| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US07657945B2 |
Systems and arrangements to adjust resource accessibility based upon usage modes
Systems and arrangements to adjust resource accessibility based upon usage modes are contemplated. Embodiments may include a supervisor instance such as an operating system that is adapted to select one or more supervisor keys from a set of supervisor keys available to the host node or platform upon which the supervisor instance is operating. The supervisor instance may select the supervisor key(s) based upon an association of the supervisor instance with a usage mode represented by a supervisor key name. In many embodiments, supervisor key names may be associated with resources via with one or more of the supervisor keys based upon the resources needed when operating in the usage modes by a system administrator. Once the supervisor instance is initialized, the supervisor instance may issue client keys that allow access to subsets of the resources available to the supervisor instance based upon usage modes of the clients. |
| US07657944B2 |
Data distribution system and data distribution apparatus
A data distribution apparatus installed in a data center transmits data to a data acquisition apparatus installed in a store via a communication network. The data acquisition apparatus receives authentication information, such as the fingerprint, ID card or the like of a user, for user authentication, and the data distribution apparatus authenticates the user according to the authentication method selected from among multiple authentication methods and corresponding to the authentication information received by the data acquisition apparatus. The data distribution apparatus transmits data changed in format according to the authentication method used to the data acquisition apparatus. In the case of an authentication method being high in security, data is made changeable, and in the case of an authentication method being lower in security, data is changed so as to have an unchangeable format, whereby the unauthorized use of data is prevented. |
| US07657942B2 |
Method of assuring enterprise security standards compliance
A method, apparatus, and computer instructions for providing a current and complete security compliance view of an enterprise system. The present invention provides the ability to gain a real-time security posture and security compliance view of an enterprise and to assess the risk impact of known threats and attacks to continued business operations at various levels is provided. Responsive to a change to an enterprise environment, a request, or an external threat, an administrator loads or updates at least one of a Critical Application Operations database, a Historical database, an Access Control database, a Connectivity database, and a Threat database. Based on a comparison of information in the databases against similar security data elements from company or external policies, the administrator may generate a Security Compliance view of the enterprise. A Security Posture view may also be generated by comparing the Security Compliance view against data in the Threat database. |
| US07657939B2 |
Computer security intrusion detection system for remote, on-demand users
An intrusion detection system, and a related method and computer program product, for implementing intrusion detection in a remote, on-demand computing service environment in which one or more data processing hosts are made available to a remote on-demand user that does not have physical custody and control over the host(s). Intrusion detection entails monitoring resources defined by the on-demand user (or a third party security provider) for intrusion events that are also defined by the on-demand user (or security provider), and implementing responses according to event-action rules that are further defined by the on-demand user (or security provider). An intrusion detection system agent is associated with each of the data processing hosts, and is adapted to monitor the intrusion events and report intrusion activity. If there are plural intrusion detection system agents, they can be individually programmed to monitor and report on agent-specific sets of the intrusion events. An intrusion detection system controller is associated with one of the data processing hosts. It is adapted to manage and monitor the intrusion detection system agent(s), process agent reports of intrusion activity, and communicate intrusion-related information to the on-demand user (or security provider). The responses to intrusion events can be implemented by the intrusion detection system controller in combination with the intrusion detection system agents, or by any such entity alone. |
| US07657933B2 |
Apparatus and method for allocating resources within a security processing architecture using multiple groups
An apparatus is described comprising: a plurality of security processing resources for processing two or more different types of data traffic within a cryptographic processor; a first scheduler to provide a first type of data traffic to a first predefined subset of the security processing resources using a first scheduling technique; and a second scheduler to provide a second type of data traffic to a second predefined subset of the security processing resources using a second scheduling technique. |
| US07657928B2 |
Communication apparatus and associated method of controlling distribution of content to network devices
There is provided a configuration enabling prevention in advance of leakage and outflow of secret information in the local network, such as private data and content whose copyright and use right is restricted. A plurality of identification information of a communication destination device are acquired at different data processing levels. Identification information acquired by data processing at a level of a physical layer or a data link layer of the OSI reference model and identification information acquired by data processing at a layer level of a network layer or higher are received and these identification information are matched. |
| US07657923B2 |
Framework for a security system
A framework for a security system is described. The framework may be used to track which security engines are available to enforce security policies. A security engine is a software resource that enforces security policies designed to help ensure that a vulnerability of an application or operating system cannot be exploited. The framework may be used to maintain a holistic view of a status of computing devices that a security system is configured to operate with. The framework may enforce security policies uniformly across components of a security system by providing an application program interface. The security system may broker security enforcement events and security policies. By providing these services, the framework presents a unified model for interactions between software components and the security system. |
| US07657918B2 |
System for interactively distributing information services
An interactive information distribution system includes service provider equipment for generating an information stream that is coupled to an information channel and transmitted to subscriber equipment. The service provider also generates a command signal that is coupled to a command channel and transmitted to the subscriber equipment. The service provider also receives information manipulation requests from the subscriber via a back channel. A communication network supporting the information channel, command channel and back channel is coupled between the service provider equipment and the subscriber equipment. |
| US07657917B2 |
Interactivity emulator for broadcast communication
Described herein is a technology for in the realm of digital video broadcast technology or other such technology. One implementation, described herein, relates to broadcasting web content to client devices in a DVB (digital video broadcast) environment using rotational sequences of data modules (e.g., DSMCC carousels). One implementation, described herein, relates to emulating an interactive browsing experience of web content over a broadcast channel. One implementation, described herein, relates to the client device “smartly” caching select portions of the web content being broadcast. The scope of the present invention is pointed out in the appending claims. |
| US07657916B2 |
Digital subscriber television networks with local physical storage devices and virtual storage
A dual mode file system in a subscriber network television system, comprising a memory with logic, and a processor configured with the logic to use remote data to support the processor until the logic detects that local data is available. |
| US07657914B2 |
Object monitoring system detecting motion and tracking human skin
An object monitoring system, including a slave system having slave processors (14, 16) and a plurality of cameras (10) for monitoring one or more objects, images of the cameras (10) being processed by respective ones of the slave processor (14, 16), and the slave processors including sensors (30) assigned to respective cameras (10) and at least parts of the fields of view of the cameras (10) to detect predetermined characteristics of the at least parts and generate a trigger in response thereto. A master system has to master processor (20) including agents (34) assigned to at least one of the objects and having one or more of the sensors (30) allocated thereto, the agents (34) each generating an event on receiving triggers from the one or more allocated sensors (30). An event system (6) receives the events and determines whether an alarm condition exists. A user interface system (8) can configure the sensors (30) and agents (34) and respond to events. The monitoring can be used to protect a number of objects, such as paintings and artworks held in a number of locations, from human theft. |
| US07657909B1 |
Information receiving apparatus and method for receiving headline information
An information receiving apparatus for receiving the EPG data related to broadcast program has a memory in which user preference information is stored in advance. The EPG data is regularly transmitted from predetermined broadcast station to update the EPG data stored in the information receiving apparatus. When the information receiving apparatus detects the reception of updated EPG data, the information receiving apparatus starts to search the updated EPG data in order to find out the EPG data coincided with the user preference information among updated EPG data. Thereby an user is able to know favorite broadcast programs with out re-entering user preference information when the EPG data is updated. If necessary, thus searched favorite broadcast program is recorded on a recording medium by automatically setting a recording timer of the information receiving apparatus. |
| US07657908B2 |
Television broadcast receiver
Disclosed is a television broadcast receiver including: a reception member to receive a television broadcast signal with added time information; an acquirement member to acquire broadcast program information; program information storage member to store the broadcast program information; a time information storage member to store the time information; judgment member to judge whether a time period from interception of a power supply to re-activation is longer than a predetermined time or not, based on time information stored just before the interception and time information received just after the re-activation, the judgment being performed when the power supply of the television broadcast receiver is activated; and acquirement control member to make the acquirement member acquire new broadcast program information when the judgment member judges that the time period is longer than the predetermined time. |
| US07657906B2 |
Program recommendation apparatus, method and program used in the program recommendation apparatus
A program recommendation apparatus that recommends a program to a user that is in accordance with the user's preference, by taking into account the importance of keywords used in classifying programs' contents into correct categories. The program recommendation apparatus has a category dictionary containing words as keywords, where each of the keywords is stored in association with contribution factors assigned with respect to categories respectively, searches program information of each program in an EPG for the keywords contained in the category dictionary, for any found keywords, obtains category summations of contribution factors of the found keywords for each of the categories, calculates category evaluation values of the program according to the category summations of the contribution factors, and recommends one or more programs to the user according to a degree of similarity between the category evaluation values of the programs and user preference factors. |
| US07657905B2 |
Receiver, program retrieval method, and receiving method
An EPG object of a program A to be broadcast from 19:00 to 20:49 is copied to generate a first clone EPG object and a second clone EPG object. 00 minute is set as the relative start time of the first clone EPG object, and 59 minutes is set as the relative end time. 00 minutes is set as the relative start time of the second clone EPG object, and 49 minutes is set as the relative end time. With reference to the relative times, the clone EPG object is allocated to each time zone with a range of one hour. The first clone EPG object of the program A is allocated to a time zone of 19:00 to 19:59, and the second clone EPG object is allocated to a time zone of 20:00 to 20:59. Retrieval is carried out for each time zone. Thus, a program of a predetermined broadcast time can be quickly retrieved. |
| US07657902B2 |
Disk holding device and disk recording/reproduction apparatus
This invention provides a disk holding device which may include a plurality of disk holding members and a disk receiving part. The disk holding members may each be provided with a holding projection part projected from the inner periphery side toward the outer periphery side of the disk-formed recording medium; the holding projection part may be provided with an inclined surface displaced so as to be spaced away from the disk-formed recording medium as one goes from the inner periphery side toward the outer periphery side of the disk-formed recording medium in the condition where the disk holding members are inserted in the center hole. |
| US07657900B2 |
Recording and reproducing apparatus for photosensitive recording medium and cartridge thereof
An apparatus for recording and reproduction of a photosensitive recording medium, which accommodates a cartridge, the cartridge including: a photosensitive recording medium; a cartridge body rotatably accommodating the photosensitive recording medium and having an opening through which a center and a recording face of the photosensitive recording medium are exposed; a shutter assembled to an outside of the cartridge body and arranged so as to move between a closed position where the opening is closed and an open position where the opening is opened; and an RFID capable of recording disk information with respect to the photosensitive recording medium, wherein the disk information with respect to said photosensitive recording medium is obtained from the RFID. |
| US07657897B2 |
Methods and apparatus for communicating between multiple levels of software components
The present application discloses a method for communicating between at least two different levels of software components. The method includes establishing a command set common to the at least two different levels of software components. Additionally, the method includes providing a command decoder operable by both of the at least two levels of software components, the command decoder configured to decode the command set. By providing a common command set between different levels of software components, such as a software driver and a BIOS, where the commands within the command table are interpreted and executed by an identical command decoder that interprets and executes the same command tables, this ensures that the same features or functions are implemented or executed in the same way across different levels of the software components. Accordingly, redundant implementation of the same functions by different software components is eliminated. Additionally, when modification of the BIOS, for example, is performed, this modification only needs to be done in one place (i.e., the command table) rather than in each software component. |
| US07657893B2 |
Accounting method and logic for determining per-thread processor resource utilization in a simultaneous multi-threaded (SMT) processor
An accounting method and multi-threaded processor include a mechanism for accounting for processor resource usage by threads within programs. Relative resource use is determined by detecting a particular cycle state of threads active within the processor. If instructions are dispatched for all threads or no threads, the processor cycle is accounted equally to all threads. Alternatively if no threads are in the particular cycle state, the accounting may be made using a prior state, or in conformity with ratios of the threads' priority levels. If only one thread is in the particular cycle state, that thread is accounted the entire processor cycle. If multiple threads are dispatching, but less than all threads are dispatching, the processor cycle is billed evenly across the dispatching threads. |
| US07657892B2 |
System and method for application server with self-tuned threading model
A system and method for application server with self-tuned threading model. A server queue is used as a priority scheme, including a number of entries therein associated with received requests, and which allows the entries to have expressed priorities or share values, instead of simply the number of threads. Flexibility is retained to express the threads in raw numbers whenever this might be desired, or to express constraints on the number of threads to be made available. |
| US07657883B2 |
Instruction dispatch scheduler employing round-robin apparatus supporting multiple thread priorities for use in multithreading microprocessor
A dispatch scheduler in a multithreading microprocessor is disclosed. Each of N concurrently executing threads has one of P priorities. P N-bit round-robin vectors are generated, each being a 1-bit left-rotated and subsequently sign-extended version of an N-bit 1-hot input vector indicating the last thread selected for dispatching at the priority. N P-input muxes each receive a corresponding one of the N bits of each of the P round-robin vectors and selects the input specified by the thread priority. Selection logic selects an instruction for dispatching from the thread having a dispatch value greater than or equal to any of the threads left thereof in the N-bit input vectors. The dispatch value of each of the threads comprises a least-significant bit equal to the corresponding P-input mux output, a most-significant bit that is true if the instruction is dispatchable, and middle bits comprising the priority of the thread. |
| US07657882B2 |
Wavescalar architecture having a wave order memory
A dataflow instruction set architecture and execution model, referred to as WaveScalar, which is designed for scalable, low-complexity/high-performance processors, while efficiently providing traditional memory semantics through a mechanism called wave-ordered memory. Wave-ordered memory enables “real-world” programs, written in any language, to be run on the WaveScalar architecture, as well as any out-of-order execution unit. Because it is software-controlled, wave-ordered memory can be disabled to obtain greater parallelism. Wavescalar also includes a software-controlled tag management system. |
| US07657881B2 |
Using optimized libraries to improve performance of deployed application code at runtime
A method to automatically replace computationally intensive functions with optimized functions in managed code is disclosed. If the underlying processor has associated optimized functions, managed application code is disassembled and parsed to find computationally intensive functions. The computationally intensive functions are then replaced with optimized functions, and the application code is re-compiled if necessary. |
| US07657876B2 |
System and method for using data address sequences of a program in a software development tool
A system and method for determining where bottlenecks in a program's data accesses occur and providing information to a software developer as to why the bottlenecks occur and what may be done to correct them. A stream of data access references is analyzed to determine data access patterns (also called data access sequences). The stream is analyzed to find frequently repeated data access sequences (called hot data streams). Properties of the hot data streams are calculated and upon selection of a hot data stream are displayed in a development tool that associates lines of code with the hot data streams. |
| US07657872B2 |
Product testing and bug tracking system
An Internet-based, secure communications system is utilized for enabling communications between a video game tester, project coordinator and others with a game developer. A master bug log which compiles all uncovered bugs is accessible by a game developer and other authorized system users via a web server, which stores bug tracking system applications programs and associated data bases. Such a master bug log includes a file attachment capability permitting a digitized image file replicating a video game display screen sequence depicting the bug, to be attached for downloading to, for example, a game developer. Bugs may be sorted, for example, so that a game developer can retrieve only those bugs having a digitized file attachment. Game and debugging related messages may be exchanged between testers, project coordinators, and corporate contacts. |
| US07657871B2 |
Method and system of managing configuration profiles of a plurality of deployed network elements
A method of managing configuration profiles for a plurality of network elements after the network elements have been deployed in a network. The method including retrieving configuration profiles from the network elements after the network elements have been deployed in the network; storing the retrieved configuration profiles in a database; and distributing one or more of the stored configuration profiles to one or more network elements experiencing fault conditions to facilitate the correction thereof. |
| US07657869B2 |
Integration of external tools into an existing design environment
Custom build tools are integrated into a design environment build process without writing code. Properties of the tool are defined in a file describing the appropriate syntax of the tool's command line. Values are specified for a particular use of the tool in a particular project. At runtime the command line for the tool is generated from the generalized syntax as defined in the file and the stored values. |
| US07657864B2 |
System and method for integrated circuit device design and manufacture using optical rule checking to screen resolution enhancement techniques
A method of selecting a plurality of lithography process parameters for patterning a layout on a wafer includes simulating how the layout will print on the wafer for a plurality of resolution enhancement techniques (RETs), where each RET corresponds to a plurality of lithography process parameters. For each RET, the edges of structures within the simulated layout can be classified based on manufacturability. RETs that provide optimal manufacturability can be selected. In this manner, the simulation tool can be used to determine the optimal combination of scanner setup and reticle type for minimizing the variation in wafer critical dimension (CD). |
| US07657862B2 |
Synchronous elastic designs with early evaluation
Embodiments of early enabling synchronous elastic designs, devices and methods are presented herein. |
| US07657859B2 |
Method for IC wiring yield optimization, including wire widening during and after routing
Disclosed are embodiments of a method, service, and computer program product for performing yield-aware IC routing for a design. The method performs an initial global routing which satisfies wiring congestion constraints. Next, the method performs wire spreading and wire widening on the global route, layer by layer, based on, for example, a quadratic congestion optimization. Following this, timing closure is performed on the global route using results of the wire spreading and wire widening. Post-routing wiring width and wire spreading adjustments are made using the critical area yield model. In addition, the method allows for the optimization of already-routed data. |
| US07657857B2 |
Performance visualization of delay in circuit design
Methods are provided for presenting delay characteristics of a circuit design. The methods acquire routing delay data and logic delay data for each of a number of paths within the circuit design. In one method, a scatterplot of the routing delay data versus the logic delay data for each of the paths is generated and rendered. In another method, the paths are specified as being associated with modules within the circuit design. In this method, a histogram plot of the paths within each module is generated, wherein the paths within each module are identified as being dominated by routing delay or logic delay. In another embodiment, a connectivity diagram is generated to convey an amount of connectivity within modules and between modules. Each of the methods can be implemented as program instructions on a computer readable medium. |
| US07657850B2 |
Chip level scan chain planning for hierarchical design flows
A scan chain planning method uses physical data with a hierarchical design to optimize chip level scan chains. Specifically, location data of physical blocks is used to determine optimal partitioning of the hierarchical design to balance chip level scan chains and reduce the number block scan ports by determining optimal locations for the block scan ports. Actual layout of the scan chains is based on the locations of the block scan ports and the number of scan elements determined by the method for each block scan chain. |
| US07657846B2 |
System and method for displaying stack icons
The present invention is directed to a method and system for use in a computing environment for representing files stored in stacks. The method includes providing a set of stack icons, each icon in the set having a stack height representing a range of stack sizes. The method additionally includes determining a stack size for a selected stack and selecting and displaying an appropriate stack icon from the set of stack icons based on the determined stack size. The selected stack may be stored within one of multiple libraries. Accordingly a distinct set of icons relevant to each library may be stored for each library. The icons may visibly convey information pertaining to the relevant library. Accordingly, the method may include representing a selected stack by determining an appropriate library and an appropriate stack height and displaying a corresponding icon. The system may additionally include an empty stack icon, a generic stack icon, property based icons, and custom thumbnail icons. |
| US07657845B2 |
Media frame object visualization system
The present invention provides a unique system and method for facilitating browsing, sorting, clustering, and filtering any number of media objects grouped together in a quick and easy manner. In particular, the invention involves annotating the media objects, which have been clustered, sorted, and/or filtered en masse rather than individually, with metadata. The media objects may be selected by a user and annotated with a plurality of metadata as desired by a user in order to optimize utilization of the media objects. The media objects may also be combined and/or mixed in any number of ways to create new media objects. Media objects may include an audio component, a visual component, a portion thereof, and/or any combination thereof. |
| US07657844B2 |
Providing accessibility compliance within advanced componentry
Accessibility compliance is provided within advanced componentry, such as a browser in which an on-demand editor can be launched. A toolkit of functionality that is executable on a server is preferably provided, from which selections can be made to configure an instance of a client editor or similar client-side viewer. Techniques are disclosed that enable flexible specification of the controls to be added to the viewer instance, as well as specification of details for configuring the controls. |
| US07657842B2 |
Sidebar tile free-arrangement
The present invention relates to a system and method for displaying information on a display such that access to applications or dynamic information through independent user interfaces may be attained in a designated area on a display and may be easily and conveniently moved from the designated area on the display to any other location in the display. Further, the applications or independent user interfaces may be arranged automatically such that the independent user interfaces may be substantially evenly spaced. |
| US07657841B2 |
Monitor display for construction machine
A display device for a construction machine has a display switching means, output control means, operation detecting means, and display prohibiting means. The display switching means switches information displayed on a monitor placed in an operation cabin, where the switching is made to prevent display of unnecessary information on the monitor while the construction machine is performing work. The output control means selects display information recorded in information recording means and outputs the selected information to the monitor. The operation detecting means detects whether or not the construction machine is in a working state. When the operation detecting means detects that the construction machine is in the working state, display switching operation of the monitor is performed by the display switching means, and the display prohibiting means prohibits the display of specific information. |
| US07657840B2 |
System and method for providing a navigable grid to allow for accessible drag-drop in visual modeling tools
The present invention is a method for providing a navigable grid to allow for accessible drag-drop in visual modeling tools. The method includes receiving an input which selects an object. The method further includes providing a visual canvas on a display device. The method further includes overlaying the navigable grid onto the canvas, the overlying navigable grid being of a defined granularity, the defined granularity being based on an underlying application being implemented, the overlying navigable grid further being keyed input device-navigable based on the defined granularity. The method further includes designating a drop position on the navigable grid when a position input is received via a keyed input device. The method further includes dropping the object onto a destination position of the canvas when a drop command input is received. The drop position on the overlying navigable grid is directly aligned over the destination position of the canvas. |
| US07657837B2 |
Seamless windows functionality to remote desktop sessions regarding z-order
In a client-server system, a server-node application runs a user session and a remote presentation protocol communicates between the client node and the server node. The server node stores a remote virtual desktop including remote windows of the user session. The client node displays multiple local windows of applications running locally on the client node and further displays one or more windows of the remote virtual desktop. The one or more windows are clipped to produce a clipped region so that the remote windows are displayed therein to appear as the local windows. The local windows are enumerated according to z-order from back to front and an area of each local window which overlaps the clipped region is subtracted from the clipped region so that the local windows show through the area. |
| US07657825B2 |
Programmable trellis decoder and associated methods
The programmable decoder, such as a Maximum Likelihood Sequence Estimation (MLSE) decoder (e.g. a Viterbi decoder) may include a programming input for a plurality of programmable trellis parameters, and a programmable device, such as an FPGA, connected to the programming input and implementing a trellis decoder including at least one trellis structure defined based upon the plurality of programmable trellis parameters. The plurality of programmable trellis parameters may include trellis connectivity information for trellis stages, active and inactive states for each trellis stage, a trellis branch transition data value and a metric index for trellis branch transition. Also, the trellis structure may include a reverse-state trellis structure. The programmable trellis decoder can decode convolutional codes, trellis coded modulation (TCM), ISI channels and CPM waveforms. |
| US07657823B1 |
Efficient RAID ECC controller for RAID systems
A Redundant Array of Inexpensive Disks (RAID) controller comprises a RAID error correction code (ECC) encoder module that receives data for storage and that generates code words stored by data drives and one or more parity drives, which have physical locations. The code words are generated based on the data and a cyclic code generator polynomial. Logical locations correspond to an index of the cyclic code generator polynomial. A mapping module maps the physical locations of the data and parity drives to the logical locations. A difference generating module generates a difference code word when data on one of the data drives is modified. The RAID ECC encoder module encodes the difference code word and adds the encoded difference code word to an original code word generated before the modification. |
| US07657822B2 |
True bit level decoding of TTCM (turbo trellis code modulation) of variable rates and signal constellations
True bit level decoding of TTCM (Turbo Trellis Coded Modulation) of variable rates and signal constellations. A decoding approach is presented that allows for decoding on a bit level basis that allows for discrimination of the individual bits of a symbol. Whereas prior art approaches typically perform decoding on a symbol level basis, this decoding approach allows for an improved approach in which the hard decisions/best estimates may be made individually for each of the individual bits of an information symbol. In addition, the decoding approach allows for a reduction in the total number of calculations that need to be performed as well as the total number of values that need to be stored during the iterative decoding. The bit level decoding approach is also able to decode a signal whose code rate and/or signal constellation type (and mapping) may vary on a symbol by symbol basis. |
| US07657821B1 |
Error detecting code for multi-character, multi-lane, multi-level physical transmission
A system (e.g., Fiber Channel Error Detecting Code (FC-EDC)) that maps the “standard” Hamming codes onto the bits of a 33-bit control block is provided. The system employs a “rotation” of the check positions in a two-dimensional parity-check matrix for the FC-EDC. The specification discloses a computer-implemented program to test further modifications and permutations of the “standard” distance-4 parity-check matrix to yield an FC-EDC with enhanced error-detecting properties, designed to detect the most likely errors in the known physical environment. By using a parity-check matrix with the “rotation” property, certain error-detecting properties of the parity-check matrix are ensured, and the computation time for searching for a matrix with enhanced error-detecting properties becomes much shorter. |
| US07657818B2 |
Dynamic minimum-memory interleaving
Minimum-memory-implementation is available with any depth and period in DSL interleaving/deinterleaving, always allowing the minimum amount of memory to be used in both transmitter and receiver without loss of performance or of basic triangular structure, even if the interleaver/deinterleaver parameters change dynamically. A novel cell-scheduling process ensures availability of the minimum amount of memory (or any other desired memory usage) to implement an image of the perfect triangle and works for any co-prime depth and interleaver period. Minimal memory use may be further characterized by a simple off-line method that determines an addressing order for each of the memory cells in a minimum-memory (or other) implementation of an interleaver/deinterleaver according to the invention. Time variation of interleaver depth in operation can be accommodated easily with absolute minimum memory requirement at all time instants. |
| US07657817B2 |
Recording and reproducing data to/from a recording medium having a user data area and an information area for storing information about the recording medium
If a large minimum data unit for recorded data is used to record a small data amount of management information, the recording time is long, and furthermore when a WO (write once) is used as the recording medium, the number of recording operations is restricted. To solve the above problems, the present invention records data in a management area in units smaller than ordinary units for recorded data to suitably record information in a limited management area and thereby efficiently use the user data area. At that time, the present invention simplifies interleave processing usually applied to ordinary recorded data, and performs the simplified interleave processing on a data structure (for data of small size) of the present invention so as to ensure the signal processing compatibility between the ordinary data and data having the data structure according to the present invention. |
| US07657816B2 |
Low-complexity hybrid LDPC code encoder
Encoders and methods for designing encoders for Low Density Parity Check (LDPC) and other block codes are presented. An efficient and systematic method for designing partially parallel encoders is presented. A parallelism factor is selected such that the end result for the encoder is similar to the partially parallel G matrix multiplication method. In addition to the method an initial circuit is given for the G matrix multiplication encoder and the RU encoder. A circuit for the hybrid encoder is presented which achieves less power consumption and smaller area than an equivalent encoder based on the G matrix multiplication with a smaller critical path than previous encoders. |
| US07657815B2 |
Time monitoring of packet retransmissions during soft handover
The present invention relates to a method for scheduling data retransmissions, a method for use in a data retransmission scheme and a method for updating a soft buffer of a base station in a mobile communication system during a soft-handover. The present invention relates to a base station executing the controlling and updating method, a communication terminal for executing the scheduling method and to a mobile communication system comprising at least one the base station and communication terminal. To prevent erroneous combining of data packets in a packet retransmission scheme at the receiver, the present invention provides a method that may flush the soft buffer region associated to a received data packet upon its correct reception. Further, a method is provided that monitors the time elapsed since the last storing of a data packet in a buffer region of a base station to be able to trigger the flush of the buffer region upon expiry of a threshold time period. |
| US07657806B2 |
Position independent testing of circuits
Scan distributor, collector, and controller circuitry connect to the functional inputs and outputs of core circuitry on integrated circuits to provide testing through those functional inputs and outputs. Multiplexer and demultiplexer circuits select between the scan circuitry and the functional inputs and outputs. The core circuitry can also be provided with built-in scan distributor, collector, and controller circuitry to avoid having to add it external of the core circuitry. With appropriately placed built-in scan distributor and collector circuits, connecting together the functional inputs and outputs of the core circuitry also connects together the scan distributor and collector circuitry in each core. This can provide a hierarchy of scan circuitry and reduce the need for separate test interconnects and multiplexers. |
| US07657804B2 |
Plesiochronous transmit pin with synchronous mode for testing on ATE
A method and apparatus for conveying test response data from an integrated circuit to ATE via a plesiochronous interconnect. The integrated circuit includes a core logic unit and a first transmitter coupled thereto by a first data path. In a normal mode, data conveyed from the core logic unit to the transmitter may be transmitted plesiochronously over an interconnect coupled to the transmitter output. The integrated circuit further includes a second data path coupled between the core logic unit and the interconnect. During a test mode, test response data may be conveyed from the core logic unit to ATE via the second data path and the interconnect, wherein the test response data is synchronously transmitted over the interconnect. |
| US07657802B2 |
Data compression read mode for memory testing
A first series combination of bit match circuits compares a predetermined bit position in data words that are involved in a compression operation. The first series combination compares the values in the predetermined bit position to determine if they are all a logical zero. A second series combination of bit match circuits compares the same predetermined bit position in the data words. The second series combination compares the values to determine if they are all a logical one. If either condition is true, the value of the bit is output through an output buffer. If both conditions are false, the output buffer is placed in a high impedance state to indicate an error condition exists in that bit position. |
| US07657800B2 |
Semiconductor memory device and method of performing a memory operation
A semiconductor memory device and method directed to performing a memory operation in a semiconductor memory device, which include receiving data and a data masking signal corresponding to a portion of the received data configured to be written into memory in response to a write command and the data masking signal configured to block the at least a portion of the received data from being written into the memory, and further configuring different timing parameters of the received data and the data masking signal for executing the write command without writing the at least a portion of the received data into the memory. |
| US07657798B2 |
Semiconductor integrated circuit and the same checking method
A semiconductor integrated circuit has a cell array, a redundancy cell capable of replacing a defective cell, a redundancy control circuit, a plurality of first fuses, a plurality of second fuses, a plurality of third fuses, a first shift register configured to hold states of the plurality of first fuses, a second shift register configured to be connected in cascade to the first shift register and to hold states of the plurality of second fuses, a third shift register configured to be connected to the first and second shift registers in cascade and to hold states of the plurality of third fuses, a CRC remainder calculator configured to sequentially input information held by the first to third shift registers to a CRC generating equation to calculate a remainder obtained by division, and a CRC determination part that outputs information indicative of whether the first to third fuses are correctly programmed. |
| US07657797B2 |
Turbo code interleaver with near optimal performance
A method of interleaving blocks of indexed data of varying length is disclosed. The method includes the steps of: providing a set of basic Interleavers comprising a family of one or more permutations of the indexed data and having a variable length; selecting one of the basic Interleavers based upon a desired Interleaver length L; and adapting the selected basic Interleaver to produce an Interleaver having the desired Interleaver length L. |
| US07657795B2 |
Method and apparatus for writing to a target memory page of a memory
A method and apparatus for writing to a target memory page of a memory has an initial memory page having allocated thereto a marking memory containing information whether a content of the initial memory page is written correctly to the target memory page. The apparatus includes a memory controller for determining whether the target memory page has an error, if the target memory page has an error, for erasing it, if the marking memory indicates that the target memory page is not written correctly, for writing the target memory page based on the initial memory page, if the target memory page is written correctly, for changing the marking memory such that the marking memory indicates that the target memory page is written correctly, and if the marking memory of the initial memory page indicates that the target memory page is written correctly, for erasing the initial memory page. |
| US07657792B2 |
Identifying race conditions involving asynchronous memory updates
A method of identifying race conditions in a computer program can include identifying a call to a selected function specifying a memory range. The selected function can cause data to be written to the memory range asynchronously. The method further can include spraying the memory range with a predetermined bit pattern and determining whether a detected write operation at least partially overwrites the predetermined bit pattern in the memory range. A race condition can be selectively indicated according to the determining step. |
| US07657787B2 |
Method of restoring communication state of process
An embodiment of a method of restoring a communication state of a process includes creating a new socket for a socket saved as part of a checkpoint of the communication state. The new socket is initialized with an adjusted transmission control protocol state saved as part of the checkpoint. The adjusted transmission control protocol state indicates that a send buffer and a receive buffer are empty. Send data saved as part of the checkpoint is written into the new socket. Receive data saved as part of the checkpoint is written into a restart buffer. While at least a portion of the receive data remains in the restart buffer, a socket read system call for the new socket is redirected to read the receive data that remains in the restart buffer. |
| US07657784B2 |
Self-reparable semiconductor and method thereof
A self-reparable semiconductor comprises M functional units each including N sub-functional units. Corresponding ones of the N sub-functional units in each of the M functional units perform the same function. At least two of the N sub-functional units in one of the M functional units perform different functions. A first spare functional unit includes X sub-functional units, wherein X is greater than or equal to one and less than or equal to N and wherein the X sub-functional units of. the first spare functional unit are functionally interchangeable with corresponding sub-functional units of the M functional units and wherein the X sub-functional units are provided for the at least two of the N sub-functional units. A plurality of switching devices replace at least one of the N sub-functional units with at least one of the X sub-functional units when the at least one of the N sub-functional units is non-operable. |
| US07657781B1 |
System and method for providing redundant data load sharing in a distributed network
In a distributed network, a data entry is received. The data entry is stored in a first one of a plurality of nodes and replicated in a second one of the plurality of nodes in order to provide data redundancy in the distributed network. In the event of a failure of the second one of the plurality of nodes, the data entry that was replicated therein is re-replicated into a third one of the plurality of nodes in order to maintain data redundancy despite the failure of the second one of the plurality of nodes. Data redundancy can be retained despite the failure of the second one of the plurality of nodes as long as the overall capacity for the distributed network remains above an initial threshold. |
| US07657778B2 |
Computer system and boot control method
When a primary computer is taken over to a secondary computer in a redundancy configuration computer system where booting is performed via a storage area network (SAN), a management server delivers an information collection/setting program to the secondary computer before the user's operating system of the secondary computer is started. This program assigns a unique ID (World Wide Name), assigned to the fibre channel port of the primary computer, to the fibre channel port of the secondary computer to allow a software image to be taken over from the primary computer to the secondary computer. |
| US07657775B1 |
Dynamic memory clock adjustments
Methods, circuits, and apparatus for changing a frequency of a clock signal provided to a graphics memory while reducing any resulting visual glitch or disturbance on a monitor. A specific embodiment provides multiple clock sources that may be multiplexed or selected to provide a memory clock signal to the graphics memory. The multiplexer switches from providing a first clock source signal as the memory clock signal to providing a second clock source signal as the memory clock signal. The first clock source changes its frequency of operation. After the first clock source settles or stabilizes, the multiplexer switches back to providing the first clock source signal as the memory clock signal. |
| US07657774B1 |
Low power memory controller with leaded double data rate DRAM package on a two layer printed circuit board
An integrated circuit is provided that includes an execution engine and a memory controller. The execution engine is clocked at a first rate and the memory controller is clocked at a second rate that is less than the first rate. Pins on the integrated circuit can transfer data to and from the integrated circuit on both the rising and falling edges of a second clock transitioning at the second clock rate. The integrated circuit is preferably packaged using a lead frame and wire bonds extending from pads on the integrated circuit to corresponding leads. The leads are secured to trace conductors on a surface of a printed circuit board. The board contains no more than two conductive layers separated by a dielectric layer. Thus, an overall electronic system is formed having a board with no more than two conductive layers, an execution engine that receives a first clock signal, a memory controller which receives a second clock signal, and a memory device that sends data to and from the memory controller at twice the rate of the second clock signal. Using a throttled second clock signal allows for less expensive packaging and mounting of packaged integrated circuits on a less expensive PCB, while still maintaining use of a DDR DRAM transfer mechanism. |
| US07657772B2 |
Thermally aware integrated circuit
An integrated circuit having a temperature sensitive circuit (TSC) to generate a signal indicative of the substrate temperature near the TSC. The integrated circuit has circuitry configured to receive a TSC signal from at least one TSC and to convert the TSC signal to a signal indicative of the integrated circuit's temperature. The thermal control circuit compares the integrated circuit temperature to a threshold and produces a corrective action signal when the temperature exceeds the threshold. The corrective action signal is provided to corrective action circuitry preferably configured to modify the operation of the IC to reduce the IC temperature in proximity to the corresponding TSC. |
| US07657769B2 |
N-way synchronization of data
The invention relates to the use of history information as an aid to synchronization in a peer-to-peer system. In particular, node trees are used to represent portions of files systems designated for synchronization. The nodes in the node tree embody history information regarding associated objects. The history information includes version vectors that are used to simplify synchronization-related comparisons and create job lists that may be used to bring participating peers into synchronization. |
| US07657768B2 |
Disk array optimizing the drive operation time
In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, a storage system is configured as at least one logical unit including at least one disk device; a controller for executing a read processing or a write processing of data having been stored or to be stored in the logical unit which is a destination of a read request or a write request, in response to the read request or write request transmitted from the computer, wherein the controller receives an instruction from the computer to turn on or off a disk device corresponding to the logical unit; and wherein, based on the instruction, the storage system turns on or off the disk device corresponding to the logical unit independently of disk devices corresponding to the other logical units. |
| US07657760B2 |
Method for sharing encrypted data region among processes in tamper resistant processor
In the method for sharing encrypted data region among two or more processes on a tamper resistant processor, one process creates the encrypted data region to be shared according to the common key generated as a result of the safe key exchange, and the other process maps that region to its own address space or process space. The address information of the shared encrypted data region and the common key of each process are set in relation in the encrypted attribute register inside the tamper resistant processor, so that it is possible to share the encrypted data region safely. |
| US07657758B2 |
Processing apparatus and integrated circuit to prevent illicit access and reverse engineering
A processing apparatus including an internal circuit having a CPU and internal devices and an external circuit including external devices provided externally of the internal circuit, and the like, and is aimed to prevent illicit access and reverse engineering. The internal circuit including a CPU, internal devices and a bus line connecting the CPU to the internal devices and extending externally, and the external circuit including external devices provided externally of an externally extending portion of the bus line. The internal circuit further including a ciphering section 120 provided at an entrance to an external side and ciphering addresses and data on the bus line by ciphering patterns according to a plurality of regions divided from an address space allotted to the entire external devices. |
| US07657757B2 |
Semiconductor device and method utilizing variable mode control with block ciphers
The present disclosure relates generally to semiconductor devices and related methods of operation. A semiconductor device is disclosed that comprises at least one cipher interface (126, 128) to a plurality of different cipher hardware modules (112, 114, 116) and central mode control logic (130-138, 106) responsive to the at least one cipher interface (126, 128). The central mode control logic (130-138, 106) is configured to provide a cipher operation in accordance with a selected cipher mode (104) in connection with at least one of the plurality of different cipher hardware modules (112, 114, 116). |
| US07657756B2 |
Secure memory caching structures for data, integrity and version values
Methods and apparatus that may be utilized to reduce latency associated with encryption based on externally stored security metadata are provided. When encrypted data is accessed for the first time, a cache line containing corresponding metadata used for decryption may be placed in an internal security metadata cache. If that data is accessed again, it may be retrieved without accessing external memory, thus reducing latency. Further, if adjacent data is accessed, the cached line may contain sufficient metadata to decrypt the adjacent data. As a result, a separate operation to access metadata for the adjacent data may be avoided, thus reducing latency. |
| US07657755B2 |
Modular cryptographic device providing status determining features and related methods
A cryptographic device may include a cryptographic module and a communications module removably coupled thereto. The cryptographic module may include a first housing, a user Local Area Network (LAN) interface carried by the first housing, a cryptographic processor carried by the first housing and coupled to the user network interface, and a first connector carried by the first housing and coupled to the cryptographic processor. The communications module may include a second housing, a second connector carried by the second housing and being removably mateable with the first connector of the cryptographic module, and a network communications interface carried by the second housing and coupled to the second connector. The communications module may also include at least one logic device for cooperating with the cryptographic processor to determine a status of the communications module. |
| US07657752B2 |
Digital signal watermaker
Described herein is a technology for facilitating the watermarking of digital signals. This abstract itself is not intended to limit the scope of this patent. The scope of the present invention is pointed out in the appending claims. |
| US07657747B2 |
System and method for specifying security, privacy, and access control to information used by others
A grantor issues a trustable electronic document for the benefit of a requestor. The requestor may be able to get the benefits specified by the electronic document through access controls located at the service or information origin. A request digitally signed by a requestor is received. The digitally signed request contains the electronic document digitally signed by the grantor. The electronic document also contains a grantor certified reference, a requestor certified reference, and access control rules for the requestor. The request is validated using the requestor certified reference and the access control rules for the requestor. |
| US07657745B2 |
Secure electronic transfer without requiring knowledge of secret data
A secure electronic transfer mechanism that does not require that the computing entities that are parties to the transaction be aware of the secret data used to secure the transfer. A transferring computing entity provides a request from a billing agent computing entity to transfer the electronically transferable item to a computing entity. The billing agent computing entity responds to the request by providing approval data to the second computing entity, the approval data being encrypted using secret data known to the billing agent computing entity and a supplemental computing entity associated with the transferee computing entity, but not to the transferring and transferee computing entity. The approval is provided to the supplemental computing entity, which then credits the transferee account. |
| US07657743B2 |
Information viewing/listening system
To enable use of content data recorded in an arbitrary player using a mobile terminal, such as a cellular phone, in response to an inquiry made by a mobile terminal to a player, the player transmits a response to the mobile terminal. When a user performs a predetermined operation on the mobile terminal, the mobile terminal creates a one-time password and transmits the one-time password and operation information concerning the user-performed operation to the player. The player transmits a terminal ID and the like to a service center. Upon reception of the information, the service center creates a one-time password and transmits the one-time password and an operation permission command to the player. The player compares the transmitted password with the password created by the mobile terminal. When the passwords are verified, the user operation instruction is made valid. |
| US07657742B2 |
Content reproducing apparatus authenticating detachable recording medium and authentication control method
A content reproducing apparatus includes a CPU. The CPU executes an authentication process with a memory card at a time of starting reproduction. The reproducing apparatus, when succeeding in the authentication process, can obtain from the memory card a decryption key of encrypted music data. Accordingly, by decrypting encrypted content data separately obtained by use of the decryption key, it is possible to reproduce the music data. In such the authentication process, certificate data is utilized in an order which starts from registered identification numbers and, every time failing in the authentication process, is renewed to a next identification number. Consequently, an identification number of certificate data which succeeds in the authentication process is registered and utilized in a next authentication process and the subsequent. |
| US07657739B2 |
Authentication system
A device that ensures that one device acquires and updates a list used for judging whether the other device in communication is valid or invalid, in a device authentication system. When a list H stored in a personal computer 200 is old, the personal computer 200 acquires a latest version of the list H and a latest version of a list D from outside an internal network, updates the list H stored therein to the latest version, and updates the list D stored therein to the latest version. |
| US07657736B2 |
System and method for compressing secure e-mail for exchange with a mobile data communication device
A system and method are provided for pre-processing encrypted and/or signed messages at a host system before the message is transmitted to a wireless mobile communication device. The message is received at the host system from a message sender. There is a determination as to whether any of the message receivers has a corresponding wireless mobile communication device. For each message receiver that has a corresponding wireless mobile communication device: the message is processed so as to modify the message with respect to encryption and/or authentication aspect. The processed message is transmitted to a wireless mobile communication device that corresponds to the first message receiver. The system and method may include post-processing messages sent from a wireless mobile communications device to a remote system. Authentication and/or encryption message processing is performed upon the message. The processed message may then be sent through the remote system to one or more receivers. |
| US07657732B2 |
Apparatus and method for securely and conveniently rebooting a computer system
Provided are a method and an apparatus for rebooting a computer system taking both security and user convenience into account. The computer system includes an authentication mode information storage unit storing authentication mode information related to an authentication mode when booting the computer system, a first driver sensing rebooting of the computer system and setting an authentication mode of the authentication mode information, and a second driver, which reads the authentication mode information and if the authentication mode is a first mode, performs rebooting without user authentication and if the authentication mode is a second mode, performs rebooting after user authentication. |
| US07657730B2 |
Initialization after a power interruption
In response to the start of an initialization sequence at a service processor, if power to a main processor was interrupted at a most-recent time that an operating system executed on the main processor, power to the main processor is turned on, the operating system is started executing on the main processor, data from the non-volatile memory of the service processor is provided to the operating system, and the service processor is reset, which restarts the initialization sequence. If the power to the main processor was not interrupted at the most-recent time that the operating system executed on the main processor, and if the operating system is currently executing on the main processor, a monitoring function is started in the service processor, which monitors for errors at a computer system. |
| US07657724B1 |
Addressing device resources in variable page size environments
Methods and apparatus to improve addressing of device resources in variable page size environments are described. In one embodiment, an address conversion logic (which may be provided within a chipset in an embodiment) may convert a first address into a second address based on a difference between a first memory page size and the second memory page size. Other embodiments are also disclosed. |
| US07657723B2 |
System and method for processor with predictive memory retrieval assist
A system and method are described for a memory management processor which, using a table of reference addresses embedded in the object code, can open the appropriate memory pages to expedite the retrieval of information from memory referenced by instructions in the execution pipeline. A suitable compiler parses the source code and collects references to branch addresses, calls to other routines, or data references, and creates reference tables listing the addresses for these references at the beginning of each routine. These tables are received by the memory management processor as the instructions of the routine are beginning to be loaded into the execution pipeline, so that the memory management processor can begin opening memory pages where the referenced information is stored. Opening the memory pages where the referenced information is located before the instructions reach the instruction processor helps lessen memory latency delays which can greatly impede processing performance. |
| US07657721B2 |
Method of maintaining a plurality of snapshots, server apparatus and storage apparatus
Snapshots are implemented by combining original data in a place where an operational volume has been updated with data in a place where the operational volume has not been updated. A snapshot management table maintains a value indicating that update has not been conducted, or a storage place of original data, for each of combinations of blocks in the operational volume and the snapshots. If there is a snapshot in which update has not been conducted in a update place at the time of update, then original data is copied and the snapshot management table is updated. The copied original data is managed by a difference block management table, which has a value indicating whether respective snapshots are referencing the data. If a snapshot is deleted, then the value indicating that the snapshot is referencing is altered in all entries in the difference block management table. |
| US07657720B2 |
Storage apparatus and method of managing data using the storage apparatus
Provided is a storage apparatus operable to prevent incomplete backup and perform efficient backup even in systems characterized by a relatively small backup window and high degrees of utilization by users. This storage apparatus performs a snapshot of a volume storing data, using a logoff or login request at a certain point in time within in the backup window as a trigger, and creates a replication volume of the volume based on the acquired snapshot. To achieve the data consistency, when a login request is made, the storage apparatus temporarily suspends processing for establishing a session until the snapshot is created, and resumes such processing for establishing the session based on a login request after the snapshot is created. In one implementation, the replication volume is created in the background. |
| US07657719B2 |
Controller for a copy operation between a host computer and hard disks, a control method thereof, and a recording medium storing a program for executing the control method
A disk array device includes a controller that sets a session pertaining to a copy source disk and a copy destination disk, and without copying the entire data that is recorded in the copy source disk to the copy destination disk, copies to the copy destination disk only the data that is recorded in a data space for writing. Further, if data for reading does not exist in the copy destination disk, the controller searches data from the copy source disk and transfers the searched data to a host computer. |
| US07657717B1 |
Coherently sharing any form of instant snapshots separately from base volumes
A computer system that implements a method for creating a virtual snapshot of a first storage object. A first storage object such as a data volume is created, wherein creating the first storage object includes creating a first storage object description. This first storage object description relates the first storage object to underlying first storage objects or first physical memory regions. After creating the first storage object, a virtual copy of the first storage object is created as a second storage object. Creating the second storage object includes creating a second storage object description, wherein the second storage object description relates the second storage object to the first storage object. The first storage object is transmitted to a first computer system, and the second storage object description is transmitted to a second computer system. |
| US07657714B2 |
Apparatus and method to provide one or more commands to a data storage and retrieval system
A method is disclosed to provide commands to an information storage and retrieval comprising one or more data storage devices, where one or more first communication links interconnect one or more host computers and the data storage and retrieval system. The method supplies a computing device, where that computing device is external to the data storage and retrieval system, and where that computing device is external to each of the one or more host computers. Applicants' method further supplies a second communication link interconnecting the computing device and the data storage and retrieval system. The computing device generates a command signal, where said command signal comprises one or more command control words and a header. The computing device then provides that command signal to the data storage and retrieval system via the second communication link. |
| US07657711B2 |
Dynamic memory bandwidth allocation
A memory bandwidth control device for improving efficiency of data transfer between an external device and a memory. A memory is used for temporarily storing and outputting data to be communicated with external devices being connected via input/output ports, and an I/O buffer dynamically assigns memory bandwidth to external devices requesting data transfer when receiving the data transfer requests from the external devices to the memory. When compared to assigning fixed memory bandwidth, efficiency of data transfer to the memory can be significantly improved without wasting memory bandwidth. |
| US07657710B2 |
Cache coherence protocol with write-only permission
A system may include a processor node, and may also include an input/output (I/O) node including a processor and an I/O device. The processor and I/O nodes may each include a respective cache memory configured to cache a system memory and a respective cache coherence controller. The system may further include interconnect through which the nodes may communicate. In response to detecting a request for the I/O device to perform a DMA write operation to a coherence unit of the I/O node's respective cache memory, and in response to determining that the coherence unit is not modified with respect to the system memory and no other cache memory within the system has read or write permission corresponding to a copy of the coherence unit, the I/O node's respective cache coherence controller may grant write permission but not read permission for the coherence unit to the I/O node's respective cache memory. |
| US07657709B2 |
Data processing system and method of cache replacement
A data processing system is provided comprising at least one processing unit for processing data; a memory means for storing data; and a cache memory means for caching data stored in the memory means. Said cache memory means is associated to at least one processing unit. An interconnect means is provided for connecting the memory means and the cache memory means. The cache memory means is adapted for performing a cache replacement based on reduced logic level changes of the interconnect means as introduced by a data transfer between the memory means and the cache memory means. |
| US07657704B2 |
Method and related apparatus for verifying array of disks
When receiving a verification command for verifying a part of the disk array, each of the disks of the disk array are simultaneously verified such that a part of the disk array practically verified is larger than the part assigned to be verified in the verification command, and verification results are recorded. When receiving the next verification command for verifying another part of the disk array, if the part to be verified is already verified, then the recorded verification result is directly returned in response to the present verification command, thus an efficiency of verifying disk arrays can be raised. |
| US07657698B2 |
Systems and methods for chassis identification
A identification system comprising at least one non-volatile memory device containing identification data, a communication bus for the memory device that is independent of any other system bus, and a controller to manage the integrity of the identification data. |
| US07657696B2 |
Method to detect NAND-flash parameters by hardware automatically
A method for automatically detecting a plurality of parameters for a NAND-Flash memory. A first step of the method may include generating a plurality of address cycles for the NAND-Flash memory. A second step may set an address number parameter of the parameters based on (i) a first number of the address cycles generated and (ii) a status signal generated by the NAND-Flash memory responsive to the address cycles. A third step generally includes generating at least one read cycle for the NAND-Flash memory after determining the address number parameter. A fourth step may set a page size parameter of the parameters based on (i) a second number of the read cycles generated and (ii) the status signal further responsive to the read cycles. |
| US07657692B2 |
High-level bridge from PCIE to extended USB
An extended universal-serial bus (EUSB) bridge to a host computer can have peripheral component interconnect express (PCIE) protocol layers on one side of the bridge, and EUSB layers on the other side of the bridge, with a high-level bridging converter module connecting the upper layers. The PCIE physical, data-link, and transport layers may be eliminated by integrating the bridge with an I/O controller. PCIE requests and data payloads are directly sent to the bridge, rather than low-level PCIE physical signals. The PCIE data payloads are converted to EUSB data payloads by a high-level direct bridging converter module. Then the EUSB data payloads are passed down to an EUSB transaction layer, an EUSB data-link layer, and an EUSB physical layer which drives and senses physical electrical signals on both differential pairs of the EUSB bus. |
| US07657691B2 |
Simplified universal serial bus (USB) hub architecture
A Universal Serial Bus (USB) device uses a same elasticity buffer for buffering packets for multiple different ports and only necessary packet detection circuitry is associated with the individual ports. A collision detection circuit is further included corresponding with information received from the packet detection circuitry. This simplified universal elasticity buffer architecture reduces the complexity and cost of the USB device. |
| US07657686B2 |
Method and apparatus for frame buffer management
Methods and apparatuses for dynamic virtual frame buffer management. At least one embodiment of the present invention dynamically enables or disables the use of a virtual frame buffer, which is not under control of graphics hardware of a data processing system, without restarting the graphical user interface system (e.g., the window system) of the data processing system. For example, in response to the addition or removing of a frame buffer that is under control of a graphics controller (e.g., due to the activation or deactivation of the graphics controller, or the hot plug-in or hot disconnection of the graphics controller), the virtual frame buffer is disabled or enabled respectively. |
| US07657676B2 |
Integrated circuit device and signal transmission system
Some interface signals are selected from among signals of a plurality of different parallel interfaces, then being multiplexed onto a serial connection. A transmitter of a signal transmission system includes an interface-signal selector IFS, and a transfer programmer TP for issuing a control signal to instruct the selection from among the parallel interfaces. The transfer programmer TP implements the multiplexing of the selected interface signals in such a manner that the specification of the parallel interfaces is satisfied. Also, the transfer programmer TP changes, as occasion requires, the control signal to instruct which interfaces to select. This change allows the interface signals to be multiplexed onto the serial connection while dynamically changing the interface signals to be multiplexed. |
| US07657674B2 |
Flexible and error resistant data buffering and connectivity
One embodiment of the invention includes a method of buffering data between an upstream system sending data to a buffer and a downstream system obtaining data from the buffer. This method may include receiving a data record containing a status flag and a position identifier, reading the status flag and the position identifier of the received data record, and searching an existing buffer location associated with the received position identifier. In some instances, when the existing buffer location associated with the received position identifier has an existing record associated with the received position identifier, the condition of a processing flag associated with the existing record and buffering the received data at the buffer location may be reviewed and subsequent updates to a processing flag may be made. |
| US07657673B2 |
Data transfer control device, image processing device, and data transfer control method
A data transfer control device, which transfers a large capacity of data speedily and sequentially, has three buffers that are used as a WR (write) buffer, an intermediate buffer, and an RD (read) buffer. To send data sequentially, the data transfer control device switches-over the buffers in one of the following three ways (A), (B), and (C), using determination flags indicating whether the buffers store effective data (data not yet referenced). A buffer control device switches-over (A) the WR buffer and RD buffer if a WR buffer effective flag 33 is on and an intermediate buffer effective flag 34 and an RD buffer effective flag 35 are off, (B) the WR buffer and the intermediate buffer if the WR buffer effective flag 33 and the RD buffer effective flag 35 are on and the intermediate buffer effective flag 34 is off, and (C) the intermediate buffer and the RD buffer if the intermediate buffer effective flag 34 is on and the RD buffer effective flag 35 is off. |
| US07657670B2 |
Control apparatus system
A control apparatus system which enables reduction of costs and time for development. An image forming apparatus implementing the control apparatus system has an image output section including a plurality of functional units having different functions. The image output section has an ASIC that is provided in each of the functional units, for performing signal processing on an input signal thereto, a communication IC provided in each of the functional units, and a relay board that performs interface matching between each of the functional units and at least one driver circuit board. |
| US07657665B2 |
Shared simultaneously-connected removable drives and servers each housing an I/O controller which maintains an uninterrupted protocol connection
Local drive presence is provided for local and remote drives by maintaining a plurality of uninterrupted protocol connections between a plurality of I/O controllers and a plurality of device interfaces through which peripheral bus commands are transmitted. Preferably, the I/O controllers are each housed in a separate server blade and provide each blade with access to the local and remote drives. At each of the device interfaces, rather than attaching an actual storage device, peripheral bus commands received at the device interfaces are serialized and conditionally passed or suppressed to and from the shared drive which is shared amongst the plurality of uninterrupted protocol connections. Preferably, the plurality of uninterrupted protocol connections is maintained such that the shared drives can be simultaneously shared. In one embodiment, the local drives are provided in a media tray which is shared amongst a plurality blades. |
| US07657662B2 |
Processing user space operations directly between an application instance and an I/O adapter
A mechanism is provided that enables user space middleware or applications to pass file name based storage requests directly to a physical I/O Adapter without run-time involvement from the local Operating System (OS). A mechanism is provided for using a file protection table (FPT) data structure, which may include a file name protection table (FNPT) and file extension protection table (FEPT), to control user space and out of user space Input/Output (I/O) operations. In addition, a mechanism is provided for managing the FPT based on user space operations to create, query, modify and delete entries in the FPT. |
| US07657659B1 |
Partial copying of data to transmit buffer for virtual network device
In a virtualized computer system, a network frame is transmitted from a virtual machine using a network interface device, possibly through a virtual switch, by copying only a part of the network frame to the transmit buffers that have pre-translated mappings from guest physical addresses to hypervisor virtual addresses and to machine addresses. The length of the part of the network frame that is copied to the transmit buffers may be variable. |
| US07657655B2 |
Method and system to determine the geographic location of a network user
A system and method to determine the geographic location of a network user based on a plurality of network addresses and a plurality of mapping request information. The method involves receiving a plurality of mapping requests from a plurality of network users identified by a plurality of network addresses. A geographic location of a network user associated with a network address is then derived based on the plurality of network addresses and the plurality of mapping requests. In one embodiment, the network address is an Internet Protocol (IP) address. The method may be implemented, in one embodiment, as part of a system that executes as software on a computer. |
| US07657654B2 |
Hashing assist for network processors
A resource unit has a request interface to allow the unit to receive a request and associated data. The resource unit also has a hashing engine to create a hash of the associated data, a modulo engine to create a modulus result, a read engine to perform a memory read, and a results interface to allow the device to return results. |
| US07657652B1 |
System for just in time caching for multimodal interaction
A system for of optimizing delivery of multimodal content based on an adaptive, predictive caching algorithm. The system includes predictive caching software that receives at least one input regarding a preferred modality (e.g., audio, visual, or touch) for a particular application state. An application can have any number of states, each of which can, in turn, be presented in a different mode. The presentation mode for any particular application state can be selected by a user's input or request. In response to at least one input, the value of a weight variable can be modified or maintained. The value corresponds to a preferred presentation mode for an application state. The system can cache content for more efficient delivery in at least one presentation mode according to the weight variable. |
| US07657651B2 |
Resource-efficient media streaming to heterogeneous clients
A resource-efficient live streaming system includes a broadcaster and a streaming server. The broadcaster receives a live feed and broadcasts a media stream to the streaming server containing several descriptions of the live feed along with control information. The broadcaster includes a stream thinner that implements a pruning algorithm. If descriptions from different streams are similar enough, one or more of them may be discarded without penalizing the quality of service perceived by the receivers. The streaming server assembles compressed data units into streams according to the control information from the broadcaster. The streaming server may also gather client feedback in order to estimate the status of the transmission channels and forwards the information to the broadcaster. The streaming server builds and streams media information to clients according to user preferences and receiver capabilities. |
| US07657646B2 |
System and method for communication of streaming data
A system and method for the communication of streaming data is disclosed. In an exemplary method of the present invention, a first set of data is received by an information handling system. A second set of data is received via a network wherein the second set of data is continuously streaming. During times when a sufficient amount of streaming data of the second set of data is available for communication, the second set of data is communicated to a user. Otherwise, the first set of data is communicated to the user. In one embodiment, the second set of data may include a video stream viewable by a user. In another embodiment of the present invention, the first data set and the second data set may be transmitted from a first source. In yet another embodiment, during the time that a first set of data is being communicated due to a presently insufficient amount of streaming data of the second set of data, the second set of data may be monitored such that when a sufficient amount of streaming data is available, the second set of data is communicated. |
| US07657645B2 |
System and method for transporting MPEG2TS in RTP/UDP/IP
Systems and methods are provided for receiving and transmitting an MPEG2 transport stream (TS) in a real-time protocol (RTP)/user datagram protocol (UDP)/Internet protocol (IP) packet. The receiving method comprises: receiving an IP packet via an IP network, having a variable transmission delay; accessing a timestamp carried in a RTP packet; linking the timestamp with a program clock reference (PCR) MPEG2TS carried in the RTP packet payload; and, using the timestamp to eliminate variable transmission delay jitter, associated with the PCR MPEG2TS. In one aspect of the method, the timestamp has a resolution of greater than 500 nanoseconds (ns), so that the variable transmission delay jitter, associated with the PCR MPEG2TS can be reduced to a jitter of less than 500 ns. |
| US07657641B2 |
Megaco protocol management method using network adaptor
The present invention manages media gateway control (megaco) protocols according to changes of lower layer network protocol by implementing the megaco package in the network adaptor. A method for managing the megaco protocols by using a network adaptor includes steps of: a) requesting an installation of a megaco protocol package to a network adaptor; b) determining whether the megaco protocol exists in a network protocol table; c) adding a new protocol in the network protocol table; d) searching a specific megaco protocol package in the megaco protocol package list by using the specific package ID and connecting the specific megaco protocol package; and e) installing the megaco protocol packages and the specific megaco protocols, and managing the megaco protocols. |
| US07657640B2 |
Method and system for efficient routing of customer and contact e-mail messages
After a client or potential client accesses the web-site of a host organization and generates an e-mail to the organization, an e-mail sorting and routing system parses the meta-tags appended to the message to appropriately sort and route the message. The meta-tags specify the language of the client, i.e., the language in which the web-site was communicating with the client when the message was generated. The meta-tags also specify the topic, e.g. a product or service, about which the message was written. This information may be input by the client or ascertained from the content or purpose of the web-page from which the e-mail was generated. The messages are then sorted, first by language and then by topic. As a result, each message is quickly routed to a person qualified as to both language and subject matter who can respond to the client. |
| US07657638B2 |
Routing client requests to back-end servers
Methods and computer program products for using a front-end server to access content stored on one or more back-end servers. The front-end server receives requests for content from client systems. Back-end servers store the content, but to the client system, it appears as if the front-end server is the content's source. Upon receiving the request, the front-end server checks the validity of the request and examines a global catalog that dynamically maps client system requests to the back-end server or servers that store the requested content. In some circumstances, the content will be stored at a single back-end server and the front-end server directs the request to that server. Alternatively, a list of back-end servers storing the requested content may be generated. If so, the front-end then uses an authentication token as a key to a hash operation that is performed on the list and a single server that is capable of satisfying the request for content is identified. A given request and authentication token always identify the same server if the list of servers available for providing the requested content remains the same. The front-end server provides a single source for content requests so that client systems are not required to alter requests or invalidate local caches when content is moved from one back-end server to another. The front-end server also provides an additional level of security for back-end servers. |
| US07657637B2 |
Client server system for transmitting regular connection information via wireless network to client based on temporary connection information received from wired network
A client server system includes a server apparatus, and a client terminal apparatus connecting with the server apparatus via a wireless network based on regular connection information, and the client terminal apparatus includes a storage unit to store the regular connection information, a wired transmission unit to transmit temporary connection information to the server apparatus by a wired transmission at a predetermined timing, a wireless receiving unit to receive the regular connection information which is transmitted from the server apparatus based on the temporary connection information via the wireless network, and a storage control unit to store the regular connection information in the storage unit, and the server apparatus includes a wired receiving unit to receive the temporary connection information, and a wireless transmission unit to transmit the regular connection information to the client terminal apparatus, by using the temporary connection information via the wireless network. |
| US07657632B2 |
Network session control system
A network session is established by a session establishment procedure in accordance with whether or not a difference in priority of session establishment exists among a plurality of terminals for which the network session is to be established. Based on reserved connection information registered in a database, a network administration device for establishing a network session among a plurality of terminals uses a first session establishment procedure that treats all of the terminals in the same manner when there is no difference in the priority of session establishment among the plurality of terminals, and uses a second session establishment procedure that inquires and performs other operations in advance as to whether or not to establish a session with high-priority terminals and treats with priority the terminals of high-priority users when there is a difference in the priority of session establishment. |
| US07657630B2 |
Contents providing device, contents providing method, receiving device, receiving method, communication system, and communication method
At a server 2, a subject for updating an object registered in a database 3 and an event for obtaining the subject are generated, while a request for the subject from a receiving terminal 5 is received and totaled so that a resource necessary for providing the subject is allocated on the basis of the result of totaling. Then, the event is transmitted and the subject is provided on the basis of the resource allocated thereto. At the receiving terminal 5, the event is received and the necessity of the subject to be obtained on the basis of the event is evaluated so that request data requesting the subject is transmitted to the server 2 on the basis of the result of evaluation. Then, the subject provided by the server 2 in response to the request data is obtained on the basis of the event. |
| US07657629B1 |
Global server load balancing
A global server load-balancing (GSLB) switch serves as a proxy to an authoritative DNS and communicates with numerous site switches that are coupled to host servers serving specific applications. The GSLB switch receives from site switches operational information regarding host servers within the site switches neighborhood. When a client program requests a resolution of a host name, the GSLB switch, acting as a proxy of an authoritative DNS, returns one or more ordered IP addresses for the host name. The IP addresses are ordered using metrics that include the information collected from the site switches or based on other metric information. Examples of metrics include weighted site, weighted IP, and active bindings metrics. The GSLB switch places the address that is deemed “best” at the top of the list. |
| US07657628B1 |
External processor for a distributed network access system
An external processor for a network access system having a programmable access device includes a service controller that provides at least one service for network traffic, a message processor that processes network messages for service processing by the service controller, and a programmable access device controller that programs the programmable access device in response to service controller processing. It is advantageous for the external processor to include primary and secondary service controllers for a particular service so that, if the primary service controller fails, the secondary service controller can provide the particular service for message received from the programmable access device. In preferred embodiments, the service controller further includes a reporting processor that provides an interface through which reporting messages received from the programmable access device can be communicated to the service controller and a signaling controller that transmits signals to configure network hardware to establish requested network connections. The external processor preferably further supports a service policy interface through which the service controller can request policy decisions from a possibly remote policy server. |
| US07657627B2 |
System and program product for throttling events in an information technology system
A system and program product for generating throttling parameters for an information management (IT) system based on historical event log data. An embodiment of the system comprises: an identification system that examines the historical event log data and identifies throttling candidates, wherein each throttling candidate comprises an event type for redundant events that reoccur over at least one measured time period; and an analysis system that statistically analyzes event data associated with each throttling candidate and generates a set of throttling parameters for each throttling candidate based on the event data. |
| US07657626B1 |
Click fraud detection
Systems and methods for detecting instances of click fraud are disclosed. Click fraud occurs when, for example, a user, malware, bot, or the like, clicks on a pay per click advertisement (e.g., hyperlink), a paid search listing, or the like without a good faith interest in the underlying subject of the hyperlink. Such fraudulent clicks can be expensive for an advertising sponsor. Statistical information, such as ratios of unpaid clicks to pay per clicks, are extracted from an event database. The statistical information of global data is used as a reference data set to compare to similar statistical information for a local data set under analysis. In one embodiment, when the statistical data sets match relatively well, no click fraud is determined to have occurred, and when the statistical data sets do not match relatively well, click fraud is determined to have occurred. |
| US07657624B2 |
Network usage management system and method
A network usage management system comprises at least one collector adapted to collect network usage data associated with a data source using a network, the at least one collector adapted to generate log data associated with the at least one collector. The network usage management system also comprises at least one log collector adapted to retrieve the log data from the at least one collector. |
| US07657620B2 |
Dynamic intelligent discovery applied to topographic networks
A method, system, and computer program product for discovering status of a network topology. A network management framework provides the ability to specify a method for determining how to gather status of a data processing system. A data gathering technique (DGT) may be dynamically adjusted to discovery or monitoring of devices within the data processing system. Different data gathering techniques may be employed in an effort to discover or monitor the devices. In addition, results of previous network data gathering may be stored for later use. These stored results may used to develop an order of relative capabilities for a managed device or devices as compared to other device or devices in the same network. Discovery and monitoring information may be obtained about one device or N devices within the network. |
| US07657619B1 |
Method and system for maintaining a loop-free topology across multiple spanning trees in a virtual local area network
A network includes a virtual local area network (VLAN) and multiple spanning tree protocol domains (STPDs). Switches in the network receive messages from other switches and select one path for continued transmission of data based on the content of the messages. The content of each message identifies the path through which the message was transmitted. After one path is selected, all other paths are blocked. Once paths are blocked, no messages are transmitted through those paths to the switch. This eliminates redundant paths and provides a loop-free inter-domain topology throughout the network. |
| US07657617B1 |
Method and system for collecting performance related information for a remote device
In one embodiment, the invention provides a method comprising for each tuple containing a counter and an object; and for at least one remote device in a network that has the particular object and counter contained in the tuple, automatically sampling the counter. |
| US07657614B2 |
Multiple participant, time-shifted dialogue management
A virtual environment server. The server manages time-shifted presentation data between multiple participants in a shared virtual environment system. The server includes a routing module configurable for coupling to multiple participants, a real-time data management module coupled to the routing module, a time-shifted data management module coupled to the routing module, and a data store module coupled to the real-time data management module and to the time-shifted data management module. Participant output presentation data is received from the participants, stored as real-time presentation data, and transferred to appropriate participants. In response to requests from a requesting participant to obtain time-shifted presentation data from a time-shifted participant and any influence participants, time-shifted presentation data is retrieved from the data store module and transferred to the requesting participant. Influence participants are participants whose input presentation data are influenced by time-shifted participant and whose output presentation data influence presentation environment of requesting participant. |
| US07657611B2 |
Content request optimization
Content item requests are identified in a web page source document. For each request, it is determined if a content item request has been generated, and if a content item request has not been generated, a content item request for all requests in the web page source document is generated. |
| US07657610B2 |
Authentication output system, network device, device utilization apparatus, output data management apparatus, output control program, output request program, output data management program, and authentication output method
An authentication output system including: a network device that performs an output based on output data; and a device utilization apparatus that utilizes the network device, the network device and the device utilization apparatus being communicably connected to each other, and the network device performing the output through authentication. |
| US07657609B2 |
Data transfer in a multi-environment document management system access
A system and method for accessing a document management system in a multi-environment processing system includes receiving a client call command from a web service proxy. The web service proxy, disposed on a client and running in conjunction with a client application. A web service end point, disposed in a web service framework receives the client call command. Through the web service end point and a class module, the client call command is converted for accessing the document management system. Retrieved data is temporarily stored in a memory location. The amount of data transfer allowed in a single data transfer is determined. Then, based on this information, multiple web services call are executed to incrementally transfer the data for the client application. |
| US07657603B1 |
Methods and systems of electronic message derivation
A system for processing e-mail messages receives, from an e-mail repository, a transactional e-mail message comprising message attribute data. The system places the transactional e-mail message in an e-mail thread in response to the message attribute data of the transaction e-mail message. The system determines whether one or more derived e-mail messages are included in the transactional e-mail message. If one or more derived e-mail messages are included, the system determines derived message attribute data of the one or more derived e-mail messages. The system then places the derived e-mail message in the e-mail thread in response to the derived message attribute data of the derived e-mail message. |
| US07657599B2 |
Systems and methods for automatically updating electronic mail access lists
A system and method for permitting a sender to provide electronic mail (email) to a recipient, said method comprising providing a recipient email address to the sender; requesting of the recipient that the sender be allowed to send email to the recipient; determining whether the request is acceptable based on at least one of: 1) a sender identity verification method; 2) user input; and 3) third party information; adding the sender to an email access list if the request is acceptable; and wherein the email access is used to determine whether or not email from the sender is permitted to reach the recipient. |
| US07657595B2 |
Method and system for generating auxiliary-server cache identifiers
A method, system, and computer program product, by which portions of the session information that page-content is dependent upon are “pushed” to the client from the origin server in a way such that auxiliary servers, e.g. other application servers and edge-servers, have access to the session information and fragment dependancy data to generate auxiliary-server cache-IDs for the custom pages. This enables distribution of the load away from the origin server, allowing better application distribution and scalability through more effective caching. |
| US07657591B2 |
Dispatching client requests to appropriate server-side methods
The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for dispatching client requests to appropriate server-side methods. When a client request is received, a Web server refers to a service contract framework that maps URI paths and HTTP methods to corresponding server implemented methods. A server implemented method corresponding to a URI path and/or an HTTP method included in the client request is identified. The server implemented method is invoked to process the client request message. Accordingly, embodiments of the invention provide a uniform mechanism to dispatch HTTP requests to designated server implemented methods based solely on URI path and HTTP method. That is, an HTTP request can be dispatched to a designated server implemented method without having to include additional dispatch metadata within the HTTP request (e.g., in a SOAP envelope). |
| US07657590B2 |
Load balancing system and method
A workflow is processed by plurality of activity servers, each of the plurality of activity servers performing at least one of a plurality of activities. In step a, a workflow packet requiring one of the plurality of activities to be executed is retrieved from a workflow queue. In step b, the activity is executed by the one of the plurality of activity servers. In step c, a next activity to be performed is determined based on workflow transition information. In step d, the next activity is executed if the one of the plurality of activity performs the next activity. In step e, the next activity is forwarded to the workflow queue if the one of the plurality of activities does not perform the activity. Steps a-e are repeated until all of the plurality of activities in the workflow are executed. |
| US07657588B2 |
Detection and identification of stable PRI patterns using multiple parallel hypothesis correlation algorithms
A linear detection method for determining correlation values associated with an estimated Pulse Repetition Interval (PRI) executed by a linear detection module of a correlation mask disposed on a digital signal processor is provided comprising: determining a correlation spread associated with a vector of Times-of-Arrival (TOA) data; determining a delta spread associated with the correlation spread; determining a first/next estimated PRI associated with the vector of TOA data; determining a first/next estimated PRI vector based on the first/next estimated PRI; determining a delta vector based on the first/next estimated PRI vector; determining a correlation weights vector based on the delta vector; determining a first/next correlation value based on the correlation weights vector; and in response to there being no additional PRIs to estimate, searching the correlation values for a highest correlation. |
| US07657585B2 |
Automated process for identifying and delivering domain specific unstructured content for advanced business analysis
A cost efficient solution for supporting and deploying custom text analytics applications suited is to provide third party application developers a sand-boxed application development environment such as an appliance computer system, allowing users to leverage data integration, indexing and pre-existing mining platform capabilities for a domain-specific data. Thus, embodiments herein present a system, method, etc. for identifying and delivering domain specific unstructured content for advanced business analysis. The system generally comprises a cluster computer system, a gateway computer system and an appliance computer system. |
| US07657583B2 |
Calculating recovery time of an application system
Mechanisms are provided for calculating a recovery time (tr) of an application system in a computer system. The mechanisms tune the computer system dynamically. A recovery time (tr) is calculated and controlled within flexible predefined time slices and compared to a predefined time period (t0). A trigger is set in the case in which the calculated recovery time (tr) exceeds the predefined time period (t0). The mechanisms determine a type of redolog used during a backup process and a corresponding recovery speed value associated with the type of redolog. The recovery time is calculated based on the type of redolog used during the backup process and the corresponding recovery speed value associated with the type of redolog. |
| US07657581B2 |
Metadata management for fixed content distributed data storage
An archival storage cluster of preferably symmetric nodes includes a metadata management system that organizes and provides access to given metadata, preferably in the form of metadata objects. Each metadata object may have a unique name, and metadata objects are organized into regions. Preferably, a region is selected by hashing one or more object attributes (e.g., the object's name) and extracting a given number of bits of the resulting hash value. The number of bits may be controlled by a configuration parameter. Each region is stored redundantly. A region comprises a set of region copies. In particular, there is one authoritative copy of the region, and zero or more backup copies. The number of backup copies may be controlled by a configuration parameter. Region copies are distributed across the nodes of the cluster so as to balance the number of authoritative region copies per node, as well as the number of total region copies per node. Backup region copies are maintained synchronized to their associated authoritative region copy. |
| US07657579B2 |
Traversing data in a repeatable manner
Traversing hierarchical data is disclosed. A first list of items in a first level of the data is received and sorted in an order. The data of the first level is processed in the order of the sorted first list. If any other level of data is encountered during processing, another list of items in the encountered level is received and sorted in an order. The data is processed in the order of the list. |
| US07657576B1 |
Asynchronous change capture for data warehousing
A method and software for change data capture are disclosed, in which change data is extracted from a recovery log and stored in a database object. The change data indicates what modification has been performed to a source object on the OLTP system. In some embodiments of the present invention, a database statement may be generated and executed to extract and load the change data, and the recovery log itself may be shipped from an OLTP system to a staging system. |
| US07657574B2 |
Persistent storage file change tracking
Systems and methodologies that facilitate synchronization of a mobile device with a source, via employing a file change tracking database table created in non-volatile memory to designate files for synchronization. The subject invention includes a file modification logger that detects and track changes to files across multiple file systems. The file change tracking database table has a plurality of columns such as: a unique identification column that identifies a file, a file name, previous time the file was changed, and previous time the file was synchronized with a particular machine. A list of files that have changed between a current time and an earlier time can be designated for synchronization, by evaluating when was the file last changed and/or synchronized with a source device (e.g., a desktop, or a lap top.) |
| US07657571B2 |
Electronic data snapshot generator
A snapshot of electronic data is generated to provide information about a file at a specific point in time. The snapshot may be shared between several users. The snapshot is generated based on the type of snapshot that is requested. The snapshot types include a static snapshot, a published item snapshot and an interactive snapshot. Each type of snapshot may hide a portion of the file data from requesting users such that sensitive information is not made available to the users. The static snapshot is generated by saving only static data associated with the file. The interactive snapshot is generated by saving static data associated with the file, but any links or references to dynamic file data are maintained. The published item snapshot includes specific file objects and static data associated with the specified objects. |
| US07657569B1 |
System and method of removing duplicate leads
A duplicate lead removal system comprises a matching engine, a vendor duplicates database, and a conflict engine. The matching engine is configured to determine at least one vendor to receive a lead. The vendor duplicates database is configured to store duplicate lead information that is at least partly created by and received from vendors outside of the duplicate lead removal system. The conflict engine is configured to compare information that is at least derived from the lead with information stored in the vendor duplicates database in order to determine if the lead is a duplicate lead for the vendor such that the system can prevent transmission of duplicate leads to the vendor. |
| US07657568B2 |
Image pickup apparatus and control method therefor
This invention allows a user to easily classify and manage image files by recording an image file obtained by image capture and an image file obtained from an external apparatus in different folders. For this purpose, a system control unit which controls an overall digital camera determines whether the latest image data stored in a storage medium is image data captured in an image pickup mode or image data received in a communication mode. The system control unit then determines whether the current mode is the image pickup mode or the mode which allows reception. If the current mode coincides with neither of the two modes, since it indicates that the source of the image data to be saved in a storage medium differs from the source of the latest saved image data, the system control unit turns on a folder creation flag for the creation of a folder. |
| US07657567B2 |
Method and system for rewriting a database query
The invention relates to a method and database system for rewriting a SQL query having at least one null sensitive expression (NSE) in a select list of the query, the query comprising at least one outer join command to be performed on at least two tables and involving a view or a Derived Table (DT). The method comprising the steps of: identifying at least one unmatching row belonging to the view or DT using non-nullable fields that belong to the outermost table in the view or DT; converting the NSE(s) from the at least one identified rows into a SQL case construct; and performing the at least one outer join. The database system comprising means for rewriting a SQL query having at least one null sensitive expression (NSE) in a select list of the query, the query comprising at least one outer join command to be performed on at least two tables and involving a view or a Derived Table (DT). The system comprises a device configured to identify at least one unmatching row belonging to the view or DT using non-nullable fields that belong to the outermost table in the view or DT; a device configured to convert the NSE(s) from the at least one identified rows into a SQL case construct; and a device configured to perform the at least one outer join. |
| US07657566B2 |
Computer implemented method and system for hanging protocol configuration simulator displaying desired order of medical images data
A hanging protocol simulator system and method permit the design and storage of hanging protocol without requiring the actual hardware utilized in the design. The creation and/or modification of hanging protocols can be made either: a) automatically, by sending images to the simulator and receiving the configuration based on these images, or b) manually, in which case the user utilizes a hanging protocol editor to define the preferred screen layout. The user can define a preferred screen layout and then test it, without need of available real hardware, and can check the performance of the configuration long before investing in the ultimately required hardware. A database is provided for storing hanging protocols which can be accessed, and/or user-provided input can further be provided to define or refine hanging protocols. |
| US07657560B1 |
System for receiving and forming marketplaces for working on digital information blocks
A system for transmitting, storing, retransmitting and receiving a plurality of electronic medical images, which permits diagnostic readings by physicians during irregularly occurring periods of down time, where each of the electronic medical images contains an indicia, e.g., bid price, of the priority attached to it by a patient, includes first through fourth computer systems. The first computer system includes an associated scanning device for generating the electronic medical images, the second computer system includes an electronic medical image storage memory for storing the electronic medical images in a predetermined order based on the indicia in the respective electronic medical images, the third computer system includes a first display for displaying the selected one of the electronic medical images, and the fourth computer system includes a second display for monitoring all of the electronic medical images, and an input device for changing one of the indicia in a respective one of the electronic medical images thereby changing the predetermined order. The second and third computer systems are connected by both a low speed communications channel for instructing the second computer system to download the selected one of the electronic medical images to the third computer system, and a high speed communications channel for downloading the selected one of the electronic medical images from the second computer system to the third computer system. Methods of operating this system are also described. |
| US07657556B2 |
Positional access using a b-tree
A b-tree having information stored therein is utilized to facilitate positional access of elements stored in the leaves of the b-tree. The b-tree is structured such that for each non-leaf level value, a count is located to its immediate left and a value is located to its immediate right. These left and right counts indicate the number of leaf level values located in the leaves of the sub-trees to the immediate left and right of the value. The left and right counts are used to determine the path to take when descending the b-tree in search of a specific position. The counts can also be utilized to determine the total number of values in the leaf level of the b-tree. |
| US07657554B2 |
Method and system for managing user interface messages
A system, method, data structures and computer-accessible medium is provided for storing, managing, and tracking the development of messages for computer program products. Message and message-related data for messages which computer program products display to users as part of the product's user interface are centralized in a message catalog. A message catalog schema describes the attributes of a message separately from the attributes of one or more conditions for which a message should be displayed. Interfaces are provided for creating, localizing, documenting, maintaining, displaying, and supporting messages and message-related data in a message catalog consistent with the message catalog schema. Notifications to owners of the messages and conditions is performed periodically or whenever a change has been detected. |
| US07657548B2 |
Method for dynamically distributing items for changes based on group membership
Membership in a group is defined, either manually or by rule. Items are distributed to the members of the group as the items are associated with the group. When a container hierarchy changes (by adding, removing, or changing the properties of an object), the object is checked to see if the change affects the group. If so, then items are re-distributed and/or recalled from the affected members of the group. |
| US07657545B2 |
Automated application discovery and analysis system and method
An object oriented design for an automated modeling system for mapping and monitoring the business roles and impact of elements within an IT Infrastructure that make up specific applications or business processes, spanning not only network elements, hosts, servers and programs but also users, company structure and processes. The design including: a series of collector modules for collecting relationship, modeling and status information from both IT and external non IT specific sources used to build a model of the application or process in the database and to gather data about activities occurring on the computer network from a business impact perspective; a series of visualizer modules for reporting monitoring activities conducted by the monitoring system; a modeling database for storing information collected by the collector modules; a series of correlator modules for automatically determining relationships between data objects stored in the database to build application models of individual applications in the context of business process and IT service delivery. |
| US07657544B2 |
Storage medium storing program, method and apparatus presenting guide captions for categorizing files
An apparatus for presenting information of document files, the document files being stored on a document database where the document files are categorized and stored into any of predefined category bins, the apparatus includes: a selecting section that selects at least some of document files stored on the document database and categorized in object category bins as representative document files for each of the object category bins, the object category bins being at least part of the category bins; and a presenting section that presents information relating to the selected representative document files to a user. |
| US07657543B1 |
Method and system for creating and using shadow roots
A method for storing a first copy of an object, including obtaining the object including a globally unique identifier (GUID), generating a first derived GUID using the GUID of the object, storing the first copy of the object identified by the first derived GUID in a root node of the object, publishing possession of the first copy of the object identified by the first derived GUID by the root node of the object, associating a first shadow root with the first copy of the object, and storing the first copy of the object identified by the GUID in the first shadow root. |
| US07657541B2 |
Displaying and analyzing document flows
A system and a method for displaying and analyzing a business process based on the document flow of that business process. The graphical user interface may graphically display a set of documents relevant to a business process and the linkages between the set of documents as a document chain on a computer display to facilitate analysis of a business process. The linkages may represent change processes or binary relationships. A subset of documents may be filtered from the group of documents. The filtering may be performed based on a type of linkage. The subset of documents may be all successors of a starting document, all predecessors of the starting document, all successors of a root document of the starting document, or all successors and predecessors of the starting document. The graphical user interface may further graphically display items within documents and the linkages between the items. The graphical user interface may further display details about the selected document. |
| US07657539B2 |
System and computer program product for facilitating customs planning and clearance
Facilitating customs planning and clearance including creating in an international customs server, in response to a signal communicated through a client device coupled for data communications through at least one internet connection to the international customs server, a master customs planning record; creating a related customs planning record wherein the related customs planning record is related to the master customs planning record; calculating duty on the goods described in the related customs planning record; storing the amount of the calculated duty in the related customs planning record; incrementing the total amount of duty stored in the duty total field in the master customs planning record; submitting, to the destination country, payment of the duty; creating, in dependence upon the related customs planning record, a customs declaration form for a destination country; and submitting the customs declaration form to a customs declaration forms database for the destination country. |
| US07657533B2 |
Data management systems, data management system storage devices, articles of manufacture, and data management methods
Data management systems, data management system storage devices, articles of manufacture, and data management methods are described. According to one embodiment, a data management system includes a plurality of storage devices individually comprising a physical storage space, wherein the physical storage space of one of the storage devices is configured to store a baseline version of a data object and the physical storage space of an other of the storage devices is configured to store a delta version of the data object and processing circuitry configured to control storage operations of at least one of the storage devices, to process a restore request with respect to the data object, to access the delta version from the other of the storage devices responsive to the restore request, and to initiate communication of data of the baseline version and the delta version of the data object to a computer system. |
| US07657532B2 |
Password management device, password management method, and password management program
There is provided a password management device, password management method, and password management program to carry out secure logon. The management device includes: a first password storage region; a second password storage region; a password state information storage region that stores each of states of passwords as password state information; a wireless communication section that performs reading from the first password storage region and the second password storage region and performs reading from and writing into the password state information storage region, in accordance with an instruction from a PC via wireless communication with a reader/writer; and a contactless IC card control section that generates a new password if a change of a password registered in the PC to a new password is determined to be necessary, and writes the new password into a storage region different from another storage region of the registered password. |
| US07657531B2 |
Systems and methods for state-less authentication
Systems and methods for providing user logon and state-less authentication are described in a distributed processing environment. Upon an attempted access by a user to an online resource, transaction, or record, a logon component asks the user to supply a logon ID and a password. The logon component verifies the provided information, and upon successful identification, a security context is constructed from information relevant to the user. The security context is sent to the user and is presented to the system each time the user attempts to invoke a new resource, such as a program object, transaction, record, or certified printer avoiding the need for repeated logon processing. |
| US07657522B1 |
System and method for providing information navigation and filtration
A system and method for information navigation and filtration is provided. One or more query terms are received from a user. A preliminary relevance of one or more objects associated with an enterprise system is determined based on the query terms. The preliminary relevance may be propagated between objects. At least one rating is assigned to the one or more objects based on the preliminary relevance. An overall relevance of the one or more objects is established based on the at least one rating. The one or more objects are ranked according to the overall relevance. Data is provided as search results comprised of the one or more objects according to the ranking to the user. The search results may then be filtered based on at least one selected, dynamically generated filter. The filtered search results may be dynamically generated and provided to the user. |
| US07657520B2 |
Providing history and transaction volume information of a content source to users
A computer-implemented system and method for providing a legitimacy rating of a content source are provided. A request for a document is received. An electronic document associated with a content source is passed by a document provider in response to the request. A legitimacy rating of the content source is passed. Examples of legitimacy rating information include, for example, a history rating of the content source based on the length of time the document provider has published documents associated with the content source and a transaction volume rating of the content source based on the number of electronic documents associated with the content source that are passed by the document provider. |
| US07657513B2 |
Adaptive help system and user interface
A help system tracks user search queries and builds a database by matching the user query to the user's selected result from the search system. As the user repeatedly searches, the user's terminology may be associated with particular search keywords. A relevance factor may be computed using the database for future searches. In some cases, modifications to a user interface may be made by replacing the user's terminology with a function in the user interface, or by highlighting a user's terminology on the user interface using a floating box such as a tool tip. |
| US07657508B2 |
Automated block size management for database objects
A system and method for managing database systems, wherein the database systems perform database queries to retrieve data stored by the database systems. One or more regulators are used for managing the database systems, wherein a database tuning agent function of the regulator uses statistics on physical and logical data access in order to perform automated block size management for database objects. |
| US07657503B1 |
System and method for generating statistical descriptors for a data stream
Described is a system and method for receiving a data stream of multi-dimensional items, collecting a sample of the data stream having a predetermined number of items and dividing the sample into a plurality of subsamples, each subsample corresponding to a single dimension of each of the predetermined number of items. A query is then executed on a particular item in at least two of the subsamples to generate data for the corresponding subsample. This data is combined into a single value. |
| US07657502B2 |
Multimodal control device and multimodal control method
To provide a multimodal control device and method, wherein existing browsers can be used to achieve synchronization with fine granularity, while making full use of GUI browsability. A multimodal control device comprises input focus managing means for managing input focus items in document data, content generation means for generating content, in accordance with a modality type, from document data within a data input item range including input focus items, and content transmission means for transmitting generated content to the corresponding browser. |
| US07657500B2 |
Concurrent extensible cuckoo hashing
Concurrent cuckoo hashing is performed on a hash table that includes a number of locations; each may hold a value. A plurality of processes may concurrently execute on the table; each process includes a sequence of operations, which are divided into a number of phases. Each phase corresponds to one operation in the sequence. An overflow buffer is provided for each location in the table. Each overflow buffer may hold a value displaced from its corresponding location in the table. A plurality of sequences of operations is concurrently executed. Each phase in a sequence executes by acquiring one or two locks on two locations in the table; a lock acts on a location and its overflow buffer. An operation of a phase is then executed. If, on conclusion of the phase execution, any overflow buffer holds a value, the execution is repeated until all overflow buffers are empty. |
| US07657499B2 |
Grouping of computers in a computer information database system
A computer information database system manages computer profile data grouping the plurality of computers in groups that are nodes of a tree in accordance with user-specified grouping criteria that are respective values of computer profile data of interest, and manipulating the database data to produce summaries of attributes of the computers in a given group and in the groups in the subtree that has the given group as its root. The grouping criteria may be ranges of values for primary grouping criteria, particular values for primary and secondary grouping criteria, ranges of values for both primary and secondary grouping criteria, and so forth. The system uses a group mapping database table that includes profile value-to-match fields for the primary grouping criteria and, as appropriate, the secondary grouping criteria. To use ranges of values, the group mapping database table includes for each range an associated low limit profile value field and a high limit profile value field. If particular values are used as either or both of the primary and secondary criteria, the corresponding low and high limits may be set to the same values or respective value to match fields may be used instead of the high and low limit fields. If there are no secondary grouping criteria associated with a particular primary grouping range, the corresponding entries for the secondary low and high limit profile values or, as appropriate, the entry for the corresponding value to match field is/are set to NULL. Additional grouping criteria may also be used to further refine the selection of computers for the groups, with additional fields for associated values-to-match or ranges included in the group mapping database table. The values or ranges for any or all of the grouping criteria may be altered and/or the values or ranges for grouping criteria may be added to records in which the corresponding fields were set to NULL to change the way in which the computers are grouped. |
| US07657498B2 |
Business-aligned organizational knowledge management system, framework, and tools for capture and dissemination of explicit and tacit knowledge of business objectives and management strategy articulated in problem statements
A business-aligned knowledge management system and method for creating the same are disclosed. In accordance with a first aspect of the invention, a knowledge management system includes a knowledge management (KM) framework providing aspects of a knowledge-focused approach to business management; a KM implementation guide having steps for establishing a business-aligned knowledge management system within the KM framework; and a KM execution toolkit having tools for used with the KM implementation guide. |
| US07657497B2 |
Online fraud prevention using genetic algorithm solution
Online fraud prevention including receiving a rules set to detect fraud, mapping the rules set to a data set, mapping success data to members of the rules set, filtering the members of the rules set, and ordering members of the data set by giving priority to those members of the data set with a greater probability for being fraudulent based upon the success data of each member of the rule set in detecting fraud. Further, a receiver coupled to an application server to receive a rules set to detect fraud, and a server coupled to the application server, to map the rules set to a data set, and to map the success data to each members of the rules set. The server is used to order the various members of the data set by giving priority to those members of the data set with a greatest probability for being fraudulent. |
| US07657496B2 |
Nonlinear associative memories using linear arrays of associative memory cells, and methods of operating same
Associative memories include associative memory cells. A respective cell includes a sensor input, a prior association representation, a next association representation and an associative output. The cells are serially interconnected to form a linear array, such that the sensor inputs, the prior association representations and the next association representations of the serially connected cells are arranged in a sequence from distal to proximal cells based on affinities of associations among the series of sensor inputs. A respective cell also includes processing logic. The processing logic is responsive to the associated sensor input being active, to send a measure of the next association representation to an adjacent proximal cell and/or to send a measure of prior association representation to an adjacent distal cell. The processing logic may be further responsive to the associated sensor input being active, and to receipt of the measure of the next association representation from an adjacent distal cell, to accumulate an associative count in the associative output. |
| US07657495B2 |
Method and system for creating hierarchical classifiers of software components to identify meaning for words with multiple meanings
A method for creating hierarchical classifiers of software components in a learning system, each software component comprising an identifier and a rule for processing an input message, the method comprising the steps of: receiving an input message by a first software component; parsing the input message to identify an input value; seeking a second software component having an identifier matching the identified input value; in the event that the seeking step fails to locate a match, creating a second software component and assigning an identifier to the created second software component, the identifier matching the identified input value. |
| US07657493B2 |
Recommendation system that identifies a valuable user action by mining data supplied by a plurality of users to find a correlation that suggests one or more actions for notification
Personal data mining mechanisms and methods are employed to identify relevant information that otherwise would likely remain undiscovered. Users supply personal data that can be analyzed in conjunction with data associated with a plurality of other users to provide useful information that can improve business operations and/or quality of life. Personal data can be mined alone or in conjunction with third party data to identify correlations amongst the data and associated users. Applications or services can interact with such data and present it to users in a myriad of manners, for instance as notifications of opportunities. |
| US07657490B1 |
Electronic settlement system, settlement device, and terminal
An electronic settlement system for settling a transaction through a communication network comprises a settlement apparatus which performs the settlement of the transaction; a billing terminal connecting to the settlement apparatus via the communication network; and a paying terminal, connecting to the settlement apparatus via the communication network, wherein the settlement apparatus performs the settlement of a transaction by synchronizing a communication to the billing terminal with a communication to the paying terminal when the settlement apparatus sets up a transaction identifying number which identifies the transaction and when the paying terminal transmits the same transaction identifying number to the settlement apparatus. |
| US07657487B2 |
Apparatus and method for providing data storage device security
A data storage device includes a data storage mechanism within which is stored a computing program. The data storage device also includes a surface used for labeling. The labeling includes machine readable security information. The data program requires machine reading of the security information before at least a portion of the program is run. |
| US07657486B2 |
Techniques for co-existence of multiple stored value applications on a single payment device managing a shared balance
A method of managing a first stored value application having a first application balance and a second stored value application having a second application balance, can include the steps of facilitating conducting of a first transaction by the first stored value application, and synchronizing the second stored value application with the first stored value application. The synchronization can be substantially contemporaneous with the transaction. The applications can reside on the same portable payment device. |
| US07657485B2 |
System and method for identifying billing errors
A system, method, apparatus, and computer program code for identifying billing discrepancies includes receiving billing data from a billing entity, the billing data including an assessed fee and call details associated with each of a plurality of calls made by a customer, identifying, based at least in part on the call details received from the billing data, rate information associated with the customer, generating an expected fee for each of the plurality of calls, and comparing, for each of the plurality of calls, the expected fee with the assessed fee to identify discrepancies. |
| US07657483B2 |
Money transfers for tax refunds
Tax refunds are provided via a money transfer service. Merely by way of example, a taxpayer (or a tax preparer) might provide to the IRS an account number at a bank, as a target for a direct deposit refund related to a tax return. In an aspect, the account number might have a specific format that informs the bank that the refund is to be processed by the money transfer service, and in another aspect, the account number might include data that identifies the taxpayer to the money transfer service. |
| US07657481B2 |
Strategy weight
This invention relates to hedge fund indexing in general and methods and systems for constructing and maintaining investable hedge fund indices in particular. |
| US07657480B2 |
Decision support system and method
A decision support system and method is provided for responding to a deregulated electrical energy environment for use in making decisions related to supplying and purchasing electrical power. In a preferred embodiment, the decision support system comprises a plurality of interconnected models that produce information related to various business operations. A contract valuation model produces a value of energy contracts based upon timely data such as contract terms, real-time commodity pricing, and forecasted commodity pricing. A potential action valuation model generates value for potential, predefined operational actions at a given production facility in response to a particular opportunity. A forecasting and planning model provides forecasting services related to energy based upon historical and current real-time data for use in other models. A supply chain optimizer provides overall supply information related to supplying a plurality of electrical generating facilities to thereby indicate economies for overall system operation. A risk management model allows the entry of risk tolerance parameters. A financial position management model is utilized as a tool to support risk reduction. |
| US07657468B1 |
Method for continuous asset verification
A method for continuous asset verification using at least one radio frequency identification tag for at least one piece of well equipment comprising: writing information about the well equipment into a transportable data storage device; engaging the transportable data storage device with a controller forming a smart controller; encoding the information onto at least one radio frequency identification tag; removably attaching the radio frequency identification tag to the well equipment; transporting the well equipment with the smart controller to a site and scanning the well equipment with the smart controller during at least one predefined interval during transport; and writing the stored scanned radio frequency identification tag information from the transportable data storage device to data storage in communication with a third processor. |
| US07657467B2 |
Computer-based system and method for arranging items on a pallet
A method for arranging items on a pallet is provided. The method comprises the steps of: identifying one or more items for inclusion on the pallet; retrieving the one or more items from a storage location; and arranging the one or more items on the pallet according to a build strategy, where the build strategy includes aisle position information within a store. |
| US07657462B2 |
Smart multi-search method
The present invention is a method for providing, in response to a single search multiple product/service item query, search results for multiple products/services that are grouped and ranked by supplier based on which supplier(s) have inventory with respect to the greatest number of the queried products/services. The user can identify which vendor can best fill the entire order, simplifying the buying process. A single query can be entered by a user covering their entire required bill of materials list. The method is preferably implemented via a website server using known methods of Internet communication. The search results can be customized further to categorize suppliers by geographic location, supplier type, pricing or other criteria. |
| US07657451B2 |
Six sigma enabled web-based business intelligence system
A method of presenting an analysis of enterprise wide business data. In response to a user request to a web site operable to access enterprise wide business data and to provide statistical analysis, a six sigma enabled BIS transfers an electronic document to the user. The electronic document allows the user to select dimensions to specify which data to analyze for a given performance measure. Then, in response to a request from the user for a statistical analysis, the six sigma enabled BIS performs a statistical analysis of the performance measure and transfers an electronic copy of the statistical analysis to the user. In one embodiment the document comprises a histogram. The histogram has an overlay indicator of the statistical mean, as well as a target limit. In this fashion, the user may view the variance in the data, and see how much data are outside the target range. |
| US07657450B2 |
Reliable, secure and scalable infrastructure for event registration and propagation in a distributed enterprise
A trigger engine and infrastructure for event registration and handling that is reliable, secure and scalable. Transactional authenticated and/or encrypted messages (e.g., via MSMQ) are used to transport events across each server. A stable recovery mechanism is provided wherein the recovery path is nearly identical to the normal path. A trigger engine may concentrate multiple similar requests into a single base request for event notification, and upon receipt of the base event, access tables maintained in the trigger engine to track which client registered for which type of notification. In this manner, only the base event request is registered remotely, reducing the number of events that need to be communicated to remote servers. Identical event requests from clients may also be concentrated into a base event request, and events distributed to those clients when appropriate. Duplicate base event requests are blocked locally and thus only the first such one ever reaches the remote server. The trigger engines are capable of combining events in a complex manner, such as to notify a client only when a combination of time events, job events and/or other events have occurred, thus being suitable for use in a batch system. |
| US07657449B2 |
System and method for selecting and reserving time slots for an appointment
The present invention relates to a system and method for selecting and reserving time slots for an appointment. The system or method transmits information relating to a plurality of available individual time slots for an appointment to an application running on a general purpose computer on the wide area network for display to the end user. The system or method also provides a graphical user interface that includes an interactive map showing information relating to the available time slots for the appointment. Through the interactive map the end user can select one or more available time slots. The interactive map may provide additional information on the one or more of available individual time slots when triggered by, for example, a mouse placed over one of the available individual time slots. |
| US07657448B2 |
Computer reservation and usage monitoring system and related methods
A computer network may include a host computer and a plurality of computer workstations selectively connectable thereto at which user work sessions may be initiated. Each computer workstation when disconnected from the host computer (e.g., due to server outage, etc.) may advantageously initiate a user session responsive to a user request and store session information for updating the respective user account balance when reconnected with the host computer. Additionally, when the computer workstations are connected to the host computer they may copy respective user account balances from the host computer upon initiation of user sessions, and update the copied account balances based upon computer usage during the respective user sessions. The computer network may also include at least one reservation computer for cooperating with the host computer to schedule user session reservations and provide a requesting user an estimated time before a user session will be made available. |
| US07657446B1 |
Automated identification of tasks that must be completed before a clinical trial database can be locked
Management of a database lock for a clinical trial study is provided. A database is provided that includes clinical trial data and the status of the data for a plurality of patients. Lock criteria is defined for the study from a plurality of selectable subsets of the clinical trial data. A processor automatically generates a list of tasks that must occur to achieve the lock defined by the lock criteria using the clinical trial data and the status of the data. |
| US07657445B1 |
Method and system for managing healthcare facility resources
The present invention provides a method and system for managing resources of an enterprise, in particular a healthcare enterprise. One aspect of the present invention provides a method and system for remote access and exchange of information for managing enterprise resources using a distributed computing environment such as the Internet or World Wide Web. The system provides real-time management of healthcare facility resources including clinical hours provided per patient per day. |
| US07657438B2 |
Method for controlling vehicular electric system
A method for controlling a vehicular electric system having multiple power sources including an engine-driven generator. The power sources for supplying power to charge an onboard battery are determined based on difference between the power generation cost of each power source and that for generating an amount of power charged in the battery. Furthermore, amounts power to be supplied to the battery 103 for charge is determined based on the amount of power currently charged in the battery. |
| US07657435B2 |
Acoustic signal transmission method and apparatus with insertion signal
The acoustic signal transmission method is based on generating a synthesized sound electrical signal by electrically synthesizing an audible sound signal and another signal different than the audible sound signal at the sending side, and transmitting the synthesized sound electrical signal, and extracting the another signal different than the audible sound signal from the synthesized sound electrical signal at the receiving side. Here, generation of the synthesized sound electrical signal is made by using a data hiding technique, for example. Accordingly, the acoustic signal represented by the synthesized sound electrical signal can be heard by human ears in the same way as the audible sound signal, and the synthesized another signal cannot be detected by human ears. Here, the synthesized sound electrical signal can be transmitted as a sound wave in air space, as electrical signal through a transmission line or as radio signals such as infrared and electromagnetic waves. |
| US07657433B1 |
Speech recognition accuracy with multi-confidence thresholds
A speech recognition system uses multiple confidence thresholds to improve the quality of speech recognition results. The choice of which confidence threshold to use for a particular utterance may be based on one or more features relating to the utterance. In one particular implementation, the speech recognition system includes a speech recognition engine that provides speech recognition results and a confidence score for an input utterance. The system also includes a threshold selection component that determines, based on the received input utterance, a threshold value corresponding to the input utterance. The system further includes a threshold component that accepts the recognition results based on a comparison of the confidence score to the threshold value. |
| US07657432B2 |
Speaker recognition method based on structured speaker modeling and a scoring technique
A technique for improved score calculation and normalization in a framework of recognition with phonetically structured speaker models. The technique involves determining, for each frame and each level of phonetic detail of a target speaker model, a non-interpolated likelihood value, and then resolving the at least one likelihood value to obtain a likelihood score. |
| US07657430B2 |
Speech processing apparatus, speech processing method, program, and recording medium
An apparatus inputs an utterance and performs speech recognition on the input utterance. The speech processing apparatus determines whether the recognition result contains an unknown word. If it is determined that the recognition result contains an unknown word, it is then determined whether the recognition result is rejected or not. If it is determined that the recognition result is not rejected, a word corresponding to the unknown word contained in the recognition result is required. The apparatus can be used as a speech processing apparatus. |
| US07657428B2 |
System and method for seamless switching of compressed audio streams
A system and method for seamless switching and concatenation of compressed audio streams in Internet, Digital Radio, Digital Television, DVD, storage, and other applications. The technology allows switching between streams at pre-determined points without the introduction of audible artifacts. It can be used for the personalization messages such as advertisements, news systems and other. |
| US07657423B1 |
Automatic completion of fragments of text
A system offers potential completions for fragments of text. The system may obtain a text fragment and identify documents that include the text fragment. The system may locate sentences within the documents that include at least a portion of the text fragment, identify sentence endings associated with the located sentences, and present the sentence endings as potential completions for the text fragment. |
| US07657419B2 |
Analytical virtual machine
An analytical virtual machine (AVM) analyzes computer code using a software processor including a register that stores behavior flags indicative of behaviors identified by virtually executing the code within the virtual machine. The AVM includes a sequencer that stores the sequence in which behavior flags are set in the behavior flags register. The AVM analyzes machine performance by emulating execution of the code being analyzed on a fully virtual machine and records the observed behavior. When emulation and analysis are complete, the AVM returns the behavior flags register and sequencer to the real machine and terminates. |
| US07657416B1 |
Hierarchical system design
A method of system design, and more particularly a method of designing systems that achieve a set of performance goals using a hierarchically partitioned system representation wherein performance simulations are performed at multiple levels within the hierarchy and are combined to simulate a system level result in order to reduce the aggregate time required for performance simulation. |
| US07657415B2 |
Subterranean formation treatment methods using a darcy scale and pore scale model
Subterranean treatment formation using a model which takes into account the pore level physics by coupling the local pore scale phenomena to the macroscopic variables (Darcy velocity, pressure and reactant cup-mixing concentration) through the structure-property relationships (permeability-porosity, average pore size-porosity and interfacial area-porosity) and the dependence of the fluid-solid mass transfer coefficient and fluid phase dispersion coefficient on the evolving pore scale variables (average pore size, local Reynolds and Schmidt numbers). |
| US07657414B2 |
Three-dimensional wellbore visualization system for hydraulics analyses
A visualization system for wellbore and drillstring data includes a graphics processor for creating a wire mesh model of a well and drillstring based on datasets of depth-varying parameters of the well. A graphics system maps appropriate textures to the wire mesh models, which are then displayed on a graphics display. A user interface facilitates user navigation along the length of the well to any selected location therein, and further permits user adjustment of orientation of the displayed renderings. The data is sufficient to permit calculation of fluid velocity in the wellbore at any selected location. The fluid velocity is presented as a velocity profile in the rendered visualization of the wellbore and drillstring to provide the user with a visual indication of fluid velocity in the wellbore as the user navigates the visualization along the length of the wellbore and drillstring. |
| US07657412B2 |
Method of and apparatus for displaying structure optimizing result
To provide a method of and an apparatus for displaying a structure optimizing result which are capable of displaying rigidity values calculated on the basis of an initial wall thickness value, an optimum wall thickness value, and a standard wall thickness value in such a manner that a change between two of these rigidity values is clearly indicated. The structure optimizing result is displayed wherein an actual rigidity value of a structure is calculated on the basis of an inputted initial value of a wall thickness of each component of the structure. An optimum value of the wall thickness of each of the components is calculated on the basis of a sensitivity analysis result in order to make the calculated actual rigidity value close to a required rigidity value of the structure and the calculated result is displayed. In the method and apparatus, the actual rigidity value and a rigidity value of the structure on the basis of the optimum wall thickness value of each of the component are comparatively displayed as a list by an output calculation/display control unit. |
| US07657411B2 |
Method for transformation of enterprise models to business process models
A transformation method is described having three phases. The first phase provides a tool and language independent annotation framework to capture semantics of entities as well as their relationships with other entities. The second phase converts the entities on the business level into corresponding entities on a technical level. The conversion preserves the semantics of the entities defined at the business level and transforms them into a representation implementable at the technical level. The third phase reassembles the transformed entities into a cross-organizational business process in a desired technical modeling language and tool. |
| US07657407B2 |
Method and system of planning hydrocarbon extraction from a hydrocarbon formation
A method and system of planning hydrocarbon extraction from a hydrocarbon formation. The various methods and systems take a holistic approach to producer well placement and completion, injector well placement and completion, and borehole trajectories to reach the various producer wells and injector wells, the placement and completion selections based on parameters such as initial and expected time-varying stress in the formation, stress in overburden formations, and proximity to faults. |
| US07657405B2 |
Method for determining a model for an electrical network and use of the method
An electrical network having a nonlinear transfer response is approximated with a system with memory. The system with memory being approximated in the frequency domain and subsequently being expanded in the time domain. A transfer response of the system being approximated to a transfer response of the electrical network in a range of a system bandwidth corresponding to an input signal bandwidth. The resulting model has adjustable parameters and can readily be implemented in the form of a dynamically linear filter and a static nonlinearity (B2) connected thereto. |
| US07657401B2 |
Systems and methods for predicting load test resource requirements
Systems, methods and media for collecting and using machine usage data and machine configuration data are disclosed. In one embodiment, a workbench computer collects historical machine usage data for at least one load test machine emulating a plurality of users to produce a database of historical machine usage data for the at least one machine. |
| US07657400B2 |
Sliding mode method for predictive diagnostics
A diagnostics subsystem for performing predictive diagnostics on a machine such as a vacuum pump. The subsystem has one or more parameter sensors providing measurable data, a process model for modelling machine operation and generating at least one estimated operating parameter, a comparator for comparing the sensed operating parameter with the estimated operating parameter; discontinuous signal injection means for injecting a discontinuity into the model to maintain sliding mode operation in the model; and means for analyzing the discontinuous injection signal for trends indicative of a fault in the machine. |
| US07657392B2 |
Method and apparatus for detecting and characterizing particles in a multiphase fluid
A method and apparatus for measuring the size and distribution of particles within a multiphase fluid flowing within a pipe is provided, wherein the apparatus includes at least one metering device for determining at least one of the mixture density of the fluid, the flow rate of the fluid and the dispersion of the fluid, wherein the at least one metering device generates meter data responsive to at least one of the mixture density of the fluid, the flow rate of the fluid and the dispersion of the fluid and a processing device communicated with the at least one metering device, wherein the processing device receives and processes the meter data to generate fluid information responsive to the size and distribution of the particles within the fluid. |
| US07657390B2 |
Reclaiming substrates having defects and contaminants
Test substrates used to test semiconductor fabrication tools are reclaimed by reading from a database the process steps performed on each test substrate and selecting a reclamation process from a plurality of reclamation processes. The reclamation process can include crystal lattice defect or metallic contaminant reduction treatments for reclaiming each test substrate. Each test substrate is sorted and placed into a group of test substrates having a common defect or contaminant reduction treatment assigned to the test substrates of the group. Additional features are described and claimed. |
| US07657389B2 |
Method of aligning probe for eddy current inspection
A system and method using a touch probe device for eddy current inspection. The touch probe provides a simple approach for coming within close contact of the specimen while maintaining a normal angle and pressure at the right positions. The use of the touch probe further reduces the total time for the eddy current inspection. The touch probe aligns the probe to a specimen to be inspected, for the purpose of reducing measurement errors and increasing productivity. |
| US07657388B2 |
Quality assessment tool
Non-intrusive speech quality assessment method and apparatus for storing a sequence of intercepted packets associated with a call, each packet containing speech data, and an indication of a transmission time of the packet; storing with each intercepted packet an indication of an intercept time of the packet; extracting a set of parameters from the sequence of packets; and generating an estimated mean opinion score in dependence upon the set of parameters. The extracting step comprises the sub steps of: generating a jitter parameter for each packet of the sequence of stored packets; generating a long term average jitter parameter for the stored packet; and generating a differential jitter parameter in dependence upon the jitter parameter for the stored packet and the long term average jitter parameter. |
| US07657386B2 |
Integrated battery service system
An integrated battery service system performs a plurality of services related to a battery, such as battery testing, battery charging, and the like. In addition, the integrated service system provides services to devices/components that are coupled to the battery, such as starters, alternators, etc. The integrated battery service system allows a user to abort a service and then resume the process from where the process was aborted. When conducting a service, the integrated battery service system determines a noise level caused by devices/components coupled to the battery. The integrated battery service system includes connectors configured to couple to a battery for receiving input signals, a processor coupled to the connectors, and a memory device coupled to the processor for storing control codes and operation history. The control codes, when executed by the processor, control the system to selectively abort a service in response to a user input. Since the memory stores operation histories, the processor may access the memory to retrieve data related to the aborted service and parameters obtained during the service before the process was aborted. The system reinstates the aborted service in response to another user input. |
| US07657380B2 |
Methods of generating variant antibodies with increased host string content
The present invention relates to novel methods for generating variant proteins with increased host string content by comparing a parent protein sequence with two or more natural protein sequences from a host species, analyzing one or more amino acid strings of the parent protein sequence with a structurally corresponding amino acid string of each of said natural protein sequences, substituting one or more amino acid strings of the parent protein sequence with a structurally corresponding amino acid string of one of the two or more natural protein sequences on an amino acid string by amino acid string basis so that the variant protein has increased host string content, and, synthesizing and screening the variant protein. |
| US07657378B1 |
Computer based method for identifying peptides useful as drug targets
The present invention relates to a novel computer based method for performing genome-wise comparison of several organisms, the said computational method involves creation of peptide libraries from protein sequences of several organisms and subsequent comparison leading to identification of conserved invariant peptide motifs, and to this end several invariant peptide motifs have been identified by direct sequence comparison between various bacterial organisms and host genomes without any a priori assumptions, and the present method is useful for identification of potential drug targets and can serve as drug screen for broad-spectrum antibacterials as well as for specific diagnosis of infections, and in addition, for assignment of function to proteins of yet unknown functions with the help of such invariant peptide motif signatures. |
| US07657375B2 |
Method and apparatus for correcting underestimation of formation anisotropy ratio
A method, apparatus and computer-readable medium for evaluating an earth formation includes making measurements with a logging tool having a first depth of investigation in a borehole in the earth formation. A first dip of the formation is estimated using multi-component measurements. The estimated dip is compared with a second dip measurement in the borehole. The results of the comparison are stored on a tangible medium. |
| US07657372B2 |
Map matching method, map matching device, database for shape matching, and shape matching device
An object of the present invention is to provide a map matching method capable of performing a process operation in a high speed. In the map matching method of the present invention, while employing road network data in which road networks are formed in a plurality of hierarchical layers “a”, “b”, “c”, and a road network of an upper-grade hierarchical layer is established by such a road network which is extracted from a road network having a lower-grade hierarchical layer lower than the road network having the upper-grade hierarchical layer, a road network of the uppermost-grade hierarchical layer “a” is matched with a shape vector indicative of a shape of a objective road in a beginning stage; and when such a candidate road which is matched with the shape vector cannot be obtained in the road network of the uppermost-grade hierarchical layer “a”, since such a road network having another hierarchical layer “b”, or “c” is matched with the shape vector, the objective road is identified. In the most cases, as to a objective road of traffic information and the like, the objective road can be identified by executing a map matching operation with employment of the road network having the uppermost-grade hierarchical layer “a”, and the map matching operation can be carried out in a high speed. |
| US07657370B2 |
Navigation apparatus, navigation system, and navigation search method
A navigation apparatus searches for a route from a starting point to a destination wherein, predicted traffic information is associated with each of at least one links within any one of a plurality of predefined areas based on a time at which, according to the predicted traffic information, a vehicle traveling the route is expected to arrive within that predefined area. |
| US07657359B2 |
Apparatus and method for calculating work load of engine
Work done by an engine can be accurately calculated regardless of the part in an observation section where the cylinder internal pressure signal is detected. The apparatus for calculating the work done by an engine establishes in advance correlation of phase between the cylinder internal pressure of the engine and a reference signal composed of a predetermined frequency component as a reference phase relation. A means for detecting the cylinder internal pressure of the engine for a predetermined observation section is provided. A reference signal corresponding to the detected cylinder internal pressure of the engine is calculated so that the reference phase relation is satisfied. A correlation coefficient of the detected cylinder internal pressure of the engine and the calculated reference signal is calculated for the observation section and the work done by the engine is calculated in accordance with the correlation coefficient. |
| US07657356B2 |
Controller
An acceleration detection unit for detecting acceleration is mounted on a driven body. When a previous block is a positioning command, the system waits till the detected value of acceleration detected by the acceleration detection unit becomes equal to or less than a set value αs after the distribution of the movement command of the positioning command is ended. If the detected value of acceleration becomes equal to or less than the set value αs, the distribution of the movement command of the next block is started. Because the cutting feed, etc., is started after the detected value of acceleration has become equal to or less than the set value αs and the vibrations stopped, machining can be conducted with high accuracy. |
| US07657352B2 |
Automatic control system
An automatic control system provides control of an automotive system in a vehicle based on at least one piece of control provision determination information. The automatic control system includes an information acquisition unit for acquiring the control provision determination information, and determines provision of the control for the automotive system based on predetermined criteria. The criteria defines when and how the query of control provision is conducted by the automatic control system. |
| US07657348B2 |
System and method for computing rail car switching solutions using dynamic classification track allocation
A system for computing car switching solutions in a railway switch yard. The system is computer based and has an input for receiving data conveying information about one or more arrival trains arriving at the switch yard and data conveying information about departure trains to depart the switch yard. A processing entity processes the data and computes car switching solutions for the railcars. |
| US07657347B2 |
Temperature-based monitoring method and system for determining first and second fluid flow rates through a heat exchanger
Monitoring method and system are provided for dynamically determining flow rate of a first fluid and a second fluid through a heat exchanger. The method includes: pre-characterizing the heat exchanger to generate pre-characterized correlation data correlating effectiveness of the heat exchanger to various flow rates of the first and second fluids through the heat exchanger; sensing inlet and outlet temperatures of the first and second fluids through the heat exchanger, when operational; automatically determining flow rates of the first and second fluids through the heat exchanger using the sensed inlet and outlet temperatures of the first and second fluids and the pre-characterized correlation data; and outputting the determined flow rates of the first and second fluids. The automatically determining employs the determined effectiveness of the heat exchanger in interpolating from the pre-characterized correlation data the flow rates of the first and second fluids. |
| US07657342B2 |
Substrate thickness measuring during polishing
A computer program product that determines a polishing endpoint includes obtaining spectra from different zones on a substrate during different times in a polishing sequence, matches the spectra with indexes in a library and uses the indexes to determining a polishing rate for each of the different zones from the indexes. An adjusted polishing rate can be determined for one of the zones, which causes the substrate to have a desired profile when the polishing end time is reached. |
| US07657341B2 |
System, apparatus and method for facilitating pattern-based clothing design activities
A system usable by a processor to enable a user to select a type of garment and view an image of the pattern for the garment. Under direction of the system, the processor enables the user to input data relating to the characteristics of an intended wearer of the garment. The processor generates knitting instructions, indications of varying degrees of pressure applied by garments to a graphical model, and printings of pattern representations of pattern providers. |
| US07657338B2 |
Automation system with a connected sensor or actuator
The invention relates to an automation system with a control unit, to which at least one sensor or actuator is connected. To connect it to the control unit, the sensor or actuator is connected to the connector which features an RFID chip with relevant data of the sensor or actuator. The data for use in the control unit can be read out by means of a reader. |
| US07657336B2 |
Reduction of memory requirements by de-interleaving audio samples with two buffers
Presented herein is a method and system for reducing memory requirements in audio signal processing by de-interleaving audio information with at least two static buffers and a dynamic buffer. The method may include writing interleaved audio information to a first static memory device. The method may also include de-interleaving the audio information and writing de-interleaved audio information to a second static memory device. The method may also include writing de-interleaved audio information to a dynamic memory device from the second static memory device and overwriting interleaved audio information with new interleaved audio information in the first static memory device. The method may also include overwriting interleaved audio information in the first static memory device with de-interleaved audio information from the dynamic memory device and decoding the audio information. |
| US07657331B2 |
Process and systems for the epoxidation of an olefin
A reaction system for epoxidation of olefins, with a feed control system configured to control the relative quantity of reaction modifier present in the feed, where the relative quantity of said reaction modifier is changed in response to changes in the reaction temperature. |
| US07657328B2 |
Device control system, device control method, and control program
According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided with a device control system including: an acquiring unit which acquires a BML document which can be delivered in digital broadcasting; a BML interpreting unit which interprets a description described in the BML document, for controlling an external device; and a communication unit which communicates with the external device on the basis of a result of interpretation by the BML interpreting unit. |
| US07657323B2 |
Endovenous device for dispersing a dilating agent
Apparatus and methods are disclosed for inserting electrical leads within a heart. A method is provided for positioning a medical electrical lead in a cardiac vein. The method comprises inserting a lead within a coronary sinus, dispersing at least one vasodilating agent to dilate at least one cardiac vein, and inserting the lead into a dilated cardiac vein. |
| US07657318B2 |
Technique for adjusting the locus of excitation of electrically excitable tissue
The locus of electrically excitable tissue where action potentials are induced can be controlled using the physiological principle of electrotonus. In one embodiment, first and second pulses are applied to first and second electrodes, respectively, to generate first and second subthreshold potential areas, respectively, within the tissue. The locus within the tissue where action potentials are induced is determined by a superposition of the first and second subthreshold areas according to the physiological principle of electrotonus. In another embodiment, a two-dimensional array of electrodes are formed. The cathode may be positioned near the center of the two-dimensional array or may be left out. The first and second subthreshold areas may thereby be steered. An array of anodal rings may be used to contain the field of excitation. |
| US07657311B2 |
Subcutaneous only implantable cardioverter-defibrillator and optional pacer
A subcutaneous implantable cardioverter-defibrillator is disclosed which has an electrically active canister which houses a source of electrical energy, a capacitor, and operational circuitry that senses the presence of potentially fatal heart rhythms. At least one subcutaneous electrode that serves as the opposite electrode from the canister is attached to the canister via a lead system. Cardioversion-defibrillation energy is delivered when the operational circuitry senses a potentially fatal heart rhythm. There are no transvenous, intracardic, or epicardial electrodes. A method of subcutaneously implanting the cardioverter-defibrillator is also disclosed as well as a kit for conducting the method. |
| US07657303B2 |
Guided radiation therapy system
A system and method for accurately locating and tracking the position of a target, such as a tumor or the like, within a body. In one embodiment, the system is a target locating and monitoring system usable with a radiation delivery source that delivers selected doses of radiation to a target in a body. The system includes one or more excitable markers positionable in or near the target, an external excitation source that remotely excites the markers to produce an identifiable signal, and a plurality of sensors spaced apart in a known geometry relative to each other. A computer is coupled to the sensors and configured to use the marker measurements to identify a target isocenter within the target. The computer compares the position of the target isocenter with the location of the machine isocenter. The computer also controls movement of the patient and a patient support device so the target isocenter is co-incident with the machine isocenter before and during radiation therapy. |
| US07657302B2 |
Guided radiation therapy system
A system and method for accurately locating and tracking the position of a target, such as a tumor or the like, within a body. In one embodiment, the system is a target locating and monitoring system usable with a radiation delivery source that delivers selected doses of radiation to a target in a body. The system includes one or more excitable markers positionable in or near the target, an external excitation source that remotely excites the markers to produce an identifiable signal, and a plurality of sensors spaced apart in a known geometry relative to each other. A computer is coupled to the sensors and configured to use the marker measurements to identify a target isocenter within the target. The computer compares the position of the target isocenter with the location of the machine isocenter. The computer also controls movement of the patient and a patient support device so the target isocenter is coincident with the machine isocenter before and during radiation therapy. |
| US07657297B2 |
Implantable analyte sensor
An implantable analyte sensor including a sensing region for measuring the analyte and a non-sensing region for immobilizing the sensor body in the host. The sensor is implanted in a precisely dimensioned pocket to stabilize the analyte sensor in vivo and enable measurement of the concentration of the analyte in the host before and after formation of a foreign body capsule around the sensor. The sensor further provides a transmitter for RF transmission through the sensor body, electronic circuitry, and a power source optimized for long-term use in the miniaturized sensor body. |
| US07657283B2 |
System and method for measuring and configuring miss-configured 2G neighbors in 3G networks
A system and a method for measuring and configuring miss-configured 2G neighbors in a 3G network. The system comprises a user equipment, an operation and maintenance center, a radio network controller and a data register, wherein the operation and maintenance center further comprises a measurement information unit and a configuration unit, and the radio network controller further comprises a measurement control unit. The method comprises the steps of: setting parameters and measuring 2G neighbors in a 3G cell according to the parameters; generating a to-be-measured 2G neighbor list and delivering the to-be-measured 2G neighbor list to the user equipment for measuring; receiving report of measurement information of the 2G neighbors from the user equipment, and if the reported measurement information of one of the to-be-measured 2G neighbors meets condition of miss-configuration, adding the one to the miss-configured 2G neighbor list. |
| US07657281B2 |
Methods of dynamically changing information provided on a display of a cellular telephone and related cellular telephones
Methods of displaying information on a display of a cellular telephone are provided in which information from at least a first of a plurality of standby screen applications is displayed on the display of the cellular telephone while the cellular telephone is in a standby mode. A second of the plurality of applications is then automatically selected based on a set of pre-defined rules. Thereafter, the displayed information from the first of the plurality of applications is replaced with information from the second of the plurality of applications while the cellular telephone remains in the standby mode. Related cellular telephones and computer program products are also provided. |
| US07657276B2 |
Radio communication system, radio communication apparatus, radio communication method, and computer program
In order to allow each of communication stations to execute impartial control of accesses to communication media by setting executable-communication ranges of their own independently of each other in a communication environment based on a CSMA method, the present invention provides a radio communication system in which each communication station is capable of checking the occupation state of communication media and setting such an executable-communication range of its own in accordance with the occupation state of the communication media that the number of communication stations coexisting in the executable-communication range is brought to a value within a predetermined range. For example, a specific communication station sets an executable-communication range of its own in order to limit the number of other communication stations capable of communicating with the specific communication station. In addition, a communication station sets an executable-transmission range suitable for an executable-reception range set by itself in order to reduce the degree of non-uniformity of the access control and to minimize the impact of interferences on other communication stations. |
| US07657275B2 |
Mitigation of transmit power spikes for a power-controlled data transmission in a wireless communication system
Techniques to mitigate spikes in transmit power, by reducing the magnitude and/or duration of the spikes, are described. Initially, power control is performed in a normal manner and in accordance with a transmit power control (TPC) scheme. If a (e.g., upward) transmit power spike is detected, the power control is performed in a manner to mitigate the adverse effects of the spike and in accordance with another TPC scheme. An upward transmit power spike may be detected, e.g., if a predetermined number of consecutive TPC commands in the upward direction is obtained for increasing transmit power. The upward transmit power spike may be mitigated by limiting the transmit power, reducing the rate of transmit power adjustment in the upward direction, delaying and/or filtering TPC decisions used for transmit power adjustment, preventing upward adjustment of transmit power, and so on. Multiple states may be defined and used to facilitate power control with spike mitigation. |
| US07657270B2 |
System and method for providing a single telephone number for use with a plurality of telephone handsets
Systems and methods providing integrated voice and data services utilizing wired cordless access with unlicensed/unregulated connectivity sources and wireless access with licensed/regulated connectivity sources. A single telephone directory number is assigned for use with both a mobile wireless telephone and for use with a cordless wired Internet Protocol (IP) telephone. The mobile wireless telephone operates via a conventional licensed spectrum wireless network, and the IP telephone operates over voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) over a broadband packet data network service. Incoming calls simultaneously ring the user's mobile wireless telephone and IP telephone. The user may be provided a personal voice mailbox that may be accessed from their mobile wireless telephone or from their IP telephone. The user may be provided a single services bill associated with use of both telephones. |
| US07657269B2 |
Method and apparatus for locating multimode communication devices
A location services controller (104) for locating multimode communication devices (MCDs) (102) has a communication element (302) for communicating with two or more communication networks (106) and MCDs coupled thereto, a memory (304), and a processor (306) for controlling operations thereof. The processor is programmed to request (402) location information of an MCD from at least two sources selected among a group that can include the MCD and one or more communication networks coupled to the MCD, and determine (426) from the sources of location information the location of the MCD. |
| US07657268B2 |
Predicting movement of a mobile node from a current access location to next access locations
Facilitating mobile node mobility includes facilitating at a current access location a communication session for a mobile node. Context information for the communication session is managed, where the context information comprises information for supporting the communication session. A predictive set comprising one or more predicted next access locations is established for the communication session. The context information is transferred to the predicted next access locations prior to the communication session moving to an actual next access location. |
| US07657266B2 |
E-OTD augmentation to U-TDOA location system
A method for use in a wireless communication system with a network overlay geolocation system having a sparse deployment network in which base stations of the wireless communication system may or may not have a co-located wireless location sensor (WLS). The method uses U-TDOA measurements on the uplink (reverse) signal and E-OTD measurements on the downlink (forward) signals to estimate a location for a mobile appliance. |
| US07657262B2 |
System and method for providing enhanced handover performance
A method for assisting in a handover is provided that includes utilizing a link between a centralized access controller (CAC) and customer premises equipment (CPE) to facilitate a communication session involving a mobile station. The method also includes rejecting a handover from a public network to a cell controlled by the CAC after recognizing, in advance, that sufficient resources are unavailable for supporting a channel to be employed for the handover. |
| US07657259B2 |
Optimal home agent allocation
Particular embodiments provide an optimal allocation of a bearer manager or home agent. In one embodiment, a message is received from a mobile node requesting access to a visiting network that is different from a home network for the mobile node. An authentication request is sent to the home network requesting authentication for access. The authentication request indicates that a home agent has not been assigned. The home AAA server then sends a response that indicates the visiting AAA server can assign a home agent for the mobile node. The visiting AAA server then assigns a home agent that is optimally determined. The visiting home agent is different from a home agent that is found in the mobile node's home network. When a registration request is received, an IP gateway may send the registration request to the visiting home agent, which may not be sent back to the home network. |
| US07657257B2 |
Loading an application to be deployed in a terminal and a chip card
In order to rapidly load from a server (1) an application to be deployed (AP) in a terminal (2) and a chip card (3), a message (MAP) containing both a first application part and second application part formatted so as to be compatible with a protocol for communication between the terminal and the card is transmitted by the server to the terminal, which stores the two parts. The first part (APT) extracted from the application message (MAP) is installed in the terminal. A specific loader (CAPC) loads the second part (APC) extracted from the message according to the communication protocol. The installations of the two application parts are thus synchronous under the control of the terminal. |
| US07657256B2 |
Notifying a user of a portable wireless device
A method, apparatus and system for notifying a user of a portable communication device. In one embodiment, a location of a first portable communication device is determined for a first user and the location of a second portable communication device is determined for a second user. A determination is made as to whether the location of the second portable communication device is within a same region containing the first portable communication device. If the second portable communication device is within the same region as the first portable communication device, then the first user is notified of the presence of the second user. |
| US07657254B2 |
User identification method in mobile communication system and mobile station, and mobile communication system therefor
A mobile station includes a voice mail password in an outgoing call message for a call, a data communication and the like. A mobile telephone switching center determines whether the voice mail password of the outgoing call message from the mobile station is consistent with the voice mail password from the voice mailing system, and provides the call service to the corresponding mobile station when they are consistent with each other. The voice mail password can be registered or changed after the user connects to the voice mailing system and is identified for the voice mail service. Therefore, the user can just merely change the voice mail password, thereby preventing unauthorized use of the mobile station. |
| US07657251B2 |
Call interruption compensation system
A mobile terminal prompts a user to make a voice message upon detection of an abnormally interrupted call, and records the message. Then, the mobile terminal converts the recorded voice data and a telephone number of a communication partner's terminal into a format suitable for data communication. Next, the mobile terminal transmits the converted data to a mobile data communication relay base station. The mobile data communication relay base station forwards the converted data to a data communication network storage device via a data communication network. A stored message transmitter retrieves the telephone number of the communication partner's terminal from the data communication network storage device and calls the communication partner's terminal via a fixed telephone network. When communication is established between the stored message transmitter and the communication partner's terminal, the stored message transmitter reproduces the voice data retrieved from the data communication network storage device in response to a request from the communication partner's terminal. |
| US07657248B2 |
Wireless LAN system, wireless LAN access point, wireless LAN terminal and activation control method for use therewith
To provide a wireless system in which a terminal that is shutdown or on in standby can be activated from a remote site in an environment where connection is attested by an authentication server, using security technology for wireless LAN, a different encryption key from other terminals is employed in the communication, and the encryption key is periodically renewed. An access point controls a beacon transmission interval control part by recognizing a terminal activation signal from a management terminal. The beacon transmission interval control part controls the transmission interval of beacon by switching between a normal operation mode and a patterned transmission interval mode. A beacon transmission interval detection circuit of a terminal monitors interval between beacons, and upon detecting patterned beacons, outputs a detection signal. A wireless module receives the detection signal from the beacon transmission interval detection circuit, and then makes an activation request to the terminal. |
| US07657246B2 |
Techniques for passive subharmonic mixing
Particular embodiments of mixer designs permit greater integration on standard chips with an improvement in power and linearity to enable low-power, high-performance reception. Some embodiments feature a method of frequency conversion using at least two stages of switches to mix an input signal with reference signals. The method involves mixing a differential input signal with a first differential reference signal through a first stage of switches, generating from the first stage of switches a first frequency converted differential signal, and mixing the first frequency converted differential signal with a second differential reference signal through a second stage of switches. The method includes generating from the second stage of switches a second frequency converted differential signal. The first differential reference signal can be phase shifted from the second differential reference signal and can have a different frequency. The mixer designs can have multiple stages of switches in a low-supply voltage design. |
| US07657243B2 |
RF transceiver front-end
An RF transceiver front-end includes receiver and transmitter front-ends. The receiver front-end includes 1st and 2nd antennas, a ninety degree phase shift module and an LNA module. The 1st and 2nd antennas receive inbound RF signals and provide a first directional circular polarization. The ninety degree phase shift module phase shifts the RF signals received by the 2nd antenna. The LNA module amplifies the RF signals received by the 1st antenna and the shifted RF signals. The transmitter front-end includes a PA module and 3rd and 4th antennas, which provide a second directional circular polarization. The PA module amplifies outbound RF signals to produce amplified outbound RF signals and amplified orthogonal outbound RF signals. The 3rd antenna transmits the amplified outbound RF signals and the 4th antenna transmits the amplified orthogonal outbound RF signals. |
| US07657238B2 |
Method and apparatus for modulating a radio signal using digital amplitude and phase control signals
A transmitter for modulating an RF carrier signal with an input digital data stream is disclosed. The transmitter has a processor for generating digital phase and digital amplitude signals which characterise the input digital data stream, a signal generator for generating an RF carrier signal with a phase property defined by the generated digital phase signal, an amplifier arranged to receive the RF carrier signal as an input, and a bi-level switching circuit responsive to the generated digital amplitude signal to switch between the two levels to generate a voltage signal for supplying power to the amplifier. |
| US07657235B2 |
Communication network with arrangement for replacing a malfunctioning active master with a new active master
A communication network includes a plurality of devices and a control unit for generating control signals to control the operation of the devices. Each device includes: a device operating circuit, a communication interface for receiving command signals for controlling operation of the devices, a control circuit coupled between the device operating circuit and the communication interface for controlling the operation of the device operating circuit part in dependency of said command signals, and a master integral to the device for receiving the control signals, for generating the command signals in response to the received control signals, and for transferring the command signals to the communication interfaces of the plurality of devices. The communication network activates one of the masters as an active master, and in case the active master fails, then it activates another master to take over as the active master. |
| US07657231B2 |
Method for estimating a frequency offset of a modulated bandpass signal
In a method for estimating a frequency offset (fe, Ωe) of a modulated bandpass signal (s) with an assumed carrier frequency (Ω0) in a mobile radio receiver, times (τj) of the zero cross-overs of the bandpass signal are determined in a first step. Using the times (τj) of the zero cross-overs and the assumed carrier frequency (Ω0), the required frequency offset (fe, Ωe) is estimated in a further step by calculating the DC component of an instantaneous frequency which is given by the frequency of the bandpass signal less the assumed carrier frequency. |
| US07657228B2 |
Device, system and method of noise identification and cancellation
Some embodiments of the invention provide devices, systems and methods of noise identification and cancellation. For example, an apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the invention includes: a characterizer to estimate a non-linear mutual relation between: a characteristic of an incoming interference signal, and an estimated portion of noise level in an incoming signal-of-interest caused by the incoming interference signal; and a noise canceller to reduce an effect of the interference signal on the signal-of-interest by applying a noise reduction algorithm based on said non-linear mutual relation. |
| US07657222B2 |
Wireless cable networking gateway and Wi-Fi system incorporating the same
A wireless cable networking gateway, a method of wireless cable networking and a Wi-Fi system incorporating the gateway or the method. In one embodiment, the gateway includes: (1) a wireless transceiver for transferring data between wireless and wireline domains, (2) wide-area and premises cable interfaces for coupling the wireless cable networking gateway to respective wide-area and premises cable networks and (3) channel insertion and extraction circuitry, coupling the wireless transceiver, the wide-area cable interface and the premises cable interface, that routes the data between the wireless transceiver and at least a portion of a television channel to be transmitted across at least the premises cable interface, remaining television channels being transmitted from the wide-area cable interface to the premises cable interface. |
| US07657219B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus including: a paper feed cassette; a paper pickup roller; an image forming portion; a fixing unit; a paper discharge portion for discharging paper P with a developer image fused and fixed thereon; and an inversion roller and a paper discharge drive roller for conveying paper P along a paper conveyance path, and is constructed such that guide ribs are provided for a curved portion in a main conveyance path and the first and second curved portions of a sub conveyance path are provided in shapes that will not cause concentration of stress acting on the paper P in abutment. |
| US07657218B2 |
Gloss providing sheet and image formation apparatus
A disclosed gloss-providing sheet for providing high gloss to a toner image on a recording material by being placed on a toner image surface of the recording material, heated so as to fuse toner, and then separated from the recording material after the toner is cooled and solidified includes: a notification portion that changes a visual state thereof when a temperature of the gloss-providing sheet becomes equal to or lower than a glass transition temperature of the toner. |
| US07657217B2 |
Image heating apparatus and method for manufacturing image heating apparatus
An image heating apparatus includes a heating roller for heating an image on a recording material; a coil unit disposed in said heating roller and including a coil for induction heat generation in said heating roller; a supporting member for rotatably supporting said heating roller, wherein said supporting member including a holding portion for substantially non-rotatably holding said coil unit. |
| US07657213B2 |
Doctor blade with tangential working tip
A doctor blade for a printer may include a cantilever spring. The free end of the cantilever spring includes a section with a first bend in one direction and a second bend in the opposite direction. Thus, a bump end may be formed which has a surface which is generally tangential to the surface of a developer roll against which the doctor blade is biased. |
| US07657211B2 |
Image forming device including a removable developer discharge unit
An image forming device includes a device main body having a developer receiving port, and a developer discharge unit having a developer discharge port. When the developer discharge unit is attached to the device main body, the developer receiving port and the developer discharge port overlap each other. As the developer discharge unit is attached to the device main body, a shutter opens in a direction that is different from an attaching direction of the developer discharge unit. The developer discharge port of the developer discharge unit is opened accompanying an opening movement of the shutter, and an opening portion of the developer discharge port and an opening portion of the developer receiving port overlap each other at all times. |
| US07657207B2 |
Belt driving device, transfer unit using the same and image forming apparatus using the transfer unit
An image forming apparatus includes a developing unit which develops toner to form an image, a transfer unit which transfers the image onto a printing medium, and a fusing unit to fuse the image transferred onto the printing medium, wherein the transfer unit includes a belt, a plurality of rollers which rotatably supports the belt, and a belt tension applying unit which moves a first roller of the plurality of rollers between a belt tension release position at which a tension of the belt releases and a belt tension applying position at which the tension of the belt applies by the interlocking motion between the belt tension applying unit and a second roller of the plurality of rollers. |
| US07657205B2 |
Multi-function peripheral including finisher
A multi-function peripheral including: a printing portion; a scanning portion reading an image from a document; a discharge portion disposed between the printing portion and the scanning portion, and loading sheets of print media on which images are formed; and a finisher installed on the discharge portion to post-process the print media, on which the image is formed. The finisher includes: a plurality of fixing units including a first fixing portion disposed on a lower portion of the finisher in order to prevent the finisher from moving upward and a second fixing portion that can rotate so as to prevent the finisher from moving in an attaching direction on the discharge portion. |
| US07657204B2 |
Locking apparatus and image forming apparatus having the same
A locking apparatus includes a lever unit disposed at an intermediate transfer belt frame to cause an intermediate transfer belt to contact a photosensitive medium; a locking unit disposed at a supporting cover to cause the supporting cover to be fixed to and separated from an engine frame; and a coupling unit to cause the lever unit to operate in association with the locking unit. |
| US07657195B2 |
Optional apparatus of image forming device for setting its own driving condition using received specification information of main body and control method thereof
An optional apparatus of an image forming device is provided for setting its own driving condition using received specification information of a main body and method thereof. The optional apparatus is additionally combined into the main body of the image forming device to expand functions of the image forming device, and includes a driving unit driven to perform an addition function required to expand the functions of the image forming device, and a control unit for receiving specification information of the main body, setting a driving condition of the driving unit based on the received specification information, and then controlling the driving unit according to the set driving condition. The optional apparatus can be implemented as a general optional apparatus that can be combined into any kind of image forming device. |
| US07657194B2 |
Image forming apparatus and toner supply control program for the same
A digital color copier includes: a toner concentration storage which stores a detected toner concentration of each developer block of multiple developer blocks across an image forming width; a toner consumption predictor for predicting a first predicted toner consumption of toner consumed from developer of every developer block during a first circulation; a toner concentration estimator for estimating, for every developer block, a toner supply point estimate as the toner concentration at a point where toner is supplied, by subtracting the first predicted toner consumption from the associated detected toner concentration and setting up a toner supply target value of the toner to be supplied from a toner supply device to a developing device in accordance with the predicted toner consumption during a second circulation of the developer inside the developing device that follows the first circulation. |
| US07657193B2 |
Consumable management device, image forming apparatus, computer readable medium storing a program, and consumable management method
A consumable management device includes a life determining unit that determines whether a consumable reaching a life end exists in an object apparatus which operates with a plurality of consumables or not, a stop process unit that, when the life determining unit determines that a consumable reaching a life end exists, performs a stop process of stopping the operation of the object apparatus, an additional replacement determining unit that, when the object apparatus is to be stopped, determines whether, in addition to replacement or replenishment of the consumable, a consumable which is to be replaced or replenished exists or not, and a notification process unit that, when the additional replacement determining unit determines that a consumable which is to be additionally replaced or replenished exists, performs a notification process of notifying an operator that the consumable which is to be additionally replaced or replenished is to be replaced or replenished. |
| US07657188B2 |
Optical device and circuit using phase modulation and related methods
A disclosed apparatus comprises a guiding element and a nonlinear element. The guiding element guides optical input signals, at least one of which is phase-modulated, to an interference area where such signals meet and interfere. The resulting interference signal is nonlinearly discriminated by the nonlinear element to produce an optical output signal that can be amplitude- or phase-modulated according to the phase modulation of the input signals. The invention also includes related methods and photonic logic gates. |
| US07657186B2 |
Consistency checking over internal information in an optical transceiver
A method that enables an optical transceiver to perform consistency checking, such as Cyclic Redundancy Checking (CRC), over internal information stored in the transceiver's memory while the transceiver is in operation. The optical transceiver includes a system memory and a consistency checker component. The consistency checker component determines that consistency checking is to be performed and identifies which portion of the system memory is to be checked. The consistency checker reads the portion of system memory and determines whether or not the portion of system memory is consistent with an expected consistency check value. |
| US07657181B2 |
Optical add/drop multiplexer and optical network system
In an optical add/drop multiplexer dropping and inserting a light of a specific wavelength for a WDM signal light and an optical network system utilizing the same, a wavelength selective switch selects a part of WDM signal lights inputted as lights of drop wavelengths and outputting other lights, and a reject/add filter terminates lights of same wavelengths as add wavelengths among output lights from the wavelength selective switch and multiplexes other lights than the terminated lights and lights of the add wavelengths to be outputted. At this time, the drop wavelengths are made to include all of the add wavelengths. |
| US07657176B2 |
Method, apparatus, and system for evaluating faulty point in multi-stage optical amplifying and repeating transmission line
A method, apparatus, and system for evaluation of a faulty point in a multi-stage optical amplifying and repeating transmission line which provides a totally new technique for searching for faults neither of the typical “command response type” or the “DCR method”. When a fault occurs in an optical submarine cable, the profile exhibited by the optical spectral characteristics of the optical noise signal (ASE) successively amplified through the chain of optical amplifying repeaters at the downstream side of the faulty point changes in accordance with the number of the repeaters. The technique finds the number of the repeaters until the faulty point based on the change in the profile so as to evaluate the location of the faulty point and has a step (S11) of monitoring the optical spectrum at the light receiving end and a step (S12) of determining the location of the faulty point from the monitored optical spectrum. |
| US07657173B2 |
Optical lens system of mobile camera
An optical lens system of a mobile camera is provided. The lens optical system includes: an optical lens in which bilaterally symmetrical off-axis lens systems corresponding to the divided view angles are integrally formed and arranged in parallel on the same plane, the optical beams incident at the divided view angles being transmitted through the respective off-axis lens systems; and an image sensor for receiving the optical beams transmitted through the off-axis lens systems, the image sensor being bisected into a green light receiving region and a mixed light receiving region of red and blue colors. Accordingly, the mega resolution can be achieved using the optical lens having the height of VGA grade. Moreover, as the whole length of the optical lens system in the mega optical system is greatly reduced, the camera optical system can have the slim profile. |
| US07657169B2 |
Focus detection method and focus detection device
A focus detection method includes moving a focusing lens group from the near extremity toward the far extremity in a search operation, and stopping the focusing lens group upon first detecting an in-focus state to determine an in-focus position of the focusing lens group when detecting a focus state in each of a plurality of focus detection areas while performing the search operation, and moving the focusing lens group firstly to one of the near extremity and the far extremity which is closer to a current position of the focusing lens group and subsequently toward the other thereof, and stopping the focusing lens group upon first detecting an in-focus state to determine an in-focus position of the focusing lens group when detecting a focus state in the single focus detection area while performing the search operation. |
| US07657168B2 |
Image capture apparatus and zoom lens control method for the same
An image capture apparatus includes: a zoom motor which drives a target object of a retractable zoom lens drive mechanism; a driver for the zoom motor; a reference position detector detecting reference positions of the target object by using edges provided by each of two reset sensors; a position determination section determining as to a current position of the target object based on a current combination of outputs of the two reset sensors, a history of past outputs of the two reset sensors, and a driving direction of the target object; and a controller controlling drive of the zoom motor so as to drive the target object in a direction in which an arbitrary edge at one of the reference positions exists, in accordance with a determination result of the current position of the target object. |
| US07657162B2 |
Hand dryer apparatus
A hand inserting portion is opened at one surface of a casing or at both the one surface and other surface of the casing. The hand inserting portion includes a space in which hands can be accommodated. A high-pressure-airstream generating unit generates a high-speed airstream. A nozzle is provided on each of two opposing sides of the hand inserting portion, from which the high-speed airstream is jetted into the space of the hand inserting portion. The nozzle includes a hole array formed by arranging a plurality of nozzle holes in a row. Air volume of the high-speed airstream is larger at a central portion of the hole array than at other portions of the hole array. |
| US07657158B2 |
Recording medium and method for reproducing information therefrom
A recording medium having recorded thereon, a plurality of picture information sets, presentation time values each of which is associated with the corresponding one of the picture information sets, picture information record marks each of which is associated with the corresponding one of said presentation time values, clip information specifying what position on the recording medium is associated with each of said presentation time values, and reproducing order specifying information specifying in what order the picture information sets are to be reproduced. |
| US07657154B2 |
Providing edited video data suitable for efficient use of video reproducing device capabilities
The present invention provides an editing apparatus, a reproducing apparatus, and a recording medium for reproducing special effects by full use of the capabilities of the reproducing apparatus. The editing apparatus having original video data and edited data that are a collection of editing codes for performing an editing operation with a desired editing type on a desired portion in the original video data to generate edited video data includes a primary conversion table attaching means for attaching, to the editing video data, a primary conversion table for correlating at least the desired editing type with a standard editing type specified as standard in advance. |
| US07657152B2 |
Broadcast playback and/or recording apparatus
A fixed form data broadcast playback apparatus 5 of the present invention has fixed form data broadcast playback means 108 that inserts predetermined data to fixed form data 300 from fixed form data storing means 111 with data inserting means 110, makes the resultant data into an MPEG transport stream by MPEG-TS means 109 and playbackly transmits the resultant to a digital broadcast receiver 3 via a digital interface 320. This construction enables to operate the fixed form data broadcast playback apparatus 5 even from a digital broadcast receiver that does not have a control function to the fixed form data broadcast playback apparatus 5, and further, enables to unify the operability of the screen and remote controller between the digital broadcast receiver 3 and the fixed form data broadcast playback apparatus. |
| US07657151B2 |
Method and system for displaying a series of recordable events
A method and system for displaying identifiers for one or more series of recordable events is described. A system, such as the system of a digital video recorder, may receive a set of recordable events data, such as a listing of all television shows to be broadcast over a two-week period. The system analyzes the set of recordable events data for determining one or more sets of recordable events, where each set includes recordable events having the same title. The system analyzes each set of recordable events to determine sub-sets of recordable events based on relationships between the recordable events of each sub-set. The system displays an identifier for each sub-set of a given set of recordable events when the given set of recordable events is selected for display. A user may select to record a sub-set of recordable events by selecting the identifier that represents the sub-set. |
| US07657145B2 |
Method for fabrication of multilayered optical waveguide structure and multilayered optical waveguide structure
A method for fabrication of a multilayered optical waveguide structure which includes at least two substrates, and an optical waveguide layer disposed between the substrates and having at least one core region and side cladding regions laterally succeeding from the core region. The method is characterized in that the optical waveguide layer is formed from a polysilane compound containing polysilane, and it comprises stacking a first block including one of the substrates and a second block including the other of the substrates through the optical waveguide layer or a cladding layer located at a surface of either one of the blocks, and heating them while pressed in such arrangement so that the first block and the second block are bonded together by the optical waveguide layer or the cladding layer serving as a bonding layer into the multilayered structure. |
| US07657141B2 |
Photonic bandgap fiber
A photonic bandgap fiber includes a hollow core formed along a center axis of the photonic bandgap fiber, through which a light propagates and a cladding region made of silica glass. The cladding region includes air holes forming a triangular lattice arranged around the hollow core. A lattice constant of the triangular lattice of the air holes Λ is equal to or smaller than 2.1 μm. Confinement loss in a predetermined wavelength range including a center wavelength of a photonic bandgap is lower than scattering loss. |
| US07657140B2 |
Optical cable module
An optical cable module has an optical waveguide formed by surrounding a core with a clad layer and a light-receiving/emitting element, installed on a supporting substrate. A light-releasing face of the optical waveguide or a light-incident face to the optical waveguide is aligned so as to face a light-receiving face or a light-emitting face of the light-receiving/emitting element. The optical waveguide is formed into a film shape having flexibility, and provided with a reinforcing member that prevents a deflection from occurring in the optical waveguide. The optical waveguide is placed on a protruding portion from a supporting face of the optical waveguide on the supporting substrate. |
| US07657139B2 |
Y-junction reflector tunable delay or resonator waveguide devices
The invention provides tunable delay or resonator devices in an electro optical substrate. Signals in at least one waveguide in the electro optical substrate pass through Y-junction reflectors which direct signals from one branch of the waveguide back into another branch of the waveguide. A coupled delay or resonator approximated loop is presented in an embodiment of the invention with opposing Y-junction reflectors. In other embodiments of the invention, a delay ladder is provided with selectable levels of delay from multiple outputs. |
| US07657135B2 |
Waveguide and optical motion sensor using optical power modulation
An optical motion sensing device included a sensor frame defining an opening, a sensor pad disposed in the opening, an optical sensing system adapted to detect an amount of movement of the sensor pad in the sensor frame, and an output unit. The optical sensing system includes an optical waveguide, an optical source device, and an optical detector. The optical waveguide is positioned within the sensor frame such that the movement of the sensor pad results in the flexing or compressing of the optical waveguide. The optical source device supplies optical energy to the optical waveguide. The optical detector detects an amount of optical energy exiting the optical waveguide. The output unit is configured to receive a signal indicative of the amount of optical energy exiting the optical waveguide and to generate a measure of the amount of movement of the sensor pad from the received signal. |
| US07657134B2 |
Impact-sensing thermal insulation system and missile incorporating same
An impact-sensing, thermal insulation system includes a light source; an optical detector; and an optically-transmissive insulation optically coupled with the light source and the optical detector, the optically-transmissive insulation being operably associated with an outer surface of a pressure vessel. A missile includes a body; a propulsion system including a pressure vessel having an outer surface; and an impact-sensing, thermal insulation system operably associated with the outer surface of the pressure vessel. The impact-sensing, thermal insulation system includes a light source; an optical detector; and an optically-transmissive insulation optically coupled with the light source and the optical detector, the optically-transmissive insulation being operably associated with the outer surface of the pressure vessel. |
| US07657131B2 |
Systems and methods for integrated optical circuitry for high data rate optical transmission and reception
Embodiments include systems and methods for integrated circuitry optical modulation. In one embodiment, an integrated circuit comprises an optical waveguide enabling multi-level modulation. The embodiment comprises an optical waveguide with integrated circuit modulators. An optical waveguide is split into at least two branches so that modulation can be imposed in each branch. In one embodiment, the branches are combined to produce an optical signal path in which additional modulation is imposed. In an embodiment of an integrated circuit optical demodulator, a received modulated optical signal is divided into branches and demodulated. Embodiments provide a single integrated circuit for multi-level modulation, thereby avoiding the disadvantages of modulation using separate discrete components. Also, a single integrated circuit for multi-level demodulation is provided. |
| US07657128B2 |
Optical force sensor
A force sensor particularly suited for use in an electronic stylus that senses the contact force on its nib for recording pen strokes and handwriting recognition. The sensor has a housing for a load bearing member for receiving an input force to be sensed and associated circuitry for converting the input force into an output signal indicative of the input force. The bearing member is movably mounted within the elongate body (up to 100 microns). The input force acting on the load bearing member is caused by contact on the nib. The load bearing member is biased against the direction of the input force.The force sensor also has a light source and photo-detector for sensing levels of illumination from the light source. Associated circuitry converts a range of illumination levels sensed by the photo-detector into a range of output signals, so that the illumination level sensed by the photo-detector varies with movement of the load bearing member within the elongate body such that the output signal from the circuitry is indicative of the input force. Using an optical sensor avoids the need to use a delicate piezo-resistive sensor that requires careful tolerancing during production. |
| US07657124B2 |
Multiple image data source information processing systems and methods
Systems and methods for providing image data/information products to customers are provided. A data management facility generates a graphical user interface that is viewed by customers on computer systems coupled to a processor of the data management facility over a network. The graphical user interface allows a customer to search at least one of stored image data/information products or algorithms, to select at least one of the stored image data/information products or algorithms, and to select a desired geographic location. The data management facility generates a data/information product based on the selected image data/information product and the selected geographic location, and receives a request for an image data/information product, if a desired image data/information product cannot be found in the data management facility. In addition, the processor sends the generated image data/information product to the customer and bills the requestor based on the generated image data product. |
| US07657123B2 |
Text document capture with jittered digital camera
A digital imaging device such as a digital camera is used to obtain multiple digital images of all of a text document segment. The text document segment could be the entire text document so that each digital image would be of the entire text document. The multiple images are obtained while lateral jittering is imparted between the digital imaging device and the text document. The lateral jittering may be in a pair of transverse (e.g., perpendicular) directions. An enhanced resolution representation of the text document is formed from the multiple laterally displaced images and de-blurred as a multi-frame reconstruction. |
| US07657121B2 |
Method for simultaneously capturing images of multiple areas and image processing device
A method for simultaneously capturing images of multiple areas is applied to an image processing device. The method includes scanning a document and obtaining a preview image of the document; providing N scan windows for selecting N to-be-scanned areas from the preview image, wherein N is an integer; setting N scan resolutions respectively for the N scan windows; scanning the document; and outputting N scan images corresponding to the N scan windows according to N frequencies of a timing signal corresponding to the N scan resolutions. |
| US07657116B2 |
Correction method of defective pixel in image pickup device and image processing apparatus using the correction method
Location information representing the location of a defective pixel in an image pickup device and pixel defect level information representing the pixel defect level of the defective pixel are stored beforehand in a memory. The defect level of the defective pixel is determined after shipment of the image pickup device, and the pixel defect information is updated based on the defect determination result. If a new defective pixel is detected at a location different from the location of the defective pixel with the pixel defect information stored in the memory, the pixel defect information of that defective pixel is added. If a defective pixel is detected at the same location as the defective pixel with the pixel defect information stored in the memory, and if the defect level of the detected defective pixel is worse than the original defect level, the defect level of the defective pixel is updated. |
| US07657112B2 |
Method, apparatus, and program for image processing
Generation of ringing components during extraction of striped blue components from an image is suppressed, in an image processing apparatus for removing striped blur components from the image. A preprocess is executed on an image data set, which is obtained by detecting light with line sensors that perform scanning in a sub scanning direction. The preprocess reduces drastic changes in pixel values in a first direction, which is perpendicular to the sub scanning direction. A filter process is executed on the preprocessed image data set to extract image data that represents striped blur components that extend in the sub scanning direction. The extracted image data is subtracted from the image data set to remove striped blur components. |
| US07657105B2 |
Alpha image processing
An alpha image encoding and decoding scheme is disclosed. In the encoding an alpha image, is decomposed into image blocks (600) comprising multiple image element (610). The blocks (600) are compressed into block representations (700). A block representation (700) comprises at least a color codeword (710), an alpha codeword (720), an alpha modifying codeword (730) and a sequence (740) of alpha modifier indices. The color (710) and alpha (720) codeword (710) are representations of the colors and alpha value of the image elements (610) of the block (600), respectively. The alpha modifying codeword (730) is a representation of a set of multiple alpha modifiers for modifying an alpha value represented by the alpha codeword (720). The index sequence (740) includes an alpha index for each image element (610) in the block (600), where an alpha index identifies one of alpha modifiers in the alpha modifier set. |
| US07657104B2 |
Identifying image type in a capture system
Visual objects can be classified according to image type. In one embodiment, the present invention includes capturing a visual object, and decompressing the visual object to a colorspace representation exposing each pixel. The contribution of each pixel to a plurality of image types can then be determined. Then, the contributions can be combined, and the image type of the visual object can be determined based on the contributions. |
| US07657100B2 |
System and method for enabling image recognition and searching of images
Embodiments programmatically analyze each of a plurality of images in order to determine one or more visual characteristics about an item shown in each of the plurality of images. Data is stored corresponding to the one or more visual characteristics. An interface in is provided for which a user is able to specify one or more search criteria. In response to receiving the one or more search criteria, a search operation is performed to identify one or more items that have a visual characteristic that satisfies at least some of the one or more search criteria. |
| US07657095B2 |
Information processing apparatus, method and program
An information processing apparatus includes a display acquisition unit including a display screen which displays information to a user, and an acquisition unit configured to acquire an input pattern written by the user, a storage unit which prestores, as a registered pattern, a pattern corresponding to the input pattern, a comparison unit configured to compare a shape and orientation of the input pattern with a shape and orientation of the registered pattern, a computation unit configured to compute a degree of difference between the orientation of the input pattern and the orientation of the registered pattern, and a selection unit configured to select a display orientation of a display target corresponding to the input pattern, displayed on the display screen, from a plurality of display orientations determined by a shape of the information processing apparatus, based on the computed degree of difference. |
| US07657092B2 |
Methods and systems for detecting concealed objects
Methods and systems for detecting the presence of concealed objects. |
| US07657090B2 |
Region detecting method and region detecting apparatus
To provide a region detecting method capable of setting a proper threshold independently of a photographing condition and moreover, quickly and accurately detecting a specific region, which uses an image data storing section 10 for storing a sample image 12 and a purposed image 11, a first computing means 1 for obtaining the extraction-region-identifying threshold data for a plurality of sample images including a common extraction region but having average color values different from each other in accordance with a genetic algorithm and generating a threshold table 8 for the average color values, a second computing means 2 for adaptively computing the extraction-region-identifying threshold data for the purposed image 11 in accordance with the average color value of the purposed image and the threshold table 8, and a third computing means 3 for detecting an extraction region in accordance with the threshold data computed by the second computing means 12. |
| US07657088B2 |
Method and apparatus of color system adaptive intensity compensation and video encoding/decoding method and apparatus thereof
A method and apparatus for encoding and/or decoding image data. The encoding method includes: if the color space of an image is a single color space, correcting pixel values by applying identical correction pixel values to all color components of a previous image, and if the color space of the image is not a single color space, correcting pixel values by applying different correction pixel values to the color components of the previous image; performing temporal prediction encoding of a current image by using the corrected pixel values of the previous image; quantizing the prediction encoded data; and generating a bitstream by entropy encoding the quantized data. According to the method and apparatus, when the pixel values of a previous image are desired to be corrected in order to perform temporal prediction encoding, different pixel value correction methods are applied according to whether or not the characteristics of color components included in the color space of the image desired to be encoded. By doing so, when image data is encoded, the encoding can be performed adaptively to a variety of color spaces and higher compression efficiency can be maintained. |
| US07657087B2 |
Method and computer-readable medium for detecting flesh-tone pixels
This invention provides a method and computer-readable medium for detecting flesh-tone regions in pictures, images, and videos. First, a flesh-tone axis is defined in a color space coordinate system, the flesh-tone axis passing through both the center of a flesh-tone region and the origin of the color space coordinate system. A perpendicular point, is then calculated on the flesh-tone axis as being the point having the shortest distance to an input pixel. A first distance and a second distance are then calculated based on the coordinates of the input pixel, the perpendicular point and the center of the flesh-tone region. The determination as to whether the input pixel is in the flesh-tone region can be made based on the first distance and second distance. |
| US07657086B2 |
Method and apparatus for automatic eyeglasses detection using a nose ridge mask
A method and an apparatus automatically detect eyeglasses in an image. The method according to one embodiment accesses digital image data representing an image including a face; detects eyeglasses in the image by using nose ridge masking; and outputs a decision about presence or absence of eyeglasses in the image. |
| US07657085B2 |
Information processing apparatus and method, recording medium, and program
In an information processing apparatus, such as an image processing apparatus, positive samples and negative samples are learned by a number of weak classifiers. During learning by the weak classifiers, a value of weighted majority is calculated as a sum of products of the results of classification by the respective weak classifiers and associated weights, and a learning threshold is also calculated. When the number of negative samples is greater than or equal to one half of the number of positive samples, negative samples for which the value of weighted majority is less than the learning threshold are removed. |
| US07657079B2 |
Single constraint at a time (SCAAT) tracking of a virtual reality (VR) display
A system to capture an image and determine a position of an object utilizes a camera. A first processing module recognizes a set of predetermined landmarks, including a first landmark and remainder landmarks, in the image. A second processing module determines an actual location of the first landmark in the image, and applies at least one filtering scheme to estimate positions of the remainder landmarks in the image. A third processing module determines a pose of the object based on the actual location of the first landmark and the estimated positions of the remainder landmarks. |
| US07657071B2 |
Systems, devices, and methods for bundle segmentation in diffusion tensor magnetic resonance imaging
Certain exemplary embodiments can comprise a method that can comprise automatically causing a representation of body tissue to be rendered. The representation of the body tissue can comprise a plurality of voxels located in an interior region of the body tissue. Each of the plurality of voxels can have a negative value of an energy change function. |
| US07657069B2 |
Method for endoluminal imaging with movement correction
The present invention relates to a method for imaging using an image-generating, endoluminal instrument (1) by means of which a sequence of 2D image data of a hollow channel (2), in particular a vessel, of an object under investigation is recorded, wherein the images are recorded in a known temporal relation to a periodic movement of the object under investigation and spatial coordinates of the image are captured by means of a position sensor during each recording of an image (5) and stored as position data (9, 10) together with the 2D image data of the image (5). The method is characterized in that first position data (10) which does not lie in a predefinable movement phase of the object under investigation is corrected, before or after being stored, by interpolation between second position data (9) which does lie in the specified movement phase and/or by subtraction or addition of predetermined values. By means of the method a movement correction of the data can be performed without the need to reduce the volume of recorded image material. |
| US07657066B2 |
Method of determining the living character of an element carrying a fingerprint
The present invention concerns a method of determining the living character of an element carrying a fingerprint. The method according to the invention is characterised in that it consists of making on the one hand at least one electrical measurement and on the other hand taking an image of the said fingerprint, and then validating the said or each electrical measurement by comparing it with the range of values of electrical measurements defined by a pre-established relationship linking the said range to characteristics of the said image. |
| US07657062B2 |
Self-calibration for an eye tracker
Automatic calibration of an eye tracking system involves capturing a plurality of eye measurements, wherein each eye measurement relates to a corresponding eye gaze position of a human eye; determining a set of statistics data from the plurality of eye gaze measurements; comparing the set of statistics of eye gaze measurements with a set of statistics relating to a plurality of pre-measured eye gaze positions of at least one person; and as a result of the comparison, determining a calibration correction factor which, when applied to the statistics of eye gaze measurements, gives an optimum match between the statistics of eye gaze measurements and the statistics of predetermined eye gaze positions. |
| US07657060B2 |
Stylization of video
The techniques and mechanisms described herein are directed to a system for stylizing video, such as interactively transforming video to a cartoon-like style. Briefly stated, the techniques include determining a set of volumetric objects within a video, each volumetric object being a segment. Mean shift video segmentation may be used for this step. With that segmentation information, the technique further includes indicating on a limited number of keyframes of the video how segments should be merged into a semantic region. Finally, a contiguous volume is created by interpolating between keyframes by a mean shift constrained interpolation technique to propagate the semantic regions between keyframes. |
| US07657059B2 |
Method and apparatus for tracking an object
A method and apparatus for tracking an object in an image. An image of a scene comprising an object is received. The image is processed with a first tracker to produce a first estimate of a position of the object in the image and a first confidence value. The image is processed with a second tracker to produce a second estimate of the position of the object in the image and a second confidence value. The second tracker processes the image concurrently with the first tracker. An estimate of the position of the object in the image is selected using the first and second confidence values. The object is then tracked using the selected estimate. |
| US07657056B2 |
Apparatus for identifying a photographer of an image
Disclosed is an apparatus for processing image data in a portable terminal equipped with a camera. In the apparatus the image data photographed by the camera are coded by a predetermined coding scheme in a photographing mode of the camera, header information of a stream of the coded image data is generated and inserted into the stream, identifying information is generated as a watermark and the watermark is inserted into the stream, and the stream comprising the watermark is stored. |
| US07657053B2 |
Speaker unit
In a speaker unit of the present invention, a diaphragm with an aspect ratio exceeding one is provided in an internal space of a frame. The frame has both ends thereof provided with a pair of air holes opening on a rear surface, and a pair of electrode members attached thereto. Each of the electrode members includes a clamping portion to be fixed to an end of the frame, and an elastic arm portion extending from the clamping portion along the frame. The elastic arm portion is opposed to the air hole. A clamping portion rear area and a main body rear area having the air hole opened thereon are formed on the rear surface of the frame. The main body rear area is formed lower than the clamped portion rear area in a direction apart from the elastic arm portion of the electrode member. |
| US07657051B1 |
Bass drum speaker
A speaker apparatus includes a generally cylindrically shaped, hollowed case, a drum membrane at a first end of the case; and an electrically powered speaker at a second end of the case. The speaker is preferably positioned to emit sound primarily away from the drum membrane. The drum membrane is preferably tunable, using a plurality of circumferentially positioned drum tuners. |
| US07657048B2 |
Acoustical receiver housing for hearing aids
An acoustic receiver comprises means for converting an input audio signal into an acoustic signal. The receiver has a housing having a plurality of sides that surround the converting means. One of the sides include an output port for broadcasting the acoustic signal. A jacket fits around the housing and has sections for engaging the sides. The sections are generally flat. The jacket may also form a gap with a corresponding side surface of the housing. A printed circuit board can be located within the gap. The printed circuit board including electronics for processing said input audio signal. |
| US07657044B2 |
Ultrasonic transducer for parametric array
An ultrasonic transducer having a reduced cost of manufacture. The ultrasonic transducer includes a first insulative retaining layer, a second insulative retaining layer, and a vibrator film layer sandwiched between the first and second retaining layers. The first retaining layer includes a first plurality of apertures formed therethrough, and the second retaining layer includes a second plurality of apertures formed therethrough, in which the second apertures are substantially in registration with the first apertures. The ultrasonic transducer further includes a first cover portion having a plurality of spring/backplate assemblies connected thereto, and a second cover portion. The combination of the first retaining layer, the vibrator film layer, and the second retaining layer is sandwiched between the first and second cover portions of the ultrasonic transducer. The laminated construction of the ultrasonic transducer allows the formation of an array of ultrasonic film transducers using a single piece of ultrasonic vibrator film. |
| US07657042B2 |
Liquid crystal display device having sound
A liquid crystal display device includes a sound output function. A sound output function can be added to a liquid crystal device having a light source while preventing any increase in the external size of the liquid crystal display device. The liquid crystal display device includes a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between a first substrate and a second substrate which oppose each other, a flexible printed circuit (FPC) connected to a brim portion of the second substrate, a light guide plate, and an LED. An excitation source is arranged at a portion corresponding to the back side of the FPC connection portion on the second substrate. The excitation source deflects and vibrates the second substrate of the liquid crystal display panel according to a sound signal from an outside source. That is, the second substrate is used as a vibration plate for the output of a sound. The liquid crystal display device can preferably be used for a liquid crystal module used in mobile devices such as a mobile telephone and a PDA. |
| US07657041B1 |
Laser audio preamplifier, volume control, and multiplexer
A fiber optical audio preamplifier receives audio signals from an audio source, amplifies the audio signals, and transfers the signals to a power amplifier. The fiber optical audio preamplifier has at least one first signal converter. Each first signal converter acquires one audio signal from one audio source and converts the audio signal to a modulated light signal. At least one fiber optic volume control device that includes a variable optical attenuator that is connected to receive the modulated light signal. A control signal for sets an attenuation factor of the variable optical attenuator for attenuating the modulated light signal to control volume of the audio signal. One second signal converter is in communication with each fiber optic volume control device to receive the attenuated modulated light signal and demodulate the attenuated modulated light signal to recover the audio signal for transmission to the power amplifier. |
| US07657040B2 |
Parameter setting apparatus for audio mixer, and program therefor
In an audio mixer, there are stored a plurality of scene data each including, as a set of data, respective settings of a plurality of types of parameters, and these scene data are displayed on a scene data list shown on a display section. Human operator selects a desired one of the scene data from the scene data list using an increment or decrement switch. Determination is made as to whether any object-of-caution data, such as patch data, is among the plurality of types of parameters included in the selected scene data, and, if so, a caution display window is displayed to caution the human operator about the object-of-caution data. |
| US07657034B2 |
Data encryption in a symmetric multiprocessor electronic apparatus
For the encryption of data to be stored in a memory external to a circuit, provision is made to store in the external memory encrypted data words in association with an initialization vector and a key identifier associated with a secret key that has served to encrypt same. |
| US07657031B2 |
Method and device for printing sensitive data
In a method and system for printing of sensitive data, encrypted sensitive data to be printed is transferred to a printing device having a printing unit. This sensitive data to be printed is decrypted to create decrypted sensitive data. The decrypted sensitive data is converted into control signals for activation of the printing unit. The decrypted sensitive data is stored in a non-volatile memory such that the decrypted sensitive data are distributed in a plurality of memory segments of the non-volatile memory where a relationship of the memory segments is stored as relationship data independently of the stored decrypted sensitive data. The decrypted sensitive data is printed with the printing unit on a recording medium. |
| US07657027B2 |
Portable terminal with hinge apparatus
A portable terminal with a hinge apparatus is provided. The portable terminal includes a hinge apparatus which pivotally couples a pair of housings together. The hinge apparatus provides a first hinge axis and a second hinge axis which are perpendicular to each other. The hinge apparatus includes a first hinge shaft coupled to the first housing along the first hinge axis, a second hinge shaft coupled to the second hinge housing along the second hinge axis and rotating about the first hinge axis and the second hinge axis, a stopper slot formed on an outer circumferential surface of the first hinge shaft along the first hinge axis, a stopper groove formed on the second hinge shaft along a circumference thereof and encompassing a part of the outer circumferential surface of the first hinge shaft, and a stopper rib formed within the stopper groove and selectively engaging with the stopper slot. Thus, when one of the housings is rotated about one of the hinge axes, the housing is restricted from rotating about the other hinge axis. |
| US07657023B2 |
Splitter wall plates for digital subscriber line (DSL) communication systems and methods to use the same
Splitter wall plates for digital subscriber line (DSL) communication systems and methods to use the same are disclosed. An example apparatus comprises a splitter to separate a digital subscriber line (DSL) signal from a plain old telephone signal (POTS) signal, and a switch to selectively couple a VoIP signal received via a first jack or the POTS signal to a second jack. |
| US07657021B2 |
Method and apparatus for global call queue in a global call center
The present invention is directed to a contact center, comprising: (a) a plurality of media servers 112a-n, each of the media servers being associated with a plurality of corresponding agent communication devices 120a-i positioned in a respective agent domain 100a-n; (b) a plurality of gateways 128a-n, each of which is currently controlled by a corresponding one of the plurality of media servers 112a-n and positioned in a contactor domain 104; and (c) a packet-switched Wide Area Network (WAN) 108 connecting the plurality of media servers 128a-n and the plurality of gateways 112a-n. A first gateway 128a is operable to physically park an incoming customer contact in the customer domain 104 until the occurrence of a call transfer event and, upon the occurrence of a call transfer event, to transfer the parked customer contact from the first gateway 128a to at least one of (i) a second media gateway 128b for processing by the second media gateway's corresponding second controlling media server 112b and (ii) a first media server 112a controlling the first gateway 128a. |
| US07657013B2 |
Apparatus and method for ensuring a real-time connection between users and selected service provider using voice mail
A method and apparatus are described for ensuring a real-time connection between users and selected service providers using voice mail. The system enables seekers of a wide array of services to select, contact, converse, and pay for a service provider using a communications device such as the telephone. A seeker locates a service provider by providing the name of a profession, which is recognized by the system's software. Once a service provider is selected, the system connects the seeker with the service provider for a live conversation. However, during service provider unavailability, the system enables the seeker to leave a voice mail message for the service provider and reconnects the user and service provider once the message is reviewed by the service provider. The system automatically bills the seeker for the time spent conversing with the service provider and compensates the service provider. |
| US07657006B2 |
Messaging translation services
One embodiment of a method for translating a message can be broadly summarized by the following steps: generating an electronic message in an understood language of an originating party; receiving instructions to translate contents of the electronic message to another language; converting the electronic message to the another language in accordance with the instructions; and delivering the converted electronic message to the receiving party. Other methods and devices are also provided. |
| US07657005B2 |
System and method for identifying telephone callers
A method of processing calls received at an interactive voice response (IVR) server is provided and includes receiving a telephone call at the IVR. Caller identity data that is associated with the telephone call is received and a customer profile that includes a list of individual names associated with the caller identity data is received. Each of the individual names is mapped to a speech recognition grammar pattern. Further, a caller of the telephone call is prompted to speak their name. A spoken name from the caller is received and recorded. Moreover, the spoken name is converted into a speech recognition grammar pattern. Thereafter, the speech recognition grammar pattern associated with the spoken name is compared to each of the speech recognition grammar patterns associated with the individual names retrieved from the customer profile. |
| US07657004B2 |
System and method for detecting a connection condition of a phone jack
A phone jack connection detection system and method of operating the same, including a phone jack circuit having a data access arrangement circuit in communication with at least two pins, a stimulus input in communication with the phone jack circuit, the stimulus input being adapted to communicate a stimulus to the phone jack circuit, and a detection circuit in communication with the phone jack circuit, the detection circuit being adapted to detect a response of the phone jack circuit to the stimulus and notify a user of the status of the connection. |
| US07657002B2 |
Cathode head having filament protection features
A cathode assembly including certain features designed to protect the integrity of a filament contained therein is disclosed. In particular, the cathode assembly is configured to prevent damage to the filament should it inadvertently contact another portion of the cathode assembly. In an example embodiment, an x-ray tube incorporating features of the present invention is disclosed. The x-ray tube includes an evacuated enclosure containing a cathode assembly and an anode. The cathode assembly includes a head portion having a head surface. A slot is defined on the head surface and an electron-emitting filament is included in the slot. A protective surface is defined on the head surface proximate to a central portion of the filament. The protective surface in one embodiment is composed of tungsten and is configure to prevent fusing of the filament to the protective surface should the filament inadvertently contact the protective surface. |
| US07656999B2 |
Radiotherapy device
The invention involves a rotary focused gamma-ray radiotherapy device. The invention includes a frame, a rotary ring positioned at the frame, and a source carrier and a collimator carrier that can rotate around a rotary axis respectively. The source carrier is equipped inside with multiple radiation sources. The collimator carrier is equipped inside with a corresponding beam channel to the radiation sources, which focus at a shared focus of the rotary axis through the beam channel. The source carrier and the collimator carrier are connected at both ends with the rotary ring and the frame, respectively. The single-layer and double-support structure of the source carrier and the collimator carrier adopted in the invention enlarges the treatment space, lowers manufacturing cost and difficulty, simplifies the mechanical structure, increases support rigidity of the source carrier and the collimator carrier, ensuring long-lasting and steady coaxial rotation of source carrier and collimator carrier, as well as position accuracy of the focusing center in the therapeutic system. Therefore, a precision radiotherapy is realized with improved radiotherapy effect. |
| US07656996B2 |
Device and method for mapping the distribution of an X-ray fluorescence marker
The invention relates to a method and a device for determining the distribution of an X-ray fluorescence (XRF) marker (16) in a body volume (14). The body volume (14) is irradiated with a beam of rays (12) from an X-ray source (10) with a first ray component with a quantum energy just above and a second ray component with a quantum energy just below the K-edge of the XRF marker (16). Secondary radiation emitted from the body volume (14) is detected in a location-resolved way by a detector (30). To separate the X-ray fluorescence components in the secondary radiation from background radiation, the body volume is irradiated for a second time with a beam of rays from which the first ray component has been substantially removed by a filter (22) made from the material of the XRF marker. |
| US07656993B2 |
Compression device and method for adjustment of a compression pressure
A compression device has a compression plate that applies a pressure to a subject on a support plate. The compression plate has a number of elastically-deformable compression plate elements that are substantially transparent for an examination field used with the compression device. In a method for compressing a subject, at least one pressure sensor measures the pressure applied by a compression device to a subject, and wirelessly supplies a signal representing the detected pressure to a control unit, wherein the detected pressure is compared to a stored compression pressure value. The control device adjusts the pressure applied to the subject by the compression device so that the pressure detected by the sensor is equal to the stored compression pressure value. |
| US07656991B2 |
Image reconstruction method and X-ray CT apparatus
The present invention is intended to provide an image reconstruction method based on an iterative reconstruction technique and characterized by a short image reconstruction time, a small memory capacity, and high image quality. The image reconstruction method comprises the steps of: constructing a system model that has a plurality of concentric rings each segmented into a plurality of sectors; constructing a system matrix associated with one view, by using some of all the sectors constituting the system model, the some of all sectors being located on respective projection lines concerning the one view; creating a system matrix associated with another view, by transforming the system matrix associated with the one view; reconstructing an image through iterative reconstruction by using the system matrix and projection data; and transforming the image into an image composed of rectangular pixels. |
| US07656989B2 |
Electromagnetic pulse transmitting system and method
A plasma antenna generator includes an ionizable material, an explosive charge capable of projecting the ionizable material upon detonation, and a detonator coupled with the explosive charge. An electromagnetic pulse transmitting system includes an electromagnetic pulse generator and a plasma antenna generator capable of reradiating an electromagnetic pulse emitted from the electromagnetic pulse generator. A method includes providing an explosive device comprising an ionizable material, detonating the explosive device to propel the ionizable material, and ionizing the ionizable material to form at least one plasma trail. A sensing system includes an electromagnetic pulse generator, a plasma antenna generator capable of reradiating an electromagnetic pulse emitted from the electromagnetic pulse generator, and a sensing system capable of receiving and analyzing at least a portion of the electromagnetic pulse after being reflected from an interface. |
| US07656988B2 |
Start up circuit for delay locked loop
An initialization circuit in a delay locked loop ensures that after power up or other reset clock edges are received by a phase detector in the appropriate order for proper operation. After reset of the delay locked loop, the initialization circuit assures that at least one edge of a reference clock is received prior to enabling the phase detector to increase (or decrease) the delay in a delay line. After at least one edge of a feedback clock is received, the initialization circuit enables the phase detector to decrease (or increase) the delay in a delay line. |
| US07656986B2 |
Low jitter phase rotator
A phase rotator generates an output signal having plurality of possible output phases with reduced phase jitter. The low jitter phase rotator includes a plurality of differential amplifiers configured to receive a plurality of input differential signals having different phases, and configured to generate a plurality of weighted signals responsive to the plurality of input differential signals. A plurality of digital-to-analog converters (DAC) are arranged into a plurality of groups, each group of DACs configured to provide current for one of the corresponding differential amplifiers. The number of active DACs in each group of DACs determines a relative weighting of the weighted signals, where relative weighting determining an output phase of an output signal of the phase rotator. The DACs are configured to adjust the output phase of the phase rotator. At a kth phase, N/4 adjacent DACs are activated that are indexed as m0, m1, . . . m((N/4)−1), wherein N is the number of said plurality of DACs. At (k+1)th phase, a m(N/4) DAC is activated that is adjacent to the m((N/4−1) DAC. At (k+2)th phase, the m0 DAC is de-activated. |
| US07656982B2 |
DSP-based data recovery
A bit clock recovery apparatus for digital storage readout employing sync frames, where an oversampled readout signal is stored in memory, sync patterns are located in the signal using DSP means, distances of consecutive sync pattern locations are calculated, and bit clock is recovered from these distances and the knowledge about the data framing structure. |
| US07656981B2 |
High speed signaling system with adaptive transmit pre-emphasis
A high-speed signaling system with adaptive transmit pre-emphasis. A transmit circuit has a plurality of output drivers to output a first signal onto a signal path. A receive circuit is coupled to receive the first signal via the signal path and configured to generate an indication of whether the first signal exceeds a threshold level. A first threshold control circuit is coupled to receive the indication from the receive circuit and configured to adjust the threshold level according to whether the first signal exceeds the threshold level. A drive strength control circuit is coupled to receive the indication from the receive circuit and configured to adjust a drive strength of at least one output driver of the plurality of output drivers according to whether the first signal exceeds the threshold level. |
| US07656979B2 |
Data communication device
A data communication device comprises an input circuit (DRTC) that converts external data (XDT) into internal data (IDT) on the basis of a sampling signal (SP). A synchronization circuit (SYNC) provides the sampling signal (SP) on the basis of an oscillator signal (OS) and a synchronization value (SV). The synchronization value (SV) is representative of a number of cycles of the oscillator signal (OS) contained within a time interval for a unit of external data. The synchronization value (SV) is an initial value (IV) during an initial synchronization phase and a measured value (MV) during a measurement-based synchronization phase. A control circuit (IFC) carries out a calibration step in which the initial value (IV) is a preprogrammed reset value (RV) and in which the measured value (MV) is stored as a calibration value (CV). The control circuit (IFC) applies the calibration value (CV) as the initial value (IV) in subsequent initial synchronization phases. |
| US07656978B2 |
Fast Q-filter
An nonlinear digital signal processing filter (100, 200, 1100, 1308, 1310, 1312, 1346, 1604) maintains a magnitude ordering for successive windows of signal samples. A set of filter density generator values [f1, f2, f3 . . . fj . . . fndensities] are used according to the ordering in a recursion relation that computes successive values of a set function over the set of filter density generator values. The recursion relation involves an adjustable nonlinearity defining parameter λ. The values are normalized by dividing by a largest of the values, and differences between successive values are taken. An inner product between each window of signal values (used in order according to magnitude) and the adaptive differences is a filtered signal sample. |
| US07656975B2 |
Gain control in signal processing with feed-forward gain correction
A method and system is disclosed for providing an automatic gain control in signal processing. After receiving a stream of analog signals, a gain is adjusted on the received analog signals using a first set of gain compensation parameters. Then, the adjusted analog signals are converted to digital signals. A predetermined number of digital signals are collected from the converted digital signals within a predetermined time period. The collected digital signals are delayed from being transferred out for further demodulation processing for a predetermined delay time. At the same time, a second set of gain compensation parameters are estimated based on the collected digital signals. The estimated second set of gain compensation parameters are applied to the delayed digital signals. |
| US07656971B2 |
Adjustable phase controlled clock and data recovery circuit
A clock and data recovery circuit including: means for generating a first and a second clock signal; means for receiving the first clock signal and for generating a third clock signal from the first clock signal and means for receiving the second clock signal and for generating a fourth clock signal, wherein at least one of the third and the fourth clock signals differ in phase from the first and the second clock signal respectively; means for receiving the third and fourth clock signals and a serial data stream and for generating a reconstructed serial data stream and a phase error signal; means for receiving the phase error signal and for generating a phase adjustment signal and means for receiving the phase adjustment signal by the by the clock generation circuit in a feedback loop to adjust the phases of the first and second clock signals. |
| US07656968B2 |
Radio receiver, system on a chip integrated circuit and methods for use therewith
A system on a chip integrated circuit includes an analog front end for receiving a received radio signal having a plurality of channel signals, each of the plurality of channel signals being modulated at one of a corresponding plurality of carrier frequencies, and for converting a selected one of the plurality of channel signals into a digital signal. A digital clock generator generates a digital clock signal at a digital clock frequency that varies based on the selected one of the plurality of channel signals. The digital clock frequency, and integer multiples of the digital clock frequency, are not substantially equal to the carrier frequency of the selected one of the plurality of channel signals. A digital section converts the digital signal into at least one audio signal that corresponds to the selected one of the plurality of channels, based on the digital clock signal. |
| US07656962B2 |
Method for transmitting signals in a radio communication system
The invention relates to a method for transmitting signals in a radio communication system consisting of at least two frequency signal-transmitting channels. At least the first (fcoord) of said frequency channels is used for organizing radio resources, and at least the second (fi) of the frequency channels is used for transmitting signals between the stations of the system where the signal transmission is carried out by the frequency channels from/in a direction of said stations in conformity with a predefined temporal pattern (P1, P2, P3). |
| US07656959B2 |
Pipelined decision-feedback unit in a reduced-state viterbi detector with local feedback
A pipelined decision feedback unit (DFU) is disclosed for use in reduced-state Viterbi detectors with local feedback. The disclosed pipelined decision feedback unit improves the maximum data rate that may be achieved by the reduced state Viterbi detector by the pipelined computation of partial intersymbol interference-based estimates. A pipelined decision feedback unit is thus disclosed that computes a plurality of partial intersymbol interference based estimates, wherein at least one partial intersymbol interference-based estimate is based on a selected partial intersymbol interference-based estimate; and selects the selected partial intersymbol interference-based estimate from among partial intersymbol interference-based estimates for path extensions into a state. |
| US07656955B2 |
Device for improving the transmission properties of a bundle of electrical data lines and a system for transmitting data
The invention relates to a device for improving the transmission properties of a bundle of electrical data lines, particularly of a bundle of copper twin wires, and to a system for transmitting data that is provided with a device of this type. Said device comprises at least one adaptive filter, which generates an output signal for correcting the signal transmitted on a first data line. At least one signal tapped by a second data line or an external signal is used as a reference signal for the adaptive filter, and the corrected signal transmitted on the first data line is used as an error signal for the adaptive filter. According to the invention, the device is situated in the transmission path whereby improving the transmission properties of the cable independent from the switched-on transmission units and employed transmission techniques, particularly in the event of high bit rate transmission. |
| US07656951B2 |
Digital video processing method and apparatus thereof
A digital video processing method and an apparatus thereof are provided. The method for processing digital images received in the form of compressed video streams comprising the step of determining a region intensity histogram (RIH) based on information on motion compensation of inter frames. The RIH information is obtained based on the motion compensation values of inter frames, and the RIH information is a good indicator of motion information of a video scene. Also, since the RIH information is quite a good indicator of intensity of the video scene, video streams having similar intensities can be effectively searched by searching for similar video scenes based on the RIH information obtained by the digital video processing method. |
| US07656950B2 |
Video interpolation coding
A method of enhancing picture quality of a video signal is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of generating an interpolated base frame image; receiving a first previously decoded difference picture; receiving a second previously decoded difference picture; generating a combined motion compensated difference surface; and generating a temporally interpolated enhanced picture based upon the interpolated base frame image and the combined motion compensated difference surface. A circuit for enhancing picture quality of a video signal is also disclosed. The circuit comprising a base decoder generating a base image of a standard definition picture; a temporal predictive interpolator coupled to the base decoder and generating an interpolated block; and a summing circuit coupled to the temporal predictive interpolator. The summing circuit preferably adds the interpolated block and a difference block. |
| US07656939B2 |
Adaptive equalizer with passive and active stages
An equalizer may use a passive input stage to improve linearity and reduce power consumption. In addition, the equalizer may use two gain circuits, one in a high frequency amplification path and the other in an all-pass path. The relative proportion of all-pass to high frequency amplification may be adjusted using a single control signal. The equalizer may provide 20 dB of peaking at 5 GHz with good linearity, using CMOS technology. |
| US07656934B2 |
Wireless communications system with secondary synchronization code based on values in primary synchronization code
A wireless communication system. The system comprises transmitter circuitry (BST1), the transmitter circuitry comprising encoder circuitry (50) for transmitting a plurality of frames (FR). Each of the plurality of frames comprises a primary synchronization code (PCS) and a secondary synchronization code (SSC). The encoder circuitry comprises of circuitry (501) for providing the primary synchronization code in response to a first sequence (32). The encoder circuitry further comprises circuitry (502) for providing the secondary synchronization code in response to a second sequence (54) and a third sequence (56). The second sequence is selected from a plurality of sequences. Each of the plurality of sequences is orthogonal with respect to all other sequences in the plurality of sequences. The third sequence comprises a subset of bits from the first sequence. |
| US07656932B2 |
Digital receiver device
A digital processing device for a modulated signal, arranged at the input of a radio frequency receiver chain, suited in particular to a transmission system a direct sequence spread spectrum operation, comprising an analog-to-digital converter performing undersampling of the signal received, leading to an overlapping of the frequency range of the undersampled wanted signal by the frequency range of an interfering signal, demodulation means connected at the output of the analog-to-digital converter in order to bring the undersampled wanted signal back to baseband, a low pass filter connected at the output of the demodulation means and a filter matched to the spreading code used, and an additional filtering unit arranged between the low pass filter and the matched filter, for implementing a stochastic matched filtering operation to improve the signal-to-noise ratio at the input of the matched filter. |
| US07656930B2 |
Assessing quality of service using digital watermark information
The disclosure details methods of measuring the quality of service of received media signals by analyzing digital watermarks embedded in such signals. The quality of a received video or audio signal can thereby be assessed without having the original version of the signal before transmission. Instead, the strength or quality of the embedded digital watermark is analyzed to determine the quality of the received signal. The degradation of a watermark signal is used to assess quality of service of signals, such as audio and video. |
| US07656925B2 |
Two-dimensional photonic crystal surface emitting laser
The two-dimensional photonic crystal surface emitting laser according to the present invention includes a number of main modified refractive index areas periodically provided in a two-dimensional photonic crystal and secondary structures each relatively located in a similar manner to each of the main modified refractive index areas. The location of the secondary structure is determined so that a main reflected light which is reflected by a main modified refractive index area and a secondary reflected light which is reflected by a secondary structure are weakened or intensified by interference. |
| US07656924B2 |
Surface emitting laser, and transceiver, optical transceiver, and optical communication system employing the surface emitting laser
A surface emitting laser includes a lower semiconductor multilayer mirror formed of a plurality of pairs of a high-refractive-index area and a low-refractive-index area; an active layer vertically sandwiched by cladding layers; a current confinement layer of AlzGa1-zAs having an oxide area in a peripheral portion of the current confinement layer, where 0.95≦z≦1; and an upper semiconductor multilayer mirror formed of a plurality of pairs of a high-refractive-index area and a low-refractive-index area. The low-refractive-index area of at least one of the lower semiconductor multilayer mirror and the upper semiconductor multilayer mirror includes an Alz1Ga1-z1As layer with a thickness thinner than that of the current confinement layer, where z≦z1. |
| US07656923B2 |
Dual diode converging module
An improved, dual diode convergence module which focuses the light energy of at least two separate diode chip laser wavelengths of into a single beam and, thus, which derives the benefit of both wavelengths. |
| US07656917B2 |
Circuit arrangement for generating light pulses
A circuit arrangement for generating light pulses includes an electro-optical converter; a switching element; and a charge store. The electro-optical converter is connected to the charge store via the switching element. The closing of the switching element triggers a discharging process in the charge store and, in the process, generates an electrical pulse that is converted to a light pulse in the electro-optical converter. First and second impedance matching circuits are arranged, respectively, between the charge store and the switching element and between the switching element and the electro-optical converter. |
| US07656916B2 |
Semiconductor light emitting device and method for fabricating same
A nitride semiconductor device includes a stem. A heat sink is provided on the stem. At least one nitride semiconductor light-emitting element is connected to the heat sink. A light-detecting element for detecting light from the semiconductor light-emitting element is provided on the stem. A cap for encapsulating therein the heat sink, the semiconductor light-emitting element, and the light-detecting element in a sealed manner is connected to the stem. The space in the cap has an encapsulated atmosphere. The encapsulated atmosphere contains a component for inhibiting diffusion of hydrogen atoms contained in the semiconductor light-emitting element. The present invention suppresses defect due to an increase in operation voltage to increase a ratio of good goods thereby improving the fabrication yield of the semiconductor light-emitting device. |
| US07656915B2 |
Microchannel cooler for high efficiency laser diode heat extraction
A laser diode package includes a laser diode, a cooler, and a metallization layer. The laser diode is used for converting electrical energy to optical energy. The cooler receives and routes a coolant from a cooling source via internal channels. The cooler includes a plurality of ceramic sheets and a highly thermally-conductive sheet. The ceramic sheets are fused together and the thermally-conductive sheet is attached to a top ceramic sheet of the plurality of ceramic sheets. The metallization layer has at least a portion on the thermally-conductive sheet. The portion is electrically coupled to the laser diode for conducting the electrical energy to the laser diode. |
| US07656913B2 |
Fiber pulse laser apparatus and method of controlling the same
A method of controlling a pulse output in a master oscillator-power amplifier type fiber pulse laser apparatus including a master oscillator unit and a power amplifier unit connected to the master oscillator unit is provided. The method includes starting the master oscillator unit before starting the power amplifier unit. |
| US07656911B2 |
External resonator type wavelength-variable laser
To facilitate phase adjustment in an external resonator type wavelength-variable laser. An external resonator type wavelength-variable laser (50) includes a semiconductor light amplifier (1), a wavelength selection filter (3) having periodic frequency characteristics, an external resonator (6), and a wavelength-variable filter (4). Δf is divided into one or more regions. The following conditions are satisfied for one Δfi region: mj=(j×Δffs)/ΔfFP where Δffs: a period of the wavelength selection filter, ΔfFP: a Fabry-Perot mode interval dependent on a length of the external resonator, j: an integer not smaller than 1 and not larger than (Δfi/Δffs). A coefficient Mj is an integer obtained by rounding off the first digit after decimal point of the coefficient mj. A coefficient Ni,j is an integer obtained by discarding the first digit after decimal point of Δfi/(j×Δffs). In this regard, a relation of (|Ni,j×2π(Mj−mj)|<π/2) is satisfied for one j. |
| US07656910B2 |
Add drop multiplexing method, apparatus and system based on GFP
The present invention relates to network transmission technologies, and provide a Generic Framing Procedure (GFP)-based add/drop multiplexing (add/drop multiplexing) method, apparatus and system to improve add/drop multiplexing utilization, in which multiple Gigabyte Ethernet (GE) connections among multiple nodes are multiplexed in GFP to a byte synchronous interface for transmission, wherein a bandwidth of the byte synchronous interface is smaller than a sum of peak bandwidths of the group of GE connections borne on the byte synchronous interface; statistical multiplexing is carried out on effective data borne on the multiple GEs by means of buffers, and the effective data are treated by priority in the case of network congestion. The present invention implements statistical add/drop multiplexing for multiple data services in various types, and can be used in implementing a statistical ADM for diverse data services in burst mode, even a statistical ADM for multiple mixed services. |
| US07656909B1 |
Self-steering autoplexer for transmitter multicoupling
A self-steering autoplexer for transmitter multicoupling has a linear summer for summing transmit signals at several frequencies. An input demultiplexer uses input diplexers to separate and route the transmit signals by frequency. Amplifiers amplify the separated transmit signals from the input demultiplexer. An output multiplexer uses diplexers to combining the amplified and separated transmit signals into a combined transmit signal for transmission by an antenna. The output multiplexer may have an even multiplexer for combining the transmit signals into even band transmit signals for transmission by an even band antenna and an odd multiplexer for combining the transmit signals into odd band transmit signals for transmission by the antenna. The input diplexers of the input demultiplexer comprise diplexers connected such that the transmit signals are applied to outputs of the diplexers to separate the transmit signals into low and high frequency signals. |
| US07656906B2 |
System and method for communicating a timing signal between backplanes
In one embodiment, an electronic system comprises a first backplane for distributing timing signals, power, and control signals to electronic circuitry coupled to the first backplane, wherein the first backplane comprises a first clock module for generating the timing signals, a second backplane for distributing timing signals, power, and control signals to electronic circuitry coupled to the second backplane, wherein the second backplane comprises a second clock module for generating the timing signals, and an electrical connector coupling the first clock module to the second clock module for communication of a timing signal, wherein the first clock module comprises a circuit for detecting the presence of the electrical connector, the first clock module providing the timing signal to an output port coupled to the electrical connector in response to the circuit, and the second clock module synchronizes to the timing signal communicated via the electrical connector. |
| US07656901B2 |
Software architecture and hardware abstraction layer for multi-radio routing and method for providing the same
A system and method that creates an abstraction of the physical layer of a wireless communication network (100), in particular, a wireless ad-hoc peer-to-peer communication network (100), and that normalizes the feedback from the physical layer to enable multiple types of nodes (102, 106, 107) in the wireless network to operate using a common wireless routing protocol. This routing protocol uses a link quality metric to determine the best route regardless of how it actually chooses the route or disseminates such link quality information. The generalized routing metric can be derived for any node (102, 106, 107), regardless of its relative performance or its media access control (MAC) technology. The system and method also create a transaction summary that can be used for link adaptation and link quality estimation to determine, for example, future data rates, link quality/routing metrics, and transmit powers. |
| US07656897B2 |
CPRI-based multiprotocol signal transmission method and apparatus in distributed base station system
The present invention provides a method for realizing transmission of multiprotocol client signals in a distributed base station subsystem, comprising: encapsulating client signals by a GFP-T frame; and mapping the GFP-T frame into a lower-layer transmission link to realize the transmission of client signals. The lower-layer transmission link is a common public radio interface CPRI link. The client signals are one of the following: baseband I/Q signals of WCDMA supported by CPRI protocol, baseband I/Q signals of radio interface protocols other than WCDMA, structured signals of E1/T1, STM-1 and other constant-rate links, structured variable-rate link signals such as Ethernet MAC frame signals, PPP/HDLC frame signals, etc. This method is also applicable to other types of synchronous transmission links between a remote radio unit and a primary baseband processing unit, e.g., the links as specified by OBSAI (Open Base Station Architecture Initiative). |
| US07656890B2 |
Downstream channel change technique implemented in an access network
A dynamic channel change technique is disclosed which may be implemented between nodes and a Head End of an access network. Initially a network device may communicate with the Head End via a first downstream channel and a first upstream channel. When the network device receives a dynamic channel change request which includes instructions for the network device to switch to a second downstream channel, the network device may respond by switching from the first downstream channel to the second downstream channel. Thereafter, the network device may communicate with the Head End via the second downstream channel and first upstream channel. Further, according to a specific embodiment, the dynamic channel change request may also include an upstream channel change request for causing the network device to switch from a first upstream channel to a second upstream channel. |
| US07656887B2 |
Traffic control method for network equipment
A function block containing a process-cache tag for storing process-cache tags in the pre-stage of a process cache and an FIFO queue for each tag entry are installed as a traffic controller. The traffic controller stacks packet groups, identified as being from the same flow, in the same FIFO queue. Each FIFO queue records the logged state of the corresponding process queues, and when a packet arrives at an FIFO queue entry in a non-registered state, only its first packet is conveyed to a function block for processing the process-cache misses, and then it awaits registration in a process cache. Access to the process cache from the FIFO queue is implemented at the time that registration of the second and subsequent packets in the process cache are completed. This allows packets other than the first packet in the flow to always access the process cache for a cache hit. |
| US07656886B2 |
Non-blocking internet backbone network
A method and system for computing the maximum amount of admissible ingress and egress traffic of each edge router of the MPLS core network is presented. As long as the ingress and egress traffic amounts are below the admissible amount limit, traffic routes through any link in the network will never exceeds the link capacity. A calculation scheme and a load-distribution scheme make an Internet MPLS backbone network non-blocking. The output of the route computation algorithm includes a set of paths for any source-destination pair and the load distribution ratios among the paths. The routing algorithm and the associated distribution scheme will determine how to balance the loads that meet the distribution requirements specified by the ratios computed from the route algorithm. This greatly simplifies call admission control and allows hard QoS to be supported in a large scale and cross domains in the Internet. |
| US07656885B2 |
Intermediary content gateway system and method
A system for enabling exchange of content over a communications network is disclosed having a first category of users comprising wireless carriers and a second category of users comprising content providers. A content gateway platform is provided having a database for storage of content. The content providers supply content to the database for use by the wireless carriers and the content is ultimately offered to end-user customers of the wireless carriers. |
| US07656884B1 |
Apparatus and method for a generic service locking mechanism for a fibre channel switching fabric of a storage area network
An apparatus and method for a Generic Service locking mechanism that enables a Host to lock the Fibre Channel Switching Fabric of a storage area network while applying changes across the Switching Fabric of the network is disclosed. The apparatus includes a network interface configured to send and receive Fibre Channel frames across the Fabric, a session element, responsive to the network interface, and configured to establish sessions with the Fabric; and a locking element configured issue commands to establish a lock over the Fabric so that replicated information across the Fabric can be consistently updated when the session element establishes a session with the Fabric. In one embodiment of the invention, the network interface, session element and the locking element are all implemented on each Switch of the Fabric. |
| US07656883B2 |
Transmission convergence sublayer circuit and operating method for asynchronous receiver
A transmission convergence sublayer circuit is coupled between a buffer and a deframer. The deframer submits a data stream enable signal and data bytes to the circuit. The data stream enable signal enables the circuit so that multiple groups of byte data belonging to a data cell are received and temporarily stored inside a byte-wise data pipeline. A header cyclic redundancy checker also receives the byte data and then conducts a header search. An idle cell identifier is used to determine if the data cell is a non-idle cell. When the header is found and determined to be a non-idle cell, a descrambler retrieves payload data of data cell from the byte-wise data pipeline and conducts a descrambling operation after obtaining a quantity of data equal to a double word. Ultimately, the double word data is output to the buffer with minimum delay. |
| US07656882B2 |
Method and system for peak scheduling in a wireless network
A method of providing peak scheduling in a wireless network is provided. The method includes determining a priority for each of a plurality of users in the network based on a throughput window of a finite length and scheduling the users based on the priority. |
| US07656881B2 |
Methods for expedited start-up and clique aggregation using self-checking node pairs on a ring network
In one embodiment, a system comprises a plurality of nodes that are communicatively coupled to one another. Each of the plurality of nodes, in the absence of any faults, is communicatively coupled to at least a first neighbor node and a first neighbor's neighbor node and a second neighbor node and a second neighbor's neighbor node. When at least a first clique and a second clique exist within the plurality of nodes and a first node included in the first clique successfully receives a synchronization message associated with the second clique from the first neighbor node of the first node and the first neighbor's neighbor node of the first node, the first node does the following. The first node defects to the second clique and synchronizes to the synchronization message. The first node also communicates a join message to at least the second neighbor node of the first node and the second neighbor's neighbor node of the first node. The join message indicates that the second neighbor node and the second neighbor's neighbor node should defect to the second clique and listen for a subsequent synchronization message from the second clique to which the second neighbor node and the second neighbor's neighbor node should synchronize. |
| US07656880B1 |
Prioritized segmentation and reassembly methods and systems
The disclosed technology provides systems and methods for accommodating a diversity of services (e.g., telephone, video broadcasting, email, etc.) using a fixed connection of a certain service type. A method and system of communicating data using a fixed connection, including, based on at least two service data units (SDUs), associating a priority and a channel identifier with the at least two SDUs, iteratively (i) selecting one of the at least two SDUs based on priority to provide a selected SDU, and, (ii) forming at least one data packet, the at least one data packet including (a) data associated with the selected SDU, and, (b) the channel identifier associated with the selected SDU; and, transmitting the formed at least one data packet using the fixed connection. |
| US07656877B1 |
Apparatus and methods for sniffing data in a cable head end
Disclosed are methods and apparatus for selectively filtering data messages that are communicated between a head end complex and its associated cable modems. Filtering includes obtaining a copy of the message and sending the copied message to a memory device. The memory device is accessible, for example, via a user so that the filtered message may be analyzed. In a preferred embodiment, the memory device is a monitoring device in the form of a computer system (e.g., a router). Messages may be filtered to the memory or monitoring device based on any suitable filtering criteria that identifies specific message parameters. In a specific embodiment, filtering may be based on one or more message types. When filtering criteria specifies a particular message type, messages having such a specified type are filtered to the monitoring station. Additionally or alternatively, filtering may be based on one or more values of a particular field of the message. For instance, when filtering criteria is set to a particular field value, messages that contains that particular field value are copied and sent to the monitoring device. Filtering may also or alternatively be based on whether a message is associated with the downstream channel, the upstream channel, or a particular port number. |
| US07656875B2 |
Telecommunications apparatus and method, storage medium, and program
The present invention relates to a telecommunications apparatus and a method, a storage medium, and a program for determining whether or not the other side communicating content data is located on a LAN or across a WAN. In step S13, the difference between a counter value in a received check packet and a value in a register is computed. In step S14, the resultant difference is checked to determine if it is equal to a constant value X. If it is determined that the difference is equal to the constant value X, the counter value in the packet is stored in the register in step S15. In step S16, it is determined whether or not all the predetermined number of check packets is received. If all the predetermined number of check packets is received, it is determined that the communication takes place over a LAN connection in step S17. If, in step S14, it is determined that the difference is not equal to the constant value X, it is determined that the communication takes place across a WAN connection in step S18. The present invention can be applied to a personal computer on a wireless LAN. |
| US07656874B2 |
Data transmission record keeping method
In a sending peer of a data unit transmission protocol, a first record of a data symbol stream (10) is maintained in terms of one or more first sequences of data units of a first format A, and simultaneously a second record of a data symbol stream (10) is maintained in terms of one or more sequences of data units of a second format B, where the first and second record have a common reference point (14) to the data symbol stream (10). |
| US07656868B2 |
Method for transferring packets in networks comprising a plurality of linked intermediate networks
The invention relates to a method, devices and system for transit of information over packet switched networks, in particular for transit of an end-to-end connection over a plurality of such networks (1′, 1, 1″) using a transit method that is independent on the network technology used in the different networks. An end-to-end service node (21) selects the networks and links an end-to-end connection shall traverse. To each network an incoming transit node (2) and an outgoing transit node (3) are connected. Between these a leg of the end-to-end connection is transited. The outgoing transit node has a list (37) of transit tags used for identification of a packet flow related to the connection. A transit tag is selected from the list and is signalled to the incoming transit node together with the local address of the outgoing transit node. At the incoming transit node incoming packets are analyzed with regard to the presence of a local identifier (e.g. called a link tag). In the incoming transit node packets with the local identifier are subjected to a special treatment. Its payload is put in the payload of a new packet that is formatted according to the network technology used in the network, and as destination of the new packet is the address of the outgoing transit node used. The new packet is marked with the transit tag. Finally the new packet is injected into the network and is routed therein according to that network's routing mechanisms. When the new packet arrives at the outgoing transit node its transit tag is used as incoming identifier. |
| US07656866B2 |
Controlling media server resources in a VoIP network
Methods of controlling media server resources in a VoIP network are disclosed. In an embodiment, an IP node provides a service request. An application server receives the service request and sends a request for media server resources to a media server resource broker. The media server resource broker determines that the request should be handled by a first media server. The media server resource broker queries the first media server to obtain an IP address and port number for use in establishing a call between the IP node and the first media server. The media server resource broker then provides a signal to the IP Node so that it can establishing the call with the appropriate port on the media server. In an embodiment, the media server resource broker updates a database module that tracks assignment levels of the first media server so as to reflect the most recent request, thus decreasing the number of ports available for the first media server. When the call is complete, the media server resource broker, being in the signal path, can update the assignment level of the first media server. |
| US07656863B2 |
Method for soft switch call control and soft switch device using the same
A method for soft switch call control and a soft switch device therefore are provided. The soft switch device acquires an initial address message (IAM) at a calling side, analyzes information of the calling party and the called party based on the acquired initial address message (IAM), and informs the media gateways to create a context and to add TDM semi-permanent physical terminations of time slots corresponding to the calling party and the called party into the context when the calling party and the called party are controlled by the same media gateway. Thus, it can implement a local loop of TDM voice, reduce IP loop of RTP streams and efficiently reduces network resources such as steps for digital signal processing, echo elimination and etc. |
| US07656862B2 |
Methods, systems, and devices for providing voice-call services responsive to a dialed sequence
A connection is established in a communications network responsive to receiving a Dual Tone Multi-Frequency (DTMF) signal at a port having an assigned sequence associated therewith. A dialed sequence corresponding to the received DTMF signal is identified. If the dialed sequence is associated with a request for a specified service, first and second fields of a packet-switched signaling protocol message are populated with the assigned sequence associated with the port. The populated packet-switched signaling protocol message is transmitted over a packet-switched network to request the specified service, and a connection is established to provide the specified service through the port. Related systems and devices are also discussed. |
| US07656857B2 |
Directed acyclic graph computation by orienting shortest path links and alternate path links obtained from shortest path computation
Each network node in a network is configured for calculating a directed acyclic graph that provides at least one path from all the other network nodes toward the one network node. The network node performs a modified shortest path first calculation by identifying next-hop nodes adjacent to the network node, and orienting the link of each next-hop node toward itself (i.e., the origin). The network node also identifies secondary adjacent nodes, adjacent to each of the next hop nodes, and extends paths from next-hop nodes to the associated secondary adjacent nodes while orienting each of the links of the path between adjacent nodes and next-hop nodes toward the next hop nodes. The paths of the nodes form a directed acyclic graph from any other network node toward the origin, enabling distribution of the directed acyclic graph to the other network nodes for optimized reachability to the network node. |
| US07656856B2 |
Method and system for transmitting LSP fragments
Methods, systems, and apparatuses for transmitting link state packet (LSP) through a network are provided. The method includes dividing the LSP into LSP fragments having respective fragment numbers, transmitting the LSP fragments repetitively through the network, identifying at least one LSP fragment that is updated while the LSP fragments are being transmitted, and retransmitting the identified LSP fragments. The transmitted updated LSP is used for processing the Shortest Path First algorithm to identify accurately the shortest path that can be used to establish communication in the network. |
| US07656850B2 |
Method and apparatus for accelerated super 3G cell search
The method and system of a first aspect of the present invention is adapted to perform cell search on all possible bandwidths. In order to reduce the search time, the order in which the allowable BW is used in the search is based on information from history lists. These history lists include the BWs and frequency bands used. A second aspect of the present invention is a method and an OFDM cellular telecommunications system adapted to perform cell search and synchronization wherein the system has a certain number of bandwidth possibilities. The method comprises the steps of identifying at least one critical system parameter that reduces the set of possible synchronization signals; and performing cell search and synchronization over the limited number of different synchronization signals. |
| US07656849B1 |
System and method for bypassing an access point in a local area network for P2P data transfers
A system and method for bypassing an access point in a wireless Local Area Network (LAN) for direct point-to-point data transfers are provided. A user device in the wireless LAN is equipped with a primary local wireless interface establishing a wireless communication link with an access point of the wireless LAN, a secondary local wireless interface used for direct point-to-point (P2P) file transfers, and a P2P file transfer application. When the P2P application desires to transfer a data file to another user device within the wireless LAN, the user device determines whether the other user device is within a coverage area of the secondary local wireless interface and whether the file transfer meets one or more alternate transfer criterion. If so, the data file is transferred to the other user device via a direct P2P wireless communication link, thereby bypassing the access point of the wireless LAN. |
| US07656847B2 |
Method and apparatus for utilizing bluetooth for WLAN service authentication and discovery
A device having wireless connectivity may be coupled to Internet Protocol (IP) service available in a network, including a wireless local area network (WLAN), local area network (LAN), Ethernet or other suitable Internet access point, by broadcasting a wireless protocol service discovery query requesting information about the IP service available in the network and waiting for a reply from another device having wireless connectivity in the network. The device includes a wireless protocol service discovery query module that broadcasts the wireless protocol service discovery query and waits for the reply from the second device. The scope of the invention also includes a network having such devices with the features described above, as well as a computer program product with a program code that is stored on a machine readable carrier, for carrying out the steps according to the aforementioned method when the computer program is run in a processor module of the first device. |
| US07656846B2 |
PLC based wireless communications
An apparatus and method for providing wireless communication for a Programmable Logic Controller (PLC). The PLC includes a central processing unit (CPU) card mounted on the backplane of the PLC, a CPU mounted on the CPU card and a means for wireless radio frequency communication coupled to the CPU so that the means for radio frequency communication and CPU communicate without using the PLC module bus. |
| US07656844B2 |
Radio transmission apparatus and radio reception apparatus in a CDMA communication system
Reception section 602 receives a signal on which signals of channels are multiplexed in a same frequency band through antenna 601. Separation section 603 separates a part used for correlation value calculation in the reception signal. Correlation sections 604 and 605 create delay profiles by calculating a correlation value using a 1st basic code and 2nd basic code for the signals after the separation, respectively. Comparison/channel estimation section 606 cycles each delay profile so that the delay profiles match in a section in which the path of the channel to be detected appears when there is no propagation delay and detects a quasi-matching path in each delay profile after the cycling. |
| US07656843B2 |
Feedback of channel quality information
Methods and apparatus are presented for improving the feedback of channel information to a serving base station, which allows a reduction in the reverse link load while allowing the base station to improve the forward link data throughput. Over a channel quality indicator channel, a carrier-to-interference (C/I) symbol is transmitted over multiple slots at a reduced rate, which increases the likelihood that the base station can decode said symbol. The reduced rate mode can be selectively triggered by a high velocity condition or other unfavorable channel condition. The C/I symbol is used to determine transmission formats, power levels, and data rates of forward link transmissions. |
| US07656840B2 |
Method of reducing denial-of-service attacks and a system as well as an access router therefor
A method and system reduces denial-of-service attacks malicious mobile nodes in a mobile IP environment. The method and system includes maintaining, by each of a plurality of access routers within the mobile IP environment, a cache of neighboring access routers as candidates and their associated access points. The caches are populated in response to actions initiated by mobile nodes. Each cache entry is tagged with the identity of the action initiating mobile node. The identity is based on information that is verifiable by the access routers and which cannot be modified arbitrarily by the mobile node. The total number of entries that can be tagged and thus introduced into a cache by any given node is limited. |
| US07656838B2 |
Method for managing resources in a communication system and equipment for carrying out said method
A base station (2a,2b,2c) which can communicate with radio terminals on common and dedicated channels according to specific speeds, is provided with a band-pass which is available according to the use of the common and dedicated channels in order to receive data from a radio terminal on a high-speed uplink channel. An available band-pass is determined in the base station in order to receive the data from at least one radio terminal (1) on at least one high-speed dedicated uplink channel. A first indication relating to the available band-pass is subsequently transmitted on a common downlink channel. At least one second indication relating to a percentage of the available band-pass which should not be exceeded by the radio terminal during a forthcoming transmission on said high-speed dedicated uplink channel is then transmitted independently for each radio terminal. |
| US07656837B2 |
Method for packet-switching interface for code division switching in a terrestrial wireless system
A method is provided for code division switching at a destination access radio port of a terrestrial wireless network, in which the access radio port interfaces with a group of terminal users located within one or more microport cells. A preamble, which has a PN-code, is acquired. The PN-code is processed to insure synchronization. An acknowledgment is sent. Payload data is received. |
| US07656836B2 |
Centralized controller for distributed handling of telecommunications features
A method is disclosed that enables an improvement in the scalability of a centralized server by reallocating to the client endpoints some, but not all, of the feature functionality of the server. Each logical user in the system is represented by his own private domain of endpoint entities, from which an endpoint is selected to serve as a super peer to represent the user to the centralized server. Furthermore, a designated endpoint is selected, also from the private domain of devices, to handle some of the telecommunications features that the server otherwise would have handled. Each endpoint in the private domain is permitted to have limited direct access to the server, typically for the purposes of registering and subscribing to features, in addition to and in contrast with the indirect access through the super peer. During the subscribing process, the server redirects a subscribing endpoint to the designated endpoint that is handling the feature. |
| US07656832B2 |
Method for allocating transmission period in a wireless communication system
A method is provided for efficiently allocating a transmission period in a WLAN system. An access point (AP) transmits a PSMP message providing a downlink period and an uplink period provided to each station (STA), and at least one sub PSMP frame indicating a period of at least one of a downlink and an uplink for an STA requiring additional resource allocation. After exchanging data with the AP in the downlink and uplink periods provided by the PSMP frame, if there is a need for additional resource allocation, the STA receives the at least one sub PSMP frame and exchanges data with the AP in the period provided by the each sub PSMP frame. |
| US07656827B2 |
Apparatus for, and method of, reducing noise in a communications system
A communication line having a plurality of twisted wire pairs connects a plurality of transmitters, one transmitter at each end of each twisted wire pair, with a plurality of receivers, one receiver at each end of each twisted wire pair. Each receiver receives a combination signal including a direct signal from the transmitter at the opposite end of the twisted wire pair with which the receiver is associated and a plurality of far-end crosstalk (FEXT) impairment signals, one from each of the remaining transmitters at the opposite end of the communications line. A plurality of FEXT cancellation systems, one associated with each receiver, provides a replica FEXT impairment signal. A device associated with each receiver is responsive to the combination signal received by the receiver and the replica FEXT impairment signal provided by the FEXT cancellation system associated with the receiver for substantially removing the FEXT impairment signals from the combination signal. If necessary, a skew adjuster delays the arrival of the combination signal at the device so that the combination signal and the FEXT impairment signal arrive at the device at substantially the same time. A sequential decoder operates on signals from each of the plurality of wire pairs simultaneously to produce receiver outputs. A plurality of near-end crosstalk (NEXT) cancellation systems and echo cancellers remove NEXT and echo impairment signals from the combination signal. |
| US07656825B2 |
System and method for wireless communication in a frequency division duplexing region
A method and system for using half-duplex base stations and half-duplex nodes in a Frequency Division Duplexing region to provide wireless connectivity between the half-duplex base stations and customers in multiple sectors of a cell. The method and system can use two physical channels to form two logical channels. Each logical channel shares both physical channels during alternating frames of time. The half-duplex nodes can include a millimeter-wave band frequency synthesizer configured to transmit and receive on different channels to and from the half-duplex base station. Re-use patterns of the physical channels are used for deployment of half-duplex base stations and half-duplex nodes in the FDD region to minimize co-channel interference and interference due to uncorrelated rain fade. Additional methods and systems utilize full-duplex base stations and smart antenna to communicate with the half-duplex nodes. |
| US07656822B1 |
Method and apparatus for decentralized device and service description and discovery
A resource discovery and description mechanism for decentralized device and service description and discovery in networking environments is described that generates advertisements in a uniform description format to describe resources on a network. The mechanism may translate resource descriptions from other resource description and discovery protocols to generate the advertisements. The advertisements may be used for cross-network discovery and access of the resources. An advertisement may include, but is not limited to, physical endpoints, virtual endpoints, user-extensible metadata, location information, and a universal unique identifier (UUID) for the associated resource. If a resource cannot provide a UUID, the mechanism generates a UUID for the resource. One embodiment may support proxy nodes for generating advertisements for resources that cannot participate directly in the resource discovery and description mechanism. These proxy nodes may also serve as a proxy between local subnetwork discovery and cross-network discovery of the advertisements. |
| US07656820B2 |
Data transmission apparatus capable of dividing network areas
A transmission apparatus that automatically makes area division on the basis of a predetermined condition to lessen the labor of a maintainer. Transmission apparatus 1a, . . . , 1m, . . . make up one area. Each of the transmission apparatus 1a, . . . , 1m, . . . transmits data in the area or between areas according to its level. The transmission apparatus 1a, . . . , 1m, . . . select the transmission apparatus 1h as a network leader in the area. The transmission apparatus 1h calculates division points at which the area is to be divided on the basis of the predetermined condition. The transmission apparatus 1h selects the transmission apparatus 1a and 1b adjacent to one of the division points as area group leaders. Each of the transmission apparatus 1a and 1b changes its level so as to be able to transmit data between a new area formed as a result of division and an existing area. The transmission apparatus 1a, . . . , 1m, . . . transmit data between the new area and the existing area via the transmission apparatus 1a and 1b selected as area group leaders. |
| US07656819B2 |
Method and apparatus for improving convergence in networks
A method of improving convergence in networks that use path vector protocols. In one embodiment using Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) for inter-domain route and reachability communication, nodes that need to remove routes using EBGP NLRI announcements send BGP WITHDRAW messages containing a new route originator attribute that identifies an originator of a specified withdrawn route. A receiving node removes the specified route from its routing information base (RIB), and matches the originator to other paths in the RIB. Matching paths are marked as ineligible for consideration in a best path computation, thereby preventing the use of routes that are unreachable but not yet withdrawn by an originating node. The approach causes faster BGP convergence, reduces unnecessary route flapping, and alleviates unnecessary route dampening. |
| US07656816B2 |
Method and system for logging voice quality issues for communication connections
A method and system for logging voice quality issues for a communication connection includes receiving a signal for logging quality information for a voice connection at an endpoint of the voice connection. Voice samples are collected from the voice connection at the endpoint. The voice samples are stored in an error log at the endpoint. |
| US07656815B2 |
Apparatus and method for controlling an operation of a plurality of communication layers in a layered communication scenario
An apparatus for controlling an operation of a layered communication system, the layered communication system transmitting information through a communication channel, has a provider for providing a property of the communication channel, an extractor for extracting a first set of parameters of a first communication layer and a second set of parameters of a second communication layer to determine current statuses of the first and second communication layer, a provider for providing a first abstraction model and a second abstraction model, wherein each abstraction model models a characteristic of the first and second communication layers, respectively, a determiner for determining an optimized set of parameters to be used by each of the first and second communication layers based on the first and second abstraction models, the channel property and an optimization goal, a provider for providing the optimized sets of parameters to the first and second communication layers. |
| US07656813B2 |
Inroute training in a two-way satellite system
An approach for ranging in a radio frequency communications system is disclosed. A transmission channel class that includes at least one of transmission rate, modulation scheme, coding scheme, and transponder footprint is selected by a terminal. The terminal transmits a ranging message according to the selected transmission channel class over a channel. The transmission channel class is selectively modified based upon characteristics of the channel. Accordingly, an optimal transmission channel class is determined for a particular terminal. The above approach has particular applicability to a two-way satellite communications system. |
| US07656804B2 |
Method and apparatus for operating an AD-HOC communication system
An ad-hoc communication system is established where each node within the system may have multiple children nodes and parent nodes. An address scheme is proposed where each node may comprise more than one address, each address being based upon one of the parent's address. Because each node may have more than one parent, a bridge, or shortcut may exist between network branches. |
| US07656802B2 |
Simulating services on demand
In order to apply and incorporate Drum-Buffer-Rope (DBR) concepts into a service enterprise environment, the present invention provides a method, system and computer-readable medium that expands DBR through the use of simulation of service activities. In a preferred embodiment, the inventive method includes the steps of: creating a DBR for Services (DBRS) model of a service process; simulating the service process by populating the DBRS model with user-selected values for a constraint drum, a pre-constraint buffer, a service level rope, and a constraint rope, and determining if the service process will be in compliance with a Service Level Agreement (SLA) based on a DBRS simulation of the service process. |
| US07656801B1 |
Selective jamming of network traffic in contention-based networks
According to one embodiment of the present invention, a method for selectively jamming network traffic includes monitoring data packets transmitted over a network. In response to the monitoring, the presence of a blocked signal is identified in a first data packet. Upon identification of the blocked signal, a second data packet is transmitted to interfere with the ability of one or more network nodes identified to receive the first data packet to decipher the first data packet. |
| US07656800B2 |
Transmission control protocol (TCP)
According to the present invention, methods and apparatus are provided to improve the Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) for data such as delay sensitive or bursty data. A maximum send window and a minimum send window are set to correspond to maximum and minimum bandwidth parameters associated with a network. Round trip times are monitored to adjust maximum send windows and minimum send windows. A variable rate shaper is also used to pace packet introduction onto the network. |
| US07656793B2 |
Collision detection in a non-dominant bit radio network communication system
A communications system and protocol for use in a non-dominant bit radio network. The radio network includes transceivers which communicate with other transceivers to allow network variables to be shared by all transceivers. The protocol allows the network to handle collisions between competing transmissions from different transceivers. The protocol also handles communications between transceivers that are out of transmitting range of each other. |
| US07656791B1 |
Systems and methods for hitless equipment protection
Disclosed techniques include a method and apparatus that allow traffic to be switched between a working copy and a protected copy hitlessly. The control method simplifies implementation by advantageously distinguishing points within the apparatus wherein the working and protect streams should be virtually identical and aligned and points where the streams need only be identical but are tolerant of skew. |
| US07656787B2 |
Modular numerical control
A modular, numerical control includes at least two modules, each including a microprocessor unit and being connected to each other via serial data-transmission channels for the transmission of information in the form of data packets. In at least one module, a data-packet generating unit is provided for generating data packets and for transmitting data packets to at least one further module. In so doing, the data-packet generating unit operates independently of the function of the microprocessor unit. Moreover, in at least one module, a data-packet processing unit is provided by which data packets are able to be processed and/or are able to be transmitted to at least one further module, independently of the function of the microprocessor unit. The data packets include the status of at least one safety signal. |
| US07656784B2 |
Optical information recording medium, and substrate and manufacturing method for the optical information recording medium
In an optical disk including at least a rewritable phase change material and comprising a recording layer having a reflectivity of more than 15%, an address output value as an address pit signal component occupying in a reproduced signal in a non recording state is prescribed to be 0.18 though 0.27 or a numerical aperture of an address pit signal occupying in a reproduced signal in a non recording state is prescribed to be more than 0.3. |
| US07656778B2 |
Apparatus and method of reproducing data stored in a read-only recording medium
A read-only recording medium and a reproducing method thereof ensures reproduction compatibility with a rewritable recording medium in which real data is recorded with substantial discontinuity. The read-only recording medium comprises a data recording area in which real data is stored; and a plurality of waste areas allocated at intervals in the data recording area. The method of reproducing data stored in a read-only recording medium reproduces data from the read-only recording medium, skips if a waste area is encountered or removes invalid data reproduced from the waste area wherein each waste area has been inserted periodically in the read-only recording medium, and outputs the data reproduced before and behind each waste area in succession. As a result, the playability is improved in a disk device capable of reproducing both a read-only and a rewritable recording medium. |
| US07656775B2 |
Optical head, and information recording-and-regeneration apparatus
An optical head that is restrained from becoming larger, even if it is used for an optical-information recording medium that includes a plurality of information recording layers. In this optical head, a collimating lens is formed by a concave lens disposed on the side of a light source and a convex lens disposed on the side of an objective lens. A collimating-lens actuator moves the convex lens in a direction where a spherical aberration is cancelled which is generated according to the thickness of a light transmission layer up to an information recording layer of the optical-information recording medium. An aperture stop is provided on the side of the collimating lens with respect to the objective lens, and the aperture stop is located near the focal position of the convex lens on the side of the objective lens. |
| US07656772B2 |
Optical reading/writing apparatus and method
There is provided an optical reading/writing apparatus. The optical reading/writing apparatus includes an object lens barrel for mounting an object lens, an SIL (solid immersion lens) barrel for mounting an SIL, the SIL barrel being separated from the object lens barrel, and a movement control unit for selectively aligning the SIL with the object lens according to a type of an optical storage medium. |
| US07656761B2 |
Optical disc device
An optical disc device includes a recording power acquiring unit that finds an optimum recording power when data is written in a data area by writing data for calibration in a power calibration area, and a data writing unit that writes data in a data area to be written by using an optimum recording power found by the recording power acquiring unit. A method for acquiring an optimum recording power used by the recording power acquiring unit when an area to be written is a not-yet-recorded area is different from a method for an already recorded area. When an area to be written is a not-yet-recorded area, the recording power acquiring unit finds an optimum recording power. When an area to be written is an already recorded area, the recording power acquiring unit writes preliminary data in a power calibration area and finds an optimum recording power. |
| US07656758B2 |
Device for playing optical discs
A disc drive apparatus (1) for optical discs (2) comprises: a frame (3); a sledge (10) displaceably mounted with respect to said frame (3); a lens actuator (43, 21) displaceably mounted with respect to said sledge (10); and a control unit (90) for generating a control signal (SCL) for the lens actuator (43, 21). The control unit (90) is designed, during a jump operation, to generate said control signal (SCL) for the lens actuator (43, 21) on the basis of an actuator deviation signal (SAS) representing a difference between actuator position (XA) and sledge position (XS). |
| US07656757B2 |
Optical pickup for an optical recording and/or reproducing apparatus including an actuator forming a predetermined angel with respect to the pickup base
An optical pickup of an optical recording and reproducing apparatus includes a plurality of object lenses used to record and or reproduce information from/to various types of optical recording media of different recording densities; an actuator driving the object lenses in a focusing direction and supporting the object lenses to have rolling during movement in the focusing direction; and a pickup base installed to movably go and return in a radial direction of an optical recording medium, and the actuator forming a predetermined angle with respect to the pickup base. |
| US07656755B2 |
Method and apparatus for recording digital audio to compact disc from a mass storage device
Audio data which are read out from a compact disc drive are written into a hard disk drive (6) at a rate that is higher than an audio playback rate. The written audio data are read out at a rate which is higher than the audio playback rate, and then output to audio output interfaces (buffer memories). The audio output interfaces read out the audio data at the playback rate and output the data. Since the hard disk drive (6) can perform reading/writing at a rate which is sufficiently higher than the playback rate of audio data, monitoring is enabled while performing ripping. |
| US07656751B2 |
Step time change compensation in an industrial automation network
One or more embodiments provide Common Industrial Protocol (CIP) based time synchronization systems and methods. The CIP Sync solution can be part of Ethernet/IP and can be based on standard UDP (User Datagram Protocol) and/or IEEE 1588 (Time Synchronization) Ethernet technology. According to an embodiment is a system that compensates for step changes in a master clock. |
| US07656741B2 |
Row active time control circuit and a semiconductor memory device having the same
A row active time control circuit is described that includes a master signal generating circuit and a row active control signal generating circuit. The master signal generating circuit generates one or more row active master signals based on an active command signal, a pre-charge command signal, and one or more row active control signals. The row active control signal generating circuit generates a pulse signal that oscillates based on the one or more row active master signals. The row active control signal also generates the one or more row active control signals by dividing a frequency of the generated pulse signal. |
| US07656740B2 |
Wordline voltage transfer apparatus, systems, and methods
The apparatus and systems comprise a plurality of memory cells coupled to a local wordline, and a wordline drive circuit that includes a regulator coupled to a plurality of pass transistors and a string driver. The regulator may comprise a regulator transistor having a threshold voltage that is substantially the same as the threshold voltage of the string driver during memory cell program operations. The regulator may comprise a cascode-connected pair of transistors. Methods of manufacturing and operating the apparatus and systems are also described. |
| US07656738B2 |
Nonvolatile semiconductor storage device having a low resistance write-bit-line and a low capacitance read-bit-line pair
A memory cell array includes memory cells disposed in a matrix. A plurality of word-lines are arranged in the memory cell array to select a memory cell in a row direction. A read bit-line pair is arranged in a direction perpendicular to the word-line to read data from the memory cell. In addition, a write bit-line is arranged in a direction perpendicular to the word-line to write data to the memory cell. The read bit-line pair includes a true and a complementary read bit-line. One of the true and complementary read bit-lines is connected to the memory cell connected to an even-numbered word-line. The other one is connected to the memory cell connected to an odd-numbered word-line. |
| US07656736B2 |
Semiconductor device including internal voltage generation circuit
A semiconductor integrated circuit device has a negative voltage generation circuit provided at each power supply circuit unit for six memory macros. Therefore, the response with respect to variation in a negative voltage is increased. In a standby mode, a negative voltage supply line for the six memory macros is connected by a switch circuit, and only a negative voltage generation circuit of one power supply circuit unit among six negative voltage generation circuits of the six power supply circuit units is rendered active. Thus, increase in standby current can be prevented. |
| US07656735B2 |
Dual voltage flash memory methods
A voltage regulation circuit in a nonvolatile memory card accepts an input voltage from a host at two or more different voltage levels and provides an output voltage at a single level to components including a memory die. The voltage regulation circuit can provide an output voltage that is higher or lower than the input voltage. |
| US07656734B2 |
Methods and apparatus for extending the effective thermal operating range of a memory
Systems, methods, and apparatus are provided for thermal regulation of a non-volatile memory IC. The systems and apparatus may include a thermal sensor on a memory IC; and a heating element coupled to the thermal sensor and adapted to heat the memory IC in response to a signal from the thermal sensor. The methods may include sensing a temperature of a memory IC using an integrated thermal sensor on the memory IC and heating the memory IC, using an integrated heating element operatively coupled to the thermal sensor, if the sensed temperature is below a threshold temperature. |
| US07656733B2 |
Semiconductor memory device
This invention provides a semiconductor memory device with enhanced speed performance or enabling timing adjustment reflected in characteristic variation of memory cells, adapted to suppress an increase in the number of circuit elements. A write dummy bit section comprises a first dummy line and a second dummy line corresponding to complementary bit lines and a plurality of first dummy cells formed to be similar in shape to static memory cells, wherein a write current path is coupled between the first dummy line and the second dummy line. In the write dummy bit section, one voltage level is input to the first dummy line through driver MOSFETs in relation to write signal inputs to the static memory cells and a signal change in the second dummy line precharged at the other voltage level is sensed and output. A timing control circuit deselects a word line selected by an output signal from the write dummy bit section. |
| US07656732B2 |
Semiconductor storage device
In a semiconductor storage device, such as a dynamic random access memory (DRAM), in which dynamic data is amplified and read on a bit line, a data line sense amplifier/write buffer connected to a data line of a memory array and a data line sense amplifier control signal generating logic circuit connected to a dummy data line of a dummy memory array are provided. A sense amplifier is activated in accordance with an output signal of the logic circuit. |
| US07656728B2 |
Sense amplifier screen circuit and screen method thereof
A sense amplifier screen circuit and a screen method thereof are disclosed. The sense amplifier screen circuit includes a test mode signal generator for generating a test mode signal, a voltage regulator for regulating a bit line precharge voltage in response to the test mode signal, and a driving controller for generating a sense amplifier drive signal and a bit line equalize signal in response to the test mode signal. |
| US07656727B2 |
Semiconductor memory device and system providing spare memory locations
A semiconductor memory device having a plurality of memory locations is presented. The plurality of memory locations includes a plurality of primary memory locations and a plurality of spare memory locations. The device includes an address decoder configured to receive a memory location address and process the address to select one of the memory locations. The device further includes control logic configured to receive control signals and process the control signals to determine whether the selected one of the memory locations is one of the primary memory locations or one of the spare memory locations, and to provide access to the selected one of the memory locations via data lines. |
| US07656726B2 |
Memory with improved BIST
An integrated circuit device includes an embedded memory having a plurality of memory macros and a built-in-self-test (BIST) circuit coupled to the plurality of memory macros for simultaneous operation of the memory macros, wherein the BIST circuit is configured to select from the memory macros' data outputs an individual memory macro's data output for analysis while the memory macros are operated simultaneously. |
| US07656724B2 |
Semiconductor integrated circuit having data input/output circuit and method for inputting data using the same
An apparatus includes a control unit for generating an input control signal to select a global input/output line to which data is transmitted. A repeater receives data from the global input/output line to output the data to a global input/output line corresponding to the input control signal. A plurality of input drivers receive the data from the repeater to transmit the data to a local input/output line connected to each memory bank. |
| US07656722B2 |
Semiconductor memory apparatus including synchronous delay circuit unit
A semiconductor memory apparatus includes a write driver that receives data transmitted through an input/output line, and a synchronous delay circuit unit that generates an enable signal so as to allow the data transmitted through the input/output line to be supplied to the write driver. |
| US07656720B2 |
Power-off apparatus, systems, and methods
Apparatus, methods, and systems are disclosed, including those that are to prevent a bias voltage from rising to a higher level than a storage node voltage as the bias voltage transitions to a ground level. For example a first voltage generator may be utilized to generate a bias voltage to bias a transistor in a memory cell in a memory array. A second voltage generator may be utilized to generate an plate voltage. The memory cell may include a transistor on a substrate and a capacitor. The capacitor connects from a drain of the transistor to the plate voltage. The storage node voltage is located at the drain of the transistor. A power controller may provide an off signal to the first and second voltage generators. The bias voltage may then transition to ground from a voltage less than zero volts. The rate of the bias voltage rise to ground is such that the bias voltage is maintained at less than or equal to the storage node voltage during the transition time period. |
| US07656718B2 |
Semiconductor device having output buffer initialization circuit and output buffer initialization method
A semiconductor device has at least two semiconductor memory devices, each of which includes a memory cell array arranged in a matrix of rows and columns, a peripheral circuit writing data to a cell of the memory cell array and reading out and amplifying the written data, and an output buffer outputting cell data amplified by the peripheral circuit. The output buffer includes an output buffer initialization circuit activating an output buffer reset signal in response to the power up or power down of the semiconductor memory device and deactivating the output buffer reset signal in response to a first command signal output from a controller of the semiconductor memory device, and an output driver generating output data based on a data signal in response to a clock signal, a data enable signal, and the output buffer reset signal. |
| US07656716B1 |
Regular expression search engine
A system for searching an input string for a number of regular expressions includes a search block and a compiler. The search block includes a plurality of content addressable memory (CAM) devices, wherein each of the CAM devices is differently configured to implement search operations for regular expressions having a unique level of complexity. The compiler is configured to determine the complexity level of each of the regular expressions, and is configured to store each regular expression in a selected one of the CAM devices according to its complexity level. |
| US07656715B2 |
Semiconductor memory device
A semiconductor memory device includes data transmission devices for transmit data in synchronization with each other. The semiconductor memory device includes a plurality of data transferring unit, a first control unit, a multiplexing unit, and a second control unit. The plurality of data transferring unit transfers data to a plurality of global lines. The first control unit controls the plurality of data transferring unit in response to a column select signal to select a column of a memory cell. The multiplexing unit multiplexes the data transferred to the plurality of global lines. The second control unit controls the multiplexing unit, wherein the second control unit synchronizes the column select signal with a column address signal having a column address information of the memory cell. |
| US07656711B2 |
Semiconductor memory system including a plurality of semiconductor memory devices
A communication line is connected to first and second chips, and held at a first signal level. A monitor circuit changes a signal level of the communication line from the first signal to a second signal level while one of the first and second chips uses a current larger than a reference current. When the signal level of the communication line is the second signal level, the other of the first and second chips is controlled to a wait state that does not transfer to an operating state of using a current larger than the reference current. |
| US07656709B2 |
NAND step up voltage switching method
Methods and memories having switching points for changing Vstep increments according to a level of a multilevel cell being programmed include programming at a smaller Vstep increment in narrow threshold voltage situations and programming at a larger Vstep increment where faster programming is desired. |
| US07656705B2 |
Fast single phase program algorithm for quadbit
Methods of rapidly programming a wordline of multi-level flash memory cells comprising memory cell element-pairs having three or more data levels per bit or element corresponding to three or more threshold voltages are provided. An interactive program algorithm rapidly programs the elements of the wordline of memory cells in a learn phase and a single core programming phase. In one embodiment, each wordline comprises learn element-pairs first programmed to provide learn drain voltages for programming core element-pairs along the wordline having the same program pattern of data levels. A set comprising one or more program patterns is chosen to correspond with each program level used on the wordline. The learn element-pairs are programmed to determine a learned program drain voltage for each program level. This learned program drain voltage essentially provides a wordline and program level specific program characterization of the Vd required for the remaining elements of that wordline. |
| US07656704B2 |
Multi-level operation in nitride storage memory cell
A method for programming a multi-level nitride storage memory cell capable of storing different programming states corresponding to multiple different threshold voltage levels includes providing a variable resistance capable of providing a plurality of different resistance values; connecting a drain side of the nitride storage memory cell to a selected one of the plurality of resistance values that corresponds to one of the multiple threshold voltage levels; and programming the nitride storage memory cell to store one of the program states corresponding to the one of the threshold voltage levels by applying a programming voltage to the drain side through the selected resistance. |
| US07656698B1 |
Non-volatile memory cell with improved programming technique with decoupling pass gates and equalize transistors
A 4-transistor non-volatile memory (NVM) cell includes a static random access memory (SRAM) cell structure. The NVM cell utilizes a reverse Fowler-Nordheim tunneling programming technique that, in combination with the SRAM cell structure, allows an entire array to be programmed at one cycle. Equalize transistors are utilized to obtain more uniform voltage on the floating gates after an erase operation. Utilization of decoupling pas gates during a read operation results in more charge difference on floating gates of programmed and erased cells. |
| US07656697B2 |
Integrated circuit having a resistively switching memory and method
An integrated circuit having a resistance-based or resistively switching memory cell, and a method for operating a resistively switching memory cell is disclosed. One embodiment is adapted to be put in a low-resistance state by applying a first threshold voltage and in a high-resistance state by applying a second threshold voltage, wherein reading out of the data content from the memory cell is performed by applying a voltage to the memory cell in the range of the first or second threshold voltage or a higher voltage. |
| US07656696B2 |
Resistive memory device having resistor part for controlling switching window
A resistive memory device having a resistor part for controlling a switching window. The resistive memory device of this disclosure can control a switching window to assure operational reliability thereof. In addition, since the memory device is realized by additionally providing only the resistor part for controlling a switching window to various resistive memory devices, it can be easily fabricated and applied to all current and voltage driving type resistive devices. |
| US07656688B2 |
DC-DC converter for a display
A DC-DC converter for a display. The DC-DC converter comprises a negative voltage generator, a level sifter and a DC-DC sub-converter. The negative generator generates a negative voltage. The level shifter, coupled to the negative voltage generator, generates complementary switch control signals. The DC-DC sub-converter coupled to the level shifter operates in response to the complementary switch control signals. |
| US07656685B2 |
Control method and circuit with indirect input voltage detection by switching current slope detection
The present invention provides a method and circuit for detecting an input voltage of a power converter. It includes a current sense circuit for generating a current signal in response to a switching current of an inductive device. A detection circuit is coupled to sense the current signal for generating a slope signal in response to a slope of the current signal. A signal generation circuit is further developed to generate an input-voltage signal in accordance with the slope signal. The level of the input-voltage signal is corrected to the input voltage of the power converter. |
| US07656682B1 |
Electromagnetic noise reduction device
Briefly, in accordance with one embodiment of the invention, an electromagnetic interference (EMI) reduction device may include a circuit and at least one heatsink. The circuit may include analog devices coupled to reduce EMI signals received by the heatsink. The devices may be specifically adapted to substantially invert or phase-shift by 180° the EMI signals received by the heatsink. |
| US07656674B2 |
Control module
A control module, in particular for a motor vehicle transmission, which includes a first housing part, on which an electronic circuit part is located, a second housing part, and a carrier, on which a flexible conductor film is located; the flexible conductor film is electrically connected—in a housing interior located between the first housing part and the second housing part—with the circuit part and the flexible conductor film is electrically connected outside of the housing interior—with electrical components mounted on the carrier, the control module having a stack-shaped design, with which the carrier rests, via a first side, on an interior side of the first housing part on which the circuit part is mounted, the circuit part is located in a recess in the carrier, the flexible conductor film is located on the second side of carrier, which faces away from the first housing part, and the second housing part is mounted on a side of the flexible conductor film facing away from the second side of the carrier. |
| US07656673B1 |
Wireless micro-electro-opto-fluidic-mechanical foldable flex system
The present invention provides a highly miniaturized wireless transceiver employing WLAN technology that offers flexible integration with multiple, generic sensing technologies. The developed wireless system can be readily integrated with existing sensing technology to enable direct sensor-to-internet communication in environments where wired connections are too costly, or otherwise impractical. |
| US07656668B2 |
Secure device for a heat sink and CPU
A secure device for a heat sink and CPU includes a main support arm and an operation handler. The main support arm has a first hook section at one end thereof and provides a contact face and a movable second hook section at another end thereof. The operation handle further includes a main operation part and a handle part and the main operation part provides a guide groove with a first end and a second end. The guide groove extends along radial direction of main operation part from the first end to the second end and a uvula is formed between the first end and the second end. The circumferential side of the main operation part defines a press section for touching the contact face and a pivotal shaft is movably joined to the guide groove and the second hook section to actuate the second hook section moving upward or downward to selectively perform engagement or loosening while the pivotal shaft moving along the guide groove between the first and second ends. |
| US07656667B2 |
Plasma display device
A plasma display device that includes a plasma display panel adapted to display images on a front side thereof, a chassis base including conductive material and arranged behind the plasma display panel, a plurality of circuit boards adapted to drive the plasma display panel, the plurality of circuit boards being fixed on the chassis base with a gap between each of the plurality of circuit boards and the chassis base and a driving circuit portion including a plurality of cables and adapted to electrically connect the circuit boards, wherein the chassis base includes at least one holding unit that is adapted to hold the plurality of cables on one side of the chassis base. The holding unit being adapted to attenuate EMI before it reaches the cables within. |
| US07656666B2 |
Heat dissipating structure of integrated circuit chip of plasma display module and plasma display module including the same
A heat dissipating structure of an integrated circuit chip of a plasma display module and a plasma display module including the same are disclosed. In one embodiment, the heat dissipating structure includes: a chassis including a chassis base and a chassis bending portion in which at least one protruding portion is formed and the integrated circuit chip which is mounted on the cassis bending portion and connected to a signal transmitting member. According to one embodiment of the present invention, since the protruding portion is formed in the chassis bending portion on which the integrated circuit chip is formed, the convective heat transfer efficiency is increased and the heat dissipating performance of the integrated circuit chip is improved. |
| US07656665B2 |
Integrated heat-dissipating device for portable electronic product
An integrated heat-dissipating device for a portable electronic product includes a heat-conducting base, a heat-dissipating plate, a first heat-dissipating module and a second heat-dissipating module. The heat-dissipating plate is adhered onto the heat-conducting base. The coefficient of heat conductivity of the heat-dissipating plate is larger than that of the heat-conducting base. The first heat-dissipating module includes a first heat pipe. One section of the first heat pipe is connected to the heat-conducting base, and the other section thereof extends in a direction away from the heat-conducting base. The second heat-dissipating module includes a second heat pipe, an adapting block and a third heat pipe. One section of the second heat pipe is connected to the heat-conducting base, and the other section thereof is connected to the adapting block. One section of the third heat pipe is connected to the adapting block, and the other section thereof extends in a direction away from the adapting block. With a multiple-directional heat-dissipating path, a great amount of heat generated by a heat-generating source can be dissipated to the outside quickly. |
| US07656663B2 |
Latch mechanism
A latch mechanism includes a latching member, a button, and an elastic member for restoring the latching member. The latching member is rotatably installed in a cover unit. The latching member includes a latching portion for engaging with a base unit. The button is movably fixed to the cover unit. The button includes a slanted pushing portion for driving the latching member to rotate for disengaging the latching portion from the base unit. |
| US07656662B2 |
Dual sliding portable electronic device
A dual sliding portable electronic device (100) includes a main body (20), a sliding body (10) and a dual sliding assembly (30). The main body includes a first key array (231), a second key array (232), and a third key array (233) disposed on a top surface (21). The sliding body includes an upper surface (11), a display (13) disposed on the upper surface, and a bottom surface (12) at an opposite side of the upper surface. The dual sliding assembly slidingly connects the bottom surface of sliding body to the top surface of the main body, and is configured to direct the sliding body to slide along a first direction to reveal both of the second key array and the third key array, and along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction to reveal both of the first key array and the second key array. |
| US07656660B2 |
Airflow arresting apparatus and method for facilitating cooling of an electronics rack of a data center
An airflow arresting apparatus is provided configured to reside above an electronics rack within a data center. The apparatus includes an airflow arrester and a track mechanism. The airflow arrester includes a collapsible panel sized and configured to reside above the electronics rack, and when operatively positioned above the electronics rack, to extend vertically above the electronics rack and at least partially block airflow from passing over the electronics rack between the air outlet and air inlet sides of the rack. The track mechanism is sized and configured to reside above the electronics rack, and the airflow arrester is slidably engaged with the track mechanism. Positioning of the airflow arrester at a desired location above the electronics rack is facilitated by the airflow arrester slidably engaging the track mechanism. |
| US07656658B2 |
Mounting apparatus for data storage device
A mounting apparatus is provided to readily fix a data storage device defining at least one hole in place. The mounting apparatus includes a bracket fastened to a computer enclosure, and the bracket includes a side panel and at least one elastic tab formed at or attached to the side panel corresponding to the hole of the data storage device. The elastic tab includes a fixing portion, for engaging in the hole of the storage device, and an operation portion positioned outside the bracket for manipulating the elastic tab. |
| US07656657B2 |
System and method for tool-less mounting of a device with a chassis
Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a mounting system. The mounting system may include a chassis comprising a base and a plurality of guide ramps and a plurality of mounting spools arranged in pairs extending from a first side of the base, wherein the pairs are unaligned with respect to one another relative to a direction along at least one length of the base. Further, the mounting system may include a backing plate coupled to the chassis via engagement of the pairs with a plurality of receptacles in the backing plate. |
| US07656653B2 |
Drive bracket assembly
A drive bracket assembly includes a back panel and a drive bracket including a first side plate and a second side plate, the first side plate forms a securing post sliding thereon, the second side plate forms two rows of restricting pieces extending towards the first side plate, one edge of the back panel is inserted into the restricting pieces and resists against the second side plate, the securing post slides on the first side plate and resists against the other edge of the back panel, the back panel is secured between the first side plate and the second side plate of the drive bracket. |
| US07656650B2 |
Modular printed board assembly, plasma display apparatus having the same, and method of fabricating the assembly
In a modular printed board assembly, a plasma display apparatus including the modular printed board assembly, and a method of fabricating the modular printed board assembly, the modular printed board includes: a frame of plate shape fixed on a chassis base; and a plurality of printed board assemblies, on which a plurality of electronic elements are mounted, installed on the frame. |
| US07656643B2 |
Scalable integrated circuit high density capacitors
The present invention provides several scalable integrated circuit high density capacitors and their layout techniques. The capacitors are scaled, for example, by varying the number of metal layers and/or the area of the metal layers used to form the capacitors. The capacitors use different metallization patterns to form the metal layers, and different via patterns to couple adjacent metal layers. In embodiments, optional shields are included as the top-most and/or bottom-most layers of the capacitors, and/or as side shields, to reduce unwanted parasitic capacitance. |
| US07656640B2 |
Voltage surge protection device
The voltage surge protection device comprises at least one protection module designed to be connected to an electric switchgear apparatus. The protection module comprises at least one protective element for protection against voltage surges and separating means connected to at least one protective element to cause an electrical and/or mechanical separation representative of a fault of a protective element following an increase of temperature and/or electric current. The protection module comprises means for mechanical actuation connected to said separating means and comprising a mechanical control link. The electrical control link is placed in a tripped state representative of a fault of at least one protective element when said separating means have caused a separation. |
| US07656638B2 |
Earthing and overvoltage protection arrangement
An earthing of an electronic circuit is disclosed in a device belonging to a low-voltage system with, for example, a maximum AC voltage of 1000 V or a maximum DC voltage of 1500 V in which the device is at the main voltage potential or is connected to the main voltage through a high-impedance coupling. An overvoltage protection of the interface between such an electronic circuit and a SELV (Safety Extra Low Voltage) circuit is also disclosed. The neutral point (COM) of the electronic device is coupled to protective earth (PE) through at least one breakdown-based overvoltage protector. The rated breakdown voltage of the overvoltage protector is higher than the voltage present across it in normal operating conditions but lower than the minimum dielectric strength of the component forming the interface between the electronic device and the SELV circuit. |
| US07656636B2 |
Electronic trip device provided with a power supply circuit comprising voltage raising means and circuit breaker comprising one such trip device
The electronic trip device comprises at least one current sensor, a rectifying circuit to supply a supply current, an electronic processing unit to control an actuator designed to actuate an opening mechanism of the main conductor, and an electric power supply circuit equipped with a voltage regulator designed to supply a supply voltage to the electronic processing unit. In the electronic trip device, the power supply circuit comprises voltage raising means enabling a raised voltage to be supplied to the input of the voltage regulator designed to supply the supply voltage to the electronic processing unit, said raised voltage being greater than a voltage at the terminals of the storage capacitor. The invention also relates to a circuit breaker equipped with the electronic trip device described above. |
| US07656632B2 |
Electronic circuit including a step-up circuit and electric appliance comprising the same
An electronic circuit includes a constant voltage output circuit that outputs a constant voltage and a step-up circuit including an input portion to which outputs of the constant voltage output circuit are connected and is controlled by a control circuit, an overcurrent detecting circuit that detects overcurrent when current of not less than a specified value is supplied to the constant voltage output circuit by not less than a first specified period of time, and an overcurrent protecting circuit that performs operations of protecting the constant current output circuit based on outputs of the overcurrent detecting circuit. The electronic circuit protects, in an electronic circuit using a charge pump type step-up circuit, the step-up circuit from overcurrent in abnormal conditions and achieves more rapid operations. |
| US07656626B2 |
Electric arc detection device, switchgear unit comprising one such device and method for detecting an electric arc
The invention relates to an electric arc detection device comprising analyzing means supplying current and voltage integration signals. The analyzing means supply current and voltage differential signals. Decision-making means comprise a disable unit supplying adaptive disable signals and comprising detection means supplying at least one decision-making aid signal according to at least one adaptive disable signal and to the current differential signal or the current integration signal. A decision-making unit supplies a trip signal according to the decision-making aid signals. |
| US07656625B2 |
Disc apparatus
A disc apparatus which can accurately judge whether or not a spindle motor is at fault due to a short circuit is provided.A disc apparatus (1) includes a spindle motor (3) which rotates a disc (2), a differential operational amplifier (5) which detects a difference between voltages of a positive terminal and a negative terminal of the spindle motor (3) as a detecting voltage level, a failure judgment unit (10) which judges whether or not the spindle motor (3) is at fault based on the detecting voltage level, and a disc determination means (12) which determines a type of the disc (2). The failure judgment unit (10) judges that the spindle motor (3) is at fault when the detecting voltage level becomes lower than a predetermined threshold level five times continuously during a start-up that the spindle motor (3) starts driving when the disc (2) is in stopped state while the disc determination means (12) determines the type of the disc (2). Consequently, the failure judgment unit (10) can accurately judge the failure in the spindle motor (3) without extending the start-up time. |
| US07656623B2 |
Methods and apparatus for charging a battery in a peripheral device
A power manager for managing power delivered to a battery operated peripheral device is disclosed. The power manager includes an input current limiter arranged to suppress a power surge associated with an insertion event by a power cable arranged to provide an external voltage. A voltage converter unit coupled to the input current limiter converts the received external voltage to a supply voltage that is transmitted by way of a main bus to a voltage sensor unit coupled thereto. During the insertion event, a comparator unit coupled to the voltage sensor, sends a first switching signal to a switchover circuit that responds by connecting the peripheral device and an uncharged battery to the main bus such that the supply voltage is provided thereto. When the battery is substantially fully charged, the switchover circuit responds by electrically disconnecting the battery so as to not overcharge the battery. |
| US07656619B1 |
Magnetic head sliders for disk drives having a heating element and pedestal in thick undercoat layer
A head includes a substrate, an undercoat material, a read structure, and a write structure. The undercoat material at least partially provides electrical insulation between the read structure and the substrate. The read structure allows for reading magnetic fields from a recording medium. The write structure allows for providing particular magnetic fields to the recording medium to write data to the recording medium. The read structure is located at least partially between a portion of the undercoat material and a portion of the write structure. The head further includes at least one of (i) a heating element located at least partially in the undercoat material for providing heat and (ii) a pedestal for at least partially providing thermal conduction between the read structure and the substrate. Also, a thickness of the undercoat material may be set for improving flying height adjustment efficiency. |
| US07656614B2 |
Tape drive
A tape back-up drive having a head assembly. The head assembly includes a head configured to read data from a tape and to write data to the tape. The head assembly also includes at least one tape guide disposed adjacent to the head. |
| US07656608B1 |
Media cartridge with multi-distance antennas and cartridge export prevention and tracking mechanisms
The aspects of the present invention provide a device for tracking, a method for tracking, and a method for building the device for tracking the location of a media cartridge. The device includes a first antenna connected to a media unit. The device also includes a second antenna connected to the media unit, wherein the second antenna has a range that is longer than the first antenna. The device also includes a switch, wherein the switch allows the media cartridge to operate in a first mode and a second mode, wherein in the first mode the first antenna is operable, and wherein in the second mode the second antenna is operable. |
| US07656607B1 |
Disk drive comprising a servo accelerator employing a dual state variable memory
A disk drive is disclosed operable to generate an actuator control signal for actuating a head over a disk. A memory address is used to read a first state k variable from a first state variable memory SVM1. The first state k variable is stored in a second state variable memory (SVM2) while processing the first state k variable to generate a first state k+1 variable. The first state k+1 variable is stored in the SVM2, and the memory address is assigned to the SVM2 so that the first state k+1 variable becomes a second state k variable and the first state k variable becomes a first state k−1 variable. |
| US07656605B1 |
Method for repeatable run-out compensation
A control system that includes repeatable run-out (RRO) compensation comprises a control module that determines an error of the control system. An RRO compensation module receives the error, determines a repeatable component of an output response of the control system based on the error and a plant model of the control system, and updates a target response of the control system based on the repeatable component of the output response. |
| US07656602B2 |
Systems and methods for protecting a sensitive device from corrosion
A method for protecting a magnetic head according to one embodiment includes reducing a relative humidity in a vicinity of a magnetic head by passing an elevated bias current through a sensor of the head during at least some time periods when the sensor is not in use for reading data, the elevated bias current being chosen to be sufficient to heat the sensor to a level which will reduce the local relative humidity to below a threshold level for reducing or eliminating corrosion of the sensor. Additional methods are also presented. |
| US07656597B2 |
Prism sheet and backlight module using the same
An exemplary prism sheet includes a transparent main body. The main body includes a first surface, a second surface opposite to the first surface, a plurality of spherical depressions formed in the first surface, and a plurality of triangular pyramidal depressions and hexagonal pyramidal depressions formed in the second surface. Each of the triangular pyramidal depressions is surrounded by three adjacent hexagonal pyramidal depressions. A backlight module using the present prism sheet is also provided. |
| US07656591B2 |
Retrofocus lens system and image-taking device
Providing a retrofocus lens system and an image-taking device having small variation in aberrations upon focusing on a close object with a high imaging magnification. The retrofocus lens system includes, in order from an object, a first lens group G1 having negative refractive power, a second lens group G2 having negative refractive power, and a third lens group G3 having positive refractive power. Upon focusing from infinity to a close object, the first lens group G1, the second lens group G2, and the third lens group G3 are moved to the object such that a distance between the first lens group G1 and the second lens group G2 increases, and a distance between the second lens group G2 and the third lens group G3 decreases. |
| US07656589B2 |
Zoom lens system, imaging device and camera
An object is to provide: a zoom lens system that has a reduced overall length, a high resolution, and a variable magnification ratio as high as 9 or greater and that is satisfactorily adaptable for wide-angle image taking where the view angle at a wide-angle limit is 70° or greater; an imaging device employing this zoom lens system; and a thin and compact camera. The zoom lens system has a plurality of lens units each consisting of at least one lens element, and, in order from the object side to the image side, comprises a first lens unit having positive optical power, a second lens unit having negative optical power, a third lens unit having positive optical power, a fourth lens unit and a fifth lens unit. In zooming from a wide-angle limit to a telephoto limit at the time of image taking, at least the first lens unit and the second lens unit move in an optical axis direction, while the fourth lens unit and the fifth lens unit each consists of one lens element. An imaging device and a camera employ this zoom lens system. |
| US07656581B2 |
Transparent and polarizing viewing element having a zone associated with an obliquely oriented polarizing filter
The invention concerns a transparent and polarizing viewing element (2) divided into several zones (2a, 2b). At least one of the zones (2a) is associated with a light polarizing filter. The light passing through the optical surface is affected differently for two of said zones (2a, 2b) depending on the polarizing direction of said light. The polarizing filter is obliquely oriented relative to a horizontal direction (H) in the operational position of the element (2; 5), with an angle between the filter orientation and said horizontal direction of 90 degrees and of 0 degree. |
| US07656578B2 |
Microchip-Yb fiber hybrid optical amplifier for micro-machining and marking
The invention describes techniques for the control of the spatial as well as spectral beam quality of multi-mode fiber amplification of high peak power pulses as well as using such a configuration to replace the present diode-pumped, Neodynium based sources. Perfect spatial beam-quality can be ensured by exciting the fundamental mode in the multi-mode fibers with appropriate mode-matching optics and techniques. The loss of spatial beam-quality in the multi-mode fibers along the fiber length can be minimized by using multi-mode fibers with large cladding diameters. Near diffraction-limited coherent multi-mode amplifiers can be conveniently cladding pumped, allowing for the generation of high average power. Moreover, the polarization state in the multi-mode fiber amplifiers can be preserved by implementing multi-mode fibers with stress producing regions or elliptical fiber cores These lasers find application as a general replacement of Nd: based lasers, especially Nd:YAG lasers. Particularly utility is disclosed for applications in the marking, micro-machining and drilling areas. |
| US07656576B2 |
Display medium, display device and display method
A display medium includes at least: a pair of substrates, at least one of the substrates having optical transparency; a dispersion medium positioned in a gap between the pair of substrates; one or more kinds of electrophoretic particles or two or more kinds of electrophoretic particles different in color from each other, included in the dispersion medium; and a holder disposed between the pair of substrates, the holder having a function of holding the electrophoretic particles and a function of controlling, by an external voltage, a movement amount of the electrophoretic particles on the holder. |
| US07656574B2 |
Method and device for reduction of polarization-dependent effects in a tunable optical component
A device and a method for reducing polarization-dependent effects in dynamical optical components based on surface modulation of a polymer gel or membrane is disclosed. The device and method modifies, removes or leads away unwanted reflections from incident light or information carrier communicating with said optical component. |
| US07656569B2 |
Vision modification with reflected image
Various embodiments of methods and systems for improving and enhancing vision are disclosed. Adjustable lenses or optical systems may be used to provide adaptive vision modification. In some embodiments, vision modification may be responsive to the current state of the user's visual system. Certain embodiments provide correction of the subject's near and far vision. Other embodiments provide enhancement of vision beyond the physiological ranges of focal length or magnification. |
| US07656565B2 |
Exploiting random motion during scanning to yield improved image
An additional motion is introduced into a scanning operation. This additional motion is in addition to the motion that is inherent in any document scanning operation. For example, in a flatbed scanner a linear array of scanning devices is positioned across the document in a first or “x” direction and this array is moved across the document in a perpendicular or “y” direction. In a flatbed scanner the position of the scanning devices are fixed in the “x” direction. In a drum scanner a light beam moves across the document in an “x” direction and the document is moved in the “y” direction. The light reflected from the document is directed to a fixed photoreceptor. With the present invention an additional vibratory motion is introduced into the scanning process. With a flatbed scanner the array of detector devices is moved or vibrated. The vibratory motion can for example be in the “x” direction. With a drum scanner the photoreceptor is moved or vibrated. For example the photodetector can be moved or vibrated in the “x” direction. The amount and direction of the vibratory movement can vary up to about one half the distance between units in the scanner's resolution (i.e. one half a pixel). If one is trying to eliminate Moire patterns the vibratory movement can be a pseudo random series of movements. If one is trying to introduce a special pattern into the document or to otherwise create special effects, various other type of motion can be used. Movement of the CCD array in a flatbed scanner or movement of the photoreceptor in a drum scanner can be done by a simple piezo electric transducer or by a simple mechanical cam. |
| US07656555B2 |
Method of recording a computer object using color enabled by a recording device and communication device
A computer object such as text, graphics, mathematical formulas, images, audio, and other data and information handled inside a computer or through a computer in industry or daily life etc. is expressed, recorded, reproduced, and transmitted using color or a color numerical value. Color is used as a medium for expressing data or information taking note of the characteristics of color. This helps counter the ballooning amount of recording. Color can also be used to prepare codes. |
| US07656554B2 |
Method of correcting neutral color shifts caused by cartridge variations
A method for correcting neutral color shift in a production cartridge for use in an imaging system includes determining a colorant increment data based on a standard cartridge neutral variation signature color data and a standard cartridge neutral sensitivity signature color data associated with a standard cartridge, and based on a production cartridge neutral variation signature color data and a production cartridge neutral sensitivity signature color data associated with the production cartridge, and using the colorant increment data to correct the neutral color shift. |
| US07656553B2 |
Printing user-created custom header/footer/separator pages from the printer driver
A method for customizing header pages, footer pages, and/or separator pages is disclosed. According to one aspect, a user interface is displayed. The user interface comprises user interface elements through which a user can specify user-customized content that is to appear on an additional page that is to be printed with the pages of an electronic document. A user-generated representation of the content is received through the user interface. A printer driver generates modified print data based on additional print data, which represents the additional page, and original print data, which represents the electronic document. The modified print data causes the printing device to print the user-customized content on a header, footer, or separator page. As a result, when the printing device receives the modified print data, the printing device prints the header, footer, or separator page, with the user-customized content, in addition to the pages of the electronic document. |
| US07656549B2 |
Image forming apparatus
When received facsimile data is TSI-transferred, an image forming apparatus selects one box from a table which includes at least one of a box to which a number of a transmission source is assigned as a name and a box to which a part of a number of a transmission source and a symbol attached to the front or last of the number are assigned as a name. In the case where the selected box has the name in which the symbol is added to the front of the part of the number, a last number of a number indicated by data included in the TSI, which has the number of digits identical to those of the part of the number, is compared with the part of the number for all digits. As a result of the comparison, in the case where they match each other, the apparatus transfers the received facsimile data according to transfer setting of the box. |
| US07656547B2 |
System and method for optimized routing of print jobs
This invention is directed to a system and method for optimized routing of print jobs. The system and method comprise queuing print job data, selectively communicating the print job data to at least one of a plurality of associated printer devices so as to generate a printout therefrom, and receiving status data from at least one of the plurality of associated printer devices, which status data includes data representative of a commitment level of the at least one associated printer device relative to dominant print job requests. The system and method also comprise testing the status data against selected test criteria to determine whether at least one alternative associated printer device is desired for printing and selectively redirecting the print job data from a primary designated associated printer device to a secondary associated printer device in accordance with an output of the test means. |
| US07656541B2 |
Optoelectronic apparatus and a method for its operation
An apparatus detects an object using an optoelectronic apparatus. Light beams generated by a light source are scattered back and/or reflected by an object and are detected by a receiver arrangement in accordance with the triangulation principle. An object detection signal is output by an evaluation unit and the light beams in the receiver arrangement act via an optical receiver system and a microlens array on a pixel array comprising photodetectors. A macropixel has a plurality of subpixels associated with each microlens. The evaluation unit comprises a unit for determining the received signal distribution over the subpixels. Methods for operating the apparatus are also provided. |
| US07656537B2 |
Device for determining the position of spaced-apart areas in transparent and/or diffuse objects
The invention is directed to a device for determining the thickness, distance and/or profile of areas of a transparent and/or diffuse object that are spaced apart, in particular for measuring distances in the eye. In the device for determining position using an interferometer arrangement based on the Michelson principle, a scanning unit is arranged for the change in path length in the reference beam or measurement beam path. The scanning unit comprises a scan table which is movable translationally in corresponding guides, the movement direction enclosing an angle α to the reference beam. At least two reference mirrors having a distance d in direction of the reference beam and slightly overlapping laterally are arranged on the scan table so that during the oscillating movement of the scan table carried out by a motor the reference beam is reflected in itself first by the first reference mirror and then by the second reference mirror. |
| US07656535B2 |
Optical system and method for inferring a disturbance
The present invention relates to an disturbance sensing system, in particular an optical system in which a disturbance can be inferred. The system includes: a first waveguide portion and a second waveguide portion disposed in a side to side arrangement relative to one another; launch means for launching a first signal and a second signal onto the first waveguide portion and the second waveguide portion respectively, the first and second waveguide portions being optically coupled such that each of the transmitted first and second signals travels along each of the first and second waveguides; and, combining means for combining the transmitted first and second signals so as to produce a combination signal, the first and second signals being related to one another such that a disturbance in either one of the first and the second waveguide portions can be inferred from the combination signal. The noise or other signal resulting from a disturbance applied to both waveguide portions will be at least partially suppressed. |
| US07656533B2 |
Flowing device for optics-based methanol sensor
A flowing device for an optics-based methanol sensor includes an inner housing that surrounds the optics-based methanol sensor, an outer housing that surrounds the inner housing, a flow channel in the inner housing formed on a totally reflecting surface of the optics-based methanol sensor, a fuel inlet that is formed through the inner and outer housings and supplies liquid fuel to the flow channel, and a fuel outlet that is formed through the inner and outer housings and discharges the liquid fuel that has passed through the flow channel to an outside of the outer housing. |
| US07656531B2 |
Holding apparatus for spectrum measurement
A holding apparatus (40) for spectrum measurement of optical elements includes a fixed board (11) having a first through hole (111), and a receiving board (12) having a plurality of receiving holes (120) with different sizes configured for holding different optical elements. The receiving board is coupled to the fixed board and rotatable relative to the fixed board about a first axis. The receiving holes are centered on a first imaginary circle which is centered on the first axis. A distance between a center of the first through hole and the axis is equal to a radius of the first imaginary circle. |
| US07656529B1 |
Overlay error measurement using fourier optics
The present invention discloses an overlay alignment measurement apparatus and method. The overlay target is periodic and is illuminated by coherent radiation; a Fourier transform lens optically computes the Fourier transform of the target. Analysis of the spatial frequencies at the Fourier plane yields overlay alignment information. |
| US07656528B2 |
Periodic patterns and technique to control misalignment between two layers
A method and system to measure misalignment error between two overlying or interlaced periodic structures are proposed. The overlying or interlaced periodic structures are illuminated by incident radiation, and the diffracted radiation of the incident radiation by the overlying or interlaced periodic structures are detected to provide an output signal. The misalignment between the overlying or interlaced periodic structures may then be determined from the output signal. |
| US07656527B2 |
Method and apparatus for determining concentration using polarized light
An apparatus and method for determining the concentration of chiral molecules in a fluid includes a first polarizer configure to polarize light in substantially a first plane to provide initially polarized light. A second polarizer is capable of polarizing the initially polarized light in a plurality of planes, at least one of the plurality of planes being different from the first plane, to provide subsequently polarized light. One or more receivers are included for measuring an intensity of the subsequently polarized light in one or more of the plurality of planes. |
| US07656526B1 |
Lidar system for remote determination of calibrated, absolute aerosol backscatter coefficients
A lidar system capable of remotely identifying calibrated absolute aerosol backscatter coefficients of atmospheric aerosol particles by transmitting a beam of light and spectrally separating the intensity of Rayleigh and Mie backscattering is disclosed. The transmitter features high pulse energy to generate sufficient Rayleigh backscattering, enabling atmospheric scanning in a timely manner. The transmitter employs a seeded Nd:YAG laser and a seeded stimulated Raman scattering wavelength shifter to achieve narrow bandwidth, eye-safe laser pulses. The receiver employs a telescope, collimating lens, beam splitter, molecular absorption filter, focusing lenses, and avalanche photodiodes. Mie backscattering is blocked by the molecular absorption filter to provide a Rayleigh signal, which is used with knowledge of atmospheric density to calibrate the Mie signal. The system is intended for atmospheric research and aerosol monitoring applications where calibrated Mie scattering intensity is necessary to measure the optical depths of aerosol structures such as plumes, clouds, and layers. |
| US07656525B2 |
Fiber optic SERS sensor systems and SERS probes
Fiber optic surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopic (SERS) systems (also referred to as “SERS system”), portable SERS systems, SERS probes, and methods of using the SERS systems and SERS probes to detect an analyte, are disclosed. |
| US07656522B2 |
Depth selective pH measurement and UV exposure measurement
A Raman spectrum is measured inside animal tissue, such us human skin tissue, at a selected depth from a surface the tissue. A pH value is computed using a function that assigns a pH value as a function of the measured Raman spectrum. The computation may involve computing a number representing a ratio of concentrations of a protonated and a deprotonated version of a chemical substance from the Raman spectrum and generating pH information on the basis of said number. The chemical substance is for example a form of Urocanic acid (UCA). UV exposure is measured from the weight of the spectrum of cis-UCA. |
| US07656520B2 |
Illumination device for product examination via pulsed illumination
An illumination device for use with a product inspection machine inspecting products according to at least one characteristic using pulsed illumination for inspection in two wavelengths. The invention includes a plurality of arrays of semiconductor light sources from which a wavelength may be selected, either specifically or by combination of specific semiconductor light sources, for impinging on passing product and at least one array of semiconductor light sources from which the same wavelength may be selected and which provides intensity equal to the plurality of arrays impinging on a background surface for detection and comparison. |
| US07656519B2 |
Wafer edge inspection
In one embodiment, a surface analyzer system comprises a radiation targeting assembly to target radiation onto an edge surface of a wafer, the radiation targeting assembly comprising a first expanded paraboloid or expanded ellipsoid reflector positioned adjacent the edge surface of the wafer, a reflected radiation collecting assembly that collects radiation reflected from the surface, a signal processing module to generate surface parameter data from the reflected radiation, and a defect detection module to analyze the surface parameter data to detect a defect on the surface. |
| US07656518B2 |
Method of measuring asymmetry in a scatterometer, a method of measuring an overlay error in a substrate and a metrology apparatus
In a method of measuring asymmetry in a scatterometer, a target portion is illuminated twice, first with 0° of substrate rotation and secondly with 180° of substrate rotation. One of those images is rotated and then that rotated image is subtracted from the other image. In this way, asymmetry of the scatterometer can be corrected. |
| US07656517B2 |
Test apparatus and method
Previous testing of such test pieces as fan blades utilized in gas turbine engines has involved application of paint markings to identify fragments upon fragmentation of the test piece. Such fragmentation causes debris which will obscure paint markings and the paint itself may create clouds of dust obscuring visual images of the test piece under test conditions. By applying an image pattern comprising a number of lingering image patches, typically in the form of thermal patches upon the test components, and arranging the test components to be within an enclosure which is evacuated it will be appreciated that these image patterns linger and can be viewed by an appropriate monitor over a period at least of the test conditions. Utilization of extra visual spectrum radiation images extends the period when clear images of the test piece under test conditions can be seen and analyzed. |
| US07656509B2 |
Optical rangefinder for an electro-active lens
Several devices for determining a distance of an object a user of an electro-active lens is looking at are presented. Once the distance is determined, the devices may alter the optical power of the electro-active lens to ensure that the object is correctly focused. Optical range finding is a possible means for carrying out this task. An active rangefinder may emit optical radiation from a transmitter directed at the object. The optical radiation may then be reflected off the object. The reflected optical radiation may then be received with an appropriate receiver. The received optical radiation may then be processed by appropriate circuitry to determine a distance to the object. A passive rangefinder works without a transmitter. Instead, an appropriate receiver receives ambient sources of light from the object. The received light may then be processed by appropriate circuitry to determine a distance to the object. |
| US07656508B2 |
Distance measuring apparatus, distance measuring method, and computer program product
A distance measuring apparatus includes a detecting unit which detects a distance to an object located in a predetermined detection range; an imaging unit which generates an image signal group corresponding to a predetermined imaging field; a calculating unit which calculates the distance to the object located in the imaging field based on the image signal group; and an interpolating unit which either interpolates a detection result by the detecting unit by using a calculation result by the calculating unit, or interpolates the calculation result by the calculating unit by using the detection result by the detecting unit. |
| US07656507B2 |
Processing unit, exposure apparatus having the processing unit, and protection unit
A processing unit including a supply section for storing a mask having a patterned surface having a pattern to be exposed to a plate, the supply section being maintained under atmospheric pressure, a process chamber for processing the plate, the process chamber being maintained in a reduced pressure or vacuum atmosphere and the processing unit transferring the mask between the supply section and the process chamber, and a protection unit for protecting the patterned surface in a non-contact manner and for holding part of the mask other than the patterned surface. The protection unit covers the mask while opening at least a part of the other side surface of the patterned surface. The processing unit further includes a transfer unit for adsorbing the protection unit and for transferring the protection unit and the mask held by the protection unit, between the supply section and the process chamber. |
| US07656504B1 |
Projection exposure apparatus with luminous flux distribution
An exposure system is provided for illuminating a fine pattern that may have features extending along orthogonal first and second linear directions. An illumination source may be provided having decreased intensity portions at a center and defined along the first and second directions. |
| US07656501B2 |
Lithographic apparatus
A barrier member is provided for use in immersion lithography. The barrier member includes an extractor assembly on a bottom surface which faces the substrate. The extractor assembly includes a plate which splits the space between a liquid removal device and the substrate in two such that a meniscus is formed in an upper channel between the liquid removal device and the plate and a meniscus is formed in a lower channel between the plate and the substrate. |
| US07656500B2 |
Liquid crystal display device and fabricating method thereof
A liquid crystal display device and a fabricating method having a simplified process are disclosed. The liquid crystal display device compromises, among other features, first and second substrates, a gate line crossing a data line with a gate insulating film therebetween to define a pixel area. A common line is provided on the substrate substantially parallel to the gate line, and a common electrode is extended from the common line into the pixel area. A pixel electrode is extended from a drain electrode into the pixel area to form a horizontal electric field with the common electrode. The data line, a source electrode, a drain electrode and the pixel electrode are formed of a first conductive layer group having at least double conductive layers, and are formed in an area to be sealed by a sealant upon joining the first and second substrates. |
| US07656497B2 |
Substrate for liquid crystal display
Provided is a substrate for a liquid crystal display which is resistant to deformation. The substrate includes a flexible substrate, first and second barrier layers respectively disposed on first and second surfaces of the flexible substrate, and first and second hard coating layers respectively disposed on the first and second barrier layers. |
| US07656496B2 |
Liquid crystal display device and method for fabricating the same
A liquid crystal display (LCD) device is divided into an active region and a liquid crystal margin region. The LCD includes a thin film transistor substrate that includes gate and data lines crossing each other to define pixel regions, and thin film transistors in the active region. A color filter substrate has column spacers in the active region that contact a portion corresponding to a region of the thin film transistor and the gate or data lines. The column spacers contacting the thin film transistor region provide an elastic gap between the substrates. The column spacers in the gate/data line region are separated from the color filter substrate. Other column spacers are formed in the liquid crystal margin region in a honeycomb arrangement. A liquid crystal layer is disposed between the thin film transistor and color filter substrates. |