| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US07716878B1 |
Decorative tombstone cover
A tombstone cover is described for the display of indicia. The cover has a member made from a flexible material adapted for disposal over the tombstone and a cinch. The member also has a front; a top; opposing sides; and a back. At least 50 percent of a height of the tombstone remains uncovered by the member. |
| US07716876B2 |
Catapult air beam with permanently affixed laceloops
An inflatable air beam having a laceloop assembly affixed thereto, a structure utilizing same and a method of constructing a structure is provided. In the structure, the fabric is laced to a structural support, typically, an air beam to position and properly tension the fabric thereon. The laceloop assembly includes spaced apart adjacent laceloops that are interconnected to secure the fabric panel to the structural support. In practicing the method, the laceloops are passed through fabric panels and through adjacent laceloops to interconnect the adjacent laceloops and secure the fabric panels to the structural support. |
| US07716875B2 |
Windows
A window includes at least one multiple pane unit (1, 2) mounted in an opening for sliding movement between an open position and a closed position. The multiple pane unit (1, 2) includes at least two panes (34, 38) in spaced disposition, and has a seal (30) disposed there between to form a sealed chamber between the two panes. At least one of the panes (38) extends beyond the seal (30). In an alternative aspect of the invention, there may be two such multiple pane units (1, 2) in a sliding or other type of window. In the closed positions of the window, portions of the seal (30) of the multiple pane units are aligned and one of the multiple pane units (1) has at least one of its panes (38) extending beyond the seal (30). |
| US07716874B2 |
Expandable gate
A variable width gate for adaptively mating with boundaries of an opening to provide a barrier therebetween, the variable width gate comprising: (a) an extendable gate including a first gate section mounted to a second gate section, wherein either the first gate section or the second gate section includes a rib; (b) a tracker adapted to engage the rib and operatively coupled to the other of the first gate section or the second gate section not having the rib; and (c) a handle operatively coupled to one of the tracker and the rib, such that displacement of the handle manipulates the position of the tracker in relation to the rib to horizontally reposition the first gate section with respect to the second gate section. |
| US07716873B2 |
Multilayer vegetation support system
A multilayer vegetation support system is provided, wherein the system includes a reservoir substrate and an overlying composite, wherein a growing medium and vegetation are disposed on an exposed surface of the composite. The reservoir substrate is a generally planar member having a plurality of recesses or dimples, and can include a plurality of drain apertures in land areas intermediate the dimples. The composite includes a water retention layer, a root barrier layer and a multitude of projecting loops, wherein a growing medium and vegetation overlie and intertwine with the projecting loops. |
| US07716871B1 |
Fishing lure
A fishing lure for spraying water droplets fore and aft of the fishing lure. The fishing lure has a monolithic fishing lure body extending along an axis from a head end to a tail end of the fishing lure body. A first substantially planar surface is formed at the head end of the fishing lure body such that the first substantially planar surface forms a first angle with respect to the axis. A second substantially planar surface is formed at the head end of the fishing lure body such that the second substantially planar surface forms a second angle with respect to the axis. A third angle is formed with respect to the first and second substantially planar surfaces such that the third angle is the sum of the first angle and the second angle. A crotch is defined by the intersection of the first substantially planar surface and the second substantially planar surface. The crotch extends through and substantially transverse to the axis, wherein the crotch and the axis cooperate to define a plane that defines the fishing lure body into an upper portion and a lower portion adjacent to the first substantially planar surface and the second substantially planar surface, respectively. A hook tie eyelet for pivotally attaching a fishing hook thereto is connected to a central portion of the lower portion of the fishing lure body, and a line tie eyelet is connected to the head end of the fishing lure body. |
| US07716869B2 |
Artificial bait
An artificial bait for fishing with a flexible appendage (28, 28′) which is made of soft plastic or other resilient material and it is either formed or interchangeably fitted on a radial bearing (27, 27′) rotatably mounted on a shaft (25, 25′, 25″, 23″). |
| US07716864B2 |
Molded rifle stock
A molded firearm stock is disclosed. The stock includes a molded front sling lug and a molded rear sling lug. Both sling lugs are integrally molded to the stock and accommodate the fastening of a sling. The stock also includes a cavity with an open end that is open to a butt-plate of the stock. The cavity is integrally molded to the stock and is sized to accommodate a recoil-reducing device. The stock has a bed portion with a forward section, and a plurality of crossbeams are in the forward section to provide increased strength and rigidity. |
| US07716861B2 |
Outdoor display sign
An outdoor display sign has a display enclosure. The display enclosure has a number shades that reduce the solar loading on the display enclosure. The outdoor display sign has shades covering the top, back, sides and parts of the front of the sign. The shades are offset from the display enclosure to allow natural airflow between the shade and the display enclosure. |
| US07716859B1 |
Golf club bag tag
A golf club bag tag contains a tag body, a connection element, and at least a golf tool such as a divot repair tool or a golf ball marker. The tag body has a first major surface with an indentation for the embedment of the golf tool. The tag body could be hung on a golf club bag or a waist belt of a golfer by the connection element so that the golfer would not forget to bring the golf tool. |
| US07716857B2 |
Fluid shovel apparatus and method
A fluid shovel apparatus that pushes and lifts loose material such as snow, leaves, sand, dirt, grass clippings, mulch, or the like. The present invention includes at least one fluid exhaust port located in a blade. Pressurized fluid flows through the blade and ejects out through the at least one fluid exhaust port towards loose material. The loose material floats on a cushion of pressurized fluid that forms between the blade and the loose material. The loose material is pushed away from the blade and is lifted in an upward direction. |
| US07716847B2 |
Probe system and method for operating a probe system
A probe system includes a probe head and a transceiver element. Due to contact of a stylus, a sensor signal is able to be generated by a sensor element. The probe head and the transceiver element are configured such that a wireless data transfer is able to be produced between them, so that readiness information is transmittable from the probe head to the transceiver element. The readiness information is transmittable by two bit strings including high bits and low bits, the bit strings being transmittable following defined time intervals, and the second bit string having fewer high bits than the first bit string. |
| US07716842B2 |
Clip-on utensils and methods of use thereof
Clip-on utensils and methods of use therefor, wherein the handle end of the utensil incorporates a clip for securing the utensil to the edge of a plate, bowl, glass or cup. The clip portion of the utensil is opened and subsequently positioned over the tableware edge, wherein the clip is subsequently released; thereby, gripping the edge of the tableware and securing the utensil thereon. When at rest, the clip portion forms a planar combination with the handle thereby imparting strength to the combination over that of the handle alone. Various alternative clipping means are described. |
| US07716841B2 |
Removing tool for car-window edge strips
A removing tool for car-window edge strips includes a grip, a linking rod, a protective disc and a tool set. The protective disc is positioned between the grip and the linking rod, and the linking rod has a flat insert groove diametrically formed vertically for the tool set to insert therein and kept tight by screws. The protective disc can protect hands of a user from getting hurt during removing operation. The flat insert groove of the linking rod can be used for combining different tool sets for removing car-window edge strips and dried glue attached with the edge strips with convenience and quickness. |
| US07716839B2 |
Folding knife with removable blade
A knife is provided including a first side and a second side where the first side may be removably coupled to the second side. The knife further includes a blade removably secured to the handle and rotatable about a pivot point between an open position and a closed position. A manually-releasable fastening device disposed on the handle is adapted to secure the first side to the second side and to secure the blade to the handle, while remaining attached to the handle. |
| US07716837B2 |
Constant velocity joint and method of manufacturing the same
A constant velocity joint, wherein all of those rolling elements excluding a plurality of rolling elements are divided into a plurality of rolling element groups and arranged along the inner diameter part of a roller member. The excluded plurality of rolling elements are dispersed in first to third cam grooves at intervals in the circumferential direction. When the rolling elements are pressed in the radial outer direction by the first to third pressing faces of a cam rotating in the arrow A direction, they are simultaneously press-fitted into first to third clearances between the rolling elements from the side of the inner diameter part of the roller member. |
| US07716835B2 |
Methods of manufacturing structural panels
Methods of manufacturing structural panels for use in manufacturing aircraft fuselages and other structures are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a structural panel configured in accordance with the invention includes a skin and at least first and second stiffeners. The first stiffener can have a first flange portion mated to the skin and a first raised portion projecting away from the skin. The second stiffener can have a second flange portion mated to the skin and a second raised portion projecting away from the skin. At least one of the first flange portion of the first stiffener and the second flange portion of the second stiffener can extend toward the other of the first flange portion and the second flange portion to form an at least approximately continuous support surface to which a frame can be attached. |
| US07716831B2 |
Method of assembling an actuator with an internal sensor
A method of installing a piston position sensor proximate to a closed end of a hydraulic cylinder is provided. The sensor is attached to the face of a piston and that piston/sensor combination is inserted into the cylinder tube to position the sensor in the desired location. When properly located within the cylinder tube, the sensor is affixed to the cylinder tube by means of beveled holes in the sensor that receive bolts threadedly inserted through the cylinder tube to further properly align the sensor within the cylinder tube. When so affixed, the sensor is then detached from the piston so that the piston can thereafter move independently of the sensor. A fixture is also used that allows the assembler to accurately align the angular orientation of the sensor prior to being inserted into the cylinder tube. |
| US07716829B2 |
Indirect evaporative cooling heat exchanger
A heat exchanger including a header having a plurality of header openings with rigid tubes that may be made of plastic are inserted in the openings. The tubes are sealed to the header to prevent leakage between the header and the tubes to prevent water and air leakage between the wet, scavenger air stream flowing through the tubes and a dry air stream flowing around the tubes. A method of making the heat exchanger includes providing the openings with a flange and uses an interference fit between the rigid heat exchange tubes and the header openings. A self-leveling sealant may be used to seal the heat exchanger tubes to the header using, for example, a paint roller and/or a paint sprayer. |
| US07716828B2 |
Method of manufacturing throttle body, and throttle body
A resin main body (3) defining a bore (7) through which intake air flows, and a valve body (60) having a shaft part (20) rotatably supported by the main body (3) and a valve part (4) for opening and closing the bore (7) of the main body (3) are provided. The main body (3) is molded with the valve body (60) inserted together with a pair of bearing sleeves (24). At the time of molding the main body (3), the bearing sleeves (24) are biased in a direction opposite to the flow of the intake air with the valve body (60) being positioned in place. |
| US07716820B2 |
Rotational apparatus for welding beam-mount structure to the side(s) of a column
Apparatus for precision deploy-attaching beam-mount structure to the outside of an elongate column at plural, defined attachment sites that are distributed and spaced along the length of the column. During use, a column support jig with plural openable/closeable yokes in the apparatus supports a column horizontally for selective rotation about its long axis. A carriage in the apparatus, which holds beam-mount structures to be attached to a supported column, is selectively moveable and position-lockable in defined locations distributed along the supported column between yokes in a pair of spaced yokes to enable precision weld-attaching of the mounts to sides of the column. |
| US07716818B2 |
Method for transferring a substrate
A method for transferring a substrate includes moving first and second substrate holding sections opposite each other, moving a first substrate stage holding the substrate so as to be disposed between the first and second substrate holding sections, delivering the substrate from the first substrate stage to the first and second substrate holding sections by releasing the holding of the substrate by the first substrate stage and holding the substrate by the first and second substrate holding sections, moving the first and second substrate holding sections from a first substrate taking-over position to a second substrate taking-over position, moving a second substrate stage so as to be disposed in the interval between the first and second substrate holding sections at the second substrate taking-over position, and delivering the substrate to the second substrate stage by releasing the substrate and holding the substrate by the second substrate stage. |
| US07716814B2 |
Method of manufacturing magnetic head, and magnetic head substructure
Components of a plurality of magnetic heads are formed on a single substrate to fabricate a magnetic head substructure in which a plurality of pre-head portions are aligned in a plurality of rows. The substructure is cut to separate the plurality of pre-head portions from one another, and the plurality of magnetic heads are thereby fabricated. The surface formed by cutting the substructure is lapped to form a lapped surface. The lapped surface is lapped so as to reach a target position of a medium facing surface. The substructure incorporates first to fourth resistor elements each of which detects the position of the lapped surface. The third and fourth detection elements are located at positions shifted from the first and second resistor elements along the direction orthogonal to the medium facing surface. |
| US07716812B2 |
Method of manufacturing a magnetic head
A main magnetic pole of a recording head is formed in an inverted trapezoidal shape by ion milling but, the long milling time poses a problem of variations in the inverted trapezoidal shape and the dimensional variations in track width. In one embodiment of the invention, a recording head is formed by first forming a lower magnetic pole, a gap layer, and conductor coils, forming an upper magnetic yoke over the gap layer at a position recessed from the air bearing surface, and forming an inorganic insulative layer in the recessed portion. A back magnetic pole connected with the upper magnetic yoke is formed on the back of the lower electrode. Successively, the upper surfaces of the inorganic insulative layer and the upper magnetic yoke are planarized, on which an underlayer film such as of Rh is formed. A magnetic layer is formed by stacking a plurality of thin magnetic films by sputtering over the underlayer film from the air bearing surface as far as the position overlapping the upper magnetic yoke. Successively, ion milling is applied to form a main magnetic pole of an inverted trapezoidal shape having a taper on the lateral surface as viewed from the air bearing surface. |
| US07716808B2 |
Method of attaching a diaphragm to a frame for a planar loudspeaker
Electro-dynamic loudspeakers typically include a diaphragm having a conductor applied to one of its surfaces where the diaphragm is secured to a frame. The conductor is connected to a power supply for providing electrical current through linear traces of the conductor that interact with magnetic fields generated by magnets that are mounted to the frame. The diaphragm is driven by a motive force created when current passes through the conductor within the magnetic field. The electrical current is varied to create an acoustical output from the electro-dynamic loudspeaker. Different methods of attaching the diaphragm are provided for simplifying the manufacturing process and for obtaining a robust electro-dynamic loudspeaker. |
| US07716806B2 |
Tantalum sputtering target and method for preparation thereof
Provided is a tantalum sputtering target having a crystal structure in which the (222) orientation is preferential from a position 10% of the target thickness toward the center face of the target, and a manufacturing method of a tantalum sputtering target, including the steps of forging and recrystallization annealing, and thereafter rolling, a tantalum ingot or billet having been subject to melting and casting, and forming a crystal structure in which the (222) orientation is preferential from a position of 10% of the target thickness toward the center face of the target. As a result, evenness (uniformity) of the film is enhanced, and quality of the sputter deposition is improved. |
| US07716805B2 |
Screwed connection
The invention relates to a screwed connection, particularly designed for screwing together housing parts. A tight-fitting neck (2) is provided with a tangent continuous transition (37) between the cone (2) and the bolt head (3), in order to ensure the tightness of the screwed connection and the tightening torque in the instance of temperature fluctuations and different materials with different coefficients of expansion. This is achieved due to the special design of the tight-fitting neck. |
| US07716803B2 |
Method for fabricating flexible pipe with armor tendons
A method of fabricating a flexible pipe for conveyance of fluid, comprising: winding at least one metal element in a short pitch helix around an inner sealing sheath for withstanding radial forces in the inner sealing sheath; preshaping a metal strip to form at least one ply of tensile armor tendons; winding the ply of tensile armor tendons in a long pitch helix around the at least one metal element; and applying an external protective sealing sheath around the at least one ply of tensile armor tendons. |
| US07716797B2 |
Composite seat pan structure for a lightweight aircraft seat assembly
An aircraft passenger seat configured in accordance with an embodiment of the invention utilizes composite materials to achieve significant weight savings relative to conventional seat designs. The seat includes one or more lightweight composite support legs, a lightweight composite seat pan, and a lightweight composite seat back structure. The support legs are coupled to the seat pan, which is in turn coupled to the seat back structure. The support legs utilize composite frame elements that are formed as continuous compression molded composite extrusions. The seat pan includes composite fore and aft cross beams that are also formed as continuous compression molded composite extrusions. The aft cross beam includes a rear flange that serves as a flexible “hinge” for the seat back structure. The seat can leverage producible and relatively inexpensive composite manufacturing techniques such that the seat can be economically produced for use as an economy class seat. |
| US07716795B2 |
Anti-rattle tongue plate assembly
An anti-rattle tongue plate assembly for a seat belt and the method of making the same are provided with a cover member of a hard material that is a distinct component and has soft material on the cover member to reduce noise. The cover member may be a cinch member slidably mounted on the tongue plate. The soft material may be mechanically joined and bonded to the hard material of the cinch member. |
| US07716794B2 |
Seatbelt buckle for use in vehicle
A seatbelt buckle for use in vehicle comprises a base, an intermediate loop, a fixed disc, an elastic member, an upper cover, a fixed post, four movable posts, an actuation member, a biasing element and a pressing element, wherein the intermediate loop and the fixed disc are screwed onto the base, the elastic member is secured between the intermediate loop and the fixed disc, and a plurality of snap-on recesses form between the intermediate loop and the fixed disc for the insertion of engaging members of the seatbelt, the pressing element is constructed in the form of a sheet, and one end thereof extends outwardly and includes a wave-shaped abutting segment arranged thereon, thereby lowering the production cost and saving force during unbuckling the seatbelt. |
| US07716790B2 |
On-the-go adjustable extension pole providing hands-free tool connection and disconnection
A hands-free system for connecting and disconnecting a tool from an adjustable length extension pole. The system includes first and second slidably interconnected elongated members, a tool-holding assembly releasably coupled to the second elongated member, and a locking assembly disposed between the first and second elongated members. The relative sliding of the first and second elongated members can be selectively restrained by rotating the first and second elongated members relative to one another. The tool-holding assembly can be disconnected from the second elongated member by sliding the first and second elongated members together. |
| US07716789B1 |
Sanitary handle apparatus
The sanitary handle apparatus provides a leveraged handle with a like-shaped rod within. The rod is partially exposed. A protective covering is fed onto the rod to prevent contact with germs and bacteria left by other individuals. The apparatus is especially useful for publicly and industrially used doors. The covering is an automatically feeding roll of hygienic, biodegradable paper or plastic rod covering. The roll is placed inside a durable, plastic or metal housing that operates via 12-volt, rechargeable battery packs and/or 12-volt transformer and also includes a motion sensor for motor activation. |
| US07716788B2 |
Hinge for a tablet computer extension pad
An extension pad has a clamp device to hold a tablet computer on the extension pad securely. The clamp device has a mounting base and a rotating clamp. A hinge for a tablet computer extension pad in accordance with the present invention is mounted in the clamp device and has a pivoting leaf, a limiting segment, a stationary leaf and a spring. The pivoting leaf is mounted in the rotating clamp. The limiting segment is mounted around the pivoting leaf to selectively limit rotation of the rotating clamp. The stationary leaf is mounted rotatably on the pivoting leaf and is mounted securely in the mounting base. The spring is mounted between the pivoting leaf and the stationary leaf. Consequently, the hinge allows the clamp device to hold the tablet computer securely on the extension pad. |
| US07716782B2 |
Mobile unit for cleaning a sewer network
The invention relates to a mobile unit for cleaning a sewer network from a manhole, the unit comprising a suction hose, a cleaner hose, and a support and guide arm comprising a horizontal portion movable in swiveling about a vertical axis and in horizontal translation relative to the mobile unit, said arm further including a vertical portion connected to the horizontal portion and presenting a bottom module movable in swiveling and in vertical translation relative to said horizontal portion, the suction and cleaner hoses being connected to said bottom module, whereby the positioning of the bottom module corresponds substantially to the positioning of the working ends of the suction and cleaner hoses. |
| US07716781B2 |
Suction motor for vacuum cleaner
A cleaner (1) has a DC brushless motor (15) with stator (203) and rotor (212). Stator is mounted on a shaft and rotor is mounted inside and to a tubular body (207) about stator (203). Impeller (17) is mounted to and outside tubular body (207). The motor (15) and impeller (17) are mounted in a housing having an intake (17) and an exhaust (9). Operation of the motor and rotation of the impeller causes a partial vacuum at the intake (7) to draw air. The air is exhausted through the exhaust (9). A filter (61) prevents particles from entering the motor (15). Particles are collected in a receptacle (5) prior to the filter (61). The impeller (17) may be a squirrel cage fan, bladed fan, or centrifugal fan. A secondary exhaust (11) expels particles from the filter (61) and/or receptacle (5) by rotation of the impeller (17) in an opposite direction or by the use of a secondary DC motor and impeller. The housing (2) can fit in a cavity between conventional wall studs. |
| US07716778B2 |
Buffing ball
A buffing ball is formed by compressing a stack of generally circular buffing pads along a central axis. The individual pads have a generally wave-like outer peripheral surface having valleys and mounds. When compressed together, the mounds form small knobs that are ideal for buffing or cleaning intricate surfaces. |
| US07716754B1 |
Ski helmet with adjustable face shield
The present invention is a ski helmet that combines a visor and face shield. Adapted to the ski helmet is a suitably thick strip of resilient foam material positioned across the exterior front-facing surface of the helmet protecting the forehead area of the person wearing the helmet. The face shield can be rotated to various positions which will change the contact area of the face shield and foam strip and thus the amount of air flow between the face shield and user's face. When the face shield is in maximum contact with the foam strip, air flow is minimized. |
| US07716753B2 |
Undergarment for women
An improved women's undergarment includes a flexible, generally triangular front panel having a bottom corner and top left and top right corners and a rear waistband extending between and connecting the top left and top right corners of the front panel extending partially circumferentially rearwards therefrom. Finally, a pair of lower loop straps is included, one extending between and connecting the top left corner and bottom corner of the front panel and one extending between and connecting the top right corner and bottom corner of the front panel such that when the undergarment is being worn, the front panel being adapted to cover the female genitalia of a person wearing the undergarment with the rear waistband extending around the rear of the waist of a person wearing the undergarment and the left and right lower straps extending around and underneath the buttocks of a person. |
| US07716752B2 |
Protective undergarment configured for improved handling
A protective undergarment is provided according to exemplary aspects of this invention. The undergarment includes a waist portion adapted to encircle the waist of a user. The undergarment also includes a crotch portion having an end segment extending from the waist portion, a central segment, and a terminal end segment attachable to the waist portion. The terminal end segment of the crotch portion extends substantially perpendicular to the waist portion. |
| US07716751B2 |
Insulated and moisture resistant glove for holding beverage containers
An glove that has one or more pads that insulate and resist moisture for holding beverage containers. The pad or pads are positioned at the surface of the glove that contacts a beverage container when a wearer of the glove grasps the container. The pads provide an enhanced grip and comfort for the wearer's hand when holding a beverage container. |
| US07716749B2 |
Dining garment for a high chair
A dining garment for a child's high chair or toddler's table or other similar furniture article, comprises a tray cover, a bib extension of the tray cover extending over the tray, and a bolster disposed around and extending upward from the perimeter of the tray cover, the combination forming a basin. The bolster has sufficient rigidity to maintain the basin form and sufficient flexibility to facilitate installation, removal, and cleaning, without requiring inflation of the bolster and without requiring a separate supporting frame. The dining garment includes a trough between the tray cover and the bib extension for accumulating spilled food materials. A drain may be provided in the trough for draining the spilled material. The drain may include a cap, stopper, or plug. |
| US07716748B2 |
Ballistic shield
A protective shield having an upper portion, which may be configured to provide ballistic protection to at least a head of a user, and a lower portion, which may be configured to provide ballistic protection to at least a torso of the user. The upper portion may have a width wider than the head of the user. The lower portion may have a width that is greater than the width of the upper portion, and therefore extends laterally beyond the upper portion (forming at least one weapon support region on the protective shield). |
| US07721347B2 |
Scanning nanotube probe device and associated method
A method and device are provided for determining, without contact, the physical and electrical properties of nanotube materials. The device includes a scanning probe configured to generate a signal of certain frequency onto the nanotube material and measure a reflected signal from the nanotube material, and a processor coupled to the scanning probe and configured to determine the physical and electrical properties of the nanotube material from the measured reflected signal. The method includes positioning a scanning probe relative to the nanotube material, generating a signal of certain frequency onto the nanotube material, and measuring a reflected signal from the nanotube material. |
| US07721344B2 |
Data security system and method
The method for securing data in a server-client computer system for security sensitive content includes extracting sensitive content and separating the security sensitive content from remainder data. The security sensitive content is grouped into security levels, each with a security clearance. The extracted data, for each security level, is remotely stored in extract stores. A map of storage sites may be generated. The filter and/or map may be destroyed or stored. The data input, extracted data and remainder data may be deleted from the originating computer. Encryption may be utilized to enhance security (including transfers of data, filter and map). Full or partial reconstruction of the data is permitted only in the presence of predetermined security clearances. The extraction and storage can be done on the input client computer or the web-based server. A computer readable medium containing programming instructions and an information processing system is encompassed. |
| US07721340B2 |
Registry protection
Tampering with pieces of software is inhibited. Registry protection prevents changes made to keys and values in a central hierarchical database. Hardware protection prevents hackers from forcing various pieces of software from running on unauthorized pieces of hardware. The obfuscation of a software image so as to becloud the comprehension of hackers in reverse engineering pieces of software comprising the software image is provided. Image verification ensures the originality of the pieces of software to be installed. |
| US07721339B2 |
Method for controlling access to digital content and streaming media
A system and method for controlling access to digital content, including streaming media. The system includes a web server, media server and end user processor, such as a personal computer, coupled to a network. The web server cryptographically generates a ticket in response to an end user's request for access to a file. The ticket is based, at least in part, on a time at or near when the ticket is generated. The media server generates an authorization ticket, preferably using the same cryptographic algorithm as the web server. The media server authorization ticket is based, at least in part, on a time at or near when the media server receives the request for access to the file. The media server determines whether to grant access to the file by comparing the ticket, as generated by the web server, to the ticket, as generated by the media server. |
| US07721338B2 |
Defeat of the copy protection of optical discs
DVDs can be copy protected by incorporating regions which contain unreadable or subversive data within the data area (42). For example, such a region may be configured as a cell of a video object (VOB) (50) within a VOB file (51). Access to the region of subversive data is prevented during normal playback, for example, by ensuring that there are no pointers leading to the subversive region. To defeat such a copy protection method, the content on the copy protected optical disc is accessed by utilising the navigation provided for normal playback of the disc. Thus, the subversive regions are navigated around during copying of the disc. The accessed content is stored in a corresponding data area and, where subversive regions are identified, arbitrary data is incorporated within regions of the copy data area which correspond to regions of unreadable or subversive data in the original data area. |
| US07721337B2 |
System and method for providing a push of background data
Digital pre-downloading of high bandwidth digital data is performed through a system gateway based on selective filtering, scheduling, and end user device requirements. Digital broadcasting systems are used to push large bandwidth data during non-peak periods (e.g., in the early AM hours) or during times of other relative network or end user device inactivity. Digital data, such as background images, song compilations, artist compilations, newspapers, e-books, digital purchases of other data, maps of local areas based on, for example, GPS based location detection, etc., are pre-downloaded and stored in the end user (client) device, e.g., a car digital radio or other consumer electronic device with display flag turned off. The device is subscriber preconfigured to selectively filter and retain (e.g., in local cache memory) a desired portion of the data broadcast. Later, a command is sent to activate the contents for subscriber presentation. Delta updates, if received, are pushed in real-time. Real-time updates are matched to the corresponding pre-downloaded data at specific scheduled times. The updates predominantly comprise a refresh of only the changes (delta) to the data (e.g., traffic updates). |
| US07721336B1 |
Systems and methods for dynamic detection and prevention of electronic fraud
The present invention provides systems and methods for dynamic detection and prevention of electronic fraud and network intrusion using an integrated set of intelligent technologies. The intelligent technologies include neural networks, multi-agents, data mining, case-based reasoning, rule-based reasoning, fuzzy logic, constraint programming, and genetic algorithms. The systems and methods of the present invention involve a fraud detection and prevention model that successfully detects and prevents electronic fraud and network intrusion in real-time. The model is not sensitive to known or unknown different types of fraud or network intrusion attacks, and can be used to detect and prevent fraud and network intrusion across multiple networks and industries. |
| US07721333B2 |
Method and system for detecting a keylogger on a computer
A method and system for detecting a keylogger on a computer is described. One illustrative embodiment creates, in a memory of the computer, a hidden window; generates a unique, unpredictable data pattern; inputs, to the hidden window, the unique, unpredictable data pattern in a manner that mimics keyboard input from a user; scans running processes in the memory other than a keylogger detection process for the unique, unpredictable data pattern; and performs a secondary scan of a suspect process, the suspect process having an associated buffer that contains the unique, unpredictable data pattern. |
| US07721326B2 |
Automatic authentication selection server
An authentication server automatically selects one of plural authentications identified by authentication identifiers to authorize access by a user to a service dispensed by a service server of a provider identified by a provider identifier via a communication network. The server includes a module for selecting an authentication identifier in a memory as a function of the provider identifier and the type of the terminal and/or the network type of the communication network, and a module for authenticating the user by launching an authentication process associated with the authentication identifier. |
| US07721322B2 |
Enterprise service-to-service trust framework
Embodiments of the invention provide a trust framework for governing service-to-service interactions. This trust framework can provide enhanced security and/or manageability over prior systems. Merely by way of example, in some cases, an information store can be used to store information security information (such as trust information, credentials, etc.) for a variety of services across an enterprise. In other cases, the trust framework can provide authentication policies to define and/or control authentication between services (such as, for example, types of authentication credentials and/or protocols are required to access a particular service—either as a user and/or as another service—and/or types of authentication credentials and/or protocols a service may be enabled to use to access another service). Alternatively and/or additionally, the trust framework can provide authorization policies to define and/or control authorization between services. |
| US07721321B2 |
Method and apparatus for reducing communication system downtime when configuring a cryptographic system of the communication system
Disclosed is a method and apparatus for reducing communication system downtime when enabling cryptographic operation of a cryptographic system of the communication system where the cryptographic system includes a first cryptographic device operatively coupled to a plurality of second cryptographic devices via a communication network of the communication system. The method includes causing a pass-through mode of the second cryptographic devices to be suspended, sequentially determining a state of each of the second cryptographic devices, causing the second cryptographic devices and the first cryptographic device to substantially simultaneously operate in a secure mode if each of the second cryptographic devices is determined to have a first state, and causing the second cryptographic devices and the first cryptographic device to operate in the pass-through mode if at least one of the plurality of second cryptographic devices is determined to have a second state. |
| US07721319B2 |
Television signal distribution system and method using it
A system for distributing television signals comprises a first terminal which receives a coaxial cable, at least one second terminal which receives a twisted pair of conductors, and an amplifier system comprising a unit for selecting either a first slope or a second slope of increasing gain as a function of frequency between a signal present at the first terminal and a signal present at the second terminal. A method of distributing television signals includes a step of obtaining a system of the above kind, a step of determining a threshold for the length of the pair, and a step of selecting the first slope when the twisted pair has a length less than the threshold and the second slope when the twisted pair has a length greater than the threshold. |
| US07721314B2 |
Scheduled retrieval, storage and access of media data
A system and method automates a scheduled retrieval, storage, and access of media data. Media data is retrieved from an external source and downloaded to an end user media device storage for subsequent playback at the end user media device. Media data is accessible from the end user media device storage based upon criteria including a selection of the end user, rules regulating the media data, and whether a playback time of the media data is sufficient to retrieve additional media data. The system performs regularly scheduled dynamic controls to determine whether additional media data is required for continuous and uninterrupted access of the media data. |
| US07721309B2 |
System and method for providing channel selection in an electronic programming guide
The present invention relates to an entertainment system and method for selectively storing broadcast channels by the entertainment system. To store a broadcast channel, the system first receives programming data associated with the channel. A show associated with the channel is displayed and a menu associated with the storing of the channel in memory may also be displayed. The viewer may then select to add to or remove from memory the programming data associated with the currently tuned channel via a one-step process, and the programming data is subsequently loaded into the memory. |
| US07721308B2 |
Synchronization aspects of interactive multimedia presentation management
Playing an interactive multimedia presentation involves pre-rendering a media object at certain times based on a frame rate of the interactive content, a frame rate of the video content (which may include video, audio, data, or any combination thereof), and a play speed of the presentation. Certain actions taken include calculating a current elapsed play time representing an amount of the presentation's play duration that has passed. Based on the calculated time, a current interactive content presentation time is ascertained from an interactive content timeline. The interactive content timeline represents times at which the media object is presentable. A subsequent interactive content presentation time is selected from the interactive content timeline. The presentation state of the media object is predicted for the subsequent interactive content presentation time. The media object is pre-rendered within a time offset period before the subsequent interactive content presentation time occurs. |
| US07721305B2 |
Remote TV control system
A system and method for controlling the operation of a television using a cable broadcasting network is disclosed. The presence of a viewer in front of the television is sensed, presence information is then transmitted to a cable broadcasting service center via the cable broadcasting network, a control signal is sent to the television adapted to receive same, and regular cable programming is suspended. The present invention allows the cable broadcasting company to provided additional services to the cable subscriber to retain and attract additional customers. These additional services may be tailored to the specific needs of the cable subscriber, thus a higher quality cable service is provided. |
| US07721294B2 |
Object transfer control in a communications network
A method and an intermediate component for controlling in a communications network an object transfer from a first network component via the intermediate component to a second network component which is remote from the first network component are described. The object transfer is based on a plurality of object requests relating to objects referred to in one or more codes to be processed by the second network component or another network component. The intermediate component forms the steps of sending an object request to the first network component, receiving the requested object from the first network component, updating and/or assessing a priority of the requested object, and, in dependence of the priority of the requested object, delaying the requested object or forwarding the requested object to the second network component. An initial priority is assigned to the requested objects on the basis of an analysis of at least one of the object request and the code that refers to the requested object. |
| US07721290B2 |
Job scheduling management method using system resources, and a system and recording medium for implementing the method
A job scheduling management method is provided for managing job schedules. The management method includes the steps of monitoring an operating state of each of a plurality of computers to which one or more jobs are allocated, determining if the operating state meets a predetermined condition, if the operating state meets the predetermined condition, detecting an uncompleted job at a time when the predetermined condition is met from the jobs allocated to the computer, extracting another computer among the computers that is available to execute the detected uncompleted job based on information about one or more resources required for executing the detected uncompleted job, and allocating the detected uncompleted job to the extracted other computer. |
| US07721289B2 |
System and method for dynamic allocation of computers in response to requests
A mechanism dynamically allocates physical machines (computers) for satisfying requests for the machines, such as in the context of assigning test machines for running test cases. Each request specifies one or more logical machine sets it needs, and each logical machine set has specified requirements. The physical machines are organized into a hierarchical structure that includes groups and subgroups of machines. An allocation engine performs the function of allocating available machines from a selected group in the hierarchy for a request based on the requirements of each logical machine set of the request. A group or subgroup of machines may be marked as “allocate as one unit” and all machines in it will be reserved for one request. A job corresponding to a request may have sub-jobs, and machines allocated for the sub-job are selected from the machines allocated for the parent job. |
| US07721276B2 |
Computer-implemented method, system and program product for comparing application program interfaces (APIs) between JAVA byte code releases
Under the present invention, source input corresponding to a first release of Java byte code and target input corresponding to a second release of the Java byte code is received. The input is transformed into a first list containing class names associated with the first release and a second list containing class names associated with the second release. Thereafter, any classes corresponding to class names that appear on both lists (e.g., matching class names) are loaded. The methods within the matching classes are then compared to determine if any of the APIs have been modified between the two releases. After the comparison, the matching class names are removed from the lists. Any class names remaining on the first list represent APIs that have been removed from the second release, while any class names remaining on the second list represent APIs that have been added for the second release. |
| US07721275B2 |
Data-flow based post pass optimization in dynamic compilers
A system and method to perform post pass optimizations in a dynamic compiling environment. A dynamic compiler emits machine code. Responsive to the emission of the machine code a post pass processor creates an abstract representation of the code from the dynamic compiler. Data flow analysis is then conducted on the abstract representation. Redundant instructions in the machine code are identified and eliminated as a result of the data flow analysis. |
| US07721268B2 |
Method and system for a call stack capture
A method of acquiring software profile information of a target software application includes receiving a programmed interrupt while executing an application in a computer system, servicing the interrupt such that call stack information is acquired and processing the call stack information to produce statistical information concerning function calls. The call stack information includes program counter and other information which is derived from the target application as well as operating system. Some or all of the call stack information may be recorded. The statistical information includes statistics concerning the number of samples wherein a series of functions calls are included in the call stack information and the number of samples wherein a set of function calls are at the top of the call stack information. |
| US07721263B2 |
Debug event instruction
Last stall information is transmitted if the last stall standing function is enabled, one of the stall elements was active during the last clock cycle, no stall condition exists during the current cycle and the stall threshold has been met. Last stall standing operation provides a label associated with each stall period that exceeds a specified threshold. This provides the means to filter out some stall bursts to reduce trace bandwidth. |
| US07721262B2 |
System, methods and apparatus for markup language debugging
A system, apparatus and method process data by identifying a processing pipeline defining a series of markup language processing steps. The system inserts at least one debugging step into the processing pipeline. The debugging step(s) define processing to collect debug data associated with application of the markup language processing steps to markup language data to be processed by the processing pipeline. The system executes the series of markup language processing steps, including the debugging step(s), upon input markup language data as a transaction. Execution of the debugging step(s) captures the debug data for at least one of the series of markup language processing steps in the processing pipeline. The debug data allows analysis of operation of the markup language processing steps of the processing pipeline on the input markup language data. |
| US07721252B2 |
Apparatus and method for product-line architecture description and verification
An apparatus and a method for a product-line description and verification is provided. The apparatus includes: a product-line architecture model conversion tool for classifying related architecture model components according to variant characteristics by analyzing inputted scenarios, generating a dependency relationship model by extracting a dependency relationship between architecture model elements based on a variant element, and generating a product-line architecture from an inputted architecture model based on the dependency relationship model; and a product-line architecture verification tool for receiving a scenario of a system requirement, mapping the scenario to related architecture model components, analyzing an architecture model dependency by analyzing static modeling information and dynamic modeling information of a product architecture, and generating an aspect model of the requirements, the scenario and the related architecture model components. |
| US07721250B2 |
System and method for interactive and integrated software development process and phases
A system (and method, and method for deploying computing infrastructure) for facilitating fixing program development errors found during different phases of program development using different programming tools, such as compilers, linkers, library managers, and debuggers, and can be integrated into a program development environment encompassing all tools. The exemplary aspects of the present invention can detect a qualified set of problems from which to recover with sufficient information, as typically provided by a user or other intelligent or artificial intelligent means, and upon error detection, can initiate a communication with the user (or other support software), to acquire information that could remedy the problem. |
| US07721249B2 |
User interface apparatus, processing apparatus, user interface method, program for implementing the method, and storage medium storing the program
A user interface apparatus which is capable of registering a substitute processing operating procedure that can be performed by another apparatus on a network. It is determined whether or not processing specific to a MFP 110 is included in processing corresponding to a processing operating procedure when the processing operating procedure is registered. A user is urged to register a substitute processing operating procedure when it is determined that the processing specific to the MFP 110 is included in the processing corresponding to the processing operating procedure registered. |
| US07721248B2 |
Circuit element function matching despite auto-generated dummy shapes
Methods, systems, program products are disclosed that control placement of dummy shapes about sensitive circuit elements such that the dummy shapes are at least substantially similar for each circuit element even though the dummy shapes are auto-generated. In one embodiment, the invention includes providing dummy shape pattern pitch information to a designer, and allowing placement of circuit elements at integer multiples of one or more of the pitches such that the dummy shapes are at least substantially similar about each instance of the circuit element. Another embodiment includes allowing placement of a marker about a circuit element to indicate an area in which dummy shapes are to be substantially identical, and then using the marker to place the circuit element. Dummy shapes generated within the marker ensure substantially identical dummy shapes for each instance of the circuit element. The invention also includes the integrated circuits formed. |
| US07721242B2 |
Nanotube circuit analysis system and method
Carbon nanotube template arrays may be edited to form connections between proximate nanotubes and/or to delete undesired nanotubes or nanotube junctions. |
| US07721238B2 |
Method and apparatus for configurable printed circuit board circuit layout pattern
A method and apparatus for inputting a plurality of different circuit schematics designed with printed circuit board (PCB) mountable components; extracting circuit topologies for said plurality of different circuit schematics; transforming said extracted circuit topologies to a fixed number of connection points; and generating a configurable circuit PCB physical layout pattern having said fixed number of connection points such that said PCB mountable components when positioned on one or more of said fixed number of connection points can implement any circuit represented by said plurality of different circuit schematics. |
| US07721230B2 |
Graphical user interface for filtering a population of items
Graphical user interface for filtering a population of items. The graphical user interface may be implemented as a method on a system comprising a computer server or other computing device. The system defines a library of available criteria to be used in filtering a population of items to identify items of interest. Each criterion has a graphical representation. The system receives an indication of at least one of the criterion to be applied to the population as a filter and also accepts an indication of a tier of the filter to which the selected criterion is to be associated. The system identifies a list of items of interest satisfying a current set of criteria defining the filter. A graphical representation of the filter is displayed by the system while it is being constructed by the user. In one embodiment, the items are securities such as stocks. |
| US07721229B2 |
Displaying overlaid calendars
Displaying calendars may be provided. In response to a first input initiated by a user, a first calendar may be displayed comprising a user's calendar. Next, a second calendar may be overlaid over the first calendar. The second calendar may be displayed transparently with respect to the first calendar. Then, a third calendar may be displayed beside the first calendar. The second or third calendar may each comprise an event calendar, a project calendar, or a calendar of another user not associated with the first calendar. In addition, a second user initiated input may be received selecting an entry on the second calendar. In response to the received second user initiated input, the second calendar may be redisplayed not transparently with respect to the first calendar. Moreover, in response to the received second user initiated input, the first calendar may be redisplayed transparently with respect to the redisplayed second calendar. |
| US07721228B2 |
Method and system of controlling a context menu
An embodiment of the invention, for controlling a context menu, used with a Web page, wherein the Web page is divided into regions, can comprise downloading additional menu items that are not part of the context menu prior to download, and monitoring for when a user calls for a context menu. Upon detecting a context menu call, it is determined what region was selected by the user, and at least one of the additional menu items is made available to the user as part of the context menu interface. At least one of the additional menu items is chosen based on the region selected by the user. |
| US07721222B1 |
Dynamic language text generation system and method
A non-English text generation system and method is presented by which text can be generated in any language without a keyboard. Initially, only a few base characters or radicals of a language are displayed. A desired character or derivative symbol is reached by lookup through successive menus. When a desired character or symbol is reached, it can be displayed on a computer monitor using a computer mouse or a similar interactive device. This system and method can be applied to any non-English language such as Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Indian, That, Lao, etc. The system and method has significant utility in internet searching, authentication, email, chat, wireless messaging, document preparation, online advertisement creation, form filling in e-commerce etc, in non-English languages. |
| US07721219B2 |
Explicitly defining user interface through class definition
The present invention relates to systems and methods that provide automatic generation of user interfaces via creation of a class-based model. A system is provided that facilitates generating a user interface. The system includes a class component to generally define properties and methods associated with one or more interface actions. A service component parses the class to automatically generate all or a portion of a user interface from the interface actions. Push and Pull-type models can be provided to facilitate merging of actions from various classes such as provided by third parties or from existing component developments. |
| US07721216B2 |
Visual group interface for group connectivity
A communication icon represents a shared connection allowing members of an online group to interact with each other and participate in different activities together. The icon through which the group interacts resides on each group member's desktop and has many attributes including click activation modes and drag and drop functionality. The icon provides each group member with a representation of the group's shared relationship. Any group member can change the group icon and have that change propagated to the computers of the other members of the group. The icon can be activated for both non-verbal and verbal communications as well as activity sharing. Online members of the group are kept apprised of the group's status and activities via a displayed status bar. |
| US07721212B2 |
Configuring enterprise computing system
A configuration for an enterprise computing system is selected. A computer-implemented method to be performed in connection with installing a software system includes presenting, on a display device, multiple selectable visual representations regarding how to configure an enterprise computing system. Each of the visual representations has associated therewith a predefined set of configuration data for the enterprise computing system, and each visual representation depicts a feature of the associated predefined set of configuration data that differentiates from the other predefined sets of configuration data. The method includes receiving a selection of one of the visual representations by a user, and configuring the enterprise computing system using at least one of the predefined sets of configuration data that is associated with the selected visual representation. |
| US07721208B2 |
Multi-media center for computing systems
Various “media-components” are provided in a “multi-media center.” In modular architecture, a module-controller communicates with media-modules provided for various media-components. A media-module can include or obtain data pertaining to a particular media-component, identify media-player(s), and access information related to their media. However, the media-modules are isolated from each other, and the module-controller effectively controls output generated in response to user input. A user interface library is provided for the media-modules. Media-modules can obtain a template or other tools from the library and construct their user interface (e.g., menus). Media-modules can also identify a media-player that can be initiated in response to user input. Subsequently, the media-controller forwards user input to the media-player. |
| US07721204B2 |
Client dependent image processing for browser-based image document viewer for handheld client devices
Methods and systems that dynamically control and/or direct document image processing based on one or more of client device display capabilites, image formats supported by the client device, network bandwidth, document file format, document content and user hints. |
| US07721203B2 |
Method and system for character sequence checking according to a selected language
A method and system for checking the validity of a sequence of input characters according to the syntactical rules of a selected language is provided. If an input character may not begin a valid sequence of characters, or if the input character may not be appended to a previously input sequence of characters according to the rules of the selected language, the newly input character may be prohibited from being displayed singularly or appended to the previous sequence and displayed on the user's computer. Previously input character sequences may be edited by determining the sequence validity context of previously input sequences of characters. |
| US07721202B2 |
XML streaming transformer
The present invention includes devices and methods to specify a document transformation. A template specifies a transformation that is applied to a document in a streaming mode, without building a full object tree in memory representing the document. |
| US07721199B2 |
Apparatus and method for source compression and comparison
Two files are configured for more rapid comparison by removing blank spaces from the code of all of the lines in each of the files to be compared and also by attaching a control to the beginning of each line of code in each of the two sources prior to be compared. After blank spaces are removed and the controls attached, the two files are compared to determine additions, deletions and changes. The program continues to compare the strings of identical length until all of the strings have been compared. By comparing only strings of identical length, the program is able to compare two sources in substantially less time than by using conventional means of comparison. |
| US07721197B2 |
System and method of displaying content on small screen computing devices
Embodiments of the present invention provide a system, method, and computer-readable medium for viewing Web pages on small form factor computing devices. More specifically, the present invention layers Web browsing in a system where a Web page is first displayed in an overview mode at a predetermined magnification. From a Web page displayed in overview mode, the user may issue adaptive viewing commands that cause relevant content to be displayed using additional screen space. |
| US07721196B2 |
Arbitrary rendering of visual elements on a code editor
Visual elements can be arbitrarily rendered in a code editor. Visual elements can be rendered at any location on a display. Visual elements can include text, images, graphics, video, and/or multi-media. Rendering of visual elements will not obstruct a view of rendered text. Nor will rendering of the visual element obstruct a view of the visual element. Visual elements can be rendered between lines of text and/or in-line with text. If a selected location will obstruct a view or either rendered text or another visual element, the rendered text and/or the other visual element is reconfigured to allow space for rendering the visual element. |
| US07721193B2 |
System and method for implementing a schema object model in application integration
Communication can be passed between components, such as an enterprise system and a client application, by utilizing schemas. A schema can ensure that a communication, such as a request or response, is in the proper format for one of the components. For instance, metadata can be received from an enterprise system in response to a request from a client application. That metadata can be transformed into an XML document that conforms to an XML schema, such as by an XML schema mechanism. At least portions of the XML document can be validated against the XML schema, such as by using a schema object model. The XML document can be passed on to the client application after validation.This description is not intended to be a complete and accurate description of the invention or to limit the scope of the invention. Other features, aspects, and objects of the invention can be obtained from a review of the specification, the figures, and the claims. |
| US07721191B2 |
File save method for HTML files using recovery files including a list with temporary and final names for replacement files
A computer-implemented process for replacing old files having old names on a permanent storage medium with new files in volatile memory. Some of these files may be opaque files, which are old files that have become new files without undergoing any changes, other than possibly name changes. The primary steps of this replacement can comprise first saving the non-opaque new files onto the permanent storage medium and assigning them temporary filenames. An opaque recovery file listing the old name and a temporary name for each opaque file is created. A primary recovery file listing the temporary name and a final name for each new file is created. After the names of the opaque files are changed to their temporary names, the names of the non-opaque old files are changed from their old names to backup names. Then, the names of the new files are changed from their temporary names to their final names. The recovery files and the old files can be deleted. If an event leaves the program performing the primary steps in control but unable to complete the replacement, then the old files can be restored to the permanent storage medium. If an event prevents completion of either a replacement attempt or a restoration of the old files, completion of the replacement can again be attempted at a later time using the recovery files. The described processes can be applied to saving HTML documents, each of which typically comprises multiple files. |
| US07721185B1 |
Optimized reed-solomon decoder
An error decoding system that comprises a first Reed-Solomon (RS) decoder that receives an encoded codeword and generates a decoded codeword. An inner code (IC) decoder checks the decoded codeword for uncorrected errors. A decoding control module communicates with the first RS decoder and the IC decoder, iteratively modifies a parameter of the first RS decoder if the IC decoder detects uncorrected errors in the decoded codeword, and instructs the first RS decoder to decode the encoded codeword again after modifying the parameter. |
| US07721182B2 |
Soft error protection in individual memory devices
Techniques are disclosed for minimizing the effects of soft errors associated with memory devices that are individually accessible. By way of example, a method of organizing a column in a memory array of a memory device protected by an error correction code comprises the step of maximizing a distance of the error correction code by maximizing a physical distance between memory bits associated with a memory line within the column protected by the error correction code. Other soft error protection techniques may include use of a feed forward error correction code or use of a memory operation (e.g., read or write operation) suppress and retry approach. |
| US07721179B2 |
Method and apparatus for encoding/decoding transmission information in mobile telecommunication system
A method and apparatus is provided to improve an error correction capability for transmitted information, thereby reducing bit error rate and block error rate, and improving the reliability. The method and apparatus can generate error correcting codes having a good minimum distance characteristic, and which can achieve soft decision decoding and reduce the quantity of calculations for the decoding by using an IFHT decoder. Also, the method and apparatus can perform decoding while improving the error correcting capability of particular bits. |
| US07721177B2 |
Device and method for determining a position of a bit error in a bit sequence
In a device for determining a position of a bit error in a bit sequence, a check matrix is used which has a predefined number of rows and a predefined number of columns. The check matrix includes a plurality of square submatrices having a submatrix row number and a submatrix column number corresponding to the predefined number of rows or the predefined number of columns of the check matrix. The device for determining then includes a unit for receiving a bit sequence and a unit for identifying a syndrome using the check matrix and the received bit sequence. Furthermore, the device includes a unit for establishing a position of a bit error in the received bit sequence, wherein the unit for establishing is adapted to identify a syndrome bit and a syndrome bit group in the syndrome, and wherein the unit for establishing is further adapted to determine the position of the bit error in the received bit sequence using information on a position of the syndrome bit or the syndrome bit group in the syndrome, information on a relationship between the syndrome bit and the syndrome bit group, and a submatrix row number or a submatrix column number of a submatrix. |
| US07721175B2 |
System, apparatus, and method for memory built-in self testing using microcode sequencers
Apparatuses, systems, and methods are disclosed for performing Built-In Self Tests (BIST) on memories. One such BIST includes loading microcode instructions into a main microcode sequencer and loading subroutine instructions into a subroutine microcode sequencer on the memory. The microcode instructions generate subroutine calls to the subroutine microcode sequencer. The subroutine instructions generate memory operation codes, address codes, and data codes for testing the memory device. BIST addresses are generated in response to the memory operation codes and the address codes. BIST data are generated in response to the memory operation codes and the data codes. Conventional memory commands are created by generating command signals, address signals, and data signals for the memory in response to the memory operation codes, the BIST data, and the BIST addresses. Test results output data may be stored in a data checker in the form of information stored in data registers or checksum registers. |
| US07721174B2 |
Full-speed BIST controller for testing embedded synchronous memories
A test circuit is disclosed for testing embedded synchronous memories. A BIST controller is used to address the memory and provide reference data that is compared to the memory output. Pipeline registers are used to allow the BIST controller to perform reads and/or writes during every clock cycle. In one aspect, the BIST controller includes a reference data circuit that stores or generates data for comparison to the memory output. A pipeline register is positioned before the reference data circuit or between the reference data circuit and compare circuitry. Additional pipeline registers may be positioned between a compare capture circuit and the compare circuitry. The pipeline registers free the BIST controller from having to wait for a read to complete before starting the next read or write. To reduce the number of pipeline registers needed, a negative-edge BIST controller can be used with a positive-edge memory or vice versa. |
| US07721172B2 |
Method and apparatus for broadcasting test patterns in a scan-based integrated circuit
A broadcaster, system, and method for reducing test data volume and test application time in an ATE (automatic test equipment) in a scan-based integrated circuit. The scan-based integrated circuit contains multiple scan chains, each scan chain comprising multiple scan cells coupled in series. The broadcaster is a combinational logic network coupled to an optional virtual scan controller and an optional scan connector. The virtual scan controller controls the operation of the broadcaster. The system transmits virtual scan patterns stored in the ATE and generates broadcast scan patterns through the broadcaster for testing manufacturing faults in the scan-based integrated circuit. The number of scan chains that can be supported by the ATE is significantly increased. Methods are further proposed to reorder scan cells in selected scan chains, to generate the broadcast scan patterns and virtual scan patterns, and to synthesize the broadcaster and a compactor in the scan-based integrated circuit.The scan architecture used can also be random access scan based, where the integrated circuit comprises an array of random access scan (RAS) cells that are randomly and uniquely addressable. In random access scan, test patterns can be applied by selectively updating RAS cells and test responses can be observed through a direct read-out process. Eliminating the shifting process inherent in serial scan, random access scan produces much lower test power dissipation than serial scan. |
| US07721171B2 |
Scheme to optimize scan chain ordering in designs
A method for optimizing a scan chain ordering in circuit designs in an electronic computer-aided design system is provided. The method comprising: creating a schematic representative of a circuit design having a first cell and a second cell, the first cell and the second cell each having latches therein; creating a scan input pin and a scan output pin for each of the latches in the first cell and the second cell on the schematic; generating a first label on the schematic to provide a first wiring arrangement for the latches in the circuit design, the first wiring arrangement identifies a first order to which the scan input of each of the latches is wired to the scan output of another one of the latches; creating a layout representative of the circuit design; generating a first scan chain having a first length on the layout based on the first wiring arrangement; creating a second scan chain from the first scan chain on the layout, the second scan chain having a second length less than the first length of the first scan chain; and generating a second label on the schematic based on the second scan chain, the second label provides a second wiring arrangement for the latches in the circuit design, the second wiring arrangement identifies a second order to which the scan input of each of the latches is wired to the scan output of another one of the latches. |
| US07721170B2 |
Apparatus and method for selectively implementing launch off scan capability in at speed testing
An apparatus for selectively implementing launch-off-scan capability in at-speed testing of integrated circuit devices includes a control device configured to selectively disable a master clock signal of a latch structure under test such that a pulse sequence of a system clock signal results in a slave-master-slave clock pulse sequence in the latch structure under test; wherein the control device utilizes the system clock signal as an input thereto and operates in a self-resetting fashion that is timing independent with respect to a scan chain. |
| US07721165B2 |
External storage device and memory access control method thereof
A storage device, including: a non-volatile semiconductor memory which is electrically erasable; a system interface coupled with an external host system; and a controller reading data from the non-volatile semiconductor memory and transmitting data to the host system via the system interface in response to a read command received by the system interface from the host system; and wherein the controller starts reading (N+n)th sector data from the non-volatile semiconductor memory, while the controller transmits Nth sector data that has been read from the non-volatile semiconductor memory to the host system via the system interface, in response to the read command for successive sector data. |
| US07721162B2 |
System for testing the upstream channel of a cable network
A system for testing a portion of a cable network provides a pattern generator, Addresser, forward error corrector, and comparator. The system is particularly adapted to testing the upstream channel in a cable network. The pattern generator generates a test signal. The addresser addresses the signal to a known server and also instructs the known server to return the test signal to the test system. The forward error corrector corrects errors introduced in the test signal in transmission from the known server to the test system. The comparator then compares the returned test signal to the originally transmitted test signal to determine the performance of the back channel. Preferably, the comparator uses a bit error rate test to determine the performance of the back channel. |
| US07721160B2 |
System for protecting data during high-speed bidirectional communication between a master device and a slave device
A system for protecting data during high-speed bidirectional communication between a master device and a slave device. The master device may control data transfer between the master device and the slave device. In addition, the master device may perform a read request to the slave device for a first data block associated with a first address and a second data block associated with a second address. In response, the slave device may send to the master device a portion of the first data block in a first burst and a portion of the second data block in a second burst via a plurality of bidirectional data paths. The slave device may further generate and send to the master device via one or more unidirectional data paths a cyclic redundancy code (CRC) based upon the first data block and the second data block. |
| US07721158B2 |
Customization conflict detection and resolution
A computer-implemented method is disclosed for managing customization conflicts. The method includes receiving an indication of a conflict. The conflict is indicative of an error created by a customization of a core application. A customization correction is identified as a remedy for the customization conflict. The customization correction is transmitted over a network to a party affiliated with a system affected by the customization conflict. |
| US07721157B2 |
Multi-node computer system component proactive monitoring and proactive repair
A highly available multi-node computer system is operated by monitoring the aging and usage of a plurality of hardware components that are part of the system's networked nodes. While monitoring the components, a determination is made that one of the components has aged, worn, or both, to a level that is selected as being close enough to the component's predicted end of life in the system so as to prevent failure of the component in the system. A notification is sent to replace the component, in response to the determination. Other embodiments are also described and claimed. |
| US07721150B2 |
Failover and load balancing
Provided are techniques for failover when at least one of a first network adapter and a data path through the first network adapter fails, wherein the first network adapter is connected to a filter driver, and wherein the first network adapter is connected to a second network adapter. With the filter driver, a path fail notification is received that at least one of the first network adapter and the data path through the first network adapter has failed. With the filter driver, packets directed to the first network adapter are rerouted to the second network adapter. |
| US07721149B2 |
Method for verifying redundancy of secure systems
A secure system has two computers that are intrinsically safe and implements a method for verifying the redundancy for the outputs where a very high level of safety is required. The method makes it possible to handle inconsistencies in the outputs of the two computers when they are working in redundant mode. Each computer receives the output states determined by the other computer and compares them to states calculated. A state of divergent operation is detected if the computers have determined two different states for a single output. If a divergence is detected for at least one output, the state of that output is determined by preventing any transition from a restrictive state to a permissive state. |
| US07721146B2 |
Method and system for bad block management in RAID arrays
A system and method for managing bad blocks that utilizes a remapping pool formed across an array of disks to remap bad blocks formed on individual disks. When a bad block is discovered in a particular disk the bad block is then remapped within the remapping pool and is stored across multiple disks. |
| US07721141B2 |
Recording medium for storing start position information for each zone and method and apparatus of managing data using the information
A recording medium for storing start position information for each zone, a method of managing data using the information, and an apparatus for recording the information and controlling recording and reproduction of data based on the recorded information. In a disc having a plurality of zones which form a group, and a spare area which is allocated at the start portion or the end portion of the group for replacing defects, when start logical sector numbers of each zone are changed by slipping replacement during initialization or reinitialization, the information is stored in the defect management area to thereby increase the compatibility of the medium. In particular, by the method and apparatus of managing data using information stored in a defect management area, generation of errors is prevented in reading or writing due to the change of a physical position of a real-recorded file which are caused by wrong calculation of the start logical sector numbers for each zone. |
| US07721139B2 |
Method, apparatus, and computer program product for managing data in a browser-based application
A method, system, and computer program product are provided for managing data in a browser-based application. The application is opened in the browser, and a subset of the application is arbitrarily specified as data. Different versions of the subset of the application specified as data are caused to persist so that they may be recovered later. Persistence and recovery of the subset of the application specified as data are performed in a manner transparent to the application. |
| US07721136B2 |
Systems and methods providing input/output fencing in shared storage environments
Systems and methods for I/O fencing in a shared storage environment are provided. Prior to initiating an I/O request, when feasible, the current time from a local timer is compared to the current state of an interval obtained for the target device. As a result, a device reset occurring while the interval is viable does not arbitrarily end a multiphase I/O operation. However, a device reset occurring once the lease has expired results in a delay or termination of the multiphase I/O operation. As a result, multiphase I/O operations from initiating hosts that have lost contact with the shared storage environment are not allowed to corrupt the shared storage devices. |
| US07721133B2 |
Systems and methods of synchronizing reference frequencies
System and methods of synchronizing reference frequencies are disclosed. In an exemplary implementation, a method may comprise providing separate reference frequencies for each of a plurality of operational components. The method may also comprise connecting the separate reference frequencies to one another in a modular, fault-tolerant circuit topology. The method may also comprise synchronizing the separate reference frequencies so that each of the operational components operate at the same frequency. |
| US07721131B2 |
Host apparatus and information processing system using the same
In an information processing system, a host apparatus and a device are communicatively connected such that the host apparatus serves as a master and the device serves as a slave. The device is configured to establish a power-saving mode, when any command is not received from the host apparatus for a prescribed time period. A device driver is provided in the host apparatus. The device driver is configured to transit from a normal state to a suspended state when an operation command for operating the device is not received from an application running in the host apparatus for a prescribed time period, and to transmit a dummy response to the application, when an inquiry command is received from the application while the device driver is placed in the suspended state, without notifying the inquiry command to the device. |
| US07721129B2 |
Method and apparatus for reducing clock frequency during low workload periods
A clock frequency control unit for an integrated circuit (IC) includes a clock generator, a finite state machine (FSM), and a gating circuit (GC). The FSM has at least first and second states corresponding to non-low workload low workload states, respectively. In the first state, the GC provides a clock signal to functional units of the IC with the same frequency as the clock generator output. In the second state, the GC reduces the frequency of the clock signal. In one embodiment, the GC masks out selected cycles of the clock generator output to reduce the clock signal frequency. The FSM monitors the operation of the IC to transition from the first state to the second state when selected “low workload” conditions are detected (e.g., long latency cache miss). Similarly, the FSM transitions from the second state to the first state when selected “non-low workload” conditions are detected. |
| US07721126B2 |
Communication apparatus and method with physical address filter for power-saving control state
In a communication apparatus for wirelessly communicating directly with a communication apparatus that is participating in a network, a filter is set so as to receive only a signal from a communicating party before start of a power-saving control function at the time of standby, the set filter is removed after the power-saving control function for standby is terminated, and a logical address on the network is reset. As a result, when the power-saving control function is utilized, collision of physical addresses is prevented and it is possible to perform data communication without mismatch. |
| US07721125B2 |
System, method, and architecture for dynamic server power management and dynamic workload management for multi-server environment
Network architecture, computer system and/or server, circuit, device, apparatus, method and computer program and control mechanism for managing power consumption and workload in computer system and data and information servers. Further provides power and energy consumption and workload management and control systems and architectures for high-density and modular multi-server computer systems that maintain performance while conserving energy and method for power management and workload management. Dynamic server power management and optional dynamic workload management for multi-server environment is provided by aspects of the invention. Modular network devices and integrated server system, including modular servers, management units, switches and switching fabrics, modular power supplies and modular fans and a special backplane architecture are provided as well as dynamically reconfigurable multi-purpose modules and servers. Backplane architecture, structure, and method that has no active components and separate power supply lines and protection to provide high reliability in server environment. |
| US07721124B2 |
System and method for signaling a first device from a second device
A signaling circuit may be implemented with a connection comprised of signal lines having predefined signals and/or functions. The predefined signals and/or functions may be defined by an individual entity or standards organization. The signaling circuit transmits information in addition to the predefined signals and/or functions. The information may be transmitted from a second device, such as a visual display screen, to a first device, such as a computing device, using at least one signal line in the connection. The information may include information about the state or status of the second device. |
| US07721121B2 |
Apparatus and method for controlling power supplied to fixing unit
An apparatus and method for controlling the power supplied to a fixing unit are provided. The apparatus includes a voltage detector detecting a voltage of input power supplied to heat at least one heating lamp, a synch signal generator generating a synch signal in response to the detected voltage, a switching unit switching a supply path of the input power to be applied to the at least one heating lamp, and a controller having table information of temporal duty level values of the input power that is initially supplied, and outputting a control signal for controlling a switching operation of the switching unit using the generated synch signal and the table information, wherein the switching unit performs the switching operation corresponding to the control signal. Accordingly, by sequentially increasing the input power for initial heating of the heating lamps, flickering and harmonic characteristics of a display device can be reduced, and by setting the duty level values to supply the maximum input power within a certain time, an initial heating time of the heating lamps can be minimized. |
| US07721119B2 |
System and method to optimize multi-core microprocessor performance using voltage offsets
A system and method to optimize multi-core microprocessor performance using voltage offsets is presented. A multi-core device tests each of its processor cores in order to identify each processor core's optimum supply voltage. In turn, the device configures voltage offset networks for each processor core based upon each processor core's identified optimum supply voltage. As a result, the offset voltages produced by the voltage offset networks are subtracted from the multi-core device's main voltage, which results in the voltage offset networks supplying optimum supply voltages to each processor core. The voltage offset networks may include fuses to generate a fixed voltage offset, or the voltage offset networks may include a control circuit to dynamically adjust voltage offsets during the multi-core device's operation. |
| US07721118B1 |
Optimizing power and performance for multi-processor graphics processing
A system and method for optimizing power usage and performance during data processing. A multi-processor graphics processing system includes a low power graphics processor and a high performance graphics processor. When a low power condition exists only the low power graphics processor is used to process graphics data and the high performance graphics processor is turned off. When turned off, the high performance graphics processor does not consume either static or dynamic power. When the low power condition does not exist, the high performance graphics processor is turned on and the low power graphics processor and the high performance graphics processor are used to process the graphics data. |
| US07721110B2 |
System and method for secure and verified sharing of resources in a peer-to-peer network environment
A system and method for secure and verified sharing of resources in a peer-to-peer network environment to facilitate efficient use of bandwidth are disclosed. The method for securely sharing resources over a peer-to-peer network generally comprises broadcasting a request by a requesting peer for a resource over the peer-to-peer network where the resource is identified with a resource version identifier, receiving a response from a responding peer on the peer-to-peer network indicating that the responding peer has the requested resource, retrieving the requested resource from the responding peer, and verifying the retrieved resource by ensuring the retrieved resource contains the version identifier embedded therein. Preferably, the verifying also includes verifying a digital signature, such as a 1024-bit VeriSign digital certificate, of the retrieved resource to ensure integrity of the retrieved resource. |
| US07721109B1 |
Secure transaction card using biometrical validation
A validation scheme for use with a transaction card such as a calling card, et cetera, using personalized biometric profile data that is inherently coupled to the card owner/user. A configuration process is used for populating a profile database with sample voice or other biometric responses elicited from the owner/user in response to a plurality of questions relating to information uniquely linked to the user such as, e.g., name, age, hobbies, et cetera, or biometric responses such as fingerprints, retinal scans, and palm prints, or implanted ID chips. When a transaction is attempted using the transaction card, a determination is made if a voice profile validation is required for authentication. If so, a question from the plurality of questions used in the configuration process is randomly selected and directed to the user for a response. Access is provided only if a match between the response and corresponding sample is found. In a passive mode, the validation scheme may be utilized as an auxiliary fraud prevention scheme in addition to existing authentication systems. |
| US07721106B2 |
Transitive authentication authorization accounting in the interworking between access networks
A method and a system for allowing a user device that has already been authenticated by a first communications network to gain access to a second communications network without undergoing authentication by the second communications network. The first communications network and the second communications network have a pre-established trust relationship there between. A packet is received from the user device that includes a user device public key, by the second network via the first network. A session key is sent from the second network to the user device, via the first network, when a source Internet Protocol (IP) address associated with the packet falls into a range allocated to the first network. The session key is encrypted with the user device public key. The user device decrypts the session key using a private key and uses the session key thereafter to access the second network. Further a mapping is generated to correlate the identity of the user device with the session key such that usage data relate to user device is generated by the second communications network and transmitted to the first communications network, which generates accounting information indicative of user device access of the second communications network. |
| US07721104B2 |
System, method and computer program product for downloading pushed content
A system is provided for downloading pushed content includes a terminal capable of receiving service loading content that identifies download content and has a digital signature. The terminal is capable of authenticating the service loading content based upon the digital signature, and if the service loading content is authenticated, pulling the download content to the terminal. In this regard, the terminal is capable of authenticating the service loading content, and pulling the download content, in response to receiving the service loading content and independent of interaction from a user of the terminal. The terminal can also be capable of determining if an interruption occurs in receiving the download content such that the terminal receives less than the entire download content. And if an interruption occurs, the terminal can be capable of recovering the download content such that the terminal receives the plurality of data packets. |
| US07721099B2 |
Securing access to documents within multi-function devices
A printer that prints encrypted information in a document can be the key authority for that document. A document containing encrypted information and a source reference can be printed by a printer associated with a key module. The key module contains the key for decrypting the information. A scanner scanning the document obtains the source reference and the encrypted information. The scanner can use the source reference to send a key request to the printer and the printer can respond with the appropriate key. A decryption module associated with the scanner can use the key to decrypt the information. The decrypted information can be incorporated into a second document that can be electronically stored or printed. |
| US07721098B2 |
System and method for guaranteeing software integrity via combined hardware and software authentication
A system, method, and computer program product enabling individual user devices to authenticate and validate a digital message sent by a distribution center, without requiring transmissions to the distribution center. The center transmits the message with an appended modulus that is the product of two specially selected primes. The transmission also includes an appended authentication value that is based on an original message hash value, a new message hash value, and the modulus. The new message hash value is designed to be the center's public RSA key; a corresponding private RSA key is also computed. Individual user devices combine a digital signet, a public modulus, preferably unique hardware-based numbers, and an original message hash to compute a unique integrity value K. Subsequent messages are similarly processed to determine new integrity values K′, which equal K if and only if new messages originated from the center and have not been corrupted. |
| US07721089B2 |
Broadcast encryption using RSA
Methods, components and systems for implementing secure and efficient broadcast encryption schemes with configurable and practical tradeoffs among a pre-broadcast transmission bandwidth t, a key storage cost k, and a key derivation cost c, in which the schemes use subtree difference and key decomposition to generate secondary keys, use the secondary keys to encrypt the broadcast and generate ciphertexts, and use the RSA encryption scheme to implement derivability between the primary keys and the secondary keys. To decrypt the broadcast, a privileged user uses one of its primary keys to derive a secondary key, which is used to decrypt the broadcast. The product of key derivation costc and the key storage cost k is at most (2a−log a−2)loga n, when n is the number of users, 1≦b≦log n, a=2b, and revoked users r |
| US07721085B1 |
Encryption of hierarchically structured information
The invention provides for encryption of hierarchically structured information. In one embodiment, a method is provided for encrypting hierarchically structured information. The hierarchically structured information includes a particular node and zero or more descendent nodes, each node having a name and zero or more additional data for the node. The name of the particular node is encrypted and the encrypted name is stored. The one or more descendent nodes are stored with the parent-child relationships of the one or more descendent nodes exposed. Additional data for the particular node may be encrypted. Further, some, none or all of the data for the descendent nodes may be encrypted. |
| US07721084B2 |
Firewall for filtering tunneled data packets
A method of filtering a tunneled data packet including an outer header and an outer payload, the outer payload including an inner data packet including an inner header and an inner payload, where the value of at least one outer header field of the tunneled data packet is matched to a first rule, and the action defined in the first rule is taken. Taking the action defined in the first rule includes detecting the inner data packet within the tunneled data packet, matching the value of at least one field of the inner data packet to a second rule, and taking the action defined in the second rule. |
| US07721082B2 |
Method for advertising using the BIOS of a peripheral card, a software program based on the said method, and a hardware peripheral card using the said method and program
A new method of advertising where the advertising information is presented visually (displayed) on the screen of the computer system, and/or in auditory way (as a sound) on the sound system of a computer system, a software program based on the said method, and a hardware peripheral card using the said method and program.The information is presented after powering on of the computer and before booting an operating system, or after rebooting the operating system and before the next boot. The computer system contains a motherboard, to which is attached a peripheral card, which includes a memory chip, which includes peripheral BIOS. The said peripheral BIOS includes advertising information and advertising related program. The peripheral BIOS program executes the advertising related program, which then presents the stored advertising information visually and/or in auditory way. |
| US07721081B2 |
Computer system and method for booting up the same
A computer system with a main memory is equipped with an HDD that has a disk and a driving motor driving the disk, a non-volatile storage unit provided in the HDD storing therein a booting program of an operating system, and a control unit reading out the booting program stored in the non-volatile storage unit and loading the booting program onto the main memory before the driving motor reaches a normal speed as power is supplied to the computer system. With this configuration, there is provided a computer system capable of reducing the booting time of the HDD. |
| US07721080B2 |
Management of option ROM
Provided are a method, system, and article of manufacture, wherein instructions stored in an option ROM are copied to the system memory of a computer, wherein the option ROM corresponds to a device that is coupled to the computer. A virtual machine is generated, wherein the virtual machine executes the instructions copied to the system memory to boot the device before any operating system is loaded. |
| US07721076B2 |
Tracking an oldest processor event using information stored in a register and queue entry
Method, apparatus and system embodiments provide a register to track the oldest exception event or sticky event in a processor. The processor may be an out-of-order processor. Dispatched instructions (or micro-ops) may be maintained in a queue, such as a reorder buffer (ROB), for in-order retirement. For at least one embodiment, event information is maintained only in the register and is not maintained in a ROB. For at least one other embodiment, event information is maintained in a ROB entry for some events and in the register for others. For such latter embodiment, a retire engine takes the contents of both the ROB entry and the register into account when determining whether to take an exception or otherwise initiate a handling sequence during in-order instruction retirement. Other embodiments are also described and claimed. |
| US07721075B2 |
Conditional branch execution in a processor having a write-tie instruction and a data mover engine that associates register addresses with memory addresses
A RISC processor having a data mover engine and instructions that associate register addresses with memory addresses. In an embodiment, the instructions include a read-tie instruction, a single write-tie instruction, a dual write-tie instruction, and an untie instruction. The read-tie, single write-tie, and dual write-tie instructions are used to associate software accessible register addresses with memory addresses. These associations effect the operation of the data mover engine such that, for the duration of the associations, the data mover engine routes data to and from associated memory addresses and the execution unit of the processor in response to instructions that specify moving data to and from the associated register addresses. The invention reduces the number of instructions and hardware overhead associated with implementing program loops in a RISC processor. |
| US07721071B2 |
System and method for propagating operand availability prediction bits with instructions through a pipeline in an out-of-order processor
A processor core and a method for distributive scoreboard scheduling in an out-of-order processor pipeline are described herein. In an embodiment, control logic appends operand availability bits to each instruction. The appended operand availability bits form a distributive scoreboard for each instruction. The appended operand availability bits are propagated together with the instruction through multiple stages of the processor pipeline. An instruction dispatch buffer stores the instruction and the operand availability bits. A dispatch controller determines when an instruction is to be issued. The determination is based, at least in part, on the operand availability bits stored in the instruction dispatch buffer. |
| US07721070B2 |
High-performance, superscalar-based computer system with out-of-order instruction execution
A high-performance, superscalar-based computer system with out-of-order instruction execution for enhanced resource utilization and performance throughput. The computer system fetches a plurality of fixed length instructions with a specified, sequential program order (in-order). The computer system includes an instruction execution unit including a register file, a plurality of functional units, and an instruction control unit for examining the instructions and scheduling the instructions for out-of-order execution by the functional units. The register file includes a set of temporary data registers that are utilized by the instruction execution control unit to receive data results generated by the functional units. The data results of each executed instruction are stored in the temporary data registers until all prior instructions have been executed, thereby retiring the executed instruction in-order. |
| US07721068B2 |
Relocation of active DMA pages
According to one embodiment of the invention, a technique is provided for facilitating the relocation of data from a source page to a destination page in a computing system in which I/O devices may conduct DVMA transactions via an IOMMU. Before the relocation, it is determined whether any devices potentially are accessing the source page. If it is determined that a device potentially is accessing the source page, then the IOMMU's device driver (“bus nexus”) “suspends” the bus. The bus nexus allows any pending memory transactions to finish. While the bus is suspended, the kernel moves the contents of the source page to the destination page. After the kernel has moved the contents, the IOMMU's TLB is updated so that the virtual address that was mapped to the source page's physical address is mapped to the destination page's physical address. The bus nexus “unsuspends” the bus. |
| US07721061B1 |
Method of predicting response time for storage request
An embodiment of a method of predicting response time for a storage request begins with a first step of a computing entity storing a training data set. The training data set comprises past performance observations for past storage requests of a storage array. Each past performance observation comprises an observed response time and a feature vector for a particular past storage request. The feature vector includes characteristics that are available external to the storage array. In a second step, the computing entity forms a response time forecaster from the training data set. In the third step, the computing entity applies the response time forecaster to a pending feature vector for a pending storage request to obtain a predicted response time for the pending storage request. |
| US07721058B2 |
Storage system and replication creation method thereof
In a storage system having a plurality of control units each connected with a plurality of disk units, it is provided that a replication is created in the volume of the disk units connected to different control units. The replication creation unit of a given control unit creates a replication in the volume of the disk unit connected to other control units in such a manner that the original volume information, the replication volume information in the control unit and information on the other control units are registered as volume pair information. Based on this volume pair information, a replication creation request is transmitted to the other control units. |
| US07721050B2 |
Re-snoop for conflict resolution in a cache coherency protocol
In a cache coherency protocol a re-snoop may be utilized to resolve a data request conflict condition. The re-snoop may avoid a conflict resolution phase, which may reduce system inefficiencies. |
| US07721047B2 |
System, method and computer program product for application-level cache-mapping awareness and reallocation requests
In view of the foregoing, the shortcomings of the prior art cache optimization techniques, the present invention provides an improved method, system, and computer program product that can optimize cache utilization. In one embodiment, an application requests a kernel cache map from a kernel service and the application receives the kernel. The application designs an optimum cache footprint for a data set from said application. The objects, advantages and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description. In one embodiment of the present invention, the application transmits a memory reallocation order to a memory manager. In one embodiment of the present invention, the step of the application transmitting a memory reallocation order to the memory manager further comprises the application transmitting a memory reallocation order containing the optimum cache footprint to the memory manager. In one embodiment of the present invention, the step of the application transmitting a memory reallocation order to a memory manager further comprises the application transmitting the memory reallocation order containing to a reallocation services tool within the memory manager. |
| US07721045B1 |
System and method for efficiently guaranteeing data consistency to clients of a storage system cluster
A method for operating a computer storage system is disclosed. One or more data storage devices are configured to store a data content of a data container. A data structure having a plurality of permitted modification times (mtimes) is generated, the mtimes to control modifying a data stored in the data container. An I/O operation is performed by the storage system in response to a selected mtime. A request for the I/O operation is received from a client, and the data structure having a plurality of permitted modification times (mtimes) is generated in response to the request. The selected mtime is transmitted to the client, and an I/O operation is requested by the client in response to the selected mtime. The I/O operation is performed as an atomic I/O operation. |
| US07721041B2 |
PSRAM and method for operating thereof
Disclosed is a pseudo static random access memory (PSRAM) and a method for operating the same. The PSRAM includes a multi-bit control register and a multiplexer circuit operatively coupled to the multi-bit control register. The multi-bit control register has a first set of bits reserved for a page control mode of the PSRAM and a second set of bits reserved for a bus control mode of the PSRAM. The multiplexer circuit activates one of the page control mode and the bus control mode of the PSRAM based on a logic level of an address bit inputted to the multiplexer circuit. |
| US07721040B2 |
Method and system for facilitating fast wake-up of a flash memory system
Systems and computer readable codes for maintaining data structures in accordance with the events of a nonvolatile memory system. At least part of one or more management tables and a future information data structure are stored in a nonvolatile memory. The future information data structure contains records of events expected to occur subsequent to the storing of the future information data structure. When flash memory events occur, those events are handled in accordance with the future information data structure. When the memory system wakes up, the management table(s) is/are retrieved and the records of the future information data structure are compared with the table(s) state. The table(s) is/are updated in accordance with the future information data structure. |
| US07721038B2 |
System on chip (SOC) system for a multimedia system enabling high-speed transfer of multimedia data and fast control of peripheral devices
Provided is a System on Chip (SoC) system for a multimedia system enabling high-speed transfer of a large amount of multimedia data and a processor to rapidly control a peripheral device. The SoC system includes a processor; a plurality of peripheral devices; a plurality of physically divided memories; a control bus for transferring a control signal from the processor to the peripheral devices and the memories; a data bus for transferring data between the processor, the peripheral devices and the memories; a bridge for coupling the control bus and the data bus to the processor; a plurality of memory controllers coupled to the control bus and controlling each of the memories; a Direct Memory Access (DMA) controller coupled to the data bus and the control bus and controlling data transfer between the peripheral devices and the memories; and a matrix switch coupled between the DMA controller and the memory controllers and enabling simultaneous multiple memory access. |
| US07721037B2 |
Device for controlling point-to-point communication between a module and transmission bus
A device for controlling point-to-point communication between a module and a transmission bus, the device including a printed circuit that carries the transmission bus and that includes a connection element to connect the module to the transmission bus. The printed circuit includes a communication control unit disposed between the transmission bus and the connection element, the communication control unit includes unidirectional communication logic gates, and a logic control circuit for the logic gates. Such a device may, as an example, find application to programmable controllers. |
| US07721034B2 |
System and method for managing system management interrupts in a multiprocessor computer system
A system and method is disclosed for managing system management interrupts in a multiprocessor system. The system described herein includes multiple processors, each of which may be directly coupled to memory. A primary processor will recognize the initiation of a system management interrupt. The primary processor will write a reason code to a storage location and set a watchdog timer, the expiration of which causes all of the processors of the system to enter a system management mode. After all of the processors have entered system management mode, it is determined if the reason code of the storage location corresponds to certain software-based system management interrupts. If so, the system management interrupt is handled by the local processors. Following the handling of the system management interrupt by the local processor, a signal is sent to each of the other processors to cause the processors to exit system management mode. |
| US07721031B2 |
PCI express link state management system and method thereof
A PCI Express link state management system and method thereof is disclosed. The PCI Express link state management system includes an upstream device, a downstream device and a link. The upstream device outputs a configuration request to the downstream device to change a device power state of the downstream device. At the time, the link is in a first link state. The downstream device outputs a power entering signal to the upstream device and counts a time period. The link enters to a recovery state and further then return to the first link state if the downstream device does not receive a power request acknowledging signal before the time period is expired. |
| US07721029B2 |
Data restoration in archivable mobile random access storage devices
Described are a method and apparatus for preserving data integrity which can be practiced in a data storage library that receives data from a host computer. The data storage library includes a docking station that stores data to and from an operatively linked mobile random access storage device. Once the data is stored on the mobile random access storage device, the elapsed time is accounted for. The mobile random access storage device is adapted to be unlinked from the docking station, such as for purposes of archiving the mobile random access storage device. A user can be notified when the elapsed time has reached a time limit. Upon indicating that the data on mobile random access storage device should be restored, the mobile random access storage device can be re-linked with the docking station for data restoration, thus, starting a new elapsed time. |
| US07721026B2 |
Interface controller, method for controlling read access, and information processing apparatus provided with the interface controller
An interface controller connected to a read request device which performs a read request to a storage device stored with data, includes a receiving buffer which stores a read response of said storage device with respect to the read request sent from said read request device; and a control unit which performs read request authorization to said read request device on the basis of a capacity of said receiving buffer, a read request size and a read response size. |
| US07721024B2 |
System and method for exiting from an interrupt mode in a multiple processor system
A system and method for interrupt processing includes a technique for exiting from interrupt mode in multiple processor systems. Those processors that were in a suspended or halt state immediately before entering the interrupt mode are released immediately with reference to the resolution of the interrupt condition. Those processors not responsible for the processing tasks associated with resolving the interrupt condition serially exit from interrupt mode on a time-delayed basis following the resolution of the interrupt condition. |
| US07721023B2 |
I/O address translation method for specifying a relaxed ordering for I/O accesses
An I/O address translation method for specifying relaxed ordering for I/O accesses are provided. With the apparatus and method, storage ordering (SO) bits are provided in an I/O address translation data structure, such as a page table or segment table. These SO bits define the order in which reads and/or writes initiated by an I/O device may be performed. These SO bits are combined with an ordering bit, e.g., the Relaxed Ordering Attribute bit of PCI Express, on the I/O interface. The weaker ordering indicated either in the I/O address translation data structure or in the I/O interface relaxed ordering bit is used to control the order in which I/O operations may be performed. |
| US07721022B2 |
Storage device with instructions for performing methods of processing I/O requests
The invention classifies volumes (e.g., file systems or LUNs) of a data storage system according to application requirements and allocates space for the volumes on storage devices (e.g., hard disk drives) accordingly. A person such as an IT administrator configures the volumes specifying size, type (e.g., file system or SAN LUN), and priority (e.g., high, medium, low, or archive). The host schedules I/O requests to the storage devices in priority queues using the volume definition to match the application requirements and reduce storage seek time between volumes of different priorities. The host also allocates high performance bands of the storage devices to high performance applications and lower performance bands to lower performance applications. In this manner, the data storage system places data on the band of the storage device that best supports its performance needs. |
| US07721021B2 |
SAS zone group permission table version identifiers
Apparatus and methods are provided for managing SAS zone group permission tables using associated version identifiers. Zone group permission tables of a SAS domain may have associated version identifiers, indicating a version of the zone group permission table. The version identifier may be used to determine whether the zone group permission table is the same as the current version for the SAS domain without comparing the contents of the zone group permission table with the contents of the current version. The version identifier may also be used for determining which of a plurality of zone group permission tables of the SAS domain is the current version if two or more SAS zoning expanders are storing different zone group permission tables. |
| US07721013B2 |
Communicating graphics data via an out of band channel
In one embodiment, the present invention includes a method for providing a command from a keyboard, video and mouse (KVM) system of a first system to a graphics card of the first system via an existing system interface, sampling data from a frame buffer of the graphics card and providing the sampled data to a sample buffer of the KVM system, and processing the sampled data in the KVM system. Also, data to be displayed at a graphics card may be sent as out-of-band (OOB) data from the KVM system. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US07721012B2 |
Reprogrammable device address for a serial interface in an optic module
An optic module is disclosed having a shared bus interface, a transmit disable line, a memory and control logic or a processor configured to facilitate address modification via a bus shared by multiple optic modules. A single housing may contain multiple modules, all of which are preferably accessible via a shared host via a shared bus. Standard compliant modules share a common address, which inhibits communication with only a particular optic module, via the shared bus, in a housing containing multiple optic modules. Using a common message to all modules to treat a transmit disable line as a module select line, a single module may be active during an address re-write operation. This process may repeat until all the modules within the housing have unique addresses. |
| US07721011B1 |
Method and apparatus for reordering memory accesses to reduce power consumption in computer systems
A reordering command queue for reordering memory accesses in a computer system. The reordering command queue may reduce the power that is typically used up in computer systems when performing accesses to main memory by improving the scheduling of memory accesses with a pattern that is optimized for power and which has no (or negligible) impacting on performance. During a compare operation, the address corresponding to the command stored in each of one or more current storage locations of the reordering command queue may be compared to the address corresponding to the command stored in an adjacent storage location to determine whether the commands are in a desired order. In response to one or more of the commands not being in the desired order, a reordering operation may be performed, which may reorder each of the one or more commands from a current storage location to the adjacent storage location. |
| US07721009B2 |
Method for providing high performance scalable file I/O through persistent file domain and functional partitioning
A method for implementing large scale parallel file I/O processing includes steps of: separating processing nodes into compute nodes specializing in computation and I/O nodes (computer processors restricted to running I/O daemons); organizing the compute nodes and the I/O nodes into processing sets, the processing sets including: one dedicated I/O node corresponding to a plurality of compute nodes. I/O related system calls are received in the compute nodes then sent to the corresponding I/O nodes. The I/O related system calls are processed through a system I/O daemon residing in the I/O node. The plurality of compute nodes are evenly distributed across participating processing sets. Additionally, for collective I/O operations, compute nodes from each processing set are assigned as I/O aggregators to issue I/O requests to their corresponding I/O node, wherein the I/O aggregators are evenly distributed across the processing set. Additionally, a file domain is partitioned using a collective buffering technique wherein data is aggregated in memory prior to writing to a file; portions of the partitioned file domain are assigned to the processing sets. |
| US07721004B2 |
Bridge for an industrial control system using data manipulation techniques
A inter-network interface device usable in a highly reliable industrial control system provides an interface between a producer module transmitting redundant messages in accordance with a communication protocol and a consumer module receiving the messages in accordance with a different communication protocol. The inter-network interface device includes a first network interface receiving two messages from the producer, a microprocessor capable of converting the messages from the producer communication protocol to consumer communication protocol, and a second network interface transmitting the messages to the consumer. One of the messages is reversible altered with respect to the other message. The altered message is uninverted in the consumer module, and compared to the other message to ensure that no transmission errors have occurred. |
| US07721003B2 |
System and method to synchronize OSGi bundle inventories between an OSGi bundle server and a client
A system and method to synchronize OSGi bundle inventories between an OSGi bundle server and a client are presented. When a server detects that a client requires a bundle update, the server and client proceed through a data synchronization process prior to invoking in a device management session to provide bundles from the server to the client. During the data synchronization process, the client provides manifest information to the server that allows the server to store an up-to-date client manifest. The server uses the locally stored client manifest to select bundles, along with dependent bundles, to provide to the client. After synchronization, the client enters into a device management session with the server, at which time the server provides the selected bundles to the client based upon the locally stored client manifest. |
| US07721002B2 |
System and method for data synchronization
Data is synchronized among multiple web servers, each of which is coupled to a common data server. Each web server retrieves a scheduled activation time from the data server. If the current time is prior to the scheduled activation time, then each web server retrieves updated data from the data server into a staging cache in the web server. At the scheduled activation time, each web server copies data from its staging cache to an active cache in the web server. If a new web server is added or an existing web server is initialized, then data is copied from an active cache in the data server to an active cache in the new or initialized web server. The multiple web servers may be arranged to form a web farm. |
| US07720999B2 |
System and method for optimizing multimedia compression using plural encoders
A multimedia stream is compressed in parallel by plural encoders, the compressed stream outputs of which are dynamically evaluated for merit. A best one of the compressed streams is transmitted, along with information regarding the particular compression algorithm that was used, so that the receiver's decoder can decompress the stream for presentation. |
| US07720995B2 |
Conditional BGP advertising for dynamic group VPN (DGVPN) clients
In a host within a group, a method for ensuring secure communications is provided. The method involves (a) determining if a group security policy is in place for secure communication between hosts within the group, (b) if the group security policy is in place, advertising routing information to another host within the group, and (c) if the group security policy is not in place, refraining from advertising routing information to the other host. Corresponding apparatus and computer program product embodiments are also provided. |
| US07720990B2 |
Method and apparatus for handling service requests in a data processing system
A method for handling service requests in a data processing system is disclosed. In response to a service request, a priority of the service request is determined by mapping a context of the service request to a service level agreement (SLA). SLA-aware and timeout-conscious and preemptive and replayable lock manager is designed to account for different operational goals and different importance to satisfy various SLAs. An average processing time of the service request is then calculated based on statistical results. The service request will be allowed to process if the determined average processing time meets historical guarantee situations. |
| US07720988B2 |
Method and apparatus for multimedia reproduction
A hardware constitution and method for playing back different types of media content is provided. Data is registered from a desired medium to a user data storing unit of a server from a PC. Content may then be selected by a vehicle onboard apparatus from the server. The data corresponding to the selected content is then transmitted to the vehicle onboard apparatus, and the data is decoded on the vehicle onboard apparatus using a decoder that corresponds to the content medium. |
| US07720985B2 |
Content receiving apparatus and content receiving method
A content receiving apparatus has: a communicating unit connecting to a server; a reception buffer receiving and storing transmitted content data; a content reproducing unit reproducing the read-out content data; a controller controlling the communicating unit and the reception buffer; and an operating unit supplying an operation signal to the control unit. The data reception and the data output to the reproducing unit from the buffer are stopped by a reproduction temporary stop instruction. The data reception is restarted by a reproduction temporary stop cancellation instruction. The received content data is written into the buffer. The reception of a disconnection signal from the server is discriminated after the restart of the data reception. If the signal is not received, a predetermined amount of received data is written into the buffer, the reading is started, the data is outputted to the reproducing unit, and the reproduction is restarted. |
| US07720983B2 |
Fast startup for streaming media
Fast startup for streaming media includes one or both of a technique for predictive start and a technique for switching delivery channel(s) during streaming. Predictive start allows a media content source to predict which media stream(s) are desired by the requesting client device and begin streaming those predicted media stream(s) to the client device. The delivery channel switching technique allows the media content source to begin streaming the media stream(s) using one delivery channel (e.g., using the Transmission Control Protocol (TCP)), and then check whether another delivery channel (e.g., using the User Datagram Protocol (UDP)) will work and switch to that other delivery channel if it will work. |
| US07720977B1 |
Cookie invalidation or expiration by a switch
A switch may be used to force the expiration of a cookie on a user's system by inserting an expiration field into the cookie contained in a network response packet. Additionally, a mechanism is provided to delete or damage a cookie contained in a network request packet, so that server software is not disrupted by the receipt of a cookie. Deleting a cookie results in a cleaner request, but damaging a cookie may be more efficient in certain circumstances. By providing these features, an efficient cookie switching design is provided. |
| US07720973B2 |
Message-based scalable data transport protocol
The invention deploys a message-based data transport platform, in which a communication engine controls the delivery of server or other backup data or other large quantity data to a remote site based on message objects as fundamental units. Data sessions from one or more servers or other data sources may be buffered over established pipes for delivery to a remote data host which likewise contains messaging control. Relatively large message units may wait for communication over the channel in a queue, and be released when prior messaging is complete. Completion port or other polling or other mechanisms may indicate that connections have become open for use. In embodiments the message objects may be signed, or encrypted to safeguard against alteration or unauthorized viewing. The communication engine may rely upon TCP or other underlying transport mechanisms to effect lower level transmission. |
| US07720966B2 |
Arrangements and method for hierarchical resource management in a layered network architecture
A data network, method and a computer program product, wherein the data network is implemented by a first network level (104) having a first addressing scheme and at least a second network level (108) having a second addressing scheme. Each network level provides connectivity over at least one network domain. A first group of Network Resource Managers, NRMs, (b-d)) is arranged to control the resources of the first network level and a second group of NRMs (e-g) is arranged to control the resources of the second network level. The NRMs of the first group (b-d) and second group (e-g) exchange resource requests by using the first addressing scheme and the NRMs (e-g) of the second group perform an address mapping between the first and second addressing schemes. |
| US07720961B2 |
Managed affiliate system and method
Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a managed affiliate system and method configured to provide authorized content for use and distribution. More specifically, embodiments of the present invention are directed to a managed affiliate system that is configured to verify and monitor whether the content or property offered for use or sale by a participant is in compliance with any use restrictions. |
| US07720959B2 |
Method and apparatus for characterizing the quality of a network path
We describe multiple methods and apparatuses for characterizing the quality of a network path by means of metrics that at the same time are (1) additive and (2) characterize the performance of network applications. |
| US07720956B2 |
Method, system, and storage medium for providing continuous communication between process equipment and an automated material handling system
A system and storage medium for providing continuous communication between passive and active equipment are provided. The system includes a conversion unit coupled to at least one the passive and active equipment, which monitors signals received from the equipment. The signals relate to an equipment state. Upon detecting a state change, the system converts a signal associated with the state change to a TCP/IP-formatted request. The system also includes a message handler coupled to the conversion unit, which receives the request from the conversion unit and transmits the request to a host system. The message handler also removes TCP/IP formatting from the request resulting in a file transfer protocol message. The conversion unit converts the file transfer protocol message to a signal and responds to the signal by the equipment. The conversion includes decoding the file transfer protocol message and setting a signal line to a requested state. |
| US07720954B2 |
Method and appliance for using a dynamic response time to determine responsiveness of network services
In a method and appliance for using a dynamic response time to determine responsiveness of one or more network services on a server, a monitor determines a response time for each of one or more network services. The monitor establishes an average response time based on the determined response time for each of the one or more network services. The monitor associates with the established average response time a predetermined threshold for which the response time of the one or more network services may deviate from the average response time and maintain an indication of responsiveness. The monitor monitors the response time of the one or more network services to one or more requests. The monitor determines that the response time of the one or more network services deviates from the average response time by the predetermined threshold. The monitor indicates that the one or more network services are unavailable. |
| US07720952B2 |
Presence information management system and presence information management server
When starting subscribe for acquiring presence information, there is no need of acquiring an identifier of the presentity or an identifier of the group, which have been conventionally indispensable. There is provided a state information management system including a management server for managing state information on a plurality of terminals. Instead of specifying a presentity, a condition of the presentity, such as a value of presence, is specified for subscribing. For example, when subscribe is established by specifying the identical current position as a condition, subscribe for the user matched with the condition is automatically started and the presence can be acquired. When the presence of a partner or user himself/herself is changed to a different value, the presentity is automatically changed. |
| US07720951B2 |
Method, system, and product for alleviating router congestion
A method, system, and product are described for alleviating router congestion when the router is processing packets transmitted by computer systems having a congestion notification capability. The router marks packets transmitted between a first computer system and a second computer system when the first and second computer systems have the congestion notification capability. The marking indicates that the router is moderately congested. A marked packet is then received by the first computer system. The router then drops packets transmitted by the first computer system when the packets were transmitted subsequent to the receipt of the marked packet. |
| US07720947B2 |
Method and device for reserving transmission band on internet
A method of reserving a transmission band of a transmission line for transmitting data via a plurality of Internet service providers on the Internet between first and second communication devices includes the steps of (a) the first communication device requesting an intermediary server to reserve the transmission band and (b) the intermediary server reserving the transmission band for the first and second communication devices. |
| US07720946B2 |
System, method and computer program product for enhancing awareness of fellow students' state of comprehension in an educational environment using networked thin client devices
A system, method and computer program product are provided for enhancing participation in an educational environment using networked devices. In one embodiment, feedback is received from a plurality of individual group members regarding material being presented by a group leader utilizing a plurality of networked devices operated by the individual group members. Subsequently, such feedback is processed. The processed feedback is then transmitted to the networked devices operated by the individual group members. Such processed feedback includes the feedback received from each of the individual group members thus allowing each individual group member to view the feedback of other group members. The present invention thus creates an inobtrusive, anonymous means for group members to recognize when their individual perception of the class discussion is actually a shared perception, thereby motivating group members to participate. |
| US07720943B2 |
Communication device for obtaining an application image or configuration from a service provider
A DSL customer premises equipment modem (DCPE) avoids the requirement of a flash or other static memory for storing an application image or configuration on the modem. The modem instead stores microcode used to boot its chipset and obtain the application image and/or configuration from a remote site, such as the central office (CO). In one possible startup procedure, this microcode initializes the modem's chipset, starts the DSL driver, establishes a data link with the service provider's CO equipment, and downloads the application image and/or the configuration from the CO. Other types of communications devices, such as cellular phones or other portable devices, can perform a similar procedure to obtain an application image from remote source, such as a base station. |
| US07720940B1 |
Managing a network element using a template configuration
An element manager acquires information identifying a network element. Based on the acquired information, the element manager associates a template configuration with the network element. The template configuration includes configuration parameter values. Subsequent to the associating, the element manager provides configuration information describing a configuration of the network element without retrieving the configuration information from the network element. The configuration information is based on the template configuration. An element manager and programming first determine that a configuration of a network element should match a template configuration. The configuration includes configuration parameter values utilized by the network element. The element manager and programming acquire at least one of the configuration parameter values and determine that the at least one acquired configuration parameter value does not match a corresponding configuration parameter value of the template configuration. Based on this determination, the element manager and programming take an action. |
| US07720937B2 |
Apparatus for playing media and method of setting the same
An apparatus for playing media and method of setting resources thereof are disclosed, by which system resources can be precisely controlled in a manner of enabling an application to set a player using specific resources to play a service or component. The present invention includes creating a player controlling media signals, setting at least one specific resource to be used by the created player, selecting a specific player that uses the set specific resource, a executing the set player. |
| US07720935B2 |
Storage aggregator
A storage aggregator is described. In an implementation, a method includes executing a module to determine whether sufficient storage is available to the module to store a particular content item and access a content storage provider over a network to open a client account to obtain additional storage when sufficient storage is not available. |
| US07720933B2 |
End to end data transfer
A method, apparatus and system for data transfer is disclosed. For example, settings from multiple entities arranged in a multi-tier control plane are used to set data transfer policies. The policies are use to govern data transfers such as between end users or from an origin server. |
| US07720932B2 |
Method for creating and providing layered syndicated data for multimedia content to users
A layered syndicated feed or content is provided having layers defined according to a media type (e.g., text, graphic, audio, or video) wherein each layer has a plurality of levels such that each level provides either inclusive or exclusive content of the layer's media type in varying degrees of detail or depth. Furthermore, a system is provided for requesting and storing user and mobile device profiles indicative of the syndicated content layers and levels that the user is interested in receiving and that the user's mobile device is capable of receiving. |
| US07720930B2 |
Systems and methods using NIC-based prefetching for host TCP context lookup
Systems and methods using network interface card-based (NIC-based) prefetching for host TCP context lookup are disclosed. The process generally includes hashing, by the NIC, a packet received over the network, computing a host hash table cache line in a host memory using the hash value and using a hash table pages table containing host memory physical page addresses of a host hash table, and computing a host context table cache line in a host memory using the hash value and using a context table pages table containing host memory physical page addresses of a host context table. The NIC may be initialized with the hash table pages table and the context table pages table as well as with the a set number of hash node entries in the hash table of the host memory. |
| US07720928B2 |
Centralized fine-grained enhancements for distributed table driven I/O mapping
A virtual storage system comprises an agent to store a first table to map virtual storage segments to storage locations, and a controller to store a second table and to intermittently cause contents of the first table to be replaced by contents of the second table. During an I/O operation, one of the entries in the first table can be accessed by a host to determine one of the storage locations. Also, a method for performing an I/O operation on a virtual storage segment, defined by first table that maps a storage segment to a first storage location, comprises turning off I/O operations at the first storage location, identifying portions of the virtual storage segment to be effected during a write operation, storing a record of identified portions at a second table not the first table, and writing to portions of the second storage location associated with the identified portions. |
| US07720927B2 |
Network system, network device, and program product
A secondary device receives an instruction message accompanied by a counted value and compares the received counted value with a counted value stored in an internal memory. Thus, it is determined whether the currently received instruction message is the same as a previously received instruction message and an execution of a process based on the previous instruction message was completed. When the received instruction message is not the same, the secondary device transmits a response message after executing a process according to the received instruction message. In contrast, when the instruction message is the same, the secondary device transmits a response message based on a process history in the internal memory without executing the process according to the received instruction message. |
| US07720925B1 |
Multiple message receive routine for network packets
A method for receiving a plurality of messages that includes obtaining the plurality of messages, grouping the plurality of messages into a data structure, generating a system call from a user-level application to a kernel, wherein the system call includes a request for the plurality of message, and returning a reference to the data structure to the user-level application in response to the request, and for each message in the plurality of messages in the data structure: extracting a selected message from the plurality of messages in the data structure using the reference to the data structure by the user-level application, and consuming the selected message by the user-level application. |
| US07720924B2 |
System providing methodology for the restoration of original media quality in messaging environments
A system providing methodology for the restoration of original media quality in messaging environments is described. In one embodiment, for example, deployed in a messaging system, a method of the present invention is described for restoring media items to original quality, the method comprises steps of: upon receipt of a message containing an original media item that is new, storing the original media item in a repository; generating an identifier for identifying the original media item stored in the repository; replacing the original media item in the message with a substitute copy that includes the identifier; and upon future encounter of a particular media item having the identifier, restoring the particular media item to original quality using the identifier. |
| US07720922B2 |
Email content builder system and method
An email content builder that generates email content based upon customer created rules is described. Messages to clients are edited automatically to suit a client's needs. The language in the text of a message is translated and changed depending on the country and client. Users select a script in an ebusiness system. After retrieving the appropriate script and associated information, the email content builder would either build the appropriate script corresponding to a client or retrieve appropriate text from the database. Then, the email content builder builds a script and email message depending on certain aspects of the client, such as language, billing information, etc. |
| US07720917B2 |
Method and device for hiding messages
Based on user configuration, a main messaging user interface screen on a messaging device either presents a list of references to messages stored on the device based on a complete index of references to the stored messages or based on a filtered index of references to the stored messages. References to stored messages of a predetermined type are not maintained in the filtered index. |
| US07720915B2 |
Method and apparatus for configuring electronic mail according to a user-selected type
The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for reminding a user to include an e-mail attachment file with an e-mail communication. The e-mail application is configured to provide a menu of different types of e-mail for the user to select, and to provide templates that require the user to attach an attachment file when that option is selected. |
| US07720912B2 |
Multimedia message transfer
A method for multi-media message transfer transmits a message to multiple recipients. The method includes receiving a message addressed to multiple recipients. The method also includes determining an indication of a state of each recipient. The method also includes transmitting an acknowledgement. The acknowledgment includes at least one message identifying at least one recipient and the associated state of the at least one recipient. |
| US07720911B2 |
Email using queues in non-persistent memory
An e-mail processing system that preferably operates solely within nonpersistent storage such as random access memory. Queues of e-mails are formed within the random access memory, where each queue includes a pointer to personalized information about the e-mail, directed to a specific domain. In order to send the e-mail, a channel is opened to the domain, and while open, e-mails within the queue are sent. A special recovery agent periodically takes snapshots of the state of processing within the system. Since the processing is occurring within nonpersistent storage, a failure within the system can be recovered by using the snapshots to recover where each email is processing. In one aspect, the feed rate to the other e-mail servers is adjusted based on the rate of those e-mail servers. Also, the system asynchronously looks up information such as DNS information while it is processing information for other e-mails. |
| US07720907B2 |
Supervisor partitioning of client resources
A system for supervisor partitioning of client resources in a subnet communications environment includes a plurality of client nodes, each receiving an allocated set of resources determined by a central authority, which assigns resources to a supervisor key associated with each supervisor of the plurality of client nodes. At each of the client nodes, the allocated set of resources are partitioned using a local supervisor associated therewith, with each supervisor associating one or more resource keys with one or more resources allocated to the corresponding client node, and assigning the one or more resource keys to the one or more applications. The supervisor keys are configured so as to prevent a given supervisor from partitioning resources not allocated to the client node associated therewith. Following the partitioning, communication packets are issued from the one or more applications to a resource provider node without inspection by the corresponding supervisor. |
| US07720906B2 |
Web service for remote application discovery
Systems and methods of a Web service for remote terminal service application discovery are described. In one aspect, a Web service in an Intranet is provided. The Web service is coupled to a public network. The Web service facilitates remote client computer discovery over the public network of information corresponding to application(s) deployed on the Intranet. The remote client computer is external to the Intranet. The application(s) are configured for terminal server based access for a user of the remote client computer. |
| US07720899B2 |
Arithmetic operation unit, information processing apparatus and arithmetic operation method
An arithmetic operation unit, which generates information representing whether or not an arithmetic operation result has been shifted when the arithmetic operation result is normalized, has an arithmetic logical unit outputting the arithmetic operation result, a normalizer having a plurality of shifter normalizing the arithmetic operation result, a shift amount calculator calculating a plurality of shift amounts for the plural shifter, and a predictor generating interim information that is a result of prediction of whether or not the arithmetic operation result is to be shifted when the arithmetic operation result is normalized, by using the plural shift amounts, and a generator generating the information by using the interim information. The cycle time required to generate a sticky bit is shortened to efficiently generate the sticky bit, and the hardware resources for generating the sticky bit is reduced. |
| US07720898B2 |
Apparatus and method for adjusting exponents of floating point numbers
A floating point unit, a central processing unit, and a method are provided for adjusting the exponent of a floating point number. During an addition or subtraction of two floating point numbers, the significand of the floating point result is rounded, and the exponent of the result may be adjusted due to normalization or renormalization. The exponent adjustment due to renormalization or the exponent adjustment due to normalization and renormalization is combined with the significand rounding operation. |
| US07720893B2 |
Methods and apparatus for providing map locations in user applications using URL strings
In one illustrative example, a method for use in mapping a location in a computer device includes the steps of receiving an electronic file or message which includes a hypertext link mapping indicator associated with a uniform resource locator (URL) string having a server address and latitude and longitude coordinates; receiving, through a user interface of the computer device, an end user selection of the hypertext link mapping indicator in the electronic file or message; and in response to the end user selection of the hypertext link mapping indicator: if a predetermined type of mapping application is provided in the computer device, invoking a mapping function of the mapping application to produce a map of a location corresponding to the latitude and longitude coordinates for visual display in a display of the computer device (e.g. based on received maplet data); and if the predetermined type of mapping application type is not provided in the computer device, requesting and receiving map data from a map coordinating server identified by the server address of the URL string to produce a map of the location for visual display in the display (e.g. based on a bitmap image). Advantageously, processing of the received hypertext link mapping indicator is handled differently depending on the type of device or whether a predetermined mapping application is installed in the device, so that optimal mapping functionality is provided for different device environments. |
| US07720892B1 |
Bulk updates and tape synchronization
Described are techniques for processing a request to store data. The request to store data in accordance with a single instance storage technique is received. A schedule for storing the data in accordance with information included in the request is determined. Data for processing is requested in accordance with the single instance storage technique in accordance with the schedule. |
| US07720890B2 |
Ghosted synchronization
A system and method for synchronizing a database having metadata and raw data. Metadata may be fully synchronized between two systems, with copies stored on both systems. Raw data may be selectively synchronized, so that a client system need not store all of the raw data locally. When disconnected, the client system may identify certain portions of the raw data to store locally, and such data may be synchronized when reconnected to a server system. |
| US07720886B2 |
System for generating an information catalog
A computer system and computer program product for generating and displaying an information catalog relating to a business model. The method includes accessing technical metadata from a data warehouse, accessing business metadata from a first source outside of the data warehouse, accessing presentation metadata from a second source outside of the data warehouse, and applying the presentation metadata to the technical metadata and the business metadata to generate the information catalog. The information catalog comprises the technical metadata and the business metadata in accordance with the presentation format specified by the presentation metadata. The technical metadata is associated with data used by computer applications. The computer applications support business processes of the business model. |
| US07720883B2 |
Key profile computation and data pattern profile computation
Architecture that provides a data profile computation technique which employs key profile computation and data pattern profile computation. Key profile computation in a data table includes both exact keys as well as approximate keys, and is based on key strengths. A key strength of 100% is an exact key, and any other percentage in an approximate key. The key strength is estimated based on the number of table rows that have duplicated attribute values. Only column sets that exceed a threshold value are returned. Pattern profiling identifies a small set of regular expression patterns which best describe the patterns within a given set of attribute values. Pattern profiling includes three phases: a first phases for determining token regular expressions, a second phase for determining candidate regular expressions, and a third phase for identifying the best regular expressions of the candidates that match the attribute values. |
| US07720882B2 |
Data file management and search method and system based on file attributes
A data file management and search method based on file attributes is disclosed. At least one data file, externally imported or generated by a user, is retrieved. Attributes of the data file are edited, a virtual catalog corresponding to the data file is generated, and a catalog tree is built according to the data file and the virtual catalog. The virtual catalog and the data file are displayed by a user interface. A search operation is performed based on a search command to locate at least one required virtual catalog or data file among multiple data files and virtual catalogs. A basic operation is implemented on the located virtual catalog or data file. |
| US07720880B2 |
Setting method of measuring apparatus, analyzing system, data processing apparatus, and storage medium
A setting method relating to measurement of measuring apparatus that minimizes the modification locations in an application program when the setting functions are modified, analyzing system, data processing apparatus, and storage medium are provided. When an application program is executed, setting data are processed to setting item data, setting parameter data, and setting value data. A data tree is generated in which setting item data are the root nodes, setting parameter data are the intermediate nodes, and setting value data are the leaf nodes, and the settings of the application program and measuring apparatus are accomplished using this data tree. |
| US07720876B2 |
System and method for controlling free space distribution by key range within a database
An improved method and system for controlling free space distribution by key range within a database. In one embodiment, a data structure including key ranges of a plurality of database tables and indexes, and a plurality of key range free space parameters is created. The plurality of database tables and indexes may include a plurality of page sets, which may include rows of data and keys. Time values may be associated with the plurality of free space parameters. The key range free space parameters may have values assigned to them. The key range free space parameters may be user-defined or automatically generated using growth trend analysis, based on key range growth statistics. The rows of data and keys within the plurality of page sets may be redistributed by a reorganization process. The redistributing may reference the key ranges of the data structure and the key range free space parameters. |
| US07720874B2 |
Dynamically allocating space for a fixed length part of a variable length field in a database table
An enhanced space allocation mechanism (ESAM) for dynamically allocating space for a fixed length part of variable length fields, such as VARCHAR fields, in database tables. Each record in such a variable length field has a fixed length part, a variable length part, and a pointer to the variable length part. The ESAM determines how much space to allocate based on the data that was historically put into these tables. In one embodiment, a database management system (DBMS) maintains a historical record that includes fields identifying the table, column and application ID, as well as fields that track a count and a total length. For each variable length field in a Structured Query Language (SQL) statement such as CREATE table or ALTER table, the DBMS finds a matching historical record, determines an estimated optimal fixed portion length based on the matching historical record, and sets a space allocation length for the fixed length part of the variable length field based on the estimated optimal fixed portion length. This dynamic space allocation approach is especially advantageous in situations where an empty table will be loaded with a massive amount of data. |
| US07720872B1 |
Software interface mapping tool
Disclosed herein is an automated software interface mapping tool for determining and documenting caller/provider relationships, data structures, and data transformations as a system logical data model of a single system or across multiple systems in an enterprise. The system logical data model may be stored as a set of structures and data elements in a metadata repository. The metadata repository enables improved impact analysis, documents dependencies, serves as a tool for implementing application rationalization, and aids in the creation of future code for the generation of new applications or systems. |
| US07720871B2 |
Media management system and method
A media management system for managing a user's media files and information related to such media files and a method of the same. In one aspect, the system and method are operable on a user's computing device. In one aspect, the system comprises a storage management component, a server communication component, a media player component, an instant messaging component, and a media engine component. In one aspect, the method allows a user to browse and/or exchange media files with other users via a network using an instant messaging component. |
| US07720869B2 |
Hierarchical structured abstract file system
A method in a data processing system of searching a plurality of electronic files identified by filenames in a first hierarchical file structure that is on a recordable medium of the data processing system. A user-defined metalabel is assigned to each of the electronic files. The electronic files are organized as a function of the metalabels into a second hierarchical file structure existing simultaneously with the first hierarchical file structure on the recordable medium of the data processing system. A search query is received from a user and the metalabels of the second hierarchical file structure are searched as a function of the query. Each electronic file having a metalabel matching the query is returned to the user as a search result. |
| US07720868B2 |
Providing assistance with the creation of an XPath expression
Methods and computer-readable media are provided for assisting with the creation of an extensible markup language (“XML”) path language (“XPath”) expression. According to one aspect, an application program for editing XSLT stylesheets provides a user interface that assists with the creation and editing of XPath expressions. When an XPath expression is being created, a user interface is displayed that includes the valid XPath tokens for the expression being created. As characters are entered into the expression, the valid XPath tokens are continually identified for the expression and the contents of the user interface control are updated. If one of the items displayed in the user interface control is selected, the XPath token corresponding to the selected item is inserted into the XPath expression. |
| US07720867B2 |
Natural language query construction using purpose-driven template
Constructing a query in a natural-language format using a purpose-driven query template. A user is prompted to select one of a plurality of query purposes. User-input is received indicating a selected one of the plurality of query purposes. A first list of conditions is selected from a plurality of lists of conditions based on the selected one of the plurality of query purposes, then displayed in a format in which each of a plurality of conditions in the first list is grammatically joined to at least one other condition in the first list to form a query sentence, and wherein each of the plurality of conditions in the first list is associated with a respective set of user-selectable values. |
| US07720860B2 |
Query result iteration
Systems and methods for processing an index are described. A pulse in an inverted index refers to a group of items that do not occur in any other pulse in the index. When processing a query against an inverted index in which pulses are present, the query is processed against a single pulse. The end of the pulse is determined based on the characteristics of the pulse and the linked list nodes that comprise the postings lists from which the index was generated. In some embodiments, index updates are applied to the query result obtained from a single pulse to provide an efficient and up to date query result. |
| US07720859B2 |
Device and program for executing setting process
There is provided a device, which comprises a storage unit configured to store a plurality of items relating to setting of a predetermined device and parameters associated with the plurality of items, a search unit configured to search the storage unit for at least one item that matches a keyword, and a setting screen generation unit configured to generate a setting screen for the setting of the at least one setting item searched by the search unit, using the parameters associated with the at least one item. |
| US07720852B2 |
Information retrieval engine
A system, method, and computer program product retrieve information associated with the signals. The information retrieval can be performed on a signal by quantizing the signal, forming words, and indexing based on weights of the words. The words are formed by grouping letters together to form a number of words within predetermined threshold values. The weights of the words are determined using a binomial log likelihood ratio analysis. The present invention may be applied to identification of an unknown song. |
| US07720847B2 |
Apparatus and computerised method for determining constituent words of a compound word
An apparatus, a computer program and a computerized method for determining constituent words of a compound word are provided. Constituent words constitute a compound word. When the constituent words comply to split decision criteria then the constituent words can be used in a separate form. The separate form of the constituent words is used in the search to retrieve the related documents from the document collection. |
| US07720844B2 |
Method and system for continuous, dynamic, adaptive searching based on a continuously evolving personal region of interest
Embodiments of the present invention are directed to flexible, user-adapted, continuous searching, on behalf of a particular user, for points of interest relevant to the user's current location within a specifically computed personal region of interest. In a general case, the personal region of interest is computed as a function of the user's level of disposition towards the searched-for points of interest. The level of disposition towards the searched-for points of interest may, in turn, be based on two or more of the user's location, the current date and time, a history of the user's interaction with the POI-searching system, including user-initiated searches and user selections from displayed search results, a user profile developed for, and continuously updated on behalf of, the user, and a current context for the search, as specified by a search query or by other context-specifying means. The personal region of interest generally defines an abstract area, volume, or hypervolume within which method and system embodiments of the present invention search for points of interest. |
| US07720831B2 |
Handling multi-dimensional data including writeback data
Embodiments are provided to use metadata to provide readable and/or writeable regions of a multi-dimensional space. In an embodiment, metadata can be used to define readable and/or writeable regions of a multi-dimensional data store. The various embodiments also use relational and/or multi-dimensional representations to resolve and validate readable and/or writeable regions of a multi-dimensional space. Metadata can also be used to in conjunction with writeback operations. |
| US07720830B2 |
Hierarchical conditional random fields for web extraction
A method and system for labeling object information of an information page is provided. A labeling system identifies an object record of an information page based on the labeling of object elements within an object record and labels object elements based on the identification of an object record that contains the object elements. To identify the records and label the elements, the labeling system generates a hierarchical representation of blocks of an information page. The labeling system identifies records and elements within the records by propagating probability-related information of record labels and element labels through the hierarchy of the blocks. The labeling system generates a feature vector for each block to represent the block and calculates a probability of a label for a block being correct based on a score derived from the feature vectors associated with related blocks. The labeling system searches for the labeling of records and elements that has the highest probability of being correct. |
| US07720828B2 |
Method and system for automated intelligent electronic advertising
A method and system for automated intelligent electronic advertising. The method and system parse electronic information messages (e.g., e-mail messages, instant messages, etc.) for keywords and make search engine queries or database queries for electronic links based on the identified keywords. The electronic links returned from search engine queries or database queries are added to the electronic information messages creating a modified electronic information message. This allows additional electronic information to be accessed from the modified electronic information message based on information content of the original electronic information message. |
| US07720827B2 |
Network meta-data libraries and related methods
Network meta-data libraries act as repositories of evolving management information models (MIM) and management information based (MIB) models. Changes to the models may be originated using the libraries or tracked by the libraries. In addition, the libraries may be used to generate and store transformation models used by mediation units to transform changes made to network elements, such as routers, into normalized meta-data that can be understood by an operations support system. |
| US07720826B2 |
Performing a query for a rule in a database
In a database whose entries contain values organized in categories, a first query is performed that includes input query values respectively associated with at least some of the categories and that seeks entries whose values match each input query value. Upon finding no entries, a category whose input query value to eliminate is identified. A second query is performed that includes the input query values except for the identified at least one category. The second query seeks any of the entries whose values match each of the input query values of the second query and that has no specified value for the identified at least one category. A data structure is configured to indicate an order that at least some of several categories will be eliminated when generating a new query after a previous query does not result in a match among entries of a database. |
| US07720825B2 |
System and method for enabling records management
A system, method, and computer program product for managing a retention period for electronic content data are disclosed. The method includes running a records manager system. The records manager system defines a retention period for a plurality of electronic content data. The records manager system instructs a digital rights manager system to protect each of the plurality of electronic content data. Each of the plurality of electronic content data are protected with at least one usage policy for at least one of the plurality of electronic content data related to the retention period as governed by the records manager system. The defined retention period is logged, for later auditing, for each of the plurality of the electronic content data. |
| US07720824B2 |
Database range constraint that is dynamically limited by data in the database
A dynamic range constraint is defined that has one or more limits that are computed from data residing in the database. In a first embodiment, a dynamic range constraint is defined for a database column that includes at least one limit that is computed from data within that column. In a second embodiment, a dynamic range constraint is defined for a database column that includes at least one limit that is computed from data in a different database column. The limits may be computed using any suitable heuristic or criteria, including statistical analysis of the data in the database. In this manner a range constraint for a column may evolve automatically as the data in the database changes. |
| US07720821B1 |
Method of and apparatus for writing and reading time sensitive data within a storage device
A media storage device records a meta-data header with packets received by the media storage device. The meta-data headers include a cycle mark value and a cycle count value. The cycle mark value has a specific pattern which is then used to locate cycle boundaries within the recorded stream of data. The cycle count value specifies the value of the isochronous cycle number on which the packet was received. Preferably, the media storage device includes an embedded stream processor which is responsible for appropriately adding the meta-data header to the packets within the recorded stream of data. The embedded stream processor is also integral to the playback of recorded data, and is used to retrieve data from the storage media, strip the meta-data headers from retrieved data being played back and recover from any error conditions encountered during the playback of previously recorded data. The meta-data headers stored within the recorded stream of data are also utilized to recover from any error conditions and resynchronize the transmission of the data during playback. |
| US07720815B1 |
Circular replication of data
Various systems, methods, and programs embodied in computer-readable mediums are provided for implementing circular replication among nodes. In a representative example, a plurality of nodes are arranged in a circular replication configuration. Each of the nodes has a logfile indicating storage of a plurality of entries, where each of the nodes receives the entries from a plurality of external devices. The entries received by a respective one of the nodes are replicated in the remaining ones of the nodes via circular replication. |
| US07720812B1 |
Synchronizing write accesses
A generational journaling data store can synchronize write accesses so that previous generation masters do not corrupt current generation journals. A master maintains a journal and accesses a data store on behalf of clients. When a master disappears a new master must take its place to ensure reliable and continuous access to the data store. Without generations, a previous master can reappear and corrupt journals and data stores. With generations, a newer generation journal can not be corrupted by a previous generation master. |
| US07720809B2 |
Application integration using XML
A method and system for integrating form data in an ERP system with a target application are provided. The method includes receiving a first input from a user of an ERP system while a form is running on an application layer of the ERP system to initiate a data integration process. Next, a metadata form XML file is generated at an ERP platform layer from the form running on the application layer. Then, the metadata form XML file is sent from the ERP platform layer to the application layer for use by target applications in integrating data from the form into the target applications. |
| US07720807B1 |
Representing finite node-labeled trees using a one bit encoding
Ease of processing and exchange of information and data between different programmatic schema and memory stores is described. A common indexing system or coordination language based on the natural number node-labeled tree data structure provides a common programming element for use at the base of all container-oriented manipulation. |
| US07720806B2 |
Systems and methods for data manipulation using multiple storage formats
Systems and methods for storing and accessing data. Algebraic relations may be composed that each define a result equal to a requested data set. The algebraic relations may reference other data sets in storage. Some of the data sets may contain the same logical data stored in different physical formats and/or in different locations in the data store. One of the algebraic relations may be selected for use in providing the requested data set based, at least in part, on the physical format and/or locations of the data sets referenced in the algebraic relations. In other examples, algebraic relations may be selected based, at least in part, on the speed and available bandwidth of the channel(s) used to retrieve data sets referenced in the algebraic relation. Functions may be used to calculate the algebraic relation using the data sets retrieved from storage. The functions may be format specific based on the physical formats of the data sets provided as operands to the functions. |
| US07720803B2 |
Mapping of a transactional data model to a reporting data model
Systems and techniques for mapping of a transactional data model to a reporting data model are described. In one aspect, an article includes one or more machine-readable media storing instructions operable to cause one or more machines to perform operations. The operations include receiving a transactional data model and a view that includes a collection of view fields, each view field referencing an object in the transactional data model, mapping one or more of a plurality of view fields in the collection to one or more of a plurality of data warehouse objects, and grouping the mapped data warehouse objects into a reporting data model. |
| US07720802B2 |
Reclaiming resident buffers when a reclaim threshold has been exceeded by swapping the oldest in use buffer and a new buffer, and referencing the new buffer via an updated set of read and write pointers
Systems methods and computer products for reclaiming resident buffers on demand. Exemplary embodiments include systems and methods for reclaiming resident buffers, including allocating a buffer, determining that the buffer allocation pushes the buffer pool below a reclaim threshold, marking an oldest in-use buffer to be reclaimed, determining that all messages referencing the buffer have been queued, allocating a new buffer and performing a swap of the oldest in-use buffer and the new buffer, performing a free message block operation and updating a message block by updating a set of read and write pointers to point to the new buffer. |
| US07720801B2 |
System and method for supporting asynchronous data replication with very short update intervals
A system and method for improving the efficiency of the transmission of updated blocks generated by logging all the block allocations and deletes as well as CPs and PCPI creation and deletion in a persistent log. The log is scanned during each update cycle (in which changes are transmitted to a destination mirror) by the storage operating system, and only changed blocks that are referenced by the file system as it existed at the end of the update cycle or referenced by PCPIs that existed at the end of the update cycle are actually sent in the transmission. This reduces the number of changes being transmitted. |
| US07720800B2 |
Method and approach to hosting versioned web services
A method for hosting versioned web services includes steps of: receiving a request from a service requester, the request comprising version metadata; parsing the request; extracting the version metadata from the parsing step; and locating a target implementation version using the version metadata. If the target implementation version is located, the method proceeds by dynamically routing the versioned request to the target implementation version. |
| US07720798B2 |
Transmitter-receiver system, transmitting apparatus, transmitting method, receiving apparatus, receiving method, and program
A transmitter-receiver system includes: a transmitting apparatus configured to transmit data categorized into groups recorded on a recording medium; and a receiving apparatus configured to receive the data; wherein the transmitting apparatus includes: a read unit configured to read a destination of the data, the destination which is recorded on the recording medium and associated with the group of the data; and a transmitting unit configured to transmit data categorized into a predetermined group and group information showing the group to the destination read by the read unit, and the receiving apparatus includes: a receiving unit configured to receive data and group information transmitted from the transmitting unit; and a record control unit configured to record the data in a folder corresponding to the group based on the group information. |
| US07720797B2 |
Method and apparatus for electronic collection, translation, grouping, and delivery of wage assignment information
A system that electronically collects, translates, groups, and delivers wage assignment information from at least one initiator to at least one recipient via an accumulator is described. An initiator initially receives the wage assignment information. Then, an accumulator collects the wage assignment information from at least one initiator, such as a government agency. The accumulator then translates the wage assignment information into a format compatible with electronic data interchange (EDI), such as the ANSI X12 standard. The accumulator then groups the EDI wage assignment information into specific files, batching the files based upon one data field contained within the wage assignment information data set, such as a recipient. The accumulator then delivers a batched EDI wage assignment file to each respective recipient. Once the EDI wage assignment file is received by the recipient, the wage assignment may then be implemented. |
| US07720795B2 |
Digital cockpit
A method for communicating information for pre-defined metrics management of business metrics uses a system including a server and at least one user accessible device communicative with the server. The server has a database and a web interface. The method comprises providing a user with a web interface configurable to a template accommodating business metrics data by the user, and providing visual indications of the status of the business metrics. |
| US07720793B2 |
Method and system for selectively processing test data using subscriptions in a multi-formatter architecture
In an embodiment, there is disclosed a system for selectively processing test data using subscriptions in a multi-formatter architecture. The system includes a set of designators specifying types of data; a set of formatters for writing data to files; and a monitor for polling the formatters for designators and for reviewing the data. In an embodiment, a method of selectively processing test data using subscriptions in a multi-formatter architecture is disclosed. The method includes specifying types of data with a set of designators; polling each one of a set of data formatters to identify specified types of data needed for writing data to files; and reviewing data to identify data corresponding to the designators identified in the polling of the formatters; and storing data corresponding to the designators identified in the polling of the formatters. Other embodiments are also disclosed. |
| US07720790B2 |
Dynamic selection of frequent itemset counting technique
Techniques are provided for (1) extending SQL to support direct invocation of frequent itemset operations, (2) improving the performance of frequent itemset operations by clustering itemset combinations to more efficiently use previously produced results, and (3) making on-the-fly selection of the occurrence counting technique to use during each phase of a multiple phase frequent itemset operation. When directly invoked in an SQL statement, a frequent itemset operation may receive input from results of operations specified in the SQL statement, and provide its results directly to other operations specified in the SQL statement. By clustering itemset combinations, resources may be used more efficiently by retaining intermediate information as long as it is useful, and then discarding it to free up volatile memory. Dynamically selecting an occurrence counting technique allows a single frequent itemset operation to change the occurrence counting technique that it is using midstream, based on cost considerations and/or environmental conditions. |
| US07720786B2 |
Method of pattern identification using retain operators on multisets
A system and method of identifying loose patterns using a smart multiset intersection operation are provided. Data segments are received from a data segmentation algorithm and sorted into corresponding multisets. A retain operation may be performed on the multisets. A normalization operation is then performed on the repeating elements in the multisets to identify the loose pattern. The loose pattern is stored in a database. |
| US07720785B2 |
System and method of mining time-changing data streams using a dynamic rule classifier having low granularity
A dynamic rule classifier for mining a data stream includes at least one window for viewing data contained in the data stream and a set of rules for mining the data. Rules are added and the set of rules are updated by algorithms when an drift in a concept within the data occurs, causing unacceptable drops in classification accuracy. The dynamic rule classifier is also implemented as a method and a computer program product. |
| US07720782B2 |
Automated predictive modeling of business future events based on historical data
Predictive models are developed automatically for a plurality of modeling variables. The plurality of modeling variables is transformed, based on a transformation rule. A clustering of the transformed modeling variables is performed to create variable clusters. A set of variables is selected from the variable clusters based on a selection rule. A regression of the set of variables is performed to determine prediction variables. The prediction variables are utilized in developing a predictive model. The development of the predictive model may include modification of the predictive model, review of the plurality of transformations, and validation of the predictive model. |
| US07720778B2 |
Oncology-driven service selection using a generic service contract
Example implementations relate to a system for selecting a provider service that fulfills a specification of a service request. The system includes a storage unit, a transformer unit, and a selection unit. The storage unit is configured to store a generic contract that is a concept of an ontology and a provider sub-concept that is a further concept of the ontology and a sub-concept of the generic contract. The provider sub-concept represents the provider service. The transformer unit is configured to transform the service request to a request sub-concept that is a concept of the ontology and a sub-concept of the generic contract. The selection unit is configured to select the provider service in case that the request sub-concept is a sub-concept of the provider sub-concept. |
| US07720777B2 |
Method, device, and program product to monitor the social health of a persistent virtual environment
Device, method, and computer program product for monitoring the social health of a persistent virtual environment. The disclosed technology monitors social interactions between subscribers of on-line entities who have interactions related to the persistent virtual environment. |
| US07720775B2 |
Learning equipment and learning method, and robot apparatus
Conventional robot apparatus etc. can not perform name-learning naturally. Learning the name of an object is performed such a manner that the name of a target object is obtained through dialog with a human being, the name is stored in association with plural items of different characteristic data detected for the target object, and a new object is recognized based on the stored data and associative information, the name and characteristic data of the new person are obtained and this associative information is stored. |
| US07720774B2 |
Learning method and apparatus utilizing genetic algorithms
A learning apparatus for building a network structure of a Bayesian network based on learning data. In the Bayesian network, a cause and effect relationship between plural nodes is represented by a directed graph. The learning apparatus includes a storage portion in which the learning data is stored and a learning portion for building the network structure based on the learning data. The learning portion prepares an initial population of individuals formed by individuals each having a genotype in which orders between the nodes and cause and effect relationship have been stipulated, repeatedly performs processing for crossovers and/or mutations on the initial population of individuals based on a genetic algorithm, calculates an evaluated value of each individual based on the learning data, searches for an optimum one of the individuals, and takes a phenotype of the optimum individual as the network structure. |
| US07720770B1 |
System and method for negotiating improved terms for products and services being purchased through the internet
A method and system for negotiating improved terms for a product being purchased over the Internet. Once a purchaser has made a decision to buy a specific product over the Internet, the purchaser may use the services of a personal negotiating broker-agent program to beat the best available purchase transaction within a specifiable time window. The personal broker-agent program may detect an issuance of a commitment to purchase over the Internet by a purchaser. The personal broker-agent program may then make an offer to the purchaser the option of waiting a predetermined amount of time while the broker agent searches for improved items. On acceptance of the option by the purchaser, the personal broker-agent program may conduct an auction and/or search the Internet for a better deal and may evaluate the auction and/or search responses to determine the best deal. The personal broker-agent program may then execute the best deal. If the purchaser elects not to accept the option from the personal broker-agent program, then the purchaser may execute the commitment to purchase transaction without delay. |
| US07720768B1 |
Enhancing copyright revenue generation for a copyright protected frame-based work
A method for enhancing copyright revenue generation for a copyright protected frame-based work. The method includes embedding copyright and playback management information into at least one data field of the copyright protected frame-based work. The copyright and playback management information corresponds to access to the copyright protected frame-based work. The method also includes encoding the copyright protected frame-based work, transmitting the encoded copyright protected frame-based work and ensuring appropriate payment of entitled copyright royalties of the copyright protected frame-based work based at least in part on the embedded copyright and playback management information. |
| US07720766B2 |
Digital data selling and buying transaction system, auxiliary digital data selling and buying system, digital data selling and buying transaction method, auxiliary digital data selling and buying method, and digital data selling and buying transaction apparatus
Auxiliary digital data is sold and bought. A process for selling auxiliary digital data is performed with respect to a process for cancelling a limitation of use of the digital data. A process for buying the auxiliary digital data is performed. A process for receiving a selling request and a buying request is performed, and selling and buying transactions are concluded. The process of selling, the process of buying, and the process of selling and buying are each performed by transmitting and receiving data through a communication network. |
| US07720764B2 |
Method, device, and system for completing on-line financial transaction
A method for conducting a secure transaction over a network includes the steps of receiving a price and a transaction identifier from a merchant, the transaction identifier identifying a purchase selection made by a user, receiving a user identifier from a user, receiving a financial institution selection from the user, initiating a communication session with the selected financial institution, receiving a financial-institution user-identifier from the user, communicating the financial-institution user-identifier to the selected financial institution, communicating to the selected financial institution a request to transfer funds, receiving the funds from the selected financial institution, and sending the funds to the merchant. |
| US07720762B1 |
System and method for electronically processing commercial transactions based upon threshold amount
The invention is a system and method for electronically processing electronic payment transactions. The invention provides a system and method for processing electronic payment transactions based upon a threshold amount. The system and method determine whether a monetary amount associated with a transaction meets a threshold amount and selects an account of the purchaser for settling the transaction based upon that determination. The invention thus allows micropayments, of an amount beneath a threshold, to be settled with one account, whereas non-micropayments may be settled to another account. In other embodiments, the threshold is based upon cumulative amounts, which may include amounts associated with subscriber use of the payment device, when the payment device is a subscriber device such as a wireless communications device. In other embodiments, a choice of which account to use in settling a transaction is based, at least in part, on whether or not a merchant at which a transaction is being made is authorized according to certain criteria. |
| US07720760B1 |
Consumer-directed financial transfers using automated clearinghouse networks
A method for authenticating a user, the method including: receiving a first value associated with an account from the user, receiving a second value associated with the account from an automated system, comparing the first value with the second value to generate a comparison, and authenticating the user based on the comparison. |
| US07720757B2 |
System and method for providing a credit account for debt recovery
The invention includes systems and methods for providing a credit account for debt recovery. A recovery credit account is provided for a customer with an existing charged-off debt. Some of the customer's charged-off debt may be forgiven as part of a settlement when the customer enrolls in the recovery credit account, but the opening balance of the recovery credit account will represent the entire debt obligation of the customer going forward. The recovery credit account includes a credit limit that is lower than the opening balance. Reducing the account balance to less than the credit limit triggers open-to-buy status, issuance of a credit card, and activation of over the limit fees for future balances over the credit limit. |
| US07720756B2 |
Methods, devices and bank computers for consumers using communicators to wire funds to sellers and vending machines
Methods for consumers to pay at the point of sale by using a personal communicator (30) to wire transfer funds (1364) out of their bank (40) account. The communicator (30) is coupled to, and exchanges signals with a reciprocating communicator (1350) of the seller, which in turn is coupled (1356) to the seller's bank (60). This way the money is transferred as an EFT payment code (1364) directly from the buyer's bank (40) to the seller's bank (60), where it may be considered direct deposited, without processing delays. Devices also include vending machines that can receive payment this way. Bank computers are provided with systems and software for enabling the above. The bank computers are accessible by telephone lines, and work with cooperating banks by exchanging signals, for transferring the funds. The seller's bank (60) generates a payment confirmation code (1368) that is ultimately transmitted to the seller's satisfaction for releasing the goods at the point of sale. |
| US07720755B1 |
Card-based system and method for issuing negotiable instruments
A card-based system for a non-bank entity to indirectly provide direct deposit capabilities for funds representing pre-payments for negotiable instruments. When a direct deposit of funds into a first account associated with the individual and maintained by a first entity is detected, the total amount of the funds is transferred into a second account associated with the individual and maintained by a second entity. The first entity is a bank or other financial institution subject to federal banking regulations, while the second entity is not subject to federal banking regulations. The individual may withdraw the funds from the second account by using a card at an ATM or POS terminal requesting the issuance of negotiable instruments. Negotiable instruments may be issued in any dollar amount not exceeding the balance of the second account. A properly enrolled customer may make subsequent deposits into the second account. Security is provided by requiring the presentation of identify verification when the negotiable instruments are endorsed and cashed. |
| US07720753B1 |
Quantifying the output of credit research systems
A method of quantifying the value added by an internal company credit rating system is described. The method includes determining an internal company credit rating for each of a plurality of securities. The internal company credit rating for each of the plurality of securities and an external credit research agency original credit rating for each of the securities are inputted in a ratings history database. Data representative of a change of the external credit research agency original credit rating for at least one security of the plurality of securities to a new credit rating is received. Responsive to the change, data representative of a current price of the at least one security and a benchmark price of the at least one security is received. At least one metric is calculated to determine the number of times the internal company credit ratings for each of the plurality of securities was correct. |
| US07720749B2 |
Purchase and selling of exchange-traded shares in an investment company that issues a class of conventional shares and a class of exchange-traded shares in the same fund
A computer-implemented method of purchasing or selling exchange-traded shares is performed by entering into a computer an order to purchase or sell exchange-traded shares on behalf of an investor on the secondary market through a broker, executing the order on the secondary market via one or computers, and updating account data of the investor in one or more account data computers to reflect the new number of exchange-traded shares held by the investor. The exchange-traded shares are exchange-traded shares that are associated with a single investment company that has issued one or more classes of shares that are bought from and redeemed with the single investment company at a net asset value, and one or more classes of shares that are listed for trading on a securities exchange and that are bought and sold at negotiated market prices. The shares that are bought and sold at negotiated market prices are the exchange-traded shares. The owner of any share of any share class has an undivided interest in the single investment company. |
| US07720745B2 |
Method and system for implementing catalog inventory auctions in an electronic exchange
An auction method for specifying catalog contents for packaging and pushing to an electronic auction. The auction method is implemented in an electronic commerce exchange. The auction method includes the steps of specifying catalog contents for packaging for an auction operation hosted on the electronic exchange. Initial terms for the sale of the contents are then specified. The auction is then automatically initiated using the previously specified contents and the previously specified terms. The auction proceeds with the receiving of bids for the contents from remote bidders. The bids are received via a distributed computing network into which the electronic commerce exchange is communicatively coupled. A winning bid is selected by determining a most competitive bid out of the bids received for the contents. A sale of the contents is then completed based upon the terms of the most competitive bid. |
| US07720744B2 |
Systems and methods for shifting bids and offers in a trading interface
Systems and methods for shifting bids and/or offers in a trading interface are provided. Using these systems and methods, a trader may access various bid and/or offer data, adjust bid and/or offer statuses, and shift a plurality of bid and/or offer prices and sizes to accommodate for changes in a trading environment. The trading interface may provide users with multiple bid and/or offer interaction. This may allow users to apply changes to a plurality of bids and/or offers simultaneously and provide time efficient bid and/or offer shifting. Furthermore, the trading interface may allow the user to access or import books from various trading applications. |
| US07720743B1 |
Methods and apparatus for online auctions and market-places utilizing program terms
An on-line market-place includes an auction wherein one or more predefined terms, qualities, incentives, or other such indicia (generally, “Program Terms”) are associated with the particular product and/or service which is the subject of the auction. Customers rank or otherwise designate their preference for the these Program Terms (e.g., by selecting a “Preferred Program Term”), and the system then partitions the customers into “pools” in accordance with the selected Program Terms Merchants then compete to obtain that pool of customers by bidding on the Preferred Program Term. Customers may be pooled according to demographic or other customer characteristics (“Characteristic Pooling”), or according to level of commitment to purchase (“Commitment Pooling”).In one embodiment, customers who would otherwise be partitioned into different pools are grouped in the same pool, and changes to a first Preferred Program Term associated with a first customer automatically causes a bid of equivalent value to be made to a second Preferred Program Term associated with a second customer. In another embodiment, “ghost pools” are used select preferred merchants for particular auctions. In yet another embodiment, an electronic marketplace is provided wherein Program Terms can be highly tailored by the purchaser immediately. |
| US07720734B2 |
Managing an investment vehicle
A method for managing an investment vehicle. The investment vehicle issues multiple debt instruments to a plurality of investors. The debt instruments have different liability characteristics. The proceeds of the debt instruments are invested in assets. From time to time, liabilities on the debt instruments and the credit quality of the assets is reevaluated, to ensure that the cash flows generated by the portfolio, disregarding fair market value of the assets, will be sufficient to pay timely principal and interest on the liabilities. In response to the reevaluating, the capital structure of the investment vehicle is adjusted to maintain a desired agency rating for the debt instruments. |
| US07720730B2 |
Method and apparatus for capturing consumer loan application data
Methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture for capturing consumer loan application data are disclosed herein. Embodiments of the invention provide mechanisms for capturing consumer loan application data corresponding to a plurality of consumer loan application types within a single software application, and for the navigation of a user through a series of linked user interface displays to facilitate the capture of relevant information. In addition, the network environment of methodologies in accordance with the teachings of the present invention provides for the storage of data in a relational database management system that enables previously entered data to pre-populate data fields of subsequent user interface displays and/or subsequent consumer loan applications without the necessity to re-enter the data. |
| US07720726B2 |
Automatic generation of RIB rules in computerized financial management system
Financial management applications may operate according to RIB rules in which expenditure budget limits are increased as an organization or department thereof realizes revenue. When such applications operate in conjunction with complicated data structures for revenues and budget, it can become burdensome to define a plurality of RIB rules individually. A configuration system includes a RIB strategy array containing a relatively small set of meta-rules for identifiers of various portions of a revenue data structure to which they apply. An automated configuration system surveys the revenue data structure, determines which value transforms and destination addresses of a budget database apply and generate a larger set of RIB rules that will govern in the financial management application during normal system operation. |
| US07720725B2 |
Systems and methods for planning a supply network in a managed supply chain
Systems and methods are disclosed for planning a supply network for a product between a source location and a destination location in a managed supply chain. In one embodiment, a method is provided that comprises the steps of: creating a planned stock transfer order to cover demand from the destination location, deploying available products from the source location to the destination location in response to the planned stock transfer, the deploying step including the step of calculating a quantity of products available to deploy, wherein the calculating step takes into account a rounding value and a maximum lot size, and confirming the planned stock transfer order with the calculated available quantity. |
| US07720723B2 |
User interface and methods for recommending items to users
An improved user interface and method are provided for presenting recommendations to a user when the user adds an item to a shopping cart. In response to the shopping cart add event, a page generation process generates and returns a page that includes a recommendations portion and a condensed view of the shopping cart. The recommendations portion preferably includes multiple recommendation sections, each of which displays a different respective set of recommended items selected according to a different respective recommendation or selection algorithm (e.g., recommendations based on shopping cart contents, recommendations based on purchase history, etc.). The condensed shopping cart view preferably lacks controls for editing the shopping cart, and lacks certain types of product information, making more screen real estate available for the display of the recommendations content. A link to a full shopping cart page allows the user to edit the shopping cart and view expanded product descriptions. |
| US07720721B1 |
Method and system for analyzing user interaction to identify documents associated with dissimilar items that may contain synonyms
Tools and techniques are described for analyzing interactions to identify dissimilar items that may contain synonyms. Methods described herein may retrieve activity records that represent interactions between a visitor and a server-based system, and may identify within the activity records inputs that the visitor provided during the interaction. The methods may identify items within the activity record that are associated with the inputs, and may access additional activity records that also contain the same inputs. The methods may then identify additional items within the additional activity records that are associated with this same input, and may establish similarity ratings for the two items, with the similarity ratings indicating a likelihood that documents respectively associated with the items contain synonyms. |
| US07720720B1 |
System and method for generating effective recommendations
A data processing system generates recommendations for on-line shopping by scoring recommendations matching the customer's cart contents product page, configuration page, email and/or history using predetermined scoring criteria, such as item availability, item price, relevance of the item to the customer, item clarity, item exposure, total purchase amount in the cart, margin, recommendation confidence and lift, shopper profile matches, seasonality, customer history, time dependency, product marketing emphasis, substitutability, item popularity and/or product attributes associated with the recommended item. The scored recommendations may be ranked and/or filtered to prioritize the recommendations so that the best recommendation is selected for presentation to the customer. In addition, one or more scoring criteria or product attributes for the recommended item may be used to select a specific selling point/message text for inclusion with the selected recommendation. |
| US07720717B2 |
Mobile terminal device, mobile terminal method, mobile terminal program, and electronic money server
A mobile terminal device has an information processing unit that processes electronic money information and a storage unit that stores the electronic money information. A receiving unit receives from an electronic money server an electronic money identification (ID), a mobile terminal identification (ID) identifying the mobile terminal device, and a money information processing program for enabling the information processing unit to execute processing of the money information stored in the storage unit. An installation unit installs into the storage unit the money information processing program and the IDs received by the receiving unit. A sending unit sends to the electronic money server information necessary for enabling the electronic money server to provide electronic money service, the necessary information being sent to the electronic server before the receiving unit receives the money information processing and the IDs. |
| US07720716B2 |
System and method for use by various departments to prepare a quotation
A quotation system and method are provided (see FIG. 1). A relational database (10) allows various departments (14, 16, 18, 20) to prepare a quotation. The relational database centralizes data to increase efficiency, and the data may be modified, as needed, for particular quotation solutions. |
| US07720712B1 |
Placing a purchase order using one of multiple procurement options
A method and system for placing an order to purchase an item via the Internet. The order is placed by a user at a client system and received by a server system. The client system can display information identifying the item and, for each of multiple procurement options having information related to ordering the identified item, can display an indication of the procurement option such that selection of the displayed indication represents an ordering of the identified item using the information of the procurement option. In response to selection of a displayed indication, the client system can send to a server computer a request to order the identified item using the information of the procurement option for the selected indication. |
| US07720711B2 |
Self-guiding interface for customer service machines
A customer service machine, such as a self check-out terminal, includes a visual indicator and a proximity sensor associated with certain functional components or stations of the terminal, such as itemization, bagging and payment stations. The visual indicator is configured to provide a visual signal to either encourage or deter customer activity at the particular station, depending upon whether any activity is required to further a transaction being conducted at the terminal. The proximity sensor at each station determines whether the customer is about to take action at that station. A controller determines whether the action is appropriate, and if not activates the visual indicator to deter such action, or if so activates the visual indicator to encourage such action. In one embodiment, the visual indicator includes a red light that is illuminated to deter action and a green light that is activated to encourage action. |
| US07720707B1 |
Method and system for compiling a consumer-based electronic database, searchable according to individual internet user-defined micro-demographics
A system and method for accessing actual human personal preference and opinion data, whose unique demographic parameters are defined by an individual Internet user. The system includes a computer linked to a specialized database that allows individual Internet users to supply and access human personal preference data according to trait and preference variable data input to the system. The data input to the system includes the personal traits and personal preferences of individuals, including feelings, opinions, issues and purchasing or commercial preferences. A data correlating program provides data sorting parameters that are defined by selected degrees of human trait and preference variables. Users, or those accessing the database for customized data results from the overall database, may, in turn, supply information to the database, or build a data profile, should they indicate that the data they seek pertains to individuals similar to themselves. With the present system and method, focus group data, or consumer preference sampling may be accomplished with immediacy and unrivaled relevance, as only users and members of selected relevance to the data solicitation might be contacted. Accordingly, discreet trait and preference specific groups of individuals that would be virtually impossible to locate and sample with typical focus group approaches are capable of being located and sampled with the present system and method. |
| US07720705B2 |
System and method for real-time updating service provider ratings
Service providers are evaluated and rated according to criteria that includes customer satisfaction with the services provided by the service provider. If the service provider meets and/or exceeds certain predetermined criteria, the service provider is certified, and a list of certified companies together with a satisfaction rating, is posted on an Internet Web site maintained by the rating company for access by the consuming public. A member of the consuming public, wishing to use the service of a certified company, may register his/her credit card with the Rating Company. When the service is rendered, and paid for by the registered credit card, the payment is detected to trigger the sending of Internet e-mail to the consumer to solicit information as to the consumer's satisfaction with the service. A response to the Internet e-mail by the Rating Company is used to update on a real-time basis the customer satisfaction of the service provider that provided the service. |
| US07720700B2 |
System for processing unpaid healthcare claims
A system and method processes unpaid healthcare claims related to reimbursement of a provision of healthcare to a patient in response to a rejection, a denial, or a lack of response to a submitted claim. An activity code is selected from a predetermined activity code set including codes identifying processing to be performed concerning rejected claim data in response to a received notification of a claim denial or rejection. The selected activity code is assigned to rejected claim data associated with the received notification. A task is scheduled, including performing processing concerning the rejected claim data, to derive corrected claim data including claim data supplemental to the rejected claim data and/or amended rejected claim data, in response to the assigned selected activity code. The corrected claim data is prepared for submission to a payer organization for payment. |
| US07720699B2 |
Critical injury insurance systems and methods
Systems and methods for use in settling mass tort claims are disclosed for determining insurance premiums for asymptomatic claimants in order to provide an insured defined monetary benefit in the event of a future emergence of critical injuries associated with exposure to injurious substances or conditions. Asymptomatic claimant risk classification data are entered for each settling claimant. Mortality and critical injury tables are determined. Durational probabilities of surviving without emergence of a covered critical injury are determined from a present date for each future insurance coverage year during the remaining life of the settling claimant. The durational probabilities are multiplied by the critical injury rates and then multiplied by the amounts of the specified monetary benefits. The premiums are then determined for a single claimant and on an aggregate basis for all claimants in any particular batch of mass tort claims settlements. |
| US07720697B1 |
Systems and methods for pharmacy claims-based condition identification proxies
Systems and methods may be provided for pharmacy claims-based condition identification proxies. The systems and methods may include receiving, by a condition identification system, at least one pharmacy claim associated with a patient, where each pharmacy claim is associated with a medication previously filled by the patient, and identifying, by the condition identification system, the patient as a candidate for at least one chronic medical condition by analyzing the at least one pharmacy claim associated with the patient. The systems and methods may also include determining, by the condition identification system, a pharmacy home for the patient, and transmitting, by the condition identification system to a pharmacy computer associated with the pharmacy home, an identification of the patient that is the candidate for at least one chronic medical condition, where the patient is offered at least one service by the pharmacy home based upon the transmitted identification of the patient. |
| US07720695B2 |
Managing patient bed assignments and bed occupancy in a health care facility
An integrated health care delivery network with enabling software and network technology to maximize bed resources, manage varying census levels, and avoid patient diversions through real-time monitoring, automation and communication, is disclosed. Preferably, the present invention is embodied in a bed management system that interfaces with and complements existing Admission/Discharge/Transfer (ADT) systems. The bed management system is an easy-to-use business intelligence application that is designed to allow administrators, clinicians and managers to easily access, analyze and display real-time patient and bed availability information from ancillary information systems, databases and spreadsheets. It enables users to see trends and relationships in hospital (bed) management data directly from their desktop personal computers. |
| US07720691B2 |
System for communication of health care data
An apparatus for communicating health care data from a sender to a receiver is provided. The apparatus has a first computer system (10), a second computer system, and a rules engine. The first computer system (10) has health care data stored therein. The second computer system is in operable communication with, and is configured to extract the health care data from the first computer system (10). The rules engine normalizes the extracted health care data to a predefined format. The rules engine defines a plurality of health care data fields in the predefined format, as well as a plurality of relationships between fields of normalized data. |
| US07720690B2 |
Real-time customer service assistance using collected customer life cycle data
A computer-implemented method is performed during an online chat session between a customer service representative (CSR) of a merchant, and the merchant's customer. Conversational text of the session is analyzed to determine a mood of the customer. Previously collected information about the customer is accessed, from a database that stores information about customers of the merchant. A tip is determined and sent to be displayed to the CSR. The tip is determined based on the mood and the accessed previously collected information. Other embodiments are also described and claimed. |
| US07720688B1 |
Method for generating real-estate transfer documents on an unassociated second website using single set of user provided information
Embodiments of the present invention are directed to methods and systems for generating one or more real estate transfer and/or closing documents on a website with a set of information input by a user, using an unrelated website and/or application program. In particular, some embodiments apply such a method/system to generate one or more real-estate transfer/closing documents for a particular real-estate transaction on a website. For example, a method is disclosed for generating such documents which may include providing an application program for receiving first information from a user to post to an unrelated website. The application program may be operational on at least one of a user client computer or server computer and the website preferably includes functionality for generating one or more documents for a particular real-estate transaction. Moreover, the one or more documents preferably include at least a portion of the first information and the first information preferably include information directly related to the particular real-estate transaction. The method preferably also includes automatically generating the one or more real-estate transfer documents on the website using the application program. |
| US07720687B2 |
Virtual world property disposition after real-world occurrence
A method and system provides transactions and arrangements in virtual world environments. A user can participate in transactions to acquire virtual property and related virtual rights. In some implementations, real-world and virtual parties can be involved in possible transfers of various types of virtual property and virtual property rights. |
| US07720684B2 |
Method, apparatus, and computer program product for one-step correction of voice interaction
A one-step correction mechanism for voice interaction is provided. Correction of a previous state is enabled simultaneously with recognition in a current or subsequent state. An application is decomposed into a set of tasks. Each task is associated with the collection of one piece of information. Each task may be in a different state. At any point during the interaction, while a task/state pair is active, the dialog manager may enable multiple other task/state pairs to be active in latent fashion. The application developer may then use those facilities or resources to the active task/state and the latent task/state pairs depending on contextual condition of the interaction state of the application. |
| US07720683B1 |
Method and apparatus of specifying and performing speech recognition operations
A speech recognition technique is described that has the dual benefits of not requiring collection of recordings for training while using computational resources that are cost-compatible with consumer electronic products. Methods are described for improving the recognition accuracy of a recognizer by developer interaction with a design tool that iterates the recognition data during development of a recognition set of utterances and that allows controlling and minimizing the computational resources required to implement the recognizer in hardware. |
| US07720680B2 |
Interactive manual, system and method for vehicles and other complex equipment
A method and system of providing an interactive manual, including a speech engine to receive and process speech from a user, convert the speech into a word sequence, and identify meaning structures from the word sequence, a structured manual including information related to an operation of a device, a visual model to relate visual representation of the information, a dialog management arrangement to interpret the meaning structures in a context and to extract pertinent information and the visual representation from the structured manual and the visual model, and an output arrangement to output the information and visual representation. |
| US07720678B2 |
Systems and methods for managing multiple grammars in a speech recognition system
Systems and methods are described for a speech system that manages multiple grammars from one or more speech-enabled applications. The speech system includes a speech server that supports different grammars and different types of grammars by exposing several methods to the speech-enabled applications. The speech server supports static grammars that do not change and dynamic grammars that may change after a commit. The speech server provides persistence by supporting persistent grammars that enable a user to issue a command to an application even when the application is not loaded. In such a circumstance, the application is automatically launched and the command is processed. The speech server may enable or disable a grammar in order to limit confusion between grammars. Global and yielding grammars are also supported by the speech server. Global grammars are always active (e.g., “call 9-1-1”) while yielding grammars may be deactivated when an interaction whose grammar requires priority is active. |
| US07720676B2 |
Method and device for spectral reconstruction of an audio signal
An audio signal encoded in the form of data is spectrally reconstructed so part of the frequency spectrum of the audio signal is decoded with a spectral band limiting encoder (i.e., a core encoder). The complementary part of the frequency spectrum of the audio signal is decoded with an extension encoder. Information representing at least one cut-off frequency of the signal decoded by the core decoder is used to select, from amongst the data to be decoded or the data decoded with the extension decoder. |
| US07720674B2 |
Systems and methods for processing natural language queries
Methods and systems are provided for processing natural language queries. Such methods and systems may receive a natural language query from a user and generate corresponding semantic tokens. Information may be retrieved from a knowledge base using the semantic tokens. Methods and systems may leverage an interpretation module to process and analyze the retrieved information in order to determine an intention associated with the natural language query. Methods and systems may leverage an actuation module to provide results to the user, which may be based on the determined intention. |
| US07720672B1 |
Method and apparatus for display of windowing application programs on a terminal
A video display terminal capable of operating with a graphical user interface such as Windows provides windowing functionality to permit use of popular applications programs resident on a server, without requiring more than application data to be transmitted from the server, and keyboard and mouse information to be transmitted from the terminal to the server. The terminal includes processing means, not fully compatible with personal computer BIOS or disk operating systems and incapable of executing windowing applications locally, adapted to receive windowing information supplied by programs executing on a remotely located application server. The terminal also includes a display for the windowing information supplied by programs executing on the remotely located application server. The invention provides FTP and SNMP capabilities along with a number of user interface enhancements, DHCP and SNMP enhancements. File information is transferred to and from the terminal using a communications protocol. One or more image upgrades are transferred to the terminal from the remotely located application server. Configuration data for the terminal can also be transferred to the terminal from the remotely located application server. The present invention further provides for simultaneously maintaining more than one connection between the terminal and server and establishing more than one virtual machine on the terminal with each virtual machine running an open session. Each virtual machine stops sending and receiving data to and from the server when an application resides in the background session. Each virtual machine commands the server to refresh the data for the application when the application is switched to the foreground. |
| US07720670B2 |
Saving resources by deducing the total prediction events
While PC trace is on, and the trace is in predication or general event profiling mode, trace hardware captures events in each cycle. Trace hardware inserts this information into data logs, and does a right shift to compact the data. The trace window will eventually close, either because tracing has been turned off, or because a periodic sync point is generated to reset the window. In either of these two cases, the data log may be incomplete, fully packed, or just overflow into the next packet. An index is generated pointing to the last valid location in the data log in order to save transmission bandwidth. |
| US07720667B2 |
Method and system for estimating power consumption of integrated circuitry
First hardware is for executing first software in response to macros that describe integrated circuitry, and for generating a set of constants in response to the execution of the first software. Second hardware is for receiving the set of constants from the first hardware, and for executing second software in response to the macros and the set of constants, and for estimating a power consumption of the integrated circuitry in response to the execution of the second software. |
| US07720666B1 |
Method for establishing bit error rate (BER) requirement for a data communication system
A method for determining throughput of a data passing between end points of a data communication system as a function of bit error rate, comprising: generating a mathematical model of the functional relationship between the throughput of data passing from a transmitting one of a pair of end points of a data communication system and a receiving one of the pair of end points and a bit error rate of data received at the receiving one of the pair of end points. |
| US07720665B1 |
Method and system for realizing reset in discrete event simulation
A system for controlling reset in discrete event simulation is disclosed. The system includes a simulator configured to effect the discrete event simulation, the simulator having a plurality of shared executable files, a memory configured to store the simulator for execution, an operating system having a loading/unloading facility, and a control program configured to effect a reset operation by directing the operating system to unload the simulator from the memory and then reload the simulator into the memory using the loading/unloading facility. |
| US07720662B1 |
Visual representation of model execution results contributing to a failure condition in a model
A tool that can be used in connection with a programming or modeling environment is disclosed. The tool can be incorporated into the programming or modeling environment or implemented separately from the programming or modeling environment. The tool receives the execution or simulation results data of the programs or models from the programming or modeling environment, and analyzes the data to provide information on the execution results of the programs or models to a user, such as a programmer and a designer. The information is provided to the user in such a manner that the user can perceive the execution results easily. |
| US07720660B2 |
Mixed-domain analog/RF simulation
A simulation environment is disclosed wherein both analog and RF signals are simulated in a single flow by a mixed-domain simulator. The simulator includes a simulator kernel with an analog solver and an RF solver to allow both analog- and RF-type of signals to be solved in an interrelated fashion. The simulator may also include a partitioner that divides the circuit into various RF and analog modules to be solved. User input may control the partitioning process, but the simulator may refine the partitions or generate sub-partitions to provide a higher probability of convergence. |
| US07720659B2 |
Simulating fluid flow in reservoir with modified grid
A method, system and computer program product for simulating a fluid flow in a reservoir are disclosed. According to an embodiment, the current invention includes a method for simulating a fluid flow in a reservoir, the method comprising: providing an initial grid including multiple grid cells, each grid cell including a cell property; adjusting the initial grid to generated a modified grid in the case that a pressure equivalent radius under the initial grid is smaller than a well bore radius of the reservoir; and simulating the fluid flow in the reservoir based on the modified grid. |
| US07720658B2 |
Method of upscaling absolute permeabilities to construct a flow simulation model
The invention is a method for calculating the inter-cell absolute permeability values associated with a reservoir model at the scale of the flow simulations representative of the porous medium from the absolute permeability values associated with a geologic model representative of the same porous medium. |
| US07720657B1 |
Design and execution of a target system that includes a component model
Methods and systems for the design and execution of an aerospace or aeronautic system are provided. The aerospace or aeronautic system may incorporate planetary environment models and models of equations of motion. The planetary environment models mathematically represent planetary environment specifications, such as atmosphere and wind. Atmosphere models include standard day atmosphere models and non-standard day atmosphere models, and wind models include continuous wind turbulence models and discrete wind turbulence models. The models of equations of motion include models of three-degree-of-freedom equations of motion with variable mass and models for six-degree-of-freedom equations of motion with variable mass. As a result, the present invention can design and execute a target system more accurately than the conventional system that provides only standard day planetary environment models, continuous wind turbulence models, or fixed mass equations of motion models. |
| US07720656B2 |
Graphical functions
A method, system and computer program product to define and utilize functions graphically is provided which may be used in the simulation of finite state machines. The functions may combine mathematical, logical, non-linear and comparative operations. The graphical elements of the function may be hidden for ease of display of various portions of a model. |
| US07720652B2 |
Modeling location histories
A location history is a collection of locations over time for an object. By applying a recurring time period to a location history, it can be converted into a stochastic model of the location history. For example, a location history can be reorganized based on intervals that subside a recurring cycle. In a described implementation, training a location history model involves traversing each interval of multiple cycles of a target location history. After each object location at each interval is entered into a training matrix, the intervals can be normalized to determine relative probabilities per location for each interval of a designated cycle. The training and resulting location history model can be Markovian or non-Markovian. Applications include probabilistic location estimation, fusion of location estimates, location-history simulation, optimal scheduling, transition analysis, clique analysis, and so forth. |
| US07720645B2 |
Test apparatus for digitized test responses, method for testing semiconductor devices and diagnosis method for a semiconductor device
A test apparatus for testing digitized test responses has a generator and a signal extractor. The generator uses direct digital synthesis to generate a set of n digital reference signals which are orthogonal to one another. In this case, n is a natural number greater than 1. The signal extractor contains a test input and reference inputs. The test input receives a digitized test response and the reference inputs are connected to the reference signals which are generated by the generator. The signal extractor generates scalar products from a respective reference signal and the test response and uses the products to calculate whether a combination of reference signals is contained in the test response. |
| US07720642B2 |
Measurement fault detection
The present invention discloses a method and an apparatus for improving measurement fault detection in a sequential measurement processing estimator, and is particularly applied to Global Positioning Receivers. |
| US07720636B1 |
Performance monitors (PMs) for measuring performance in a system and providing a record of transactions performed
Performance monitors (PMs) are provided in a system to identify the execution time for data being transferred within the system and determine operation parameters of the system based on the rate data is transferred. The operation parameters are then used to configure hardware within the system. The PMs can provide a histogram of the transactions usable to evaluate system performance. The PMs can provide a time line diagram of the transactions to show the specific order the transactions occurred. The PMs can be provided in a multi-port memory controller (MPMC) to monitor the speed of read and write transactions from the MPMC ports, and used to configure logic within the MPMC to maximize the rate of data flow. |
| US07720629B2 |
Method and system for measuring flow layer velocities using correlation velocity measuring sonar
The present invention discloses a method and a system for measuring flow layer velocities using correlation velocity measuring sonar. The present invention provides a new theoretical expression for fluid medium sonar array temporal and spatial correlation function, the velocities of each flow layer are derived by fitting experimental data and a theoretical function, or fitting absolute value operated and localized experimental data and a theoretical function. The fluid medium sonar array temporal and spatial correlation function of the present invention is succinctly expressed by Kummer function, and well coincided with the experiments. This function is applicable not only to far field region, i.e. planar wave region, but also Fraunhofer region, i.e. spherical wave region. The present invention has the merits of high measurement accuracy, small calculation load, good robustness and fast convergence. |
| US07720627B1 |
Semiconductor device having variable parameter selection based on temperature and test method
A semiconductor device that may include temperature sensing circuits is disclosed. The temperature sensing circuits may be used to control various parameters, such as internal regulated supply voltages, internal refresh frequency, a word line low voltage, or the like. In this way, operating specifications of a semiconductor device at worst case temperatures may be met without compromising performance at normal operating temperatures. Each temperature sensing circuit may include a selectable temperature threshold value as well as a selectable temperature hysteresis value. In this way, temperature performance characteristics may be finely tuned. Furthermore, a method of testing the temperature sensing circuits is disclosed in which a current value may be monitored and temperature threshold values and temperature hysteresis values may be thereby determined. |
| US07720625B2 |
Method of testing the installation of a measuring device
The invention relates to a method for operating a measuring device, especially a flowmeter. The aim of the invention is to simplify inspection if the sensors have been correctly installed. For this purpose, the installation state is detected by the sensors themselves, i.e. by sensing a corresponding sensor value and comparing it with characteristic data. The result of comparison is electronically evaluated and automatically estimated whether the characteristic data obtained match the comparative data within at least a defined tolerance. |
| US07720618B2 |
Method for monitoring fluid levels in a tank
A method for monitoring fluid levels in a tank. A first step involves modelling the tank to identify fluid zones of fluids having differing densities, the heat retention characteristics of each the fluid zones and the relative relationships between each of the fluid zones. A second step involves obtaining a heat profile of the tank. A third step involves analyzing the heat profile based upon the modelling to generate relative fluid level data for the tank. |
| US07720615B2 |
System for detection and prediction of water quality events
A method of evaluating a water sample for the presence or possible future presence of nitrification comprises obtaining data values of a number of parameters, processing the data values to determine correlation coefficients, to identify any linear dependencies, to standardize the scales, evaluating the data values over a plurality of proliferation time periods and neuron numbers, calculating MSEs and R2's from the evaluations, and estimating a valid likelihood of nitrification of the water sample. A method of evaluating a water sample for the presence or possible future presence of nitrification, comprises obtaining data values of a number of parameters, statistically pre-processing the data values and supplying the pre-processed data values to a neural network. Apparatus, media and processors which are used in performing such methods. |
| US07720614B2 |
Method for identification of cis-regulatory modules via computational analysis of single polynucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and insertions/deletions (indels)
A computational method is described which uses the process of cis-regulatory module evolution to identify conserved sequence patches which exhibit suppression of change by snp/indel occurrence, including determining sequence similarities significantly greater than random expectation on selected genome sequences from two or more species in sequences that lie outside of protein coding regions, sorting the similarities for conserved patches of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and insertion/deletions (indels). and selecting such patches to identify cis-regulatory modules. Further, the disclosed method is practiced in the absence of having to execute multiple interspecific sequence comparison analysis, where such identified cis-regulatory modules are used to produce libraries and arrays containing such cis-regulatory modules. |
| US07720611B2 |
Baselining amplification data
Methods, apparatus, and systems are provided for processing a data set representing an amplification curve having a baseline portion and a growth portion. Peak objects are generated by taking a derivative of the data set. The first peak object having a value greater than a threshold is identified. An end of the baseline portion from a beginning of the first peak object is estimated. |
| US07720607B2 |
Method for treating seismic cubes corresponding, for a common zone on the ground, to different source/receiver and/or angle of incidence offset values
Method for processing a set of seismic cubes corresponding to the same acquisition zone and at different source/receiver offset and/or angle of incidence values, characterized in that at least one seismic cube is determined, which is an estimation of the component common to at least two seismic cubes corresponding to different offset and/or angle of incidence values. |
| US07720594B2 |
Fuel injector control method
A fuel injector control method comprises determining a required separation time between a termination of an on signal associated with a first injection event and an initiation of an on signal associated with a second injection event. The method comprises calculating an overlap time between the separation time and the time to charge the piezoelectric stack to a first level; dividing the overlap time into first and second time periods as a function of the charge and discharge currents; applying the charge current to the piezoelectric stack for a charge time; and applying the discharge current to the piezoelectric stack for a discharge time so as to discharge the stack to a second level, wherein the discharge time is calculated on the basis of the second time period of the overlap time. Thus, first and second injection events are merged in a pulse mode of operation. |
| US07720592B2 |
Approach for enhancing emissions control device warmup in a direct injection engine system
A method of controlling fuel supplied to an engine of a vehicle is provided. The vehicle includes a first fuel storage tank to store a first type of fuel, a second fuel storage tank to store a second type of fuel, and an emissions control device. The engine includes at least one cylinder having a direct injection fuel injector being selectively supplied with the first type of fuel from the first fuel storage tank and the second type of fuel from the second fuel storage tank. The method includes supplying the first type of fuel from the first fuel storage tank to the direct injection fuel injector in response an engine start condition of the vehicle, and supplying the second type of fuel from the second fuel storage tank to the direct injection fuel injector, in response to an increase in engine output exceeding a threshold increase or a temperature of the emissions control device exceeding a threshold temperature. |
| US07720591B2 |
Intake air control of an internal combustion engine
The present invention provides an intake air control capable of implementing a highly accurate constant negative pressure control with a smaller number of process steps under various environments. The intake air control is applicable to an engine having a variable valve actuation mechanism for adjusting at least a lift amount of an intake valve to control an intake air amount and a throttle valve for keeping a gauge pressure in an intake manifold at a desired gauge pressure. A reference throttle opening area is determined by referring to a first table based on a desired intake air amount. The first table defines a relation between an intake air amount and a throttle opening area under a reference gauge pressure, a reference atmospheric pressure and a reference intake air temperature. A throttle opening area for achieving the desired gauge pressure is determined by correcting the reference throttle opening area with a correction parameter derived based on the Bernoulli's law by using the desired gauge pressure, a current atmospheric pressure and a current intake air temperature. |
| US07720590B2 |
Homogenous charge compression ignition engine and controlling method of the engine
An ECU switches a combustion mode of an HCCI engine from HCCI combustion to spark ignition combustion. The ECU executes the following operations a) and b) before switching an intake lift amount from a first intake lift amount to a second intake lift amount: a): switching an exhaust lift amount from a first exhaust lift amount to a second exhaust lift amount while ensuring an internal EGR amount, and b): delaying a closing timing of an exhaust valve so as to reduce the internal EGR amount after switching the exhaust lift amount from the first exhaust lift amount to the second exhaust lift amount. |
| US07720586B2 |
Driving support apparatus and driving support method
A driving support apparatus supports a driver in driving a vehicle. The driving support apparatus determines a state of the vehicle by collecting information concerning an operating condition of the vehicle, determines a plurality of optimum operations of the vehicle to achieve a corresponding objective based on the determined state, and arbitrates the determined optimum operations. |
| US07720584B2 |
Vehicular steering apparatus
In a steering apparatus for a vehicle, a target sub steering angle θSREF is set by a target-sub-steering-angle setting unit on the basis of an output θH of a steering-wheel-angle detection unit and a transmission characteristic f(θH) of a transmission-characteristic setting unit, and a target current IREF is set by a target-current setting unit on the basis of the target sub steering angle θSREF and an output θS of the sub-steering-angle detection unit. Current control unit controls a current which flows through an electric motor of a sub-steering-angle superposition mechanism, so that the target current IREF and a current IS of current detection unit may agree. |
| US07720582B2 |
Active suspension method and apparatus for a rotary wing aircraft
In a method of controlling the hardness of a damper in an aircraft landing gear, the aircraft having a structure that is deformable at a natural frequency, the hardness of the damper is adjusted during a contraction of the damper as a function of the natural frequency. |
| US07720581B2 |
Monitoring of vehicle conditions utilizing cellular broadcasts
This document describes, among other things, a systems and methods for monitoring vehicle conditions via cellular networks. In some embodiments, a system for monitoring vehicle conditions is provided that includes at least one network information repository server having at least one database containing information related to vehicle conditions. The at least one network information repository server is configured to receive updates from mobile stations that perform a comparison of vehicle conditions based on actual information sensed by the mobile stations as compared to expected vehicle conditions and that upon identifying an inconsistency send an update to the network information repository server. Moreover, the network information repository server is configured to transmit updated information to a cellular network for broadcasting or multicasting to mobile stations or to send information via a cellular interface or wirelessly to mobile stations. |
| US07720579B2 |
Method, system, and computer program product for performance monitored aircraft rejected takeoff braking
In exemplary embodiments, braking of an airplane is controlled during a rejected takeoff. A rejected takeoff of an airplane from a runway is initiated. Position of the airplane is determined, such as by inputting aircraft position from a global positioning system. Distance remaining on the runway is determined. Deceleration to stop the aircraft in the determined distance remaining on the runway is calculated, and the calculated deceleration is provided to an autobraking system of the airplane. When the aircraft can not be stopped in the determined distance remaining on the runway, a predetermined deceleration that correlates to maximum braking may be provided to the aircraft's autobraking system. The calculated deceleration may be provided to the autobraking system until a pilot takes command of the aircraft's brakes or the aircraft has stopped. |
| US07720576B2 |
Intelligent auxiliary power supply system with current and temperature monitoring capabilities
An intelligent auxiliary power supply system for supplying power to a load such as a furnace or air handler using a rechargeable power source. An intelligent controller determines appropriate periods for switching to auxiliary power, thus allowing the user to realize increased energy related cost savings. A plurality of sensors including a current transducer, an indoor and outdoor temperature sensor, and a clock transmit information to the intelligent controller. Implementing user configured algorithms, the intelligent controller continuously compares information transmitted from said sensors and said load, to information inputted by the user via an electronic device to determine the appropriate power configuration. A remote electronic device may also be connected to the system, allowing the user to control the system while not in close proximity to said system and also allowing the user's energy provider to send requests to switch to auxiliary power. |
| US07720572B2 |
Companion robot for personal interaction
A robot system includes a base station and a robot. The base station includes a wireless transceiver configured to communicate TCP/IP transmissions over a local wireless protocol, a wired Ethernet connector for communicating TCP/IP transmissions over a local wired Ethernet accessing the Internet, and an access point circuit for transferring TCP/IP transmissions between the local wired Ethernet and local wireless protocol. The access point circuit is limited to a predetermined IP address locked to the robot, a predetermined shell level encryption locked to the robot, and predetermined ports to the Internet open only to the robot. The robot includes a wireless transceiver configured to communicate TCP/IP transmissions over a local wireless protocol and a client circuit for transferring TCP/IP transmissions over the local wireless protocol. |
| US07720566B1 |
Control algorithm for vertical package conveyor
Three software programs are respectively run on the main processing constituent of a programmable logic controller (PLC), the network-controlling constituent of the PLC, and a human interface unit. Intelligent (e.g., switch, sensor, control, etc.) devices are distributed within a communications network associated with a vertical package conveyor (VPC). Signals are transmitted between/among the processing constituent, the controlling constituent, the interface and the devices. In an ongoing informational and regulative process, the devices provide input for the processing constituent, which in turn provides output to the devices. In furtherance of human safety, the processing constituent causes VPC operation to stop upon the occurrence of any of the following events: breached light curtain; open machinery access door; inoperable run stop button; inoperable emergency stop button; activated emergency stop button; misplaced package. The processing constituent also dictates the direction (up or down) and mode (constant or variable) of the VPC. |
| US07720565B2 |
Ring management system
A production system capable of further improving production efficiency and quality. The ring management system includes size measurement unit for measuring size of the ring, first convey unit for moving the ring w whose size has been measured, a first stocker having a plurality of storage positions for storing rings conveyed by the first convey unit, a second convey unit for conveying out the rings from the first stocker means for stacking, and a control unit. The control unit includes memory means for storing the rings size measured by the size measurement means in association with the storage position in the first stocker, first selection means for selecting a ring constituting a stacked ring according to the ring size stored in the memory means, and first instruction means to instruct the second convey unit to convey out the ring selected by the first selection means from the storage position pj in the first stocker. |
| US07720564B2 |
Systems and methods for cross-intrabay transport
A transport system. The transport system comprises a first interbay component, a second interbay component, a plurality of intrabay components, and a route controller. The first and second interbay components transport the vehicles between the tool bays. Each of the intrabay components, linked with the second interbay component, transports the vehicles within one of the tool bays. Additionally, the intrabay component does not link with the first interbay component directly. The route controller estimates a transport cost for transporting the vehicle via the second interbay device, and determines whether the vehicle is to be transported via the first or second interbay component according to the estimated transport cost. |
| US07720559B1 |
Dynamic tool scheduling based upon defects
A method and an apparatus for routing a semiconductor wafer to at least one of a plurality of processing tools based upon tool performance. Data relating to a performance of a first processing tool and a performance of a second processing tool is acquired. A semiconductor wafer is routed to one of the first processing tool or the second processing tool based upon a comparison between the performance of the first processing tool and the performance of the second processing tool using a controller. |
| US07720557B2 |
Methods and apparatus for enhanced operation of substrate carrier handlers
Systems, tools, and methods are provided in which a first signal is transmitted from a tool to a Fab indicating that all substrates to be processed have been removed from a specific carrier and that the specific carrier may be temporarily unloaded from a loadport of the tool. A second signal is transmitted from the tool to the Fab indicating that the specific carrier may be returned to the tool. While the carrier is unloaded from the tool, other carriers may be loaded on the vacated loadport. Numerous other features and aspects of the invention are disclosed. |
| US07720544B2 |
Systems for enabling telemetry in an implantable medical device
A system for enabling telemetry in implantable medical devices is provided. One aspect of this disclosure relates to an implantable medical device having radio-frequency telemetry capabilities. The device includes a housing and electronic circuitry contained within the housing. The device also includes an antenna connected to the electronic circuitry, the antenna having a helical portion and a whip portion, the whip portion separate from a feed conductor and adapted to enhance a radiation pattern of the antenna. According to various embodiments, the antenna and circuitry are adapted to facilitate transmission and reception of modulated radio-frequency energy at a specified carrier frequency. At least a portion of the antenna is embedded in a dielectric compartment, according to various embodiments. Other aspects and embodiments are provided herein. |
| US07720540B2 |
Pancreatitis treatment
At least one of a plurality of disorders of a patient characterized at least in part by vagal activity innervating at least one of a plurality of organs of the patient is treated by a method that includes positioning an electrode on a vagus nerve. In another embodiment, the electrical signal is applied to the vagus nerve transmucosally. An electrical signal is applied to the electrode to modulate vagal activity by an amount selected to treat the disorder. In some embodiments, the disorder is pancreatitis. The signal may be a blocking or a stimulation signal. In some embodiments, the signal is selected to, at least in part, downregulate neural activity on the vagus nerve. |
| US07720539B2 |
Gastrointestinal motility control
A method and a multichannel implantable device are described for partial or complete restoration of impaired gastrointestinal motility, or for disturbing and/or partially or completely blocking normal gastrointestinal motility using one or multiple microsystem-controlled channels of circumferentially arranged sets of two or more electrodes which provide externally-invoked synchronized electrical signals to the smooth muscles via the neural pathways. |
| US07720536B2 |
Power supply for an implantable subcutaneous cardioverter-defibrillator
A power supply for an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator for subcutaneous positioning between the third rib and the twelfth rib and for providing cardioversion/defibrillation energy to the heart, the power supply comprising a capacitor subsystem for storing the cardioversion/defibrillation energy for delivery to the patient's heart; and a battery subsystem electrically coupled to the capacitor subsystem for providing electrical energy to the capacitor subsystem. |
| US07720530B2 |
Field-deployable concussion detector
A method and apparatus for providing an on-site diagnosis of a subject to determine the presence and/or severity of a concussion is provided. The method includes placing an electrode set coupled to a handheld base unit on the subject's head, acquiring brain electrical signals from the subject through the electrode set, processing the acquired brain electrical signals using a signal processing algorithm stored in a memory of the base unit, determining the presence and/or severity of a concussion from the processed signals, indicating the presence and/or severity of a concussion on the handheld base unit, and determining a course of treatment for the subject based on the indication. |
| US07720526B1 |
Self-interfering tomography system
Light from a tissue sample undergoes self-interference on a detector. A low coherence light source may illuminate the sample, and an interferometer receives light from the sample, divides and directs the received light along two paths, phase-delaying one and recombining the beams on a detector to form a signal. A processor coordinated with the phase delay and optionally with spatial scanning or detector array addresses, converts the signal to a tomographic image. Using self-interfering radiation from the sample, rather than interference of a reference source and a return signal, permits imaging with light naturally emitted by the sample, or with wavelength-shifted, delayed or induced light signals, allowing new diagnostic imaging modalities. The processor may create images in registry from different (for example, close but separable) wavelengths. Systems may also operate without an illumination source or may apply other stimuli to evoke emission from the sample. |
| US07720523B2 |
System and method for managing power deactivation within a medical imaging system
A medical imaging system includes a medical imaging device, a medical imaging control subsystem, and an activation unit. The medical imaging control subsystem includes a processing unit and a monitor. The processing unit is in communication with the medical imaging device and the monitor. The activation unit is operatively connected to the medical imaging device and the medical imaging control subsystem, wherein the activation unit is operable to deactivate the medical imaging device and the medical imaging control subsystem. |
| US07720520B2 |
Method and system for registering an image with a navigation reference catheter
Methods and systems for processing and/or superimposing a medical image of an anatomical body (e.g., a heart) with graphical information are provided. Reference elements and/or reference catheter are placed in contact with the anatomical body. A physical structure within a navigational coordinate system is located using the reference elements and/or reference catheter. An image reference within an image coordinate corresponding to the physical structure is located. Location of the image reference can be accomplished, e.g., by displaying the medical image and electronically marking the displayed image reference, or by automatically locating image data corresponding to the image reference. The navigational and image coordinate systems are then registered based on the location of the physical structure within the navigational coordinate system and the location of the image reference within the image coordinate system, which allows graphical information to be accurately merged with the medical image data. |
| US07720512B2 |
Method for controlling a hands-free system, radio apparatus, and hands free apparatus
With a conventional hands-free system formed by a radio apparatus and a hands-free apparatus connectable to each other by a local radio link, accepting a call on the hands-free apparatus is ineffective after the radio apparatus starts to send a reply message. There is provided a method for hands-free control to solve this problem. The method comprises measuring time since transferring a call arrived at the radio apparatus to the hands-free apparatus, and establishing a voice channel on the local radio link in a case where an operation is done to accept the call on the hands-free apparatus while the reply message is being sent. |
| US07720507B2 |
Method and apparatus for co-location of two radio frequency devices
A method for avoiding signal interference between a first RF device and a second RF device is provided. The first and second RF devices are co-located and the first RF device is configured to operate within a semi-stationary range of a frequency band. The second RF device is configured to operate by changing channels within the frequency band. The method initiates with a communication interface being provided between the first RF device and the second RF device. Then, the second RF device receives the semi-stationary range and a mode for the first RF device through the communication interface. Next, the second RF device is adapted to avoid the semi-stationary range of the frequency band of the first RF device when the mode of the first RF device is in an active mode. An apparatus where two RF devices are co-located without causing interference for each other is also provided. |
| US07720506B1 |
System and method of providing antenna specific front ends for aviation software defined radios
A software defined radio system is described. The software defined radio comprises a modem bank at least partially defined by software running on a processor. The SDR also comprises an antenna group translator coupled to the modem bank. Further, the SDR comprises at least one antenna coupled to the antenna group translator. The antenna group translator comprises an antenna switch comprising RF filtering functions and RF front ends comprising frequency conversion functions. To greatly reduce the complexity and cost of the system, the architecture includes an antenna group translator having RF front end hardware that is specific to the frequency band of each antenna. In addition, the modem bank includes banded frequency converters. |
| US07720505B2 |
Personal lifestyle device
A personal lifestyle device (PLD) includes a communication module, a memory device, and a control module. The communication module communicates with a wireless network. The memory device stores authentication information that authorizes communication between the PLD and at least one of the wireless network and a lifestyle service provider, and a profile comprising a lifestyle service ordered from the lifestyle service provider using the PLD. The control module communicates with the communication module and the memory device, automatically establishes communication between the PLD and at least one of the wireless network and the lifestyle service provider using the authentication information, automatically receives a unicast for the lifestyle service from the lifestyle service provider, wherein the unicast is selectively based on the profile, and selectively transmits an order for the lifestyle service to the lifestyle service provider. |
| US07720501B2 |
Apparatus, system, and method for managing reverse link communication
An apparatus, system, and method efficiently manage reverse link resources by allowing a mobile station to select between transmitting a payload at a standard power level and transmitting a smaller payload at a boosted power level. The mobile station, therefore, can autonomously select a QoS (Quality of Service) level for physical layer packets. Based on reverse link transmission information received from a base station, the mobile station derives a reverse link transmission guideline defining the power levels and associated payloads for at least a standard service and boosted service. The mobile station selects a reverse link transmission power level from a plurality of power levels including at least a standard reverse link transmission power level associated with a standard payload size and a boosted reverse link transmission power level associated with a boosted payload size where the standard payload size is greater than the boosted payload size. |
| US07720500B2 |
Transmit power control for mobile unit
In a wireless local area network which includes access point having variable transmitter power levels, transmitter power data is sent from the access points to the mobile units and used by the mobile units in order to provide a corresponding variation in the transmitter power of the mobile unit. |
| US07720497B2 |
Method and apparatus for a dedicated physical channel in a wireless communication system
Method and apparatus for determining a transmission configuration for a dedicated channel in a wireless communication system. In one embodiment, an optimum configuration is determined based on minimizing Peak-to-Average Ratio (PAR) of the channel. The configuration is defined as a transmission pair of transmission branch and spreading code. The transmission branch may be the In-Phase (I) branch or the Quadrature (Q) branch. PAR analysis may be performed off-line to determine the optimum configuration. In operation, if the spreading code of the optimum configuration is used by another channel, the next best optimum code is used. |
| US07720494B2 |
Method of applying for communication service and communication terminal thereof
A method of applying for a communication service and a communication terminal thereof are discussed. According to an embodiment, the method includes generating, by a terminal, at least one message including information necessary for the opening; transmitting the generated message to a server that supports the opening of the communication service; connecting a call for the opening between the server and the terminal based on the message received by the server; and performing an opening process of the communication service through the connected call. |
| US07720491B2 |
Method of managing SMS type telephone messages in a telecommunications network
The present invention provides a method of managing SMS type telephone messages in a telecommunications network (R), said method comprising a step of receiving an SMS type telephone message (S1, S2) containing information (I1, I2) in a telephone terminal (1, 2) of said network,the method being characterized in that it comprises the following steps: a step of forwarding said information (I1, I′2) to a server (3) of said telecommunications network; and a step of identifying said telephone terminal; and in that it further comprises the following successive steps: a step of storing said information (I1, I′2) in a memory (331, 332) of said server associated with said telephone terminal; and a step of sending said stored information (I1, I′2) to data processing equipment (4, 5, 6) of said telecommunications network and selected as a function of said telephone terminal. |
| US07720488B2 |
RFID wireless 2G, 3G, 4G internet systems including Wi-Fi, Wi-Max, OFDM, CDMA, TDMA, GSM
Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), location finder, multiple transmitter, multiple receiver and multimode communication systems including combination and or selection of one or more of Time Division Multiplexed (TDM) or Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA), Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplex (OFDM) or Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA), spread spectrum, and cross-correlated in-phase and quadrature-phase baseband modulated signals used in Bit rate Agile (BRA) systems and mesh networks. Interoperable systems including 2G, 3G, 4G internet systems and Wi-Fi, Wi-Max, OFDM, CDMA, TDMA, GSM systems. |
| US07720485B2 |
Methods and apparatus related to assignment in a wireless communications system
Methods and apparatus related to assignment in a wireless communications system are described. A mobile is assigned an identifier and a mask value, e.g., as part of a state transition message. The mobile uses the assigned identifier and/or the assigned mask value in determining whether assignments included in assignment messages, e.g., traffic channel assignment messages, are directed to the wireless terminal. Predetermined associations between assignment slots, assigned segments, and/or mask values are utilized to limit control signaling overhead. Different groups of segments are available for assignment to different wireless terminals as a function of mask values. Different types of assignment messages use different amounts of information bits to convey the assignment. Some types of assignments use a wireless terminal identifier, while other types of assignments use a wireless terminal identifier and a mask identifier. The mask identifier, e.g., a single bit, allows for selection between a subset of the potential masks used in the system. |
| US07720479B2 |
Methods and apparatus of improving inter-sector and/or inter-cell handoffs in a multi-carrier wireless communications system
A wireless communications system, e.g., an OFDM system, uses a plurality of carrier frequencies each with an associated frequency band. A base station sector transmitter in the system transmits ordinary signaling, e.g., user data, in its own assigned band. In addition the sector base station transmitter periodically transmits beacon signals into its own frequency band and the frequency bands used by adjacent sector transmitters for their ordinary signaling. Beacon signals, being short duration high power signals with sector transmission power concentrated on one or a few tones, are easily detectable. Each beacon signal may be identified as to the source base station sector transmitter, e.g., based on tone. A mobile node, tuned to a single carrier band, receives a plurality of beacon signals, identifies the sources of the received beacons, compares the received strength of the beacons, and makes handoff decisions, without having to switch carrier band. |
| US07720475B2 |
Communique system with active feedback for cellular communication networks
An apparatus and method for providing a communiqué constituting program content concurrently delivered to a plurality of subscribers is described. Subscriber confirmation for each of a plurality of subscribers is stored. The subscribers whose wireless devices are active in a cell are identified. Data that identifies a plurality of subscribers is automatically generated. One or more cell are selected to provide communiqué to subscribers who are members of at least one community of subscribers and who are served by other cells of the cellular communication network. Data constituting said communiqué from a selected program source is routed, concurrently, to authorized wireless subscriber devices. |
| US07720470B2 |
Reference signals for downlink beamforming validation in wireless multicarrier MIMO channel
Dedicated pilot signals are transmitted from a transmitting device to a receiving device through a multicarrier MIMO channel in addition to data signals and common pilot signals. The dedicated pilot signals may be used by the receiving device to validate whether a predetermined beamforming matrix (i.e., a beamforming matrix identified by the receiving device) was used by the transmitting device to precode the transmitted data. If a different beamforming matrix was used for the preceding, the receiving device may use this matrix to demodulate the received data. |
| US07720469B2 |
Frequency calibration of wireless telecommunication device
A wireless telecommunication device, a method of frequency calibrating a wireless telecommunication device, and a computer program are provided. The method comprises: receiving a reference radio signal of the wireless telecommunications system; frequency synchronizing the wireless telecommunication device with the reference radio signal by adjusting a control parameter controlling a reference frequency generated by a reference frequency generator; measuring a temperature parameter characterizing the temperature of the reference frequency generator; and generating calibration information for calibrating the wireless telecommunication device on the basis of the control parameter and the temperature parameter. |
| US07720468B1 |
Polling methods for use in a wireless communication system
Polling methods for use in a communication system, such as a fixed wireless communication system, are described. The fixed wireless communication system includes at least one wireless base unit and a plurality of fixed-location wireless transceiver units, where each transceiver unit is, for example, located at a home residence and coupled to a personal computer (PC). In one particular polling method, a wireless transceiver unit detects a failure of a primary energy source, switches to a battery backup for power, and sends a message to the wireless base unit indicating such failure. The message initiates the wireless base unit to poll the wireless transceiver unit on a periodic basis for status information. During the failure, a data traffic channel established between the units is torn down to conserve power at the wireless transceiver unit. Once the primary energy source is restored, the data traffic channel is brought back up and the periodic polling is terminated. Similar methods are applied in connection with the detection of a communication failure over the data traffic channel. |
| US07720467B2 |
User notification for digital mobile phones
A method of notifying a user to set an internal clock in a mobile communication device having a visual display therein includes powering-up the mobile communication device; determining whether digital services are available, and, if not, activating notification indicia to tell the user to manually set the internal clock in the mobile communication device. |
| US07720463B2 |
Methods, systems, and computer program products for providing third party control of access to media content available via broadcast and multicast service (BCMCS)
The subject matter described herein includes methods, systems, and computer program products for providing third party control of access to media content available via broadcast and multicast service (BCMCS). According to one method, control of access to streaming media content to a subscriber terminal via a BCMCS may be implemented at a network element, such as an authentication, authorization and accounting (AAA) server or a BCMCS controller. The method may include receiving a message associated with a request for access to streaming media content by a requesting mobile subscriber. Mobile subscriber identification and requested content identification information are determined from the message. The mobile subscriber identification is used to identify a content viewing rule for the requesting mobile subscriber. The content identification is used to determine whether allowing the subscriber to view the content would violate the content viewing rule. |
| US07720462B2 |
Network communications security enhancing
The present invention facilitates security maintenance in a communication network. Present invention embodiments adjust power level and/or communication permission based upon designated parameters. The designated parameters can include time indications, days of the week, failed access attempts, source and destination indications and/or information content indications. For example, a present invention system and method can reduce and/or turn off power to a wireless communication port during designated intervals (e.g., during non standard work hours) and prevent unauthorized access via the wireless communication port. |
| US07720460B2 |
Automatic character code recognition/display system, method, and program using mobile telephone
In one embodiment, when a mobile telephone accessible to the Internet accesses a homepage provider server, character codes of the homepage accessed is identified. Thereafter, a homepage is displayed using character codes in the mobile telephone on the basis of the identification. The homepage provider server provides information for identifying character codes. A character code provider always updates and registers the latest character codes. The mobile telephone accesses the homepage provider server and the character code provider through wireless telephone network and the Internet. |
| US07720457B2 |
Method and apparatus for minimizing noise on a power supply line of a mobile radio
An apparatus and method are provided for minimizing noise on a power supply line (105) of a mobile radio, such as generated in a vehicular environment. An adaptive power supply conditioner (100) detects unwanted noise on the vehicle's power supply line (105) and via the use of an adaptive noise canceller (140), generates a cancellation signal (145) having the same amplitude but opposite phase of the input signal's detected noise. The cancellation signal (145) is fed forward and combined with the power supply line (105) in order to minimize unwanted noise on the supply line (105) leading to the mobile radio. The conditioner's output (165) is checked for further error and is fed back to the adaptive noise filter (140) for further filtering and the generation of an updated cancellation signal based on current noise conditions. |
| US07720453B2 |
Semiconductor device
A function processing unit includes a control-signal input/output unit to which a control signal indicating that radio data for a semiconductor device is transmitted is input by a cable signal, and a reset-signal input unit to which a reset signal instructing reset of the function processing unit is input by a cable signal, and when the reset signal is input, performs a reset process according to the reset signal. A radio-communication processing unit includes a radio-communication-processing-reset-signal input unit to which a radio communication processing reset signal instructing reset of the radio-communication processing unit is input by a cable signal, when the radio communication processing reset signal is input, performs a reset process according to the radio communication processing reset signal, and receives the radio data only when the control signal is input. |
| US07720444B2 |
Adaptive radio transceiver with a local oscillator
An exemplary embodiment of the present invention described and shown in the specification and drawings is a transceiver with a receiver, a transmitter, a local oscillator (LO) generator, a controller, and a self-testing unit. All of these components can be packaged for integration into a single IC including components such as filters and inductors. The controller for adaptive programming and calibration of the receiver, transmitter and LO generator. The self-testing unit generates is used to determine the gain, frequency characteristics, selectivity, noise floor, and distortion behavior of the receiver, transmitter and LO generator. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract which will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or the meaning of the claims. |
| US07720439B2 |
Wireless media device cradle
Disclosed are devices, systems and methods for integrating a media device with a network. A media device may be connected to a cradle device to receive updates of digital content. The cradle device may be coupled to a wireless link to receive content data and/or signals. |
| US07720438B2 |
Reducing power consumption of a short-range wireless communication reader associated with a mobile terminal
Methods, mobile terminal devices and computer program products are provided that are capable of reducing power consumption by detecting error events signifying unsuccessful short-range wireless communication activation operations and adjusting the frequency of the activation of the reader based on the detection of the error events. In this regard, the invention prevents the device from powering-up the processor for the read operation when the mobile terminal is in the vicinity of a wireless communication system whose signals are being received by the mobile terminal but are not intended for the use of the mobile terminal. By limiting the powering-up of the processor, power of the mobile terminal is preserved. |
| US07720437B2 |
Zero-order energy smart antenna and repeater
The invention is a new device that will improve the radio link quality for low power wireless devices. An example application is for low power, miniaturized wireless sensor nodes that are statically deployed in a slowly varying environment or that have limited mobility. The device is a reconfigurable antenna that is novel in that it operates with very low (zero-order) energy in contrast to existing system that required both significant computational and DC power. |
| US07720430B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes: an image carrier that carries a developer image; a transfer member that transfers the developer image carried on the image carrier onto an image forming surface of a recording medium being conveyed; a fixation member that is disposed downstream of the transfer member in a conveyance direction of the recording medium, and fixes the developer image transferred on the recording medium; a first member that is disposed between the transfer member and the fixation member to face the image forming surface of the recording medium; and a second member that is disposed between the transfer member and the fixation member to face a non-image forming surface that is opposite the image forming surface, wherein the first member is provided with a first electrically-conductive member having an electric conductivity and being grounded. |
| US07720426B2 |
Cleaning device and image forming apparatus using the same
A cleaning device excellent in cleaning performance and durability and an image forming apparatus using the same are provided. The cleaning device includes an edge part coming into contact with the surface of the image carrier; the edge part is made of an elastic expanded body having an expanded cell; and number particle size distribution values D10 and D90 of the expanded cell meet the following requirements (1) and (2) against a number particle size distribution value D10 of the toner. (1) The number particle size distribution value D10 of the expanded cell is ¼ times or more of the number particle size distribution value D10 of the toner. (2) The number particle size distribution value D90 of the expanded cell is not more than 50 times of the number particle size distribution value D10 of the toner. |
| US07720420B2 |
Fixing device for thermally fixing an image developed on a recording sheet and use with an image-forming apparatus
A fixing device thermally fixes an image developed on a recording sheet. The fixing device includes: a heating roller heated by a heat source and having a first end side and a second end side with respect to an axial direction; a power supply member for supplying the heat source with power for use in heating the heating roller; a first bearing formed of a conductive material, attached to the first end side of the heating roller and connected to a ground; and an second bearing formed of an insulating material and attached to the second end side of the heating roller. The power supply member is disposed at the second end side of the heating roller. |
| US07720419B2 |
Glossy image forming system and copy surface smoothing apparatus
A glossy image forming system for forming a glossy image on a recording material having a surface resin material layer, the glossy image forming system includes a fixing device for fixing an unfixed toner image formed on a surface of the recording material; a heaterless pressing device for pressing the recording material having the toner image fixed by the fixing device; a smoothing device for smoothing the surface of the recording material pressed by the heaterless pressing device with a pressure smaller than a pressure applied by the heaterless pressing device. |
| US07720418B2 |
Toner change and flow stabilizing developing device, process cartridge, and image forming apparatus
A developing unit develops a latent image on an image carrier with toner. A toner cartridge is detachably arranged in parallel with the developing unit, and supplies the toner to the developing unit. An opening is disposed between the developing unit and the toner cartridge, through which the toner passes. The toner cartridge includes a space forming unit that forms a space in the toner stored in the toner cartridge. The space allows the toner to flow into from the developing unit. |
| US07720415B2 |
Image forming apparatus including fixing unit, and fixing unit support method and fixing unit position adjustment method therefor
An image forming apparatus and methods of supporting and adjusting a position of a fixing unit thereof. The apparatus includes a frame having a first side plate and a second side plate opposing the first side plate, a first unit holding member engaged with the first side plate by a combination of a guide groove and a guide protrusion, a second unit holding member attached to the second side plate, a detachable unit located between the first and second side plates and held by the first and second unit holding members, and a position adjustment member to move the first unit holding member in a longitudinal direction of the guide groove to adjust a position of the detachable unit. The position adjustment member engages the first unit holding member at a position vertically aligned with a center of gravity G of the detachable unit. |
| US07720414B2 |
Fixing apparatus having guide member
In one embodiment, the fixing apparatus of the present invention is a fixing apparatus in which while recording paper is transported sandwiched between a heating roller and a pressure roller that are pressed against each other, the recording paper is guided by a guide member, and heat and pressure are applied to the recording paper to fix toner on the recording paper, the fixing apparatus configured with the guide member rotatably provided such that the guide member can be removed from the transport path of the recording paper, and the center of rotational movement of the guide member matched with a shaft of the heating roller or a shaft of the pressure roller. |
| US07720413B2 |
Image-forming device with holding unit having multiple positions
An image-forming device includes: a main body; at least one photosensitive member; a plurality of developing units; a transferring unit; a first holding unit; and a guiding unit. The photosensitive member has a support shaft. Each developing unit has a developer-accommodating section that accommodates developer. The developer-accommodating section has an opening in a top side thereof. Each developing unit further has a developer-carrying member that is disposed near the opening of the developer-accommodating section. The first holding unit holds the plurality of developing units that are arranged in a row along a first removal direction. The first removal direction is orthogonal to the support shaft of the photosensitive member. The first holding unit is accommodated at a first accommodating position in the main body. The guiding unit enables the first holding unit to move between the first accommodating position and a first removal position that is separate from the first accommodating position in the first removal direction. |
| US07720411B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus body, a holding member and a supporting member coupled to the holding member. The holding member includes photosensitive drums and is configured to hold toner cartridges disposed in association with the photosensitive drums in a detachable manner and to move between a storage position in which the holding member is accommodated in the apparatus body and a replacement position. The supporting member is configured to support light source arrays in association with the photosensitive drums, to cover the holding member, to move between a retaining position where the light source arrays are positioned relative to the photosensitive drums and a withdrawn position where the light source arrays are withdrawn from the photosensitive drums, and to move to the withdrawn position in a different direction than the direction in which the holding member is moved to the replacement position. |
| US07720407B2 |
Image forming apparatus with multiple driving units
An image forming apparatus that includes: a sheet conveying belt that conveys a sheet to a position opposed to an image carrier; a cleaning unit that cleans the sheet conveying belt; a first driving unit that drives the sheet conveying belt; a second driving unit that drives the cleaning unit, the second driving unit being independent from the first driving unit; and a sheet conveying mechanism that conveys the sheet separately from the sheet conveying belt, wherein the second driving unit drives at least a part of the sheet conveying mechanism. |
| US07720405B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus may include an apparatus body, and a photosensitive-member unit slidably attached the apparatus body and retaining a plurality of photosensitive members. The apparatus body includes side wall portions opposing each other with a unit receiving section sandwiched therebetween, and a plurality of apparatus-body-side electrode members provided on the side wall portions, and each urged inward in an opposing direction of the side wall portions. The photosensitive-member unit includes a plurality of unit-side electrode members each protruding outward in the opposite direction and a guide path comprising a flat surface formed in a flat shape so that each of the apparatus-body-side electrode members slidably contacts to the flat surface during attachment of the photosensitive-member unit with respect to the unit receiving section, and that each of the apparatus-body-side electrode members slidably contacted maintains a constant inward and outward position in the opposite direction. |
| US07720402B2 |
Method and apparatus for image forming capable of controlling toner concentration accurately
A toner-concentration controller includes a controller configured to control a toner supply amount in accordance with a detection result of a toner-concentration of two-component toner, and a sensor unit configured to detect the toner-concentration of two-component toner. The sensor unit includes a correction mechanism to correct an output signal of the sensor unit by changing an external-input voltage, based on relationship data between an output voltage change of the sensor unit and a toner-concentration of unused developer, to control the toner supply amount when the toner-concentration of the two-component toner deviates a predetermined amount from the toner-concentration of the unused developer. The sensor unit is configured to detect the toner-concentration of the unused developer from unused two-component toner based on a change in the external-input voltage. |
| US07720397B2 |
Systems and methods for monitoring toner usage
Systems and methods for estimating the amount of imaging material, such as toner, used in a printing device. In one example, a system estimates toner usage from imaging data and accounts for a “diffusion effect” caused by non-adjacent pixel groups. In certain embodiments, the system examines sets of pixel locations within a page. For example, the system may evaluate each set of eight adjacent pixel locations (i.e., a byte of information) on a page. For each pixel location set, the system determines a proximity factor that is indicative of the number of independent pixel groups within the respective pixel location set. The system then calculates a proximity value based on at least a portion of the proximity factors and uses the proximity value and a pixel count for the page to estimate a toner usage amount. |
| US07720395B2 |
Management apparatus, management method, and computer-readable medium storing a computer program for acquiring maintenance information from plurality of image forming apparatuses
There is provided a monitoring apparatus which is capable of efficiently notifying an external host of completion of installation of the monitoring apparatus for image forming apparatuses, and completion of operations carried out for the image forming apparatuses. The monitoring apparatus is connected to a management apparatus for communication therewith. The monitoring apparatus acquires maintenance information from the image forming apparatuses, and sends the acquired maintenance information to the management apparatus. The monitoring apparatus carries out one of management of completion of installation of the monitoring apparatus and central management of completion of operations carried out for the image forming apparatuses. |
| US07720394B2 |
Optical reception circuit and identification level controlling method for the same
An optical reception circuit and an identification level controlling method for an optical reception circuit are disclosed wherein reception sensitivity degradation arising from transmission waveform degradation by chromatic dispersion can be suppressed. The optical reception circuit includes a photoelectric converter for converting reception light into an electric signal, a pre-amplifying unit for amplifying the electric signal, a main amplifier for amplifying an output of the pre-amplifying unit, a monitor for monitoring the output of the pre-amplifying unit, and a controller for controlling an identification level in the main amplifier based on an output of the monitor. The monitor includes a limiter amplifier for amplifying the output of the pre-amplifying unit, and an average value detector for detecting a time average value of an output amplitude of the limiter amplifier. |
| US07720392B2 |
Differential quadrature phase-shift modulator and method for setting driving voltage thereof
The present invention is directed toward a method for setting a driving voltage of a differential quadrature phase-shift modulator, this method making signal quality superior in response to an individual difference in extinction ratio due to variations in manufacture of a device. To this end, signal quality of differential quadrature phase-shift modulated light output from a differential quadrature phase-shift modulator is acquired. An average amplitude of a first or second driving voltage signal is adjusted according to the signal quality of the thus-acquired differential quadrature phase-shift modulated light. |
| US07720381B2 |
Optical transmission apparatus and optical access network for wavelength-division multiplexing optical network with both sub-carrier multiplex and sub-carrier multiple access schemes
Provided are an optical transmission apparatus and an optical access network for a wavelength-division multiplexing optical network with sub-carrier multiplex and sub-carrier multiple access schemes. The optical transmission apparatus includes: a multiplexer and/or demultiplexer demultiplexing M forward A band optical signals having wavelengths each comprising a plurality of sub-carriers and multiplexing M backward B band optical signals having wavelengths each comprising a plurality of sub-carriers; a plurality of optical power splitters splitting each of the M forward A band optical signals into N optical signals; a plurality of optical receivers receiving backward optical signals belonging to a C band; and M optical transmitters converting the backward optical signals in the C band into the M backward B band optical signals. |
| US07720378B2 |
Optical module and optical switch
In the optical module, the number of optical components is decreased, so that the costs of the device are reduced, and so that optical loss is reduced. The present device comprises: an optical gate array in which a plurality of optical gate switches each employing a semiconductor optical amplifier element are arranged in parallel; a dividing/combining unit including: a plurality of first ports connected one to each of the plurality of optical gate switches forming the optical gate array; and a second port which performs dividing/combining of light with the first port; and an optical amplifier connected to the second port of the dividing/combining unit, wherein the optical gate array, the dividing/combing unit, and the optical amplifier are formed in an integrated manner. |
| US07720377B2 |
Compute clusters employing photonic interconnections for transmitting optical signals between compute cluster nodes
Various embodiments of the present invention are directed to photonic-interconnection-based compute clusters that provide high-speed, high-bandwidth interconnections between compute cluster nodes. In one embodiment of the present invention, the compute cluster includes a photonic interconnection having one or more optical transmission paths for transmitting independent frequency channels within an optical signal to each node in a set of nodes. The compute cluster includes one or more photonic-interconnection-based writers, each writer associated with a particular node, and each writer encoding information generated by the node into one of the independent frequency channels. A switch fabric directs the information encoded in the independent frequency channels to one or more nodes in the compute cluster. The compute cluster also includes one or more photonic-interconnection-based readers, each reader associated with a particular node, and each reader extracting the information encoded in the independent frequency channels directed to the node for processing. |
| US07720374B2 |
Camera module
The present invention relates to a camera module, which comprises a packaged image sensor, an IR filter, a lens and a holder for holding these components and has a reduced overall size and height. A camera module according to the present invention comprises an image sensor package having a translucent substrate formed thereon; and a holder having a lower end attached to the translucent substrate of the image sensor package. At this time, the holder comprises a horizontal portion formed with a through-hole and a connecting portion extending downwardly from an edge of the horizontal portion, and an end surface of a lower end of the connecting portion is formed with an inner stepped portion so as to be attached to a peripheral portion of a top surface and a lateral surface of the translucent substrate. Alternatively, the holder comprises a horizontal portion formed with a through-hole and a connecting portion extending downwardly from an edge of the horizontal portion, and an end surface of a lower end of the horizontal portion is formed to be flat such that it is attached to a peripheral portion of a top surface of the translucent substrate. Otherwise, the holder comprises a horizontal portion formed with a through-hole, and a bottom surface of the horizontal portion is attached to at least a peripheral portion of a top surface of the translucent substrate. |
| US07720371B2 |
Depth layer extraction and image synthesis from focus varied multiple images
A camera (210) for providing an adjusted image (214) of a scene (12) includes an apparatus frame (224), an optical assembly (222), a capturing system (226), and a control system (232). The optical assembly (222) is adjustable to alternatively be focused on a first focal area (356A) and a second focal area (356B) that is different than the first focal area (356A). The capturing system (226) captures a first captured image (360A) when the optical assembly (222) is focused at the first focal area (356A) and captures a second captured image (360B) when the optical assembly (222) is focused at the second focal area (356B). The control system (232) provides the adjusted image (214) of the scene (12) based upon the first captured image (360A) and the second captured image (360B). Additionally, the control system (232) can perform object depth extraction of one or more objects (16) (18) (20) in the scene (12). Alternatively, the multiple captured images (360A) (360B) can be adjusted by a separate adjustment system (680). |
| US07720369B2 |
Image taking apparatus
According to an aspect of the present invention, once the mode setting device sets the person photographing mode, and the face zooming instruction device instructs zooming to the face of the person, the detection device detects the size of the face of the person captured by the image pickup device. The zooming device is then controlled so as to capture the face of the person in a certain size based on the detection result. Subsequently, the photographer instructs zooming in the telephoto direction or the wide direction using the zooming instruction device as necessary to thereby allow fine adjustment of the composition. This enables to easily and quickly photograph an image in a user's desired composition. |
| US07720364B2 |
Triggering data capture based on pointing direction
Methods and apparatus for triggering directional data capture based on pointing direction are described. In an embodiment, the data captured is an image and a camera is described which includes a sensor for detecting the direction in which the image sensor of the camera is pointing. When the sensed pointing direction is one in which a worthwhile image is likely to be taken, the camera is triggered to capture a new image. The determination of when to capture a new image uses a metric based on the sensed direction and one or more specified trigger conditions. |
| US07720361B2 |
Method and apparatus for maintaining condensable constituents of a gas in a vapor phase during sample transport
A system for fluid transport at elevated temperatures having a conduit having a fluid inlet end and a fluid outlet end and at least one heating element disposed within the conduit providing direct heating of a fluid flowing through the conduit. The system is particularly suited for preventing condensable constituents of a high temperature fluid from condensing out of the fluid prior to analysis of the fluid. In addition, operation of the system so as to prevent the condensable constituents from condensing out of the fluid surprisingly does not alter the composition of the fluid. |
| US07720359B2 |
Controller for photographing apparatus and photographing system
A picture photographed by a camera portion is sent to a video capturing portion of a computer. The picture is displayed in an operation area of a monitor. A panorama picture of which pictures in part or all moving range of a pan tiler are combined is displayed in a panorama operation area. A pan tilter portion sends positional information of pan and tilt to the computer through a mode controller. With a mouse, the operation area and the panorama operation area are operated so as to select an object. The computer obtains data for driving the pan tilter. Thus, the selected object is displayed at the center of the operation area. |
| US07720358B2 |
Recording system, recording method and recording device
A recording system is constructed with at least first and second recording devices, both of which are connected to a network and have channel selection functions and functions of reserving the recording of broadcast program information forming a broadcast program. The first recording device includes a first memory for storing recording reservation information from a user, a judgment circuit for judging whether the recording reservation information is for a receivable broadcast channel, and a sending circuit for producing a recording reservation request containing the recording reservation information and for sending it to the network when it is judged that the recording reservation information is not for a receivable broadcast channel. The second recording device includes a circuit for selecting a broadcast channel other than a channel which can be received by the first recording device, a second memory for storing the recording reservation information, a receiving circuit for receiving information transmitted through the network, a reservation request receiving circuit for storing the recording reservation information corresponding to the recording reservation request when the information received by the receiving circuit is a recording reservation request from the first recording device, and a reservation recording control circuit for recording in a recording medium the program information forming the broadcast program corresponding to the recording reservation information stored in the second memory. |
| US07720341B2 |
Waveguide for thermo optic device
A waveguide and resonator are formed on a lower cladding of a thermo optic device, each having a formation height that is substantially equal. Thereafter, the formation height of the waveguide is attenuated. In this manner, the aspect ratio as between the waveguide and resonator in an area where the waveguide and resonator front or face one another decreases (in comparison to the prior art) thereby restoring the synchronicity between the waveguide and the grating and allowing higher bandwidth configurations to be used. The waveguide attenuation is achieved by photomasking and etching the waveguide after the resonator and waveguide are formed. In one embodiment the photomasking and etching is performed after deposition of the upper cladding. In another, it is performed before the deposition. Thermo optic devices, thermo optic packages and fiber optic systems having these waveguides are also taught. |
| US07720339B2 |
All-optical logic gates using nonlinear elements—claim set V
An all-optical logic gates comprises a nonlinear element such as an optical resonator configured to receive optical input signals, at least one of which is amplitude-modulated to include data. The nonlinear element is configured in relation to the carrier frequency of the optical input signals to perform a logic operation based on the resonant frequency of the nonlinear element in relation to the carrier frequency. Based on the optical input signals, the nonlinear element generates an optical output signal having a binary logic level. A combining medium can be used to combine the optical input signals for discrimination by the nonlinear element to generate the optical output signal. Various embodiments include all-optical AND, NOT, NAND, NOR, OR, XOR, and XNOR gates and memory latch. |
| US07720338B2 |
Optical fiber cables
Described are new cable designs for indoor installations wherein the cable comprises a dual-layer optical fiber buffer encasement of acrylate resin. The buffer encasement has an acrylate compliant inner layer that protects the fiber and minimizes stress transfer to the fiber; and a hard, tough acrylate outer layer that provides crush resistance. The dual-layer optical fiber buffer encasement is wrapped with reinforcing yarn and encased in an outer protective jacket. |
| US07720336B2 |
Code division multiplexing optical access network system
The present invention provides an optical access network system that allows the transmission of packets irrespective of the packet length and which is also capable of adapting to cases where another user temporarily requires a large capacity bandwidth. This system performs two-way optical communications using a code division multiplexing system via an optical fiber channel and a star coupler between an optical line terminal and first and second optical network units. The optical line terminal comprises a bandwidth control section and a bandwidth allocation section and the bandwidth control section has signal converter pairs installed therein in a number equal to the number of optical network units. Further, the optical network units each comprise first and second bandwidth control sections and first and second bandwidth allocation sections. The bandwidth control sections each have one set of signal converter pairs installed therein. The bandwidth control sections of the optical line terminal and the optical network units each have a signal converter pair that is constituted by one set of a variable serial to parallel conversion unit and a variable parallel to serial conversion unit each having a variable bandwidth management function. |
| US07720330B2 |
Bidirectional wavelength cross connect architectures using wavelength routing elements
Bidirectional wavelength cross connects include a plurality of ports, each configured to receive an input optical signals, each input optical signal having a plurality of spectral bands. At least one of the plurality of ports is disposed to simultaneously transmit an output optical signal having at least one of the spectral bands. A plurality of wavelength routing elements are configured to selectively route input optical signal spectral bands to output optical signals. |
| US07720328B2 |
Thermal control of optical components
A linearized thermal and optical model of an optical integrated circuit can be used to temperature-stabilize one or more optical elements of the circuit using active temperature regulation. To stabilize a single optical element, a temperature sensor and a heater can be provided proximate to the grating. Thermal and optical coefficients can be then used to select an appropriate temperature set-point for the temperature controller that receives readings from the sensor and determines the power dissipated in the heater. Multiple optical elements can be stabilized individually, using the same process and lumping cross-heating factors together with other environmental factors. Alternatively, multiple AWG's can be stabilized using fewer sensors than optical elements, by stabilizing one of the optical elements in the same manner as in the case of a single optical elements, and determining power dissipated in the heaters of the remaining optical elements based on the linearized model. |
| US07720321B2 |
Fiber optic sensor and method for making
A fiber optic sensor including a fiber having a modified surface integral with the fiber wherein the modified surface includes an open pore network with optical agents dispersed within the open pores of the open pore network. Methods for preparing the fiber optic sensor are also provided. The fiber optic sensors can withstand high temperatures and harsh environments. |
| US07720319B2 |
Regression and erosion measurement system and method
A method and system for determining the length of collocated waveguides in a high erosion environment, such as a solid rocket motor or a braking system. The system provides for mating optical waveguides having different attenuation coefficients within the combusting, eroding, or otherwise regressing material. Optical energy generated by the environment (e.g., from burning fuel), or which is introduced and scattered into the environment, travels through the waveguides to detector means coupled thereto. The intensities of the arriving optical energy are compared and the length of the collocated waveguides calculated therefrom. By calculating the length of the waveguides over time, a regression rate is determined. |
| US07720308B2 |
3-D image display unit, 3-D image recording device and 3-D image recording method
Disclosed herein is a 3-D image display unit that can be controlled flexibly to protect the user from eyestrain and operated easily. The 3-D image display unit includes measuring means for measuring a display time of a 3-D image, parallax adjusting means for instructing 3-D image forming means to adjust the parallax of the 3-D image. In the case where the 3-D image display time measured by the measuring means exceeds a predetermined time, the parallax adjusting means instructs the 3-D image forming means to reduce the parallax of the 3-D image to be formed, thereby the display means comes to display a 3-D image having a small parallax. The user can thus be protected from eyestrain. |
| US07720305B2 |
System and method for robust lossless data hiding and recovering from the integer wavelet representation
A method is provided which comprises providing a block of IWT (integer wavelet transform) coefficients for preferably one high frequency sub-band of an image; determining a mean value of said coefficients within said block; and establishing an encoded mean value to embed one of a logical-0 bit value and a logical-1 bit into said first block. |
| US07720302B2 |
Method, apparatus and program for image processing
An analyzing means first calculates the blur direction and blur level of a digital photograph image based on edge widths and histograms of the edge widths obtained in each direction, and discriminates whether the image is a blurred image or a normal image. Then, it further calculates the camera shake level and blur width for the image discriminated to be a blurred image. A parameter setting means sets a one-dimensional correction mask and a two-dimensional correction mask based on the blur width. It also sets a correction level based on the blur level. It further makes an adjustment to the ratio between the one-dimensional and two-dimensional correction masks based on the camera shake level. |
| US07720293B2 |
Image processing apparatus, printing apparatus and image processing method
An image processing apparatus including: a generating section, operable to analyze compressed image data stored in an external memory and generate an analytic table indicative of a storage manner of the compressed image data; an internal memory, adapted to store the compressed image data therein; a storage section, operable to acquire at least a part of the compressed image data from the external memory and store the compressed image data in the internal memory with reference to the analytic table; a decoding section, operable to read and decode the compressed image data stored in the storage section, and rotate and then output the compressed image data as a rotated image data; and an updater, operable to update the analytic table in accordance with a decoding situation of the decoding section. |
| US07720284B2 |
Method for outlining and aligning a face in face processing of an image
Method and apparatus for face alignment by building a hierarchical classifier network. The hierarchical classifier network connects the tasks of face detection and face alignment into a smooth coarse-to-fine procedure. Texture classifiers are trained to recognize feature texture at different scales for different resolution layers. A multi-layer structure is employed to organize the texture classifiers, which begins with one classifier at the first layer and gradually refines the localization of feature points using additional texture classifiers in subsequent layers. |
| US07720275B2 |
Method and apparatus for detecting pattern defects
With the objective of achieving defect kind training in a short period of time to teach classification conditions of defects detected as a result of inspecting a thin film device, according to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a visual inspection method, and an apparatus therefore, comprising the steps of: detecting defects based on inspection images acquired by optical or electronic defect detection means, and at the same time calculating features of the defects; and classifying the defects according to classification conditions set beforehand, wherein said classification condition setting step further includes the steps of: collecting defect features over a large number of defects acquired beforehand from the defect detection step; sampling defects based on the distribution of the collected defect features over the large number of defects; and setting defect classification conditions based on the result of reviewing the sampled defects. |
| US07720270B2 |
Method and apparatus for improving inner auditory canal images
Method and apparatus for locally enhancing image data represented as pixels having CT numbers is provided. The image data includes bony structures, and the method comprises segmenting pixels within the image data into areas based on the pixel's CT number. A first area represents a combination of soft tissue and lower density bones and a second area represents higher density bones. A subset of pixels is identified within the first area representative of the lower density bones. An enhancement is applied to the subset of pixels within the first area and to the second area to create an enhanced dataset, and a locally enhanced image is generated based on the image data and the enhanced dataset. |
| US07720268B2 |
System and method for ultrasound specific segmentation using speckle distributions
A method for segmenting a digitized ultrasound image includes providing a digitized in-phase/quadrature ultrasound image comprising a plurality of intensities defined on an N-dimensional grid, decorrelating the ultrasound image wherein spatial correlations are substantially reduced in the intensity data, modeling the decorrelated image intensities with a statistical distribution, propagating, an active contour in the image where the contour segments the image, where the contour is propagated based on the statistical distributions of intensity data inside and outside the active contour. |
| US07720267B2 |
Method and apparatus for classifying tissue using image data
Disclosed is a technique for classifying tissue based on image data. A plurality of tissue parameters are extracted from image data (e.g., magnetic resonance image data) to be classified. The parameters are preprocessed, and the tissue is classified using a classification algorithm and the preprocessed parameters. In one embodiment, the parameters are preprocessed by discretization of the parameters. The classification algorithm may use a decision model for the classification of the tissue, and the decision model may be generated by performing a machine learning algorithm using preprocessed tissue parameters in a training set of data. In one embodiment, the machine learning algorithm generates a Bayesian network. The image data used may be magnetic resonance image data that was obtained before and after the intravenous administration of lymphotropic superparamagnetic nanoparticles. |
| US07720266B2 |
Ultrasound image enhancement and speckle mitigation method
A method for enhancing an ultrasound image is provided, wherein the ultrasound image is segmented into a feature region and a non-feature region, while sufficiently utilizing features contained in the ultrasound image, in particular including some inconspicuous features. The enhanced image according to present invention is not susceptive of the image segmentation and avoid dependence of the enhancement effect on the segmentation template, so as not to produce an evident artificial boundary between the feature region and the non-feature region but to highlight some special information in the image and to remove or mitigate invalid information. Thus the enhanced ultrasound image is particularly suitable for the visual system of the human beings. |
| US07720265B2 |
Fingerprint recognition module having a thin-film structure and comprising resistive, temperature-sensitive elements
The invention relates to a fingerprint recognition module comprising a substrate consisting of a material that is electrically insulating at least on its upper side and at least partially thermally insulating. Said substrate receives a composite of structured thin films on its surface, which directly forms a measuring field on the surface of the substrate for measuring a fingerprint. Said composite consists of an array of resistive, temperature-dependent elements, and contains strip conductors which connect the resistive, temperature-dependent elements to at least one connection field located on the substrate, outside the measuring field, and form part of the composite of structured thin films. The substrate also contains at least one microelectronic switching circuit which is electrically connected to the at least one connection field and contains the switching circuits by which means the thin film structures are controlled in order to heat the resistive, temperature-sensitive elements, the resistive, temperature-sensitive elements are read out, and the data is retransmitted. |
| US07720258B1 |
Structured comparison of objects from similar images
Associating subimages is disclosed. A first set of one or more subimages associated with a first image and a second set of one or more subimages associated with a second image are received. It is determined that a first subimage of the first set corresponds to a second subimage of the second set based at least in part on spatial information associated with the first subimage. The first subimage and the second subimage are associated. |
| US07720257B2 |
Object tracking system
A system for tracking objects across an area having a network of cameras with overlapping and non-overlapping fields of view. The system may use a combination of color, shape, texture and/or multi-resolution histograms for object representation or target modeling for the tacking of an object from one camera to another. The system may include user and output interfacing. |
| US07720253B2 |
Visual perception model for hi-fidelity image watermarking
Exemplary systems and methods implement an exemplary visual perception model. This model can be implemented in such applications as imaging, compression, denoising, annotation of hi-fidelity images, etc. In one implementation a perceptual filter estimates an entropy statistic and a standard deviation statistic associated with each pixel of an image, then mixes the entropy statistic and the standard deviation statistic to map an estimation of human perceptual tolerance to noise or alteration in parts of the image. In one application, metadata may be added to an image via a system of synergistic watermarks, in which the watermarks strengthen each other and are placed according to the noise tolerance of the pixels in order to maintain hi-fidelity of the image. |
| US07720250B2 |
Method and apparatus for watermarking stream data
A watermarking system embeds a watermark into data values that may be streamed. A data hash is calculated using data values and a hash key. The data values are grouped. The groups include a first group and a second group. A first group hash is calculated using data values in the first group and a first group hash key. A second group hash is calculated using data values in the second group and a second group hash key. A watermark is constructed based on the first group hash and the second group hash. The value of at least one of the data values in the first group is modified using the watermark. |
| US07720248B2 |
Frame for speaker device and speaker device
A frame for a speaker device includes a magnetic circuit housing unit which houses a magnetic circuit, an annular outer peripheral portion which is arranged on an outer side of the magnetic circuit housing unit, and plural arm portions which connect the magnetic circuit housing unit and the outer peripheral portion. The plural arm portions form such plural bridges that a pair of the arm portions are linearly positioned to connect two parts of the outer peripheral portion, and each of the bridges does not pass through a center of the outer peripheral portion. |
| US07720246B2 |
Headphone device
A headphone device includes a sound amplifying member, a connecting member and a fixing member. The sound amplifying member includes a first speaker and a second speaker for outputting a sound. The connecting member is interconnected between the first speaker and the second speaker and made of first flexible material. The connecting member is flexibly wound around the first speaker and the second speaker. The fixing member is coupled to the sound amplifying member for securing the connecting member thereon after the connecting member is wound around the first speaker and the second speaker. |
| US07720244B2 |
Earpiece for a hearing aid and a hearing aid
An earpiece (2) for a hearing aid (12) comprises a plug (20) for contacting the meatus of the users ear canal, a contact element (13) for resting against an inside of the users tragus and or the ear canal, and a fixture for holding the plug and the contact element together, the fixture having means for adjusting the spacing between the plug and the contact element. The invention further provides a hearing aid. |
| US07720242B2 |
Flexible joint for extended wear hearing device
Various embodiments provide a flexible joint for extended wear hearing devices. One embodiment provides a flexible joint for a hearing device comprising a compliant tube having a lateral and a medial end, a pivotal portion and a lumen. The hearing device can include a CIC hearing aid positioned in the bony portion of the ear canal. The tube ends are configured to be coupled to lateral and medial device assemblies. The tube allows the lateral assembly to advance the medial assembly into the bony portion of the ear canal and have the lateral and medial assemblies conform to the shape of the ear canal via pivotal movement. The tube also acoustically decouples the two assemblies. The pivotal portion can comprise a necked portion or otherwise have decreased stiffness relative to other tube portions. The tube can be shaped to fit over and retain one or both assemblies. |
| US07720237B2 |
Phase equalization for multi-channel loudspeaker-room responses
A system and method for minimizing the complex phase interaction between non-coincident subwoofer and satellite speakers for improved magnitude response control in a cross-over region. An all-pass filter is cascaded with bass-management filters in at least one filter channel, and preferably all-pass filters are cascaded in each satellite speaker channel. Pole angles and magnitudes for the all-pass filters are recursively calculated to minimize phase incoherence. A step of selecting an optimal cross-over frequency may be performed in conjunction with the all-pass filtering, and is preferably used to select an optimal cross-over frequency prior to determining all-pass filter coefficients. |
| US07720231B2 |
Encoding audio signals
The encoder transforms the audio signals (x(n),y(n)) from the time domain to audio signal (X(k),Y(k)) in the frequency domain, and determines the cross-correlation function (Ri, Pi) in the frequency domain. A complex coherence value (Qi) is calculated by summing the (complex) cross-correlation function values (Ri, Pi) in the frequency domain. The inter-channel phase difference (IPDi) is estimated by the argument of the complex coherence value (Qi), and the inter-channel coherence (ICi) is estimated by the absolute value of the complex coherence value (Qi). |
| US07720228B2 |
Modulator autocalibration methods for quantum key distribution
Methods for calibrating the modulators in a QKD system (100) are disclosed. The methods include setting the voltage (VB) of Bob's modulator (MB) to a positive value and then adjusting the voltage (VA) of Alice's modulator (MA) in both the positive and negative direction to obtain overall relative phase modulations that result in maximum and minimum photon counts (N) in the two single-photon detectors (32a, 32b). Bob's modulator voltage is then set to a negative value and the process repeated. When the basis voltages (VB(1), VB(2), VA(1), VA(2), VA(3) and VA(4)) are established, the QKD system is operated with intentionally selected incorrect bases at Bob and Alice to assess orthogonality of the basis voltages by assessing whether or not the probability of photon detection at the detectors is 50:50. If not, the modulator voltages are adjusted to be orthogonal. This involves changing Bob's basis voltage (VB(1) and/or VB(2)) and repeating the process until a 50:50 detector count distribution is obtained. The calibration method can be carried out periodically during QKD system operation to ensure optimum or near-optimum operation of the modulators. |
| US07720225B2 |
Table splitting for cryptographic processes
For a defined cryptographic process including an original substitution table, split masked substitution tables are provided to resist cryptographic attacks. The split masked substitution tables are defined with reference to a set of random value data words and a mask value. An entry in the split masked substitution tables is defined by selecting bits from the corresponding entry in the original masked substitution table, as masked by the corresponding one of the set of random value data words and by selecting bits from the corresponding one of the set of random value data words as masked by the mask value. The split masked substitution tables are usable in a modified cryptographic process based on the defined cryptographic process to permit a masked output to be generated. The split masked substitution tables are refreshed by each entry in the tables being refreshed upon access during execution of the modified cryptographic process. |
| US07720218B2 |
Telephone with enhanced function display and selection ability
A user interface, telephony device, and method for managing user control settings associated with a telephony device is described. The user interface displays a label array on a display device of the telephony device. The label array includes at least one row of labels, each representing a discrete function or feature associated with the telephony device. A button array is provided in the vicinity of the display device. The button array includes a corresponding row or rows of buttons, each button representing a discrete function or feature for the telephony device and corresponding to a label within the label array. One or more buttons in the button array are selectively illuminated to indicate a status of one or more functions or features associated with one or more labels in the label array. |
| US07720212B1 |
Spatial audio conferencing system
An audio conferencing system includes sending a signal of a sound at a sound location to a listening location. The system further includes establishing a relationship between a virtual listening location and a virtual sound location. The system processes the signal to provide a sound at the listening location seeming to have an analogous relationship between the listening location and the sound location as the relationship between the virtual listening location and the virtual sound location. |
| US07720211B1 |
Customer want date (CWD) oriented telecommunications service provisioning system and method
A telecommunications service provisioning method and system are disclosed having customer-want date (CWD) oriented scheduling. In one embodiment, the method comprises: (a) accepting order entry notifications; and (b) initiating an initiator process for each order entry notification. The initiator process initiates multiple processes including a truck roll process that arranges for a visit to the customer premises for installation of equipment. The truck roll process may implement a jeopardy timer that sends an alert message if prerequisites for the truck roll process have not been satisfied by some predetermined time in advance of the installation date. The initiator process may send a customer reminder two days before a prearranged installation date. One or more of the other initiated processes may arrange for activation of a service component (e.g. 911 emergency location service) a predetermined period before the installation date. |
| US07720209B2 |
Developing application objects that interoperate with external objects
An application development system includes a referencing component configured to reference an external component in an external development environment and to read type information for the referenced external component. An authoring component is configured to aid a user in authoring an application using the type information read from the referenced external component and using a language extension that allows external objects corresponding to the external component to be created by the external runtime environment and which allows methods to be invoked on the external objects and object declarations. |
| US07720207B2 |
Telephone functions for computers
An enhanced telephone emulation computer system including a minidialer program for controlling a computer to add telephony functions which can be invoked from whatever active program is currently controlling the computer. The minidialer program controls the computer to alter its processing depending upon the context existing at the time when a mouse click or hot key combination event is detected indicating the user wishes to invoke a telephony function. The minidialer program determines whether the user has highlighted any text or numbers in the active window of the application currently controlling the computer and whether the highlighted material is a name or a phone number, and if a name, whether the name is stored with a phone number in a phone book or file maintained on the computer. Processing and telephony menu options displayed as available also depend upon whether the user is or is not on the phone at the time the mouse click or hot key event occurs. In some embodiments, if the user has highlighted a URL, a browser will be launched and the web page corresponding to the URL will be opened. |
| US07720205B2 |
Communications terminal unit and method for controlling the same
A communication terminal unit has a system control section including a communication error detection section that detects a communication error, which occurs at the time of originating a call over an IP network or a public network. A communication error analysis section analyzes the thus-detected communication error, and in accordance with the result of analysis of the communication error, a call origination network determination section automatically determines whether to re-dial a call over the IP network or the public network. As a result, when detecting a communication error at the time of origination of a call over the IP network or the public network, a system control section performs control operation for analyzing the communication error and automatically determining whether to re-dial a call over the IP network or over the public network. |
| US07720204B2 |
Method of establishing a communications call
A method system, interface and server for establishing a communications call by selecting a B party (6) using an interactive device (16) connected to a public network (10,12), sending called address data for the B party (6) and calling address data for an A party (4) to a communications platform (18) of the public network (10,12), and establishing a call between the A and B parties (4,6) over the public network (10,12) using the communications platform (18) and the called and calling address data. The called address data can be accessed from the public network, and may reside on a server of a messaging network, such as the Internet. |
| US07720201B2 |
Communication apparatus
In a communication apparatus has a line control unit that controls connection with a communication line network, a communication unit transmits/receives data through the communication line network. A detection circuit detects one of a line voltage value and a line current value when the communication apparatus is connected to the line network. A memory unit stores multiple voltage-current characteristic curves defining relationships of line voltage values with respect to line current values satisfying a predetermined standard. An adjusting unit adjusts the line voltage value and the line current value so as to satisfy the predetermined standard based on one of the voltage-current characteristic curves stored in the memory unit. A selecting unit selects another voltage-current characteristic curve different from the one of the voltage-current characteristic curves from among the multiple voltage-current characteristic curves stored in the memory unit. A re-adjusting unit adjusts one of the line voltage and a line current. |
| US07720198B2 |
X-ray facility
A controller for an X-ray device and an X-ray device with such a controller are provided. The X-ray device includes an X-ray generator, connected to the controller and at least one camera, connected to the controller. The controller is embodied to receive image data of a patient or object from the camera. The controller includes an analytical module, embodied to analyze image data from the camera and to generate at least one control signal for control of the X-ray generator depending on the result of the analysis of the image data, transmitted thereto by the controller. |
| US07720194B2 |
High throughput baggage inspection system
A stand-alone inspection system operating reliably with high throughput. The system employs automated image analysis to distinguish between cleared items and suspicious items. Cleared items pass through the inspection system without stopping, but the system stops suspicious items at a predetermined location so that the alarmed items can be readily identified by an operator. The system also displays information on the items that allows an operator to confirm that the item in the predetermined location is an alarmed item. Rather than resolving the alarmed item with the system stopped, the operator records an indicia of the alarmed item and the alarmed item is removed for further inspection or other processing. The recorded indicia provides a tracking mechanism that ensures alarmed bags are resolved. |
| US07720193B2 |
X-ray fluorescence analysis to determine levels of hazardous substances
An object of the present invention is to shorten the time required by processing, and to simplify the work and increase the number of samples processed, in the X-ray analysis of a specific substance contained in a sample. To achieve the object, a method for assaying the content of a specific substance in a sample 106, comprises a measurement step (S3) of irradiating the sample 106 with X-rays, and measuring the spectrum of the sample 106, and an assay step (S4) of comparing the components of the specific substance in the spectrum of the sample 106 and in a reference spectrum that has been pre-stored for the sample 106, and determining whether the specific substance is contained in the sample 106 in an amount equal to or greater than a specific value. |
| US07720192B2 |
X-ray fluorescence apparatus
An X-ray fluorescence (XRF) apparatus uses both an analyzer crystal (6) and a silicon drift detector (34). By using this combination problems of background and overlapping peaks can be mitigated. |
| US07720191B2 |
Computer tomography apparatus
This invention relates to a computer tomography apparatus, especially to a computer tomography apparatus intended for use in connection with odontological diagnostics. In the computer tomography apparatus according to the invention, it is essential that one has arranged thereto, in addition to a computer tomography imaging station, a second imaging station comprising second patient support means 16′ at a distance from said computer tomography imaging station. The invention enables more versatile odontological imaging than prior art apparatuses, whereby one does not have to acquire to the clinic, in addition to the computer tomography apparatus, e.g. a separate skull-imaging device. |
| US07720188B2 |
Fast phase-frequency detector arrangement
The present invention relates to a detector arrangement and a charge pump circuit for a recovery circuit recovering timing information for random data. The detector arrangement comprises a first latch circuit for sampling a quadrature component of a reference signal based on an input signal, to generate a first binary signal, a second latch circuit for sampling an in-phase component of the reference signal based on the input signal, to generate a second binary signal, and a third latch circuit for sampling the first binary signal based on the second binary signal, to generate a frequency error signal. Furthermore, the charge pump circuit comprises a differential input circuit and a control circuit for controlling a tail current of the differential input circuit in response to a frequency-locked state of frequency detector arrangement. |
| US07720182B2 |
Apparatus and method for correcting frequency offset in satellite digital video broadcasting system
An apparatus and method for correcting a frequency offset in a satellite digital video broadcasting system includes a frequency response transformer for receiving a satellite digital video broadcasting signal and acquiring frequency responses divided into positive and negative frequency parts; a rotation/difference value calculation unit for selecting a frequency response inputted from the frequency response transformer and calculating a first value indicating a difference in area without rotation for the selected frequency response, and calculating a second value indicating a difference in area with rotation for the remaining frequency responses; a zero intersection point calculator for dividing an average slope of a straight line formed by the first and second values by the first value, and calculating a zero intersection point of an area difference value on the straight line; and a frequency offset estimator for correcting the zero intersection point to thereby estimate the frequency offset. |
| US07720179B2 |
Method for timing detection
A wireless communication system comprises a sampling module that samples a first portion and a second portion of a channel using a sampling time. A correlator module selectively correlates the first portion and the second portion, generates correlation samples, and calculates an offset based on the correlation samples. A timing module selectively adjusts the sampling time based on the offset. |
| US07720175B2 |
Apparatus and method for reducing peak-to-average power ratio in an OFDM communication system
A Peak-to-Average Power Ratio (PAPR) reduction apparatus and method in an OFDM communication system are provided. In the PAPR reduction method, magnitude and phase components are extracted from transmission sample data. Peaks having magnitude components exceeding a threshold are detected by comparing the extracted magnitude components with the threshold. The highest of the peaks is detected and compared with the threshold. If the highest peak is greater than the threshold, the highest peak is updated. |
| US07720173B2 |
Apparatus and method for transmitting/receiving data in multi-user multi-antenna communication system
An apparatus and method for transmitting/receiving data in a multi-user multi-antenna communication system is provided. A data transmitting apparatus and method computes a TX filter of a transmitter in an improved scheme and transmits the computed TX filter to a receiver in a one-way channel sounding scheme. A data receiving apparatus and method receives the TX filter over a channel and uses the product of the received TX filter and a channel matrix as an RX filter. |
| US07720171B2 |
Coefficient estimation method and apparatus
At least one training signal burst is applied to an electronic circuit including an amplifier to train a predistortion circuit associated with the amplifier. |
| US07720166B2 |
System, method and device of decoding spatially multiplexed signals
Embodiments of the present invention provide a method, apparatus and system of decoding spatially multiplexed signals. In some demonstrative embodiments the method may include, for example, determining one or more hypothetical values of a transmitted signal of a set of transmitted signals based on one or more respective sets of hypothetical values assigned to a subset of the set of transmitted signals. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US07720163B2 |
Method and device for notching the transmission band of an analog signal, in particular an MB-OFDM signal
The transmission band of an analog signal to be transmitted is notched, including sub-carriers to be modulated from digital modulation coefficients respectively associated with the sub-carriers. The method includes providing an initial digital signal from successive frequency-domain groups each containing the digital modulation coefficients respectively associated to the sub-carriers. The initial signal is filtered with a frequency resolution greater than the frequency resolution of the frequency-domain groups to remove frequencies corresponding to the sub-carriers to be removed. The filtered signal is windowed using a windowing mask having a representation in the frequency-domain including a main lobe and secondary lobes. The power spectrum of the lobes decrease faster than the inverse of the frequency squared. |
| US07720161B1 |
Generating training sequences in a communications system
Embodiments of the present invention can be used to generate a family of core training sequences having desired cross-correlation and out-of-phase auto-correlation properties for a communications system. The family can be generated by selecting seed sequences, so that the worst-case cross-correlation of the seed sequences is below a first initial threshold and the worst-case out-of-phase auto-correlation of the seed sequences is below a second initial threshold. Then, sequence families can be generated by inserting additional symbols into a corresponding seed sequence. Then, reduced sequence families can be generated by eliminating those sequences from the sequence families that have a worst-case out-of-phase auto-correlation above a third threshold. A sequence is selected from each reduced sequence family, so that the worst-case cross-correlation of the selected sequences is below a fourth threshold. |
| US07720153B2 |
Video encoding apparatus, video encoding method, video encoding program, video decoding apparatus, video decoding method and video decoding program
In the motion compensation prediction unit 2 of the video encoding apparatus 1, complexity information which indicates a degree of complexity of movement from the reference frame for each of the plurality of blocks in which a coding target image is divided. The predicted image is generated by using a prediction reference image to which filtering pixels are provided in accordance with the complexity information on the basis of a predetermined rule which increases the number of the filtering pixels which have pixel values produced by applying low-pass filter with strong high-frequency cutoff characteristics among a plurality of low-pass filters with different high-frequency cutoff characteristics to neighborhood integer pixels. |
| US07720149B2 |
Image decoding apparatus, image coding apparatus, image communications system and coded bit stream converting apparatus
An image decoding apparatus is capable of decoding coded bit streams with different coding schemes. The image decoding apparatus includes a coding scheme decision section for deciding a coding scheme from coding scheme identification information multiplexed into a coded bit stream, a setting unit for setting header information on a second coding scheme in accordance with header information in a first coding scheme, and a decoder for decoding image coded data in the first coding scheme in response to the header information on the second coding scheme, which is set. |
| US07720148B2 |
Efficient multi-frame motion estimation for video compression
There is disclosed a method of digital signal compression, coding and representation, and more particularly a method of video compression, coding and representation system that uses multi-frame motion estimation and includes both device and method aspects. The invention also provides a computer program product, such as a recording medium, carrying program instructions readable by a computing device to cause the computing device to carry out a method according to the invention. |
| US07720140B2 |
Signal processing method, receiver and equalizing method in receiver
A signal processing method, receiver and equalizing method are provided. The receiver comprises an estimator estimating a channel coefficient matrix from a received signal, a first calculation unit determining a channel correlation matrix based on the channel coefficient matrix a converter converting the channel correlation matrix into a circulant matrix. A second calculation unit determines equalization filter coefficients by applying a first transform to the real parts of a first subset of the terms in the first column of the circulant matrix and by applying a second transform to the imaginary parts of a second subset of the terms in the first column of the circulant matrix. An equalizer equalizes the received signal by using the determined equalization filter coefficients. |
| US07720136B2 |
Adaptive coding and modulation based on link performance prediction
A method for communication over a communication link, which includes a transmitter and a receiver, includes transmitting and receiving data, which is encoded using a specified forward error correction (FEC) code, modulated using a specified modulation scheme and transmitted at a given power level.One or more parameters of the communication link are monitored. A condition, which is based on values of one or more of the parameters monitored at a plurality of historical time instants, is evaluated. At least one feature of the transmitted data, selected from a group of features consisting of the FEC code, the modulation scheme and the power level, is modified based on the condition. |
| US07720131B2 |
Iterative pilot-aided frequency offset estimation and C/I measurement for TDMA signal with offset larger than nyquist frequency of the reference symbol rate
A method and apparatus are provided for decoding a wireless signal from a set of samples with an embedded training sequence. The method includes the steps of determining a first frequency offset from the samples where the first frequency offset is assumed to be less than a Nyquist frequency of the training sequence and calculating a first carrier to interference ratio based upon the first frequency offset. The method further includes the steps of determining a second frequency offset from the samples by subtracting an absolute value of the first frequency offset from an integer multiple of the Nyquist frequency and giving the second frequency offset a sign opposite that of the first frequency offset, calculating a second carrier to interference ratio based upon the second frequency offset and selecting one of the first and second frequency offsets based upon a relative values of the calculated carrier to interference ratios. |
| US07720129B2 |
Frequency-hopping carrier generator
The present invention discloses a frequency-hopping carrier generator, which comprises a current source, a ramp generator and a switch power amplifier. The current source generates a first current; the first current is output to the ramp generator. The output of the ramp generator is coupled to a capacitor to generate a ramp voltage. The ramp voltage is connected to a voltage detection/direction control device and a PWM module. The PWM module receives an audio input signal and generates a PWM signal. When receiving a ramp voltage, the voltage detection/direction control device outputs a control signal to the ramp generator and a counter. The counter is coupled to a digital-control current source. According to the value of the counter, the digital-control current source outputs a second current to the ramp generator. The second current is merged with the first current. The merged current is used to charge/discharge the capacitor. The input end of the switch power amplifier receives a signal from the PWM module and modulates the audio input signal to output a class-D signal. |
| US07720128B2 |
Laser diode generating passive mode and method of creating optical pulse using the same diode
Provided are a laser diode generating passive mode locking that does not contain non-linear sector of an SA, and a method of creating an optical pulse using the same diode. The laser diode includes a DFB sector serving as a reflector and a gain sector. The gain sector is connected to the DFB sector and includes an as-cleaved facet formed at the end of the gain sector. When a current less than a threshold current is applied to the DFB sector to allow the DFB sector to operate as a reflector, passive mode locking occurs swiftly and therefore a sector of the SA is not required, which makes manufacturing simple. Also, it is possible to effectively extend a frequency variable region compared to using of the SA. |
| US07720123B2 |
Buried type semiconductor laser
A buried type semiconductor laser 1 is made of a p-type InP substrate 2 and includes a ridge section 6 made up of a p type InP first clad layer 3, AlGaInAs distorted quantum well active layer 4 and n type InP second clad layer 5 laminated one atop another. On both sides of the ridge section 6, an buried current block layer 10 made up of a p-type InP first buried layer 7, n-type InP second buried layer 8 and semi-insulating Fe-doped InP third buried layer 9 laminated one atop another is formed. A top face of the third buried layer 9 is covered with an n-type InP semiconductor layer 11. The above structure can suppress the occurrence of a leakage current path on the top face of the third buried layer 9 and improve reliability of the buried type semiconductor laser. |
| US07720122B2 |
Semiconductor laser device and semiconductor laser assembly
Semiconductor laser assembly 1 is provided with semiconductor laser device 6 and heat dissipation member 24. Semiconductor laser device 6 includes semiconductor laser element 15, lead-frame 11, lower and upper enclosures 18 and 19 and plate-like spring 21 connected to lead-frame 11. Semiconductor laser element 15 is mounted on lead-frame 11 through sub-mounting member 16. Lower and upper enclosures 18 and 19 have an opening through which laser beams from semiconductor laser element 15 are emitted. Plate-like spring 21 is connected to lead-frame 11 and has wing and holding portions 22 and 23. Holding portion 23 is a C-character in cross section to put lower and upper enclosures 18 and 19 together. Heat dissipation member 24 has inside walls to define perforation 25, so that wing portions 22 of plate-like spring 21 pushes semiconductor laser device 6 against the inside walls of heat dissipation member 24 when the semiconductor laser device 6 is set in perforation 25. |
| US07720115B2 |
Dual mode single cavity pulse compressor and method
An rf pulse compressor has a single high Q cavity resonator fed by a four port hybrid coupler which is connected to the resonator at coupling ports located at the intersection of two of the resonator's orthogonal axes with the resonator cavity walls. The hybrid coupler divides pulse power from an rf pulse power source and excites two space and phase orthogonal modes in the single cavity, the stored energy of which aids in producing compressed pulses at the output of the hybrid. On-axis perturbations in the cavity walls can be used to lock the orthogonal orientation of the modes excited in the cavity. |
| US07720108B2 |
Apparatus and method for inserting synchronization headers into serial data communication streams
An apparatus for transmitting synchronization headers into multiple high-speed serial data communications streams comprising an input channel receiving B symbols, a first output channel outputting A symbols, a second output channel outputting B symbols, a header sequence generator generating H symbols, one multiplexer per output channel, a temporary storage unit storing H×B input symbols, and a control unit coordinating the operation of the apparatus operating according to an input clock signal. |
| US07720105B2 |
Method and arrangement for local synchronization in master-slave distributed communication systems
For switching or transmitting data packets, one can provide communication systems which consist of several modules —operating in parallel on segments of a packet —to increase speed and handling capacity. One module acts as master, others are slave modules controlled by control signals derived by the master module. It is important to correctly synchronize in each module the data segment and the respective control signal of each packet, because in large systems the data paths carrying packet segments and the control signal paths may have substantially different delays. The invention provides for measurement of the propagation delay differences and for introducing a controlled delay in each slave module, so that data segments and control signals can be correctly correlated by delaying either the one or the other. Synchronization packets are transmitted besides normal data packets, for obtaining time stamps which are used to determine the delay difference. |
| US07720104B2 |
Method to improve sensitivity of decoding time of a global positioning system receiver at low signal to noise ratio
A method and an apparatus to improve sensitivity of decoding time of a global positioning system (GPS) receiver at low signal to noise ratio is disclosed. In one embodiment, a method includes detecting a signal comprised of a data bits, arranging the data bits according to a specified property of an incremental mathematical table (e.g., may be an incremental bit-counter table), storing the data bits when arranging the data bits according to the specified property of the incremental mathematical table as a time counter table, algorithmically determining a value of an unknown data bit of the time counter table according to the specified property of the incremental mathematical table observed in the time counter table to generate a time counter value, and applying the time counter value to decode the signal. |
| US07720099B2 |
Common protocol and routing scheme for space data processing networks
A method of communicatively coupling network elements supporting multiple network protocol types comprises receiving input having multiple network protocol types from an upper-level of the protocol stack at an endpoint-flexible-interface layer in a network endpoint, mapping the input between the upper-level of a protocol stack and a common-lower-level in the protocol stack at the endpoint-flexible-interface layer, and implementing the common-lower-level protocol layer to interface the multiple network protocol types to the physical layer, so that at least two endpoints of a network are communicatively coupled. |
| US07720098B1 |
Wireless bandwidth aggregation
Methods and apparatus are disclosed for dynamic bandwidth expansion for wireless clients of a wireless wide-area network (WWAN), wherein each client has an allocated bandwidth for communicating over the WWAN and the clients are within wireless signal reception of each other. The WWAN clients may voluntarily or in a predetermined manner join a pool of bandwidth-sharing clients. A wireless aggregation server and a wireless pool boss work in cooperation to utilize unused transmit and receive bandwidth from each of the pool members. |
| US07720097B2 |
Communication apparatus, communication method, communication program and recording medium
A communication apparatus that is connected to an information processing apparatus is provided. The communication apparatus includes: an information processing apparatus discovery unit configured to discover the information processing apparatus; a secure communication packet conversion unit configured to convert a non-secure communication packet transmitted by the discovered information processing apparatus into a secure communication packet; and a non-secure communication packet conversion unit configured to convert the secure communication packet destined for the information processing apparatus into the non-secure communication packet. |
| US07720095B2 |
Heterogeneous media packet bridging
Methods and systems are provided for bridging heterogeneous media packets using a single processor resource having a virtual bridge. Network interfaces associated with heterogeneous media channels relay network packets to the virtual bridge. The virtual bridge accesses metadata associated with the relayed network packets and translates the network packets between media formats. The translated network packets are then relayed to an appropriate network interface. In one embodiment, the virtual bridge is dynamically configurable within the processing resource. |
| US07720093B2 |
Modulation multiplexing
Systems and techniques are disclosed relating to communications. The systems and techniques involve communicating over a physical channel having a plurality of modulation channels each having a channel capacity by allocating a plurality of data streams among the modulation channels as a function of the channel capacity for each of the modulation channels, and modulating the data streams to support transmission over the physical channel as a function of the data stream allocation among the modulation channels. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or the meaning of the claims. |
| US07720089B2 |
Serial communication device, method thereof and communication system using the same
A compact serial communication device is disclosed that is formed from simplified circuits on a master side and a slave side and does not need a synchronous signal and a switching unit for switching transmission and reception operations, and is able to reduce load of the slave side. The master transmission/reception circuit outputs a serial data signal DATA to a transmission path with the serial data signal DATA being generated by superposing a low level superposition pulse on a clock signal, when the clock signal is at the high level, according to an output data signal to be output to the slave transmission/reception circuits; the slave transmission/reception circuits superposes a high level superposition pulse on the serial data signal DATA input from the transmission path according to an output data signal to be output to the master transmission/reception circuit when the clock signal is at the low level. |
| US07720087B2 |
Method and system for channel management in a voice response system
A method and system for managing channels in a voice response system is provided. The method comprises periodically monitoring utilization of a system resource and determining a number, N, of voice channels required to be quiesced based on the utilization level of the system resource. This number is compared with the number of channels currently quiescing, Q, and the number of quiescing channels is adjusted accordingly. A quiescing channel is disabled when it becomes inactive. |
| US07720083B2 |
Intelligent routing in a hybrid peer-to-peer system
Intelligent routing may be provided. First, a second peer via home relay may receive presence information indicating that a first peer is connected to a first foreign relay. Then the second peer may update, in response to the presence information, a routing table to indicate that a primary place to send data to the first peer is the first foreign relay. Next, the second peer may determine from the routing table that the primary place to send the data to the first peer is the first foreign relay. Next, the home relay may receive a request from a second peer to send data to the first peer via the first foreign relay. Then, in response to determining from the routing table that the primary place to send the data to the first peer is the first foreign relay, the data may be sent to the first foreign relay. |
| US07720078B2 |
Individual sending of messages to packet network subscribers
In one aspect, a method in a packet-switched network for accessing a first subscriber is provided. A control server receives a message intended for the first subscriber of the packet-switched network. The control server inquires a topology database for information of how to reach the first subscriber according to the topology of the packet-switched network. A response having a topological path description is received by the control server. The message is transmitted to the first subscriber in accordance with the received topological path. Whereby, the first subscriber is assessable via a plurality of control servers in the packet-switched network. |
| US07720077B1 |
Timed packet processing to regulate data transfer between components of a gateway for a constant delay network
In one embodiment, a gateway for a constant delay network identifies a baseband clock that is synchronized by exchanging synchronization messages over a packet switched network. The gateway then generates a strobe by manipulating the identified baseband clock using a custom multiplier that is selected according to transmission variables. The gateway then signals a front end component to process fixed length packets for transfer to a back end component according to the generated strobe, which can reduce or eliminate buffering by the back end component and can improve cable modem operation. |
| US07720076B2 |
Distributed connection-oriented services for switched communication networks
Method and apparatus providing connection-oriented services for packet switched data communications networks. Directory services include distributed discovery of MAC addresses and protocol alias addresses. Topology services include a link state topology exchange among switches, which provides each switch with a complete topology graph of the network. This enables an access switch receiving a data packet to determine a complete path from a source end system to a destination end system. Another service includes resolution of broadcast frames to unicast frames, in order to reduce the amount of broadcast traffic. Policy restrictions may be applied prior to connection setup. Path determination services enable multiple paths from a source to a destination. Connection management includes source routed mapping of connections on the desired path. A distributed call rerouting service is provided wherein if a link on an active path fails, each switch receives a topology change notification and unmaps any connection involving the failed link. A broadcast/unknown service provides restricted flooding of nonresolvable packets. Furthermore, connection-oriented switching is provided based on the source and destination MAC addresses as a connection identifier. Still further, resolution of networks outside the switch domain is enabled by access switches listening for network and server route advertisements and maintaining best routes to said networks and servers. The best route metrics may be combined with best path metrics to determine a path from a first access switch to an egress switch connected to the external network. |
| US07720072B2 |
Method for dynamic bandwidth allocation in passive optical network
A method for dynamic bandwidth allocation in Passive Optical Network (PON), said PON includes a OLT and a plurality of ONUs accessing to the OLT, comprising: classifying traffic which is to be communicated between the OLT and the ONUs into a plurality of service types, and granting a different priority to each type of the services; authorizing service ports of every type of services to transmit service data in descending sequence of said priorities of the services, and recording granting information of the service ports obtained from the authorization; reading out said granting information of every to-be-granted service port of a same ONU; and scheduling granted start time of data transmission of every to-be-granted port of current ONU, generating downlink granting messages including both said granting information and said granted start time of data transmission of every granted port of said current ONU, transmitting said downlink granting messages to said current ONU. This method for bandwidth allocation in the present invention can satisfy requirements of different types of services, increase bandwidth utilization ratio and realize equal bandwidth allocation. |
| US07720071B2 |
ATM header compression using hash tables
Disclosed are exemplary techniques for compressing ATM cells by substituting reduced headers for the original headers. A header table may be maintained at the transmitting end whereby headers are stored in table entries based on a table index generated from a hash function applied to the headers. A copy of the header table may be maintained at the receiving end and may be updated by populating idle cells with header table contents. Upon receipt of a reduced ATM cell at the receiving end, the reduced header may be replaced with a full header obtained from the copy of the header table maintained at the receiving end. The present invention further provides techniques for registration and management of hash collisions. |
| US07720070B1 |
Hybrid acknowledgement map format for data communication networks
An information element including a hybrid acknowledgement map format and a method for using the hybrid acknowledgement format and information element are disclosed. The hybrid acknowledgement map comprises a type flag and a content block, and the value of the type flag indicates the format of the content block. This enables the hybrid acknowledgement map to represent data using multiple formats. The information element including a hybrid acknowledgement map includes a hybrid acknowledgement map and a hybrid quantity field indicating the number of hybrid acknowledgement maps in the information element. A field or multiple fields in the information element header indicate whether or not the information element includes a hybrid acknowledgement map. Information elements using hybrid acknowledgement maps contain more acknowledgment information which reduces transmission of information elements. |
| US07720068B2 |
Method and system for a multi-rate gigabit media independent interface
Disclosed is a UGMII system to interface multirate devices including 10 gigabit per second data exchange rates. Mode selection is enabled to provide for automatic detection and adaptation to any transmit rate including 10M, 100M, 1G, and 10G. Mode selection comprises the negotiation between the UGMII extension sublayers located at the MAC and PHY to select between one of several operational modes including: XGMII communication, GMII encapsulation, Clause 22 MDIO register management and Clause 45 MDIO register management. Selection of UGMII and XGMII operating modes are negotiated between the MAC and PHY using ordered sets to announce and acknowledgement a mode change. In one embodiment 802.3 Clause 46 defined ordered sets are utilized. |
| US07720067B2 |
Data transfer apparatus and transfer control method
A transfer apparatus includes a control unit to execute control such that one or more of received multicast packets are transferred to at least one receiver, a storage unit to store the received multicast packets or the one or more multicast packets to be transferred to the at least one receiver, and a determining unit to determine whether transfer of the stored multicast packet can be started when a multicast subscribe request is received from the receiver. The control unit transfers the multicast packet based on a determination result of the determining unit such that the multicast packet which is to be first transferred to the at least one is a head packet of a frame coded by a first coding technique which does not require information of any other frames when the multicast packet is decoded. |
| US07720065B2 |
Method and apparatus for biasing of network node packet prioritization based on packet content
A method and apparatus for biasing of network node packet prioritization based on packet content. The method may include marking a packet of data from a data stream of packets. The packet can be marked with a packet type such that subsequent nodes determine the relative priority of the packet with respect to other packets from the same data stream based on the packet type marking. The marked packet can then be transmitted. According to a related corresponding embodiment, a method can include receiving a packet at a node in a network, the node including a plurality of packet queues including a higher priority queue and a lower priority queue. The relative priority of the packet can be determined relative to other packets from the same packet source and intended for the same destination, where the relative priority can be based on the contents of the packet. The relative priority may also be based on a marking of the packet. The packet can be assigned to a higher priority queue based on a higher relative priority of the packet. The assigned packet can then be transmitted. |
| US07720056B1 |
Method and system for wireless network-based messaging service message delivery
A method and system including messaging center connectable to a first communication network and a second communication network. The messaging center is arranged to receive a message having a destination address based on the first communication protocol for delivery to a wireless access terminal. The messaging center has a storage device and a central processing unit in communication with the storage device. The storage device stores a mapping between a first destination address corresponding to a first communication protocol destination address of the wireless access terminal in the first communication network and a second communication protocol destination address corresponding to a destination address of the wireless access terminal in the second communication network. The central processing unit evaluates the mapping to determine the destination address of the wireless access terminal in the second communication network and transmits the message to the wireless access terminal using the second communication network. |
| US07720051B2 |
IP telephone terminal device
An internet protocol (IP) telephone device includes a plurality of IP modules and an IP-module selecting unit that selects an IP module based on a call command received from an opponent telephone terminal device. |
| US07720048B2 |
Channel allocation in a network element between at least two networks
This invention relates to the allocation of communication channels. The idea of the invention is to form different channel groups with a group specific identifier in the IP network side of a network element between a PSTN and IP network. Each group represents a certain type of channel, for example, alarm calls, area codes, companies, etc. The PSTN network side of the net-work element forms a single group due to the need of a unique SPC. A channel is associated with the right group according to the information of the calling or called party in the call signaling, such as an E.164 number or a signaling IP address. The information is linked to the group identifier. |
| US07720041B2 |
Method and system for transport block size signaling based on a modulation type for HSDPA
A device for communicating with a mobile device is provided. The devices includes a transmitter. The transmitter transmit a first modulation scheme, a first transport block size, and a first redundancy version to a mobile device. The first transport block size is represented by a first number of bits and the first redundancy version is represented by a second number of bits. The transmitter transmits a packet based on the first modulation scheme to a mobile device. transmitter transmits a second modulation scheme, a second transport block size, and a second redundancy version to the mobile device. The second transport block size is represented by a third number of bits and the second redundancy version is represented by a fourth number of bits, wherein the third number of bits is greater than the first number of bits, and the fourth number of bits is less than the second number of bits. The transmitter transmits the packet based on the second modulation scheme to the mobile device. |
| US07720040B2 |
Seamless wireless mobility
Seamless wireless mobility is described. In one embodiment, a mobility manager can query a subscriber catalog for a current registration status of handset. The mobility manager can then use the registration status to send a first signal to the handset over either a wireless network or an Internet protocol-based network. |
| US07720036B2 |
Communication within a wireless network using multiple frequency bands
Communication using a first and a second frequency band in a wireless network is described herein. The first frequency band may be associated with a first beamwidth while the second frequency band may be associated with a second beamwidth, the first beamwidth being wider than the second beamwidth. |
| US07720025B2 |
Method for searching services, resources and/or functionalities in a network
Method for searching services, resources and/or functionalities in a network wherein the network comprises a multitude of nodes to which routable network addresses are assigned, and wherein the services, resources and/or functionalities which are to be searched, are specified by a source node (Q) that is characterized in that a corresponding direction is specified within the network by at least one destination node (Z) and/or nodes near to the destination node (Z), by which a routing path is defined between the source node (Q) and the corresponding destination node (Z), and characterized in that only pre-configurable nodes near to the routing path between source node (Q) and destination node (Z) are included in the search. |
| US07720022B2 |
Method and apparatus for maximizing the use of available capacity in a communication system
A method and apparatus for maximizing the use of available capacity in a communication system having a base station and a plurality of mobile stations. The forward link includes a plurality of traffic streams sent on at least one channel from the base station to the mobile stations. The forward link is subject to a maximum power ceiling. A first output power level associated with simultaneously transmitting a first set of one or more traffic streams on the forward link is initially determined. Next, the first output power level is compared to the maximum power ceiling; and at least one time frame in the forward link having available capacity for transmitting a portion of at least one further traffic stream is identified. The first set of traffic streams and the portion of the at least one further traffic stream are then transmitted simultaneously during the at least one frame on the forward link. |
| US07720011B1 |
Optimizations and enhancements to the IEEE RSTP 802.1w implementation
In an embodiment, a method for supporting dynamic configuration changes, includes: receiving a message from a current root bridge; comparing the bridge media access control (MAC) address of a receiving port to the bridge MAC address of the received message; if the bridge MAC addresses are not the same, then comparing a current priority value to a previous priority value of the current root bridge; if the current priority value is inferior, then determining if the port receiving the message is a qualified root port; and if the port is a qualified root port, then returning a superior designated message to permit each bridge to execute a rapid spanning tree calculation for use in a dynamic configuration change. |
| US07720010B2 |
Tree based wireless mesh for an OSPF network with intra-tree communication optimization
A system for providing a tree topology for a network having an interior gateway protocol. A first router receives a hello message from all connected routers in the network. The hello messages include tree topology information. The first router then uses the tree topology information to determine a parent of the router. The first router then establishes connections with directly connected routers at the same level in the tree topology. The first router also generates link messages that include all of the prefixes for children of the first router and broadcasts the link messages. |
| US07720009B2 |
Virtual private network (VPN) topology identifier
Various embodiments are disclosed relating to the identification of virtual private network (VPN) topologies. In an example embodiment, a plurality of edge routers associated with a network may be discovered, each edge router including one or more virtual routing and forwarding entities (VRFs). One or more route targets (RTs) associated with each of the VRFs may be determined, wherein corresponding RTs between two or more VRFs are associated with connectivity between the two or more VRFs via the network. The VRFs may be sorted into one or more groups based upon the corresponding RTs of the VRFs. A representative VRF (rVRF) may be identified for each of the one or more groups of VRFs. The rVRFs may be sorted into one or more VPNs and a topology for each VPN may be determined. |
| US07720007B2 |
Telecommunications system for determining the probability of and avoiding collision between data transmissions
In a transmission timing control apparatus, a state variable signal affected by a phase representing the data transmission timing of a neighboring node is used to determine the data transmission timing of the own node. A node information transmitter/receiver transmits source identification information particular to the own node and source node information of a data signal received by the own node, and receives node information transmitted from the neighboring node. A neighboring node information collecting circuit collects neighboring node information of all neighboring nodes having received data signals, based upon the source identification information received by the node transmitter/receiver and the source node information. A collision determination circuit compares in number neighboring nodes to which the transmission timing determining circuit is related as to the control of the data transmission timing with nodes based on the all neighboring node information to determine the probability of a collision between data transmissions. |
| US07720005B2 |
Estimating network-layer topology using end-to-end measurements
A method for estimating the network-layer topology of a telecommunications network is described. In particular, the illustrative embodiment of the present invention estimates the existence and connectivity of nodes in the topology based on the detection of network-wide end-to-end path intersections. This is based on the assumption that pairs of streams of packets that share a common node will interfere and that the interference can be detected in the received streams. In general, this interference is manifested as jitter. By transmitting streams on each pair of end-to-end paths in the network, and detecting interference (or a lack of interference) a matrix of path intersections for the network can be created. Using logic and supposition, the topology of the network can be estimated using the matrix of path intersections. Once the estimate of the topology is complete, the maintenance and operation of the network can proceed based on the topology. |
| US07720001B2 |
Dynamic connectivity determination
A method and system for discovering interconnections between a plurality of network devices arranged in a stacked configuration is provided. A probe packet, including a tag indicating a transmit port from which the probe packet was transmitted and a receive port at which the probe packet was received, is sent from one network device to a next network device. A routing packet is sent from each of the network devices, including information regarding the configuration of the stack of network devices. A master network device is elected. The master network device sends a topology packet, which includes final configuration information, to the other network devices. |
| US07719996B2 |
Encoding timestamps
A logging system comprising counting logic adapted to generate a raw timestamp. The system further comprises encoding logic coupled to the counting logic and adapted to insert a group of bits of the raw timestamp into a predetermined timestamp template to produce an encoded timestamp. The template is selected based on a position of a most significant bit of the raw timestamp. |
| US07719991B2 |
Reverse rate indicator detection
Method and apparatus for Reverse Rate Indicator (RRI) detection. The receiver receives data rate and subpacket index information and applies the information to decoding the RRI. Processing traverses a path based on the last several entries. |
| US07719988B1 |
Mobility-aware mesh construction algorithm for low data-overhead multicast ad hoc routing
Data overhead of mesh-based multicast ad hoc routing protocols are controlled by adaptively adding redundancy to the minimal data overhead multicast mesh as required by the network conditions. The computation of the minimal data overhead multicast mesh is NP-complete, and therefore an heuristic approximation algorithm inspired on epidemic algorithms is employed to increase tractability of a solution. A mobility-aware and adaptive mesh construction algorithm based on a probabilistic path selection is provided, which is able to adapt the reliability of the multicast mesh to the mobility of the network. Simulation results show that the proposed approach, when implemented into On-Demand Multicast Routing Protocol (ODMRP), is able to offer similar performance results and a lower average latency, while reducing data overhead between 25 to 50% compared to the original ODMRP. |
| US07719985B2 |
Multicast system using client forwarding
A system and method are disclosed for multicasting information to a set of clients that includes transmitting the information to a primary client from a server and instructing the primary client to forward the information to a secondary client. |
| US07719984B2 |
Network communication system and control method thereof
A network communication system and a method of controlling the network communication system are provided. The network communication system includes: a member reading at least one piece of data stored in an access point (AP); a member giving priority to the data; a member re-transmitting the data having the priority to the AP; and a member processing the data in the AP according to the priority. Thus, data can be efficiently processed according to predetermined priority using a low-end type AP as a high-end type AP is used. |
| US07719983B2 |
Method for autonomic system management using adaptive allocation of resources
An exemplary method of resource allocation is provided. A relationship is estimated between at least one controlled resource and at least one dependent parameter. A resource allocation of the at least one controlled resource is adjusted to effect a desired system goal expressed in terms of the at least one dependent parameter. |
| US07719982B2 |
Switching device utilizing flow-control management
In some embodiments a switching device is disclosed that includes one or more ingress queues to queue data received from external sources while waiting to forward the data to one or more egress queues. The egress queues queue the data while waiting to transmit the data to external sources. The switching device also includes a switch fabric to provide connectivity between the one or more ingress queues and the one or more egress queues. The switching device further includes an ingress flow-control manager to monitor flow-control state of the one or more ingress queues, and to detect and recover from loss of ON flow-control messages. Other embodiments are otherwise disclosed herein. |
| US07719981B2 |
Adaptive transmission in multi-access asynchronous channels
A hybrid transmission cycle (HTC) unit of bandwidth on a shared transmission medium is defined to include an adaptive, time division multiplexing transmission cycle (ATTC), which is allocated in portions sequentially among all participating network entities, and a residual transmission cycle (RTC), which is allocated in portions, as available, to the first network entity requesting access to the shared medium during each particular portion. The ratio of logical link virtual channels, or D-Channels, to data payload virtual channels, or B-Channels, within the ATTC is adaptive depending on loading conditions. Based on transmission profiles transmitted on the D-Channels during the ATTC, each network entity determines how many B-Channels it will utilize within the current HTC. This calculation may be based on any decision network, such as a decision network modelling the transmission medium as a marketplace and employing microeconomic principles to determine utilization. The ratio of the duration of the ATTC segment to the duration of the RTC segment is also adaptive depending on loading conditions, to prevent unacceptable latency for legacy network entities employing the shared transmission medium. During the RTC, utilization of the shared medium preferably reverts to IEEE 802.3 compliant CSMA/CD transmission, including transmissions by HTC-compliant network entities. |
| US07719980B2 |
Method and apparatus for flexible frame processing and classification engine
A method of handling data packets in a network device and an apparatus for handling data packets in a network device are disclosed. The method includes receiving an incoming data packet and the incoming data packet is parsed to obtain a portion of the incoming data packet. That portion is compared with rules stored in a rule table, where each rule specifies a set of actions. A match between the portion and a particular rule of the rules is selected and a particular set of actions, specified by that particular rule is executed. Each rule includes a mask, a selection flag and a validity check that are used in the comparison of the portion with each rule. The rules may be compared with the packet portion serially or in a parallel fashion and if more than one rule matches the portion, the highest priority is selected as the matching rule. |
| US07719977B2 |
Method and apparatus for dynamically allocating upstream bandwidth in passive optical networks
One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that facilitates dynamic allocation of upstream bandwidth in a passive optical network which includes a central node and at least one remote node. Each remote node is coupled to at least one logical entity, which corresponds to a device or a user, that transmits upstream data to the central node and receives downstream data from the central node. The central node is coupled to an external network outside of the passive optical network through a shared out-going uplink. |
| US07719970B1 |
Serial communications system with optional data path and control plane features
Integrated circuits compliant with a serial communications protocol with optional features are provided. The optional features include control plane features such as flow control, retry-on-error, clock tolerance compensation, and idle codes and include data path features such as streaming and packetized data modes, configurable data ports and user-defined data channel multiplexing. An integrated circuit compliant with the protocol can transmit streaming data with or without clock tolerance compensation codes. A priority data port can be used to implement retry-on-error functions while user-defined data channels carry user data. The data ports can be individually configured to perform different levels of cyclic redundancy checking. Logic design tools are used to create compliant circuits and systems. |
| US07719966B2 |
Network element architecture for deep packet inspection
A method and apparatus for an application aware traffic shaping service node architecture is described. One embodiment of the invention, the service node architecture includes a set of one or more line cards, a set of one or more processor cards and a full mesh communication infrastructure coupling the sets of line and processor cards. Each link coupling the sets of line and processor cards is of equal capacity. A line card includes a physical interface and a set of one or policy network processors, with the network processors performing deep packet inspection on incoming traffic and shaping outgoing traffic. Processors cards include a set of one or more policy generating processors. According to another embodiment of the invention, the service node generates a set of statistics based on the incoming traffic and continually updates, in real-time, traffic shaping policies based on the set of statistics. |
| US07719964B2 |
Data credit pooling for point-to-point links
A system includes a first device and a second device interconnected with a point-to-point link and operable to transmit data to each other via the point-to-point link. The first device is operable to provide data credits to the second device which facilitate transmission of the data to the first device via the point-to-point link in a plurality of virtual channels. First ones of the data credits are derived from a plurality of shared data credits each of which is operable to facilitate transmission of the data in any of the virtual channels. Second ones of the data credits include a plurality of dedicated data credits each of which is operable to facilitate transmission of the data in a corresponding one of the virtual channels. |
| US07719958B1 |
Method and apparatus for enabling multicast over split multilink trunking
Multicast traffic may be routed using DVMRP or PIM over a Split MultiLink Trunk (SMLT). Network elements on the split side of the SMLT are interconnected by an Inter-Switch Trunk (IST) to enable them to exchange control messages associated with the multicast. When a control message is received on the IST, the network element will determine if the multicast control message is associated with a normal multicast or is associated with multicast over an SMLT link. Control messages related to SMLT links will be processed as if they were received over the SMLT link rather than the IST link. To prevent traffic from being forwarded by multiple network elements over the SMLT link, data traffic from an IST link may not be transmitted over an SMLT link. Flags are used to indicate whether a link is a SMLT link or regular link. Fast recovery may occur by causing participants to transmit triggered join messages upon recovery from a failure. |
| US07719954B2 |
Apparatus and method for measuring noises in a wireless communication system
An apparatus and method for measuring noise in a reception apparatus of a wireless communication system supporting Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM). The apparatus and method converts a preamble signal of a received OFDM frame into a frequency domain, and measures signal strength at each of subcarriers to which a null signal is allocated, from the preamble signal converted into the frequency domain. Further, the apparatus and method determines signal strength caused by noise depending on an average of signal strengths measured at the subcarriers. The preamble signal includes multiple subcarrier signals, and the subcarrier to which a null signal is allocated is a subcarrier over which no signal is transmitted by the transmission apparatus. |
| US07719952B2 |
Optical information recording medium
An optical information recording medium having a structure in which irregular reflection of information light and recording/reproducing light from the reflective layer of an optical information record medium is prevented, thereby reducing the noise appearing on the reproduced image. The optical information recording medium for recording information by holography comprises a transparent substrate, a recording layer where information is recorded by an interference pattern, and a filter layer formed between the transparent substrate and the recording layer and adapted to transmit a light of a first wavelength and reflect a light of a second wavelength. The filter layer of the thus structured optical information recording medium transmits a light of the first wavelength (for example, red light) and reflects a light of the second wavelength (for example, green light). As a result, two lights of different wavelengths can be separated and used for different purposes without being influenced by each other. |
| US07719951B2 |
Data recording device comprising inclined carbon nanotubes and method for the production thereof
The data recording device comprises a network of carbon nanotubes formed on a flat substrate and constituting microtips operating in conjunction with a substantially flat storage medium. The carbon nanotubes are initially inclined by a predetermined angle comprised between 5° and 40° with respect to the plane of the substrate. The nanotubes flex when they come into contact with the storage medium, parallel to the substrate. The substrate preferably comprises a raised structure designed to act as support for the free ends of the nanotubes to bear on. |
| US07719947B2 |
Device for holographic storage
A reading device for holographic storage includes a light source, a light-directing component, an optical sensor and a prism. The light-directing component is disposed on the transmission path of the light beam provided by the light source and directs the light beam to get incidence at a holographic storage medium in a reading angle to generate a data beam. The optical sensor is suitable for reading the data beam and reproducing stored data. The prism is disposed between the light source and the holographic storage medium and rotatable about a rotation axis perpendicular to the transmission path of the light beam for fine-adjusting the reading angle. The prism and the light beam satisfy the following formula: √{square root over (n2−sin2I1)}×sin A−cos A sin I1<1 I1 is the angle of incidence of the light beam, A is the vertex angle between the light incident surface and the light emerging surface and n is the refractive index of the prism. |