Document Document Title
US07689804B2 Selectively protecting a register file
In one embodiment, the present invention includes a method for protecting a value to be stored in a register of a register file with a first level of protection if the value is predicted to be used for a first time period, and protecting the value with a second level of protection if the value is predicted to be used for a second time period. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US07689803B2 System and method for communication using emulated LUN blocks in storage virtualization environments
A system for communication using emulated LUN blocks in storage virtualization environments includes a first host and an off-host virtualizer. The off-host virtualizer may be configured to generate operating system metadata for a virtual storage device, and to make the operating system metadata accessible to the first host. A first layer of a storage software stack at the host may use the operating system metadata to detect the existence of the virtual storage device as an addressable storage device. The off-host virtualizer may also be configured to provide configuration information at a designated set of block addresses within the virtual storage device. A second layer of the storage software stack may be configured to read the configuration information from the designated set of blocks.
US07689799B2 Method and apparatus for identifying logical volumes in multiple element computer storage domains
Method and apparatus for specifying and identifying logic volumes in computer systems that store logical volumes on multiple storage elements are disclosed. The logical volume identifier may be unique with respect to all other logical volumes stored on the storage elements. The logical volumes may be conventional logical volumes, partitions, or hyper volumes.
US07689798B2 Method and device for determining size of memory frames
A method for determining the size of each of a predetermined number of memory frames to be allocated for storing data blocks in a memory, and a processing device for implementing the method. The method comprises determining a data block size distribution for at least one set of data blocks. A data block size of the data block size distribution is eliminated iteratively until the number of data block sizes corresponds to the number of sizes of the memory frames. The data block sizes to merge are selected by means of a slack prediction algorithm. The sizes of the memory frames are determined as the data block sizes of the distribution which remain after the elimination.
US07689795B2 Smart card with volatile memory file subsystem
An integrated circuit (IC) module allows volatile data generated by applications to be stored within volatile data files in the volatile memory. A file system tracks the location of all data files as residing in either volatile memory or nonvolatile memory and facilitates access to the volatile data files in volatile memory in a similar manner to accessing nonvolatile data files in nonvolatile memory. The file system exposes a set of application program interfaces (APIs) to allow applications to access the data files. The same APIs are used to access both volatile data files and nonvolatile data files. When an application requests access to a data file, the file system initially determines whether the application is authorized to gain access to the data file. If it is, the file system next determines whether the data file resides in volatile memory or nonvolatile memory. Once the memory region is identified, the file system identifies the physical location of the data file.
US07689794B2 System and method for handling memory allocation failures through reserve allocation of event data
Disclosed are systems and methods for reserve allocation of event data. A request event is received. The request event is associated with memory storing request event data. Memory for response event data is allocated from a first pool. The response event data is associated with a response, and the response is associated with the request. Upon failure of the allocation of memory for the response event data, memory is obtained for out-of-memory response event data. The out-of-memory response event data is associated with the response event. The request event is completed using the response event.
US07689790B2 Storage system, remote copy and management method therefor
A copy source storage controller received write data added with a time and issued from a host computer transfers the write data with the time to a copy destination storage controller. If there are a plurality of copy destination storage controllers, a representative copy destination storage controller compares times of write data copied to the plurality of copy destination storage controllers, and writes the write data in copy destination logical volumes in the sequential order of time. The representative copy destination storage controller judges that integrity of the write data is established, if a communication procedure is established with the copy destination storage controller and if the statuses of the copy source/destination logical volumes are coincident. In remote copy which guarantees integrity of write data and traverses a plurality of storage controllers, it is possible to judge at an optional time point whether integrity of write data can be guaranteed.
US07689786B1 Techniques for overriding device reservations
Described are techniques for overriding an existing device reservation. Discovery processing is performed by a first data storage system to locate a specified device. The discovery processing includes determining whether there is a reservation conflict for said device of a second data storage system. If there is a reservation conflict for the device, a command is issued from the first data storage system to the second data storage system during said discovery processing to create an override for said reservation conflict. The override causes processing to be performed at a subsequent point in time so that an existing reservation associated with the reservation conflict is overridden in connection with performing a first process on said first data storage system.
US07689780B2 Adaptive granularity refinement in detecting potential data races
A method and apparatus are provided for detecting data races that overcome the limitations of the prior art. In some embodiments, this is accomplished by detecting a first access to an object, determining whether the first access is associated with a suspicious pattern, automatically refining a pattern detection granularity from the object to a memory location within the object if a determination is made that the first access is associated with the suspicious pattern, and reporting the data race if a second access associated with the suspicious pattern occurs at the memory location after the pattern detection granularity is refined.
US07689777B2 Cache member protection with partial make MRU allocation
A method and apparatus for enabling protection of a particular member of a cache during LRU victim selection. LRU state array includes additional “protection” bits in addition to the state bits. The protection bits serve as a pointer to identify the location of the member of the congruence class that is to be protected. A protected member is not removed from the cache during standard LRU victim selection, unless that member is invalid. The protection bits are pipelined to MRU update logic, where they are used to generate an MRU vector. The particular member identified by the MRU vector (and pointer) is protected from selection as the next LRU victim, unless the member is Invalid. The make MRU operation affects only the lower level LRU state bits arranged a tree-based structure and thus only negates the selection of the protected member, without affecting LRU victim selection of the other members.
US07689774B2 System and method for improving the page crossing performance of a data prefetcher
A system and method for improving the page crossing performance of a data prefetcher is presented. A prefetch engine tracks times at which a data stream terminates due to a page boundary. When a certain percentage of data streams terminate at page boundaries, the prefetch engine sets an aggressive profile flag. In turn, when the data prefetch engine receives a real address that corresponds to the beginning/end of a new page, and the aggressive profile flag is set, the prefetch engine uses an aggressive startup profile to generate and schedule prefetches on the assumption that the real address is highly likely to be the continuation of a long data stream. As a result, the system and method minimize latency when crossing real page boundaries when a program is predominately accessing long streams.
US07689769B2 Arranging and destaging data to holographic storage
Data for storage by holographic data storage is arranged in an intermediate data storage as data segments which are replicas of holographic storage segments. Files of data are aggregated into the data segments, and a destaging control determines the destaging of the data segments to the holographic data storage in accordance with a plurality of policies, such as whether a segment is full, a time threshold has been reached, or whether a threshold number of segments are “open”. The intermediate data storage may be arranged into a number of partitions at least equal to the number of sources having input to the data destaging system, the partitions comprising integral multiples of the data segments.
US07689767B2 Method to detect and suggest corrective actions when performance and availability rules are violated in an environment deploying virtualization at multiple levels
A computer system or memory medium with instructions executable by a computer system to detect and/or suggest corrective actions when performance and availability are violated in an environment deploying virtualization at multiple levels. In one embodiment the computer system receives identities of a plurality of first physical storage devices, wherein storage in the plurality of first physical storage devices was logically aggregated to create a first storage object. The computer system also receives identities of a plurality of second physical storage devices, wherein storage in the plurality of second physical storage devices was logically aggregated to create a second storage object. Then, the computer system compares the identity of each of the plurality of first physical storage devices with the identities of the plurality of second physical storage devices.
US07689760B2 System and method for programming non-volatile memory
Systems and methods that may program a non-volatile memory for use in configuring features of a device, such as a set top box, for example, are disclosed. One method may include the steps of beginning a programming cycle; programming mode control bits of the non-volatile memory that correspond to configurations of features of the device; if an interruption occurs during the programming cycle, then rendering the non-volatile memory invalid; and if no interruption occurs during the programming cycle, then rendering the non-volatile memory operational.
US07689759B2 Method and apparatus for providing continuous access to shared tape drives from multiple virtual tape servers within a data storage system
A method for providing continuous access to shared tape drives from two virtual tape server (VTS) nodes is disclosed. A group of tape drives are connected to two VTS nodes via a set of switches. Both VTS nodes can concurrently process requests to mount physical tape cartridges to separate tape drives. The selection of a tape drive to fulfill a volume mount request on a physical volume begins by locking down any access to a tape drive table having a composite view of all the tape drives shared between the two VTS nodes. An available tape drive is then selected to mount the physical volume, and an entry in the tape drive table is updated to claim ownership of the tape drive. A reservation command is sent to the tape drive to lock down any access to the tape drive, and the lock to the tape drive table is released. Having claimed ownership to the tape drive, the VTS node can now perform the volume mount request.
US07689751B2 PCI-express system
A method and system to facilitate Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (PCIe). The PCIe may be facilitated in such as way as to limit pins consumed by a Root Complex, switch, or other chipset included on the same die a central processing unit (CPU). A slot interface card (SIC) or other devices having less expensive pins may be used to connect to and communicate with the slot.
US07689749B2 Interrupt control function adapted to control the execution of interrupt requests of differing criticality
An interrupt controller (1) is adapted to control the execution of interrupt requests (11, 12) of differing criticality by a processor (7) which is required to execute tasks (3, 17) of differing criticality under the control of a computer operating system (5); the interrupt controller being adapted to recognize critical (11) and non-critical (12) interrupt requests originating from different interrupt sources, and to recognize when the processor (7) is required to execute each of critical (3) and non-critical tasks (17); the interrupt controller being further adapted to pass critical interrupt requests (11) to the processor (7) for execution in preference to non-critical interrupt requests (12), to block non-critical interrupt requests (12) to the processor when they coexist with critical interrupt requests (11) or the processor (7) is required to execute critical tasks (3), and to pass non-critical interrupt requests (12) to the processor (7) when they do not coexist with any critical interrupt requests (11) and the processor (7) has no critical tasks (3) to be executed. The interrupt controller (1) is preferably implemented in hardware and its operation is transparent to the processor (7).
US07689746B2 Bus system employing an arbiter
A method for operating a bus system, in particular in a microprocessor or microcontroller, and a semiconductor device for performing the method is disclosed. In one embodiment, for optimizing the order of accesses to the bus system, a method for operating a bus system includes at least one transmission channel, wherein the transmission channel connects at least two masters and at least one slave with one another. The masters are connected with an arbiter determining the order of accesses in which the masters access the transmission channel. The method provides that the arbiter takes into account meta information about planned accesses when determining the order of accesses. Meta information can further be stored and be referred to for subsequent determinations.
US07689745B2 Mechanism for synchronizing controllers for enhanced platform power management
In one embodiment, an apparatus to synchronize multiple controllers is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a plurality of controllers, and logic coupled to the plurality of controllers to control one or more controllers of the plurality of controllers to perform fetches simultaneously with one or more other controllers of the plurality of controllers. Other embodiments are also described.
US07689741B2 Dual buffer memory system for reducing data transmission time and control method thereof
A dual buffer memory system capable of improving system performance by reducing a data transmission time and a control method thereof are provided. The dual buffer memory system includes a flash memory block and a plurality of buffers. The dual buffer memory system uses a dual buffering scheme in which one buffer among the plurality of buffers interacts with the flash memory block and simultaneously a different buffer among the plurality of buffers interacts with a host. Therefore, it is possible to reduce a data transmission time between the flash memory and the host, thereby improving system performance.
US07689740B2 System and method for serial-peripheral-interface data transmission
The invention provides a method for Serial-Peripheral-Interface (SPI) data transmission. First, data stored in a first buffer of an SPI controller is transmitted to a second buffer of an SPI slave. A clock signal according to which the SPI slave operates is halted after data stored in the first buffer is completely transmitted. The first buffer is then refreshed with data newly received by the SPI controller while the clock signal is halted. The clock signal is then restarted to operate the SPI slave after the first buffer is refreshed. Refreshed data stored in the first buffer is then transmitted to the second buffer while the clock signal is oscillating. Halting of the clock signal, refreshing of the first buffer, restarting of the clock signal, and transmitting of refreshed data are repeated until the second buffer is full. The buffer size of the second buffer greatly exceeds that of the first buffer.
US07689738B1 Peripheral devices and methods for transferring incoming data status entries from a peripheral to a host
Methods and systems are provided for reducing partial cache writes in transferring incoming data status entries from a peripheral device to a host. The methods comprise determining a lower limit on a number of available incoming data status entry positions in an incoming data status ring in the host system memory, and selectively transferring a current incoming data status entry to the host system memory using a full cache line write if the lower limit is greater than or equal to a first value. Peripheral systems are provided for providing an interface between a host computer and an external device or network, which comprise a descriptor management system adapted to determine a lower limit on a number of available incoming data status entry positions in an incoming data status ring in a host system memory, and to selectively transfer a current incoming data status entry to the host system memory using a full cache line write if the lower limit is greater than or equal to a first value.
US07689737B2 Data I/O apparatus for outputting image data via a network
There is provided the first storage unit for storing original data, and the second storage unit for storing meta-data. Under the control of a path control unit, an optimal connection process can be performed. As a result, a stream from the first storage unit for storing the original data can always be transmitted at maximum.
US07689735B2 Instruction stream control
An interface requests instructions from a data store storing instructions of an application to be processed by a data processor, and receives and transmits the instructions to the data processor. The interface includes: an input that receives the instructions from the data store via at least one input bus; a buffer that stores received instructions; an output that outputs instructions to the data processing apparatus via the output bus; a control signal input that receives a control signal; and a buffer controller that controls the buffer to request an instruction subsequent to a previously received instruction within an instruction stream of the application from the data store in response to detection of no control signal on the control signal input and to detection of available buffer storage capacity. In response to a control signal received at the control signal input, the controller controls at least one of input and storage of instructions within the interface in order to seek to reduce instruction movement through the input.
US07689730B2 Data output system and data output method with data output monitoring
The invention relates to a data output method and to a data output system comprising: a printing device; a database device in which corresponding reference data and/or control data are stored for a plurality of data output system users; a data output control device providing or compiling corresponding output data sets and delivering same to the printing device; and a device for monitoring the providing or compiling and/or the delivering of the output data sets to the printing device.
US07689728B2 Method and apparatus for describing ACPI machine language in computer having multibridge PCI structure, and program thereof
There is provided a method for describing an ACPI machine language table used in a computer system having a multibridge PCI structure, which enables an OS to support hot plugs for PCI devices subordinate to a PCI multibridge. Upon receiving a call requesting a resource information method for a PCI device from an ACPI driver on an OS, a PCI configuration access is made to a subordinate bridge in a PCI device side, so that the ACPI machine language table supplied from a BIOS returns resource information of the PCI device. A PCI configuration access is made to a superordinate bridge in a PCI system bus side, to obtain resource information of the subordinate bridge. The resource information of the subordinate bridge is obtained from the superordinate bridge, and secondary resource information is obtained from a PCI configuration space of the subordinate bridge.
US07689726B1 Bootable integrated circuit device for readback encoding of configuration data
Method and apparatus for encoding configuration data is described. An integrated circuit device having a configuration interface is coupled to boot memory coupled at the configuration interface. The boot memory contains boot cores for configuring the integrated circuit device via the configuration interface. The boot cores include a configuration encoder core and an internal processor interface core. The boot cores may further include a processor core. The configuration encoder core provides a peripheral interface internal to the integrated circuit device, and the boot memory contains at least one set of instructions for encoding configuration data read from configuration memory. The encoded configuration data may be sent via the peripheral interface. Alternatively, configuration encoder core may include a configuration bitstream for instantiating an encoder in configurable resources for encoding readback configuration data.
US07689717B1 Method and system for digital rendering over a network
A method, system, computer program product, and protocol for digital rendering over a network is described. Rendering resources associated with a project are stored in a project resource pool at a rendering service site, and for each rendering request received from a client site the project resource pool is compared to current rendering resources at the client site. A given rendering resource is uploaded from the client site to the rendering service only if the project resource pool does not contain the current version, thereby conserving bandwidth. In accordance with a preferred embodiment, redundant generation of raw rendering resource files is avoided by only generating those raw rendering resource files not mated with generated rendering resource files. Methods for reducing redundant generation of raw resources are also described, as well as methods for statistically reducing the number of raw resource files required to be uploaded to the rendering service for multi-frame sessions. The preferred embodiments are particularly advantageous for remote rendering services at a different site from the client and connected across the Internet or a Wide Area Network, but may also be applied where the rendering service is co-located with the client site and connected thereto by a Local Area Network (LAN).
US07689716B2 Systems and methods for providing dynamic network authorization, authentication and accounting
Systems and methods for selectably controlling and customizing source access to a network, where the source is associated with a source computer, and wherein the source computer has transparent access to the network via a gateway device and no configuration software need be installed on the source computer to access the network. A user may be prevented access from a particular destination or site based upon the user's authorization while being permitted to access to other sites that the method and system deems accessible. The method and system can identify a source without that source's knowledge, and can access customizable access rights corresponding to that source in a source profile database. The source profile database can be a remote authentication dial-in user service (RADIUS) or a lightweight directory access protocol (LDAP) database. The method and system use source profiles within the source profile database to dynamically authorize source access to networks and destinations via networks.
US07689713B2 System operator independent server alerted synchronization system and methods
A system for enabling server alerted synchronization between a client device and a synchronization server where the network address of the client device is subject to arbitrary reassignment by the network operator without communication with the synchronization server. The client device actively responds to dynamic assignments of a network address to the client device by a network operator by establishing a network connection with and transmitting the network address to a synchronization server operated independent of the network operator. The identification of the synchronization server is determined from configuration data maintained by the client device. The client device then provides for the establishment of a network connection with the synchronization server to support immediate receipt of server alerted synchronization notification messages.
US07689708B1 Apparatus to flow control frames in a networked storage virtualization using multiple streaming protocols
A storage server includes various components that monitor and control the data flow therebetween. If an egress (downstream) port becomes congested, that information is propagated upstream to the egress components such as the port manager, the traffic manager processor, and the egress storage processor, which are each configured to control their data flow to prevent dropped data frames. In addition, the egress storage processor can communicate the congestion information to the ingress storage processor, which further propagates the congestion information to the ingress components such as the traffic manager processor and the port manager processor. The ingress port manager processor can then direct the ingress port to stop accepting ingress data for the storage server to process until the congestion has been addressed.
US07689706B2 System and method for streaming media
The system and method for streaming media to a viewer and managing the media comprises and an enhanced service routing processor (ESRP), a real time switch management system (RTSMS), a name routing processor (NRP), and a managed media switch (MMS). The system and method operate with a reservation server. The ESRP receives media from an owner, manages the media according to media rules and order rules defined by the owner, and distributes the media to one or more switches, such as the MMS, according to the media rules and the order rules. The RTSMS is configured to receive the media rules and to receive a viewer's media request via the reservation server. The RTSMS processes the media request according to the media rules and builds a reservation for the requested media. The RTSMS generates the reservation to the viewer and to the NRP. The NRP receives the reservation data from the viewer and from the RTSMS. The NRP processes the reservation data and locates an MMS that can stream the media to the viewer. The NRP transmits the IP address of the MMS to the viewer and transmits the reservation data to the MMS. The viewer initiates a session or connection with the MMS using the reservation number. If the reservation data from the viewer matches the reservation data from the NRP, the MMS streams the media to the viewer.
US07689700B2 Configuration of a peer group
Embodiments of the present invention relate to systems and methods for configuring computing devices to join a peer group. A peer group may be created on a subnetwork by a computing device. When a new computing device enters the subnetwork, it may join the peer group and be given access to the shared resources on the peer group and associated computing devices, using a communications layer and an authorization layer. Allowing a new computing device to join a peer group includes inviting the new device to join and then challenging the device for a passkey of the peer group. After joining the peer group, the computing device will be able to access and share resources with the peer group and other computing devices associated with the peer group.
US07689694B2 Process management apparatus, computer systems, distributed processing method, and computer program for avoiding overhead in a process management device
When performing distributed processing in processing devices connected to a network and a processing managing device for managing the processing devices, it is possible to eliminate the overhead of the processing management device. When the processing management device (PU) (203) managing processing devices (SPU) (207) under its control receives a task request from one of the SPU, the processing managing device (203) specifies a cluster matched with the size or type of the task in a cluster list listed up in a predetermined memory, allocates the task to the specified cluster, and transmits to at least one of the cluster and the task request source SPU, communication setting information (such as a communication address) of the other, thereby enabling direct execution result transmission/reception by the network communication between the cluster and the request source SPU.
US07689692B2 Method of arranging dialogue type service through interactive service system
A computer system executes a procedure by which a service broker accepts registration of interactive service; executes a procedure by which the service broker accepts a request from a client terminal to provide the interactive service; executes a procedure by which the service broker selects servers allowed to provide resources requested by the interactive service as candidates for the destination of arrangement of the interactive service; executes a procedure by which the service broker specifies a server as the destination of arrangement of the interactive service from the candidates for the destination of arrangement on the basis of the provision quality of the interactive service between each server and the client terminal; and executes a procedure by which the service broker arranges the interactive service stored in a memory, in the specified server.
US07689690B2 Method for the early indication of serialization bottlenecks
The present invention provides a method for identifying a serialization bottleneck in a computer system (FIG. 1). The method comprises the steps of providing statistical data with regard to the actual response time (FIG. 2) of a computing resource, providing statistical data with regard to an expected response time of the computing resource and applying a mathematical formula to the actual response time to derive a relationship between the actual and expected response time. The relationship between the expected response time and the actual response time provides an indication of the presence of a serialization problem in a computing system.
US07689686B2 Active probing for sustainable capacity estimation of networked dataflows
Various actively probing techniques on a network allow an estimation of the sustainable capacity available in the network. One implementation probes the network using two probe sequences having different loads. Probe estimates associated with each sequence are used to estimate the sustainable capacity in the network. Another implementation probes the network using two probe sequences, in which either the probe packet size or the inter-probe gap are different between the sequences. Calculation of a delay trend for each sequence leads to estimate of the maximum network capacity and the background load on the network. Yet another implementation uses a windowing technique to probe the sustainable capacity in the network. The window size is increased until the network is saturated. The number of bytes transferred within the window during a given time period is an estimate of the sustainable capacity of the network.
US07689684B2 Method and apparatus for inspecting the properties of a computer
The invention disclosed herein enables a collection of computers and associated communications infrastructure to offer a new communications process which allows information providers to broadcast information to a population of information consumers. The information may be targeted to those consumers who have a precisely formulated need for the information. This targeting may be based on information which is inaccessible to other communications protocols. The targeting also includes a time element. Information can be brought to the attention of the consumer precisely when it has become applicable, which may occur immediately upon receipt of the message, but may also occur long after the message arrives. The communications process may operate without intruding on consumers who do not exhibit the precisely-specified need for the information, and it may operate without compromising the security or privacy of the consumers who participate.
US07689683B2 System for managing object in virtual space
An object management device using at least partially the object in the virtual space, which is divided into ordered partial space regions, as a target of management, wherein the object used as the management target has an ordering key which is defined in relation to an order related to a partial space region and calculated by a client device, and by using this ordering key, the object which is used for management is selectively defined among objects as candidates for the target of the management.
US07689682B1 Obtaining lists of nodes of a multi-dimensional network
A method of obtaining lists of nodes of a multi-dimensional personal information network includes accessing personal information aggregators from a first set of personal information aggregators that correspond to nodes of the multi-dimensional personal information network that have a degree of separation of one from a first node. One or more lists of additional personal information aggregators that correspond to nodes that have a degree of separation of one with at least one node corresponding to a personal information aggregator in the first set of personal information aggregators are requested. One or more of the requested lists are received and stored.
US07689679B2 Method to enable infiniband network bootstrap
Firmware of an InfiniBand (IB) host computer device provides a representation of an IB Host Channel Adapter (HCA) within the hierarchical data structure during system initialization. An ib-boot support package encapsulates arguments for booting over an IB network using an ibport device. The ib-boot support package supports keywords identifying a network support package or a Sockets Direct Protocol (SDP) support package. When the first keyword is provided, the IPoIB network protocol is used to access the boot server and retrieve the boot file. When the second keyword is provided, the IB network boot method is implemented, whereby the SDP network protocol is used to access the boot device. Access to the boot server is thus provided via one of the support packages, and the boot image is returned to the host device via the IB network for completion of boot operations.
US07689672B2 Collecting user attributes and device attributes to target users with promotions
The present disclosed system is directed toward a communication and management system that dynamically targets network devices for content deployment, such as application programs, device drivers, configuration files, and registry subhives. Moreover, the present system targets users of network devices for promotions, such as advertisements offered by Internet e-commerce sites. Network devices and their users are targeted through user profiles. User profiles are created when network devices register with the system server and are continually updated with information provided by user activity and event logs that are periodically uploaded from each device. A scalable messaging system provides for data transmission between the system server and among the network devices such that it is neutral as to the specific hardware platforms on which it is implemented.
US07689670B2 Method and arrangement for providing customized audio characteristics to cellular terminals
A method is provided for downloading audio characteristics to terminal equipment. A score information part is provided describing the presentation instructions of an audible signal. An instrument information part is also provided describing the parameters for synthesizing an audible signal the presentation instructions of which is described by the score information part. Additionally some compatibility information is provided describing the compatibility of the score information part and the instrument information part with certain processing and storing capacity. As a response to a selection command the score information part and the instrument information part are downloaded to terminal equipment through a communication network.
US07689669B2 System and method for accessing a process control automation device from a network client
A method for accessing an appliance, especially an automation appliance with a standardized interface, by means of a first processing device via a data network. A call is sent from the first data processing device to the second data processing device via the data network, and an address for identifying the appliance is extracted in the second data processing device from the call of the first data processing device to the second data processing device and used to identify the appliance. Information pertaining to the appliance can be accessed via the standardized interface of the appliance by means of the address extracted in the second data processing device.
US07689665B2 Dynamically loading scripts
The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for dynamically loading scripts. Web pages can include references to script loaders that control the loading of other scripts at a Web browser. A script loader can load scripts in accordance with script loading rules that override the default script loading behavior of the Web browser. Script loading rules can cause scripts to load in a different order than encountered in a Web pager, load in parallel, load in a manner that limits cross-domain requests, etc. Script loading rules are configurable such at that a developer can create customized script loading behavior.
US07689659B1 Method and system for detecting abusive email based on number of hops
A classifier is implemented to determine the number of message transfer agents (MTAs) through which an email message has traveled. If the number of MTAs through which the email message has traveled is below a predetermined threshold and the email message is not otherwise authenticated, the classifier will designate the email message as abusive.
US07689657B2 Forwarding IM messages to E-mail
Systems for forwarding an E-mail message to a user when instant messages from a sender cannot be forwarded to a secondary IM processing device comprise a primary IM processing device configured to send and receive E-mail messages and a router configured to route E-mail messages between the primary IM processing device and a sender's processing device. An E-mail user agent is coupled to the router and configured to provide access to E-mail information including an address of the sender such that an E-mail message can be sent to the sender's processing device. The router is further configured to receive notification at the primary IM processing device of a reply from the sender's processing device. Other systems and methods are also provided.
US07689655B2 Managing and collaborating with digital content using a dynamic user interface
A universal digital content system provides a dynamic user interface having a viewing area, an action menu area, and an organizing area. A user can create, organize, send, receive, access, collaborate with and otherwise manage digital content through a single user interface. The universal digital content system provides multiple ways of viewing and organizing all of the digital content accessible through the dynamic user interface. In addition, a user can create a collaboration session with one or more contacts using one or more digital content files.
US07689653B2 Apparatus and method controlling use of individual segments of instant messaging content
An apparatus and method is provided for a configuration of client work stations for instant messaging, wherein a participant intending to send a particular segment of chat content can elect to send the segment in an “off the record” mode. Content sent in this mode can be viewed but cannot be copied or saved by other instant messaging participants. The apparatus usefully includes a mode select device operable by the participant at a given station to designate each of a succession of chat content segments generated at the given station to be either for unrestricted use, or for off the record use, selectively. The apparatus further includes a component for applying a first use control message to each of the off the records segments sent from the given station to one or more of the other stations. A content control device located at a station receiving the off the record segments is responsive to the applied first use control messages to prevent the receiving station from retaining or otherwise propagating any of the received off the record segments.
US07689649B2 Rendering destination instant messaging personalization items before communicating with destination
Perception of a personalization item in an instant messaging communications session may be enabled by perceiving an identifier corresponding to an intended instant message recipient designated by an instant message sender system, accessing personalization items corresponding to the perceived identifier, and making perceivable the personalization items corresponding to the received identifier to the instant messaging sender system for rendering in an instant messaging application running on the instant messaging sender system, where the personalization items are made perceivable prior to communication with the intended instant message recipient.
US07689646B2 System and method for assessing web service compatibility
Differences between two web services are identified and quantified by a set of parameters. Each parameter is drawn from a discrete set of values that describes an aspect of the difference. The set of parameters is provided to a client of the web service.
US07689645B2 Systems and methods for brokering services
Techniques are provided to determine service data features from an archive of web service transactions. Data features for functionally identical classes of service are determined. Differentiating data feature patterns uniquely identifying each service within the class are learned using machine learning, clustering, statistical analysis and the like. A service map associating services with the differentiating patterns is determined. The service map contains data feature patterns that differentiate among otherwise functionally identical services. The data features are optionally associated with past usage, objective and subjective service quality measurements and the like. The data features of the received service requests are compared to differentiating patterns in the service map. The service associated with the differentiating patterns matching the data features of the service request is selected. The data features of the service request may include, but document language, document genre, number of words or characters, type of images, subject matter of images and the like.
US07689639B2 Complex logarithmic ALU
The present invention describes a method and apparatus for performing logarithmic arithmetic with real and/or complex numbers represented in a logarithmic format. In one exemplary embodiment, an ALU implements logarithmic arithmetic on complex numbers represented in a logpolar format. According to this embodiment, memory in the ALU stores a look-up table used to determine logarithms of complex numbers, while a processor in the ALU generates an output logarithm based on complex input operands represented in logpolar format using the stored look-up table. In another exemplary embodiment, the ALU performs logarithmic arithmetic on real and complex numbers represented in logarithmic format. In this embodiment, the memory stores two look-up tables, one for determining logarithms of real numbers and one for determining logarithms of complex numbers, while the processor generates an output logarithm based on real or complex input operands represented in logarithmic format using the real or complex look-up tables, respectively.
US07689635B2 Area efficient shift / rotate system
An area efficient data shifter/rotator using a barrel shifter. The invention is a circuit, which uses a single barrel shifter and is controllable to implement either a left or right shift or rotation of bits of a digital data word. The circuit is dynamically controllable to implement left or right shift of bits of the digital data word (both logical and arithmetic) and rotation (to the left or right) of bits of the word. The proposed circuit produces the required output in a single cycle.
US07689628B2 Monitoring several distributed resource elements as a resource pool
A monitoring system provided according to an aspect of the present invention enables a user to specify multiple resource elements as a resource pool, and view various aggregate information (e.g., sum, average) for attributes of interest for all the resource elements together. Such a feature is particularly useful in distributed environments where multiple independent resource elements need to be viewed as a single resource pool. The user is provided the flexibility to select the specific resource elements to be included in the resource pool.
US07689627B2 Identity management
A method which may allow a user to create more than one online identity in a Web browser, and associate each online identity with one type of intended online activity. The user may be able to switch to a different online identity without logging out from his/her computer or Web browser. The invention may help users to evade websites' tracking and targeting functions and protect users' privacy. Since each online identity may be associated with only a part of a user's browsing history, it is difficult for websites to collect all information about the user.
US07689623B1 Method for performing an external (disk-based) sort of a large data file which takes advantage of “presorted” data already present in the input
A method of externally sorting large files in a computer system is presented. The contents of the input file to be sorted are investigated in order to identify presorted portions thereof. The presorted portions of the input file as thus identified are incorporated as sorted strings into an external sortwork file, by rearranging directory information rather than physically transferring data. If merging is necessary, the data may then be merged by a procedure wherein blocks of sorted data to be merged are incorporated into an output (sortout) file, by rearranging directory information rather than physically transferring sorted blocks to the sortout file. As a result of the process, portions of sorted data incorporated into the sortout file may physically remain in external storage space allocated to the input file, and/or in external space allocated to sortwork, thereby eliminating or reducing reading and writing from disk during sort-merge processing.
US07689611B2 Method of and a system for recovering data in an information processing system
In an information processing system including a central processor for generating commands to process storage data stored and for executing a sequence processing and a storage subsystem including a plurality of storage media for transferring data between the plural storage media according to commands from the central processor, a data recovery method recovers data to a predetermined state upon occurrence of a failure in a sequence of processing executed by the central processor. Before execution of a sequence of processing, the central processor issues to the storage subsystem a saving request to save in the plural storage media a copy of data stored in either one of the storage media used in the sequence of processing. In response to the saving request, the storage subsystem saves a copy of data of the storage media.
US07689609B2 Architecture for supporting sparse volumes
An architecture, including a file-level protocol, for supporting sparse volumes on a storage system is provided. The file-level protocol provides coherency checking for use in retrieving data stored on a backing store remote from a storage system.
US07689603B2 File server that allows an end user to specify storage characteristics with ease
A file server device is provided which has less chance of error in changing directory settings information. A file server device that has access to a client computer and a disk array device receives a directory settings file, and writes the directory settings file in a specified shared directory. The file server device chooses, as a migration destination candidate, a volume whose settings information matches new settings information of the shared directory which is set as specified in the directory settings file. The file server device migrates information in the shared directory whose settings information is changed to the volume chosen as a migration destination candidate.
US07689602B1 Method of creating hierarchical indices for a distributed object system
A data management system or “DMS” provides data services to data sources associated with a set of application host servers. The data management system typically comprises one or more regions, with each region having one or more clusters. A given cluster has one or more nodes that share storage. When providing continuous data protection and data distribution, the DMS nodes create distributed object storage to provide the necessary real-time data management services. The objects created by the DMS nodes are so-called active objects. The distributed object store can be built above raw storage devices, a traditional file system, a special purpose file system, a clustered file system, a database, and so on. According to the present invention, the DMS active object store provides an indexing service to the active objects. In an illustrative embodiment, any object property that has a given attribute is indexed and, as a result, the attribute becomes searchable. The DMS provides hierarchical distributed indexing using index trees to facilitate searching in a highly efficient manner.
US07689600B2 System and method for cluster file system synchronization
A system and method for file system synchronization is described. A method described includes saving content of a cluster file system (CFS) archive to a CFS database, detecting a change made in the CFS database with respect to the CFS archive, comparing an index of the CFS database with an index of the file system, and updating the file system to reflect the change in the CFS database.
US07689598B2 Method and system for file system synchronization between a central site and a plurality of remote sites
A method and system of synchronizing files between a central site and a plurality of remote sites is disclosed. The method and system comprises providing a list of files to the plurality of remote sites by the central site, prior to a callback time of the remote sites and reporting which of the files are missing by each of the plurality of remote sites to the central site. The method and system further includes determining within the central site which of the files needs to be sent to each of the plurality of remote sites. Accordingly, a system and method in accordance with the present invention helps deliver content from a central site to multiple remote sites. A system and method in accordance with the present invention uses the DMD in conjunction with a software client described below to maintain the file synchronization between the central server and remote site servers.
US07689596B2 Data transmission device and method for controlling the same and image reading apparatus using the same
According to the present invention, a data transmission device that can transmit data to a destination contained in pre-stored destination information, the data transmission device comprises a determining section that, when the device is instructed to transmit data, determines whether or not destination information contained in the transmission instruction was updated after the last data transmission carried out with reference to the destination information; and a notifying section that, if the determining section determines that the destination information was updated after the last data transmission to the destination, notifies a user having given the transmission instruction that the destination information has been updated.
US07689589B2 System and method for content retrieval
A content retrieval system is provided. The system includes a communications signal analyzing system for receiving a communications signal and decoding the signal to generate key search terms associated with the communications signal. A search engine system performs a content based search using the key search terms. A display system displays search results from the search engine system concurrently with displaying an output corresponding to the communications signal.
US07689585B2 Reinforced clustering of multi-type data objects for search term suggestion
Systems and methods for related term suggestion are described. In one aspect, relationships among respective ones of two or more multi-type data objects are identified. The respective ones of the multi-type data objects include at least one object of a first type and at least one object of a second type that is different from the first type. The multi-type data objects are iteratively clustered in view of respective ones of the relationships to generate reinforced clusters.
US07689583B2 Flexible data presentation enabled by metadata
Architecture that defines a document or portions thereof as data elements that are related and categorized. A data catalog is created that uses a schema for the data elements and a set of relationships, attributes and values that further define the data elements, all stored as metadata about the data elements. The metadata is employed to enable the application, display surface, and user to see only data relevant to the task at hand. The positioning and grouping of controls, control characteristics, and control behavior at the display surface is facilitated by forms which are dynamically populated for presentation and which are driven directly by the data catalog. The catalog can be made aware of device parameters, for example, the display size and resolution thereby enabling data to be displayed differently based upon the device parameters.
US07689580B2 Search based application development framework
Methods and apparatus for creating a search framework that provides a semantic interface for searching transactional applications are disclosed. According to one aspect of the present invention, a method for enabling at least one transactional application to be searched includes creating a canonical object associated with the transactional application and indexing data associated with the transaction application. The method also includes creating an index store using information associated with the canonical object. The index store is associated with the indexed data. Finally, a semantic engine is interfaced with the index store.
US07689579B2 Tag modeling within a decision, support, and reporting environment
A system and methods for retrieving and presenting data in a tag-based component environment. The disclosed system provides an efficient mechanism for associating point and non-point data using selected modeling approaches to organize and reference the data. The modeling approaches provide the ability generate customized retrieval routines that support reusable components incorporating direct and indirect referencing techniques.
US07689571B1 Optimizing the size of an interlocking tree datastore structure for KStore
A method for optimizing the construction of a KStore includes providing a data set having a plurality of records with a plurality of fields, providing an optimization structure from a sample of the data set and analyzing the optimization structure to determine a field order for the records contained in the data set. A KStore is provided from the data set in accordance with the field order. The sample of the data set can include the entire data set, a random sample of the data set or a predetermined number of records from the data set. The data set has an initial order having earlier records and later records and the sample can include a plurality of the earlier records. The sample of the data set includes a user determined number of records from the data set. The optimization structure can be a KStore.
US07689558B2 Application monitoring using profile points
A system and method for application monitoring using profile points. An embodiment of a method includes installing an agent in a computer application. The agent will generate an event when there is an entry into a method or when there is an exit from a method. The method further includes running the computer application is run, and monitoring for events that are generated by the agent during the running of the computer application.
US07689557B2 System and method of textual information analytics
This invention provides a method and system for analyzing and deriving analytical insights from textual information. The information structuration process determines the structure in which the text information is rendered. A cyclical extraction process using the parameters of co-frequency, co-dependency, and co-relatedness and parts of speech, determines various textual aspects and their subcomponents such as themes and dimensions. Using the subcomponents of the textual aspects, relationship maps are built, disambiguated and ranked. A text analytics and decision support matrix is created using the ranked relations, thereby providing a highly relevant result set to the user's information need. A multidimensional navigation matrix is created that helps a user navigate across dimensions.
US07689556B2 Content navigation service
A system, method, and computer program product for presenting items within a list of items based on an individual user profile, a social network of friends of the user or a mood of the user. The system generates the individual profile of the user, determines passive friends of the user from the social network of the user and also determines the mood of the user. The user has a choice to receive an ordered list of items based on the individual user profile, the social network or the mood of the user.
US07689555B2 Context insensitive model entity searching
Methods, systems, and articles of manufacture for context insensitive model entity searching are provided. A model entity is used to identify to a central entity or concept modeled by a database abstraction model. Instances of a model entity may be defined in reference to an identifier in an underlying database. Model entity relationships specify relationships between the model entity and other datasets in the database (e.g., tables of a relational database). A database abstraction model provides an interface to both the model entity and the data in the underlying database. Rather than creating a query of the database using a series of restrictive conditions, or selecting individual the tables or datasets to search, a user may specify search term(s). Instances of the model entity containing the search term(s), regardless of where the search term(s) occur in the underlying database, are returned for the search. Thereafter, a user may select individual instances of the model entity to view in greater detail.
US07689553B2 Execution cost reduction of sampled queries in a database
A method, system and computer program product for reducing the execution cost of sampled queries of tables in a database. A subset of entries comprising row identifiers or key values based on an input query of data in the tables of the database is generated. A sampling predicate to reduce the number of entries in the subset is generated. The sampling predicate is applied to the subset to reduce the number of entries in the subset. The data in the database corresponding to the reduced subset is retrieved from the database.
US07689551B2 Iterative data analysis enabled through query result abstraction
The present invention is generally directed to a system, method and article of manufacture for accessing data represented abstractly through an abstraction model. In one embodiment, a data repository abstraction layer provides a logical view of an underlying data repository that is independent of the particular manner of data representation. For each successive query, the data repository abstraction layer is replaced or redefined to provide a restricted logical view of the underlying data repository.
US07689550B2 Adaptive cursor sharing
Techniques for sharing cursors are provided. When a new query is issued, a database server determines whether the new query is semantically equivalent to a previous query. If so, then database server computes statistics associated with the new query. Based on the statistics, the database server determines whether compiling the new query would produce an execution plan that satisfies certain criteria. If so, then the cursor is used to execute the new query. In another approach, one cursor sharing technique (CST) is used to determine which cursor to use to execute a first set of semantically-equivalent queries. Statistics are gathered during execution of the first set of queries. The database server determines, based on the statistics, when to switch from using the first CST to a different CST. The different CST is used to determine which cursor to use to execute a second set of queries that are semantically-equivalent to the first set.
US07689549B2 Flashback support for domain index queries
Techniques for executing flashback queries using domain indexes in a database system are provided. In one technique, a flashback parameter of the flashback query is not included in a call-out invocation of domain index routines that implement a domain index. A call-back query execution unit nonetheless retrieves, for call-back queries issued by the domain index routines, call-back query results that reflect the state of a database in the database system as of the time specified in the flashback parameter. In another technique, a call-out invocation of domain index routines includes the flashback parameter of a flashback query. The domain index routines issue call-back queries that require the retrieval of data which reflects the state of a database as of the time specified in the flashback parameter, which are executed by the call-back query execution unit.
US07689546B2 Point of law search system and method
A “More Like This Headnote” search relates online headnotes intelligently so that users have the means to retrieve related headnotes quickly and easily. This is achieved by using a tailored search type in the search engine, which is designed to handle the text of a headnote as a search string. Retrieval logic then presents the search results to the user in a “Virtual Digest” view comprising related headnotes and case materials, sorted by user-selected options.
US07689543B2 Search engine providing match and alternative answers using cumulative probability values
A system and method for searching a knowledge base for a match answer and an alternative answer. The method includes the steps of: inputting a search term; beginning a search at a random location in the knowledge base to identify the match answer; determining a match answer category from the match answer; determining a look-up association based on the match answer category and a search history; plugging the look-up association into an alternative answer probability table to identify an alternative answer category; and performing a secondary search at a second random location in the knowledge base to find the alternative answer that belongs to the alternative answer category.
US07689542B2 Dynamic return type generation in a database system
Dynamic return type generation in a database system. A request is received to execute a first function. A second function is executed if the first function is defined to return data in a first type of data structure. When executed, the second function returns formatting information that indicates an arrangement of fields of data within the first type of data structure. The first function is executed to obtain a collection of data formatted according to the first type of data structure, and the collection of data is organized according to the formatting information returned by the second function.
US07689541B1 Reordering data using a series of offsets
One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a technique for efficiently performing a radix sort operation on a graphics processing unit (GPU). The radix sort operation is conducted on an input list of data using one or more passes of a series of three processing phases. In each processing phase, thread groups are each associated with one segment of input data. In the first phase, occurrences of each radix symbol are counted and stored in a list of counters. In the second phase, the list of counters is processed by a parallel prefix sum operation to generate a list of offsets. In the third phase, the list of offsets is used to perform re-ordering on the list of data, according to the current radix symbol. To maintain sort stability, the one or more passes proceed from least significant data to most significant data in the sort key.
US07689537B2 Method, system, and computer program product for enhancing collaboration using a corporate social network
The present invention provides a method, system, and computer program product for enhancing collaboration using a corporate social network to infer contacts. A method in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention includes: providing a social network for an organization, the social network including a plurality of nodes and links, wherein each node represents a member of the organization, and wherein each link represents a relationship between a pair of the nodes; receiving a request by a requesting member of the organization for a required type of contact; and inferring a contact to the requesting member by searching the social network along a plurality of dimensions from the node representing the requesting member.
US07689533B1 Method and apparatus for using storage properties in a file system
A method and apparatus of identifying and using storage properties within a file system. In particular, the invention exposes the storage property of an underlying storage volume i.e., mirrored storage, RAID storage, standard storage, archival storage and the like, to the user such that the user may select a volume with appropriate storage capabilities for their files. Furthermore, the storage property of a storage volume is used as a file property within the file system such that files may be organized using the storage property. In another embodiment of the invention, altering the storage property that is used as a file property, automatically moves the file from one storage volume type to another storage volume type in accordance with the selected storage property.
US07689532B1 Using embedded data with file sharing
Peer-to-peer file sharing is increasing in popularity on the Internet, faster than any product known in history. Although file-sharing can enable massive piracy, it has many advantages for distribution of information including scalability. Alternatively, file-sharing can be sabotaged with falsified files and used to distribute viruses. To this end, a solution that maintains the scalability of file-sharing and promotes reliability is proposed. The solution involves embedding data within the file or content and using the data to identify the content, demonstrate its completeness and lack of viruses, and verify the file can be shared. The embedded data can be checked when the file is registered with the database for sharing, and before or while the file is being uploaded and/or downloaded. Ideally, the embedded data is added at the time of creation for the file. The embedded data may include a watermark and be linked to other copy management systems, such as those proposed in DVD and SDMI. Finally, the embedded data can be used to enable purchases of files that owners do not have rights to share.
US07689531B1 Automatic charset detection using support vector machines with charset grouping
The invention relates, in an embodiment, to a computer-implemented method for automatic charset detection, which includes detecting an encoding scheme of a target document. The method includes training, using a plurality of text document samples, to obtain a set of machine learning models. Training includes using a SVM (Support Vector Machine) technique to generate the set of machine learning models from feature vectors obtained from the plurality of text document samples. The method also includes applying the set of machine learning models against a set of target document feature vectors converted from the target document to detect the encoding scheme.
US07689519B2 Method of delivering a franking service via a communications network
Method of delivering a franking service including the following operations: connection via a communications network of a user's communications device (10, 12) with a server system (18) operated by a franking services provider, entry via the communications device of a unique identification number carried by a mail item (14) to be sent, selection by the user of a franking service from the various franking services offered by the server system and entry of postal information in relation to the selected service, determination by the server system on the basis of this information of the cost of the selected franking service and communication of this cost to the user, payment by the user for the selected franking service, and depositing of the mail item in a post box (16).
US07689516B2 Computerized dispute resolution system and method
An automated method capable of multiple rounds for settling a dispute among adverse parties which dispute involves monetary values is described together with an automated system for carrying out such method.
US07689513B2 Method of licensing functionality after initial transaction
Methods for licensing functionality after an initial transaction are provided. One such method is directed to licensing after an initial transaction of a customer obtaining a supply item including the step of prompting the customer to acquire a usage license for the supply item.
US07689508B2 Mobile device credit account
Providing for a mobile communication device (MCD) credit account and credit transactions by way of such an MCD is described herein. As an example, a credit account sponsored by a financial or commercial entity can be associated with a unique ID of an MCD. The MCD can interface with another electronic device and initiate credit transactions, such as commercial purchases, credit transfers, currency conversions, and the like, via the interface. Further, rules provided by the sponsoring entity can guide such transactions, enforcing credit limits, for instance. A management component can then synchronize transactions conducted by the device with a server of a financial institution over a remote communication interface, such as the Internet or a cellular/mobile communication network. Accordingly, a mobile device can replace a traditional credit card in transacting credit business.
US07689497B2 Switch engine for risk position discovery in an electronic trading system
A switch engine module receives interest rate risk portfolios from a plurality of traders, and for each prospective trader, provides available switches based on positions in other counterparty portfolios that offset the viewing traders' positions. The offsetting positions are encoded with credit preference information in order to identify eligible trades based on both counterparties credit preferences. Another embodiment provides for a switch auction whereby users can use an auction process to trade for forward rate agreement switches with other counterparties. In the switch auction, the price is predetermined by the system prior to the auction so that parties can opt out of the transaction if desired. The credit preferences of the participating traders are taken in consideration in making matches.
US07689494B2 Simulation of portfolios and risk budget analysis
The present disclosure relates to household portfolio simulation and analysis to provide retirement income. In particular, it discloses advanced technologies for modeling, simulation and analysis of potential economic futures, as applied to household retirement prospects. Improved modeling may capture factors such as concrete objectives of participants' priorities among objectives, risk adversity and starting conditions that impact tax consequences of transactions. Improved modeling may address consistency among similar factors, tax consequences in simulation periods and transactions in real estate and private investments. Improved analyses may apply a margin of safety and/or risk budget analysis to a household portfolio to produce a meaningful presentation.
US07689492B2 Products, systems and methods for scale-in principal protection
A financial product. The financial product includes an underlying portfolio component, a fixed income component, and a scale-in component. The underlying portfolio component includes an initial investment allocation into an alpha-generating portfolio. The fixed income component is structured and arranged to generate a predictable rate of return and includes an initial investment allocation into a fixed income portfolio. The scale-in component is structured and arranged to increase the investment allocation into the underlying portfolio component when a cumulative return of the alpha-generating portfolio exceeds a threshold amount.
US07689490B2 Matching resources of a securities research department to accounts of the department
Systems and methods for allocating limited resources of a securities research department to accounts of the department are disclosed. According to various embodiments, the system includes an account scoring module and a resource matching module. The account scoring module is for generating a score for each account, and the resource matching module is for matching the resources of the department to the accounts based on the scores for each account.
US07689488B2 On-demand assembly of buyer simulacra
Methods, systems, and computer program for interacting with simulacrum members of a buyer simulacrum. Persistent storage is configured to store collective qualifications of the simulacrum based on the individual qualifications of the simulacrum members, while a simulacrum broker is configured to present the collective qualifications to third parties. Thus, the broker provides a dynamic representation of the collective financial information, credit, insurance, trustworthiness, knowledge, skills and experience of a simulacrum or virtual buyer. The broker further enables an entity, such as a simulacrum employer or seller, to interact with the simulacrum as if that simulacrum were a single entity, rather than a collection of individual members.
US07689485B2 Generating accounting data based on access control list entries
Methods, apparatus, and other mechanisms are disclosed for generating accounting or other data based on that indicated in access control lists or other specifications, and typically using associative memory entries in one or more associative memory banks and/or memory devices. One implementation identifies an access control list including multiple access control list entries, with a subset of these access control list entries identifying accounting requests. Accounting mechanisms are associated with each of said access control list entries in the subset of access control list entries identifying accounting requests. An item is identified, and a corresponding accounting mechanism is updated. In one implementation, the item includes at least one autonomous system number. In one implementation, at least one of the accounting mechanisms is associated with at least two different access control list entries in the subset of access control list entries identifying accounting requests.
US07689483B2 System to facilitate payments for a customer through a foreign bank, software, business methods, and other related methods
A system for facilitating payment of accounts payables from a foreign financial institution for a customer of a domestic financial institution, software, and methods are provided. The system includes a first financial institution computer positioned at a domestic financial institution site to define a domestic financial institution server, having memory associated therewith, and foreign exchange analyzing software stored in the memory of the domestic financial institution server to analyze a foreign exchange transaction. The system also includes an area network in communication with the server, and a second customer computer in communication with the area network, positioned remote from the server at a customer site, and positioned to transmit an accounts payable batch data file having a plurality of accounts payable to the foreign exchange analyzing software stored on the server.
US07689470B2 Method and medium for selecting a merchant for a trial mode of a delivery service
Disclosure includes selecting a merchant from a plurality of merchants, enabling a trial mode for the merchant, during the trial mode, receiving an indication of a first order for the merchant, forwarding the indication of the first order to the merchant, allocating a first payment for the first order to the merchant, requesting an acceptance of a membership status from the merchant, and receiving an indication of the payment for the first order.
US07689466B1 Dynamic pay per call listings
At least one listing comprises a plurality of sublistings, each of the sublistings being associated with one of a plurality of advertisers. A response subsystem is configured to provide the listing in a response. A forwarding subsystem configured is to forward a request for information to one of the advertisers.
US07689465B1 System and method for visual verification of order processing
One or more images of items for an order being processed at processing station of an order fulfillment center may be captured and associated with the order. Alternatively, a short video clip may be captured of the order being packaged. An electronic notification that the order has been processed may be sent to a customer associated with the order. The electronic notification may include a reference to one or more of the captured images or video clips. The customer may use a reference included in the notification to view the captured images. The customer may view captured images to verify that the order has been correctly processed. The captured images may include images of the items being packaged for shipment and may show the shipping address on the package allowing the customer to verify that indeed it is his package in the images.
US07689464B2 Electronic accounting-document system, electronic accounting-document processing method, accounting-document creation unit, and accounting-document processing unit
An electronic accounting-document system, an electronic accounting-document processing method, an accounting-document creation unit and an accounting-document processing unit are provided in which the time that is taken to transmit and process accounting-document data can be shortened. An accounting-document creation section creates accounting-document data on an accounting document; an accounting-document data division section divides the accounting-document data into accounting-document present data and accounting-document absent data; a data transmission section transmits the accounting-document present data and the accounting-document absent data which is received by a data receiving section; an accounting-document data monitoring section identifies the accounting-document present data and the accounting-document absent data; a distribution accounting-document data creation section processes and stores, as accounting-document data for distribution, the accounting-document present data so that it can be output to a CD-R; and a distribution accounting-document data updating section updates the distribution accounting-document data, based on the accounting-document absent data.
US07689461B2 Printing apparatus, POS system and printing apparatus control method
A printing apparatus and method for printing receipts and for controlling the cutting of each receipt in succession from a recording medium such as print paper at an appropriate position determined from the print data received from a host computer. The printing apparatus 50 prints first print data representing transaction information with a paper cut command appended thereto and second print data representing additional information from print data received from a host computer 40. A first control unit 521 prints the first print data and delays executing the paper cut command added to the first print data when first print data is received from the host computer. When print data is received while execution of the paper cut command is delayed, a print data detection unit 522 determines the type of print data received based on the presence or absence of an identifier in the received print data. If the received print data is recognized as second print data, a second control unit 523 prints the received second print data and then executes the paper cut command. If the received print data is determined not to be second print data, the second control unit 523 executes the paper cut command before printing the received print data.
US07689460B2 Store management system and store management method
A store management system has a merchandise information management apparatus which transmits merchandise information, a merchandise tag which is provided with a first display, and receives the merchandise information which is transmitted from the merchandise information management apparatus to the merchandise tag itself and displays the merchandise information, and a display apparatus for display rack which is provided with a second display, and has a function of receiving the merchandise information which is transmitted from the merchandise information management apparatus to the display apparatus itself and displaying the merchandise information, and checking the merchandise information which is displayed on the display apparatus itself and the merchandise information which is displayed on the merchandise tag by communicating with the merchandise tag.
US07689456B2 System for predicting sales lift and profit of a product based on historical sales information
A method and system for predicting the profit attributable to a proposed sales promotion of a product, wherein the product has a wholesale price and a manufacturing cost per unit sales, including establishing a base volume for sales of the product in the absence of promotions; determining a sales lift for the plurality of single promotions; and correlating the sales lift with promotion information to provide a sales lift model. The method and system also include proposing a promotion having a cost per unit sales for a promotion time period and having a planned sale price for the product; applying the sales lift model to the proposed promotion to predict sales of the product for the promotion time period; and calculating manufacturer profit based upon the product's predicted sales, cost per unit sales for promotion, wholesale price, and manufacturing cost per unit sales during the promotion time period.
US07689455B2 Analyzing and detecting anomalies in data records using artificial intelligence
A device, system and method for data monitoring, collection and analysis. A method may include creating one or more context insight records representing an indication of a behavior of a service based on raw footprint data related to use of said service by a population of users, and analyzing said one or more context insight records to detect a dynamically defined anomaly of said service.
US07689452B2 System and method for utilizing social networks for collaborative filtering
A novel system and method of predicting a user's rating of a new item in a collaborative filtering system is described. The invention incorporates social network information in addition to user ratings to make recommendations. The distance between users in the social network is used to enhance the estimate of user similarities for collaborative filtering. The social network can be constructed explicitly by users or deduced implicitly from observed interaction between users.
US07689448B2 System and methods for scheduling and tracking events across multiple time zones
An electronic Personal Information Manager (PIM) including a calendar/scheduling system with an EarthTime™ module is described. In operation, the system tracks different types of times: “local” time, “home” time, and “remote” time. Home time is the time zone of where the user typically spends most of his or her time; this is usually the time zone for the user's home office. Local time is the time for the locality where the user is located physically at any particular instance in time. “Remote” time represents the time zones of the other individuals (i.e., other than the user). The system may show events and appointments in the user's own “local” time (or other user-selected type of time), regardless of where the user is presently located. Using these three types of time (i.e., “local” time, “home” time, and “remote” time), the system provides improved interface and methods for scheduling and managing activities, such a phone conference, across multiple time zones.
US07689447B1 Worklist integration of logical and physical tasks
A method and system of managing work flow in provisioning service orders is provided, particularly telecommunications service delivery orders, where each service order may include of tasks from different worklists from different sources. The method includes merging the worklists and prioritizing tasks in accordance with work-when-ready work flow. The merged worklist provides an end-to-end view on a graphical user interface of all tasks pending to provision each service order. A change of status of a task results in automatically updating both the native and merged worklists. When a task is completed on the native system, the task is automatically deleted from both worklists. Selected search criteria and sorting fields may be used to narrow the displayed results. New tasks created by exceptions are inserted appropriately into the active worklist. The method eliminates the need for a user to log onto different systems to manually prioritize tasks.
US07689446B2 Automated reservation system with transfer of user-preferences from home to guest accommodations
When a user reserves guest accommodations the user programmable settings of the appliances of the user's home network are transferred to the appliances of the guest accommodations. The settings can be stored in a file on the user's computer system or on an accessible external system such as the internet. Alternatively, or in addition, when the user makes a reservation, the home network can query appliances connected to the home network to determine the user programmable settings of such appliances.
US07689445B2 System and method for insuring against tax liabilities
A product, and preferably an insurance product, whereby the product benefits reimburse the purchaser for those risks associated with a potential change in the taxation of insurance policies. Another aspect is a method to determine a benefit amount and a policy price based upon future potential changes in the tax laws. A computer system which receives as its inputs policy data, owner data and insured data and uses that data to calculate benefits, price those benefits and provide as part of its output the price of the policy and a full description of those benefits.
US07689441B1 Integrated order and scheduling in a healthcare administration system
A healthcare administration system integrates the entry of an order for a medical service for a patient with the scheduling of an appointment for performing the service. The system incorporates receiving service order information for a medical service for a patient from a user; generating an order for the medical service based upon the service order information; and enabling the user to perform one or more tasks selected from the group consisting of (a) scheduling an appointment with a provider of the medical service, (b) storing the order information in a queued waitlist, and (c) automatically rescheduling the appointment based upon the queued waitlist.
US07689440B2 Method and apparatus for remote health monitoring and providing health related information
A health monitoring system includes a plurality of remote user sites, each remote user site comprising at least one health monitoring device for collection of user health monitoring data, an interactive video device, and a user interface apparatus; at least one remote computing facility configured for signal communication with, and to receive health monitoring data-related signals from, the plurality of remote user sites; and at least one computer, configured for signal communication with the remote computing facility, wherein the interactive video device is interactively coupled with the remote computing facility. Associated methods are also described.
US07689426B2 Method and apparatus for distributed interactive voice processing
A distributed interactive voice processing system is disclosed that distributes IVR capabilities to one or more agent terminals associated with a call center. One or more agent terminals support the traditional functions of a live agent, as well as additional IVR capabilities to support the functions of a virtual or automated agent A call management system manages the distributed IVR resources by monitoring the availability status of the live and automated IVR agents in the distributed interactive voice processing system and distributing telephone calls and other types of communications to the appropriate agents. The availability status of the automated IVR agents is based on estimated available CPU cycles on the agent terminal A received call is routed to the extension on the agent terminal associated with the selected IVR channel. A VXML process associated with the selected IVR channel obtains the appropriate application software from a central voiceXML application server and executes the VXML page(s) to play the appropriate prompts from the IVR script to the caller and to collect DTMF or speech recognized inputs from the caller The distributed design allows centralized application management while using distributed resources to provide improved IVR availability.
US07689424B2 Distributed speech recognition method
This invention relates to a distributed speech recognition method comprising at least one user terminal and at least one server which can communicate with each other by means of a telecommunication network. The inventive method comprises the following steps consisting in: at the user terminal, attempting to associate a saved form with the signal to be recognized and, independently of said step, transmitting a signal to the server, indicating the signal to be recognized; and, at the server, attempting to associate a saved form with the signal received.
US07689423B2 System and method of providing telematically user-optimized configurable audio
A method of repeating a computer recognized string in a telematics unit in a vehicle, including receiving a user utterance at the telematics unit from a user, the user utterance including a plurality of words and a plurality of user pauses between the words, parsing the user utterance into a plurality of phonemes, forming a data string in which each user pause is associated with a phoneme adjacent to the user pause, and playing back the data string.
US07689422B2 Method and system to mark an audio signal with metadata
A method of processing an audio signal comprises receiving an audio signal, extracting features from the audio signal, and translating the extracted features into metadata. The metadata comprises an instruction set of a markup language. A system for processing the audio signal is also disclosed, which comprises an input device for receiving the audio signal and a processor for extracting the features from the audio signal and for translating the extracted features into the metadata.
US07689418B2 Method and system for non-intrusive speaker verification using behavior models
A system and method for verifying user identity, in accordance with the present invention, includes a conversational system for receiving inputs from a user and transforming the inputs into formal commands. A behavior verifier is coupled to the conversational system for extracting features from the inputs. The features include behavior patterns of the user. The behavior verifier is adapted to compare the input behavior to a behavior model to determine if the user is authorized to interact with the system.
US07689415B1 Real-time speech recognition over the internet
Methods and systems for handling speech recognition processing in effectively real-time, via the Internet, in order that users do not experience noticeable delays from the start of an exercise until they receive responsive feedback. A user uses a client to access the Internet and a server supporting speech recognition processing, e.g., for language learning activities. The user inputs speech to the client, which transmits the user speech to the server in approximate real-time. The server evaluates the user speech in context of the current speech recognition exercise being executed, and provides responsive feedback to the client, again, in approximate real-time, with minimum latency delays. The client upon receiving responsive feedback from the server, displays, or otherwise provides, the feedback to the user.
US07689414B2 Speech recognition device and method
In a speech recognition device (1) for recognizing text information (TI) corresponding to speech information (SI), wherein speech information (SI) can be characterized in respect of language properties, there are firstly provided at least two language-property recognition means (20, 21, 22, 23), each of the language-property recognition means (20, 21, 22, 23) being arranged, by using the speech information (SI), to recognize a language property assigned to said means and to generate property information (ASI, LI, SGI, CI) representing the language property that is recognized, and secondly there are provided speech recognition means (24) that, while continuously taking into account the at least two items of property information (ASI, LI, SGI, CI), are arranged to recognize the text information (TI) corresponding to the speech information (SI).
US07689411B2 Concept matching
A method for developing a system for retrieving text related to a selected concept within a text corpus includes identifying a set of semantic classes which express the concept and identifying a set of keywords for each of the semantic classes to be used in text searching in a text corpus. Each set of keywords includes at least one keyword. A plurality of syntactic rules are established which are to be applied to retrieved text which includes keywords. Each of the syntactic rules identifies a first of the semantic classes and a second of the semantic classes. A rule is satisfied when a keyword from the first of the semantic classes is in a syntactic relationship with a keyword from the second of the semantic classes. The syntactic relationship can be any one of a plurality of syntactic relationships.
US07689408B2 Identifying language of origin for words using estimates of normalized appearance frequency
The language of origin of a word or named entity is predicted using estimates of frequency of occurrence of the word or named entity in different languages. In one embodiment, the normalized frequency of occurrence of the word or named entity in a variety of different languages is estimated and the values are used as features in a feature vector which is scored and used to identify language of origin.
US07689407B2 Method of learning a second language through the guidance of pictures
A method of learning a second language through the guidance of pictures that enables users to learn multiple languages through computers.After users input a plurality of words, a picture/text interface will display the plurality of input words, a plurality of output words, and a plurality of pictures. The plurality of output words represent the plurality of input words in another language, and the plurality of pictures represent the plurality of input words.
US07689406B2 Method and system for measuring a system's transmission quality
Method and system for measuring transmission quality of an audio transmission system under test. Specifically, an input signal (X), such as an original input speech signal, is applied to the audio transmission system which results in an output signal (Y) produced by the transmission system. Both signals X and Y are mutually processed to yield a perceived quality signal. In accordance with the invention, output signal Y and/or input signal X are scaled such that, depending on a ratio of power of these two signals, relatively small deviations of power between these signals are compensated, while relatively larger deviations are only partially compensated. Further, an artificial reference speech signal may be created for which noise levels present in the input speech signal are reduced by a scale factor which reflects a local level of the noise in that input signal.
US07689401B2 Method of circuit simulation for delay characteristic evaluation, circuit simulation program and circuit simulation device
In delay characteristic evaluation of a logical circuit, there was the problem of underestimation of the output load compared with the actual output load.There is provided a simulation device including a simplification section that, simplifies the load circuit using a transistor with which a virtual control voltage source is connected, by specifying a transistor driven through the output terminal of the target circuit and connecting to the drain of this transistor the virtual control voltage source whereby the output potential of this transistor is varied in accordance with the gate potential of this transistor.
US07689400B2 Reconstruction of data from simulation models
Systems, method, and media for reconstructing data from simulation models are disclosed. Embodiments may include a method for accessing an alias from an alias file. The method may generally include searching for a net name and, if the net name is not found, searching an alias index file for an alias index entry associated with the net name, the alias index entry having a net name and an associated position. The method may also generally include, if the net name entry is found, accessing from an alias file an alias associated with the net name. A further embodiment may generally include receiving a net name and a position of an alias in the alias file, creating an alias index entry for the alias having a net name and the position of the alias, and storing the created alias index entry in the alias index file.
US07689396B2 Targeted geophysical survey
In one embodiment the invention comprises a system for planning a seismic survey based on a model of a subsurface formation in which a computer simulation is generated having sources and receivers positioned in selected locations with respect to the model. Ray tracing is performed from the sources to estimate a propagation ray path of seismic signals emanating from the source locations, and emergent points are determined at which ray paths reach the earth's surface following reflection from a subsurface area of interest. A survey may then be designed and performed in which receiver positions are concentrated at the areas where the emergent points are concentrated.
US07689395B2 6-axis road simulator test system
A 6-axis road simulator test system is disclosed which allows for dynamic simulation of vehicles on road surfaces in a controlled environment for development or production testing conditions. The system turns the vehicle wheels, or provides resistance to turning of the wheels while subjecting each of the vehicle's wheel in up to 6-axis of displacement, based on road profile simulation.
US07689387B2 Method and apparatus for providing access to drawing information
A computer implemented system, method, and article of manufacture provide access to a drawing. A server computer has one or more server component applications. One or more drawing files are created by a first drawing application and stored on the server computer. A search server component application executes on the server computer and provides a query engine that allows queries of the one or more drawing files to locate data. A conversion server component application executes on the server computer and dynamically convert the drawing files into a drawing file format viewable by a client application executing on a client compute. The server component applications are further configured to provide the one or more drawing files that have been dynamically converted to the client computer.
US07689378B2 Motion sensing apparatus, systems and techniques
A highly miniaturized electronic data acquisition system includes MEMS sensors that can be embedded onto moving device without affecting the static/dynamic motion characteristics of the device. The basic inertial magnetic motion capture (IMMCAP) module consists of a 3D printed circuit board having MEMS sensors configured to provide a tri-axial accelerometer; a tri-axial gyroscope, and a tri-axial magnetometer all in communication with analog to digital converters to convert the analog motion data to digital data for determining classic inertial measurement and change in spatial orientation (rho, theta, phi) and linear translation (x, y, z) relative to a fixed external coordinate system as well as the initial spatial orientation relative to the know relationship of the earth magnetic and gravitational fields. The data stream from the IMMCAP modules will allow the reconstruction of the time series of the 6 degrees of freedom for each rigid axis associated with each independent IMMCAP module.
US07689374B2 Polyphase electric energy meter
A polyphase electric energy meter is provided that includes a microcontroller with a front end that converts analog current input signals and analog voltage input signals to digital current and voltage samples for processing by the microcontroller. The front end includes separate input channels, each for one of the current input signals with a sigma-delta modulator followed by a decimation filter. The front end further includes a common input channel for all voltage input signals with a multiplexer, an analog-to-digital converter and a de-multiplexer. The separate input channels and the common input channel provide the digital current and voltage samples for processing by the microcontroller.
US07689370B2 On-line absolute viscosity measurement system
The present invention provides systems and methods for determining the viscosity of a lubricating fluid in a process on line. The method of the present invention obviates the need to accurately control the temperature of the lubricating fluid in the system when taking fluid viscosity measurements.
US07689369B2 Problem diagnosis method and problem repair method for laser device
A problem diagnosis method and problem repair method for a laser device are provided. The method includes measuring the intensity of scattered light generated by an optical part inside the laser device; referring to data indicating a temporal change in the scattered light predicted under predetermined operating conditions of the laser device, and predicting the seriousness of the problem from the intensity of scattered light; and determining what kind of maintenance work is necessary based on the seriousness of the problem. Additionally, the seriousness of the problem in the optical part can be predicted by executing fuzzy logic based on membership functions defining the relationship between scattered light intensity and the seriousness of problems of optical parts.
US07689366B2 Integrated system for high throughput capture of genetic diversity
Compositions and methods for rapid and highly efficient characterization of genetic diversity in organisms are provided. The methods involve rapid sequencing and characterization of extrachromosomal DNA, particularly plasmids, to identify useful nucleotide sequences. The method involves generating a library of extrachromosomal DNA clones, sequencing a portion of the clones, comparing the sequences against a database of existing DNA sequences, using an algorithm to select novel nucleotide sequences based on the presence or absence of the sequence in a database, and identification of at least one novel nucleotide sequence. The DNA sequence can also be translated in all six frames and the resulting amino acid sequences compared against a database of protein sequences. Organisms of particular interest include, but are not limited to bacteria, fungi, algae, and the like. Compositions comprise a mini-cosmid vector comprising a stuffer fragment and at least one cos site.
US07689365B2 Apparatus, method, and computer program product for determining gene function and functional groups using chromosomal distribution patterns
A method, apparatus, and computer program product for analyzing gene expressions is presented. An operation is performed for determining a gene expression pattern for a condition, wherein the gene expression pattern comprises a gene expression. Next, a spatial-expression pattern is formed by selecting a chromosomal region having an exon; and associating the gene expression within the gene expression pattern with its corresponding exon. A further operation may be performed, where in the forming of the spatial-expression pattern, a spatial-expression pattern signal is created as a representation of the spatial-expression pattern. The magnitude of the spatial-expression pattern signal at any point is determined by an expression level of the corresponding exon. Spatial patterns may be identified in the signal by means of various signal processing techniques such as Fourier or Wavelet transforms. Also, multiple regions and/or conditions may be tested and their reaction patterns compared to determine related genetic regions.
US07689362B2 Determining the impedance of material behind a casing in a borehole
A method for estimating an impedance of a material behind a casing wall in a borehole, the method comprises exciting the casing wall with an acoustic pulse, and measuring by means of a transducer an experimental acoustic waveform (W) reflected from the casing wall. The method further comprises initializing an impedance parameter (Zin), computing an inverse casing response (Rcas−1) as a function of the impedance parameter (Zin) and a casing thickness parameter (Casin), and deconvoluting the experimental acoustic waveform with the inverse casing response to obtain a transducer response (T). An iterative loop is performed, comprising the computing of an inverse casing response and the deconvoluting of the experimental acoustic waveform by varying the impedance parameter until the transducer response becomes compact in the time domain. The estimated impedance (Zcem) is obtained from the impedance parameter when the transducer response is compact.
US07689360B2 Obstacle detecting apparatus with error detection and recovery
An obstacle detecting apparatus includes sensors and a processing unit. Each of the sensors are rendered operational by predetermined parameters. The processing unit transmits the parameters to the sensors and includes a vehicle state detector, a condition determiner, a communication controller, and a parameter setting processor. The vehicle state detector detects a running state of the vehicle. The condition determiner determines that the running state of the vehicle is one of an operating condition indicating that the sensors should be operated and a forbidding condition indicating that the operation of the sensors should be forbidden. The communication controller performs communication with the sensors. The parameter setting processor transmits the parameters to the sensors and receives a response indicating completion of the process. The parameter setting processor repeats the process upon either a parameter of one sensor not being set, or communication being terminated while the forbidding condition is identified.
US07689358B2 Delta-V-free satellite cloud cluster flying
A system and method is provided for establishing a substantially delta-V-free three-dimensional atomic satellite cloud cluster. In one embodiment, a satellite cloud cluster system comprises a plurality of satellites maintaining a three-dimensional periodic motion relative to a reference point. The plurality of satellites and the reference point maintain an orbital pattern around a celestial body. The three-dimensional periodic motion is symmetrical about at least two planes that intersect at the reference point.
US07689357B2 Closed loop hybridising device with monitoring of the measurement integrity
The invention relates to a closed loop hybridizing device comprising a Kalman filter bank, a virtual platform, a device to calculate pseudo-measurements estimated a priori. The Kalman filter bank comprises a principal Kalman filter adapted to the calculation of corrections to be applied to inertial measurements starting from all available pseudo-measurements, and n secondary Kalman filters adapted to the calculation of corrections to be applied to inertial measurements from a sub-set of available pseudo-measurements. The corrections originate from either the principal Kalman filter when no pseudo-measurement is erroneous or the secondary Kalman filter not affected by an erroneous pseudo-measurement. The corrections are applied simultaneously to inertial measurements and to the input to all other Kalman filters in the Kalman filter bank. In particular, the invention applies to a hybridizing device using information provided by an inertial unit and a satellite navigation system, for example a GPS system.
US07689356B2 Method and apparatus for creating curved swath patterns for farm machinery
A method for defining, using, and adjusting curved swath patterns and a swath generation apparatus implementing said method for use in an automated vehicle guidance system.
US07689355B2 Method and process for enabling advertising via landmark based directions
A method, system, and computer program product that enables a direction service to automatically inform the requester or user of the directions of advertisement associated with the various businesses and/or landmarks situated on a directional map generated by the service. The service provider of the navigational service enhances the directional offerings to include advertisements associated with specific businesses and/or points of interest within the service's mapping database. When a generated route/direction includes landmarks (e.g., one or more of the businesses or other point of interest), which have an associated advertisement, the service displays (or outputs via audible or other means) the advertisement to the user, along with the directions. In this way the user is provided an output that includes the directions, landmarks (businesses and/or points of interest) along the routes, as well as an output of the specific advertisement associated with each of these landmarks.
US07689354B2 Adaptive guidance system and method
An adaptive guidance system for a vehicle includes an on-board GPS receiver, an on-board processor adapted to store a preplanned guide pattern and a guidance device. The processor includes a comparison function for comparing the vehicle GPS position with a line segment of the preplanned guide pattern. The processor controls the guidance device for guiding the vehicle along the line segment. Various guide pattern modification functions are programmed into the processor, including best-fit polynomial correction, spline correction, turn-flattening to accommodate minimum vehicle turning radii and automatic end-of-swath keyhole turning.
US07689352B2 Navigation system
When a user turns on an ignition switch at a parking lot so as to restart travel to a destination, a navigation system computes a distance from the parking lot to an intermediate position included in a guide route currently designated. When the computed distance is within a predetermined distance, whether the user has visited the intermediate position or not is inquired of the user. When the user inputs that the intermediate position has been visited, the navigation system re-designates a new guide route to the destination without need to pass by the intermediate position.
US07689350B2 System for providing information to a user via an interactive medium
Provided is a system for providing information to a user via an interactive medium. The system includes a server with a memory, a printer and a wireless interface. The printer is configured to supply the interactive medium in the form of a printed page with visible and invisible data thereon, said invisible data indicative of page descriptors stored in the memory. The system also includes a monitoring device configured to sense user interaction with the medium and to sense and transmit the invisible data to the server via the wireless interface. The server is configured to interpret the user interaction in relation to the sensed page descriptors.
US07689347B2 Traffic signal light control system and method
An apparatus or system and method to control traffic at an intersection which uses a digital camera with pan, tilt, zoom, fast position and autofocus to send information to an integrated central processing unit having image processing algorithms which evaluate and analyze less than the entire image to determine whether a vehicle(s) is (are) present or are approaching and its (their) size, speed and distance in order to solve logical propositions to maintain or change the right of way by signal to a conventional traffic control signal unit.
US07689343B2 Method and apparatus for enabling control of fuel injection for an engine operating in an auto-ignition mode
There is provided a method and a control scheme to control an internal combustion engine operating in an auto-ignition mode by selectively activating a control scheme for controlling fuel injector operation based upon engine combustion parameters, e.g., IMEP or NMEP. The method comprises operating the engine in the auto-ignition combustion mode, and monitoring combustion in each of the cylinders. The fuel correction is selectively enabled only when either one of a partial burn and a misfire of a cylinder charge in one of the cylinders has been detected.
US07689338B2 Control apparatus for automatic transmission
An ECU executes a program including the steps of when an upshift is requested, determining whether engine torque ET changing rate ΔET>threshold value ΔET (1) is established or not: incrementing a recovery timer TE when engine torque ET changing rate ΔET<ΔET (2) is established during establishment of engine torque ET changing rate ΔET>threshold value ΔET (1); and initiating an upshift when recovery timer TE>threshold value TE (1).
US07689335B2 Highly reliable vehicle system start controller
Start/stop decision circuit receives main and sub IG instruction signals from a hold circuit and a sub line, respectively, and if the signals match in logic, the start/stop decision circuit follows the main IG instruction signal's logic to determine whether an ignition switch is turned on/off. If the main and sub IG instruction signals attain the high and low levels, respectively, and a logic discrepancy is thus caused, and a condition is established for speculating that the vehicle is parked and therefrom a decision is made that the vehicle system will be stopped with high probability, then the start/stop decision circuit determines that the ignition switch is turned off, and start/stop decision circuit detects that the hold circuit has an ON failure and subsequently the start/stop decision circuit stops the vehicle system.
US07689328B2 Determining suitable areas for off-airport landings
A routing tool is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method and system include receiving flight data and geographic data in the aircraft, and generating route data based on the flight data and the geographic data. The route data provides information about attainable landing areas for the aircraft.
US07689322B2 Robot apparatus and method of controlling the motion thereof
The present invention provides a robot apparatus is capable of moving autonomously, flexibly responding to a motion of conforming to an external moving subject that may typically be the user of the robot apparatus and conforming to the motion of the moving subject, and also capable of modifying the conforming relationship with the moving subject. The robot apparatus is capable of moving autonomously, and comprises an input section that inputs an image or sound of an external moving subject, a plurality of motion generating sections that generate a plurality different motions in response to the image or sound input by way of the input section, conforming to the motion of the external moving subject, a motion expressing section that integrally expresses one or more than one motions out of the plurality of motions generated by the plurality of motion generating sections, and a control section that controls the number of motions integrated by the motion expressing section and the ratio of the motions to be integrated.
US07689320B2 Robotic surgical system with joint motion controller adapted to reduce instrument tip vibrations
A robotic surgical system has a robot arm holding an instrument for performing a surgical procedure, and a control system for controlling movement of the arm and its instrument according to user manipulation of a master manipulator. The control system includes a filter in its forward path to attenuate master input commands that may cause instrument tip vibrations, and an inverse filter in a feedback path to the master manipulator configured so as to compensate for delay introduced by the forward path filter. To enhance control, master command and slave joint observers are also inserted in the control system to estimate slave joint position, velocity and acceleration commands using received slave joint position commands and torque feedbacks, and estimate actual slave joint positions, velocities and accelerations using sensed slave joint positions and commanded slave joint motor torques.
US07689319B2 Communication robot control system
A communication robot control system displays a selection input screen for supporting input of actions of a communication robot. The selection input screen displays in a user-selectable manner a list of a plurality of behaviors including not only spontaneous actions but also reactive motions (reflex behaviors) in response to behavior of a person as a communication partner, and a list of emotional expressions to be added to the behaviors. According to a user's operation, the behavior and the emotional expression to be performed by the communication robot are selected and decided. Then, reproductive motion information for interactive actions including reactive motions and emotional interactive actions, is generated based on input history of the behavior and the emotional expression.
US07689318B2 Inventory control and prescription dispensing system
An inventory control and prescription management and dispensing system including a dispensing vault for storing and dispensing prescriptions in communication with a central computer system which communicates with prescription providers, insurance companies and other third parties. The vault includes robotic means for dispensing pre-filled prescriptions with the aid of RFIDs, barcodes or other means for verifying the medication to be dispensed. The vault uses patient biometrics, a patient registration system, insurance information and doctor information to process the transaction and dispense a specifically labeled pre-filled prescription to the patient.
US07689314B2 Volume element printing system with an object insertion device
The invention provides for a volume element (voxel) printing system for printing a three-dimensional object. The system includes a first printhead group having a plurality of first printheads configured to print a first voxel layer on a substrate, and at least one second printhead group having a plurality of second printheads downstream from the first group. The second group is configured to print a subsequent voxel layer on at least part of the first layer. The system also includes an object insertion device configured to insert objects into voids in the voxel layers, and a conveyor to operatively convey the substrate past the printhead groups. Also included is a control system to control and monitor the printhead groups, the object insertion device and the conveyor.
US07689313B2 Electronic device history record and product release system
A method for monitoring the manufacture of molded ophthalmic lenses is disclosed. The method monitors the occurrence of predetermined events and records such events in a device history record and a shadow table.
US07689308B2 Method, computer-readable medium, and computer program, concerning the manufacture of dental prostheses after breakage of initial prostheses
The invention relates to the examination of a dental prosthesis, wherein the dental prosthesis is examined with finite element methods. Furthermore, the invention relates to the automated manufacture of a dental prosthesis, wherein the shape of a remaining tooth area is directly determined on the basis of the remaining tooth area itself. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method, wherein manufacturing data (milling data) which have been created with a system for calculating manufacturing data (system for calculating milling data) are optionally forwarded to one or another manufacturing machine (milling machine) at different locations.
US07689307B2 Digital audio mixer
In a digital audio mixer, a link group assigner assigns one or a plurality of link groups exclusively to channels of the digital audio mixer. An operating data setter sets a value of an operating data element for each of concerned channels to the same value when the operating data element is placed in a link state and when the same link group is assigned to the concerned channels. An operating data changer operates when a value of an operating data element of one channel is changed to a specific value and when the operating data element is placed in the link state, for changing a value of a corresponding operating data element of another channel belonging to the same link group as the one channel to the specific value. An image data output unit displays a screen containing graphic symbols representing the respective channels. Graphic symbols representing channels belonging to different link groups are represented in different display forms, and graphic symbols representing channels that do not belong to any link group are represented in a common display form, which is different from the display forms of the graphic symbols representing the channels belonging to the link groups.
US07689306B2 Audio player and method for playing audio data
An audio player includes: a buffer unit that temporary stores sampling values contained in a second-half frame of each of a plurality of frames received in time series, the frames containing audio data; a detecting unit that detects a defect in the frames; an inverted-frame generating unit that generates a first-half inverted frame containing first-half complementarity samples obtained by arranging the sampling values of the second-half frame of a normal frame in a reverse order of the time series, the normal frame being received immediately before the defect is detected; a non-inverted frame generating unit that generates a second-half non-inverted frame containing second-half complementarity samples obtained by arranging the sampling values of the second-half frame of the normal frame in the time series; and an output unit that outputs the normal frame, the first-half inverted frame, and the second-half non-inverted frame, in this order.
US07689305B2 System for audio-related device communication
A system for communication among audio-related devices in an audio system includes a performance equipment manager that communicates with audio-related devices to monitor and control changeable parameters of a corresponding audio-related device. Each of the audio-related devices includes an audio node structure having components that are representative of the functionality of the respective audio-related device. Some of the components are representative of changeable parameters in the audio-related device. The performance equipment manager is configured to be selectively subscribed to one or more of the changeable parameters so that when a predefined condition occurs, the audio-related device is configured to automatically provide the current value of the changeable parameter(s) to the performance equipment manager.
US07689303B2 Data transfer in audio codec controllers
An audio codec control technique is provided with improved multichannel data ordering capabilities. An audio codec controller comprises a first interface unit for performing data transfer to and from an audio codec, a second interface unit for performing data transfer from an external memory, and a data buffer for buffering data received from the external memory via the second interface unit. The controller further comprises a capture register for receiving from the data buffer data requested by the audio codec, and temporarily storing the received data. The first interface unit is connected to receive temporarily stored data from the capture register. The operation of the audio codec controller may be done in several operational modes including 2, 4, and 6-channel full-rate and half-rate modes.
US07689299B2 Rotary work lifter and working machine
The invention is provided with means for detecting a situation of rotating a rotary work lifter at any time, and a determining portion for determining whether operation of the rotary work lifter is to be stopped by a state of rotating the rotary work lifter detected by the means, thereby, operation of the rotary work lifter can be stopped when rotation of the rotary work lifter is interrupted by pinching a work piece or the like between the rotary work lifter and a working table or the like, or when the rotation is interrupted by some other influence. Therefore, the rotary work lifter, the working table or the like can be prevented from being finally destructed by continuing to generate a torque by a drive source even after interrupting rotation of the rotary work lifter as in a background art.
US07689297B2 Nonlinear system observation and control
An observation system configured to observe one or more initially unknown state variables of an observed system includes an input interface configured to receive a system input, and a processing module coupled to the input interface. The processing module is configured to determine the one or more initially unknown state variables, and the determination is based at least in part on the system input, a plurality of known state variables, and a time varying mode vector that is time dependent.
US07689295B2 Method and system for monitoring and control of complex systems based on a programmable network processor
A method and apparatus for monitoring and control of a system is disclosed. The method and apparatus include providing a plurality of sensors, a table, and a network processor. The sensors monitor attributes of the system. The table includes a plurality of entries. Each of the entries indicates at least one action to be taken in response to a portion attributes having particular values. The network processor is coupled with the sensors and with the table. The network processor receives from the sensors a plurality of statuses for the attributes. The network processor further determines at least one entry of the entries to access based upon the statuses and accesses the at least one entry to determine a corresponding action.
US07689289B2 Technique for adjusting the locus of excitation of electrically excitable tissue with paired pulses
The locus of electrically excitable tissue where action potentials are induced can be controlled using the physiological principle of electrotonus. Substantially non-simultaneous first and second pulses are applied to first and second electrodes, respectively, to generate both first and second action potentials and first and second subthreshold potential areas, within the tissue. The locus within the tissue where additional action potentials are induced may be determined by a superposition of the first and second subthreshold areas according to the physiological principle of electrotonus. Superposition of the first and second subthreshold areas provides deep tissue suprathreshold potential areas of adjustable locus wherein additional action potentials are induced.
US07689287B2 Method of aiding smoking cessation
Methods which are useful to aid in smoking cessation. The methods generally comprise applying an electrical current to the subject in the vicinity of two or more acupuncture points selected from acupuncture points in or on the arms and hands of the subject. Suitable points include the Hegu acupuncture point (LI-4), a point on the opposite side of the hand to the Hegu acupuncture point, the Wai guan acupuncture point (SJ-5), and the Nei guan acupuncture point (PC-6).
US07689283B1 Diastolic mechanical algorithm for optimization of AV timing using a plurality of sensors
Systems and methods are provided for adjusting atrioventricular timing of a cardiac resynchronization therapy device, based upon multi-modal sensory data. In one particular embodiment, one or more acoustic signals are processed and categorized into certain cardiac-related mechanical events. Impedance waveforms are obtained from implanted electrodes and analyzed to identify certain valvular events. The acoustic and impedance data is analyzed to optimize AV timing and improve cardiac performance.
US07689282B2 Method and apparatus for detecting non-sustaining ventricular tachyarrhythmia
An implantable medical device controls an anti-tachyarrhythmia therapy by detecting a tachyarrhythmia episode from a cardiac signal and analyzing the detected tachyarrhythmia episode in a tachyarrhythmia detection and analysis process to determine whether the anti-tachyarrhythmia therapy needs to be delivered. The tachyarrhythmia detection and classification process includes detection of inhibitory events each indicating that the tachyarrhythmia episode is of a type not to be treated by the anti-tachyarrhythmia therapy or that the tachyarrhythmia episode is not sustaining. The detection of each of the inhibitory events causes the tachyarrhythmia detection and classification process to be restarted or extended, or the delivery of the anti-tachyarrhythmia therapy to be withheld.
US07689279B2 Pacing device for minimizing ventricular pauses after delivery of atrial anti-tachycardia pacing therapy
A pacing control is used in a multiple-chamber cardiac pacing system, which, upon detecting an atrial arrhythmia, automatically switches to a special therapy mode and administers a selected anti-tachycardia pacing (ATP) therapy in the atrium, and which switches to a standard pacing mode following delivery of the ATP therapy. The pacing control adjusts the timing of pacing pulses to be delivered to the atrium and/or the ventricle to minimize any potential ventricular pauses that may result from the switch from the therapy mode to the standard pacing mode.
US07689278B2 Identification system for defibrillator electrode package
An automatic external defibrillator electrode package includes a coded conductive label that uniquely identifies the type of automatic electrode contained therein. Pins on the defibrillator body make electrical contact with the conductive label when the package is attached to the defibrillator. These pins sense the shape of the conductive label to ascertain the electrode type, thereby enabling the AED to automatically set the proper operating mode.
US07689275B2 Method and apparatus for determining an EMG signal
A method and apparatus for filtering an electromyogram (EMG) signal from a raw signal which includes a contribution from an electrocardiogram (EKG) signal is disclosed. The method includes the steps of estimating an attribute (such as a Fourier transform) of both the EMG contribution to the raw signal and the EKG contribution to the raw signal and, dependent on both frequency spectrums, determining an EMG window in a frequency range and obtaining the EMG signal by passing it through a filter defined by the frequency range. The method is particularly used when monitoring a multi-channel electrical recording from a plurality of electrodes attached to a patient's diaphragm.
US07689270B2 Physiological sensor system for use in a magnetic resonance device
The invention relates to a physiological sensor system for recording electric measuring signals in a magnetic resonance device, comprising at least one measuring electrode, a signal amplifier unit in a shielded housing that is placed in close proximity to a patient and a signal processing unit for preparing the measuring signals. According to the invention, the measuring electrode is connected to the signal amplifier unit via a cable connection. The invention is characterized in that the cable connection comprises a low-ohm conductor, which is connected to the measuring electrode by means of a first electric resistor on a first end and to the signal amplifier unit by means of a resistance between the skin and the measuring electrode. The development of heat caused by an induced current is concentrated on the resistors, so that there is no risk of burning to the patient.
US07689269B2 System, method and apparatus for the detection of patient-borne fluorescing nanocrystals
System, method and apparatus wherein a probe employing non-imagining optics is utilized in conjunction with a fluorescing nanocrystal tracer at the body of a patient. Excitation components within the probe working end are utilized to excite the nanocrystals to fluoresce at wavelengths in the near infrared region, such fluorescent energy is homogenized by interacting with involved tissue to provide a uniform fluorescing intensity over the surface of a photo-detector. Initialization and background determination procedures are described along with a technique for determining statistically significant levels of fluorescing activity.
US07689265B2 System and method for the joint evaluation of multi phase MR marrow images
A method for jointly evaluating multi-phase magnetic resonance bone marrow images includes receiving a plurality of magnetic resonance (MR) image sequences of bones acquired using different protocols, each sequence comprising a plurality of images, each image comprising a plurality of intensities corresponding to a domain of points on a 2-dimensional grid, analyzing an image sequence to determine the MR protocol of said sequence, segmenting the bone marrow region in each image of said plurality of MR image sequences, and registering each MR image sequence to every other image sequence in said plurality of sequences wherein each point in each image of each of said plurality of image sequences is registered, wherein said registered image sequences are adapted to being analyzed synchronously.
US07689263B1 Method and apparatus for acquiring free-breathing MR images using navigator echo with saturation RF pulse
A system and method of free-breathing MR imaging saturates an entire navigator profile at the end of an imaging segment of physiological motion cycle, e.g., heart cycle, thereby providing a uniform recovery of longitudinal magnetization for the next imaging cycle. Through use of at least one dephaser gradient following the image acquisition segment and a navigator RF saturation pulse, residual transverse magnetization is dephased and spins within a navigator tracker are saturated to ensure a uniform recovery of longitudinal magnetization for the next imaging period.
US07689262B2 Method and magnetic resonance tomography apparatus for correcting changes in the basic magnetic field
In the examination of a subject with a magnetic resonance tomography apparatus, data for a slice of the subject to be examined are obtained with a sequence of a fast MRT imaging method that includes at least three phase correction scans and measurement signals of the respective phase correction scans as well as of the slice are obtained. The phase difference of corresponding data points of two phase correction scans are calculated point-by-point, the average phase difference between the phase correction scans is evaluated, and the frequency offset between the actual resonance frequency relative to the adjusted resonance frequency is calculated based on the average phase difference and the echo time difference between the phase correction scans used. A B0 field map is calculated dependent on the frequency offset and, the measurement data for the slice are corrected using the calculated B0 field map.
US07689260B2 Shape-memory polymer coated electrodes
There is provided a slowly implantable electrode. A coating for an electrode, the coating includes a shape-memory polymer. A method for inserting an electrode into brain tissue by inserting an implantable electrode having a shape-memory polymer coated electrode into brain tissue.
US07689259B2 Pulse oximeter sensor with piece-wise function
A memory in a sensor is used to store multiple coefficients for a physiological parameter. In one embodiment, not only are the sensor's specific calibration coefficients stored in a memory in the sensor for the formula to determine oxygen saturation, but multiple sets of coefficients are stored. The multiple sets apply to different ranges of saturation values to provide a better fit to occur by breaking the R to SpO2 relationship up into different pieces, each described by a different function. The different functions can also be according to different formulas for determining oxygen saturation.
US07689255B2 In-vehicle apparatus
An in-vehicle apparatus including: an apparatus body; a front surface of the apparatus body; and a lid configured to open and close the front surface. A microphone directed to the front side of the front surface in the condition where the lid is opened is provided at the front surface of the apparatus body. A gap for communication between the location, where the microphone is provided, of the front surface and the outside is secured between the front surface and the lid in the condition where the front surface of the apparatus body is closed with the lid.
US07689246B2 Wireless communication device using a single clock signal and method of operating the same
A wireless communications network participant comprising: a plurality of communications subsystems, each subsystem being arranged to transmit and/or receive signals under a different telecommunications standard; means for generating a clock signal; and scheduling means for sending commands to at least one of the subsystems for its or their operation, the scheduling means deducing the timing of the commands relative to the clock signal.
US07689238B2 Architecture and implementation of closed user groups and limiting mobility in wireless networks
A system for providing advanced voice services (AVS) in wireless communications systems includes a Real-Time Exchange (RTX) that interfaces to a wireless communications network to provide the AVS therein, wherein the AVS comprise Closed User Groups and Limiting Mobility. The Closed User Groups allow a group of users to make and receive calls only to other members of a group, and calls outside of the group are disallowed. The Limiting Mobility uses location information to restrict a mobile unit to service within one or more specified systems, cells or location areas.
US07689237B2 Enhanced transmission quality in push-to talk system
The present invention relates to methods and arrangements to enhance transmission quality in a Push-to-Talk system comprising a sending mobile unit MB1, and a receiving mobile unit MB2 used by a receiving subscriber B. The receiving unit MB2 comprises a Play-Out-Buffer POB and a Repeat Buffer RB, whereby a stream of sequences 15-19,25-29,35-39 is sent from the sending unit MB1 to the receiving unit MB2. The method comprises the following steps:—The incoming stream of sequences 15-19,25-29,35-39 is collected into the Repeat Buffer RB and into the Play-Out-Buffer POB. The Play-Out-Buffer has a storage size and a point for commencing play-out that provides low voice delay, and the Repeat Buffer has a storage size that provides high sound quality. —The incoming stream is played-out from the Play-Out-Buffer POB to the receiving subscriber B. —Replay is commenced of a defined part 36-39 of the sequences 15-19,25-29,35-39 collected in the Repeat Buffer RB.
US07689232B1 Method of providing call forward of voice and messages and remote phone activation
A method, a combined cellular, PDA communication device and system having specialized software applications for allowing a plurality of combined cellular phone/PDA device users to monitor each others' locations and status, to initiate cellular phone calls by touching a symbol on the touch screen display with a stylus which can also include point to call conferencing calling. Each participant's cellular phone/PDA device includes a GPS navigation receiver with application software for point to call cellular phone initiation to participants and geographical entities including vehicles, persons or events, conference calls and video transfers. The method, device and system also includes several features that allow each individual cell phone/PDA device user to: a) forward calls and data by touching the symbols associated with other participants; b) cause another phone to accept a phone call even though the remote phone is busy and put the remote call on hold; c) cause a remote phone speaker and microphone to turn on and receive voice message from the calling phone; and d) cause a voice recording to be heard when the a symbol that has an associated voice recording is hooked.
US07689230B2 Intelligent transportation system
A node for communications in a transportation network comprises a processor, a memory, a communication device, and a set of instructions executable by the processor for: extracting information from a first message, making a first determination based at least in part on the information; and making a second determination as to whether a second message should be sent based on the first determination.
US07689221B1 System and method of providing intelligent cell reselection for delay sensitive data applications
A mobile station for receiving delay-sensitive data from a wireless communications network is provided with a data buffer and cell reselection controller. The data buffer receives data from the network and stores the data for communication to a delay-sensitive data application. The cell reselection controller selectively inhibits cell reselection in order to meet requirements of the delay-sensitive data application. By intelligently controlling cell reselection, delay sensitive data may be received in a more reliable fashion, thereby increasing performance of the data application.
US07689220B2 Radio communication terminal and communication method
A radio communication terminal according to the present invention includes: a transmitter-receiver configured to transmit voice and image data to a destination communication terminal, and to receive the voice and image data from the destination communication terminal; a connection processor configured to control a handoff between communication modes of which communication capabilities are different from each other; and a transmission controller configured to control the transmission of voice or image data by the transmitter-receiver, and/or the transmission of voice or image data by the destination communication terminal according to a communication capability of a communication mode at a destination of handoff, when the connection processor performs the handoff in a case where the voice and image data are being transmitted to and received from the destination communication terminal through the transmitter-receiver.
US07689218B2 Method, apparatus and computer program providing network-associated system priority list for multimode system selection
A method includes provisioning a multi-mode wireless communications terminal with at least one system priority list (SPL) having information that identifies a plurality of wireless network system types and, for each identified wireless network system type, at least one wireless network of that type. The method selects from the SPL a wireless network for service selectively based on one of a manually specified priority, a priority specified automatically and a priority that is specified for use automatically only during a power-on mode of operation.
US07689217B2 Radio receiver having a multi-state variable threshold automatic gain control (AGC) for fast channel scanning acquisition and mehtod for using same
A radio receiver (300) having a multi-state variable threshold automatic gain control (AGC) for fast channel scanning acquisition includes an amplifier (303) having an automatic gain control (AGC) for controlling the gain of a receiver analog signal. An analog-to-digital converter (ADC) (311) is used for converting the receiving analog signal to a digital signal while a digital signal processor (DSP) (325) operates to process the digital signal. A signal magnitude estimator (315) in an AGC controller (313) provides a signal strength estimate of the received signal. The AGC controller (313) then sets the receiver amplifier (303) for an open-loop AGC operational mode and sets a first threshold for triggering an interrupt service request (ISR). This ISR is provided the DSP (325) and the host processor (327) if a radio frequency (RF) signal is detected above a first threshold during a priority scan of a priority channel to minimize interruptions in audio during priority scan.
US07689210B1 Plug-n-playable wireless communication system
A method and apparatus for communicating between devices is described. In one embodiment, the method comprises detecting, at a switch, a presence of a first repeater coupled to the switch at a location, and automatically configuring the first repeater to enable the first repeater to communicate with a mobile station and the switch without using information resulting from a site survey of the location.
US07689208B2 Method and apparatus for providing deferrable data services in a cellular communication system
A communication system, upon receiving an instruction to transfer deferrable data, determines whether an air interface is congested and, when the air interface is congested, defers a transfer of the deferrable data or transfers the deferrable, lower priority data as higher priority data. When, during a transfer of deferrable data, the system determines that the air interface is congested, the system may terminate the call and save a state of a partially completed deferred data transfer. Subsequent to the termination of the call, the system establishes another data connection over the air interface and transfers any remaining, not yet transferred deferrable data. In order to discourage subscribers from transferring higher priority data as lower priority data, the system may further restrict a transfer of lower priority data to designated time periods while allowing a transfer of higher priority data during the designated time periods and other time periods.
US07689206B2 Handheld electronic device providing an alert when additional user action is required to initiate an outgoing phone call, and associated method
A method of facilitating the initiation of an outgoing phone call on a handheld electronic device including receiving a request to initiate the outgoing phone call and determining whether additional user action is required in order to initiate the outgoing phone call. If it is determined that additional user action is required, the method further includes: (i) displaying a prompt on the handheld electronic device that indicates that the additional user action must be taken in order to initiate the outgoing phone call, and (ii) providing an alert, such as an audible signal, that is separate from the prompt. Also, a handheld electronic device including a display, a processor, and a memory in electronic communication with the processor. The memory stores one or more routines executable by the processor for implementing the described method.
US07689203B2 Method for implementing roaming charging and system thereof
The present invention discloses a method for implementing roaming charging, including: a proxy CRF is configured in the PLMN; a terminal uses bearer resources or packet data services in the currently visited PLMN to provide information for selecting charging rules for the home CRF through the proxy CRF in the PLMN, the home CRF selects the charging rules according to the information and provides the charging rules for the TPF serving the current terminal. The present invention also provides a system for implementing roaming charging, which includes a TPF, a home CRF in the terminal's home PLMN and a proxy CRF in the PLMN other than the terminal's home PLMN. When the terminal is roaming and utilizing the bearer resources or packet data services in the currently visited PLMN, the problem of addressing among the functions when implementing the data flow based charging procedure based on FBC mechanism is solved.
US07689201B2 Communication terminal equipment
A cellular phone having a telephone communication unit and a data communication unit is provided with the function of notifying a user of emergency data communication immediately even when the emergency data communication was received while a call was in progress. There is provided a communication terminal equipment according to the present invention, which includes a data communication unit which receives emergency data communication, a display unit which displays the contents of the received data communication thereon, and a communication unit which communicates with a base station by phone or the like. The communication unit establishes a call link through a cellular phone network, and the data communication unit allows received data to interrupt a call upon emergency, displays it on the display unit and notifies a user that emergency data has been received.
US07689199B2 System and method for controlling a wireless device notification alert
Wireless device audible alert control signal generating systems and methods are presented. The control signal may be used to either enable or disable the audible alert of a wireless device. The signal may be generated as a function of the motion of an object entering or exiting a quiet zone. An embodiment for a system in accordance with the invention includes a transmitter to transmit a control signal to either disable or enable an audible alert of a wireless device. An antenna may be operatively coupled to the transmitter. A motion sensor to detect objects passing through a field of detection may be used to trigger the emission of the control signal. A controller operatively coupled to both the motion sensor and transmitter may command the transmitter to transmit the control signal as a function of a direction of motion detected by the motion sensor. An embodiment for a method in accordance with the invention includes detecting an object in an object detection area. A direction of motion of the object with respect to a reference point may be determined. A wireless device audible alert control signal may then be generated as a function of the direction of motion of the object.
US07689198B2 On-vehicle audio/video systems
An on-vehicle audio/video system is provided which comprises a controller, a data source and a playing device, wherein the controller comprises at least a first transmitter, and the data source comprises at least a first receiver, a first micro-controller and a second transmitter. The controller comprises at least a first RF transmitter. The data source comprises at least a first RF receiver, a first micro-controller and a second RF transmitter. The playing device comprises at least a second RF receiver. The controller sends an RF control signal to the data source and/or playing device. The first RF receiver in the data source receives the RF control signal and sends the signal to the first micro-controller for processing. The second transmitter transmits data signal and/or control signal to the playing device under the control of the first micro-controller.
US07689192B2 Noise canceler and receiving apparatus using the same
A noise canceler comprising: a first low-pass filter that a demodulated signal is to be input to; an interpolation processing unit that the demodulated signal after passing through the first low-pass filter and a pulse noise detection signal indicating presence of a pulse noise, are to be input to, the interpolation processing unit configured to perform interpolation processing on a demodulated signal present during a period determined by the pulse noise detection signal, out of the input demodulated signal, based on the input demodulated signal; a replacing processing unit that the demodulated signal subjected to the interpolation processing, the pulse noise detection signal, and the demodulated signal before passing through the first low-pass filter, are to be input to, the replacing processing unit configured to output a signal obtained by replacing a demodulated signal present during the period, out of the demodulated signal before passing through the first low-pass filter, with the demodulated signal subjected to the interpolation processing, wherein the demodulated signal is present during the period; and a second low-pass filter that the signal output from the replacing processing unit is to be input to, the second low-pass filter including a cut-off frequency higher than that of the first low-pass filter.
US07689191B2 Semiconductor integrated circuit having built-in PLL circuit
A semiconductor integrated circuit having a built-in PLL circuit which has two charge pump circuits for charging and discharging capacitive elements of a loop filter in response to signals generated by a phase comparator circuit. One of the two charge pump circuits has current sources which generate current values smaller than those generated by current sources of the other charge pump circuit. The loop filter has a first capacitive element connected to a charge/discharge node, and a second capacitive element connected to the charge/discharge node through a resistive element. The first capacitive element is charged and discharged by the one charge pump circuit, while the second capacitive element is charged and discharged by the other charge pump circuit. A charging current source of the one charge pump circuit operates simultaneously with a discharging current source of the other charge pump circuit, i.e., the charge pump circuits operate in opposite phase.
US07689189B2 Circuit and method for signal reception using a low intermediate frequency reception
A method and circuit for receiving a radio frequency signal by receiving and amplifying the radio frequency signal to produce a received signal and generating first and second clock signals corresponding to first and second channel signals, respectively, of the received signal and multiplying the received signal with the clock signals to obtain the channel signals. Pre-selectivity filtering of the received signal is performed by filtering the first channel using a first impedance, filtering the second channel using a second impedance, and converting the first and second impedances with respect to one another through a first gyrator. Amplitude limiting of the first and second channels is performed to obtain first and second amplitude limited channels. Poly-phase selectivity filtering of the first and second amplitude limited channels is performed to obtain first and second selectivity filtered channels. The selectivity filtered channels are demodulated to obtain a data signal.
US07689188B2 Method and system for dynamically tuning and calibrating an antenna using antenna hopping
Methods and systems for dynamically tuning and calibrating an antenna using antenna hopping are disclosed. Aspects of one method may include dynamically tuning a mobile terminal antenna, to antenna hop to a plurality of different center frequencies to receive RF signals. The antenna hopping may be slow antenna hopping (SAH) or fast antenna hopping (FAH). In FAH, received signals for a channel at each of the center frequencies may be aggregated. A hopping rate in FAH may be greater than twice a highest baseband signal frequency of a desired channel. In SAH, the mobile terminal antenna may hop to determined center frequencies with adequate signals for the desired channel. Signal adequacy of the desired channel at a center frequency may be made by, for example, measuring received signal strength for the desired channel and/or a bit error rate for the desired channel.
US07689183B2 Control method for producing a ramp of output power and transmitter utilizing the same
A transmitter controlling output power to generate a ramp and a method thereof. The transmitter comprises a baseband module, a transmitter module, and a power amplifier. The baseband module receives a power control level, determines a scaling factor according to the power control level, determines a difference between an upper power limit and lower power limit according to a position on the ramp, and calculates a control signal according to the scaling factor, the lower power limit, and the difference. The transmitter module transmits data. The power amplifier coupled to the baseband module and the transmitter module, outputs the data with the output power according the control signal.
US07689179B2 Multistage amplifier apparatus with distortion compensation function
Provided are an amplifier section in which N amplifiers (N is an integer of 2 or more) are serially connected to one another, and which performs an amplitude modulation on an input signal using an amplitude signal, which is a control signal; and M distortion compensation apparatuses (M is a natural number satisfying M
US07689177B2 Method and apparatus for transmitting/receiving feedback information and system supporting the same in a multi-user multi-antenna system
A method and apparatus for transmitting/receiving feedback information in a multi-user multi-antenna system and a system supporting the same are provided, in which all possible combinations are created using column vectors included in a precoding codebook, column vectors are correlated in each of the combinations, column vectors comprising correlations exceeding a reference threshold are designated as similar vectors, at least two similar vector sets are formed with the similar vectors, and feedback information is generated based on the at least two similar vector sets and transmitted.
US07689175B2 Configurable frequency band elimination for powerline network
A communication device for use in adapting an appliance to a computer network consistent with certain embodiments has a data transmitter that receives data to be transmitted and generates output signals at a plurality of frequencies. A user configurable notch filter, receives the output signals from the data transmitter, for reducing the amplitude of a user selected range of frequencies, and producing a filtered output. A network communication medium interface receives the filtered output and transmitting the filtered output over a network communication medium. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.
US07689172B2 Reducing interference between device components
Systems and methods that are adapted to avoid radio frequency interference, electromagnetic interference, and/or electromechanical interference originating from modules, peripherals and interconnects of an electronic device, such as a mobile terminal, that are generating unintentional radiation (e.g. memory cards, camera flashes, data buses etc.) and coupling to the radios of the same electronic device are disclosed. The systems may include a controller unit that schedules the operation of the components to avoid concurrent operation of radios and sensitive peripheral devices which may interfere with each other during concurrent operation.
US07689171B2 Reducing interference in a wireless network via antenna selection
Apparatus and method for reducing or avoiding at least in part one or more interferences in a wireless communication device are described herein. The method may include initially sensing by the device an interference from an interference source received by one or more of a plurality of sector antennas of the device. The device may then select, based at least in part on the sensing, a subset of the plurality of sector antennas for communicating with other devices in the wireless network.
US07689170B2 RF receiving apparatus and method for removing leakage component of received signal using local signal
A radio frequency (RF) receiver and receiving method are provided which can remove a leakage component from a received signal by using a local signal. In the RF receiver, a noise removing unit controls a gain and a phase of a local signal LOI according to a phase THETA and a gain AMPTD detected in a MODEM, estimates a signal Vcal corresponding to a noise component introduced into a received RF signal RXIN, and removes the estimated signal Vcal from the received RF signal RXIN. In this manner, a clean RF signal RXO, which does not include a noise component, is frequency-down converted in a receiving unit.
US07689168B2 Remote user interface for Bluetooth™ device
A system and method of displaying data pertaining to an accessory on a mobile device is disclosed. The accessory and the mobile device are communicable with one another using the Bluetooth™ protocol. A set of pre-defined Bluetooth queries using an extended list of AT commands that can be used by the Bluetooth protocol are designed to perform functions that request data pertaining to the accessory. A Bluetooth connection is established between the accessory and the mobile device. A Bluetooth query is selected by a user of the mobile device and sent to the accessory. The accessory receives and executes the Bluetooth query from the mobile device to obtain the requested data pertaining to the accessory. The requested data is sent back to the mobile device where it is displayed on the mobile device display.
US07689161B2 Broadcast receiver with selective scanning and signal retrieval
A broadcast receiver for receiving airwaves by a directional switching antenna capable of switching directivity in a plurality of directions, includes a control unit for performing signal return processing for making a return to a normal reception state when it becomes impossible to receive the airwaves by the antenna. The signal return processing includes a plurality of signal return processings of different kinds. When impossibility of reception occurs, the control unit selects optimum signal return processing from among the plurality of signal return processings according to predetermined conditions and executes the selected signal return processing.
US07689158B2 Image forming apparatus having image reading function
An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus main body and an original reading device disposed on top of the apparatus main body. A sheet supply cassette, a sheet discharge tray, an original feed tray, and the original discharge tray are oriented such that their lengthwise directions are aligned with the first horizontal direction, and are arranged to overlap with one another in the vertical direction. A pair of side walls is disposed at both widthwise ends of the sheet supply cassette, the sheet discharge tray, the original feed tray, and the original discharge tray. The both widthwise ends of these components are formed as edge portions. The pair of side walls covers an entire length of each of the edge portions, thereby supporting all of the sheet supply cassette, the sheet discharge tray, the original feed tray, and the original discharge tray.
US07689156B2 Waste toner collecting apparatus and image forming apparatus
A tandem type image forming apparatus drives an agitation paddle when the waste toner defecated from a plurality of image forming units and flowed and collected in a single waste toner containing member by way of the first collection port thereof gets to a predetermined level in order to level the height of the waste toner in the waste toner containing member. The quantity of waste toner flowed by way of the first collection port is estimated from the quantity of the toners supplied from the toner cartridges of the development apparatus.
US07689153B2 Image forming system having charge balancing system
An image formation system is configured by connecting two or more image formation devices. The system includes a fixing device fixing an unfixed development image to a record medium and a charge elimination device eliminating a charge of the record medium in an inlet of the fixing device of the second or later image formation device.
US07689149B2 Image forming apparatus and toner cartridge
A toner cartridge is detachably attached to an image forming apparatus and supplies toner to the image forming apparatus. The locking mechanism is positioned either at a locking position or at a non-locking position. Shortly after the toner cartridge has been attached to the image forming apparatus, the locking mechanism is at a non-locking position. When a user operates a driving member of the toner cartridge after the toner cartridge has been attached to the image forming apparatus, the operating lever engages the locking mechanism to cause the locking mechanism to move to a locking position. When the locking mechanism is at the locking position, the locking mechanism limits the driving member to move relative to the engagement portion, so that the toner cartridge is not allowed to be detached from the image forming apparatus.
US07689144B2 Systems and methods for remanufacturing imaging components
Techniques for attaching a replacement chip to an imaging cartridge are described. a method of replacing a component of an imaging cartridge includes: providing the imaging cartridge including a chip and a chip holding structure holding the chip, the chip holding structure including a left upper flange, a right upper flange, a rear retaining member, bottom supporting rails, a left forward retaining element extending from the left upper flange, and a right forward retaining element extending from the right upper flange; removing at least a portion of the left forward retaining element and the right forward retaining element to form a modified chip holding structure; removing the chip from the cartridge; installing a replacement chip in the modified chip holding structure; and attaching the replacement chip to the imaging cartridge.
US07689140B2 Blade cleaning jig
A blade cleaning jig includes a cleaning portion and a gripping portion. The cleaning portion includes a support body of stainless steel or the like and polishing tape provided on the upper face of this support body, and moreover a cushioning material is inserted between the support body and the polishing tape. A protective member for preventing damage to the surface of a developer roller is attached to the entire lower face of the support body. This protective member is attached bent at a circumferential end portion such that the protective member covers from the lower face of the support body via a circumferential edge portion to an upper face circumferential edge portion.
US07689138B2 Printing control apparatus, printing apparatus, printing control method, printing control program, and medium for recording the printing control program
A printing control apparatus that succeeds in providing enhanced usability by giving a paper placement opportunity to users so that an operational burden can be reduced is provided. A printer control section controls a printing section to effect print standby with respect to one of a plurality of image-data pages that has been subjected to print-standby specification first by a standby specification command. After a sensor of a manual feeding tray in the printing section detects placement of a new sheet, the printing section is so controlled as not to effect print standby with respect to the remainder of the pages even if standby is specified by a standby specification command.
US07689136B2 Image forming apparatus capable of switching image adjustment process according to an environment condition
The present invention aims to reduce the time period of the start up operation of an image forming apparatus corresponding to an image forming apparatus operating environment. The present invention provides an image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member; a toner image forming unit for forming a toner image on the image bearing member; an image condition detection member for detecting an image condition of the image bearing member; a setting unit for setting a plurality of toner image forming conditions determined based on the output of the image condition detection member; an environment detection member for detecting an environment condition of outside air of the image forming apparatus; and a selection unit for selecting the toner image forming conditions set by the setting unit based on the output of the environment detection device from when the power is turned on to when transitioned to an image formable state.
US07689129B2 System-in-package optical transceiver in optical communication with a plurality of other system-in-package optical transceivers via an optical transmission line
A parallel computation apparatus as a multiprocessor includes functional modules as a plurality of processors having an optical communication function and capable of mutually cooperating, and an optical transmission line interconnecting the plurality of processors. Among the plurality of functional modules, the first functional module having a first information processing capacity has a function of determining whether information processing of a first information processing amount can be completed based on the first information processing capacity, and outputting a second information processing amount obtained by subtracting an information processing amount based on the first information processing capacity from the first information processing amount to at least one of the other functional modules.
US07689128B2 Return path transmitter with extended digital processing circuitry
A Cable Television (CATV) digital return link system that provides dedicated, high-speed, full-duplex and point-to-point connections between users and the head end system is disclosed. The CATV digital return link system includes return path transmitters, intermediate hubs and a head end hub coupled to each other via a network of fiber optic cables. The return path transmitters are each coupled to a relatively large number of users via a local CATV-subtree. Signals from cable modems are transmitted via the local CATV-subtree to the return path transmitters for transmission to the head end. The return path transmitters include circuitry for digitally processing the RF data from the subtree prior to transmitting the RF data to the head end.
US07689126B2 Wavelength dispersion compensation control method and wavelength dispersion compensation control device
A wavelength dispersion compensation control method determining whether a clock component is contained in an optical signal received from an optical transmission path and, if a clock component if contained in the optical signal, extracting the clock component, and stopping control of a variable wavelength dispersion compensator when no clock component is extracted.
US07689125B2 Methods and systems for polarization control and polarization mode dispersion compensation for wideband optical signals
An optical processing method includes: receiving an optical signal from an optical system, wherein the optical signal is distorted by frequency-dependent polarization effects in the optical system; spatially dispersing frequency components of the distorted optical signal on a spatial light modulator (SLM); and independently adjusting the polarization transfer matrix of multiple regions of the SLM to reduce the distortion of the optical signal. A related optical processing method includes: providing a precompensation signal indicative of frequency-dependent polarization effects in a downstream optical system; spatially dispersing frequency components of an optical signal on a spatial light modulator (SLM); and independently adjusting the polarization transfer matrix of multiple regions of the SLM to at least partially precompensate the optical signal for distortions caused by the frequency-dependent polarization effects in the downstream optical system. Another related optical processing method includes: providing a model of the frequency-dependent polarization effects; spatially dispersing frequency components of the optical signal on a spatial light modulator (SLM); and independently adjusting the polarization transfer matrix of multiple regions of the SLM based on the model to emulate the optical signal transmission.
US07689119B2 Digital camera that stores the location of an object
An image processing device including an optical system, a storage device, a position detecting device, and a direction detecting device. An optical system obtains an image of an object, and a storage device stores a predetermined position of an object to be shot. The position detecting device detects a current position of the image processing device, and the direction detecting device detects the directional orientation of the image processing device. A processor then determines whether an obtained object of shooting corresponds to the object to be shot by comparing signals output from said position detecting device and said direction detecting device with the stored position of the object to be shot.
US07689117B2 Multi-module photography system
A photography system includes: camera modules, which output, for individual pixels, picture data in synchronization with pixel clocks and which are arranged so that the light receiving directions of light receiving devices match; a camera control apparatus, which supplies an operating clock to the camera modules with a phase difference of half a cycle, and which generates a phase difference of half a cycle in picture data output by the camera modules; an output synthesizing apparatus, which synthesizes, in a time division manner, picture data output by the camera modules; and an image processing apparatus, which employs information about a distance between the camera modules for the reconstruction of a single picture, using the picture data synthesized by the output synthesizing apparatus.
US07689115B2 Camera
A camera includes a display device capable of displaying on a single screen a plurality of images, each of which can be observed from one of a plurality of directions; a selection device that selects any one of a plurality of operating modes; and a display control device that displays at the display device the plurality of images each correlated to the operating mode selected via the selection device.
US07689114B2 Imaging device, imaging method and program
An imaging device equipped with an imaging system includes an imaging lens optical system which images an object, a flash emitting unit which synchronizes imaging in the imaging system to emit a flash having not less than a prescribed luminance in a charged state not less than a prescribed charged state by power to be charged, and a control unit which determines a charging amount of the charged state of the flash emitting unit and which controls imaging to be performed by using the flash emitting unit with an imaging sensitivity of the imaging lens optical system set in accordance with the charging amount of the charged state in imaging by the imaging lens optical system.
US07689113B2 Photographing apparatus and method
A photographing apparatus and method employ an imaging device arranged including a matrix of pixels each which accumulates accumulation charges according to an amount of light incident thereon, an accumulation charge read device for reading the accumulation charges at a time difference based on the position of each row or column of the pixels, and a reset device resetting an entirety of the accumulation charges of the imaging device before a main exposure. The photographing apparatus and method each further employ a reset timing change device capable of changing a reset timing for resetting the accumulation charges with respect to a synchronization pulse corresponding to a time for reading the accumulation charges.
US07689106B2 Video or audio recording and reproducing apparatus
The same contents having different recording rates are recorded on a multi-layer disk. A plurality of contents or the same contents having different recording rates are independently recorded respectively in different layers of an optical disk having a plurality of recording layers. In order to record a plurality of contents or the same contents having different recording rates in parallel at that time, recording on the multi-layer optical disk is conducted by repeating an operation of dividing each content into recording units, recording a recording unit of one kind of information in a recording layer, and recording a recording unit of the other kind of information in a different recording layer.
US07689101B2 Video audio recording system
A video audio recording system includes an inputting means for inputting video audio information, a video audio coding means for converting the input video audio information into digital information to write into a buffer means once and reading the written video audio information sequentially to output, a signal processing means for converting the video audio information output from the video audio coding means into a recording-medium writable format to write on a recording medium, and a controlling means for controlling respective means to control a recording of information on the recording medium. The controlling means monitors a write address and a read address of the buffer means, and then brings only a writing of information into the buffer means into a stop condition if a difference between both addresses is smaller than a predetermined threshold.
US07689097B2 Method, apparatus and recording medium for recording time information for digital data streams
A method and apparatus for recording time information for received digital data streams are provided. The method includes recording first time information and second time information on a recording medium. The first time information is part of management data for managing presentation data and the second time information is time information of the presentation data. The format of the first time information coincides with the format of the second time information.
US07689094B2 Data processing apparatus, data processing method, and program
A data processing method is disclosed which involves storing on an optical disk main line data as video data and low-resolution data, the latter data corresponding to the main line data but having a lower resolution and a smaller data amount than the main line data. The main line data and low-resolution data are read and decoded individually. The decoded result of the low-resolution data is selectively output until preparations for outputting the main line data are found completed. Once the preparations for outputting the main line data are complete, the decoded result of the main line data is output selectively.
US07689093B2 Fluorine-doped optical fiber
A single mode optical transmission fiber comprises a depressed core having at least 0.41 weight percent fluorine and an index difference (|Δn1|) with pure silica greater than 1.5×10−3, a depressed cladding having at least 1.2 weight percent fluorine and an index difference (|Δn2|) with pure silica greater than 4.5×10−3 and an index difference (|Δn2|−|Δn1|) with the depressed core greater than or equal to 3×10−3.
US07689091B1 Unitary fiber clamp with flexible members and a member mover
A fiber clamp (220) for clamping an optical fiber assembly (16) includes a clamp housing (230) and a member mover (228). The clamp housing (230) includes a base contact area (234) and a flexible member (238) that urges the optical fiber assembly (16) against the base contact area (234) to retain the optical fiber assembly (16). Further, the flexible member (238) includes a member contact area (238B) that engages the optical fiber assembly (16), and a member attachment area (238A). The member mover (228) selectively moves the member contact area (238B) relative to the member attachment area (238A) so that the optical fiber assembly (16) can be easily inserted between the base contact area (234) and the member contact area (238B). Additionally, the base contact area (234), and the flexible member (238) can be made of a one-piece, substantially homogeneous, unitary structure. With this design, the fiber clamp (220) can be made with minimal stack-up of tolerances. Further, the careful manufacture of the fiber clamp (220) guarantees that the forces on all contact areas (234) (238B) between the fiber or ferrule and the fiber clamp (220) are essentially the same. Moreover, the value of the forces is defined by geometry choices and material selection.
US07689090B2 Cable sleeve for the structured storage and handling of optical waveguides guided in optical waveguide cables
A cable sleeve for the structured storage and handling of optical waveguides guided in optical waveguide cables is disclosed. The cable sleeve comprises a covering body defining an interior. A sealing body comprising two dimensionally stable end pieces and a compressible gel element arranged between the end pieces is adapted to be insert into an opening of the covering body and operable for feeding optical waveguide cables into the interior and/or for feeding optical waveguide cables out of the interior. Spring elements are integrated into the interior of a covering body. When the sealing body is inserted into the opening of the covering body and compressed, the spring elements bear against one of the dimensionally stable end pieces of the sealing body and exert a compression force onto the gel element.
US07689082B2 Optical fiber transmission line for wavelength division multiplexing signals
A wavelength division multiplexing optical fiber transmission line that reduces signal deterioration caused by dispersion even in a transmission system having a high-speed transmission rate, and is suited to a long-distance transmission. A dispersion management transmission line is connected between optical repeaters. The dispersion management transmission line has 3 to 6 pairs of fiber sections, of which each has a positive dispersion fiber and a negative dispersion fiber, connected in series. Dispersion compensation is made step by step over four (4) times for dispersion and a dispersive slope, which were accumulated by the front-stage positive dispersion fiber, by the next-stage negative dispersion fiber.
US07689078B2 Optical device
An optical device including (a) a substrate having an electro-optic effect; (b) a modulating optical waveguide formed on a surface layer portion of said substrate and forming an interference optical modulator for modulating input light; (c) an output optical waveguide formed on said surface layer portion of said substrate and connected to a downstream side portion of said modulating optical waveguide; and (d) a branching monitoring section for monitoring branched light of light propagated along said output optical waveguide and emitted from an outgoing end face of said substrate. The output waveguide has a reduced width region in which the waveguide width is reduced.
US07689075B2 Optical wavelength division multiplexer/demultiplexer device
An optical wavelength division multiplexer/demultiplexer device is described that comprises a substrate having a plurality of wavelength selecting filters. The filters are arranged to provide conversion between a combined beam comprising a plurality of wavelength channels and a plurality of separate beams each comprising a subset of said plurality of wavelength channels. Hollow core waveguides are formed in said substrate to guide light between the wavelength selecting filters. An add/drop multiplexer is also described.
US07689073B2 1×N wavelength selective switch
A device employing at least one wavelength sieve/combiner that operates on discrete wavelength units and is optically interposed between an array of fibers and an array of micro mirrors which may be configured to act as in a multiplexing mode, a demultiplexing mode, a broadcast mode, and combinations of such modes. Each wavelength sieve/combiner can split a wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) beam into various discrete wavelength unit beams, combine various discrete wavelength unit beams into a WDM beam, or cause multiple copies of part or all of the wavelengths to be supplied as outputs. Typically, each fiber is associated with one wavelength sieve/combiner. Preferably, the beams between a wavelength sieve/combiner and the micro mirror array should be converging to the plane of the micro mirror array.
US07689069B2 Semiconductor optical switch
A semiconductor optical switch may include an optical waveguide, a first electrode, and a first reflector. The optical waveguide may include a branching point, a first incoming path and first and second outgoing paths. The first electrode is provided at the branching point to give carrier injection into the branching point to allow that the branching point reflects an optical signal that is propagating through the first incoming path so that the reflected optical signal propagates through the second outgoing path. The first electrode may give no carrier injection into the branching point to allow that the branching point allows the optical signal to transmit through the branching point and propagate through the first outgoing path. The first reflector is provided on the first outgoing path. The first reflector reflects a leakage of light that has propagated from the branching point.
US07689068B1 One-way waveguides using gyrotropic photonic crystals
A waveguide structure is provided. The waveguide structure includes a photonic crystal structure comprising gyromagnetic materials arranged in a two-dimensional lattice formation that exhibits a plurality of one-way modes produced as a result of magneto-optic effects. One or more confining barriers are positioned around the photonic crystal structure so as to allow the one-way modes to propagate through the photonic crystal structure. One or more radiation sources are positioned in or around the photonic crystal structure so as to couple electromagnetic energy into and out of the waveguide. One or more static external magnetic field sources induce the magneto-optic effects such that the one-way modes are allowed to propagate in one direction in the photonic crystal structure.
US07689066B2 Optical Modulator
An optical modulator is provided for modulating light propagating in a three-dimensional optical waveguide 5 by applying a voltage thereto. The optical modulator has the three-dimensional optical waveguide 5 including at least one pair of branch optical waveguides 5c and 5d, a multiplexing part 5e of the branch optical waveguides and an emission part 5f provided in the downstream of the multiplexing part, modulation electrodes 3A, 3B and 4 for applying a signal voltage for modulating light propagating in the three-dimensional optical waveguide 5, and guiding waveguides 6A and 6B for guiding primary mode light from the multiplexing part. Thickness of the substrate is 20 μm or less at least under the modulation electrodes, and an operation point of the optical modulator is controlled by changing, based on light output from the guiding waveguides, DC bias applied onto the modulation electrodes.
US07689055B2 Method and apparatus for enhancing image acquired by radiographic system
A method of image information enhancement in radiography relates to image information processing techniques in radiography. The method comprising steps of: normalizing an acquired image A(x,y) to form a normalized image B(x,y); filtering the normalized image B(x,y) by a low-pass filter to obtain an filtered image C(x,y); calculating a relative standard deviation for each pixel in the image A(x,y), three times the relative standard deviation being an edge threshold for each pixel; thresholding a difference image obtained by subtracting the filtered image C(x,y) from the normalized image B(x,y) by using the edge threshold for each pixel to form a threshold-processed image D(x,y); enhancing a contrast of the threshold-processed image D(x,y) by using a non-linear function to form a contrast-enhanced image E(x,y); determining a enhancement coefficient a(x,y); obtaining a edge-enhanced image F(x,y) by multiplying the enhancement coefficient a(x,y), the contrast-enhanced image E(x,y) and the filtered image C(x,y); and generating a resulting image by multiplying a sum of the edge-enhanced image F(x,y) and the filtered image C(x,y) with the maximum value Amax As compared with the prior arts, the inventive method has a fast processing speed for image information enhancement and a simple algorithm, images clearly, eliminates noises in the images, and satisfies the requirements of relatively more enhancement to the contrast of the dark regions in the scanned images.
US07689054B1 Computationally enhanced image recognition device
A device is described in which a visual image can be enhanced to better recognize different objects that appear in a picture. Means are provided for an operator to manipulate a visual image by adjusting darkness levels within each primary color to embellish the recognition of distinct objects which may appear in the visual rendering. The device may be implemented as a ground-based system where the operator can adjust the algorithm to manipulate the darkness levels of a certain number, N, of pixels. A second implementation can be achieved in a helmet mounted display or glasses donned by an operator.
US07689053B2 Image processing method
An image processing method is described which makes it possible to obtain an image which has a high quality and resolution without leaving boundaries of adjacent blocks detectable even in the case where the image has already been subjected to a processing of resolution enhancement (enlargement) of the image using a set of fractal parameters. The image processing apparatus 100 includes: an image division unit 114 which divides an input image IN into range blocks using L (L is an integer of 2 or more) numbers of division patterns so that at least one of the boundaries of each region in a division pattern varies from the boundaries of each region in the other division patterns; a parameter calculation unit 103 which calculates a set of fractal parameters of each range block of the input image IN so as to obtain L numbers of fractal parameters; an image transformation unit 107 which generates L numbers of fractal transformed images using, one by one, the modified sets of fractal parameters obtained according to enlargement ratios; and an image synthesis unit 112 which synthesizes the L numbers of transformed images so as to generate a single synthesized image. The image transformation unit 107 and the image synthesis unit 112 repeat the transformation and synthesis using in sequence the respective sets of fractal parameters until this synthesized image satisfies the convergence condition.
US07689049B2 Matching pursuits coding of data
Briefly, in accordance with one embodiment, an approach to employing Matching Pursuits coding of data is described.
US07689044B2 Method and apparatus for representing a group of images
A method of representing a group of images comprises determining the values of one or more dominant colors for the group of images and deriving a dominant color representation expressing the group of images in terms of one or more of said dominant color values.
US07689041B2 Method and apparatus for representing and searching for an object in an image
A method representing an object appearing in still or video image for use in searching, wherein the object appears in the image with a first two-dimensional outline, by processing signals corresponding to the image, comprises deriving a view descriptor of the first outline of the object and deriving at least one additional view descriptor of the outline of the object in a different view, and associating the two or more view descriptors to form an object descriptor.
US07689039B2 Image processing equipment
A design for the high speed identification of a pedestrian at an image is provided, having an input feature vector generation unit 23b for generating, based on an image of an object, an input feature vector u that includes as elements the object's size, the object's upper portion shape, and the object's side portion shape; a kernel discriminant analysis operations unit 23c for generating a vector y mapped to the discriminant space, through performing operations for kernel discriminant analysis based on the input feature vector, and an object determination unit 23d for determining whether the object is a pedestrian or not, depending on whether or not this vector y is within a fixed area at the discriminant space.
US07689032B2 Scanning system for three-dimensional objects
A scanning system scans a surface of a three-dimensional object from a first position and a second position. Using common alignment at these positions, a first scanning sample and a second scanning sample are generated. The first and second scanning samples include point clouds having data points representing positions of the scanned surfaces. The first scanning sample and the second scanning sample are oriented relative to each other based on the common alignment of the scan positions.
US07689030B2 Methods and apparatus for testing a component
A method for inspecting a component having a surface profile that includes a local minima and a local maxima. The method includes generating a raw image of a component under test utilizing an eddy current inspection system, decomposing the raw image into a plurality of images wherein each image includes a different frequency component, and reconstructing at least one final image of the component that includes frequency components that are relevant to an eddy current flaw signal.
US07689028B2 Method and apparatus for evaluating processing apparatus status and predicting processing result
A method for predicting a processing result includes a process of performing a principal component analysis on a plurality of detected data obtained during a first standard processing, to construct a principal component analysis model; a process of obtaining residuals of the principal component analysis model as first residuals; a process of performing a second standard processing; and a process of obtaining a plurality of detected data from a plurality of detectors during the second standard processing. And, the detected data obtained during the second standard processing are applied to the principal component analysis model, to obtain second residuals. The method further includes a process of weighting the second residuals based on weighting references, and constructing a new multivariate analysis model with use of the weighted second residuals; and a process of predicting a processing result of the second standard processing with use of the multivariate analysis model.
US07689026B2 Method for testing image processing circuit, particle image analyzer, and storage medium
A particle image analyzer provided with an image processor for executing predetermined image processes on a particle image containing an image of a particle, a reading means for reading test result data from a flash memory card on which are previously recorded test result data equivalent to the processing result of the image processor during normal operation, and a testing means for determining whether or not the image processor is operating normally by comparing the processing result obtained when the test image is used in the image processor, and test result data read from the flash memory card by the reading means.
US07689018B2 Anomaly detection in volume data structure information
Failure part is detected using calculated structure information. In one embodiment, the failure part is detected by comparing path node positions, numbers of node positions, branch lengths, and branch positions. That is, it is detected that although nodes a2 and a3 exist in structure information N in phase N, corresponding nodes do not exist in the preceding phase N−1 or the subsequent phase N+1. Moreover, it is detected that a node a1 existing in the preceding phase N−1 and a node a5 existing in the subsequent phase N+1 do not exist in a corresponding part a4 in the structure information N in the phase N.
US07689014B2 Apparatus and method for measuring anatomical objects using coordinated fluoroscopy
Two fluoroscopic images taken from two different angles of the same anatomical feature are registered to a common three-dimensional coordinate system. A dimension of the anatomical feature is determined by specifying with reference to the two registered fluoroscopic images two constrained points within the three-dimensional coordinate system that correspond to the boundaries of the anatomical feature, and calculating a straight-line distance between the two. Additionally, a three-dimensional virtual model of an implant is projected into each of two, registered fluoroscopic image, and a surgeon manipulates the projections to adjust the size and shape of the virtual model, and thereby determine parameters for the implant.
US07689013B2 Identifying device by biometrics information
In an identifying device for performing personal identification using biometrics information such as an iris, face, blood vessel pattern, auricle, fingerprint, palm print, hand print or the like, in order to surely discriminate a living body from a non-living body and to surely preclude illegal use by impersonation using a forged fingerprint or the like, a biometrics information input section samples/inputs biometrics information for verification as image information from a living body portion relatively moving with respect to this biometrics information input section, and living-body detection surfaces in a living-body detecting means is arranged in contact with or in the proximity to the living body portion being moved with respect to the biometrics information input section so as to input the biometrics information for verification.
US07689008B2 System and method for detecting an eye
A system and method are provided for detecting one or both eyes of the driver of a vehicle. The system includes a video imaging camera oriented to generate images of the driver's face. The system also includes a video processor for processing the images generated with the video imaging camera. Filters are applied to each of potential eye candidates to determine which candidates represent an eye, weighted values are assigned to the filtered eye candidates, and an eye is detected based on the weighting of each eye candidate. According to one aspect, different size patches of potential eye candidates are processed and compared to models.
US07689003B2 Combined 2D and 3D nondestructive examination
An inspection apparatus (10) applying two dimensional nondestructive examination images onto a three dimensional solid model of a component (12) to display a virtual component (73) that may be manipulated to perform a nondestructive inspection. The two dimensional nondestructive examination images may be acquired from a plurality of views of the component in order to provide full coverage of the surface to be inspected, with appropriate stitching of images in regions of overlap between adjacent views. The two dimensional images (62) may be color or black and white photographs or ultraviolet or infrared images, for example. Multiple types of nondestructive examination images, results of inspection data evaluations, and design, operational and/or maintenance information may be displayed separately or jointly on the three dimensional solid model. Surface features of interest that are mapped as defined areas (76) on the three dimensional solid model may be displayed simultaneously in different views on 2D and 3D images of the virtual component.
US07689000B2 Image storage device and method
An image storage device according to an example of the invention comprising a first storage unit which stores first image, a second storage unit which stores second image to be determined whether the second image includes detection target data which is the similar to data included in the first image, parallel comparison units which perform a process of comparing pixel values between a frame of the first image and a frame of the second image, and determining, based on a comparison result between the frame of the first image and the frame of the second image, whether the detection target data is included in the second image in parallel, and a third storage unit which stores, when it is determined that the detection target data is included in the second image, the detection target data.
US07688999B2 Target detecting system and method
A target detecting system and method for detecting a target from an input image is provided. According to the target detecting system and method, when a target is detected from an input image and there are moving areas in the input image, camera movement parameters are obtained, image frames are transformed, and movement candidate areas are extracted from the image frame and the previous input image frame. In addition, image feature information is extracted from the input image, and based on the movement candidate areas and the image feature information a shape of the target is extracted. Therefore, the target can be exactly and rapidly extracted and tracked.
US07688997B2 Non-motion detection
An image sequence derived from area surveillance is considered as a collection of independent time series, each of which describes an image feature that summarizes a small neighborhood of the image. These time series are regarded as samples from some underlying distribution, and statistical techniques are used to identify the density function of this distribution. The background can then be identified as a feature of this distribution, moreover the distribution of features in subsequent image frames can be monitored to see if it deviates sufficiently from the current distributions to indicate a change in the background.
US07688991B2 Hearing assistance system and method of operating the same
There is provided a method of operating a hearing assistance system comprising a hearing device (10, 110, 210), which comprises means (24) for stimulating a user's hearing and which is worn at one of the user's ears, and a remote device (12, 30, 40) spaced apart from the hearing device. The method comprises: establishing a wireless link (26) between the hearing device and the remote device for transmitting signals from the remote device to the hearing device, and operating the system in a base mode; detecting whether a source (28) of radio frequency signals interfering with the wireless link and having a transmission power changing according to a predictable scheme between low power regimes and high power regimes is present in the vicinity of the hearing device; and operating the system in an interference mode as long as the presence of such source of periodic signals interfering with the wireless link is detected, in which interference mode the transmission of the signals from the remote device to the hearing device is synchronized to the detected power scheme of the interfering signals in such a manner that the signals are transmitted only during the low power regimes.
US07688984B2 Active noise control method and apparatus including feedforward and feedback controllers
An active noise control apparatus for reducing noise from a noise source includes a microphone for detecting noise produced by the noise source, and a generalized finite impulse response (FIR) filter for receiving noise signals of the detected noise from the microphone and generating control signals for reducing the noise from the noise source. A speaker produces sound based on the control signals from the generalized FIR filter for substantially canceling the noise from the noise source.
US07688981B2 Network partitioning using encryption
In an example embodiment, a system for providing a Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN) by use of encryption states or encryption keys for identifying a VLAN. A table of data including a VLAN and an associated encryption state or key is provided for assignment of encryption states or keys, for devices in a wireless local area network.
US07688980B2 Cryptographic-key generation and management
Methods and systems are provided of managing a cryptographic key. A first key component is received from a first key custodian. A second key component is received from a second key custodian. A key operation is performed on the first and second key components to generate the cryptographic key. A cryptographic-key number is assigned to the cryptographic key. A key form is printed specifying the cryptographic key. An association is recorded between the cryptographic-key number and an electromagnetic tag identifier coupled physically with the key form.
US07688977B2 Method for encrypting video data
A method for encrypting video data in which the encryption achieves a high standard of security and is carried out at a reduced computation cost. The encryption comprises disordering a set of video data to be encrypted and obscuring the disordered video data.
US07688976B2 Random wave envelope derived random numbers and their use in generating transient keys in communication security application part I
A random wave envelope is created from a set of bounded random numbers by additively combining a triangle, a square and a sine wave. The random wave envelope is then used to create a sequence of wave random numbers from the wave envelope, which are used to generate random-variant keys for encryption in place of the pre-placed encryption key. An ambiguity envelope is thus created over the transmission of data packets as random-variant-keys are used that are distinct and separate for each packet and may also be distinct and separate for each incoming and outgoing packet. The random-variant keys are only created at the time of the actual use for encrypting or decrypting a data packet and not before and then discarded after one time use. The random-variant keys may be used in wireless network using wireless access points, cellular phone and data networks and ad hoc mobile wireless networks.
US07688971B2 Network telephone expansion seat
A network telephone expansion seat including a housing and a signal conversion module is provided. The housing has a bearing portion for disposing a network telephone thereon. The signal conversion module disposed inside the housing has a circuit substrate. At least one connection interface for transmitting data is disposed on the circuit substrate for connecting the network telephone to transmit data. Meanwhile, the circuit substrate is connected to peripherals such as a printer, a facsimile machine, a card reader, and an MP3 player via the connection interface, thereby expanding the functions of the network telephone.
US07688970B2 Interconnect assembly for a clam style portable communication device
An interconnect assembly for a clam style portable communication device (100) provides for a hermetically sealed device that prevents water intrusion. A flex (106) electrically interconnects a flip compartment (102) to a main radio compartment (104). First and second seals (112, 114) coupled to the ends (108, 110) of the flex (106) provide independent sealing of the flip compartment (102) from the main radio compartment (104). Thus, the flex (106) provides both electrical interconnect and independent mechanical sealing of the two compartments (102, 104).
US07688966B2 User interface persistent context area
An improved user interface improves call center agent responsiveness by persistently (i.e., without interruption) displaying key information at fixed locations in an integrated user interface. The integrated user interface may be partitioned into physical areas on the agent's display screen. While some areas of the agent's display screen may rapidly change, at least one area in a reserved location may persistently display a collection of interaction-specific information that the call center agent can view at all times during a call/chat/email session. The user interface persistently displays each piece of key information at a reserved and unchanging physical location on the agent's screen.
US07688961B2 Efficient multiplex conferencing engine
A conference engine operates in a multiplex processing scheme and requires a signal hardware summer to process all of the programmed conferences, all of the outputs and all of the input channels. The conference engine is only limited by the number of available input channels, the number of desired conference registers, the speed of the implementation, and the amount of memory available on the target system. The conference engine allows the number of available conference channels, the number of conferences per bridge and the number of bridges to be scaled. Each bridge contains a unique set of conference registers and has full access to the input channel data. Additional conference bridges are added by increasing the operating clock/memory to meet the processing requirements of the additional bridge. Conference registers in each conference bridge can be added/removed depending on the system requirements and are independent of the number of input channels.
US07688955B2 Method of transmitting one text message to many receivers
A method of transmitting one text message to a plurality of receivers is disclosed. The method includes inputting numbers of the receivers and a text message to be transmitted, determining a type of a transmission speed of the inputted text message, and transmitting the inputted text message of the determined type to numbers of the respective receivers. If the text message transmission succeeds, the method further includes confirming whether any further receivers of the text message exist and, if so, inputting new numbers of the further receivers and re-transmitting the corresponding text message to the new numbers of the further receivers. In inputting the phone numbers of the receivers, the sender can transmit the text message more rapidly and conveniently using the phonebook function and one-touch dial function.
US07688954B2 System and method for identifying caller
A method of providing telecommunication service includes receiving caller identification information associated with a call to a communication device and determining whether the caller identification information corresponds to any of a plurality of stored identifiers, each stored identifier associated with audio data. The method further includes transmitting, in response to determining that the caller identification information corresponds to a stored identifier, audio data associated with the corresponding stored identifier to the communication device.
US07688951B1 Automated rules based proactive alarm analysis and response
Problems are proactively analyzed and responded to as they are detected in a virtual private network (VPN) access path rather than waiting for a user to manually report the problem. When a problem is automatically detected, such as a failure causing degraded performance, an alarm may be generated. The alarm proactively triggers rules-based analysis procedures and isolation testing to diagnose problem in a VPN access path. Based on the testing and analysis, a comprehensive trouble ticket may be generated that is customized with specific alarm information allowing for increased efficiency in problem isolation and saving significant time and resources in resolving the problem.
US07688944B2 System and method for time-of-flight imaging
A system and method for imaging a subject includes a clock that generates a clock signal and a radiation source that directs photons through the subject in response to the clock signal. A detector system is included that detects the photons and a memory module records a time of detection of the photons by the detector system with respect to the clock signal. The system includes a processor that calculates a time of flight (TOF) of the photons from the radiation source to the detector system and compares the TOF to a reference TOF to determine a delay in the TOF attributable to the photons passing trough the subject.
US07688942B2 Element analysis device
Described is an element analysis device, which can be used to obtain precise measurements even under unfavorable environmental conditions. For this, the device is provided with a transporting means with a measuring region (14) for transporting the substance (S) to be measured, an excitation source with an exit window located in a first case (22) and an X-ray fluorescence detector (30) that is directed toward the measuring region (14), as well as an entrance window (34) that is located in a second case (32). To minimize the air absorption and prevent dust and dirt from being deposited, a tube (40, 50) extends from the entrance window (34) and/or the exit window (24) in the direction of the measuring region, which tube is essentially tightly connected to the respective case (22, 32) and is open at the end facing the measuring region and is provided with a connection (44, 54) for feeding a flushing gas into the tube (FIG. 1).
US07688940B2 Mammography system and method employing offset compression paddles, automatic collimation, and retractable anti-scatter grid
A mammographic imaging system is optimized for use with a single fixed size flat panel digital image receptor. It accommodates compression devices (paddles) of varying sizes, and positions them properly in the field of view of the image receptor. When a compression paddle with size smaller than the field of view of the image receptor is used, the compression paddle can be shifted laterally in the direction parallel to the chest wall, so as to facilitate different views of different size breasts, and permit the image receptor to image as much of the desired tissue as possible. An automatic x-ray collimator restricts the x-ray illumination of the breast in accordance with compression paddle size and location in the field of view. An anti-scatter grid, mounted inside the image receptor enclosure, just below the top cover of the enclosure, can be retracted out of the field of view of the image receptor for use in magnification imaging.
US07688930B2 Using eFuses to store PLL configuration data
A mechanism for using electrical fuses (eFuses) to store phase-locked loop (PLL) configuration data are provided. With the mechanism, a portion of the eFuses present in the integrated circuit are reserved for the PLL configuration data. Upon power up, a power up controller and eFuse controller direct the sensing and serial transfer of the data in the portion of eFuses to the PLL under the reference clock. When the transfer is complete, the power up controller directs the PLL logic to load the configuration data and start. The mechanism of the present invention allows manufacturing to tailor the PLL configuration on a given device based on the characteristics of that device and its intended usage. Thus, the same PLL may be used in the same or different architectures to perform different operations based on the configuration data passed into the PLL from the eFuses.
US07688929B2 All-digital phase modulator/demodulator using multi-phase clocks and digital PLL
Multi-phase clocks are used to encode and decode signals that are phase-modulated. The input signal is phase-compared with a feedback clock. Phase differences increment or decrement an up/down counter. The count value from the up/down counter is applied to a phase rotator, which selects one clock phase from a bank of multi-phase clocks. The multi-phase clocks have the same frequency, but are offset in phase from each other. An output divider divides the selected multi-phase clock to generate a phase-modulated output. A feedback divider divides a fixed-phase clock from the multi-phase clocks to generate the feedback clock. An analog or a digital front-end may be used to convert analog inputs to digital signals to increment or decrement the counter, or to encode multiple digital bits as phase assignments. For a de-modulator, a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) or a digital decoder produces the final output from the count of the up/down counter.
US07688925B2 Bit-deskewing IO method and system
An IO method and system for bit-deskewing are described. Embodiment includes a computer system with multiple components that transfer data among them. In one embodiment, a system component receives a forward strobe signal and multiple data bit signals from a transmitting component. The receiving component includes a forward strobe clock recovery circuit configurable to align a forward strobe sampling clock so as to improve sampling accuracy. The receiving component further includes at least one data bit clock recovery circuit configurable to align a data bit sampling clock so as to improve sampling accuracy, and to receive a signal from the forward strobe clock recovery circuit that causes the data bit sampling clock to track the forward strobe sampling clock during system operation.
US07688923B2 Enhanced data rate receiver
A receiver having circuitry for generating first digitized samples from a received analog signal at a first sampling rate, e.g. an ADC. An interpolating filter is used to generate second digitized samples which are estimates of samples obtainable by sampling the received analog signal at a second sample rate lower than the first sampling rate, second digitized samples being output at the first sampling rate and including at least one unusable sample. A circuit is provided for generating a signal for controlling components of the receive path downstream of the interpolation filter to prevent processing of the unusable second digitized samples.
US07688921B2 Transmitting apparatus and transmitting method, receiving apparatus and receiving method, transceiver apparatus, communication apparatus and method, recording medium, and program
A transmitting apparatus, a transmitting method, a receiving apparatus, a receiving method, a transceiver, a communication apparatus and method, a recording medium, and a program in which high quality voice can be decoded. A cellular telephone outputs coded voice data and also supplies uncoded voice sample data to a switching center while a telephone call is not made. Based on voice data used for the previous calculation processing and newly input voice data, the switching center performs calculation processing for quality-improving data for improving the quality of voice to be output from a cellular telephone that receives the coded voice data. The switching center stores the optimal quality-improving data as a user information database in association with the cellular telephone. The cellular telephone decodes the coded voice data based on the optimal quality-improving data supplied from the switching center.
US07688920B2 AFC wrap-around detection
A wrap-around event in an automatic frequency control (AFC) in a receiver in a communication system can be detected by performing AFC-like operations on one or more additional channel estimates of the strongest communication path. Once a wrap-around event is detected, a correct frequency reference can be restored by forcing the AFC into a high-speed mode of operation, which gives the AFC a chance to restore the correct frequency reference, or by applying a momentary frequency reference change.
US07688916B2 Method and apparatus for initialization in digital broadcasting receiver
An apparatus for initializing a digital broadcasting receiver and method thereof are disclosed, by which the digital broadcasting receiver provided with virtual machine to process additionally provided services can be quickly initialized. The present invention includes generating a first task required for initializing the digital broadcasting receiver in order to perform an A/V broadcasting service, generating a second task required for initializing a virtual machine installed in the digital broadcasting receiver to perform a data broadcasting service, initializing the digital broadcasting receiver included in the digital broadcasting receiver by executing the first task and initializing the virtual machine by executing the second task after the digital broadcasting receiver is initialized.
US07688905B1 Noise plus interference power estimation method for OFDM systems
In accordance with the present invention, a method and apparatus for estimating the noise and interference over the transmission band for OFDM systems are provided. Noise variance and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) are important parameters for adaptive orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) systems since they serve as a standard measure of signal quality. Conventional algorithms assume that the noise statistics remain constant over the OFDM frequency band, and thereby average the instantaneous noise samples to get a single estimate. In reality, noise is often made up of white Gaussian noise along with correlated colored noise that affects the OFDM spectrum unevenly. Provided is an adaptive windowing technique to estimate the noise power that takes into account the variation of the noise statistics across the OFDM sub-carrier index as well as across OFDM symbols. The proposed method provides many local estimates, allowing tracking of the variation of the noise statistics in frequency and time. A mean-squared-error (MSE) expression in order to choose the optimal window dimensions for averaging in time and frequency is derived.
US07688902B1 Joint space-time block decoding and viterbi decoding
A space-time block decoder for a wireless communications system includes a demodulator that generates a demodulated symbol sequence by derotating a signal constellation of a received symbol sequence. A dimension demultiplexer communicates with the demodulator and generates in-phase and quadrature components of the demodulated symbol sequence. A branch metric computation module communicates with the dimension demultiplexer and generates branch metrics based on the in-phase and quadrature components. A Viterbi decoder communicates with the branch metric computation module and generates a user data sequence based on the branch metrics. The in-phase and quadrature components comprise Gray coded data that is bit-interleaved. The branch metric computation module implements bit-by-bit piecewise linear approximation to generate the branch metrics. A deinterleaver that communicates with the branch metric computation module generates deinterleaved metrics based on the branch metrics.
US07688901B2 Transmission method, transmission apparatus, and reception apparatus
A transmission method for transmitting modulation signals of a plurality of channels to the same frequency band from a plurality of antennas. At the time when a symbol used for demodulation is inserted in a channel, in another channel symbol, the same phase and quadrature signals in the in-phase-quadrature plane are made to be zero signals. Thus, a plurality of modulation signals are multiplexed and transmitted and the transmitted multiplexed modulation signals are demultiplexed and demodulated at a reception apparatus, thereby improving the data transmission rate.
US07688898B1 Adaptive channel bandwidth selection for MIMO wireless systems
A wireless communications device for a multiple input multiple output (MIMO) wireless communications system. The wireless communication device includes a radio frequency (RF) transceiver including at least two antennae. A medium access control (MAC) device to dynamically adjust a bandwidth of the wireless communications device by adjusting a number of channels associated with at least two antennae. The adjusting of the number of channels associated with at least two antennae is based at least on a transmission error rate or a correlation measurement.
US07688896B2 Method and apparatus for decoding compressed video image data
A method and an apparatus for decoding video image data including a plurality of frames are provided. Each of the frames includes a reserved portion and a non-reserved portion. The method comprises decoding only the non-reserved portion of one of the frames and displaying the decoded non-reserved portion of the frame and the reserved portion of a previously decoded frame. The apparatus comprises a decoding device to decode the non-reserved portion of one of the frames and a displaying device to display the reserved portion of a previously decoded frame and the decoded non-reserved portion of the frame.
US07688895B2 Method and/or circuit for binary arithmetic decoding decisions before termination
A method for decoding a bitstream is disclosed. The method generally comprises the steps of (A) generating a first signal and a second signal by parsing a common slice in the bitstream, (B) generating a third signal by entropy decoding the first signal, and (C) generating a video signal by combining the second signal and the third signal.
US07688894B2 Scan patterns for interlaced video content
Tools and techniques for applying scan patterns during encoding and decoding of interlaced video are described. For example, a video decoder scans transform coefficients from a one-dimensional array to a two-dimensional block according to a scan pattern. The block is 4×4, and the scan pattern biases the vertical direction by starting with the DC coefficient and three AC coefficients of the lowest horizontal frequency. Or, the block is 8×4, and the scan pattern biases the vertical direction by starting with the DC coefficient and three AC coefficients of the lowest horizontal frequency. Or, the block is 4×8, and the scan pattern biases the horizontal direction for the lowest frequency AC coefficients in the horizontal and vertical directions but biases the vertical direction for at least some other AC coefficients. A corresponding video encoder applies the scan patterns to scan transform coefficients from two-dimensional blocks to one-dimensional arrays.
US07688893B2 Video encoder and portable radio terminal device
A prediction mode determining unit of a video encoder comprises a primary evaluative value calculating unit which calculates each primary evaluative value of a plurality of primary evaluative values corresponding respectively to a plurality of 4×4 intra-prediction modes with different prediction directions, for each of a plurality of 4×4-pixel blocks, using the motion picture signal as a reference image signal, a secondary evaluative value calculating unit which calculates each of a plurality of secondary evaluative values corresponding respectively to the 4×4 intra-prediction modes, by applying to the primary evaluative value, weight summing which uses an evaluation coefficient corresponding to a position of each of the 4×4-pixel blocks, determining unit which determines a coding prediction mode for each macro-block, using the secondary evaluative values, and coding unit which codes the motion picture signal in accordance with the coding prediction mode.
US07688892B2 High efficiency encoder and video information recording/reproducing apparatus
In a high-efficiency encoder which performs motion-compensation prediction, an intra-field is set every n fields. The presence of a scene change is detected. When a scene change occurs, a reference picture of motion-compensation prediction is switched, or the field immediately after the scene change is set as an intra-field.
US07688891B2 Image data compression device, encoder, electronic apparatus, and method of compressing image data
An image data compression device comprises a quantizing section for quantizing image data with a quantization step changing in accordance with a quantization parameter, a FIFO buffer section for buffering the quantized data corresponding to a plurality of frames, an encoded data generating section for generating encoded data obtained by encoding the quantized data retrieved from the FIFO buffer section asynchronously with writing thereto, and a rate control section for controlling a data size of the encoded data by changing the quantization step. The rate control section finds a predicted data size of the encoded data of the precedent frame from the size of the quantized data of the precedent frame, and sets or releases an upper limit threshold of the quantization parameter based on the number of assignable bits assignable to a compressing process or the number of remaining frames. When setting the upper limit threshold of the quantization parameter, the quantization parameter is found so as to be equal to or less than the upper limit threshold of the quantization parameter using the predicted data size.
US07688886B2 Receiving method and receiving apparatus
The power consumption of a receiving apparatus is reduced. A first equalization unit receives the input of digital signals and then performs equalization processing on them so as to output first equalizer output signals. A first selector selects either the digital signals or the first equalizer output signals, and outputs the selected signals to an despread unit or a second equalization unit. The despread unit carries out an despread, and an PSK demodulation unit demodulates the despread signal by PSK. The second equalization unit performs equalization processing, and a CCK demodulation unit performs CCK demodulation. A second selector operates in response to the second selector. A modulation scheme determining unit extracts information on a modulation scheme in use, from the signal demodulated by the PSK demodulation unit so as to decide on the modulation scheme. Based on the modulation scheme determined, a decision unit specifies the selection of signals at the first selector and the second selector.
US07688883B1 Received signal correlation using a correlation scaling factor
The present invention is a method and apparatus for generating a scaled correlation that is based on an estimate of the arrival time of a synchronization point in a received RF signal relative to a sampling clock, which is used to sample the received RF signal after down conversion. The scaled correlation may be used to validate the estimate of the arrival time of the synchronization point and, in certain embodiments of the present invention, may be used to update the estimate of the arrival times for subsequent synchronization points. Using the scaled correlation may provide arrival time estimates with a finer resolution and accuracy than the period of the sampling clock. Such arrival time estimates are important for timing-based applications, such as GPS receivers or navigation receivers.
US07688876B2 Self-forming microlenses for VCSEL arrays
A Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Laser (VCSEL) assembly including a VCSEL structure having a light-emitting region located on its surface, a relatively wettable region of a surface modifier coating formed over the light emitting region, and a microlens formed on the relatively wettable region. A relatively non-wettable region of the surface modifier coating is formed around the light-emitting region (e.g., on the electrode surrounding the light-emitting region). The surface modifier coating is formed, for example, from one or more organothiols that change the surface energies of the light-emitting region and/or the electrode to facilitate self-assembly and self-registration of the microlens material. The microlens material is printed, microjetted, or dip coated onto the VCSEL structure such that the microlens material wets to the relatively wettable region, thereby forming a liquid bead that is reliably positioned over the light-emitting region. The liquid bead is then cured to form the microlens.
US07688875B2 Vertical cavity surface emitting laser array and method for manufacturing, and image forming apparatus using vertical cavity surface emitting laser array
A vertical cavity surface emitting laser array is disclosed which allows wires for individually driving devices arrayed at a small pitch to be provided on the laser array with ease and with a high degree of freedom is provided. The vertical cavity surface emitting laser array includes a first substrate including a plurality of vertical cavity surface emitting laser devices each having an active layer disposed between reflection mirrors constituting a resonator, and a second substrate including wires for providing electrical contact with the surface emitting laser devices and having a configuration which permits transmission of light emitted from the surface emitting laser devices. In the vertical cavity surface emitting laser array, the second substrate is bonded to the first substrate on the laser emitting side of the first substrate.
US07688866B2 Communication system and communication method
In the communication system which performs the data communication by the discrete multi-tone modem scheme between a plurality of data communication units using the time-division half-duplex communication function, the ratio between the data transmission time suitable for data communication and the quasi-data transmission time dynamically changes within one period. Further, bits are assigned in such a manner that the data of one period can be transmitted during the data transmission time of that period. Dummy bits are assigned to the portions of the data transmission time to which the data to be transmitted has not been assigned.
US07688865B2 Method and system for clock skew and offset estimation
Disclosed are a method and system for estimating the skew and offset between two clocks in a computer system. The method comprises the steps of obtaining a first set of data values representing a forward delay between the first and second clocks, and obtaining a second set of data values representing a negative backward delay between the first and second clocks. The method comprises the further steps of forming a lower convex hull for said first set of data values, and forming an upper convex hull, above the lower convex hull, for said second set of data values. The clock offset and the skew between said first and second clocks are estimated using those convex hulls. In a preferred embodiment, this estimation is made by identifying a best clock line between the first and second convex hulls.
US07688861B2 Media channel switching
The present invention discloses methods and systems for switching between media channels. Pursuant to these methods and systems, a broadcast source may provide multicast streams to client devices for presentation of media channels to a user. When a client device requests to switch channels, a client device that is receiving the requested channel initially transmits a unicast stream for the requested channel to the client device switching channels. The requesting client device upon receipt of this unicast stream may then provide the corresponding channel to the user.
US07688857B2 Data transmission method using packet aggregation
In the data transmission method, a MAC layer receives data from an upper layer, classifies the data according to destination addresses and traffic identifiers, aggregates the data by destination address and traffic identifier as a first transmission unit, aggregates the first transmission units having the identical destination address as a second transmission unit, and transmits the second transmission units having different destination addresses in a single frame. The data transmission method allows packets transferred from the upper layer to be hierarchically aggregated by DAs and TIDs and then packaged into a data unit for each destination such that it is possible to transmit the data at an optimal data rate for each destination terminal.
US07688856B2 Data transmission method using packet aggregation
In the data transmission method, a MAC layer receives data from an upper layer, classifies the data according to destination addresses and traffic identifiers, aggregates the data by destination address and traffic identifier as a first transmission unit, aggregates the first transmission units having the identical destination address as a second transmission unit, and transmits the second transmission units having different destination addresses in a single frame. The data transmission method allows packets transferred from the upper layer to be hierarchically aggregated by DAs and TIDs and then packaged into a data unit for each destination such that it is possible to transmit the data at an optimal data rate for each destination terminal.
US07688854B2 Generalized spare extension field usage in frame protocol data frame
A protocol (and corresponding equipment) for use in communicating between a sending node (11) and a receiving node (12) a frame (10) including a Spare Extension (SE) section conveying values for one or more information element (IE) fields, and also including a New IE Flags IE or other device for indicating to the receiving node (12) whether the SE section includes valid data for each IE in the SE section. A flag indicating whether valid data is provided in the SE section can be used, and also an IE indicating the length of the SE section. The protocol is such that the receiving node (12) treats an IE field value occurring in the SE section as spare bits if the IE field was introduced for a version of a later release of a specification than that according to which the receiving node (12) was implemented.
US07688852B2 Auto-compression for media over IP
The present invention allows communicating devices to control the amount of compression used in packet sessions for transmitting streaming media to and from each other. When a communicating device detects a decrease in performance or quality of service indicative of a limited bandwidth condition, the amount of compression for the current or subsequent sessions is temporarily increased to allow the currently available bandwidth to support the session or subsequent sessions. After a set period of time, or when the limited bandwidth condition is removed, communications associated with the sessions can revert back to transporting uncompressed data or reducing the amount of compression for the sessions, thus using more of the available bandwidth.
US07688847B2 Expected channel occupancy time as a wireless link metric
Expected channel occupancy time is a wireless link metric determined based on a transmission protocol to be used for transmitting data in a wireless network. The wireless link metric may be used for routing or other network management functions. For determining the wireless link metric, an overhead is determined for one or more of accessing and releasing a channel to transmit a burst, including at least one frame, in the wireless network using the transmission protocol. An expected burst transmission time is calculated based at least on the overhead. The expected channel occupancy time is determined from the expected burst transmission time and an estimation of a number of frames to be successfully delivered during the burst.
US07688843B2 Operations method in an ethernet passive optical network that includes a network unit with multiple entities
A method for registration of multiple entities belonging to a specific optical networks unit (ONU). In one embodiment, the multiple entity registration method comprises checking by an optical line terminal (OLT) if a registration request message received from the specific ONU belongs to a certain grant, and based on the check result, registering an entity as either a first or as an additional entity of the specific ONU. In another embodiment, the method comprises checking by an OLT of a reserved value of a flags field inside a registration request message, and based on the check result, registering an entity as either a first or as an additional entity of the specific ONU. The knowledge by an OLT that multiple entities belong to a specific ONU is used for grant optimization and packet data flow optimization.
US07688839B2 Data link/physical layer packet buffering and flushing
A buffering structure including at least a first FIFO storage structure to stage at least a selected one of undiverted egress packets and undiverted ingress packets is provided. The buffering structure further includes at least first associated packet drop logic to selectively effectuate head or tail flushes of the first FIFO storage structure. In various embodiments, one or more additional FIFO storage structures are also provided to stage one or more diverted and/or insertion of egress/ingress packets. Those use for staging diverted egress/ingress packets are likewise provided with associated packet drop logic to perform tail flushes of these additional FIFO structures. In one application, the buffering structure is employed by a multi-protocol network processor, which in turn is employed by an optical networking module.
US07688834B2 System and method for providing support for multiple control channels
A method for providing support for multiple control channels includes establishing an indirect data connection with a first network entity in an optical network. The method also includes establishing a first control channel with the first network entity. The first control channel has at least one unique source IP address. The method additionally includes transmitting a first control message to the first network entity via the first control channel. The first control message comprises a first unique source IP address.
US07688832B2 MPLS cookie label
A method and system for preventing misforwarding of packets from an MPLS network to a virtual private network are disclosed. The method includes receiving a packet at an ingress edge node of the MPLS network, associating a cookie with a label bound to a route by an egress edge node of the MPLS network, and inserting the cookie on an MPLS label stack at the ingress edge node. The packet is transmitted over the MPLS network to an egress edge node. The cookie allows the egress edge node to detect if the transmitted packet is misforwarded by comparing the cookie in the label stack of the transmitted packet with a stored cookie label at the egress edge node.
US07688831B2 Wireless communication system for allocating transmission period
A system 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.
US07688830B2 Method and apparatus of fully distributed packet scheduling for a wireless network
Disclosed is a method and apparatus for fully-distributed packet scheduling in a wireless network. The decoding algorithm with low-density parity-check code is applied in a transmission wireless network to achieve the fully-distributed packet scheduling. In the packet scheduling, only one wireless network node is needed to exchange information and communicate with its neighboring network nodes. Therefore, it is not necessary to estimate the signal to noise ratio, while being eye to eye among the neighboring network nodes. If the network load exceeds the network capacity, the present invention automatically eliminates the most difficult user to reduce the overall network load and diverts the resources to the surviving users.
US07688827B2 Communication apparatus, communication method, program, and storage medium
A wireless communication method in a wireless communication apparatus, which can exchange data with another wireless communication apparatus via a wireless communication, searches for another wireless communication apparatus, and determines a function of the other wireless communication apparatus. The method selects a communication route required to wirelessly communicate with the other wireless communication apparatus in accordance with the function of the other wireless communication apparatus, and communicates data to the other wireless communication apparatus in accordance with the selected communication route.
US07688825B2 Filtering frames at an input port of a switch
A switch includes multiple ports for transmitting and receiving frames and a switching core for switching frames between the ports. One or more of the ports locally store filtering information, allowing the ports to filter frames without accessing central elements of the switch. For example, a port's filtering information may indicate drop conditions, and upon receiving a frame that corresponds to a drop condition in the filtering information, the port can locally drop the frame without impacting other elements of the switch.
US07688821B2 Method and apparatus for distributing data packets by using multi-network address translation
A data packets distributor for transferring a data packet from a source address to a destination address is provided. The data packet distributor has a plurality of predefined addresses and a data packet distributing unit. Each of the plurality of addresses indicates a network processing unit coupled to the data packet distributing unit. The data packet distributing unit is capable of forwarding a data packet to at least one of the plurality of predefined addresses for processing by using a first Network Address Translation (NAT) operation and further capable of forwarding the data packet to the destination address by using a second Network Address Translation (NAT) operation.
US07688820B2 Classification for media stream packets in a media gateway
A method in Field Programmable Gate Array for processing packets received at a media gateway is provided. The method includes ascertaining whether a received packet is a UDP (User Datagram Protocol) packet. The method also includes comparing first portion of UDP destination port number from UDP packet header with first portion with UDP port base that has been set up in media gateway. If a match exist, employing second portion of UDP destination port number as a key to UDP port table to ascertain whether packets associated with media stream ID are to be discarded, and discarding received packet if packet associated with media stream ID is to be discarded. If not, obtaining media processing CPU ID associated with media stream ID, formulating destination MAC address, and updating packet with destination MAC address, thereby enabling packet to be switched to media processing CPU associated with media processing CPU ID.
US07688819B2 Faster routing protocol convergence using efficient message markup
Devices executing routing protocols can mark routing protocol messages as urgent so that peer devices are signaled to consume the messages on an expedited basis. Performance of routing protocols improves as a result; for example, Border Gateway Protocol convergence time is reduced. An example router comprises a network interface, a processor, a transport layer protocol module that implements a transport layer network protocol, a routing protocol module that implements a network packet routing protocol and sends peering session messages over transport layer connections, and instructions to perform providing a first routing protocol message to the transport layer protocol module that comprises urgent data at least in part; requesting the transport layer protocol module to mark, as urgent, one or more data segments that carry the first routing protocol message; marking, as urgent, one or more segments that carry the first routing protocol message; and sending the segments to peer devices over the connections.
US07688818B2 Apparatus and method for traffic filtering in a communication system
A method includes receiving traffic through a first interface in a first group of interfaces at a switch. The first group of interfaces is associated with a first virtual network. The method also includes determining that the traffic is destined for a destination associated with a second virtual network and forwarding the traffic to a second interface in a second group of interfaces at the switch. The second group of interfaces is associated with the second virtual network. The method further includes filtering the traffic that is received at the second interface in the second group of interfaces and communicating the filtered traffic towards the destination. The first and second virtual networks could represent Virtual Local Area Networks associated with different network levels of a process control system.
US07688817B2 Real time transport protocol (RTP) processing component
A communication method can include the step of establishing a communication session between two endpoints based upon the real-time transport protocol (RTP). During the communication session, discrete packets containing digitally encoded audio can be exchanged between the two endpoints resulting in a continuous audio flow being established in real-time between the two endpoints. During the communication session, one or more of the two endpoints can convey RTP data to a remotely located RTP audio processor. The RTP data can include information necessary for the RTP audio processor to establish an audio stream with the one of the two endpoints that did not convey the RTP data to the RTP audio processor. The RTP audio processor can establish the audio stream without terminating the communication session between the two endpoints.
US07688816B2 Maintaining packet sequence using cell flow control
Packets out-of-sequence problem can be solved by using a window flow control scheme that can dispatch traffic at the cell level, in a round robin fashion, as evenly as possible. Each VOQ at the input port has a sequence head pointer that is used to assign sequence numbers (SN) to the cells. Also a sequence tail pointer is available at each VOQ that is used to acknowledge and limit the amount of cells that can be sent to the output ports based on the window size of the scheme. Each VIQ at the output port has a sequence pointer or sequence number (SN) pointer that indicates to the VIQ which cell to wait for. Once the VIQ receives the cell that the SN pointer indicated, the output port sends an ACK packet back to the input port. By using sequence numbers and the relevant pointers, the packet out-of-sequence problem is solved.
US07688813B2 Monitoring control system and method
Disclosed is a monitoring control system and method that can minimize network delay between a local side PC and a phone side PC when monitoring a mobile communication device in real time. By consecutively sending a plurality of monitoring requests for monitoring the mobile communication device via the Internet, monitoring the mobile communication device and consecutively receiving a plurality of monitoring results corresponding to the plurality of monitoring requests via the Internet, real time monitoring of the mobile communication device is facilitated with minimized delay.
US07688812B1 Ethernet automatic media selection logic with preferred medium selector
A physical layer device comprises an interface that communicates with a media access control (MAC) device. A first circuit attempts to establish a first link using a first transceiver over a first medium. A second circuit attempts to establish a second link using a second transceiver over a second medium that is different than the first medium. A media selector communicates with the interface and the first and second circuits and that enables data flow from the first medium to the MAC device using the interface when the first link is established first. A preferred medium selector communicates with the media selector and is configurable in one of a plurality of medium preference states.
US07688807B2 Method and apparatus for creating and distributing COST telephony-switching functionality within an IP network
A system for providing and managing IP telephone calls establishes separate and distinct call legs between IP-capable appliances and routers and between routers, and creates calls, changes calls, and manages telephony functions by joining and disjoining calls legs. In some instances one or more call legs disjoined from an active call are maintained as established to be joined later to other call legs to create other active calls. By managing IP calls as separate and distinct legs functions of intelligent, connection-oriented telephony networks may be simulated in IP telephony systems. The management is provided by software running on processors coupled to routers in the IP network.
US07688802B2 System and method for time synchronization in a wireless network
A system includes multiple wireless nodes forming a cluster in a wireless network, where each wireless node is configured to communicate and exchange data wirelessly based on a clock. One of the wireless nodes is configured to operate as a cluster master. Each of the other wireless nodes is configured to (i) receive time synchronization information from a parent node, (ii) adjust its clock based on the received time synchronization information, and (iii) broadcast time synchronization information based on the time synchronization information received by that wireless node. The time synchronization information received by each of the other wireless nodes is based on time synchronization information provided by the cluster master so that the other wireless nodes substantially synchronize their clocks with the clock of the cluster master.
US07688801B2 Routing information packets in a distributed network
Information packets are routed through a distributed routing network by determining a forwarding equivalency class (FEC) for each subscriber unit accessing the network. The FEC to which each subscriber unit belongs is based on the point at which the subscriber unit accesses the network. The forwarding equivalency class for each subscriber unit is updated if the subscriber unit accesses the network at a different point. Information packets are routed from a distribution point by determining the next point connected to the distribution point based on the forwarding equivalency class for the destination subscriber unit specified in the packet.
US07688800B2 Digital broadcast receiver and directed channel change method thereof
An apparatus and method for changing a channel according to direct channel change information transmitted from a broadcasting station. The apparatus includes a broadcast receiver, a tuner and a controller for checking parsed DCC information. The broadcast receiver receives a broadcast signal. The tuner tunes channels and stores the tuned channels in memory. The controller parses DCC information received in the broadcast signal and checks for a target channel included in the DCC information. The controller then changes a channel by selecting one among plural virtual channels according to a predetermined priority when several virtual channels correspond to the target channel.
US07688798B2 Data transmission method
The invention relates to a method for transmitting data between a transmitter and a receiver via a wireless data channel of a communication network (CN). The transmitter transmits data to the receiver, where the transmission includes at least one transmission parameter which is selected based on a first channel quality that is known to the transmitter. The receiver receives the data, and the receiver determines the first channel quality known to the transmitter from said data via the at least one used transmission parameter as well as a second, current channel quality via the quality of the received data; and the receiver compares the first channel quality with the second channel quality.
US07688796B2 Wireless communication method and apparatus for decoding enhanced dedicated channel absolute grant channel transmissions
A wireless communication method and apparatus for decoding enhanced dedicated channel (E-DCH) absolute grant channel (E-AGCH) transmissions are disclosed. A wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) receives E-AGCH data which includes a cyclic redundancy check (CRC) part and a data part. The CRC part is masked with a WTRU identity (ID) at a Node-B. The CRC part and the data part are demultiplexed and the CRC part is demasked with the WTRU ID. A CRC is then performed with the demasked CRC part. If the CRC passes the data part is sent to an enhanced uplink medium access control (MAC-e) entity. The WTRU ID may be a primary E-DCH radio network temporary identity (E-RNTI) or a secondary E-RNTI. When the E-AGCH data is transmitted over a 10 ms frame, if the CRC fails, E-AGCH data via subsequent subframe may be soft combined with the previous E-AGCH data.
US07688795B2 Coordinated reboot mechanism reducing service disruption in network environments
In one embodiment, a method includes identifying a plurality of network elements for reinitiation, wherein the network elements are operative to manage at least one child element; selecting a first network element from the plurality of network elements, transmitting a disable message to the first network element; determining whether the at least one child element has migrated to one or more alternate network elements; and conditionally transmitting a reinitiation message to the first network element.
US07688793B2 Wireless sensor node group affiliation method and apparatus
A wireless sensor node can obtain (102) a wireless sensor node group affiliation pursuant to an affiliation formation process and then subsequently transmit (103) information regarding that wireless sensor node group affiliation. By one approach this affiliation formation process can comprise, at least in part, using wireless sensor node group affiliation information as corresponds to other wireless sensor nodes. Such wireless sensor node group affiliation information as corresponds to other wireless sensor nodes might be received, for example, directly from that other wireless sensor node and/or via an intermediary wireless sensor node that acts to forward such information from the other wireless sensor node.
US07688791B2 Communications apparatus, image sensing apparatus and control method therefor
A communications apparatus includes a network connection unit and a control unit. The control unit controls the communications apparatus to transmit a first message and then transmit a second message, if the communications apparatus is participating in a network via the network connection unit. The first message is used to notify an external device that the communications apparatus is separated from the network, and the second message is used to notify the external device that the communications apparatus is participating in the network.
US07688790B1 Method and apparatus for interconnecting a private cellular network to a public cellular network
A communications system extends over a cellular region formed of a plurality of wireless cells where each cell covers a portion of the cellular region. Each cell has a station which is responsible for communication with the cellular subscriber. In order to for the call to be properly managed in the public cellular domain, responsibility for call handling and processing must first be managed by the public MSC. Call handling with the public MSC for a private cellular subscriber first requires the exchange of information between the two systems. This is facilitated through the exchange of MAP and A interface signaling between the private and public cellular systems. Since this information on the private network is normally transmitted via IP, this information must be converted to standard SS7 based MAP and A protocol signaling in order for the public MSC to process.
US07688781B2 System for a generalized packet header suppression mechanism using a wireless communications medium
A system for reducing the bandwidth required to wirelessly transmit a packet via a wireless network is provided. In an embodiment, the system includes a transmitting node configured to generate a packet to be transmitted via the wireless network, to select a suppression rule from a table of suppression rules based on the type of the packet to be transmitted, to apply the suppression rule to the packet to generate a suppressed packet, wherein the transmitter node applies the suppression rule by suppressing at least a portion of the header of the packet and by adding a descriptor associated with the header suppression rule to the packet, and to transmit the suppressed packet via the wireless network. The system also includes a receiving node configured to receive the suppressed packet from the transmitting node via the wireless network, to select an expansion rule from a table of expansion rules based on the descriptor included with the suppressed packet, and to apply an expansion rule to the packet to generate an expanded packet.
US07688779B2 Handling the use of multiple 802.11n channels in a location where there are a small number of available channels
A method, computer program product and system for handling the use of multiple 802.11n channels in a location where there are a small number of available channels. An access point (“access point A”) having a client (“client A”) located solely within its coverage area and another client (“client B”) located within its coverage area and a coverage area of an adjacent access point (“access point B”) may receive a request to hold back 802.11n traffic from client B. Client B sends such a request since it is prevented from communicating with access point B using the 802.11n standard due to the interference from access point A communicating with client A using the 802.11n standard. As a result, access point A switches its standard of operation from using the 802.11n standard to communicate with client A to a standard that uses a bandwidth of 22 MHz (e.g., 802.11b, 802.11a, 802.11g standards).
US07688777B2 Combined adaptive spatio-temporal processing and multi-user detection for CDMA wireless systems
Methods and systems in a wireless receiver for enabling the reception of input signals at varied power levels in the presence of co-channel interference utilizing combinations of space-time adaptive processing (STAP), interference cancellation multi-user detection (MUD), and combined STAP/MUD techniques. In MUD, code, timing, and possibly channel information of multiple users are jointly used to better detect each individual user. The novel combination of adaptive signal reconstruction techniques with interference cancellation MUD techniques provides accurate temporal cancellation of interference with minimal interference residuals. Additional methods and systems extend adaptive signal reconstruction techniques to take Doppler spread into account. STAP techniques permit a wireless receiver to exploit multiple antenna elements to form beams in the direction of the desired signal and nulls in the direction of the interfering signals. The combined STAP-MUD methods and systems increase the probability of successful user detection by taking advantage of the benefits of each reception method. An additional method and system utilizes STAP techniques in the case where no pilot signal is available. This method compares the outputs of various hypothesized STAP solutions.
US07688776B2 Time-division multiplex arbitration with fractional allocation
Disclosed embodiments reveal techniques for efficiently allocating time slots in a time-division multiplex (TDM) cycle among multiple channels of varying size, particularly when the channels do not all desire an integer number of time slots. TDM cycles can only allocate an integer number of time slots to each channel. So when at least one channel does not desire an integer number of time slots, then the disclosed embodiments allocate a number of time slots equal to the integer portion to each channel, rolling any fractional remainder over to the next cycle. This cumulative cyclical fractional summing process efficiently allocates time slots among the channels, allowing the average allocation per cycle to approach the true non-integer desired amount over time.
US07688774B2 Interference cancellation in radio system receiver
An arrangement for cancelling interference from a received signal, comprising: a first radio system and a second radio system employing a time slot structure in data transmission and operating on at least partly the same geographical area as the first radio system. A receiver of the first radio system is configured to control the cancellation of interference from the received signal on the basis of the timing employed in the time slot structure of the second radio system.
US07688768B2 Apparatus for allocating transmission period in a wireless communication system
An apparatus is provided for efficiently allocating a transmission period in a wireless network system. An access point (AP) transmits a PSMP frame indicating a downlink period provided to each station (STA) and a minimum amount of an uplink period allocated to each STA, and at least one sub PSMP frame indicating an uplink period additionally provided for an STA that transmitted a resource request message for remaining queued data in the uplink period indicated by the PSMP frame. If the uplink period indicated by the PSMP frame is insufficient to transmit the queued data, the STA transmits a data unit including a part of the queued data and a resource request message for the remaining queued data in the uplink period. After transmitting the resource request message, the STA receives the sub PSMP frame after the full period indicated by the sub PSMP frame, and transmits the remaining queued data to the AP in the uplink period indicted by the sub PSMP frame.
US07688767B2 Apparatus for allocating transmission period in a wireless communication system
An apparatus and 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.
US07688765B2 TDD switch of TDD wireless communication system
A Time Division Duplex (TDD) wireless communication system includes a switch connected to an output port of a transmitter, a first transmission line for transmitting a transmission signal and for isolating a transmission path according to a mode, a first transmission line stub connected between the isolator and the first transmission line for reflecting a transmission signal transmitted from the isolator, a second transmission line connected between an output port of the first transmission line and an input port of a receiver for isolating a reception path in the transmission mode and for providing a reception signal received from the antenna feed line to the receiver, and a second transmission line stub connected in a stub form between the second transmission line and the input port of the receiver, for controlling the second transmission line to isolate the reception path.
US07688763B2 Method for establishing a communication connection in a direct communication network
In order to establish a communication connection between two subscribers in a direct communication network, signaling information containing subscriber address information is exchanged between subscribers participating in the communication connection. The communication connection is directly established between the subscribers participating in the communication connection on the basis of the subscriber address information. According to the invention, the following steps are carried out: first, subscriber address information of at least one target subscriber required for establishing a paired communication connection between the subscribers is stored in a first subscriber; the stored subscriber address information of the target subscriber is then transmitted to a calling subscriber by the first subscriber; and the calling subscriber uses said subscriber address information in order to establish the communication connection between the calling subscriber and the target subscriber.
US07688762B2 Mesh backhaul network planning
In an example embodiment, a number of contending nodes and colliding nodes for a plurality of links of a network is determined. The capacity of each of the plurality of links is determined. A sum of the traffic demand of each of the plurality of links divided the throughput of each of the plurality of links is used to form a cost function for the network. One, or more, of a group consisting of a plurality of frequency assignments, a plurality of transmit powers, and a plurality of clear channel assessment (CCA) values is searched to obtain a global minimum for the cost function. The frequency assignments, transmit powers, and/or CCA values providing the global minimum for the cost function are selected.
US07688758B2 Node merging process for network topology representation
Node merging methods and apparatus are disclosed for generating simplified representations of network topology. A first topology representative of a given network is determined, and at least one pair of nodes of the first topology is merged into a single node based on measures associated with respective edges connecting the nodes of the node pair to at least one neighbor node common to that pair. The merging step is repeated for one or more additional pairs of nodes to produce a reduced network topology meeting one or more desired criteria, and a visualization or other representation of the reduced network topology is generated.
US07688756B2 Provider link state bridging
Provider Link State Bridging (PLSB) expands static configuration of Ethernet MAC forwarding tables by the control plane and utilizes direct manipulation of Ethernet forwarding by a link state routing system. At least one media-access-control (MAC) address for unicast forwarding to the bridge and at least one MAC address for multicast forwarding from the bridge are assigned. Bridges exchange state information by a link state bridging protocol so that a synchronized configured view of the network is shared between nodes. Each node can calculate shortest path connective between peer bridging nodes and populated the appropriate forwarding tables. A reverse path forwarding check is performed on incoming packets to provide loop suppression. During times of network instability the loop suppression can be disabled for unicast packets as identified by the destination MAC address to buffer packets and minimize the impact on traffic flow.
US07688755B2 Method and apparatus for group leader selection in wireless multicast service
In a telecommunication system comprising a multicast group (110) and a base station (200), a signal performance value (304) is received from at least two members of the multicast group (110) to generate a set of signal performance values (306). A group leader (310) of the multicast group (110) is selected as a function of the set of signal performance values (306) to acknowledge multicast transmissions from the base station (200) to the multicast group (110).
US07688749B1 Network interface with autonegotiation and cable length measurement
A physical layer device includes a transceiver module that communicates with a medium. An autonegotiation module autonegotiates one of N link capabilities with a link partner that advertises one of the link capabilities, where N is an integer greater than or equal to two. The autonegotiation module selects the advertised link capability of the link partner.
US07688748B2 Methods and apparatus for ranking a node in a network having a plurality of interconnecting nodes
PageRank (PR) is used by web search engine Google in ranking individual web pages. However, it is known that this value is also easily manipulated by methods known as spoofing. Further, the calculation of PR will require iterative cycles of computations to achieve a “steady” value. This would mean that huge computation resources are required to obtain reasonably reliable PR values for various web pages. This invention provides relatively accurate and simple methods for ranking the importance of a node in a network. The web graph or the network is first represented by an incidence matrix or a representation matrix W. The matrix W is then self-multiplied to obtain flow matrix. The flow capacity, or the rank of each node, is then obtained from the flow matrix.
US07688743B2 Tracing routing differences
A routing validation method and system identifies routers that are likely to be the cause of differences in forwarding tables associated with two versions of a network. Each destination sub-network prefix is processed to identify all the routers that exhibit differences in their forwarding table for this prefix. Each router exhibiting a difference is assessed to determine whether the difference may have been propagated to this router from another router. If the difference could not have been propagated from another router, this router is identified as a potential source of the observed difference. By eliminating routers that could have received the effects of the differences from another router, the task of identifying the root cause of the observed differences is substantially reduced in complexity.
US07688741B2 Analysis of network performance
A method for testing of a communication network, using a plurality of traffic agents coupled to communicate via the network. The method includes transmitting a sequence of data packets via the network from a first one of the traffic agents to a second one of the traffic agents and recording arrival characteristics of the packets in the sequence, responsive to receiving the packets at the second traffic agent. The arrival characteristics of different packets in the sequence are compared so as to determine a measure of variability in transmission of the packets via the network.
US07688740B1 System and method for identifying cost metrics for a network
A system and method identifies the costs to be assigned to each link in a network that can more evenly balance the utilization of links in the network.
US07688739B2 Method and apparatus for maximizing data transmission capacity of a mesh network
A mesh network routing protocol for optimizing network data transmission capacity using a cost analysis based upon a links proximity to the gateway or other bandwidth constrained node. Specifically, the protocol computes a plurality of routing costs associated with each data path, compares the routing costs, and then selects the data path associated with the lowest routing cost for the transmission of data. Each link in each of the paths is weighted in view of its proximity to an ingress/egress point to the mesh network or other bandwidth constrained node or link of the network.
US07688737B2 Latency hiding message passing protocol
A method, system, and article of manufacture that provide latency hiding, high bandwidth message passing protocols used for data communication between nodes of a parallel computer system are disclosed. A source node transmits a request to send message to a receiving node. Prior to receiving a clear to send message, the sending node continues to send deterministically routed (or fully described) data packets to the receiving node, thereby hiding the latency inherent in the request to send—clear to send message exchange. Once the sending node receives the clear to send message, any remaining portion of the message may be sent using partially described packets which may be routed dynamically, thereby maximizing bandwidth.
US07688734B2 Scheduling incoming packet traffic on an output link of a network device associated with a data network
The present invention provides a method and an apparatus for scheduling a flow on an output link among a plurality of flows of incoming packet traffic at a network device associated with a data network. A scheduler comprises scheduler logic that uses a credit counter per flow to keep track of the service difference received between two or more flows and selects the flow for service next that has the maximum credit value. The scheduler logic updates an amount of credit value in a counter of the next flow with the front-end packet currently being served among the first and second flows with a value that substantially equals a packet size value divided by a flow weight value of the front-end packet currently being served. The scheduler logic further updates an amount of credit value in the first and second counters of the first and second flows having packets waiting with a value that substantially equals the size of the front-end packet currently being served.
US07688733B1 System and method for bandwidth selection in a communication network
A communication control system for bandwidth selection in a communication network includes a display device, an input device, a communication interface configured to transfer a bandwidth selection command to the communication network, and a processing system. The processing system is configured to display a graphical bandwidth selection indicium on the display device. The graphical bandwidth selection indicium includes two or more bandwidth indicia. The processing system is further configured to receive a user input from the input device in response to the graphical bandwidth selection indicium. The user input selects a particular bandwidth indicium of the two or more bandwidth indicia. The processing system is further configured to translate the user input into the bandwidth selection command and transfer the bandwidth selection command to the communication interface. The user input generates bandwidth selection command for a communication session in the communication network.
US07688731B2 Traffic congestion
The invention relates to methods and apparatus for controlling traffic congestion of communication traffic in a communication network. The network includes a first node which is operable to receive communication traffic in the form of data from one of more sending nodes and to pass that data to one or more receiving nodes. The method includes monitoring the possible output data rate of the first node and detecting if the possible output data rate becomes smaller than a maximum data rate value and responsive to that monitoring step performing congestion control whereby the data throughput of a flow of data through the first node is decreased.
US07688728B2 Method of controlling a data flow, transmitter and data transmission system
A method of controlling a data flow, a transmitter and a data transmission system are described. For example, in a method of controlling a data flow of a transmitter, first data is received at a first interface. The first data is buffered in a buffer. The first data is output via a second interface. Information is determined regarding an estimated amount of second data comprising payload data output via the first interface until a filling level of the buffer will reach a predetermined threshold. An amount of the payload data output via the first interface is adjusted based on the information. The payload data is then output via the first interface. Similarly, a transmitter includes an interface to output payload data and a control signal, and a buffer to buffer further data received via the interface wherein the control signal controls a flow of said further data.
US07688727B1 Filtering and route lookup in a switching device
Methods and devices for processing packets are provided. The processing device may Include an input interface for receiving data units containing header information of respective packets; a first module configurable to perform packet filtering based on the received data units; a second module configurable to perform traffic analysis based on the received data units; a third module configurable to perform load balancing based on the received data units; and a fourth module configurable to perform route lookups based on the received data units.
US07688723B1 Procedural XML-based telephony traffic flow analysis and configuration tool
A system for analyzing at least a portion of a telecommunications network is provided. The system includes a traffic flow analyzer 124 operable to (a) assign a plurality of network components to at least first, second, and third component sets 1216, 1220 and 1224, respectively, wherein the first and second component sets correspond to voice communication endpoints; (b) determine bulk voice traffic flows at least one of generated and received by the first and second component sets and passing through the third component set; and (c) based on the bulk voice traffic flow passing through the third component set, determine a requirement for the third component set to realize a selected grade and/or quality of service.
US07688722B2 Communication apparatus, method, and computer readable medium thereof for switching channels in a beacon network
A communication apparatus originally transmits data packets via a first channel based on a first beacon interval. A memory thereof records the first beacon interval. A receiving interface thereof receives information of a second channel. A processor thereof determines whether the second channel has been used according to the information. If not, a transmission interface thereof switches the communication channel to the second channel, and transmits data based on the first beacon interval via the second channel in order to solve the problem that packets are delay for transmission or even abandoned due to overload of the beacon network.
US07688720B2 Method for selecting a restoration path in a mesh network
A method of selecting a restoration path in a mesh telecommunication network is disclosed that advantageously is practical and flexible and may be pre-computed along with a service connection path during the setup of the connection. The information used to select the restoration path can be advantageously distributed among nodes in the network.
US07688714B2 Network routing apparatus that performs soft graceful restart
A network data packet routing apparatus with BGP is configured to soft reset an AFI or SAFI, so that forwarding on routes associated with the AFI or SAFI can continue even after an event or error. One approach involves establishing a Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) peering session between a first node and a second node in a packet-switched network; detecting a BGP condition requiring a reset of a BGP address family indicator (AFI) data structure or a sub-address family indicator (SAFI) data structure, wherein the BGP condition does not affect states of routes in the AFI or SAFI; preserving a BGP state and a forwarding state of the AFI or SAFI; and forwarding data on routes represented in the AFI or SAFI. Soft notification messaging and marking routes as stale facilitates the approach.
US07688713B2 Changing mode in digital broadcast receiver
A method of changing between a Data over Cable Service Interface Specifications (DOCSIS) mode and a DOCSIS Set-top box Gateway (DSG) mode in a digital broadcast receiver, includes: performing channel searching to change into the DSG mode, and detecting a cause of a failure in securing a channel via a database upon failing to secure the channel in response to a user requesting a change of mode via a host; and recovering the DSG mode as a result of detecting the failure cause upon receiving DSG data. It is therefore possible to change from the DOCSIS mode to the DSG mode according to the state of the OpenCable digital broadcast receiver, thereby improving its capability of coping with a field.
US07688711B2 Method and apparatus for transforming a digital audio signal and for inversely transforming a transformed digital audio signal
A known time domain to frequency domain or frequency domain to time domain transform used in audio codecs is MDCT, which has the disadvantage of being costly in terms of required computational power due to high-precision multiplications, but which facilitates overlapping transform and subsampling. The invention uses a transform or inverse transform which does not involve multiplications because the transform and inverse transform matrices include ‘+1’ and ‘−1’ values only, but whereby the advantages of overlapping and subsampling are kept.
US07688709B2 Scheduling method, radio system, base station, and scheduling module
There is provided a base station comprising: an estimation unit for estimating a second or higher order statistics for each user terminal in a set of user terminals to be served; an estimation unit for estimating a scheduling metric based on the estimated second or higher order statistics; and a scheduling unit for controlling scheduling based on the estimated scheduling metric.
US07688704B2 Multilayer optical disc having disc information
A multi-layer record carrier is for recording information by writing marks in a track. The record carrier has a first recording layer (40) and a second recording layer (41), and each recording layer has a pregroove (14) indicating the position of the track according to an opposite track path. The pregroove exhibits a modulated wobble for representing control information. A lead-in part of the pregroove has first control information for the first recording layer, and the lead-out part on the second recording layer has second control information including recording parameters for the second recording layer. The device the device has a head (22) for providing the beam and wobble detection means (32) for retrieving control information from each layer.
US07688703B2 Optical recording medium and production method thereof
A transparent stamper made of a resin has a defect of being not able to be used repeatedly because of stress at the time of peeling off, and hence, improvement is requested. Then, the present invention provides an optical recording medium including a supporting base member, a plurality of recording layers formed on the supporting base member, an interlayer formed between the plurality of recording layers, and a cover layer formed on the recording layer, wherein, in the supporting base member, a concave portion is formed in an inner periphery region thereof than the recording layer, and an inclined portion is formed in an outer periphery region thereof than the recording layer, and wherein the interlayer contacts with the concave portion and the inclined portion of the supporting base member.
US07688700B2 Phase correction element and optical head device
A phase correction element comprising a first phase correction layer formed in a region of numerical aperture NA2, and a first phase plate; the first phase correction layer comprising a concavo-convex portion having a rotational symmetry with respect to the optical axis of incident light and having a cross-sectional shape of a saw-tooth-form or a saw-tooth-form whose convex portions are each approximated by a step form; the first phase plate generating a birefringent phase difference of about an odd number times of π/2 for linearly polarized light of λ1; and the phase correction element that does change a transmitted wavefront of λ1 and changing a transmitted wavefront of the λ2 or transmitted wavefront of both wavelengths of λ2 and λ3 when three types of incident light at λ1=410 nm, λ2=650 nm and λ3=780 nm respectively, are incident.
US07688694B2 Dynamically selecting write strategy for writing data to an optical disc
An optical data recording method for a disk drive having a plurality of rotation speeds. First, a plurality of write strategies corresponding to different possible rotation speeds of the disk drive is provided. Next, the practical rotation speed of the disk drive is detected. Next, the write strategy is selected according to the detected rotation speed of the disk drive. Next, optical data is written to an optical disc with the selected write strategy. Finally, the practical rotation speed of the disk drive is continuously detected during writing of optical data, and optical data is written to the optical disc with different write strategy when the practical rotation speed of the disk drive is changed to correspond to different write strategy.
US07688693B2 Method of reproducing write protection information from an optical information storage medium
A method of reproducing data from an optical storage medium includes reproducing write protection information from the optical storage medium. The optical information storage medium includes a lead-in area, a user data zone in which user data is recorded, and a lead-out area. The write protection information is recorded in at least one of the lead-in area and the lead-out area, together with defect management information. The data is recorded and/or reproduced according to the defect management information and the write protection information. The write protection information indicates a size of a write protected area differentiated from a plurality of sizes of write protected areas of the optical information storage medium.
US07688692B2 Optical storage apparatus, preamplifier and method of generating tracking error signal thereof
An optical storage apparatus, a preamplifier and a method of generating a tracking error signal. The optical storage apparatus includes a pickup head, a preamplifier, and a servo control. The pickup head generates radio frequency (RF) signals. The preamplifier includes a signal adjusting apparatus, a phase detector, a charge pump, and a circuit. The signal adjusting apparatus has input terminals for receiving the RF signals. At least two of the input terminals are substantially short-circuited when the optical storage apparatus is in a calibration mode. The phase detector generates control signals based on the phase differences between the radio frequency signals. The circuit generates current control signal based on the tracking error signal when the optical storage apparatus is in the calibration mode. The current magnitude of at least one of the current sources in the charge pump is determined according to the current control signal.
US07688691B2 Signal processing apparatus and method for optical disk system
A signal processing apparatus for an optical disk system which apparatus has a variable gain amplifier that amplifies with a variable gain a light-detected signal obtained from an optical disk on which to perform playback processing so as to make a level of the light-detected signal coincide with a first reference level. The apparatus comprises a comparator that compares the level of the light-detected signal amplified by the variable gain amplifier with the first reference level; a gain adjuster that generates and supplies a control signal to adjust the variable gain according to a result of the comparing to the variable gain amplifier; and a gain adjustment controller that, when the level of the light-detected signal amplified is within a level range including the first reference level, controls a level of the control signal of the gain adjuster to be held at its preceding value.
US07688686B2 Enhanced table of contents (TOC) identifiers
A method for identifying the contents of a compact disc manipulating a received table of contents (TOC) identifier associated with the compact disc. The method parses portions of the TOC comprising a series of numbers corresponding to track offsets for each track of the compact disc. The method further determines the first number from the series of numbers, subtracts the first number from each number in the series of numbers to form an altered series of numbers, and concatenates the altered series of numbers to form an altered string that comprises the altered TOC identifier. The altered TOC identifier may then be compared to a plurality of canonical TOC identifiers to identify the contents of the compact disc. Another method generates a generic TOC identifier for a plurality of compact discs known to contain the same data.
US07688685B1 Magneto-optical recording device capable of changing the shapes of heating areas
In an information recording/reproducing method performing a thermo-magnetic recording, a tracking offset value of a recording light spot and/or a tracking offset value of a magnetic flux detecting element is changed in accordance with a radial position at which a tracking is performed at the present time, to make a direction of a magnetic wall of a recording magnetic domain in accord with a longitudinal direction of the magnetic flux detecting element. Alternatively, a shape of a heated area is changed to be in accord with the direction of the magnetic flux detecting means at respective radial position, to make the direction of the magnetic wall of the recording magnetic domain in accord with the longitudinal direction of the magnetic flux detecting element.
US07688683B2 System and method of creating digital recordings of live performances
In one embodiment, the present invention provides an event recording system that has an event-capture module, an editing module, and a media recording module. The event capture module captures an event signal, such as an audio signal from a sound event, and transforms the signal into a primary event file that is accessible as it is being formed. The editing module is communicatively connected to the event capture module. It accesses and parses the primary event file into one or more digital track files that can be recorded onto a recording media. Likewise, the media recording module is communicatively linked to the editing module for receiving the one or more digital track files from the editing module. The media recording module has a plurality of media recorders for simultaneously recording the one or more digital track files onto a plurality of recording media. This allows a plurality of recording media, with the entire event recorded upon each media, to be available shortly after the event has ended.
US07688678B2 Room volume and room dimension estimation
One embodiment of the invention includes a processing subsystem (30) responsive to the detection of sound coming from a room (26) to establish an acoustic impulse response for the room (26), and determine a number of sound reflections corresponding to the impulse response. This subsystem (30) is further operable to determine volume of the room (26), one or more dimensions of the room (26) and/or at least one absorption coefficient of a room boundary as a function of the sound reflections.
US07688677B2 System and method for determining properties of tubular cavity
A method for determining the distance of a transceiver located within a lumen from the center of the lumen and for determining the radius of the lumen, the lumen cross-section being substantially circular at the transceiver location, the method applied on data received from a transceiver placed at a position within the lumen that is distance (r) from the center and distance (a) from the lumen wall, transmitting a signal of known velocity (v) that can be correlated with the time of flight and receiving a first signal and a second signal that are reflections of the transmitted signal, timing the time differences between the transmission of the transmitted signal and reception of the first (t1) and second (t2) reflection signals, the method comprising: Calculating the distance of the transceiver from the center of the lumen=(t1−t2)v/4; and Calculating the radius of the lumen=(t1+t2)v/4.
US07688673B2 Connector nodes for interrogating optical fiber sensor arrays
Seismic sensor systems and sensor station topologies, as well as corresponding cable and sensor station components, manufacturing and deployment techniques are provided. For some embodiments, networks of optical ocean bottom seismic (OBS) stations are provided, in which sensor stations are efficiently deployed in a modular fashion as series of array cable modules deployed along a multi-fiber cable.
US07688670B2 Semiconductor device with improved power supply control for a plurality of memory arrays
A synchronous DRAM is provided which includes arrangements for operations of power supply circuitry based upon whether the DRAM is in a power down mode or not. In one embodiment, a first power supply circuit and a second power supply circuit are provided which both receive externally supplied voltages and output internal supply voltages. The first power supply circuit is not in operation when a semiconductor device of the synchronous DRAM is in a power down mode. However, the second power supply circuit is continuously in operation during the power down mode. In another arrangement, the operation of a voltage limiter circuit is controlled based on whether or not the DRAM is in a power down mode.
US07688669B2 Programmable SRAM source bias scheme for use with switchable SRAM power supply sets of voltages
A memory circuit has a high voltage and low voltage supply nodes. One of a first and second sets of voltages is selectively applied to the supply nodes of the memory circuit in dependence upon memory operational mode. If in active read/write mode, then the first set of voltages is selectively applied. Conversely, if in standby no-read/no-write mode, then the second set of voltages is selectively applied. A low voltage in the second set of voltages is greater than a low voltage in the first set of voltages by a selected one of a plurality of low offset voltages, and a high voltage in the second set of voltages is less than a high voltage in the first set of voltages by a selected one of a plurality of high offset voltages. The offset voltages are provided by diode-based circuits that are selectively active. Selective activation is provided by either selectably blowable fuse elements or selectively activated switching elements.
US07688666B2 Memory system for controlling power and method thereof
Example embodiments relate to a memory system and a method of controlling power thereof. The memory system may include a memory device and a memory controller. The memory device may be configured to be set to a specific power characteristic mode in response to a mode register set command so as to provide a power characteristic information corresponding to the specific power characteristic mode. The memory controller may be configured to provide the mode register set command to the memory device, configured to read the power characteristic information corresponding to the specific power characteristic mode from the memory device, configured to generate a power control information based on the power characteristic information, configured generate a command in response to the power control information, and provide the command to the memory device according to the power control information.
US07688663B2 Anti-fuse repair control circuit and semiconductor device including DRAM having the same
In an anti-fuse repair control circuit, a semiconductor memory device is integrated into a multi-chip package to perform an anti-fuse repair. An anti-fuse repair control circuit includes a data mask signal input circuit, a cell address enable unit a repair enable unit, and a repair unit. The data mask signal input circuit receives and outputs a data mask signal upon receiving a test control signal for an anti-fuse repair. The cell address enable unit receives an anti-fuse repair address to enable a cell address of an anti-fuse cell to be repaired upon receiving the data mask signal outputted from the data mask signal input circuit. The repair enable unit codes the cell address and output a repair enable signal and a drive signal according to whether or not an anti-fuse cell corresponding to the cell address is enabled. The repair unit supplies a repair voltage to the anti-fuse cell when the repair enable signal, the address, and the drive signal are enabled.
US07688662B2 Method for hiding a refresh in a pseudo-static memory
A method and device for hiding refresh operations during accesses to sub-arrays of a pseudo-static memory device. By refreshing sub-arrayj while filling the row Ri (where i≠j) corresponding to sub-arrayi, refresh operations can be performed without risking that a read request will interrupt the refresh operation. Additional refresh operations of sub-arrayi can be performed serially with the operations of filling the row Ri without delaying the overall burst read or write operation if the burst is made sufficiently long.
US07688659B2 Semiconductor memory capable of testing a failure before programming a fuse circuit and method thereof
Each program circuit outputs an operating specification signal indicating a first or second operating specification according to a program state. Each specification changing circuit is set by a corresponding block selection signal and outputs an operating specification signal indicating a second operating specification. Each timing control circuit changes an output timing of a precharge control signal for a bit line according to the operating specification signal. By the operating specification signal from the specification changing circuit, a failure can be detected in each memory block before programming a program circuit. Thereafter, the failure can be relieved by the program circuit. The output timing of the precharge control signal can be set for each memory block by a block selection signal without wiring a dedicated signal line for setting each specification changing circuit. Accordingly, increase in chip size can be minimized.
US07688654B2 Structure for differential eFUSE sensing without reference fuses
A design structure comprising a differential fuse sensing system, which includes a fuse leg configured for introducing a sense current through an electrically programmable fuse (eFUSE) to be sensed, and a differential sense amplifier having a first input node coupled to the fuse leg and a second node coupled to a reference voltage. The fuse leg further includes a current supply device controlled by a variable reference current generator configured to generate an output signal therefrom such that the voltage on the first input node of the sense amplifier is equal to the voltage on the second input node of the sense amplifier whenever the resistance value of the eFUSE is equal to the resistance value of a programmable variable resistance device included within the variable reference current generator.
US07688653B2 Method and system for improved efficiency of synchronous mirror delays and delay locked loops
A plurality of improved memory systems employing a phase detection system in conjunction with either a synchronous mirror delay or a delay-locked loop, and related methods of operation, are disclosed. The memory systems determine timing characteristics among multiple signals and, based upon those timing characteristics, vary which clock-related signal is output. The improvement relates in part to the incorporation of a clock divider that reduces the frequency of the clock signals utilized by the system. Due to the incorporation of the clock divider and an edge recovery device, attenuation, power dissipation and duty cycle distortion associated with propagation of the clock signal(s) are reduced. Further, the reduction in frequency of the clock signals allows for numerous differently-phased clock signals to be generated within the system, which allows for finer timing comparisons to be performed, thus allowing for finer selections to be made in relation to which clock-related signal is output.
US07688649B2 Semiconductor memory device with debounced write control signal
A semiconductor memory device having a memory cell array, an input buffer, an output buffer, and an input-output control circuit that receives a write control signal and controls the input and output buffers. The output buffer generates a commencement signal indicating commencement of output. A mask generating circuit generates a mask signal with delayed active-to-inactive transitions from the commencement signal. A masking circuit passes the write control signal to the input-output control circuit while the mask signal is inactive, and holds the write control signal in the write-disabling state while the mask signal is active. The mask signal prevents unintended writing of data in the memory cell array when the write control signal is contaminated by noise from the output buffer.
US07688648B2 High speed flash memory
For realizing high speed flash memory, bit line is multi-divided for reducing parasitic capacitance, so that local bit line is quickly discharged when reading a memory cell and multi-stage sense amps are used, wherein the multi-stage sense amps are composed of a first dynamic circuit serving as a local sense amp connecting to the local bit line through a read transistor, a second dynamic circuit serving as a segment sense amp for reading the local sense amp, and a tri-state inverter serving as an amplify circuit of a global sense amp for reading the segment sense amp. When reading data, a cell current difference is converted to a time difference for differentiating low threshold data and high threshold data by the multi-stage sense amps. And a buffered data path is connected to the global sense amp for achieving fast data transfer. Additionally, alternative circuits and memory cell structures are described.
US07688647B2 Semiconductor memory device with high voltage generator
A semiconductor memory device which prevents a drop of the level of an external voltage due to generation of high voltage, thereby ensuring an effective data window. The semiconductor memory device includes a level detecting unit and a voltage generating unit. The level detecting unit is configured to detect a level of an internal voltage based on a reference voltage to output a level detection signal. The voltage generating unit is configured to generate the internal voltage by selectively pumping an external voltage according to the level detection signal and a refresh signal.
US07688646B2 Non-volatile latch circuit for restoring data after power interruption
A nonvolatile latch circuit that exhibits improved the performance of a system is presented. The nonvolatile latch circuit is capable of storing all kinds of the states generated during the operation of the system as non-volatility information. The nonvolatile latch circuit is capable of restoring the previous state where of power is unexpectedly interrupted when the system is re-booting. The present invention includes an input control unit, a data control unit, a storage control unit, a clock control unit, a data transition detecting unit, and a data output unit.
US07688645B2 Output circuit for a semiconductor memory device and data output method
An outputting transistor circuit of a push-pull structure has an outputting PMOS transistor and an outputting NMOS transistor connected in series between a first power supply and a grounded power supply. In a standby state, a voltage level of a gate terminal of the outputting PMOS transistor is set to a voltage level of a second power supply higher than a voltage level of the first power supply. In an active state, a voltage level of the gate terminal of the outputting PMOS transistor is changed to a voltage level of the first power supply in response to an active command or a read command, or in response to the state of a semiconductor memory device changing to the active state or a read state, and either the outputting PMOS transistor or the outputting NMOS transistor is turned ON in response to a data read signal from a memory cell.
US07688642B2 Non-volatile memory device and method for programming/erasing the same
Provided are a SONGS type nonvolatile or flash memory device and related programming/erasing methods. The device has a deep well region of a first conductive type that isolates a well region of a second conductive type from a substrate to enhance programming and erasing operation characteristics. In the erasing method, first electrons are erased by one of Hot Hole Injection (e.g., gate-to-drain Hot Hole Injection) or tunneling in a first step, and second electrons that are not erased in the first step are erased by the other of tunneling (e.g., gate-to-body tunneling) or HHI in a second step. Preferably, a time gap intervenes between the first and second steps.
US07688638B2 Faster programming of multi-level non-volatile storage through reduced verify operations
Programming speed for multi-level non-volatile storage elements is increased by reducing the number of verify operations. In one approach, verify operations are initially performed for the highest state less frequently than for other, lower states based on a recognition that a wider threshold voltage distribution for the highest state can be tolerated. After a number of additional programming pulses are applied, the frequency with which the verify operations are performed for the highest state increases. For example, for a four-level device in which state C is the highest state, C-state verify operations can be started when a first B-state element has been programmed and an additional number of program pulses have been applied. The C-state verify operations can be performed after every other program pulse until a certain number of C-state elements have been fully programmed, after which the C-state verify operations can be performed after every program pulse.
US07688637B2 Memory self-test circuit, semiconductor device and IC card including the same, and memory self-test method
In a semiconductor device, a self-test circuit includes a write part for writing data in a given address of a special region of a nonvolatile memory; a read part for reading the written data from the given address; a verify part for determining whether or not the written data accords with the read data; and a decision part for determining soundness of the nonvolatile memory on the basis of a result of determination made by the verify part. In the case where the written data accords with the read data, the decision part determines that the nonvolatile memory is sound, and in the case where the data do not accord with each other, it determines that the nonvolatile memory is unsound.
US07688633B2 Method for programming a memory device suitable to minimize floating gate coupling and memory device
Embodiment of a method for programming a memory device of the type comprising a matrix of memory cells divided in buffers of cells capacitively uncoupled from each other, the method comprising: first programming of said cells belonging to a buffer; second programming of said cells belonging to said buffer; said step of first programming occurs with a ramp gate voltage having first pitch and programs said cells of said buffer with higher threshold distribution and said step of second programming occurs with a ramp gate voltage having pitch lower than the pitch.
US07688632B2 Nonvolatile semiconductor memory capable of trimming an initial program voltage for each word line
A nonvolatile semiconductor memory of the present invention includes a plurality of bit lines and word lines which are arranged to intersect each other; a memory cell array having a plurality of electrically-programmable memory cells arranged in a region in which the bit lines and the word lines intersect; a trimming circuit configured to obtain a parameter of an initial program voltage for each word line of the plurality of word lines; an initial Vpgm parameter register configured to receive the parameter of the initial program voltage from the trimming circuit and to store the parameter; and a control circuit configured to perform programming of data to the memory cell array based on the parameter of the initial program voltage stored in the initial Vpgm parameter register, the trimming circuit being arranged in a part of the control circuit.
US07688629B2 Flash memory including reduced swing amplifiers
For realizing low power and high speed flash memory, reduced swing amplifiers are used for reading, such that a first reduced swing amplifier serves as a local sense amp for reading a memory cell through a short local bit line, a second reduced swing amplifier serves as a segment sense amp for reading the local sense amp, and a third reduced swing amplifier serves as a global sense amp for reading the segment sense amp through a global bit line. When reading data, a voltage difference in the local bit line is converted to a time difference by the sense amps for differentiating low data and high data, which realizes low power consumption with the reduced swing amplifiers. And, short local bit line is quickly discharged when reading, which realizes fast operation. Additionally, alternative circuits and memory cell structures for implementing the memory are included.
US07688622B2 Phase change memory device with dummy cell array
A phase change memory device includes a cell array having a phase change resistance cell arranged at an intersection of a word line and a bit line and a dummy cell configured to discharge the bit line in response to a first bit line discharge signal. A column switching unit selectively controls a connection between the bit line and a global bit line in response to a column selecting signal. The dummy cell disconnects a discharging path in response to the first bit line discharge signal in a precharge mode, and discharges the bit line in response to the first bit line discharge signal in an active mode.
US07688619B2 Phase change memory cell and manufacturing method
A phase change memory cell includes first and second electrodes electrically coupled by a phase change element. At least a section of the phase change element comprises a higher reset transition temperature portion and a lower reset transition temperature portion. The lower reset transition temperature portion comprises a phase change region which can be transitioned, by the passage of electrical current therethrough, from generally crystalline to generally amorphous states at a lower temperature than the higher reset transition temperature portion. The phase change element may comprise an outer, generally tubular, higher reset transition temperature portion surrounding an inner, lower reset transition temperature portion.
US07688611B2 CAM asynchronous search-line switching
This patent describes a method for switching search-lines in a Content Addressable Memory (CAM) asynchronously to improve CAM speed and reduce CAM noise without affecting its power performance. This is accomplished by resetting the match-lines prior to initiating a search and then applying a search word to the search-lines. A reference match-line is provided to generate the timing for the search operation and provide the timing for the asynchronous application of the search data on the SLs. Additional noise reduction is achieved through the staggering of the search data application on the SLs through programmable delay elements.
US07688597B2 Power supply circuit with three-dimensionally arranged circuit carriers, and production method
The present invention relates to a power supply circuit comprising at least one transformer which is connected to a primary side circuit and to a secondary side circuit. The present invention further relates to a method for producing such a power supply circuit. To provide an improved power supply circuit which has a reduced size and increased power density and offers more flexibility in the formation of the safety distances between primary side and secondary side, the primary side circuit and the secondary side circuit are each mounted on at least one separate circuit carrier, said circuit carriers being mechanically and electrically coupled to one another and arranged in at least two different planes. According to advantageous embodiments, said circuit carriers may be arranged in planes that are either parallel with or transverse to one another.
US07688596B1 Electrochemical cell supporting a protective housing for electrical components
A protective housing for a circuit board mounted on an end of a cell is described. The protective housing includes a cut-out in its sidewall and a retaining wall centered in the cut-out. This provides a pair of gaps, one on each side of the retaining wall between the cut-out. These gaps are size so that lead wires extending from the circuit board are captured therein in a tight-fitting relationship. Consequently, the lengths of the leads extending from the protective housing of the cell to a quick disconnect at the distal end of the leads is precisely controlled. If desired, there can be more than one retaining wall providing a plurality of gaps for capturing a plurality of lead wires therein.
US07688593B2 Servo damper control of airflow within an electronics chassis
Provided is an apparatus and a system. The apparatus, in one embodiment, includes a chassis having one or more slots configured to hold circuit boards and a plenum coupled to the chassis. The apparatus, in this embodiment, further includes a fan assembly coupled to the plenum and configured to provide an airflow therethrough, and servo dampers associated with the one or more slots and configured to allocate a portion of the airflow to associated air paths.
US07688588B2 Heat dissipation module and fan thereof
A heat dissipation module is disclosed. The heat dissipation module includes fan and at least a heat sink. The fan includes a frame and an impeller. The frame includes a body and at least an extension. The extension protrudes from at least a side of the body. The extension or the body is connected with the circuit board. The impeller is disposed in the body. The heat sink is connected with the extension for dissipating heat produced from the electronic element.
US07688584B1 Cooling system for rack-mounted electronics equipment
A rack-mount case system for receiving, supporting and storing electronics equipment includes a slide-out frame closely received and shock mounted in a case. The system includes a cooling unit having at least one heat sink in fluid communication with a first blower and a manifold in fluid communication with a second blower. A thermoelectric unit is located between the heat sink and the manifold to provide a compact cooling unit that may be secured to a side of the slide-out frame with a bracket, for example.
US07688583B1 Synthetic jet and method of making same
A synthetic jet includes an inner wall configured to surround a heat-generating component, a plurality of walls coupled to the inner wall, the inner wall and the plurality of walls configured to enclose a volume surrounding the inner wall, an actuator coupled to one of the plurality of walls and the inner wall. The inner wall has a plurality of orifices formed therein configured to direct a fluid toward the heat-generating component upon activation of the actuator.
US07688580B2 Modular accessory for protective case enclosing touch screen device
A protective enclosure for an electronic device that has a protective shell that is capable of enclosing and substantially surrounding the touch screen device in a substantially watertight, substantially rigid and substantially crush-resistant manner. Modular units can be releasably connected in a rigid manner to the protective enclosure to form an integrated unitary device that is substantially crush-resistant and watertight unit. The modular units can be interchangeable and connect to the protective case using the same format.
US07688578B2 Modular high-density computer system
A modular high-density computer system has an infrastructure that includes a framework component forming a plurality of bays and has one or more cooling components. The computer system also has one or more computational components that include a rack assembly and a plurality of servers installed in the rack assembly. Each of the one or more computational components is assembled and shipped to an installation site separately from the infrastructure and then installed within one of the plurality of bays after the infrastructure is installed at the site.
US07688574B2 Cold worked metal housing for a portable electronic device
A cold worked stainless steel bezel for a portable electronic device is provided. The bezel is secured flush to a housing to form part of the case of the portable electronic device. A brace that includes a slot for receiving a wall extending from the bezel is fixed to the housing. When the bezel engages the housing, the wall of the bezel is inserted in the slot of the brace and releasably held by a spring that engages both the brace and the wall. The bezel can be released by disengaging the spring, (e.g., using a special tool or a magnetic field). Because the bezel is manufactured from cold worked stainless steel, it is hard and resistant to impacts. Cold worked steel also facilitates manufacturing within design constraints and tolerances, and requires very little machining after manufacturing to comply with those constraints. The portable electronic device may include a personal media device, a mobile telephone, or any other suitable device or combination thereof.
US07688569B2 Thick-film dielectric and conductive compositions
Dielectric powder and thick-film paste compositions are formed having high dielectric constants, low loss tangents, and other desirable electrical and physical properties. Conductive powder and paste compositions are formed having desirable electrical and physical properties. The dielectric powder and thick-film paste compositions can be used in combination with the conductive powder and paste compositions to form capacitors and other fired-on-foil passive circuit components.
US07688568B1 Multilayer chip capacitor
A multilayer chip capacitor includes: a capacitor body having a plurality of dielectric layers laminated therein and comprising first and second capacitor units; and first to fourth external electrodes formed on an outer surface of the capacitor body, wherein the first capacitor unit comprises first and second internal electrodes facing each other with the dielectric layer interposed therebetween, connected to the first and second external electrodes, and having different polarities, each pair of first and second internal electrodes being laminated one or more times to discriminate a plurality of capacitors with a certain capacitance, the second capacitor unit comprises third and fourth internal electrodes facing each other with the dielectric layer interposed therebetween, connected to the third and fourth external electrodes, and having the same polarities as those of the first and second internal electrodes, each pair of third and fourth internal electrodes being laminated one or more times to discriminate one or more capacitors each with a certain capacitance, and at least three capacitors included in the first and second capacitor units have different capacitances or resonance frequencies.
US07688567B2 Method of manufacturing multilayer capacitor and multilayer capacitor
A method of manufacturing a multilayer capacitor comprises a first layer forming step, a first electrode forming step, a second layer forming step, a second electrode forming step, a separation step, an element forming step and a terminal forming step. In the first layer forming step, a first ceramic green layer is formed on a supporting body. In the first electrode forming step, a first electrode pattern is formed on the first ceramic green layer. In the second layer forming step, a second ceramic green layer is formed laminated on the first ceramic green layer. In the second electrode forming step, a second electrode pattern is formed at the second ceramic green layer. In the separation step, the support body is separated from the laminated body. In the element forming step, elements are formed by laminating a plurality of the laminated bodies.
US07688566B2 Electric firing device for fireworks
An electric firing device for fireworks comprising a circuit board (7) fixed inside of a mounting clip (8); a firing slot (6) set in the front of the circuit board (7); a resistance wire (5) welded on the circuit board (7) together with a conductive wire pair (9) and straddled on said U shaped firing slot (6); a firework lead wire slot (4) set on the mounting clip (8); and a lead wire propulsion stop plate (2) set on a top cover (1) and engaged with the mounting clip (8). The resistance wire (5) is made of a resistance wire with good electricity to heat conversion capability (such as tungsten wire, nichrome wire, constantan wire, and so on) and spirally-wound.
US07688565B2 Arrangements for energy conditioning
Circuit arrangement embodiments that use relative groupings of energy pathways that include shielding circuit arrangements that can sustain and condition electrically complementary energy confluences.
US07688564B2 Pluggable surge protector
A power distribution system (300) is disclosed having a power source (302) with at least one circuit associated with a power line (310). The power line (310) is connected to an incoming power cable (312), which is further connected to a cable or conduit assembly (316) having at least one junction block. A surge protector (324) is pluggable into the junction block of the cable or conduit assembly (316). The surge protector (324) includes at least one male connector set (326) and an LED indicator (338).
US07688563B2 Power cord having thermochromatic material
A temperature sensing extension cord comprising of an extension cord having an electrical conductor, a male electrical plug in electrical communication with the electrical conductor, and a female socket in electrical communication with the electrical conductor; and a thermochromatic material in contact with the extension cord, the thermochromatic material configured to change from a first color to a second color upon detecting a temperature at or above a threshold temperature.
US07688561B2 Ultra-low power limiter
An over-voltage protection circuit (i.e., a limiter), includes: a first switching block having a plurality of semiconductor elements, serially connected to each other and turned on in sequence according to the magnitude of an input voltage; and a plurality of second switching blocks, in which each of the second switching blocks includes a pair of serially connected semiconductor elements having different current properties. The second switching blocks are connected in parallel to the first switching block. By minimizing a leakage current when an input voltage is below a reference voltage and by maximizing a leakage current when the input voltage is above the reference voltage, the limiter prevents excessive current from flowing into the RF tag circuit when the input voltage is below the reference voltage, and ensures that a sufficient amount of current is supplied to a regulator when the input voltage is below the reference voltage.
US07688560B2 Overload protection method
This invention relates to overload protection for a circuit driving a direct current (DC) load. The invention provides a method of generating an overload condition for an output module driving a load having a load current and a load voltage comprising the steps of: monitoring the load current at sample intervals; comparing the monitored load current to a predetermined load current threshold; starting an overload timer in the event that the timer is not running and the monitored load current is greater than said load current threshold; monitoring the load voltage at said sample intervals; generating a ramped load voltage waveform for reference purposes in dependence upon an initial load voltage and a predetermined step size load voltage in the event that the overload timer is running; generating an overload condition in the event that the monitored load voltage is less than said ramped load voltage reference waveform, the ramped load voltage is less than a predetermined positive ramp limit and the overload timer is running.
US07688557B2 Control apparatus for transmission mechanism, transmission, vehicle provided therewith, method of controlling the transmission mechanism, and method of estimating heat value of electric motor in the transmission mechanism
A motorcycle has a transmission including a transmission mechanism and an electronic control unit (ECU). The transmission mechanism includes a crankshaft as an input shaft, a driven shaft as an output shaft and an electric motor. The electric motor changes continuously the transmission ratio between the crankshaft and the driven shaft. The ECU estimates the heat value of the motor from a rate of change in the transmission ratio. When the estimate heat value reaches or exceeds a specified value the electric motor is restricted or stopped.
US07688555B2 Hard bias design for extra high density recording
A hard bias structure for biasing a free layer in a MR element within a read head is comprised of a composite hard bias layer having a Co78.6Cr5.2Pt16.2/Co65Cr15Pt20 configuration. The upper Co65Cr15Pt20 layer has a larger Hc value and a thickness about 2 to 10 times greater than that of the Co78.6Cr5.2Pt16.2 layer. The hard bias structure may also include a BCC underlayer such as FeCoMo which enhances the magnetic moment of the hard bias structure. Optionally, the thickness of the Co78.6Cr5.2Pt16.2 layer is zero and the Co65Cr15Pt20 layer is formed on the BCC underlayer. The present invention also encompasses a laminated hard bias structure. The Mrt value for the hard bias structure may be optimized by adjusting the thicknesses of the BCC underlayer and CoCrPt layers. As a result, a larger process window is realized and lower asymmetry output during a read operation is achieved.
US07688549B2 Head suspension
A head suspension for a hard disk drive is thin from an arm to a head and involves a minimum step between the arm and a load beam. The head suspension includes a load beam that includes a rigid part and a resilient part. The load beam applies load onto a head that is arranged at a front end of the load beam to write and read data to and from a disk arranged in the hard disk drive. The head is connected to read/write wiring patterns of a flexure. The flexure supports the head and is attached to a disk-facing surface of the rigid part. An arm is attached to a carriage of the hard disk drive and is turned around a spindle. The arm supports the resilient part that is attached to a base end of the rigid part. A disk-facing surface of the arm is arranged within the total of thicknesses of the rigid part and head.
US07688548B2 Utilizing an interlocking dissimilar metal component in the formation of a hard disk drive
A method and system for utilizing an interlocking dissimilar metal component in the formation of a hard disk drive is disclosed. The method provides a hard disk drive component having at least one interlocking dissimilar metal component, the at least one interlocking dissimilar metal component having at least two dissimilar metals on a single side. The interlocking dissimilar metal component is utilized to provide a similar materials weld location for coupling two dissimilar metals to a single side surface of the at least one interlocking dissimilar metal hard disk drive component.
US07688543B2 Device to regenerate a desiccant in a hard disk drive
A disk drive that regenerates a desiccant within the drive. The drive includes a housing that encloses a head and a disk. A first desiccant is located adjacent to a hole of the housing. A second desiccant is coupled to the first desiccant. The second desiccant is also coupled to a source of heat. Heat is transferred through the second desiccant to the first desiccant. The heat evaporates fluid within the first desiccant. The evaporated fluid flows into and through the second desiccant. The evaporation of fluid regenerates the first desiccant so that is can continuously absorb humidity within the drive.
US07688541B2 Apparatus, system, and method for repeatable runout cancellation
An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for the cancellation of repeatable runout signals. A signal processing module receives a position error signal and outputs a position compensated signal. A feed forward module receives the position error signal and outputs one or more cancellation signals to cancel one or more repeatable runout components from the position error signal when combined with the position compensated signal. A combining module combines the position compensated signal and the cancellation signals into a position command signal. A feedback module receives the position command signal and outputs the position error signal.
US07688533B2 Drive apparatus and lens drive apparatus
A drive apparatus having: a shape memory alloy having a property such that a temperature transformation sensitivity in a temperature range from a starting point of austenite transformation (As) at a predetermined stress to an end point of austenite (Af) is higher than a temperature transformation sensitivity in other temperature range, and a temperature transformation sensitivity in a temperature range from a starting point of martensite transformation (Ms) at a predetermined stress to an end point of martensite transformation (Mf) is higher than a temperature transformation sensitivity in other temperature range; and a driven member which is moved by a transformation of the shape memory alloy; wherein the driven member is moved in a temperature range of higher temperature transformation sensitivity.
US07688532B1 Lens system
A lens system includes a first lens and a second lens in order from the object side thereof. The first lens includes a first optical portion and a first mounting portion surrounding the first optical portion. The second lens includes a second optical portion with a concave object side surface, and a second mounting portion surrounding the second optical portion. The second mounting portion includes a connecting surface surrounding an object side surface of the second optical portion. Wherein the angle formed between the connecting surface and the axis of the lens system satisfies a certain condition.
US07688530B1 Mounting system for precision mounting of interchangeable optical components
A mounting system allowing rapid removal and replacement of optical components within an instrument includes a base unit connected to the instrument, and a carrier unit which includes an optical component. The carrier unit is magnetically attracted to the base unit, with mounting nubs extending from one of the base and carrier units being received in depressions defined in the other of the units. Preferably, the magnets on the base and carrier units are aligned, and V-groove depressions receive hemispherical surfaces presented by the mounting nubs. When the base and carrier units are generated using precision manufacturing methods, the optical component on the carrier unit can maintain a predefined alignment upon the base unit (and the instrument) with sub-micrometer precision between successive mountings and removals of the carrier unit, thereby avoiding the need to realign the optical component within the instrument every time the carrier unit is removed and replaced.
US07688529B2 Lens unit and image reading apparatus using the same
A lens unit and an image reading apparatus configured to hold an anamorphic lens precisely with a simple structure, without a lens spacing error or eccentric error: the lens unit including a barrel member configured to hold at least one rotationally symmetric lens having a rotationally symmetric shape with respect to an optical axis; an anamorphic lens having at least one anamorphic surface circumscribing an end portion of the barrel member; a coaxiality maintaining device configured to engage the anamorphic lens and the barrel member with each other to align central axes of the anamorphic lens and the barrel member with each other, and arranged relatively rotate the anamorphic lens and the barrel member relative to each other with reference to the aligned central axes of them; and an elastic member configured to push the anamorphic lens against the barrel member.
US07688525B2 Hybrid primary optical component for optical concentrators
A hybrid optical component that collects and concentrates incident light. The hybrid component includes both refractive and reflective elements. In preferred embodiments, refractive and reflective components focus rays on a common focal plane generally located at the bottom of the reflector where they are absorbed by a device such as a photovoltaic (solar) cell. Additionally, the optical component combines both imaging and non-imaging optical elements into a single device, for improved overall performance.
US07688524B2 Laser protective eyewear having improved glare protection
A molded optical filter is provided having effective filtering of energy emissions at an optical density (OD) of greater than 4 in three energy emission bands corresponding to the wavelengths of laser emissions while preserving the wearer's ability to differentiate and recognize colors and having a pleasing overall color. The selective optical filter is a moldable polymer filter that has three dyes therein to produce sharp notch filtering ranges at about 530 nm, 700 nm and 1060 nm and a fourth color balance dye therein to adjust the overall color of the filter making it more pleasing and desirable to the wearer.
US07688520B2 Zoom lens system and camera including the same
A zoom lens system includes, in order from an object side to an image side, a first lens unit having a positive optical power, a second lens unit having a negative optical power, a third lens unit having a positive optical power, and a fourth lens unit having a positive optical power. The distances between the adjacent lens units are changed during zooming. By appropriately setting the lens configurations and focal lengths of the first lens unit and the second lens unit, a compact zoom lens system is realized.
US07688519B2 Zoom lens and image pickup apparatus including the same
A zoom lens includes, from object to image side, a first unit having positive refractive power, a second unit having negative refractive power, including a negative lens member and prism from the object to image side, and being stationary during zooming, a third unit including an aperture, and fourth and fifth units having positive refractive powers. The zoom lens satisfies the following conditions: 0.20<|f2|/√{square root over ((fW·fT))}<0.45 0.80<|fN/fW|<1.90 2.70
US07688516B2 Head-up display device for vehicles
Disclosed is a head-up display device for vehicles. The display device for vehicles includes a panel, on which driving data of a vehicle are displayed; and an aspheric combiner, which magnifies the driving data displayed on the panel and thus creates a virtual image, and has a ratio of DISC to CRC satisfying the below expression (here, 0<|DISC/CRC|<1.0, DISC representing the distance on an optical route between the panel and the combiner, and CRC representing the radius of curvature of the combiner).
US07688514B2 Process for creating tilted microlens
A microlens structure that includes a wedge formed to support and tilt the microlens is disclosed. The wedge results from heating a layer of patterned flowable material. The degree and direction of incline given to the wedge can be controlled in part by the type of patterning that is performed.
US07688506B2 Screen and image projection apparatus
Light emitted from a light source is modulated and projected on a screen. The screen includes a securing member, a diffuser plate supported by the securing member using a plurality of elastic members, where the elastic members are disposed so that the diffuser plate is resiliently displaced in two directions in the plane of the diffuser plate, and a driving unit that moves the diffuser plate with respect to the securing member in the two directions in the plane of the diffuser plate.
US07688501B2 Optical transmission system and optical amplification method used in the system
At an optical transmission system that uses plural light sources for Raman amplification, even when a failure occurred in a pumping light source in one of the light sources for Raman amplification, the signal light output level and its wavelength characteristic are not deteriorated at the final stage, and the number of components in the system is not made to be large and the cost of the system is not made to be high. This optical transmission system is provided. At an optical transmission system using “n” light sources for Raman amplification, a first to “n−1”th light sources for Raman amplification do not provide spare pumping light sources, and an “n”th light source for Raman amplification provides the spare pumping light sources. When a pumping light source in one of the “n” light sources for Raman amplification had a failure, the spare pumping light source in the “n”th light source for Raman amplification corresponding to the failure occurred pumping light source is worked. With this, the signal light output level and its wavelength characteristic are recovered to a normal state before the failure occurred.
US07688500B2 Opthalmic optical coherence tomography (OCT) test station using a 1 μm fiber ASE source
A phosphate glass 1-μm fiber ASE source provides high power and broadband emission that covers wavelengths on the short side of Yb-doped silica. A single-mode fiber formed from phosphate glass is doped with highly elevated concentrations of Yb dopants 0.5-30 wt. % and typically 2-10 wt. %, far higher than either silica or germano-silicate. The high concentration of Yb dopant absorbs the pump in a short length, typically 10-150 cm instead of tens of meters, to provide high saturated output power and a shifted emission spectrum. The excess power allows the fiber ASE source to be configured to provide the output powers, emission bandwidth and stability desired by many applications. Furthermore, the ASE can be configured to emit a nearly Gaussian spectral profile without sacrificing power or bandwidth. The backward emission spectrum of Yb-doped phosphate glass is centered near 1020 nm instead of 1060, which allows the ASE source to cover wavelength on the short side of Yb-doped silica, which may be important in certain applications such as ophthalmic OCT where water absorption has a transparency window.
US07688491B2 Diffractive-optical element, scanning optical system, optical scanner, and image forming apparatus
A diffractive-optical element that is transparent includes a diffraction surface that is formed by a step. A width of the step is set substantially equal to a common multiple of λi/{n(λi)−1} for two or more wavelengths, where λi (i=1, 2, . . . ) is a wavelength and n(λi) is a refractive index with respect to the wavelength λi.
US07688489B2 Color processing apparatus and its method, program, and printer driver
The color of magenta using newly developed magenta ink has characteristics L*≈41, a*≈82, and b*≈24, and has differences ΔL*≈4, Δa*≈0, and Δb*≈26 from the conventional magenta ink, i.e., the lightness value is low, and the color difference b* assumes a very small value. When the color of red is reproduced using such new magenta ink, its lightness and saturation values are low, and subdued red is reproduced, i.e., a visually favorable color cannot be obtained. Hence, when a color included in a first color gamut is input, and the input color is converted into the color of a second color gamut narrower than the first color gamut, color conversion is made using a three-dimensional lookup table having red defined by L*≈45 to 50, a*≈67 to 70, and b*≈50 to 55.
US07688486B2 Methods and apparatus for profiling color output devices
Methods and apparatus are provided for generating a color profile for a color output device including a plurality of colorants, the methods and apparatus printing a plurality of color patches on an output medium, measuring a spectral or colorimetric response for each of the printed patches and for the output medium, calculating spectral or colorimetric responses for overprint combinations of the colorants based on the measured spectral or colorimetric responses, calculating colorimetric values in a profiling target based on the calculated and measured responses, and providing the calculated colorimetric values to profiling software for generation of the color profile.
US07688483B2 Document reading apparatus and method of calculating position adjustment amount
A document reading apparatus including: a first scanning section that moves in a scanning direction along a document surface, for supporting a first mirror to reflect an image of a document in a direction parallel to the scanning direction; an intermediate scanning section that moves synchronous with the first scanning section, for supporting an intermediate mirror to reflect the image of the document reflected by the first mirror in a direction opposite from an incident direction of the image; a reading section including an imaging sensor for reading the image of a scanned document and a focusing lens for focusing the image of the document reflected by the intermediate mirror on the imaging sensor; a driving wire for pulling the first scanning section in the scanning direction; a supporting pulley for supporting the driving wire at a starting side for scanning or at an ending side for scanning; a position adjustment section capable of adjusting a position of the supporting pulley in its axial direction; a control section for performing such control that the image for adjustment is read by the reading section when the first scanning section is located at a first position and at a second position in the scanning direction, and an adjustment amount of the position adjustment section is calculated based on a readout result of the image; and an output section for outputting the calculated adjustment amount.
US07688482B2 Cut-sheet feeding apparatus, document-sheet feeding apparatus, and document-sheet reading apparatus
A document feeding apparatus in a cover body supported by a document reading table whose upper surface is at least partially constituted by a platen glass. The cover body is openable and closable relative to the table and covers the glass when closed. The apparatus feeds a document sheet along a feed path from at a document setting portion and to a document ejecting portion. The apparatus comprises: an upper and a lower feed roller that are disposed along the path to pinch and feed the sheet; a bearing member supporting a shaft of the lower roller such that the lower roller is movable onto and away from the upper roller; a protrusible member disposed in the cover body and below the lower roller to be movable between an outer position to protrude from a bottom of the cover body and an inner position not to protrude therefrom, the protrusible member being placed at the outer position when the cover body is open, and at the inner position by the document reading table when the cover body is closed; and a biasing member supported by the protrusible member and biasing the lower roller toward the upper roller, such that when the protrusible member is at the outer position, the lower roller is off the upper roller, and when the protrusible member is at the inner position, the lower roller is in pressing contact with the upper roller.
US07688479B2 Compensation apparatus for image scan
A compensation apparatus for image scan, applied to an optical scanner with a platform, on which an object to be scanned is disposed. The optical scanner has a photosensitive apparatus with a set of scan photosensitive devices and a storage apparatus. When the object is scanned by the set of scan photosensitive devices, a scanned image is obtained and saved in the storage apparatus temporarily. The compensation apparatus has a set of calibration boards, a set of calibration photosensitive devices and an image processor. The set of calibration boards has two calibration boards located at two sides of the platform. The set of calibration photosensitive devices is located at two sides of the set of scan photosensitive device. The image processor is used to extract and compare the calibrated image, so as to adjust the scanned image.
US07688478B2 Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and program for implementing the method
An image processing apparatus which processes input image signals in real time. A plurality of image signals are input via input terminals. An external storage device stores a plurality of kinds of procedures for processing to be performed on image signals. A JOG dial specifies at least two kinds of procedures among the stored plurality of kinds of procedures, and enables the specified procedures and a procedure between the specified procedures to be arbitrarily changed and specified. When the procedure between the specified procedures is specified using the JOG dial, a CPU generates the specified procedure by interpolating the specified procedures, and carries out real-time processing on image signals for corresponding channels among the image signals for the plurality of channels according to the generated specified procedure.
US07688477B2 Image reading apparatus, and method for detecting size of document
A first positioning member is provided on a document table to extend in a first scanning direction and determines a position in a second scanning direction of an edge of a document placed on the placing surface. A first reference area holding member extends from a first positioning member over the placing surface and holds, on its surface opposing the placing surface, two reference areas extending parallel to the first scanning direction and including a first and second reference areas each having a different pattern from each other. A border position in the first scanning direction between at least one of the first and second reference areas and the document is detected, based on a received light quantity of reflected light. A size determining unit calculates a document length in the first scanning direction based on the detected border position.
US07688474B2 Moiré-based auto-stereoscopic images by duplex printing on transparencies
Method for duplex printing on transparencies to create auto-stereoscopic images. By choosing different halftone structures, differing by having different spatial frequencies for each of the two sides of a transparency, a moiré pattern resulting due to halftone overlapping can be observed. On one side of the transparency is provided a uniform halftone with a selected median spatial frequency as printed. On the other side, the printing consists of two partitions: what is to be perceived as the background is printed using a halftone with spatial frequency equal to the median plus some delta x, while a desired image partition is printed using a halftone with a spatial frequency equal to the median minus the same delta x. The spatial frequency difference creates a corresponding shift-magnification factor M with an amplified total depth of the shift-magnification factor M times the thickness of the transparency.
US07688473B2 Tinted edge enhancement using harmonic halftones for the boundary pixels
Disclosed herein is an image processing method for producing enhanced halftone edges, particularly suited to those edges which only lie upon the background as apposed to those edges which abut other halftone screens. It utilizes a step of defining border pixels and a step of halftoning those border pixels in a different manner than the halftoning applied to the interior region of the tint or image segment. The preferred halftone for the border pixels will be related to the interior halftone by some number of common spatial frequency harmonics. Examples of common-harmonic screening for an edge include, but are not limited to: (a) same screen with different tone reproduction characteristics (boosted edge values); (b) same screen angles and frequencies with a different spot function, possibly phase shifted; (c) a dot screen whose frequency vectors can be generated by the frequency vectors of the interior screen; (d) a line screen whose frequency vectors can be generated by the frequency vectors of the interior screen. This generation process is directed to ensuring that the two screens will be “harmonically matched” where at least one of the fundamental frequency vectors and harmonics of the first screen will equal at least one of the fundamental frequency vectors and harmonics of the second screen.
US07688468B2 Method of illuminant adaptation
A method (300) is disclosed of performing chromatic adaptation. The method (300) predicts final colour data viewed under a final illuminant from initial colour data viewed under a initial illuminant. The method (300) receives (310) the initial and final illuminant spectra and spectral sensitivity functions of the colors between which chromatic adaptation is to be performed. A linear chromatic adaptation transform is then determined (320) for transforming the initial color data to the final color data. The linear chromatic adaptation transform is determined (320) by minimising the residual error between color data predicted using the chromatic adaptation transform and the final color data. Different spectral bands of the illuminant spectra and the spectral sensitivity functions are weighted based on the contribution made by each spectral band to a predefined function. The method (300) then applies (330) the linear chromatic adaptation transform to the initial color data.
US07688466B2 Smart display printer
A printer display which allows users to access and edit a document may resolve some problems traditionally associated with the publication process on network printers. This may be accomplished by providing a GUI at the printer at which a user may access, display, and edit a document originally saved to the user's PC. The GUI may allow users to make changes to the document while they are present at the network printer instead of forcing them to return to their PC to make the changes. Additionally, restricting access to the printer display may provide a secure printing environment for the user by controlling who may access a document at the printer or view printed results. Further, limiting GUI and document access may also reduce or eliminate the potential for lost or stolen printed documents.
US07688463B2 Image forming apparatus and print control method thereof
An image forming apparatus according to the present invention is capable of executing printing processes for color images and monochromatic images and comprises a printer section capable of executing processes for color printing and monochromatic printing and a printing task management section for receiving a plurality of printing jobs including color printing jobs and monochromatic printing jobs as input, computationally determining the processing time required for each of the printing processes on the basis of the information indicating color printing or monochromatic printing and the information indicating the number of copies to be printed and outputting the data of the printing jobs of short processing time separately for monochromatic printing and color printing with priority to the printer section.
US07688459B2 Document processing method
The object of the present invention is to create a template for print settings used for printing a document based on an existing document. To achieve the object, the present invention is capable of registering the print settings for a document being currently edited as template information and reading the registered template information as print settings for the document being currently edited or a new document. Thus, in the present invention, the print settings for an existing document can be utilized as print settings for printing a document. More preferably, the contents of a registered template can be edited. More preferably, a document in the present invention has a tree structure with pages as leaves; print settings can be made for each i; and, when a template is registered, the print settings made for the entire tree structure are registered as the template. More preferably, the document has a tree structure with pages as leaves; print settings can be made for each subtree; settings made at a lower hierarchy are preferentially applied to overlapped setting items; and when a template is registered, the print settings applied to a selected subtree is registered as a template. More preferably, the print settings can be modified by editing the document.
US07688458B2 Methods and apparatus for print workflow processing
Methods and apparatus are provided for processing a print job through a copy of a workflow, modifying the copied workflow and reprocessing the print job only through the modified portion of the copied workflow. In addition, methods and apparatus in accordance with this invention are provided for modifying or inserting additional print files into a print job that has already been processed through a workflow, and processing only the modified or inserted print files through the workflow.
US07688456B2 Assessment and optimization for metrology instrument
Methods and related program product for assessing and optimizing metrology instruments by determining a total measurement uncertainty (TMU) based on precision and accuracy. The TMU is calculated based on a linear regression analysis and removing a reference measuring system uncertainty (URMS) from a net residual error. The TMU provides an objective and more accurate representation of whether a measurement system under test has an ability to sense true product variation.
US07688450B2 Hydrogel-actuated micromirrors for optical sensing
A thin, deformable member may be fixed at one end, while another portion of the member rests on a hydrogel substance whose thickness changes depending on a characteristic of a liquid that permeates the hydrogel. When the hydrogel changes thickness and causes part of the member to tilt, a reflective surface on the member may reflect light in a different direction. Appropriate sensors may detect the change in the direction of the reflected light, allowing determination of the change in thickness, which in turn permits determination of the relevant characteristic of the liquid.
US07688448B2 Through-container optical evaluation system
An apparatus, and method of its use, to determine a characteristic of a fluid sample contained inside a closed container. The ratio of intensity for detected radiation (e.g., light), subsequent to its transmission through the container's walls and fluid in the container, at each of a reference wavelength and a measurement wavelength is compared to a predetermined value to make a determination of the fluid's characteristic. Desirably, the wavelengths are applied to the same location on the container to minimize a source of signal error. The reference wavelength is selected for its substantial lack of attenuation when transmitted through a known fluid composition. The measurement wavelength is selected for its predictive interaction (e.g., absorption) with the fluid.
US07688447B2 Color sensor
Devices, systems, and methods for measuring the color of a sample are disclosed. The exemplary device may have one or more light emitting diodes for directing a beam of ultraviolet light onto the sample and may also have one or more light emitting diodes for directing a beam of visible light onto the sample. The exemplary device may have a component for controlling the timing and power of operation of each light emitting diode. The exemplary device may also have at least one light detector for receiving the beam of light reflected from or transmitted through the sample and measuring at least one wavelength band of the received light. The exemplary device may further have a measurement analyzer for determining the color of the sample based on the measured light. The color may be determined for a specified illuminator incorporating effects of fluorescence.
US07688445B2 Spectroscope and spectroscopic method
A spectroscope of the present invention includes a concave diffraction grating which disperses incident light, an incident light introduction unit which introduces incident light into the concave diffraction grating, and an outgoing light receiving unit which receives outgoing light dispersed for different wavelengths by the concave diffraction grating. The spectroscope further includes an incident aperture which limits an incident angle of light emitted by the incident light introduction unit to the concave diffraction grating, and an outgoing aperture which limits an outgoing angle of outgoing light dispersed for different wavelengths by the concave diffraction grating to the light receiving unit. The spectroscope is constructed so that relatively rotational transfer of at least two out of the concave diffraction grating, the incident aperture and the outgoing apertures can be performed along a Rowland circle which the concave diffraction grating forms.
US07688443B2 Multipulse agile laser source for real time spark spectrochemical hazard analysis
A sample analysis system comprises a laser unit and a spectrometer unit. The laser unit emits a first laser pulse and a second laser pulse towards the sample with a pulse separation time of between about 1 microsecond to 20 microseconds. The laser unit includes an oscillator unit which is configured to generate the first laser pulse and the second laser pulse. A pre-amplifier unit is configured to receive the first laser pulse and the second laser pulse and increase the energy levels of each pulse prior to the pulses being emitted from the laser unit. The spectrometer unit captures emissions generated by the sample after the sample is stuck by the first and second laser pulses and identifies the elemental constituents of the sample using the emissions.
US07688439B2 Optical measuring system
An optical measuring system includes a carrying tray for carrying a specimen, a first light source module, a second light source module and an optical measuring module. The first light source module is disposed at the first side of the carrying tray and the specimen is disposed on the optical path of the first light source module. The second light source module is disposed at the second side of the carrying tray and the specimen is disposed on the optical path of the second light source module. The optical measuring module is disposed at the first side or the second side of the carrying tray, and the specimen is located within the probing range of the optical measuring module.
US07688438B2 Scanning solar diffuser relative reflectance monitor
A device includes a housing, illumination means, a reflective plate, and a detector. The housing defines an aperture. The illumination means is for providing illumination (natural or artificial) along an optical axis that passes through the aperture. The reflective plate is movable, relative to the housing, between a retracted and a deployed position. The positions are defined so that during such movement, the optical axis traces a line across the reflective plate. The detector is aligned to detect illumination from the illumination means after light through the aperture is reflected from the reflective plate. A method is also described. The device is particularly suitable for moving the reflective plate temporarily in front of a pushbroom or whisk broom type sensor for calibration because the line traces across a first portion of the diffusing surface that is subject to sunlight degradation and a second portion that is always shielded from sunlight.
US07688436B2 Measuring and/or inspecting method, measuring and/or inspecting apparatus, exposure method, device manufacturing method, and device manufacturing apparatus
In the inspection of one reticle of reticles used for double exposure, the pattern area of the reticle is divided into a plurality of areas, according to (a) whether an area is a light-transmitting section or a light-shielding section, (b) whether a pattern area of the other reticle is a light-transmitting section, a light-shielding section, or a proximity section to a pattern, and the like, and inspection conditions are changed with respect to each area so that abnormality that is directly related to the yield can be detected. Thus, the defect inspection of the reticles that is directly related to the yield of device production can be performed.
US07688435B2 Detecting and classifying surface features or defects by controlling the angle of the illumination plane of incidence with respect to the feature or defect
Scratches, pits and particles which are smaller or larger than the beam size may be measured and identified by a single and dual multiple beam techniques. In one embodiment, this the invention uses a pair of orthogonally oriented white light beams, one in the radial and one in the circumferential direction. The scattered light from the radial and circumferential beams allows the detection and classification of particles, pits and scratches. In other embodiments, single beam techniques are used to classify radial and circumferential defects.
US07688433B2 Inclination detection methods and apparatus
Apparatus and methods for detecting inclination employ a point source of light from which light is emitted through a lens toward a reflective surface of a liquid contained in a vessel. Light reflected from the surface passes through the lens to form a defocused image of the point source on a two-dimensional array of detector elements. Data acquired from the array represents intensity of the light incident on each of the detector elements. A center of gravity representing inclination of the vessel is determined from the data.
US07688427B2 Particle parameter determination system
A system for determining particle parameters. The system may, for example, may optically determine parameters common to a hematology analysis. Such parameters may include a red blood cell count, a platelet count, a mean cell volume and a red cell distribution width. A hematocrit parameter may be calculated. Also, a measurement of hemoglobin in a blood sample may be obtained leading to a calculation of a mean mass of hemoglobin in a red blood cell and a mean cell hemoglobin concentration. The system may be implemented in a portable cartridge type cytometer.
US07688426B2 Method and apparatus for measurement of exit pupil transmittance
A method and apparatus for determining the state of the lens transmittance of an optical projection system are described. A lens or imaging objective transmission is determined as a function of exit pupil transverse direction cosine (nx,ny) at multiple field points thereby providing a more complete analysis and correction of a photolithographic exposure system. The entrance pupil of a projection imaging system is uniformly illuminated and the angular dependence of transmission through the imaging system as a function of exit pupil direction cosines is determined. The illumination source includes a light conditioner with an in-situ illumination structure (ISIS), which is an optical structure that can provide uniform illumination of the system's entrance pupil.
US07688422B2 Projection optical system, exposure system, and exposure method
An imaging optical system is a system of a liquid immersion type permitting a plane-parallel plate in liquid to be replaced with another, without substantial degradation of imaging performance, while ensuring sufficiently high laser resistance of a boundary lens. The imaging optical system is provided with a first optically transparent member located nearest to a second plane, and a second optically transparent member located adjacent to the first optically transparent member. An optical path between the first optically transparent member and the second plane is fillable with a first liquid and an optical path between the first optically transparent member and the second optically transparent member is fillable with a second liquid. The imaging optical system satisfies the condition of 1
US07688421B2 Fluid pressure compensation for immersion lithography lens
An immersion lithography system that compensating for any displacement of the optical caused by the immersion fluid. The system includes an optical assembly (14) to project an image defined by the reticle (12) onto the wafer (20). The optical assembly includes a final optical element (16) spaced from the wafer by a gap (24). An immersion element (22) is provided to supply an immersion fluid into the gap and to recover any immersion fluid that escapes the gap. A fluid compensation system is provided for the force on the final optical element of the optical assembly caused by pressure variations of the immersion fluid. The resulting force created by the varying pressure may cause final optical element to become displaced. The fluid compensation system is configured to provide a substantially equal, but opposite force on the optical assembly, to prevent the displacement of the final optical element.
US07688419B2 Thin film transistor array substrate structures and fabrication method thereof
A thin film transistor array substrate structure. The array substrate structure includes a thin film transistor array substrate, an organic material layer formed thereon, and a plurality of black matrices and color filter patterns disposed on the organic material layer. The invention also provides a method of fabricating the thin film transistor array substrate.
US07688417B2 Thin film transistor array panel and method for manufacturing the same
A method for manufacturing a TFT array panel including forming a gate line having a gate electrode on a insulating layer, a gate insulating layer on the gate line, a semiconductor on the gate insulating layer, an ohmic contact on the semiconductor, a data line having a source electrode and a drain electrode apart form the source electrode on the ohmic contact, a passivation layer having a contact hole to expose the drain electrode, and a pixel electrode connected to the drain electrode through the contact hole. The drain electrode and the source electrode are formed by a photolithography using a negative photoresist pattern. The negative photoresist pattern includes a first portion having a first thickness corresponding to a channel area, a second portion having a second thickness corresponding to a data line area, and a third portion having a third thickness corresponding to another area.
US07688400B1 Light source element with lateral, angular light injection
A light source element is employed back-lighting of liquid crystal displays and that comprises an obliquely placed light exit face and/or light entry face. At its surfaces, the light waveguide is surrounded by reflectors into which suitable aperture regions are potentially formed. A plurality of light sources and/or a more direct view is provided and, thus, a corresponding increase of the luminance results. A method is also provided for the manufacture of a light source element with an integrated reflector.
US07688396B2 Backlight module having replacement lamp module
A backlight module having replaceable lamp module is provided. The backlight module includes a replaceable lamp module, a light-guiding plate, a frame and a positioning and protecting mechanism. The light-guiding plate is disposed over the bottom surface among four sides of the frame, wherein one side of the light-guiding plate and a corresponding side of the frame form a sliding groove. The replaceable lamp module is set in the sliding groove and slidably along the sliding groove. The positioning and protecting mechanism comprises a protecting device set on the replaceable lamp module and a positioning device set on the frame. The protecting device is capable of forming a gap between the replaceable lamp module and the bottom of the sliding groove in order to protect the replaceable lamp module from scraped by the structures of the backlight module while the replaceable lamp module is inserting into the sliding groove. The protecting device and the positioning device are capable of positioning and holding the replaceable lamp module in the sliding groove while the replaceable lamp module reaches the predetermined position in the backlight module, and meantime the gap is disappeared.
US07688394B2 Active matrix liquid crystal display device having a flicker eliminating circuit
It is an object to provide an active matrix liquid crystal display device capable of effectively eliminating flicker with a simple structure. An active matrix liquid crystal display device has a plurality of gate lines, a plurality of source busses extending orthogonal to the gate lines, a plurality of liquid crystal elements provided in intersections of the gate lines with the source busses and, as a whole, disposed in matrix form, the liquid crystal devices being connected between a pixel electrode and an opposite electrode connected to a first bus line in a floating condition, a plurality of control circuits provided in relation with the liquid crystal element, the control circuits having: first and second transistors, of which gates are connected to the gate lines respectively, arranged in series between the source busses and the pixel electrode, a third transistor provided between a midpoint node of the first and second transistors and a second bus line to serve as a switch, the second bus line being identical in potential to the first bus line and being electrically isolated from the first bus line, and a fourth transistor connected in parallel with the liquid crystal elements between the pixel electrode and the opposite electrode to detect drain voltage.
US07688391B2 Controller for remotely controlling two or more external devices
A control system includes a remote control apparatus and a controlled apparatus controlled by the remote control apparatus. The controlled apparatus is connected to first and second external apparatuses. The controlled apparatus includes a receiving unit and a control unit. The receiving unit receives a remote control signal from the remote control apparatus. The control unit (a) selects one of the first and second external apparatuses according to the remote control signal, (b) checks an operating state of the selected external apparatus before the controlled apparatus transmits a control command corresponding to the remote control signal to the selected external apparatus, and (c) controls the controlled apparatus to transmit the control command to the selected external apparatus if it is determined from the checked operating state that the control command can be transmitted to the selected external apparatus.
US07688389B2 Receiving apparatus and image receiving apparatus directed to a user viewing analog broadcasts preferentially
A receiving apparatus improving manipulability for a user who watches analog broadcasts exclusively is provided. The receiving apparatus includes a NIM, an input portion that accepts channel numbers of both of the type used for analog broadcasting and the type used for digital broadcasting, a CPU that determines whether the NIM has extracted a broadcast signal of the digital broadcasting, sets the frequency of the radio waves from which the NIM will extract the broadcast signal so as to extract the broadcast signal of the broadcasting corresponding to the channel number, and controls the input portion to accept the channel number of the type different from that for the digital broadcasting until the CPU itself determines that the NIM has extracted the broadcast signal of the digital broadcasting, and a MPEG decoder that outputs the broadcast signal extracted by the NIM.
US07688383B2 Information signal processor, method for processing information signal, image signal processor and image display apparatus using the same, coefficient seed data production device used in the same, method for producing coefficient seed data set and information-providing medium
An information signal processor that is well suitable for use in conversion of an SD signal into an HD signal. The pixel data set corresponding to an objective position in the HD signal is extracted selectively from the SD signal. Class CL to which pixel data set of the objective position belongs is then obtained using the pixel data set. A coefficient production circuit produces coefficient data sets Wi for each class based on coefficient seed data sets and values of picture quality adjusting parameters h and v. A tap selection circuit selectively extracts the data sets xi from the SD signal and then, a calculation circuit produces the pixel data sets of the objective position in the HD signal using the data sets xi and the coefficient data sets Wi. It is thus possible to save on the storage capacity of the memory.
US07688382B2 Solid-state imaging device and method for manufacturing the same
A solid-state imaging device, comprises: a semiconductor substrate having a first surface; a solid-state imaging element in the first surface of semiconductor substrate, the solid-state imaging element comprising a light-receiving region; a light-transmission member having a second surface and a third surface, the second surface being opposite to the third surface, wherein the light-transmission member and the first surface of the semiconductor substrate define a gap between the second surface of the light-transmission member and an outer surface of the light-receiving region; and an external connection terminal connected to the solid-state imaging element, wherein the light-transmission member comprises low α-ray glass.
US07688379B2 Selecting quality images from multiple captured images
A method, apparatus, and system are disclosed for selecting quality images from multiple captured images. One embodiment is an image capturing system. The system includes hardware for capturing a plurality of consecutive images and a processor for determining a quality indication for the consecutive images and for selecting one of the consecutive images based on the quality indication.
US07688376B2 Imaging device and imaging method, and display unit and display method
An image-capturing apparatus and method, displaying apparatus and method that provides full-parallax images having high spatial resolution in real time. An image-capturing optical unit includes a plurality of prismatic mirrors which rotate at a predetermined period. The side surface of each of the prismatic mirrors reflects a light beam from an object. A camera receives the light beam from the object reflected by the prismatic mirrors in order to capture an image of the object. A display optical unit includes a plurality of prismatic mirrors which rotate in phase with the image-capturing optical unit's prismatic mirrors at the same period. A projector emits a light beam corresponding to the image of the object captured by the camera, and such a light beam is reflected by the display optical unit's prismatic mirrors. A user may view an image corresponding to the light beam reflected by the display optical unit's prismatic mirrors.
US07688375B2 Digital image capturing device with a slidable LCD
A digital image capturing device is includes an LCD and a main body. The LCD has a first fastening element. The main body has a switching device a sliding shaft, a sliding shaft sleeve and a second fastening element. The sliding shaft has the sliding shaft sleeve that is slipped onto it and is connected with the LCD. The LCD can be slid and rotated with the above-described mechanism. The LCD utilizes the first fastening element to engage with the second fastening element of the main body, which allows the LCD to be securely attached. The digital image capturing device utilizes the sliding movement to control the switching device to operate the switching function.
US07688371B2 Pixel drive circuit for an image pickup apparatus
This invention provides an image pickup device comprising a plurality of pixels each including a photoelectric conversion unit, a semiconductor area to which a signal from the photoelectric conversion unit is transferred, a transfer switch for transferring the signal from the photoelectric conversion unit to the semiconductor area, and a read unit for reading out the signal from the semiconductor area, and a drive circuit for outputting a first level at which the transfer switch is set in an OFF state, a second level at which the transfer switch is set in an ON state, and a third level between the first level and the second level, wherein the drive circuit controls to hold the third level for a predetermined time while the transfer switch is changing from the ON state to the OFF state.
US07688368B2 Image sensor with improved light sensitivity
An image sensor for capturing a color image is disclosed having a two-dimensional array having first and second groups of pixels, arranged in rows and columns, wherein pixels from the first group of pixels have narrower spectral photoresponses than pixels from the second group of pixels; and the placement of the first and second groups of pixels defining a pattern that has a minimal repeating unit including at least six pixels, so that at least some rows or columns of the minimal repeating unit are composed only of pixels from the second group and some rows or columns of the minimal repeating unit are composed only of pixels from the first group, wherein the rows or columns that are composed only of pixels from the first group are composed of at most two colors of pixels from the first group.
US07688366B2 Method and apparatus for suppressing noise in image sensor devices
An analog sampling circuit comprising a plurality of capacitors is used to sample the reset and video sampling levels at different instants in time to obtain a plurality of respective reset sampling values and a plurality of respective video sampling values. The reset sampling values are then averaged to obtain an average reset sampling value. Likewise, the video sampling values are averaged to obtain an average video sampling value. By averaging the reset sampling values and the video sampling values over time in this manner, random telegraph noise in the reset and video sampling values is eliminated or at least substantially reduced.
US07688365B2 Image pickup apparatus
There is provided an image pickup apparatus comprising two-dimensionally arrayed pixels, a plurality of read-out channels each including a read-out circuit and an amplifier circuit, a parallel-serial conversion circuit which sequentially selects pixel signals output via the plurality of read-out channels and outputs a series of pixel signals, and a clamp unit which clamps the reset level included in an output signal from the read-out circuit in order to remove an offset generated in each read-out channel.
US07688364B2 Decimating and cropping based zoom factor for a digital camera
A camera system and a method for zooming the camera system is disclosed. The method generally includes the steps of (A) generating an electronic image by sensing an optical image received by the camera, the sensing including electronic cropping to a window size to establish an initial resolution for the electronic image, (B) generating a final image by decimating the electronic image by a decimation factor to a final resolution smaller than the initial resolution and (C) changing a zoom factor for the final image by adjusting both of the decimation factor and the window size.
US07688363B2 Super-resolution device, super-resolution method, super-resolution program, and super-resolution system
An albedo estimating section produces an albedo image of an object from an original image captured by an image-capturing section by using light source information estimated by a light source information estimating section and shape information of the object obtained by a shape information obtaining section. An albedo super-resolution section performs super-resolution of the albedo image according to a conversion rule obtained from an albedo DB. A super-resolution section produces a high-resolution image obtained by performing super-resolution of the original image by using the super-resolution albedo image, the light source information and the shape information.
US07688354B2 Image stabilizer
An image stabilizer for counteracting image shake of an object image formed on an image pickup device includes an image-pickup-device holding member; a guide device which guides the image-pickup-device holding member so as to be allowed to move linearly in a plane orthogonal to an optical axis; a driving device which moves the image-pickup-device holding member in a guide direction of the guide device to a force receiving portion on the image-pickup-device holding member; and a flexible printed wiring board, extending from the image pickup device, a part of which being fixed to the image-pickup-device holding member at a fixing position thereon. A distance between the fixing position and the force receiving portion is smaller than a distance between the guide device and the force receiving portion in a direction orthogonal to both the optical axis direction and the guide direction.
US07688353B2 Image-taking apparatus and image-taking method
An image-taking apparatus is disclosed which allows a selection of a type of image stabilization to be used from optical image stabilization and electronic image stabilization as required to provide an excellent output image. The image-taking apparatus has an image generator which is operable in a first mode in which it performs electronic image stabilization processing based on a plurality of images sequentially taken with an image-pickup device to generate an output image and a second mode in which it generates an output image without performing the electronic image stabilization processing on an image taken with the image-pickup device. The image-taking apparatus also has a controller which causes image stabilization operation to be performed through driving of an optical system in both of the first and second modes and selects one of the first mode and the second mode.
US07688346B2 VTV system
The following patent relates to an overall hardware configuration that produces an enhanced spatial television-like viewing experience. Unlike normal television, with this system the viewer is able to control both the viewing direction and relative position of the viewer with respect to the movie action. In addition to a specific hardware configuration, this patent also relates to a new video format which makes possible this virtual reality like experience.
US07688344B2 Systems and methods for mediating teleconferences
Systems and methods for providing a status of a teleconference by determining an approximate delay time and providing a status signal in view of the determined approximate delay time are provided. An approximate delay time is approximately the amount of time that will elapse before an occurrence occurring at a first time, which is captured into an occurrence signal by a source unit, will be experienced at a second time after the occurrence signal is received by at least one receiving unit.
US07688343B2 Device for measuring sheet length and image forming apparatus
A measuring device for measuring a length of a sheet includes a sheet-carrying unit for carrying a sheet, a reading unit having an area sensor and configured to repeatedly read the surface of the sheet from the leading end to the trailing end of the sheet while the sheet is being carried by the sheet-carrying unit, and a measuring unit for measuring the length of the sheet in the carrying direction on the basis of information regarding the sheet surface that is repeatedly read by the reading unit.
US07688342B2 Image forming apparatus and control method thereof
An image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive member, a light source for which intervals between spots formed on the photosensitive member by respective beams emitted from a plurality of light-emitting portions are narrower than a predetermined resolution, and a rotating polygonal mirror having a plurality of mirror plane each of which deflects beams emitted from the light source while rotating. In particular, the image forming apparatus includes a selection unit which selects a light-emitting portion corresponding to a mirror plane used to deflect a beam from the light source, and a driving unit which drives the light source to emit a beam from the selected light-emitting portion.
US07688338B2 Apparatus and method for adjusting brightness
The invention discloses an apparatus for adjusting the brightness of the ith image of an inputted image sequence in a display system. The image sequence includes a plurality of images which each consists of a plurality of pixels. The apparatus includes a first calculating module for calculating a current brightness ratio, a second calculating module for calculating an averaged brightness ratio, a judging module for outputting one selected from the current brightness ratio or the averaged brightness ratio as an outputted brightness ratio, a determining module for storing a plurality of brightness ratios and the corresponding gains and for determining the gain corresponding to the outputted brightness ratio, and an adjusting module for multiplying the gray scale level of each pixel of the ith image by the gain corresponding to the outputted brightness ratio respectively, so as to adjust the brightness of the ith image.
US07688334B2 Method and system for video format transformation in a mobile terminal having a video display
Methods and systems for video format transformation in a mobile terminal having a video display may include converting interleaved YUV 4:2:2 color space video data to YUV 4:2:0 color space video data as the interleaved YUV 4:2:2 color space video data is received. The conversion may use Y, U, and V components in the interleaved YUV 4:2:2 color space video data for a horizontal line of video data. The conversion may also use only a Y component in the interleaved YUV 4:2:2 color space video data for a previous horizontal line or a successive horizontal line of video data. The converted 4:2:0 color space video data may be transferred to memory via, for example, direct memory access. The YUV 4:2:0 color space video data may be transferred to the memory as, for example, 32-bit words.
US07688332B2 Image processing method, image processing apparatus, storage medium and program
An image processing parameter is determined by moving an image displayed on a map representing a color space to an arbitrary position on the map, and an image process corresponding to the arbitrary position is performed to the image at the position after the movement. Besides, the map representing the color space is displayed, and an image processing parameter is determined by relatively moving on the map an image in regard to the map. By such constitutions, operability and sensuous usability in color adjustment are improved.
US07688331B2 Method and system for color correction of image signals
In a method and system for performing color correction for an image signal, a first set of matrix coefficients for color correction of the image signal in a 3-dimensional RGB color space is transformed to a first set of points of a two-dimensional XY plane. In addition, the first set of points is modified to a second set of points in the XY plane for tuning image quality. Furthermore, the first and second sets of points in the two-dimensional XY plane are displayed such as on a graphical user interface of a computer system.
US07688320B2 Methods and systems for texture prefetching based on a most recently hit primitive algorithm
According to embodiments of the invention ray-primitive intersection tests in may be executed in an order according to a most recently hit primitive list. Furthermore, by pre-fetching a texture which is applied to the first intersected primitive in the most recently hit primitive list, the amount of time necessary to determine the color of the primitive based on the color of the pre-fetched texture at the point a ray intersects the primitive may be reduced. The color of the primitive due to the pre-fetched texture may be used to determine the color of a pixel through which a ray passed, and the pixel may be used to render a two dimensional image from a three dimensional scene. Therefore, by reducing the amount of time to determine the color of the pixel, the amount of time necessary to render a two dimensional image form a three dimensional scene may be reduced.
US07688317B2 Texture mapping 2-D text properties to 3-D text
Three-dimensional text is displayed without losing its related two-dimensional text properties. The two-dimensional text properties are captured and mapped to the three-dimensional text. Capturing the properties helps preserve the look of the two-dimensional text when it is converted and displayed as three-dimensional text. A texture map is used to capture the two-dimensional properties that are associated with the text. The texture map capturing the two-dimensional text properties is applied to the three-dimensional text and then displayed.
US07688316B2 Adaptive method for acquiring color measurements
A system and method for measuring a color parameter values of a display for calibration purposes. An initial measurement of the color parameter value from the display is performed. Next, a number of additional measurements is determined in response to the value of the initial color parameter value. The color parameter value of the display is measured by the number of additional measurements in order to determine an average color parameter value of the display which will be used for calibration purposes.
US07688315B1 Proximity input detection system for an electronic device
A proximity input detection system for an electronic device. In one embodiment, the present invention utilizes an inductive field sensor to detect a change in a magnetic field when an input device with a coil is within a threshold distance. In another embodiment, the present invention utilizes a capacitive sensor which can locate the position of an electrically conductive object which is within a threshold distance. The capacitive sensor can also be used, for example, as a switch to activate the device if a user picks it up. The present invention allows user inputs to be detected without actually touching the electronic device. The present invention can also be used to detect inputs through intervening non-metallic layers such as a protective cover or another display of the device without using additional input sensors.
US07688313B2 Touch-sense apparatus available for one-dimensional and two-dimensional modes and control method therefor
A touch-sense apparatus available for one-dimensional and two-dimensional modes comprises a sensor having a plurality of traces in two directions to sense the position touched by an object to produce a first signal, a two-dimensional coordinate processor to produce a two-dimensional coordinate based on the first signal in the two-dimensional mode, and a coordinate transformer to produce a second signal from the first signal or the two-dimensional coordinate in the one-dimensional mode for a one-dimensional coordinate processor to produce a one-dimensional coordinate in response to the second signal.
US07688312B2 Touch-sensitive device for scrolling a document on a display
A touch-sensitive device for use as an electronic input device for controlling by scrolling the visible portion of a document or image relative to a display. The device can include various improved configurations such as physically separate opposed input surfaces at opposite longitudinal ends and/or lateral sides. The end regions of a touch sensitive surface may be rounded and/or tapered to provide relative positional feedback to the user. Tactile positional feedback can also include surface texture changes on the scrolling area and/or changes in the surface of the frame in the region immediately adjacent the scrolling area. The touch sensitive areas may be provided within a split alphanumeric section of an ergonomic keyboard to enable scrolling without the user having to remove his or her hands from the alphanumeric section.
US07688304B2 Liquid crystal display device and method of modifying image signals for the same
A liquid crystal display (LCD) device comprises a liquid crystal panel assembly having pixels and thin film transistors, a sensor sensing temperature, a image signal modifying portion receiving image signals and the temperature, calculating a plurality of reference data for modification with respect to the temperature using coefficient of quadratic equation, and generating modified images signals according to the reference data for modification for the image signals for previous and current frame; and a data driving portion converting the modified image signals into data voltages and supplying the data voltages to the liquid crystal panel assembly. According to this configuration, the liquid crystal display device may reduce the size of the memory by calculating modified image signals with respect to the temperature using PQI.
US07688302B2 Shift register and display device using same
A shift register includes plural stages of flip-flops. The last-stage flip-flop Fn and the flip-flop Fn−1 that is the preceding flip-flop thereof are reset by inputting thereto an output signal from the last-stage flip-flop. A delaying means is provided, between an output terminal Q of the last-stage flip-flop for outputting the output signal and an input terminal R of the last-stage flip-flop for receiving the output signal, for delaying an input of the output signal to the input terminal R. The flip-flop Fn is reset at same time or after the preceding flip-flop Fn−1 is reset. With this arrangement, it is possible to prevent malfunctions of circuits due to a failure to reset the flip-flops.
US07688295B2 Drive system and method for a color display
A display has plural pixel groups each having plural color pixels. In a given frame that is divided into a first sub-period and a second sub-period, a first signal is provided in the first sub-period to a pixel of a given color in a first pixel group, and a second signal is provided to the pixel in the second sub-period. The first signal is set to one of a first polarity and a second polarity, and the second signal is set to one of the first polarity and second polarity, wherein the first signal and the second signal form a first sequence. A pixel of the given color in a second pixel group that is adjacent the first pixel group is driven with a second sequence of signals that is the same as the first sequence.
US07688291B2 Light emitting device and electronic apparatus using the same
Providing a light emitting device capable of suppressing the variations of luminance of OLEDs associated with the deterioration of an organic light emitting material, and achieving a consistent luminance. An input image signal is constantly or periodically sampled to sense a light emission period or displayed gradation level of each of light emitting elements of pixels and then, a pixel suffering the greatest deterioration and decreased luminance is predicted from the accumulations of the sensed values. A current supply to the target pixel is corrected for achieving a desired luminance. The other pixels than the target pixel are supplied with an excessive current and hence, the individual gradation levels of the pixels are lowered by correcting the image signal for driving the pixel with the deteriorated light emitting element on as-needed basis, the correction of the image signal made by comparing the accumulation of the sensed values of each of the other pixels with a previously stored data on a time-varying luminance characteristic of the light emitting element.
US07688289B2 Organic EL driver circuit and organic EL display device
To provide an organic EL drive circuit including D/A converter circuits capable of reducing the number of elements, which are proof against relatively high voltage, restricting an increase of circuit size and restricting variation of luminance of a display screen and an organic EL display device using the organic EL drive circuit.An organic EL drive circuit for generating, in response to a predetermined current inputted to an input terminal of a D/A converter circuit constructed with a current mirror circuit, drive currents to be outputted to terminal pins of the organic EL display panel or a current, on which the drive currents are generated, by converting digital display data into analog signal by the D/A converter circuit, comprises a first transistor provided between an input side transistor of the current mirror circuit and the input terminal, a second transistor provided between an output side transistor of the current mirror circuit and an output terminal and a third transistor provided between the output terminal and a power source line, wherein proof voltages of the input side transistor, the output side transistor and the third transistor are lower than proof voltage of the first and second transistors.