| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US07730952B2 |
Hydraulic fracturing methods using cross-linking composition comprising zirconium triethanolamine complex
A method for hydraulically fracturing a subterranean formation comprises introducing into the formation a cross-linking composition which comprises a zirconium triethanolamine complex, a tetra(hydroxyalkyl)ethylenediamine, water, a cross-linkable organic polymer, and optionally, a polyol. The method can be used for cross-linking organic polymers over a wide range of pH. By varying the composition and optionally adding a delay agent, the method provides flexibility in rate of cross-linking. |
| US07730950B2 |
Methods for treating intervals of a subterranean formation having variable permeability
Methods of using water-soluble hydrophobically modified polymers to treat intervals of a subterranean formation having variable permeabilities. An exemplary embodiment provides a method of treating an interval of a subterranean formation having a permeability that varies. The method comprises contacting the interval with a water-soluble hydrophobically modified polymer capable of selectively reducing the effective permeability of the interval to water without a comparable reduction of the effective permeability of the interval to hydrocarbons. The hydrophobically modified polymer modifies the interval to have a more uniform permeability without substantially preventing the flow of fluids through the interval. The method further comprises introducing a treatment fluid into the interval. The more uniform permeability of the interval allows for a more uniform treatment of the interval by the treatment fluid than would be allowed without treatment of the interval with the hydrophobically modified polymer. |
| US07730949B2 |
System and method for performing well treatments
A technique is provided for performing a well treatment operation. A completion assembly is constructed with a tubular member designed to maintain pressure integrity above a given well treatment zone. The completion assembly and a service tool can be moved downhole for well treatment operations in one or more well zones. A converter tool is utilized to selectively form openings through a wall of the tubular member to enable flow following completion of the well treatment in a lower zone. |
| US07730945B2 |
Using geothermal energy to heat a portion of a formation for an in situ heat treatment process
Methods of using geothermal energy to treat subsurface formations are described herein. Methods for using geothermal energy to treat a subsurface treatment area containing or proximate to hydrocarbons may include producing geothermally heated fluid from at least one subsurface region. Heat from at least a portion of the geothermally heated fluid may be transferred to the subsurface treatment area to heat the subsurface treatment area. At least some hydrocarbon fluids may be produced from the formation. |
| US07730936B2 |
Active cable for wellbore heating and distributed temperature sensing
A heating and distributed-temperature-sensor cable permanently fixed in a wellbore that permits known amounts of heat to be introduced to subsurface formations and improved temperature measurement thereof. The heat is introduced into a target zone of the wellbore by forming the cable in two sections: an upper section that carries an electrical current without generating significant amounts of heat, and a lower section that generates heat from the electrical current. Continuous distributed-temperature-sensing is performed through measuring various scattering mechanism in optical fibers that run the length of the cable. |
| US07730934B2 |
Thixo-molding shot located downstream of blockage
Disclosed is a metal molding process, including passing, through a conduit passageway, a volume of molten metal located downstream of a passageway blockage formable in the conduit passageway. Also disclosed is a molded article having a body made by a metal molding process, including passing, through a conduit passageway, a volume of molten metal located downstream of a passageway blockage formable in the conduit passageway. |
| US07730931B2 |
Method and apparatus for producing pleats in curtains and pleated curtains and hanging said curtains using said apparatus
A method and apparatus, for pleating curtains and pleated curtains using the apparatus, are described. The apparatus may be provided as a parts kit which includes a stiffener, pleat-forming members, and fasteners. The stiffener is attached to a curtain and bent into a series of pleat-shaped formations. The pleat-forming members and fasteners are used to hold the stiffener and support the curtain, forming the created pleats in place. The curtain may then be hung on a curtain rod by a separate hanging element which couples the pleat-forming members to a curtain rod. The hanging element may form an integral part of the pleat-forming member. |
| US07730928B2 |
Overhead sectional door, hinge and stile assembly
A hinge assembly pivotally couples adjacent panels together in an overhead sectional door. The panels include stiles between each lateral end of the panel to which the hinge assemblies are attached. The hinge assembly includes an upper hinge leaf on an upper panel with a pair of spaced generally parallel flanges which span the juncture between the upper and lower panels. The hinge assembly also includes a lower hinge leaf with a pair of flanges projecting generally parallel to each other. The lower hinge leaf is mounted to one of the stiles of the lower panel and each flange includes a pivot axis hole near a terminal end thereof for alignment with a pivot axis hole in one of the flanges of the upper leaf. The stile includes a pair of spaced, parallel sidewalls and a notch, depression or recess is on each sidewall. The recesses provide a seat for the respective flanges of the hinge leaves and clearance between the sidewall of the stile and any adjacent components. A rivet or similar pivotal connector device is seated within the pivot axis holes on each side of the hinge. |
| US07730923B2 |
Adjustable hanging apparatus for blind valances
An adjustable hanging apparatus for blind valances is provided. The hanging apparatus includes a hanging device and a mounting device. The hanging device has a hook, which can be slidably hooked over a headrail. In addition, a base of the hanging device has an opening. The opening is disposed with two resilient mounting plates, and each mounting plate has a plurality of troughs. A neck portion is formed therebetween the mounting plates. The mounting device has a joint portion, which can engage with the valance. Also, a jam portion passes through the neck portion and mounted therein. Positioning flanges can be engaged with the troughs of the mounting plates so as to limit the vertical movement of the mounting device, and the mounting device can be inserted through the opening in the vertical direction of any positions to adjust the valance to desired positions. |
| US07730922B2 |
Apparatus and method for automatically fabricating tape with threads for visualization of air streams on aerodynamic surfaces
Apparatus and method for visualizing air stream by little threads on aerodynamic surfaces such that strips of adhesive tape populated with threads are automatically fabricated. |
| US07730921B2 |
Belt welding apparatus and method
Apparatus and method are disclosed for the welding of thermoplastic endless belts (28). Direct current is passed through a ni-chrome wire (27) to produce enough heat such that the thermoplastic melting point of the belt material is reached. The wire is mechanically moved through the abutting thermoplastic belt. The free ends being welded are securely held together with clamping members (2) and (4). In another embodiment a ni-chrome ribbon (54) is embedded in an electrically insulated screen to produce a heated planar surface. The invention is particularly suitable for the welding of polyurethane thermoplastic belts. Because the invention is hand held and it uses battery power, it is especially adapted for welding belts in the food processing industry. |
| US07730916B2 |
Folding work bench
The folding work bench folds compactly for storage when not in use and occupies a minimal work space. The folding work bench has a durable work surface, a top storage shelf, a back board for hanging tools, a locking mechanism, and a work table that can be folded up against the back board and locked in a compactly folded configuration that also secures the tools on the back board in the work bench. |
| US07730908B2 |
Self supporting reinforced header
A self supporting header has a horizontally extending header pipe of fiberglass reinforced plastic with a horizontal axis and a flange of fiberglass reinforced plastic connected to an outer surface of the header pipe by at least one web and extending along at least part of the horizontal extent of the header pipe. The at least one web extends vertically from at least one of the top and bottom of the header pipe and is connected to the flange. A reinforcing member or material is embedded in at least one of the flange and the at least one web and that has a greater modulus of elasticity than a modulus of elasticity of the fiberglass reinforced plastic of the header pipe reinforces a cross-section of the header for increasing the self supporting strength of the header. The reinforcing member may be made of metal or a carbon composite material. |
| US07730907B2 |
Device, with vanes, for use within a pipeline, and pipeline arrangement including such device
A device for use in a pipeline including a fluid conduit section constructed of a flexible material. The fluid conduit section has a first end, which includes a first mounting arrangement, and a second end, which includes a second mounting arrangement. The fluid conduit section also has a length defined between the first and second ends, an internal diameter, and a fluid passage therethrough to allow fluid to flow from the first to the second end. The device also includes a plurality of longitudinally extending vanes positioned within the fluid conduit section, wherein radially inner edges of the vanes are in direct contact with the radially inner edges of adjacent vanes, and radially outer edges of the vanes contact one of the first and second ends, but are separated from the internal diameter of a remainder of the fluid conduit section, such that a space is defined therebetween. |
| US07730898B2 |
Semiconductor wafer lifter
A novel semiconductor wafer lifter is disclosed for handling wafers during wet bench processing. In particular, the lifter has a plurality of holes formed in its vertical support surface to allow cleaning or rinsing fluid to flow through the vertical support instead of around its sides. These holes facilitates a constant flow of fluid across the wafer during recirculation of the tank contents during etching and rinsing operations, thus ensuring more even etching of all wafers and minimizing the deposition of particulate matter on wafer surfaces. |
| US07730881B1 |
Portable electric motor driven compressed air projectile launcher
A portable motor driven air gun powered by a power source includes a motor that is coupled to a linear motion converter which drives a piston. The piston compresses air in a chamber against a forward air compression valve producing high-pressure air. When sufficient energy is stored within the air stream by the piston, the compression valve opens which releases the compressed air to push a projectile through a barrel. The engagement and disengagement of the linear motion converter and the connected piston to the motor can be controlled using sensors. The linear motion converter further is coupled to a bolt thru a lost motion device to facilitate positioning of the projectile for firing. The direction speed and operative modes of the gun may be controlled with an electric circuit. The power source is preferably rechargeable, allowing the air gun to be operated independent from either a wall outlet or a compressed air supply. |
| US07730880B1 |
Ignition apparatus for internal combustion engine
There is obtained an ignition apparatus, for an internal combustion engine, that can make a predetermined output current flow in a stable manner so that the combustion state of the internal combustion engine can always be maintained in a good condition, even in the case where the voltage of the power source connected with the energy storing coil fluctuates. There are provided an energy storing coil (3), a switching means (S1) for accumulating energy, an ignition coil (4), and a switching means (S2) that turns on/off an ignition current; the switching means (S1) and (S2) are alternately turned on/off so that a current with a alternating polarity is made to flow continuously in the ignition coil (6); a switching means (S3) is connected both terminals of the energy storing coil (3); and when a current flowing in the energy storing coil (3) reaches a target value, the switching means (S1) is turned off and the switching means (S3) is turned off so that the energy storing coil current circulates through the switching means (S3) so as to keep the current to be approximately the target value. |
| US07730877B2 |
Fuel tank structure
A main suction, that is a portion of a fuel feed-out pipe, and a bent portion, that is a lowermost portion formed at a return pipe, are both disposed within a fuel tank, positioned lower than a lowest liquid surface within a reserve cup, and can always be maintained in a state of existing within fuel. A fuel expelling port of a jet pump is positioned higher than a highest liquid surface at the reserve cup, and is always positioned higher than fuel within the reserve cup. As a result, a fuel tank structure in which suppression of flowing-out of fuel from the return pipe and the like, an improvement in the fuel transferring performance of the jet pump, and suppression of backward flowing of fuel through a transfer pipe, can all be realized is obtained. |
| US07730873B2 |
Valve controlled throttle mechanism in a heat regenerative engine
In an engine having at least one cylinder with a reciprocating piston and a connecting rod for driving rotation of a crank disk and a crankshaft, a cam sleeve is moved along the crankshaft in response to a change in engine speed. The cam sleeve is coupled to a cam ring that moves with the cam sleeve and in a spiraling motion about the longitudinal axis of the crankshaft. A follower engages an outer face of the cam ring and is movable against a pushrod that opens an injector valve. The follower is structured and disposed to move in response to contact with a lobe on the outer face of the cam ring to urge the pushrod against the injector valve. The pushrod passes through a throttle control ring that rotates in an arc. Rotation of the throttle ring, with the use of a control lever, shifts the position of the pushrod on the follower relative to a fulcrum of the follower to control the distance the pushrod is driven by the follower and, thus, the amount the injector valve is opened. |
| US07730870B2 |
Engine dynamic load leveling
A method for controlling an internal combustion engine having a plurality of cylinders using electronic valve actuation, including operating a first portion of the cylinders in a homogeneous charge compression ignition (HCCI) mode, operating a second portion of the cylinders in a non-HCCI mode, and adjusting the valve timing of the second portion of cylinders to dynamically load level the engine in response to a transient torque demand. A system for controlling a multiple cylinder internal combustion engine, including a first group of cylinders to operate in an HCCI mode, a second group of cylinders to operate in a non-HCCI mode, and an engine controller operably coupled to the first and second groups of cylinders, said controller to adjust the valve timing of the second group of cylinders to dynamically load level the engine in response to a transient torque demand. |
| US07730869B2 |
Housing wheel engine
Disclosed herein is a housing wheel engine that has a wheel shaped combustion housing, the housing wheel engine can hold several pistons which both sides working inside the combustion housing. The housing wheel engine transfers its rotating movement directly to the driveshaft by the planetary gearsets. A four-stroke time mechanism provided by the planetary gearsets. |
| US07730868B2 |
Portable gas powered internal-combustion engine arrangement
A gas powered internal combustion engine in which the gas is provided from pressurized liquid gas in an LPG container and in which the LPG container is rigidly mounted adjacent to the internal combustion engine at a preselected angle to be in conductive heat transfer relationship to the internal combustion engine and in vibration receiving relationship to the internal combustion engine whereby the liquified gas in the LPG container is heated and the effective surface area thereof is increased. |
| US07730866B2 |
Sealing device
This device is designed for a piston which is designed to move in alternating linear movement parallel to the axis of a chamber divided by the piston into a high pressure volume and a low pressure volume, and is of the type comprising: a circular cylindrical sliding surface bounding the chamber, an annular groove provided in the piston which is coaxial with the sliding surface and open towards the sliding surface, and a closed resilient sealing ring housed in a leak tight manner in the groove and intended to make sealing contact with the sliding surface. According to one aspect of the invention the ring is designed to determine the size of a lubricating oil film between the ring and the sliding surface to a limit lubricating thickness preferably from 0.1 μm to 1 μm when it moves from the high pressure volume to the low pressure volume. |
| US07730865B2 |
Engine air intake arrangement for a vehicle
A vehicle, such as a motorcycle, having an arrangement that inhibits the reduction of the fuel tank volume disposed to the rear of a moveable funnel that forms a portion of a variable length air intake. The vehicle includes an engine having an intake port. A fixed funnel introduces air to the intake port of the engine and a moveable funnel is position on the inlet side of the fixed funnel to selectively cooperate with the fixed funnel to deliver air to the intake port of the engine along with the fixed funnel. A parallel linkage moveably supports the moveable funnel. A fuel tank is disposed to the rear side of the moveable funnel and a motor that drives the parallel linkage is disposed on the opposite side to the fuel tank from the moveable funnel. |
| US07730862B2 |
Valve mechanism for internal combustion engine
A valve mechanism for an internal combustion engine includes a first rocker arm (4) connected to an intake or exhaust valve and supported on a rocker shaft (3a), a second rocker arm (5) supported on the rocker shaft for being rotationally driven by a cam, a cylinder (10) formed on one of the first and second rocker arms (4, 5) and a first piston (11) provided in the cylinder, a contacting projection (4a) projecting on the other one of the first and second rocker arms, a return spring (12) for biasing the first piston in a direction in which the first piston contacts with the contacting projection, and a second piston (14) for displacing the first piston to a position at which the first piston does not contact with the contacting projection. The two pistons extend in parallel to each other when the first piston is at a non-contacting position. |
| US07730860B2 |
Actuator control apparatus and method
An actuator control apparatus includes: an actuator that changes a state amount of an internal combustion engine; a sensor that detects an actual operation position of the actuator; a controller that controls the actuator to bring the actual operation position of the actuator to a target operation position set based on the operation state of the internal combustion engine; and a diagnosis portion that diagnoses the operation state of the actuator to be normal if the deviation between the target operation position and the actual operation position has been small for a predetermined time period and the amount by which the target operation position has changed in the predetermined time period is equal to or larger than a predetermined value. A method for controlling such an actuator control apparatus is also provided. |
| US07730852B2 |
Portable animal restraint and feeding station
A portable and inexpensive device for restraining a dog, cat or other animal within a defined area. The device has a main body providing an endless circular groove that confines a wire or ring to rotating movement about the main body. The ring is attached to the animal's leash and allows the animal free movement within a circular area defined by the length of the leash. A plurality of removable pins anchor the device to the ground, with the pins being stored in storage grooves in the main body when not in use. The main body has a central recess that accommodates a bowl for food or water. |
| US07730840B2 |
Girder of a guideway for a track-bound vehicle
A track carrier for a railborne vehicle, especially a magnetic suspended railway comprises a concreted plate (2) projecting laterally from the carrier (1). Stators (15, 16) are arranged at the two lateral ends of the plate (2) on the bottom of the plate (2), lateral guide rails (12) are arranged on the lateral surfaces of the plate (2), and glide strips (8) are arranged on the top side of the plate (2) for driving and guiding the vehicle. Hardenable, especially concreted, positionally correct contact surfaces (5, 6, 7) for the lateral guide rails (12) and/or for the stators (15, 16) and/or for the glide strips (8) are formed on the carrier (1), and the lateral guide rails (12) and/or the stators (15, 16) and/or the glide strips (8) are detachably arranged on, especially screwed to the contact surfaces (5, 6, 7) provided for them. |
| US07730839B1 |
Interfacial stress reduction and load capacity enhancement system
An article and a process are provided for reducing the shear stress on an interface of a structural member in intimate contact with a compressive load. The article is in the form of a wedge that is forcibly placed against the sidewall of one end or both ends of the structural member. The wedge may take the form of a ring that can be placed on the inside or outside surface of a hollow cylindrical structural member. The process of forcibly placing a wedge against the sidewall at one or both ends of the structural member produces a transverse compressive stress upon the sidewall. The transverse compressive stress upon the sidewall attenuates the tendency of said sidewall to deflect when the structural member is subjected to a compressive load. A reduction in the deflection of the sidewall reduces the shear stress generated proximal to the interface of the structural member in intimate contact with a compressive load and increases the structural member load bearing capacity. |
| US07730835B2 |
Holding apparatus for holding a flexible plate on a circumferential surface of a holder of a printing machine
A holding apparatus holds a flexible plate wound on a circumferential surface of a holder of a printing machine. A holding apparatus includes a hole section made in the holder along an axial direction of the holder, a groove section made by notching the circumferential surface of the holder along the axial direction to establish a connection with the hole section and accept insertion of a leading edge end portion and trailing edge end portion of the plate, a tension bar inserted and fitted into the hole section for engaging the trailing edge end portion of the plate, and a rotating mechanism provided in the hole section for rotating the tension bar. |
| US07730829B2 |
Beverage brewer
A beverage brewer and method of using the same is provided. The beverage brewer has the capacity to brew a beverage from variable amounts of prepackaged pods or from free-form brewing material captured between upper and lower filter membrane surfaces. |
| US07730827B2 |
Attachment structure of swash plate support and hydraulic apparatus
To provide an attachment structure of a swash plate support, that is, an attachment structure which suppresses an unstably fixed state of the swash plate support and realizes easy attachment and detachment of the swash plate support to and from a casing. A casing of a piston pump and a swash plate support which is attachable to the casing include a displacement preventing device and a rotation preventing device. In the swash plate support and the casing, since an engaging pawl portion of the displacement preventing device engages with an engaging portion, relative displacements in a first direction and a second direction along the rotational axis are prevented, and since a pin member of the rotation preventing device fits in the pin fit hole, relative rotations around the rotational axis are prevented. |
| US07730826B2 |
Swashplate type axial piston device having apparatus for providing three operating displacements
An axial piston hydraulic device. The device has a housing that uses a servo piston in order to control the displacement of a swashplate within the device. By using a servo member disposed within a cavity of an end cap on the housing the axial piston hydraulic device is able to provide three operating positions depending on the angle of the swashplate. |
| US07730824B1 |
Precision tactical mount
A precision tactical mount (12) includes a horizontal controller (30) and a vertical controller (34) for determining azimuth angles and elevation angles for a sight line of the precision tactical mount (12). The horizontal controller (30) and the vertical controller (34) have friction blocks (102, 114, 196) which engage mating friction surfaces with selectable forces for providing specific resistance against azimuth and elevation angular movement, without requiring separate mechanisms for locking the tactical mount (12) in selected positions. The friction blocks (102, 114 and 196) are preferably formed of softer materials than the mating friction surfaces to conform to the shape of the mating friction surfaces with increased normal forces, providing varying surface areas. The vertical controller (34) includes a course threaded screw member (142) mounted at an angle to a centerline (6) of the precision tactical mount (12) to provide fine control adjustment for elevation. |
| US07730821B2 |
Electromagnetic launcher with augmenting breech
In an exemplary electromagnetic launcher, a housing with breech and muzzle is slidably supported in a carriage supported on a trunnion. First and second electrical contacts are mounted in the carriage toward an axis of the trunnion. The first and second contacts are electrically connectable to receive electrical power from an electrical power supply. First and second augmentation conductors are disposed aft of the trunnion and are electrically connected to the first and second electrical contacts. First and second main conductors extend from the breech toward the muzzle. A current cross-over connection is disposed toward the breech and electrically connects the first and second augmentation conductors with the first and second main conductors, respectively. The first and second electrical contacts and the first and second augmentation conductors may be engaged in slidable electrical contact over a portion of the first and second augmentation conductors, thereby accommodating recoil motion. |
| US07730817B2 |
Apparatus for cutting ductile materials and a method of operating the apparatus
A cutting apparatus for ductile materials comprises a nozzle having a number of outlet openings separated from each other by separator webs. Next to the nozzle, a rotating cutting tool is provided, having a plurality of cutting knives for cutting off the strands of material discharged through the outlet openings of the nozzle. Each separator web is at least as wide as a cutting knife. For performing a cutting operation, the cutting tool is intermittently rotated. Between two cutting operations, the cutting tool is stopped, whereby its knives remain in a rest position behind the separator webs. For the next cutting operation, the cutting tool is rotated by such an amount that its cutting knives move from a position behind a first separator web to the next adjacent separator web. |
| US07730814B2 |
Video image type determination system, video image processing system, video image processing method and video image processing program
A video image processing system, which determines a type of a video image scene and processes the video image based on a processing method corresponding to the type of the video image scene, is provided. A landmark feature variable obtaining section calculates the landmark feature variable on the basis of the photographing direction, the photographing position, and the landmark information. A moving feature variable obtaining section calculates a moving feature variable on the basis of the photographing position, the moving speed and route information. A video image type determining section determines a type of the video image scene on the basis of the landmark feature variable and the moving feature variable. A video image processing section determines a processing method of the video image on the basis of the type of the video image scene and a usage purpose, and processes the video image on the basis of the determined processing method. A display section displays the processed video image. |
| US07730807B2 |
Transmission for tractor
A transmission for a tractor has a forward/reverse transmission unit for selectively changing a rotational direction of power of a first shaft connected with an engine and transmitting the power to a second shaft connected with an axle shaft, a main transmission unit installed between the second shaft and the axle shaft and having a plurality of gears to speed-change the power transmitted from the second shaft in four-speed, and a sub-transmission unit installed between the main transmission unit and the axle shaft and having a plurality of gears to speed-change again the power transmitted from the main transmission unit in four-speed. The transmission realizes forward/reverse 16-speed while having a compact structure. |
| US07730806B1 |
Vehicle pedal booster and associated method
A vehicle pedal booster includes a rigid support panel with a rectilinear central region provided with a predetermined thickness and a plurality of anchoring brackets spaced from the support panel and positioned posterior thereof in such a manner that the existing vehicle pedal is intercalated between the anchoring brackets and the support panel. The apparatus further includes a mechanism for maintaining the anchoring brackets and the support panels directly and statically abutted against the existing pedal such that the vehicle pedal booster is prohibited from disengaging the existing vehicle pedal during driving conditions. Such a maintaining mechanism includes a plurality of rectilinear threaded fasteners penetrating through the orifices and engaging the anchoring brackets respectively. |
| US07730803B2 |
Switch designation apparatus for a bicycle control unit
A switch designation apparatus for a bicycle control unit comprises a first switch structured to be mounted to a bicycle for providing signals to move a moving bicycle control device, a second switch structured to be mounted to the bicycle for providing signals to move the moving bicycle control device, and a switch designation unit that allows a user to selectively designate movements of the bicycle control device signaled by at least one of the first switch and the second switch. |
| US07730800B2 |
Power unit
A small center distance is provided between a crankshaft and a gearshift shaft disposed in parallel. A power unit is built compactly in a direction of arrangement of the crankshaft and the gearshift shaft for supporting reliably the gearshift shaft on which heavy, first and second gearshift clutches are supported. A transmission includes a main shaft, disposed in parallel with a crankshaft and rotatably supported in a crankcase, and first and second gearshift clutches. The first and second gearshift clutches change a gearshift position in a first gearshift portion and a gearshift position in a second gearshift portion, respectively. The main shaft includes an outer shaft portion that extends from the crankcase and supports the first and second gearshift clutches. The outer shaft portion is supported by a bearing portion disposed in a front cover on a side opposite to the crankcase across the first and second gearshift clutches. |
| US07730792B2 |
Method and device for compensation for influences, which interfere with the measurement accuracy, in measurement devices of the vibration type
A method for compensation for influences, which interfere with the measurement accuracy, in measurement devices of the vibration type, comprising a measurement tube through which a fluid medium can flow and which is caused to oscillate mechanically, acting as an oscillation body, by an excitation unit, whose oscillation behavior, which changes as a function of the flowrate and/or the viscosity and/or the density of the fluid medium, is detected by at least one oscillation sensor in order to determine the flowrate, wherein the material strain in the measurement tube is detected by means of at least one sensor, from which an indicator value for the influence causing the material strain is calculated in order to correct the measurement signal, by signal processing, from the indicator value obtained in this way. |
| US07730788B2 |
Method of measuring the retention force of a biomedical specimen in the form of an electrically conductive structure located on a carrier
A method of measuring the retention force of a biomedical specimen coupled to a carrier includes the measurement of the force required for magnetically decoupling the specimen from the carrier. In one embodiment, the method includes the steps of providing the specimen with an electrically conductive structure; creating an external alternating magnetic field near the specimen; increasing the amplitude and/or frequency of the magnetic field; detecting the start of the movement of the specimen on the carrier; and calculating the retention force of the specimen by determining the applied magnetic force on the basis of the parameters of the magnetic field. In other embodiments, the magnetic field may remain constant and the biomedical specimen may be moved through the field at varying speeds. |
| US07730782B2 |
Sensor device
A sensor device includes a time determining part that determines time point information, and adds the time point information to the output supplied from a part subjected to failure diagnosis and related to generation of a failure detection signal, and to the output related to generation of a sense signal. With this structure, the failure detection signal is correlated with the sense signal by the time point information. Alternatively, the sensor device includes an output circuit that correlates the failure detection signal with the sense signal supplied at the same time point as the failure detection signal, and outputs both signals using a time division method. |
| US07730780B2 |
Level switch and method for detecting the fill level of a medium in a container
A level switch detects the fill level of a medium in a container and transmits a switch signal corresponding to the detected level. The level switch incorporates a signal generator for generating an electromagnetic signal, a measuring circuit, and a reference circuit into which the electromagnetic signal can be fed. The measuring circuit is so configured and positioned that the signal fed into the measuring circuit changes as a function of whether or not the measuring circuit is surrounded by the medium, while the reference circuit is so configured and positioned that the signal fed into the reference circuit remains unaffected by the fill level of the medium. A tap at a specific point on the measuring circuit collects the measuring voltage, a tap at a specific point on the reference circuit collects a reference voltage, and a voltage comparator compares the measuring voltage with the reference voltage and emits a comparison-derived switch signal. This permits the dependable detection of a specific level of the medium in the container while essentially eliminating errors due to changes in extraneous parameters such as temperature fluctuations. A method for detecting the fill level of a medium in a container employing the switch is also disclosed. |
| US07730778B2 |
Filling level and/or limit level measuring device with flexible connecting piece
The invention relates to a filling level and/or limit level measuring device having a transmitting and/or receiving device (2) for producing an oscillation or for receiving an oscillation and furnishing a corresponding reception signal, an oscillating element (11) that is coupled to the transmitting and/or receiving device, and a flexible connecting piece (8) that is situated in an area between the transmitting and/or receiving device (2) and the oscillating element (11), wherein the flexible connecting piece (8) is made of a hose-shaped and metallic element (14) or has a hose-shaped metallic element (14) in its longitudinal extension. |
| US07730777B2 |
Flowmeter and flow control device
A simply structured flowmeter in which an influence of a dilatational wave on a thermal flow rate sensor is suppressed, and measurement accuracy is enhanced.The flowmeter has not only the thermal flow rate sensor that is placed to face a flow channel and detects a flow rate of fluid flowing through the flow channel but also a micro path (for example, narrow pipe) that is provided to the flow channel and blocks a dilatational wave created in the flow channel from being transmitted to the thermal flow rate sensor. |
| US07730776B2 |
Vector wind sensor and integrated antenna
An anemometer assembly for sensing and transmitting wind speed and wind direction data. The wind sensor measures relative wind direction and wind speed without the use of moving parts and consumes very little power making it suitable for unattended operation. The main wind sensing member is an elongated vertical member that can be used as radio antenna. The data can be transmitted from a remote location and thus relay data to a central collection repository or network location. |
| US07730775B2 |
Characterization of liquid, water and/or moisture transport properties of fabrics
A transplanar liquid transport tester for fabrics, comprising a liquid reservoir; a liquid-permeable support member having a first surface for supporting a fabric test sample, and a second surface for interfacing with liquid in the liquid reservoir; and means for maintaining a constant hydrostatic pressure in the liquid reservoir at the second surface of the support member for replenishing liquid through the support member to the first surface during testing. |
| US07730774B2 |
Tracking fluid displacement along a wellbore using real time temperature measurements
Tracking fluid displacement along a wellbore using real time temperature measurements. A method of tracking fluid displacement along a wellbore includes the steps of: monitoring temperature in real time in the wellbore; and observing in real time a variation in temperature gradient between fluid compositions in the wellbore. Another method of tracking fluid displacement along a wellbore includes the steps of: monitoring temperature along the wellbore; and observing a variation in temperature gradient due to a chemical reaction in the wellbore. Another method includes the step of causing a variation in temperature gradient in the fluid while the fluid flows in the wellbore. |
| US07730767B2 |
Micro-sensor for sensing chemical substance
The invention discloses a micro-sensor for sensing a chemical substance. The micro-sensor according to the invention includes a substrate, a micro-cantilever, an electrode structure, and a measuring device. The micro-cantilever is formed on the substrate and has a capturing surface for capturing chemical substances. The electrode structure is for supplying an electrical field. The electrical field is disposed so as to assist the capturing surface in capturing chemical substances. The measuring device, coupled to the micro-cantilever, is for measuring a variation on a mechanical property of the micro-cantilever induced by the captured chemical substance and interpreting the variation on the mechanical property of the micro-cantilever into information relative to the chemical substance. |
| US07730764B2 |
Drop detection device and portable apparatus equipped therewith
There is provided a drop detection device with which a falling state is properly detected even when the device is dropped while itself rotating, for example, and the mistaken detection of a falling state when there is in fact no falling state can be prevented, as well as an portable apparatus equipped with this drop detection device. The portable magnetic disk apparatus comprises an acceleration detector configured to detect acceleration, a calculator configured to calculate acceleration information including a second-order differential value of the acceleration with respect to time detected by the acceleration detector, a threshold setting component configured to set an acceleration threshold ATH with respect to the acceleration for determining whether or not a falling state exists on the basis of the second-order differential value of the acceleration, and a drop detection configured to detect that a falling state exists when the acceleration reaches the acceleration threshold set by the threshold setting component. |
| US07730762B2 |
Device and method for testing isolation structure
Provided is a device for testing an isolation structure comprising an isolation layer having an upper beam, a lower beam and a top beam plate, along with an upper portion, the device comprising a plurality of upper corbels, a plurality of lower corbels, a plurality of hoisting jacks, a plurality of acceleration sensors, a plurality of displacement sensors, an acceleration collecting analyzer and a displacement collecting analyzer. A method for testing an isolation structure is also provided. |
| US07730761B2 |
Producing stress on surfaces
An apparatus for producing stress on a surface, comprising one or more service assembly and one or more cleaning assembly. The service assembly comprises one or more means for applying dirt to said surface, or one or more means for scuffing said surface, or one or more means for dragging a test material across said surface, or a combination thereof. The cleaning assembly comprises one or more scrubber, or one or more burnisher, or a combination thereof.Also provided is a method of testing a surface with such an apparatus. |
| US07730758B1 |
Vehicular frame straightening apparatus
An apparatus straightens vehicular structure, and comprises a U-shaped main frame, a pair of lift tower assemblies, and a pull tower assembly. The length of the main frame comprises spaced attachment structure for attaching the pull tower assembly. The lift tower assemblies are fastened to the main frame intermediate its length and function to fix the position of the vehicle relative to the main frame. The pull tower assembly is attachable to the main frame at a select attachment site and a tension member is attached to adjacent select vehicular structure. Thereafter tension may be applied to the select vehicular structure based from the attachment site to the main frame. Multiple tower assemblies may work in tandem with one another peripherally to the vehicle; a rear frame member may close the open end of the main frame; and vehicle support cross members may be included to support the framed vehicle. |
| US07730752B2 |
Theft prevention apparatus for leisure vehicle
A theft prevention apparatus for a leisure vehicle including a portable device, a lock device, a lock operation stopper member, a pull-out operation stopper member, a lock operation restricting actuator, a pull-out operation restricting actuator, and a controller including a memory, a receiver, and a processing unit configured to control the lock operation restricting actuator to cause a lock operation stopper member to be moved from the position where a protruded operation and a retracted operation of a lock bar are disabled to the position where the protruded operation and the retracted operation are enabled and to control the pull-out operation restricting actuator to cause a pull-out operation stopper member to be moved from the position where a pull-out operation of the mechanical key is disabled to the position where the pull-out operation of the mechanical key is enabled, when the user identification codes match. |
| US07730749B2 |
Door on drum type washing machine or laundry dryer
Door on a laundry dryer/drum type washing machine including a door frame having a central opening, for opening/closing an opening in a front part of a cabinet for introduction/taking out of laundry, an outer window fixed to a front surface of the door frame, and an inner window fixed to a rear surface of the door frame, wherein the door frame has a front surface curved in left/right directions, and the outer window is curved the same with the door frame, thereby providing a good design of a door and improving washing and drying performance. |
| US07730748B2 |
Method of making a post-patent collimator assembly
A method of manufacturing a collimator assembly is provided. The method includes placing a first core element within a first center collimator path of a first collimator tube to create a first base-tube couple. A couple cross-section of the first base-tube couple is reduced such that the first base-tube couple becomes a first single-fiber fiber. The first single-fiber fiber is assembled into a collimator group. The first core element is dissolved such that a first hollow fiber is generated. |
| US07730747B2 |
Method for vaporizing a liquid reactant in manufacturing a glass preform
A method and device for vaporizing a liquid reactant. A vaporizing plate having a top surface defines a liquid flow channel, the channel being laterally delimited by edges having a height greater than a minimum thickness of liquid reactant required to generate vapor under film or nucleate boiling regime. A heating system is associated to the vaporizing plate for heating the liquid reactant over a minimum temperature required to generate vapor under nucleate or, preferably, film boiling regime. A cap covers the vaporizing plate to collect the vapor at a predetermined pressure and provided with a vapor exit and a liquid feeder feeds the liquid reactant onto the vaporizing plate. |
| US07730746B1 |
Apparatus to prepare discrete hollow microsphere droplets
Apparatus to eject on demand discrete hollow microsphere droplets that are characterized by a highly regular and predictable spherical shape, devoid of tails or other irregularities common in the prior art with a selected pure gas contained in the center. With this method and apparatus, droplets may be formed of any suitable material including glass, ceramic, plastic, or metal. A variety of gases at various pressures including complete vacuums may be contained in the hollow microsphere. Microspheres filled with ionizable gas may be used as pixels in a plasma display panel. Microspheres used as a pixel elements may be referred to as Plasma-spheres. The inside of each Plasma-sphere may contain a luminescent material such as a phosphor and/or a secondary electron emission material such as magnesium oxide or a rare earth oxide introduced during the gas filling of the microsphere. |
| US07730743B2 |
Gem setting having grooved channel walls and methods of setting gems
A gem setting for gemstones includes a channel with walls having grooves for holding a portion of a gem girdle, such that when a gem having a crown is set into the channel, the upper portion of the groove extends over the crown of the gem. The upper part of the channel above the groove can be permanently bent or rolled over the crown of the gem to secure the gem in the ring channel. A method of setting a gem in the channel includes inserting the gem girdle in the grooves, without permanently bending the channel walls, until the gem is positioned within the channel such that if the gem and ring together are placed in an upside down position, the gem will not fall out of the channel. Next, the upper part of each channel is permanently bent over the crown of the gem, to thereby secure the gem in the channel. |
| US07730741B2 |
Refrigeration apparatus with expander control for improved coefficient of performance
An outdoor heat exchanger (23), an indoor heat exchanger (24), a compression/expansion unit (30), and other circuit components are connected in a refrigerant circuit (20). The compression/expansion unit (30) includes a compression mechanism (50), an electric motor (45), and an expansion mechanism (60). In addition, the refrigerant circuit (20) has an injection pipeline (26). When an injection valve (27) is opened, a portion of high pressure refrigerant after heat dissipation flows into the injection pipeline (26) and is introduced into an expansion chamber (66) of the expansion mechanism (60) in the process of expansion. In the expansion mechanism (60), power is recovered from both high pressure refrigerant introduced into the expansion chamber (66) from an inflow port (34) and high pressure refrigerant introduced into the expansion chamber (66) from the injection pipeline (26). |
| US07730739B2 |
Portable cooler with built-in refrigerant cubes
A portable cooler having one or more ice sheets including built-in refrigerant cubes. The cooler comprises an outer fabric shell and one or more sets of spaced apart refrigerant cubes encapsulated in plastic to form ice sheets that are attached to the interior walls of the cooler. The walls of the cooler may also include one or more layers of thermal insulation. The ice sheets provide a visually pleasing appearance to the inside of the cooler suggestive of cooling effects. The ice sheets may be retained along the walls of the cooler by seams sewn along the lanes passing between the refrigerant cubes, by being retained in pockets formed by sidewall liners or by being secured into chambers defined by the cooler's outer walls and a plastic insert fitted into the cooler. The cooler may include a hinged top and bottom that can be folded flat for allowing the cooler to assume a compact configuration during storage or freezing of the refrigerant cubes. |
| US07730734B2 |
Cooling apparatus of a fuel cell vehicle
A cooling apparatus of a fuel cell vehicle in which a cooling efficiency of a fuel cell cooling heat exchanger located downstream of an air conditioner external heat exchanger does not decrease. (1) In the cooling apparatus, the air conditioner external heat exchanger and the fuel cell cooling heat exchanger are partially offset from each other so that a high-temperature portion of the air conditioner external heat exchanger is not overlapped with the fuel cell cooling heat exchanger in a front view taken from a front side of the vehicle. (2) A portion of the fuel cell cooling heat exchanger extending beyond an end of the air conditioner exterior heat exchanger opposite the high-temperature portion is disposed outside a fan shroud so as to be cooled by a vehicle-running wind only. |
| US07730731B1 |
Refrigeration system with serial evaporators
A refrigeration system for controlling airflow around an air-cooled heat generating device includes a variable speed compressor. The refrigeration system also includes evaporators positioned along a refrigerant line in a serial configuration with respect to each other and are positioned directly in at least one of the path of airflow supplied into the heat generating components and the path of airflow exhausted from the heat generated components. The refrigeration system further includes a controller and at least one temperature sensor. The temperature sensor is configured to transmit signals related to the detected temperature to the controller, and the controller is configured to vary the speed of the variable speed compressor based upon the signals received from the temperature sensor. |
| US07730730B2 |
Control method of an air conditioner indoor unit
A control method of a multi-air conditioner in which a plurality of indoor units is connected to one outdoor unit and refrigerant flow amount is adjusted by electronic expansion valves comprises a share step in which a plurality of indoor units exchanges their operation information, a comparison and judgment step in which each above indoor unit compares and judges its operation status based on the exchanged operation information, and an adjustment step in which each above indoor unit adjusts refrigerant flow amount supplied to each indoor unit based on the compared and judged operation status. |
| US07730729B2 |
Refrigerating machine
A compressor, a radiator, an expander, and an evaporator are connected in series to define a refrigerating cycle. A bypass circuit that bypasses the expander, an on-off valve disposed in the bypass circuit, and a controller C1 for controlling an opening of the on-off valve are provided in the refrigerating cycle. During defrosting, the controller C1 controls the on-off valve so that a refrigerant may flow through the bypass circuit, thereby avoiding reduction in the amount of flow of the refrigerant during defrosting and preventing the defrosting operation from being prolonged. |
| US07730725B2 |
Splash plate dome assembly for a turbine engine
A splash plate dome assembly for a combustion liner of a turbine engine is disclosed. The splash plate may include an outer periphery having a plurality of corners and an inner periphery defining an aperture and an annular flange. The splash plate may include a plurality of first flow guides extending from the outer periphery to the inner periphery. The splash plate may further include a plurality of second flow guides extending from the outer periphery to a location intermediate the inner periphery and the outer periphery. The splash plate, annular flange, first flow guides, and second flow guides may be integrally formed by casting. The splash plate may be mounted to a combustion dome having a plurality of distributed through holes for forming impingement jets on an upstream face of the splash plate. |
| US07730718B2 |
Control system for internal combustion engine
A control system for an internal combustion engine includes an exhaust gas purifying device, an exhaust gas temperature sensor, and temperature estimating device. The exhaust gas purifying device is provided to an exhaust duct of the internal combustion engine. The exhaust gas temperature sensor is provided in the exhaust duct on an upstream side of the exhaust gas purifying device. The temperature estimating device estimates a first exhaust gas temperature on a downstream side of the exhaust gas purifying device through a transfer function, which is expressed by a plurality of identical first-order lag elements, based on a second exhaust gas temperature on the upstream side of the exhaust gas purifying device sensed by the exhaust gas temperature sensor. |
| US07730716B2 |
HC adsorbing material and device for judging deterioration of the HC adsorbing material
A HC adsorbing material whose deterioration can be judged with high accuracy and reliability. The HC adsorbing material contains a zeolite having cation adsorption sites (Al sites) to which are bonded ions of an element (Ce+) that exhibits oxygen storage capacity (OSC) in a nonionic state (when present as an oxide). |
| US07730715B2 |
Fan frame
A fan frame (10) for a gas turbine is provided. The fan frame (10) has fan exit guide vanes (100) that are connected to an intermediate case (50) for structural support, and are constrained from movement in a radial direction by a first joint (110, 110a) and constrained from movement in an axial and radial direction by a second joint (120a, 110a). The intermediate case (50) provides structural integrity while reducing weight by providing struts (56, 95) with a width that increases in a direction away from a central bearing (55) as the thickness of the struts (56, 95) decreases. |
| US07730713B2 |
Gas turbine power plant
Provided is a gas turbine power plant in which a rotor of a generator is journalled by water lubrication bearings into which a part of cooling water for cooling the generator is fed. Since the lubrication water has a viscosity lower than that of lubrication oil, it is possible to provide a gas turbine power plant with less energy loss resulting in lower power consumption for accessories, and in high power generation efficiency. |
| US07730710B2 |
Strap with articulated links
Said strap with articulated links, in particular for a watch, comprises at least three adjacent rows of links offset from one adjacent row to another, in which at least one friction surface (3, 13, 23-163) of each joint is made of a material of which the hardness is >800 HV. Said bearing surface (3, 13, 23-163) is in contact with at least one joint element (5, 15, 25-165) having at least one friction surface made of a second material selected from the following materials: ceramic, ceramic-metal composite, amorphous carbon, stainless steel without nickel, cobalt alloy, gold or gold alloy, platinum or platinum alloy, platinoid or platinoid alloy, titanium or titanium alloy, capable of reducing the frictional wear with the friction surface (3, 13, 23-163). |
| US07730709B2 |
Compact epicyclical drive
An epicyclical drive having a generally flat, disk shaped flywheel, a flywheel to pinion carrier in the form of an inner hub of the flywheel, and a flywheel support bearing and structure incorporated into the flywheel itself, all of which are concentric about a rotational axis of the flywheel so as to be axially compact, and so as to be particularly well adapted for being located beneath, or incorporated into, the floor of a grain header of an agricultural harvesting machine, for reciprocatingly driving knife knives of a sickle thereof. In particular, the flywheel support bearing is located in an annular space between the inner hub and an outer flange which is rotated by a belt or other drive for rotating the flywheel. |
| US07730707B2 |
Extendable header for harvesting machine
A header for a harvesting machine having a frame, a cutterbar mounted on the frame operable to cut standing crop, the cutterbar being adjustable relative to the frame in a fore-and-aft direction, and a reel rotatably supported between a pair of reel arms pivotally mounted on the frame and operable to sweep crop material towards and over the cutterbar, a hydraulic cylinder extending between each reel arm and a corresponding side wall of the header frame to effect a generally vertical movement of the reel, comprising an interlock mechanism operably interconnecting the cutterbar and the hydraulic cylinder at each side of the header for adjusting the vertical position of the reel in response to a fore-and-aft movement of the cutterbar to maintain substantially constant the spacing and avoiding interference between the reel and the cutterbar. |
| US07730704B2 |
Agricultural press
An agricultural press has material receiver for picking up a swath of crop material from the ground and delivering it to the press chamber. A material hold-down device extends over the material receiver and is mounted for vertical movement relative to the material receiver. During normal operation the hold-down device moves over a first range of movement in response to changing swath thicknesses. If a material jam should nevertheless arise, the material hold-down device can be moved in total or in part, either mechanically or manually, over an second range of movement in addition to the first range of movement in order to be able to liberate the wedged material. |
| US07730699B2 |
Packaging machine for lollipops and other confectionery
Packaging machine for packaging lollipops provided with a stick and a head in a film/foil sheet, comprising a rotatably driven drum having a series of lollipop holders thereon, the drum furthermore being provided with a series of film/foil folding means for folding a respective film/foil sheet around the head around a longitudinal center axis substantially parallel to the stick, the device furthermore comprising a series of twisters for twisting a film/foil tube section protruding in the longitudinal direction of the lollipop head while continuing to clamp the lollipop head and while the drum continues to rotate. |
| US07730690B2 |
Compression post assembly for wind up-lift of suspension soffits
A compression post assembly for a soffit, canopy or like structure utilizing a suspended grid of inverted tees to support the soffit surface forming panels comprising a main strut and a saddle coupling, the main strut having a hollow cross-section along substantially its full length between its upper and lower ends, the saddle coupling being adapted to connect the lower end of the strut to a grid tee by receiving separate self-tapping screws, one in each of the main strut and grid tee, the saddle coupling having a pair of spaced depending legs, the legs being spread apart by a distance sufficient to straddle the bulb of a conventional grid tee and having a length sufficient to engage the upper surfaces of the lower flange of the grid tee and thereby stabilize the grid tee against pivotal motion about a horizontal axis. |
| US07730679B2 |
Drain for a door or window sash or frame
A water drain for insertion into a mating wall opening in an extruded, hollow door or window sash or frame comprises a round, rectangular or the like housing having at least one peripheral front flange defining a drain opening, a baffle extending downwardly from a housing top portion for partially closing an upper portion of the drain opening, and a flap having a lower planar rear surface and an upper planar front surface for opening and closing lower and upper portions of the drain opening. The planar lower rear surface portion of the flap is joined to the upper front surface portion by a pivot axis, the planar lower surface being disposed forwardly of the upper planar front surface whereby the flap tends to gravitate to an at-rest, closed, substantially vertical position. |
| US07730676B2 |
Solar panel supporting system
A solar panel supporting system includes a main frame, a solar panel, and a spring mechanism. The main frame has two opposite lateral sides. The solar panel is pivotally mounted on the main frame along a first pivot axis defined by a first rod extending between the opposite lateral sides of the main frame. The spring mechanism is operatively coupled to the solar panel for resiliently holding the solar panel at a predetermined position. The solar panel is adapted to pivot in response to wind strong enough to stretch or compress the spring mechanism. |
| US07730672B2 |
Integrated debris-shielding cover, flashing & mounting system for rain gutter
A rain gutter system includes a back flashing, fastening clips, fasteners, a rain gutter and a reverse-curve shield. The back flashing overlaps existing flashing and has a crease at the bottom and the fastening clips have a groove that locates the fastening clips relative to the back flashing. The back wall of the rain gutter extends above and behind the bottom of the back flashing. The rain gutter and shield are anchored to the back flashing and fastening clips vertically and in the fore/aft direction, and can slide laterally. The front upper end of the rain gutter slopes up and back to improve debris shedding. |
| US07730668B2 |
Motor vehicle egress window
A motor vehicle egress window comprises a circumferential outer frame forming an auxiliary egress opening for a motor vehicle passenger compartment and an inner frame unit. The outer frame has an outer frame member with an inner surface and at least a first striker pin. The inner frame unit is mounted to the outer frame for movement between closed and open positions has a circumferential inner frame, a glazing pane mounted to the inner frame, at least a first egress latch mounted to the inner frame, and a release mechanism. The egress latch is operative to latch to the striker pin to hold the inner frame unit in the closed position. The release mechanism includes a manually operative release handle, preferably mounted at an elevated position on a vertical side portion of the inner frame, and release linkage comprising at least a first link from the release handle to the first latch. In certain embodiments the inner and outer frames overlap radially for improved functionality. |
| US07730666B2 |
Plant container with watering system
A double walled plant container wherein the two walls or shells form a space for holding water. The outer wall may include a window for viewing water level. The container includes a combination watering funnel and handle arrangement at the top of the container. The watering funnel protrudes or extends from the outer perimeter of the characteristic shape of the container to allow grip of the container for carrying. Preferably two watering funnel and handle structures are included, one each on opposite sides of the container. The rim arrangement allows for convenient carrying without separating the container components. The bottom of the inner shell includes holes for conducting water from the water reservoir into the soil and may include a fiber wick and soil stop barrier to prevent entry of soil into the space between the two walls and to allow water to conduct by capillary action or otherwise into the soil. |
| US07730662B2 |
Soil stabilizer carrier
A method for applying a soil stabilizer, to soil wherein the soil stabilizer is intermixed, impregnated, and/or applied to solid carriers. |
| US07730661B2 |
Double-ended fishing leader with free-sliding hook(s)
A leader and fish hook combination has eyes or loops formed at both ends of the leader so that the leader can be attached to the fishing line with either the one eye or the other. The fish hook, or more than one fish hook, has the leader threaded through the eye end of the fish hook. The leader passes through the eye of each hook, but is not tied to it, leaving the hook free to slide along the leader. Fastened one way, the hook is presented outward, and if fastened or tied off the other way, the hook presented inward. In that orientation, the lower eye projects over the hook portion so the rig serves as a weedless hook. |
| US07730659B1 |
Fish lure with horn-shaped appendages
A fish lure constructed of an elongated curvelinear cylindrical body that has a front end and a rear end, two horn-shaped appendages each emanating from the front end of the cylindrical body at 180° apart with horn openings facing the front end, and two horn-shaped appendages each emanating from the rear end of the cylindrical body at 180° apart with horn openings facing the front end. |
| US07730658B1 |
Fishing lure with improved tail
A soft plastic fishing lure has an integrally formed body and a thin, relatively long, highly flexible tail portion that combine to form a hybrid worm/tube lure. The body portion is a closed-end tubular body and the tail portion is tapered and concave in cross-section along its entire length. The concave cross-sectional area, which generally has a greater thickness of material at its apex than at its lower edge, is effective for capturing water and giving a lifelike appearance to the tail regardless of angler skill or how the lure is rigged, weighted and fished. The fishing lure may be formed so that it has two colors, with one color forming substantially a stripe on the tail portion. Contrasting flakes may be added to either color. |
| US07730656B2 |
Bird decoy
A collapsible decoy 10, including two generally planar side body panels 11, 12 allowing the decoy 10 to be collapsed into a substantially flat configuration and which are splayed when in the erected position, a head and neck portion 14 connected to at least one of the side body panels 11, 12, and a means for retaining the side body panels 11, 12, when in use, in the erected position. |
| US07730655B2 |
Sight mount for fire arms
A sight mount for fire arms comprises a base part (10) to be mounted on a fire arm, and an upper part (11) to have a sight mounted thereon. The upper part is pivoted relative to the base part for movement about an axis between a first position corresponding to the operative position of the sight, wherein a projection (33) on the, upper part or the base part engages a groove (29) on the other part, and a second position transverse to the first position, wherein the projection is disengaged from the groove to allow the upper part to be separated from the base part. A latch (21) is spring biased to an engaged position preventing pivoting of the upper part, and against the spring bias can be brought into a disengaged position allowing pivoting of the upper part. |
| US07730650B1 |
Loader bucket attachment apparatus
The excavator bucket attachment apparatus provides an improved attachment of an existing excavator bucket to the existing lift arm and hydraulic cylinder. The apparatus replaces a plurality of attachment components, including 4 attachment pins, with a more basic assembly that saves considerable parts cost and labor in maintenance of a bucket attachment. The apparatus further provides a method of conversion of an existing bucket attachment to the present apparatus. |
| US07730645B2 |
Dredge cutterhead
An assembly for mounting an excavating tooth particularly suited for a dredge cutterhead includes a base, an adapter, and a lock. The base includes a convex, curved bearing surface that abuts a concave, curved bearing surface on the adapter. The curved bearing surfaces are able to maintain substantially full contact with each other under transverse loading. The undersurface of the base is formed with a groove to improve the strength and durability of the weld. |
| US07730644B2 |
Snowplow with pivoting sideblades
The left and right sideblades are hinged to the mainblade about vertical axes, and can pivot each through 180°. The sideblades are rotated by means of left and right hydraulic rotary actuators. The actuator includes a piston formed with helical splines, which drive a rotor sleeve of the actuator to rotate in a single-plane-circle when the piston is driven axially. The journal bearings in the rotary actuator are supplemented by bearings provided in a coaxial lower hinge, which are of much greater journal capacity than the bearings in the rotary actuators. The lower hinge protects the hydraulic rotary actuator from shocks due to the sideblade impacting against a kerb. A wheel-protection link blocks the sideblade from contacting the wheel of the vehicle. |
| US07730643B2 |
Two-stage snow plow
A snow plow includes a primary moldboard and auxiliary plow positioned behind the primary moldboard. The snow plow may be a one-way or reversible snow plow. In the later case, the primary moldboard and auxiliary plow are attached to a drive frame that is rotatable about a frame. The frame is secured to the front of a vehicle by a frame and bracket, and controlled by hydraulic mechanisms. The auxiliary plow is operated independently of the moldboard by a pair of hydraulic cylinders and includes tines or a resilient blade for clearing snow and ice that is not taken up by the primary moldboard. The device also includes a mechanism whereby the scraping edge of the secondary plow follows the same path as the scraping edge of moldboard by sliding movement of the secondary plow relative to the drive frame, and the blade of the auxiliary plow may be formed by tines or a resilient blade. |
| US07730640B2 |
High performance boot
The present invention discloses various features and combinations thereof for use with articles of footwear such as boots. The boots are especially adapted for use on construction projects, and provide protection, support and comfort to the wearer. Numerous outsole configurations and styles are provided, which provide superior traction and a low center of gravity for enhanced balance. Different layers of materials provide puncture resistance, abrasion resistance, thermal insulation, waterproofing and other benefits. Protective and/or insulative plates may be utilized in the footwear for puncture protection or thermal insulation, for example. Shovel guards protect the wearer when using a tool, and toe tools permit the wearer to employ the boot as a tool of its own. Structural support cages chimney structures are also utilized for support and comfort. |
| US07730638B2 |
Heel protector
A heel protector is disclosed. The heel protector includes a stem portion having a body and at least one retaining portion. A channel is formed between the body and the at least one retaining portion. A biasing portion extends from the stem portion. The biasing portion includes an opening therein. A leaf portion extends from the biasing portion. A shoe and heel protector assembly is also disclosed. A method of using the heel protector to protect the heel and waist of a shoe is also disclosed. |
| US07730634B2 |
High-heeled jazz dancing and character dancing shoe
A high-heeled dancer's shoe providing the structural integrity to prevent bowing and to execute energetic character dancing steps and simultaneously maintaining the flexibility necessary to execute jazz steps. The shoe comprises a hard plastic high heel, a partial metal shank extending from a back of the shoe and extending forward over the arch in a middle portion of the shoe, and an open shoe body including a flexible shoe upper shaped for receiving the dancer's foot, including left and right sides that have a flexible insert in an area of an arch, and a continuous layer of leather outer sole spanning a length and width of the shoe including a thinner middle section. In certain embodiments there is a front sole support originating from the front sole area and providing cushioning and support for the toe box. |
| US07730632B2 |
Combination tape measure and hammer
A combination tape measure and hammer includes a tape measure having an extendible tape for measuring distances, and a hammer attached to the tape measure. The tape measure includes a housing with an outer surface and the hammer conforms to the outer surface of the housing. The outer surface of the housing is curved and an underside of the hammer is curved for conforming to the curved outer surface of the housing. The hammer includes a head and a claw extending rearwardly from the head. The outer surface of the housing has a depression formed therein that is aligned with the claw. The claw is a forked claw including a first tine and a second tine spaced from the first tine. The depression formed in the outer surface of the housing is aligned with the first and second tines. |
| US07730627B2 |
Method and device for measuring gear tooth wear
A method and device for measuring an amount of wear on a flank of a gear tooth is provided. The method includes positioning a template comprising a first template tooth adjacent a gear comprising a first gear tooth. The method also includes adjusting the position of the template in a rotational direction with respect to a known rotational reference point of the gear, adjusting the position of the template in an axial direction with respect to a known axial reference point of the gear, and adjusting the position of the template in a radial direction with respect to a known radial reference point of the gear. The method further includes measuring an extent of a gap between an edge of the first template tooth and an adjacent flank of the first gear tooth, wherein the gap corresponds to the amount of wear on the flank. |
| US07730624B2 |
Laser marker
A laser marker capable of emitting laser light with its optimum intensity in accordance with a level of illuminance at any environment where the laser marker is used. The laser marker includes a stand and a cover rotatably provided on the stand. The cover accommodates therein a laser unit that emits laser light outside of the cover through a window formed in the cover. Laser light intensity changing unit is provided, which changes the intensity of the laser light to be emitted from the laser unit in accordance with the illuminance at the environment, the illuminance being detected by a illuminance sensor provided on the cover. |
| US07730621B2 |
Shaving foil for a dry shaver
A shaving foil for a dry shaver has a plurality of perforation arranged in an array. The shaving foil is formed in its skin contact surface with a plurality of recesses which define a thin section of reduced thickness at the recesses, while leaving thick sections at the remainder of the foil. Each perforation is configured to have its circumference defined partly by the thin section and partly by the thick section. Both of the thin and thick sections can come into contact with a user's skin for smoothly guiding hairs into the perforations to make close shaving without irritating the skin, while the shaving foil is moved across the skin. Especially, the thin sections act to cut the hairs shorter than the thick section, as wall as to raise flattened hairs into the perforations for successfully cutting the flattened hairs. |
| US07730620B1 |
Plastic package opener
A plastic package opener having a body with a generally “V” shaped configured is formed from a memory retention material, by angled first and second legs held together by a portion of material. A sharp edge or blade member is held to an interior surface of one of the legs at an angle to the terminal ends of the legs. A movable blade cover may be provided for safety. A plastic package to be opened is inserted between the open ends of the legs and the blade member brought against the plastic package by squeezing the two legs together and directed across the surface of the plastic package to sever the plastic package and open the same for removal of an item or items held therein. |
| US07730619B2 |
Ergonomically arcuate multi-blade razor
A shaving device assembled with multiple blades having a generally planar portion and arcuate end portions in a generally parallel spaced relationship adapted for shaving curvilinear areas of a body. |
| US07730615B2 |
Micro-machined structure production using encapsulation
Micro-machined (e.g., stress-engineered spring) structures are produced by forming a release layer, forming a partially or fully encapsulated beam/spring structure, and then releasing the beam/spring structure by etching the release layer. The encapsulation structure protects the beam/spring during release, so both the release layer and the beam/spring can be formed using plating and/or using the same material. The encapsulation structure can be metal, resist, polymer, oxide, or nitride, and may be removed after the release process, or retained as part of the completed micro-machined structure. |
| US07730613B2 |
Processes for manufacturing printed wiring boards
Methods of manufacturing printed wiring boards including electrically conductive constraining cores that involve a single lamination cycle are disclosed. One example of the method of the invention includes drilling a clearance pattern in an electrically conductive constraining core, arranging the electrically conductive constraining core in a stack up that includes B-stage (semi-cured) layers of dielectric material on either side of the constraining core and additional layers of material arranged to form the at least one functional layer, performing a lamination cycle on the stack up that causes the resin in the B-stage (semi-cured) layers of dielectric to reflow and fill the clearance pattern in the electrically conductive constraining core before curing and drilling plated through holes. |
| US07730607B2 |
Apparatus for assembling cable to connector
An apparatus for assembling cable to connector includes a jig holder and a cable jig. The jig holder has a basic board defining a mounting space capable of locating a connector in the front thereof. The cable jig located in the rear of the mounting space of the jig holder has an upper jig member and a lower jig member disposed beneath the upper jig member. One of the jig members protrudes to form first spaced-apart barriers. A first receiving passage is defined between each pair of adjacent first spaced-apart barriers. The other jig member defines second receiving passages for receiving the first spaced-apart barriers respectively. A second spaced-apart barrier is defined between every two adjacent second receiving passages to space the two adjacent second receiving passages apart. The second spaced-apart barriers are inserted in the first receiving passages respectively. |
| US07730604B2 |
Method for assembling a disk drive using a shipping comb
A method for assembling a disk drive includes providing a head stack assembly (HSA), providing a shipping comb for assembling the disk drive, inserting a comb pin of the shipping comb into a locating holes in a HSA to assemble the shipping comb with the HSA together, positioning the HSA and shipping comb on a base cover of the disk drive, installing the HSA on the base cover via a bearing device thereof, rotating the assembled HSA and shipping comb to park the HSA on the ramp and aligning the comb pin with the securing hole, pushing the comb pin into a securing hole to lock the HSA in the base cover, assembling a latch device and a top voice coil magnet on the base cover, and rotating out the shipping comb to a position where the shipping comb is not interfered with the disk drive. |
| US07730603B2 |
Methods for forming a magnet in a rotor
Methods are provided for forming/inserting a magnet in a rotor. One method includes coating a plurality of magnetizable particles with a non-metallic material, inserting the coated particles in a rotor, and magnetizing the coated particles. Another method includes inserting a plurality of magnetizable particles into a rotor, submersing the rotor in motor varnish to coat the particles with motor varnish, and magnetizing the particles. Yet another method includes inserting a plurality of magnetizable particles in a rotor, inserting a non-metallic material into the rotor, mixing the particles and non-metallic material to form a mixture, curing the mixture to coat each particle with non-metallic material, and magnetizing the particles. Still another method includes mixing a plurality of magnetizable particles with a non-metallic material, curing the non-metallic material to coat each particle with non-metallic material, inserting the coated particles in a rotor, and magnetizing the coated particles. |
| US07730597B2 |
Method for processing metal molding member having fine configuration, method for manufacturing metal molding member, extrusion die, method for manufacturing extruded member, and extruded member
A molten residual layer formed on a surface 26 of an electric-discharge machined portion 12 of a metal molding member 1 is eliminated by using a tool 70 made by a wire discharge grinding method. According to the wire discharge grinding method, a minute tool which high in processing accuracy and high in hardness can be obtained. Since the molten residual layer formed on a surface 26 of the portion 12 due to the electric-discharge machining is eliminated by using the tool, the molten residual layer can be eliminated uniformly with high accuracy. |
| US07730594B2 |
Connector for stretch straps of a chair
A connector for stretch straps of a chair is mounted on the chair to hold and stretch a stretch strap with an opposite connector mounted on the chair and has a receiving recess formed inside the connector and a connecting slot formed through the top of the connector and communicating with the receiving recess. One end of the stretch strap extends through the connecting slot to be held by a binder in the receiving recesses. A bottom of the stretch strap is propped out by a top edge of the connecting slot so that a top of the stretch strap is protrudent relative to the top of the connector and a sharp edge formed between the top and the front end of the connector. Thus, a user's body is prevented from contacting with the rigid top and the sharp edge of the connector to comfortably sit on the chair. |
| US07730591B2 |
Apparatus on a flat card or roller card for textile fibres, such as cotton, synthetic fibres or the like, for removing short fibres
An apparatus on a carding machine has a covering comprising work and cover elements lying opposite the clothing of a high-speed cylinder. There is, in succession, an air exhaust opening for the exit of air and an opening for entry of air, past which openings a flow of fibers and air is passed. To allow improved detachment and elimination of short fibers in a simple manner, the spacing of the covering upstream of the exhaust opening is smaller than the spacing of the covering between air exhaust opening and air inlet opening and an airflow flows against the direction of rotation of the cylinder along the surface of the cylinder and flows with short fibers through the air exhaust opening. |
| US07730587B2 |
Hinge apparatus
A hinge apparatus used to connect a base and a display unit comprises a connecting member a first fastening member a second fastening members a first pivoting member and a second pivoting member, wherein the connecting member includes a first hole and a second hole. One end of the first pivoting member is fixed with a display unit and the other end crosses through the first hole and is then fastened with the first fastening member. One end of the second pivoting member is fixed with a base and the other end crosses through the second hole and is then fastened with the second fastening member. With the connectivity between the connecting member the first pivoting member and the second pivoting member, the motion of the hinge apparatus is capable of rotating 360 degrees. |
| US07730585B2 |
Stop module for a swiveling unit for delimiting a swiveling motion and corresponding swiveling unit
The invention relates to a stop module for the swiveling motion of a rotation body (14) that is swivelably received in a housing (10). The stop module comprises a catch (26) following the trajectory of the swiveling motion on the end of the rotation body and a stop (48) comprising a damping element for delimiting the motion of the catch (26). At least one intermediate element (56) is provided between the catch (26) and the stop (48) and is supported, when impinged upon by the catch (26), on the housing (10) and on the stop (48). |
| US07730583B2 |
Furniture hinge with damping device
Furniture hinge with damping and/or braking device in alternative to those already existing and capable of guaranteeing an improved efficiency during the closing or opening operation of the doors, or other furniture parts, thanks to an improvement of the kinematic motion for transmitting motion from one of the rockers to the damping elements. The improved efficiency of this hinge is also obtained by increasing the friction surfaces with a viscous medium present in suitable areas of the hinge and by allowing regulation of the trend of the angular velocity of a circular shaped element, for example a disc, which acts as braking element in contact with the viscous medium. |
| US07730575B2 |
Structure for a hand trowel handle with adjustable rotational angle
The invention relates to a structure for a hand trowel handle with adjustable rotational angle on the grasping section. The hand trowel is composed of a blade, a connecting section and a grasping section. The connecting section uses its base to connect with the tongue on the blade. The structure for the grasping section with adjustable rotational angle features mainly in the radial toothed rings at the front end of the grasping section and at the supporting end of the connecting section. When the grasping section is worn on the shaft in the center if the radial toothed ring of the connecting section, the grasping section can be tightened or loosened through the adjustment knob, the spring and the shaft in the accommodating hole. Thus, the rotational angle between the grasping section and the shaft can be adjusted. |
| US07730571B2 |
Push broom bracket assembly
A bracket assembly for use with cleaning implements such as push brooms has a handle connector for mounting a handle and a plate with a pair of depending flanges that are inserted into the broom head. The bracket assembly may be removably secured to the broom head with a fastener such as bolt and nut to provide an attachment mechanism having sufficient strength to withstand repeated sweeping motion. The removable bracket allows the arrangement of the handle and broom head to be reversed so that both faces of the broom head and bristles can be used interchangeably for sweeping. The removable bracket can be used with cleaning implements having heads of various dimensions and shapes. |
| US07730569B2 |
Disposable head portion for a nodally mounted rotating toothbrush
A head portion of a nodally mounted rotating toothbrush is removable from a handle portion, which has a driving system therein. The head portion includes a spring assembly, having two spring sections, the spring assembly having a node point between the two ends and a nodal mount member at the node point which is connected to a cover member of the head portion. A driving assembly is arranged to drive the first spring section, the second section rotating in an opposing direction from the first spring section, the second spring section having a drive shaft extending therefrom, upon a free end of which a brushhead is mounted. When the head portion is removed from the handle, the spring assembly is removed therewith. |
| US07730568B2 |
Removal of scale and sludge in a steam generator of a fabric treatment appliance
A method of operating a fabric treatment appliance comprises a steam generation step and a steam generator cleaning step. In the steam generator cleaning step, a chamber of the steam generator can be flushed by introducing a volume of liquid into the chamber greater than the internal volume. The steam generator cleaning step can also involve thermally shocking scale formed within the chamber. |
| US07730565B1 |
Anaconda for a multi-purpose gurney
An apparatus has segments connected end-to-end so as to form a flexible tube, a base connected to a first segment of the segments, a clamp connected to the base for mounting the base, and a tensioning mechanism for tensioning the segments. A scope adapter can be connected to a last segment of the plurality of segments. An extremity adapter can be connected to a last segment of the plurality of segments. The clamp can mount the base to a mayo stand of a multi-purpose gurney. The clamp can also mount the base to a rail of a multi-purpose gurney. |
| US07730563B1 |
Head support and stabilization system
A head support system that has a fixation arc system that is adjustable both vertically and horizontally and is mounted to a patient support structure. The fixation arc system is positionable adjacent to, and provides lateral support for, the patient's head. A pin support is connected to, and extends from the fixation arc system. A pin is adjustably mounted to the pin support and contacts the patient's head to provide a lateral fixation thereof. The pin has a centerline that is rotatable about two axes of motion substantially perpendicular to the pin centerline. |
| US07730559B2 |
Toilet seat for sealed engagement with toilet bowl and communication with air extraction system
A toilet seat is provided for mounting on a toilet bowl (1) and is configured to be placed in communication with a mechanical air extraction system. The toilet seat includes a seat (4) that can be applied in a sealed manner on the toilet bowl. The toilet seat (4) has an air inlet (6) at the front and an air outlet (7) at the rear. The outlet (7) is connected by ducts (8, 9, 10) to the air extraction system (14, 15). A cover (11) is hinged in proximity to the seat (4). The cover (11) is configured to prevent the toilet bowl (1) from being flushed when the cover (11) is in the open position and seals the front air inlet (6) when the cover is in the closed position. |
| US07730558B2 |
Treatment apparatus for excrement of rest room
Disclosed herein is a treatment apparatus for excrement of a rest room wherein sludge is able to be separated and incinerated via a simplified process without a vacuum drying of excrement that is transferred from a storage tank, whereby continuous treatment of excrement is possible, resulting in an increase in excrement treatment efficiency and capacity while achieving a reduction in maintenance costs. Also, in the present invention, water contained in excrement is able to be purified with a high efficiency, whereby the purified water can be reused as wash water of a toilet or directly drained without a separate post-treatment. |
| US07730557B1 |
Cooled protective garment
A chemical protective garment or ensemble is disclosed that comprises a impermeable, protective cooling laminate having a water-holding layer for holding and evaporating liquid, and a chemical barrier. The water-holding layer has a water-holding capacity of at least about 5% wt., and the suit is designed to retain sufficient liquid to provide cooling to a wearer upon evaporation of the liquid from the suit. |
| US07730556B2 |
Nose strap jointing structure for swimming goggles/mask
A swimming goggle structure includes two eye masks and a centrally located nose strap. Each eye mask has an outer edge forming a head strap buckle to which a head strap is connected and an inner edge forming a projecting joint section. The joint section forms a recessed slot and is jointed to an end of the nose strap by insert molding so that the end of the nose strap wraps and engages the joint section of each eye mask to form a tightly connected structure. |
| US07730554B2 |
Double dipped gloves
A method of making a glove is described. The method comprises dipping a glove form into two different formulations. Each formulation comprises a carboxylated nitrile butadiene rubber with different amounts of covalent and ionic cross linkers. The gloves preferably have a stress retention value of greater than 50%. |
| US07730553B2 |
Torso garment
A torso-covering garment for playing paintball having gripping areas to enable the user to grippably contact a gripping area of the garment with the butt stock of the gun. Each gripping area comprises a pliant, non-cushioning substrate. Common embodiments of the garment are shirts, jerseys, jackets, and vests. A method of playing paintball which comprises wearing the garment of the invention, and a method of fabricating the garment. |
| US07735147B2 |
Probe system comprising an electric-field-aligned probe tip and method for fabricating the same
A mechanically stable and oriented scanning probe tip comprising a carbon nanotube having a base with gradually decreasing diameter, with a sharp tip at the probe tip. Such a tip or an array of tips is produced by depositing a catalyst metal film on a substrate (10 & 12 in FIG. 1(a)), depositing a carbon dot (14 in FIG. 1(b)) on the catalyst metal film, etching away the catalyst metal film (FIG. 1(c)) not masked by the carbon dot, removing the carbon dot from the catalyst metal film to expose the catalyst metal film (FIG. 1(d)), and growing a carbon nanotube probe tip on the catalyst film (16 in FIG. 1(e)). The carbon probe tips can be straight, angled, or sharply bent and have various technical applications. |
| US07735146B2 |
Protein microscope
A system and method for analyzing and imaging a sample containing molecules of interest combines modified MALDI mass spectrometer and SNOM devices and techniques, and includes: (A) an atmospheric-pressure or near-atmospheric-pressure ionization region; (B) a sample holder for holding the sample; (C) a laser for illuminating said sample; (D) a mass spectrometer having at least one evacuated vacuum chamber; (E) an atmospheric pressure interface connecting said ionization region and said mass spectrometer; (F) a scanning near-field optical microscopy instrument comprising a near-field probe for scanning the sample; a vacuum capillary nozzle for sucking in particles which are desorbed by said laser, the nozzle being connected to an inlet orifice of said atmospheric pressure interface; a scanner platform connected to the sample holder, the platform being movable to a distance within a near-field distance of the probe; and a controller for maintaining distance information about a current distance between said probe and said sample; (G) a recording device for recording topography and mass spectrum measurements made during scanning of the sample with the near-field probe; (H) a plotting device for plotting said topography and mass spectrum measurements as separate x-y mappings; and (I) an imaging device for providing images of the x-y mappings. |
| US07735145B2 |
Portable secure media with timed erasure
A timed erasure mechanism can be used with portable computer-readable media to ensure automatic erasure of secure information, minimizing the security risks in using such media to store and transport passwords, codes, keys and similar private setup information. The portable computer-readable media can comprise volatile memory and a timed erasure mechanism in the form of a power supply and discharging circuitry that discharges the power supply after a predetermined amount of time. Alternatively, the portable computer-readable media can comprise nonvolatile memory and a timed erasure mechanism in the form of a digital time and erasure algorithms that are initiated after a predetermined amount of time. Furthermore, such portable computer-readable media can comprise a container that bears unique physical properties that can alert users to the volatile nature of the media. |
| US07735139B1 |
In-line scanning of network data in an asymmetric routing environment
In one embodiment, network data exchanged between a client computer and a remote server computer are scanned for computer viruses at a first network security computer. The first network security computer creates connection information about the connection between the client computer and the server computer, and registers that connection information with a second network security computer that may receive network data transmitted in the connection. This allows the second network security computer to forward to the first network security computer network data transmitted in the connection even when the first and second network security computers are configured for asymmetric routing. |
| US07735138B2 |
Method and apparatus for performing antivirus tasks in a mobile wireless device
Disclosed are techniques for performing an antivirus task in a mobile wireless device running an embedded operating system. In one embodiment, calls intended for an application programming interface (API) function code is redirected to an antivirus function code. The redirection to the antivirus function code may be performed by modifying a kernel structure to point to a modified entry list instead of an API entry list. The redirection to the antivirus function code may also be performed by modifying the API function code to allow the antivirus function code to execute before the API function code. The kernel structure or the API function code may be properly restored back to its original form. Software implementations of these techniques may be readily loaded and unloaded, and may not require re-installation of the embedded operating system. |
| US07735134B2 |
Jumping application security system
A jumping application security system and method provides known safe code for the jumping applications on each jump. A participating host specifies the desired code by describing the desired behavior. The security system provides the specified code on behalf of the host. |
| US07735133B2 |
Authentication system, control method and program thereof, and storage medium
An authenticated user is provided with page information relating to a service to be provided, such as a service for ordering products. In the invention, the authenticated user is provided with page information in either a first or second form, wherein in the first form the page information includes an entry field for coupon information and in the second form the page information does not include the entry field for the coupon information. When coupon information input in the entry field is received, a determination is made whether or not the coupon information is valid. The number of times that the coupon information is determined to be invalid is counted and stored in association with the authenticated user. When the counted number does not exceed a predetermined value, the user is provided with the page information in the first form, while the page information is provided in the second form when the counted number exceeds the predetermined value. |
| US07735127B1 |
Method and system for communicating with a managed system located behind a firewall
A method and system for communicating with at least one managed system located behind a firewall are provided. The system includes an agent computer, located behind a firewall, to communicate with the at least one managed system and a management system. The management system communicates with the agent computer to provide computer related services. The management system is located on an opposed side of the firewall and communicates an envelope including at least one executable task to the agent computer for communication to the managed system. The executable task may be included in a script and the agent computer may poll the management system to determine if there is an envelope for it to receive. |
| US07735126B2 |
Certificate based authentication authorization accounting scheme for loose coupling interworking
A method of Authentication Authorization and Accounting (AAA) in an interworking between first and second networks that do not belong in the same administrative domain, using certificate based transactions. In the method according to the invention, the second network sends a public key to the first network, and a certificate to a mobile device. The certificate includes information regarding the subscription level of the mobile device and is signed with a private key of the second network. Upon detection of the first network the mobile device transmits the certificate and the first network authenticates the certificate using the public and private keys of the second network, and authorizes access to the network in response. The first network then sends a session key encrypted with a public key of the mobile device. The mobile device decrypts the session key with a private key and access the first network using the session key. In this manner, interworking is implemented without requiring the deployment of a special interworking function to bridge between the two different types of networks. |
| US07735110B2 |
Information processing apparatus, information processing method, and program storage medium
The present invention provides an information processing apparatus, an information processing method and a program storage medium. The user of a personal computer selects a television program to be preset recorded from a program guide stored in an EPG server and downloads the corresponding preset recording data. When, from the downloaded preset recording data, a recording start time is found reached, the personal computer selects commands for starting recording a channel to be recorded and transmits the selected commands from a video mouse as infrared signals. Receiving the recording start command, a VCR starts recording. |
| US07735106B2 |
Method for providing subscription-on-demand services
A method for providing subscription-on-demand services for video-on-demand programs within an interactive information distribution system. The method includes associating a plurality of video-on-demand programming packages as a programming bundle and identifying a number of video-on-demand programming packages within the programming bundle that a subscriber has subscribed. When the number of video-on-demand programming packages exceeds a pre-specified number of programming packages, the subscriber is automatically subscribed to all the video-on-demand programming packages in the programming bundle. |
| US07735103B2 |
Method of providing broadcast, method of reproducing the same, terminal for the same, and system thereof
A method of providing a broadcast, method of reproducing the same, terminal for the same, and system thereof are disclosed, by which recorded broadcast data can be summarized and reproduced according to contents or priority of the broadcast. The present invention includes a broadcasting station inserting a summary reproduction information in broadcast data, transmitting the broadcast data; and a broadcast terminal storing the broadcast data received from the broadcasting station, reproducing a summary of the broadcast data using the summary reproduction information. |
| US07735097B2 |
Method and system to implement a deploy service to perform deployment services to extend and enhance functionalities of deployed applications
A system and method are described for implementing and using a deploy system for deployment of entities. In one embodiment, a deploy service is implemented as a module on a J2EE engine to perform deployment services on a container on the J2EE engine. The deployment services include deploying one or more entities on the container which includes a J2EE container and/or a non-J2EE container. |
| US07735096B2 |
Destination application program interfaces
Media processing methods, systems and application program interfaces (APIs) in which a destination component, also referred to as a destination, provides an application with a simple and unified way of rendering, archiving, broadcasting (or other types of media output processing) media from an origin to a target of choice, without requiring the application to have intimate knowledge about underlying components, their connectivity and management. For example, applications can use a destination to help manage the rendering or archiving (or other processing) of the particular media. |
| US07735093B2 |
Method and apparatus for processing real-time command information
A method and apparatus includes a real time event engine that monitors event signals. A real time event detector within the real time event engine detects when the real time event occurs. Thereupon, real time event commands within a real time event command buffer are fetched and consumed by the command processor in response to the occurrence of the real time event. The real time event detector contains a plurality of control registers, which contain an event selector register, a real time command buffer point register, and a real time command buffer length register. A driver may program the registers, whereupon a singe real time event detector may be used in conjunction with a plurality of real time event command buffers. |
| US07735090B2 |
On demand software contract modification and termination in running component assemblies
A method, apparatus and article of manufacture to dynamically modify, terminate, or replace software components and connections (i.e., contracts) between components in a running assembly. Information about the component and contracts between components in a running assembly is used to determine an allowable sequence of management commands to transition the assembly of components from a current state to a specified goal state. At the same time, other components may continue to perform an operational workflow. |
| US07735089B2 |
Method and system for deadlock detection in a distributed environment
A method of deadlock detection is disclosed which adjusts the detection technique based on statistics maintained for tracking the number of actual deadlocks that are detected in a distributed system, and for which types of locks are most frequently involved in deadlocks. When deadlocks occur rarely, the deadlock detection may be tuned down, for example, by reducing a threshold value which determines timeouts for waiting lock requests. When it is determined that actual deadlocks are detected frequently, the processing time for deadlock detection may be reduced, for example, by using parallel forward or backward search operations and/or by according higher priority in deadlock detection processing to locks which are more likely to involve deadlocks. |
| US07735088B1 |
Scheduling synchronization of programs running as streams on multiple processors
Systems and methods start a process in an operating system. Additionally, a plurality of program units associated with the process are started. When a context shifting event occurs, each of the plurality of program units has their scheduling synchronized and their context set so that each thread processes the context shifting event. A further aspect of the system is that some program units may be executing on more than one multiple processor unit. In the operating system selects a multiple processor unit to host all of the program units, and migrates those program units that are not currently on the selected multiple processor unit to the selected multiple processor unit. |
| US07735080B2 |
Integrated system and method for the management of a complete end-to-end software delivery process
A software delivery process including sub-processes of configuration management and version control, change and problem management, building, packaging, and distribution and installation. The process is implemented by an integrated management system that includes a configuration management sub-system, a change and problem management sub-system, a building sub-system, a packaging sub-system, a distribution sub-system, and a tracking sub-system. The subsystems are integrated in order to manage the software along its whole life cycle, from development to installation in production. The tracking sub-system captures and integrates information about the status of the delivery from the other sub-systems along all steps of the process. |
| US07735077B2 |
System and method for inventory services
In accordance with embodiments, there are provided mechanisms and methods for determining a select set of changes from a set of changes made to an application instance to propagate to one or more other application instances. These mechanisms and methods can enable embodiments to propagate changes from a first application instance in a first environment to a second application instance in a second environment. For example, an embodiment can enable changes to be made to a test version in a test environment, tested and then propagated to a production version of the application residing in a production environment. The ability of embodiments to propagate changes to other application instances across environments can enable easy capture and transferal of changes to an application. |
| US07735076B2 |
Faster loading of extension-based applications using caching
Disclosed herein are methods for efficient loading of extensions or “plug ins” into a host software program. In a preferred embodiment, extensions registered with the host software program are loaded when the host program is first initialized. During their loading, changes that the various extensions make to the host program are recorded in a cache file, including graphical changes to the user interface and non-graphical changes. Later, when the host program is again initialized, the cache file is read in lieu of loading the extensions, with the affect that it appears to the user that the extensions' functionality are fully present in the host application, although in reality the extensions are not yet loaded. Instead, the extensions are loaded when and if they are called, either by the user or automatically by the computer. This saves time upon host program initialization as the extensions, once cached, need not be loaded until they are called. |
| US07735070B2 |
Allowing non-generified methods to override generified methods
In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a technique for allowing a first method to override a second method as long as specified criteria are satisfied, even if the types of the parameters of the first method differ from the types of the parameters of the second method, and even if the return type of the first method differs from the return type of the second method. As a result of the technique, older methods, which do not have generic return types and/or generically typed parameters, can continue to override methods that did not used to have generic return types and/or generically typed parameters, but now do. |
| US07735069B2 |
Creating software debug breakpoints activated by specific call patterns
Provided is a method for defining and organizing computer breakpoints for use during a debugging operation of a software application. The claimed subject matter provides flexible breakpoints that are called depending upon the condition of the corresponding call-stack or, in other words, depending upon a specific calling sequence through which the module containing the breakpoint was reached. A novel type of breakpoint is provided that, rather than causing a halt in execution of a module, changes the state of one or more other breakpoints. In an alternative embodiment, a breakpoint is provided that determines whether or not to execute based upon an examination of the call-stack. |
| US07735065B2 |
Aggregation and prioritization of application issue data
A novel software application development aid comprises a web portal that provides aggregated and prioritized application issue data to ISVs in an ISV-specific and ISV-customizable manner so that the ISVs may improve their applications or correct errors therein and may know which application issues are causing the greatest reductions in customer satisfaction. So informed, the ISV may efficiently focus limited corrective resources on the most pressing problems. The application issue data sources for the ISV portal may include logo testing data, user crash report data, and other testing data. |
| US07735059B2 |
Winforms control hosting in unmanaged applications
Systems and methods for hosting managed code controls within unmanged hosts, such as MICROSOFT Word and Excel. There are two components to the hosting architecture, a wrapper control that implements various interfaces and a container control that hosts the managed code control. A design-time implementation allows for a designer to drag and drop managed code controls onto documents that run in a design component process. A runtime component allows managed code controls to run within hosts under security permissions specified by a policy. |
| US07735057B2 |
Method and apparatus for packaging and streaming installation software
A software application streamed from a host system to a target system comprises the installation or configuration logic for another software application. In certain embodiments, the installation logic conforms to a well-known installation standard. The described technique allows the use and/or execution of installation logic or other related objects when these objects do not exist in their entirety on the target system. The application installation that results from this process may configure the subsequent application to be delivered only in part (in streamed mode) or in its entirety. |
| US07735047B1 |
Method for technology mapping considering boolean flexibility
Disclosed are processor-implemented methods for technology mapping a logic network onto programmable logic resources of a programmable logic device. The methods include determining respective Boolean flexibility values for a plurality of functionally equivalent mappings of the logic network onto the programmable logic resources, selecting one of the mappings as a function of the respective Boolean flexibility values, and storing the selected mapping. |
| US07735037B2 |
Generating interface adjustment signals in a device-to-device interconnection system
Described are a system and method to control interface timing and/or voltage operations of signals transmitted between devices. A processor may be coupled through one or more bus interfaces of a bus to one or more corresponding interface timing and/or voltage comparison circuits and corresponding interface timing and/or voltage adjustment circuits. |
| US07735035B1 |
Method and system for creating a boolean model of multi-path and multi-strength signals for verification
A system, method, computer program product for verification and equivalence checking. In one approach, the system, method, and computer program product analyzes the switching paths in a manner consistent with circuit functionality to provide a complete application which can verify the complex characteristics in the circuits to the accurate RTL model function, including FPGA, ROM Arrays, RAM circuits, and other custom integrated circuit designs. |
| US07735030B1 |
Simulating restorable registers in power domain systems
A method of simulating a restorable register in a power domain of an RTL (register transfer level) design includes: specifying the power domain in the RTL design, wherein the power domain includes one or more registers and is configured to change power levels separately from other portions of the RTL design; identifying the restorable register in the power domain, wherein the restorable register is updated during power-on operations in the power domain; simulating the restorable register in a power cycle; and saving one or more values from the simulated restorable register. Simulating the restorable register includes: maintaining one or more backup values during a power-off operation for updating the restorable register after the power-off operation; and updating the restorable register during a power-on operation after the power-off operation by using the one or more backup values. |
| US07735024B2 |
Methods and apparatus to provide a handheld pointer-based user interface
Methods and apparatus to provide a handheld pointer-based user interface are described herein. An example apparatus includes a wireless pointer component and one or more base components. The wireless pointer component is configured to transmit one or more human-computer interaction (HCI) signals associated with an HCI event via a first communication link. One or more base components are operatively coupled to a screen of a display to receive the one or more HCI signals from the wireless pointer component via the first communication link. Further, the one or more base components are configured to generate at least one of operating information and position information of the wireless pointer component based on the one or more HCI signals, and to transmit the at least one of operating information and position information to a processor configured to generate screen information on the screen of the display via a second communication link. |
| US07735020B2 |
Method and apparatus for determining font attributes
Methods and apparatuses for text formatting. In one exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a method to determine a font attribute includes: determining a first number and a second number; receiving input resulting from a sliding (or other repositioning method) of a thumb of a slider to a position; and determining a value for the font attribute from the position relative to the slider and the first and second numbers. In one example according to this aspect, the font attribute is one of: a) font size; b) boldness; c) italic angle; d) baseline offset; e) line spacing; and f) character spacing. At least one of the first number and the second number is adjusted in one example, when the thumb is pushed against one end of the slider. In another example according to this aspect, at least one of the first number and the second number is updated when a first input is received (e.g., selecting a value from a list, typing in a value; or pushing a thumb against one end of a slider), which determines the at least one of the first and second number. |
| US07735019B2 |
Method for providing functional context within an actively scrolling view pane
A method, system and computer-usable medium for using a context aware viewport module to graphically display, and interact with, a viewport. The context aware viewport is implemented in a graphical user interface (GUI) and comprises a spatially context aware informational portion and a viewport portion. |
| US07735015B2 |
Method and system for generation of delegating implementation for IDL interfaces using inheritance
A method of generating an interface definition language (IDL) interface involves identifying parents for the IDL interface, identifying parent interfaces associated with the parents, wherein the parent interfaces include concrete parent interfaces, computing a set of directly implemented methods for the parent interfaces, generating an implementation of the IDL interface with the concrete parent interfaces to generate a plurality of delegation fields, generating an initialization method and a setting method for each of the plurality of delegation fields, and generating indirectly implemented methods with a body that delegates functionality to one of the plurality of delegate fields. |
| US07735014B2 |
Device-directed default list naming for mobile electronic device
Methods and systems for ensuring that a default contact list display name presented on a mobile electronic device is meaningful to a user of the mobile electronic device. Such a mobile electronic device in some embodiments comprises a user interface, a wireless interface and a processor wherein in response to a login to a server having a contact list a device-selected default contact list display name is presented on the user interface and wherein prior to presenting the device-selected default contact list display name the device causes a previous default contact list display name associated with the contact list to be replaced with the device-selected default contact list display name. |
| US07735013B2 |
Method and apparatus for tailoring content of information delivered over the internet
Adapting information to a user of an application program is provided. An arbiter receives a request object from the application program. The request object contains profile elements that convey characteristics of the user. The profile elements are analyzed by the arbiter, and, based on the outcome of the analysis, the arbiter selects a personalization engine from a plurality of personalization engines. The request object is passed to the selected personalization engine, which accesses a content database to retrieve a personalized content object comprising information tailored to the user. The personalized content object is sent to the application program, which interprets it for the user. Various embodiments include an expert-system arbiter, and an arbiter comprising computer code that is provided according to conventional object-oriented analysis and design methods executing on a programmable processor. The plurality of personalization engines may include a rule-based engine, a collaborative-filtering engine, or a predictive-modeling engine. |
| US07735010B2 |
Citation network viewer and method
A visualization-based interactive legal research tool that generates from a multi-dimensional citation network a semantics-constrained citation sub-network that focuses on one individual issue in which a user is interested, and puts the sub-network on an interactive user interface (“UI”), which allows the researcher to browse, navigate, and jump over to start new sub-networks on different issues that are relevant to original issues. |
| US07735009B2 |
Conversion of plain text to XML
Methods and systems are provided for converting text to XML code. A schema is applied to the text. The schema is a XML-compliant template that incorporates a single enhanced regular expression. One enhancement causes the matched text to be concatenated and displayed. The concatenated matched text is merged with the template to generate a markup language-compliant output. The enhanced regular expression can include a grouping operator that is nestable within another regular expression operator, for example the “*” operator that matches zero or more instances of its operand. Special purpose tags may be defined in the schema to represent regular expression operators. |
| US07735006B2 |
Method and system for defining page size when displaying a data list
A system for setting data list parameters for displaying a data list in pages. An application program receives a first and second user input, wherein the first user input defines a number of items displayed within a page, and wherein the second user input defines a page size tolerance. In response to receiving the first and second user input, the application program sets the number of items displayed within the page and the page size tolerance. Then the application program displays the data list in a graphical user interface according to the set number of items displayed within the page and the set page size tolerance. |
| US07734999B2 |
System and method for providing forms on a user interface
A system and method for configuring a user formset for display on a user interface of a client computer, the client computer coupled by a network to a formset server, the user formset for providing interaction with a network transaction, the user formset described in a structured definition language. The system and method comprise: requesting the user formset from the server according to at least one formset generation criterion; selecting a first overlay for application to a master formset, the first overlay including first components based on a role of the user; applying the first overlay to the content of the master formset for generating a role based version of the master formset; selecting a second overlay for application to the role based version, the second overlay including second components based on settings particular for the user functioning in the role; and applying the second overlay to the content of the role based version for generating the user formset; wherein the user formset is subsequently rendered on the user interface of the client computer. |
| US07734997B2 |
Transport hint table for synchronizing delivery time between multimedia content and multimedia content descriptions
The content description of multimedia content contains a plurality of descriptor values that pertain to specific events within the media. A Transport Hint Table (THT) provides a set of synchronization events that indicate the relation between timed events in the media and their representation in the content's description data. The THT allows for synchronized delivery of presentation of content description data with the associated events in the media. The THT provides a set of sync events based on the existence of “time” related events obtained from the content description data, which are relevant to particular events in the media. The THT allows the transport layer encoder to use the time-related events to synchronize the scheduled delivery times of media content segments and their associated descriptions. The THT also provides information for fragmenting a description for delivery and for managing resources at the decoder. |
| US07734995B1 |
Systems and methods for assembling form fragments and templates into a form package
Systems and methods receive link fragments and component fragments for assembly into a template. The component fragments comprise editable portions of a document. The link fragments comprise references to other component fragments. A further aspect of the systems and methods includes assembling multiple templates into a formset. The templates included in the formset may be dynamically selected at runtime. Conflicts between references in the templates that make up the formset are resolved and a new form may be created. |
| US07734986B2 |
Write margin adjustment mechanism in a tape drive system
A method for dynamically adjusting read margin and write margin in a tape drive system to recover data is disclosed. The method includes the operations of monitoring a write driver to determine if a change in rewrite activity to a medium has changed and adjusting a percentage of error correcting code (ECC) capability to be used for write errors if the rewrite activity has changed. An apparatus including a tape medium and a read/write controller for performing the method is also disclosed. In one embodiment, the percentage of ECC is decreased if the rewrite activity to the medium increases. |
| US07734985B2 |
Systems, methods, and apparatuses for using the same memory type to support an error check mode and a non-error check mode
Embodiments of the invention are generally directed to systems, methods, and apparatuses for using the same memory type in an error check mode and a non-error check mode. In some embodiments, a memory device includes at least one split bank pair of memory banks. If the memory device is in an error check mode, then, in some embodiments, data is stored in one of memory banks of the split bank pair and the corresponding error check bits are stored in the other memory bank of the split bank pair. A register bit on the memory device indicates whether it is in the error check mode or the non-error check mode. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US07734977B2 |
Method and system for error correction over serial link
A system and method in accordance with the invention produces an ECC code that is transmitted in the y-bit domain along with data is converted from a native x-bit domain to the y-bit domain. Such a system and method provides a representation of an ECC code that is part of a transmitted serial stream that allows clock recovery and that can use parity checking or other method to verity the integrity of the transmitted ECC code itself. |
| US07734975B2 |
Semiconductor integrated circuit having built-n self test circuit of logic circuit and embedded device, and design apparatus thereof
A semiconductor integrated circuit contains a logic circuit which operates upon receiving a clock; a logic built-in self test circuit which executes a built-in self test of said logic circuit, said logic built-in self test circuit having a pattern generator which generates a pattern to be input to said logic circuit, a pattern compactor which receives data output from said logic circuit that has received the pattern, compacts the data, and outputs a result, and a logic built-in self test control unit which controls operations of said pattern generator and said pattern compactor and controls an operation of causing a scan path in said logic circuit to shift upon receiving the pattern; a device circuit which operates upon receiving the clock; and a device circuit built-in self test circuit which executes a built-in self test of said device circuit. |
| US07734974B2 |
Serial scan chain control within an integrated circuit
An integrated circuit 2 includes a plurality of circuit blocks 38, 40, 44 each having an associated serial scan chain loop 32, 34, 36 which extends from a converter 10, to the circuit block 38, 42, 44 in question and then back to the converter 10. Multiplexing circuitry 50, 52 associated with each serial scan chain loop 32, 34, 36 is used to either include that serial scan chain loop 32, 34, 36 in a combined serial scan chain or to bypass that serial scan chain loop 32, 34, 36. The circuit blocks 38, 42, 44 may be bypassed in this way if they are defective or if they are powered-down. |
| US07734973B2 |
Testing apparatus and testing method for an integrated circuit, and integrated circuit
An apparatus enables a high quality test to be carried out within a short time, without forcing a severe design limitation on the designer and without an expensive tester. The apparatus includes a pattern generator built in an integrated circuit to generate pseudo random patterns as test patterns. A plurality of shift registers are configured with sequential circuit elements inside said integrated circuit. An automatic test pattern generating unit generates ATPG patterns. A pattern modifier modifies a portion, to which a predetermined value is required to be set in order to detect a fault, in said pseudo random patterns generated by said pattern generator, on a basis of said ATPG patterns, and inputs said modified pseudo random patterns to said shift registers. |
| US07734968B2 |
Mechanism to provide test access to third-party macro circuits embedded in an ASIC (application-specific integrated circuit)
Novel structures and testing methods for the FPGAs (Field-Programmable Gate Arrays) embedded in an ASIC (Application-Specific Integrated Circuits). Basically, a shift/interface system is coupled between the FPGAs and the ASIC. During normal operation, the shift/interface system electrically couples the FPGAs to the ASIC. During the testing of the FPGAs, the shift/interface system scans in FPGA test data in series, then feeds the FPGA test data to the FPGAs, then receives FPGA response data from the FPGAs, and then scans out the FPGA response data in series. During the testing of the ASIC, the shift/interface system scans in ASIC test data in series, then feeds the ASIC test data to the ASIC, then receives ASIC response data from the ASIC, and then scans out the ASIC response data in series. |
| US07734967B2 |
Semiconductor memory device and testing method of the same
A semiconductor memory device, having a test mode and a normal mode, includes a frequency multiplier and a test command sequence generator. The frequency multiplier receives a test clock signal in the test mode and generates multiple internal test clock signals, each of which has a frequency equal to a frequency of an operation clock signal in the normal mode. The test clock signal has a frequency lower than the frequency of the operation clock signal. The test command sequence generator generates at least one command signal in response to the internal test clock signals in the test mode. The at least one command signal corresponds to at least one operation timing parameter of the semiconductor memory device that is to be measured. The frequency multiplier may include a Phase Locked Loop (PLL) or a Delay Locked Loop (DLL). |
| US07734965B1 |
Methods, architectures, circuits and systems for transmission error determination
Methods, circuits, architectures, software and systems for error detection in transmitted data. The method generally includes receiving data and non-data, the data including fixed length data portions, removing non-data; and if the data includes a remainder, adding a zero-pad vector to generate a zero-padded data portion, then checking the data and zero-padded data portions for a transmission error. The circuit generally includes a circuit to detect non-data; a circuit configured to replace non-data with a zero-pad vector; and a circuit to detect a transmission error in data and zero-padded data portions of information, and combine the zero-pad vector with a remaining data portion to form the zero-padded data portion. The present invention enables a single error detection circuit to detect errors, thereby reducing chip area, increasing efficiency, and reducing power consumption. |
| US07734962B2 |
Secure problem resolution techniques for complex data response networks
In various embodiments, techniques for secure problem resolution associated with complex data response networks are provided. Error messages associated with an executing problem service are trapped and hidden from a principal. The error messages are associated with a randomly generated incident identifier. The incident identifier is supplied to the principal. The principal gains access to the error messages when the principal successfully authenticates for access and supplies the incident identifier. |
| US07734961B2 |
Distributed logging apparatus system and method
An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for distributed logging. Operating entities and associations between operating entities are registered in a registry by a logging entity registrar. An event notification monitor recognizes operating errors in operating entities. An aggregation module aggregates operating logs from sets of associated entities, which are then stored by a log set recorder. |
| US07734958B1 |
Method and apparatus for a programming language having fully undoable, timed reactive instructions
A method and apparatus are described for a programming language with fully undoable, timed reactive instructions. More specifically, the present invention relates to providing a multi-modal user interface for controlling the execution of fully undoable programs. An embodiment of the present invention includes a method for providing a multi-modal user interface that is enabled to control the order of execution of a program having fully undoable instructions using checkpoints associated with discrete locations within the program. |
| US07734957B2 |
Highly reliable storage system and internal network thereof
The disk controller has a plurality of channel control units, a plurality of cache memories, a plurality of disk control units, and a plurality of internal switch units. Each channel control unit or disk control unit sends to one of the cache memory units a request packet requesting execution of processing. The cache memory unit sends a response packet in response to the received request packet. Each internal switch unit monitors the request packet sent from the channel control unit or disk control unit, and judges whether or not the response packet to the request packet has passed through the internal switch unit within a first given time period since the passage of the request packet. In the case where the response packet has not passed through the internal switch unit within the first given time period, the internal switch unit sends a failure notification. |
| US07734956B2 |
Process management system
There is provided a process management system which, when a crash occurs in execution of a processing process, can immediately restart a processing process while holding data used in occurrence of the crash as much as possible. When a determination unit determines that a detected crash is not a crash caused by data used in a processing process, a processing unit reexecutes the processing process in which the crash occurs. When the determination unit determines that the detected crash is a crash caused by the data used in the processing process, an initialization unit initializes the data used in the processing process. |
| US07734948B2 |
Recovery of a redundant node controller in a computer system
Recovery of a redundant node controller in a computer system including determining a loss of a heartbeat for a predefined period of time between a system controller and the redundant node controller; in response to determining the loss of the heartbeat for the predefined period of time, checking network connectivity between the system controller and the redundant node controller; if there is network connectivity between the system controller and the redundant node controller, determining whether an application on the redundant node controller is running; and if an application on the redundant node controller is running, resetting the redundant node controller through a primary node controller. |
| US07734945B1 |
Automated recovery of unbootable systems
Provided is a system to automatically recover a computer system after a failed attempt, or failed attempts, to boot a target operating system on the computer system. |
| US07734942B2 |
Enabling idle states for a component associated with an interconnect
In one embodiment, the present invention includes a method for receiving an information packet in a first port from an interconnect while an agent associated with the first port is in an idle low power state, transmitting a first signal from the first port along the interconnect to request re-transmission of the information packet, and sending a second signal from the first port to the agent to cause the agent to enter a fully active power state. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US07734937B2 |
Power supply device capable of supplying large amount of power necessary for entire system operation
A power supply device includes a first power-supply unit to input external power and to output first power supplying a predetermined constant voltage to a load, a second power-supply unit to accumulate charge and to output second power to the load in parallel with the first power being supplied from the first power-supply unit, and a controller to output a control signal to prevent the second power-supply unit from supplying power in case of a current increase due to a dynamic load change, and to cause the first power-supply unit to supply power for the dynamic current increase. The first power-supply unit supplies power having a current value smaller than a predetermined maximum current of the first power-supply unit. The second power-supply unit supplies power for a shortfall current exceeding the predetermined maximum current of the first power-supply unit. |
| US07734936B2 |
Method and apparatus for a computing system having an active sleep mode CPU that uses the cache of a normal active mode CPU
A method is described that involves storing active sleep mode software instructions to be executed by a low end central processing unit into an on chip cache of a high end central processing unit that caches normal active mode software instructions executed by the high end central processing unit. The active sleep mode software instructions are to be executed by the low end central processing unit during an active sleep mode. The normal active mode software instructions are executed by the high end central processing unit during a normal active mode. The active sleep mode consumes less power than the normal active mode. |
| US07734933B1 |
System for providing secure and trusted computing environments through a secure computing module
The present invention is directed to a system for providing a trusted environment for untrusted computing systems. The system may include a HAC subsystem managing shared resources and a trusted bus switch for controlling a COTS processor to access the shared resources. The shared resources such as memory and several I/O resources reside on the trusted side of the trusted bus switch. Alternatively, the system may include a SCM as an add-on module to an untrusted host environment. Only authenticated applications including COTS OS execute on the SCM while untrusted applications execute on the untrusted host environment. The SCM may control secure resource access from the untrusted host through a plug-in module interface. All secure resources may be maintained on the trusted side of the plug-in module interface. |
| US07734928B2 |
Secure entry of a user-identifier in a publicly positioned device
A method for secure entry of a user-identifier in a publicly positioned device can include establishing a private communications link between a user and the publicly positioned device; dividing the user-identifier into at least two portions; separately prompting the user for each portion of the user-identifier; prompting the user for a combination of random data and the user-identifier; and, discarding the random data from the combination. In the preferred embodiments, the publicly positioned device can have a visual interface through which the user can be visually prompted for the random data and the user-identifier. Alternatively, the publicly positioned device can have a telephone interface through which the user can be audibly prompted for the random data and the user-identifier. In the case of a visual display, the private communications link can be established by linking the publicly positioned device to active glasses having a shuttered display. The opening and closing of the shuttered display can be synchronized with the display of the prompts in the visual interface such that only the wearer of the active glasses can view the prompts. In the case of a telephone interface, an telephone operator system, for example an Interactive Voice Response system or a human operator, can provide the prompts audibly through the telephone interface. |
| US07734923B2 |
Key transformation unit for a tamper resistant module
Methods, apparati, and computer-readable media for securely transporting a software application onto a tamper resistant module (TRM) (103) by using an individualized TRM key set. A method embodiment of the present invention comprises: storing a key pair unique to the TRM (103) in a memory located on the TRM (103), where the key pair comprises a TRM public key (150) and a TRM private key (190); retrieving the TRM public key from the TRM; encrypting a portion of the software application using the TRM public key (150); transmitting the encrypted software application to the TRM (103); and recovering and decrypting the encrypted software application using the TRM private key (190). |
| US07734922B2 |
Method, system and terminal apparatus for enabling content to be reproduced in multiple terminals
Disclosed are a method, a system and a terminal apparatus for reproducing content purchased by a user in a plurality of terminals. To this end, a Right Object (RO) is received through an authentication process for content and a service registration process, and is stored in a User Identity Module (UIM). If the UIM is used, a user can use corresponding content in a plurality of terminals through one-time registration. Accordingly, the user having completed the registration can reproduce content in multiple terminals owned by the user based on user identification by means of a license acquired through the registration regardless of a specific terminal, instead of reproducing the content only in a single terminal to which a license has been bound. |
| US07734918B2 |
Preventing rogue implementations of a security-sensitive class interface
A method and apparatus for preventing rogue implementations of a security-sensitive class interface are provided. With the method and apparatus, a unique identifier (UID) is created by a server process when the server process is started. Anytime the server process, i.e. a server runtime environment, instantiates a new credential object following start-up of the server process, the encrypted UID is placed into a private field within the new credential object. In addition, the UID is encrypted and stored in a private class of the server runtime environment. A verification class is provided within the server runtime environment which includes one or more methods that receive the credential object as a parameter and return true or false as to the validity of the credential object. These one or more methods determine the validity of the credential object by retrieving the encrypted UID from the private class stored in the server runtime environment, decrypting the UID and comparing it to the decrypted UID stored in the private field of the credential object. If the two UIDs match, a determination is made that the credential object was created by the server runtime environment rather than a rogue application. If the two UIDs do not match, or if there is no UID in the credential object, then a false result will be returned by the verification class. |
| US07734917B2 |
Method for sharing rights objects between users
Provided is a method for delivering all or part of a rights object (RO) of a user associated with the content to other users. The method includes creating a rights object to be transmitted to a second user within a limit of the rights object held by the first user, and forwarding the created rights object to the second user. The method allows each user to share its own RO with other users within the limit of the RO without server authentication. |
| US07734916B2 |
Multi-level security systems
Techniques are disclosed for multi-level security (“MLS”) in computing systems. Communication between MLS systems in the prior art requires explicitly tagging each packet with its security classification. The packet tags comprise variable-length bit patterns inserted into packet headers. This results in a number of drawbacks, including increased path length and code complexity, as well as reduced interoperability. An MLS system according to the present invention simulates a cluster or collection of single-level security systems, and thereby avoids packet tagging. For each security classification used by an MLS system, a distinct source address is defined. This source address is used for outbound packets having that security classification, such that the packet's source address implicitly identifies the packet's security classification. |
| US07734914B1 |
System and method for allowing applications to securely access files
A system and method which receives from an application a request to open a file for reading or writing, prompts the user for the file, and then provides a handle or alternate handle to the requesting application, but does not provide the name and path of the file and may not provide the actual handle to the file. |
| US07734913B2 |
Content transmission control device, content distribution device and content receiving device
A delivery of content to the unspecified number of persons is prevented by limiting the content delivery range. A delivery source terminal 110 generates an authentication code based on the number of possible transmission times of content and an authentication code key 116, and configures the number of possible transmission times and the generated authentication code in a packet. The delivery source terminal 110 transmits the packet to a delivery destination terminal 130. A router 120 verifies whether the authentication code generated based on the number of possible transmission times and the authentication code key 124 that are received agrees with the authentication code received from the delivery source terminal 110, updates the number of possible transmission times when the two codes agree, generates a new authentication code, and configures it in the packet. The router 120 transmits the packet thus generated to the delivery destination terminal 130. |
| US07734909B1 |
Using voice over IP or instant messaging to connect to customer products
A system for remotely servicing a computational component is provided that includes: (a) a firewall 112; (b) a computational component 104 requiring servicing, the firewall 112 analyzing communications to the computational component 104; (c) a data collection agent 116 operable to (i) establish a session with a servicing computational component 100, packets of the session being analyzed by the firewall 112 and the session being of a type permitted by the firewall 112, (ii) receive a packet associated with the session, the packet comprising a machine executable servicing command for the computational component 104, and (iii) forward the servicing command to the computational component 104. |
| US07734906B2 |
System and method for panel linking in a security system
A security system comprising a plurality of security subsystems each of the security subsystems being discretely located, typically in separate buildings. The security subsystems are interconnected by a system communications bus to enable bi-directional communication between the security subsystems. Each of the security subsystems comprises a user interface, a control panel, a plurality of security devices, a local communications bus, and a panel linking gateway. The panel linking gateway allows data on the local communications bus of each security subsystem to be transmitted to and received from the system communications bus. The security system allows a keypad or other user interface from one security subsystem to access and control a second remote security subsystem. |
| US07734901B2 |
Processor core and method for managing program counter redirection in an out-of-order processor pipeline
A processor core and method for managing program counter redirection in an out-of-order processor pipeline. In one embodiment, the pipeline of the processor core includes a front-end instruction fetch portion, a back-end instruction execution portion, and pipeline control logic. Operation of the instruction fetch portion is decoupled from operation of the instruction execution portion. Following detection of a control transfer misprediction, operation of the instruction fetch portion is halted and instructions residing in the instruction fetch portion are invalidated. When the instruction associated with the misprediction reaches a selected pipeline stage, instructions residing in the instruction execution portion of the pipeline are invalidated and the flow of instructions from the instruction fetch portion to the instruction execution portion of the processor pipeline is restarted. A mispredict instruction identification checker and instruction identification tags are used to determine if a control transfer instruction is permitted to redirect instruction fetching. |
| US07734895B1 |
Configuring sets of processor cores for processing instructions
An integrated circuit includes a plurality of processor core. Processing instructions in the integrated circuit includes: managing a plurality of sets of processor cores, each set including one or more processor cores assigned to a function associated with executing instructions; and reconfiguring the number of processor cores assigned to at least one of the sets during execution based on characteristics associated with executing the instructions. |
| US07734894B1 |
Managing data forwarded between processors in a parallel processing environment based on operations associated with instructions issued by the processors
An integrated circuit comprises a plurality of tiles. Each tile comprises a processor including a storage module, wherein the processor is configured to process multiple streams of instructions, a switch including switching circuitry to forward data received over data paths from other tiles to the processor and to switches of other tiles, and to forward data received from the processor to switches of other tiles, and coupling circuitry configured to couple data resulting from processing an instruction from at least one of the streams of instructions to the storage module and to the switch. |
| US07734888B1 |
Capacity guarantees in a storage system
A file system receives a request to set a capacity guarantee for a virtual volume associated with a logical aggregation of physical storage. In response, the file system sets the capacity guarantee to indicate that the logical aggregation of physical storage is to provide a specified amount of space to the virtual volume. The amount of space provided to the virtual volume may be based, at least in part, on a guarantee type. The guarantee type may include, for example, volume, file, none, or partial. |
| US07734883B2 |
Method, system and program for forming a consistency group
Provided are a method, system, and program for forming a consistency group of data. Information is provided on a consistency group relationship indicating a plurality of slave controllers and, for each indicated slave controller, a slave storage unit managed by the slave controller. A command is transmitted to each slave controller in the consistency group relationship to cause each slave controller to transmit data in the slave storage unit to a remote storage in a manner that forms the consistency group. A determination is made as to whether all the slave controllers successfully transmitted the data in the slave storage units that is part of the consistency group to the remote storage. |
| US07734881B2 |
Adapting RCU for real-time operating system usage
A system and method is provided to support immediate freeing of a designated element from memory. Following a process of designating an element for removal from a data-structure, conditional limitations are used to determine if immediate freeing of the element from memory is available. The conditional limitations include determining that the instruction originates from a uniprocessor computer system. In addition, the conditional limitations include a determination as to whether a call_rcu primitive or synchronize_kernel primitive may be omitted, or whether the computer implemented instruction is operating in an interrupt handler. If the conditional limitations are met, the designated element may be immediately freed from memory. |
| US07734877B2 |
Method and data processing system for processor-to-processor communication in a clustered multi-processor system
A processor communication register (PCR) contained in each processor within a multiprocessor cluster network provides enhanced processor communication. Each PCR stores identical processor communication information that is useful in pipelined or parallel multi-processing. Each processor has exclusive rights to store to a sector within each PCR within the cluster network and has continuous access to read the contents of its own PCR. Each processor updates its exclusive sector within all of the PCRs via a private protocol or dedicated wireless network, instantly allowing all of the other processors within the cluster network to see the change within the PCR data, and bypassing the cache subsystem. Efficiency is enhanced within the processor cluster network by providing processor communications to be immediately networked and transferred into all processors without momentarily restricting access to the information or forcing all the processors to be continually contending for the same cache line, and thereby overwhelming the interconnect and memory system with an endless stream of load, store and invalidate commands. |
| US07734875B1 |
Cache management using historical access information
A caching manager calculates cache priorities for accessed items, including items not currently stored in the cache. The cache manager determines an item's cache priority as a function of the item's access frequency, retrieval cost and size. The cache manager dynamically updates cache priorities as items are accessed. When the cache is full and a non-cached item is accessed, the cache manager uses cache priorities to determine whether to overwrite a cached item with the non-cached accessed item. If the accessed item has a lower cache priority than all of the items in the cache, then the non-cached item is not stored in the cache. If any item in the cache has a lower cache priority than the accessed item, then the cache manager stores the accessed item in the cache, overwriting the cached item with the lowest cache priority. |
| US07734871B2 |
Removable medium apparatus and control method thereof
A removable-medium apparatus having a memory unit that stores a plurality of ID information for accessing a removable medium, and a receiving unit that receives an instruction for specifying ID information from among the plurality of ID information stored in the memory unit. The removable-medium apparatus determines whether or not ID information that is entered matches the ID information that is specified by the receiving unit, and outputs data that is stored on the removable medium when it is determined that the entered ID information matches the specified ID information, and does not output data that is stored on the removable medium when it is determined that the entered ID information does not match the specified ID information. |
| US07734869B1 |
Interfaces for flexible storage management
Interfaces for flexible storage management. An embodiment of a system includes a data storage, the data storage including one or more of a first storage system, the first storage system including a file structure that is coextensive with a set of memory devices, or a second storage system, the second storage system including a storage structure that is coextensive with a set of memory devices, the storage structure including zero or more file structures. The system further includes an interface system for the data storage, the interface system being used for both the first storage system and the second storage system. |
| US07734868B2 |
Universal RAID class driver
A RAID class driver model enables users to easily combine two or more disks into a bootable RAID system without specialized disk controllers and allows the creation of RAID systems using disks of different types, controllers, and interfaces. A RAID class driver is initialized in response to the identification of a RAID controller. Disk controllers return RAID-specific device identifications, rather than a standard disk device identifications, for each disk to be included in the RAID system. The RAID class driver binds a RAID-specific functional interface to each disk having a RAID-specific device identification and combines the disks into a disk object representing the entire RAID system. The disk object provides the operating system with a standard disk device identification. The operating system loads a standard disk driver to interface with the disk object, thereby enabling transparent access to the RAID system. |
| US07734867B1 |
Data storage using disk drives in accordance with a schedule of operations
Techniques for data storage using disk drives. To conserve power and reduce heat generation so that higher packaging density is possible, only some of the disk drives in an array may be powered on at any one time. Disk accesses may then be scheduled so that appropriate drives are powered on and off at appropriate times. In addition, various levels of storage services may be provided depending, for example, upon how accessible the drives are to individual clients and upon a level of data redundancy provided. Another advantage includes off-loading of tasks to a controller or processor included within the disk drives themselves. For example, the disk drives themselves may compute error detection or error correction representations and perform data integrity checks based on those representations. Failure simulation may also be performed to verify the ability to recover lost data and the disk drives may be used to convert the data into general formats that may be expected to be more easily read in the future. |
| US07734864B2 |
Semiconductor memory card access apparatus, a computer-readable recording medium, an initialization method, and a semiconductor memory card
A predetermined number of erasable blocks positioned at a start of a volume area in a semiconductor memory card are provided so as to include volume management information. A user area following the volume management information includes a plurality of clusters. A data length NOM of an area from a master boot record & partition table sector to a partition boot sector is determined so that the plurality of clusters in the user area are not arranged so as to straddle erasable block boundaries. Since cluster boundaries and erasable block boundaries in the user area are aligned, there is no need to perform wasteful processing in which two erasable blocks are erased to rewrite one cluster. |
| US07734861B2 |
Pseudo random and command driven bit compensation for the cycling effects in flash memory
Easily implemented randomization within a flash memory EEPROM reduces the NAND string resistance effect, program disturbs, user read disturbs, and floating gate to floating gate coupling that result from repeated and long term storage of specific data patterns. The randomization may be code generated pseudo randomization or user driven randomization in different embodiments. User driven commands, the timing of which cannot be predicted may be used to trigger and achieve a high level of randomization. Randomly altering the encoding scheme of the data prevents repeated and long term storage of specific data patterns. Even if a user wishes to store the same information for long periods, or to repeatedly store it, it will be randomly encoded with different encoding schemes, and the data pattern will therefore be varied. |
| US07734858B2 |
Fabric interposer for blade compute module systems
An interposer module may be used between a unified architecture blade compute module and a mid-plane of a present technology blade compute module system. The interposer module may contain input-output controllers for desired input-output fabrics. The mid-plane couples these input-output controllers to associated input-output fabric switches. The same unified architecture blade compute module may also be used without the interposer module in a new technology blade compute module system having multi-context fabric input-output controllers. The multi-context fabric input-output controllers may be coupled to the unified architecture blade compute modules of the information handling system by a switch such as a PCI Express (PCIe) switch. |
| US07734857B2 |
Cache coherent switch device
In one embodiment, the present invention includes a switch device to be coupled between a first semiconductor component and a processor node by interconnects of a communication protocol that provides for cache coherent transactions and non-cache coherent transactions. The switch device includes logic to handle cache coherent transactions from the first semiconductor component to the processor node, while the first semiconductor component does not include such logic. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US07734854B2 |
Device, system, and method of handling transactions
Some embodiments include, for example, devices, systems, and methods of handling transactions. In some demonstrative embodiments, an apparatus to handle transactions in a computing system may include a master unit to arbitrate between read and write requests to be issued over a request bus according to at least first and second arbitration schemes. A first ratio between read and write requests issued by the master unit according to the first arbitration scheme may be different from a second ratio between read and write requests issued by the master unit according to the second arbitration scheme. |
| US07734852B1 |
Modular computer system
A modular computer system (20) including a universal connectivity station (UCS) (22) interconnected to a plurality of remote modules (30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 42) via a plurality of respective high speed serial links (26, 40) such as based on proprietary Split-Bridge™ technology. The plurality modules, including a processor module (42) which may include core parts including a CPU, memory, AGP Graphics, and system bus interface may be remotely located from each of the other modules, including the UCS (22). The present invention achieves technical advantages wherein each module of the modular computer system (20) appear to each device to be interconnected to the other on a parallel bus since the high speed serial links appear transparent. Preferably, although not necessary, each of the modules including the UCS 22 are based on the PCI bus architecture, or the PCMCIA bus architecture, although other bus architectures are well suited to be incorporated using the present invention. The processor module can be upgraded to change or improve the performance of the modular computer system 20 without requiring any changes to the remaining system, thus drastically improving the price to performance trade-offs of the system. Moreover, the operating system (OS) of each module, including both the software and hardware, do not need to be changed as the entire modular system (20) is based on a common architecture, such as the PCI or Cardbus bus architecture. |
| US07734850B2 |
Method for stream based compressed file download with interruption recovery and further decompressing and de-archiving data in filesystem
A system and method are provided for storing and using recovery state information during a data stream transfer, such as a download. During the download of compressed, archived data, the system tracks the position of the last file boundary and the position of the last compression block boundary before the last file boundary, and the system stores this information as a recovery state. If the download is interrupted, the system uses the recovery state information to resume the download at an efficient location in the data stream. |
| US07734846B2 |
Datapipe CPU register array
A system for data processing comprises a host circuit (104) and an integrated circuit (102), the host circuit (104) being external to the integrated circuit (102). The integrated circuit (102) includes a plurality of programming elements (300), each element (300) including a host interface (606) for receiving data and a first control signal from the host circuit (104), a control interface (604) for receiving a second control signal. Each element (300) includes a crosspoint switch (318), and a register array (628) for receiving and storing data from the crosspoint switch (318) according to the first and second control signals, for receiving and storing data from the host interface (606) according to the first and second control signals, and for communicating stored data to the crosspoint switch (318) according to the first and second control signals. |
| US07734840B2 |
Methods and systems for managing outputs to peripheral devices
A method for managing outputs to peripheral devices in medical systems devices is described. The method includes providing an instruction to provide an output, creating a data object based on the instruction, and storing the data object in a first memory if a peripheral device that provides the output is not available to accept the data object, where the first memory stores the data object for a longer term than a second memory. |
| US07734837B2 |
Continuous media priority aware storage scheduler
The present invention relates to a system and methodology to facilitate I/O access to a computer storage medium in a predictable and efficient manner. A scheduling system is provided that mitigates the problem of providing differing levels of performance guarantees for disk I/O in view of varying levels of data access requirements. In one aspect, the scheduling system includes an algorithm or component that provides high performance I/O updates while maintaining high throughput to the disk in a bounded or determined manner. This is achieved by dynamically balancing considerations of I/O access time and latency with considerations of data scheduling requirements. Also, the system provides latency boundaries for multimedia applications as well as managing accesses for other applications. |
| US07734832B2 |
Method and system for structured programmed input/output transactions
Disclosed is a structured model for developing PIO code and for performing PIO transactions. This model of structured PIO transactions provides a framework with default behaviors. Developers need only provide a minimal amount of configuration information and can then characterize subsequent PIO transactions in terms of a profile, thus reducing the amount of detailed and often redundant information that developers need to provide for each PIO transaction. In some embodiments, the PIO transaction model is expressed in terms of object-oriented programming constructs. In one example, a PIO enabler object captures general PIO operational parameters and manages underlying operating system objects and behavior. When device manager software receives an input/output request that involves a PIO data transfer, the device manager constructs a PIO transaction object that represents the PIO work request. During the processing of the PIO transaction, the PIO transaction object maintains state and status information. |
| US07734829B2 |
Methods, systems, and computer program products for transparently controlling communications between network applications and a plurality of network communications protocol stacks using deferred protocol stack association
Methods, systems, and computer program products for controlling communications between network applications and multiple network communications protocol stacks using deferred protocol stack association are disclosed. In one method, a socket creation function call is received from an application. A socket creation function call is terminated, a pseudo communications endpoint is created, and a socket descriptor corresponding to the pseudo communications endpoint is returned to the application. At least one subsequent sockets-related function call is received. Based on the subsequent sockets-related function call, it is determined whether the application is a client or a server. In response to determining that the application is a server, communications endpoints are created on each of the network communications protocol stacks and server-related sockets function calls are made to each of the underlying protocol stacks. In response to determining that the application is a client, a protocol stack is selected, a protocol-stack-specific communications endpoint is created, and client-related sockets function calls are made to the underlying protocol-stack. |
| US07734827B2 |
Operation of cell processors
Secure operation of cell processors is disclosed. A cell processor receives a secure file image from a client device at a cell processor of a host device (host cell processor), wherein the secure file image includes an encrypted SPU image. |
| US07734824B2 |
Transport of reversible and unreversible embedded wavelets
A method and apparatus for transporting portions of a codestream over a communications mechanism is described. In one embodiment, the method comprises sending a request over a network and receiving tile-parts of a JPEG 2000 compliant codestream from the network as a return type as part of a response to the request. |
| US07734814B2 |
Decrypting load balancing array system
A decrypting load balancing array system uses a Pentaflow approach to network traffic management that extends across an array of Decrypting Load Balancing Array (DLBA) servers sitting in front of back end Web servers. One of the DLBA servers acts as a scheduler for the array through which all incoming requests are routed. The scheduler routes and load balances the traffic to the other DLBA servers (including itself) in the array. Each DLBA server routes and load balances the incoming request packets to the appropriate back end Web servers. Responses to the requests from the back end Web servers are sent back to the DLBA server which forwards the response directly to the requesting client. |
| US07734812B2 |
Method and apparatus for processing outgoing internet protocol packets
A method, apparatus, and computer instructions for processing packets in a network layer. A packet is received for transmission in which the packet includes a destination address. A routing entry for the destination address is identified. A determination is made as to whether a flag indicating the packet is to be broadcast has been set in the routing entry. Header information is placed in the packet in which the header information indicates that the packet is a broadcast packet in response to the flag being set. |
| US07734809B2 |
System and method to maximize channel utilization in a multi-channel wireless communication network
A system and method for data transmission using a multichannel medium access control (MAC) protocol to send small messages on the reservation channel directly without any RTS/CTS handshake or channel switching delays. The message is assigned a special type so that it can be distinguished from the RTS/CTS message. The message can also include information about congestion, activity, device type, mobility level, and so forth. |
| US07734806B2 |
Compatible progressive download method and system
Disclosed is a compatible progressive download method and system. In the system, a terminal acquires format information of a remote content file prior to download of the content file and sets a progressive download environment based on the acquired format information. The terminal then simultaneously downloads data in a position corresponding to the format information from a server and plays the downloaded data. At this time, receipt of each media data, i.e., audio data and video data, is performed independently and a progressive download is performed in such a way that media data that is smaller than its threshold during playback is downloaded to fill a buffer. This progressive download method can be applied to downloading of content in other formats in addition to formats defined by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP). Therefore, it is not necessary for the server to modify the format of content according to the 3GPP standard. |
| US07734805B2 |
Method for scheduling transmissions in communication systems
A method for scheduling transmissions to a plurality of users in a communication network determines a satisfaction metric and a dissatisfaction metric for each user in a given timeslot that is to be used for a next scheduled transmission to one of the users. Each user is assigned a weight based on a value of at least one of the user's satisfaction metric, the user's dissatisfaction metric and a rate requested by the user. The use having the highest weight is selected to be served the next scheduled transmission in the given timeslot. |
| US07734801B2 |
Method and apparatus for acquiring internet real-time media channels in a private network
An apparatus and method for acquiring Internet real-time media channels in a private network. The method includes receiving a service advertisement from a media channel server. The media channel server acts as a gateway between one or more channel service providers and a plurality of rendering devices on a private network. A subscription identifier (ID) and a URI (Universal Resource Identifier) are sent to the media channel server to enable the media channel server to request Internet channel information from one or more channel service providers. If the subscription identifier (ID) is validated by the one or more channel service providers, the Internet channel information is provided from the one or more channel service providers via the media channel server. The Internet channel information is provided to a user for enabling the user to browse the Internet channel information and request media content found on at least one Internet channel to be rendered on at least one of the plurality of rendering devices. |
| US07734795B2 |
Translating switch and method
Payload information in a data unit may be translated into the attribute portion of a data unit by receiving a first data unit from a terminal with payload information, identifying attribute information from within the payload information, and translating the first data unit into a translated data unit having an attribute portion corresponding to the attribute information from within the payload information of the first data unit. |
| US07734785B2 |
On demand message based financial network integration middleware
The present invention relates to distributed networking, and in particularly to a message-based networking environment. More particularly, it relates to business applications, which access the network via some middleware within a predetermined load schedule. In order to alleviate the disadvantages of prior art it is proposed to perform, a method with the following sequence of steps: monitoring, metering the current workload, storing metered workload data in a first appropriate data store, store state information data about the plurality of currently used instances in a second appropriate data store, analyzing both, said stored, metered workload data and said state information for compliance with a predetermined quality-of-service policy, adapting the number of instances usable for satisfying the workload to the workload needs as required by said predetermined quality-of-service policy, wherein meta data of newly created instances are managed in a plurality of message stores, the data contents of which are frequently synchronized in order to decouple the plurality of client applications from bindings fixed during their operation to particular service instances. |
| US07734784B1 |
Dynamic service activation using COPS-PR to support outsourcing and configuration models for policy control
A device may include a service activation engine (SAE) including: a policy information base (PIB) file that defines a plurality of attachments that correspond to a plurality of network policies; and a server. The server may receive a request, using common open policy service for policy provisioning (COPS-PR), for a network service related to an interface handle associated with a subscriber device; determine which ones of the network policies correspond to the network service; and send, using COPS-PR, a provisioning instance (PRI) including a first of the attachments to implement the ones of the network policies to the interface handle based on the attachments. |
| US07734780B2 |
Automated response to computer users context
Techniques are described for providing information about a current state that is modeled with multiple state attributes. In some situations the providing includes receiving from a first client an indication of an interest in receiving values for an indicated one of the state attributes of the modeled current state, receiving from a second client an indication of an interest in receiving values for another of the state attributes of the modeled current state, and, in response to receiving a value for the indicated one attribute from a first source, determining that the first client has an interest in receiving the received value and supplying the received value to the first client. |
| US07734777B2 |
Systems and methods for monitoring components of a remote access server farm
The present application is related methods to monitor a state of one or more components of a remote access server farm by an intermediary to distinguish between operating and functional components and improve farm availability for user application requests. The intermediary may be deployed between a client and the remote access server farm and forwards client requests to functional components of the remote access server farm. |
| US07734773B2 |
Web system, communication control device, and storage medium
A disclosed Web system includes an image forming apparatus; a communication control device connected to the image forming apparatus and including a print server function; and an information processing apparatus connected via a network and the communication control device to the image forming apparatus and configured to obtain information on the image forming apparatus in the form of Web information from the communication control device. The information processing apparatus includes a Web information request unit configured to send an information request to the communication control device to obtain the Web information, the information request including a language identifier. The communication control device includes a Web information storing unit configured to store the Web information, and a Web information returning unit configured to retrieve the Web information corresponding to the language identifier from the Web information storing unit and to send the retrieved Web information to the information processing apparatus. |
| US07734771B2 |
System and method to remotely manage and audit set top box resources
A system and method for determining the resources available or used in a remote device is disclosed. The system can be used to determine whether the remote device is using expected resources as originally configured or to determine whether resources are available to support new or extended services. The method can be used to configure or reconfigure the remote device for its intended use or as reconfigure a remote device for new, different or extended purposes. |
| US07734768B2 |
System and method for adaptively collecting performance and event information
A method for communicating information from a first computing node to at least one of the following: a storage device and a second computing node. The first computing node is monitored to collect at least one estimate of available resources, and based on this estimate, an amount of data collected is modified. Then, the collected data is sent to at least one of the following: the storage device and the second computing node. This invention also provides for the determination of an optimum batch size for aggregating data wherein, for a number of batch sizes, costs are estimated for sending batched information to persistent storage and for losing batched data. Then, the optimum batch size is selected from the number of different batch sizes based on sums of these costs. This invention also provides for selective compression of data, wherein it is determined which of a number of compression algorithms do not incur an overhead that exceeds available resources. Then, one of the determined algorithms is selected to maximize compression. |
| US07734767B2 |
Method of one key test function in a consumer network device
Embodiments of the present invention include methods of one-key test function in a Control Console in a network device. In one embodiment, the present invention includes a console controller, a display module and an input module with a test-key on a network device so that a user can test status, operation or management at a network device with a single touch of a button. In another embodiment, the present invention includes remote activation of one key test function from a remote test module. In another embodiment, the present invention includes password authentication or user approval of remote activation of one key test function. |
| US07734765B2 |
System and method for analyzing and coordinating Service-Level-Agreements (SLA) for Application-Service-Providers (ASP)
The present invention describes a system for automatically monitoring and managing Service Level Agreements on behalf of Service providers (such as Application Service providers). The system is based on a specialized SLA language that can translate complex or simple Service Level Agreements into measurable and controllable criterion. The system enables Application Service providers to set up customized Service Level Agreements with customers, and monitor, modify and control all aspects of these agreements, including billing, sales, Customer Relation Management, customer support and Quality of Service. The technology on which the present invention is based is a formula driven language that translates Service Level Agreement details into commands. As such these details can be tracked and processed to produce detailed reports and summaries. |
| US07734754B2 |
Reviewing effectiveness of communication rules system
A method for reviewing effectiveness of a rules system applying one or more rules to communication traffic of a group of users. The method analyzes a log containing one or more communications reviewed by the rules system to determine if the communications in the log conforms to the communications policy. The method also identifies one or more of the rules of the rules system violated by the communications when the analyzing the log determines that at least one of the communications in the log does not conform to the communications policy. Other methods determine the effectiveness of planned modifications to a rules system. |
| US07734752B2 |
Intelligent integrated network security device for high-availability applications
Methods and apparatuses for inspecting packets are provided. A primary security system may be configured for processing packets. The primary security system may be operable to maintain flow information for a group of devices to facilitate processing of the packets. A secondary security system may be designated for processing packets upon a failover event. Flow records may be shared from the primary security system with the secondary security system. |
| US07734751B2 |
Method of allocating a service by a first peer to a second peer in a communication network
A method of allocating at least one service by a first peer (E) to a second peer (D), the peers being linked by means of a computer communication network, the first and second peers belonging respectively to a first and second group of peers adapted to share data, comprises the following steps: evaluating (E63) a distance (d0) between the first peer (E) and the second peer (D); and selecting (E65) a service allocated by the first peer (E) according to the value (d0) of the distance. |
| US07734747B2 |
Dynamic lookup service in a distributed system
An improved lookup service is provided that allows for the dynamic addition and deletion of services. This lookup service allows for the addition and deletion of services automatically, without user intervention. As a result, clients of the lookup service may continue using the lookup service and its associated services while the updates occur. Additionally, the lookup service provides a notification mechanism that can be used by clients to receive a notification when the lookup service is updated. By receiving such a notification, clients can avoid attempting to access a service that is no longer available and can make use of new services as soon as they are added to the lookup service. |
| US07734746B2 |
Method and apparatus for configuring and controlling network resources in content delivery with distributed rules
An intermediate network element deployed in a content delivery network is disclosed. The content delivery network cooperates its content delivery effort with other intermediate network element with similar capabilities. Distributing rules that govern the operations of the intermediate network element(s) are presented. These include the framework of the intermediate network element(s), the format of indicating part or whole of a rule specification to be distributed, the format of signatures for intermediate network elements to discover each other, the format of signaling other intermediate network elements that a rule is distributed to, and the method of determining the intermediate network element to distribute a rule to. In addition, authoring rules that are specific to real time streaming of contents are disclosed. A set of rule evaluation conditions are revealed that can be triggered based on different criteria during the streaming of real time contents. A set of parameters from which rules can be based on is disclosed. |
| US07734744B1 |
System for communicating management information and method of operation
A system for communicating management information includes a first interface card, a second interface card, and a management card coupled to the first interface card and the second interface card. The management card establishes a communication link between a client and a particular one of the first interface card and the second interface card selected in response to a command communicated by the client. The management card further communicates management information using the communication link. |
| US07734742B2 |
Network-attached storage device configuration
A system comprises a computer configured using a configuration setting and a network-attached storage (NAS) device coupled to the computer via a network. The NAS device receives the configuration setting from the computer via the network and configures the NAS device using the configuration setting. |
| US07734739B2 |
Method and system for consolidating network topology in duplicate IP networks
A method and system are described for managing a computer network. In accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention, a collection computer is assigned a management domain identifier uniquely associated with a management domain in which each collection computer resides. Information that includes the management domain identifier is received in at least one management computer from the collection computer. A database of the information accessed using the management domain identifier is maintained within the at least one management computer. |
| US07734738B2 |
Automatic configuration of client and server networking
Described is a technology by which a server automatically configures itself for adding to an existing network. Upon connection to the network, the server obtains settings including existing subnet and gateway IP addresses from a DHCP assigned IP configuration (e.g., a router). The server uses the settings to automatically configure itself to dynamically provide addresses similar to the previous scope to clients. In one implementation, the server software sets its network card to a static IP address state while the server is configured, and thereafter sets the network card to a dynamic state. The router is disabled during server configuration, and re-enabled thereafter, whereby the server DHCP service instead of the router DHCP service assigns the addresses. The server may also attempt to automatically connect to the Internet. |
| US07734734B2 |
Document shadowing intranet server, memory medium and method
An intranet server, memory medium and process for handling requests for resources from a downstream intranet server or a user. The intranet server is configured by a data shadowing program to locally store resources that have a high usage frequency. If a resource has not been requested for a predetermined time out period, it is deleted from local memory. Resources stored in local memory are served in response to requests for them, thus avoiding the service of such resources over the internet each time they are requested. An inquiry procedure handles status requests for new versions in either an active or a passive mode. In the active mode, the intranet server that directly interfaces with the internet periodically checks the status and receives updated versions of resources stored in its local memory. The resources stored in local memory are then served upon request from a user. In the passive mode, status inquiries are sent upstream through the intranet system then via the internet to the web server that serves the resource being requested. The web server returns a revised version only if there is one. |
| US07734727B2 |
Communication arrangement and method for communication systems having an interactive voice function
The invention relates to the processing of combined display screen-oriented and voice-oriented web page information (i(html,xml)). To this end, display screen-oriented web page information (i(html)) is processed in an internet terminal (PC) and voice-oriented web page information (i(xml)) is processed in a multimedia platform (VOX). In order to synchronize the processing of web page information that is distributed among the internet terminal and the multimedia platform, voice information (ivox) is exchanged by using voice agents (Avox) and control information (isig) and data (idat) are exchanged by using a communications agent (Asig). This results in dynamically reducing the load placed upon the multimedia platform. |
| US07734726B2 |
System and method for dynamically allocating processing on a network amongst multiple network servers
The present invention provides a method, apparatus, and computer implemented instructions for processing Web and other Internet or Intranet based services. The system for processing Web requests includes a Web server with a connection to the Internet or Intranet with a predefined network bandwidth, a set of primary Web and application server cluster nodes to process the requests, and a dispatcher to allocate requests to nodes; in addition, one or more offload server nodes are connected to the network. Client Web requests arrive at the dispatcher of the Web server, which determines whether the incoming request can be handled at the primary Web server cluster, whether all or part of the user Web request should be offloaded to one of the offload server nodes, or whether the request should be throttled. If the dispatcher determines that the request should be handled by the primary Web server cluster, it is appropriately routed to one of the nodes in the primary Web server cluster; else if the dispatcher determines that the request should be offloaded, one of the offload server nodes or service providers is selected, and the request is either routed to a primary server node with the appropriate indication to offload all or part of the request, or the request is routed to the selected offload service provider; otherwise, the request is throttled by either routing it to a node which returns information that the service is overloaded, or if the Web servers are too busy to provide even an overload indication, then the request is dropped. |
| US07734722B2 |
Deep clickflow tracking
A system and method is disclosed herein for obtaining information from web site use. In one embodiment, the method comprises tracking interactions of a user with web content when the user uses a modified link to enter a website. The modified link is a link in a format that resembles a website address for the website but resolves at a location through which the user's interactions can be tracked. The method also includes storing data indicative of tracked interactions in a database. |
| US07734719B2 |
Method and apparatus for creation, personalization, and fulfillment of greeting cards with gift cards
An automated fulfillment system enables gift cards to be embedded or sent along with personalized greeting cards. The present invention, a method, system and apparatus enables a person to 1) purchase a gift card from either a Internet Website, Catalog, and/or retail kiosk, 2) choose a retail quality greeting card, 3) personalize the greeting card, and 4) send the personalized greeting cards as a gift with a gift card embedded inside the greeting card. The reverse is also possible, i.e. a user can purchase a greeting card, personalize the greeting card, and then assign that greeting card to have a gift card inserted inside therein. |
| US07734718B2 |
Smart appliance functionality
A communications network, system, and method includes a server; a primary device in communication with the server through a communications channel, wherein the primary device comprises a component that detects data transmissions from the server, and transmits the detected data transmissions; and a secondary device connected to the primary device, wherein the secondary device automatically performs self diagnosis relating to operational performance of the secondary device in response to the data transmissions. The remotely programmable apparatus comprises any of an appliance and an entertainment device, wherein the appliance comprises any of a refrigerator, a telephone, a stove, and a clock. The server generates computer executable commands that are executable by the secondary device and comprises any of queries, instructions, and messages. The secondary device comprises a processor that collects operational data relating to the secondary device, and provides a diagnosis of a performance of the secondary device. |
| US07734712B1 |
Method and system for identifying storage devices
Embodiments according to the invention perform functions including discovery, classification, and profiling of storage devices, computer systems, connection elements, and other components relating to a storage area network (SAN). Changes to the SAN topology are tracked in order to show growth patterns. |
| US07734710B2 |
Presence-based hybrid peer-to-peer communications
A method and an apparatus are disclosed for improving the flow of data traffic between clients and servers by determining, in an enhanced hybrid peer-to-peer network, when a client telecommunications terminal should share its data with one or more peers, instead of transmitting that data to the servers. A “super-peer” client terminal in the hybrid peer-to-peer network is responsible for determining when to share data with peers and when to transmit data to the servers. The telecommunications terminal (i) shares data with other terminals when a particular user's presence has changed and (ii) transmits data to the enterprise servers when the overall group's presence that corresponds to the terminal's peer group has changed. The system of the illustrative embodiment aggregates presence and routes communications via peer-to-peer networking, instead of via client-to server-to peer networking, thereby reducing the load on the enterprise servers and lessening the occurrences of single points-of-failure. |
| US07734708B1 |
Enabling identification of online identities between different messaging services
A method and system for populating identities in a message service involves registering a user of a first messaging service with a second messaging service. User identities for users other than the registered user may be identified. These user identities may be associated with the first messaging service and may be stored in a list associated with the registered user. It is determined if each identified user identity has a matching user identity associated with the second messaging service. If so, a database associated with the second messaging service is populated with the matching user identities. Determining whether a matching user identity exists may be performed, for example, by making character strings comparisons between user identities or using a database that stores a mapping of first messaging service user identities to second messaging service user identities. The mapping database may be generated as corresponding user identities are discovered. |
| US07734705B1 |
System and method for flexibly managing heterogeneous message delivery
A system and method for flexibly managing heterogeneous message delivery. A message is queued. The message includes an identifier and content in intermediate format pending delivery through type-specific message interfaces. The delivery of the message to a recipient is managed with the message cast into one of a plurality of message types. The identifier is formatted and the content of the message is structured from the intermediate format into one such message type for the recipient. The message is sent to the recipient via the message interface corresponding to the selected message type. The delivery of the message is tracked by monitoring an acknowledgement of a receipt of the message by the recipient. An alternate message type available is selected upon non-acknowledgment of message receipt. |
| US07734702B2 |
Content update feature for an instant messaging service
A first mobile terminal comprising a screen configured to display a first window for displaying messages communicated between the first terminal and a second terminal; a user interface, wherein a user may interact with the user interface to update content in a first message displayed in the first window, wherein the first message is previously communicated to and displayed on the second terminal; a processor for detecting updated information and constructing an update packet comprising information about the updated information; and a transmitter for transmitting the update packet to the second terminal to cause a corresponding content update in the first message previously displayed on the second terminal. |
| US07734701B2 |
Method to write information to an information storage medium using a network attached storage device
A method to write information to an information storage medium comprising a plurality of storage blocks interconnected with a networked attached storage device comprising a first file system, a first file system driver, a second file system and a second file system driver. Using the first file system driver, the method opens a file with write permission, and provides a second file comprising the entire first file system. Using the second file system driver, the method locates an Extent Descriptor associated with the file, reads an address from that Extent Descriptor, where the address points to one or more storage blocks disposed in the information storage medium, and determines if any storage blocks have been allocated for the file. In the event no storage blocks have been allocated for the file, the method then allocates one or more storage blocks, and writes the file to those one or more storage blocks. |
| US07734699B2 |
Interview automation system for providing technical support
A system for providing highly automated technical support to the customer while simultaneously capturing the knowledge base associated with recurring customer questions. |
| US07734692B1 |
Network collaboration system with private voice chat
A network collaboration system facilitates collaborations between network clients having access to a digital network. The system uses audio mixes to provide different levels of voice conferences between the meeting participants. In a main collaboration, those participating in the main collaboration receive an audio output that includes audio inputs from the other participants. A subset group of clients may also have a voice chat, in which their audio inputs are removed from the outputs delivered to the clients not participating in the voice chat. Meanwhile, the participants in the voice chat hear each other at full volume, but hear the collaborators who are not part of the voice chat at a reduced volume. |
| US07734688B2 |
Portable wireless player and associated method
A method of providing programming to a portable wireless music player includes connecting to a music service provider from a remote client and defining a play list at the music service provider through user interaction at the remote client. The player connects to the music service provider over a wireless service network and downloads music to the player from the music service provider in accordance with the previously defined play list. The music or other programming is played at the player. |
| US07734684B2 |
Digital content delivery and viewing system and method
A media distribution system is provided whereby devices on a network are provided with native-mode, optimized content viewers adapted to receive and present digital content provided elsewhere on the network. An agent is downloaded to a device, where it gathers information regarding the device environment and uses that information to identify the appropriate application for that device. The appropriate application for a particular device is then downloaded to the device to enable the device to present the content to a user. |
| US07734683B1 |
Method for providing a DNS server address list from a server to a client
The invention relates to a method for providing a DNS server address list from a server 1 to a client 2 comprising the steps of: the client 2 requests an IP address from the server 1; and the server 1 responds by assigning the IP address together with said DNS address list to the client 1. In the prior art the order of the DNS server addresses in the list is static, that means that upon any IP request the same list, having the same order of addresses is provided to the client. When the client wants to output a DNS request he starts by asking the first server in the list irrespective as to whether said server may currently be overloaded or has gone down. In these situations time is lost since no response is provided by such a disturbed DNS server to a DNS request and the client has to ask another server in the list. In order to overcome these disadvantages the order of the DNS server addresses in the list is dynamically updated in that the client always knows which of the available DNS servers is currently best appropriated. |
| US07734679B2 |
Managing analysis of a degraded service in a grid environment
A method, system, and program managing analysis of a degraded service in a grid environment are provided. In a grid environment of multiple diverse systems, a service availability management agent is enabled to receive multiple types of error messages generated from the multiple diverse systems within the grid environment. Each error message is parsed to determine a general error indicator. Then, the service availability management agent attempts to resolve the general error indicator and return a solution to each parsed error message. Solutions may include an adjustment of resource usage by a particular service, an explanation of a particular error message, or a recommendation of alternate resources. The service availability management agent preferably specifies the transmission of the solution in a format specified for the requester system. |
| US07734677B2 |
Method, system and program product for dynamically integrating backend systems into a J2EE application server environment
A method, system and program product is provided for dynamically integrating Backend System instances into a J2EE application server environment during runtime without having to restart the J2EE application server environment. The system comprises a deployment descriptor for deploying a J2C Connector into the J2EE application server environment and a Join/Leave manager. The manager implements an interface for detecting the Backend System instances, and an interface for providing access data and status information about the Backend System instances to the application. In addition, at least one node is enabled to run an application or its subcomponent for adding access data to, and deleting it from a storage media. |
| US07734673B2 |
Control device optimizing computing input sample of data with discrete fourier transform algorithm
An automatic control device having an input for inputting measured values of cyclic voltage and/or current; computing device for computing a parameter based on said values of voltage and/or current, and for comparing the computed parameter against a predefined condition; and initiating device for initiating a control function in response to the parameter meeting the predefined condition. The input of the control device is arranged to input a predefined number of samples per one cycle; and the computing device is arranged to compute the parameter with a discrete Fourier transform algorithm optimized based on fixed coefficients related to the predefined number of samples per cycle. An exemplary control device and corresponding control method can provide a significantly faster response time than the earlier general programmed solutions without increasing the related costs as much as the known digital signal processors. |
| US07734671B1 |
Method of sorting text and string searching
A method of sorting text for memory efficient searching is disclosed. A FM-index is created on received text, and a number of rows are marked. The locations of the marked rows are stored in data buckets as well as the last column of the FM-index, which is stored as a wavelet tree. Data blocks containing the data buckets are created; containing the number of times each character appears in the data block before each data bucket. A header block is created comprising an array of the number of times each character appears in the last column of the FM-index before each data blocks, the location of the end of the data blocks and the location of the end of the data, and appended to the data block. The header and data blocks are stored. The search process loads data buckets into memory as needed to find the required text. |
| US07734669B2 |
Managing copies of data
A method in a computer system for retrieving data from one of multiple copies of the data is provided, referred to as the data management system. The data management system receives a request identifying at least one data object to be accessed. Then, the data management system queries a metabase to locate data copies that contain the identified at least one data object, wherein the data copies are created from similar source data, and wherein for each data copy the metabase contains an indication of the availability of the copy relative to other copies. Next, the data management system determines one of the located data copies to use to access the identified at least one data object, wherein the determination is made based on the indicated availability contained in the metabase for each of the located data copies. Then, the data management system accesses the identified at least one data object using the determined one of the located data copies. |
| US07734665B2 |
System and method for providing database utilities for mainframe operated databases
A system and method for performing database utilities on a database. The system may include a mainframe computer that includes a storage unit and at least one database stored on the storage unit. A processing unit may be configured to receive and schedule jobs submitted for execution. An electronic display may be in communication with the processing unit and execute a software program configured to cause the processing unit to display a menu of selectable utilities on the electronic display, display a utility parameter entry screen in response to receiving a utility selection, and generate information including parameters entered in the utility parameter entry screen for use in performing the selected database utility on the database(s). |
| US07734664B2 |
Database application including split views
A database application is provided which includes functionality for providing split views. The database application includes an object model having a number of objects, methods, and properties. The object model preferably includes a form object which includes a split view representation. A number of properties are associated with the split view which provides for the presentation of data to a user of the database application. |
| US07734662B2 |
Extension of organizational chart dynamic group lists based on LDAP lookups
A level for a hierarchical organizational chart is associated with a virtual attribute and the values for the level are generated from values for the virtual attribute. The organizational chart is derived from distinguished name entries in a lightweight directory access protocol directory and the virtual attribute is not associated with an object in a schema for the directory. The virtual attribute may be a virtual recursive attribute or a virtual reverse attribute. |
| US07734661B2 |
Method and apparatus for accessing multidimensional data
A method of indexing data in a multidimensional database includes creating a multidimensional logical access model, creating a multidimensional data storage model in which data is located in cells that are stored and retrieved in blocks, gathering data access information derived from one or more user queries of the database, and reorganizing one or more selected cells in the multidimensional data storage model based on the data access information to reduce the time taken to access the one or more selected cells in response to a user query of the database. A computerized apparatus in communication with a multidimensional database includes a program to perform the method. A computer readable medium contains instructions to cause a computer to perform the method. |
| US07734660B2 |
Data processing device
A data processor that reads and writes data from/on a storage medium. The storage medium has stored thereon a first data stream being represented by a video signal that has been encoded by a first encoding process. The data processor includes: a controller, which acquires first playlist information to manage playback of the first data stream; a stream generating section for generating a second data stream by encoding the video signal by a second encoding process, which is different from the first encoding process; and a management section for producing second playlist information based on the second data stream and the first playlist information so as to manage an order in which the second data stream is played back. |
| US07734659B2 |
System and method for creating an object model
A method for creating a dynamic domain model of an object. The method includes storing and organizing temporal information about the object in a bitemporal database that includes both a valid time and a transaction time for the information. The information is inserted into a plurality of tables in the database and a key is assigned to each of the plurality of tables. A composite representing the object is formed to represent a state of the object at the current time or at any previous time by dynamically linking the information by key, based on a business logic and a request made by a user. |
| US07734656B2 |
System and method for electronically managing medical data files in order to facilitate genetic research
A method for conducting genetic research on medical data. The method includes the step of accessing a database storing a plurality of medical records associated with a plurality of individuals, each medical record including at least one unique identifier associated with a certain individual and medical data associated with the certain individual. The method also includes the steps of extracting from the database the medical data associated with at least a subset of the plurality of individuals and, for each individual of the subset, obtaining electronically stored genetic data associated with the respective unique identifier. Also, the method includes processing the extracted medical data and obtained genetic data for attempting to identify an association between particular genetic data and a particular medical condition. |
| US07734654B2 |
Method and system for linking digital pictures to electronic documents
An image of a scene is captured with a digital camera. An item related to the scene is selected on a document stored on an electronic user device. The image is linked to the item and reversibly both on the electronic user device and on the digital camera to allow access to the full information. |
| US07734650B2 |
Data display server, data display method and program thereof
The present invention relates to recommendation of items to a user for providing items more satisfying a user's request on the basis of new association. The present invention provides a data display server connected to a user terminal, which includes a posting database for storing posting data posted through the user terminal, a reference data base for storing reference data, relational metadata generating means which generates relational metadata making association between two pieces of reference data, and a relational database for storing the relational metadata. According to the arrangement, tight linking between reference data is made possible so that items more suitable for a user's preference can be recommended. |
| US07734646B2 |
Data model simplification through field fallout
The present invention generally provides methods, articles of manufacture and systems for simplifying a query building process by limiting the number of fields presented to a user for building queries. The number of fields presented to the user may be limited by hiding one or more logical fields from the user based on usage characteristics. For example, a logical field that is rarely used or has not been used within a predetermined period of time may be hidden from the user. For some embodiments, a fallout manager may monitor the use of logical fields in building queries, update usage characteristics, and mark logical fields as hidden based on the usage characteristics. A graphical user interface may not present to a user logical fields that have been marked as hidden. |
| US07734641B2 |
Recommendation systems and methods using interest correlation
A search technology generates recommendations with minimal user data and participation, and provides better interpretation of user data, such as popularity, thus obtaining breadth and quality in recommendations. It is sensitive to the semantic content of natural language terms and lets users briefly describe the intended recipient (i.e., interests, eccentricities, previously successful gifts). Based on that input, the recommendation software system and method determines the meaning of the entered terms and creatively discover connections to gift recommendations from the vast array of possibilities. The user may then make a selection from these recommendations. The search/recommendation engine allows the user to find gifts through connections that are not limited to previously available information on the Internet. Thus, interests can be connected to buying behavior by relating terms to respective items. |
| US07734639B2 |
Global query correlation attributes
A system, method and article of manufacture for accessing data are disclosed. In general, data access is facilitated by a query configured with a correlation criterion or criteria. The presence of the correlation criteria facilitates the introduction of additional correlation logic to be applied to conditions of the query. In general, correlation criteria are contemplated which support correlation of entities based on time, physical location and age, for example. |
| US07734634B2 |
System, apparatus and method for using and managing digital information
A system, apparatus and method for using, identifying, interacting and managing digital information in a useful and convenient manner. When a digital representation of information is loaded, an index is constructed of unique terms in the information, which index includes the terms, a count of the occurrences of each term in the information and a reference to each location wherein the term occurs in the information. A user can select a term of interest from the index and a context box comprising a user-selected amount of information from before and/or after each occurrence of the selected term is displayed to the user to allow the user to more readily identify portions of the information which are of interest. The user can select one a context box of interest and the display of the information is repositioned to the location in the information which corresponds to the select box. A user can also create a knowledge base entry from each identified and/or selected portion of the information, which knowledge base can be searched in a variety of manners. |
| US07734633B2 |
Listwise ranking
Procedures for learning and ranking items in a listwise manner are discussed. A listwise methodology may consider a ranked list, of individual items, as a specific permutation of the items being ranked. In implementations, a listwise loss function may be used in ranking items. A listwise loss function may be a metric which reflects the departure or disorder from an exemplary ranking for one or more sample listwise rankings used in learning. In this manner, the loss function may approximate the exemplary ranking for the plurality of items being ranked. |
| US07734629B2 |
System and method using hierachical clustering for evolutionary clustering of sequential data sets
An improved system and method for evolutionary clustering of sequential data sets is provided. A snapshot cost may be determined for representing the data set for a particular clustering method used and may determine the cost of clustering the data set independently of a series of clusterings of the data sets in the sequence. A history cost may also be determined for measuring the distance between corresponding clusters of the data set and the previous data set in the sequence of data sets to determine a cost of clustering the data set as part of a series of clusterings of the data sets in the sequence. An overall cost may be determined for clustering the data set by minimizing the combination of the snapshot cost and the history cost. Any clustering method may be used, including flat clustering and hierarchical clustering. |
| US07734625B2 |
Method for performing expression-based validation
A method for performing expression-based validation with records in a computer system database, eliminating the need to write programs or scripts. A validation expression can define complex intra-record tests and inter-record tests and may be performed manually against one or more records and have a success or failure indicated for each record in an interface. A validation expression may be placed into one or more groups and performed as a group with the success or failure indicated for each record. A validation expression may be initiated from workflows to implement a business process with system-enforced data integrity. A validation expression may be manually executed or automatically executed when attempting record update to prevent the entry of invalid data and ensure data integrity. A validation expression may also be used to search using the Boolean result of validation expressions. |
| US07734622B1 |
Media-driven browsing
Media-driven browsing methods, systems, and machine-readable instructions are described. In one aspect, a context search is performed based on information associated with at least one media object. A context-sensitive search is performed based on results of the context search. Information derived from results of the context-sensitive search is presented. |
| US07734619B2 |
Method of presenting lineage diagrams representing query plans
A diagram manager has a diagram handler and a lineage handler.The diagram handler presents to a user a diagram representing relations between query subjects in a metadata model. The lineage handler changes presentation of a selected query subject to show one or more corresponding query subjects that are represented by the selected query subject. |
| US07734616B2 |
Storage system having means for acquiring execution information of database management system
A storage system for providing a preferable data access performance by performing controls considering database management system (DBMS) execution information or database process priorities, by acquiring static configurational information of a DBMS by means of a DBMS information acquisition and communication program, a DBMS information communication section, and a host information setting program; acquiring DBMS execution information by means of a query plan acquisition program, the DBMS information communication section, and a process performance management program; acquiring information on priorities of database processes given by the process performance management program; and storing them in disk I/O management information with process priorities, DBMS execution information, and DBMS data information, in which cache control section in a storage system control program controls a data cache by referring to the above information. |
| US07734612B2 |
Information search apparatus, information search method, information search program, and graphical user interface
Disclosed herein is an information search apparatus includes: search means configured to search for an associated object associated with a specified search source object; associated object display means configured to display a searched associated object onto a display screen; display count setting object display means configured to display a display count setting object for setting the number of the associated objects to be displayed on the display screen onto the display screen; and associated object display count control means configured to, if a setting of the number of associated objects has been changed by an operation executed on the display count setting object, adjust the number of associated objects displayed on the display screen in accordance with the changed setting and display the resultant number of associated objects. |
| US07734611B2 |
Dynamic views based on LDAP
Subviews are generated for each unique value in a list of unique values for an attribute that is defined by a dynamic view object in a schema for a lightweight directory access protocol directory. The subviews are maintained by adding and deleting entries as the values for the attribute change. If a change in value causes the subview to have no entries, the subview is deleted. |
| US07734605B2 |
Dynamic quota policy for queuing mechanism
Methods and systems for effecting cleanup and other policies for queues and similar data stores, which policies account for preferences of consumers of the data so stored. Queuing policies for local storage of one or more documents for transmission from the local storage to one or more end points for said documents are retrieved from a remote registry. Upon such retrieval, the documents are enqueued according to the queuing policies, unless, prior to such enqueuing the queues into which the documents are to be placed require creation or clean-up, for example according to one or more queue quota policies. In some cases, the documents are queued according to associated qualities of service to be accorded to delivery of said documents. Such qualities of service may be specified in the queuing policy. |
| US07734602B2 |
Choosing whether to use a delayed index maintenance depending on the portion of the materialized view (MV) changed
In an embodiment, estimated costs are used to pick the best refresh technique (e.g., method) for a given MV. In another embodiment, estimated costs are used to schedule the refresh of a set MVs in an order such that overall time to refresh is reduced, or in an order that uses the smallest overall time, for refreshing when compared to other alternative refresh schedules. In another embodiment, the estimated cost of refreshing each of a set of MVs is used to select the set of CPU resources to allocate to refreshing each MV. Based on the estimated costs, the allocation of CPU resources is chosen to be more optimal (e.g., use less CPU time) than other available sets of CPU resources. In an embodiment, when refreshing an MV, delayed index maintenance is chosen if a significant portion of the base table and/or the partitions of the table has changed. |
| US07734600B1 |
Apparatus, method and system to implement an integrated data security layer
The disclosure details the implementation of an apparatus, method, and system for an integrated data security layer (IDSL). In one aspect, the IDSL enables entities wishing to control users' data access, whether they are content owners, corporate system administrators, or concerned parents wishing to prevent ill-gotten data to work across their systems, to manage the access of content. The IDSL provides the ability to curb such unwanted access of data. The IDSL has the ability to obtain content information, policy rules regarding the content, and unique identifiers for the content from content providers and/or their proxies. Further, the IDSL has the ability to provide such information to IDSL clients. Such clients employ the obtained information to analyze and control access to the content. Additionally, the IDSL may act as a lookup facility to create, maintain, and update associations between a content information, policy rules, and unique identifiers of content, and any other associated information as detailed throughout. The IDSL coordinates with an IDSL database to identify interassociated items in the generation of entries regarding any related information. |
| US07734599B2 |
Information processing apparatus, image processing apparatus, information processing method, control method for image processing apparatus, computer program, and storage medium
An information processing apparatus divides print data into data pieces and generates a hash value of each data piece. The information processing apparatus generates one unit of transmitting data by adding the generated hash value to a data piece different from the data piece whose hash value is generated, and transmits the transmitting data to an image processing apparatus. |
| US07734591B1 |
Coherent device to device data replication
An apparatus provides coherent data copying operations where data replication is controlled by a source storage controller directly to a destination controller and managed by a remote application. The apparatus generates a snapshot version for each source data block changed by one or more write operations to the source data block during the course of a copy operation; and copies each block of the source data to a corresponding block in the destination data in the absence of the snapshot version of the block and otherwise copying the snapshot version of the source data block to the corresponding block in the destination data. |
| US07734589B1 |
System and method for optimizing data uploading in a network based media sharing system
A system and method for optimizing the uploading of digital assets from a client node to a central node in a digital asset sharing system are provided. Digital assets residing at a client node are each tagged with one or more keywords. The client node sends a list of the keywords used to tag the digital assets to the central node and requests that invitations including the list of keywords be sent to potential guests. The potential guests select one or more of the keywords and send responses to the central node identifying the selected keywords. The central node processes the responses to generate a list of desired keywords and requests the digital images tagged with one or more keywords from the list of desired keywords from the client node. In response, the client node uploads the requested digital assets to the central node where they are stored. |
| US07734587B2 |
Syndication of content based upon email user groupings
A system and method for managing distribution of content to groups of users is described. One embodiment includes establishing subscription information for each of a plurality of user groups within an enterprise, storing the subscription information for each of the user groups in a first data store and retrieving, from a directory of users within the enterprise, information identifying users within each of the plurality of user groups. In addition, content items are retrieved from a plurality of feeds and at least a portion of the content items are replicated in a messaging data store that is utilized by an enterprise messaging system. Selected content items are sent, via the enterprise messaging system, to each of the users in a particular user group based upon the subscription information for the particular user group. |
| US07734580B2 |
Readable physical storage replica and standby database system
A standby database system or another replica data system replicates changes, made to data blocks at a source database system or another primary data copy, to replicas of the data blocks at the standby database system or other replica. While replicating the changes to the data blocks thereof, the standby database system (or other replica) receives queries (or reads) issued thereto and computes the queries based on data read from the data blocks thereof. |
| US07734578B2 |
System and method for performing integrated storage operations
The present invention relates to a method for performing integrated storage operations on an information store. The present invention comprises identifying a plurality disparate types of storage operations stored in a policy option table. A first storage operation is performed according to a first set of storage criteria stored in the policy option table and a second operation, disparate from the first storage operation, is performed according to a second set of storage criteria stored in the policy option table. |
| US07734575B1 |
System, method, and computer program product for scaleable data collection and audience feedback
A system, method and computer program product are provided for scalable data collection. Input is received from users of client devices, utilizing agents. Further, records are formatted with a predetermined format representative of the input, utilizing the agents. In addition, a priority is dynamically assigned to the records according to a policy, utilizing the agents. At least one of a plurality of server devices is also identified based on a load balancing algorithm, utilizing the agents. Further, the records are transmitted from the client devices to the identified server device as a function of the priority. Upon receipt of the records, the records are processed utilizing a hierarchical architecture associated with the at least one server device. |
| US07734574B2 |
Intelligent system health indicator
A method, apparatus, and computer instructions for handling updates. A database is queried to determine an effect of the update on the data processing system in response to detecting an update for the data processing system. A configuration of the data processing system is used in querying the database. A health status of the data processing system is selectively modified using the response to form a modified health status in response to receiving a response from the database. |
| US07734571B2 |
Method for processing sensor data within a particle stream by a KStore
A method for processing a particle stream in a KStore having a sensor level and a first level above the sensor level, including receiving a particle to provide a received particle and first determining a current K node to determine a partial sequence location. The method also includes second determining a match in accordance with the received particle and the current K node to provide a match determination and processing the current K node based upon the match determination. A new node is created if the second determining is negative. A current K node is set to the new node. A node count is incremented and a delimiter particle type of the received particle is determined. A match is determined between the delimiter and a Result node of an asCase node of the current K node to provide a delimiter match determination. |
| US07734567B2 |
Document data analysis apparatus, method of document data analysis, computer readable medium and computer data signal
A document data analysis apparatus, the document data analysis apparatus being connected to a database storing plural document groups which a citation relationship is defined, each of the plural document groups including plural documents, includes: inputting unit that inputs an analysis condition including at least one of a document search condition and a specification of a seed document group, the seed document group being a seed of an active propagation process; determining unit that determines an initial active value of each of plural documents based on the analysis condition; executing unit that executes the active propagation process based on the initial active value and the citation relationship; and display that displays a result of the active propagation process. |
| US07734564B2 |
Method of data processing and program
The method first creates a BS database by randomly sampling experimental data items from an experimental data DB storing a plurality of experimental data items having n (n is an integer of 2 or larger) kinds of variates. It then identificates an n-dimensional sampling curve or surface model approximating a correlation of the n kinds of variates with reference to the BS database, and stores the model into a BS optimum solution database. The method then repeats the creation of the BS database and the identification of the sampling curve or surface model, thereby creating the optimum solution database. Finally, the method obtains a mean and variance of the optimum solution with reference to the BS optimum solution database and estimates the reliability of the optimum solution from these values. |
| US07734562B1 |
Voice to text conversion with keyword parse and match to semantic and transactional concepts stored in a brain pool state machine using word distance to generate character model interaction in a plurality of dramatic modes
A system and method is disclosed that supervises the behavior of interactive characters using dynamic, fuzzy, social rules. These characters, called Protags, resemble human beings and are modeled after universal characters and story motifs. Protags respond to input from speech recognizers, text based natural language recognition systems and manipulation of objects in the virtual world in which these characters reside. |
| US07734554B2 |
Deploying a document classification system
A system and method for deploying a document classification system include deploying a document classification system with a first classification engine configuration, and thereafter, automatically redeploying the document classification system with a second classification engine configuration in response to a cost function. |
| US07734552B2 |
Facilitating electronic exchange of proprietary information
A method and apparatus effectuates bilateral commerce in ideas. An originator and user-driven on-line commercial network system is designed to facilitate idea submission, purchase, and licensing, and is easily adapted to business-to-business transfers of innovation as well as consumer-to-business transfers of innovation. The invention allows originators of ideas to communicate nondisclosing synopses of ideas globally to potential users, for users conveniently to search for relevant ideas and for users potentially to bind an originator to a limited duration license granting user the exclusive right to access and consider confidentially the originator's fully disclosed idea. The invention also allows users to communicate confidentially or nonconfidentially unsolved problems or needs globally to potential originators, for originators conveniently to search for relevant unsolved problems or needs, and for originators to submit and communicate confidentially proposed solutions to the soliciting user. |
| US07734550B1 |
Method and system for identifying the controlling license for installed software
In accordance with other aspects, the present invention relates to a system for identifying a license for a first software product of a first type installed on a computer system having at least one other software product of the first type installed on the computer system. The system includes a first license associated with the first software product; at least one second license associated with the at least one other software product installed on the computer; and a license module that compares the first license and the at least one second license and selects one of the first and second licenses based on predetermined criteria. Methods for identifying and displaying a license for a first software product of a first type installed on a computer system are also disclosed. |
| US07734542B2 |
Methods and systems for verifying customer supplied financial account information verification using debit and credit transactions
Embodiment of the invention describe methods and systems for verifying customer supplied financial account information verification using debit and credit transactions. These methods include electronically transmitting an electronic debit and credit transaction to the customer financial account, based on the customer supplied financial account information. The method also includes electronically transmitting a first statement descriptor, as part of at least one of the electronic debit transaction and the electronic credit transaction, that includes a first verification code. The method also includes electronically receiving, from the customer, a second verification code, and comparing, by the computer system, the transmitted first verification code with the received second verification code with respect to each other. The method also includes verifying, by the computer system, the customer supplied financial account information based on the comparison of the verification codes. |
| US07734541B2 |
Interactive funds transfer interface
In a software suite for enabling viewing and manipulation of data through a single portal accessible from a data-packet-network, a software interface for enabling proxy transfer of funds from one financial account to another is provided. The software interface comprises, an interactive main window for configuring transfer funds orders, viewing pending transfers, viewing transaction history, and viewing active account balances related to registered financial accounts, an interactive selection window accessible through the main interface, the selection window for enabling selection of individual accounts for grouping into a list of activated accounts and an automated confirmation window enabling confirmation of data parameters of a requested funds transfer. A user operating the main interface may initiate funds transfer orders to be performed between accounts at requested times by proxy in a fashion transparent at the time of execution to the requesting user. |
| US07734540B2 |
MLP financing system
The MLP Financing System extends the properties of shares in an publicly traded entity that does not generate UBITs to create a new asset class that permits the underlying assets to be specifically structured for financing. MLP Financing System requires a minimum of three markets entering into transactions involving a company, a publicly traded entity, and a third entity in the financial industry. Each market establishes an asset value, price, yield, and risk. Asset price differentials between markets identify arbitrage opportunities. The market asset value, price, yield, risk, and financial constraints of entities operating in those markets provide the initial transaction specifications between company-MLP, financier-MLP, and company-financier. |
| US07734537B2 |
Valuation methods, apparatus, media and signals, and methods relating to asset-secured loans
A computer-implemented method includes determining, in respect of a loan secured by an asset, a present value of a right of a borrower of the loan to choose during a term of the loan to require an entity to pay the loan in full on the borrower's behalf in exchange for the asset, in response to at least one prediction of whether the borrower will exercise the right. The asset may include realty and the loan may include a mortgage. A further method includes granting, to a borrower of a loan secured by an asset, a right to choose during a term of the loan to require an entity to: (i) pay the loan in full on behalf of the borrower, and (ii) receive the asset in full satisfaction therefor; and receiving valuable consideration from the borrower in exchange for the granting of the right. |
| US07734533B2 |
Method and system for electronic trading via a yield curve
A method and system for providing electronic trading via yield curves. The method and system allow automatic execution of electronic trades with yield curve trading strategies using real, synthetic, black box, spread, and supply differential yield curve trading information. |
| US07734528B1 |
System and method for event-based trading
A system and method for news-based trading are developed. According to one method, a trader can pre-define a trading strategy including a number of trading rules to be applied based on a comparison of one or more estimated event values to the respective actual event values to be released at some later time. The example method further includes, upon receiving one or more actual event values via a user input or directly from outside sources, executing one or more predefined trading rules selected based on the comparison of the received actual event values to the respective estimated indicator values. |
| US07734526B2 |
Investment classification and tracking system
The present invention is directed to an asset classification system based on investment strategy. The investment strategies include capitalization strategy, competitive position strategy, economic conditions strategy, future growth investment strategy, market condition strategy, opportunity strategy, profitability strategy, risk strategy, social considerations strategy, and valuation strategy. |
| US07734522B2 |
ASP business decision engine
A decision engine is provided that integrates all components of a credit application process, including access to and manipulation of credit bureau data, credit scoring, credit decisioning, and matching the correct products, into a single application service provider (ASP) platform which is accessible through a series of Application Programming Interfaces (APIs). |
| US07734518B2 |
Method and system for effecting straight-through-processing of trades of various financial instruments
A Straight-Through-Processing (STP) trading platform provides a fully electronic and seamless solution to substantially all aspects of the trading cycle for fixed income instruments and other financial instruments. In an exemplary embodiment, all participants to a trade transaction have access to computer software that facilitates trade order management, trade order generation, trade execution (including electronic axes), trade allocation, allocation acknowledgement, trade confirmation, acquisition of settlement instructions, and the generation of progress reports based on specific metrics criteria. In said exemplary embodiment, the STP trading platform includes computer software modules including at least an account management module and an electronic trading module to handle the various stages of executing a trade, confirming the trade, and facilitating settlement of the trade. |
| US07734515B1 |
Generating new invocable composite network services based on multiple other invocable constituent network services
Techniques are described for assisting users in dynamically creating and using composite services that are based on other constituent services. In some situations, each constituent service is a Web service (“WS”), and each composite service is a new WS whose execution involves dynamically invoking multiple specified constituent WSes in a specified manner. Such techniques may be used, for example, in conjunction with an electronic WS marketplace via which third-party WS providers make their WSes available to third-party WS consumers who locate and purchase access to those WSes, such as to allow a user to dynamically create a new composite WS that is based on one or more WSes available from other WS providers and that reflects any constraints of the WS marketplace, with the composite WS available for use by other WS consumers. This abstract is not intended for use in interpreting or limiting the scope of the claims. |
| US07734509B2 |
Method of providing a trial of a referral service to a merchant based on a plan for expansion
Disclosure includes selecting a merchant from a plurality of merchants based at least in part on an expansion plan, enabling a trial mode for the merchant, during the trial mode, receiving an indication of a first order for the merchant, forwarding the indication of the first order to the merchant, allocating a first payment for the first order to the merchant, and requesting an acceptance of a membership status from the merchant. |
| US07734506B2 |
Catalog, catalog query, and item identifier for a physical item
This invention is related to electronic information transfer between trading partners and more particularly to the use of a physical item identifier affixed to a physical item for tracking the item using physical identification systems. The invention further discloses the catalogs, catalog queries and processes to provide the information to initialize the item in the physical identification systems.In the present invention, a machine-readable item identifier is affixed to a physical item. The identifier is unique and is used to identify the item. The item identifier has three segments: 1) catalog identifier, 2) item description identifier, and 3) physical item identifier. The catalog identifier is used to determine the catalog that provides the item description and a description specific to the physical item. The item description identifier is used to query the catalog, which returns the description of the item. The physical item identifier is used to query the catalog, which returns a more detailed description of the physical item. The item identifier and the item description are used to initialize item in the physical identification system. The description specific to the item is added to the physical identification system and associated with the item identifier. |
| US07734504B2 |
Method and system for transacting with network traffic
A system and method for using targeted network traffic as payment-in-kind in exchange for rights to anything that may be connected to a network, such as network-connected computer hardware and copyrighted software or content on such hardware, is disclosed. The method may be adapted for use with almost any product or service which may be tracked over a network. The system and method are for use with transactions between a user of a subject product or service and a provider of the subject product or service desiring to receive traffic to a target in exchange for it. |
| US07734500B1 |
Multiple RF read zone system
A multizone RF read/write system for conducting transactions with vehicles traveling at high speeds. A first RF read zone is created, preferably by use of a first gantry that extends over at least one lane and contains at least one RF source that creates a large powerful RF read zone for reading or reading and writing to a transponder on a passing vehicle. Additional RF read zones arranged in tandem with the first RF read zone are created by at least one additional RF source that is located on an additional gantry extending over at least one lane, or located on the first gantry. Accordingly, multiple RF read zones are created to conduct transactions with passing vehicles. In one aspect, the multiple RF read zones can be used to ensure that tolling transactions with a single vehicle are more likely to be completed and have a higher degree of accuracy. In another aspect, the multiple RF read zones each employ a different RF technology so that multiple types of RF toll tags can be read and written. |
| US07734499B1 |
Method of providing personalized souvenirs
A method for providing a personalized souvenir is disclosed. The method includes the steps of contacting a souvenir retailer, preparing artwork, selecting names for personalization of the souvenirs, providing a rack to the souvenir retailer for displaying the souvenirs, and servicing the racks to ensure that the rack is maintained with the proper inventory. Additionally, determining an age range of a sales demographic such that the most popular names are selected to include on the souvenir within that age range. |
| US07734496B1 |
Service provider and client survey method
An improved survey method is disclosed for evaluating the satisfaction of a client with the services and support provided by a service provider. The survey method includes first surveying at least one representative of a service provider providing a service to a client. A plan is then developed for the client based on survey data from the service provider representative survey to address at least one aspect of the provided service requires changing. The developed plan is then presented to the client. A second survey is then taken of at least representative of the client based on performance of the service provider and the developed plan. The survey method advantageously exploits the knowledge of those service provider representatives that provide a service to the client for identifying advantageous modifications of the service or support areas before presenting the client with a survey. In such manner, such survey results would enable a service provider to more quickly implement a plan for service changes that would likely increase client satisfaction with a single or reduced number of client surveys. |
| US07734495B2 |
Methods and system for allocating shelf space
A method and system for the collection of consumer sales data for use in intelligent management of shelf space in a retail environment based on quantitative analysis of consumer sales data in which interactions between two or more products are quantitatively applied in estimating sales for a particular selection of the shelf space location and/or shelf space amount. Such management may be achieved manually or automatically with the invention. |
| US07734484B2 |
Products and processes for managing life instruments
According to an embodiment, a method includes accessing a listing of a plurality of profiles of life insurance policies. A profile is selected from the listing, and the trading status of the profile can be viewed. A buy command or sell command is submitted to an exchange system to trade the life insurance policy that is associated with the selected profile. |
| US07734483B1 |
Computer implemented method and system for analyzing pharmaceutical benefit plans and for providing member specific advice, optionally including lower cost pharmaceutical alternatives
A method is described for reducing medication purchasing costs for a member of a pharmaceutical benefits plan. A member's currently prescribed medications are analyzed, and at least one substitute medication is recommended for the analyzed medication, this recommendation is based the member's pharmaceutical benefit plan. In response to the recommendation, the system receives at least one of an authorization and selection of a substitute medication. Approval for this medication is requested from the member's doctor. Further, the requested approval is sent along with a plurality of other medication substitution requests. The responses are processed to complete the substitution of the medication for the member. The member is informed that the substitute medication was approved for their purchase. |
| US07734479B2 |
Managing patient bed assignments and bed occupancy in a health care facility
An integrated health care delivery network with enabling software and network technology to maximize bed resources, manage varying census levels, and avoid patient diversions through real-time monitoring, automation and communication, is disclosed. Preferably, the present invention is embodied in a bed management system that interfaces with and complements existing Admission/Discharge/Transfer (ADT) systems. The bed management system is an easy-to-use business intelligence application that is designed to allow administrators, clinicians and managers to easily access, analyze and display real-time patient and bed availability information from ancillary information systems, databases and spreadsheets. It enables users to see trends and relationships in hospital (bed) management data directly from their desktop personal computers. |
| US07734478B2 |
Method and apparatus for inter-pharmacy workload balancing using resource function assignments
The system distributes workload amongst a plurality of pharmacy resources that are connected by a computer network. Work orders are queued at each pharmacy resource and redistributed based on existing workload distribution, capacity of pharmacy resources, and/or product demand. |
| US07734477B2 |
System and method for monitoring patient care
Systems and methods are provided for facilitating management of health care in medical facilities such as hospitals, clinics, emergency rooms, etc., for example by monitoring and assessing the quality of patient care. Data is collected and operated on relating to medical conditions, treatment, cost, care, events, outcomes and results of treatments, and data representing the collective experience of similar patients is mined to discover opportunities to improve the quality of health care. Statistical and comparative data and reports including such and other information indicate a quality of care and provide epidemiologically cogent information. Quality of care may be considered as achieving desired or expected norms of performance, including success, in a timely fashion, and can be judged not just by what functionally happens during a patient instigated encounter, but also by long term outcomes evidenced by the patient's passage through the health care delivery system. |
| US07734475B2 |
Frames-based advertising service with response and activity reporting
An advertising service divides a consumer transaction at a POS location into multiple time frames. The service then determines an advertisement (ad) for display in one of the time frames and displays the ad in one of the time frames. One of the time frames spans one of the following activities: waiting for a consumer to begin a transaction, greeting a consumer, beginning a transaction, selecting a form of payment, swiping a card for a form of payment, entering a security code for the form of payment, identifying a product for purchase, displaying a total cost for products identified for purchase, signing for a purchase, thanking a consumer his purchase, surveying a consumer, promoting an event, applying for a credit card, informing a consumer, identifying a consumer, interacting with a consumer, and passing through an interstitial period. Determining the ad for display in one of the time frames includes transmitting information about the transaction to an ad-management service that then determines the ad for display based on the transmitted information. A response indicates the determined ad. The service prioritizes multiple ads competing for display and determines the ad with highest priority as the ad for display. The service displays the ad in the one time frame or in a frame following the one time frame. The service advances from the one time frame into another time frame and repeats the determination and display with the other time frame. |
| US07734473B2 |
Method and apparatus for time scaling of a signal
A decoder receives (501) a bitstream comprising an encoded mono signal and stereo data. A time scale processor (503) generates a time scaled mono signal. A time-to frequency processor generates frequency sample blocks of the time scaled signal, the block length being fixed and independent of the time scaling. A parametric stereo decoder (509) generates a stereo signal for the frequency sample blocks and these are converted to the time domain by a frequency-to-time processor (511). A synchronization processor (515) synchronizes the stereo data with the time scaled signal by determining a time association between a parameter value and a frequency sample block. The parameter value and time association is used to determine synchronized stereo parameter values for that and other frequency sample blocks. The invention is particularly suitable for low complexity generation of time scaled stereo signals from MPEG-4 encoded signals. |
| US07734472B2 |
Speech recognition enhancer
The invention concerns a speech recognition enhancer (51) and a speech recognition system comprising such speech recognition enhancer (51), an audio input unit (41) and a speech recognizer (61, 3). The speech recognition enhancer (51) is arranged between the audio input unit (41) and the speech recognizer (61, 3). The speech recognition enhancer (51) has a parametrizable pre-filtering unit (511), a parametrizable dynamic voice level control unit (512), a parametrizable noise reduction unit (513) and a parametrizable voice level control unit (514). The parameters of these parametrizable units (511, 512, 513, 514) are adjusted to the characteristics of the specific audio input unit (41) and/or the characteristics of the specific speech recognizer (61, 3) for adapting the audio input unit (41) to the speech recognizer (61, 3). |
| US07734467B2 |
Techniques for aiding speech-to-speech translation
Techniques for assisting in translation are provided A speech recognition hypothesis is obtained, corresponding to a source language utterance. Information retrieval is performed on a supplemental database, based on a situational context, to obtain at least one word string that is related to the source language utterance. The speech recognition hypothesis and the word string are then formatted for display to a user, to facilitate an appropriate selection by the user for translation. |
| US07734465B2 |
Sub-band voice codec with multi-stage codebooks and redundant coding
Techniques and tools related to coding and decoding of audio information are described. For example, redundant coded information for decoding a current frame includes signal history information associated with only a portion of a previous frame. As another example, redundant coded information for decoding a coded unit includes parameters for a codebook stage to be used in decoding the current coded unit only if the previous coded unit is not available. As yet another example, coded audio units each include a field indicating whether the coded unit includes main encoded information representing a segment of an audio signal, and whether the coded unit includes redundant coded information for use in decoding main encoded information. |
| US07734463B1 |
System and method for automated voice inflection for numbers
The present invention is directed to systems and methods in which a speaker records strings of numbers in different string lengths. Advantage is taken of the fact that speakers typically break numbers into group sizes of two, three, or four. Thus, by way of example, a recorder records two 0's, two 2s, two 3s, etc. Then the recorder records three 1s, three 2s, three 3s, etc., followed by four 1s, four 2s, four 3s, etc. The spoken number values for each string are broken apart and stored as individual numbers corresponding to the string length of the recording. When a number string is to be spoken (for example, the number 782), the system retrieves from the three digit string a first 7, a middle 8, and an end 2. When these retrieved values are communicated to a recipient, proper inflections are achieved for each digit. |
| US07734462B2 |
Method and apparatus for extending the bandwidth of a speech signal
A bandwidth extension module, and an associated method and computer-readable medium, suitable for use in artificially extending the bandwidth of a lowband speech signal. The bandwidth extension module comprises a band-pass filter configured to produce a band-pass signal from the lowband speech signal; at least one carrier frequency modulator, each carrier frequency modulator configured to pitch-synchronously modulate the band-pass signal about a respective carrier frequency, the at least one carrier frequency modulator collectively producing a highband speech signal component; a synthesis filter configured to determine a highband speech signal based on the highband speech signal component; and a summation module configured to combine the lowband speech signal with the highband speech signal to obtain a bandwidth-extended speech signal. |
| US07734459B2 |
Automatic extraction of transfer mappings from bilingual corpora
A method of aligning nodes of dependency structures obtained from a bilingual corpus includes a two-phase approach wherein a first phase comprises associating nodes of the dependency structures to form tentative correspondences. The nodes of the dependency structures are then aligned as a function of the tentative correspondences and structural considerations. Mappings are obtained from the aligned dependency structures. The mappings can be expanded with varying types and amounts of local context in order that a more fluent translation can be obtained when translation is performed. |
| US07734457B2 |
Method and system for generating dynamic comparison models
The present invention is directed to a method and system that includes comparing first and second models. A comparison model may be generated that indicates differences between the first model and the second model. A notification manager is used to register the comparison model as a subscriber of the first and second models. The first model is updated to reflect a first designated change. Upon successful completion of the first designated change, the notification manager is used to issue a notification of the designated change to the first model. At least the comparison model is updated to reflect the first designated change, and the comparison model is displayed on a client. |
| US07734454B2 |
Simulation at two different levels of complexity
A technique for consistently simulating at two different complexities of simulation is described. This technique is particularly relevant to simulation of a creature-like autonomous agent (biological or artificial or hybrid). The model, in the particular case a model of the creature, comprises at least two portions. The first portion contains functions used in both of the different complexities of simulation. The second portion comprises two alternative versions, a first version for use in one complexity of simulation, and a second version for use in the other complexity of simulation. |
| US07734452B2 |
Method and system for performing ternary verification
A method and system for performing ternary verification is disclosed. Initially, a ternary model is generated from a binary model of a logic circuit design. The pairings used to encode the ternary model are then recorded. Next, the number of the recorded gate pairings is reduced by removing all invalid gate pairings. A ternary verification is performed on the ternary model having a reduced number of gate pairings. |
| US07734451B2 |
System, method, and computer program for early event detection
Various methods, devices, systems, and computer programs are disclosed relating to the use of models to represent systems and processes (such as manufacturing and production plants). For example, a method may include generating a first model and a second model using operating data associated with a system or process. The method may also include using the first and second models to predict one or more events associated with the system or process. The one or more events are predicted by generating one or more initial event predictions using the first model and adjusting the one or more initial event predictions using the second model. The first model may represent a Principal Component Analysis (PCA) model, and the second model may represent a Fuzzy Logic model. |
| US07734446B2 |
Physical object with memory tag and apparatus for use with such objects
A physical object includes a base medium, such as a paper sheet, and a memory tag embedded in it or attached to it. The memory tag stores at least one measure/location data pair including a measurement of a location-dependent characteristic of the base medium originally associated with the tag, and a location in or on the object where the measurement was made. Preferably the measure/location data pair is digitally signed and stored in encrypted form. By checking whether the measure included in the stored data pair matches a current measure of the base medium at the indicated location, it is possible to check whether the base medium is the original medium. Apparatus is provided for originally writing the data pair to the memory tag; apparatus is also provided for subsequendy using the data pair for carrying out the checking operation. |
| US07734435B2 |
Systems and methods for monitoring moving surfaces using light signals
This present specification provides, amongst other things, an electro-optical monitoring system for obtaining a once-per revolution signal based on the surface reflection of a rotating device that mandates non-contacting sensor input in potentially hostile environments. The system can use optical and electronic sections to illuminate and detect surface reflections from the rotating surface using existing mounting locations on the periphery of the machine to be measured. The electronic portion is configured to determine a unique mark as the once-per-revolution marker or allow an attending operator to assign a specific marker based on the observed reflected pattern. The optical portion consists of a light source, receiver, and optics that allow for focused and directed light paths. |
| US07734434B2 |
High speed digital waveform identification using higher order statistical signal processing
In some embodiments an apparatus includes a higher order statistical signal processor to process a jittered digital signal, a diagonal line average unit to identify a distinct line in a signal output from the higher order statistical signal processor, and a peak detection unit to determine a peak value in response to an output of the diagonal line average unit and to provide a data rate signal as an output. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US07734431B2 |
Method and apparatus for fluid leak detection
Certain embodiments of the invention relate to an apparatus for fluid leak detection. The apparatus includes a fluid supply conduit for supplying fluid to an external structure and a substantially parallel fluid return conduit for carrying fluid away from the external structure. The apparatus further includes: an oscillator for causing a separation of the fluid supply conduit and fluid return conduit to vary over time; sensors disposed relative to the conduits to measure the separation at respective opposed portions of the conduits; and a processor coupled to the oscillator and the sensors. The oscillator is responsive to the processor and receives respective separation measurement signals from the sensors. The processor is configured to determine whether there is a difference between a supply fluid mass flowing in the fluid supply conduit and a return fluid mass flowing in the fluid return conduit based on the separation measurement signals. |
| US07734430B2 |
Determining power
Embodiments of determining power to be supplied to the load using an expected voltage decrease that would result from supplying power to the load are disclosed. |
| US07734428B2 |
Method of producing thermoelectric material
A process for determining an optimum range of compositions for a nanocomposite thermoelectric material system is provided. The process is performed for a nanocomposite thermoelectric material system having a first component and a second component made from nanoparticles. The process includes selecting a plurality of material compositions for a nanocomposite thermoelectric material system to be investigated and calculating a thermal conductivity value and calculating an electrical resistance value for each material composition selected. In addition, at least one Seebeck coefficient is determined for the material compositions selected. Then, a plurality of figure of merit values are calculated using the calculated plurality of thermal conductivity values, the calculated plurality of electrical resistivity values and the determined at least one Seebeck coefficient. After the plurality of figure of merit values are calculated, an optimum compositional range can be determined within which the largest ZT values may be exhibited. |
| US07734427B2 |
System, method and computer program for non-binary sequence comparison
A system and method for performing non-binary comparison of biological sequences includes a new measure ω0, which is a non-binary counting measure that is used in a stand alone module called VaSSA-1. This measure obtains substantially more information about sequences and comparisons between them than is gathered by conventional bioinformatics techniques. |
| US07734426B2 |
High throughput functional genomics
This invention focuses on the marriage of solid-state electronics and neuronal function to create a new high-throughput electrophysiological assay to determine a compound's acute and chronic effect on cellular function. Electronics, surface chemistry, biotechnology, and fundamental neuroscience are integrated to provide an assay where the reporter element is an array of electrically active cells. This innovative technology can be applied to neurotoxicity, and to screening compounds from combinatorial chemistry, gene function analysis, and basic neuroscience applications. The system of the invention analyzes how the action potential is interrupted by drugs or toxins. Differences in the action potentials are due to individual toxins acting on different biochemical pathways, which in turn affects different ion channels, thereby changing the peak shape of the action potential differently for each toxin. Algorithms to analyze the action potential peak shape differences are used to indicate the pathway(s) affected by the presence of a new drug or compound; from that, aspects of its function in that cell are deduced. This observation can be exploited to determine the functional category of biochemical action of an unknown compound. An important aspect of the invention is surface chemistry that permits establishment of a high impedance seal between cell and a metal microelectrode. This seal recreates the interface that enables functional patch-clamp electrophysiology with glass micropipettes, and allows extracellular electrophysiology on a microelectrode array. Thus, the invention teaches the feasibility of using living cells as diagnostics for high throughput real-time assays of cell function. |
| US07734424B1 |
Ab initio generation of single copy genomic probes
Single copy sequences suitable for use as DNA probes can be defined by computational analysis of genomic sequences. The present invention provides an ab initio method for identification of single copy sequences for use as probes which obviates the need to compare genomic sequences with existing catalogs of repetitive sequences. By dividing a target reference sequence into a series of shorter contiguous sequence windows and comparing these sequences with the reference genome sequence, one can identify single copy sequences in a genome. Probes can then be designed and produced from these single copy intervals. |
| US07734423B2 |
Method, system, and apparatus for virtual modeling of biological tissue with adaptive emergent functionality
A method system, and apparatus for virtual modeling of biological tissue yields virtual multicellular individuals that exhibit adaptive emergent functionality in response to environmental stimuli. Virtual environmental parameters and cells with genomes are generated, and modified by genetic operations. Cells are developed into generations of multicellular individuals, which are evaluated and selected via evolutionary search according to fitness criteria, and individuals exhibiting adaptive emergent functionality, such as self-repair, are developed and identified. |
| US07734418B2 |
Vehicle operation assisting system
When a collision avoidance operation determiner determines a collision avoidance operation by a driver, a target assist electrical current calculator calculates a target assist electrical current based on a deviation between a standard yaw rate corrected in accordance with avoidance momentum calculated by an avoidance momentum calculator and an actual yaw rate; and the target assist electrical current is supplied to a steering actuator to assist the collision avoidance operation by the driver. At this time, when an under-steer determiner determines an under-steer state, an assist electrical current is decreased by a reaction force electrical current calculated in a reaction force electrical current calculator. Therefore, a steering angle is prevented from becoming too large due to excessive assist, thereby facilitating a return operation after avoiding an obstacle. |
| US07734407B2 |
Apparatus for acquiring lateral acceleration at the center of gravity of vehicle, and motion control apparatus for vehicle
A center-of-gravity-position lateral acceleration acquisition apparatus of the invention is applied to a vehicle equipped with a lateral acceleration sensor which is installed at a position remote from the center of gravity of the vehicle and which detects lateral acceleration of the vehicle at that position. The apparatus acquires lateral acceleration of the vehicle at the center of gravity of the vehicle by correcting the detected lateral acceleration by making use of two relationships; i.e., a first relationship which holds among yaw rate of the vehicle, the lateral acceleration of the vehicle at the center of gravity of the vehicle, and the detected lateral acceleration, and a second relationship which holds between the yaw rate of the vehicle and the lateral acceleration of the vehicle at the center of gravity of the vehicle during a predetermined stable travel. |
| US07734405B2 |
Method for enhancing stability of prime mover having an auxiliary vehicle
A method for providing enhanced stability, control and management for a prime mover connected to an auxiliary vehicle is disclosed. An auxiliary vehicle is connected to a prime mover with an auxiliary stability enhancing system and an electronic stability enhancing system, including at least one processor with a memory having computer instructions stored thereon. The processor communicates with a plurality of sensors to detect force values and motions values, and communicates with database storage containing specifications and characteristics representing the prime mover and auxiliary vehicle to compare the force and motion values with the specifications to determine if any values exceed known preset threshold values for the prime mover and auxiliary vehicle. A calculated response, and a location for applying the response, is determined by using a computer model of the prime mover and auxiliary vehicle to reduce the detected force or motion value that exceeds the preset threshold value. |
| US07734403B2 |
System for vehicle driver support for stopping and starting procedures
A system for vehicle driver support carrying out assist functions in a motor vehicle for supporting the driver in stopping and starting maneuvers, which are activated depending on a first comparison between at least one driving state parameter and a threshold value and/or based on first actuating signals from an actuating unit operable by the driver. A control unit determines a vehicle state by way of another comparison of at least one driving state variable with a predetermined threshold value and/or based on additional actuating signals of the actuating unit, in that the control unit checks whether at least one assist function is activated, and in that the control unit controls the brake system of the vehicle depending on the detected vehicle state when at least one assist function is activated. |
| US07734399B2 |
Outrigger obstruction detection system for aerial fire trucks
An Outrigger Obstruction Detection System for an Aerial Fire Truck that will warn the driver of an impending obstruction to an outrigger prior to full extension of the outrigger. The system comprises ultrasonic sensors located at or near each outrigger assembly on the aerial fire truck, which can be programmed to detect an object within the travel range of the outrigger. In addition, a control/indicator panel is mounted in the cab of the aerial fire truck. The control/indicator panel is positioned in the cab to allow the driver physical and visual access. The control/indicator panel contains the power switch, diagram of the truck and indicator lights used to warn the driver of an obstruction. The sensors provide an electrical signal to a control/indicator panel located in the cab of the aerial fire truck to alert the driver if an object is detected. This alert allows the driver to reposition the truck to clear the obstruction, which in turn reduces the time to react to the emergency. The ultrasonic sensors are affixed to the aerial fire truck via a pivotal mounting assembly, which allows proper sensing alignment to be achieved. |
| US07734398B2 |
System for automated excavation contour control
A control system for a machine is disclosed. The control system has a ground engaging tool operable to remove material from a surface at a worksite. The control system also has a controller configured to generate a desired single-pass excavation contour prior to engagement of the ground engaging tool with the surface. The desired single-pass excavation contour has one or more predefined characteristics. |
| US07734397B2 |
Method and system for tracking the positioning and limiting the movement of mobile machinery and its appendages
A method and system for tracking and limiting the movement of key identified points on a movable machine, through the use of location devices positioned on the body or appendages of the machine, by comparing the sensed locations against a database of site information, and to restrict movement of the machine and/or its appendages if it has or is likely to pass through a defined boundary in the site information database. |
| US07734394B2 |
System and method for sensing soil-and curb-tripped rollover events
A method and a system of controlling a restraint device in a vehicle during a crash. The method includes sensing a lateral condition, classifying the crash, sensing a roll value, comparing the roll value with a plausibility region, and activating the restraint device based on the classified crash and when the roll value falls within the plausibility region. |
| US07734390B2 |
Use of automotive diagnostics console to diagnose vehicle
A customer driven process of diagnosing and repairing a vehicle. The process involves temporarily providing a customer with a diagnostic tool that can receive vehicle diagnostic signals from a vehicle on-board computer. The customer then uses the tool to upload diagnostic signals from the car, and returns the tool to the automotive parts/service facility. The vehicle diagnostic signals are communicated to a console, which then accesses a database(s). The database(s) includes information relating to the vehicle malfunction, the repairs needed, and the parts required to complete those repairs. The process also allows automatic scheduling of repairs and purchasing of parts from the automotive parts/service facility. Upon payment of any prescribed fees, the process outputs report information to the customer. |
| US07734387B1 |
Motion planner for unmanned ground vehicles traversing at high speeds in partially known environments
A motion planner for unmanned ground vehicles capable of traversing at high speeds to reach remote locations in partially known environments. The motion planner comprises a global path planner and a local path planner in communication with the global path planner. The global path planner determines a path to reach a goal location. The local motion planner revises the path determined by the global path planner to generate a motion profile accounting for constraints on the maneuverability of the unmanned ground vehicle. The motion profile provides a revised path for being traversed by the unmanned ground vehicle to reach the goal location. |
| US07734385B2 |
Traveling control method, medium, and apparatus for autonomous navigation
A traveling control method, medium, and apparatus for autonomous navigation. The traveling control method of controlling an autonomous navigation machine, having at least on the right and left sides thereof at least first and second receivers that receive a radio signal transmitted from a transmitter disposed at a specific position in a traveling area, the method includes allowing at least one of the first and second receivers to receive the radio signal, recognizing a command included in the received radio signal, acquiring data indicating a size of a recognizable area reached by the radio signal and a position of the transmitter while the autonomous navigation machine moves along the border of the recognizable area, and executing the recognized command in the recognizable area. |
| US07734373B2 |
Distributed architecture for food and beverage dispensers
A method and apparatus wherein traditional design methodologies directed toward obtaining minimized component costs are largely set aside in favor of mass customization, reduced design and ownership costs, and shorter design cycles. The distributed architecture contemplates widespread distribution of monitoring and control functions for most device-specific hardware under the direction of a CPU module. In implementation of the distributed architecture, various component modules are placed in communication with the CPU module through at least one and preferably multiple communication busses. |
| US07734364B2 |
Mixing media files
Mixing individualized media content. When individualized media content is generated from separate media clips or files, mixing the separate media clips includes controlling the audio. The volume of the audio in each clip is determined and normalized with respect to other media clips as the individualized media content is mixed. This provides a consistent audio experience even when the media content is generated from multiple sources having different properties. When more than one track of audio is present, such as voice audio and background music, the volume of one track is lowered such that the other audio track is audible. The volume of the background music, for example, is reduced such that the subscriber can hear the instructions in the voice audio. |
| US07734363B1 |
Technique for independent ground fault detection of multiple twisted pair telephone lines connected to a common electrical power source
A method and apparatus detects a ground fault on a span-powered telecommunication wireline within a plurality of span-powered wireline segments, to respective ones of which DSL-Cs are coupled, so that a ground fault may be detected when power is delivered by the DSL-C over a respective wireline segment to a respective downstream functional RT. A respective DSL-C measures a first voltage across a first sense resistor representative of current flowing in a first portion of its wireline segment to the RT, and also measures a second voltage across a second sense resistor representative of current flowing in a second portion of the wireline segment from the RT. In response to a difference in the first and second voltages an output representative of a ground fault in that wireline segment is generated. |
| US07734359B2 |
Systems and methods for capturing data within an intelligent electronic device
A method for capturing data includes recording, within an intelligent electronic device (IED), information regarding an initial change to one of a firmware within the IED, a hardware within the IED, and a configuration within the IED. |
| US07734356B2 |
Method and system for controlling a luminaire
Methods and corresponding systems for controlling a light fixture include a memory for storing data and software. A multi-tap capacitor has a plurality of tap capacitors integrated into a capacitor housing. A plurality of switches are each coupled to one of the plurality of tap capacitors for selectively coupling the tap capacitors together to produce a variable multi-tap capacitance. A processor is coupled to the memory and the switches to facilitate: detecting a trigger for changing a lumen level output by the light fixture; determining a new lumen level in response to the trigger; determining a capacitance value that corresponds to the new lumen level; and configuring the plurality of switches to produce the multi-tap capacitance that corresponds to the new lumen level. The processor can record data in the memory that represents times of lumen changes and switch settings, which data correlates to power consumption. |
| US07734355B2 |
Treatment of disorders by unidirectional nerve stimulation
Apparatus (18) for treating a condition of a subject is provided. An electrode device (100) is adapted to be coupled to longitudinal nervous tissue (40) of the subject, and a control unit (50) is adapted to drive the electrode device to apply to the nervous tissue a current which is capable of inducing action potentials that propagate in the nervous tissue in a first direction, so as to treat the condition. The control unit is further adapted to suppress action potentials from propagating in the nervous tissue in a second direction opposite to the first direction. |
| US07734354B1 |
Stimulation lead, stimulation system, and method for limiting MRI induced current in a stimulation lead
In one embodiment, an implantable lead for electrical stimulation of a patient, comprises: a bidirection frequency dependent current limiter (BFDCL) circuit that limits a magnitude of current that can flow through the at least one conductor from the at least one terminal to the at least one electrode, wherein the BFDCL circuit comprises: a passive frequency dependent network element; first and second semiconductors that each comprise source, drain, and reference terminals, wherein the source terminals of the first and second semiconductors are coupled to respective ends of the passive frequency dependent network element, the source terminal of the first semiconductor is coupled to the gate terminal of the second semiconductor, and the source terminal of the second semiconductor is coupled to the gate terminal of the first semiconductor. |
| US07734353B2 |
Controlling temperature during recharge for treatment of infection or other conditions
Methods include determining whether an infection is in proximity to an implanted rechargeable medical device. If an infection is determined to be present, the recharge process is allowed to sufficiently heat the device to facilitate clearing of the infection. Additional methods include monitoring temperature in proximity to an implantable rechargeable device in connection with recharging the device. If the monitored temperature falls outside a desired range, one or more parameters associated with recharge energy are modified to cause the temperature to reside within the desired range. The desired temperature range, may be a range that can facilitate treatment of a condition in proximity to the implanted device without causing undesired damage to the patient's tissue surrounding the implanted device. |
| US07734352B2 |
Sub-threshold stimulation to precondition neurons for supra-threshold stimulation
In order to generate the smallest phosphenes possible, it is advantageous to selectively stimulate smaller cells. By hyperpolarizing the somas of the large cells selectively with sub-threshold anodic ‘pre-pulse’ stimuli (making them more difficult to stimulate) and then selectively depolarize the smaller cells one can selectively stimulate smaller cells. Alternatively, one can hyperpolarize the dendrites of the cells with larger dendritic fields by applying sub-threshold anodic currents on surrounding electrodes and then depolarizing the smaller cells in the center. Further, one can manipulate the phases of an individual biphasic wave to affect selective stimulation resulting in more focal responses. It is possible to increase resolution with the ‘pre-pulse’ described above. One can also effect resolution by modifying the pulse order of the cathodic and anodic phases. Further, one can isolate the effect of the phases by separating them in time (long inter-phase interval) or by making one of the phases long and low amplitude—always keeping equal total charge for the two phases. As an example, one can preferentially stimulate smaller ganglion cells by providing a longer sub-threshold anodic pulse balanced with a shorter supra-threshold cathodic pulse. Preferentially stimulating the smaller ganglion cells will allow stimulation of different brightness levels while maintaining high spatial resolution. |
| US07734350B2 |
Respiration apparatus
The present invention generally relates to an apparatus and method for stimulating respiration during sleep. In one aspect, a respiration stimulation system is provided. The respiration stimulation system includes a detector configured to measure a respiratory cycle or a user and provide an electrical output signal indicative of the respiratory cycle. The respiration stimulation system further includes a control device configured to receive the electrical output signal from the detector and monitor the respiratory cycle of the user. Additionally, the respiration stimulation system includes a stimulator configured to apply stimuli to at least one point of stimulation upon receipt of a signal from the control device. In another aspect, a method of stimulating respiration in a user is provided. In a further aspect, a respiration stimulation system is provided. |
| US07734348B2 |
System with left/right pulmonary artery electrodes
Various embodiments of the present subject matter relate to a lead. Various lead embodiments comprise a lead body including a first portion, a first branch and a second branch. The first portion has an end adapted to connect to an implantable medical device. The first branch and the second branch is connected to the first portion at a bifurcated region. The first branch includes a distal end adapted to be fed into a right pulmonary artery and to securely position at least one electrode within the right pulmonary artery. The second branch includes a distal end adapted to be fed into a left pulmonary artery and to securely position at least one electrode within the left pulmonary artery. Other embodiments are provided herein. |
| US07734345B2 |
Method and system for aborting cardiac treatments
One method for aborting cardiac treatments includes detecting an arrhythmia in a heart of a patient with at least one electrode, which is located outside the heart of the patient. An alarm signal is generated after the detection of the arrhythmia to alert a user of an impending cardiac treatment. The cardiac treatment is cancelled if an abort signal is provided by the user within a predetermined amount of time. |
| US07734342B2 |
Techniques for positioning therapy delivery elements within a spinal cord or brain
Apparatus and techniques to address problems associated with lead migration, patient movement or position, histological changes, neural plasticity or disease progression. Disclosed are techniques for implanting a lead having therapy delivery elements, such as electrodes or drug delivery ports, within a vertebral or cranial bone so as to maintain these elements in a fixed position relative to a desired treatment site. The therapy delivery elements may thereafter be adjusted in situ with a position control mechanism and/or a position controller to improve the desired treatment, such as electrical stimulation and/or drug infusion to a precise target. The therapy delivery elements may be positioned laterally in any direction relative to the targeted treatment site or toward or away from the targeted treatment site. A control system maybe provided for open- or closed-loop feedback control of the position of the therapy delivery elements as well as other aspects of the treatment therapy. |
| US07734338B2 |
Treatment of epilepsy
Biofeedback training can materially reduce the frequency and/or severity of seizures in sufferers from epilepsy, notably those resistant to treatment by way of therapeutic drugs. By training sufferers to decrease their galvanic skin response, which generally corresponds to an increase in vigilance or awareness, it is found that after such training, the frequency or severity of seizures is reduced, and in particular that by recollecting the training sessions, some patients can reduce the severity of, or avoid, an impending epileptic seizure. |
| US07734337B2 |
Apparatus for measuring brain local activity
For measuring a brain local activity, a predetermined frequency bandwidth wider than a frequency bandwidth of alpha waves of scalp potentials is divided into a predetermined number of frequency banks each having a fixed frequency width, data of each divided frequency bank is divided into segments of a predetermined duration on a time axis, a Z-score of the subject is determined from a first mean value of normalized power variances determined for the segments and a second mean value of normalized power variances predetermined in the same manner as the first mean value for a predetermined normal person group and a standard deviation of the normalized power variances in the group, and a mean value of the Z-scores determined over all of the frequency banks is mapped on a brain surface for each sensor, whereby a template of a specified brain disorder and likelihood of a subject to a specified brain disorder are calculated. |
| US07734335B2 |
Method and apparatus for improving the accuracy of atrial fibrillation detection in lossy data systems
An apparatus and a method for detecting cardiac atrial fibrillation events in an EKG signal. The method comprises the steps of detecting a portion of an EKG signal comprising cardiac beats; measuring the duration of a gap in the detected portion of the EKG signal; and computing two or more inter-beat intervals. The computed interval is outputted if the gap in the portion of the EKG signal is not more than a fraction alpha of the computed interval. The method further includes the steps of computing the variance of the inter-beat intervals and classifying the portions of the EKG signal as indicative of an atrial fibrillation event. During classification, the inter-beat interval variance of the portion of the EKG signal that exceeds a pre-determined value V is indicative of an atrial fibrillation event. The method further includes discarding portions of the EKG signal classified as indicative of atrial fibrillation if said portions have a duration less than a pre-determined threshold S and annotating the EKG signal. The non-discarded portions of the EKG signals having inter-beat variances that exceed V are annotated as atrial fibrillation events. |
| US07734331B2 |
Systems, methods and apparatus for preparation, delivery and monitoring of radioisotopes in positron emission tomography
In one aspect, systems, methods and apparatus are provided through which a dispensing station dispenses a large quantity of a radiotracer to one or more positron emission tomography imaging stations. In some aspects a quality control unit verifies the quality of the radiotracer. In some embodiments, components of the system are coupled by a local area network. In some aspects, each positron emission tomography imaging station includes an injector system, a physiological monitoring device, and a positron emission tomography scanner. All of the devices can be controlled by a computer system. |
| US07734329B2 |
Method for pre-interventional planning of a 2D fluoroscopy projection
Method for pre-interventional planning of a 2D fluoroscopy projection for an interventional entry using a fixed instrument, comprising the following steps: a) Recording a 3D data set, b) Planning the intervention, c) Planning the optimum projection direction, d) Registering the 3D data set with a navigation system and a 2D fluoroscopy system, e) Transmission of the intervention data to the navigation system, f) Computing the position of the fluoroscopy system, and g) Executing the interventional entry under fluoroscopy. |
| US07734328B2 |
System and method to enhance visualization of an object in a vascular vessel
An imaging system of an object in an imaged subject is provided. The imaging system includes an image detector and a guidewire in support of a pair of markers. The imaging system also includes a controller in communication with the image detector. The controller includes a processor in communication to execute a series of programmable instructions stored in a memory, the programmable instructions including acquiring a plurality of acquired images, detecting a position of the pair of markers, calculating a first mathematical representation of an alignment of the guidewire between the markers and a second mathematical representation of an alignment of the guidewire not between the markers, and registering the first and second mathematical representations of the guidewire extending through the object relative to more than one of the acquired images so as to locate the object in at least one of the acquired images. |
| US07734325B2 |
Apparatus and method for multi-modal imaging
An imaging system for imaging an object. The imaging system includes a support member adapted to receive the object in an immobilized state. The system also includes first means for imaging the immobilized object in a first imaging mode to capture a first image, and second means for imaging the immobilized object in a second imaging mode, different from the first imaging mode, to capture a second image. The first imaging mode is selected from the group: x-ray mode and radio isotopic mode. The second imaging mode is selected from the group: bright-field mode and dark-field mode. A removable phosphor screen is employed when the first image is captured and not employed when the second image is captured. The phosphor screen is adapted to transduce ionizing radiation to visible light. The phosphor screen is adapted to be removable without moving the immobilized object. The system can further include means for generating a third image comprised of the first and second image. |
| US07734324B2 |
Combined apparatus for imaging the inner part of a body, and method thereof
A combined apparatus for diagnostic imaging an inner part of a body, the apparatus including at least a device for imaging and displaying images according to at least two types of beams, waves or signals transmitted toward a body or a part of the body to be examined, the device including a Nuclear Magnetic Resonance imaging and displaying device and an ultrasound imaging and displaying device in an integrated configuration within the same apparatus. |
| US07734317B2 |
Battery management
Systems and techniques are disclosed relating to wireless communications. The systems and techniques involve an efficient power source for prolonged battery life. The power source may include first and second batteries, and a power management module configured to operate each of the first and second batteries in a pulse current discharge mode while supplying continuous current to a load. |
| US07734316B2 |
User-specified outputs in mobile wireless communication devices and methods therefor
A mobile wireless communication device, and methods therein, including producing a user-configurable sensory output (620) upon the occurrence of some event on the device, for example, the transition between sleep and active modes, or the mechanical actuation of a portion of the device. In some embodiments, the user-configurable sensory output terminates (630) after a specified time period. In other embodiments, a service provider selects the sensory output and associates it with a particular event that occurs on the device, whereupon the sensory output is produced on the device upon the occurrence of the event, for example, to communication information from the service provider. |
| US07734315B2 |
Wireless communication device management
A method and system that limits the use of a communication device present in an area controlled by an intelligent controller. The intelligent controller detects any present communication devices in the area and conducts an inventory providing information about each detected device. The intelligent controller compares that information to a standard of use data, which specifies the conditions need to be present for allowing the usage of a communication device. If such conditions are not met, the intelligent controller sends commands to the communication device to restrict its functionality. Else if, the intelligent controller is incapable of restricting the communication device, it can notify authorities of unauthorized usage of a communication device in the restricted area. |
| US07734314B2 |
Slim type portable terminal
A slim type portable terminal is provided comprising a first housing on which a keypad and a microphone unit are arranged, and a second housing comprising a liquid crystal display unit and a speaker unit, in which a printed circuit board is disposed adjacent to the liquid crystal display unit and arranged side by side with the liquid crystal display unit on a co-planar surface, and a buffer member is attached to an upper surface of the liquid crystal display unit, through which a flexible circuit provided to the terminal extends. |
| US07734311B2 |
Multimode communication apparatus
In a multimode communication apparatus that uses a plurality of wireless communication modes, interference between communications under different wireless communication modes is suppressed, a good transmission/reception state in each of the wireless communication modes is ensured. A multimode communication apparatus (100) includes transmitter sections (33), (43) and receiver sections (32), (42) and a plurality of communication units (70), (80) each being compatible with the wireless communication modes independently of one another. The communication unit (70) includes a variable channel band elimination filter (34) for suppressing, among transmission signals from its own transmitter section (33), a band corresponding to a frequency band of a reception channel that is being received by the receiver section (42) of the other communication unit (80). The variable channel band elimination filter (34) is capable of varying the band that is to be suppressed, in response to a change of the frequency band of the reception channel. |
| US07734300B2 |
Portable telephone performing a predetermined operation based on location information
A portable telephone comprising a GPS receiving section (17) for detecting the current position, an input section (16) having one or more key, a RAM 13 for storing a registered operating order of the keys and registered positional conditions, and a control circuit (11) for executing the operating procedure of the keys stored in the RAM (13) when a current position detected at the GPS receiving section (17) satisfies the positional conditions stored in the RAM (13), wherein the positional conditions specifies one point or the position of an area, and adds a distance exceeding the positional detection accuracy to a specified position. |
| US07734299B2 |
Facilitating use of a device based on short-range wireless technology
Various devices may include a short-range wireless transmitter and/or one or more short-range wireless readers. When a first device including the transmitter is placed near a second device including the one or more readers, a relative location of the first device may be determined. Information regarding the relative location of the first device, may be used to facilitate use of the first device with a processing device. In one embodiment, the processing device may automatically configure itself, such that the first device may be used with the processing device. In another embodiment, the processing device may provide feedback, such as, for example, step-by-step instructions to facilitate setup and use of the first device with the processing device. In some embodiments, an application program interface may provide information about the device to an application executing on the processing device. |
| US07734295B2 |
Method for concurrent multiple services in a mobile communication system
A method for providing concurrent service in a mobile communication system is disclosed in which a SCCP connection identifier SLR/DLR of a lower layer and a Service Option Connection Identifier (SOCI) on an IOS message of the higher layer to be exchanged are transmitted when a SCCP connection is established between a BSC and a MSC, thereby providing additional services to those already requested from a mobile station after the SCCP connection establishment without stopping a currently used service. According to the method, the concurrent service is provided while minimizing the conventional call processing procedures on the interface between the BSC and the MSC, thereby allowing a subscriber to use new additional service without stopping the current service or concurrently use a plurality of services such as voice and packet data services. Furthermore, a flexible confront is possible to a future development direction of the network. Providing concurrent service is an essential function of the third generation mobile communication network in a multimedia environment |
| US07734294B2 |
Intelligent interactive call handling
An intelligent interactive call handling system is provided that typically includes a central office, a service control point, and an internet call routing system. The central office typically triggers a query responsive to receiving a call request. The service control point is coupled to the central office, receives the query, and triggers an internet call routing query. The internet call routing system, which is coupled to the service control point, typically receives the internet call routing query, determines presence of the called party with respect to at least one registered communication device, sends a prompt to the called party at said at least one registered communication device responsive to the presence determination, receives a reply from said at least one registered communication device, and routes the call responsive to the reply. Methods and other systems are also provided. |
| US07734293B2 |
Mapping wireless proximity identificator to subscriber identity for hotspot based wireless services for mobile terminals
A hotspot access point enables a mobile wireless device to resume a service with a network server when service is interrupted by the mobile device moving out of the coverage area of the access point. A short-range communication link is established by the access point with the mobile device based on a local identification of the device. The access point requests additional information from the wireless device. The additional information relates to a wide area network identification of the device. The mobile device transmits additional information to the access point which stores the local area identification and additional identification. The access point transmits to the mobile device a coded identificator of the wireless device based upon the local area identification and a network identification of the device. The access point determines whether service with the mobile device is open and establishes a wide area connection with the mobile device. |
| US07734292B2 |
Terminal supporting peer-to-peer communication, and communication and billing methods based on the same
A terminal supporting peer-to-peer (P2P) communication, wherein a transceiver of the terminal is implemented to support P2P communication with an adjacent terminal in the same cell. Thus, when short-range communication is possible, the terminal performs P2P communication directly with the adjacent terminal, not via a base station. Consequently, when terminals use different mobile telecommunication service providers or there is no base station network, the terminals can be used for short-range communication. More particularly, when a receiving channel state becomes satisfactory while communication with an adjacent terminal is being performed via a base station, the terminal directly switches to a P2P communication mode and performs communication with the adjacent terminal. On the contrary, when the receiving channel state deteriorates while communication with the adjacent terminal is being performed in the P2P communication mode, the terminal directly switches to a base station communication mode and performs communication with the adjacent terminal. |
| US07734286B2 |
Remote control system
A method includes the steps of selecting an appliance to be controlled from a list of appliances stored in the cellular device, selecting an instruction to be communicated to the selected appliance from a list of instructions stored in the cellular device, and transmitting the instruction to a cellular interface associated with the selected appliance via a public cellular telephone infrastructure by dialing a. telephone number stored in the cellular device. |
| US07734284B2 |
System and method for handling data transfers
Systems and methods for managing data transfers between a secure location and a less secure location. A data transfer checker operating on a mobile device determines whether an attempted data transfer between two locations is permitted. If it is not permitted, then the data transfer is prevented and the user may be notified of the data transfer prevention. |
| US07734275B2 |
Method of producing traffic signal information, method of providing traffic signal information, and navigation apparatus
Systems, methods, and programs of producing and using traffic signal information take, when a vehicle is closely approaching a traffic signal, an image of traffic signal lamps disposed on the traffic signal. The systems, methods, and programs produce image data of the traffic signal lamps, based on the taken image and analyze the image data. The systems, methods, and programs produce traffic signal state information, the traffic signal state information including a state of the traffic signal as of the time of taking the image of the traffic signal lamps. The systems, methods, and programs store traffic signal information, the traffic signal information including the produced traffic signal state information, traffic signal location information, and time information in a memory. The systems, methods, and programs perform a statistical analysis on a correlation in terms of the status of traffic signal lamps among a plurality of traffic signals based on plural pieces of traffic signal information of plural adjacent traffic signals. |
| US07734274B2 |
Narrow-band detections of a received signal
The frequency of an RF signal to be transmitted is modulated at the transmitting unit, and the modulation information is used by the receiving unit to filter out any unwanted noise. The modulation information may be used to retrieve associated filter coefficients that are used by the receiver to filter out the noise. Accordingly, for each transmit frequency, a multitude of filter coefficients stored in a memory are applied by the receiver to filter out the noise. The filtering operation may be performed after the received signal is downconverted from an RF to an audio signal. |
| US07734271B2 |
Waveguide samplers and frequency converters
Frequency converters include waveguides configured for a local oscillator (LO) signal, an intermediate frequency (IF) signal, and an RF signal. A multimode IF waveguide can be used for selectively coupling of an IF signal and to reduce signal contributions produced by the LO signal. Typically, the multimode waveguide is situated to that the IF signal and the LO signal propagate in different waveguide modes, and a selected one of these signals can be selectively attenuated. In some examples, a periodically stepped waveguide is used to enhance propagation of a selected waveguide mode or a lossy conductor is used to attenuate a selected waveguide mode. |
| US07734267B2 |
Amplifier assembly, receiver comprising said assembly and method for operating a programmable amplifier
An amplifier assembly and also a receiver including such an amplifier assembly is disclosed, wherein the amplifier includes a programming input for setting the gain thereof. The signal level at the output of the amplifier is compared with a reference level and a counter is incremented in a step-by-step fashion such that the gain in the amplifier is reduced for as long as the output level lies above the reference level. The amplifier assembly enables frequency-dependent received field strength fluctuations that occur in frequency hopping methods to be corrected in a manner dependent on the conditions in the current time slot. The assembly is also suitable for modulation methods that use a modulation with phase and amplitude variation. |
| US07734256B2 |
System for interfacing with an audio player, and method of manufacturing same
A system for interfacing with an audio player comprises a housing (110, 410) containing a first connector (111, 411), a transmission device (120, 420) including a second connector (121, 421) capable of removable engagement with the first connector, a power interface (130, 430) electrically coupled to the housing, and an audio interface (140, 440) electrically coupled to the housing and capable of being coupled to the audio player. The transmission device is connectable both to the housing and to the audio player directly, and is capable of transmitting an audio signal generated by the audio player to a playback device such as a radio. |
| US07734253B2 |
Apparatus and methods for coexistence of collocated wireless local area network and bluetooth® based on dynamic fragmentation of WLAN packets
In some embodiments of the invention, an 802.11-enabled device may fragment an 802.11 packet into smaller packets and transmit the smaller packets instead of the 802.11 to lessen interference with Bluetooth synchronized connection-oriented communication of a collocated Bluetooth-enabled device. |
| US07734250B2 |
Method for operating a radio communications system with subscriber stations serving as routing nodes, a routing method and a corresponding subscriber station
The method for operating a radio communications system, which provides for the routing of data of connections via subscriber stations, which occasionally perform the function of routing nodes, provides that one of the subscriber stations indicates, to a routing unit of the radio communications system, its readiness to take on the function of a routing node. |
| US07734247B2 |
Configurable serial memory interface
A configurable serial interface for a mobile communications device is provided to access audio information (e.g., audio files) stored on a removable memory device. In normal operation, the mobile communications device accesses audio information stored on the removable memory source through a conventional serial interface located in the digital application processor and/or directly interfaced with the main processing device. The interface is configurable to change to a second interface (e.g., Serial Low-power Interconnect for Media or SLIMbus (SLIMbus)) after receiving a command to change the interface. The second interface generally utilizes significantly less power than the first interface because the main processing device is not utilized to convert the digital audio files stored on the removable memory device. Control of the first and/or second interface may be maintained by a control circuit used for controlling the main processing device. |
| US07734244B2 |
Apparatus for conditioning a substrate
An image development method implemented on a substrate conditioning unit for the drying and compression of a print substrate in an electrophotographic imaging process. The conditioning unit includes a heating mechanism for maintaining the heat of compression rollers, belts or nip rollers for compressing the substrate by a determined distance between the conditioning rollers, or by direct contact between a compression roller and a nip roller, and having an abhesive layer to prevent adhesion of the conditioning unit to the print substrate. |
| US07734242B2 |
Protective layer setting unit, process cartridge, and image forming apparatus using same
A protective layer setting unit includes a protective agent and an application unit configured to apply the protective agent to an image carrying member in a manner sufficient to satisfy equations (1) and (2). A surface condition of the image carrying member is determined by an applied-agent amount index “X” and an agent coating ratio “Y,” and a ratio of “X/Y” is set to 0.020 or less after applying the protective agent for 120 minutes. applied-agent amount index X=Sb/Sa (1) agent coating ratio Y=(A0−A)/A0×100(%) (2). |
| US07734239B2 |
Fixing device, image forming apparatus and sheet conveying device
A fixing device includes a pair of rotating bodies forming a nip portion, for fixing an image formed on the surface of a sheet to the sheet; and a separating pawl having a leading end portion and a tailing end portion, a tip part of the leading end portion being made press contact with a surface of at least one of the pair of rotating bodies. The separating pawl includes a pivotal portion integrally formed between the leading end portion and the tailing end portion, and the tailing end portion has a spring property capable of adjusting the press-contact force of the tip part. |
| US07734236B2 |
Belt unit and image forming apparatus using the same
According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a belt unit including: a belt that is formed in an endless shape; a first roller that supports the belt from an inner side of the belt; a second roller that supports the belt from the inner side of the belt; regulation walls that are disposed on both sides of the second roller and that each includes a boss protruding outwardly, the boss having a tapered portion; and plate frames that are disposed on both sides of the belt and that each includes: a first groove portion that supports the first roller; and a second groove portion that supports the second roller, the second groove portion having a rounded edge formed to be run on by the boss through the tapered portion. |
| US07734232B2 |
Toner cartridge
In a toner cartridge, a cover member is attached to an outer surface of a case main body so as to cover a filling hole through which a toner is filled in a toner chamber. The cover member is detachably attached to the case main body by a lock mechanism disposed between the case main body and the cover member. The lock mechanism includes two or more lock structures which lock the cover member to the case main body and a release tool which carries out a release operation of the lock structures. Each of the lock structures includes an elastic engagement claw and an engagement recess which are provided on opposite surfaces of the case main body and the cover member, respectively. The release tool is configured to allow all of the elastic engagement claws to be simultaneously displaced in a lock release direction. |
| US07734230B2 |
Conveyor device and image forming apparatus
A toner-conveying device includes a movable plate. The movable plate is movable between a holding position such as to couple a cap of a toner container to a nozzle when the toner container is supported by a container holder, and a retreating position such as not to hinder loading and unloading of the toner container in the container holder. The movable plate is placed in the holding position by a cam when the nozzle is coupled to the cap, and is released and moved to the retreating position while the toner container is being loaded or unloaded. In this structure, the cap can be properly positioned in the conveyor device while ensuring the rigidity of a bag of the container within a practically preferable range, without reducing the convenience for the operator. |
| US07734228B2 |
Development device, process cartridge, and image forming apparatus
The present invention provides a development device which does not accumulate the developer at the corners on the internal walls, the process cartridge having such a development device, and the image forming apparatus, without increasing the size of the device or complicating its structure. A curving surface section is provided in at least one of four sections where internal walls in which bearings of the first rotary conveying body and the second rotary conveying body are positioned intersect with internal walls that are parallel to the first rotary conveying body and the second rotary conveying body. |
| US07734225B2 |
Tri-level tandem xerographic architecture using reduced strength toner
A xerographic system and method use a tri-level development process in which at least one xerographic imaging unit includes a photoreceptor and a pair of developer units. A first developer unit includes a full strength toner of a given color and a second developer unit includes a reduced strength toner of the same or substantially the same color. By use of the tri-level process, excellent color-to-color registration can be achieved for each processed color separation. Moreover, by use of two strengths of the same colorant, a tighter control of a tone reproduction curve can be achieved. Additional xerographic imaging units can include a developer unit that provides spot color, custom color or specialty color capabilities. Additional benefits and gamut expansion can be achieved through use of a tandem architecture. A preferred implementation uses a four drum, eight color tandem architecture with full strength and reduced strength toners formulations of Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Black (CYMK) colorant. |
| US07734224B2 |
Image reading apparatus with a mirror having a curved surface to reduce defocusing during image scanning
An image reading apparatus includes a first running device that moves to scan a document at a predetermined speed, which includes an illumination unit and a first mirror; a second running device that moves in the scanning direction parallel to the first running device with half the predetermined speed of the first running device, which includes second and third mirrors; an imaging lens to produce an reduced image; and a line sensor to convert the reduced image to an electrical signal. At least one of the second and third mirrors is comprised of a spherical surface and a curvature radius of the spherical surface of such mirror is such that a distance deviation between the imaging lens and an imaging surface remains within usable range for actual operation regardless of movements of the first and second running devices. |
| US07734217B2 |
Sheet post-processing apparatus with protection cover
A sheet post-processing apparatus of the invention includes a sheet guiding unit configured to have plural components including paper carrying components be attached thereto, a tray onto which a sheet of paper is discharged, and a protection cover attached to the sheet guiding unit at a portion in close proximity to the tray side. A protection cover has a cover main body, a screw attachment portion, a screw cover that covers the screw attached to the screw attachment portion, and a slit used for the tip end of the screw cover to be inserted into the cover main body to be fixed thereto. |
| US07734214B2 |
Storage unit holding mechanism and image forming apparatus having the holding mechanism
A system board provided with electrical components is contained in a substrate frame, a reinforcing frame is pivotally fixed to an peripheral part of the substrate frame, and an HDD is mounted on the reinforcing frame in a vibration-damping manner. With this structure, the HDD is mounted on the system board in a floating state, and a space is formed between them as an airflow passage. |
| US07734211B2 |
Image forming apparatus and retreat method of switch unit of image forming apparatus
The present invention has been made to provide a technique by which a switch unit that is disposed on the side surface of an apparatus body and shuts off, at maintenance time, power supply to predetermined electric components provided in the apparatus does not interfere with pull-out operation of a predetermined unit configured to be capable of being withdrawn from the side surface of the apparatus body without sacrificing the miniaturization of the apparatus.An image forming apparatus comprising: a predetermined unit capable of being withdrawn from the side surface of the apparatus body; a switch unit that is provided on the side surface of the apparatus body and that shuts off power supply to predetermined electric components in the apparatus body at maintenance time; and a retreat mechanism that retreats the switch unit to a position that does not interfere with withdrawal operation of the predetermined unit when the predetermined unit needs to be withdrawn from the side surface of the apparatus body. |
| US07734207B2 |
Turret fusing apparatus
A turret fusing apparatus including (a) a frame; (b) a rotatable external pressure roller mounted at a first mounting position to the frame; and (c) a rotatable turret assembly mounted at a second mounting position on the frame for selectably forming different fusing nips having different characteristics with the rotatable external pressure roller. The rotatable turret assembly has at least a pair of internal pressure rollers including a first rotatable internal pressure roller for forming a first fusing nip having a first set of characteristics with the rotatable external pressure roller, and a second rotatable internal pressure roller for forming a second fusing nip having a second set of characteristics with the rotatable external pressure roller. |
| US07734202B2 |
Apparatus for adjusting fixing pressure and image forming apparatus having the same
An apparatus for adjusting a fixing pressure of an image forming apparatus is provided. The apparatus for adjusting the fixing pressure includes a pair of pressing members to rotatably support an axis of a first roller from both ends and to rotate about a hinge shaft to cause the first roller to press against a second roller, a pair of hinge cams to move the hinge shaft of the pair of pressing members in either of two directions, a driving unit to rotate the pair of hinge cams, and a control unit to control the driving unit to adjust the position of the hinge shaft. |
| US07734201B2 |
Image forming apparatus and control method therefor
This invention provides an image forming apparatus capable of shortening the user's print waiting time as much as possible when it is determined that image adjustment is necessary during the image forming operation, and a control method therefor. To accomplish this, in a color image forming apparatus including a plurality of image forming stations which form toner images with a plurality of toners on the basis of a job, it is discriminated whether adjustment processing is necessary during a continuous image forming operation based on the job. If it is discriminated that adjustment processing is necessary, it is determined whether each of the image forming stations has a non-operating time enough to execute the discriminated adjustment processing during the image forming operation. The image forming station determined to have a non-operating time enough to execute adjustment processing executes the discriminated adjustment processing during the non-operating time. |
| US07734199B2 |
Checking and conditional processing of a print job printed with multiple transfer media
Provided are a method, system and program for checking and conditional processing of a print job printed with multiple transfer media. A print job indicates first print content to print using a first transfer medium and second print content to print using a second transfer medium. The first print content is printed onto a print medium with the first transfer medium. The printed first print content is read to determine whether the printed first print content satisfies a quality requirement. The second print content is printed onto the print medium with the second transfer medium in response to determining that the quality requirement is satisfied. Information is printed indicating an error on the print medium in response to determining that the print quality requirement is not satisfied. |
| US07734197B2 |
Toner cartridge having protrusion to show type of toner cartridge
A toner cartridge inserted in an image forming apparatus and supplying toner to the image forming apparatus, the cartridge contains a toner container that contains toner, and a protrusion for showing a type of the toner cartridge, wherein the protrusion forms a ramp inclining toward a direction the toner cartridge is inserted in the image forming apparatus. |
| US07734195B2 |
Method and arrangement for forming reception pulses in an infrared receiver
In a method and arrangement for forming reception pulses, output signals of an upstream comparator which recognizes light pulses are used to evaluate a downstream arrangement and are newly formed and emitted as pulses. The aim is to produce a method and an associated circuit arrangement for forming reception pulses which represent a saving in energy, whereby said arrangement can be integrated into existing receiver systems, requires no external time base and can work with the signal of an upstream comparator. In a first step, an input signal delivered by an upstream comparator is delayed, whereupon a time reference is produced in a controlled manner and an output pulse begins to be formed in a controlled manner by means of the delayed input signal from the first step. The input signal level is examined once production of the time reference is completed. The examination refers back to the length of the received pulse, and the duration of the output impulse is adjusted according to the results of the examination. |
| US07734188B2 |
Deskew device and deskew method
In a receiver, a skew detector detects a skew between two synchronization symbols having different wavelengths among synchronization symbols included in received signals. A skew rough adjustment calculator calculates a delay compensation amount for each received signal based on the skew and a signal delay characteristic in a transmission path. A variable delay processor deskews the received signals based on the delay compensation amount. |
| US07734187B2 |
Dispersion management in optical networks using a differential phase shift keying modulation format
Dispersion may be managed in an optical network configured to transmit differential phase shift keying (DPSK) modulated signals by allowing accumulation of dispersion to thousands of ps/nm before compensating. A dispersion map providing a negative average dispersion and a minimum dispersion wavelength outside of the signal band may be employed. |
| US07734182B2 |
Illuminator including optical transmission mechanism
An illuminator including an optical transmission mechanism includes a transmission-side electric circuit for forming electric signals modulated in response to information, a light source for emitting intensity-modulated light in response to the electric modulated signals, optical wavelength conversion means including fluorescent material for converting part of the intensity-modulated light into illumination light, photoelectric conversion means for receiving another part of the modulated light and converting this part into reproduced electric modulated signals and a receiving-side electric circuit for reproducing the information from the reproduced electric modulated signals. |
| US07734181B2 |
Devices, systems and methods for ad hoc wireless communication
The current options for wireless communication have changed the way people work and the way in which networks can be deployed. However, there remains unresolved problems in the setup and configuration of wireless communication links. Both known cellular and ad hoc wireless networking protocols and systems are deficient in that the ability for users to communicate without a priori knowledge of MAC addresses (represented by phone numbers, IP addresses and the like) is limited or may be compromised in a hostile environment. In contrast, provided by aspects of the present invention are devices, systems and methods for establishing ad hoc wireless communication between users that do not necessarily have MAC addresses and the like for one another. In some embodiments, a first user visually selects a second user and points a coherent light beam at an electronic device employed by the second user. Data specific to the first user is modulated on the coherent light beam, which can then be demodulated when the coherent light beam is received by the electronic device of the second user. |
| US07734179B1 |
Fiber/wired communication system
A communication system between head-ends and end-users is provided which expands bandwidth and reliability. A concentrator receives communication signals from a head-end and forwards the received communication signals to one or more fiber nodes and/or one or more mini-fiber nodes. The concentrator demultiplexes/splits received signals for the mini-fiber nodes and the fiber nodes and forwards demultiplexed/split signals respectively. The mini-fiber nodes may combine signals received from the head-end with loop-back signals used for local medium access control prior to forwarding the signals to the end-users. Upstream data are received by the mini-fiber nodes and/or fiber node and transmitted to the concentrator. The concentrator multiplexes/couples the mini-fiber node and the fiber node upstream signals and forwards multiplexed/coupled signals to the head-end. Communication signals received from the mini-fiber nodes that are destined to other end-users also connected to the mini-fiber nodes may be routed by the concentrator without head-end interaction. |
| US07734178B2 |
Passive optical network system, optical line terminal, and optical network unit
In a PON system by WDM, IP broadcast can be received without oppressing a band used by a user for Internet communication. An OLT provides a first wavelength received in common by respective ONUs and plural second wavelengths by which the OLT and the respective ONUs perform communication individually. With respect to signals in the downstream direction, each of the OLTs includes a transmitter to transmit the first wavelength and plural transmitters to transmit the second wavelengths used for the individual communication with the respective ONUs. Each of the ONUs includes a receiver to receive the first wavelength and a receiver to receive the second wavelength used in the ONU itself. The OLT transmits data of the IP broadcast by the first wavelength and transmits individual data of each of the ONUs by the second wavelength corresponding to the ONU. |
| US07734176B2 |
Hybrid optical burst switching with fixed time slot architecture
A system and method for a cell switching optical network. A block of data is buffered at an edge node and sliced into data slices. Slice headers are pre-appended to each data slice. The data slices are then scheduled for transmission onto an optical switching network during fixed time slots defined on a per carrier wavelength basis. |
| US07734171B2 |
Snap-in retainer for a sensor system
A system for retaining a sensor assembly includes a mounting plate having a mounting area for the sensor assembly, a sensor assembly having a sensor assembly plate with a perimeter, and a retainer ring having at least one spring member. The at least one spring member of the retainer ring is configured to bias the sensor assembly substantially toward at least one datum, such that a portion of the perimeter of the sensor assembly plate is directly adjacent to the at least one datum. |
| US07734170B2 |
Imaging apparatus
There is provided an imaging apparatus having a viewfinder optical system; a first image sensor; a photometric sensor; and optical path changing means. The viewfinder optical system has a first reflective surface that reflects a monitoring luminous flux, and the first reflective surface changes a reflection angle of the monitoring luminous flux. A change in a reflection angle of the first reflective surface causes a course of the monitoring luminous flux to be switched between a first optical path and a second optical path. In a case of second optical path, a travel direction is changed with the optical path changing means placed on the second optical path, causing a photometric processing to be performed using the first image sensor, while in a case of the first optical path, the photometric processing is performed using the photometric sensor. |
| US07734168B2 |
Lighting apparatus, electronic flash apparatus and camera
A lighting apparatus comprising: a reflecting surface for reflecting light, formed on a circuit board; an LED light source for emitting illumination light with a light-emitting diode, mounted on a part of said reflecting surface; and a reflector for reflecting ahead the light emitted from said LED light source, mounted on said circuit board so as to surround said LED light source and have the opened rear thereof closed by said reflecting surface. |
| US07734166B2 |
Photographing apparatus, photographing method and a computer readable medium of instructions for controlling the photographing apparatus
A photographing apparatus and method prevent a resolution of a peripheral portion of an image from being degraded with a simple structure. These employ an in-focus state detector for detecting evaluation values for auto in-focus operation representing an in-focus state of an image from a first in-focus state detection region disposed on a center portion of the image, and at least one second in-focus state detection region disposed on a peripheral portion of the image, a flat subject determiner that determines whether a subject is flat based on the detection result of the evaluation values for auto in-focus operation, a flat subject focusing position calculator that calculates a final focusing position based on the evaluation values when the subject is determined as being flat, and a three-dimensional subject focusing position calculator that calculates a final focusing position based on the evaluation value when the subject is not flat. |
| US07734164B2 |
Focus state detection apparatus and optical instrument
A focus state detection apparatus has a sensor that senses light rays that pass through a lens subjected to focus detection and is composed of a plurality of photoelectric converter elements, a charge accumulation unit that accumulates pixel signals obtained by the sensor, a first accumulation controller, a second accumulation controller, a first storage unit that stores each accumulated signal of each of the plurality of areas accumulation-controlled by the first accumulation controller, a second storage unit that stores the accumulated signal of the combined area accumulation-controlled by the second accumulation controller, and a defocus state detector that detects a defocus state of the area from the accumulated signal stored in either the first storage unit or the second storage unit. |
| US07734154B2 |
Recording medium having data structure for managing reproduction duration of still pictures recorded thereon and recording and reproducing methods and apparatuses
The data structure includes a data area storing presentation data multiplexed into a transport stream. The presentation data is divided into a number of still picture units, and each still picture unit includes at least one still picture and associated related data. The related data does not include audio data. A navigation area of the recording medium stores at least one playlist. The playlist includes at least one playitem. The playitem indicates at least one of the still picture units to reproduce and provides duration information for display of the still picture in the still picture unit. |
| US07734153B1 |
Video stream processing method for time-delayed viewing
A broadcast receiving system which simultaneously supports time-delayed viewing and recording/reproduction. In the broadcast receiving system, blocks are discontinuously arranged in a circular buffer to rapidly implement time-delayed viewing of a channel and recording/reproduction of another channel at the same time. To do so, circular buffer blocks are discontinuously arranged on a disk surface in a time-delayed viewing mode. If the time-delayed viewing mode is performed simultaneously with a recording/reproduction mode, video streams for time-delayed viewing are recorded in free blocks nearest to blocks in which video streams of a channel to be recorded are recorded or from which video streams of a channel to be reproduced are reproduced. Therefore, two or more modes can be performed effectively and simultaneously. |
| US07734150B2 |
Information recording device having dubbing function
An information recording device according to the present invention includes an HDD 5, a DVD 6 and a VCR 7. During transferring and recording information from DVD 6 onto VCR 7, a transfer control circuit 20 short-circuits between an input node and an output node. Accordingly, an image signal line L1 or L2 is electrically connected to an image signal line L3 through a switch SW and transfer control circuit 20. Namely, information is transmitted to the VCR without providing a direct information transmission path from DVD 6 to VCR 7. The configuration according to the present invention enables bidirectionally transferring information among HDD 5, DVD 6 and VCR 7 with a single switch, thereby enabling dubbing with a simple configuration. |
| US07734149B2 |
Apparatus and method for recording/reproducing moving picture and recording medium
A recording medium includes moving picture data including first audio or first audio and second audio, and basic unit information including first state information on the first audio and second state information on the second audio. The first state information represents an original audio state in which the first audio is original audio, or a secondary audio state in which the first audio is secondary audio recorded over part or all of the original audio. The second state information represents a state in which the second audio is original audio, a state in which the second audio is secondary audio recorded over part or all of the original audio, a state in which the second audio is dummy audio which is exactly the same as the first audio, or a state in which the second audio is secondary audio recorded over part or all of the dummy audio. |
| US07734147B2 |
Information recording control apparatus and file recording control method
An information recording control apparatus that automatica1ly selects a recording device at the time of file recording. In response to a file recording request from a terminal apparatus and in accordance with the device information about recording devices, which is stored in a management information database, and the attribute information about a file, which is received from a terminal apparatus, an information recording control apparatus searches for a recording device available for recording from among a plurality of recording devices, and selects a recording device for use in recording. The information recording control apparatus changes the status of the selected recording device so that no other recording operation is performed, and transmits the information for identifying the selected recording device to the terminal apparatus. The terminal apparatus sets the recording device designated by the information recording control apparatus as the recording destination, and begins to transmit the file. The selected recording device records the received file on an inserted recording medium. |
| US07734146B1 |
Video data reduction in MPEG bit stream
Video data in an encoded frame is reduced by adjusting orthogonal transform coefficients in the encoded frame during trick play operation such as fast forward or fast reverse. The orthogonal transform coefficients are adjusted by selecting essential orthogonal transform coefficients with high energy and non-essential orthogonal transform coefficients with low energy, maintaining or strengthening the essential orthogonal transform coefficients and attenuating or removing the non-essential orthogonal transform coefficients. In an MPEG bit stream, the encoded frame is an I-frame and the orthogonal transform coefficients are discrete cosine transform (DCT) coefficients. |
| US07734134B2 |
Fiber scope
An image fiber includes an image fiber body having a twisted portion which is formed by heating, softening, and twisting a portion of the image fiber body. The rate of twist in the twisted portion is made to be constant. Moreover, the rate of twist may preferably be set in a range from 3.6°/mm to 3600°/mm. In addition, the rate of twist at the beginning portion of the twisted portion and the rate of twist at the end portion of the twisted portion may preferably be set in a range from 3.6°/mm to 360°/mm. The twisted portion may be provided with a protective element. |
| US07734132B2 |
Optical spectral filtering and dispersion control for wavelength multiplexed laser sources using fiber Bragg gratings
The embodiments of the invention provide an apparatus for optical spectral filtering and dispersion control for wavelength multiplexed laser sources using fiber Bragg gratings. More specifically, the apparatus includes a laser diode having a first end and a second end opposite the first end. The first end of the laser diode has a first semi-transparent portion; and, the second end of the laser diode has a second semi-transparent portion. The apparatus further includes an optical fiber connected to the second end of the laser diode. The optical fiber has a first end and a second end opposite the first end, wherein the first end of the optical fiber is connected to the second end of the laser diode. The laser diode comprises a laser cavity; and, the optical fiber comprises an extension of the laser cavity. Moreover, the second end of the optical fiber has a reflective surface. |
| US07734131B2 |
Fabry-Perot tunable filter using a bonded pair of transparent substrates
A tunable Fabry-Perot filter (8, 118, 218, 318, 418) includes substrates (10, 12) with parallel generally planar facing principal surfaces (14, 16) including spaced apart facing reflective surface regions (20, 22) that are at least partially reflective over a wavelength range and define an optical gap (Gopt) therebetween. At least one substrate of the pair of substrates is light transmissive over the selected wavelength range to enable optical coupling with the optical gap. Electrodes (24, 26) are disposed on the facing principal surfaces of the substrates. The electrodes on the facing principal surfaces of the substrates are define an electrode gap therebetween such that electrical biasing of the electrodes simultaneously modifies the optical and electrode gaps. |
| US07734128B2 |
Optical component, fiber collimator array and wavelength selective switch
The invention provides a fiber collimator array including a fiber array in which a plurality of optical fibers is arrayed and a microlens array in which microlenses are arrayed on positions corresponding to the plurality of optical fibers on a transparent substrate. Each microlens and the transparent substrate are oppositely arranged so that a plurality of projections formed on a bottom face of each microlens intersects with a plurality of projections formed on a surface of the transparent substrate, and each microlens and the transparent substrate are adhered to each other by the adhesive. |
| US07734126B2 |
Systems and methods for chirp control of a dual arm z-modulator to minimize dispersion effect of fiber plant
The present invention provides systems and methods for chirp control of a dual arm Z-modulator to minimize dispersion in the fiber plant. The chirp control is based upon a real-time control loop based upon performance monitoring data between a transmitter and a receiver. Advantageously, the present invention enables improved performance in high-speed optical systems, and in some cases can eliminate or minimize the need for external dispersion compensation fiber (DCF). |
| US07734120B2 |
Method of scanning a document using a pre-scanning operation
A method of scanning a document to generate image data of the document, the method including performing a pre-scanning operation at a first predetermined resolution and speed according to a scan command until a current scanning area is located in a main-scan area; and performing a main-scanning operation at a second predetermined resolution and speed, until the current scanning area is beyond the main-scan area, after the current scanning area has been located in the main-scan area. |
| US07734119B2 |
Method and system for progressive multi-resolution three-dimensional image reconstruction using region of interest information
The present invention provides a method and system for progressive multi-resolution three-dimensional image reconstruction using region of interest information. The method and system significantly reduces the amount of time required to display high quality three-dimensional fluoroscopic images by utilizing progressive multi-resolution image reconstruction techniques. In addition, by employing manual or automated selection of one or more regions of interest in which to focus the progressive image reconstruction, high quality 3D images of region(s) of interest may be obtained soon after image data acquisition. |
| US07734117B2 |
System for scaling images using neural networks
An artificial neural network (ANN) based system that is adapted to process an input pattern to generate an output pattern related thereto having a different number of components than the input pattern. The system (26) is comprised of an ANN (27) and a memory (28), such as a DRAM memory, that are serially connected. The input pattern (23) is applied to a processor (22), where it can be processed or not (the most general case), before it is applied to the ANN and stored therein as a prototype (if learned). A category is associated with each stored prototype. The processor computes the coefficients that allow the determination of the estimated values of the output pattern, these coefficients are the components of a so-called intermediate pattern (24). Assuming the ANN has already learned a number of input patterns, when a new input pattern is presented to the ANN in the recognition phase, the category of the closest prototype is output therefrom and is used as a pointer to the memory. In turn, the memory outputs the corresponding intermediate pattern. The input pattern and the intermediate pattern are applied to the processor to construct the output pattern (25) using the coefficients. Typically, the input pattern is a block of pixels in the field of scaling images. |
| US07734111B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and computer product
An image processing apparatus includes a surrounding-pixels selecting unit that selects surrounding pixels that surround a correction pixel in an input image based on a low-pass filter, a reference-pixels selecting unit that selects pixels from the surrounding pixels based on pixel values of the correction pixel and the surrounding pixels, a smoothed-image creating unit that applies the low-pass filter to the reference pixels to create a smoothed image of the reference pixels, and an output image creating unit that creates an output image based on the smoothed image, and a difference image between the smoothed image and the input image. |
| US07734108B2 |
Image processing circuit
The present invention provides an image processing circuit capable of properly determining whether or not image data is a static image or a moving image and performing overdrive processing thereon. The image processing circuit includes a quantization unit (quantization/threshold-value proximity determination circuit) for quantizing image data input to a liquid crystal display with a predetermined threshold value and outputting the quantized data, a threshold-value proximity determination unit (quantization/threshold-value proximity determination circuit) for determining whether or not the image data is proximal to the threshold value and outputting threshold-value proximity determination data, a moving-image/static-image determination unit (moving-image/static-image determination circuit) for determining whether or not the image data of a current frame is a static image or a moving image, on the basis of the quantized data and the threshold-value proximity determination data of the current frame and the quantized data and the threshold-value proximity determination data of the previous frame, and an overdrive processing unit (LUT, moving-image/static-image processing circuit) for outputting the image data which has been subjected to overdrive processing if the moving-image/static-image determination unit determines that the image data is a moving image. |
| US07734096B2 |
Method and device for discriminating obscene video using time-based feature value
A method and a device for discriminating an obscene video using a time-based feature value are provided. The method includes: forming a first time-based flow of predetermined feature values varying with the lapse of time from one or more types of videos which are normalized with a first time interval; extracting a feature value varying with time from an input video of which obsceneness is to be determined and which is normalized with a second time interval, and forming a second time-based flow of the extracted feature value; and determining the obsceneness of the input video by calculating a loss value between the first time-based flow and the second time-based flow. The videos such as movies and dramas in which many persons appear have different obscenity characteristics from that of pornography, so it is possible to enhance reliability in determination of obsceneness. |
| US07734094B2 |
Techniques for filtering handwriting recognition results
Various technologies and techniques are disclosed that identify possible incorrect recognition results. Handwritten input is received from a user. A recognition operation is performed on the handwritten input to produce an initial recognition result. A possible incorrect recognition is identified using the self-consistency process that identifies the possible incorrect recognition when the initial recognition result is not consistent with a normal writing style of the user. The self-consistency process performs a comparison of the initial recognition result with at least one sample previously provided by the user. If the comparison reveals that the initial recognition result is not consistent with the at least one sample, then the result is identified as possibly incorrect. A classifier confidence process can be alternatively or additionally used to identify a possible incorrect recognition result. The user interface for displaying the final result can be modified as appropriate given the possible incorrect recognition result. |
| US07734093B2 |
Paper-based upload and tracking system
A method and apparatus for performing paper-based upload and tracking of documents is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method comprises scanning a version of a document to obtain an image, the document having machine readable information, decoding the machine readable information from the image to obtain a destination specification, and uploading information corresponding to the image to a destination host specified by the destination specification. |
| US07734092B2 |
Multiple image input for optical character recognition processing systems and methods
A method of processing an image includes receiving a digital version of the image, processing the digital version of the image through at least two binarization processes to thereby create a first binarization and a second binarization, and processing the first binarization through a first optical character recognition process to thereby create a first OCR output file. Processing the first binarization through a first optical character recognition process includes compiling first metrics associated with the first OCR output file. The method also includes processing the second binarization through the first optical character recognition process to thereby create a second OCR output file. Processing the second binarization through the first optical character recognition process includes compiling second metrics associated with the second OCR output file. The method also includes using the metrics, at least in part, to select a final OCR output file from among the OCR output files. |
| US07734087B2 |
Face recognition apparatus and method using PCA learning per subgroup
A face recognition apparatus and method using Principal Component Analysis (PCA) learning per subgroup, the face recognition apparatus includes: a learning unit which performs Principal Component Analysis (PCA) learning on each of a plurality of subgroups constituting a training data set, and then performs Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA) learning on the training data set, thereby generating a PCA-based LDA (PCLDA) basis vector set of each subgroup; a feature vector extraction unit which projects a PCLDA basis vector set of each subgroup to an input image and extracts a feature vector set of the input image with respect to each subgroup; a feature vector storing unit which projects a PCLDA basis vector set of each subgroup to each of a plurality of face images to be registered, thereby generating a feature vector set of each registered image with respect to each subgroup, and storing the feature vector set in a database; and a similarity calculation unit which calculates a similarity between the input image and each registered image. |
| US07734085B2 |
Image data delivery system, image data transmitting device thereof, and image data receiving device thereof
A server (1) analyzes request information from a client (11) by a request analyzer (4) and selects necessary image data from multiple viewpoint image data (2) to be output to an image generator (3). The image data is generated by interpolation and output to an image synthesizer (5), in which a plurality of images data is synthesized in a form suitable for encoding. An encoder (6) encodes the image data and transfers it to a network (7). The client (11) receives the encoded image data, decodes the data through a decoder (12) and outputs the decoded image data to an image processor (13), where it is converted into a stereoscopic display format and displayed on a display unit (14). The client (11) includes an input unit (16) for changing the viewpoint, and transmits the request information of viewpoint alternation to the network (7) by a request output unit (15). |
| US07734083B2 |
Printed board, image pickup apparatus and camera
The present invention relates to a bendable printed board, an image pickup apparatus, and a camera. The bendable printed board is provided with: a first end connected to a moving body movable in an arbitral direction within a predefined plane; a second end connected to fixed body with slack providing movability to the moving body; and a slit formed on at least a part of a slack portion of the printed board. |
| US07734077B2 |
Method of assessing localized shape and temperature of the human body
A method of objectively quantifying assessments of joints having arthritis for purposes of assessment, diagnosis and treatment. The objective measurements utilize known imaging modalities including 3D scanning, thermal imaging, visible and near-infrared imaging and two-dimensional imaging to quantify swelling, heat distribution, erythema, and range or motion. The objective measurements can be combined in various ways to assess the extent of the disease and can be used to adjust treatment protocols. |
| US07734076B2 |
Material decomposition image noise reduction
A diagnostic imaging system in an example includes a high frequency electromagnetic energy source, a detector, a data acquisition system (DAS), and a computer. The high frequency electromagnetic energy source emits a beam of high frequency electromagnetic energy toward an object to be imaged. The detector receives high frequency electromagnetic energy emitted by the high frequency electromagnetic energy source. The DAS is operably connected to the detector and programmed to employ a threshold to trigger a filter operation on a pixel, in a basis material decomposition (BMD) image of a plurality of BMD images, through comparison of an actual noise ratio between a pair of BMD images, of the plurality of BMD images, to a theoretical BMD noise ratio value. The computer is programmed to employ a correlation in noise distribution of the plurality of BMD images to reduce image noise in the plurality of BMD images. |
| US07734075B2 |
Contrast-invariant registration of cardiac and renal magnetic resonance perfusion images
A system and method are provided for contrast-invariant registration of images, the system including a processor, an imaging adapter or a communications adapter for receiving an image data sequence, a user interface adapter for selecting a reference frame from the image sequence or cropping a region of interest (ROI) from the reference frame, a tracking unit for tracking the ROI across the image sequence, and an estimation unit for segmenting the ROI in the reference frame or performing an affine registration for the ROI; and the method including receiving an image sequence, selecting a reference frame from the image sequence, cropping a region of interest (ROI) from the reference frame, tracking the ROI across the image sequence, segmenting the ROI in the reference frame, and performing an affine registration for the ROI. |
| US07734074B2 |
Finger sensor apparatus using image resampling and associated methods
A finger sensor may include a plurality of finger image sensing arrays for generating a respective plurality of finger image data sets based upon sliding finger movement over the finger image sensing arrays, and a processor cooperating with the finger image sensing arrays. The processor may determine finger movement based upon the finger image data sets, and generate a resampled finger image data set by resampling the finger image data sets based upon the determined finger movement. The processor may further deskew the finger image data sets when generating the resampled finger image data set. |
| US07734073B2 |
Image mapping to provide visual geographic path
Provided is a computer system and method for mapping a visual path. The method includes receiving one or more images included in a predefined area; receiving one or more parameters associated with the image; and integrating the images and parameters into a map of the predefined area to enable mapping the visual path through the predefined area in response to one or more input path parameters. |
| US07734068B2 |
Electronic lock box using a biometric identification device
An improved electronic lock box system is provided for more secure control over the accessibility of a secure compartment in the electronic lock box, which is typically used to store a dwelling key. The new system uses biometric identification sensors to determine if the correct, authorized user is attempting to access the secure compartment of the electronic lock box. In one embodiment, the biometric identification sensor uses thermal scanning to detect a person's fingerprint pattern. This is compared to previously stored (enrollment) biometric identification information/data, and if the “live” (observed) biometric identification information/data sufficiently correlates to the stored enrollment biometric identification information/data, access will be granted. |
| US07734062B2 |
Action recognition apparatus and apparatus for recognizing attitude of object
An action recognition apparatus acquires image data and outputs action information representing an action content of a human captured in the image data. The action recognition apparatus includes a face-portion specifying section, an acquisition section, a specifying section, and an information output section. The face-portion specifying section specifies a first image region including a face portion of the human from the image data. The acquisition section acquires skin-color information peculiar to the human from pixel values of the first image region. The specifying section specifies at least one second image region including a predetermined portion of a body of the human from the image data except for the first image region based on the skin-color information. The information output section outputs the action information representing the action content of the human based on position relation between the specified first image region and the specified second image region. |
| US07734058B1 |
Identifying, generating, and storing cropping information for multiple crops of a digital image
A system and method are provided that allow multiple crops to be defined for a single digital image without altering the digital image. Rather than actually cropping the digital image where a portion of the digital image is lost, the present invention generates and stores cropping information defining a desired area of the digital image for each of the crops. The cropping information is stored in metadata associated with the digital image or in an associated application file. |
| US07734056B2 |
Damper structure of preventing irregular vibration for speaker
A damper structure for a speaker is provided to preventing irregular vibrations, and the improvements comprises the damper having one or more elastic reinforcing pieces attached with a corrugated surface of the damper. The reinforcing pieces may be of smaller annular strips, larger annular strips, or straight strips corresponding to and attached to the corrugated surface of the damper in its inner region, outer region, and in its radial direction and preferably in equiangular distribution, respectively, to strengthen its structural strength and uniformity. |
| US07734055B2 |
User configurable headset for monaural and binaural modes
A headset is described that can be user-configured to be used in either monaural or binaural modes. The headset may include a first speaker for one ear, and a second speaker in an earpiece inserted in the headset body. The earpiece may be retractable, and upon removal from the headset, the headset may switch from monaural to binaural mode. The earpiece may communicate wirelessly with the headset, or may be coupled using a spring-loaded or manually retractable wire. The headset may wirelessly detect the addition of a second headset, and may switch to binaural mode based on this addition. |
| US07734044B2 |
Method and apparatus for synchronous stream cipher encryption with reserved codes
A method and apparatus for a signal encryption device constructed to perform synchronous stream cipher encryption for a sequence of input words with restricted codes. The encryption device includes a keystream generator for producing a sequence of pseudorandom words from a key, and an adder that is used to sum the output of the keystream generator and the input words. A lookup table of size substantially twice the number of possible input words provides encrypted codes excluding restricted codes from the summed signal. A signal encryption and decryption system is constructed by including a second keystream generator for producing a second sequence of pseudorandom words from the key, and a second adder to produce a second summed signal from the output of the second keystream generator and the encrypted codes. A corresponding lookup table provides decrypted codes excluding restricted codes from the second summed signal. |
| US07734043B1 |
Encryption key obfuscation and storage
Circuits, methods, and apparatus that prevent easy detection and erasure or modification of an encryption or encoding key. This key may be used to encode and decode a configuration bitstream for an FPGA or other programmable or configurable device. One embodiment of the present invention obfuscates a key then stores it in a memory array on an FPGA. This memory array may be a one-time programmable memory to prevent erasure or modification of the key. After retrieval from storage, a reverse or de-obfuscation is performed to recover the key. Further obfuscation may be achieved by proper layout of the relevant circuitry. |
| US07734041B2 |
System and method for de-scrambling and bit-order-reversing payload bytes in an Asynchronous Transfer Mode cell
A method and apparatus are disclosed for efficiently de-scrambling and bit-order-reversing one or more bytes of data according to DSL standards on a processor. In a preferred embodiment, this is achieved by providing an instruction for de-scrambling and bit-order-reversing one or more bytes of data according to DSL standards. Accordingly, the invention advantageously provides a processor with the ability to de-scramble and bit-order-reverse data with a single instruction thus allowing for more efficient and faster de-scrambling operations for subsequent processing. |
| US07734040B1 |
Modular housing system for outside plant telecommunications equipment
A modular housing for outside plant telecommunication equipment includes a main enclosure for containing common electronic equipment and an auxiliary enclosure for containing input/output (I/O) circuitry to said common electronic equipment. In this way, different configurations of I/O circuitry can be accommodated only by changing the auxiliary enclosure. The design and fabrication times for making housings is reduced by the smaller size of each enclosure. Upgrades can often be accommodated by only changing one of the main or auxiliary housings. |
| US07734037B1 |
Remote terminal unit connector
A plug is inserted into the connection between a Remote Terminal Unit (RTU) and one or more a station protection modules. A first plug end is connected to the RTU by at least one first wire. At least one station protection module is connected to a second plug end by at least one second wire. The first plug end and the second plug end are capable of being connected to each other. A first housing contains at least the RTU and a second housing contains the at least one station protection module, wherein the first housing and the second housing are capable of being attached to each other. Replacing the RTU requires disconnecting the first and second plug ends and then connecting a third plug end to the second plug end wherein the third plug end is connected to a second RTU by at least one third wire. |
| US07734034B1 |
Remote party speaker phone detection
A system and method are provided for detecting acoustic echo in a telecommunications transmission. Detected acoustic echo is analyzed to determine if the acoustic echo includes characteristics indicative of use of a speakerphone by a remote party. Specific characteristics analyzed include the presence of multiple bulk delay values, echo magnitude, and the length of time for echo delays present within the telecommunications system. If the detected acoustic echo falls outside the range of acceptable parameters, or otherwise exceeds threshold limits, a warning signal is transmitted to the user indicating a high likelihood that the remote party is using a speakerphone. Warning the user of speakerphone use by the remote party can be helpful in ensuring that the communications between the parties is maintained in confidence. |
| US07734033B2 |
Ring-tone identification of urgent phone calls
A method for activating a distinctive ring-tone can include the steps of extracting caller identifying data from an incoming phone call; comparing the caller identifying data to data in a caller list; determining whether the caller is authorized to activate a distinctive ring-tone based upon the comparison; and, activating a distinctive ring-tone if the caller is authorized and if a request to activate a distinctive ring-tone can be detected in the incoming phone call. The extracting step can include the step of extracting a source phone number from the incoming phone call. The determining step can include the step of determining whether the caller has been included in the caller list as an authorized caller. Conversely, the determining step comprises the step of determining whether the caller has been included in the caller list as an unauthorized caller. |
| US07734029B2 |
Apparatus, system, and method for automated call initiation
A method for automated call initiation includes initiating a call to a destination using a first communication line. The method also includes initiating a call status determination that determines when a person answers the call at the destination. Furthermore, the method includes during the call status determination, sending audio information from the destination to an agent. In addition, the method includes assigning the call to the agent, in response to the call status determination determining that the person answered the call at the destination. Therefore, the agent is able to monitor the call and assume a natural response to the person, thus eliminating delay as the conversation begins. |
| US07734028B2 |
Method and apparatus for delivering enhanced caller identification services to a called party
Methods and apparatus are disclosed for delivering enhanced caller information to a called party. A user document associated with a calling party is provided to the called party as part of signaling information associated with the call, such as a SIP invite message. The user document may be, for example, a vCard or vCalendar. |
| US07734023B2 |
System and method for message storage assurance in a geographically distributed voice messaging system
A voice messaging system comprises a common message store, a local data store located remotely from the common message store, and a media server. The media server is operable to receive a call directed to a number serviced by the media server, prompt the user for a voice message, direct the voice message to the local data store for temporary storage, notify the common message store that the voice message is present in the local data store, respond to a request to transfer the voice message to the common message store, and direct the local data store to erase the message upon receipt of a communication from the common message store that the voice message was successfully saved. |
| US07734020B2 |
Two-way voice and voice over IP receivers for alarm systems
Security systems typically communicate with alarm monitoring centers using a telephone connection. The present invention offers a system and technique for monitoring a security system connected using a Voice-over-IP connection, in real time, and alerting the owner of the security system, or the alarm-monitoring center, when the connection is broken. This alert can be used, for example, to issue a telephone call to the police, informing them of the breach of line integrity and possible compromise of the premise. In addition, the present invention allows for one-way or two-way voice communication between the alarm panel and an alarm operator and/or a 3rd party. Such voice communication helps the alarm operator and/or 3rd party to determine whether an alarm is a real alarm or a possible false alarm. |
| US07734008B1 |
Vehicle cargo inspection station and associated method
A vehicle cargo inspection station includes a building structure that has open first and second ends and a top portion forming a passageway therein. A mechanism automatically scans the cargo area of the existing vehicle. The scanning mechanism is movable within the passageway while the existing vehicle remains stationary such that cargo within the existing vehicle remains statically housed therein. The building structure is manufactured of durable and rigid material such that the structure provides a barrier between the scanning mechanism and the outside environment thereby protecting the scanning mechanism from damage by harsh environmental conditions. |
| US07733996B2 |
Joint space-time optimum filters (JSTOF) for interference cancellation
A filter for reducing co-channel interference within a communications receiver may include a multi-channel, space-time filter circuit that filters n signal parts that have been split from a communications signal by jointly estimating space-time filter weights and multi-channel impulse responses (CIRs). The filter may further include a multi-channel, matched filter circuit that receives multi-channel signals from the multi-channel, space-time filter circuit and has a filter response that is provided by a channel impulse response estimation from the space-time filter circuit. |
| US07733994B2 |
Adaptive electronic transmission signal cancellation apparatus for full duplex communication
An adaptive electronic transmission signal cancellation circuit for separating transmit data from receive data in a bidirectional communication system operating in full duplex mode is disclosed. The output of a main transmitter responsive to a first bias current is connected to the output of a receiver through an internal resistor. A first replica transmitter responsive to a second bias current and matched to the main transmitter current gain and rise/fall time characteristics is connected to the input terminal of the receiver, and produces a cancellation voltage between the output terminal of the main transmitter and the input terminal of the receiver as a function of the second bias current and the internal resistor. A second replica transmitter matched to the current gain and rise/fall time characteristics of the main transmitter and the first replica transmitter and responsive to the second bias current is connected to the output terminal of the main transmitter for canceling excess current, developed by the first replica transmitter, at the output terminal of the main transmitter. |
| US07733991B2 |
Apparatus for determining a frequency offset error and receiver based thereon
The apparatus (20) for determining a frequency offset error comprises an input (24.1) for receiving a digitally coded frequency demodulated signal (demod Ip2). The frequency demodulated signal (demod Ip2) is processed by digital means (35) for performing a correlation, and by digital means (36) for performing a minimum-maximum evaluation. In order to determine whether a conflation criterion and a minimum-maximum criterion are fulfilled, the apparatus (20) comprises digital processing means (38) to calculate the current offset of the frequency demodulated signal (demod Ip2) and to cancel the current offset if both criteria are fulfilled. |
| US07733990B2 |
Receiver with improved sample granularity
A receive path in a receiver including circuitry for deriving a first stream of first digitized samples from a received analog signal at a first sampling rate, and at least one interpolating filter in parallel with the first stream of first digitized samples for generating at least a second stream of digitized samples at the first sampling rate but offset with respect to the first stream by a fraction of a sample time period. |
| US07733989B2 |
Method and system of channel estimation
Channel estimation is performed using side information. A signal transmitted over a radio channel includes side information corresponding to a first predetermined signal and a second predetermined signal. The first predetermined signal is different from the second predetermined signal. An estimate of the radio channel is determined using both the first predetermined signal and the second predetermined signal. Using multiple sources of side information improves the accuracy and the efficiency of the channel estimation. One example application is Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing based communications systems. |
| US07733986B2 |
Receiver and electronic apparatus
A receiver has a receiving unit including a PLL, a mixer, and a filter, and demodulating unit including a frequency error detector for detecting a frequency error in a signal from a filter. The PLL includes a local oscillator for supplying a local oscillation signal to a mixer, a variable frequency divider for frequency-dividing the local oscillation signal based on a signal from the frequency error detector, and a phase comparator for comparing a signal from the variable frequency divider with a signal from a crystal oscillator. The PLL can reduce the frequency error of the local oscillation signal. |
| US07733983B2 |
Symbol tracking for AM in-band on-channel radio receivers
A method for symbol tracking in AM in-band on-channel radio receivers comprises the steps of: receiving a stream of time domain samples; assembling a set of the time domain samples equal to a symbol time plus a half symbol delay in response to a symbol timing adjustment value for each symbol period; interpolating the time domain samples; partitioning the interpolated time domain samples into a first group of samples representing half-off symbols and a second group of samples representing on-time symbols; processing the first and second groups of samples to produce the symbol timing adjustment value; and outputting the second group of samples representing on-time symbols at a symbol rate. An apparatus that performs the method is also included. |
| US07733982B2 |
Signal adjustment receiver circuitry
Systems and methods for adjusting a signal received from a communication path are disclosed. A receiver can receive a signal from a communication path which attenuates at least some frequency components of the signal. The receiver can include an equalization block that adjusts at least some of the frequency content of the received signal, a signal normalization block that provides a normalized signal amplitude and/or a normalized edge slope, and a control block. In one embodiment, the control block controls frequency adjustment in the equalization block for high frequencies but not for low frequencies. For low frequency adjustment, the control block controls the normalized signal amplitude in the signal normalization block. In this manner, controlled adjustment for low frequency content is performed in the signal normalization block. |
| US07733978B2 |
Apparatus and method of dynamically adapting the LUT spacing for linearizing a power amplifier
A digital adaptive predistorter look up table (DAPD-LUT) technique dynamically adapts a look up table (LUT) an LUT spacing for linearizing a power amplifier (PA). It optimizes the LUT spacing for the PA without prior knowledge of system state information. A size-N LUT divides a whole unsaturated PA input amplitude range into N bins, each predistorted by an entry of the LUT. The LUT is indexed by an input amplitude of a modulated signal via an index mapper to implement an unconditionally non-uniform LUT spacing. A spacing adaptor online interactively adapts the LUT spacing. The adapted LUT spacing balances the inter-modulation distortion (IMD) power at the PA output corresponding to each bin, so that the total IMD power at the PA output is minimized. This dynamically-optimum technique is practical, robust, and with low complexity. |
| US07733976B2 |
Computational circuits and methods for processing modulated signals having non-constant envelopes
Circuits and methods are provided for use in a wireline or wireless transmitter to complement the digital generation of non-constant envelope modulation signals therein. A digital signal processor is configured for deconstructing a predetermined signal having an undesirable property into one or more fragment signals which do not have the undesirable property. In a preferred embodiment the predetermined signal is preconditioned by applying a preconditioning deconstruction process to another signal from which the predetermined signal is derived, whereby that other signal is deconstructed into one or more preconditioned fragment signals having an improved property over the other signal. For OFDM modulation schemes this undesirable property may be a relatively high peak-to-average power ratio. Signals formed from the fragment signals are subject to conversion to analog signals and processing by power efficient, dynamic-range limited analog circuits i.e. S Class power amplifiers (and, for wireless applications, low compression-point up-converters), before being recombined for transmission. |
| US07733975B1 |
Method for estimating phase error in MIMO OFDM communications system
A method for estimating a phase error existing in a receiver of a MIMO OFDM communications system is disclosed. The method includes executing Hermitian transpose on channel coefficient matrix of the MIMO OFDM communications system for generating Hermitian-transposed channel coefficient matrix, multiplying received signal matrix of the receiver with the Hermitian-transposed channel coefficient matrix for generating converted signals, summing products of the converted signals and complex conjugates of pilot signals corresponding to the converted signals for generating a sum result, and generating the phase error according to the sum result, the converted signals, and the complex conjugates of the pilot signals. The pilot signals are extracted from the received signal matrix. |
| US07733974B2 |
Method and apparatus for multi-sector transmission in a wireless communication network
According to transmission control as taught herein, a transmission control system is configured for controlling the transmission of data via two or more data streams to a subscriber in a wireless communication network. In one or more embodiments, the transmission control system comprises a first control circuit to evaluate performance requirements associated with the data and prevailing network conditions, and a second control circuit to determine the number of per-sector data streams to be used for transmitting the data to the subscriber, and to determine whether the per-sector data streams provide spatial multiplexing, spatial diversity, or some mix thereof, based on the evaluation. Such operations may be applied to a variety of network types, including those that use per-sector shared packet data channels. In such cases, multi-sector transmission control may include transmission scheduling coordination across the involved shared channels. |
| US07733966B2 |
System and method for space diversified linear block interleaving
The present invention is directed to unique methods and apparatus for suppressing impulse noise in a multipoint communications environment using a linear block interleaver. One representative embodiment comprises first logic configured to arithmetically combine a time series of input symbols into a block of N-symbol combinations, and second logic configured to transmit, on a separate channel, each N-symbol combination to a receiver. The first logic is located in a transmitter of a first communications device. The time series has size N and N is greater than one, and each of the input symbols is taken from a signaling constellation. |
| US07733964B2 |
Automatic adaptive equalization method for high-speed serial transmission link
In a method for performing equalization of a communication system, a predetermined signal can be transmitted from a transmitter unit to a receiver unit in a downchannel direction on a transmission line, for example as a pair of differential signals which simultaneously transition in opposite directions on respective signal conductors of the transmission line. At the receiver unit, an eye opening of the signal received from the transmission line can be analyzed to determine equalization information. Equalization information can be transmitted from the receiver unit to the transmitter unit in an upchannel direction on the transmission line and be received at the transmitter unit. Using received equalization information, a transmission characteristic of the transmitter unit can be adjusted. |
| US07733963B2 |
Method for encoding and decoding video signal
Disclosed is a method for encoding a decoding a video signal. In the procedure of encoding the video signal, when a frame temporarily simultaneous with a frame including a macro block of an enhanced layer which will obtain a prediction video does not exist in a base layer, the macro block is encoded based on difference values of residual data using corresponding residual blocks in a past frame and a future frame of the base layer which are residual data corresponding to image difference values and using a residual block for the macro block of the enhanced layer. In another embodiment, the macro block is encoded based on difference values of residual data using corresponding residual blocks in a past frame and a future frame of the enhanced layer and the residual block for the macro block. Accordingly, a residual prediction mode is applied for a macro block of an enhanced layer even if a frame temporally simultaneous with a frame of the enhanced layer does not exist in a base layer, thereby improve coding efficiency. |
| US07733962B2 |
Reconstructed frame caching
Systems and methods for processing input media in a computing device are described. In one aspect, a reconstructed frame is cached according to a set of criteria. A request to scrub to a predictive frame of input media is received. Responsive to receiving the request, the predictive frame is decoded starting with the reconstructed frame. |
| US07733955B2 |
Method and apparatus for coding image information, method and apparatus for decoding image information, method and apparatus for coding and decoding image information, and system of coding and transmitting image information
An image information decoding method for decoding compressed image information which has been coded via a process including dividing an input image signal into blocks, performing an orthogonal transform on the blocks on a block-by-block basis, and quantizing resultant orthogonal transform coefficients. The decoding process includes performing dequantization such that a quantization parameter is weighted by an addition operation, and the dequantization is performed on each chroma components of the quantized coefficients using said weighted quantization parameter, and performing an inverse orthogonal transform. |
| US07733952B2 |
Multi-pair gigabit Ethernet transceiver having adaptive disabling of circuit elements
Various systems and methods providing high speed decoding, enhanced power reduction and clock domain partitioning for a multi-pair gigabit Ethernet transceiver are disclosed. ISI compensation is partitioned into two stages; a first stage compensates ISI components induced by characteristics of a transmitter's partial response pulse shaping filter in a demodulator, a second stage compensates ISI components induced by characteristics of a multi-pair transmission channel in a Viterbi decoder. High speed decoding is accomplished by reducing the DFE depth by providing an input signal from a multiple decision feedback equalizer to the Viterbi based on a tail value and a subset of coefficient values received from a unit depth decision-feedback equalizer. Power reduction is accomplished by adaptively truncating active taps in the NEXT, FEXT and echo cancellation filters, or by disabling decoder circuitry portions, as channel response characteristics allow. A receive clock signal is generated such that it is synchronous in frequency with analog sampling clock signals and has a particular phase offset with respect to one of the sampling clock signals. This phase offset is adjusted such that system performance degradation due to coupling of switching noise from the digital sections to the analog sections is substantially minimized. |
| US07733949B2 |
Wireless communications system with reduced sideband noise and carrier leakage
A wireless communications system is provided with reduced sideband noise and carrier leakage. In the system, at least one transmitter modulates at least one input signal with a first carrier to generate a modulated output signal, and at least one receiver receives the modulated output signal and demodulates the same with a second carrier to generate at least one demodulated output signal. The first and second carriers are at different frequencies, such that the sideband noise and carrier leakage generated by different sources can be distinguished. |