terminal device at the second time. |
| US09531553B2 |
Method, controller, data center, system and storage medium for network charging
Disclosed is a method for network charging, which includes: a data center management network element, upon reception of a charging resource request message from a controller, supports a charging function of a processing network element by a virtual machine and feeding back information of the processing network element to the controller; the data center management network element sending charging strategy information, user state information and information of UGW to the processing network element, which implements transmission of a traffic flow with the UGW according to the information of UGW, charges for the traffic flow according to the charging strategy information and the user state information, and feeds back charging processing information to the data center management network element; and the data center management network element feeding back the charging processing information to the controller. The disclosure further provides a data center, controller, UGW and system for network charging. Thus the charging service may be implemented for a SDN EPC network. |
| US09531550B2 |
Wireless gateway adapter for a power-over-ethernet port
A PoE-enabled wireless device facilitates providing wireless access to a local area network (LAN) by receiving power from an Ethernet cable. The device includes a first Ethernet port that can receive a power signal. The device also includes a second Ethernet port that facilitates coupling the apparatus to the LAN, and includes a wireless module to provide a wireless network connection to the LAN. Specifically, the wireless module receives power from the power signal of the first Ethernet port to provide the wireless network connection. The wireless device can also include a third Ethernet port for providing power and a network connection to a remote network device. The wireless device can use the third Ethernet port to send an external-reset signal to the remote network device, which facilitates remotely resetting a configuration of the remote network device without having to physically access the remote network device. |
| US09531548B2 |
Security system for handheld wireless devices using time-variable encryption keys
In one embodiment, the invention provides a portable wireless personal communication system for cooperating with a remote certification authority to employ time variable secure key information pursuant to a predetermined encryption algorithm to facilitate convenient, secure encrypted communication. The disclosed system includes a wireless handset, such as PDA, smartphone, cellular telephone or the like, characterized by a relatively robust data processing capability and a body mounted key generating component which is adapted to be mounted on an individual's body, in a permanent or semi-permanent manner, for wirelessly broadcasting, within the immediate proximity of the individual, a secret or private key identifying signal corresponding to a time variable secure key information under the control of the certification authority. The key identifying signal is generated in a format that facilitates secure wireless communication with the individual in accordance with a predetermined encryption algorithm including a PKI encryption algorithm. The disclosed system may be used with a console for coordinating access to a variety of different communication system and networks. |
| US09531545B2 |
Tracking and notification of fulfillment events
An electronic signature system is used to procure one or more electronic signatures on a document. The electronic signature system not only facilitates communication between the document originator and the document recipient, but it also tracks the document status through states such as sent, viewed, executed, and fulfilled. For example, at some point the electronic signature system may receive an incoming notification that an obligation set forth in the signed document has been fulfilled. This incoming fulfillment notification is recorded and the document status is updated accordingly. The electronic signature system can also be configured to generate outgoing fulfillment notifications to announce that an obligation associated with the signed document has been fulfilled. The various notifications and fulfillment events disclosed herein can be tracked so as to allow users to generate status reports that reveal the fulfillment status of a collection of documents administered by the electronic signature. |
| US09531543B2 |
Authentication for relay deployment
Techniques for proving enterprise mode security for relays are disclosed. For example, enterprise mode security based on IEEE 802.1x is provided for relays or other similar devices to extend the coverage of access point hotspots or other similar access point use cases. According to one aspect, a relay incorporates an authentication client associated with an authentication server. According to another aspect, a four address format is employed for tunneling messages via a relay between a station and an access point. According to another aspect, a cryptographic master key associated with an access point and a station is provided to a relay to enable the relay to be an authenticator for the station. |
| US09531541B2 |
Cryptographic storage device controller
A method of configuring a controller of a portable-computer-readable-medium for performing a cryptographic function, and a portable-computer-readable-medium configured by same, are disclosed. The portable-computer-readable-medium has memory means in which at least first and second data files are stored, each file starting at a respective Logical Block Address (LBA) of the memory means. A first code, for instance a private key, is written in the first file. A password is associated with the second file. The controller of the portable-computer-readable-medium is configured to perform a hash function upon input data to be written to the second file with the first code, write the output hash to at least the second LBA, increment the first code and write the incremented first code to the first LBA. |
| US09531540B2 |
Secure token-based signature schemes using look-up tables
Various embodiments relate to a method of generating tokens for use in modular exponentiation and a related device and non-transitory machine readable storage medium, including: generating a public token, τ, based on an identifier associated with another device; generating a private token, L, as a modular exponentiation of the public token, τ, using a private exponent, d, and modulus, N, from a cryptographic key; and communicating the private token, L, to the other device. |
| US09531538B2 |
Controlling exposure of sensitive data and operation using process bound security tokens in cloud computing environment
Exposure of sensitive information to users is controlled using a first security token containing user identity and user credentials to represent the user who requests services, and a second security token containing two other identities, one identifying the token issuer and the other identifying the owning process. When requesting services, the token-owning process sends a security token to indicate who is making the request, and uses its key to digitally sign the request. The token-owning process signs the request to indicate that it endorses the request. A receiving server accepts a request if (1) the token-owning process endorses the request by signing the request; (2) the token is valid (token is signed by its issuer and the digital signature is verified and unexpired); (3) user entity, which can be a real user or a deployment or a server process, that is represented by the token has the authorization to access the specified resources; and (4) the token-owning process is authorized to endorse the user entity represented by the token to access the specified resources. |
| US09531533B2 |
Rule-based validity of cryptographic key material
In representative embodiments, a rule-based certificate cryptographic key material comprising containing a rule set defining validity conditions is associated with cryptographic key material assigned to an entity for use in authenticated communications. The validity of the cryptographic material changes state based on whether the entity is compliant or non-compliant with the rule set. This is accomplished in a representative embodiment by suspending the validity of the cryptographic key material when the entity is non-compliant with the rules and reinstating the validity of the cryptographic key material when the entity becomes compliant. A rules compliance service determines the validity of the cryptographic material in part using updates sent by the entity. Entities can delegate the update to a delegate device. Encryption can be used to preserve privacy. |
| US09531532B2 |
Method for establishing a secure communication channel
The present invention provides a method for establishing a secure communication channel between a client (C) and a remote server (S), said client (C) and remote server (S) exchanging data through an intermediate entity (G), said client (C) having a long-term key pair (skc,pkc), said remote server generating an ephemeral key (sks,pks), the method comprising a mutual authentication step wherein the client (C) sends a public key (pkc) of said long-term key pair (skc, pkc) and the proof that said public key (pkc) is valid to the server (S), and wherein the remote server (S) sends the public key (pks) of said ephemeral key pair (sks,pks) to the client (C). The client (C) generates an ephemeral key pair (skCc,pkCc) and sends the public key (pKcc) of said ephemeral key pair (skcc,pkcc) to the server (S) so as to generate a secret common to the client (C) and to the remote server (S) for opening the secure communication channel. |
| US09531531B2 |
Methods and devices for fixed execution flow multiplier recoding and scalar multiplication
One feature pertains to an electronic device that includes a memory circuit and a processing circuit. The processing circuit computes a scalar multiplication output Z where Z=k·P by receiving an input multiplier k and a base P, and adds a modifier s to the input multiplier k to generate k′. The processing circuit also computes an intermediate scalar multiplication output Z′ where Z′=k′·P by using a digit expansion of k′ that includes a sequence of digits ki belonging to a digit set D. Additionally, the processing circuit subtracts s·P from Z′ to obtain the scalar multiplication output Z if k′ is odd or subtracts (s+1)·P from Z′ to obtain the scalar multiplication output Z if k′ is even. The scalar multiplier output Z may be used in a cryptographic security algorithm to secure data. |
| US09531529B1 |
System and method for saddle point locking detection during clock and data recovery
The present disclosure relates to a method and apparatus for detecting clock and data recovery loop saddle-point locking in an electronic circuit. Embodiments may include receiving a signal at a primary clock and data recovery (“CDR”) loop associated with the electronic circuit and processing the signal using at least one of a first order CDR loop and a second order CDR loop included within the primary CDR loop. Embodiments may further include determining whether a fast-phase lock module is required, wherein determining includes determining two transitions in a sampling triplet. If it is determined that the fast-phase lock module is required, embodiments may include providing a trigger signal to the fast-phase lock module. Embodiments may further include receiving the trigger signal at the fast-phase lock module associated with the electronic circuit and performing a fast-phase lock operation on the signal. |
| US09531522B2 |
System and method for proactive resource allocation
A system and method for allocating resources in a network is disclosed. The system and method comprises a proactive resource allocation framework in which the predictability of user behavior is exploited to balance the network traffic over time and to reduce the bandwidth required to achieve a given blocking/outage probability. The disclosed proactive resource allocation framework avoids limitations associated with off-peak demand and achieves a significant reduction in the peak to average demand ratio without relying on out of network users. It is based on a model in which smart devices are assumed to predict the arrival of new requests and submit them to the network T time slots in advance. Using tools from large deviation theory, the resulting prediction diversity gain is quantified to establish that the decay rate of the outage event probabilities increases linearly with the prediction duration T. |
| US09531521B2 |
Channel quality indicator method, and associated system, base station, and user equipment
It would be to provide a method which will work with future versions of LTE-A, be backwards compatible and alleviate interference to signals for basic system operation.The method includes generating one or more Reference Signals associated with the one or more Channel Quality Indicators, and includes mapping the one or more Channel Quality Indicator-Reference Signals to the last symbol of the second slot of the one or more subframes. |
| US09531520B2 |
Apparatus and method for downlink and uplink multi-user transmissions
Methods and devices are described that facilitate uplink multi-user acknowledgment transmissions. In particular, acknowledgment information may be located in a media access control (MAC) header of a payload section of a MAC Protocol Data Unit within a downlink multi-user frame. The acknowledgment information may be present in each resource unit of the downlink multi-user frame to indicate to each corresponding station properties/characteristics of a subsequent acknowledgment transmission. The properties may include one or more of (1) whether the acknowledgement transmission is multi-user or single user, (2) whether the acknowledgement transmission is transmitted immediately following receipt of the downlink multi-user frame or upon receipt of a multi-user block acknowledgement request frame, and (3) resource scheduling information for an uplink multi-user acknowledgement transmission. |
| US09531519B2 |
Method for transceiving signals and apparatus for same
The present invention relates to a wireless communication system. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method for transmitting an uplink signal in a wireless communication system supporting carrier aggregation (CA), and to an apparatus for same, comprising the steps of: establishing a first cell having a first time division duplex (TDD) uplink-downlink (UL-DL) configuration and a second cell having a second TDD UL-DL configuration; receiving data through a DL subframe of the first cell; and transmitting reception reply information with respect to the data through a UL subframe of the second cell. |
| US09531517B2 |
Method and apparatus for generating reference signal in analog/digital mixed BF system
A millimeter radio wave communication system. In a method for operating a base station (BS) in an analog/digital mixed BF system, an analog BF direction is determined. A digital BE precoder is determined for the determined analog BE direction. Digital BF precoding is performed using the digital BE precoder with respect to the determined analog BF direction. A DownLink Reference Signal (DL RS) is transmitted in the analog BF direction on which the digital BF precoding has been performed. |
| US09531513B2 |
Interference coordination method, base station, and communication system
Embodiments of the present invention provide an interference coordination method, a base station, and a communication system. The method includes: acquiring first user channel state information on a first time-frequency resource on which interference coordination is to be performed; acquiring second user channel state information on the first time-frequency resource; pairing a first user and a second user according to the first user channel state information and the second user channel state information to obtain transmit power and a precoding matrix that are corresponding to the second user; and transmitting data to the second user on the first time-frequency resource according to the transmit power and the precoding matrix, but not transmitting data to the first user on the first time-frequency resource. |
| US09531510B2 |
Method for transmitting/receiving synchronizing signal in wireless communication system and device therefor
The present invention relates to a wireless communication system. The method whereby a terminal receives a synchronizing signal in a wireless communication system according to one embodiment of the present invention may comprise the steps of: receiving location information on a domain, from which the synchronizing signal is transmitted, among domains resulting from the division of the whole system bandwidth into N parts along a frequency axis and into M parts along a time axis (wherein N and M are natural numbers); and receiving the synchronizing signal from the domain corresponding to the location information. |
| US09531504B1 |
Bundling acknowledgments based on signal quality
One or more indications of signal quality as measured by a wireless communication device (WCD) served by a radio access network (RAN) may be transmitted from the WCD to the RAN. A determination may be made that the one or more indications of signal quality meet or exceed a threshold signal quality. Possibly based on the one or more indications of signal quality meeting or exceeding the threshold signal quality, the WCD may bundle at least some hybrid automatic repeat request (HARD) acknowledgments that the WCD transmits to the RAN. |
| US09531503B2 |
Redundancy for real time communications
Systems and methods of redundancy for real time communications are disclosed. One such system includes a first device and a second device, where the first device includes a redundant tunneled services element (RTSE) and the second device includes a redundant tunnel services control function (RTSCF). The RTSCF is in communication with the RTSE and is operable to establish a redundant secure tunnel to the RTSE. The RTSE is operable to redundantly convey a first stream of media packets over the redundant secure tunnel to the RTSCF. The RTSCF is operable to redundantly convey a second stream of media packets over the redundant secure tunnel to the RTSE. |
| US09531501B2 |
Data transfer between electronic devices
During operation in the described embodiments, a transmitting electronic device transmits a first data channel protocol data unit (PDU) with a payload containing data D to a receiving electronic device using a Bluetooth Low Energy (BTLE) interface in a sending window for the transmitting electronic device during a regular event, wherein transmitting the first data channel PDU during the regular event comprises using a first frequency to transmit the first data channel PDU. The transmitting electronic device then transmits a second data channel PDU with a payload containing the same data D to the receiving electronic device using the BTLE interface in a sending window for the transmitting electronic device during a corresponding retransmission event, wherein transmitting the second data channel PDU during the retransmission event comprises using a second frequency to transmit the second data channel PDU. |
| US09531491B2 |
Communication method, apparatus and system
Various embodiments are presented of a time sharing electronic communication system, including a central unit, a crosstalk channel, and communication units such as transceivers and remote terminals. Also presented are various methods for configuring and operating the elements of such a system to enhance communication between communication units within the system. In some embodiments, locally optimal configurations are pre-computed, stored in memory, and processed into time sharing information which is communicated to communication units. The time sharing information allows the communication units to transmit at times and power levels in such a manner as to enhance the communication within the system. In some embodiments, locally optimal configurations are computed, stored, and processing, substantially dynamically, allowing substantially real time adjustment of transmission times and power levels to enhance the communication within the system. |
| US09531490B2 |
Method and systems for synchronizing overlapping wireless systems
Methods and devices for synchronizing various independent wireless systems are disclosed. For example, an exemplary first base-station (120) capable of communicating with a first set of remote customer devices using a first wireless protocol and a first spectrum is configured to co-exist with a remote base-station capable of communicating with a second set of remote customer devices using the first wireless protocol and the first spectrum. The first base-station includes a physical layer (PHY) device (250) configured to transmit and receive wireless signals of the first protocol and the first spectrum, a suppression device (240) coupled to the PHY device, and a media access control (MAC) device (230) coupled to the PHY device configured to receive the remote set of wireless signals from the PHY device. |
| US09531488B2 |
Using single-channel/multi-channel transitions to output an alert indicating a functional state of a back-up audio-broadcast system
In one aspect, an example method for outputting an alert indicating a functional state of a back-up audio-broadcast system involves: a computing device receiving a first audio-stream that represents first audio-content; the computing device generating a first signature based, at least in part, upon an extent of single-channel/multi-channel transitions included within the first audio-content; the computing device receiving a second audio-stream that represents second audio-content; the computing device generating a second signature based, at least in part, upon an extent of single-channel/multi-channel transitions included within the second audio-content; the computing device making a determination that the generated first-signature and the generated second-signature lack a threshold extent of similarity; and responsive to the determination that the generated first-signature and the generated second-signature lack the threshold extent of similarity, the computing device outputting an alert. |
| US09531487B2 |
Method and system for achieving continued listening experience for car radio head unit
A method of operating a radio in a vehicle includes tuning the radio to a first radio source. Information identifying the first radio source is transmitted from the vehicle to a remote processor. The processor monitors broadcast content of the first radio source on a web site. The processor identifies a second radio source having broadcast content matching the broadcast content of the first radio source. Information identifying the second radio source is transmitted from the processor to the vehicle. When a quality of a broadcast signal from the first radio source received at the vehicle falls below a threshold quality level, tuning of the radio is switched from the first radio source to the second radio source. |
| US09531486B2 |
Quality measurement method, user equipment, and network-side device
The present invention is applicable to the field of wireless communications technologies, and provides a quality measurement method, a user equipment, and network-side device. The method includes: receiving, by a user equipment (UE), resource restricted subframe (RRS) information sent by a network-side device; and performing, by the UE, downlink channel quality measurement and/or downlink physical layer channel quality measurement according to the RRS information. In the present invention, the UE performs the downlink channel quality measurement or downlink physical layer channel quality measurement according to the RRS information sent by the network-side device. By using this measurement method, the UE can obtain a more accurate downlink channel quality measurement result or downlink physical layer channel quality measurement result. |
| US09531484B2 |
Super-regenerative receiver (SRR) and super-regenerative reception method with increased channel selectivity
A super-regenerative receiver (SRR) includes a super-regenerative oscillator (SRO), and an active channel filter disposed at a front end of the SRO, and configured to filter out an interferer in a signal received by the SRR. |
| US09531483B2 |
Devices and methods for facilitating signal-to-interference ratio estimates for closed-loop transmission diversity communications
UEs are adapted to facilitate calculation of signal-to-interference ratio (SIR) estimates in closed-loop transmission diversity (CLTD) communications before downlink and uplink synchronization is achieved. A UE may receive a transmission sent using transmission diversity. According to one example, the UE may calculate a plurality of signal-to-interference ratio (SIR) estimates for the received transmission, where each signal-to-interference ratio estimate is calculated using a different weight factor. The UE may further select one of the calculated signal-to-interference ratio (SIR) estimates to be employed for the received transmission. According to another example, the UE may calculate a signal-to-interference ratio (SIR) estimate for the received transmission without employing any weight factor. Other aspects, embodiments, and features are also included. |
| US09531482B2 |
Canister antenna producing a pseudo-omni radiation pattern for mitigating passive intermodulation (PIM)
A canister antenna including a radar transparent housing enclosing an antenna assembly having a plurality of integrated sector antennas. The sector antennas are configured to produce a pseudo-omnidirectional radiation pattern of RF energy about the axis. |
| US09531477B2 |
Method and apparatus for transmitting and receiving client signal in optical transport network
Embodiments of the present invention provide a method and an apparatus for transmitting and receiving a client signal in an optical transport network. In the transmission method, a received client signal is mapped into a variable-rate container OTU-N, wherein a rate of the OTU-N is N times as high as a preset reference rate; and then, the variable-rate container OTU-N is split into N optical sub-channel transport units OTUsubs by column, where a rate of each OTUsub equals to the reference rate; next, the N optical sub-channel transport units OTUsubs are modulated onto one or more optical carriers; at last, the one or more optical carriers is transmitted through a fiber. |
| US09531474B2 |
Systems and methods for clip prevention in a CATV network
Systems and methods for preventing laser clipping in a CATV network. |
| US09531468B2 |
Method and system for requesting allocation of bandwith and allocating bandwith in a multi-hop relay environment
The present invention relates to a method and a system for requesting the allocation of bandwidth in a multi-hop relay environment. The present invention relates to a method for requesting bandwidth of a relay node in the multi-hop relay environment and a method for allocating bandwidth of a base station. In the invention, single piggybacking and multiple piggybacking based on approval-processing sub-headers are discriminated from single piggybacking and multiple piggybacking based on extensible sub-headers. Therefore, the bandwidth-requests for each CID from the base station are integrated and managed for each relay so that the message transmission and reception load may be reduced and the allocation of bandwidth may be optimized. |
| US09531464B2 |
Method and arrangement in a wireless communications system
A method for assisting the adaptation of a signal from a first node to a second node is provided. The first node communicates with the second node in a wireless communication system over a radio link. The second node has a codebook comprising a set of possible information alternatives for assisting the adaptation of a signal received from the first node. The second node may select an information alternative from the codebook and send it to the first node to assist the first node in adapting the signal. The first node is configured with a number of subsets, each comprising a part of the possible information alternatives. The first node requests that the second node restrict the selection of information alternatives to one of the subsets, and in response, receives an information alternative from the second node that is selected from among the subsets configured according to the configuration request. |
| US09531463B2 |
Closed-loop multiple-input-multiple-output scheme for wireless communication based on hierarchical feedback
The present invention provides methods implemented in a base station having a plurality of antennas and one or more user terminals. One embodiment of the method includes receiving feedback from at least one user in response to transmitting a first frame to said at least one user. The first frame is formed by pre-coding at least one symbol using at least one first code word selected from at least one first code book associated with the at least one user. The method also includes transmitting at least one second frame to the user(s). The second frame(s) are pre-coded using at least one second codeword selected from at least one second codebook. The second codebook(s) determined based on the feedback and the first codeword(s). |
| US09531462B2 |
Wireless communication system, wireless transmitter, and control program for wireless transmitter
A mobile station transmitting transmission signals using one of a plurality of transmission schemes which includes at least a first transmission scheme and a second transmission scheme, where in a case that the used transmission scheme is the first transmission scheme, the transmission signals are applied by an open loop (OL) in which precoding information is not fed back and in a case that the used transmission scheme is the second transmission scheme, the transmission signals are applied by a closed loop (CL) for which a precoding matrix indicator (PMI) is fed back from the mobile station. The first peak-to-average power ratio (PAPR) characteristics of the first transmission scheme differs from the second PAPR characteristics of the second transmission scheme. |
| US09531458B2 |
Method, device and system for precoding based on CoMP
A method, a device and a system for precoding based on CoMP are provided. The method includes: a serving base station receives an expected PMI of a terminal associated with the serving base station and a leakage PMI of a terminal associated with a cooperation base station, which is sent by the cooperation base station, wherein the expected PMI is corresponding to encoding codeword in an expected terminal direction, and the leakage PMI is corresponding to encoding codeword in an interference direction; the serving base station selects expected encoding codeword according to the expected PMI and selecting leakage precoding codeword according to the leakage PMI; and the serving base station convolve the expected encoding codeword and the leakage precoding codeword to obtain precoding codeword used for signal transmission by the serving base station. In the present invention, by use of the CoMP technology, the accuracy of reducing interference of edge user terminals is improved. |
| US09531455B2 |
Feedback scheme for MU-MIMO
Embodiments of a system and method for managing feedback in a MU-MIMO system. An access point can announce one or more of mobile stations that are to receive downlink information in a first frame. The access point can also send a sounding package to the one or more mobile stations and receive feedback from the one or more mobile stations according to the feedback schedule. The feedback may be based on the reception of the sounding package. |
| US09531454B2 |
Codebook subset restriction signaling for multi-carrier multi-antenna wireless communication system
A radio network node identifies a codebook subset restriction to be applied to a user equipment (UE) employing carrier aggregation and multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO), identifies a correspondence between the codebook subset restriction and multiple carriers in a carrier group of the UE, and transmits correspondence information indicating the correspondence between the codebook subset restriction and the multiple carriers in the carrier group. The UE receives the correspondence information and transmits channel state information for the multiple carriers according to the codebook subset restriction. |
| US09531445B2 |
Communication apparatus, program, communication method and communication system
A communication apparatus including a first storage unit, a second storage unit logically or physically discriminated from the first storage unit, a first communication unit, a second communication unit for transmitting data stored in the second storage unit through electric field coupling or magnetic field coupling, and a selecting unit for selecting at least either the first storage unit or the second storage unit as a storage destination of the data received by the first communication unit. |
| US09531444B2 |
Wireless power receiver and method of managing thereof
A receiver to wirelessly receive power from a transmitter, and including a receiving unit to receive AC power from the transmitter; a rectifying unit to rectify the received AC power to DC power, a power management unit to manage power to be transferred to a load based on the rectified DC power and a DC-DC converter to supply a DC voltage required by the load, or to the load with the rectified DC power. The power management unit generates and transmits a control signal to adjust the power transferred to the load based on the rectified DC power. |
| US09531441B2 |
Wireless power receiver and method of managing power thereof
Disclosed are a wireless power receiver and a method of managing the same. The wireless power receiver to wirelessly receive power from a wireless power transmitter and transmit the power to a load includes a receiving unit to receive AC power from the wireless power transmitter that receives power from a power supply device, a rectifying unit to rectify the received AC power to DC power, and a power managing unit to manage the power transmitted to the load based on the rectified DC power. |
| US09531439B2 |
Electronic devices, near-field wireless communications system and method for establishing a wireless communications link between two electronic devices
An electronic device with touch-link functionality includes a touch panel, a signal processing circuit and a controller. The touch panel includes a first transmitting electrode for transmitting a first signal. The signal processing circuit provides the first signal to the first transmitting electrode. The first signal has a first frequency that is adjustable. The controller is coupled to the touch panel and the signal processing circuit. The controller adjusts the first frequency to make the first frequency correspond to an effective communications range. Within the effective communications range, another electronic device with touch-link functionality is able to receive the first signal, whereas outside the effective communications range, the another electronic device with touch-link functionality is unable to receive the first signal. |
| US09531436B2 |
Device for the two-way inductive coupling of data signals to a power line
The device comprises a current transformer having a ring-shaped magnetic core (10) internally defining an opening (15) for the arrangement of a power line (2) and a winding wound onto the core (10), the core (10) being split into at least two core segments (A, B) articulated to one another. Both core segments (A, B) are furthermore optimized with regard to surface finish and form factor to allow low attenuation in the low-frequency data signal between 50 kHz and 600 kHz transmitted to the power grid. |
| US09531435B2 |
Communication network and wide area communication network
A first communication device is connected in a conductive state to a first power line extending from a secondary side of a transformer in a high-voltage power receiving apparatus to a primary side of breakers in a plurality of distribution boards that receive power supply from the transformer. A plurality of second communication devices are respectively connected to a plurality of second power lines respectively extending from a secondary side of the breakers in the plurality of distribution boards. Each second communication device performs power line communication using the second power line connected thereto as a transmission path. Upon receipt of a communication signal, each of the first communication device and the plurality of second communication devices generates a new communication signal including information included in the communication signal and sends the new communication signal through power line communication. |
| US09531427B2 |
Transmission device with mode division multiplexing and methods for use therewith
Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a transmission device that includes at least one transceiver configured to modulate data to generate a plurality of first electromagnetic waves. A plurality of couplers are configured to couple at least a portion of the plurality of first electromagnetic waves to a transmission medium, wherein the plurality of couplers generate a plurality of mode division multiplexed second electromagnetic waves that propagate along the outer surface of the transmission medium. Other embodiments are disclosed. |
| US09531423B2 |
Handler for electronic handheld devices
A handle for mobile phone attached to a mobile phone or mobile phone case comprises of an elastic strip having a finger sleeve on one end of the elastic strip unit to receive a finger of a user to improve the method of handling the mobile device in a secure and comfortable position and a complementary accessory to fasten the device on arm, wrist or neck of a user in order to have a secure holding for said device. The index finger is inserted into the finger sleeve of the elastic strip and enables the user to hold the mobile phone free without gripping and without dropping. In this case other fingers can be used for other activities such as holding a cup, or the handle in the bus, and thumb can be used for texting or using the touch display of the mobile phone. The elastic handler allows the user's finger to be freely bending and join the other fingers in activities. |
| US09531419B2 |
Loop-through for multi-chip communication systems
Methods and systems are provided for multi-chip receivers with loop-through feeds. A receiver that comprises plurality of chips may receive one or more input feeds, with each of the chips generating a corresponding output comprising data (e.g., channels) extracted from the one or more input feeds. Only a first chip may handle reception and/or initial processing of the one or more input feeds, with each one of the remaining chips processing a loop-through feed generated in the first chip, in order to generate the corresponding output of that chip. The loop-through feed may be generated based on the one or more input feeds. In this regard, the loop-through feed may comprise at least one of the one or more input feeds that is partially processed in the first one of the plurality of chips. |
| US09531416B2 |
Radiofrequency signal receiver designed to be installed on a satellite
A receiver for radiofrequency signals designed to be installed on board a satellite comprises: a device for frequency controlling the receiver allowing the reception frequency of the receiver to be adjusted based on a frequency command; and a filtering assembly of the bandpass filter type having a passband, referred to as passband of the filtering assembly, having an adjustable passband width able to take a set of values, the filtering assembly allowing the bandwidth of a first signal representative of the input signal of the receiver to be limited to the passband of the filtering assembly; adjustment means allowing the width of the passband of the filtering assembly to be adjusted using a filtering passband control; power acquisition means allowing a measurement of the power of the first signal to be delivered at the output of the filtering assembly. |
| US09531415B2 |
Systems and methods for activity determination based on human frame
Systems and related methods providing for determining activities of individuals are discussed herein. Circuitry may be configured to wirelessly receive tag signals from a plurality of RF location tags. Two or more of the RF location tags may be positioned on an individual, such as at positions that may at least partially define a human frame. The circuitry may be configured to correlate the two or more RF location tags with the individual. Location data for each of the two or more RF location tags may be determined based on the received tag signals. An activity of the individual may be determined based on the location data. In some embodiments, one or more activities involving multiple individuals may be determined based on RF location tags and sensors positioned on each of the multiple individuals. Furthermore, sensor data from the sensors may be communicated over the UWB channel. |
| US09531413B2 |
Multi-band device having switch with input shunt arm
In an embodiment, an apparatus includes a first radio frequency (RF) signal path and a second RF signal path. The first RF signal path can provide a first RF signal when active and the second RF signal path can provide a second RF signal when active. The second RF signal path can include a select switch having an input shunt arm electrically coupled to an input of the select switch. The input shunt arm can be arranged such that it is on when the first RF signal path is active and/or when the second RF signal path is inactive. |
| US09531411B2 |
AAS transmitter distortion improvement
The invention provides a method for processing signals in a radio transmission apparatus (60) and a radio transmission apparatus (60) comprising a plurality of radio transmitters (61, 62), wherein clipping is applied to a signal in at least one of the plurality of radio transmitters, wherein the amount of clipping or/and a clipping threshold is adjusted individually for each of the plurality of radio transmitters. |
| US09531404B2 |
Computer input device and method of using the same
An auxiliary input device for use in inputting a user signal to a computer is provided. The computer auxiliary input device includes an infrared ray transmitter configured to transmit an infrared ray signal to a left eyeball and a right eyeball of a user. A reflected light sensor configured to measure a change in an amount of light reflected from the left eyeball and the right eyeball. A controller configured to detect the change in the amount of light reflected from each of the eyeballs from the reflected light sensor, generate Morse code alphabets based on the detected change, and convert the Morse code alphabets into a character string to be transmitted to the computer. A computer communication unit is configured to provide the character string converted by the controller to the computer. |
| US09531399B1 |
Linearity improvement for high resolution RFDAC
A digital to analog converter (DAC) circuit to convert a digital input signal to an analog output signal, wherein the digital input signal comprises a plurality of Least Significant Bits (LSBs) and a plurality of Most Significant Bits (LSBs). The DAC circuit comprises a line decoder configured to receive the plurality of LSBs of the digital input signal and configured to generate line information based thereon. The DAC circuit further comprises a column decoder configured to receive the plurality of MSBs of the digital input signal and configured to generate column information based thereon. Further, the DAC circuit comprises one or more source cells arranged in a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns, wherein the one or more source cells are configured to be selectively activated and consequently generate an individual output signal based on the line information and the column information respectively. |
| US09531397B2 |
Atomic resonance transition device, atomic oscillator, timepiece, electronic apparatus and moving object
An atomic resonance transition device includes an atomic cell in which an atom is sealed, a first light source part to emit a first light resonant with a D1 line of the atom in the atomic cell, a second light source part to emit a second light having a wavelength different from that of the first light and resonant with the D1 line or a D2 line of the atom in the atomic cell, and a detection part to detect a light beat due to interference between the first light and the second light passing through the atomic cell and to generate a beat signal. |
| US09531395B2 |
Method and devices for time and frequency synchronization using a phase locked loop
This invention relates to methods and devices for time and frequency synchronization, especially over packet networks using, for example, the IEEE 1588 Precision Time Protocol (PTP). Timing protocol messages are exposed to artifacts in the network such as packet delay variations (PDV) or packet losses. Embodiments of the invention provide a digital phase locked loop (DPLL) based on direct digital synthesis to provide both time and frequency signals for use at the slave (time client). An example of this DPLL in conjunction with a recursive least squares mechanism for clock offset and skew estimation is also provided. |
| US09531394B1 |
Calibration of digital-to-time converter
A technique for calibrating a digital-to-time converter includes an apparatus including a digital-to-time converter configured to generate an output signal based on a digital code, an input signal, and a gain calibration signal. The output signal has edges linearly delayed from corresponding edges of the input signal based on the digital code. The digital code vacillates between an evaluation code and a calibration code. The apparatus includes a reference signal generator configured to provide a delayed version of the input signal. The delay of the reference signal generator is matched to a delay of the digital-to-time converter. The apparatus includes a calibration circuit configured to generate the gain calibration signal based on the output signal and the delayed version of the input signal. The calibration code may alternate between a first calibration delay code and a second calibration delay code. |
| US09531392B2 |
Methods related to frequency synthesis control
Disclosed are systems and method for controlling frequency synthesizers. A control system can be implemented in a phase-locked loop (PLL), such as a Frac-N PLL of a frequency synthesizer, to reduce or eliminate reference spurs. In some embodiments, such a control system can include a phase detector configured to receive a reference signal and a feedback signal. The phase detector can be configured to generate a first signal representative of a phase difference between the reference signal and the feedback signal. The control system can further include a charge pump configured to generate a compensation signal based on the first signal. The control system can further includes an oscillator configured to generate an output signal based on the compensation signal. The compensation signal can be configured to reduce or substantially eliminate one or more reference spurs associated with the frequency synthesizer. |
| US09531391B1 |
Frequency-agile clock multiplier
Upon detecting transition of an input timing signal from a non-oscillating state to an oscillating state, a clock generating circuit is switched from a paused mode to an open-loop operating mode to transition an output timing signal of the clock generating circuit from a non-oscillating state to an oscillating state in which the output timing signal oscillates at a free-running frequency. A ratio of a reference frequency of the oscillating-state input timing signal and the free-running frequency of the output timing signal is determined and used to adjust a frequency-lock range of the clock generating circuit. The clock generating circuit is then switched from the open-loop operating state to the closed-loop operating state to frequency-lock the output timing signal with respect to the reference frequency of the input timing signal. |
| US09531388B2 |
Semiconductor device and method for controlling the same
A semiconductor device includes an operation unit (CPU) provided in a semiconductor chip and a temperature sensor (TS) that measures a temperature of the semiconductor chip. The semiconductor device compares a measured temperature (Ta) measured by the temperature sensor (TS) with a predetermined reference temperature (Tref). When the measured temperature (Ta) is higher than the reference temperature (Tref), the semiconductor device switches a frequency of an operation clock to be supplied to the operation unit (CPU) from a first frequency to a second frequency higher than the first frequency. |
| US09531387B2 |
Handheld device and frequency tracking method thereof
A handheld device and a frequency tracking method thereof are provided. The handheld device comprises an oscillator, a radio frequency (RF) chip, a modem module, a first thermal sensor and a thermal module. The oscillator generates an oscillation signal with an oscillation frequency. The RF chip is electrically connected to the oscillator and configured to receive a paging signal from a paging channel and an RF signal from a non-regular channel based on the oscillation signal. The modem module is electrically connected to the RF chip. The first thermal sensor disposed close to the oscillator measures a heat source temperature. The thermal module electrically connected to the modem module and the first thermal sensor enables the modem module to execute a frequency compensation process by using the RF signal of both the paging signal and the RF signal according to the heat source temperature. |
| US09531386B2 |
Transmitter having voltage driver and current driver
A circuit includes a first power node that carries a first supply voltage having a first voltage level and a second power node that carries a second supply voltage having a second voltage level less than the first voltage level. A voltage driver has a first plurality of transistors, an input node for an input signal, and an output node, and a current driver has a second plurality of transistors. The current driver injects or extracts an adjustment current into or out of the output node. The first plurality of transistors and the second plurality of transistors electrically couple the output node and the current driver to the first power node in response to the input signal being at a first logic state, and electrically decouple the output node and the current driver from the first power node in response to the input signal being at a second logic state. |
| US09531385B2 |
Methods and apparatuses for multiple concurrent sub-threshold voltage domains for optimal power per given performance
A method and flow for implementing an ASIC using sub-threshold technology with optimized selection of voltage and process for a given application performance. An embodiment may also implement concurrently used multiple voltage domains inside a single place and route block. The voltage domain is dynamically changed between the cells at the placement time based on the timing path requirements. |
| US09531384B1 |
Adiabatic dynamic differential logic for differential power analysis resistant secure integrated circuits
An adiabatic dynamic differential logic circuit is provided for mitigating a differential power analysis (DPA) attack on a secure integrated chip including a plurality of transistors configured to perform each of a plurality of two-input logical output calculations, wherein each of the two-input logical output calculations results in a minimal differential power of the logic circuit. In one embodiment, a high-performance adiabatic dynamic differential logic circuit is provided which is optimized for very high operating frequencies. In another embodiment, a body-biased adiabatic dynamic differential logic circuit is provided which utilizes transistor body biasing to improve the switching time and differential power of the design. |
| US09531375B2 |
Radio frequency switch circuit
A radio frequency switch circuit may include: a first switch circuit unit connected between a first signal port for transmitting and receiving a signal and a common connection node and operated by a first gate signal; a second switch circuit unit connected between a second signal port for transmitting and receiving a signal and the common connection node and operated by a second gate signal; a first shunt circuit unit including first and second shunt units connected to each other in series between a first connection node connected to the first signal port and a ground, the first shunt unit being operated by the first gate signal and the second shunt unit being operated by the second gate signal; and a second shunt circuit unit connected between a second connection node connected to the second signal port and the ground and operated by the first gate signal. |
| US09531362B1 |
Semiconductor device including delay circuit and operating method thereof
A semiconductor device includes a calibration code generation circuit suitable for generating a calibration code by adjusting a period of a short-term oscillation signal oscillating at a period less than a reference period, based on a reference oscillation signal oscillating at the reference period; and a delay circuit suitable for setting a delay value based on the calibration code. |
| US09531359B1 |
Multi-state attenuator
Multi-state radio frequency (RF) attenuator configurations that include bridged-T type, pi-type, and T-type structures each having a programmable throughput section and a coupled programmable shunt section. The throughput sections and shunt sections may be configured in various combinations of parallel and serial fixed or selectable resistance elements such that multiple resistance states and impedance matching states can be programmatically selected, and may include stacked switch elements to withstand applied voltages to a specified design level. |
| US09531355B1 |
Clock phase shift circuit
An electronic device includes a first circuit to generate an output control signal when a first voltage across a first capacitor receiving an input current exceeds a threshold voltage, in response to an input signal having a first logic level. The input current is proportional to a frequency of the input signal. A second circuit is to generate an output reset signal when a second voltage across a second capacitor receiving the input current exceeds the threshold voltage, in response to the input signal having a second logic level. A flip flop is to generate a signal output as having the first logic level in response to the output control signal, and to reset and generate the signal output as having the second logic level in response to the output reset signal. |