| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US07716968B2 |
Apparatus and method for testing reservoir drilling fluids for drilling unconsolidated tar sands
An apparatus and method for testing fluids to be used when drilling in unconsolidated sand formations includes a container having a first port and a second port and a plurality of perforations through which fluid can be communicated, a bore holder slidingly retained through a portion of the container between the first port and the second port, wherein the bore holder has a feed end and a discharge end, a bed of unconsolidated sand contained in the container in a compacted state surrounding the bore holder, a fluid distribution nozzle at the discharge end of the bore holder, a fluid source in fluid communication with the discharge end of the bore holder, wherein the fluid source provides a test fluid to the fluid distribution nozzle through the bore holder, wherein the bore holder is withdrawn from the container at a predetermined speed as the test fluid is communicated through the fluid distribution nozzle, thereby leaving a simulated well bore in the unconsolidated sand. |
| US07716967B2 |
Leak detector sleeve
A leak detector sleeve allows performing leak detection at a flanged joint. The leak detector sleeve is made of elastomeric material that allows achieving a gas-tight seal when the leak detector sleeve encircles a flanged joint. The leak detector sleeve includes a hole that communicates with a gap in the flanged joint, thereby allowing the tip of a sniffer probe to be placed in or near the hole to detect whether the flanged joint is leaking. The leak detector sleeve is made of material that will withstand the operating temperature of the flanged joint without becoming hardened or brittle. A method for detecting a leak using the leak detector sleeve allows for efficiently and conveniently detecting leaks. In addition, the sleeve may be easily used and reused without the adverse effects or intensive manual labor required in the prior art. |
| US07716966B2 |
Mesh leak detection system for a medical device
The present invention provides a surgical device including an elongate body defining a fluid flow path therethrough. An expandable element may be coupled to the elongate body and placed in fluid communication with the fluid flow path. Moreover, the surgical device may include a first leak detection element at least partially surrounding a portion of the expandable element, and a second leak detection element may be provided in fluid communication with the fluid flow path. In addition, a console may be provided, where the console may be in communication with the first and second leak detection elements. Further, a supply of cryogenic fluid as well as a vacuum source may be provided in fluid communication with the fluid flow path. |
| US07716962B2 |
Method of calibrating a gas sensor
A method of calibrating a gas sensor that generates an output related to the concentration of a sensed gas, the method comprising: i) obtaining the value of said output or a related value at each of a set of known values of a first variable and at each of a set of known values of a second variable, one of the variables being gas concentration; ii) for each value of said second variable, determining a first best fit function relating said output or related value to the first variable, each best fit function utilizing at least one coefficient whose value is determined; iii) for the, or the corresponding, coefficient values from each of the first best fit functions, determining a second best fit function relating said coefficient to the second variable, and replacing the coefficient values in the first best fit functions by the second best fit function, and, iv) repeating step iii) for each further coefficient, if any, in the first best fit functions so as to generate a final function relating said output or related value and said first and second variables. |
| US07716959B2 |
Steering lock device
A steering lock device includes a supporting bracket which is attached to a steering lock body including a lock member restricting rotation of a steering shaft within a steering column and is fastened to the steering lock body to fix the steering lock body to the steering column. The supporting bracket includes a shaft supporting portion pivotally supported by a supporting shaft; a shaft support cancellation preventing portion preventing to cancel the pivotable support of the shaft supporting portion by the supporting shaft; and an engagement holding portion holding the shaft support cancellation preventing portion. The steering body is provided with bearing portions through which the supporting shaft is inserted. |
| US07716958B2 |
Insert cylinder cabinet cam lock
An insert type of cylinder cabinet cam lock permits use of Schlage-compatible deadbolt cylinders in a cabinet door and/or drawer cam lock. A bifurcated, housing is provided that journals a cam driver adapted for operational interconnection with the Schlage-compatible standard deadbolt. |
| US07716957B2 |
Drum type washing machine with door ring
Disclosed herein is a drum type washing machine with a door ring. A front member is attached to the front surface of a door frame to increase the strength of a door. A decorative part is formed either at the door frame or at the front member of the door frame to improve the appearance of the door. The door ring is mounted at a cabinet around the door. Consequently, the strength of a structure around the door is increased while the appearance of the front surface of the washing machine is improved. |
| US07716954B2 |
Method for producing tubular knitted fabric and weft-knitting machine
A needle engaging with a loop at least lastly formed on a fabric formed just before inversion of a carriage is pulled by a pull-down cam formed in a composite cam system of the carriage while feeding a yarn to an opposite needle. When a feeding direction of a yarn fed from a yarn feeder is inverted accompanied with the inversion of the carriage, the tension force applied to the yarn is intensified to prevent tightening of the stitch of the knitted fabric. |
| US07716953B2 |
Method and assembly for fiberizing molten glass
Apparatus and methods for making a continuous fiber product by gathering a plurality of fibers into a strand in contact with a pad wheel that is driven with a low voltage, variable speed motor or drive, and controlling the RPM of the motor in response to a breakout detector. Other embodiments further include accelerating the RPM of the motor and pad wheel at a desired ramp-up rate following the resumption of desired fiberization. |
| US07716949B2 |
Method for positioning glass sheets for forming
A method having particular utility for making outer and inner formed windshield glass sheets is performed by glass sheet positioning centrally on a forming face (34) of a forming mold (32) to form each glass sheet to a design shape regardless of any size difference between the glass sheets from one cycle to the next. |
| US07716948B2 |
Crucible having a doped upper wall portion and method for making the same
A fused glass crucible includes a collar of doped aluminum silica that defines uppermost and outermost surfaces of the crucible. The melt line that defines the surface of molten silicon in the crucible may be substantially at the lower end of the collar or slightly above it. Crystallization of the collar makes it hard and therefore supports the remaining uncrystallized portion of the crucible above the melt line. The melt line may also be below the lower end of the collar, especially if the melt is drawn down or poured early in the process. Because there is little or no overlap or because the overlap does not last long, the doped aluminum collar is not damaged by the heat of from the melt. |
| US07716947B2 |
Apparatus and method for condensing hydrocarbons from natural gas
Apparatus for condensing hydrocarbons, such as but not limited to butane and propane, from a stream of natural gas includes as its primary components a pre-cooler assembly, a chiller assembly, a refrigerant compressor/condenser assembly, and separator assembly. In the pre-cooler assembly warm gas entering the apparatus is cooled by counter-current flow heat exchange with cooled natural gas exiting the apparatus. The chiller assembly of the apparatus the hydrocarbon stream is cooled in co-current flow heat exchange with a first refrigerant tube, carrying a first refrigerant which is itself cooled in co-current heat exchange with a second refrigerant tube disposed in coaxial relationship with the first refrigerant tube. Both first and second refrigerant tubes are disposed in coaxial relationship with an outer jacket conveying the gas stream through the chiller assembly. Condensed hydrocarbons are separated from the gas stream in the separator assembly. |
| US07716945B2 |
Pressure equalization port apparatus and method for a refrigeration unit
A pressure equalization port for a refrigeration unit is provided. The port includes a conduit having a thermally conductive body. The conduit includes a first opening exposed to a refrigeration chamber enclosed within the refrigeration unit, and a second opening exposed to a space external to the refrigeration chamber. At least one heat-dissipating refrigerant flow coil surrounds a portion of the thermally conductive body to heat said body. |
| US07716944B2 |
Indoor unit of air conditioner
An indoor unit of an air conditioner includes an indoor unit casing, a horizontal flap, and a front panel. The indoor unit casing includes an outlet through which air is blown into a room. The horizontal flap is disposed so as to freely open and close the outlet and guides the air blown out through the outlet. In a closed state, the front panel covers at least part of the indoor unit casing and at least one end of the horizontal flap closing the outlet. |
| US07716941B2 |
Multi-type air conditioner with defrosting device
Multi-type air conditioner comprising an outdoor unit installed in an outdoor, comprising a compressor, a refrigerant flow controlling part connected to a discharge end of the compressor for guiding the refrigerant proper to operation conditions selectively, an outdoor heat exchanger connected to the refrigerant flow controlling part, a defrosting device at a side of the outdoor heat exchanger, and a piping system connected between the parts, a plurality of indoor units each installed in a room and having an indoor heat exchanger and an electronic expansion valve having one end connected to one end of the indoor heat exchanger, and a distributor between the outdoor unit and the indoor units for selectively guiding refrigerant from the outdoor unit to the plurality of indoor units proper to operation conditions, and guiding the refrigerant passed through the indoor units to the outdoor unit again. |
| US07716938B2 |
External control of a vehicle coolant pump with remote heating option
A system and method for operating a cooling fluid pump and cooling fluid heater in a vehicle when the vehicle is not being used so that the temperature of the cooling fluid does not drop to low in a cold environment. The system includes an AC connector for plugging the system into an AC power outlet. The system also includes AC/DC converter that converts the AC power to a DC signal suitable to operate the pump. The system also includes a temperature switch that closes if the ambient temperature falls below a predetermined temperature, which electrically connects the AC connector to the AC/DC converter. When the AC/DC converter is powered, a switch is closed to connect the pump to a pulse width modulation (PWM) generator to operate the pump. Further, when the temperature switch is closed, power is provided to the heater. |
| US07716937B2 |
Electronic refrigeration control system including a variable speed compressor
A refrigerator has a refrigeration system including a variable speed compressor, a condenser, a condenser fan, an evaporator, a variable speed evaporator fan. The refrigerator further includes multiple temperature sensors that communicate with an electronic microprocessor-based control system that in turn controls the operation of the refrigerator system based on the information provided by the multiple temperature sensors. |
| US07716936B2 |
Method and apparatus for affecting defrost operations for a refrigeration system
A method for affecting a scheduled defrost operation for a refrigeration system includes the steps of: (a) after an extant the scheduled defrost operation commences, evaluating at least one predetermined parameter relating to operation of the refrigeration system; (b) if the at least one predetermined parameter manifests a behavior of at least one first predetermined nature over at least one first time interval, continuing the extant scheduled defrost operation; and (c) if the at least one predetermined parameter manifests a behavior of at least one second predetermined nature over at least one second time interval, discontinuing the extant scheduled defrost operation. |
| US07716934B2 |
Air conditioning device
An object is to improve performance and efficiency of an air conditioning device constituted of a waste heat utilization circuit in which waste heat of a heat source is utilized in heating a room to be conditioned in a heat exchanger for heating; a refrigerant circuit in which carbon dioxide is used as a refrigerant and which has a supercritical pressure on a high pressure side; and a cascade heat exchanger which performs heat exchange between a fluid flowing from the heat source to the heat exchanger for heating in the waste heat utilization circuit and the refrigerant of the refrigerant circuit, the refrigerant discharged from a compressor is passed through the cascade heat exchanger, the refrigerant discharged from the cascade heat exchanger is divided by a flow divider, one divided refrigerant is passed from an auxiliary pressure reduction unit to an internal heat exchanger to perform heat exchange between the refrigerant and the refrigerant discharged from the cascade heat exchanger and then sucked into an intermediate pressure section of the compressor, and the other divided refrigerant is passed from a main pressure reduction unit to a heat absorber and then sucked into a low pressure section of the compressor. |
| US07716929B2 |
Arrangement for recirculation of exhaust gases of a super-charged internal combustion engine
An arrangement for recirculation of exhaust gases in a supercharged combustion engine. The arrangement includes an exhaust line operable to lead exhaust gases out from the combustion engine, an inlet line operable to lead air at above atmospheric pressure to the combustion engine, a return line which comprises a connection to the exhaust line and a connection to the inlet line, so that via the return line it is possible to recirculate exhaust gases from the exhaust line to the inlet line. A first cooler incorporated in the return line for cooling the exhaust gases in the return line before they are mixed with the air in the inlet line. The exhaust gases in the first cooler are cooled by a first medium which is at a temperature substantially corresponding to the temperature of the surroundings. |
| US07716927B2 |
Stirling engine assembly
A Stirling engine assembly comprising a Stirling engine having a generally cylindrical head. An annular burner surrounds the head and defines a combustion chamber between the burner and head. An annular seal between the burner and head provides a seal for combustion gases. A thermocouple housing is in thermal contact with the head and sealed from the combustion chamber. The thermocouple housing extends out of the combustion chamber, with the interface between the thermocouple housing and combustion chamber being sealed. The thermocouple housing has an opening outside the combustion chamber. A thermocouple in the thermocouple housing extends from a location adjacent to the head out of the opening in the thermocouple housing. |
| US07716924B2 |
Device for purifying exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine
A NOx occluding and reducing catalyst 7 is arranged in the exhaust gas passage 2 of a lean burn engine 1. When the engine 1 is in operation at a lean air-fuel ratio, the operating air-fuel ratio is changed over to a rich air-fuel ratio for a short period of time to execute the rich spike operation for reducing and purifying the NOx occluded in the NOx occluding and reducing catalyst. At the time of the rich spike operation during the lean burn operation being supercharged by a supercharger 45 provided in the intake air passage 4, an electronic control unit 30 of the engine so sets the richness degree of the engine operating air-fuel ratio as to decrease with an increase in the supercharged pressure. This prevents the HC and CO components from flowing out in large amounts to the downstream of the catalyst 7 due to blow-by, and prevents a decrease in the NOx reduction efficiency of the NOx occluding and reducing catalyst. |
| US07716923B2 |
System for assisting regeneration of pollution management means in an exhaust line
The invention concerns a system for assisting regeneration of pollution management means (1) associated with oxidation catalyst forming means implementing an oxygen storage capacity (OSC) function, and integrated in an exhaust line (3) of a motor vehicle diesel engine (4), wherein the engine is associated with common ramp means (7) supplying fuel to the cylinders thereof. The invention is characterized in that it comprises means (8) for determining the number of incomplete regeneration processes of the pollution management means and for comparing same to predetermined threshold values (10) to control the engine (4) in a first lean mixture regeneration operating mode (11) for a number less than the threshold values or in a second regeneration operating mode of engine operation sequences alternating rich mixture and lean mixture operating phases (12) for a number greater than the threshold values. |
| US07716921B2 |
Exhaust particulate filter
A particulate filter for an exhaust system configured to receive an exhaust flow is disclosed. The filter includes a wall-flow filtration element having a first regeneration zone and a second regeneration zone, the first zone being downstream of the second zone, and a heat source disposed at the first regeneration zone. In response to demand for regeneration, the wall-filtration element regenerates according to a staged regeneration such that the first zone initiates regeneration ahead of the second zone, and each zone regenerates in the direction of the exhaust flow. |
| US07716916B2 |
Method for controlling a fuel mixture for an internal combustion engine and corresponding control unit
The invention relates to a method for regulating the mixture in an internal combustion engine by means of a catalytic converter and a lambda probe that is placed downstream of the catalytic converter. Depending on the historical signal values, said method determines whether intervention in the formation of the mixture is required, whether the existing signal is only decreasing slowly, which necessitates slow regulatory intervention, or whether the signal of the probe placed downstream of the catalytic converter decreases rapidly, which necessitates rapid regulatory intervention. The difference types of intervention enable the volume of the catalytic converter to be reduced, thus preventing high consumption in the warm-up phase or the poor start-up behavior of large catalytic converters. |
| US07716913B2 |
Engine
An engine (110, 210) for moving a conveyance (132) through a fluid includes first and second pressure creating means (13, 14) for pressurising an engine airflow, and intercooling means (116, 290, 292) for cooling the engine airflow between the first and second pressure creating means (13, 14). The intercooling means (116, 290, 292) includes a heat exchanger (116) which is arranged to be cooled by a flow of the fluid generated by the relative movement of the conveyance (132) through the fluid. |
| US07716912B2 |
Propulsion thrust control system and method
A propulsion thrust control system and method for controlling thrust in a rocket motor includes configuring valves of an energized rocket motor to an initial total valve area according to a total thrust command. The total thrust command is converted into a commanded propellant mass flow discharge rate. A varying total valve area is computed from an error between the commanded propellant mass flow discharge rate and a calculated propellant mass flow discharge rate. The valves are reconfigured according to a distribution of the varying total valve area. The propulsion system includes a pressure vessel with valves and a controller for regulating the valve area according to a propellant mass flow discharge rate from the pressure vessel. |
| US07716911B2 |
Ball chain and method of manufacturing the same
A ball chain including metal balls with a small wall thickness and can withstand a large tensile load are provided. A method of manufacturing the same includes rounding a piece of metal to form rotation-axis symmetric bodies (22) and connecting the rotation-axis symmetric bodies (22) in a chain-like manner with connecting shafts. Each of the connecting shafts has connecting heads on both end portions. Each of the rotation-axis symmetric bodies (22) has a butt seam (24) in a direction of a rotation axis of the rotation-axis symmetric body and a weld part (25) at least one part of the butt seam (24). |
| US07716909B2 |
Apparatus and method for picking up berries
A berry harvester movable along berry bushes in a berry field for picking berries includes a rake head having a plurality of spaced apart rake teeth. The rake teeth form a rake having a top face for collecting berries and a bottom face which faces a ground of the berry field in a harvesting position. A cleaner is mounted on the rake head and is juxtaposed to a bottom face of the rake and has protrusions extending in interspaces defined between the rake teeth from the bottom face towards the top face. |
| US07716908B2 |
Self-clearing row unit and stalk roll
A row unit comprises a row unit gearbox with two shearing edges and two stalk rolls with corresponding shearing edges, wherein the stalk roll shearing edges shear against the gearbox shearing edges when the stalk rolls rotate during normal operation of the row unit, thereby chopping material that might otherwise be wrapped around the row unit gearbox and be jammed between the stalk rolls and the gearbox. |
| US07716903B2 |
Double roll feeder for round baler
A round bale wrapping mechanism that employs a second roll of wrapping material that is mounted adjacent an active roll. The second roll is powered by an electric clutch that allows a belt drive connected between the first roll and the second roll to rotate the second roll of wrapping material. The wrapping material on the second roll thus feeds onto the wrapping material being fed from the active roll and if fed through the wrapping mechanism onto the bale before the active roll is exhausted of wrapping material. |
| US07716900B2 |
Method for strapping a package with a strapping machine that includes a motor drive having a drive shaft that rotates 360° within a strapping cycle and controls work components including at least one clamping device for the strap to be strapped
A method for strapping a package with a strapping machine that includes a motor drive having a drive shaft that rotates 360° within a strapping cycle and controls work components including at least one clamping device for the strap to be strapped. The clamping of the leading strap end, fed in in a strap guide frame, for the strap to be strapped in the subsequent strapping cycle occurs in the current strapping cycle in the time between the beginning of the removal of the package already strapped in the current strapping cycle and the end of the addition of a new package to be strapped, whereupon the drive stops. After the conclusion of the tensioning process for the fed-in strap about the package, for performing the strapping process, the drive rotates continuously 360° without an intermediate stop in the new strapping cycle until the new leading strap end has been clamped. |
| US07716897B2 |
Deployable rectangular truss beam with orthogonally-hinged folding diagonals
A deployable rectangular truss with folding or removable chordal members and diagonals and orthogonal hinge joints for continuous and synchronous retraction and extension. The truss is rectangular in cross section, with four common chords on the corners. Two opposing sides of the truss have diagonals that meet at side joints. One or more end frames may be used to close off or mount one of more ends of the deployable truss. A plurality of telescoping transverse struts may extend between major joints on one side of the truss. |
| US07716895B2 |
Portable light emitting stage
A portable light emitting stage component and portable stage system. The stage components having a deck supported by a support portion. The support portion includes at least one light producing element arranged and disposed to direct light through the deck. The support portion further includes at least one connector having at least one of a latch member and a receiving member. The latch member has features that clampingly secure stage components together when engaged with features of a receiving member to form a substantially planar surface made up of a plurality of decks. |
| US07716894B2 |
Starter block roofing product
The present invention generally encompasses a starter block for use in the starter course of a roofing project to facilitate the subsequent positioning of shingles upon a hip roof without causing said shingles to substantially bend. The starter block has a tapered thickness, that is, the height of the front surface is greater than the height of the back surface. In one embodiment, the height of the front surface is about twice the height of the back surface. Otherwise, the starter block is generally rectangular. In one embodiment, the starter block is formed from a composite material, such as a combination of at least a polymer component (e.g. polyethylene) and a filler component (e.g., glass, stone, limestone), and includes at least one nib extending from each of its side surfaces and at least one nailing zone on its top surface. A roofing system that incorporates a course of the starter blocks coupled to the eaves of the roof and at least one course of shingles positioned to lie flat on and at least partially overlap the course of starter blocks with the shingles extending back to the upper surface of the roof without substantially bending or flexing the shingles in the one course is also provided. |
| US07716893B1 |
Wall resurfacing kit and associated method
A wall resurfacing kit for allowing users to quickly and easily resurface a damaged wallpapered surface includes a plurality of rectangular mesh screen sheets. The plurality of mesh screen sheets are made of fiberglass and are directly attachable to the wallpapered surface. The wall resurfacing kit further includes a reinforcing member. The reinforcing member is applied directly onto the mesh screen sheets such that the reinforcing member penetrates through the mesh screen sheets. The reinforcing member directly couples the plurality of mesh screen sheets to the wallpapered surface. The wall resurfacing kit further includes a set of instructions indicating a decoration mode. The decoration mode is used to decorate the wallpapered surface. |
| US07716887B2 |
Shear wall attachment assembly and method of use
The present invention is a raised floor assembly efficiently connecting a pre-fabricated shear wall to a foundation in applications other than slab-on-grade. The raised floor assembly includes an engineered wood material block machined to accept a connecting rod therethrough. The raised floor assembly also includes a connecting rod that is configured to attach at one end to a pre-fabricated shear wall and is coupled at the other end to an anchor bolt. Additionally, a transfer plate may be positioned between the pre-fabricated shear wall and the top of the engineered wood material block. The transfer plate provides a bearing surface for the pre-fabricated shear wall and helps maintain connecting rod alignment. A transfer plate may also be provided underneath the engineered wood material block and above the foundation. Additionally, a variety of spacers may be provided between the bottom of the engineered wood material block and the foundation. |
| US07716866B2 |
Avian decoy
An avian decoy including a decoy body; a stake having an upper end for rotatably supporting the decoy body, and having a lower end for being anchored to a support surface; and a guide for guiding the upper end of the stake into proper position in the decoy body. |
| US07716863B1 |
Self powering prognostic gun tag
An apparatus for counting and storing a number of rounds fired from a gun includes a microcomputer; a non-volatile memory connected to the microcomputer; and at least one piezoelectric transducer connected to the microcomputer and mounted on the gun, the at least one piezoelectric transducer comprising a power source that generates power during operation of the gun. The piezoelectric transducer may also sense the firing of the gun. |
| US07716862B2 |
Method and apparatus to recycle a road sign
One example embodiment disclosed herein includes apparatus including a sign substrate having a front and back side, and a first sign layer applied to the front side of the sign substrate. A masking layer covers the first sign layer, wherein the masking layer is adapted to block light from penetrating the masking layer and reaching the first sign layer. Also, a top sign layer is applied to a back side of the sign substrate or to a top surface of the masking layer. According to another example embodiment, a method provides for applying a masking layer over a first sign layer disposed on a sign substrate having a front and back side. The masking layer is adapted to block light from penetrating the masking layer and reaching the first sign layer. A top sign layer may be applied to the back side of the sign substrate or to a top surface of the masking layer. |
| US07716860B1 |
Retractable banner display
A retractable banner display includes an easily replaceable banner core. Housing for the banner core includes an end cap with a reentrant opening on its top edge that receives and retains an end peg of the banner core. The end peg has a height greater than its width so that its movement is restricted within the reentrant opening. A retention member, such as a notch, may be included to hold the core within the reentrant opening when the banner is pulled to its extended position. A plurality of replacement banner cores may be included with a display assembly. The banner core may be configured to lock in a first orientation and unlock in a second orientation to assist in loading the core into the housing and assist in maintaining tension in the core. An adapter may be used to adjust the display angle of the banner. |
| US07716855B2 |
Mounting for retaining a boot on a snowshoe
A snowshoe (1) includes a binding (4) intended to retain the boot of the user and a plate pivoting around a transverse pivot axis (X, X′) including a retaining assembly for the boot. A longitudinal position of the rear retaining assembly is adjustable for in order to conform the longitudinal dimension of binding, with the size of the boot, by displacement toward the front or towards the rear and locking it in the chosen position. The front retaining stirrup is mounted to a front horizontally extending plate (7), which is pivotally retained on the webbing around the pivot axis (X, X′), while the rear retaining part is mounted on a lower support wall (9), extended toward the front by a sliding member (10) intended to cooperate, with a slide channel of corresponding form defined under the front plate (7) of the front retaining assembly (4a). |
| US07716854B2 |
Two-layer sports boot part with deformation zone
A sports boot comprising a part comprising at least two superposed layers of plastics and comprising an opening that can be closed by catching means distributed on either side of this opening, wherein one of the two layers has one or more recesses lying on an axis in order to define a deformation axis of the shell, allowing that part of the shell that is around this axis to move away in order to enlarge the opening and make it easier to put the boot on and to take it off. |
| US07716852B2 |
Climate configurable sole and shoe
Disclosed are articles of footwear and soles therefor, in particular sports shoe soles that include openings for ventilation and vapor exchange. The soles include an insole layer with a plurality of first openings, a support layer with a plurality of second openings that partially overlap the plurality of first openings, and an outsole layer with at least one third opening that at least partially overlaps the plurality of second openings to provide fluidic communications through the sole from an interior of the shoe to an exterior of the shoe. A substantial portion of the plurality of first openings in the insole are interconnected to provide a path for diffusion. The shoes and soles can include a cushioning layer, a tread layer, a breathable membrane, and additional support elements. In addition, the shoes can be used with climate control socks to further enhance the climate control properties of the shoes. |
| US07716851B2 |
Waterproof and breathable sole for shoes
A waterproof and breathable sole for shoes, having a structure including a supporting layer which, at least in a preset macroportion, is made of net, felt or other diffusely perforated material. A membrane made of a material that is impermeable to water and permeable to water vapor is associated above the supporting layer at least in the at least one preset macroportion made of net, felt or other diffusely perforated material, which it covers. A tread made of plastic material, with at least one through macroperforation at the at least one preset macroportion made of net, felt or other diffusely perforated material, is joined hermetically to the membrane and to the supporting layer at least at the perimeter of the at least one macroportion made of net, felt or other diffusely perforated material. |
| US07716846B2 |
Bearing alignment tool and method of use
A bearing alignment tool and method of use is provided for aligning inner and outer races of a roller bearing of the class wherein the inner and outer races of the roller bearing are axially displaceable with respect to each other in order to accommodate thermal growth of a rotating shaft. A bearing replacement procedure includes: (a) affixing the roller bearing to the shaft at its inner race; (b) disposing the shaft in a housing; (c) aligning the inner and outer races of the roller bearing with respect to each other and the housing in a predetermined spatial relationship by affixing an alignment tool to the housing, wherein the alignment tool has (i) an outer aligning surface which engages the outer race of the roller bearing; and (ii) an inner aligning surface which engages the inner race of the roller bearing; (d) removing the alignment tool from the housing; and (e) securing the housing to a fixed position on a support while maintaining the predetermined spatial relationship established in step (c). The method and alignment tool are particularly useful for quickly replacing bearings on an afterdryer of a papermachine where precision alignment and downtime are significant considerations. |
| US07716832B2 |
Method of manufacturing a fluid ejection device
A heating element of a printhead has a conductive layer deposited over a substrate, and a resistive layer deposited over and in electrical contact with the conductive layer. |
| US07716830B2 |
Method of manufacturing a glass fuel injector
A method and apparatus for manufacturing a fuel injector comprising a glass substrate and a nozzle enclosed within the glass substrate, wherein the nozzle comprises at least one injection hole is provided. The method of manufacturing the fuel injector comprises defining (105) a shape of at least one injection hole in a glass substrate to obtain an at least one outlined injection hole and etching (110) the at least one outlined injection hole to obtain the at least one injection hole. |
| US07716826B2 |
Circuit substrate manufacturing method
A circuit substrate manufacturing method including the steps of preparing a substrate on which a metallic foil is formed in a releasable state, forming a build-up wiring on the metallic foil, obtaining a circuit member having a structure that the build-up wiring is formed on the metallic foil by releasing the metallic foil from the substrate, and exposing a lowest wiring layer of the build-up wiring by removing the metallic foil of the circuit member. |
| US07716825B2 |
Method for manufacturing printed wiring board
A method for manufacturing a printed wiring board, including forming a thermosetting resin layer on the printed wiring board; heating and curing the resin layer; and then polishing the cured resin layer, thereby exposing the circuit patterns. Additionally, the step of heating and curing includes maintaining the resin layer at a non-curable temperature in a state where the resin layer is pressed via the smoothing plate in a reduced pressure chamber; heating the resin layer in the pressed state to a curing temperature; introducing outside air into the reduced pressure chamber with the pressed state and the curing temperature maintained; reducing the pressure applied to the smoothing plate with the curing temperature maintained; and cooling the resin layer. |
| US07716822B2 |
Method of moving at least two elements of a placement machine
A method and placement device are provided for moving at least two elements in and opposite to a predetermined direction. The second element is simultaneously moved by means of the first element. The first element is moved in the predetermined direction, whereas the second element is moved relative to the first element in a direction opposite to the predetermined direction and vice versa. |
| US07716821B2 |
Method of manufacturing a circuit board assembly for a controller
A method of manufacturing a circuit board assembly for a controller. The method includes providing first and second printed circuit boards wherein the first printed circuit board has a plurality of copper pads containing slots therein that correspond to a plurality of power tabs in the second printed circuit board. The power tabs are then slid into the slots and the tabs are flooded with copper. At this time the power tabs are soldered within the slots to provide an electrical connection between the first and second printed circuit boards that allows for the transfer of current between the boards of more than three amps. |
| US07716816B2 |
Method of manufacturing a switch assembly
A method of forming a switch assembly that includes a magnetic intensifier constructed to extend in generally close proximity to one of the stationary contact and the arc contact. During communication of power through the contactor assembly, the magnetic intensifier manipulates a magnetic field associated with current passing through the switch assembly and increases the magnitude of a magnetic force directed to the arc arrestor. Preferably, the magnetic intensifier is formed integrally with a turnback associated with one of the stationary contact or the arc contact. Such a construction simplifies the manufacture and assembly of the contactor assembly and provides efficient and repeatable arc suppression. |
| US07716809B2 |
Method for making a double-walled yoke
Provided is a method for making a double-walled yoke that allows an inner yoke (4) and outer yoke (3) to be integrally joined to each other both easily and securely. Such a yoke provides an adequate cross sectional area for a magnetic path of the yoke while minimizing the weight of the yoke. A tubular member (14) destined to be form the inner yoke and a cup-shaped member (13) destined to form the outer yoke are both fitted on a punch (7) and a drawing process is executed by using an appropriate drawing die (8). The outer yoke may have a small wall thickness as long as it is capable of retaining its shape during use or supporting a bearing for the motor. The inner yoke is required to be relatively small in size as long it is capable of forming a satisfactory magnetic path for the motor. A satisfactory magnetic path can be obtained if the yoke is provided with an adequate wall thickness so as to provide an adequate cross sectional area for the magnetic path. |
| US07716807B2 |
Process of making a tuning fork type crystal component
A manufacturing method produces an angular velocity sensor element easily with a high degree of accuracy. The manufacturing method includes forming a number of tuning fork shaped crystal elements on a single crystal wafer by a photo-etching technique, the crystal elements having protrusion ridge line sections in the lengthwise direction of +X faces of the crystal, caused by etching anisotropy. A step is included for forming a metallic film on each side face including both principal planes and said +X face of said tuning fork shaped crystal element of the single crystal wafer. The method also includes dividing the metallic film of the +X face along the protrusion ridge line section and forming first and second sensor electrodes. |
| US07716804B2 |
Rivet setting method
A method is provided for self-pierce riveting which reduces a setting force required for setting the rivets. For this purpose, a clamping force produced by a clamping device is substituted by the force produced by a rivet on a punch. The clamping force varies within a known magnitude, whereas the setting force is reduced by 20%. |
| US07716801B2 |
Low-profile distal protection device
A distal protection device captures debris during vascular procedures. In order to reduce the profile of the device, the thickness of the distal protection element is reduced in one or both of the end regions, either by reducing the thickness of filaments which form the distal protection element, or by removing portions of those filaments altogether. Various methods of reducing the thickness of the end regions and different profiles that can be created by the reduction are disclosed. |
| US07716799B2 |
Steering knuckle boring apparatus
An apparatus for repairing steering knuckle (kingpin) bearings includes a table having multiple, adjustable slides for receiving and securing the steering knuckle to the table, a boring bar and cutter, two adjustable bearing supports for receiving and positioning the boring bar along an axis coincident with the axis of the kingpin bearings, a first drive assembly for advancing the boring bar and a second drive assembly for rotating the boring bar. A method of repairing a steering knuckle comprises securing the knuckle to the slides and the slides to the table, utilizing cylindrical centering rings to align the boring bar with the axis of the kingpin bearings, supporting and securing the boring bar on the previously established axis in a pair of bearing supports and rotating and feeding the boring bar and cutter to create new surfaces in the steering knuckle adapted to receive bearing sleeves. Upon installation of both bearing sleeves, the boring bar and drive unit are reinstalled and the inside diameter of the sleeve is bored to the proper size to receive the kingpin. |
| US07716798B2 |
Replacing a valve seat of an airless paint spray gun
The invention teaches using a generally cylindrical replacement tool and multifunction tool to replace a valve seat of a airless spray gun. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that 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 meaning of the claims. 37 CFR 1.72(b). |
| US07716796B2 |
Method for incorporating cremation remains into a plant
A method for incorporating the cremation remains of a deceased being into a plant, wherein cremation remains are deposited either in a hole in which a plant is to be planted or, in the case of an already-planted plant, into a conduit created between the plant's roots and the surface near the plant or into a cavity bored into the stem or trunk of the plant. |
| US07716793B2 |
Child-safe fastening device
A child safe fastening device comprises a clip, one or more than one padded layer covering one or more surfaces of the clip and one or more than one cover layer secured to the padded layer. The clip, the padded layer, and the cover layer form a plush device. |
| US07716791B2 |
Apparatus at a spinning preparation machine, especially a flat card, roller card or the like, for ascertaining carding process variables
In an apparatus at a spinning preparation machine, wherein a clothed roller is located opposite at least one clothed component, there is associated with the component, in contact therewith, a piezoelectric sensor which is connected to an electrical evaluation device in communication with a display device and/or switching device. In order, by simple means to make it possible to ascertain the carding intensity, the piezoelectric sensor is a structure-borne sound sensor and the electrical evaluation device is capable of determining the carding intensity from the structure-borne sound. |
| US07716786B2 |
Slide hinge
A slide hinge is connected a cover to a base of a portable electronic device and has a stationary bracket, two pivot members, a sliding bracket and two torsion springs. The pivot members are mounted rotatably on the sliding bracket and are mounted to the base. The sliding bracket is mounted slidably on the stationary bracket and is mounted to the cover. The torsion springs are connected between the stationary bracket and the sliding bracket and each torsion spring multiple looped segments. The torsion springs with the looped segments provide an excellent resilient force to position the stationary bracket in one edge of the sliding bracket and therefore stably hold the cover in opened or closed positions without inadvertently sliding relative to the base. |
| US07716784B2 |
Suction port assembly and vacuum cleaner having the same
A suction port assembly and vacuum cleaner having the same is disclosed. The suction port assembly includes a casing comprising a suction port which draws in dust from a surface being cleaned; a drum brush which is disposed rotatably in the casing, on an external surface of which a plurality of bristles are arranged to shake off dust from the surface being cleaned; and a rib which is disposed at a position close to the drum brush, is mounted in the casing so that its one end is in contact with the bristles, and detaches the dust from the bristles when the drum brush rotates; and wherein the bristles are contacted on a slant relative to the rib to prevent the drum brush from rotating when the casing is pulled towards a user. |
| US07716783B2 |
Vacuum having inlet and storage features
A vacuum including a housing and a suction device disposed within the housing is provided with hose and power cord storage features. A pivotal inlet coupling facilitates storage of the hose. A separately formed inlet body facilitates easier formation of the inlet. A cord wrap feature allows easier storage and removal of the power cord. |
| US07716780B2 |
Wiper device comprising a flat wiper blade and wiper arm
A wiper device for wiping a vehicle windscreen, including a drivable wiper arm and a flat wiper blade arranged on the wiper arm. The flat wiper blade includes a wiper blade rubber, a support for supporting the wiper blade rubber, and a connection for connecting a free end of the wiper arm. The support is in the form of band-like elongate spring blades. The connection includes a support element fixedly arranged on the support and a connecting element that partially pivots the support element. The connecting element is releasably connected to the free end of the wiper arm. |
| US07716779B2 |
Windshield wiper drive alignment
A wiper drive system and method for installation of a wiper pivot shaft through a structure whose opposite faces may not be parallel. A mounting body supports a bearing support tube and has a concave front side. A mounting ring surrounds the bearing support tube and has a convex rear side that rests adjustably against the concave front side of the mounting body. |
| US07716777B2 |
Dusting article structure
Dusting article structure including a duster body and a handle. The duster body includes layers of holding sheets, a fibrous-filament layer, and a cleaning base sheet. A lower layer of the holding sheets and the cleaning base sheet are symmetrically cut to form strip-like cleaning pieces. The filaments of the fibrous-filament layer include numerous tiny pores disposed thereon. The handle includes a grip portion and a connector portion. A coupling block is disposed on the grip portion and includes inserting posts and pivoting grooves to respectively engage with pivoting holes and a pivoting rod of the connector portion thereby. The grip portion is mounted pivotally onto the connector portion having retaining rods to be engaged with holding spaces of the thermo-fusion bonded duster body. The tiny pores disposed at the fibrous-filament layer absorb and trap small grains of dust. The grip portion of the handle may be bent for folding. |
| US07716776B2 |
Flat mop for use with wipers for controlled environments
A flat mop is used with a disposable wiper. The mop includes a base member having an upper surface and a lower surface. The base member has a projecting securing elements disposed on opposing sides of the upper surface. At least one resilient clip is associated with securing element. A pivot joint has a first receiving portion for mounting to the base member to define a first pivot axis. The pivot joint has a second receiving portion distinct from the first receiving portion and includes an engagement member received in the second receiving portion to defining a second pivot axis spaced from and perpendicular to the first pivot axis. The engagement member includes a coupling portion to mount to a handle. The pivot joint is mounted to the base member for pivoting the base member relative to the pivot joint about two axes. The associated wiper is secured to the base member, positioned on the lower surface of the base member, wrapped around the base member and over the securing elements. The clips are positioned over the associated wiper, on a respective one of the securing elements to secure the wiper to the base member. |
| US07716772B2 |
Cleaning apparatus
A cleaning apparatus comprises a housing, a driving mechanism and a plurality of cleaning elements. The driving mechanism is disposed in the housing. The cleaning elements are connected to the driving mechanism. The driving mechanism rotates the cleaning elements to clean the emitters. |
| US07716769B2 |
Washing machine and suds removal method thereof
A washing machine and suds removal method thereof. The suds removal method is designed to effectively remove suds at the earliest possible time using a small amount of water by adjusting an activity of suds when the generation of suds is sensed. The suds removal method includes sensing the generation of suds during a washing cycle, and removing the suds by adjusting the activity of suds when the generation of suds is sensed. |
| US07716767B2 |
Device and method for carefully settling a patient in a defined position
The invention relates to a device and a method for the gentle placement of a patient in a defined position. In order to provide a device for the placement of patients which both allows gentle positioning and at the same time holds the patient in a defined position, the device according to the invention comprises a mattress having a surface able to adopt a flexible state, as a result of being subjected to a first control signal, and a rigid state, as a result of being subjected to a second control signal, a cushion which is filled with a fluid, rests on the mattress and comprises a flexible wall in the region of the patient or the body part of the patient resting on the cushion, and a fluid pump which is connected via a valve to the fluid in the cushion and via which the internal pressure and/or the internal volume of the cushion may be adjusted to a predetermined value. |
| US07716765B1 |
Combination mattress with a removable baby-carrying piece
A combination mattress for putting babies to sleep without disturbing the babies and waking them up includes a platform piece and baby-carrying piece. When the baby-carrying piece is placed in the platform piece, the two form a complete sleeping surface for a baby. When the caregiver needs to put the baby to sleep, the caregiver removes the baby-carrying piece from the platform piece, puts the baby on top of the baby-carrying piece, and cuddles the baby to sleep. When the baby is asleep, the caregiver moves the baby-carrying piece with the baby lying on top of the baby-carrying piece into the platform piece, where the baby continues to sleep. By avoiding touching the baby or creating pressure points with the baby's body, the caregiver avoids waking up the baby while transporting the baby to the platform piece. |
| US07716764B2 |
Infant positioner
A device for supporting and positioning an infant, particularly a premature infant, in a tucked prone position. An elongated base layer extends lengthwise from a head end to a feet end, and includes, in order, a head support portion having a width at least sufficient to fully support the head of the infant, a torso support portion having a width sized to correspond to the width of the torso of the infant, and a pelvis support portion terminating in an upwardly extending rear support for the buttocks of the infant. Arm recesses are formed in the torso support portion, and pair of upwardly and rearwardly extending lateral supports extend lengthwise from the arm recesses to the feet end of the device. Leg recesses are defined between, on the one hand, the upwardly extending lateral supports, and, on the other hand, the pelvis support portion and the upwardly extending rear support. |
| US07716763B2 |
Apparatus and method to position a patient for airway management and endotracheal intubation
An apparatus and method position a patient for rapid and effective endotracheal intubation. The apparatus includes a pillow, which has a plurality of independently inflatable and deflatable sections which may be grouped together to position a patient so that a pinna of an ear of the patient and a sternum of the patient are aligned in the same horizontal plane. The plurality of inflatable and deflatable sections include at least a back support section and a base support section, which, when grouped together, can lift an upper body of the patient in order to facilitate the positioning of the patient. When the plurality of sections are grouped for the aforementioned positioning of the patient, the base section is located beneath the back support section. The plurality of inflatable and deflatable sections may further include a head rest section and a head tilt adjustment section. |
| US07716762B2 |
Bed with sacral and trochanter pressure relieve functions
An adjustable bed comprises a patient support structure supporting a patient support surface that comprises separately adjustable torso and hip support structures. Lifting mechanisms are provided to elevate the torso and hip support structures to substantially reduce pressure on the sacral area of a patient resting on the patient support surface. |
| US07716761B1 |
Adaptive positioning system
An adaptive positioning system embodiment comprises a plurality of longitudinal elements. At least one frame member has an adjustably fixed spatial relationship with a plurality of longitudinal elements, thus forming a conforming assembly capable of supporting a person. The conforming assembly is supported by support means comprising at least one bearing and facilitating rotation (by rotation means) of the conforming assembly (and a supported person) about a longitudinal axis. Control means generate at least one control signal for controlling the rotation means to adapt the positioning system to an individual person, at least one control signal encoding at least one set point and a function of weight distribution on the conforming assembly. The function of weight distribution may be nonlinear. At least one optional multiuse port and/or one or two multiuse optional lateral reverse-foldable longitudinal assemblies may be added to the conforming assembly. |
| US07716759B2 |
Patient transport apparatus
A patient transport apparatus. The patient transport apparatus of the present invention is articulated and sized to fit between the body and the open door of virtually all vehicles. Further, the patient transport apparatus uses a height-adjustable seat that is aligned with the vehicle seat to allow for simplified extraction of the patient from the vehicle. The height-adjustable seat lowers to just above ground height making the recovery of a fallen patient easier. A set of casters allows omni-directional travel of the patient transport apparatus for precise placement and a pair of primary motion wheels makes linear travel easier while providing a turning radius substantially approaching zero. |
| US07716758B2 |
Apparatus, bed and method for displacing a recumbent person to a sitting position
The invention relates to an apparatus for displacing a person from a lateral incumbent position to a sitting position and vice versa, comprising: engaging means for engaging on the person. The invention relates to a bed provided with such an apparatus. The invention further relates to a method for displacing a person from a lateral recumbent position to a sitting position using such an apparatus. |
| US07716757B2 |
Sink access device for a public restroom
The present invention relates to a sink access device which is utilized to facilitate a child or a diminutive person to wash their hands at a lavatory located at a public restroom. The sink access device includes a step support mount having a base and an upwardly extending arm. The step support mount is fixedly attached to a portion of a public restroom. A step is pivotally mounted to the upwardly extending arm of the step support mount. The step has a first position wherein the step is in a vertical position and a second position wherein the step is in a horizontal position providing a platform for a diminutive person to step onto. The step is positioned either at or behind a vertical plane defined by the front profile of a sink when the step is in the first position and the step breaks the plane when in the second position. |
| US07716756B2 |
Site assembled pool
The present invention provides a site assembled swimming pool comprising a plurality of upstanding staves arranged in side by side relation and held together by upper and lower L-shaped rails, a coping extending entirely around and in releasably secured relation to the rails that fasten the upper edges of the staves together, and a flexible liner and cover releasably secured to the coping. The wooden staves include opposing vertical edges one of which includes a modified tongue and the other of which includes a groove. When assembled, the tongue of one stave engages the groove of the adjacent stave, thereby interconnecting the two staves. |
| US07716750B2 |
Necktie
A necktie is preformed with a knot or knot like section which is adapted to be attached to the collar of a shirt by a fastening means that can be separated from the necktie body and can be attached to the shirt collar to cause the necktie to be suspended. Such an entirely new type of necktie can be used by one irrespective of age and sex.Use of the fastening means makes fitting easy and makes nil the sense of oppression around the neck area. Only a minor change made to an ordinary necktie allows this new necktie to be manufactured inexpensively and to be washed while retaining its shape. A necktie is thus provided that can be returned easily to the state of an ordinary necktie and that is not different in appearance from an ordinary necktie. |
| US07721345B2 |
Data security system and method
The method for securing data in a distributed computer system for security sensitive content includes granularly extracting sensitive content, per security level, from remainder data. The security sensitive content is classified into security levels, each having a security clearance. The extracted data is remotely stored in extract stores. The controlled release of extracted data occurs with the appropriate security clearances. Maps of storage sites and filters for repetitive extraction may be employed, stored and then sometimes destroyed. The data input, extracted data and remainder data may be deleted from the originating source. Encryption, unique to each security level, enhances security (preferably during transfers, storage and retrieval). Full or partial reconstruction of the data is permitted with security clearances. An information processing system is encompassed. |
| US07721343B2 |
Copyright management method, information recording/reproducing method and device, and information recording medium and method of manufacturing the medium
Reinforcement of a system renewability is realized skillfully utilizing properties peculiar to a system. As a result, there is produced such a new effect as to similarly reinforce required specification with respect to copyright protection of a content recorded in a medium for exclusive use in reproduction and a recordable medium. In a system which encrypts information such as a content to record/reproduce the information, design is made so that encryption/decryption processing information differs for a device (software (S/W) main body device) whose main body is software constituted of a recording/reproducing drive of a recording medium and a personal computer (PC), a device (hardware (H/W) main body device) whose main body is hardware integrally containing a drive and data coding/demodulation processing, and the medium for exclusive use in reproduction and the recording medium. |
| US07721341B2 |
Method and system for allowing code to be securely initialized in a computer
A memory controller prevents CPUs and other I/O bus masters from accessing memory during a code (for example, trusted core) initialization process. The memory controller resets CPUs in the computer and allows a CPU to begin accessing memory at a particular location (identified to the CPU by the memory controller). Once an initialization process has been executed by that CPU, the code is operational and any other CPUs are allowed to access memory (after being reset), as are any other bus masters (subject to any controls imposed by the initiated code). |
| US07721332B2 |
Integrated software for managing add-ons
Retrieval software and add-on collection software are integrated to provide a computer user information on add-ons attempting to instantiate, or alternatively, install, on the user's computer system. The retrieval software, i.e., software for locating and retrieving information from networked information services, uses information from data the collection software, i.e., software capable of collecting information about add-ons that exist via the World Wide Web, can retrieve on an add-on to create a record of status information on the add-on. The retrieval software displays this record of status information to the computer user. The retrieval software can also use information collected on an add-on to generate a recommendation identification for the add-on. The recommendation identification is an indication of what the retrieval software suggests the computer user should do with the add-on, e.g., allow its instantiation or deny its instantiation, or, alternatively, allow or block its installation. |
| US07721329B2 |
Method and apparatus for trust-based, fine-grained rate limiting of network requests
A method and apparatus for fine-grained, trust-based rate limiting of network requests distinguishes trusted network traffic from untrusted network traffic at the granularity of an individual user/machine combination, so that network traffic policing measures are readily implemented against untrusted and potentially hostile traffic without compromising service to trusted users. A server establishes a user/client pair as trusted by issuing a trust token to the client when successfully authenticating to the server for the first time. Subsequently, the client provides the trust token at login. At the server, rate policies apportion bandwidth according to type of traffic: network requests that include a valid trust token are granted highest priority. Rate policies further specify bandwidth restrictions imposed for untrusted network traffic. This scheme enables the server to throttle untrusted password-guessing requests from crackers without penalizing most friendly logins and only slightly penalizing the relatively few untrusted friendly logins. |
| US07721327B2 |
Information input-output device, information input-output system, mobile communication terminal, and input-output control unit
An information input-output system comprises a mobile communication terminal, and a host computer that performs communications with the terminal over a radio transmission line and has a database relating to services that can be provided to the user of the terminal. This system also comprises an input-output gateway server that verifies whether the user is a subscriber who can be provided with a variety of services, and an input-output control unit that receives data from the database over an established line and then outputs the data. |
| US07721325B2 |
Method and apparatus for managing communication security in wireless network
A method and apparatus for managing communication security in a wireless network are provided. The method includes receiving from a station that intends to associate in the wireless network including an access point, first key generation information provided by the access point and second key generation information provided by the station, providing third key generation information, generating a security key using the first key generation information, the second key generation information, the third key generation information, and an initial key, and sending the third key generation information and the security key to the station. |
| US07721324B1 |
Securing management operations in a communication fabric
A system and method for preventing untrusted nodes from sending or receiving management communications. In an environment such as an InfiniBand communication fabric, a management packet (e.g., a packet traversing virtual lane 15) is one of four types: 1) Request from a manager node (e.g., Subnet Manager or SM) to an endnode; 2) Reply from an endnode to a request from the manager; 3) Request from an endnode to the manager; and 4) Reply from the manager to the endnode. Switches (and other routing devices) are configured to allow untrusted nodes to send management packets of types 2 and 3 only, and to receive management packets of types 1 and 4 only. Trusted nodes (e.g., manager nodes, switches) can send and receive all types. Each port of a switch or routing device has an associated indicator reflecting the level of trust afforded the node or switch coupled to the port. |
| US07721320B2 |
Storage of audio/visual program data with associated promotional material
A multimedia apparatus, such as a set top box for use with a television set, comprises a receiver for receiving program data from a communication channel and a processor which stores said program data with a file containing associated secondary program data, such as a promotional trailer. The processor compiles a menu of secondary program data files allowing a viewer to watch a trailer and decide whether to retrieve the full program or film. The secondary data may be broadcast in parallel with the program data. Alternatively, the processor may run an application for producing the secondary program data, e.g. using earmarked portions of the full program data. |
| US07721318B2 |
Uplink signaling for global decoder control
Uplink signaling for controlling a plurality of decoders at a remote site. An uplink has a control server for controlling a storage system of the decoders at the remote site. The control server of the uplink controls the storage system by injecting at least one global control stream multiplexed with a transport stream. The transport multiplexed with the global control stream is formed at the uplink for controlling the decoders simultaneously. |
| US07721317B2 |
Coaxial communication active tap device and distribution system
An apparatus, system, and method for affordably distributing cable communication signals at greatly reduced power consumption levels with high signal quality with an active tap having gain stage characterized by low power (less than 1 Watt), low noise figure (less than 3 dB), high bandwidth (typically DC-2 GHz), and high gain (at least 15 dBmV). |
| US07721316B2 |
TV and control method of the same
The present invention relates to a TV and a control method of the same which is capable of displaying function information or an error checkup menu etc. of a TV in accordance with a request of a user, in particular to a TV in accordance with the present invention comprises a service-related site server for providing function information and error item information of a product, a storing unit for storing proper information of the product and contact information of the service-related site, and a controlling unit for displaying the function information on a screen of the product by using the contact information and proper information and controlling in order to restore automatically an error occurred in the product, accordingly a user can be provided product information easily and an error occurred in a TV can be restored automatically. |
| US07721315B2 |
Method and system for on-demand delivery of personalized internet-based content to television viewers
A method of delivering personalized content to customers of a subscription television service for display on their televisions, the method comprising: (a) converting Internet-based content from an Internet based format to a format suitable for display on a customer's television through a customer's set top box, and (b) after the conversion, delivering the converted content to a set top box associated with that customer for display on that customer's television. With such a method, the customer's set top box need not be Internet-enabled. Preferably, the customer's subscription television service is a cable television service. |
| US07721313B2 |
Multi-DVR node communication
Multi-DVR node communication is described. In an embodiment, television-based client devices are each a node of a multi-DVR system where the nodes are implemented for communication with each other. A node status can be communicated from a node of the multi-DVR system to the television-based client devices at the respective nodes of the multi-DVR system. A node status can include a media content identifier of media content being rendered at the node of the multi-DVR system. Additionally, node status updates can be received from each of the television-based client devices at the respective nodes of the multi-DVR system such that one or more of the television-based client devices can request to playback the media content identified in a node status update. |
| US07721303B2 |
System for management of interactions between users and software applications in a web environment
There is disclosed a system for management of interactions between users and software applications in a web environment, related to an operating environment which functional devices are in charge of providing methods allowing maximum interactivity between the end user and the application. The operating environment also includes a set of applications available to end users, administrators and developers. The applications for end users are intended to provide interactivity, storage, data organization, publication and search. For the administrators, the applications allow full configuration of the behavior of the system and of the agents included within its scope. And for the developers, the system provides configuration kits that enable interfacing between the objects included in its operating context. |
| US07721300B2 |
Methods and systems for managing a network
A system and method for managing a plurality of devices is provided. The system includes a user interface for controlling a plurality of devices configured as a network. The plurality of devices have corresponding device drivers to configure each of the plurality of devices to allow queuing operations to be performed in connection with the plurality of devices. The user interface is configured to communicate with the plurality of devices to identify and control jobs in a queue relating to each of the devices. The system also includes a monitoring system for monitoring the plurality of devices. The monitoring system is configured to provide notification to the user interface when a predetermined queue limit for at least one of the plurality of devices is exceeded. |
| US07721297B2 |
Selective event registration
Art apparatus, system, and storage medium that, in an embodiment, register each partition in a logically-partitioned computer to send local events to an aggregation component and register a first partition to send events associated with a group of partitions to the aggregation component. In various embodiments, the group may be all of the partitions or some of the partitions. If the connection to the first partition is unavailable, the first partition is registered to cancel sending events associated with the group, a second partition is selected, and the second partition is registered to send events associated with the group to the aggregation component. If the connection to the first partition is restored subsequent to being unavailable, a determination is made whether to change registration back to the first partition. In this way, in an embodiment, redundant reporting of events is supported while decreasing the number of events reported. |
| US07721293B2 |
Web services hibernation
A method is described that involves comprising, during runtime in an object-oriented environment, invoking, from an object, a first Web services endpoint method to process a first message by: invoking the first Web services endpoint method through a first interface according to an endpoint method invocation format, where, the first Web services endpoint method is implemented with a first component that is provided one or more services by a first container. The method also involves invoking, from the object, a second Web services endpoint method to process a second message by: invoking the second Web services endpoint method through a second interface according to the endpoint method invocation format. The second Web services endpoint method is implemented with a second component that is provided one or more services by a second container. The first and second containers have respective interfaces that are different. |
| US07721287B2 |
Organizing transmission of repository data
A method of organizing a transmission of repository data includes receiving, in a computer system, a request to transmit data from a data repository to a data recipient, the data to be transmitted by executing batch jobs that each identify a data amount to be transmitted to the data recipient. Control parameters are individually assigned to each of the batch jobs. Upon detecting during transmission that a performance parameter of the computer system does not meet a predefined standard, the data amount identified by at least one of the batch jobs is automatically changed in accordance with the control parameter assigned to the at least one of the batch jobs. An optimizer may determine the control parameters by solving a constraint optimization problem. The optimizer may take into account system characteristics such as priorities, transmission constraints or the volume of the data to be transmitted. |
| US07721284B2 |
Deployment of multiple embedded operating system components
The deployment of multiple embedded operating system components provides a designer with flexibility when customizing an embedded operating system for a target computing device. The embedded operating system components provide extra features to expand the functionality of the target computing device. The ease with which the designer may select various embedded operating system components to deploy from an originating computing device to the target computing device simplifies the design process. Configuration data of a core embedded operating system and configuration data of the deployed embedded operating system components are merged and any conflicts between configuration data are automatically resolved without rebooting the target computing device. |
| US07721283B2 |
Deploying a variety of containers in a Java 2 enterprise edition-based architecture
A system and method are described for deploying non-J2EE containers on a J2EE server. In one embodiment, non-J2EE containers are created and deployed on the J2EE server in communication with J2EE containers already deployed on the J2EE server. |
| US07721282B1 |
Block-level I/O subsystem for distributed application environment management
An embodiment of the present invention is directed to a system for distributing an application environment to a compute node. The system includes a first storage unit for storing blocks of a root image of the compute node and a second storage unit for storing a leaf image comprising new data blocks and changes to the blocks of the root image. The system further includes a union block device for interfacing between the compute node and the first and second storage units to distribute the application environment to the compute node. The union block device creates the application environment by merging the blocks of the root image stored on the first storage unit with the leaf image stored on the second storage unit. |
| US07721280B1 |
Automated file delivery systems and methods
A systems and methods for automatically delivering at least one file from an originating computer system to at least one respective destination computer system comprising at least one delivery directory residing on the originating computer system to be scanned periodically. This directory can be adapted to receive at least one file from an application running on the originating computer system. The at least one file is placed into the directory, and that placement serves as a signal to initiate the process of automatically delivering that file to a given destination computer system. |
| US07721279B1 |
Packaging information integration applications
An embodiment of the present invention discloses an enterprise application packaging method and archive file. Applications and support components are developed by a developer, which are then included in the archive file. A revision control file indicates which files correlate to a present revision of the application package. A naming convention is applied to the application and support component files to indicate versions which correspond to each other. The archive file contains the file corresponding to the present version, as well as previous versions, as well as previous version revision control files so that, in the event of a failure or other error, the executing machine may revert to a previous version. |
| US07721278B2 |
Modular server architecture for multi-environment HTTP request processing
Methods are provided for utilizing a modular server architecture for processing requests for services, such as authorization and authentication, in a web server. The modular server architecture includes self-contained modular components that can be plugged in and out of the web server, as needed, to provide requested web services. The modular server architecture is also extensible in that it provides set of server APIs for processing requests for supporting built-in server functionality as well as functionality provided by third party modular components. The modular server architecture also supports the integration of request processing tasks for both native and managed modular components, such as ASP.NET modules, by virtue of a managed module host component. The modular server architecture also optimizes server performance by only providing modular component functionality when needed. By utilizing the modular server architecture, server functionality is extended, duplication of request processing tasks is eliminated and performance administrative overhead is reduced. |
| US07721277B1 |
Hot deployment of shared modules in an application server
System and method for the hot deployment of shared modules, for example standalone resource adaptor modules (RARs), in systems. A class loader mechanism may utilize, in a hierarchy of class loaders, a shared “delegator” class loader which delegates received load class requests to a chain of class loaders, each representing a hot-deployable module. Hot deployment of a module results in the redeployment of the associated class loader in the chain rather than in a single, shared class loader. In one embodiment, when a load class request is received, the delegator class loader traverses the chain to find the class loader to load the class indicated by the request, the request is delegated to the class loader, and the class loader loads the class. If the module and class loader are subsequently redeployed, the redeployed version of the class loader loads the new version of the class. |
| US07721272B2 |
Tracking file access patterns during a software build
Those files accessed by tools during a build process are invisibly tracked in such a way that the information can then be used to drive an incremental build of just enough files to bring the build fully up to date. The tracking information includes the association between distinct tool processes. Each build tool has its own file activity tracked, each thread of operation within tools are tracked separately and a tracking log is associated with a chain of tool processes so that when the tracking logs are interpreted the context in which they were created is preserved. |
| US07721271B2 |
Language localization and intercepting data using translation tables
A system for providing translations of applications for operation in a non-native language. The translation makes use of associated tables either existing within the operating system or at locations outside of the operating system. The translation system makes use of application based translations tables that may also interrelate with core translation tables and community translation tables, prior to sending the data to a graphical interface. |
| US07721270B2 |
Information converter and a method for transforming information
An information converter includes: an input for receiving non-structured information transformation specification and a processor. The processor is adapted to (i) convert the non-structured information transformation specification to a structured information transformation specification; (ii) generate information transformation code responsive to the structured information transformation specification; and (iii) associate a code alteration indication to the non-structured information transformation specification in response to an alteration of the information transformation code. A method and a computer readable medium converts the non-structured information transformation specification to a structured information transformation specification; generates information transformation code responsive to the structured information transformation specification, and associates a code alteration indication to the non-structured information transformation specification in response to an alteration of the information transformation code. |
| US07721267B2 |
Efficient protocol for encoding software pipelined loop when PC trace is enabled
A software pipelined loop tracing method involves inhibiting an output of trace data at a start of a software pipelined loop (SPLOOP). A skip in an output trace packet is indicated if the SPLOOP is skipped, and the SPLOOP is indicated at a cycle of an epilog state in the output trace packet if the SPLOOP is not skipped. An iteration count indication SPLOOP information and a position within a SPLOOP, is maintained. A periodic SPLOOP marker (PerSP) coinciding with a sync point is output if the SPLOOP is active. |
| US07721266B2 |
Unified logging service with a logging formatter
An integrated tracing and logging system for an enterprise network. One embodiment of the integrated logging and tracing system has an object-oriented architecture which includes a controller class with two sub-classes: a tracing sub-class and a logging sub-class. Instances of the tracing sub-class (tracing modules) are associated with specified program code regions of network applications. The tracing modules receive method calls from the network applications and process the method calls based on defined severity levels. Instances of the logging sub-class (logging modules) are associated with specified “categories” related to the enterprise network (e.g., system, database, etc). The logging modules receive and process method calls from network components associated with the categories. The integrated logging and tracing system allows the format of tracing and logging messages to be configured without recompiling any source code. |
| US07721265B1 |
Source code debugging method and apparatus for use in script testing environment
Systems, methods, apparatus and software can be implemented to provide a debugger agent, either separate form or integrated into the script-based testing platform, to coordinate the selection, activation, and or/operation of debuggers suitable for a particular unit and program under test. Such a debugger agent can provide run time monitoring and debugging activities where previously not possible. The debugger agent is generally independent agent, in that it can work with a variety of types of test scripts, test script handlers, programming languages, and debuggers without customization. Moreover, implementation generally needs no code instrumentation. |
| US07721261B2 |
Method and apparatus for generating pairwise combinatorial tests from a graphic representation
A method (200) of creating pairwise combinatorial test cases from system configuration data can include reading a graphic representation of the system configuration data (210, 230, 260). Within the graphic representation, parameters can be represented by nodes and parameter can be represented by flows linking the nodes. The method further can include identifying paths of flows through the graphic representation until each parameter value of the graphic representation has been paired with all values of each other parameter of the graphic representation (205). Each path can specify a pairwise combinatorial test case. |
| US07721258B2 |
Integrated development environment with managed platform registry
A software development tool, in the form of an integrated development environment (IDE), comprises a managed platform registry for managing the combination of compatible target platforms and versions of a software development framework. Each compatible combination of a platform and a version of the software development framework is assigned a unique managed platform ID. The managed platform IDs and information associated therewith are managed by the managed platform registry. The software development tool provides upgrade capability allowing a developer to use a newer version of the software development framework while maintaining the current target platform. The software development tool also provides the ability to switch target platforms while maintaining the current version of the software development framework. |
| US07721256B2 |
Method and system to provide access to factories in a naming system
A method and system to provide easy access to factories in a naming service. The system receives an indication that a factory is needed by a client. A plurality of resolvers are checked in turn to find the factory indicated. If a resolver that can provide the factory is found, the factory is returned to the client. In one embodiment, resolvers register with a resolver manager that performs the checking in response to a naming operation. Because the resolver manager can access all registered resolvers, access to the factories is independent of a class path of the user. |
| US07721253B2 |
Software development support system
The invention provides a software development support system capable of reflecting the content added by a person to source code in source code generated again, without modifying design information.A generator 41 generates source code in which plural insertion markers are inserted on the basis of design information. An extracting portion 43 extracts code (inserted code) contained in a range specified by each insertion marker in source code. Each extracted inserted code is associated with its identification information and stored into a saving portion 32. When the generator 41 generates source code, a combining portion 44 performs a process of combining inserted code with the relevant source code and outputs the processed source code, wherein the relevant inserted code is included in plural pieces of inserted code stored in the saving portion 32, source code identified by the identification information for the relevant inserted code coincides with the relevant source code and an insertion marker identified by this identification information exists in the relevant source code and coincides with the relevant insertion marker. |
| US07721246B2 |
Method and apparatus for quickly determining the effect of placing an assist feature at a location in a layout
One embodiment of the present invention determines the effect of placing an assist feature at a location in a layout. During operation, the system receives a first value which was pre-computed by convolving a model with a layout at an evaluation point, wherein the model models semiconductor manufacturing processes. Next, the system determines a second value by convolving the model with an assist feature, which is assumed to be located at a first location which is in proximity to the evaluation point. The system then determines the effect of placing an assist feature using the first value and the second value. An embodiment of the present invention can be used to determine a substantially optimal location for placing an assist feature in a layout. |
| US07721245B2 |
System and method for electromigration tolerant cell synthesis
A method, data processing system, and computer program product are provided for routing a circuit placement a number of times, resulting in a number of routings. An electromigration quality value is computed for each of the routings, and the routing with the best electromigration quality value is selected. In one embodiment, each routing is analyzed with attention to the current that passes through each of the routing's segments in order to compute a current distribution that is used to compute a routing quality vector. In another embodiment, multiple placements are generated and the electromigration placement quality vectors are computed for the various placements with the placement with the best electromigration quality vector being selected. In one embodiment, the placement with the best electromigration quality vector is routed the number of times to determine the routing with the lowest (best) electromigration quality value. |
| US07721244B2 |
LSI circuit designing system, antenna damage preventing method and prevention controlling program used in same
An LSI (Large-Scale Integrated) circuit system capable of preventing antenna damage occurring in MOS (Metal Oxide Semiconductor) transistors due to an erroneous operation of a wiring formed during manufacturing processes of LSIs or like as an antenna. Layout data after installation of wirings is read by layout reading processing and up-sizing candidate table is created by sizing candidate table creating processing using various libraries so that candidate values are arranged for every function cell in ascending order of gate areas. By antenna error net detecting processing, a net having wiring layers causing an antenna error is detected. A gate pin, its instance, type of a cell connected to the net is recognized by gate pin/cell recognizing processing and a cell enabling prevention of an antenna error is up-sized by cell sizing processing by referring to a gate area stored in an up-sizing candidate table. |
| US07721239B2 |
Semiconductor integrated circuit with connecting lines for connecting conductive lines of a memory cell array to a driver
A semiconductor integrated circuit according to the present invention includes a cell array composed of elements, conductive lines with a pattern of a line & space arranged on the cell array, connecting lines formed upper than the conductive lines, and contact holes which connect the conductive lines to the connecting lines. One end side of the conductive lines sequentially departs from an end of the cell array when heading from one of the conductive lines to another one, the contact holes are arranged at one end side of the conductive lines, and size of the contact holes is larger than width of the conductive lines. |
| US07721237B2 |
Method, system, and computer program product for timing closure in electronic designs
Disclosed is a method, system, and computer program product for timing closure with concurrent models for fabrication, metrology, lithography, and/or imaging processing analyses for electronic designs. Some embodiments of the present invention disclose a method for timing closure with concurrent process model analysis which comprises the act of generating a design for the one or more interconnect levels; analyzing the effects of the concurrent models to predict feature dimension variations based upon the concurrent models; modifying the design files to reflect the variations; determining one or more parameters based upon the concurrent models; and determining the impact of concurrent models upon the electrical and timing performance. Some embodiments disclose a computerized system for implementing the method(s) disclosed herein. Some embodiments also disclosed a computer program product comprising executable code for the method(s) disclosed herein. |
| US07721235B1 |
Method and system for implementing edge optimization on an integrated circuit design
Disclosed is a method, system, and computer program product for performing edge optimization on an electronic design. According to some approaches, the number of edges and/or the length of edges within an IC design are configured for optimized manufacturability and yield of an integrated circuit. The edge optimization may occur in real-time during layout, placement, and/or routing, or occur in a post-optimization step. |
| US07721234B2 |
Simulation method and simulation program
There is a need for keeping the amount of data to be saved and a simulation process time almost constant irrespectively of a hierarchical level of a hierarchical circuit to be simulated. This simulation method includes a first process and a second process. The first process saves result data obtained from simulating an interface node between higher-level and lower-level hierarchies in accordance with a result of simulation using hierarchical circuit data hierarchized for multiple hierarchies. The second process uses result data saved by the first process to reproduce internal node data not saved by the first process. Result data for the interface node between hierarchies indirectly determines a value for the internal node. Result data to be saved is data concerning the interface node between hierarchies. The amount of saved data and the time needed for the second process are independent of a hierarchical level or a higher-level or lower-level hierarchy. |
| US07721233B2 |
Efficient large-scale full-wave simulation
Significant improvement is achieved in the analysis of IC layout by utilizing the fact that IC designs exhibit a large amount of regularity. By employing a unique mesh generation approach that takes advantage of the regularity, combined with the use of a limited number of different shapes for the majority of the IC geometry greatly increases the speed of processing. Additionally, by employing a unique approach for specifying the different mesh elements—based on the parameters that define the relative difference between one shape and another—provides significant additional reductions in the necessary calculations, and a corresponding increase in speed of IC simulations. Yet another improvement is realized by simplifying the inductive influence calculations by employing averages that permit using dot products of vectors rather than integrations of non-constant vectors. |
| US07721232B2 |
Designated MOSFET and driver design to achieve lowest parasitics in discrete circuits
Apparatus are described for a pair of MOSFET power transistors, a MOSFET driver, and an idealized circuit layout utilized in a power stage such as that of a power conversion system. The power stage comprises a pair of MOSFET transistors having substantially identical electrical characteristics and complementary package configurations for simplifying and optimizing the layout of the power stage on a single side or layer of a printed circuit board. The ideal layout effectively avoids parasitic circuit components, minimizes layout area and costs, and permits operation at higher switching frequencies. A new MOSFET transistor pin configuration is also described that is essentially a functional mirror or functional complement of an existing MOSFET transistor pin configuration to provide the complementary package configurations and the optimized PCB layout. A customized MOSFET driver pin configuration further optimizes the power stage layout by arranging the pins of the driver to coordinate with those of the MOSFET transistor pair. |
| US07721227B2 |
Method for describing alternative actions caused by pushing a single button
A method, apparatus, and software are presented for a device to provide information about operation of a button during operation of the button. The button performs a first action if the button has been operated a first way, and performs a second alternative action if the button has instead been operated a second way. The user is provided with information, during the operation of the button, indicative of the second way. |
| US07721224B2 |
Electronic calendar with message receiver
It is difficult to effectively manage an electronic calendar that is shared by a group of people such as family members. This is achieved by enabling users to send messages to an electronic calendar apparatus. The messages are received and stored at the apparatus and may be viewed by a user such as a mother of a family. A graphical user interface at the calendar apparatus provides a calendar and a message receiver region. A user is able to edit the calendar using information from the messages and in some examples may move or copy message indicators into the calendar from the message receiver region. In some examples, the calendar may only be edited by user input received directly at the calendar apparatus rather than from a remote location. The calendar apparatus may be provided in a protective housing to enable the apparatus to be used in a domestic kitchen. |
| US07721218B2 |
Mechanism for intelligent user interface presentation of a software agent
The present invention generally relates to intelligent software agents. Agents are interfaced with through user interfaces that are generated according to the agent's intelligence. In one aspect, the interfaces are dynamically and programmatically generated in response to a request from a user desiring to interface with a particular agent. In this way, the interface may be generated in real time according to the applied intelligence of the agent. Interfaces may also be updated periodically and, in this way, be available prior to a user's request. |
| US07721217B2 |
Templates for themed instant messages
A method for templates for implementing instant message themes is provided. For example, the user selects between a “to-do” theme, an “invite” theme, a “postcard” theme, a “reminder” theme, etc. If the user selects the “to-do” theme, the to-do template may prompt the user to input a description of the task to be performed and a due date/time. An instant message is sent to a recipient who is to perform the task. The recipient's instant message application displays a to-do in a themed IM window. The themed IM window may have special features that are related to the interactions for the to-do theme. For example, the themed IM window can have a “completed indicator” for the recipient to send a completion notice to the sender. Alternatively, the themed IM window could have a button to perform the task. In response to performing the task, the to-do theme could automatically send a completion notice. |
| US07721215B2 |
Information processing apparatus, information processing method, recording medium, and program
In a service providing system, a live-distribution service for live-distributing contents supplied according to a reservation, and a chat service for providing the use of a chat space corresponding to the reservation for live distribution are provided. After the live distribution finishes, a communication server sends the whole or a part of the contents of chatting performed in the chat space corresponding to the reservation for the live distribution, to a personal computer. With this, even if the user of the personal computer, who supplies the contents, could not participate in a chat with a user of another personal computer while capturing the contents, for example, the user of the personal computer can check the contents of the chat later. |
| US07721214B2 |
Web browser with multilevel functions
A architecture is provided to enable a client web browser to conduct and manage a multilevel search. The browser includes an application layer interface. The application layer interface is for coupling to network via a protocol stack. The browser also includes a markup language parser. The parser receives information from the application layer interface. The browser also includes a graphical user interface for interacting with a user. The graphical user interface allows a user to specify a set of multilevel search parameters. The browser also includes a markup language processor that receives input from the markup language parser and multilevel search parameters from the graphical user interface. The markup language processor conducts and manages a multilevel search to find specified information on a current web page or a web page referenced by the current web page in accordance with a parameterized search tree. The present invention also enables an automatic processes to print sets of linked web pages and to generate sitemaps, filtered sitemaps, filtered results pages in accordance with user specifications. |
| US07721213B2 |
Graphical interface for configuring a power supply controller
Information for configuring control apparatus for a power system including a plurality of controlled power supplies is produced using a graphical interface which displays the topology and sequencing of the power supplies in the power system. A database is used to select power supplies to add in determining the power system topology. Sequencing is represented by displacing icons representing the power supplies along lines representing their input and output voltages, and arrows representing startup sequence dependencies. A processor produces the configuration information, consistent with the displayed topology and sequencing, using information for the selected power supplies from the database, for downloading to the control apparatus. |
| US07721210B2 |
Electronic calendar system
A wireless system having a central family calendar. Individual family members may access the family calendar from their wireless devices. The system also includes telephone and address information for non-family members. Important dates such as birthdays, associated with the non-family members may automatically appear in the calendar. The system may be incorporated into other family accessible devices such as a family bulletin board. |
| US07721205B2 |
Integration of composite objects in host applications
A graphical object is generated according to a first application in a document of a second application. The graphical object is constructed as a composite, data-driven object. The graphical object's data is organized so that the semantic data (e.g., relationship among individuals on an organizational chart) is persisted separately from presentation data (e.g., the layout and style of shapes and connectors for visualizing the organizational chart). The semantic data and presentation data are combined to provide the rendered view of the graphical object within the document. The graphical object displays and functions equivalently to when the graphical object is rendered by the first application. |
| US07721198B2 |
Story tracking for fixed layout markup documents
Techniques relating to story tracking for fixed layout markup documents are described. In one instance, a process identifies stories contained in a fixed layout markup document. The process also determines which portions of the fixed layout markup document relate to an individual story. |
| US07721192B2 |
User interface for a resource search tool
A resource search tool provides important context assistance and control for viewing resources on an incompatible display, such as a handheld display. A handheld device, for example, does not provide a large enough display space to provide a quick and comfortable search tool interface for a user. The search tool provides annotated search result pages and search result target pages to signify search hits in one or more documents or logical unites of the individual documents. In addition, progress indicators are provided to inform the user of the progress of the background layout and linguistic processing used to annotate for each search result target page. |
| US07721189B2 |
System for and method of providing overview of a worksheet in an electronic report
A worksheet overview system comprises an item information handler, an overview element handler, an overview area handler, and an overview synchronizer. The item information handler obtains item information relating to items of a worksheet. The overview element handler manages overview elements based on the item information. Each overview element represents item information of a corresponding item of the worksheet. The overview area handler provides an overview area for containing the overview elements to make the overview elements contained in the overview area accessible by a user. The overview synchronizer synchronizes between each overview element in the overview area and its corresponding item of the worksheet. |
| US07721188B2 |
Differencing and merging tree-structured documents
Differencing and merging tree-structured documents, such as eXtensible Markup Language (XML) documents, is disclosed. A differencing-and-merging system for tree-structured documents of one embodiment of the invention includes a difference processing unit and a merging processing unit. The differencing processing unit performs a difference operation on at least two tree-structured documents, in accordance with difference configuration information regarding the documents. The merging processing unit performs a merging operation on the tree-structured documents from correspondence information generated by the difference processing unit, based on the difference operation configuration information regarding the documents. The correspondence information indicates differences among nodes of the documents. The difference operation configuration information specifies one or more nodes among the documents that are to be considered equivalent when the difference operation is performed, and one or more nodes among the documents that are to be ignored when the difference operation is performed. |
| US07721187B2 |
ACS (add compare select) implementation for radix-4 SOVA (soft-output viterbi algorithm)
ACS (Add Compare Select) implementation for radix-4 SOVA (Soft-Output Viterbi Algorithm). Two trellis stages are processed simultaneously and in parallel with one another (e.g., during a single clock cycle) thereby significantly increasing data throughput. During each processing iteration, an ACS module generates a hard decision for each of two trellis stages, as well as a corresponding reliability for each of the two hard decisions. Also, the ACS module is operative to generate the updated state metric for the state at the current trellis stage. Multiple operations are performed simultaneously and in parallel, and control logic circuitry and/or operations employed to select which of the multiple simultaneously-generated resultants is to be employed for each of the hard decisions, reliabilities, and next state metric for the current trellis stage. |
| US07721181B2 |
Memory and 1-bit error checking method thereof
A memory 1-bit error checking method is provided. Firstly, at least one piece of data fragment whose side is 2n bits is received. Next, an error correction code, a parity code and a data code are generated and written in the memory. Then, the at least one piece of data fragment is read from the memory and used as at least one piece of read data fragment. Next, a new error correction code, a new parity code and a new data code are generated. Afterwards, a determination as to whether the at least one piece of read data fragment has a 1-bit error is made. After that, if the at least one piece of read data fragment does not have a 1-bit error, then the at least one piece of read data fragment is outputted. |
| US07721169B2 |
Scan circuit and image sensor having scan circuit
A scanning circuit has path switches connected between a plurality of data flip-flop circuits of the scanning circuit for sequentially reading an output signal in synchronism with a clock. A plurality of control signal lines select the path switches to arbitrarily skip reading of the flip-flop circuits that do not require the scanning circuit and always fix a potential of the skipped data flip-flop circuit. Only the arbitrary data is read, and in the case where unnecessary data exists, reading is skipped, to thereby increase the read rate. |
| US07721166B2 |
Method for managing defect blocks in non-volatile memory
A method for managing defect blocks in a non-volatile memory essentially comprises the steps of detecting defect blocks in the non-volatile memory, storing addresses of the defect blocks in a table block of the non-volatile memory, and setting the non-volatile memory to be read-only if the quantity of defect blocks in the non-volatile memory exceeds a threshold and no free blocks remain in the non-volatile memory. In a preferred embodiment, the free pages in the defect block continue to be programmed before setting the non-volatile memory to be read-only. |
| US07721164B2 |
Method and apparatus for improved storage area network link integrity testing
A method and apparatus that is configured to issue an echo extended link service with a payload of data patterns that are known in the art of fiber channel to produce jitter. The inventive apparatus is configured to use an echo extended link service to send data with a specified data pattern. Failing data patterns are compared against data patterns that are known in the art of fiber channel to create jitter and the results may be presented to the user. |
| US07721159B2 |
Passing debug information
A data communications architecture employing serializers and deserializers that reduces data communications latency. In an illustrative implementation, the data communications architecture communicates data across communications links. The architecture maintains various mechanisms to promote data communications speed and to avoid communication link down time. These mechanisms perform the functions including but not limited to generating processing debug information, processing link identification information, injecting errors across communications links and performing error detection. |
| US07721156B2 |
Selective logging of computer activity
A system and method for selective logging of computer activity. A method in accordance with an embodiment of the invention includes: temporarily logging program execution data to a memory buffer during execution of a program; and determining a permanent disposition of the temporarily logged data in accordance with an execution outcome of the program. |
| US07721155B2 |
I2C failure detection, correction, and masking
A method of operation of a computer system having a master and slave Inter-IC (I2C) bus network includes detecting and isolating an I2C bus failure, configuring a failed I2C bus as offline, reconfiguring a remaining I2C bus as a multi-mastered bus, and masking the failed I2C bus from operation until the failed I2C bus can be repaired. A first test request is sent to a remote device from a local device. If the remote device receives the first test request, a remote bus mode is switched to a failure position, a local bus mode is switched to a multi-master position, and a second request is sent to the remote device to indicate position changes. |
| US07721153B2 |
System, method and program product for recovering from a failure
System, method and computer program product for recovering from a failure of a computing device. Start up of a first component of the device is monitored and a determination is made whether the first component has started successfully. If so, a second, higher level component of the device is started. Operational data received from the second component is monitored. If the operational data falls outside of an operational boundary, an action is performed on the second component to enable the second component to operate within a preferred operational boundary. If the first component does not start up successfully, a determination is made if start up of the first component is critical to operation of the second component. If so, a corrective action is performed relative to the first component and afterwards, an attempt is made to start up the second component. |
| US07721152B1 |
Integration of cluster information with root cause analysis tool
A method, system, computer system, and computer-readable medium to perform root cause analysis of failure of an application program in a clustering environment. Upon the occurrence of a problem or event of interest, cluster configuration data can be obtained to provide a common context for events occurring at different software layers supporting an application. Diagnostic information produced by the different software layers can be obtained from various log files, which are typically in different formats and on different nodes in the cluster. The diagnostic information can be viewed in the context of the cluster and filtered to identify events related to the failure. The related events can be presented in a time-ordered sequence to assist in analysis of the event of interest. Patterns of events that led to the failure can be identified and documented for use in further problem analysis and for taking preventative and/or corrective measures. |
| US07721145B2 |
System, apparatus and computer program product for performing functional validation testing
A system, apparatus, computer program product and method of performing functional validation testing in a system are provided. Generally, functional validation testing includes data acquisition and data validation testing. During the functional validation testing two devices may be exchanging data. The exchange of data by the two devices may be referred to as data acquisition. The data from one device and the data from the other device may be compared to each other. This may be referred to as data validation. When data is exchanged during data acquisition, it is also stored in appropriate locations in a pool of buffers in memory. During the data acquisition, checks are made to determine if the system is entering an idle cycle. If so, the data validation test is performed by using the data in the pool of buffers in memory. |
| US07721144B2 |
Methods and systems for implementing shared disk array management functions
Multiple Array Management Functions (AMFs) are connected to multiple redundancy groups over a storage area network (SAN), such as a fiber-channel based SAN. The multiple AMFs share management responsibility of the redundancy groups, each of which typically includes multiple resources spread over multiple disks. The AMFs provide concurrent access to the redundancy groups for associated host systems. When a host requests an AMF to perform an operation on a resource, the AMF synchronizes with the other AMFs sharing control of the redundancy group that includes the resource to be operated on, so as to obtain access to the resource. While performing the operation, the AMF send replication data and state information associated with the resource such that if the AMF fails, any of the other AMFs are able to complete the operation and maintain data reliability and coherency. |
| US07721140B2 |
Systems and methods for improving serviceability of a memory system
Systems and methods for improving serviceability of a memory system including a method for identifying a failing memory element in a memory system when two or more modules operate in unison in response to a read request. The method includes receiving syndrome bits and an address associated with an uncorrectable error (UE). In response to a previous correctable error (CE) having occurred, the location of the previous CE is retrieved. The location of the CE specifies a memory device position of the CE. A location of the UE is determined using the location of the previous CE and the syndrome bits of the UE as input. The location of the UE specified a memory device position. A failing memory element associated with the location of the UE is identified. |
| US07721130B2 |
Apparatus and method for switching an apparatus to a power saving mode
An apparatus being connectable as a latch stage into a asynchronous latch chain comprises a reception interface, wherein upon receipt of the first signal at the reception interface, the apparatus switches to one of the first power saving mode and a second power saving mode, depending on the second signal at the reception interface and wherein the apparatus offers a first power consumption and a first wake-up time in the first power saving mode, and a second power consumption and a second wake-up time in the second power saving mode. |
| US07721128B2 |
Implementation of thermal throttling logic
A computer implemented method, data processing system, and processor are provided for implementation of thermal throttling logic. A sensed temperature value is received from a digital thermal sensor representing a current temperature of a unit associated with the digital thermal sensor in the integrated circuit. The sensed temperature is reported as the current temperature in a status register. The unit in the integrated circuit is throttled in response to the current temperature exceeding a first predetermined value. |
| US07721123B2 |
Method and apparatus for managing the power consumption of a data processing system
A component of a microprocessor-based data processing system, which includes features for regulating power consumption in snoopable components and has gating off memory coherency properties, is determined to be in a relatively inactive state and is transitioned to a non-snoopable low power mode. Then, when a snoop request occurs, a retry protocol is sent in response to the snoop request. In conjunction with the retry protocol, a signal is sent to bring the component into snoopable mode. When the retry snoop is requested, the component is in full power mode and can properly respond to the snoop request. After the snoop request has been satisfied, the component again enters into a low power mode. Therefore, the component is able to enter into a low power mode in between snoops |
| US07721122B2 |
Power distribution system including a control module and a method of using the system
A method of employing a power supply grid can include transmitting an identification initiation command from a control module to a first power supply unit to initiate a corresponding identification command. The method can also include transmitting an identification command from the first power supply unit to other power supply unit(s) that are supplied with power using a power supply phase in common with the first power supply. The method can further include transmitting identification acknowledgement signal(s) from the other power supply unit(s) to the control module in response to the first corresponding identification command. In one embodiment, the method can include mapping which power supply units correspond to various power supply grids. In other embodiments, control modules and power distribution systems can be operable to perform portions of the methods. |
| US07721120B2 |
Controlling fan speed in electronic system
An electronic system includes a fan and a fan controller connected to the fan to control a speed of the fan. The fan controller has storage locations for storing thermal data used by the fan controller to control the speed of the fan. A thermal sensor generates a first portion of the thermal data, which is readable by the fan controller, and which the fan controller stores in a first portion of the storage locations. A device generates a second portion of the thermal data, which is not readable by the fan controller. An agent writes the second portion of the thermal data to a second portion of the storage locations. |
| US07721115B2 |
USB secure storage apparatus and method
A secure media device preferably includes a Universal Serial Bus (USB) Mass Storage Class (MSC) interface and a USB Human Interface Device (HID) interface. A storage media area is also preferably provided. The storage media is preferably divided into a secure and nonsecure area by arranging the storage media into multiple Logical Units (LUNs). The nonsecure area is preferably accessed in a conventional manner using a host USB MSC driver through the USB MSC interface on the storage device. A password dialog application can be located in the nonsecure area of the storage device. |
| US07721114B2 |
Method for using shared library in tamper resistant microprocessor
A computer readable storage medium encoded with computer instructions for causing a tamper resistant microprocessor which has a function for decrypting and executing encrypted codes and a table formed by a plurality of regions for storing a plurality of encryption keys corresponding to at least one program and at least one shared library to be called up by the at least one program, to use a shared library called up from a calling source program, the instructions including the steps of causing the tamper resistant microprocessor to create a task for the shared library, causing the tamper resistant microprocessor to allocate a task identifier to the task, causing the tamper resistant microprocessor to acquire an instruction key from a header of the shared library, causing the tamper resistant microprocessor to store the instruction key into a region of the table corresponding to the task identifier allocated to the task for the shared library in the microprocessor, causing the tamper resistant microprocessor to initialize by executing a loader in the shared library, and causing the tamper resistant microprocessor to return a control to the calling source program via an entry point in the shared library. |
| US07721111B2 |
Auto-negotiation of content output formats using a secure component model
In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, secure content objects are transcoded from an input format to an output format based upon identified capabilities of a receiving device. In one embodiment, a plurality of trusted processing components are identified to collectively transcode the secure content object from the identified input format to the determined output format. In one embodiment, each of the trusted processing components are authenticated prior to operating on the secure content object. |
| US07721108B2 |
Method and system for checking digital signatures and card with microcircuit for using the method
To check a digital signature, using a microcircuit card, the microcircuit being designed to receive and to process requests to check digital signatures, the process comprises storing in a memory in the microcircuit a certificates table containing digest forms of authorized public keys, and a phase of checking a digital signature consisting of: receiving by the microcircuit the digital signature to be checked and a public key corresponding to a private key that was used to generate the digital signature to be checked; calculating a digest form of the received public key, searching for the calculated digest form of the public key in the certificates table, and decrypting the digital signature using the received public key if the calculated digest form of the public key is located in the certificates table. |
| US07721103B2 |
System and method for providing global media content delivery
One embodiment of the present invention enables global delivery of “on-demand” high fidelity media content to client computers via a network, such as, the Internet or a wide area network (WAN) while restricting unauthorized users from directly retrieving media content from its sources. The present embodiment includes a global media content delivery network that may include multiple “points of presence” which may be located throughout the world. Each point of presence may store a portion or the entirety of a media content library that may be provided to client devices. Each one of the points of presence may provide media content to client devices in their respective vicinity of the world. Once a client receives media, it is stored using hidden directories to prevent easy redistribution with other devices. An access key procedure and rate control restrictor may also be implemented to monitor and restrict suspicious media requests. |
| US07721100B2 |
Granting an access to a computer-based object
In order to grant an access to a computer-based object, a memory card having a program code processor is provided, on which at least one public and private key assigned to the memory card are stored. In addition, an item of license information is provided, which comprises at least one license code encrypted by means of the public key assigned to the memory card, on a computing device which controls the access to the computer-based object. |
| US07721095B2 |
Apparatus, system, and method for authenticating personal identity, computer readable medium having personal identity authenticating program recorded thereon, method of registering personal identity authenticating information, method of verifying personal identity authenticating information, and recording medium having personal identity authenticating information recorded thereon
A personal identity authenticating system where the registrant/cardholder and the registrar are assigned specific identifiers and secret keys and public keys that are mapped to the identifiers at the authentication support station (ASS). Personal identity to which the registrar identifier is attached is encrypted wit the registrant/cardholder's secret key. Personal identity data is embedded as an encrypted watermark image data by means of the registrar's secret key. Both encrypted identity and watermarked image data are recorded on the IC card. When authentication is required, the identity data with the registrar identifier is decrypted with the cardholder's public key that is supplied by the ASS. The registrar's public key is obtained from the ASS by using the decrypted registrar identifier. The registrar's public key permits the personal identity to be retrieved from the watermarked image data. Internal authentication is executed by matching between personal identity strings and image data. |
| US07721093B2 |
Authenticated exchange of public information using electronic mail
Methods and systems are provided for using an existing email transfer protocol, such as SMTP, to exchange digital objects in an authenticated manner. The provided methods and systems solve the bootstrapping problem of computer identities for P2P communication by authenticating the exchange of public information. If the electronic mail protocols are strong, in that sending an email message to a given address results in the message reaching that address with a high degree of confidence, then the exchange of public information performed in accordance with embodiments of the invention is confidently authenticated. |
| US07721092B2 |
Authenticating device, authenticated device and key updating method
An authenticating device 100 includes an authentication processing unit 197 to perform an authentication process with a communication device 200 using an authentication key, an update key generating unit 160 to generate a new authentication key when the communication device 200 does not hold an authentication key to be used in the authentication process by the authentication processing unit 197, and to generate a new authentication key for updating the authentication key when the communication device 200 holds the authentication key but the authentication process with the communication device 200 by the authentication processing unit 197 fails. The authentication processing unit 197 performs again the authentication process with the communication device 200 using the new authentication key generated by the update key generating unit 160. |
| US07721091B2 |
Method for protecting against denial of service attacks using trust, quality of service, personalization, and hide port messages
According to an embodiment of the invention, a method for processing a plurality of service requests in a client-server system includes server steps of receiving at least one request for service from a client and providing a level of service based on a trust level provided in the at least one request. According to another embodiment, a method of authenticating messages includes steps of: embedding authentication information into a message at the application level; downloading a script from a computer for sending the message; running said script to send said message to a server; and checking said message by said server at the network level. |
| US07721088B2 |
Terminal device, server device, and content distribution system
To provide a content distribution system which can prevent use of content which has been temporarily stored after the valid period.A content distribution system (1) including a license server (101) which issues a license, a content server (102) which transmits the content, a terminal device (103) which controls use of the content based on the issued license. The terminal device (103) does not allow the use of the received encrypted content when it is judged that the encrypted content received from the content server (102) is not the content received in real time. |
| US07721087B1 |
Cross UI platform alerting of security status
Mobile device user interface techniques are disclosed that can run across multiple platforms. These techniques allow for unobtrusive and intuitive communication with the user of the mobile device. For instance, one particular embodiment of the present invention allows a security product executing on a mobile device to use SMS-like messages to alert the user of the security status of the device, and more generally that security products (e.g., anti-virus, anti-spyware, email scanning, and/or intrusion detection) are actively protecting his/her device. A non-platform-user-interface dependent means of providing such alerts is also provided. |
| US07721086B2 |
Packet-parallel high performance cryptography systems and methods
A cryptographic system (500) includes cryptographic sub-units (510) and associated input buffers (520) connected to a scheduler (530) and a reassembler (540). The scheduler (530) receives packets, where each of the packets includes one or more data blocks, and assigns each of the packets to one of the sub-units (510). The input buffers (520) temporarily store the packets from the scheduler (530). Each of the sub-units (510) performs a cryptographic operation on the data blocks from the associated input buffer (520) to form transformed blocks. The reassembler (540) receives the transformed blocks from the sub-units (510), reassembles the packets from the transformed blocks, and outputs the reassembled packets in a same order in which the packets were received by the scheduler (530). |
| US07721077B2 |
Performing endian conversion
A computing system may support an endian toggle register (ETR) and the endianess of the endian toggle register may be designated using a set endian bit (SEB) or a clear endian bit (CEB) instruction. An endian conversion is performed on the data that is moved into and moved out of the ETR. However, if the destination memory is an endian toggle disabled memory, the contents of the ETR may be transferred to the endian toggle disabled memory without performing the endian conversion. A compiler supported on the computing system may comprise an endian storage class to perform endian conversion, transparently, using high-level languages. |
| US07721069B2 |
Low power, high performance, heterogeneous, scalable processor architecture
One embodiment of the present includes a heterogenous, high-performance, scalable processor having at least one W-type sub-processor capable of processing W bits in parallel, W being an integer value, at least one N-type sub-processor capable of processing N bits in parallel, N being an integer value smaller than W by a factor of two. The processor further includes a shared bus coupling the at least one W-type sub-processor and at least one N-type sub-processor and memory shared coupled to the at least one W-type sub-processor and the at least one N-type sub-processor, wherein the W-type sub-processor rearranges memory to accommodate execution of applications allowing for fast operations. |
| US07721066B2 |
Efficient encoding for detecting load dependency on store with misalignment
In one embodiment, an apparatus comprises a queue comprising a plurality of entries and a control unit coupled to the queue. The control unit is configured to allocate a first queue entry to a store memory operation, and is configured to write a first even offset, a first even mask, a first odd offset, and a first odd mask corresponding to the store memory operation to the first entry. A group of contiguous memory locations are logically divided into alternately-addressed even and odd byte ranges. A given store memory operation writes at most one even byte range and one adjacent odd byte range. The first even offset identifies a first even byte range that is potentially written by the store memory operation, and the first odd offset identifies a first odd byte range that is potentially written by the store memory operation. The first even mask identifies bytes within the first even byte range that are written by the store memory operation, and wherein the first odd mask identifies bytes within the first odd byte range that are written by the store memory operation. |
| US07721065B2 |
Reducing memory fragmentation by learning memory allocation patterns
A memory management unit including: a first memory portion in which a memory area is allocated; a memory allocation processor for allocating and releasing a memory area in the first memory portion; a second memory portion for storing reserve area information regarding a memory area which should be reserved in an upper or lower address area of the first memory portion; and a learning reservation processor for monitoring the memory area allocation and release executed in the memory portion, allowing the information regarding the memory area which fragments the first memory portion to be stored in the second memory portion as the reserve area information. The learning reservation processor gives an instruction to the memory allocation processor to reserve a memory area according to the reserve area information, and the memory allocation processor reserves the memory area according to the reserve area information. |
| US07721064B1 |
Memory allocation in memory constrained devices
Apparatus, methods and computer program products are disclosed to improve allocation of physical memory in a memory limited device when the amount of unallocated memory approaches a threshold. In this situation the disclosed technology will identify memory pages that have substantially the same content, identify the process-contexts that map to the identified memory pages, remap these process-contexts to one of the identical memory pages, recycle all of the other identical memory pages to increase the amount of unallocated memory, and conditions the process-contexts to appropriately trap accesses to the mapped page. |
| US07721063B2 |
System, method and program for configuring a data mirror
System, method and program for data mirroring. In response to identification of a new storage volume on a primary storage subsystem being designated for use, a plurality of parameters for the new storage volume needed for data mirroring are automatically determined. Also, a corresponding storage volume in a second storage subsystem to mirror data from the new storage volume in the primary storage subsystem is automatically determined. The parameters of the new storage volume are automatically entered in a data mirroring table. The table identifies the new storage volume, the parameters for the new storage volume and the corresponding storage volume. The table also maps the new storage volume to the corresponding storage volume such that data updates to the new storage volume are mirrored to the corresponding storage volume. The parameters for the new storage volume can be determined by determining that a prior storage volume and a subsequent storage volume in the primary storage subsystem have same values for the parameters. In response, these values are entered for the parameters for the new storage volume in the data mirroring table. |
| US07721062B1 |
Method for detecting leaked buffer writes across file system consistency points
A system and method for detecting buffer leaks in a files system utilizing consistency points is provided. Upon receipt of a write operation, a buffer check control structure is written to a raw data buffer. The buffer check control structure comprises a set of magic numbers and a consistency point counter identifying the current CP. At write allocation time, the buffer check control structure is examined to determine that the buffer is being committed to disk during the correct CP. |
| US07721060B2 |
Method and apparatus for maintaining data density for derived clocking
Some embodiments of the invention implement point-to-point memory channels that virtually eliminate the need for mandatory synchronization cycles for a derived clocking architecture by tracking the number of data transitions on inbound and outbound data lanes to make sure the minimum number of transitions occur. Other embodiments of the invention perform data inversions to increase the likelihood of meeting the minimum data transition density. Still other embodiments are described in the claims. |
| US07721057B2 |
Method and system for transporting data content on a storage area network
A system and method of transporting volumes of information from one host computer system to another using point-in-time copies of LUNs but wherein the hardware provider does not necessarily understand the volume configuration of the data. The system and method involves an intermediate layer, i.e., a point-in-time copy interface layer that communicates with both a requesting host computer system and a hardware provider to enable the transfer of volumes of information without requiring that the hardware provider understand the volume information. |
| US07721054B2 |
Speculative data loading using circular addressing or simulated circular addressing
This invention prevents illegal memory address faults on speculative data loads. Circular addressing of the address pointer limits memory access to a range of addresses including all addresses used by the address pointer and not including any invalid addresses. The invention uses circular addressing hardware, if available on the data processor. If not available, this invention simulates circular addressing. This invention permits loads to be issued earlier than if predication were used and allows already predicated loads to be speculated without the overhead of a compound predicate. This invention can be used on processors without hardware supporting speculation. |
| US07721053B2 |
Intelligent logical unit provisioning
In one embodiment, a storage controller comprises a first I/O port that provides an interface to a host computer, a second I/O port that provides an interface to a storage device, a processor that receives I/O requests generated by the host computer and, in response to the I/O requests, generates and transmits I/O requests to the storage device, and a memory module communicatively connected to the processor. The memory module comprises logic instructions which, when executed by the processor, configure the processor to collect performance data and availability data for a plurality of logical devices (LDEVS) managed by the storage controller, and present the performance data and availability data to a reporting interface. |
| US07721052B2 |
System and method of reducing power consumption of a main memory
A computing node which reduces substantially and effectively reduces the power consumed by a memory is provided without affecting the efficiency whereby a processor accesses the memory. The computing node executes a user program sent by a control node. In case of which a message including the capacity of the memory required to execute a user program is received, a memory rank corresponding to the capacity of the required memory is made active by a memory controller before the user program is loaded into the memory. |
| US07721044B1 |
Expanding the storage capacity of a virtualized data storage system
A system, method, apparatus, and computer-readable medium are provided for expanding the data storage capacity of a virtualized storage system, such as a storage cluster. According to one method, maps are generated and stored that define a stripe pattern for storing data on the storage nodes of a storage cluster. The stripe pattern for each map is defined such that when a storage node is added to a cluster and the data is re-striped according to the new map, only the data that will subsequently reside in the new storage node is moved to the new storage cluster during re-striping. The stripe pattern may be further defined so that during re-striping no movement of data occurs between two storage nodes that existed in the cluster prior to the addition of the new storage node. The stripe pattern may be further defined such that during re-striping an equal amount of data is moved from each of the storage nodes that existed in the cluster prior to the addition of the new storage node to the new storage node. |
| US07721039B2 |
System bus control apparatus, integrated circuit and data processing system
The present invention provides a system bus control apparatus that effectively utilizes a system bus to the full and realizes efficient data transfer.A system bus control apparatus includes a system bus that is a path of data transferred from a bus master, a bus condition monitoring section that monitors a used condition or unused condition of the system bus, a bus allocating section that allocates a bus width permitted to be transferred by the bus master based on the used condition or unused condition of the system bus monitored by the bus condition monitoring section, when the bus master issues a transfer request, and a bus width variable section that changes the bus width of the data transferred from the bus master in accordance with the allocated bus width.Accordingly, the bus width of the data to be transferred is changed in accordance with the bus width permitted to be used, whereby the transfer request is not brought into a stand-by condition. |
| US07721025B2 |
Reusing task object and resources
A session-level cache provides space to reuse a task object and associated memory resources for a new request. Any additional resources necessary for the task are allocated by the system memory allocator. |
| US07721019B2 |
Method and apparatus for partitioning industrial control data
An industrial controller includes a processing unit and a memory. The industrial controller is operable to communicate using an optimized connection packet including I/O data from a plurality of I/O modules arranged as an unstructured data block. The processing unit is operable to operate on the I/O data within the optimized connection packet to control a process. The memory is operable to store a plurality of cast tags. Each cast tag is associated with one of the I/O modules and provides a logical reference to a subset of the unformatted data block including at least a portion of the I/O data for the associated I/O module. |
| US07721016B2 |
Method for using host controller to solicit a command failure from target device in order to initiate re-enumeration of the target device
A method of initiating re-enumeration of a USB device without manual intervention is provided. The method involves a sequence emulating detachment and re-attachment of a device to the host while the device remains attached to the host. As the device remains attached to the host throughout the sequence, the host OS is manipulated to receive a plurality of preset device states in order for it to perceive a device change and to eventually initiate device enumeration. The sequence, which involves a series of command exchanges between the device and the host, may be initiated by a software application residing in the host upon an event requiring device enumeration. |
| US07721008B2 |
Method of correcting channel change errors in a media center personal computer system
A method corrects channel change errors in a media center personal computer system. The media center personal computer system has a personal computer coupled to an infrared (IR) remote control device and a tuner card coupled to an output of an external tuner. The method determines when channel change instructions have been sent from the IR remote control device to the external tuner. It then determines whether an output from the external tuner is changing and if not, resends the channel change instructions from the IR remote control device to the external tuner upon determining that the output from the external tuner is not changing. |
| US07721007B2 |
Methods of transmitting non-SCSI commands involving loading opcode in command descriptor block (CDB) bytes and non-SCSI commands into remaining CDB bytes
The present invention provides a method for transmitting a non-SCSI command via a SCSI command. A CDB for the SCSI command is provided. The CDB includes bytes byte—0, byte—1, byte—2, . . . , byte_n, in which byte—0 includes an opcode for the SCSI command. An opcode for the non-SCSI command is loaded into byte—1. When the non-SCSI command is not greater than a fixed number of bytes, the non-SCSI command is loaded into at least one byte of the CDB, which includes byte—2. Data associated with the non-SCSI command is transmitted via a data phase associated with the SCSI command. |
| US07721001B1 |
Protocol and method for multi-chassis configurable time synchronization
Systems and methods are disclosed for time synchronization of operations in a control system. Synchronization networks and devices are provided for transferring synchronization information between controllers in a distributed or localized control system, which is employed in order to allow operation of such controllers to be synchronized with respect to time. Also disclosed are synchronization protocols and hardware apparatus employed in synchronizing control operations in a control system. |
| US07721000B2 |
Method of compressing and decompressing executable file in mobile communication terminal
Disclosed is a method of compressing and decompressing an executable file in a mobile communication terminal capable of improving a compression mode of an executable file necessary for an operation of the mobile communication terminal to reduce a booting time of the terminal and to smoothly carrying out a wireless upgrade service. The method of the invention divides storage spaces in which executable files are stored into plural areas depending on properties of the executable files using a scatter loading file and selectively compressing each of the areas. |
| US07720997B1 |
Path selection system
Methods and apparatus for processing a service request received from a client are disclosed. When a service request is received, a plurality of packets are transmitted, where each of the plurality of packets identify a different type of service via which to send the corresponding packet. In addition, a mapping of each different type of service to an IP address is preferably maintained, thereby enabling the service request to be processed via an IP address associated with a type of service identified in a first one of the plurality of packets to be received. |
| US07720996B2 |
Internet protocol (IP) address proximity and application to peer provider location
Internet Protocol (IP) address assignment information is collected from Address Allocation Tables (AATs) of a plurality of IP address assigning registrars. The information is processed and stored into one or more data structures. The information is accessed to determine a proximity measure for any two given IP addresses. In one embodiment, the proximity determination includes the determination of superblock memberships of the IP addresses, comparison of the assigning registrars, as well as the location countries of the IP addresses. In one embodiment, the proximity detection is applied to locating IP addresses of peer providers of a resource. In one embodiment, Autonomous System (AS) numbers and IP addresses for a plurality of peer providers for a plurality of resources are also collected and organized into one or more data structures; this organized information of the peer providers is also used in locating the closest peer providers of a resource in terms of network topology. |
| US07720991B1 |
Marked foreign data blocks
Systems, methods, and computer program products for embedding a foreign data block in a host data file. In general, in one aspect, the computer-implemented method includes receiving a host data file, the host data file having a host data file format, receiving a packet to be embedded into the host data file, the packet including a foreign data block and further including a header and a trailer that delimit the foreign data block, the header including an identifier designed to be distinguishable from all other data in the host data file, a byte pattern that indicates a presence of the header, and a character encoding format of the foreign data block, the byte pattern selected based on the character encoding format of the foreign data block, and embedding the packet in the host data file. |
| US07720989B2 |
Electronic device and base station for maintaining a network connection
An electronic device and wireless base station for maintaining a persistent connection is provided. In an embodiment, a system includes an electronic device that connects to a web-server via a physical link that is bandwidth-constrained. The physical link also includes a wireless base station and at least one network address translation (“NAT”) router that is configured to terminate idle connections between the client and the web-server. One of the electronic device and the wireless base station is configured to send keep-alive packets to the web-server in order to reduce the likelihood of the NAT router terminating the connection. The keep-alive packets are sent on a variable basis that is intended to reduce bandwidth consumption while ensuring that the NAT router does not deem the connection idle and terminate the connection. |
| US07720980B1 |
System and method for dynamically controlling a rogue application through incremental bandwidth restrictions
A system and method for dynamically controlling a rogue application through incremental bandwidth restrictions is disclosed. A network connection supporting a flow of network traffic in a distributed computing environment is monitored. The network traffic flow includes a stream of data packets generated by a rogue application. Bandwidth allocated to the monitored network connection is incrementally adjusted until the flow of the network traffic for the rogue application achieves a steady state of bandwidth restriction. The flow of subsequent network traffic over the monitored network connection is controlled at the steady state of bandwidth restriction. |
| US07720979B2 |
Communication apparatus
A processor transfers control information set for each connection from a second memory to a first memory, and updates the control information stored in the first memory in accordance with processing of the connection. The processor selects control information updated in the first memory, and transfers the selected control information from the first memory to the second memory. |
| US07720976B2 |
Peer-to-peer communication between different types of internet hosts
In one embodiment, a method for processing, at an enhanced Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) proxy (e-proxy), (1) a SIP INVITE message to a first user at an IPv4/IPv6 dual-stack (DS) host, connected to an IPv6 network, from a second user at an IPv4 host, connected to an IPv4 network. The e-proxy receives the SIP INVITE message from the IPv4 network. When the e-proxy determines that Dual Stack Transition Mechanism (DSTM) service is required, the e-proxy obtains a temporary IPv4 address for the DS host, finds a suitable tunnel end-point (TEP), and sends a corresponding, but modified, INVITE message to the DS host. The modified INVITE message body includes invocation of DSTM service, the temporary IPv4 address, the TEP's IPv6 address, and the IPv4 host's IPv4 address. The e-proxy sends a BIND message to the TEP to bind the DS host's IPv6 address to the temporary IPv4 address for proper tunneling. |
| US07720974B2 |
Global routable and grid identification for audio provider in media session
Procedures for identifying audio clients in a media session are described. A gateway device may provide a unique identifier for identifying the audio client/user agent instance. In an example, a globally routable user agent universal resource indicator (GRUU) may be mapped to the gateway device servicing the audio client and a unique identifier may be provided. In examples, the gateway device may include a grid and grid value for identifying the audio client. |
| US07720965B2 |
Client health validation using historical data
Implementations of client health validation using historical data are described. In one implementation, historical data on a client, such as a laptop, attempting to access a network is scanned. The historical data can come in many forms, including cookies and application data caches saved on the client. The historical data can be used to assess a health of the client. For example, if historical data stored in an application data cache indicates interactions between the client and a website known to disseminate malicious agents, the client can be assessed to have unacceptable health. Alternately, if the historical data indicates that the client has not interacted with enough suspicious sources to constitute a danger to the network, the client can be assessed to have acceptable health. In such a case, the client can be allowed to access the network. |
| US07720964B2 |
Content display monitor
The invention can enable monitoring of the display of content by a computer system. Moreover, the invention can enable monitoring of the displayed content to produce monitoring information from which conclusions may be deduced regarding the observation of the displayed content by an observer. The invention can also enable monitoring of the display at a content display site of content that is provided by a content provider site over a network to the content display site. Additionally, the invention can enable the expeditious provision of updated and/or tailored content over a network from a content provider site to a content display site so that the content provider's current and appropriately tailored content is always displayed at the content display site. Aspects of the invention related to transfer of content over a network are generally applicable to any type of network. However, it is contemplated that the invention can be particularly useful with a computer network, including private computer networks (e.g., America Online™) and public computer networks (e.g., the Internet). In particular, the invention can be advantageously used with computer networks or portions of computer networks over which video and/or audio content are transferred from one network site to another network site for observation, such as the World Wide Web portion of the Internet. |
| US07720958B2 |
Method and system for embedding correlated performance measurements for distributed application performance decomposition
Techniques for use in accordance with application performance decomposition are provided which take advantage of the communications protocol used to carry a transaction between application components in a distributed computing network. Specifically, the invention extends the communications protocol by embedding data, such as timestamp and duration measurement data, in the protocol itself, rather than extending or altering the application or transaction data carried by the protocol as in existing approaches. Thus, the invention provides natural correlation of interactions of distributed application components on such transactions without modification to the application or transaction data. Because the correlation is performed in-line with the application component interactions, minimal data management overhead is required, and correlated performance decomposition is made possible in real-time for the transaction. Furthermore, subsequent processing stages of the distributed application can interpret the communications protocol to glean processing durations of previous stages in order to make decisions regarding treatment of the transaction. |
| US07720957B2 |
Auto-configuration of an internal VLAN network interface
Apparatus and storage media for auto-configuration of an internal network interface are disclosed. Embodiments may install an internal VLAN manager in a logically partitioned computer system along with network agents in each of the partitions in the logically partitioned system to facilitate configuring an internal communications network and the corresponding internal network interfaces in each participating partition. In particular, an administrator accesses internal VLAN manager, selects an internal VLAN ID, selects each of the participating partitions, and configures the communications network with global parameters and ranges. The internal VLAN manager then generates partition parameters and incorporates them into messages for each of the partitions selected to participate in the internal network. Each of the participating partitions receives one of the messages and, in response, invokes the corresponding network agent that extracts partition parameters from the message and creates or re-configures an internal network interface based upon the parameters. |
| US07720953B2 |
System and method of data source detection
A data source detection method and system for detecting data sources are provided. The data source detection system comprises a generic data source connector for connecting to a data source, a data source connectors repository for storing the location of the data source and a data source model for representing information contained in the data source. The method comprises the steps of reading a data source connector repository, locating and connecting to a data source connector of a data source and building a data source model of the data source. |
| US07720950B2 |
Discovery, maintenance, and representation of entities in a managed system environment
Discovery, maintenance, and representation of entities in a managed system environment are described. Apparatus described herein includes one or more agents that run on respective serves that are managed within a management system, and that generate discovery data in response to a discovery rule. The apparatus also includes a management server that is adapted to transmit the discovery rules for execution by the agent, and to receive the discovery data from the agent. Methods described herein include defining the rules for discovering data about an entity on the server, and receiving the discovery data in response to the rule being executed in an environment in which the entity is deployed. Several types of user interfaces for presenting the discovery data are also disclosed. |
| US07720948B2 |
Method and system of generically specifying packet classification behavior
A method and system for controlling packet classification behavior of a plurality of heterogeneous network processors in a network is disclosed. The network also includes at least one host processor that utilizes at least one packet classification application. The method and system include providing a plurality of generic application program interfaces (APIs). The generic APIs communicate with the packet classification application(s) and the heterogeneous network processors. The generic APIs communicate with the packet classification application(s) in the host processor(s) in a network processor independent manner, but manage the packet classification behavior of the heterogeneous network processors in a network processor specific manner. Thus, the generic APIs allow the packet classification application(s) to be network processor independent and to manage the packet classification behavior of the heterogeneous network processors in the network processor specific manner. |
| US07720944B2 |
Process control system with networked digital data processors and a virtual machine environment
A system for process control comprises a server digital data processor and a client digital data processor that are coupled by a network, such as the Internet or an Intranet. The server digital data processor, which is additionally coupled to a control/sensing device and any associated interface equipment (collectively, referred to as “process control apparatus”), includes a command processor that transfers information between the network and the process control apparatus. The client digital data processor includes an information client (e.g., a so-called Internet web browser) capable of requesting and receiving an applet from the server digital data processor. The information client, further, defines a hardware-independent and operating system-independent virtual machine environment within the client digital data processor. The client digital data processor executes, within that virtual machine environment, an applet for configuring the client digital data processor as a “process controller” that establishes communications over the network with the command processor and that monitors and/or controls the process control apparatus via those communications. |
| US07720942B2 |
Method and apparatus providing virtual private network access
A virtual private network device enables individual machines at a remote subnet to be visible and addressable from a central site by establishing a private address range for the remote machines, forming a virtual private network tunnel from the virtual private network device to the central site, and communicating the private address range to the central site to enable connections from the central site to individual machines on the remote subnet. |
| US07720941B2 |
Methods, systems and computer program products for network element information management
A method of monitoring network elements in a communications network includes querying the network elements for reboot and/or reconfiguration event data, identifying a group of the network elements responsive to the querying, and updating information for the identified group of network elements in a network configuration database. The method may further include extracting information from the identified group of network elements into independently searchable databases. The invention may be embodied as methods, data processing systems and computer program products. |
| US07720934B2 |
Electronic musical apparatus, music contents distributing site, music contents processing method, music contents distributing method, music contents processing program, and music contents distributing program
An electronic musical apparatus for use in a music contents distribution processing system which makes it possible to selectively use usage modes such as downloading of music contents from a music contents distributing site to a user terminal (electronic musical apparatus) and streaming of such music contents in a simple manner. A distribution mode designating file indicative of whether music contents are to be distributed from the music contents distributing site in a download mode or a streaming mode is received and interpreted. The music contents received from the music contents distributing site are processed in the download mode or the streaming mode according to the result of the interpretation. |
| US07720931B2 |
System and method of remotely managing and loading artifacts
A system and method of remotely loading artifacts is disclosed. The method involves storing and indexing a plurality of artifacts in a centralized location. A query is received from a client to locate an artifact, and the artifact is located within the central location. A reply is then returned to the client, wherein the reply includes a location of the artifact. In one embodiment, the method of remotely loading artifacts further involves the artifacts being previously extracted from an application during the installation of the application. |
| US07720929B2 |
Communication system and its method and communication apparatus and its method
This invention relates to a communication system including a first apparatus having a first storage medium, and a second apparatus for transmitting data to the first apparatus, the second apparatus comprising: a second storage medium for storing management information of data to be transferred to the first storage medium; communication means for communicating data with the first apparatus; edit means capable of editing the management information; and control means for making a control to transfer data stored in the second storage medium to the first storage medium by way of the communication means on the basis of the management information edited by the edit means. |
| US07720926B2 |
Information processing system, an information apparatus, macro executing method, and storage medium
An information processing system in which a warning is generated in advance when a macro including unsupported functions is executed, realizing improved usability for users. A multi-function apparatus and a server holding at least one macro indicative of a procedure for executing at least one function are connected to each other via a network. A macro referring section provided in the multi-function apparatus acquires a macro held by the second information apparatus. An unsupported function checking section provided in the server detects functions that cannot be realized by the first information apparatus from among functions included in the macro. A warning information providing section provided in the second information apparatus creates warning information relating to the detected unsupported functions and transmits the warning information to the multi-function apparatus. A warning section provided in the multi-function apparatus notifies a user of the transmitted warning information. |
| US07720923B2 |
Method and system for notification of local action required to contents of electronic mail message
The present invention provides a method and system to alert the recipient of an electronic message of some action that is required from the recipient. The invention also provides a method to alert the sender of the electronic message of the completion of the action required in the original electronic mail message. In the method of the present invention, the originator or recipient of an electronic mail message can choose to designate the message as one that requires an action by the message recipient. The recipient will notice the ‘Action Required’ icon and will be alerted to the fact that an action is required with this message. At the completion of the action, the sender of the original message will receive a notification that the requested action has been taken by the recipient. |
| US07720921B2 |
System and method for soliciting and retrieving a complete email thread
A system and method allows an email user to solicit an email thread from another user (or from a server) in situations where the first requesting user may have been added to an email thread after the email thread was started, or in situations where the user may have an incomplete thread (for example, where a user is being added to a thread where an attachment was removed). The complete thread is returned to the first requesting user, after permission has been sought and granted, and after data mining and intelligent aggregation of a plurality of relevant threads in to one interleaved result is performed and returned to the first requesting user. |
| US07720920B2 |
Client side based data synchronization and storage
Client side based data synchronization and storage is accomplished through a smart way of data off-lining coupled with a synchronization technique implemented on the client side that does not require any modifications to the server side. The customized client utilizes the server as a temporary placeholder for document synchronization. Attached documents to an item will be off-loaded from the client based on a predetermined policy. The clients make off-line copies of the items and documents. The server will maintain only the document store skeleton or metadata for such processed items. Any client which has not made an off-line copy of an item will pass a synchronization request via the server to the other clients so that at least one of its peers may upload the document onto the server. The requesting client can then retrieve the item from the server and synchronize/off-line that item on its local store. |
| US07720909B2 |
Techniques for providing a virtual workspace comprised of a multiplicity of electronic devices
A virtual workspace is provided for a user with a number of electronic devices, in which information can be exchanged among the electronic devices through a number of connections between the electronic devices. The virtual workspace is provided by determining where services are located and the type of the services, determining one or more data formats associated with data accessible by one or more of the electronic devices. A portion of the data has a given one of one or more data formats. An electronic device is selected based at least in part on predetermined criteria and the given data format. A route through the connections to the selected electronic device is determined, where the route may comprise a given one or more of the connections. At least the portion of the data associated with the given data format is routed to the selected electronic device. The portion of the data is utilizable for presentation by the selected electronic device when received by the selected electronic device. |
| US07720903B1 |
Client messaging in multicast networks
A messaging system may enable a server to assign unique identifiers to a plurality of clients. These identifiers enable a client to determine whether a message is specifically targeted to that client or, as an alternative, whether the client is a member of a group of targeted clients. In one embodiment, each client includes a client identifier that may include code portions that are common to other members of a particular addressable client group. In addition, the client may include agents devoted to particular functions that may be uniquely addressable by the server. |
| US07720902B2 |
Methods and apparatus for providing a reduction array
Methods and apparatus provide for accumulating bit streams from four partial products and producing a carry-save output pair, including: producing the save, S, portion of the carry-save output pair, in accordance with the following Boolean expression: S=d3 XOR ((d0 XOR d1) XOR (d2 XOR Cin)), wherein d0, d1, d2, d3 are the bit streams from the four partial products, and Cin is a carry in bit stream receivable from an adjacent compression circuit of an overall partial product reduction array. |
| US07720901B1 |
Multiplier operable to perform a variety of operations
Methods and apparatus are provided for implementing circuitry operable to perform barrel shifting, multiplication, and rotation operations in hard coded logic on a programmable chip. A hard coded multiplier is augmented using multiplexer circuitry, a logical operation, and a bypassable 2^N functional block. Based on control signals, the multiplexer circuitry can be used to select a rotation, multiplication, or barrel shifted output. Multiplexer control signals also provide sign information associated with operands passed to the multiplier. A single augmented multiplier can perform barrel shifting, rotation, or multiplication operations. Inputs of a multiplier can also be selectively grounded to allow the multiplier to perform logic operations. |
| US07720897B2 |
Optimized discrete fourier transform method and apparatus using prime factor algorithm
An apparatus and method for DFT processing using prime factor algorithm (PFA) on a selected number P of midamble chip values received by a CDMA receiver, where P has a plurality M of relatively prime factors F, and the DFT process is divided into M successive F-point DFT processes. The P data values are retrieved from a single input port memory and selectively permuted by a controller into parallel caches to optimize factoring with associated twiddle factors stored in parallel registers. The permuted inputs are factored in two or more parallel PFA circuits that comprise adders and multipliers arranged to accommodate any size F-point DFT. The outputs of the PFA circuits are processed by consolidation circuitry in preparation for output permutation of the values which are sent to memory for subsequent DFT cycles. |
| US07720896B2 |
Method and apparatus for post-processing a raw bit sequence of a noise source
An apparatus for post processing a raw bit sequence generated by a noise source, comprises a derivation unit for deriving a random word from each bit sequence input into the derivation unit and a skip unit for skipping skip sequences of consecutive bits of the raw bit sequence and inputting intervening sub-sequences of bits of the raw bit sequence between the skip sequences into the derivation unit. |
| US07720891B2 |
Synchronized objects for software transactional memory
A system for implementing synchronized objects for software transactional memory may include one or more processors and a memory storing program instructions executable by the processor to implement a transactional-memory manager configured to coordinate memory access requests directed at the memory from a plurality of transactions. The transactional-memory manager records, within a collaborator record for a shared data object in the memory, identifications of a set of two or more transactions that have requested synchronization on the object. In response to a commit request from a given transaction of the set, the transactional-memory manager determines whether to commit or abort the given transaction based at least in part on the transactional states of other transactions in the set, examining the collaborator record to identify the other transactions. |
| US07720884B1 |
Automatic generation of routines and/or schemas for database management
A database environment includes a staging database and master database. Among other functions, the staging database provides a location to store data prior to be copied over the master database. Each time the database environment is modified (e.g., a developer specifies a different configuration associated with the staging database and/or the master database), a database administrator initiates execution of an auto-repository process to automatically generate a corresponding new set of routines enabling management of the database environment. Accordingly, each time there are changes to (one or more schemas associated with) the database environment, there is no need for a programmer to manually modify the corresponding management routines based on the changes. Instead, the auto-repository process automatically generates the corresponding set of custom routines to enable management of the database environment. |
| US07720878B2 |
Data compression method and apparatus
An improved data compression method and apparatus is provided, particularly with regard to the compression of data in tabular form such as database records. The present invention achieves improved compression ratios by utilizing metadata to transform the data in a manner that optimizes known compression techniques. In one embodiment of the invention, a schema is generated which is utilized to reorder and partition the data into low entropy and high entropy portions which are separately compressed by conventional compression methods. The high entropy portion is further reordered and partitioned to take advantage of row and column dependencies in the data. The present invention enables not only much greater compression ratios but increased speed than is achieved by compressing the untransformed data. |
| US07720870B2 |
Method and system for quantifying the quality of search results based on cohesion
A method and system for quantifying the quality of search results from a search engine based on cohesion. The method and system include modeling a set of search engine search results as a cluster and measuring the cohesion of the cluster. In an embodiment, the cohesion of the cluster is the average similarity between the cluster elements to a centroid vector. The centroid vector is the average of the weights of the vectors of the cluster. The similarity between the centroid vector and the cluster's elements is the cosine similarity measure. Each document in the set of search results is represented by a vector where each cell of the vector represents a stemmed word. Each cell has a cell value which is the frequency of the corresponding stemmed word in a document multiplied by a weight that takes into account the location of the stemmed word within the document. |
| US07720865B2 |
Document management apparatus, document management method, and storage medium storing program
A document management apparatus for managing an object includes an input unit that inputs setting of an operation related to an object, an execution unit that executes a predetermined operation related to the object, based on the setting, a setting selection unit that selects setting of an operation related to a past-executed object, and an object selection unit that designates an object to which the setting selected by the setting selection unit is applied, wherein the setting of the operation related to the object is performed by utilizing the content of past setting of an operation related to another object of the same or a different type. |
| US07720863B2 |
Security view-based, external enforcement of business application security rules
A method, system and computer program are useful for enforcement of business application security rules in connection with applications external to the business application. To support secured access to data stored in a database system managed by a business application, a rule directed from the business application to a database system specifying security criteria for access to the data is received. A database view to select a subset of the data in accordance with the security criteria is then created, and a representation of the database view is stored in the database system to support the secured access to the subset of the data in connection with a query from the application external to the business application. When the query is then received, the user is identified along with a specification of the database view to return the subset of the data authorized by the security criteria for that user. |
| US07720858B2 |
Query conditions-based security
A method, system and article of manufacture for managing access to queries and, more particularly, for managing access by multiple users to persistently stored queries. One embodiment provides a method of managing access by multiple users to a predefined query against data in a database. The method comprises associating one or more access rights with at least some portion of the predefined query. When a request to access the predefined query by a first user is received, access to the predefined query by the first user is limited on the basis of the access rights. |
| US07720850B2 |
Self-uploaded indexing and data clustering method and apparatus
A self-uploaded indexing and data clustering method and apparatus. In one embodiment, a method of a server device includes processing a merchant-uploaded inventory data to determine a set of meta-data attributes associated with the merchant-uploaded inventory data and creating an index data using the set of meta-data attributes associated with the merchant-uploaded inventory data. The merchant-uploaded inventory data may be compared with a previous inventory data of a particular merchant associated with both the merchant-uploaded inventory data and the previous inventory data to identify at least a portion of the set of meta-data attributes which do not need to be updated. The index data may be created using an incremental algorithm that builds on preexisting indexes which have substantially similar data as the index data and wherein the incremental algorithm builds on preexisting indexes by infusing into preexisting indexes the set of meta-data attributes associated with the merchant-uploaded inventory data other than the portion of the set of meta-data attributes which do not need to be updated. |
| US07720848B2 |
Hierarchical clustering with real-time updating
A probabilistic clustering system is defined at least in part by probabilistic model parameters indicative of word counts, ratios, or frequencies characterizing classes of the clustering system. An association of one or more documents in the probabilistic clustering system is changed from one or more source classes to one or more destination classes. Probabilistic model parameters characterizing classes affected by the changed association are locally updated without updating probabilistic model parameters characterizing classes not affected by the changed association. |
| US07720846B1 |
System and method of using ghost identifiers in a database
Various exemplary systems and methods for linking entity references and identifying associations are presented. In particular, a method for linking a plurality of entity references to at least one entity using one or more constructed ghost entity references is provided. The method comprises the steps of identifying, for one or more common data fields, at least one unique field value from one or more entity references linked to a given entity and constructing, for the given entity, at least one ghost entity reference including the at least one unique field value, wherein the at least one ghost entity reference represents at least one potential entity reference for the given entity. The method further comprises linking at least one of the plurality of entity references to the given entity when a match probability between the at least one entity reference and the ghost entity reference is greater than a defined threshold. |
| US07720841B2 |
Model-based self-optimizing distributed information management
Disclosed are a method, information processing system, and computer readable medium for managing data collection in a distributed processing system. The method includes dynamically collecting at least one statistical query pattern associated with a selected group of information processing nodes. The statistical query pattern is dynamically collected from a plurality of information processing nodes in a distributed processing system. At least one operating attribute distribution associated with an operating attribute that has been queried for the selected group is dynamically monitored. The selected group is dynamically configured, based on the query pattern and the operating attribute distribution, to periodically push a set of attributes associated with the each information processing node in the selected group. |
| US07720838B1 |
Methods and apparatus for joining tables from different data sources
Methods and apparatus for joining two or more tables are disclosed. A query including a join query is received, where the join query requests that a new table be generated from data obtained from two or more tables, where the two or more tables are stored at two or more different data sources. Data from the tables is retrieved corresponding to the query. A new table is then generated from the retrieved data. |
| US07720835B2 |
Systems and methods for consumer-generated media reputation management
TruCast is a method for management, by way of gathering, storing, analyzing, tracking, sorting, determining the relevance of, visualizing, and responding to all available consumer generated media. Some examples of consumer generated media include web logs or “blogs”, mobile phone blogs or “mo-blogs”, forums, electronic discussion messages, Usenet, message boards, BBS emulating services, product review and discussion web sites, online retail sites that support customer comments, social networks, media repositories, and digital libraries. Any web hosted system for the persistent public storage of human commentary is a potential target for this method. The system is comprised of a coordinated software and hardware system designed to perform management, collection, storage, analysis, workflow, visualization, and response tasks upon this media. This system permits a unified interface to manage, target, and accelerate interactions within this space, facilitating public relations, marketing, advertising, consumer outreach, political debate, and other modes of directed discourse. |
| US07720834B2 |
Application launching via indexed data
Application launching on a computer via indexed data. Based on a search term entered by a user, the computer searches an index containing metadata representative of one or more applications installed on the computer. A user interface on the computer's display has a window for displaying the results of searching the index. In addition, the user interface receives user input to select an application from the search results to be initiated. The computer is responsive to the user input via the user interface for initiating the selected application installed on the computer. A computer-readable medium including a persistent component, an index component, a query component, and an execution component embodies further aspects of the invention. |
| US07720832B1 |
Dynamic contact information
A method for presenting contact information that includes receiving a search request for the contact information and retrieving a result set comprising a plurality of contacts corresponding to the search request, wherein each contact comprises a plurality of common contact data fields. The method also includes, for each common contact data field in the result set, determining a differentiating factor for the common contact data field, and selectively displaying at least one value of the common contact data field based on the differentiating factor. |
| US07720822B1 |
Quality management in a data-processing environment
A method, system and computer program for quality management of a plurality of documents associated with a data-processing operation of an organization is provided. The documents include several fields, the organization has employees, and the method comprises determination of error rates. Errors are reduced in the plurality of documents by focusing on critical fields. The occurrence of errors is predicted by determining a correlation between the errors and a set of attributes, which is updated. Reducing and predicting errors control the error rate. A method for measuring the quality of a plurality of documents is also provided. The measurement is based on the relative operational impact of the errors and the frequency of errors associated with each field. |
| US07720819B2 |
Method and apparatus combining revision based and time based file data protection
A method and apparatus for protecting file data is provided that combines or merges revision based backup with backup based on time intervals. One embodiment is directed to a method for protecting data contained in a file of a computer system, wherein the computer system is useable to create multiple successive file versions. The method comprises the steps of specifying a maximum number of file versions that can be stored collectively at first and second storage locations, and apportioning the maximum number into a first number of file versions and a second number of file versions. The method further comprises storing the most recent of the multiple file versions, up to a number equal to the first number, at the first storage location. A number of file versions respectively created before the stored most recent versions, up to a number equal to the second number, are stored at the second storage location, over a pre-specified time period and in accordance with a pre-specified strategy. |
| US07720817B2 |
Method and system for browsing objects on a protected volume in a continuous data protection system
A method for browsing objects on a protected volume in a continuous data protection system begins by displaying a list of top-level objects to a user who selects a top-level object to browse. A snapshot is selected from the selected top-level object and is decoded. A list of objects in the selected snapshot is displayed and the user selects an object to browse. The selected object is decoded and operations are performed on the selected object. The user can browse the protected volume by snapshots in the top-level object or by a range of time of coverage of the top-level object. |
| US07720814B2 |
Repopulating a database with document content
Word processing documents that are created using content from a database are used to repopulate a database. The document includes content placeholders that link the content to locations within the database from which the content was retrieved. The appropriate content based on the changes made to the document is extracted from the document and is placed back within the database at the correct location. The database is repopulated such that the content within the database does not include all of the metadata required to produce the desired look and feel of a document that is generated using the content. |
| US07720810B2 |
Synchronization of application documentation across database instances
A method and system for synchronizing M application documentations across N database instances. N and M are each at least 2. A documentation synchronization agent is executed which updates N1 database instances with the M application documentations and does not update a remaining N-N1 database instances with the M application documentations if N1 is equal to N. N1 is at least 1. If N1 is less than N, then each of the remaining N-N1 database instances include a first and/or second characteristic. The first characteristic is that the remaining database instances include the M application documentations upon initiation of the executing. The second characteristic is that the agent is unable to access the remaining database instance during the executing. |
| US07720808B2 |
Apparatus and method for generating reports from a shared list of parameters
A computer readable medium comprises executable instructions to form a list of parameters for a report. The list of parameters is compared to existing lists of parameters. A selected list of parameters is designated. A report is generated with the selected list of parameters. |
| US07720805B1 |
Sequential unload processing of IMS databases
A method and system for unloading an IMS database. Segments in the segment array are stored in an indexed order or are stored in a relative byte address (RBA) order. In both cases, either an image copy of an IMS database or an actual IMS database processed sequentially may be utilized. For indexed order storage, a lookup table may be created to include a key value and a segment array location. A segment array may be created to store both the root and child segments from the IMS database. For RBA ordered storage, a first segment array may be created to store the root segments from the IMS database in a sequential order. Additionally, a second segment array may be created to store the child segments from the IMS database in a relative byte address (RBA) order. |
| US07720804B2 |
Method of generating and maintaining a data warehouse
A data warehouse solution system comprises a metadata model, a user interface and an engine. The metadata model has an information needs model including metadata regarding information needs for building reports by users, and a data information model including metadata describing data that is available for building reports. The user interface has a customer user interface for presenting the information needs model to the users for report generation, and a modeling user interface for presenting the data information model to the users for manipulating data warehouse objects. The engine has a report management service unit for providing report management service using the information needs model, and a data management service unit for providing data management service including generation of a data warehouse using the data information model. |
| US07720799B2 |
Systems and methods for employing an orthogonal corpus for document indexing
Methods and systems for processing a body of reference material to generate a directory for accessing information from a database. |
| US07720794B2 |
Identifying resource and data instances in management systems
Methods, systems, computer program products, and methods of doing business whereby managed resources and/or data are identified using a model based on object-oriented techniques. A resource hierarchy is defined for a set of resources/data to be managed, and naming rules are associated with classes in this hierarchy. The naming rules for a particular class describe how to uniquely identify resources of that class among more than one management system and in a way that is independent of the management system. The identities are structured strings created using the naming rules of the class to which the resource/data belongs. Structural restrictions placed on the structured strings allow any two identities to be compared for equality (using, for example, a simple string comparison). |
| US07720789B2 |
System and method of member unique names
A member unique name (MUN) structure and MUN translation system and method are provided. The MUN structure comprises a canonical business key for uniquely identifying a member across different dimensional data sources within a business enterprise and at least one of a dimension reference for defining the context in which the remaining portions of the MUN exist or a data source identifier (DSI) for uniquely identifying a member within a dimensional data source that implements its own unique member identifiers. The MUN translation system comprises a translation selection module for selecting a MUN transformation and a collection of MUN transformations for transforming a MUN structure of a first data source into a MUN structure of the second data source. The collection of MUN transformations comprises at least one of a different source technology OLAP to OLAP transformation for transforming a third OLAP MUN to a fourth OLAP MUN or a Dimensionally Modelled Relational (DMR) to OLAP transformation for transforming a DMR MUN to an OLAP MUN. The third OLAP MUN and fourth OLAP MUN are of different source technologies. The method comprises the steps of selecting a MUN transformation and transforming a MUN of a first data source into a MUN of the second data source. The step of transforming comprises at least one of the steps of transforming a first OLAP MUN to a second OLAP MUN, the first OLAP MUN and second OLAP MUN are of different source technologies or transforming a DMR MUN to an OLAP MUN. |
| US07720788B2 |
System and method for implementing a wireless access protocol push by establishing connection-oriented signaling channel for transmitting session initiation request
Methods and apparatus for initiating a Wireless Access Protocol (WAP) push session to push information from a push proxy gateway to a mobile station in a wireless communication network are provided. In one embodiment, the method comprises transmitting an initiation request to the mobile station using a connection-oriented signalling channel, the mobile station establishing a push session in response to the initiation request. Preferably, the connection-oriented signalling channel transmits the initiation request without using a store-and-forward mechanism. In one embodiment, the connection-oriented signalling channel comprises an Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) channel. The initiation request may conform to a WAP protocol for Service Initiation Requests (SIRs) or a USSD protocol for Unstructured Supplementary Service Requests (USSRs). In the latter case, the method may comprise establishing a connection with the mobile station using USSD; and sending a USSR message requesting the mobile station to activate and establish a push session. |
| US07720787B2 |
Intelligence analysis method and system using subjective logic
Method of and system for analysing a set of exhaustive and exclusive hypotheses, including assessing and assigning base rates for each hypothesis; determining a set of items of evidence that are relevant to, have a causal influence on, or would disconfirm more than one hypothesis; assessing and assigning base rates for each item of evidence; deciding, for each item of evidence, whether the item should be treated as being a causal influence or diagnostic indicator with respect to the set of the hypotheses; if the item of evidence is to be treated as a causal influence—making a judgement as to the likelihood of each hypothesis, both if the evidence were true, and also if the evidence were false; if the item of evidence is to be treated as a diagnostic indicator—making a judgement as to the evidence being true if the hypothesis were true; assessing the belief for each item of evidence being true; deciding a set of interim beliefs in each hypothesis for each individual item of evidence by: employing a conditional inference operator for evidence that is to be treated as a causal influence; and employing a reverse conditional inference operator for evidence that is to be treated as a diagnostic indicator; and deciding the overall belief in each hypothesis by employing a consensus operator on the respective set of interim beliefs. |
| US07720784B1 |
Emotive intelligence applied in electronic devices and internet using emotion displacement quantification in pain and pleasure space
A system and method of obtaining and processing emotive intelligence in electronic applications and devices is disclosed. This includes capturing author feelings. Feelings are assigned a pain-pleasure attribute and performance of string operations on the feelings attached text in performance of a service couple author intended meaning, satisfaction or motivation to degree of pleasure or pain associated with string text or string operations. The capability to capture and process emotive content allows for locating goods or services on a network, where providers anticipate a transaction on customer needs emotionally based.Artificial emotive intelligence is applied in machine characters by endowing them with software entities of emotive states and associated intensities, and threshold values that trigger actions, with events triggering actions or behavior by threading through the character emotive makeup. |
| US07720781B2 |
Feature selection method and apparatus
A feature selection method for selecting a predetermined number of features, the method may comprise for each category, ranking features according to feature ranking for two-category problems; and while the predetermined number of features has not yet been selected: picking a category c; selecting a feature based on the ranking for category c; and adding the selecting feature to an output list if not already present in the output list and removing the selected feature from further consideration for the category c. An apparatus and computer program code are also provided. |
| US07720780B1 |
System and method for facilitating collaboration and related multiple user thinking and cooperation regarding an arbitrary problem
Preferred embodiments of the invention provide systems and methods for facilitating multiple users or groups in thinking about and working collaboratively on an arbitrary problem, Embodiments of the system includes logic to facilitate multiple user or group specification of a problem specification, a conclusion specification, and a knowledge structure, related to the arbitrary problem. Some embodiments of the system further include logic to subdivide and link at least one of the problem specification, conclusion specification and knowledge specification, as for work by individuals or subteams. Some embodiments include automatic composition logic to combine at least one of the problem specification, knowledge specification and conclusion specification across multiple users or teams and other embodiments provide automatic suggestioning regarding the archetype group problem solving process. |
| US07720779B1 |
Extensible bayesian network editor with inferencing capabilities
A system for the representation, editing, evaluation, and inference of graphical models is disclosed which can be used to construct and evaluate a graphical model or graphical network and to calculate inference values. An efficient method of updating graphical models is demonstrated, and provides the basis for an improved system for manipulation and evaluation of probabilistic models. The graphical network editor is useful in the construction of graphical modes such as Bayesian Networks. The graphical network and network graphical user interface (GUI) are used in conjunction with each other to model a system wherein failure probabilities and the current state of components are taken into account to monitor the health and progress of a system for an engineer or engineering software to evaluate and monitor. The evaluation is useful in the monitoring of assets and other real systems having multiple, dependent, and independently operating components such as a pump, a manufacturing plant, a production line, an assembly line, where asset health and quality control is a concern. The asset components each influencing some overall outcome of a system or situation. Success or failure or probability of success, probability of failure and health of the system can be monitored and manipulated by altering the values of prior probability and posterior probability values. Failure correlation between components can be evaluated wherein failure rates of asset is unknown. Production and quality can be monitored and altered. |
| US07720769B1 |
Card activated cash dispensing automated banking machine system and method
A card activated cash dispensing automated banking machine is provided. The machine may be operative to install a terminal master key (TK) therein in response to at least one input from a single operator. The machine may include an EPP that is operative to remotely receive an encrypted terminal master key from a host system. The machine may authenticate and decrypt the terminal master key prior to accepting the terminal master key. The machine may further output through a display device of the machine a one-way hash of at least one public key associated with the host system. The machine may continue with the installation of the terminal master key in response to an operator confirming that the one-way hash of the public key corresponds to a value independently known by the operator to correspond to the host system. |
| US07720761B2 |
Method and system for enhancing credit line management, price management and other discretionary levels setting for financial accounts
A method and system is disclosed for enabling the accurate determination of price points (APRs), credit limits, and other discretionary levels for each cardholder that maximize Net Present Value (NPV) for the portfolio, given constraints on quantities such as risk of default. In accordance with one embodiment, the present invention uses a Markov Decision Process (MDP) methodology to generate a simplified transition matrix representative of the potential state transitions for account holders. This model applies account level historical information on purchases, payments, profitability and delinquency risk to make these decisions. In addition, a data structure is disclosed constructed to implement a transition matrix computationally in different sizes. |
| US07720752B2 |
System and method for providing a custom hedged adjustable rate mortgage
Methods, media, and systems for providing a custom hedged adjustable rate mortgage are provided. These methods, media, and systems provide hedges and mortgages that may be used in conjunction with the retail mortgage sector. To facilitate these hedges and mortgages, computer systems are provided that allow a user to calculate fees, interest rates, and payments for these products based upon various factors selected by a user. The methods, media, and systems also provide a savings calculator that enables a user to determine what savings will be made be purchasing a hedge and/or mortgage under one or more scenarios. |
| US07720751B2 |
System and method of continuous assurance for internal control
A computer system for conducting continuous assurance for internal control of financial transactions is disclosed. The computer system comprises a processor, a bus coupled to the processor, a memory coupled to the bus, a mass storage system coupled to the bus, and continuous assurance software resident in the memory. The continuous assurance software, when executed, performing the steps of accessing client database, downloading total population, performing analysis, evaluating analysis results, comparing total population to financial statements, determining risk ratings for each predetermined financial group, determining a materiality of anomalies, and displaying results. |
| US07720750B2 |
Systems and methods for providing consumers anonymous pre-approved offers from a consumer-selected group of merchants
The system and method of the present invention provides consumers with credit information including information which can help the consumer evaluate the consumer's credit report or credit worthiness. The present invention can also provide consumers with suggestions to help consumers better their credit rating. The system and method of the present invention also provide consumers with pre-approved credit offers from a consumer-selected group of merchants, where the consumers are anonymous to the merchants, and the merchants do not receive copies of the consumer's credit report. Additional functions of the present invention include allowing users to opt-out or opt-into solicitation lists, and enabling users to automatically monitor their credit report. The present invention offers these services through a third party agent of the consumer which can be accessible to the consumer via the Internet. Through this agency relationship, the third party can request consumer information and determine pre-approved offers from a plurality of merchants while protecting the confidentiality of consumer credit information without negative consequences on a consumer's credit. |
| US07720748B2 |
Method and system for multi-enterprise optimization using flexible trade contracts
A method of multi-enterprise optimization at a buyer computer includes accessing a forecasted demand for at least one item and generating one or more proposed flexible trade contracts using the forecasted demand for the item. The proposed flexible trade contract is communicated to a seller computer and subsequently executed after acceptance of the proposed flexible trade contract at the seller computer to create a flexible trade contract. Each proposed flexible trade contract may be a forward contract, an option contract, or a flexible forward contract. |
| US07720742B1 |
Computer trading system method and interface
The system and method of the preferred embodiment supports trading of securities over the Internet both on national exchanges and outside the national exchanges. The preferred embodiment supports an improved human interface and a continuous display of real-time stock quotes on the user's computer screen. The ergonomic graphical user interface (GUI) of the preferred embodiment includes several functional benefits in comparison with existing on-line consumer trading systems. In the preferred embodiment, the users are subscribers to a securities trading service offered over the Internet. Preferably, each subscriber to this service is simultaneously connected from his own computer to a first system which provides user-to-user trading capabilities and to a second system which is a broker/dealer system of his/her choice. The system providing the user-to-user trading services preferably includes a root server and a hierarchical network of replicated servers supporting replicated databases. The user-to-user system provides real-time continuously updated stock information and facilitates user-to-user trades that have been approved by the broker/dealer systems with which it interacts. Users of the preferred system can trade securities with other users of the system. As part of this user-to-user trading, a user can accept a buy or sell offer at the terms offered or he can initiate a counteroffer and negotiate a trade. |
| US07720738B2 |
Methods and apparatus for determining a return distribution for an investment portfolio
A portfolio analysis technique determines a distribution of possible values of a portfolio at a future time and percentiles or cumulative probabilities for each possible future value. The future return distribution may be determined in accordance with a variety of techniques. In accordance with some embodiments, the distribution is determined using a model of future returns. In accordance with other embodiments, the distribution may be determined by resampling past returns of the portfolio. In general, the techniques described herein may be implemented on an electronic system, such as a computer that executes software. |
| US07720737B2 |
Anonymous respondent method for evaluating business performance
A system for providing accurate, quantifiable and reproducible assessments of an organization's performance based on predetermined criteria. The system includes a telecommunications infrastructure administered by a survey administrator. Employees or non-employees of a company or other organization to be evaluated log on to the system and answer a plurality of questions relating to various aspects of the business entity's operations. The information may be obtained through Internet communications or through touch-tone telephone systems. The data is stored in a database and subsequently analyzed by the survey administrator for evaluation and forecasting of the business entity's performance. |
| US07720735B2 |
System and method for remote deposit capture
A system includes one or more remote check deposit locations, and one or more treasury receipt servers to receive check information captured from the one or more remote check deposit locations, and to receive transaction data from an originating depository financial institution (ODFI), the transaction data including an amount of funds available from clearing the captured check information. |
| US07720732B2 |
System and method for generating transaction based recommendations
A system for generating recommendation data includes an assessment unit and an evaluation unit. The assessment unit is configured to receive transaction data for a plurality of transactions and to assess each transaction and generate assessment data based thereon. The evaluation unit is coupled with the assessment unit and configured to receive an evaluation request including a proposed transaction, and generate recommendation data including a certainty indicator which indicates a level of certainty that the proposed transaction will be successful according to predetermined criteria. |
| US07720731B1 |
Method and system for leasing and sharing a group of goods by a group composed of matching number of individuals including the systematic rotation of those goods between the lessees in predetermined time slots
A method for leasing multiple vehicles, including the steps of compiling information as to vehicles available for leasing and time periods in which the vehicles are available for leasing; presetting at least one group of N vehicles from the compiled information; setting a total lease term for each group of N vehicles; dividing the total lease term into P sub-lease terms; selecting a plurality of M individuals for leasing the vehicles in each group, where N, P and M are integers and M is less than or equal to N; calculating lease costs for leasing each vehicle in each group for each sub-lease term; entering into a lease agreement with each individual for leasing a plurality P of the vehicles in the P sub-lease terms for a preset one of the groups of N vehicles; and removing the selected vehicles from the compiled information. |
| US07720728B2 |
Compensation contract supporting system, method for supporting compensation contract, and program thereof
A compensation contract supporting system that supports a compensation contract which provides a customer compensation for a profit risk created by a plurality of risk factors that influence a profit of the customer, comprising: a database for storing statistical data of the plurality of risk factors; a first probability calculation unit for calculating a probability, in which a part of the plurality of the risk factors satisfy a predetermined first condition, and a probability, in which remaining plurality of the risk factors satisfying a predetermined second condition using the database, and at least one of the first condition and the second condition being a non-financial condition that is not related to a financial product; and a ratio calculation unit for calculating a ratio between a first compensation amount to be paid or received by the customer when the part of the risk factors satisfy the first condition and a second compensation amount to be paid or received by the customer when the remaining risk factors satisfy the second condition using the probability calculated by the first probability calculation unit. |
| US07720727B2 |
Economic calculations in process control system
A process control system includes economic models disposed in communication with process control modules, as well as with sources of economic data, such as cost, throughput and profit data, and uses the economic models to determine useful economic parameters or information associated with the actual operation of the process plant at the time the plant is operating. The economic models can be used to provide financial statistics such as profitability, cost of manufactured product, etc. in real time based on the actual current operating state of the process and the business data associated with the finished product, raw materials, etc. These financial statistics can be used to drive alarms and alerts within the process network and be used as inputs to process plant optimizers, etc. to provide for better or more optimal control of the process and to provide a better understanding of the conditions which lead to maximum profitability of the plant. |
| US07720724B2 |
Inventory management method and program product
A management server for managing inventory of articles and a terminal device for inquiring the condition of inventory are provided. The management server is provided with an inventory database and a database control portion for controlling input and output of data to and from the inventory database. The inventory database stores, as management information, information identifying articles and salespersons responsible for the articles as well as, for articles specified to be included in open inventory, information indicating that persons other than the salespersons responsible for the articles are permitted to sell the particular article. Furthermore, the management server accepts access by particular users from the terminal device to the management information on the articles included in ordinary inventory and also accepts access by users other than the particular users from the terminal device to the management information on the articles included in open inventory. |
| US07720718B2 |
Management of the flow of persons in relation to centers of crowd concentration via television control
A method and system for the loading of patrons at multiple attractions at an entertainment includes the first-in first-out line and a priority based line. A cellular telephone is used to obtain and claim priority status. In other forms different priorities are established based on where, when and the number of priority spaces required. Different hierarchies are established for computer controlling the different lines for multiple attractions in the entertainment environment. The system and method also provide for moving people from an area of concentration to other locations. |
| US07720715B1 |
Method and system for providing retail-item purchasing data in a computer network environment
A method and system for communicating retail-item-purchasing data in a computer network environment is provided. Commute information is leveraged to provide purchasing options to end-users and to permit customers to automatically search for various products available at local businesses without having to visit each business. The commute information can be a commute path or a location reference. One or more providers of the items within a distance of the commute path are identified. Purchasing data is communicated based on the determination of the providers. |
| US07720714B2 |
System and method for facilitating electronic procurement based on negotiated contracts
An electronic procurement session is conducted between a host and a user needing to procure products or services on behalf of an organization. An established contract for the purchase and sales of products/services between a supplier and the organization is the basis for constructing a set of pre-priced items that may be supplied to the organization. A bi-directional electronic communication interface using protocols of the World Wide Web is established between the host and the user and provides the user with access to web-pages which are displayed on the user's computer using a standard Web browser. In response to user information, a subset of the set of pre-priced items is displayed on web-pages and served by the host to the user. Orders for user-selected items from the displayed web-pages are forwarded to a vendor for order fulfillment. The fulfilling vendor and the host have established in advance of the order forwarding that the order will be fulfilled by the vendor in accordance with the terms of the established contract. |
| US07720710B2 |
Self-service system and method including shared components
A self-service system and method which uses shared components. The self-service checkout system includes a checkout platform including a plurality of checkout stations arranged together and associated with a plurality of checkout lanes, and checkout components including unshared components at each of the checkout stations and shared components available for use by customers at any of the checkout stations, and a computer for receiving indications of starts of overlapping transactions at two or more of the plurality of checkout stations, for establishing transaction records for the transactions, for determining that one of the checkout components must be used at a point in one of the transactions, for interrupting the one transaction, for determining that the one checkout component is a shared component, for determining that the one checkout component is in use by another of the transactions, and for resuming the one transaction after the one checkout component is no longer being used by the other transaction. |
| US07720706B2 |
Method and system for providing performance statistics to agents
A method and a system for providing and presenting performance statistics to an agent. A further embodiment of the present invention provides performance comparison reporting between an agent and an agent data group and/or a management unit. This is achieved by collecting and calculating statistical parameters that characterize the performance of agents, providing periodic updates to the performance data, and providing access to the performance data to the agent. |
| US07720704B2 |
Enterprise resource planning system and method for managing route transactions
A computer-implemented method of managing route transactions in an enterprise resource planning (ERP) system is provided. The method includes calling a route form from an ERP server. The route form graphically illustrates at least one of a plurality of related tables corresponding to route processes, as well as an approval control input element to approve of a route transaction corresponding to the route processes. Upon receiving a user input at the approval control input element of the route form, the route transaction can be approved. Then, the method includes automatically implementing route transaction executing steps to each of the plurality of related route tables. |
| US07720702B2 |
System and method for integrated travel and expense management
The present invention provides a system and method for integrating travel and expense management. The present invention enables an entity to integrate not only data that matches exactly, but also determine the likelihood that data that does not match exactly nevertheless corresponds to each other. The system comprises: a network; at least one terminal coupled to the network; and at least one server coupled to the network. The server comprises a program that includes: retrieving travel data records corresponding to travel requests; retrieving expense data records reflecting expense transactions; comparing the expense data records to the travel data records; and determining a likelihood that the expense data records match the travel data records. |
| US07720701B2 |
Automated configuration of medical practice management systems
A user (e.g., medical office manager, medical office insurance administrator, doctor) utilizes a medical practice configuration interface (e.g., web page) to input information about the user's medical practice (e.g., address, insurance plans, doctors, hospitals that the doctors utilize). Based on this information and/or rules associated with the insurance plans accepted at the user's medical practice, additional information is requested from the user about the user's medical practice (e.g., information needed for an insurance plan, information needed for a hospital). The user inputs the requested additional information utilizing the medical practice configuration interface. Configuration information for the user's medical practice is generated based on the information and/or the additional information inputted by the user. A user interface (e.g., web pages interfacing with the medical practice management server) and/or rules for the medical practice can be generated based on the configuration information. |
| US07720696B1 |
Computerized system for tracking health conditions of users
A computerized system of tracking health conditions of users associated with a client for diagnosing sleep apnea through forming an encrypted web based questionnaire. The user inputs information such as company personal information, individual personal information, health information, and personal health information. This information is then electronically compiled and a health screening service report is outputted such as witnessed sleep apnea, self admitted sleep apnea, body mass index of each user, and summary of results of a sleep test. |
| US07720689B2 |
Authenticity checker for driver's license, automated-teller machine provided with the checker and program recording medium
A driver's license shooting section comprises a structure that can shoot a driver's license's watermarks both from either its obverse or reverse. And a driver's license shooting controller orders the driver's license shooting section to shoot the driver's license's a watermark from its obverse. Using this result, an authenticity judging section judges the driver's license's authenticity. Then, if the driver's license is back-watermarked type, it is recognized as not authentic, when the driver's license shooting controller orders the driver's license shooting section to shoot the driver's license's a watermark from its reverse. Using this result, the authenticity judger judges if the driver's license is authentic or not. In this way, a legal back-watermarked type driver's license is judged authentic. Consequently, a driver's license's authenticity can be judged properly, no matter whether the driver's license is face-watermarked type or back-watermarked type. |
| US07720686B2 |
Method and system for providing listener-requested music over a network
A system and method for providing personalized music playback over a network. Via a browser, a user computer may be connected to a server and the user may tune to one of a plurality of radio stations. The user may receive a playlist of songs in the musical style of the radio station selected by the user. The playlist includes a plurality of unique identifiers for each song that indicate a location on the Internet from which the song may be streamingly transmitted to a media player for playback on the user's computer. Additionally, each user may submit requests for songs which that user desires to be included on a future playlist. For each radio station, requests from a plurality of users are aggregated over a predetermined time period to determine which songs are most requested. A user request for a song may be time-delayed or satisfied in real-time. |
| US07720679B2 |
Speech recognition apparatus, speech recognition apparatus and program thereof
Provided is a method for canceling background noise of a sound source other than a target direction sound source in order to realize highly accurate speech recognition, and a system using the same. In terms of directional characteristics of a microphone array, due to a capability of approximating a power distribution of each angle of each of possible various sound source directions by use of a sum of coefficient multiples of a base form angle power distribution of a target sound source measured beforehand by base form angle by using a base form sound, and power distribution of a non-directional background sound by base form, only a component of the target sound source direction is extracted at a noise suppression part. In addition, when the target sound source direction is unknown, at a sound source localization part, a distribution for minimizing the approximate residual is selected from base form angle power distributions of various sound source directions to assume a target sound source direction. Further, maximum likelihood estimation is executed by using voice data of the component of the sound source direction passed through these processes, and a voice model obtained by predetermined modeling of the voice data, and speech recognition is carried out based on an obtained assumption value. |
| US07720675B2 |
Method and system for determining text coherence
A method and system for determining text coherence in an essay is disclosed. A method of evaluating the coherence of an essay includes receiving an essay having one or more discourse elements and text segments. The one or more discourse elements are annotated either manually or automatically. A text segment vector is generated for each text segment in a discourse element using sparse random indexing vectors. The method or system then identifies one or more essay dimensions and measures the semantic similarity of each text segment based on the essay dimensions. Finally, a coherence level is assigned to the essay based on the measured semantic similarities. |
| US07720673B2 |
Method for dynamic context scope selection in hybrid N-GRAM+LSA language modeling
A method and system for dynamic language modeling of a document are described. In one embodiment, a number of local probabilities of a current document are computed and a vector representation of the current document in a latent semantic analysis (LSA) space is determined. In addition, a number of global probabilities based upon the vector representation of the current document in an LSA space is computed. Further, the local probabilities and the global probabilities are combined to produce the language modeling. |
| US07720671B2 |
Method and system for child-parent mechanism emulation via a general interface
A method for emulating a system call includes making the system call by a first process in a first operating system (OS) for interacting with a second process, wherein the first OS is emulated in a second OS, spawning an agent process, wherein the agent process is a child process of the first process, implementing a functionality of the system call using a general mechanism in the second OS between the agent process and the second process, passing a result associated with the system call from the second process to the agent process using the general mechanism, and relaying the result from the agent process to the first process using a system call in the second OS, wherein the result is stored by the first process. |
| US07720668B2 |
System and method for scheduling token arrival in a business process simulation
A business process simulation system for scheduling token arrival in a business process simulation is provided. The system includes a frequency module for receiving user input defining a frequency of token arrival; a duration module for receiving user input defining at least one repeatable valid duration of availability to receive tokens; an exemption module for receiving user input defining an exemption duration within the availability duration; and a timer module for receiving user input defining a recurring timer calendar for the business process simulation. The system also includes a token scheduling controller, wherein the token scheduling controller is adapted to process instructions corresponding to the user inputs and sending token scheduling instructions corresponding to the user-defined parameters to the business process simulation. |
| US07720663B1 |
Delay analysis system
The present invention provides a delay analysis system which makes it possible to make delay analysis considering circuit logical information in order to give more accurate delay times. In addition to circuit connection information and delay time information on the rises and falls of the input and output terminals of the circuits which are stored in a delay analysis library, the delay analysis system according to the present invention contains, in the library, logical operation information which represents correspondence between the logical values of each input terminal and their output logical values of the circuits. When making the delay analysis of a logic circuit, the system selects, for each circuit included in the logic circuit, a delay time between an input terminal and an output terminal from the delay time information on the rises and falls of the input and output terminals of the basic circuits, stored in the library, according to the logical operation of the circuit in order to calculate the delay time of the circuit. |
| US07720661B2 |
Low vibration rectification in a closed-loop, in-plane MEMS device
A method for a geometry of a lateral comb drive for an in-plane, electrostatic force feedback, closed-loop, micromachined accelerometer or closed-loop Coriolis rate gyroscope device, or closed-loop capacitive pressure or force measuring device. When vibration is applied to the device, the error in the time-average output, which is vibration rectification error, due to this input vibration is minimized or eliminated. The geometry resulting from practice of the present invention is space-efficient because drive force is maximized while vibration rectification is minimized or eliminated. |
| US07720654B2 |
Generation and manipulation of realistic signals for circuit and system verification
Methods for generating realistic waveforms with controllable voltage noise and timing jitter in a computer-based simulation environment and the simulation of a subset of those waveforms with system elements along the signal path is disclosed. By deriving a generic, re-useable, parameterized Fourier series, time-domain clock and pseudo-random data signals are generated from a subset of their true harmonic components. Time-domain signal parameters including high, low, and common-mode voltage levels, transition slew-rates, transition timing, period and/or frequency, may be designated by the user, and the computer calculates the harmonic components that will combine through the inverse Fourier transform to provide the required time-domain characteristics. By computing the frequency content of the signal directly it is possible to simulate the interaction of the signal with various system blocks while remaining in the frequency domain, thereby reducing simulation time and memory requirements. By allowing the parameters of the signal model to vary on a cycle-to-cycle basis, signal characteristics such as voltage noise and timing jitter may be modeled with flexibility and precision down to the numerical limitations of the simulator. |
| US07720653B2 |
Mathematical model for a metallurgical plant, and method for optimizing the operation of a metallurgical plant using a model
A method for optimizing the operation of a metallurgical plant using a model by modeling supply and discharge media streams, predetermining structure parameters which define the media streams, linking the media streams to one another, predetermining starting parameters which describe initial states, predetermining input operating parameters, determining and outputting output operating parameters, and determining and outputting end parameters, which describe end states of the units, by the model, predetermining the structure parameters to an optimization computer by a user and transmitting the parameters from the optimization computer to a model, and determining optimized operating parameters by the optimization computer on the basis of the starting parameters and an assessment criterion in accordance with an optimization algorithm using the model, wherein the assessment criterion is predetermined to the optimization computer by the user. |
| US07720649B2 |
Reverse engineering method for disk and blade attachments
A method of reverse engineering a component of a gas turbine engine having a root attachment feature includes scanning the root attachment feature a plurality of times to obtain raw scan data, creating a best fit line relative to pressure faces of the root attachment feature as a function of the raw scan data, determining a pressure face angle as a function of the relationship between the best fit lines of the pressure faces, bisecting the pressure face angle to determine a symmetry plane for the root attachment feature, establishing a master attachment data set in relation to the local coordinate system by averaging the best fit lines and the raw scan data for each scan of the root attachment feature, and verifying symmetry of the master attachment data set. |
| US07720644B2 |
Method and apparatus of spectral estimation
A spectrum of a set of samples from a data stream of sampled data is estimated until a targeted signal to noise ratio is achieved. |
| US07720643B1 |
Estimating processor usage
Methods and systems are disclosed for determining a processor usage adjustment factor and for automatically applying the processor usage adjustment factor to provide an accurate processor usage estimate for an SMT processor. In one implementation, the methods and systems obtain samples of processor usage reported by the operating system at a predefined sampling rate over a predefined sampling interval. Thread states for the threads substantially corresponding to the reported processor usage are so obtained at the predefined sampling rate and over the predefined sampling interval. This sampling may be performed for servers running different applications and having diverse processing loads. An estimate of the distribution of the number of threads running for the processor usage reported may then be determined from the sampled data. A processor usage adjustment factor may then be derived, based on the distribution, and used to provide a more accurate processor usage estimate. |
| US07720641B2 |
Application of abnormal event detection technology to delayed coking unit
The present invention is a method for detecting an abnormal event for process units of a Delayed Coking Unit. The method compares the operation of the process units to statistical and engineering models. The statistical models are developed by principal components analysis of the normal operation for these units. The engineering models are based statistical and correlation analysis between variables. If the difference between the operation of a process unit and the normal model result indicates an abnormal condition, then the cause of the abnormal condition is determined and corrected. |
| US07720640B2 |
Diagnostic data detection and control
Provides a diagnostic apparatus for diagnosing a measured object based on time-series data of a plurality of parameters measured from the measured object. An example of an apparatus includes a change-point score calculating portion for calculating a time-series change-point score with which each of the plurality of parameters changes according to passage of time based on the time-series data on the parameter, a change-point correlation calculating portion for calculating a change-point correlation indicating strength by which each of the plurality of parameters is associated with each of other parameters based on the change-point scores of the parameter and the other parameter, and a parameter outputting portion for outputting a set of parameters of which calculated degrees of associations are higher than a predetermined reference change-point correlation as a set of mutually strongly associated parameters. |
| US07720637B2 |
Systems and methods for efficient utilization of power sources in a redundant configuration
A method may include generating an efficiency curve for each of a plurality of power sources and operating the plurality of power sources based at least on the generated efficiency curve. Generating the efficiency curve for each power source may include coupling a test load to the power source for a period of time, measuring an output power after the period of time, determining a productivity of the power source, determining an efficiency of each power source based at least on the measured output power and the determined productivity, repeating the efficiency determination of the power source for a plurality of different test loads, and generating an efficiency curve from at least the determined efficiencies. |
| US07720635B2 |
Determination of the connected heating load of a building
A method and device, wherein the following steps are carried out: measurement or determination of waste gas concentration parameters, waste gas temperature, outside temperature, fuel power during a limited observation period; determination of the efficiency of the heating system in the area of observation over a period of time; determination of the average outside temperature in the area of observation; determination of heating performance produced in accordance with an average outside temperature on the basis of fuel power over a period of time and the efficiency of the heating system over a period of time in the area of observation; determination of maximum heating performance which is to be obtained in accordance with a minimum outside temperature from the average heating performance, minimum outside temperature, average inside temperature and average outside temperature in the area of observation; determination of the heat contact value of the heating system from the maximum heating performance and duration of observation. |
| US07720634B2 |
Apparatus and method for automatically improving a set of initial return on investment calculator templates
A method for updating the return on investment (ROI) templates used by business consultants. The present invention comprises a Template Evaluation Program (TEP) and a Template Analysis Program (TAP). The TEP compares the default template to the templates modified by the consultants for the customer's ROI analysis and assigns an effectiveness factor to the modified templates. The TAP develops a data list from the default templates and the effectiveness factors and plots the data on a histogram. The TAP performs a statistical analysis for each parameter and updates the default template parameter values if the data fits a normal distribution curve. If the data forms more than one peak on the histogram, then the TAP uses one peak to update the default template and uses the second peak to create a new template. The new template's parameter value is derived from the data in the second peak. |
| US07720633B2 |
Bivariate histogram for impulse noise monitor
A method and apparatus for creating a bivariate histogram with a plurality of variables using impulse noise data is disclosed. The bivariate histogram describes the joint statistics between at least two of the variables. Also disclosed is an impulse noise monitor (INM) in communication with an impulse noise sensor (INS). The INM receives error data from the INS and creates a bivariate histogram with a plurality of variables using the error data. Included is a method for providing a bivariate histogram with an impulse noise length (IL) and an impulse noise inter-arrival time (IAT) for a plurality of impulse noise events. The IL and the IAT are each measured in integer multiples of discrete multi-tone symbols, and the bivariate histogram is used to determine a minimum impulse noise protection. |
| US07720630B1 |
Personalized transportation information system
A computer-implemented method of providing personalized weather and transportation information includes receiving operational parameters, a user profile, and weather data. Personalized weather and transportation information is derived based on the received weather, operational parameters, and the user profile. The personalized weather and transportation information is presented to a user. |
| US07720623B2 |
Fixed reference frame phase-locked loop (FRF-PLL) for unbalanced line voltage conditions
The present invention relates to a system to implement a phase-locked loop (PLL) which is able to provide an estimation of the angular frequency, and both the positive and negative sequences of the fundamental component of a three-phase signal. These sequences are provided in fixed reference frame coordinates. |
| US07720621B2 |
Application of multiple voltage droop detection
A method and system for applying multiple voltage droop detection and instruction throttling instances with customized thresholds across semiconductor chips. Environmental parameters are detected for various locations on a chip, and timing margins are determined for each location on the chip. An acceptable voltage droop for each location is determined based on the environmental parameters and the timing margins for the corresponding location. A droop threshold is then determined for each location based on the corresponding acceptable voltage droop determined for the corresponding location. |
| US07720620B2 |
System and method for determining harmonic contributions from non-linear loads without disconnecting any load
A system and method for determining non-linear load harmonics impact on the voltage distortion at the point of common coupling is disclosed. Briefly described, one embodiment is a method comprising metering voltage on an electric power system; metering current on the electric power system; determining a predicted voltage based upon the metered current; comparing the predicted voltage with the metered voltage; and determining a harmonic voltage component using a plurality of weights determined when the predicted voltage converges with the metered voltage. |
| US07720616B2 |
Multi-stage, multi-user engagement submission and tracking process
A method for submitting information for an engagement is disclosed. The method might include the steps of generating a tracking screen for tracking the submission of a plurality of files, including a tax file and an image file, each file having the same client identification code, receiving the tax file from a first client device, and updating the tracking screen to reflect the submission of the tax file. The method further might include the steps of receiving an image file from a second client device, updating the tracking screen to reflect the submission of the image file, and transmitting the plurality of files to a remote server system. |
| US07720613B2 |
Method for sequencing nucleic acids
Method for sequencing nucleic acids in which the values of the CID spectrum calculated for an assumed sequence are compared with the measured spectrum of the nucleic acid and the degree of correspondence is calculated, at least one position of the assumed sequence is modified and the degree of correspondence with the measured spectrum is recalculated. |
| US07720608B2 |
Method and signal processing means for detecting and discriminating between structural configurations and geological gradients encountered by kinetic energy subterranean terra-dynamic crafts
The present invention is directed to signal processing means for detecting and discriminating between geological layers encountered by kinetic energy subterranean vehicles in flight (terra-craft), using a raw signal representing deceleration of the terra-craft. The signal processing means uses autocorrelation and filtering to amplify the rate of deceleration, allowing the same to be compared to extensive data compiled for the US government regarding rates of deceleration in known materials, using various craft geometry. In this way, the unknown material encountered by the terra-craft can be identified by comparing the deceleration of the craft through a layer of material to the known data for the craft geometry. The signal processing means may further include a plurality of circuits to detect and annunciate varying layers in a media, and to track in real time the location of the projectile. |
| US07720603B2 |
Method and apparatus for providing GPS data using network
Provided is a network global positioning system (GPS) terminal. The network GPS terminal includes: a GPS receiver receiving GPS data; a GPS processor processing the received GPS data to a predetermined form; a network communication part communicating with an external apparatus through a network in order to receive a request for the GPS data from the external apparatus, and transmit the processed GPS data to the external apparatus in response to the request; a security access controller authenticating the external apparatus; and a network management part managing connection information and security information of the external apparatus, the network communication part simultaneously communicating with at least one external apparatus using a TCP/IP protocol. A method of providing GPS data using a network is also provided. |
| US07720602B2 |
Positioning device, method of controlling positioning device, positioning control program, and computer-readable recording medium having positioning control program recorded thereon
A positioning device includes a moving amount determination section which determines a moving amount of the device in a period between a preceding positioning time and a present positioning time; a moving amount evaluation section which determines whether or not the moving amount is within a predetermined allowable moving range; a positioning section which locates a position of the device based on a satellite signal which is a signal from a positioning satellite; an average position calculation section which calculates an average position by averaging a preceding located position and a present located position when the moving amount evaluation section has determined that the moving amount is within the predetermined allowable moving range; and a position output section which outputs the average position. |
| US07720601B2 |
Method and apparatus for compressing GPS satellite broadcast message information
An assisted global positioning satellite (Assisted GPS) system has a GPS reference network node (260) that collects GPS satellite broadcast messages and prepares separate GPS assistance messages to be modulated by a base transceiver station (BTS) (202) on a cellular carrier signal (201) and sent to single or multiple handset (204). In a first preferred embodiment, instead of the handset (204) receiving standard ephemeris and clock correction data elements in a GPS assistance message, a compressed GPS assistance message containing XYZ information contains a GPS satellite's coordinate position modified according to the satellite clock correction. In a second preferred embodiment, there is a first type of compressed GPS assistance message containing subframe 1, 2, 3 data of a GPS satellite broadcast message and a second type of compressed GPS assistance message containing subframe 4, 5 data of a GPS satellite broadcast message. The compressed GPS assistance messages according to the second preferred embodiment lack redundant or predictable information in order to reduce the size of the compressed GPS assistance message. The first type can be updated at a different rate than the second type in order to reduce the traffic and yet keep the handset (204) up to date. |
| US07720600B2 |
Navigation system
Disclosed are a navigation system and/or a point information display method and a program. The navigation system consists mainly of: a stream receiver that receives broadcast streams; a data decoder that samples a data signal from the received streams and decodes the data signal into character string information; a matching block that performs matching to compare a predetermined keyword, which is associated with position information specified in map information data, with stored keywords and searches a keyword consistent with the keyword contained in the character string information; a position information searching block that searches position information associated with the keyword contained in the character string information and detected to be consistent with a stored keyword by the matching block; and a display unit that displays the detected position information while superimposing it on a display image. |
| US07720599B2 |
Tourist information guiding apparatus
A tourist information guiding apparatus is provided with a tourist spot information storage storing image data relating to tourist spots in correspondence with character string data for sightseeing guide written in a plurality of languages, a monitor for displaying operation screens used to input various instructions such as the display of tourist information, a language receiving section for receiving the selection of a language via the operation screen on the monitor, a tourist spot receiving section for receiving the selection of a tourist spot, and a display controlling section for causing the monitor to display an image of the tourist spot selected by the tourist spot receiving section together with a character string for sightseeing guide written in the language designated by the language receiving section. A traveler can obtain tourist information in his native language at a travel destination by means of a tourist information guiding apparatus. |
| US07720598B2 |
System and method for determining a position of a vehicle with compensation for noise or measurement error
A mobile transmitter transmits a transmission signal from a vehicle to beacons. An estimator determines elapsed times for corresponding propagation paths between the vehicle and the beacons. Each propagation path includes at least one of a first propagation duration of a transmission signal and a second propagation duration of a return signal. A compensator compensates for noise or measurement error associated with a corresponding propagation path by invoking a linear fit scheme. The linear fit scheme applies a generally linear fit over fixed intervals of noisy measurements such that the noisy position measurements generally conform to a linear portion of a path plan of a vehicle. A data processor estimates a position of a vehicle at a confluence or intersection of the position curves or temporal curves based on elapsed times for the propagation paths. |
| US07720597B2 |
Vehicle tracker including input/output features and related methods
A vehicle control system includes a tracking unit and a function unit cooperating therewith. The tracking unit may include a vehicle position determining device, a wireless communications device, and a tracking controller cooperating with the vehicle position determining device and the wireless communications device to send vehicle position information to a user. Further, the function unit may include at least one uniquely coded transmitter to be carried by a user, a receiver at the vehicle for receiving signals from the at least one uniquely coded transmitter, and a function controller at the vehicle and connected to the receiver for learning the at least one uniquely coded transmitter to permit control of a vehicle function by the user. The function controller may advantageously cooperate with the wireless communications device of the tracking unit for sending an alert indication of whether at least one new uniquely coded transmitter has been learned. |
| US07720595B2 |
Abnormality diagnostic device for air-fuel ratio sensor, and control method for the device
An abnormality diagnostic device for an air-fuel ratio sensor that detects the air-fuel ratio of exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine is provided. The abnormality diagnostic device includes: a device that an device that models a system extending from a fuel injection valve to the air-fuel ratio sensor by using a first order response delay element and a waste time element, and that identifies at least a waste time of the waste time element based on an input given to the air-fuel ratio sensor and an output obtained from the air-fuel ratio sensor; and another device that performs determination about an abnormality of the waste time based on the identified waste time. |
| US07720593B2 |
Fuel injection strategy for gasoline direct injection engine during high speed/load operation
A system and method for controlling operation of a multiple cylinder direct injection internal combustion engine include injecting fuel directly into the combustion chamber during the exhaust stroke at high engine speeds and loads to reduce the effect of intake airflow on the injection spray and improve fuel-air mixture homogeneity. |
| US07720588B2 |
Driving assistance function for a vehicle stationary on a slope
A process for assisting the driving of a vehicle provided with a braking system including brake calipers able to be activated as a function of a target braking force, including the steps of: determining an instantaneous state of the vehicle defined by state variables measured by sensors with which the vehicle is provided; testing a logical entry condition verified when the velocity of the vehicle is zero and when the slope is greater than a pre-defined slope; when the logical entry condition is verified, testing a logical exit condition; automatically operating the braking system to keep the vehicle static on the slope while the logical exit condition is not verified; and automatically releasing the activation of the braking system when the logical exit condition is verified. |
| US07720583B2 |
Vehicle control apparatus and method of suppressing vibration of vehicle
A powertrain control ECU sets a target driving force, and controls an internal combustion engine and a transmission of a vehicle. A first processor of the powertrain control ECU includes a driving force adjustment portion, a filter, a mode-switch, an environmental information-obtaining device, and a steering sensor. The driving force adjustment portion sets the target driving force based on at least one of instructions from a driver and from a second processor. The filter corrects the target driving force to suppress vibration on a spring of the vehicle. The mode-switch sets the running mode. The environmental information-obtaining device obtains information on the environment around the vehicle. The steering angle sensor determines the running condition. A correction amount, by which the filter corrects the target driving force, is adjusted according to the running mode, the environment, and the running condition. |
| US07720580B2 |
Object detection system for vehicle
An imaging system for a vehicle includes an imaging array sensor and a control. The image array sensor comprises a plurality of photo-sensing pixels and is positioned at the vehicle with a field of view exteriorly of the vehicle. The imaging array sensor is operable to capture an image of a scene occurring exteriorly of the vehicle. The captured image comprises an image data set representative of the exterior scene. The control algorithmically processes the image data set to a reduced image data set of the image data set. The control processes the reduced image data set to extract information from the reduced image data set. The control selects the reduced image data set based on a steering angle of the vehicle. |
| US07720573B2 |
Robot control apparatus
A robot control apparatus includes a control apparatus body fixedly installed and connected to a robot and a portable teaching pendant connected to the control apparatus body to operate the robot through the teaching pendant. The teaching pendant includes an imaging device connector for connecting an imaging device to the teaching pendant so as to enable the image picked up by the imaging device to be directly input to the teaching pendant through the imaging device connector. |
| US07720571B2 |
Process execution apparatus, process execution method and process execution program
A process execution apparatus and method is disclosed by which a process can be executed significantly simply and readily. The process execution apparatus includes a direction recognition section for recognizing a housing member shaking direction in which a housing member is shaken, and a process execution section for executing a process in response to the housing member shaking direction recognized by the direction recognition section. The direction recognition section recognizes the housing member shaking direction with respect to a direction of the gravity detected when the housing member is held by a person. |
| US07720569B2 |
Adaptive interface for product dispensing systems
An adaptive interface is provided that is capable of brokering requests from a diverse set of customer host systems to a diverse set of backend servers (or backend device or backend automation system) controlling product dispensing devices and/or systems. The interface may be fully configurable and extensible (i.e., there is a lot of control over the behavior, and the interface can support future features without requiring code changes). Two areas of extensibility of the interface may be adapting to new message formats from the same or new host systems, and supporting new backend services. |
| US07720568B2 |
System and method for monitored delivery of products
A device for dispensing products senses when the respective products are accessed. A signal indicative of day and time of access can be transmitted to a remote monitoring station. Received signals can be compared to a pre-established schedule. |
| US07720563B2 |
Stocker driving system and stocker driving method using the same
Disclosed is a stocking system that effectively copes with contingencies such as a sudden increase in the number of units to be stocked or malfunctions that render a port disabled. The stocking system includes a plurality of input ports and output ports that are operated automatically, and in input/output port that is normally operated manually, but is configurable to be operated automatically in conjunction with the other input ports and output ports. The stocking system also includes a conversion controller for switching the input/output port between manual and automatic mode. |
| US07720562B2 |
Polishing method and polishing apparatus
A polishing method enables to initiation a second polishing step of a workpiece with an optimal thickness of an uppermost-layer film to be polished. The polishing method comprises: measuring a thickness of an uppermost-layer film, and then carrying out a first polishing step to polish the uppermost-layer film partway and a second polishing step to polish the remaining uppermost-layer film and a next-layer film; determining the polishing rates of the uppermost-layer film in the first and second polishing steps; and measuring a thickness of an uppermost-layer film of a predetermined nth workpiece and setting a processing time for the first polishing step of the nth workpiece or a next predetermined nth workpiece. |
| US07720556B2 |
Web-enabled solutions for memory compilation to support pre-sales estimation of memory size, performance and power data for memory components
A method, system, and program product includes an interactive network-based site that permits a user to specify, compile, analyze and export memory configuration data associated with at least one memory component manufactured in a manufacturing environment. Such memory configuration data can be specified, compiled analyzed or exported in response to a particular user input through the interactive network-based site. |
| US07720555B2 |
Heating device for a field device display
A heating device for a field-device display module includes a heating element. The heating element is adapted to the shape of the field-device display module and is equipped such that it converts an electrical current to thermal energy. The heating element can be coupled to the field-device display module such that by the heating element the field-device display module can be heated. |
| US07720554B2 |
Methods and apparatus for position estimation using reflected light sources
The invention is generally related to the estimation of position and orientation of an object with respect to a local or a global coordinate system using reflected light sources. A typical application of the method and apparatus includes estimation and tracking of the position of a mobile autonomous robot. Other applications include estimation and tracking of an object for position-aware, ubiquitous devices. Additional applications include tracking of the positions of people or pets in an indoor environment. The methods and apparatus comprise one or more optical emitters, one or more optical sensors, signal processing circuitry, and signal processing methods to determine the position and orientation of at least one of the optical sensors based at least in part on the detection of the signal of one or more emitted light sources reflected from a surface. |
| US07720553B2 |
Service metric portfolio management
A system and method is disclosed for the automated real-time collection, extraction, transformation, analysis and presentation of statistical process control (SPC) information. One or more monitored systems or processes generate operational process control information that is stored in its native form. An SPC system iteratively accesses this information, transforms it as required, and performs statistical processing to generate database tables, control charts and other predetermined forms of data output. The statistical processing output is then extracted by an automated SPC data extraction system in real-time. The extracted data is placed in a data wrapper and submitted, likewise in real-time, to one or more statistical analysis systems or models, which process the data to derive new specification limits. The new specification limits are applied to monitored systems and processes resulting in the generation of new operational measurements, which are in turn collected and processed. The process continues to repeat automatically, providing a real-time view of trends for involved control metrics. |
| US07720551B2 |
Coordinating service performance and application placement management
Apparatus, systems and methods for service and/or business for coordinating tasks of performance management and application placement management in a dynamic fashion. An example process is dynamic in the face of fluctuations in the request load to the distributed computer system and the periodic adjustments to the placement of applications onto servers in said distributed computer system. There are two opposite functional flows in said process: a demand estimation function and a capacity adjustment function. The coordination system involves two subsystems: a demand estimator and a capacity adjuster, along with appropriate interfaces to of the performance manager and the application placement manager. This results in application placement process reacting quicker to demand fluctuations, performance guarantees are better met by rearranging the resources to be allocated to the various classes of service, and the management system works in an unsupervised mode, thus reducing manual administration costs and human errors. |
| US07720550B2 |
High impedance active fixation electrode of an electrical medical lead
Electrical medical leads having active fixation electrodes, particularly helix electrodes intended to be screwed into body tissue, e.g., the heart, are disclosed having selectively applied insulation to optimize exposed electrode surface area and dispose the exposed electrode surface area toward tissue that is less traumatized by injury caused by screwing in the fixation helix. In a preferred fabrication method, an outer helical surface is masked by contact with a masking tube while a dielectric coating is applied to the inner helical surface of the coil turns of the helix, and the masking tube is removed when the dielectric coating has set. In one variation, at least one aperture is formed through the masking tube sidewall exposing an area of the outer helical surface thereby interrupting the uninsulated outer helical electrode. |
| US07720547B2 |
Extracorporeal power supply with a wireless feedback system for an implanted medical device
A medical device adapted for implantation into a patient receives electrical power from an extracorporeal power supply. The medical device has a first receiver for a first wireless signal, a power circuit that extracts energy from the first wireless signal to power the medical device, and a feedback signal generator that transmits a second wireless signal indicating a magnitude of energy extracted from the first wireless signal. The extracorporeal power supply includes a source of electrical power and a power transmitter that emits the first wireless signal. A second receiver enables the extracorporeal power supply to receive the second wireless signal. A feedback controller manipulates the first wireless signal in response to the second wireless signal to ensure that sufficient electrical energy is provided to the medical device without wasting electrical power from the source. |
| US07720546B2 |
Dual power supply switching circuitry for use in a closed system
Optimal power switching circuitry for use in a closed system such as a TET system including an internal device separated from an external device by a boundary. The internal and external devices being powered by separate power sources. During telemetric communication from the external device to the internal device an external RF energy source is produced. If the power supplied by the external RF energy source produced during communication from the external device to the internal device exceeds that required for powering of the internal device, then the power switching circuitry cuts off power to the internal power source and instead draws power from the external RF energy source thereby conserving power consumed from the internal power source. The power switching circuitry may be implemented using either passive components (e.g., diodes) or active components (e.g., an analog switch). |
| US07720545B2 |
Method and apparatus for preventing excessive power drain from an implantable device
A method and apparatus are provided for controlling interrogation of an implantable device such as a pacemaker, an implantable cardioverter, or a defibrillator utilizing an external device in a home environment. The method controls how frequently a patient can retrieve status information from the implantable device based on a time period elapsed since a last interrogation and a power level of a battery. |
| US07720543B2 |
System and method for telemetry with an implantable medical device
An implantable medical device (IMD) includes a telemetry module to communicate with an external device according to a given protocol. To establish a communication session, the IMD will extend active periods of reception on a given channel when some confirmed data is received from the external device. In addition, once a session has been opened, the programmer transmits a short data set (or preamble) for each cycle which the IMD is set to receive. This data set indicates whether additional data will or will not be sent. If no additional data is to be sent during that cycle, then the IMD powers down the receiver for that cycle. |
| US07720537B2 |
System and method for providing improved atrial pacing based on physiological need
An implantable medical device operates according to a ventricular pacing protocol (VPP) that precludes ventricular pacing in any cardiac cycle where a sensed ventricular event has occurred in the preceding cycle. Improved ventricular sensing, detection and classification is provided. |
| US07720533B2 |
Apparatus and method for delivering a biocompatible material to a surgical site
A device for delivering a biocompatible material to a surgical site includes a cannula having proximal and distal portions and at least a first interior lumen disposed therebetween through which the biocompatible material is delivered. The device further includes an initiation member for initiating cross-linking of the biocompatible material while the biocompatible material is within the cannula. The cannula may include a heating element to thermally initiate cross-linking. Alternately, the cannula may include a second lumen for transmitting light from a light source. A movable blocking element controls the amount of light that passes into the first lumen. A method of delivering a curable biocompatible material to a surgical site includes positioning a distal portion of a cannula adjacent the surgical site and introducing the biocompatible material through a first lumen of the cannula. Cross-linking of the biocompatible material is then initiated while the biocompatible material is within the cannula. |
| US07720532B2 |
Clean margin assessment tool
An integrated tool is provided, having a tissue-type sensor, for determining the tissue type at a near zone volume of a tissue surface, and a distance-measuring sensor, for determining the distance to an interface with another tissue type, for (i) confirming an existence of a clean margin of healthy tissue around a malignant tumor, which is being removed, and (ii) determining the depth of the clean margin. The integrated tool may further include a position tracking device and an incision instrument. The soft tissue may be held within a fixed frame, while the tumor is being removed. Additionally a method for malignant tumor removal is provided, comprising, fixing the soft tissue within a frame, performing imaging with the hand-held, integrated tool, from a plurality of locations and orientations around the soft tissue, reconstructing a three-dimensional image of the soft tissue and the tumor within, defining a desired clean margin on the reconstructed image, calculating a recommended incision path, displaying the recommended path on the reconstructed image, and cutting the tissue while determining its type, at the near zone volume of the incision surface. The method may further include continuously imaging with the cutting, continuously correcting the reconstructed image and the recommended incision path, and continuously determining the tissue type, at the near zone volume of the incision surface. |
| US07720527B2 |
Subcutaneous fat thickness measuring method, subcutaneous fat thickness measuring apparatus, program and recording medium
A subcutaneous fat thickness measuring apparatus includes: a light source section that irradiates a surface of a living body with plural light rays having different central wavelengths; a light receiving section that receives the plural light rays of different wavelengths emerging from the surface of a living body and determining the quantities of the plural light rays received; and a calculator section that calculates the thickness of subcutaneous fat of the surface of a living body from the quantities of the plural light rays received measured by the light receiving section using a previously determined relationship among subcutaneous fat thicknesses, blood concentrations in subcutaneous fat and quantities of plural light rays having different central wavelengths. |
| US07720525B2 |
Method and apparatus for combining continuous wave and time domain optical imaging
There is provided methods and systems for optical imaging in a turbid medium that combine continuous wave (CW) and time domain (TD) approaches to substantially increase robustness of optical imaging as well as to reduce acquisition times associated with the TD approach. In one aspect, a method is provided that uses CW measurements to scale the values of a temporal point spread function (TPSF) to avoid physical unit mismatch problems. In another aspect, both CW and TD measurements are synergistically combined to estimate optical properties of the medium used in image reconstruction. Optical systems capable of realizing these methods are also provided. |
| US07720524B2 |
Method, apparatus, and system for detecting disease states in a living body using a gamma ray counter
A method and system of detecting a disease state in a targeted organ is described using nuclear medicine techniques. In preferred embodiments, a radiotracer with specific uptake for diseased portions of the targeted organ is administered to a patient. A gamma ray counter with at least one gamma ray detector is used to count gamma rays emitted by the radiotracer. By placing the gamma ray detector over the location of the targeted organ, the gamma ray counter can provide a quick yes or no answer on whether the disease state exists in the targeted organ. |
| US07720521B2 |
Methods and devices for performing procedures within the ear, nose, throat and paranasal sinuses
Devices, systems and methods for performing image guided interventional and surgical procedures, including various procedures to treat sinusitis and other disorders of the paranasal sinuses, ears, nose or throat. |
| US07720517B2 |
Multifunctional catheter handle
The invention is directed to a multifunctional catheter handle. The handle comprises a handle body and a core mounted within the handle body. A piston is provided having a distal end mounted in the handle body and a proximal end extending outside the handle body, to which a catheter body can be attached. The piston is longitudinally moveable relative to the core and handle body. A first puller wire anchor is fixedly mounted to the core. A cam receiver is mounted in the handle body so that the cam receiver is longitudinally slidable relative to the piston and core. A second puller wire anchor is fixedly mounted to the cam receiver. A generally cylindrical cam is mounted distal to the cam receiver in surrounding relation to the piston and core. Rotation of the cam relative to the piston and core causes longitudinal movement of the cam receiver and second puller wire anchor. |
| US07720516B2 |
Motion compatible sensor for non-invasive optical blood analysis
A non-invasive optical sensor which uses the motion signal to calculate the physiological characteristic being measured. For pulse oximetry, a least squares or a ratio-of-ratios technique can be applied to the motion signal itself. This is made possible by selecting a site on the patient where variations in motion produce signals of two wavelengths which are sufficiently correlated. In particular, it has been determined that a sensor placed on a nail, in particular a thumbnail, exhibits the characteristics of having the red and infrared signals correlated when used for pulse oximetry, and the resulting signals correlate to arterial oxygen saturation. |
| US07720515B2 |
Apparatus and method for reducing power consumption in a mobile unit
In a disclosed embodiment, a mobile unit includes a codec, a vocoder, and an audio decoder. The vocoder and the audio decoder provide respective outputs to an audio mux. A stereo/mono control unit receives an audio mux input from the audio mux. A control output generated by the stereo/mono control unit is coupled to a number of components in a receive audio processing path of the codec. By disabling at least one of the components in, for example, the right channel of the receive audio processing path of the codec, the control output of the stereo/mono control unit results in significant power savings. Such disabling can occur, for example, when the audio mux input received by the stereo/mono control unit contains voice signals, as opposed to music signals. |
| US07720509B2 |
Harmonized adaptive arrays
A system and method for harmonizing adaptive arrays for wireless communication systems. The system includes a basis beam that receives packet transmissions from stations. The system determines the angle of arrival of the packet transmissions and forms a select beam to cover at least one of the stations. |
| US07720504B2 |
Radio communication apparatus or mobile station
To provide a radio communication apparatus and a mobile station sensitive to change in the radio environment. A mobile station corresponding to the HSDPA and transmitting the CQI information used for the adaptive modulation control executed by a radio base station, comprising a radio environment supervising unit for supervising change in the radio environment on the basis of the received signal from the radio base station, a CQI generating unit for generating the CQI information reflecting change in the reception quality from the radio base station in accordance with the result of supervising by the supervising unit, and a transmitting unit for transmitting the generated CQI information to the radio base station. |
| US07720503B2 |
Method and system for controlling power in a communication system
A method for controlling power in a communication system. In the power control method, a transmitter receives feedback information from receivers located in its own cell; determines data rates of the receivers according to the received feedback information, calculates a load of the cell by calculating an amount of data to be transmitted to the receivers; and calculates transmission power of the transmitter by comparing the load of the cell with a threshold. |
| US07720499B2 |
Regulation of transmission power control in mitigate self interference by optimizing link transmission parameters in a wireless network
A method of optimizing link transmission parameters between access nodes within a mesh network is disclosed. The method includes each access node within the mesh transmitting packets at N different combinations of data rates and power levels. Each receiving node that receives the data packets at one or more of the N combinations, selects a most desirable one of the received combinations. The receiving nodes indicate to the transmitting nodes the selected most desired combination for transmitting to the receiving node. |
| US07720498B2 |
Apparatus and method for displaying an image of a speaker in a push-to-talk communication service in a push-to-talk portable terminal
Apparatus and method are provided for displaying a push-to-talk (PTT) communication service subscriber having the right to speak in a portable terminal capable of using a PTT communication service. When the PTT communication service is executed, information of a PTT communication service subscriber having the speaking right is received. Image information is extracted from the received information of the PTT communication service subscriber having the speaking right. The extracted image information is displayed. While the PTT communication service is executed, an image of a buddy having the speaking right can be displayed. Accordingly, the PTT communication service can be realistically executed, the speaking right that is frequently shifted can be clearly identified, and user convenience can be improved. |
| US07720496B2 |
Comma free codes for fast cell search using tertiary synchronization channel
A method of processing data comprises the receiving a frame of data having a predetermined number of time slots (502,504,506). Each time slot comprises a respective plurality of data symbols (520). The method further comprises a primary (508), a secondary (510) and a tertiary (512) synchronization code in each said predetermined number of time slots. |
| US07720493B2 |
Communication system, multicast switching device, and communication method
A communication system includes an MP high-order switching device which determines, for each of a plurality of switching devices, transmission timing at the which the switching device transmits packet data to a plurality of devices connected to the switching device so that data reception timings at a mobile terminal become simultaneous among the plurality of base stations, and a communication section which, in each of the plurality of switching devices, transmits packet data to the plurality of devices connected to the switching device, based on the determined transmission timing corresponding to the switching device. |
| US07720492B2 |
Method and multimedia message center for delivering a multimedia message to a telecommunication device configured as a multimedia message sink, and telecommunication device for accessing multimedia messages stored in a storage location of a multimedia message service center
The present application discloses an apparatus, system and method for reducing the time required for transmitting a multimedia message from any sender to any addressee and thus generally cut the cost of the multimedia message service. A traffic channel connection is kept to a receiving telecommunication device, which is established by a multimedia message service center that has received a multimedia message designated by a transmitting telecommunication device for said receiving telecommunication device, for example, in order to transmit an information message to the receiving telecommunication device during an SMS session by means of which the multimedia message service center informs the receiving telecommunication device about the arrival of the multimedia message, established for at least the period of time it takes the receiving telecommunication device to evaluate the received information message and hold an MMS session for fetching the message content of the multimedia message designated for the receiving telecommunication device from the multimedia message service center. |
| US07720490B2 |
Location update operations for idle mode terminals with a plurality of wireless communication interfaces
A method that includes providing, by an active radio of a mobile station that comprises a plurality of radios wherein each radio is associated with a corresponding paging group having its own paging controller, a location update on behalf of an idle radio of the plurality of radios to a paging controller of the active radio's corresponding paging group. The method also includes providing, by the paging controller of the active radio's corresponding paging group, the location update to a paging controller of the idle radio's corresponding paging group. Other embodiments may be described and claimed. |
| US07720486B2 |
Method and system for providing personalized services to a mobile vehicle
A method and system for providing personalized services to a mobile vehicle includes receiving broadcast data at a telematics unit of the vehicle, sending the received broadcast data from the telematics unit to a portable processing device via short range wireless connection, and providing at least one personalized service at the portable processing device based on the received broadcast data. A computer usable medium with suitable computer program code is employed for providing personalized services to a mobile vehicle. |
| US07720484B2 |
Proxy translator for extending the coverage area of a wireless network
A proxy translator for use in a wireless network. The proxy translator re-transmits forward and reverse channel signals between a base station and mobile stations. The proxy translator comprises a first proxy mobile station that communicate with a base station and a proxy base transceiver subsystem (BTS) that communicates with a first mobile station. The first proxy mobile station receives forward channel signals intended for the first mobile station and transfers them to the proxy BTS for re-transmission to the first mobile station. The proxy BTS receives reverse channel signals from the first mobile station and transfers them to the first proxy mobile station for re-transmission to the base station. |
| US07720481B2 |
Apparatus for supporting the handover of a telecommunication session between a licensed wireless system and an unlicensed wireless system
The invention discloses a wireless communication handset comprising licensed wireless communication signal processing circuitry and unlicensed wireless communication signal processing circuitry. The invention further discloses a control circuit connected to both the licensed wireless communication signal processing circuitry and the unlicensed wireless communication signal processing circuitry, and a computer readable memory for directing the control circuit to function in a specified manner. This memory includes instructions to formulate a measurement report containing signal strength information that corresponds to the strength of a signal received through the unlicensed wireless communication signal processing circuitry. The measurement report also contains a request to transfer a wireless communication session from a licensed wireless system to an unlicensed wireless system. The memory further includes instructions to transmit the measurement report to the licensed wireless system through the licensed wireless communication signal processing circuitry. |
| US07720480B2 |
System and method for reducing a no-communication period during hand-off
To improve efficiency of a radio section while reducing a no-communication period in the case of handoff in communication used DRC and DSC signals. A communication connection apparatus (BS) 200 provided in a communication system accumulates data transmitted from the communication control apparatus (BSC) 300. In a state in which a DSC signal from a communication terminal (AT) 100 designates an owed BS, when a DRC indication from the AT 100 is switched from another BS to the owned BS, the BS 200 transmits data received from the BSC 300 last to the AT 100 out of the data accumulated in the BS 200. Consequently, missing data is requested from the BS 200 at a handoff destination in accordance with a retransmission request function existing in the AT 100. Moreover, retransmission processing for data by a retransmission request message is performed in the BS 200. |
| US07720477B2 |
Communication apparatus, communication system, and method for setting communication parameters of the communication apparatus
A device capability attribute regarding a setting on communication parameters, and provision attribute information indicative of whether or not a communication terminal is in a state that it can provide communication parameters to another communication terminal are stored in advance. The communication terminal, where the device capability attribute has at least a provision capability of the communication parameters, is selected as a provision device. In a case where there are plural communication terminals where the device capability attribute has a communication parameter provision capability, a communication terminal where the device capability attribute has the communication parameter provision capability only is preferentially selected. In a case where the device capability attributes of respective communication terminals are equal, a communication terminal storing the provision attribute information indicative of the state that it can provide the communication parameters is selected as a provision device. |
| US07720476B2 |
Method for improving the reliability of low latency handoffs
A method for is disclosed in which a first message is received from a first device. Upon receipt of the first message, a registration request is transmitted via the first device to a home agent for pre-registration of a co-located care-of address associated with a second device. The registration request includes the co-located care-of address associated with the second device. If the first message is received again from the first device prior to attaching to the second device, the registration request is re-transmitted via the first device. |
| US07720474B2 |
Method and apparatus for call delivery
A method and system for forwarding calls in telecommunication networks are provided. More particularly, control of late call forwarding logic and routing is placed at the home network Gateway MSC and HLR, thus removing the home network service provider's dependency on the visited network capabilities. |
| US07720465B2 |
System, method and apparatus employing tones and/or tone patterns to indicate the message type in wireless sensor networks
A system and method for operating a wireless network provides for sending a wakeup tone, periodically waking up from a sleep mode to listen for the wakeup tone, upon receiving the wakeup tone, listening for at least one second tone, the at least one second tone being one of (i) a tone in a frequency different from the wakeup tone and (ii) a pattern of tones including at least one frequency different from the wakeup tone, and upon receiving the at least one second tone, performing an action based on the at least one second tone. |
| US07720458B2 |
Rapidly deployable emergency communications system and method
A system and method for rapid deployment of economically feasible wide-area general-purpose telecommunications systems and services in urban, suburban, rural, and other inhabited geographical areas is disclosed. The solution described here is of particular importance in the aftermath of such events as catastrophic accidents, natural disasters, terrorist attacks, riots, and acts of war during which the local telecommunications infrastructure is destroyed. In addition, the basic methods and architectures defined herein are applicable to those scenarios in which wide-area telecommunication services must be deployed rapidly in previously uninhabited area such as military deployments. |
| US07720456B2 |
Adjust switching rate of a power supply to mitigate interference
A method for mitigating interference from a switched-mode power supply begins by comparing a channel of interest of a plurality of channels with a switching rate of a switch-mode power supply. The method continues when the channel of interest compares unfavorably to the switching rate by adjusting the switching rate of the switch-mode power supply until the channel of interest compares favorably to the switching rate. |
| US07720455B2 |
Sidetone generation for a wireless system that uses time domain isolation
A technique includes providing a sidetone path to generate sidetone content in response to audio data and disabling at least part of the sidetone path during an active mode of a radio. The technique includes storing the sidetone content in an outgoing audio buffer that is operational during the active mode of the radio and establishing a delay in the sidetone path to prevent the outgoing audio buffer from being depleted of the sidetone content during the active mode of the radio. |
| US07720454B1 |
Extremely low IF architecture for in-band on-channel (IBOC) radio
A radio frequency (RF) receiver includes an intermediate frequency (IF) mixer that generates an output signal based on mixing a hybrid in-band, on-channel (IBOC) signal with an intermediate frequency signal. An oscillator generates the intermediate frequency signal; wherein the intermediate frequency is less than a bandwidth of the IBOC signal. |
| US07720452B2 |
Reception circuit, radio-controlled timepiece, and reception circuit control method
A reception circuit can receive a plurality of standard time signals and has a reception means for selectively receiving and demodulating any one of the plural standard time signals, and a control means for outputting a control signal that controls the reception means. The reception means includes a signal amplifier unit for amplifying a reception signal representing the received standard time signal; a signal extraction unit for extracting a signal of a specific frequency from the amplified reception signal; a rectifier unit for rectifying the extracted signal of the specific frequency; and a demodulation unit for demodulating the rectified signal of the specific frequency. The signal extraction unit includes a plurality of crystal filters corresponding to the frequencies of the plural standard time signals; a plurality of parallel capacitances corresponding to the plural crystal filters and parallel connected to the plural crystal filters; a filter switching unit for switching the plural crystal filters based on the control signal; and a parallel capacitance switching unit for switching the plural parallel capacitances based on the control signal. The control means outputs to the filter switching unit and the parallel capacitance switching unit a control signal denoting the switch states enabling the reception means to receive the standard time signal. |
| US07720451B2 |
Methods and apparatus for calibrating oscillators in a receiver
A receiver includes a first oscillator supplying a reference frequency signal; a reference signal generator producing a first frequency conversion signal and a local calibration signal from the reference frequency signal; a first frequency converter responsive to the first frequency conversion signal to down-convert the received signal during normal receive operation and to down-convert the local calibration signal during calibration processing; a second frequency converter responsive to a second frequency conversion signal from a second oscillator to further down-convert the received signal and the local calibration signal; a demodulator that demodulates the received signal at a demodulation frequency; and a frequency error processor that determines a frequency error from the local calibration signal at the demodulation frequency, wherein the reference signal generator adjusts a frequency of the first frequency conversion signal used during normal receive operation in response to the frequency error to compensate for the frequency error. |
| US07720450B2 |
Station comprising a rake receiver
Stations like mobile terminals, bases stations and network nodes comprising rake receivers with fingers require relatively many calculations to be performed for despreading a symbol. By replacing despreading multipliers, integrators and dumpers in the fingers by Hadamard transformers (62), chips of several symbols with orthogonal channelization codes can be despreaded simultaneously, and the station and the rake receiver have become more efficient. The despreading section (60 of the finger (34) comprises the Hadamard transformer (62) and a serial-to-parallel converter (61) comprising downsamplers (71-73). The station is a high-speed downlink packet access station (HSDPA) in a universal mobile telecommunication system (UMTS), with a number of de-channelization codes used being at least ten percent of a despreading factor used. For example, the despreading factor used is equal to sixteen, with the maximum possible number of de-channelization codes used being equal to five, ten or fifteen, depending on the capability class of the station. |
| US07720448B2 |
Signal generation power management control system for portable communications device and method of using same
A signal generation power management control system (100) for use in a portable communications device includes a digital signal processor (DSP) (101) for processing a digital source input and providing a digital processed bit stream A digital-to-analog converter (DAC) (103) is used for converting the digital processed bit stream to provide an analog signal. A power management controller (115) within the DSP (101) is then used for interpreting control parameters of signal processing components used within the portable communications device and dynamically adjusting the bias current of these components based on minimal signal requirements of the analog signal. |
| US07720447B2 |
Radiofrequency (RF) and/or microwave power amplification device and corresponding radiocommunication terminal
The disclosure relates to a radio frequency (RF) and/or microwave power amplification device which is intended, for example, for a radio communication terminal, comprising means for shielding the device and means for controlling the power delivered as output from said device, said power-control means comprising a power servo loop having power-amplification means, reference means, detection means and comparison means. The aforementioned control means also comprise at least one sensor to detect the energy radiated inside the device. |
| US07720443B2 |
System and method for filtering time division multiple access telephone communications
A system and method are presented for transceiving Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) telephone communications through a common filter. The system includes a tunable ferro-electric bandpass filter (FE BPF), a controller, a low noise amplifier (LNA), and a power amplifier (PA). The FE BPF has a control input to accept tuning voltage signals from the controller and two signal ports. In response to the tuning voltage signals, the FE BPF selects a transmit or receive frequency passband between the signal ports. The FE BPF first signal port is connected to the LNA and the PA and the FE BPF second signal port is connected to an antenna in a wireless device. The LNA and PA are activated and deactivated in response to control signals from the controller. |
| US07720442B2 |
Testing systems and methods for aircraft radios
A system and method for enhanced use of voltage standing wave ratio (VSWR) tests of an avionic radio and antenna is disclosed. A signal processor/generator conducts a VSWR test of an antenna and archives the result within a database. Multiple tests are conducted spanning periods of operation of the radio. Tests may also be conducted at multiple frequencies, such as commonly used channels of communication. Results are uploaded to an external diagnostic device and analyzed to evaluate deterioration of the antenna. Analysis may including comparing test results to threshold values and analyzing test results for frequency and time dependent trends. |
| US07720436B2 |
Displaying network objects in mobile devices based on geolocation
Displaying network content searches on mobile devices involves obtaining results of a network content request via a mobile device. A geolocation of at least one object associated with the results of the network content request is also obtained. A scene is viewed in a camera view of the mobile device. A virtual location is determined in the camera view. The virtual location represents the actual location of the object relative to the scene contained in the camera view. A graphic representing the object is then displayed at the virtual location in the camera view. |
| US07720435B2 |
Multicast reception measurement system
A business model of satellite digital audio broadcasting, also referred to as multicasting, teaches computer improvements in business operations for the determination of the number of listeners and listeners' preferences of multicast satellite transmissions and more particularly to the detection of signals from a multitude of individual client radios that simultaneously respond to a polling signal with a radio frequency chirp. A response to a polling signal instruction is synchronized utilizing an instruction embedded within a digital audio broadcast. Further embodiments teach a determination of listener count derived from signal strength, single chirp signal strength contribution derived from reception delay, and media prioritization derived from changes in user preferences. |
| US07720434B2 |
Method and system for processing GPS and satellite digital radio signals using a shared LNA
A system for amplifying GPS and satellite digital radio signals is provided. The system includes a GPS antenna configured to receive signals transmitted by a GPS satellite, and a satellite digital radio antenna configured to receive satellite digital radio signals. The system also includes an amplifier that is electrically coupled to the GPS antenna and satellite antenna. The amplifier is configured to amplify GPS and satellite digital radio signals received by the satellite digital radio antenna and GPS antenna. A method for amplifying GPS and satellite digital radio signals is also provided. |
| US07720431B2 |
Method and apparatus for providing emergency information to a mobile receiving device
A mobile wireless system (10) includes a transmitter such as a satellite (18) that broadcasts wireless signals such as boundaries for specific areas to a mobile receiving device (22). Mobile receiving device (22) may include an antenna (26) and a mobile receiving device (28). A locating receiver (50) is used to generate locating signals so that a determination may be made to the location of the mobile receiving device. When the location is outside an area of interest the area of interest may be extended to provide services to the mobile device. Emergency information is broadcast to a first area. An emergency announcement indicator is also broadcast into a first area and an area outside the first area. The location of the mobile receiving device is compared to the first area and the emergency information is displayed when the location is within the first area. |
| US07720428B2 |
Toner recovery apparatus, process cartridge, and image forming apparatus
To provide a toner recovery apparatus including: a toner transporting duct; and an endless toner transporting belt; wherein the toner transporting belt is rotated in a loop form in such a way that it descends in a region where the outer circumferential surface faces a ceiling surface of the toner transporting duct and that it rises in a region where the outer circumferential surface of the toner transporting belt faces a bottom surface of the toner transporting duct, the toner recovery apparatus transports the residual toner to the outlet by holding the toner by the convex parts, spaces formed between convex parts and the bottom surface of the toner transporting duct, and the toner comprises a binding resin, releasing agent, coloring material and external additive, and torque T (mNm) measured by torque measurement method using a conical rotor in a space ratio of 50% to 60% is 1.0 to 2.5. |
| US07720421B2 |
Apparatus and method for printing a scratch-off document
An apparatus that includes a first print engine positioned to print front side information on a base material. The first print engine further includes a multi-color print head having a pile height leveling ink delivery system. A fuser is positioned to affix the front side information on the base material, and a second print engine positioned to print a removable scratch-off layer covering at least part of the front side information after the fuser affixes the front side information. |
| US07720403B2 |
Information processing equipment, image display program product, and image forming system
If a designation detector detects one of icons representing peripheral equipment (image forming apparatuses) displayed on a monitor screen by a display controller in response to operator's manipulation, an operation information acquirer acquires, from the respective peripheral equipment, operation information indicating a job status of the respective peripheral equipment represented by all the icons displayed on the monitor screen. If it is judged that the peripheral equipment represented by the icon whose designation has been detected by the designation detector is in a state of processing a job, the display controller changes the display format of the icon representing a peripheral equipment in an idling state. |
| US07720401B2 |
Inter-document zone gloss defect eliminator
A method for reducing gloss variation in prints, in an electrostatic printing system having a fuser for fusing sheets having marking particles thereon, the method including transporting a first sheet to the fuser; transporting a second sheet to the fuser; and abutting a trailing edge of the first sheet to a leading edge of the second sheet prior to the trailing edge of the first sheet entering the fuser. |
| US07720400B2 |
Image forming apparatus with cleaner that removes toner from intermediate transfer medium
An image forming apparatus comprises: a latent image carrier which carries an electrostatic latent image; a developing unit which visualizes with toner the electrostatic latent image carried by the latent image carrier and forms a toner image; an intermediate transfer medium to which the toner image is transferred from the latent image carrier and which rotates and transports the toner image to a predetermined transfer position and transfers the toner image to a recording medium; a cleaner which abuts on the surface of the intermediate transfer medium and removes toner which adheres to the surface of the intermediate transfer medium after the transfer to the recording medium; and a controller which, assuming that the direction which is orthogonal to the travel direction in which the intermediate transfer medium moves is a width direction, executes toner accumulating processing during which predetermined toner images are formed as end patch images in end areas of the surface of the intermediate transfer medium which are located on outer side along the width direction relative to an image forming region in which a toner image corresponding to size of the recording medium is formed and the cleaner then removes the end patch images. |
| US07720390B2 |
Optical node device, network control device, maintenance-staff device, optical network, and 3R relay implementation node decision method
An economical optical network is constituted by effectively using network resources by using the minimum number of, or minimum capacity of 3R repeaters. 3R section information corresponding to topology information on the optical network to which an optical node device itself belongs is stored, and the 3R section information stored is referred so as to autonomously determine whether or not the optical node device itself is an optical node device for implementing the 3R relay when setting an optical path passing through the optical node device itself. Alternatively, when the optical node device itself is a source node, another optical node device for implementing the 3R relay among the other optical node devices through which the optical path from the optical node device itself to the destination node passes is identified, and this identified optical node device is requested to implement the 3R relay when setting an optical path in which the optical node device itself is a source node. |
| US07720388B2 |
Integrated optical communication and range finding system and application thereof
The present invention is directed toward systems for conducting laser range and enabling optical communication between a plurality of entities and to the application of such systems in a secure covert combat identification system. In one embodiment, the present invention uses a novel laser system that generates high pulse rates, as required for optical communications, while concurrently generating sufficiently high power levels, as required by laser range finding operations. One application of the present invention is in enabling secure covert communications between a plurality of parties. Another application of the present invention is in tracking and identifying the movement of objects. |
| US07720387B2 |
Microcode-driven calculation of temperature-dependent operational parameters in an optical transmitter/receiver
An optical transceiver (or transmitter or receiver) that uses microcode that represents a formulaic relation between temperature and an appropriate value for an operational parameter given the temperature. The microcode is further structured such that when loaded into system memory and executed by the optical transceiver, the optical transceiver accesses the temperature as measured by a temperature sensor, calculates an appropriate value for the operational parameter given the accessed temperature using the formulaic relation, and adjusts the operational parameter according to the calculation. This allows the optical transceiver to adjust temperature-dependent operational parameters using less memory than required to perform a table-based representation of temperature versus the operational parameter. |
| US07720386B2 |
Impedance matching circuit with simultaneous shielding of parasitic effects for transceiver modules
An RF device includes a signal layer disposed over a ground plane having radio frequency (RF) transmission lines configured and dimensioned to provide impedance matching along the RF lines. A shield is formed as a part of the RF lines and disposed below the RF choke of a DC current supply to form an intermediate capacitance between the choke and the shield to control parasitic effects. |
| US07720384B2 |
Wavelength division multiplexing apparatus
A transponder in a wavelength division multiplexing apparatus detects a wavelength of a leak light (received light) having one of plural wavelengths multiplexed or divided by a WDM unit, the leak light having been received from the WDM unit when the transponder is connected to the WDM unit; determines a transmission wavelength which is a wavelength of a light to be transmitted to the WDM unit on the basis of the wavelength of the received light; and sets to convert the wavelength of the light to be transmitted to the WDM unit into the transmission wavelength, and transmit the converted light. |
| US07720383B2 |
Optical transmission apparatus having OADM function
An optical transmission apparatus has a first wavelength selective switch (WSS) for route switching, provided with respect to each route, to selectively output signal light from a first input route to second through Nth output routes and to selectively output signal lights from second through Nth input routes to a first output route, for every wavelength, a second WSS for add and drop, to selectively output a signal light from an add port to the first through Nth output routes via the first WSS for every wavelength, and to selectively output the signal lights from the first through Nth input routes to a drop port via the first WSS for every wavelength, and an optical coupler to multiplex each of the signal lights output from the first WSS to the output routes and each of the signal lights output from the second WSS to the output routes, for every route, and to send multiplexed signal light to a first WSS of an other route, and to branch and supply multiplexed signal light input from said other route to the first WSS and the second WSS. The signal lights input and output by the first WSS and the second WSS are transmitted bidirectionally within a single optical transmission line. |
| US07720382B2 |
Time-domain wavelength interleaved network with communications via hub node
A system and method are disclosed for time-domain wavelength interleaved networking that reduce the need for complex time-slot scheduling and reduce the routing complexity. Substantially all communications in the time-domain wavelength interleaved network pass through a hub node. In addition, interior nodes in the time-domain wavelength interleaved network will forward substantially all communications received from the hub node that are destined for another node on all branches outward from the hub node. The central hub node can impose a timing reference. Thus, the transmission and reception of a message can be synchronized such that a message sent in a time-slot k by a node Ni will be received by a node Nj in the time-slot k. Further, the hub node can recover from a link failure by shifting transmission times of all nodes that are separated from the hub node by the failed link. |
| US07720380B2 |
Optical transmission apparatus in ring transmission system
To provide a node (an optical transmission apparatus) enabling expanding the upper limit of the number of nodes capable of automatically forming a squelch table generated in advance in a BLSR system. For the above purpose, when generating a squelch table, hop counts counted from an add node or a drop node are used in place of a node ID of the own, as information of the add node, the drop node, etc. to be transmitted and received using a squelch data link. Thus, it becomes unnecessary to transmit and receive two information sets, a source node ID and a destination node ID, as conventionally required. By this, the number of bits available for identifying nodes can be expanded, enabling expansion of the number of nodes for which a squelch table can be formed automatically. |
| US07720379B2 |
Optical packet switching apparatus and methods
An optical packet switch switches optical packets according to bit-rates at which the optical packets are provided. For example, optical packets that are received at similar bit-rates may be routed to a destination at separate time slots over a single channel wavelength, and optical packets that are received at different bit-rates may be routed to the destination over separate channel wavelengths. When optical packets are provided at different bit-rates on a plurality of input paths, optical packets provided at low bit-rates may be compacted before switching to the destination. Alternatively or additionally, the bit-rates of the optical packets may be balanced before switching to the destination. Bandwidth contention among optical packets may be resolved by polarizing optical packets originating from separate input paths in different polarization directions, and merging optical packets having different polarization directions onto a single switched channel wavelength. Compaction of optical packets may alternatively be employed for resolution of bandwidth contention. Related apparatus and methods are also described. |
| US07720375B2 |
Object detecting system
An object detecting system includes a plurality of photographing mechanisms that are used to detect information about objects inside and outside a vehicle. An object detecting system is installed in a vehicle and comprises a first camera and a second camera to obtain information about objects inside and outside the vehicle. They system further includes a controller for conducting controls to detect information about an object and an electrical power unit to supply electrical power from a vehicle battery to the respective cameras. At least one of the controller and the electrical power unit is shared by the first camera and the second camera. |
| US07720373B2 |
Image pickup apparatus having, disposed between an image pickup optical system and an image pickup unit, a birefringent crystal optical member, a phase-difference-changing crystal optical member, and a birefringent organic film
At least one exemplary embodiment is directed to an image pickup apparatus which includes an image pickup unit, a first optical member, a film, a second optical member, and a luminosity correcting filter. The image pickup unit includes an image sensor. The first optical member is operatively attached to the image pickup unit and formed of a birefringent crystal material. The film is disposed between the first optical member and an image pickup optical system and formed of an organic material. The second optical member is operatively attached to a first side of the film. The luminosity correcting filter is operatively attached to a second side of the film. |
| US07720372B2 |
Photographing device, photographing method, and program for photographing a plurality of images consecutively by changing an exposure value
A photographing device configured to photograph a plurality of images consecutively by changing an exposure value is provided. The photographing device may include a control-range-determination unit configured to determine a control range which is a range where the exposure value is varied, and an interval-calculation unit configured to calculate a control interval which is an interval between photographing-exposure values that are exposure values existing in the control range and that are exposure values of the photographed images so that the photographing-exposure values are uniformly distributed over the control range according to a number of the photographed images. |
| US07720370B2 |
Lens barrel and imaging device provided with lens barrel, and assembly method of lens barrel
It is an object of the present invention to provide a lens barrel in which operability for a user is increased and a reduction in parts is achieved while provided with a manual operating member. There is provided the lens barrel that is provided with an imaging optical system for forming an optical image of an object, a focus lens unit which is included in the imaging optical system and capable of changing an object distance by moving in a direction parallel to an optical axis of the imaging optical system, moving means for moving the focus lens unit in the direction parallel to the optical axis, driving means for driving the moving means, a focus ring which is of a cylindrical shape coaxial to the optical axis of the imaging optical system and manually operated in a rotational manner in order to drive the driving means to thereby move the focus lens unit by the moving means, and a focus mode switching button which is integrally provided in the focus, and operated in order to switch between a state of allowing a manual rotating operation of the focus ring and a state of preventing the manual rotating operation. |
| US07720368B2 |
System, method and apparatus for enhancing a projected image
The present invention provides a system, method and apparatus for enhancing a projected image to reduce the optical depth of field, and create a more desirable film-like image. The present invention provides a multi-function imaging element for enhancing a projected image that includes a focusing screen that minimizes light hot spots in an image projected on the focusing screen and filters ultraviolet rays. The focusing screen can be static, moving, oscillating or rotating. The ultraviolet rays are filtered using a coating on the focusing screen, or by a separate filter made of glass, plastic or film. Note that the multi-function imaging element can be integrated into an adapter, a camera, a video camera, a projector, a television, a monitor, or other image capture or display device. |
| US07720365B2 |
Photographic device with anti-shake function
A photographic device, includes a shake detector, a shake mitigator, a first commander, and a shake controller. The shake detector detects a device shake, that is, a shaking of the photographic device. The shake mitigator mitigates the effects of the device shake to reduce an image shake that is a shake of a photographed subject image. The first commander commands the photographic device to photograph the subject image. The shake controller controls the shake mitigator so that the shake mitigator refrains from mitigating the effects of the device shake from the point when the first commander commands the photographic device to photograph the subject image, until the point when photographing the subject image commences. |
| US07720362B2 |
Heat exchanger for high flow rate infusion
A heat exchanger has a laminar fluid flow path receivable between the heating plates of a high flow rate infusion unit to which heat is conducted by contact with the heating plates. A bubble trap and a valve are integrated with the heat exchanger. The bubble trap collects air from the infusate exiting the laminar flow path, and includes an air vent in contact with the infusate that vents the air from the bubble trap. The valve shuts off the flow of infusate if air is detected in the bubble trap. |
| US07720353B1 |
Parallel communication streams from a multimedia system
A multi-stream multimedia system is provided for providing simultaneous parallel communication streams from a plurality of communication devices, displaying the simultaneous parallel communication streams on a plurality of presentation devices, providing a high precision time code for synchronizing the simultaneous parallel communication streams, and recording each of the simultaneous parallel communication streams on a computer using the high precision time code. |
| US07720351B2 |
Preservation and improvement of television advertising in digital environment
A system for protecting commercials included in a digitally distributed and recorded video that minimizes user's inconveniences resulting from restrictions imposed on playback of the video. The video is encrypted at the distributor side and playback of the encrypted video at the user side is limited in such a way that fast forward and reverse playing is not performed, and a lower limit is imposed on skip forward and backward so that only parts of video whose playing time is greater than the time of typical commercial break can be skipped. This arrangement prevents a user from selectively skipping commercials without missing pieces of program itself and thus discourages skipping when the user wants to watch an entire program, but still enables quick browsing before watching the entire program as well as moving fast to any part of the program for watching that part again. |
| US07720348B2 |
Image processing apparatus and image processing method as well as recording medium
The invention provides an image processing apparatus and an image processing method by which efficient communication can be achieved. An image processing apparatus, comprising a playback section for playing back image data; a transmission section for transmitting the played back image data to a reception apparatus through a predetermined transmission line; and a control section for controlling, when an instruction to temporarily stop the playback of the image data is received, the playback section and the transmission section to stop the playback and the transmission of the image data, respectively, and further controlling the transmission section to transmit a message representing that the playback of the image data is temporarily stopped to the reception apparatus through the transmission line. |
| US07720347B2 |
Backlight having all-in-one type light guide plate and method of manufacturing all-in-one type light guide plate
Provided is an all-in-one type light guide plate including a plurality of prism-shaped structures that are integrally formed on the all-in-one light guide plate and which totally internally reflect light incident from a light source and emit the totally internally reflected light. |
| US07720345B2 |
Optical connector assembling jig
An assembling jig for assembling an optical connector is provided. The optical connector has a pair of beam portions having elasticity and adapted to hold a ferrule holding an optical fiber. The assembling jig includes a body portion, an optical connector receiving portion movably held by the body portion and adapted to receive the optical connector, a ferrule receiving portion movably held by the body portion and adapted to receive the ferrule, and an abutting portion adapted to abut the pair of beam portions to open the pair of beam portions outward. |
| US07720343B2 |
Fiber distribution hub with swing frame and modular termination panels
A fiber distribution system includes one or more fiber distribution hubs (FDHs) that provide an interface at a termination panel between incoming fibers routed from a central office and outgoing fibers routed to network subscribers. Termination modules can be incrementally added to the termination panel. The FDH can include one or more optical splitter modules that split an optical signal into two or more signals. The optical splitter modules can be incrementally added along with one or more storage modules. The subscriber termination panel, optical splitters, and storage modules can be provided on a swing frame. |
| US07720342B2 |
Optical device with a graded bandgap structure and methods of making and using the same
An optical device includes at least two materials forming a structure with a graded bandgap where photocarriers are generated. A first of the at least two materials has a larger concentration at opposed ends of the graded bandgap structure than a concentration of the first of the at least two materials at an interior region of the graded bandgap structure. The second of the at least two materials has a larger concentration at the interior region of the graded bandgap structure than the concentration of the second of the at least two materials at the opposed ends of the graded bandgap structure. |
| US07720337B2 |
Wafer based optical interconnect
In general, in one aspect, a method includes forming conductive layers on a wafer. A through cavity is formed in alignment with the conductive layers. The through cavity is to permit an optical signal from an optical waveguide within an optical connector to pass therethrough. Alignment holes are formed on each side of the through cavity to receive alignment pins. The wafer having the conductive layers, the through cavity in alignment with the conductive layers, and the alignment holes on each side of the through cavity forms an optical-electrical (O/E) interface. An O/E converter is mounted to the metal layers in alignment with the through cavity. The alignment pins and the alignment holes are used to passively align the optical waveguide and the O/E converter. |
| US07720334B1 |
Laterally-confined holographic spectral filters
An optical apparatus comprises a first and second cladding layers and first and second core layers between the cladding layers. The second core has a set of diffractive elements. The first core and the claddings are arranged to form a slab waveguide supporting slab waveguide modes and confining in one transverse dimension optical signals propagating in two dimensions in the slab waveguide modes. The second core and the claddings are arranged to from a channel waveguide supporting one or more channel waveguide optical modes and confining in two transverse dimensions optical signals propagating in one dimension in the channel waveguide modes. The diffractive elements are arranged to couple at least one slab waveguide mode and at least one channel waveguide mode to enable transfer of an optical signal between the slab and channel waveguide optical modes thus coupled. |
| US07720332B2 |
Optical fiber illuminator, method of fabricating optical fiber illuminator, and optical recording head and optical recording and reading apparatus having the optical fiber illuminator
Provided is an optical fiber illuminator used for recording and reading high density optical information according to a near field recording (NFR) scheme, a method of fabricating the optical fiber illuminator, and an optical recording head and recording apparatus having the optical fiber illuminator. The optical fiber illuminator includes: an optical fiber having a core upon which light is incident and a clad that surrounds the core, one end of the optical fiber having a mirror formed in an inclined manner; and a lens formed on an outer surface of the optical fiber for focusing light reflected by the mirror. The optical fiber illuminator has an improved optical arrangement for optical illumination and detection, it is easy to manufacture, its optical input is easy to control, and it can be readily provided in an array form. When an array type optical recording and reading apparatus having an optical recording head and multiple aperture probes adopts the optical fiber illuminator, the resulting simple arrangement and compact size enables size reduction of the overall apparatus, a signal to noise ratio is high, and high density optical information can be recorded and reproduced at an extremely high rate. |
| US07720331B2 |
Methods and apparatus for use with optical fibres
An apparatus for performing mode scrambling in a multimode optical fibre 1 comprises an electromechanical transducer 3 and a signal generator 9. A portion of the fibre 1, which is in the form of a loop 5, is arranged with its ends 6 fixed to the transducer 3, but with the remainder of the portion being left free to vibrate. The signal generator 9 drives the transducer 3 so as to form a succession of bends of differing bend radii in the portion of the fibre as a beam of electromagnetic radiation travels through the fibre, thereby “scrambling” the beam as it travels through the fibre. |
| US07720329B2 |
Segmented prism element and associated methods for manifold fiberoptic switches
A fiber optic switch utilizing a segmented prism element, comprising a fiber optic switch used in multi-channel optical communications networks and having one or more arrays of micro electromechanical system (MEMS) mirrors, wherein at least a first array of MEMS mirrors is utilized to select & switch wavelengths from a number of input fiber ports (N) to an output fiber port, wherein at least a second array of MEMS mirrors using and sharing the same free space optics as the first MEMS array is utilized to produce yet another fiber optic switch, wherein the second switch is utilized to select individual wavelengths or spectral components from its input fiber ports to send to its output fiber port for optical power or other monitoring purposes, thus, enabling a cost effective, high level of integration N×1 or alternatively a 1×N switch capable of internal feedback monitoring. |
| US07720326B2 |
Nanowire-based photodetectors
Various embodiments of the present invention are directed to nanowire-based photodetectors that can be used to convert information encoded in a channel of electromagnetic radiation into a photocurrent encoding the same information. In one embodiment of the present invention, a photodetector comprises a waveguide configured to transmit one or more channels of electromagnetic radiation. The photodetector includes a first terminal and a second terminal. The first terminal and the second terminal are positioned on opposite sides of the waveguide. The photodetector also includes a number of nanowires. Each nanowire interconnects the first terminal to the second terminal and a portion of each nanowire is embedded in the waveguide. |
| US07720325B2 |
Optical turnaround system
A technique is provided for utilizing an optical fiber in a variety of sensing applications and environments by beneficially routing the optical fiber. A continuous optical fiber is created to provide optical continuity between two ends of the optical fiber. The optical continuity is created with the assistance of an optical turnaround constructed in a simple, dependable form able to control the bend of the optical fiber as it extends through the optical turnaround. |
| US07720324B2 |
Optical strain gauge strips
An optical strain gage (1) for multi-axis strain measurement includes at least two linear light waveguide sections (2, 3, 4) with Bragg gratings (5). These are arranged next to one another in a prescribed angle (19) of 90° or 45° on a support layer (6) and are supplied with lightwaves by a common infeeding waveguide section (7). All of the light waveguide sections(2, 3, 4, 7) are provided preferably linearly on the support layer (6), and a beam dispersion element (8) is arranged between the infeeding waveguide section (7) and the measuring waveguide sections (2, 3, 4) containing the Bragg grating (5). |
| US07720323B2 |
High-temperature downhole devices
Subterranean oilfield high-temperature devices configured or designed to facilitate downhole monitoring and high data transmission rates with laser diodes that are configured for operation downhole, within a borehole, at temperatures in excess of 115 degrees centigrade without active cooling. |
| US07720322B2 |
Fiber optic shape sensor
A shape sensing system to determine the position and orientation of one link with respect to another link in a kinematic chain. An optical fiber is coupled to two or more links in a kinematic chain. A shape sensing segment is defined to start at a proximal link and to end at a distal link, crossing one or more joints. A reference frame is defined at the start of the shape sensing segment. As the joints move, an interrogator senses strain in the shape sensing segment. The sensed strain is used to output a Cartesian position and orientation of the end of the shape sensing segment with respect to the reference frame defined at the start of the shape sensing segment. The pose of the kinematic chain is determined from the Cartesian positions and orientations of one or more shape sensing segments defined for the kinematic chain and from an a priori model and constraints of the kinematic chain. |
| US07720317B2 |
Handheld image-tracking device within rectangle-shaped two-dimensional sensing array
Because the back-and-forth movement by hand is slower and more strenuous than the leftward-and-rightward swinging, a handheld image-tracking device, which can be applied to an optical mouse or a handheld scanner, uses a rectangle-shaped sensing array to save area of the sensing array and lower down the production cost for the device by reasonably reducing the back-and-forth sensing area for the sensing array; and, so, an amount and time spent for a data comparison in the device is lessened. |
| US07720315B2 |
System and method for displaying and using non-numeric graphic elements to control and monitor a vision system
This invention provides a system and method for employing GUI-based non-numeric slide buttons and bar meters to setup and monitor operating parameters of a vision system (the term “vision system” as used herein including the above-described vision detector). Such parameters can include, but are not limited to the threshold at which a feature is activated in viewing an image. Operating parameters also include the under-lying range of contrast values and levels of brightness intensities (or by input inversion, the level of darkness) recognized and acted upon by the vision system. Graphical representations of operating parameters are displayed in a parameter box on the GUI with moving bars that are shaded, patterned or colored so as to provide a relative level between two extremes on a scale of the given operating parameter. The endpoints of the scale can be established by analyzing the relevant extremes on a subject image view. The current level of the given parameter is displayed as a bar that extends a distance along the scale that is proportional to the current level of the parameter along the scale. Input of operating parameter settings with respect to the scale is made by moving a setting slider along the scale between the extremes. The position of the slider establishes the user-input setting relative to the scale. In an illustrative embodiment, scales, level bars and setting sliders can also be displayed on the image view itself, adjacent to a given image view feature, which is the subject of the scale. |
| US07720312B2 |
Image processor
An image processor includes a memory that stores image layers, α-layers associated with the image layers, and pointers linking image areas of the image layers with the α-layer. A method for blending multiple image layers includes obtaining a transparency value for an image area by reading a pointer associated with the image area and blending the image layers using the obtained transparency value. |
| US07720307B2 |
Image matching method, program, and image matching system
An image matching method capable of matching images with a high precision and a program and an image matching system for the same, providing a conversion unit for performing image processing based on a registered image and a match image for converting points in each image to patterns of curves based on a distance from a reference position to the closest point on a straight line passing through each point in the image from the reference position and an angle formed by a straight line passing through the reference position and the closest point and an x-axis as a reference axis including the reference position, converting linear components in the images to patterns of a plurality of overlapped curves, and generating converted images, a correlation value generation unit for performing correlation processing based on the converted images and generating a correlation value, and a matching unit for performing the matching based on a signal indicating the correlation value generated by the correlation value generation unit. |
| US07720306B2 |
Systems and methods for displaying changes in biological responses to therapy
Systems and methods of this invention display data using pixels with information indicated by color and intensity changes, particularly used for monitoring of physiological variables in real time. For certain methods, physiological data can be acquired by sensors, acquired data can be stored in data frames, data frames can be processed using computer-implemented methods, and processed data frames can be scaled to a display frame for display on a display device. Using such methods, a spot made up of a group of pixels can be updated during a time frame, or cycle using a computer-implemented method, such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, division or a time dependent function. Newly received data can be combined with prior received data to indicate time-dependent changes. In this way, each spot contains a cumulative history of data starting at some initial time. In other embodiments, visual contrast can be enhanced between desired data and other data. In further embodiments, two or more different types of data can be plotted together to indicate relationships between variables. Real time monitoring of signals during therapeutic treatment using light, electricity or other nerve or muscle stimuli can allow a user to monitor physiological responses during stimulation and to make rapid decisions about medical treatment. |
| US07720304B2 |
System and method for implementing graphics and video scaling algorithm using interpolation based on symmetrical polyphase filtering
Certain embodiments of the invention may be found in a system and method for implementing graphics and a video scaling algorithm using interpolation based on symmetrical polyphase filtering. A video or graphics scaler may be utilized to scale luma, chroma, and/or alpha information in a video image. The scaler may comprise a first symmetric polyphase sub-filter with zero phase shift that generates an in-phase filtered pixel and a second symmetric polyphase sub-filter that generates an out-of-phase filtered pixel. The video scaler may also comprise an interpolator that may generate a scaled video image pixel based on the generated in-phase and out-of-phase filtered pixels and a scaling factor. The scaling factor may be determined based on an input video size (M) and a desired output video size (N). The interpolation of the generated in-phase and out-of-phase pixels in the video scaler may be implemented by utilizing a Farrow structure. |
| US07720300B1 |
System and method for effectively performing an adaptive quantization procedure
A system and method for effectively performing an adaptive quantization procedure includes an energy calculator that initially determines energy values for subbands of input data. A quantizer receives initial quantization parameters that each correspond to a different respective one of the subbands. The quantizer calculates adaptive quantization parameters from the initial quantization parameters by utilizing corresponding ones of the energy values. The quantizer then utilizes the adaptive quantization parameters to generate quantized coefficients for the subbands during the adaptive quantization procedure. |
| US07720299B2 |
Compressed data multiple description transmission and resolution conversion system
A system provides lossless split and merge processes of integer discrete cosine transform (DCT) transformed data such that the discrete cosine transform of one data block may be split into two half length DCT odd and even blocks for merging, with split and merge processes being lossless and are generated in the discrete cosine transformed domain. After splitting, the redundancy existing between the two integer discrete cosine transformed half data blocks allows one to approximately reconstruct the original data block in case one of the discrete cosine transformed half data block is lost during transmission. The system may be used with existing JPEG and MPEG compressors and decompressors because both use the discrete cosine transform for image and video compression and decompression, may be used as a resolution conversion device for transcribing from digital high-definition TV to analog low-definition TV, and may be used for lossless splitting and merging type-IV discrete cosine transformed data for audio compression and decompression in the international standard MPEG-4 Advanced Audio Coding (AAC), such as AC-3 or MP3. |
| US07720298B2 |
Method for processing a digital image and image representation format
An image representation format for representing a digital image comprises: image information stored as a bitstream representing sequential image blocks, each block comprising one or more components, each component comprising one or more data units and each data unit being represented as a Huffman-coded stream of coefficients of basis functions, wherein a zeroth order coefficient is represented as a difference to the previous zeroth order coefficient of the corresponding component, and a block information table, which comprises: indicators to the first coefficient of a specified order of each image block in said bitstream, information indicating the number of bits in the bitstream between adjacent coefficients of said specified order of the image block, and the zeroth order coefficient of at least the first data unit of each component, said zeroth order coefficient being represented in a non-differential form. |
| US07720297B2 |
Image coding apparatus
An image coding apparatus includes: an entropy coding unit for outputting code data based on control information for every coding pass; a rate control information extracting unit for judging both a continuation and an end of the coding pass based on a calculation result of a distortion and a code amount, which are required in a rate control; and a unit for extracting the code data up to the coding end pass based on control information. The rate control information extracting unit includes: calculation units for calculating both a distortion and a code amount produced by coding each of the coding passes; another calculation unit for calculating a slope based on a relationship between the distortion and the code amount, and a coding pass conducting unit for outputting control information based on a slope, a total code amount of all components, and a total code amount of a specific component. |
| US07720294B2 |
Unified decoder architecture
Presented herein is a unified decoder architecture. A system comprises a video decoder, instruction memory, and a host processor. The video decoder decodes the video data encoded with the particular standard. The instruction memory stores a first set of instructions and a second set of instructions. The first set of instructions are for decoding encoded video data according to a first encoding standard. The second set of instruction are for decoding encoded video data according to a second encoding standard. The host processor provides an indication to the video decoder indicating the particular encoding standard. The video decoder executes the first set of instructions if the indication indicates that the particular encoding standard is the first encoding standard and executes the second set of instructions if the indication indicates that the particular encoding standard is the second encoding standard. |
| US07720292B2 |
System and method for grouping thematically-related clusters into a two-dimensional visual display space
Concepts are extracted from content of documents. Clusters each include one or more of the concepts. A theme is identified in each of the clusters and includes at least one such concept within the cluster. Spines of the clusters that share at least one theme in common are formed. The spines having a theme unique from any other spine already placed into a visual display space are placed. Anchor clusters are identified on the placed spines. Spine groups are generated. A similarity of at least one of the spines not placed and each placed spine is evaluated. The unplaced spine is placed at the anchor cluster in the placed spine with the closest similarity. A similarity of at least one of the clusters not selected and each anchor cluster is evaluated. The non-selected cluster is placed proximate to the anchor cluster with the closest similarity. The spine groups are displayed. |
| US07720291B2 |
Iterative fisher linear discriminant analysis
An exemplary method includes receiving an image data set that comprises a multidimensional property space and data classifiable into data classes, determining a projection vector for data of the data set wherein the projection vector maximizes a ratio of between-class scatter to within-class scatter, selecting a reference for the vector, projecting at least some of the data onto the vector, measuring distances from the reference to at least some of the data, classifying at least some of the data into data classes based on a nesting analysis of the distances, eliminating the classified data from the image data set to produce a modified image data set and deciding whether to determine another projection vector for the modified image data set. Various other exemplary methods, devices, systems, etc., are also disclosed. |
| US07720289B2 |
Method for constructing covariance matrices from data features
A method constructs descriptors for a set of data samples and determines a distance score between pairs of subsets selected from the set of data samples. A d-dimensional feature vector is extracted for each sample in each subset of samples. The feature vector includes indices to the corresponding sample and properties of the sample. The feature vectors of each subset of samples are combined into a d×d dimensional covariance matrix. The covariance matrix is a descriptor of the corresponding subset of samples. Then, a distance score is determined between the two subsets of samples using the descriptors to measure a similarity between the descriptors. |
| US07720287B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and computer readable medium, for generating and extracting image information
An image processing apparatus includes: an image reading unit that reads image information; a generating unit that generates new additional information to be added to the image information read by the image reading unit; an extracting unit that extracts, in a case where the image information read by the image reading unit includes existing additional information, the existing additional information; and an additional information processing unit that embeds the existing additional information and the new additional information in the image information. |
| US07720286B2 |
System and method for associating handwritten information with one or more objects via discontinuous regions of a printed pattern
A system is provided that includes a pen-enabled computing arrangement having a capture interface and at least one processing element. The capture interface can capture an electronic input defining a stroke through a plurality of concatenated regions. In addition, the handwriting capture interface can also optionally capture an electronic handwriting input based upon a position of the writing stylus with reference to a position-determining pattern. Each of the concatenated regions corresponds to a region of an identification pattern including a plurality of regions that are each associated with a character of an identifier associated with an object. The stroke includes a plurality of portions referenced to respective regions of the identification pattern such that the processing element can determine the identifier based upon the respective regions of the identification pattern, and associate the electronic input with the object associated with the identifier. |
| US07720285B2 |
Head detecting apparatus, head detecting method, and head detecting program
A head detecting apparatus, including a foreground extraction section for extracting a foreground region in which a person is captured from an input image; a first main axis computing section which includes a first moment computing section for computing a moment around a center of gravity of the foreground region and calculating a main axis of the foreground region based on the moment around the center of gravity of the foreground region; a head computing section for computing a head region included in the foreground region as a part thereof based on the main axis of the foreground region and a shape of the foreground region; and an ellipse determining section for determining an ellipse to be applied to a person's head based on a shape of the head region. |
| US07720283B2 |
Background removal in a live video
Exemplary systems and methods segment a foreground from a background image in a video sequence. In one implementation, a system refines a segmentation boundary between the foreground and the background image by attenuating background contrast while preserving contrast of the segmentation boundary itself, providing an accurate background cut of live video in real time. A substitute background may then be merged with the segmented foreground within the live video. The system can apply an adaptive background color mixture model to improve segmentation of foreground from background under various background changes, such as camera movement, illumination change, and movement of small objects in the background. |
| US07720282B2 |
Stereo image segmentation
Real-time segmentation of foreground from background layers in binocular video sequences may be provided by a segmentation process which may be based on one or more factors including likelihoods for stereo-matching, color, and optionally contrast, which may be fused to infer foreground and/or background layers accurately and efficiently. In one example, the stereo image may be segmented into foreground, background, and/or occluded regions using stereo disparities. The stereo-match likelihood may be fused with a contrast sensitive color model that is initialized or learned from training data. Segmentation may then be solved by an optimization algorithm such as dynamic programming or graph cut. In a second example, the stereo-match likelihood may be marginalized over foreground and background hypotheses, and fused with a contrast-sensitive color model that is initialized or learned from training data. Segmentation may then be solved by an optimization algorithm such as a binary graph cut. |
| US07720278B2 |
Misregister amount detection method and apparatus
In a misregister amount detection method, printed register marks of colors are sensed, and the inverted R, G, and B image data of R, G, and B image data respectively containing R, G, and B as red, green, and blue color components of the register marks are extracted. The minimum value of the pixel values of corresponding pixels of the generated inverted R, G, and B image data is extracted and converted into the pixel value of a corresponding pixel of K image data containing K as a black color component. Differential R, G, and B image data are obtained by subtracting the pixel value of each pixel of the K image data from the pixel values of corresponding pixels of the inverted R, G, and B image data. Enhanced R, G, and B image data are obtained by adding the pixel values of pixels of the differential R, G, and B image data or values corresponding to the pixel values to the pixel values of corresponding pixels of the inverted R, G, and B image data. The misregister amount between the colors is obtained on the basis of the pixel values of pixels of the enhanced R, G, and B image data. A misregister amount detection apparatus is also disclosed. |
| US07720272B2 |
Automated microscopic sperm identification
A system for automatically identifying sperm cells in a smear on a microscope slide, including capturing a first digital color image within an area of interest on the microscope slide. The first digital color image is split into a plurality of component color space images and stored into a plurality of memory spaces. The component color space images are manipulated by mathematical functions, logical functions or a combination of mathematical and logical functions to produce a result image. Thresholding the result image creates a binary result image which is processed with particle (blob) analysis. A set of blob factors is applied to identify probable sperm cells; and a list of universal coordinate system positions of the probable sperm cells is created. |
| US07720269B2 |
Volumetric characterization using covariance estimation from scale-space hessian matrices
A method for determining a volume of interest in data includes determining fixed-bandwidth estimations of a plurality of analysis bandwidths, wherein the estimation of the fixed-bandwidth comprises, providing an estimate of a mode location of the volume of interest in the data, and determining a covariance of the volume of interest using a local Hessian matrix. The method further includes determining the volume of interest as a most stable fixed-bandwidth estimation across each of the plurality of analysis bandwidths. |
| US07720262B2 |
Method and device for recording fingerprint data
In a method for recording reference fingerprint data for a person, at least two fingerprint images are recorded that depict at least partially different areas of one and the same finger of the person. Data from these images is stored in at least two alternative sets of reference fingerprint data that are to be used in checking the identity of the person. This method makes it possible to use a small sensor that only records partial fingerprints, both when recording reference data and when verifying, without the person having to make repeated attempts during the verification in order for the sensor to record the same area on the finger both when recording reference data and during the verification. In addition, a method is described for checking identity, in which method the fact is utilized that there are alternative sets of reference fingerprint data, and devices for carrying out the methods. |
| US07720259B2 |
Motion capture using primary and secondary markers
Capturing the motion of a target. One method includes: coupling a plurality of primary markers to the target; coupling at least one secondary marker to the target; capturing a plurality of primary marker data points, wherein each primary marker data point corresponds to one primary marker of the plurality of primary markers; capturing at least one secondary marker signature, each secondary marker signature corresponding to and uniquely identifying each secondary marker of said at least one secondary marker; and identifying the plurality of primary markers using said at least one secondary marker signature. |
| US07720255B2 |
Methods and apparatus to process video and audio media
The presently claimed invention relates generally to digital watermarking, and processing video or audio media files. One claim recites a method including: analyzing a plurality of video or audio media files; determining whether there are duplicate media files in the plurality video or audio media files; and avoiding duplicate video or audio media files when searching the plurality of video or audio media files for digital watermarking. Of course, other claims and combinations are provided as well. |
| US07720252B2 |
Method and apparatus for processing image, and printed material
An image processing method of arranging orientation detection information for detecting an image orientation in an image includes arranging the orientation detection information in at least two positions that are symmetric with respect to a center of the image. |
| US07720251B2 |
Embedded appliance for multimedia capture
A multimedia device includes input ports dedicated to receiving a real-time media signal and a processor system dedicated to capturing the real-time media signal. The processor system defines an embedded environment. The input ports and the processor system are integrated into the multimedia capture device. The input ports include an audio input port and at least one of a visual-capture input port or a digital-image input port. |
| US07720249B2 |
Watermark embedder and reader
A watermark system includes an embedder, detector, and reader. The watermark embedder encodes a watermark signal in a host signal to create a combined signal. The detector looks for the watermark signal in a potentially corrupted version of the combined signal, and computes its orientation. Finally, a reader extracts a message in the watermark signal from the combined signal using the orientation to approximate the original state of the combined signal. While adapted for images, video and audio, the watermark system applies to other electronic and physical media. For example, it can be applied to mark graphical models, blank paper, film and other substrates, texturing objects for ID purposes, etc. |
| US07720247B2 |
Speaker isolation system
A loudspeaker mounting assembly for mounting a loudspeaker in an isolated relation to a structure includes an enclosure and a plurality of interface elements composed of a vibration-damping material. The enclosure has an interior for receiving the loudspeaker and includes at least two spaced-apart support members. Each of the at least two support members includes a support member outer surface and an inner surface extending from the support member outer surface into the support member. The inner surface defines a support member bore. Each interface element includes an interface element outer surface. Each interface element is disposed in a corresponding one of the support member bores and at least partially extends out from the respective support member outer surface, where each interface element outer surface contacts the respective inner surface of the support member. |
| US07720243B2 |
Acoustic enhancement for behind the ear communication devices
A device and method for tailoring the audio frequency response of a hearing instrument, such as a hearing aid, by altering the physical characteristics of the device to more accurately compensate for a user's specific hearing loss attributes. The device has a bore formed within its housing which provides a passage for the transmission of sound from the receiver of the hearing instrument toward the user's eardrum. The bore has a custom-designed geometric shape to emphasize desired sound frequencies and therefore produce a predetermined frequency response of sound in combination with any frequency response changes directed by the hearing instrument's circuitry. |
| US07720241B2 |
Sound image localization apparatus and method and recording medium
A sound image localization apparatus for localizing a reproduced sound image at a sound source position convolves an impulse response through each path from an optimal position of localization of a sound source to the left and right ears of the listener into an audio signal to generate an audio signal for localization on the left and right channels. The impulse response is convolved after down sampling the audio signal localized to the position of the sound source behind the listener and thereby the amount of operation required of a signal processor for convoluting the impulse response is greatly reduced without spoiling a spatial localization of the sound image. |
| US07720236B2 |
Updating modeling information based on offline calibration experiments
A system such as a speakerphone may include a processor, memory, a speaker and a microphone. The processor may be configured (via program instructions stored in the memory) to calibrate the speaker by: outputting a stimulus signal; receiving an input signal corresponding to the stimulus signal; computing a midrange sensitivity and a lowpass sensitivity for a transfer function derived from a spectrum of the input signal and a spectrum of the output signal; subtracting the midrange sensitivity from the lowpass sensitivity to obtain a speaker-related sensitivity; performing an iterative search for current parameters of a speaker model using the input signal spectrum, the stimulus signal spectrum and the speaker-related sensitivity; and updating averages of the speaker model parameters using the current parameter values. The stimulus signal may be transmitted during periods of silence in the external environment. The parameter averages may be used to perform echo cancellation. |
| US07720233B2 |
Signal processing method and apparatus
A signal processor includes: a first adaptive filter that takes a first signal as input and generates a first pseudo signal; a first subtractor that subtracts the first pseudo signal from a second signal to supply a first differential signal as output; a second adaptive filter that takes the first signal as input to generate a second pseudo signal; a second subtractor that subtracts the second pseudo signal from the second signal to supply a second differential signal as output; a first step size control circuit that generates a first step size used in updating the first adaptive filter in accordance with the relation between the second pseudo signal and the second differential signal; and a second step size control circuit that generates a second step size used in updating the second adaptive filter in accordance with the relation between the first signal and the second signal. |
| US07720229B2 |
Method for measurement of head related transfer functions
Head Related Transfer Functions (HRTFs) of an individual are measured in rapid fashion in an arrangement where a sound source is positioned in the individual's ear channel, while microphones are arranged in the microphone array enveloping the individual's head. The pressure waves generated by the sounds emanating from the sound source reach the microphones and are converted into corresponding electrical signals which are further processed in a processing system to extract HRTFs, which may then be used to synthesize a spatial audio scene. The acoustic field generated by the sounds from the sound source can be evaluated at any desired point inside or outside the microphone array. |
| US07720223B2 |
System and method of content copy control
A calculator system for performing duplication of contents does not necessarily perform screening, i.e., electronic watermark detection, rather, contents copy control information can be obtained otherwise. For example, in the event of copying a CD regarding which it is known beforehand that there is no electronic watermark inserted in the contents, the electronic watermark detection processing itself can be skipped as long as the CD can be confirmed to be such, thereby reducing the amount of time necessary for copying. Electronic watermark inspecting processing with heavy computation loads is performed vicariously for judging whether or not duplication of contents is permissible. |
| US07720221B2 |
Privacy-enhanced e-passport authentication protocol
A passport authentication protocol provides for encryption of sensitive data such as biometric data and transfer of the encryption key from the passport to the authentication authority to permit comparison to a reference value. |
| US07720219B1 |
Apparatus and method for implementing a hash algorithm word buffer
An apparatus and method for implementing a hash algorithm word buffer. In one embodiment, a cryptographic unit may include hash logic configured to compute a hash value of a data block according to a hash algorithm, where the hash algorithm includes a plurality of iterations, and where the data block includes a plurality of data words. The cryptographic unit may further include a word buffer comprising a plurality of data word positions and configured to store the data block during computing by the hash logic, where subsequent to the hash logic computing one of the iterations of the hash algorithm, the word buffer is further configured to linearly shift the data block by one or more data word positions according to the hash algorithm. The hash algorithm may be dynamically selectable from a plurality of hash algorithms. |
| US07720213B2 |
Parameter dependent ring tones
A phone (12) identifies the nature of a desired communication by receiving data related to a purpose of the communication from parsers (26) and comparing the data to predetermined criteria specified by filters (24). A ring tone is selected from a set of ring tone responsive to the comparison. The ring tone could provide either audio or tactile stimulation, or both. Tactile stimulation could be provided, for example through different vibration patterns. Alternatively, a graphic may be shown responsive to the comparison. |
| US07720210B2 |
CTI system
A CTI system comprises a telephone terminal (12-2) having an ID tag (18-2), a server-connected main unit (11, 13) for controlling the telephone terminal, and an information processing terminal (16-1) having an ID reader and a communication unit (CU). By positioning the ID reader of the information processing terminal and the ID tag of the telephone terminal in close proximity to each other, the ID reader reads ID information of the ID tag in a non-contact manner. The information processing terminal sends the ID information read by the ID reader to the main unit by the use of the communication unit. The main unit associates the information processing terminal with the telephone terminal with reference to the ID information. The main unit is responsive to a request of the information processing terminal and carries out call control for the telephone terminal associated with the information processing terminal. |
| US07720208B1 |
Method and apparatus for authorization based phone calls in packet switched networks
A call authorization system moves state maintenance for authorization based phone calls from a central authorization server to different gateways in a packet switched network. A simple authorization session protocol is used between the authorization server and the gateways to minimize network traffic. The authorization session protocol releases the authorization server from having to maintain states for open authorization based phone calls. |
| US07720206B2 |
System and method for intelligent data extraction for telecommunications invoices
A system, method and computer program product for extracting information from a telecommunications invoice is provided. According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a method may include: receiving a telecommunications invoice data stream in a first data format; analyzing the telecommunications invoice data stream to determine the first data format; modeling the telecommunications invoice data stream; and mapping the modeled telecommunications invoice data stream to a normalized data format. According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the method may include: where the modeling of the telecommunications invoice data stream may further include any of: creating a model for the first data format; modeling the telecommunications invoice data stream according to the model; and/or modeling the telecommunications invoice data stream with an intelligent adapter. |
| US07720202B1 |
Method and apparatus for testing telephone sound quality
A method and apparatus for testing telephone sets to determine their sound quality comprising a system for repeatedly applying a sequence of pulse tones to a test telephone where the respective tone frequencies are different and within the normal human voice range. |
| US07720200B2 |
Apparatus for x-ray generation and method of making same
A composite target for generating x-rays includes a target substrate and at least one material applied to the target substrate with a laser beam. |
| US07720197B2 |
High intensity x-ray beam system
An x-ray optical system for producing high intensity x-ray beams. The system includes an optic with a surface formed by revolving a defined contour around a revolving axis that is different than the geometric symmetric axis of the optic. Accordingly, the system may use a source that has a circular emission profile or a large source to provide increased flux to a sample. |
| US07720190B2 |
Working device and working method
A working apparatus has: a working equipment for doing works on a structure; a folding/unfolding mechanism for conveying the working equipment to the working position in a folded state; a conveyance mechanism (such as a horizontal thruster) for conveying the working equipment and the folding/unfolding mechanism to the working position; a pressing mechanism (such as a ballast tank) for pressing the working equipment against the lower surface of the structure; and a traveling mechanism including a wheel for traveling along the lower surface of the structure and positioning the apparatus. |
| US07720189B2 |
System and method for automatic clock frequency acquisition
A system and method are provided for automatically acquiring a serial data stream clock. The method receives a serial data stream with an unknown clock frequency and coarsely determines the clock frequency. The frequency is coarsely determined by (initially) selecting a high frequency first reference clock (Fref1), and counting the number of data transitions in a first time segment of the serial data stream at a plurality of sample frequencies equal to Fref1/n, where n is an integer≧1. The count for each sampling frequency is compared to the count for Fref1 (n=1). Next, the highest sampling frequency (n=x) is determined, which has a lower count than Fref1, and the coarse clock frequency is set to Fc1 =Fref1/(x−1). |
| US07720187B2 |
Methods and apparatus for reducing discrete power spectral density components of signals transmitted in wideband communications systems
Methods and apparatus for reducing discrete power spectral density (PSD) components of wideband signals transmitting blocks of data are disclosed. Discrete components are reduced by acquiring N symbols of pseudo-random data, each symbol having K bits; selecting one bit from each of the acquired symbols to generate N selected bits; selectively inverting a respective element in one of the data blocks responsive to the selected bits; acquiring one or more bits of pseudo-random data to replace a corresponding one or more respective bits of the acquired N symbols of pseudo-random data; and repeating for successive blocks of data. |
| US07720186B2 |
Plural circuit selection using role reversing control inputs
Data is communicated through two separate circuits or circuit groups, each having clock and mode inputs, by sequentially reversing the role of the clock and mode inputs. The data communication circuits have data inputs, data outputs, a clock input for timing or synchronizing the data input and/or output communication, and a mode input for controlling the data input and/or output communication. A clock/mode signal connects to the clock input of one circuit and to the mode input of the other circuit. A mode/clock signal connects to the mode input of the one circuit and to the clock input of the other circuit. The role of the mode and clock signals on the mode/clock and clock/mode signals, or their reversal, selects one or the other of the data communication circuits. |
| US07720185B2 |
Narrow-band interference canceller
The disclosure is directed to a receiver. The receiver includes an interference canceller configured to filter digital samples produced from a modulated signal transmitted over a wireless channel, and a digital variable gain amplifier (DVGA) configured to amplify the filtered digital samples. |
| US07720181B2 |
Apparatus and method for iterative detection and decoding (IDD) in multi-antenna communication system
An Iterative Detection and Decoding (IDD) receiving apparatus and method in a multiple input multiple output (MIMO) communication system. The IDD receiving apparatus includes an MIMO detector which generates soft decision values of coded bits by MIMO-decoding a receive vector, feedback priori information, and a list of candidate coded symbol vectors; a decoder which Soft-Input/Soft-Output (SISO)-decodes the soft decision values generated at the MIMO detector and feeds back soft decision values of the coded bits to the MIMO detector; a hard decision part which generates a coded symbol vector by performing a hard decision on the soft decision values generated at the decoder; and a list updater which generates a list of candidate coded symbol vectors using the receive vector and provides the list to the MIMO detector at a first iteration, updates the list using the coded symbol vector fed from the hard decision part, and provides the updated list to the MIMO detector at subsequent iterations. |
| US07720180B2 |
Tracking error detection and correction methods and apparatus
The objective of this invention is to perform high-precision tracking error detection and tracking control using digital circuitry at relatively low speed and with a small circuit scale. Tracking servo circuit is formed as a single-chip circuit. Low-pass filters (LPF) and gain control amplifiers (GCA) of the input portion are analog circuits, while the circuits after analog-digital (A/D) converters, that is, offset cancellation circuits, equalizers (EQ), first and second phase difference detectors, adder, low-pass filter (LPF), gain control amplifier (GCA), and servo DSP are all digital circuits. |
| US07720178B2 |
Method of direct RF digitization for multiple GNSS system bands and receiver using the same
A method of direct RF digitization for multiple RF signal bands such GNSS or wireless communication signal bands and a receiver using the method. By using the method, an optimal sampling frequency to be used in direct RF digitization for signals of multiple RF signal bands can be easily obtained. According to the present invention, one or more of the RF signal bands are selected to be shifted to target band(s). By doing so, the optimal sampling frequency can be easily calculated. Then the obtained sampling frequency is used in executing the direct RF digitization. |
| US07720177B2 |
System and method for detecting known sequence in transmitted sequence
A known sequence of symbols is located within a transmitted sequence of symbols by estimating the phase differences between offset symbols within a portion or more of the transmitted sequence, estimating the phase differences between offset symbols in the known sequence, and determining that the symbols within the portion or more of the transmitted sequence are the known sequence if the phase difference estimates determined from the symbols within the portion or more of the transmitted sequence are substantially equal to the phase difference estimates determined from the known sequence. |
| US07720176B2 |
Edge transceiver architecture and related methods
In one embodiment, the present invention includes an apparatus having multiple transmission paths, including a first transmission path configured to receive and process baseband data in a first mode of operation to generate a radio frequency (RF) signal for output via a common output path, and a second transmission path configured to receive and process the baseband data in a second mode of operation to generate the RF signal for output via the common output path. |
| US07720174B2 |
Multi-stage code generator and decoder for communication systems
A method of encoding data for transmission from a source to a destination over a communications channel is provided. A plurality of redundant symbols are generated from an ordered set of input symbols to be transmitted. A plurality of output symbols are generated from a combined set of symbols including the input symbols and the redundant symbols, wherein the number of possible output symbols is much larger than the number of symbols in the combined set of symbols, wherein at least one output symbol is generated from more than one symbol in the combined set of symbols and from less than all of the symbols in the combined set of symbols, and such that the ordered set of input symbols can be regenerated to a desired degree of accuracy from any predetermined number, N, of the output symbols. |
| US07720170B2 |
Low emission signal generator and distributor system
A low emission signal manipulating circuit for reducing emission of a given signal. This is accomplished by manupulating the signal and recovering the original signal. The inventive device includes a transmitter which modifies a given signal, a divider that resides in transmitter which divides the incoming signal, a pulse shaping circuit which generates two pulses one at the leading edge and one at the trailing edge of the incoming signal, a receiver which recovers the original signal from the modified signal, a register which generates a signal based on incoming pulses, a phase locked loop circuit that generates a signal at the output. Transmitter has a divider circuit that divides the incoming signal. It also has pulse circuits where two pulses are generated. Divider has five flip flops that divides the incoming signal's frequency by a predetermined amount. Pulse shaping circuit has two integrators and logic gates. Receiver has a register circuit and phase locked loop. Register has a flip flop. Phase Locked Loop has a phase comparator, charge pump, voltage controlled oscillator and a divider. |
| US07720164B2 |
Transmission scheme for uplink access in a FDMA system
Transmission scheme for the uplink of FDMA systems that improves performance in an interference-dominated system by using a pilot scheme that provides enough information so that channel estimates can be obtained for a particular user, but which at the same time makes it possible to use pilot patterns that are different in different cells so that co-channel interference is mitigated. A codeword is used to position a set of pilot symbols within a set of subcarriers wherein each subcarrier has a first pilot time slot and a second pilot time slot associated with one or more data time slots. The set of subcarriers are identified on which to transmit the composite signal and the first pilot time slots and the second pilot time slots are filled with the pilot symbols in accordance with the codeword. The composite signal is then formatted as a combination of modulated data and pilot signals. |
| US07720162B2 |
Partial FFT processing and demodulation for a system with multiple subcarriers
Techniques for efficiently performing partial FFT for subcarriers of interest are described. The N total subcarriers may be arranged into M sets. Each set may contain K subcarriers uniformly distributed across the N total subcarriers, where M·K=N. For the partial FFT, pre-processing is initially performed on time-domain samples to obtain intermediate samples. The pre-processing may include performing M-point FFTs on the time-domain samples and multiplying the FFT outputs with unit complex values. For each set of subcarriers of interest, a K-point FFT is performed on a set of intermediate samples to obtain a set of frequency-domain symbols for that set of subcarriers. Since K is typically much smaller than N, substantial savings in computation and power may be realized when only one or few sets of subcarriers are of interest. |
| US07720156B2 |
Residue image down/up sampling method and apparatus and image encoding/decoding method and apparatus using residue sampling
A residue image down- and/or up-sampling method and apparatus and an image encoding and/or decoding method and apparatus using the residue image down- and/or up-sampling method and apparatus are provided. The residue image downsampling method includes: generating a residue corresponding to the difference between an original image and a predicted image, for each image component of the original image formed with at least two or more image components; and downsampling the residue for each image component at a predetermined ratio. The residue image upsampling method includes: upsampling data downsampled from residue data of an original image; and restoring the original image by adding the predicted image to the upsampled residue of each component. According to the methods and apparatuses, a residue image is obtained by performing spatiotemporal prediction encoding first, and by sampling this residue image, loss of information occurring in the sampling process can be reduced. Since sampling is performed with a residue image obtained through a spatiotemporal prediction process, even when an original image that is not color transformed is directly encoded, sampling can be performed effectively. Also, the methods and apparatuses have an advantage that in addition to colors, sampling of any components can be performed effectively. |
| US07720152B2 |
Implicit weighting of reference pictures in a video decoder
A video decoder, encoder, and corresponding methods for processing video signal data for an image block with two reference picture indices to predict the image block are disclosed that utilize implicit weighting of reference pictures to enhance video compression, where a decoder includes an implicit reference picture weighting factor unit for determining a weighting factor corresponding each reference picture index; and encoder includes an implicit reference picture weighting factor assignor for assigning a weighting factor corresponding to each reference picture index; and a method for decoding includes receiving the reference picture indices with the data that corresponds to the image block, determining an implicit weighting factor responsive to the relative positioning of the image block and the reference pictures indicated by each reference picture index, retrieving a reference picture for each index, motion compensating the retrieved reference pictures, and multiplying the motion compensated reference pictures by the corresponding weight. |
| US07720151B2 |
Motion estimation using early decision for goodness of estimation with quick convergence feedback
This invention is a method for speeding up block matching based motion estimation for video encoder. The invention 1) calculates statistics for a candidate motion vector for a predetermined fraction of the pixels of a macroblock, 2) makes an early decision based on this preliminary cost function, and 3) terminates the block matching process without calculating the cost function for other pixels if the preliminary cost function is not less than a predetermined threshold. This early decision for goodness estimation provides an economy of processing load when a large portion of data is left untouched (i.e. unprocessed). The present invention employs feedback control to reduce the predetermined threshold for quick convergence upon each detection of a better match. |
| US07720150B2 |
Pixel data selection device for motion compensated interpolation and method thereof
A pixel data selection device for motion compensated interpolation and a method thereof selects pixel data in adjacent frame/fields. First and second storage portions respectively store first pixel data corresponding to a motion vector of a first frame/field that is obtained by delaying an input frame/field and second pixel data corresponding to the motion vector of a second frame/field that is obtained by delaying the first frame/field one or more times. First and second pixel data extracting portions extract individual pixel data from the first and the second pixel data corresponding to a candidate motion vector. First and second optimum pixel outputting portions output optimum pixel data for motion compensation from the extracted individual pixel data. By selecting the optimum pixel data from the adjacent frame/field of an interpolated frame/field having a current block and candidate blocks corresponding to a plurality of motion trajectories, occurrence of blocking artifacts due to inaccurate estimate of motion vectors can be reduced. |
| US07720146B2 |
Video compression system
A video compression system is disclosed that is optimized to take advantage of the types of redundancies typically occurring on computer screens and the types of video loss acceptable to real time interactive computer users. It automatically adapts to a wide variety of changing network bandwidth conditions and can accommodate any video resolution and an unlimited number of colors. The disclosed video compression encoder can be implemented with either hardware or software and it compresses the source video into a series of data packets that are a fixed length of 8 bits or more. Sequences of one or more of these packets create unique encoding “commands” that can be sent over any network and easily decoded (decompressed) with either software or hardware. The commands include 3 dimensional copying (horizontal, vertical and time) and unique efficiencies for screen segments that are comprised of only two colors (such as text). Embodiments are also disclosed that improve the video compression depending on the popularity of pixel colors. |
| US07720144B2 |
Signal processing apparatus
An image signal processing apparatus for quantizing an inputted moving image signal according to a quantization step so that a code amount of one frame becomes a target code amount, and for variable-length-coding the quantized moving image signal, in which a minimum value of the quantization step is determined for each frame, and the quantization step is determined so as not to be less than the minimum value. |
| US07720142B2 |
Method and apparatus for decision-feedback equalization using single-sided eye with global minimum convergence
Methods and apparatus are provided for decision-feedback equalization with global minimum convergence. A threshold position of one or more DFE latches employed by a decision-feedback equalizer is determined by obtaining a plurality of samples of a single-sided data eye using at least one decision latch and at least one roaming latch; comparing the samples obtained by the at least one decision latch and at least one roaming latch to identify an upper and lower voltage boundary of the single-sided data eye; and determining a threshold position of the one or more DFE latches based on the upper and lower voltage boundaries. The comparison can optionally comprise obtaining an exclusive or (XOR) of the samples obtained by the at least one decision latch and at least one roaming latch. The XOR comparison positions an opening for the single-sided data eye at a zero hit count. |
| US07720138B2 |
Communication system
A communication system is provided which is capable of easily setting a transmission speed between a signal transmitter and a signal receiver to carry out information communication. A transmitting device transmits one frame of measuring data which contains a start bit to be added to a head of the data and a stop bit to be added to an end of the data and which is used for a signal receiver to measure a transmission speed. A framing error detector in a receiving device receives the measuring data for detection, at every measuring point, of a framing error which occurs when a transmission speed of the signal transmitter does not coincide with a transmission speed of the signal receiver and normal detection of a stop bit is impossible and generates information about detection of a framing error. A transmission speed measurer measures a transmission speed of the transmitting device based on information about detection of a framing error and measuring point interval time. |
| US07720133B2 |
Wireless communication apparatus, wireless communication method, propagation measurement apparatus and propagation measurement method
Disclosed is a wireless communication apparatus for receiving a code-spread transmission signal. The wireless communication apparatus includes: an RF section; and a baseband section, wherein, in the baseband section, despreaders of an integral submultiple, which is 1/n1, of the number of chips of a spread code are arranged in parallel, and there is provided a propagation measurement section that measures a propagation channel by using the plurality of despreaders a plurality of times in a time-division manner and performing despread of each period corresponding to a chip rate of the spread code. |
| US07720132B2 |
Energy—bandwidth tradeoff and transmit waveform design using interference and noise whitening method
A new method for transmitter-receiver design that enhances the desired signal output from the receiver by whitening the total interference and noise input to the receiver and maximizing the output Signal to Interference plus Noise power Ratio (SINR) is presented. As a result of the whitening process, the receiver “sees” a desired signal in white noise, and the receiver structure is then optimized to maximize the receiver output at the desired decision making instant. Furthermore the new design scheme proposed here can be used for transmit signal energy and bandwidth tradeoff. As a result, transmit signal energy can be used to tradeoff for “premium” signal bandwidth without sacrificing the system performance level in terms of the output Signal to Interference plus Noise power Ratio (SINR). |
| US07720130B2 |
Efficient receiver architecture for transmit diversity techniques
Transmit diversity (TD) has become a common technique used in modern wireless communications systems to improve performance. TD uses multiple antennas (e.g., 110 and 111) at a transmitter (e.g., 105) to transmit multiple encoded datastreams and a single (or multiple) antenna (e.g., 116) at a receiver (e.g., 115) to receive the datastreams. Preferred embodiments of the present invention provide a general architecture (e.g., 705) that can support different TD schemes and even non-TD, simplifying receiver design and minimizing hardware usage. |
| US07720126B2 |
Multi-pass laser amplifier with staged gain mediums of varied absorption length
A laser amplification system is disclosed that enables reliable operation over large ambient temperature operating window, as well as a significant reduction of laser temperature sensitivity typically associated with diode pumped lasers. The techniques employed by the system effectively eliminate damaging gain hot spots and lower ASE and ESA thresholds, thereby increasing laser peak and average power levels. Additionally, the techniques allow for thermal programming of active gain medium material to minimize thermally induced aberrations. In one particular example embodiment, a variable dopant concentration multi-pass laser amplifier is provided having a customized active ion concentration profile, tailoring the combination of laser absorption and gain distribution using a ceramic YAG host. |
| US07720124B2 |
Semiconductor device and fabrication method thereof
A semiconductor device includes a first nitride semiconductor layer formed on a substrate and a second nitride semiconductor layer formed on the first nitride semiconductor layer so as to be in contact with the first nitride semiconductor layer. The first nitride semiconductor layer contains a p-type impurity. The second nitride semiconductor layer contains an n-type impurity and a p-type impurity. In the second nitride semiconductor layer, the concentration of the n-type impurity is higher than the concentration of the p-type impurity. |
| US07720121B2 |
Laser with highly efficient gain medium
High-power, diode-pumped solid state (DPSS) pulsed lasers are preferred for applications such as micromachining, via drilling of integrated circuits, and ultraviolet (UV) conversion. Nd:YVO4 (vanadate) lasers are good candidates for high power applications because they feature a high energy absorption coefficient over a wide bandwidth of pumping wavelengths. However, vanadate has poor thermo-mechanical properties, in that the material is stiff and fractures easily when thermally stressed. By optimizing laser parameters and selecting pumping wavelengths and doping a concentration of the gain medium to control the absorption coefficient less than 2 cm−1 such as the pumping wavelength between about 910 nm and about 920 nm, a doped vanadate laser may be enhanced to produce as much as 100 W of output power without fracturing the crystal material, while delivering a 40% reduction in thermal lensing. |
| US07720119B2 |
Laser circuit substrate
This invention makes it possible to meet a requirement of high-quality image printing and high-speed driving of a semiconductor laser driver in a laser beam printer or the like while suppressing radiant noise. A laser circuit substrate includes a first wiring pattern and second wiring pattern connected to a main wiring pattern, a first circuit which is connected to the first wiring pattern and has a semiconductor laser element and a driving circuit for driving the semiconductor laser element, a second circuit which is connected to the second wiring pattern and compensates noise generated by the first circuit, a first capacitor which is connected to a first point in the first wiring pattern, and a second capacitor which is connected to a second point in the second wiring pattern. The positions of the first point and second point are set such that the sum of the impedances of the first wiring pattern and first circuit viewed from the first point, and the sum of the impedances of the second wiring pattern and second circuit viewed from the second point are substantially equal to each other. |
| US07720116B2 |
Tunable laser having liquid crystal waveguide
A tunable laser for providing a laser beam with a selectable wavelength. In one example, the tunable laser includes a gain medium for generating the laser beam; a waveguide for processing the laser beam, the waveguide having liquid crystal material or other electro-optic material disposed therein; an optical path length control element disposed within said waveguide for controlling an effective optical path length of the laser cavity; and a wavelength selective element for controlling the wavelength of the laser beam. The tunable laser may be designed without any moving mechanical parts if desired. |
| US07720114B2 |
Nonlinear polarization pulse shaping mode locked fiber laser
A fiber laser cavity that includes a laser gain medium for receiving an optical input projection from a laser pump. The fiber laser cavity further includes a positive dispersion fiber segment and a negative dispersion fiber segment for generating a net negative dispersion for balancing a self-phase modulation (SPM) and a dispersion induced pulse broadening/compression in the fiber laser cavity for generating an output laser with a transform-limited pulse shape. |
| US07720112B2 |
Routing of data streams
The routing of data streams is discussed, and particularly routing one or more incoming streams to one or more output destination ports. The ability to merge incoming streams is discussed so that several low bit rate input packet streams can be merged into a higher bit rate output stream. An assignment data structure identifies for each input stream the or each destination to which it is to be routed, and a packet allocation data structure holds information about the packets and information about the destination of the packets to allow a memory holding the packets to be controlled accordingly. |
| US07720110B2 |
Cycle synchronization between interconnected sub-networks
A method to perform a cycle synchronization between interconnected sub-networks, in which a reference node connected to one of the sub-networks transmits a respective cycle time information to cycle masters of all other sub-networks at recurring time instants, and the cycle masters of all other sub-networks adjust their cycle time accordingly. An adjustment of the cycle time within a cycle master is performed by determining a first time interval (t1, t1′) in-between two receptions of cycle time information from the reference node with an own clock, determining a second time interval (t2, t2′) in-between two corresponding transmissions of cycle time information from the reference node on basis of the received cycle time information, comparing the first time interval (t1, t1′) and the second time interval (t2, t2′), and adjusting the own cycle length according to the comparison result. |
| US07720107B2 |
Aligning data in a wide, high-speed, source synchronous parallel link
A source-synchronous parallel interface divides a wide data bus into clock-groups including a sub-group of the data lines and a clock line carrying a copy of the transmit clock. The traces in a clock-group are located physically close together to minimize skew between the signals carried on the traces of the clock-group. Deskew logic on the receiver compensates for skew between received clock-group signals. |
| US07720096B2 |
RTP payload format for VC-1
An RTP payload format for VC-1 is described. The RTP payload format accommodates an RTP payload that can include one or more Access Units (AUs). An Access Unit can provide a complete frame of VC-1 information. Alternatively, a frame of VC-1 information can be fragmented among multiple Access Units. Each Access Unit includes an Access Unit header and an Access Unit payload. The RTP payload format incorporates various provisions for improving the efficiency and robustness in the processing of the VC-1 information, enabled, in part, by control information conveyed by the respective Access Unit headers of the Access Units. |
| US07720094B2 |
Methods and apparatus for low latency signal aggregation and bandwidth reduction
Wireless network demands continually increase as wireless service providers pursue additional service capabilities. In a cellular communication system, leased lines between remote cell sites and the corresponding Mobile Switching Offices (MSOs) remain a major operating cost. Bandwidth reduction by identification and elimination of payload data and control information which need not be fully replicated because it can be deduced from information accessible or previously transmitted allows fewer lines to support the same bandwidth. A wireless access gateway is operable to aggregate such redundant and regenerable data on a backhaul link between a wireless cell site and the corresponding mobile switching office (MSO) to provide low-latency, type specific lossless bandwidth reduction. The wireless access gateway identifies regenerable information and eliminates portions of the data which the device need not transmit because the data is redundant, or accessible or recreatable, at the receiving side. In this manner, the access device allows fewer lines to carry the reduced message traffic by transmitting only the non-recreatable data and eliminating message traffic for regenerable information. |
| US07720091B2 |
Systems and methods to arrange call back
Methods and apparatuses to provide services to people who wish to make connections for real time communication, such as live telephone conversation, chat, video conferencing, etc. In one embodiment, a method includes: receiving in a system a call back time window for a request from a first entity to establish a media connection for real time communication with a second entity, the call back time window being specified by the first entity to indicate a period of time including a current time during which the first entity is available for real time communication with the second entity; and attempting to establish the media connection between the first entity and the second entity according to the call back time window. |
| US07720088B2 |
Method for time division multiplexing data transport
A method for TDM data transport is disclosed. Configure a TDM logical port in the transmitting and receiving side respectively, and create a relationship between the TDM logical port of the transmitting side and that of the receiving side. When transmitting the TDM data, map original TDM data to a package data format via the TDM logical port. Encapsulate the acquired package data and a CID into a MAC data package according to the predetermined encapsulation information. Then send the data package to the receiving side via a shared transmission channel. The receiving side MAC layer obtains the de-encapsulation information and the receiving side TDM logical port identifier according to the CID of the received data package, de-encapsulates the data package, maps the acquired data to the corresponding receiving side TDM logical port to implement high efficiency TDM data transport. |
| US07720086B2 |
Distributed overlay multi-channel media access control for wireless ad hoc networks
Systems and methods for distributed overlay multi-channel MAC for wireless ad hoc networks are described. In one aspect, the systems and methods divide channel frequencies defined by a wireless network protocol into a single home channel and multiple guest channels that are orthogonal to the home channel. Each of the network nodes in the ad hoc network operates on the home channel for respective variable and overlapping amounts of time to maintain network connectivity with other respective network nodes. Additionally, each of the network nodes determines whether and when to switch from the home channel to a particular guest channel of the guest channels for a variable amount of time to increase data throughput over one or more corresponding communication links in the ad hoc network with other network node(s). |
| US07720085B1 |
Method and apparatus for controlling transmission flow using explicit rate control and queuing without data rate supervision
Packet flow rate control techniques are enhanced by the interactive and early invocation of packet queuing to control short flows of packets and to eliminate undershoot and overshoot of a targeted flow rate. Packet queuing involves the scheduled release of packets in accordance with flow policies (priorities) to achieve a pre-selected outgoing target flow rate. The combination of controlled packet queuing and packet flow rate control with appropriate mechanisms for favoring one over the other improves the efficiency of data transmission. |
| US07720075B2 |
Network idle protocol with reduced channels
According to some embodiments, a Gigabit Ethernet link is maintained with a link partner using less than four channels. Embodiments may also establish the Gigabit Ethernet link using four channels, determine that the link is idle, and terminate communication with the link partner over at least one of the four channels. |
| US07720069B2 |
Method for preventing Ethernet from being attacked
A method for preventing Ethernet from being attacked is provided. The method comprises the steps as follows: after detecting a new connection between a port and a terminal device and receiving a data packet from the terminal device, an Ethernet communication device establishing and storing a fixed map between the port and a hardware address of the terminal device, then forwarding the data packet according to the fixed map; after detecting a disconnection between the port and the terminal device, the Ethernet communication device deleting the fixed map. |