| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US07743573B1 |
Roofing composition
A roofing composition is formed as a shingle or from one or more separate sheets. The roofing composition includes a storage layer with an inert non-growing storage medium to absorb and detain precipitation for gradual release. The roofing composition reduces hydraulic discharge rates to avoid overloading downstream drainage systems. |
| US07743568B1 |
Tile system and method
A tile system includes a tile and at least one removable tile insert. One of the tile and the at least one tile insert has securing means for removably retaining the at least one insert within or to the tile. The tile is configured to be installed on a surface through conventional means. The insert may incorporate both decorative and/or functional features and may be removed, replaced and/or reused to change the appearance of a single tile, multiple tiles, mural, liner or decorative scheme. |
| US07743566B2 |
Structure having multiple interwoven structural members enhanced for resistance of multi-directional force
A structural assembly has a first set of first elongate structural members alternately spaced apart from a second set of second elongate structural members by locking blocks, the first set defining a first plane and the second set defining a second plane forming an intersection at an angle with the first plane, the structural members and locking blocks defining an assembly of adjoined blocks and structural members at the intersection, and a compressive mechanism spanning the assembly of adjoined blocks and structural members at the intersection. Compressing the adjoined blocks and structural members by the spanning compression mechanism locks the blocks and structural members together in a manner to resist applied forces. |
| US07743565B2 |
Modular building block system and method of manufacture
A first load bearing component is adapted to provide load bearing strength when the modular building block is used in a building panel. A second load bearing component is coupled to the first load bearing component via a first coupling arrangement and is adapted to provide load bearing strength when the modular building block is used in the building panel. A building services component is positioned between the first load bearing component and the second load bearing component for providing a conduit for at least one building service. The first and second load bearing components and the building services component are adapted to be configurable in a plurality of positions relative to the other. |
| US07743559B2 |
Modular support for automobile doors, door assembly for an automobile and method for mounting the modular support on a door frame
The present disclosure relates to a modular support for automobile doors, which includes a support panel and at least one attachment unit to attach the panel to a frame. The attachment unit includes an orifice made in the panel; a screw; a nut in which the screw is threaded; and a guide element that allows the nut to move in a direction parallel to a longitudinal axis of the screw which stops the nut from turning about said longitudinal axis of the screw. The present disclosure also relates to a door assembly and an assembly method. |
| US07743558B2 |
Double sliding door
A double sliding door arrangement cooperating with a double-wide door opening formed in an upright wall. A top header beam extends across and defines the upper extremity of the door opening. A pre-tensioning arrangement mounted on and extending lengthwise of the top header beam causes the header beam to be deflected upwardly into a shallow bowed shape. A support track is fixed to and extends lengthwise of the header beam and horizontally for predetermined distances along and rigidly fixed to the wall adjacent right and left sides of the door opening. Right and left slab doors are supported on and vertically suspended downwardly from said track in sidewardly co-planar relationship, and are movable along said track between closed and open positions. The doors in the closed position vertically load and downwardly deflect the header beam, whereby the initial upwardly bowed shape minimizes outward swinging between opposed inner edges of the doors when in the closed position. |
| US07743557B2 |
Sliding track coupling structure for sliding doors
A sliding track for sliding doors includes a sliding door track and a glass fixed panel track which have an inverted U-shape cross section with an opening facing downward. The sliding door track has a left and a right inner wall that have a pair of guiding tracks formed thereon to allow a plurality pairs of rollers which are hinged on a hanging track which is fastened to a sliding door on a lower side to roll thereon in a straddle manner. The sliding door track further has a pair of first wedge troughs on the upper left and upper right corners, and a pair of second wedge troughs on a lower side. The first and second wedge troughs are coupled with the glass fixed panel track. The sliding door track and the glass fixed panel track may also be coupled with an ornamental plate on the top. The glass fixed panel track may further be coupled with a sealing plate on the bottom. |
| US07743553B1 |
Soil formulation for resisting erosion
This disclosure relates to soil erosion and the establishment of an appropriate seed bed. More specifically, the disclosure relates to a composition applied to exposed soil wherein the composition comprises organic material produced when the methane is burned from green manure and dried. This organic material combines seed and a liquid carrier, such that the substance can be hydraulically applied to the desired area. Fertilizer or other nutrients are often added to the mixture to further enhance the product and to encourage growth. |
| US07743549B2 |
Jig fishing lure
A jig-type fishing lure having a jig body with a hook extending from a rear portion of the body and a spinner-type fish attractant located forward of a front end of the jig body. A fishing line is attached to an attachment point located between the spinner-type fish attractant and the barb of the rearwardly extending hook. |
| US07743546B2 |
Firearm adapted for use in low light, illuminating rear sight, and method for aligning sights in low light environments
A rugged adjustable, optical alignment system is well suited for use in low light environments or at night. A rear sight includes a U-shaped array of, preferably, first second and third substantially cylindrical, transparent, tritium vials arranged such that the elongated cylindrical side surfaces of the vials are exposed to define an array of elongated illuminated segments. The array is preferably in the shape of a “U” having a first horizontally aligned vial positioned below a sight notch with a second vertical vial positioned above and to the left of the notch. A third vertical vial is positioned to the right of the sighting notch, above the first vial. In use, a front blade or front post also containing a tritium insert is aligned within the rear sight's U-shaped array of illuminated segments, thereby providing an intuitive sight picture. |
| US07743544B2 |
Rifle stock with recoil absorption facility
A rifle stock has an elongated body with a forward end and a butt end. The upper and lower edges of the stock are solid and continuous from front to rear. A slot generally parallel to the butt plate is formed adjacent to the butt plate to allow limited flexing in response to recoil. The stock may be formed as a hollow shell with opposed side walls, with slots to find in each sidewall. Several parallel slots may be defined in each sidewall. The slots may be occupied by elastomeric elements. |
| US07743541B2 |
Sign holding extrusion arrangement
An elongated sign holding extrusion for supporting a sign from an overhead member, comprising an elongated unitarily extruded frame assembly having an upper edge and a lower edge, with a first side portion and a second side portion extending therebetween. An elongated upper receiving-channel is arranged at the upper edge of the frame assembly. An hollow elongated, upper channel is arranged in a spaced-apart, adjacent and parallel manner to the elongated upper receiving channel in said frame assembly. An elongated middle channel contains a pair of elongated biasing members therein for pinchably supporting a poster therebetween. An elongated central channel is spaced adjacent the lower edge of the frame assembly for capture of slidable sign supporting hangers. |
| US07743540B2 |
Identification system with wristband and reusable pouch
The present invention relates to identification systems and more particularly to patient identification systems comprising an identification band and a reusable pouch. The identification system comprises an identification band that is passed through one or more slits in a reusable identification pouch. The pouch includes an information area where information about the patient may be printed, and a pocket where alert labels or other tags may be stored. When the identification band is removed, the pouch may be mounted onto a new band. The information contained on and attached to the pouch may be reused each time a new identification band is needed. |
| US07743537B2 |
Earth reduction tool
An earth reduction tool configured to connect to a vacuum source of an earth reduction system for moving material comprising an elongated body defining a first end for connecting to the vacuum source, an opposite second end, and an elongated vacuum passage extending through the elongated body between the first and the second ends. The tool also has an elongated air passage extending from the body second end to at least a point intermediate the elongated body first and second ends, the air passage having an open first end and an open second end proximate the elongated body second end that is in fluid communication with the elongated body vacuum passage second end, wherein when the vacuum source pulls a vacuum through the elongated body vacuum passage, air is drawn up into the vacuum passage from the air passage open second end. |
| US07743534B2 |
Snow plow having two-piece mold board
A snow plow for attachment to a vehicle, the snow plow including a mounting apparatus having a mounting frame, the mounting frame including at least one mounting upright. The snow plow further including a plow blade including a retention apparatus constructed and arranged to slidingly and disengageably secure the plow blade to the mounting upright(s) when the plow blade is in a working orientation. The plow blade includes a two piece mold board, the mold board preferably being an aluminum extrusion. |
| US07743532B2 |
Walking boot for diabetic and other patients
An orthopedic walking boot promotes rapid healing of diabetic foot ulcerations by lowering the maximum peak pressure imposed upon the foot. The walker has a hard unyielding shell which is designed for walking. The shell closely and rigidly supports a mid-sole in a foot-shaped bed. The mid-sole has a foot-shaped cavity with rounded sides adapted to form resilient support for the heel, arch and sides of a foot in addition to the bottom of a foot. A conformable inner-sole is adapted to fit over the foot-shaped cavity in the mid-sole and be compressed in response to foot pressure between the sides and bottom of the foot and the sides and bottom of the foot-shaped cavity in the mid-sole thereby compensating for small differences between the shape of the foot and the shape of the cavity. Weight applied to the foot is transferred to the walking shell by contact between the sides of the foot, arch, and heel and the arch, heel and sides of the foot-shaped cavity as well as the bottom of the cavity thereby decreasing the peak or maximum unit pressure on the plantar surface of the foot. A breathable bootie which wraps the foot and lower leg in a protective “cocoon” is preferably secured to the upper surface of the insole thereby preventing foreign materials from entering the foot cavity. |
| US07743531B2 |
Article of footwear with expandable heel portion
An article of footwear with heel webbing is disclosed. The article of footwear includes an elastic member along a heel portion. The elastic member is associated with a heel protector. The heel protector is attached to the outsole of the article of footwear at one end and to a portion of the elastic member at another end. |
| US07743529B2 |
Protective foot covering article
A protective foot covering article comprises two adjacent layers of water impermeable sheet material. A water impermeable seam is provided between the layers of water impermeable sheet material. A shape of the water impermeable seam provides for an interior space between the layers of water impermeable sheet material. The interior space includes a closed end portion and an open end portion. A portion of the water impermeable seam defining the closed end portion of the interior space is contoured inwardly with respect to the interior space thereby providing a contoured foot arch portion. A plurality of water drainage apertures each extending through at least one of the layers. Means for cinching the open end portion of the interior space is engaged with at least one of the layers of water impermeable sheet material. |
| US07743528B2 |
Dehydrating device
A dehydrating device comprises a tappet unit, a transmission unit and a rotation unit, wherein the rotation unit comprises a bearing member and a transmission shaft. A aquiferous member is disposed in the bearing member, and then the operation of the tappet unit is beginning. The tappet unit then mechanically drives the transmission unit and the rotation unit so as to dewater the aquiferous member. |
| US07743527B2 |
Position detector
The present invention Provides a position detector includes a scale provided with a recording medium recorded with information for position detection; a slider disposed to face the recording medium of the scale and to relatively travel along an elongate direction of the scale and provided with a detection sensor for detecting the information of the recording medium, a carrier for carrying the slider, and a posture control mechanism disposed between the carrier and the slider to control slider posture relative to the scale. The posture control mechanism is located on a straight line being vertical to a plane provided with the recording medium facing the detection sensor and passing the detection sensor and biases the slider toward the scale in the direction of the straight line for posture control. The slider is provided with a guide restricting section slidably contact with the scale to restrict a biasing force of the posture control mechanism. |
| US07743526B2 |
Device for checking countersink dimensions
A device for checking countersink dimensions comprises a measuring head (2) associated with a spindle (3) of a multi-axis process machine (4), and a processing unit operatively associated with the spindle (3) to control spindle movements, the measuring head (2) comprising a contact element (5) that can be inserted into a countersink (101) and a comparator element (7) which, by coming into contact with the countersink and withdrawing, detects the stroke of the contact element (5) inside the countersink (101). A floating member (22) automatically corrects any alignment errors between the contact element (5) and the axis of the countersink (101). |
| US07743525B2 |
Planeness testing apparatus
An exemplary apparatus for testing planeness of a workpiece is provided. The apparatus includes a platform for supporting the workpiece thereon, a bracket vertically mounted to the platform, and a testing system mounted to the bracket for testing the workpiece. The testing system includes a testing member, a test dial indicator having a sliding pole, and a fine-tuning member for controlling the movement of the testing member. One end of the testing member is connected to the sliding pole. When testing, the fine-tuning member drives the testing member to move toward the workpiece, until the testing member contacts the workpiece. The sliding pole extends together with the testing member. A value is shown by the test dial indicator that indicates the moving distance of the testing member. A distortion value of the workpiece can be obtained according to the value. |
| US07743524B2 |
Coordinate measurement machine with improved joint
In one embodiment, a coordinate measurement apparatus includes an articulated arm having a first end and a second end with at least a first arm segment and a second arm segment therebetween. Further, the apparatus can comprise at least one ball and socket joint connecting the first arm segment to the second arm segment, with the ball and socket joint including a ball member and a socket member, and a measurement probe attached to the first end of said articulated arm. |
| US07743522B2 |
Composite tool for layout and installation of back splashes
A multi-purpose hand tool having opposing planar surfaces. A first long side has a linear edge for drawing straight lines. Graduations are provided along a beveled surface for use in measurement. Short sides perpendicular to the straight edge facilitate placement in an inside corner. A remaining side has serrations for spreading an adhesive. A cover is secured to the main body by pins in the cover and openings in the main body. The main body and cover house a level. A viewing window incorporates a lens for magnification. Guideways are configured to receive a straightedge, the guideways being aligned at precise, given angles. Projections in each guideway cooperate with a groove provided along only one given surface of the straightedge to assure proper orientation of the straightedge in the guideways. The main body and cover have smooth undulations for receiving and seating the fingers. A recess in the cover seats the tips of the fingers. A convex surface surrounding the viewing window protects the level. Spaced openings along the tool facilitate measurement and marking. |
| US07743521B2 |
Professional layout tool
An all-in-one combination layout tool is provided for marking center lines for spacing studs, marking rip lines, marking cut lines for roof rafters and staircase stringers, and other purposes. The tool comprises a rectangular base plate, an elongate locator bar with a rounded pivot corner, and two connectors to connect the locator bar to the base plate in a variety of configurations. The base plate includes multiple “pivot” points for pivotally connecting the locator bar, two strategically-placed arcuate slots for marking or making angle cuts, and two strategically placed parallel slots for configuring the tool to mark or make rip cuts. Angle markings are provided on two adjacent edges of the base plate, and 1/16-inch markings are provided on the opposite adjacent edges. The base plate is planar and has no enlarged flange or lip that would hinder its use in laying out staircase stringers. |
| US07743517B1 |
Guide for establishing reveal on door and window frames during molding installation
A guide preferably of small size preferably two and a half inches square is disclosed for establishing reveal on doors and window frames during molding installation without having to do measuring and marking. In one embodiment two square blocks making up the guide are fixedly attached to each other and a different guide is used for different molding reveals. In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the position of the two blocks relative to each other is adjustable such that one block moves along the other block only along a diagonal providing a simple single adjustment which provides the same amount of reveal on two orthogonal sides of the guide. |
| US07743510B2 |
Powered tool for tube cutting and treating
A tool for power cutting and treating a tube or the like, and having a power source and an open end for receiving the tube for cutting. There are a tube cutter and rollers for rotation around the tube during cutting. A tool housing encloses the cutter and rollers and also two gear trains which can rotate at different speeds. One of the trains creates tool rotation drive and the other of the trains creates tube cutting. The rotation drive can be reversed for setting the cutter and rollers in starting positions, along with setting and presenting the open end to the next tube to be cut. The rotating gears also drive two power-take-offs for treating the tube. |
| US07743507B2 |
Rotary type electric shaver
A rotary type electric shaver with an outer cutter frame provided on a shaver main body. An outer cutter installed in this outer cutter frame and having its shaving surface on the upper surface of a ring-shaped thin layer portion. An inner cutter 16 having a cutter body that rotates and makes sliding contact from below with the lower surface of the outer cutter 14, wherein a thin layer portion 28 is formed in a substantially arc shape that is convex upward in a radial and vertical cross section that includes a center axis line which is the rotational center of the inner cutter. The thickness of the thin layer portion near the apex of the upward convex is smallest at the apex and gradually becomes thicker as distance increases away from the apex. |
| US07743506B2 |
Heated shaving razors
Razors and systems for wet shaving are provided. The razors include a heating element and a heating material that may be heated by the heating element. Some systems include a holder for the razor, comprising contacts positioned to engage electrical contacts of the razor and deliver power from a power source to the heating element. |
| US07743504B1 |
Rectangular and square ducting systems
A duct structure (50), includes lengths of square/rectangular duct (52) manufactured by pre-forming the duct in round cross-section (51) and then transforming the round cross-section into square and rectangular cross-sections utilizing expandable die structures (58). The duct (52) may be connected together end to end by flanged connectors (54) formed from strip stock (71), that is notched at locations that correspond to the corners of the formed flange connector. The cross-sectional profile of the flanged connector is then formed by roll forming and/or bending and/or other techniques. Thereafter, the strip stock is bent at its notched locations to define the corners (80) of the flange connector (54) and then the free ends of the strip stock are fixed together. |
| US07743496B2 |
Cable termination methods
A termination for a multi-conductor cable is made by providing a metal structure that includes a plurality of parallel but spaced apart fingers that are joined together by a connecting member adjacent at least one end of each finger. Each of the conductors in the cable is connected to a respective one of the fingers at a location that is spaced from the connecting member. The cable and the fingers are then over-molded with an insulating material where the conductors are connected to the fingers. This over-molding leaves a portion of the length of each finger exposed. The connecting member is then severed and removed. |
| US07743490B2 |
Auto-assembling system for small shell devices
The present invention discloses an auto-assembling system for small shell devices. The system includes a first transportation apparatus, a second transportation apparatus, a first driving module, a second driving module, a power assembling module and a control circuit. The first transportation apparatus having a first transportation belt and the second transportation apparatus having a second transportation belt are used to transport the frames or the covers of the devices. The power assembling module mounted on the end of the first transportation apparatus and the second transportation apparatus is used for vertically pressing downwardly the frames and the covers such that the frames and the covers can be assembled. |
| US07743489B2 |
Substrate surface with varying electrical or magnetic properties
A substrate including a surface on which is provided a modifying layer which is incomplete and has a distribution such as to provide a plurality of islands of said material and/or islands of substrate surface whereby the surface exhibits a modified electrical and/or magnetic property. |
| US07743488B2 |
Manufacturing method for variable resistive element
In the case where a variable resistive element, which is made of a variable resistor provided between a first and second electrodes, and of which the electrical resistance varies by applying a voltage pulse between the two electrodes, is applied to a resistance nonvolatile memory, there is a range of the resistance value of the variable resistive element in a low resistance state where the nonvolatile memory can operate normally. In the conventional manufacturing method the resistance value of the variable resistive element is too low, therefore, it can not be controlled within a desired range of the resistance value. A step of carrying out of a reduction process is provided at any point after the step of forming a variable resistor material as a film, it has thereby become possible to increase the resistance value of the variable resistive element, which is too low in the conventional method. |
| US07743487B2 |
Method to planarize perpendicular write poles using a combination of CMP and reactive ion milling
A perpendicular write head includes a beveled main pole having corners defining a track width and having a planarized surface and encapsulated on either side thereof and below by an alumina layer, the alumina layer having a polished surface and extending above the main pole on either side thereof as steps. |
| US07743485B1 |
Method of manufacturing a superconducting cable
Provided is a superconducting cable having a structure such that cable cores, each having a superconducting layer, are housed in a thermal insulation pipe and the superconducting layer of each cable core has portions having different critical current values. When an excessive current flows in the superconducting layer in case of a short-circuit failure, the current exceeds the critical current value of the portion having a smaller critical current value first, which results in damage to the portion, suppressing the occurrence of damage to the other normal portion. A superconducting cable line using this superconducting cable and a splitter for accommodating the cable cores therein is also provided. |
| US07743484B2 |
Rotor shaft and method of manufacturing the same
Disclosed is a method of manufacturing a rotor shaft including a rotor and a shaft having a groove formed on a periphery to open radially outwardly, the rotor being fixed to the shaft through a caulking plate disposed on the periphery of the shaft and adjacent the rotor in an axial direction thereof. This method comprises the step of caulking the caulking plate to fix the rotor to the shaft by applying a load to an end portion of the caulking plate from outside in a radial direction, opposite the groove, when the caulking plate is disposed in the predetermined place, causing a part of the caulking plate to be press-fitted into the groove. This caulking and fixing step includes pressing a punch against the caulking plate from outside in a radial direction of the shaft, thereby fixing the rotor to the shaft. |
| US07743480B2 |
Method of manufacturing a drum-type washing machine
Disclosed is a drum-type washing machine having a tub provided therein for storing wash water with an improved structure, the tub including a center tub formed in a hollow cylindrical form for rotatably providing a drum therein; and a back tub including a base plate for covering a rear side of the center tub, a first bending part bent backward from an outline of the base plate, and overlapped on an inner surface of the center tub, and a second bending part bent frontward from the first bending part, and overlapped on an outer circumferential surface of the center tub. |
| US07743477B2 |
Method of manufacturing a multi-nozzle ink jet head
A manufacturing method for a multi-nozzle ink jet head using piezoelectric elements. The head has a nozzle member in which a plurality of nozzles are formed, a pressure chamber wall member in which a plurality of pressure chambers are formed, and piezoelectric type actuators that have a diaphragm and a plurality of piezo elements and apply pressure to each of the plurality of pressure chambers for ejecting ink from the nozzles. A coating member having high rigidity is provided on inner surfaces of the pressure chamber walls or on parts of the diaphragm in contact with the pressure chamber wall member, thus increasing the rigidity of the pressure chamber walls. |
| US07743476B2 |
Engineered fabric articles
Methods are described for forming unitary fabric elements for use in engineered thermal fabric articles, including thermal fabric garments, thermal fabric home textiles, and thermal fabric upholstery covers, and for forming these articles, having predetermined discrete regions of contrasting insulative capacity positioned about the thermal fabric article in correlation to insulative requirements of a user's body. In one implementation, loop yarn in first regions is formed to a first pile height, and loop yarn in other regions is formed to another, different, relatively greater pile height. In another implementation, loop yarn having a first shrinkage performance is formed in first regions to a predetermined loop height, and loop yarn having another, different shrinkage performance is formed in other regions; the loops are cut and finished to a common pile height and the web is exposed to heat to cause loop yarn to shrink to one or more different pile heights. |
| US07743466B2 |
Labor-saving pivotal shaft structure
The present invention discloses a labor-saving pivotal shaft structure, comprising a fixed part and a movable part, wherein the movable part and the fixed part produce a frictional torque therebetween to provide the movable part with the functions of rotating, arresting, and positioning relative to the fixed part; and a torsion rod which is a rigid rod, whose one end is mounted onto the fixed part; such that the fixed part is connected to a main frame and the movable part as well as the other end of the torsion rod are respectively connected to a cover frame, and thus when the cover frame is being closed down, the fixed part is in a fixed condition and the torsion rod and the cover frame rotate together, leading to the torsion rod being in a twisted condition of storing energy; whereas when the cover frame is being opened up, the stored energy of the torsion rod is released to provide an auxiliary force. |
| US07743465B2 |
Damping hinge apparatus
A damping hinge apparatus includes a hinge and a damper. The damper has a damping shell, a damping cover, a damping body, an outer gasket and a rotating body. The damping cover is fixed in the damping shell and has a center hole defined, an inner wall of the center hole defines a plurality of loop-shaped groove perpendicular to the center hole and parallel each other. The damping body has a column portion received in the center hole, the column portion protrudes outward to form a plurality of rotating plates perpendicular to the column portion and parallel each other. The rotating plates engage the corresponding loop-shaped grooves. A bottom of the column portion connects a connecting portion located beneath the damping cover. The outer gasket is arranged around the connecting portion and against an inner side of the damping shell. Damping oil is filled between the outer gasket, the damping shell and the damping body. |
| US07743464B2 |
Withdrawing mechanism
A withdrawing mechanism includes a catcher 2 disposed on a main body with a swingable member D swingably assembled thereto and configured to capture a striker 1 moving from a front side when the swingable member D is swung toward a reference position; and a load response type damper 6. The catcher 2 is configured to be turnable forward and backward throughout between a standby position and a turned position and to capture the striker 1 in the standby position and turn forward up to the turned position. The damper 6 is configured to apply a damping force to a turning operation of the catcher 2 toward the turned position. |
| US07743462B2 |
Double sided suction nozzle for use in vacuum cleaner
A doubled sided suction nozzle having both a brush function and a duster function is disclosed. The doubled sided suction nozzle includes a nozzle body having an air inlet to draw in air, at least one brush unit rotatably disposed on a first surface of the nozzle body to come in surface contact with a surface to be cleaned thus to brush away dirt from the surface to be cleaned, at least one duster unit rotatably disposed on the second surface of the nozzle body to come in surface contact with the surface to be cleaned thus to wipe off the dust or dirt from the surface to be cleaned, and a rotating unit disposed in the nozzle body to rotate the brush unit and the duster unit. |
| US07743459B2 |
Floor washing-drying machine
A floor washing-drying machine includes a brush (2) adapted to scrub a floor (4) with a cleaning liquid in view of removing soil and dirt therefrom, and a wiping device (3) adapted to scrape the floor (4) in order to remove the dirty cleaning liquid therefrom. The wiping device (3) includes a front flap (5) and a rear flap (6) adapted to elastically and slidably engage the floor (4) so as to define a suction chamber (7) therebetween, with the suction chamber being fluidly connected with a suction device (8). A further elastic flap (10) is mounted to the wiping device behind the rear flap, and the width of the further flap is smaller than the width of the front and rear flaps (5, 6). |
| US07743455B2 |
Cleaning implements having magnetic means
The present invention is a device for cleaning surfaces comprising; a housing having a handle on one end and a cleaning head on the other end the cleaning head having an upper surface, a lower surface, a perimeter edge and a magnetic means. The magnetic means is removably attached to the cleaning head and provides a magnetic field to its lower surface. There is at least one attachment means provided on the upper surface or the perimeter for securing a cleaning sheet over the lower surface of the cleaning head. |
| US07743454B2 |
Washing brush for automatic motor vehicle washing systems
The present invention relates to a washing brush for automatic motor vehicle washing systems, comprising a cylindric body on the side outer surface thereof are provided a plurality of bands defining the cleaning elements of the brush. The main feature of the invention is that the band or strip elements extend on the side surface of the cylindric body along direction which are inclined with respect to the axial direction. |
| US07743453B2 |
Wiping device for wiping surfaces to be cleaned
The invention relates to a wiping device for wiping surfaces to be cleaned, especially floor surfaces, comprising a plate-type or frame-type wiping element holder (1), preferably in an essentially long, rectangular form, and a wiping element (4) consisting of textile material or the like, which is adapted and fixed to the wiping element holder (1). Said wiping element (4) respectively comprises, on the upper side facing the wiping element holder (1), close to the two opposing sides, and close to the narrow sides in the long, rectangular form, a narrow fixing strip (5), which is applied with its ends to the wiping element (5) [sic]. Said fixing strip extends approximately transversally on the wiping element holder (1) when the wiping element (4) is fixed to the same (1). Position fixing arrangements are provided on the wiping element holder (1), where the fixing strips (5) should extend when the wiping element is fixed (4). The fixing strips (5) especially consist of textile material or the like and are sewn at the ends thereof to the wiping element (4). The position fixing arrangements (7) are especially embodied as edge recesses starting from the ends, in which the fixing strips (5) are placed in the correct position. |
| US07743450B2 |
Cleaning bullet
A cleaning bullet for use in a pipe or track includes a compressible body. In one embodiment, a sheet draped over the body is engageable with interior walls of the pipe or track to clean small contaminants. In another embodiment, the body is formed from an absorbent material that absorbs a fluid, such as a cleaning solution, that can clean and/or disinfect the interior walls of the pipe or track. In yet another embodiment, an alignment key extends radially from a body axis for guiding the cleaning bullet in an air conveyor track. |
| US07743445B2 |
Auxiliary supporting unit, boarding bridge with the same and method for improving stability of the boarding bridge by using the same
The present invention relates to an auxiliary supporting unit for a boarding bridge, a boarding bridge with the same and method for improving stability of boarding bridge. The auxiliary supporting unit includes a leg support which can be driven to extend and retract; and a foot portion attached to one end of the leg support, wherein the foot portion can be supported on the ground when the leg support being extended and can leave the ground when the leg support being retracted. |
| US07743440B2 |
Bed with automatic mattress lifting system
The bed with automatic mattress lifting system is a bed with a frame and an internal drive system for raising a mattress above the frame, allowing the user to easily change the sheets or other bed coverings. The mattress rests on a mattress supporting platform, which, in the lowered position, is received within the frame. In operation, driven motion of an internal rod caused by a drive system located within the frame generates rotation in a lever arm. The lever arm is secured to a shaft that extends across the frame, and rotation of the shaft causes a pair of supports to rotate. Upper ends of the supports are joined to a lower surface of the mattress supporting platform, thus driving upward movement of the mattress supporting platform. The sheets cover both the mattress and the platform, allowing the sheets to be changed without having to manually lift the mattress. |
| US07743438B2 |
Anchor structure for sensors of faucets
An anchor structure for sensors of faucets is located in a sensing faucet. The sensor has a detection side and at least one notch on another side opposite to the detection side at an elevation same as an annular groove formed on an inner wall of a faucet body. An elastic clipping ring is provided to latch in the annular groove and the notch of the sensor to form a bucking effect to anchor the sensor at a selected location in the faucet. The elastic clipping ring is hollow and annular to provide a passage for watering piping and electric wiring. The structure is simpler and can be installed and removed rapidly. |
| US07743434B2 |
Eccentric hinge for plumbing fixture
A multi-part eccentric hinge assembly for a plumbing fixture has two hinge bodies, which when connected pivotally couple a movable part of the fixture to a fixed part, for example, a lid or cover to a bowl deck. One of the hinge bodies has a radial portion and an offset portion. The radial portion generally extends along a line intersecting a pivot axis from a connection for pivotally connecting the hinge assembly to the plumbing fixture. The offset portion intersects the radial portion at one side of the pivot axis and extends back toward an opposite side of the pivot axis to a free end that connects to the second hinge body by a connector. The single hinge body is integrally formed with the moveable part so that the follows an eccentric path when the hinge body is pivoted about the pivot axis. |
| US07743432B2 |
Goggle with interchangeable vent accessories
Disclosed is a pair of protective eyewear that includes a frame having a brow portion with a top surface and a bottom portion with a bottom surface. The frame is configured and arranged to be secured against a wearer's face wherein the brow portion conforms to the wearer's forehead and the bottom portion conforms around the wearer's nose and cheekbones. A lens is interfittingly engaged with the frame. The frame and the lens define an interior portion of the eyewear and an exterior portion of the eyewear. The frame includes a number of vent structures, and each of the vent structures has a vent opening. The vent opening is in fluid connection between the interior portion and the exterior portion of the eyewear. The protective eyewear includes at least one vent accessory configured and arranged to releasably couple to at least one of the vent structures. |
| US07743428B2 |
Wetsuit
A wetsuit includes an outer layer and an inner layer. The inner layer is attached to the outer layer and includes a plurality of fibers having wool and being configured in a plurality of clusters. The inner layer also includes a plurality of interconnected channels. At least a portion of each channel is defined by a space between adjacent clusters. The wetsuit also includes an opening that is disposed on a rear side of the wetsuit. The wetsuit additionally includes at least one fastener that is connected to the opening to open and close the opening. |
| US07748052B2 |
Scanning probe microscope and method of operating the same
A scanning probe microscope capable of preventing contact between the probe and a sample and a method of operating this microscope. The scanning probe microscope measures the topography of a surface of the sample by scanning the probe relative to the surface of the sample. A scanning reference position in the heightwise direction is updated in response to a maximum value of the height of the surface of the sample on the scan lines scanned so far. A limit value is set for motion of the probe in the heightwise direction relative to the scanning reference position. After the update, the next scan line is scanned. In this way, scanning is carried out along the successive scan lines. |
| US07748048B2 |
Storage medium, method of producing transfer file data, and data signal
A transfer file stored in a game cartridge has a transfer file nested structure in which a transfer file in which a game program is converted into a transfer file is further converted into a transfer file. Specifically, the game program is converted into a transfer file at a level “1” (base level) of the nested structure, and a transfer file [n−1] converted at an immediately lower level “n−1” and the game program are converted into a transfer file at a level “n”. Note that n=1, 2, . . . N. |
| US07748045B2 |
Method and system for providing cryptographic document retention with off-line access
Techniques for utilizing security criteria to implement document retention for electronic documents are disclosed. The security criteria can also limit when, how and where access to the electronic documents is permitted. The security criteria can pertain to keys (or ciphers) used to secure (e.g., encrypt) electronic files (namely, electronic documents), or to unsecure (e.g., decrypt) electronic files already secured. At least a portion of the security criteria can be used to implement document retention, namely, a document retention policy. After a secured electronic document has been retained for the duration of the document retention policy, the associated security criteria becomes no longer available, thus preventing subsequent access to the secured electronic document. In other words, access restrictions on electronic documents can be used to prevent access to electronic documents which are no longer to be retained. |
| US07748044B2 |
System and method for processing DRM-enabled files
A system for processing DRM-enabled files includes a playback device and a software module. The software module includes a license-downloading module, a license-transforming module, a decryption module and an encryption module. The license-downloading module is configured to download a first license from a license server to a computer. The license-transforming module is configured to convert the first license to a second license. The decryption module is configured to decrypt a first DRM-enabled file of the computer into a raw file with a first decryption key. The encryption module is configured to encrypt the raw file into a second DRM-enabled file with a second encryption key. The playback device is configured to decrypt the second DRM-enabled file with the second license. The method of the system is also provided. |
| US07748043B2 |
Method for authenticating, in particular, software components that can be loaded into a control unit of a motor vehicle
A method for authenticating a software package, which is provided by a software supplier and which contains a software component that can be loaded into a terminal. The software component is provided with a first authentication suffix, which is verified in order to carry out an authenticity test in the terminal. A higher-level authenticating site is provided, performing authenticating measures on the software package to increase security, wherein the measures performed by the higher-level authenticating site include providing the software package with at least one second authentication suffix instead of the first authentication suffix after successful checking of the software package provided by the software provider and including the first authentication suffix in addition to the software component of the software package. |
| US07748038B2 |
Method and apparatus for managing computer virus outbreaks
Early detection of computer viruses is provided by collecting information about suspicious messages and generating virus outbreak information. In one embodiment, a method comprises receiving the virus outbreak information that has been determined by receiving message information for messages that have characteristics associated with computer viruses, wherein the messages were determined by a virus-check component as not comprising a virus, and mapping the message information received in a specified time period to the virus outbreak information; and when the virus outbreak information indicates initiation of a virus attack, performing a message flow control action for additional messages that have the same characteristics associated with computer viruses as the first messages. As a result, a messaging gateway can suspend delivery of messages early in a virus outbreak, providing sufficient time for updating an anti-virus checker that can strip virus code from the messages. |
| US07748033B2 |
Windows remote debugger service
Systems and methodologies for a scalable remote debugging system that can debug machines positioned behind a firewall and thru the Internet, via employing an Internet Friendly Relay Service (IFRS). The IFRS can be positioned in a common reach location and provide a secure method of exchanging communication traffic over HTTP using SSL and security tokens in real time. Web server(s) of the IFRS can further employ an authorization and/or tracking system to verify connection of a client thereto, for debugging purposes. |
| US07748032B2 |
Method and apparatus for associating tickets in a ticket hierarchy
A method and apparatus for associating session ticket includes a ticketing authority server. The ticketing authority server receives a ticket generation request and information about a client node. It identifies a master session ticket associated in a storage element with the client node. The ticketing authority server then generates a derivative session ticket for the client node and associates the derivative session ticket with the master session ticket. Finally, the ticketing authority server stores information about the client node and the derivative session ticket in the storage element. |
| US07748030B1 |
Licensing digital content use
Systems and methods for packaging, delivery, and use of digital content. In one embodiment, a license matrix is created and used for evaluating the license rights applicable to a requested use of a content item. The license matrix can comprise a plurality of licenses grouped in license chains, and each license can include a set of entitlement rules and a set of grants. A license chain can be associated with an identifier corresponding to a use of content. In another embodiment, it is provided a method of packaging unsecured content for secured delivery over a computer network. In yet another embodiment, a system and method are provided for applying digital management rules to a content item at the time a user requests a use of the content item. In some embodiments, systems and methods allow evaluation of a requested use against a group of licenses to determine the applicable license rights for the requested use. |
| US07748027B2 |
System and method for dynamic data redaction
A system, method and media for dynamically redacting data based on the evaluation of one or more policies. In one embodiment, the method comprises receiving a request to access one or more resources, receiving responses from the one or more resources and assembling a result set which includes several portions of data, determining current access policies for the requestor to the one or more resources, and redacting from the result set a portion of the data that the requestor is not permitted to receive, based on the current access policies. |
| US07748026B1 |
Transparent interceptors for privacy policy implementation
A system and method for applying a privacy policy to an application is provided. The system comprises a data store adapted to defining at least one privacy policy. The system also comprises an interceptor logic component operable to authorize access to information based on the at least one privacy policy. The system further comprises a middleware mechanism operable to receive a request for a service provided by the application, wherein the request relates to private data, to request the interceptor logic component to authorize the request, and to reject the request for the service for an unauthorized request. |
| US07748021B2 |
Positional camera and GPS data interchange device
A location tagged data provision and display system. A personal communication device (PCD) with electromagnetic communication capability has a GPS receiver and a display. The PCD requests maps and location tagged data from data providers and other for display on the PCD. The data providers respond to requests by using searching and sorting schemes to interrogate data bases and then automatically transmitting data responsive to the requests to the requesting PCD. |
| US07748015B2 |
Processing of a broadcast signal
A method of processing a broadcast signal comprises receiving a broadcast signal, the signal including a video component and an audio component. A data component including an interactive application is also received which may be part of the broadcast signal. The broadcast signal is monitored for an identification signal, and the operation of the interactive application is interrupted if the identification signal is not present. |
| US07748013B2 |
Case member and cartridge for storing an information medium
A cartridge includes a case member (500) and a shutter member (100). The case member (500) includes a upper case section (505) and a lowercase section (506). A step portion (507) is formed at a boundary (508) between the upper case section (505) and the lower case section (506). The upper case section (505) includes a shutter pressing section (517) including a plurality of eaves sections (510). Each of the plurality of eaves sections (510) is configured to engage with the eaves engagement section (104) of the shutter member (100). At least two of the plurality of eaves sections (510) are located spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance (519). The lower case section (505) includes a connection portion (520). The connection portion (520) is connected to the step portion (507) at a location between the at least two eaves sections (510), which are located spaced apart from each other by the predetermined distance (519), of the plurality of eaves sections (510). |
| US07748008B1 |
Resource yielding in a multiple application environment
A method and system for allowing a single resource (e.g., a serial port) to be shared by multiple applications in a cooperative manner. The first application to use the resource defines a yield callback that is invoked when a second application makes a request for the serial port. The callback allows the first application to decide whether or not it will yield the resource to the second application. If the first application grants the request, the second application is allowed to use the resource; otherwise, the first application continues to use the resource and the second application receives an error message. The first application can be notified when the second application is finished with the resource, so that the resource can be returned to the first application for use. |
| US07748005B2 |
System and method for allocating a plurality of resources between a plurality of computing domains
In an embodiment, a computing system comprises a plurality of resources, a first manager process for allocating the plurality of resources on a dynamic basis according to service level parameters, and a plurality of computing domains, wherein at least one application, a respective second manager process, and a respective performance monitor process are executed within each computing domain, and wherein the performance monitor generates performance data related to the execution of the at least one application and the second manager process requests additional resources from the first manager process in response to analysis of performance data in view of at least one service level parameter. |
| US07748002B1 |
Systems and methods for scheduling applications
A system allocates resources in a network. The system receives an allocation request for a first flow and a second flow from an application and identifies the application based on the allocation request. The system schedules resources for the first flow based on the identification of the application and the second flow. |
| US07747999B1 |
Software installation in a multi-chassis network device
A multi-chassis router allows an administrator to install software from a single user interface. The multi-chassis router automatically forwards the software to each chassis within the multi-chassis router when given a single command to install the software from an administrator. The multi-chassis router also automatically validates the software on each chassis. This allows each chassis within the multi-chassis router to have the same software during all stages of a software installation and ensures software on each chassis is compatible with software on every other chassis. In effect, an administrator does not need to account for the multiple chassis configuration, and an administrator familiar with software installation on a standalone router can use that knowledge to install software on the multi-chassis router. |
| US07747995B2 |
Method and system for controlling software version updates
Methods and systems are provided for controlling asynchronous distribution and installation of software updates affecting applications installed on terminal devices of a wireless network. A versioning schema enforced by the application development environment enables the runtime environment of a terminal device to evaluate a software update to identify potential compatibility issues and control installation of the update. |
| US07747993B2 |
Methods and systems for ordering instructions using future values
A method of ordering instructions. The method can include placing a first instruction that consumes a value of an object before a second instruction that produces the value of the object such that the first instruction is processed before the second instruction and a physical location is allocated to the value of the object upon processing the first instruction. |
| US07747989B1 |
Virtual machine coprocessor facilitating dynamic compilation
A system includes an abstract machine instruction stream, an execution trace buffer storing information to facilitate dynamic compilation, a virtual machine coprocessor configured to receive an instruction from the abstract machine instruction stream and to generate one or more native machine instructions in response to the received instruction, and a processor coupled to the virtual machine coprocessor and operable to execute the native machine instructions generated by the virtual machine coprocessor. The virtual machine coprocessor updates the execution trace buffer as instructions from the abstract machine instruction stream are processed. In addition, a method for facilitating dynamic compilation includes receiving an instruction to be processed, determining that the instruction marks entry into a basic block, and updating an execution trace buffer. |
| US07747981B2 |
Method of dynamically linking objects operated on by a computational system
In a method for presenting to a user information operated on by a computational software application, a relationship between states of a user interface mechanism located on a workspace associated with the computational software application and an underlying object operated on by the computational software application may be determined. The relationship may be defined at least in part by configuration data capable of being interpreted by the computational software application. A change in a value of the underlying object may be detected, and a current state of the user interface mechanism may be changed based on the detected change in the value of the underlying object and according to the relationship. Additionally, a change in the current state of the user interface mechanism caused by a user may be detected, and the current value of the underlying object may be changed based on the detected change in the current state of the user interface mechanism and according to the relationship. |
| US07747978B2 |
System and method for creating a focus-exposure model of a lithography process
A system and a method for creating a focus-exposure model of a lithography process are disclosed. The system and the method utilize calibration data along multiple dimensions of parameter variations, in particular within an exposure-defocus process window space. The system and the method provide a unified set of model parameter values that result in better accuracy and robustness of simulations at nominal process conditions, as well as the ability to predict lithographic performance at any point continuously throughout a complete process window area without a need for recalibration at different settings. With a smaller number of measurements required than the prior-art multiple-model calibration, the focus-exposure model provides more predictive and more robust model parameter values that can be used at any location in the process window. |
| US07747974B1 |
Method and apparatus for optimizing body bias connections in CMOS circuits using a deep n-well grid structure
A method and apparatus for optimizing body bias connections to NFETs and PFETs using a deep n-well grid structure. A deep n-well is formed below the surface of a CMOS substrate supporting a plurality of NFETs and PFETs having a nominal gate length of less than 0.2 microns. The deep n-well is a grid structure with a regular array of apertures providing electrical continuity between the bottom of the substrate and the NFETs. The PFETs reside in surface n-wells that are continuous with the buried n-well grid structure. The grid and n-well layout is performed on the basis of the functionality of the PFETs contained in the n-wells. |
| US07747971B1 |
State retention for formal verification
Verification model of static state retention behavior of a state saving element design during power shut off of the state saving element in an integrated circuit design including: creating in a computer readable medium a model of a single edge triggered state saving element; and creating in the computer readable medium clock gate logic that suspends saving of new states by the single state saving element upon the occurrence of a first state retention signal in preparation for power shut off. |
| US07747969B2 |
Method and system for displaying drop down list boxes
A method and system for displaying a drop down list box. The method and system may include associating a history record with a drop down list box. The method and system may also include associating a filter box with the drop down list box. the method and system may also include associating a unique identifier with each choice in the drop down list box. The method and system may also include associating a hierarchical structure containing more detailed information about choices in the drop down list box with the drop down list box. Finally, the method and system may include displaying the choices in the drop down list box to a user as a function of at least one of the associated history record, filter box, unique identifier, or hierarchical structure. |
| US07747968B2 |
Content abstraction presentation along a multidimensional path
Content abstractions are emerged in to an ingress terminus of a multidimensional path and depth transitioned through the multidimensional path to an egress terminus. The content abstractions are eliminated at the egress terminus. |
| US07747964B2 |
Operation unit for an image forming apparatus
A readable operation unit for an image forming apparatus displays items representative of various functions relating to image formation while classifying and dividing them on a switchable screen. The operator can therefore easily understand the contents of operation in relation to the other functions despite that the functions are arranged in a hierarchical construction. Further, the operator can grasp the kind of image data and how the image data are processed and output as a single flow. |
| US07747963B2 |
Displaying location-based content in a ticker of a handheld mobile communication device
Tickers are populated with location-based information that is selected according to the geographic location of communication devices. The location of a communication device is identified based on a GPS system, proximity to transmitters in a wireless network, user input, or using other techniques. Location-appropriate content is obtained either in real-time from the network or from a local data store at the communication device. In general location-based, context-aware content can be displayed on tickers associated with a variety of communication devices, including mobile communication devices and “immobile” or stationary personal computers. |
| US07747953B2 |
Methods and systems for receiving feedback from a scalable number of participants of an on-line presentation
Methods and systems for receiving feedback from a scalable number of participants of an on-line presentation. One method includes analyzing a screen change data set at a first computing device of an on-line presentation environment, tagging the screen change data set as requesting acknowledgement by the one or more viewers, and transmitting the screen change data set to the one or more viewers. The method also includes receiving a confirmation of receipt of the tagged screen change data set, generating a representation of the tagged screen change data set in response to receiving the confirmation of receipt, and displaying the generated representation at a presenter. |
| US07747951B2 |
System and method for processing version content
Systems and methods for processing existing layouts of content comprising common and variant content are described. They involve automatically converting content into a layered version document, checking variant content for conditions which could have an undesirable impact on a rendered image, and automatically modifying variant content to reduce the potential for undesirable impacts on a rendered image. |
| US07747949B2 |
System and method comprising an electronic document from physical documents
A method for processing a physical document. A record is created in a selections table stored in a user device. Creating the record includes entering into the record: a document number that identifies both the physical document and an electronic document that is an electronic copy of the physical document, a page number that identifies a page of the physical document and a corresponding page of the electronic document, and a network address of a server that stores the electronic document. The user device receives an identification of where a selected region within the page of the physical document is located within the page. The received identification is inserted into the record of the selections table. Selected data in the record of the selections table may be sent to a user workstation, such that the selected data includes the document number, the page number, and the network address. |
| US07747945B1 |
Data validation rules for acord documents
A validation system is provided for validating the general structure of XML documents, for example ACORD documents, with a schema validation engine and a schema, for example an ACORD schema. A rules profile, containing a carrier's rules for ACORD documents, is set up and stored in storage. A rules engine further validates a received ACORD document with the rules contained in the rules profile. For efficient coding, the rules engine uses a combination of a scripting language (Groovy—which is the standard scripting language for Java) and dot notation to describe exactly how the levels of the ACORD document are to be traversed, so that a single expression (that looks like a long variable name) is used to directly access the data in the document. A programmer simply writes a single long variable name that specifies exactly the data needed and makes that data available to use during validation. |
| US07747941B2 |
Webpage generation tool and method
The creation and maintenance of a website is made easier through automation. The user selects the data (or documents) to put on the web. Information associated with the documents is extracted from the documents and analyzed to determine the contents of the documents. A template is then automatically selected from a library of templates, and this template is used to generate the website. Both the structure and the layout of the data may be determined from the data itself, from user actions, from corporate identity templates, and from authorities that can help improve the website design. |
| US07747939B2 |
Generating free form reports within a data array
Free form reports may be generated within a data array system such as a spreadsheet computer application. A user may select dimension members of a data source, such as an online analytical processing (OLAP) data cube. The user may position the dimension members as headers on the data array where multiple dimensions may be represented in one or both axes. Member formulas are generated that are representative of the headers and include identifiers that point to the dimension member location of the data source. Value formulas are generated within the report grid defined by the location of the headers where the value formulas are representative of the actual data values of the report and include identifiers that point to the data value locations of the dimension member locations within the data source. |
| US07747936B2 |
Device for protection against error injection into an asynchronous logic block of an elementary logic module
A logic circuit comprises a logic module comprising a functional logic block supplying a functional result, and a functional flip-flop receiving the functional result and supplying a synchronous result. A module for checking the functional logic block comprises a checking logic block executing the same logic function as the functional logic block and supplying a checking result, checking synchronous flip-flops for applying data present at the input of the functional logic block to the input of the checking logic block, and means for comparing the functional result and the checking result and for supplying a first error signal. |
| US07747935B2 |
Method and device for securing the reading of a memory
A method reads a datum saved in a memory by selecting an address of the memory in which the datum to be read is saved, reading the datum in the memory at the selected address, saving the datum read in a storage space, and when the memory is not being accessed by a CPU, reading the datum in the memory, reading the datum saved in the storage space, and activating an error signal if the datum read in the memory is different from the datum saved. The method can be applied particularly to the protection of smart card integrated circuits. |
| US07747922B2 |
Adaptive hybrid ARQ systems with BCJR decoding
A method and an apparatus of constructing hybrid Automatic Repeat reQuest (ARQ) systems using specific properties of the BCJR error correcting algorithm. Since the convergence to an actual codeword is not always guaranteed with the BCJR, the method and apparatus implements a system, in which two different types of Negative AcKnowledgement messages (NAKs) are employed. The first type is the conventional one-bit NAK and the second type specifies retransmission pattern in such a way that the additional parity bits are concentrated on the parts of the code trellis that did not converge to a valid sequence. |
| US07747919B2 |
BIST scan path parts with test generator and compactor circuitry
A Scan-BIST architecture is adapted into a low power Scan-BIST architecture. A generator 102, compactor 106, and controller 110 remain the same as in the known art. The changes between the known art Scan-BIST architecture and the low power Scan-BIST architecture involve modification of the known scan path into scan path 502, to insert scan paths A 506, B 508 and C 510, and the insertion of an adaptor circuit 504 in the control path 114 between controller 110 and scan path 502. |
| US07747918B2 |
JTAG bus communication method and apparatus
The present disclosure describes using the JTAG Tap's TMS and/or TCK terminals as general purpose serial Input/Output (I/O) Manchester coded communication terminals. The Tap's TMS and/or TCK terminal can be used as a serial I/O communication channel between; (1) an IC and an external controller, (2) between a first and second IC, or (3) between a first and second core circuit within an IC. The use of the TMS and/or TCK terminal as serial I/O channels, as described, does not effect the standardized operation of the JTAG Tap, since the TMS and/or TCK I/O operations occur while the Tap is placed in a non-active steady state. |
| US07747917B2 |
Scan cells with minimized shoot-through and scan chains and integrated circuits using the same
A scan including data and shift inputs, and input selection circuitry for selecting between the data and shift inputs during normal, capture, and shift modes in response to only a first control signal and a second control signal. The input selection circuitry includes a first storage element for storing a bit representing a state of the first control signal in response to a change in state of the second control signals and multiplexing circuitry. The multiplexing circuitry is operable in the normal mode to select the data input in response to a first state of the second control signal, in the capture mode to select the data input when the bit stored in the first storage element represents a first state of the first control signal, and in the shift mode to select the shift input when the bit stored in the first storage element represents a second state of the first control signal. A second storage element stores, in response to the first state of the first control signal, data presented at the selected one of the data and shift inputs. |
| US07747913B2 |
Correcting intermittent errors in data storage structures
Embodiments of apparatuses and methods for correcting intermittent errors in data storage structures are disclosed. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a data storage location, error detection logic, inverting logic, control logic, operating logic, and evaluation logic. The error detection logic is to detect an error in a data value read from the data storage location. The inverting logic is to invert the erroneous data value to produce an inverted erroneous data value. The control logic is to cause the inverted erroneous data value to be stored in the data storage location and subsequently read from the data storage location to produce an operand value. The operating logic is to perform a logical operation using the erroneous data value and the operand value. The evaluation logic is to evaluate the result to determine if the error is a soft error. |
| US07747910B2 |
Method of recording/reproducing digital data and apparatus for same
A digital data recording/reproducing method includes the steps of: interleaving data on a PI code for each PI code of a 208-row ECC block; and converting a short burst error into random errors by dispersing errors on the PI codes. Moreover, the digital data recording/reproducing method increases correction capability against several bytes to several tens bytes of errors generated at random without changing burst error correction length by performing this processing for respective PI codes by using interleave rules that are different as much as possible from one another. |
| US07747906B2 |
Recording and reproducing apparatus and digital data recording method
A recordable optical disc includes a user area and a management information area. User data is recorded in a physical block used as a single unit, and the space bit map is recorded in the management information area. Integrity verification processing is performed for each of recording status information so as to verify the integrity of the recording status information indicating a recording status of the physical block and the recording status of the physical block on the recordable optical disc. The necessity of the integrity verification processing is determined by reading out the status information indicating the necessity of the integrity verification processing. When the integrity verification processing is determined to be necessary, the integrity verification processing is carried out for unverified recording status information of the recording status information of the space bit map. |
| US07747905B2 |
Maintenance system, method of controlling maintenance system, server, record medium in which program used for server is recorded, computer and record medium in which program used for computer is recorded
In a maintenance system according to the invention, in the management terminal, an input receiving unit receives an input of management information related to a condition of the managed machine, a second transmitting unit transmits the management information related to the condition of the managed machine to the server, in the server, a receiving unit receives the information related to the result of self-diagnosis transmitted and the management information transmitted, a memory unit stores the information related to the result of self-diagnosis and the management information on a database, a control unit analyzes a trouble-coping history of the managed machine which has a same type, and controls so as to output a analysis result of the trouble-coping history to one of the managed machine and the management terminal. With the maintenance system according to the invention, accurate maintenance information can be obtained. |
| US07747904B1 |
Error management system and method for a packet switch
A packet switch includes an error management module in addition to various components that facilitate routing of data packets through the packet switch. The components generate error codes indicating errors occurring in the packet switch and provide the error codes to the error management module. The error management module select error codes generated by the components and generates an error log based on the selected error codes. Each component is inhibited from providing the same error code to the error management module more than once until the component receives an acknowledgement for that error code from the error management module. A user can access the error log during operation of the packet switch to monitor performance of the packet switch. |
| US07747903B2 |
Error correction for memory
Methods and devices operate to apply and provide differing levels of error correction within a multi-level, non-volatile memory. In an example, the differing level of error correction is provided within one page of a row of multi-level cells relative to other pages stored within the same row of multi-level cells. |
| US07747900B2 |
Thresholding system power loss notifications in a data processing system based on vital product data
Mechanisms for thresholding system power loss notifications in a data processing system are provided. Power loss detection modules are provided in a data processing system having one or more data processing devices, such as blades in an IBM BladeCenter® chassis. The power loss detection modules detect the type of infrastructure of the data processing system, a position of a corresponding data processing device within the data processing system, and a capability of the data processing system to provide power during a power loss scenario. The detection module detects various inputs identifying these types of data processing system and power system characteristics and provides logic for defining a set of behaviors during a power loss scenario, e.g., behaviors for sending system notifications of imminent power loss. The detection of the various inputs and the defining of a set of behaviors may be performed statically and/or dynamically. |
| US07747895B2 |
Multi-directional fault detection system
An apparatus, program product and method checks for nodal faults in a group of nodes comprising a center node and all adjacent nodes. The center node concurrently communicates with the immediately adjacent nodes in three dimensions. The communications are analyzed to determine a presence of a faulty node or connection. |
| US07747888B2 |
Technique to create link determinism
A technique for promoting determinism among bus agents within a point-to-point (PtP) network. More particularly, embodiments of the invention relate to techniques to compensate for link latency, data skew, and clock shift within a PtP network of common system interface (CSI) bus agents. |
| US07747887B2 |
Print engine having authentication device for preventing multi-word memory writing upon power drop
A print engine comprising at least one print controller and at least one associated authentication device is provided. Each authentication device has a processor, non-volatile memory, an input for receiving power from a power supply and a power detection unit. Each authentication device is configured to enable multi-word writes to the non-volatile memory under control of the associated print controller. The processor is configured to control and trim the amount of power supplied to the input to predetermine a threshold at which operation of the authentication device is established. The power detection unit is configured to monitor a voltage level of the power supplied to the input, and in the event the voltage level drops below the predetermined threshold, preventing subsequent words in any multi-word write currently being performed from being written to the memory. |
| US07747885B2 |
Electronic device with serial ATA interface and power saving method for serial ATA buses
In an electronic device with a serial ATA interface, upon detection of the issue or reception of a preset command, a confirmation device, such as a CPU, confirms the completion of execution of the command. Upon confirming the completion of execution of the command, a controller, which may also be the CPU, controls shifting of the serial ATA interface to a power saving mode. |
| US07747883B2 |
Computer system with non-support hyper-transport processor and controlling method of hyper-transport bus thereof
A computer system with a non-support hyper-transport processor and a controlling method of a hyper-transport bus thereof. The computer system includes a system management controller, a Northbridge, a hyper-transport bus, a central processing unit and a power management signal line. The Northbridge is electrically connected to the system management controller through the hyper-transport bus. The central processing unit is electrically connected to the Northbridge, and the central processing unit does not support the hyper-transport bus. The system management controller outputs a power management signal to the central processing unit and the Northbridge through the power management signal line so that the hyper-transport bus changes from a first working frequency to a second working frequency, and from a first bus width to a second bus width. |
| US07747880B2 |
Information processing apparatus and program for causing computer to execute power control method
An information processing apparatus that has multiple functional parts and power management domains that serve as control units when supplying power to the functional parts, and that autonomously controls supply of power to the power management domains, the apparatus including a power supply control part that supplies power to only a power management domain that includes the functional part associated with execution of an input instruction, and that stops the power supply to the power management domain in response to termination of execution of an instruction by the functional part; and an execution result storage part that stores a result generated by execution of an instruction by the power management domain to which power is supplied by the power supply control part, independently of the power supply control part supplying power and stopping the supply of power; wherein, after supply of power to a power management domain that terminates execution of an instruction is stopped by the power supply control part, another power management domain to which power is supplied reads out a result that is stored in the execution result storage part. |
| US07747879B2 |
Power distribution system using solid state power controllers
Solid state power controllers are described that include a switch controlled by a microcontroller and communication contacts. In one aspect of the invention, the microcontroller is galvanically isolated from the communication contacts using magnetoresistive isolation. In another aspect of the invention a number of solid state power controllers are connected to an external microcontroller to form a power distribution array. In addition, messages exchanged between the external microcontroller and the solid state power controllers can be used to configure the solid state power controllers and provide a user interface. |
| US07747867B2 |
User authentication method for a remote control apparatus and a remote control apparatus
A user authentication method for a remote control apparatus and a remote control apparatus using this method are provided. If a user inputs information for user authentication after having inputted a command for control of a controlled device, this information is compared with the corresponding user authentication information stored. If the user authentication is successful, it is determined whether a secondary authentication is required. If a secondary authentication is required, authentication data, as well as control data corresponding to the user's command, are transmitted to the controlled device. The controlled device operates in accordance with the received control data, if the authentication with the received authentication data was successful. The method and apparatus allow individual setting of a communication device for each controlled device. Further, data for secondary authentication may be transmitted first to a controlled device, and then, controlled data transmitted after the secondary authentication is completed successfully. |
| US07747865B2 |
Method and structure for challenge-response signatures and high-performance secure Diffie-Hellman protocols
A method (and structure) of exchange between two parties interconnected by a device or network. A recipient party (verifier) chooses a secret value x for computing a value X=F1(x), where F1 comprises a first predetermined function having at least one argument, the value x being one of the at least one argument of F1. A signing party (signer) chooses a secret value y for computing a value Y=F2(y), where F2 comprises a second predetermined function having at least one argument, the value y being one of the at least one argument of F2. The signer obtains the value X, and the signer has a private key b and a public key B. The signer computes a value s=F3(y,b,X), where F3 comprises a third predetermined function having at least three arguments: the value y, the private key b, and the value X being three arguments of the at least three arguments of F3. There exists a fourth predetermined function F4(x,Y,B) to calculate a value s′, F4 having at least three arguments: the value x, the value Y, and the public key B being three arguments of the at least three arguments of F4, but the value s is not an argument of F4. There exists no secret shared between the verifier and the signer that serves as a basis for any argument in any of the functions F1, F2, F3, and F4. The verifier can consider the values s and s′ as valid authenticators if value s′ is determined to be related in a predetermined manner to value s. |
| US07747862B2 |
Method and apparatus to authenticate base and subscriber stations and secure sessions for broadband wireless networks
Methods and apparatus to authenticate base and subscriber stations and secure sessions for broadband wireless networks, such as IEEE P802.16-based networks. The apparatus employs a trusted platform module (TPM) to generate security keys, including attestation identity keys (AIKs). A subscriber station (SS) generates an AIK key pair for a specific authentication server (AS) operated by a broadband wireless network, and sends the public AIK key to the AS during a one-time service signup process. In response to an access request, the SS sends authentication information including a manifest signed with the SS's private AIK key. The SS may then be authenticated by the AS via use of the SS's public AIK key. The AS may be authenticated by the SS using a similar process, thus supporting mutual authentication via AIK keys. The TPM may also be used to verify a current configuration of a subscriber station platform is an authorized configuration. Integrity measurements are made via the TPM, and corresponding configuration identifiers are sealed to the TPM and sent to the authentication server during the signup process. During a subsequent access request, an attempt is made to unseal a configuration identifier, which can only proceed if a corresponding configuration has not changed. |
| US07747861B2 |
Method and system for redundant secure storage of sensitive data by using multiple keys
A method and apparatus for secure storage of data by using redundant keys is provided. The method includes encrypting a data set by using a master key, which can be encrypted by different sync keys. Sync keys can be generated by different supervisor cards. Thereafter, the encrypted master key and the encrypted data set can be stored in a memory. Further, credentials stored in one of the supervisor cards can be encrypted and transferred to other supervisor cards, to provide redundancy of supervisor cards. |
| US07747856B2 |
Session ticket authentication scheme
A method of propagating a user's authentication/session information between different requests to Web services in a network includes a web server receiving a request for access to a first web service. The request is intercepted with an agent and authentication credentials are collected. A determination is made whether the web service customer is authenticated and authorized. If the web service customer is authenticated and authorized, a session and session ticket are created. An ID and the session ticket are returned to the web server. The session ticket ID and a public key are encrypted into an assertion. The assertion is sent to the first web service. The assertion is then returned to the web service customer for use with future requests. The assertion can be in the form of a SAML assertion. |
| US07747854B2 |
Advanced stream format (ASF) data stream header object protection
A header object for a data file is comprised of sub-objects which specify properties of the data stream and contains information needed to properly verify and interpret the information within the data object. In order to allow the protection of any set of sub-objects without requiring that the sub-objects follow any specific ordering, a new sub-object is introduced which includes region specifiers identifying regions within sub-objects and verification information for those regions. This new sub-object in the header object allows the modification of non-protected regions and reorganization of sub-objects in a header without invalidating verification information. |
| US07747851B1 |
Certificate distribution via license files
A system for licensing a computational component in a distributed processing network is provided. The system includes a licensing provider 100 that is spatially remote from the computational component 154 and is operable to: (a) assign a private and public key pair to the computational component 154; (b) create a digital certificate 308 for the computational component 154, the digital certificate 308 being signed with a private key of the licensing provider 100, the licensing provider's private key being different from the computational component's private key 312; (c) create a license file 176 to be installed on the computational component; and (d) transmit the license file 176 and the computational component's signed digital certificate 308 and private key 312 to the computational component 154. |
| US07747848B1 |
Updating the system management information of a computer system
A method, system, apparatus, and computer-readable medium for updating the management information of a computer system are provided. According to one method, a system management information table is built during the execution of the computer system. The system management information table is built from a base set of management information and one or more updates to the base set of management information. The updates to the base set of management information may be stored a protected region of a non-volatile memory device. A utility program is provided for storing the updates to the management information in the non-volatile memory device. |
| US07747842B1 |
Configurable output buffer ganging for a parallel processor
An output buffer in a multi-threaded processor is managed to store a variable amount of output data. Parallel threads produce a variable amount of output data. A controller is configured to determine how much output buffer space is needed per thread and how many threads can execute in parallel, given the available space in the output buffer. The controller also determines where each thread writes to in the output buffer. |
| US07747839B2 |
Data processing apparatus and method for handling instructions to be executed by processing circuitry
A data processing apparatus and method are provided for handling instructions to be executed by processing circuitry. The processing circuitry has a plurality of processor states, each processor state having a different instruction set associated therewith. Pre-decoding circuitry receives the instructions fetched from the memory and performs a pre-decoding operation to generate corresponding pre-decoded instructions, with those pre-decoded instructions then being stored in a cache for access by the processing circuitry. The pre-decoding circuitry performs the pre-decoding operation assuming a speculative processor state, and the cache is arranged to store an indication of the speculative processor state in association with the pre-decoded instructions. The processing circuitry is then arranged only to execute an instruction in the sequence using the corresponding pre-decoded instruction from the cache if a current processor state of the processing circuitry matches the indication of the speculative processor state stored in the cache for that instruction. This provides a simple and effective mechanism for detecting instructions that have been corrupted by the pre-decoding operation due to an incorrect assumption of processor state. |
| US07747837B2 |
Method and system for accessing non-volatile storage devices
A mass storage memory system is provided. The memory system includes, re-programmable non-volatile memory cells arranged in a plurality of blocks of memory cells; and a controller that is adapted to receive data via a first interface, and/or a second interface, and data received via the first interface and the second interface is accessible via the first interface and the second interface even if a file name for the data is not provided by a host system or before a write operation is complete. The first interface is a file based interface and the second interface is a logical interface. |
| US07747836B2 |
Integrated storage virtualization and switch system
A system integrates an intelligent storage switch with a flexible virtualization system to enable efficient service of file and block protocol data access requests for information stored on the system. A storage operating system executing on a storage system coupled to the switch implements the virtualization system to provide a unified view of storage to clients by logically organizing the information as named files, directories and logical unit numbers. The virtualization system is illustratively embodied as a file system having a write allocator configured to provide a flexible block numbering policy that addresses volume management capabilities, such as storage virtualization, at a finer granularity (e.g., a single block) than that of previous non-flexible storage virtualization schemes. The flexible block numbering policy also yields substantial benefits in terms of increased write efficiency and elimination of storage “hot spots”, as well as a compelling point-in-time read-only data image (snapshot) mechanism. |
| US07747832B2 |
Method for controlling a memory access
The invention relates to a method and a corresponding device for controlling a memory access, wherein a number of waiting states is established for the memory access to a storage device (FLASH/ROM, RAM, IO module) for a central control unit (CPU). A memory access is made possible in that the number of waiting states for the memory access is established individually as a function of an analysis of an instantaneous state (status) of the central control unit (CPU) and/or a type and/or address of the storage device (FLASH/ROM, RAM, IO module) being accessed. |
| US07747830B2 |
Backup system with continuous data protection
The system includes a host, a backup server, a storage system having a journaling capability described above and a media library system. The storage system makes snapshots for restoring with journal at predetermined intervals in accordance with established process. Moreover, in correspondence to an instruction of the 1st type from the backup server, the storage system generates a marker of the 1st type to make snapshot to be provided to the backup. The storage system makes and provides a snapshot to the backup server according to the process of the 1st intended marker. Then the backup server takes a backup data from the snapshot. Furthermore, in correspondence to an instruction of the 2nd type from the backup server, the storage system generates a marker of the 2nd type to stop replication in the storage system. The storage system provides a quiescence image of a volume according to the process of the 2nd intended marker. Then the backup server takes a backup data from the quiescence image. |
| US07747828B2 |
Systems and methods for monitoring and controlling binary state devices using a memory device
A static random access memory (SRAM) includes an input read register (IRR) for monitoring the state of external binary devices and an output drive register (ODR) for controlling the state of external binary devices. The SRAM can be a multi-port device for access by multiple processors or controllers. Each bit of the IRR can mirror the state of a connected external binary device, and can be read to a connected processor using a standard read instruction. Each bit of the ODR can manipulate the state of a connected external binary device by providing the device with a path to the SRAM supply voltage. Each bit of the ODR can also be read without changing the state, or interrupting the operation of, the connected external binary device. When set to the proper mode, the addresses used for the IRR and ODR can be used with the SRAM main memory array for standard memory operations. |
| US07747827B2 |
Storage system, disk control cluster, and its increase method
The storage system includes disk control clusters. Each cluster has channel IF units, disk IF units and local shared memory units. The channel IF units, disk IF units and local shared memory units in the plurality of disk control clusters are connected to each other across the disk control clusters by interconnection, global information control unit for storing management information about the disk control clusters is connected to the interconnection. Host computers and the channel IF units of the disk control clusters are connected via front-end switch for storing copy of the management information. Since the front-end switch reflects the contents of the copy of the management information on routing table, an access request from the host computer can be sent to a suitable disk control cluster. |
| US07747825B2 |
Method, apparatus, and computer program product for a cache coherency protocol state that predicts locations of shared memory blocks
A method, apparatus, and computer program product are disclosed for reducing the number of unnecessarily broadcast local requests to reduce the latency to access data from remote nodes in an SMP computer system. A shared invalid cache coherency protocol state is defined that predicts whether a memory read request to read data in a shared cache line can be satisfied within a local node. When a cache line is in the shared invalid state, a valid copy of the data is predicted to be located in the local node. When a cache line is in the invalid state and not in the shared invalid state, a valid copy of the data is predicted to be located in one of the remote nodes.Memory read requests to read data in a cache line that is not currently in the shared invalid state are broadcast first to remote nodes. Memory read requests to read data in a cache line that is currently in the shared invalid state are broadcast first to a local node, and in response to being unable to satisfy the memory read requests within the local node, the memory read requests are broadcast to the remote nodes. |
| US07747819B2 |
Storage system and storage control method comprising router and switch communication with RAID modules
A storage system comprises a router, which receives and transfers commands; a plurality of RAID modules; and a switch, which receives commands from the router and transmits the commands to any of the plurality of RAID modules. Each RAID module comprises a plurality of media drives, a RAID group is provided by the plurality of media drives. Each RAID module comprises an independent RAID group which does not extend into other RAID groups. In the storage system, the router performs transfer of commands without performing analysis of commands, and a processor within the RAID module performs command analysis. |
| US07747815B2 |
Method and circuit for adjusting a self-refresh rate to maintain dynamic data at low supply voltages
A method and circuit for refreshing dynamic data stored in an integrated circuit are disclosed. The integrated circuit receives a supply voltage and operates in a self-refresh mode of operation to refresh the dynamic data at a refresh time that defines how often the dynamic data is refreshed during the self-refresh mode. The method includes monitoring a magnitude of the supply voltage and adjusting the refresh time as a function of the monitored magnitude of the supply voltage. The integrated circuit may be any type of integrated circuit that stores dynamic data, such as a memory device like a dynamic random access memory, DDR DRAM, SLDRAM, or RDRAM, or other type of integrated circuit such as a microprocessor. |
| US07747813B2 |
Multi-memory device system and method for managing a lifetime thereof
An apparatus, method, and computer program product are provided for identifying at least one aspect associated with a lifetime of each of a plurality of memory devices. Further, data is moved between the plurality of memory devices, based on the at least one aspect. |
| US07747795B2 |
Method and system for rate adaptation
A media access controller to adapt a rate of an output signal to a rate of an output medium is provided. The media access controller includes a register configured to output data to an external device, said register comprising a first input configured to control an output of the register and a second input configured to control an input to said register. The media access controller also includes a receiver configured to accept a signal from an external clock over the output medium and to provide said external clock signal to said first input of said register. An internal clock in the media access controller is configured to provide an internal clock signal from said internal clock to said second input of said register. |
| US07747791B2 |
Program access authorization of peripheral devices via a smart card
A method and a system of access control between a main processor and peripherals connected by a communication bus, including assigning, to all or part of the programs to be executed by the main processor, at least one token selectively authorizing access to one or several of said peripherals, said token being provided at least initially by an auxiliary processor exploiting a memory distinct from that of the main processor; and checking, for each request of access of one of said programs to one of said peripherals, the presence of said authorization token for the access to the concerned peripheral. |
| US07747788B2 |
Hardware oriented target-side native command queuing tag management
Methods and apparatus for target-side SATA NCQ tag management are disclosed. In one aspect, an apparatus may include a status memory and a status manager circuit in communication with the status memory. The status memory may store status information for each of a plurality of commands that have been queued according to Native Command Queuing (NCQ). The status information may indicate whether or not each of the commands has been completed. The status manager circuit may generate and provide a status signal based on the status information stored in the status memory. Systems including such an apparatus and other components, such as hard disks, are also disclosed. |
| US07747785B2 |
Instant messaging plug-ins
Various embodiments provide a standardized way to interact with and extend instant messaging applications. A platform is provided and enables developers and other third parties to create extensions for instant messaging applications. Through a set of APIs, interacting applications or plug-ins are “sandboxed” in their own areas where they are unable to perform unpermitted or unauthorized actions. The plug-in platform or architecture is integrated with the platform of the instant messaging application and can allow developers to create plug-ins that can interact with a local user and their buddies. Any number of various types of plug-ins can be developed and incorporated into the instant messaging application in a standardized manner. |
| US07747783B2 |
Method and device for communicating a message on a network and systems using them
The communication method concerns communication stations adapted to communicate with each other when a base station supplies a synchronisation signal to mobile stations synchronising on this signal.This method includes a request operation (901) during which a first base station (300) transmits, to a mobile station (301), a request for the storage in memory and transmission, by said mobile station, of a message, to a message destination communication station (302) which is not synchronised with said first base station. |
| US07747779B2 |
Information processing apparatus, information processing method, and medium storing therein program for executing the method
An information processing apparatus which can communicate via a network with an external information processing apparatus which issues a disconnection notification based on disconnection from the network is provided with managing means for managing fixed identification information added to the external information processing apparatus and variable identification information added to the external information processing apparatus. The information processing apparatus includes obtaining means for obtaining the fixed identification information and the variable identification information from the external information processing apparatus; discriminating means for discriminating whether the variable identification information obtained by the obtaining means coincides with the variable identification information managed by the managing means and whether the fixed identification information obtained by the obtaining means coincides with the fixed identification information managed by the managing means; and setting means for, if the discriminating means discriminates that, although the fixed identification information obtained by the obtaining means coincides with the fixed identification information managed by the managing means, the variable identification information obtained by the obtaining means does not coincide with the variable identification information managed by the managing means, setting the variable identification information obtained by the obtaining means in a control program that controls the external information processing apparatus having the fixed identification information. |
| US07747777B2 |
Optimizing network resources usage within an administrative boundary
In one embodiment, an apparatus comprises logic for optimizing network resources usage. The logic is operable to store IGP information, where the IGP information includes a set of attribute values associated with each of a set of content servers. When the logic receives a request for content from a remote peer, the logic determines one or more content servers that can provide the requested content. The logic then retrieves, from the IGP information, a plurality of attribute values associated with a non-looping path from each of the one or more content servers. For each of the one or more content servers, the retrieved attribute values include: one or more capacity values indicating capacities of one or more communication links on the non-looping path from that content server; and one or more utilization values indicating utilizations of the one or more communication links on the non-looping path from that content server. The logic then selects a content server based on the retrieved attribute values, and causes the request for the content to be sent to the selected content server. |
| US07747776B2 |
System, method and program product to route message packets
A system, method and computer program for routing a response packet in a session along a path similar to a request packet's outbound path that includes a firewall and a first router. The firewall receives the request packet and forwards the request packet to the first router. Upon receipt of the request packet, the firewall and first router broadcast session information to their respective sets of directly connected devices. A second router receives the response packet. After determining that the second router was not in the outbound path according to the second router's session table, the second router forwards the response packet to the device (i.e., the firewall or the first router) that is most upstream in the outbound path among the outbound path devices that are available and connected to the second router. |
| US07747774B2 |
Methods, systems and computer program products for obscuring traffic in a distributed system
Methods for obscuring real traffic in a distributed network are provided. In particular, obscuring traffic associated with ones of a plurality of components is generated on the distributed network. The generated obscuring traffic is transmitted to the ones of the plurality of components so as to obscure the real traffic from intruders of the distributed network. Related systems and computer program products are also provided. |
| US07747771B1 |
Register access protocol in a multihreaded multi-core processor
A method and mechanism for managing access to a plurality of registers in a processing device are contemplated. A processing device includes multiple nodes coupled to a ring bus, each of which include one or more registers which may be accessed by processes executing within the device. Also coupled to the ring bus is a ring control unit which is configured to initiate transactions targeted to nodes on the ring bus. Each of the nodes are configured receive and process bus transaction with a fixed latency whether or not the first transaction is targeted to the receiving node. The ring control unit is configured to periodically convey idle transactions on the ring bus in order to allow nodes responding to indeterminate transactions to gain access to the bus. |
| US07747769B1 |
Method and apparatus for efficiently searching and selecting preferred content from a plurality of active multimedia streams
A method and apparatus which efficiently searches for desired content from active multimedia data streams under the constraints that the data describing the content is not available until the transmission of the described content segment commences. A receiver computer sequentially scans a list of server I/O ports where content description data is available during the multimedia content data transmission from an I/O port on the same or alternative streaming multimedia server. The content description data provides a real time, but not advanced, description of the multimedia data available in a continuous multimedia data stream. The content description data for each of the scanned multimedia streams is presented to the user for manual selection. The user may optionally enter content preferences into a receiver computer database, which the receiver computer then uses to compare and connect to content which matches the user preferences. Seek: the receiver computer switches to a multimedia stream transmitting content with a desired content parameter. Skip: the receiver computer switches away from a current multimedia data stream which is transmitting content with a parameter which the user wants to avoid, to an alternate stream transmitting more preferable content. |
| US07747761B2 |
Session initiation protocol routing using voice cookies
A system and method for establishing a SIP session between calling and called end-points. A SIP server receives a SIP INVITE request for establishing the SIP session. The SIP INVITE request includes standard routing information in its header. The SIP server receives the SIP INVITE request and responds by transmitting to the calling end-point a HTML link associated with a web server. In rendering the contents of the HTML link, the calling end-point transmits an HTTP request to the web server including voice cookie information. The voice cookie information may include information gathered about the caller such as the caller profile information, transaction information, caller intent information, or recent and past history associated with a web site domain. The web server forwards the voice cookies to the SIP server. The SIP server determines an address of the called end-point as a function of the routing information in the SIP INVITE request and the voice cookie information. The call is then routed to the determined address along with the voice cookies or information derived from the voice cookies. New voice cookies may be written to the web server which transmits these to the calling end-point within an HTTP response. |
| US07747760B2 |
Near real-time data center switching for client requests
A networked computer system provides a way to quickly switch to a backup data center when a primary data center fails. Each data center includes a redirect table that specifies a geographical area corresponding to each user. The redirect table is replicated on one or more data centers so that each data center has the same information. When a data center fails, the redirect table in one of the non-failed data centers is updated to specify a new data center for each client that used the failed data center as its primary data center. A network dispatcher recognizes that the failed data center is unavailable, and routes a request to the backup data center. Network routing logic then issues a redirection command that causes all subsequent requests from that client to be redirected directly to the backup data center. |
| US07747759B1 |
Techniques for maintaining persistent preferences
Methods, systems, and data structure provide persistent preferences for services over a network. An entity's preference is recorded in an external location from the entity. The preference is automatically installed in a local environment of the entity when the entity attempts to access a service. The service detects the preference in the local environment and automatically processes the preference. |
| US07747754B2 |
Transparent migration of stateless sessions across servers
Techniques allow a client to be migrated from a session that has been established for a client on a server to another session on another server in a way that is a transparent to the application for which the initial session was established. The sessions are migrated under conditions in which a copy of session state of the session to migrate from the source node does not have to be captured and restored to a destination session. |
| US07747750B1 |
Method for reserving resources in a storage area network with selective capabilities
A method, system, and program product for reserving resources in a networked environment, e.g. a storage area network. A resource is some object that a user must use or change to complete a task. When a user plans a task, the user selects some high-level resources and properties to reserve and a Reservation Service embodiment creates reservations for them. Accordingly, the method system and program product embodiments overcome inefficiencies in reserving resources in a data storage environment while still allowing such reservations to occur. The method includes selectively reserving properties for resources from more than one available choice. |
| US07747748B2 |
Method for connection acceptance control and rapid determination of optimal multi-media content delivery over networks
A method of bandwidth allocation for delivery of stored digital content from at least one server device to at least one client device by way of a network is disclosed. The method begins by prescribing a control variable which represents a target flow rate from the server device to each client device. Next, time-varying constraints on the flow rate of the content are determined. A cost function of the control variable for each client is determined. The cost function corresponds to a maximized value of the control variable. Finally, bandwidth is prescribed to each client based upon the value of the control variable maximized by the cost function. In this respect, the method achieves optimal allocation of bandwidth between the server and the respective clients. |
| US07747738B2 |
System and method for managing IT assets
A system configured to manage IT assets associated with an entity (e.g., a company, an institution, etc.), in accordance with one or more embodiments of the invention. The IT assets may include hardware assets, software assets, telecommunications assets, and/or other IT assets. The system enables substantially all of the information relevant to the individual IT assets to be organized within a single repository throughout the life cycle of the IT assets (e.g., from order to disposal). By organizing the relevant information within a single repository, automation and dynamic system interaction may be leveraged during the life cycle of a given IT asset to track and/or monitor the given IT asset with an enhanced efficiency. In some embodiments, the system may include a common database, and an asset implementation manager, an asset ownership manager, an asset process manager, a service manager in operative communication with the common database. |
| US07747735B1 |
Method and apparatus for seamlessly acquiring data from various sensor, monitor, device (SMDs)
A method and apparatus to provide user data through a monitor, alert, control, and share (MACS) device comprising a data receiving logic to receive intermittent data from a user about readings from a real sensor, monitor or device (SMD), from a user and a verification engine to verify that the data is accurate prior to adding it to a database. The apparatus further comprising an intelligent notification engine to communicate with the user and a presentation layer to enable a user to interface with the always-on virtual MACS device, the always-on virtual MACS device providing data regardless of a status of the real SMD. |
| US07747732B2 |
Household internet connection monitoring and troubleshooting through voice based telephony devices
A method for monitoring an Internet connection can include the step of detecting a connectivity problem with a household Internet connection. A problem contact point can be determined. A communication connection that is different from the household Internet connection can be established with the contact point. For example, a voice connection can be established with the contact point. A problem notification can be conveyed to the contact point through the established communication connection. |
| US07747731B2 |
Minimizing message processing latency in a communication network
The present invention concerns a method and a system for minimizing message processing latency in a communication network. A message from a first node is received at a second node which message requires an acknowledgement message, preferably of Boolean type. Functionalities required for processing the message are partitioned into at least a first part and a second part. The first part comprises a minimum set of functionalities required to generate the acknowledgement message. The functionalities of the first part are executed. The acknowledgement message is generated and transmitted to the first node after to finishing the functionalities of the first part. The present invention makes it possible to effectively minimize the perceived message processing latency. It is also possible to dynamically optimize the latency according to available resources. |
| US07747729B2 |
Determining client latencies over a network
A network latency estimation apparatus for estimating latency in a network communication between a server and a client. The apparatus includes an event observer to observe occurrences of pre-selected events occurring at the server. A logging device associated with the event observer logs into a data store the occurrence of the events together with corresponding time information. A latency estimator associated with the logging device uses the logged occurrences with the corresponding time information to arrive at an estimation of the latency for the communication. |
| US07747724B2 |
System and method of device-to-server registration
A device-to-server registration system and method of registering a wireless device with a mediator service responsible for allowing the wireless device to communicate with a back-end service are provided. The device-to-server registration system comprises a device-to-server registration module for communicating with a device administration service of the wireless device and a device registration module of a mediator service for registering a wireless device with the mediator service. The device registration module communicates with the device-to-server registration module. The method comprises the steps of communicating with a device administration service of a wireless device to obtain information pertaining to the mediator service and communicating with a device registration module of the mediator service to register with the mediator service. |
| US07747722B2 |
Device management method for device management system
A device management method allows a device management client to actively request device management from a device management server with respect to an event occurring in a terminal by defining a step in which the device management client determines the device management server from which device management is requested with respect to a specific management object and a step in which the device management server efficiently processes the request of the device management client. |
| US07747717B2 |
Fast application notification in a clustered computing system
With fast notification of changes to a clustered computing system, through which a number of events are published for system state changes, applications can quickly recover and sessions can quickly be rebalanced. When a resource associated with a service experiences a change in status, such as a termination or a start/restart, a notification event is immediately published. Notification events contain information to enable subscribers to identify, based on matching a session signature, the particular sessions that are affected by the change in status, and to respond accordingly. This allows sessions to be quickly aborted and ongoing processing to be quickly terminated when a resource fails, and allows fast rebalancing of work when a resource is restarted. |
| US07747716B2 |
Injecting addresses to enable OAM functions
Inserting an address used for performing such OAM functions in an efficient way that is transparent to a customer or service using the network path is disclosed. An indication is received that a source address reserved for OAM use should be inserted into a forwarding database associated with a provider network node, such as a provider edge device, that receives the indication. The address is inserted into a forwarding database as an address that is owned by the provider network node and reserved for OAM use. One or more other nodes associated with a service with which the OAM address is associated may be notified that the OAM address is associated with the provider network node that owns the OAM address. |
| US07747713B1 |
Method and system for classifying information available on a computer network
A method and system for classifying information available on a computer network such as Web sites accessible on the Internet. The system receives a list of network resource locators and submits each locator to a voting process. The invention includes using single-level or multiple-level voting to increase the classification accuracy. One or more Web coders receive a resource locator and determine a classification for that locator. When the necessary votes have been made, the system classifies the locator according to the voting rules. |
| US07747712B2 |
Managed node initial operational state
A device associated with a network receives a fetch request from a managed node connected to the network, and provides, to the managed node, trigger information specifying one or more conditions under which the managed node is to be enabled and is to receive traffic from the network. The device also receives an operational state associated with the managed node based on the trigger information. |
| US07747710B1 |
System for detecting changes in preselected measurable conditions
A system for detecting changes in measureable conditions comprising: an enterprise server, at least one vessel, and a data broadcast device on the vessel. The broadcast device is in communication with a satellite. At least one remote terminal unit is on the vessel, and the remote terminal unit is in communication with an electronic cryptographic module. The remote terminal unit stores digital data in a memory area for transmission. Communication software, adapted to handle multiple telemetries and protocols, links the enterprise server directly with each vessel, collects digital data on changes in measureable conditions, and initiates an alarm when the digital data signifies a change outside a preset limit. Configuration software configures the remote terminal unit by executing configuration commands using the communication software. A broadcast device is disposed on each vessel, for enabling the remote terminal unit on each vessel to directly communicate with the enterprise server. |
| US07747698B2 |
Transaction model for deployment operations
A system and method are described for performing deployment operations according to a transaction model. In one embodiment, a request to initiate a transaction to perform a deploy service operation is received. In response to the request, the transaction is initiated at a container. The transaction is then committed to a database if the transaction is successful. The successful transaction reflects the deploy service operation being completed at the container. |
| US07747697B2 |
Semantic information network (SION)
A semantic information-oriented network provides delivering network of an event comprising semantic information and data. For delivering event information, the semantic information-oriented network comprises an apparatus that provides an event place that is a place for comparing an event from an event sender with a filter being information related to an event receiver, and that is the smallest unit required to guarantee a common ontology system, and is an event delivery range. |
| US07747693B2 |
Electronic message delivery using a virtual gateway approach
Message delivery approaches are disclosed in which senders can define filters with associated actions for evaluation in relation to specified messages. After creating and storing filters with specified actions, senders dispatch messages to a processing system, which evaluates the filters against the messages. If a match occurs, the processing system performs the specified actions on the messages. In one embodiment, the processing system can send the same message multiple times to different receiving systems, and can modify the source IP address and outbound interface of the message for each receiving system. Further, the source IP address or interface may be modified by a filter in response to external events, such as a receiving system blocking another copy of the message. In this way, a single message processing system can appear as a large number of virtual message sending units, thereby increasing the chance that a particular message will arrive at its destination without blocking by message blocking or filtering technologies at the receiver. For bulk mailers, different filters can be associated with different communication campaigns. |
| US07747692B2 |
System and method for tailoring of electronic messages
A system and method for tailoring of electronic messages by combining in a composite electronic message information with an indication that at least one portion thereof is targeted for at least one predetermined class of recipient; performing a comparison of the indication contained in a received composite message with a predetermined indication of whether a recipient is of a class intended to receive the indicated portion; and passing the indicated portion to the recipient in dependence on the comparison. |
| US07747689B2 |
Method for transmitting messages in a network
The invention relates to a method for transmitting messages in a network via data terminals connected thereto. This method comprises the following steps: sending a message to be relayed from a sender data terminal to an assigned first mail processing device assigning a unique identifier to the message which indicates that a message to be relayed is in the sender data terminal or in the first mail processing device; evaluating the identifier by the first mail processing device based on data present therein concerning the entry of a message at an address data terminal from the past, and in response to the evaluation result, transmitting in a triggered or blocked manner the message or parts thereof to the address data terminal. The invention also relates to a data terminal and network that carry out the inventive method using mail processing devices. |
| US07747688B2 |
System and method for managing group interaction session states
A services broker provides session suspend and resume capabilities to a computer-supported multi-user session made up of associations between a plurality of participants and the services broker. The services broker includes: a memory; an input/output subsystem for transmission of session data and for communicating with the plurality of participants; a processor, operatively connected to the memory, for carrying out instructions. The instructions cause the processor to: receive a trigger event from at least one of the plurality of participants, the trigger event for resuming a suspending session; verify that the suspending session can be resumed; transmit a resume request to the plurality of participants; and re-establish associations among the plurality of participants. Additionally, the services broker will transmit a stored session state and stored session data to at least one environmental device for resuming the suspended session at the point where the suspended session ended. The services broker also carries out instructions for suspending a joint session. |
| US07747683B2 |
Method and system for operating applications for remote terminal devices
Method for allowing a user of a mobile terminal device having predetermined computational resources to remotely develop and operate upgraded content delivery applications. A client-side application and a corresponding remote application are installed on the terminal device and on a server connected to the terminal device. The remote application dynamically splits the tasks to be performed by the content delivery application between the client-side application and remote application, according to its computational resources and processes, in real-time, the content and its associated logic and input data to be delivered to the terminal device. The processed content is then transmitted to the terminal device over the data network and the content is rendered by the client-side application. The client-side application responds to inputs from the user and/or to messages from the server or further connected devices. |
| US07747681B2 |
Systems and methods for conducting internet content usage experiments
A system and method for efficiently executing a plurality of live parallel Internet content usage experiments using a large pool of randomly selected participating users (separated into control and test groups) while minimally disturbing offered content is provided. In an illustrative implementation, a content provider communicates the parameters for a content usage experiment to a content server. A complimentary test subject verification script operates on the content server that determines which client computing devices are to be included in the experiment group. In operation, a participating client computing device requests content from the content provider's server. The content provider's server executes the test subject verification script to determine if the client computing device is to be considered as a test subject. The content usage of the experiment content and non-experiment content is tracked and compared to each other to determine if the experiment content impacted content usage. |
| US07747680B2 |
Community-based web filtering
Community-based rating information is generated about a Web site, Web page or other network-accessible content for use in Web filtering operations. The rating information may relate to the appropriateness of the content for a particular audience or audiences, such as for children or for children of different age groups. The rating information is based on feedback provided by users who have accessed the content in question. Where the group of users providing feedback is sufficiently large, the rating assigned to the content will tend to accurately reflect community standards. Also, because the rating information is based on user feedback, the rating information can change over time to reflect changing community attitudes towards content. |
| US07747678B2 |
System and method for pluggable URL pattern matching for servlets and application servers
The invention provides a system and method for providing pluggable pattern matching for servlets. This feature allows application servers that incorporate the invention to support non-J2EE pattern matching schemes in their http request resolution. The pluggable pattern matching feature is targeted primarily at customers who want to implement custom URL matching patterns. Since this feature is not J2EE compliant, some other form of configuration is necessary. In one embodiment an XML file (weblogic.xml) is used to configure the new pattern matching utilities. By modifying the settings in the weblogic.xml file, users are able to plug their own custom pattern matching utility classes into the weblogic server. |
| US07747677B2 |
System and method for control tree optimization
The present invention creates a partial control tree rather than a full control tree of a portal upon user's rendering request, wherein the partial control tree may contain only active controls in the portal while is still sufficient for rendering the portal. Such an approach improves performance and scalability characteristics of the portal, which depends on the size of the portal, i.e., number of controls on the portal. This description is not intended to be a complete description of, or limit the scope of, the invention. Other features, aspects, and objects of the invention can be obtained from a review of the specification, the figures, and the claims. |
| US07747672B1 |
Method and apparatus using lightweight RRQ for efficient recovery of a call signaling channel in gatekeeper-routed call signaling
The present invention is directed to the recovery of a call signaling channel in connection with a realtime communication established using a packet data network. Specifically, in the event of the failure of an endpoint's current gatekeeper, this invention provides a fast mechanism for searching for an alternate gatekeeper with which the endpoint can re-establish its call signaling channel and hence can regain call service, including call features on existing calls. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a lightweight registration request message is sent on the RAS channel to an alternate gatekeeper in response to the loss of an established call signaling channel, even though a keep alive signal is not then due. The lightweight RRQ message may be sent to individual gatekeepers on an alternate gatekeeper list, until a registration confirmation message is received. Alternatively, a lightweight RRQ message may be sent to all or a number of the gatekeepers on the alternate gatekeeper list simultaneously. A call signaling channel is then established between the first alternate gatekeeper to respond with a registration confirmation message, or to a selected gatekeeper where a number of gatekeepers provide an RCF message. |
| US07747669B2 |
Rounding of binary integers
Methods and apparatus to provide rounding of a binary integer are described. In one embodiment, a value that indicates whether a divisor divides a binary integer is extracted from a product of the binary integer and a scaled approximate reciprocal of the divisor. |
| US07747668B2 |
Product-sum operation circuit and method
A product-sum operation circuit includes a sorting block (4) which outputs a plurality of operand values x1, x2, . . . xi in descending or ascending order of magnitude, and an operation unit (1) which multiplies each operand value xi output from the sorting block (4) by a corresponding operand value Wi and calculates the accumulated sum of multiplication results. |
| US07747655B2 |
Printable representations for time-based media
The system of the present invention allows a user to generate a representation of time-based media. The system of the present invention includes a feature extraction module for extracting features from media content. For example, the feature extraction module can detect solos in a musical performance, or can detect music, applause, speech, and the like. A formatting module formats a media representation generated by the system. The formatting module also applies feature extraction information to the representation, and formats the representation according to a representation specification. In addition, the system can include an augmented output device that generates a media representation based on the feature extraction information and the representation specification. The methods of the present invention include extracting features from media content, and formatting a media representation being generated using the extracted features and based on a specification or data structure specifying the representation format. The methods can also include generating a media representation based on the results of the formatting. |
| US07747654B2 |
Method and apparatus for applying a parametric search methodology to a directory tree database format
A method of and apparatus for applying a parametric search methodology to a searchable database formatted in a directory tree structure. The directory tree structure includes nodes comprising a collection of related data and branches comprising links between the nodes. Each specific node provides a corresponding set of parameters by which each related item of data corresponding to the specific node is defined by initializing the value of each parameter for each related data. The method accesses a particular node within the directory tree structure and performs a parametric search using one or more set search parameters corresponding to the specific node to generate one or more matching discrete data items, wherein each matching item corresponds to related data of the particular node. The parameters can be customizable and specific to the specific node. The method can also include accessing a particular node utilizing a selective one or more search methodologies including keyword search, hierarchical search, and dichotomous key search. |
| US07747653B2 |
Summarizing application performance in a large system from a components perspective
A process of analyzing performance of a computer program including a plurality of components includes steps of: receiving a call tree profile having a plurality of nodes, each node representing an invocation and each node being annotated with a cumulative performance cost for the node; a set of one or more components of interest to a user; and a threshold level of a cumulative performance cost associated with invocations of methods of the component that constitutes an expensive method invocation; analyzing the call tree profile from leaf nodes, the analyzing step comprising selecting a set of one or more components of interest to a user and selecting only invocations that exceed the threshold level, and pruning the set of invocations that are not selected. Finally the process includes a step of presenting to the user a list of costs associated with the selected invocations. |
| US07747652B2 |
Structured data storage
Backend data is received from a computer program product such as a hard disk or other long term data storage. The backend data is structured using nodes that are associated with a unique identifier such as a GUID. The nodes are addressable using the unique identifier, and backend data items are associated with corresponding addressable nodes such that the backend nodes can be quickly accessed. Front-end data can be received from a computer program product such as a hard disk or other long term data storage. The front-end data is structured using nodes that are associated with a unique identifier such as a GUID. The nodes are addressable using the unique identifier, and front-end data items are associated with corresponding addressable nodes such that the front-end nodes can be quickly accessed. |
| US07747650B2 |
Authoring tools, including content-driven treetables, for fluid text
Plural versions of an authoring/editing tool for fluid text include both a WYSIWYG editor and a content-driven treetable editor for producing narratives and their behavioral control in a fluid text viewing system environment. The tool includes content-driven treetable visualization and a layout mechanisms for authoring and/or editing hypertext narratives, electronic mail threads and other tree-oriented applications. Edit operations are disclosed that permit interactive development and modification of treetables. |
| US07747649B2 |
Use of browser cookies to store structured data
A system and process are disclosed for encoding selected data structures in browser cookies. The data structures may contain a variety of different types of data elements, including N-bit integers and other non-character elements. A version tracking scheme provides forward and backward compatibility between client and server software. The process is implemented without the need for any browser extensions, and without the need for users to download any special code to their computers. |
| US07747648B1 |
World modeling using a relationship network with communication channels to entities
Systems and methods for information retrieval and communication employ a world model. The world model is made up of interrelated entity models, each of which corresponds to an entity in the real world, such as a person, place, business, other tangible thing, community, event, or thought. Each entity model provides a communication channel via which a user can contact a real-world person responsible for that entity model. Entity models also provide feedback information, enabling users to easily share their experiences and opinions of the corresponding real-world entity. |
| US07747641B2 |
Modeling sequence and time series data in predictive analytics
The subject invention relates to systems and methods to extend the capabilities of declarative data modeling languages. In one aspect, a declarative data modeling language system is provided. The system includes a data modeling language component that generates one or more data mining models to extract predictive information from local or remote databases. A language extension component facilitates modeling capability in the data modeling language by providing a data sequence model or a time series model within the data modeling language to support various data mining applications. |
| US07747639B2 |
Alternative search query prediction
Providing an alternative search query to a predicted search query is disclosed herein. A search query is received from a client node. Prior to receiving an indication from the client node that the search query is completely formed, the following steps are performed: 1) a predicted search query is determined by predicting what the search query will be when completed; and 2) an alternative search query that differs from the predicted search query is determined based on the predicted search query. The alternative search query is provided to the client node. The alternative search query may be something that the user search query is unlikely to complete to. For example, in response to the user entering a search query of “brittany sp”, an alternative search query with a spelling suggestion of “britney spears” is determined and provided to the user. |
| US07747636B1 |
System for providing information to local real estate purchaser
A real estate point of sale system puts optical indicia on a sign, and allows capturing the indicia, e.g., using the camera on a portable phone. Information from the picture is sent to a server, and used to retrieve and return information about the property. |
| US07747631B1 |
System and method for establishing relevance of objects in an enterprise system
A system, method, and computer program for establishing relevance of objects in an enterprise system is provided. One or more objects are assigned to content associated with an enterprise system. One or more query terms are received from a user. A preliminary relevance of the one or more objects is determined based on the query terms. Ratings are assigned to the one or more objects based on the preliminary relevance. An overall relevance of the one or more objects is established based on the ratings. |
| US07747630B2 |
Assessing author authority and blog influence
A facility for determining article influence and author authority based upon cites of the author's articles by other authors is described. Authors post new articles to their blog covering one or more memes, which describe the content of the article. The facility determines other web pages that share the same memes as the articles to form a context set, and then identifies those authors, called stakeholders, that commonly cite posts from web pages within the context set. Stakeholders are those with some knowledge about a particular topic that also write articles on the topic. Articles cited by stakeholders are considered more influential than those that are not cited, and a frequently cited author will have more authority for a given meme than one who is largely ignored, as indicated by receiving few article citations. |
| US07747627B1 |
Method and system for file retrieval using image virtual file system
Methods and systems have been provided that allow a user to access a file in a computational device. The location of the file is made transparent to the user. The request for the file includes the filename. The filename is mapped to the location of the file in the computational device. The file is returned if it is present in the cache of the computational device. Otherwise, the file is retrieved from a storage device. The cached files are, deleted from the cache on the basis of a policy-based-cache-deletion mechanism. |
| US07747626B2 |
Search results clustering in tabbed browsers
Search results can be clustered into useable groups and provided to a user. The search results can be categorized according to a clustering algorithm associated with a search engine. The clustered search results can be categorized and provided into separate tabs for each category. In another aspect, multiple tab windows can automatically be opened which allows the user to operate simultaneously multiple tab windows whereby the inputs in one tab window provides results in another tab window. |
| US07747622B2 |
System and method for managing models and model dependencies within a computerized simulation environment
A system and method for viewing models and model variables within a sophisticated modeling environment is disclosed. The system provides varying levels of insight into a modeling infrastructure to help the user understand model and model variable dependencies, usage, distribution, and/or the like. The method includes storing model and model variable data within a relational database system, receiving a request from a user interfacing with the system via a web interface, extracting search criteria and presentation preferences from the request, formulating and executing one or more queries on the database to retrieve the required data, formatting the data in accordance with the request, and retuning the data to the requesting user in the form of a web page. |
| US07747612B2 |
Indication of exclusive items in a result set
The present invention is directed towards systems and methods for generating and displaying the difference between a primary result set and a secondary result set. According to the present invention, a method for displaying the difference between a primary result set and a secondary result set for a query comprises generating a primary result set and a secondary result set, the primary result set and secondary result set generated according to one or more respective disparate search algorithms. A difference result set is determined according to a difference between items in the primary result set and second result set, which is displayed to a user. |
| US07747610B2 |
Database system and methodology for processing path based queries
A system and methodology for processing of path based queries is described. In one embodiment, a method for processing a path based query requesting data from a markup language document comprises steps of: parsing the path based query requesting data to generate a query tree corresponding to the path based query; identifying all paths which may be utilized for obtaining data requested by the path based query from the markup language document; creating a transformed query tree to represent all identified paths; generating a query plan for obtaining data requested by the path based query based on the transformed query tree; and executing the query plan to obtain and return the data requested by the path based query. |
| US07747609B1 |
Using a correlation factor to derive join costing statistics
Deriving join cost demographics for a binary join, i.e., a join between two relations each having a join column, includes using a correlation factor related to the ratio of unique join column values stored in each of a plurality of units of storage to the total number of unique values in the join column. |
| US07747601B2 |
Method and apparatus for identifying and classifying query intent
Linguistic analysis is used to identify queries that use different natural language formations to request similar information. Common intent categories are identified for the queries requesting similar information. Intent responses can then be provided that are associated with the identified intent categories. An intent management tool can be used for identifying new intent categories, identifying obsolete intent categories, or refining existing intent categories. |
| US07747599B1 |
Integrated search engine devices that utilize hierarchical memories containing b-trees and span prefix masks to support longest prefix match search operations
A search engine device includes a hierarchical memory that is configured to store a b-tree of search prefixes and span prefix masks (SPMs). These SPMs are evaluated during each search operation to identify search prefixes that match an applied search key yet reside at nodes of the b-tree that are not traversed during the search operation. The search engine device also includes handle memory. This handle memory is configured to support a respective handle memory block for each search prefix within each of a plurality of nodes of the b-tree that reside at a leaf parent level within the b-tree. Each of these handle memory blocks may have sufficient capacity to support one result handle per bit within a span prefix mask associated with a corresponding search prefix. In other cases, each of these handle memory blocks may have sufficient capacity to support only M+1 handles, where M is a positive integer corresponding to a quantity of search prefixes supported by each of a plurality of leaf nodes within the b-tree. |
| US07747597B2 |
Security execution context for a database management system
A database management system that supports multiple databases in an instance with controlled sharing between the databases. The invention can also support execution of procedures and other modules in the context of any principal possibly different from that of the caller. Trusted certificates can be employed to permit access to procedures (or other modules). The security context of the invention can enable the building blocks of building a pure trusted sub-system model of authorization. |
| US07747596B2 |
Server device, user interface appliance, and media processing network
Components for a control and data processing infrastructure for multiple networked media peripherals are based on chained device connections using a transport-layer independent asymmetric control protocol such as PTP. These components provide a user interface which mirrors the chain of device connections, provides remote access to the media data distributed across said connected devices, can respond to events originating from members of the device chain and enables control and management of the underlying media processing capabilities of the connected devices. |
| US07747594B2 |
Converting information into different formats
A software layer (filter driver) residing between software components or application programs running locally or on a client across a network and a persistent store of an operating system provides on-the-fly conversions of persistent information formats. The filter driver determines which format a program expects, and dynamically converts the information from its storage format to the format expected by the program. Conversion includes both data format conversion, and conversion of access semantics. Loadable conversion modules are provided for converting application specific formats due to the potential large number of such formats which can be encountered. The filter driver may change the format that information is stored in based on access history or other system requirements. The software components or application programs may be ignorant of the true storage format used by the system, and thus the filter driver can be used to give old versions of software access to information stored in newer formats. |
| US07747584B1 |
System and method for enabling de-duplication in a storage system architecture
A system and method enables de-duplication in a storage system architecture comprising one or more volumes distributed across a plurality of nodes interconnected as a cluster. De-duplication is enabled through the use of file offset indexing in combination with data content redirection. File offset indexing is illustratively embodied as a Locate by offset function, while data content redirection is embodied as a novel Locate by content function. In response to input of, inter alia, a data container (file) offset, the Locate by offset function returns a data container (file) index that is used to determine a storage server that is responsible for a particular region of the file. The Locate by content function is then invoked to determine the storage server that actually stores the requested data on disk. Notably, the content function ensures that data is stored on a volume of a storage server based on the content of that data rather than based on its offset within a file. This aspect of the invention ensures that all blocks having identical data content are served by the same storage server so that it may implement de-duplication to conserve storage space on disk and increase cache efficiency of memory. |
| US07747583B2 |
History preservation in a computer storage system
A method by which a disk-based distributed data storage system is organized for protecting historical records of stored data entities. The method comprises recording distinct states of an entity, corresponding to different moments of time, as separate entity versions coexisting within the distributed data storage system, and assigning expiration times to the entity versions independently within each of a plurality of storage sites according to a shared set of rules, before which times deletion is prohibited. |
| US07747582B1 |
Surrogate hashing
Surrogate hashing is described, including running a first hashing algorithm against a first portion of a first file to generate a first hash value, and running a second hashing algorithm against the first portion of the first file to generate a second hash value, determining whether the first hash value and the second hash value are substantially similar to one or more stored hash values associated with a second portion of a second file, wherein the second portion is identified by one or more attributes that are substantially similar to one or more corresponding attributes associated with the first portion, and identifying a location of the second file if the first hash value and the second hash value are substantially similar to the one or more stored hash values associated with the second portion of the second file. |
| US07747580B2 |
Direct loading of opaque types
Techniques and systems are disclosed for storing instances of an opaque type in a database according to a direct path loading approach. According to one aspect, an opaque type implementor registers, with a loader application, routines that the opaque type implementor implements. In response, the loader application associates the opaque type with the routines. The loader application reads data that comprises instances of the opaque type. The loader application determines which routines are associated with the opaque type. The loader application invokes the routines, which create an array for storing instances of the opaque type and populate the array with values specified in the data. The loader application converts the array into a data stream that conforms to the format of the database's data blocks. The loader application then streams the data to a database server, which writes the data directly into data blocks in the database. |
| US07747579B2 |
Metabase for facilitating data classification
Systems and methods for managing electronic data are disclosed. Various data management operations can be performed based on a metabase formed from metadata. Such metadata can be identified from an index of data interactions generated by a journaling module, and obtained from their associated data objects stored in one or more storage devices. In various embodiments, such processing of the index and storing of the metadata can facilitate, for example, enhanced data management operations, enhanced data identification operations, enhanced storage operations, data classification for organizing and storing the metadata, cataloging of metadata for the stored metadata, and/or user interfaces for managing data. In various embodiments, the metabase can be configured in different ways. For example, the metabase can be stored separately from the data objects so as to allow obtaining of information about the data objects without accessing the data objects or a data structure used by a file system. |
| US07747578B2 |
Reducing database fragmentation
Reducing database fragmentation is disclosed. One embodiment includes determining whether the building of an index of data that is to be stored in a database has been initiated and determining whether the size of a sub-range of the index exceeds a predetermined size. A block of data storage space is pre-allocated contiguous to a block of data storage space allocated for the sub-range to accommodate subsequent inserts of data into the sub-range, if it is determined that the sub-range exceeds the predetermined size. |
| US07747577B2 |
Management of redundant objects in storage systems
Provided are a method, system, and article of manufacture wherein one client node is selected from a plurality of client nodes. A determination is made that an object corresponding to a client node has to be stored. A determination is made as to whether the object has already been stored in the server node by the one selected client node. The object is stored at the server node, in response to determining that the object has not already been stored in the server node by the one selected client node. |
| US07747575B2 |
Application-specific intelligent backup and restore system
There is provided herein an application-oriented backup and restore system, which leads the user through a plurality of different selectable steps to repair specific application errors/problems. The preferred embodiment minimizes the loss of user productivity and because of its easy and accessible layout and presentation it may eliminate the need for tech-support to repair the problem. The average user can initiate the steps, wherein the restore steps are explicitly directed to secure the safe storage of user created documents and files. |
| US07747573B2 |
Updating elements in a data storage facility using a predefined state machine, with serial activation
A technique for updating elements in a data storage facility, including a single server or a multi-server system, such as by providing updated internal code packages to the elements. The update is performed using a fixed state machine, where the elements are updated in a coordinated manner within the constraints of the state machine. In a multi-server device, code packages are distributed to elements associated with the different servers in one traversal of the state machine, during distribute states of the state machine. The distributed code packages are activated in activate states of the state machine in multiple traversals of the state machine, so there is a serial activation. The code packages can be grouped in a flexible way by configuring an external update bundle used by the state machine. The distributing of the code is based on the grouping. |
| US07747571B2 |
Methods, systems, and computer program products for implementing logical and physical data models
Exemplary embodiments include a method for implementing standardized enterprise warehouse system processes, including: extracting content from one or more source systems that provide a feed for the content; loading extracted content into one or more standardized data layout tables defined by the data control structure and based upon the meta-data and rules, wherein the extracted content in condition for transformation and data warehouse loading and the standardized data layout tables comprise a logical data model; and propagating the extracted content into a physical data model. |
| US07747566B2 |
Method and apparatus for synchronizing databases connected by wireless interface
A method of synchronizing at least one database including first data records of a portable electronic device with at least one other database including second data records. The method includes receiving information representative of the first data records and comparing the information representative of the first data records with information representative of the second data records to determine if changes made to either the first data records or the second data records are not reflected in the other of the first and second data records. If changes made to the second data records are not reflected in the first data records, only partial content of ones of changed second data records is transmitted to the portable electronic device. The partial content includes key fields of data sufficient to uniquely identify the ones of the changed second data records in which the key fields of data are contained. After transmitting only partial content of the ones of changed second data records to the portable electronic device, full content of the ones of changed second data records for which only partial content has been transmitted, is transmitted until either full content of each of the ones of the changed second data records is transmitted or a low memory condition is determined at the portable electronic device. |
| US07747564B2 |
Comparative analysis of business intelligence data
A definition manager independently defines a plurality of dimensional members of a data source. An operation manager receives user input selecting a set of dimensional members of interest and at least one operator to manipulate the selected set of members based on the selected at least one operator. The set of dimensional members of interest comprise a first dimensional member of interest having a given dimension and a given level in a hierarchy of the given dimension and a second dimensional member of interest having a different dimension from the given dimension or a different level in the hierarchy from the given level in the hierarchy. A display manager places the manipulated set of dimensional members in a report so that the manipulated set of dimensional members are displayed adjacently based on the operator to facilitate comparative analysis. |
| US07747561B1 |
Synchronization protocol for synchronizing data between nodes
A method and system thereof for synchronizing a data set comprising a first data set residing on a first node with a second data set residing on a second node. Packets are exchanged with the second node. A packet comprises one or more messages and a message comprises a plurality of elements. At least one of the elements identifies the data set. Other information in the packets is used to identify any data from the first data set that needs to be sent to the second node and any data from the second data set that needs to be received from the second node, in order to synchronize the data set on both nodes. The data so identified can then be exchanged. |
| US07747556B2 |
Query-based notification architecture
A data repository monitoring system that utilizes queries to generate notifications in response to the identification of new and changed content. The system includes a monitoring component that monitors a plurality of disparate repositories in order to identify the receipt of new or modified content. The monitoring component includes a query component(s) that identifies metadata of imported content. The query can be generated and communicated to the monitoring component via a graphical user interface. A notification component is also provided to generate a prompt upon the receipt of incoming content as identified by the query component. The invention employs a centralized store (e.g., change queue) that maintains metadata corresponding to imported (e.g., new) metadata. |
| US07747554B2 |
Real-time business process triggering system and method using RFID
Provided is a real-time business process triggering system (RBPTS) using a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) and a method thereof. The RBPTS is to provides interface to a corporation information system by generating an RFID event proper to a specific domain by giving the RFID data a business meaning to apply the RFID data to a predetermined rule before transmitting the RFID data to the corporation information system, provide a rule modeling function to flexibly managing changes in application field and environment, and provide an RFID related-action related to rule performance, and a method thereof. The RBPTS includes: an RFID middleware adapter for receiving RFID data from an RFID middleware/RFID reader and generating RFID events Extensible Markup Language (XML) document; an event manager for receiving the RFID events XML document from the RFID middleware adapter and generating an event query for inference; a rule manager for generating a result set by performing rule inference on the event query through an inference engine and generating an action list; Web Service arbitrator for communicating through Web Service using an external application and a Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP); an action manager for performing real-time action by calling the Web Service through the Web Service arbitrator based on the action list; and an event repository for storing and managing registered all RFID event information, rule and action. The RBPTS is applied to maritime freight transportation. |
| US07747551B2 |
Reduction of classification error rates and monitoring system using an artificial class
Systems and methods for enhancing the accuracy of classifying a measurement by providing an artificial class. Seizure prediction systems may employ a classification system including an artificial class and a user interface for signaling uncertainty in classification when a measurement is classified in the artificial class. |
| US07747545B2 |
Delivery rule for customer leads response system and method
A lead response system is provided comprising a customizable lead delivery rules engine and a customizable escalation rules engine for delivering leads to appropriate responders and re-routing undeveloped leads to different responders. Each delivery rule includes two or more criteria which may be met in order for the lead to be delivered to the responder specified in the particular rule. A lead that is not accepted by the responder to whom it was delivered within a user-defined time frame is re-routed for delivery to a new responder according to a set of escalation rules. The escalation rules may include delivery instructions specifying the new responder or may re-route the lead to the delivery rules engine for delivery to a new responder according to a re-application of the delivery rules. |
| US07747542B2 |
Method for complying with employment eligibility verification requirements
A method is provided for determining employer compliance in determining employment eligibility requirements in accordance with federal immigration regulations. Compliance alerts and compliance tips are displayed for guiding employers in verifying employment eligibility. Completed employment eligibility forms are automatically audited to analyze whether the employer has accurately completed the employment verification. The completed forms are audited by applying various compliance rules to a completed employment eligibility form, presently a Form I-9, to determine compliance with the applicable regulations. A listing is provided of various errors and additional data required to complete the audited form. The method is preferably administered by a single service provider for multiple employers, to assure that changes in the applicable regulations are regularly incorporated. A central system is provided for managing all of the employment eligibility forms associated with particular employers, to assure continued compliance with federal regulations. |
| US07747541B2 |
Validating apparatus for use with a pair of integrated circuits
An apparatus is provided for validating a device. The apparatus includes a first integrated circuit which is configured to generate a random number, reference information using the random number and a secret key. A control system is configured to: receive the random number and the reference information from the first integrated circuit, receive validation information from a second integrated circuit positioned on the device whereby the validation information is generated by the second integrated circuit using the random number and the secret key, and compare the reference and validation information received from the integrated circuits to validate the device. |
| US07747535B2 |
User terminal and wireless item-based credit card authorization servers, systems, methods and computer program products
Credit card transaction authorization is performed using ad-hoc, short-range wireless links to obtain item identification information from items that include ad-hoc short range wireless link transmitters and that are carried by a user who is associated with a prospective credit card transaction. Authorization information for the prospective credit card transaction is generated based on the item identification information that was obtained. Location information for a wireless terminal that is associated with the user and/or Internet Protocol (IP) address information for a transaction terminal that is associated with the transaction may also be used. Related systems, devices and computer program products are also described. |
| US07747532B2 |
Content use management system, content playback apparatus, content use management method, content playback method, and computer program including system date/time information validation
A license corresponding to digital content includes reliable reference date/time information. A content playback apparatus includes a reference-date/time-information storage unit for storing the reference date/time information. The reference-date/time-information storage unit is updated to maintain the reference date/time information at the latest version. When the digital content is to be played back, the system date/time of the content playback apparatus is compared with the reference date/time to validate the system date/time. |
| US07747531B2 |
Method and system for delivery of secure software license information
A system and method for delivery of secure software license information to authorize the use of a software program is disclosed. The method and system comprises a computer system for executing the software program and the authorizing program, and a license server, connected to the computer system over a network. The method and system include associating a publisher certificate and a signed product key pair with the program to be authorized, generating a license request containing user and product information and signed by the private key from the product key pair, transmitting the license request to a license server, generating a license using data extracted from the license request and license terms, signing the license with the publisher private key associated with the publisher certificate, transmitting the license to the authorization program, validating the license using the publisher certificate, and using the license terms to control the use of the software program. |
| US07747530B2 |
Check authorization system and method
A device is provided that includes a monetary instrument having a surface, and a magnetic ink character recognition (MICR) line coupled to that surface. The MICR line includes an ABA number, a customer account number, and a one-way hash value. The one-way hash value is output from a hashing process using input including the ABA number, the customer account number, together with a personal identification code and a key that are not included on the MICR line. A method is also provided that authenticates a monetary instrument by comparing a computed one-way hash value with a one-way hash value that is located in the MICR line of the monetary instrument. At the point-of-sale, the MICR line data is scanned and the personal identification code obtained from the customer. The scanned data and the personal identification code are transmitted to a check verifier that provides a check verification status. |
| US07747529B2 |
Method and system of check presentation
A method and system of check presentation. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are methods comprising accepting a first paper check and a second paper check in exchange for a good or service (the second paper check postdated), converting the first paper check and the second paper check into a first electronic request and a second electronic request respectively, presenting the first electronic request for payment through a funds transfer network, electronically storing the second electronic request, and then presenting the second electronic request for payment through the funds transfer network on the postdated date. |
| US07747528B1 |
System and method for delaying payment processing for biometrically-initiated financial transactions
A system and method for providing a flexible credit facility that can delay the processing of financial transactions, including biometrically-initiated financial transactions, is disclosed. Delays in payment processing are determined by considering various factors that can depend on the merchant, the consumer, or the transaction itself. In one embodiment, after a financial transaction has been delayed for a determined period of time, it is then submitted to a financial network such as the Automated Clearing House (ACH) network. |
| US07747525B2 |
Systems and methods for customizing mortgage characteristics
The present invention provides systems and methods for customizing fixed rate and variable rate mortgages. In some cases, the methods include accessing mortgage information and identifying at least a first characteristic of the mortgage to be modified. In addition, a first funds transfer is authorized to facilitate modification of the first characteristic. The mortgage is also monitored and changes in any relevant characteristics are identified. Where changes in a second relevant characteristic is detected, a second funds transfer is authorized to facilitate modification of the first characteristic to compensate for the change in the second characteristic. |
| US07747524B2 |
Method and system for discount debit card
A discount debit card is with a merchant's point of sale terminal to register a transaction and send data identifying the transaction, merchant, and the eCard holder to a discount debit plan provider's terminal. Authorization to complete the transaction is sent to the merchant's terminal while the plan provider's terminal manages the cash flow of the merchant discounted transaction amount to the merchant's account, the debit of the eCard holder account for the holder's discounted purchase amount and distribution of the difference between the merchant discounted amount and the eCard holder discounted amount to the plan provider or its affiliates. |
| US07747523B2 |
Internet-based financial vehicles
A system for electronic commerce including banking tools, products and services. The system includes customizable banking products, financial cards, and methods and systems for conducting financial transactions and maintaining records over the Internet. |
| US07747519B2 |
System and method for verifying loan data at delivery
A system for verifying loan data for a loan being delivered by a seller to a purchaser includes underwriting logic that generates a set of underwriting data for a loan and delivery logic that receives a set of delivery data for the loan from the seller and processes the delivery data. The delivery logic includes comparison logic that compares the underwriting data for the loan and the delivery data for the loan to determine any differences. If there are differences between the underwriting data and the delivery data for the loan, yield adjustments and fees may be determined for the loan based on the differences. |
| US07747515B1 |
Electronic securities marketplace having integration with order management systems
An electronic trading marketplace (ETM) communicates with interfacing modules interfacing directly with order management systems (OMS's) at trading institutions. The interfacing modules automatically transmit orders from the OMS databases to the ETM and update the OMS databases in response to orders executed at the ETM. Traders can communicate with the ETM to anonymously negotiate trades of securities. |
| US07747510B1 |
System and method for smart hedging in an electronic trading environment
A system and associated methods are provided for smart hedging in an electronic trading environment. According to one example method, a first order for a first tradeable object and a second order for a second tradeable object are placed based on a spread strategy. Upon receiving an indication that a quantity of the first order is filled, the method involves determining if the second order can be used to offset the quantity filled of the first order by determining if a price of the second order would result in achieving a desired spread price defined for the spread strategy. If the price results in the desired price, the second order is used to offset the quantity filled for the first order in an attempt to achieve the desired spread price. Other tools are provided as well. |
| US07747504B2 |
System, method and computer program product for determining a minimum asset value for exercising a contingent claim of an option
A system, method and computer program product are provided for determining a minimum future benefits value for exercising a contingent claim of an option. The method may include determining present value distribution(s) of contingent future value and present value(s) of respective exercise price(s) at an expiration exercise point and/or one or more decision points before that point. Determining these present value distribution(s) and present value(s) may include discounting respective distribution(s) and value(s) according to first and second discount rates, respectively. The method may also include repeatedly determining, for a plurality of candidate minimum asset values at a selected decision point, respective values based upon one or more of the present value distribution(s) and one or more of the present value(s), where the respective values may be conditioned on the candidate minimum asset values. A candidate minimum asset value that maximizes the value may then be selected. |
| US07747503B2 |
System, method and computer program product for determining a minimum asset value for exercising a contingent claim of an option
A system, method and computer program product are provided for determining a minimum future benefits value for exercising a contingent claim of an option. The method may include determining a present value of an asset at a selected decision point, and a present value of an exercise price required to exercise a contingent claim at the selected decision point. Determining the present values of the asset and exercise price may include discounting a respective candidate minimum asset value and exercise price according to first and second discount rates, respectively. A first value may be determined based thereupon, and may be repeatedly determined (along with present values of the asset and exercise price) for one or more candidate minimum asset values to identify a candidate for which a first value approximately equals a second value representing a payoff attributable to the exercise of a contingent claim at the expiration exercise point. |
| US07747502B2 |
Using accounting data based indexing to create a portfolio of assets
A system, method and computer program product creates an index based on accounting based data, as well as a portfolio of financial objects based on the index where the portfolio is weighted according to accounting based data. A passive investment system may be based on indices created from various metrics. The indexes may be built with metrics other than market capitalization weighting, price weighting or equal weighting. Non-financial metrics may also be used to build indexes to create passive investment systems. Additionally, a combination of financial non-market capitalization metrics may be used along with non-financial metrics to create passive investment systems. Once the index is built, it may be used as a basis to purchase securities for a portfolio. Specifically excluded are widely-used capitalization-weighted indexes and price-weighted indexes, in which the price of a security contributes in a substantial way to the calculation of the weight of that security in the index or the portfolio, and equal weighting weighted indexes. Valuation indifferent indexes avoid overexposure to overvalued securities and underexposure to undervalued securities, as compared with conventional capitalization-weighted and price-weighted. |
| US07747499B2 |
Structure for generating a source of contingent capital
Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a financing structure for generating a source of contingent capital for a company. According to various embodiments, the company enters into a put option agreement with an entity, such as a trust. The put option agreement permits the company to put preferred stock of the company to the trust. The company also enters into a warrant agreement with the trust. The warrant agreement permits the trust to buy equity securities (such as common stock) of the company or a corporate entity related to the company (e.g., a holding company) from the company. The trust issues to investors bifurcated convertible instruments. The instruments include a fixed income instrument and a warrant to purchase equity securities of the related corporate entity (e.g., the holding company). With the proceeds from the offering, the trust purchases eligible assets, such as low risk government securities which pay fixed or floating periodic interest or dividend payments. The interest rate or dividend rate on the fixed income instrument issued by the trust may match the yield on the eligible assets. The operating company's ability to put its preferred stock to the trust in exchange for the put option strike price payment provides the operating company and/or the holding company with the source of contingent (or soft) capital. |
| US07747494B1 |
Non-determinative risk simulation
Simulating risk circumstances can reveal new information to risk assessment personnel about how to mitigate risk. In one embodiment, the present invention includes selecting an asset from a plurality of heterogeneous assets of a business enterprise. The user can then input a plurality of simulated risk factors for the selected asset into the system which receives this input. The risk assessment system can then generate a non-determinative simulated risk score using the simulated risk factors, the simulated risk score being a simulated measure of risk associated with the selected asset if the selected asset were to be associated with the plurality of simulated risk factors. |
| US07747493B1 |
System and method for changing order priority levels in an electronic trading environment
A system and method for fee-based order priority level modification in an electronic trading environment are described. When an order reaches an exchange, a priority level of the order may be changed to a higher priority level, and the priority level of the order initially at the higher priority level may be changed to a lower priority level of the received order. In one embodiment, a trader who is gaining a higher priority level will be preferably charged a fee for having his order moved to the higher priority level, and at least a portion of that fee may be paid to a trader who is giving up his high priority level. |
| US07747492B2 |
Installation and method for trading in inflation
Installation and method for performing a financial service comprising the following steps: (a) calculation of at least one inflation correction value for a desired coupon value CV in a year i making use of the coupon value CV and of future index data Ii; (b) calculation of a cash value of the at least one inflation correction value for the coupon value CV in year i making use of the coupon value CV, the future index data Ii and the interest rates inti; (c) presentation of a purchase price to a purchaser at which the at least one inflation correction value for the coupon value CV, or a portion thereof, can be purchased. |
| US07747486B1 |
Financial analysis system interface
A user interface provides a financial analysis system for real time monitoring of market conditions for a portfolio of stocks or other financial instruments. The interface presents three unique panels, which, upon selection by the user, provide different representations of data with respect to the portfolio or a selected portion of the portfolio. The user can rapidly cycle among these panels by activating icons. Further, the user can quickly retrieve additional data for a given stock from any of a variety of user-selectable sources by activating additional icons. |
| US07747485B2 |
Variable account data information system and method
A system for creating a plurality of client mailers for a plurality of clients of a communication service provider having an account database storing client account data related to one or more services provided by the communication service provider to each client during a billing cycle includes first and second assembly modules. The first assembly module is operable to receive common data and variable data. The common data comprises data to be included in each client mailer, and the variable data is used for selecting client account data specific to each client for inclusion into the client mailer. The first assembly module is further operable to generate advisement data based on the client account data specific to the client and the variable data and store the common data, the selected client account data, and the advisement data in a mailer template file. The second assembly module is operable to access the mailer template file and for each client and create corresponding client mailer data comprising the common data, the selected client account data specific to the client, and the advisement data and store the corresponding client mailer data for each client in a mailer file. |
| US07747481B2 |
Extreme capacity management in an electronic marketplace environment
A system (10) for managing a capacity extreme at a first entity (12) in a supply chain includes a planning application (36) that receives status data for at least the first entity (12) reflecting the capacity extreme at the first entity (12) and generates a plan (34) according to the status data. A manager application (44) receives the plan (34) and, according to the plan (34), automatically initiates at least one service in an attempt to resolve at least a portion of the capacity extreme through interaction with one or more other entities (12). The manager application (44) selects the service from among a plurality of available services based on a monetary value to the first entity (12) of a resolution expected to be available using the selected service relative to other services. |
| US07747479B2 |
Method, devices and storage media for managing inventory
A device for managing inventory, such as tools and equipment, includes a user interface in operable communication with a processor and a storage medium; a transceiver in operable communication with an antenna and the processor, the transceiver operable for communicating with a tool or a piece of equipment; and a notification device in operable communication with the processor. The processor determines if the tool or the piece of equipment is within a specified range of the device for managing tool and equipment inventory. |
| US07747476B2 |
Transaction tracking, managing, assessment, and auditing data processing system and network
An improved processing system for tracking commerce on the Internet provides for subvariable processing and includes web page scanning to discern fraud or improper content to insure proper promotion of select products within the network environment. |
| US07747474B2 |
Shared royalty platform for content royalty management
Systems and methods for the dynamic processing of royalties are disclosed. Sales records are processed on a transaction basis rather than in batch mode. This process also allows correction of information retroactively, rather than delaying the entire processing of the information. One embodiment includes a system comprising a message broker in communication with a plurality of clients and services, a state machine, a processor and a time manager. The message broker interacts with the processor to execute a common service based on events produced by the state machine. Another embodiment includes a method comprising providing a rate matrix, receiving a sales record from a database and calculating a royalty payment using the sales record and the rate matrix. |
| US07747472B2 |
Hidden image game piece
A hidden image game piece and a method by which a hidden image game piece is produced. A first pattern of colored ink is deposited on a transparent or highly translucent substrate at 110-180 density, forming the image which is to be hidden. Then a second pattern of colored ink, of a different color than first pattern's ink, is deposited upon the substrate on top of the first pattern, at 90-170 density. When the game piece is flooded with additive light of the same color as the second pattern's ink, the previously concealed image, composed of the first pattern's ink, becomes perceptible. Because a transparent or highly translucent substrate is used for the game piece, and because the density of the ink application is controlled within specific ranges, this game piece may be used with a computer monitor, or with other low-intensity sources of additive light. |
| US07747470B2 |
System and method to improve manufacturing
A system and related method for the rapid response to one or more product fabrication bid requests. The system includes a translation function for translating received product information into information suitable for a manufacturer to produce fabrication information. The system further includes a product fabrication function for generating product fabrication setup sheets and programming based on the translated product information. The system also includes a bid preparation function that produces bid information, such as pricing and scheduling, based on the generated product fabrication information. A process that had taken days to complete is finished in minutes. The related method includes the steps of querying a database of available manufacturers for their capability and available equipment to fabricate a desired product. The method also includes the steps of translating received product information into manufacturing information applicable to one or more identified manufacturers, generating product fabrication information specific to the one or more identified manufacturers, and producing responsive bid information based on the generated product fabrication information. A plurality of identified manufacturers may join together to use the system and method to respond to a bid request. |
| US07747468B2 |
Contents consignment sale system and method for networking broadcasting
An Internet broadcasting contents consignment sale system and method. An Internet broadcasting station makes a consignment sale contract with companies or individuals who have copyrights of authored pieces, such as computer and video game makers, filmmakers, music producers, television broadcasting stations, and publishers; generates the consigned authored pieces into specific contents data; allows users to use the contents data only through a specific execution program provided by the Internet broadcasting station; permits Internet users to download the contents via wire and wireless Internet free of charge and keep them; and allows the users to use desired contents data by receiving restoration information on the Internet. |
| US07747461B2 |
Wireless subscriber loyalty system and method
A system and method are disclosed for providing a complete architectural and procedural solution to wireless subscriber loyalty issues. A flexible promotion creation environment allows mobile phone operators to rapidly create and deploy various incentive programs and other such loyalty schemes; together with a data mining and profiling method for tracking, monitoring and analysing subscriber (or aggregate) usage information associated with given promotions. The proposed data mining and profiling method purposely incents specific subscriber behaviors by triggering a point-based reward scheme based on the dynamic screening of event records which are correlated with incented behaviors. Wherein a threshold is assigned based on usage information for a particular promotion; upon realization of which, the subscriber is, immediately notified of the reward through a plurality of means including e-mail, voice notification and by way of Short Message Service (SMS) at their wireless handset. |
| US07747459B2 |
Intelligent free-time search
Techniques are disclosed for performing free-time searches that exploit information of the type used with electronic calendars. By leveraging advanced calendaring system information and using location, other context information such as corporate policy, legal constraints, and technology constraints, and user-specific preferences to provide a complete picture of a person's availability, the functionality (and therefore the value) of scheduling systems in increased, resulting in an ability to schedule meetings with more accuracy and less rework. Various allowable participation types for meeting invitees may be specified, and each invitee's availability is determined accordingly. Location-sensitive travel times (including optional user-specific travel time adjustments) are used in preferred embodiments when in-person participation is required. |
| US07747457B2 |
Computer system and method for facilitating and managing the project bid and requisition process
A comprehensive, web-enabled computer system and method is provided for facilitating and managing all aspects of project work, while synchronizing communications, data and transaction processing across multiple user platforms. To implement the computer system and method, a bid item list is utilized to create configurable and scalable customized bid templates premised on the specific type of project work required. Bid requests are generated from the customized bid templates for solicitation of vendor bid responses to the selected bid items provided by the bid template. One or more bid items within the vendor bid responses can be selected for vendor grading purposes, and comparison of the vendor bid responses can be conducted using the graded bid item responses. In addition, project tracking parameters can be entered into the computer system for tracking the performance of the project. |
| US07747451B2 |
Dynamic grid paths
A system, method, data structure, and computer-readable medium for processing a command entered into a command processor interface in a data processing system. In accordance with the method of the present invention, a command is entered by a user into a command processor interface input line. A command path specified by the command processor interface is utilized for searching for the entered command. The command path includes at least one local path and a grid command directive. The grid command directive may include a grid service field containing a grid service specifier, and a host name field containing a locatable name or address of a processing or grid lookup resource. The grid command directive further includes a command field containing a grid resource lookup command. The command path searching includes sequentially processing the at least one local path and the grid command directive until an execution resource associated with the command is located. |
| US07747449B2 |
Method and computer system for providing a cost estimate for sizing a computer system
Systems and methods for providing a cost estimate for a data processing system are provided. An exemplary method may include selecting application programs from a set of application programs, wherein each application program may have a number of objects. The method may further include entering data descriptive of a load profile, retrieving a set of sizing coefficients for each object of the selected application programs, and estimating the hardware requirements for each one of the objects of the selected application programs by entering the sizing coefficients and the load profile into a sizing model. The method may further include entering the hardware requirements for each one of the objects of the selected application programs into a cost estimation component to provide a cost estimate for each one of the program objects of the selected application programs. The method may further include calculating a total hardware requirement by adding the hardware requirements, and calculating the total cost estimate for the data processing system by adding the cost estimates for each object of the selected application programs. |
| US07747448B2 |
Channel signal concealment in multi-channel audio systems
A parametric model is used for error concealment. The model filter allows for recovering signal components of original audio channel signals that now are lost or erroneous from signal components of at least one other audio channel. During error-free reception of valid frames, the parameters of that model will be derived and stored. In case of frame loss or frame error affecting the multi-channel information, a conjecture of the missing information is recovered by applying the model, using the stored parameters. In case of several subsequent lost or erroneous frames, it is possible either to use the parameters derived during the last valid frame or to use parameters derived from the recovered multi-channel information of the respective previous invalid frame. Furthermore, if there are long sequences of lost frames, it can be beneficial to apply some gradual muting of the model parameters, which essentially results in a gradual attenuation of the recovered multi-channel information. |
| US07747440B2 |
Methods and apparatus for conveying synthetic speech style from a text-to-speech system
A technique for producing speech output in a text-to-speech system is provided. A message is created for communication to a user in a natural language generator of the text-to-speech system. The message is annotated in the natural language generator with a synthetic speech output style. The message is conveyed to the user through a speech synthesis system in communication with the natural language generator, wherein the message is conveyed in accordance with the synthetic speech output style. |
| US07747438B2 |
Multi-slot dialog systems and methods
Systems and methods for constructing a series of interactions with a user to collect multiple pieces of related information for the purpose of accomplishing a specific goal or topic (a multi-slot dialog) using a component-based approach are disclosed. The method generally includes outputting a primary header prompt to elicit values for slots in a segment from the user, receiving a primary user response containing a value for each slot in at least a subset of the slots in the segment, processing the primary user response to determine at least one possible recognition value for each slot contained in the primary user response, filling each slot contained in the primary user response with a matched value selected from the corresponding possible recognition values, and repeating the outputting, receiving, processing and filling for any unfilled slots in the segment until all slots in the segment of slots are filled. |
| US07747433B2 |
Method and apparatus for speech encoding by evaluating a noise level based on gain information
A high quality speech is reproduced with a small data amount in speech coding and decoding for performing compression coding and decoding of a speech signal to a digital signal. In speech coding method according to a code-excited linear prediction (CELP) speech coding, a noise level of a speech in a concerning coding period is evaluated by using a code or coding result of at least one of spectrum information, power information, and pitch information, and various excitation codebooks are used based on an evaluation result. |
| US07747432B2 |
Method and apparatus for speech decoding by evaluating a noise level based on gain information
A high quality speech is reproduced with a small data amount in speech coding and decoding for performing compression coding and decoding of a speech signal to a digital signal. In speech coding method according to a code-excited linear prediction (CELP) speech coding, a noise level of a speech in a concerning coding period is evaluated by using a code or coding result of at least one of spectrum information, power information, and pitch information, and various excitation codebooks are used based on an evaluation result. |
| US07747429B2 |
Data summarization method and apparatus
A method of generating caption abstract, including: generating a target text from a predetermined caption, analyzing a morpheme of a word included in the target text, and analyzing a grammatical structure of the target text by referring to the morpheme; extracting and removing low content words from the target text by using the morpheme or information on the grammatical structure and determining a main predicate; extracting a major sentence component with respect to the main predicate by referring to the information on the grammatical structure, as a candidate abstract word; substituting a relevant word for a complex noun phrase or a predicate phrase from the candidate abstract words by referring to a predetermined database; and generating an abstract by rearranging the candidate abstract words according to a predetermined rule. |
| US07747428B1 |
Visibly distinguishing portions of compound words
A method and apparatus for displaying a compound word is provided. According to one aspect, data that specifies a first form of a component word is received. Within the compound word, a second form of the component word that differs from the first form of the component word is located. The compound word is displayed so that the second form of the component word is visibly distinguished from the remainder of the compound word. As a result, the compound word is displayed in a way that implements useful highlighting even when only a portion of the compound word is of interest to a searcher. The compound word may be displayed in this manner even when the portion takes a different form when within a compound word than when standing alone. |
| US07747424B2 |
Scatterometry multi-structure shape definition with multi-periodicity
A modeling approach is disclosed which addresses samples with different regions where the structures exhibit different periodicities. In this approach, a first partial model is generated which defines the shape, material properties and periodicity of the first region. In addition, a second partial model is generated defining the shape, material properties and periodicity of the second region. These two partial models are then merged into a combined model. When optimizing the combined model, the shape and material properties of the first and second models are independently adjusted. The optical responses of the model with differing shapes and material properties are-calculated and compared to a physical sample. This process is iteratively carried out to derive a final combined model that corresponds to a physical sample. |
| US07747422B1 |
Using constraint-based heuristics to satisfice static software partitioning and allocation of heterogeneous distributed systems
Systems and methods automatically design a system's architecture by modeling the architectural complexity of large-scale distributed systems to drive a partitioning and allocation algorithm. The result is a configuration based on the structure of the software tasks and data access, and the capacities of the hardware. Coupling and cohesion are relative, dependent on the ratio of load to capacity, and not independent software characteristics. The partitioning and allocation algorithm includes tradeoffs between processor utilization, memory utilization, inter-processor communication, and peripheral contention. The systems and methods take into account both precedence constraints and the directional flow of data. Further aspects include interleaving the decisions of database segmentation and software distribution. This approach is demonstrated with a simplified example of a real distributed system. |
| US07747421B2 |
Head assignment modeling and simulation
To model head assignments for a multihead composite material application machine having a set of heads, a ply geometry for a composite part is received and a configuration for the multihead composite material application machine is received. In addition, a constellation of head locations is generated in response to the ply geometry and the configuration for the multihead composite material application machine. Furthermore, a head location of the constellation of head locations is assigned to a corresponding head of the set of heads and a graphical model of the multihead composite material application machine applying the composite material upon the composite part is generated in response to the assigned head locations. |
| US07747420B1 |
Apparatus and method of simulating the movement of elements through a region of 3D space
The movement of elements through a region of three dimensional (3D) space is simulated by utilizing a number of two dimensional (2D) grids to define the region of 3D space. Movement information is associated with each grid point of each 2D grid, and changed over a time period. For each element in 3D space, movement information is interpolated from the grid points of a pair of 2D grids that lie on opposite sides of the element. The interpolated movement information is used to advect the elements through the region of 3D space. |
| US07747417B2 |
Method and system for transformer dissolved gas harmonic regression analysis
A transformer (26) is monitored by a dissolved gas monitoring device (28). A method (36) in the form of executable code instructs a processor (34) to analyze a condition of the transformer (26). The method includes receiving (90), from the monitoring device (28), data elements (60) in the form of values (70) of dissolved gases (72) associated with operation of transformer (26) during a period of time. Periodic characteristics responsive to the operation of the transformer (26) are identified (92) from the data elements (60). The periodic characteristics may include a daily, semi-annual, and/or annual fluctuation of gas generation in response to transformer loading. A gas generation rate trend (112) is distinguished from the periodic characteristics, the condition of the transformer (26) is determined and its future condition may be predicted in response to the trend (112). The condition is presented to a user (58). |
| US07747416B2 |
System and method for batch process control with diverse distributed control system protocols
A system and method for batch process control with diverse distributed control system (DCS) protocols is disclosed. A run-time extension acts as an adaptation layer that allows a single batch manager to supervise controllers utilizing diverse DCS protocols. The run-time extension receives commands transmitted from the batch supervisor in a first DCS protocol, translates the commands to a second DCS protocol utilized by a controller, and transmits the translated command to the controller to control various equipment associated with the controller. A database automation object (DBA) inputs configuration information from controllers utilizing diverse DCS protocols, extracts equipment information from the configuration information, generates protocol translation logic based on the configuration information, and translates recipe and formula information included in the configuration information into a common format. |
| US07747413B2 |
Real time analytics that accounts for shifts
A system, method and program product for processing a stream of data events based on shifts. A system is provided comprising: a real time statistical processing system for updating a statistical summary each time a new data event is obtained, wherein the statistical summary is calculated based on the new data event and a previously calculated statistical summary; an analysis system that analyzes the statistical summary after it is updated; and a shift system that maintains separate statistical summaries for each of a plurality different shifts associated with the stream of data events. |
| US07747411B2 |
Pedometer
A pedometer sensor outputs a detecting signal in correspondence with the moving motion of a person to a CPU via a variable filter circuit that has a variable passing frequency band. In a walking state, when a voltage comparing circuit determines that the signal level of the detecting signal is equal to or higher than a predetermined level and a period of the detecting signal from the filter circuit set to a band for running is at a period within a predetermined range, the CPU determines that the moving motion is changed from walking to running, maintains a state in which a frequency switching circuit sets a passing frequency band of the filter circuit to a band for running, and calculates a number of steps based on the detecting signal passing the filter circuit. |
| US07747409B2 |
Pedestrian navigation apparatus and method
The motion of a pedestrian is evaluated by determining at least one position of at least one identified portion of the pedestrian, projecting the positions(s) on at least one plane, and deriving the motion from the position(s) projected on the at least one plane. Typically the position(s) are determined in three-dimensions, e.g. of the feet. It is possible to project on two different planes to provide three-dimensional navigation information. |
| US07747405B2 |
Line frequency synchronization
This invention relates to line frequency synchronisation for use in diagnostics for alternating current electrical circuits. The invention provides a method of synchronising measurement system frequency with an alternating current line frequency comprising the steps of: adjusting the frequency of the measurement system frequency using a frequency locked loop until the measurement system frequency is within a predetermined range of said alternating current line frequency; and when the measurement system frequency is within a predetermined range of said alternating current line frequency adjusting the phase and the frequency of the measurement system frequency using a phase and frequency locked loop. |
| US07747400B2 |
VA metering in polyphase systems
An arrangement includes an A/D converter and a processing circuit. The A/D converter is configured to generate digital samples of voltage and current waveforms in a polyphase electrical system. The processing circuit is operably coupled to receive the digital samples from the A/D converter. The processing circuit is further configured to combine a value substantially equal to two times the magnitude of the phase A current sample with the phase C current sample to generate a first value, and generate a VA calculation using the first value and at least one other value. The processing circuit is further configured to provide information representative of the VA calculation to one of a group consisting of a display, a communication circuit, and a billing calculation unit. |
| US07747395B2 |
Method of inhibitor design and identification using a 3-D structure of human peptide deformylase
The present invention provides the three-dimensional structure of human mitochondrial Homo sapiens peptide deformylase (HsPDF) protein, and HsPDF complexed to a binding compound, such as a PDF inhibitor. This crystallographic information will aid in the identification and development of novel binding compounds of HsPDF and other PDF family members which have anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-parasitical, anti-inflammatory, and/or anti-cancer activity. |
| US07747393B2 |
Methods, systems, and software for identifying functional biomolecules
The present invention generally relates to methods of rapidly and efficiently searching biologically-related data space. More specifically, the invention includes methods of identifying bio-molecules with desired properties, or which are most suitable for acquiring such properties, from complex bio-molecule libraries or sets of such libraries. The invention also provides methods of modeling sequence-activity relationships. As many of the methods are computer-implemented, the invention additionally provides digital systems and software for performing these methods. |
| US07747391B2 |
Methods, systems, and software for identifying functional biomolecules
The present invention generally relates to methods of rapidly and efficiently searching biologically-related data space. More specifically, the invention includes methods of identifying bio-molecules with desired properties, or which are most suitable for acquiring such properties, from complex bio-molecule libraries or sets of such libraries. The invention also provides methods of modeling sequence-activity relationships. As many of the methods are computer-implemented, the invention additionally provides digital systems and software for performing these methods. |
| US07747388B2 |
Systems and methods for acquiring data in thermal recovery oil wells
In connection with thermal recovery projects, a system determines temperature gradients for a heat affected zone associated with a subterranean hydrocarbon reservoir. An exemplary system includes a plurality of temperature sensors distributed in the wellbore at least partially along the heat affected zone. A downhole processor positioned proximate and substantially outside of the heat affected zone receives and digitizes the temperature measurements. A data link such as a data cable coupled to the downhole processor conveys the temperature measurements to a surface interface. |
| US07747387B2 |
Providing increased number of measurements and deeper depth of investigation from existing resistivity tool hardware
Resistivity measurements are made with a propagation resistivity tool in a plurality of different modes wherein the antennas may be used as both transmitters or receivers. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract which will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. |
| US07747384B1 |
Method for substituting at least one high quality position measurement taken before an interrupting event with a set of upgraded low quality position measurements provided by the same source of measurements after the interrupting event
A method for substituting at least one high quality position measurement of an object taken before an interrupting event with a set of upgraded low quality position measurements of the object provided by the same source of measurements after the interrupting event. The method comprises the following steps: (A) obtaining at least one high quality position measurement of the object provided by a source of measurements before the interrupting event; (B) saving at least one high quality position measurement of the object; (C) if at least one position measurement of the object provided by source of measurements after the interrupting event is of substantially high quality, using at least one position measurement of substantially high quality of the object for navigation purposes of the object; and (D) if each position measurement of the object provided by the source of measurements after the interrupting event is of low quality, and if there is not at least one restoration event; then upgrading at least one position measurement of the object by using an upgrade algorithm. |
| US07747382B2 |
Methods and systems for real-time enhanced situational awareness
A system and method of automatically advising an individual, in real-time, of all available facts related to a current situation. The method is facilitated by a system, which automatically retrieves data related to a situation from a plurality of aviation enterprise systems, processes the data retrieved in real time and generates a situational awareness data that is presented in an optimal format to a user on an interface device. Processing of the data retrieved from the plurality of aviation enterprise systems comprises correlating the data in accordance with business rules and interpreting the data in view of previously stored historical information that relates to the situation. The situational awareness data generated is further processed in view of a user profile in order to create a viewable situational awareness data that has been optimized for presentation to an identified user of the system in accordance with the user profile. |
| US07747368B2 |
Vehicle damping force control with roll angle and pitch angle
A damping force control apparatus with adjustable shock absorbers is disclosed. An electronic control unit calculates estimated roll angle and estimated pitch angle of a vehicle body based on detected sprung accelerations, calculates a target pitch angle from the estimated roll angle, and determines target damping force required for front-wheel-side shock absorbers such that the stimulated pitch angle coincides with the target pitch angle; calculates rear-wheel-side jack-up force exerted on the rear-wheel-side vehicle body based on detected vehicle speed detected yaw rate and detected lateral acceleration, and determines the force in the direction for overcoming the calculated jack-up force as target damping force of rear-wheel-side shock absorbers; and controls the operation of each actuator based on the rear-wheel-side and front-wheel-side target damping forces. |
| US07747365B1 |
Internet-based system for monitoring vehicles
The invention provides a method for monitoring a vehicle that features the steps of: 1) generating a data packet including vehicle data retrieved from the vehicle using a wireless appliance; 2) transmitting the data packet over an airlink with the wireless appliance so that the data packet passes through a network and to a host computer system; 3) processing the data packet with the host computer system to generate a set of data; and 4) displaying the set of data on a web page hosted on the internet. |
| US07747364B2 |
Methods, apparatus and systems for enhanced synthetic vision and multi-sensor data fusion to improve operational capabilities of unmanned aerial vehicles
The invention provides, in some aspects, improved methods, apparatus and systems for unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) operation that utilize multiple data links between a UAV and a control station in order to transmit control and actionable intelligence data. Such methods, apparatus and systems can be used, for example, to monitor a selected environment (e.g., an oil field or other terrain/environment of interest). In a related aspect, such data links comprise satellite communication channels. |
| US07747360B2 |
Aircraft cockpit display device for information concerning surrounding traffic
An aircraft cockpit display device for information concerning surrounding traffic includes devices to receive information coming from outside the aircraft, to know the flight parameters of the aircraft, to calculate projected trajectories of the aircraft and of a detected aircraft in the immediate vicinity, and to display a representation of the surrounding traffic through symbols and potential messages based on instructions received. A display command device is connected to an on-board calculator to know the flight phase of the aircraft. The display command device has a filtering device to define for each flight phase and/or crew task the nature and the level of information to be displayed. |
| US07747358B2 |
Building equipment component control with automatic feature detection
A method of accommodating an element in a building equipment component. The presence of the element may be detected, and whether the element is required may be determined. The building equipment component may be operated if the element is present and required, or if the element not required. If the element is absent but required, the building equipment component may be stopped. In some instances, the building equipment component may include a required first sensor, and the element may be an optional second sensor. |
| US07747356B2 |
Integrated protection, monitoring, and control system
A method and system for monitoring and controlling a power distribution system is provided. The system includes a plurality of circuit breakers and a plurality of node electronic units. Each node electronic unit is mounted remotely from an associated circuit breaker that is electrically coupled with one of the node electronic units. The system also includes a first digital network, and a first central control unit. The first central control unit and the plurality of node electronic units are communicatively coupled to the first digital network. The method includes receiving digital signals from each node electronic unit at the central control unit, determining an operational state of the power distribution system from the digital signal, and transmitting digital signals to the plurality of node electronic units such that the circuit breakers are operable from the first central control unit. |
| US07747349B2 |
Mobile robot platform and method for sensing movement of the same
A mobile robot platform and a method for sensing movement of the same are disclosed, which utilize two omni-directional meter wheels perpendicular to each other and a magnetic sensing module for detecting a moving condition of the platform moving on a planar surface while transmitting the detected moving condition to a signal processing unit to calculate the position, velocity, angular position and angular velocity of the platform. |
| US07747347B2 |
Mobile medication storage and dispensing apparatus
The medication apparatus includes a mobile housing assembly and a plurality of tray members supported therein for rotation on a central mounting assembly. A lockable access door is present in the housing assembly for controlled access to the trays. A tray locking assembly locks and unlocks the trays individually in a plurality of angular positions so that each of the compartments on a particular tray member can be presented before the door. A drive assembly selectively engages and rotates each tray individually when the tray is unlocked. A control system, including a stored program, identifies a compartment associated with a particular patient or associated with particular medications, unlocks the tray associated with the desired compartment, and rotates the tray to present the compartment before the access door, which is then unlocked and openable. |
| US07747339B2 |
Managing procurement risk
Systems and methods for managing procurement risk are described. In accordance with a procurement risk management method, a resource sourcing mix is computed from a sourcing portfolio of one or more forward contracts, spot market purchases, and inventory depletion for each period of a planning horizon based on forecast scenarios for resource demand, resource price, and resource availability and a specified inventory carrying policy for the resource. Based upon the computed resource sourcing mix, one or more metrics for evaluating the sourcing portfolio are computed. A system and a computer program implementing the above-described procurement risk management method also are described. |
| US07747336B2 |
Apparatus for creating a turning program
One element is taken from a machined shape. When the element is a straight line element, whether or not the distance D between the start point and the end point of the element in a direction orthogonal to the axis of rotation of the workpiece is equal to or greater than a preset value Ds is determined. In addition, whether or not an angle A that the straight line element makes with the Z-axis is equal to or greater than a preset angle Aa is determined. When the distance D is equal to or greater than the preset value Ds and the angle A is equal to or greater than the preset angle Aa, a program is created with the cutting direction reversed from the profile direction. |
| US07747335B2 |
Implantable medical device having pre-implant exoskeleton
Methods and apparatus for implanting a medical device within a living body. The apparatus includes an elongate sleeve positionable with a living body, such as within a blood vessel, and a medical device insertable into the sleeve. During use, the sleeve is retained within the body, and the medical device is sealed within the sleeve. The sleeve substantially avoids biological growth onto the medical device, and thus permits removal of the medical device independently of the sleeve. |
| US07747331B2 |
Active implantable medical device which includes a circuit of RF telemetry
An active implantable medical device having an RF telemetry circuit. The device is in particular a stimulation, resynchronization, defibrillation and/or cardioversion device. It includes a principal circuit, an RF telemetry auxiliary circuit and a supply battery for the principal and auxiliary circuits. It is envisaged to have between the supply battery and the auxiliary circuit a regulating circuit including an accumulator of electric power coupled with the auxiliary circuit to deliver a current ready to feed the auxiliary circuit, and a load circuit coupled with the supply battery to maintain the accumulator on a predetermined level of load. |
| US07747330B2 |
Global parameter adjustment for multiple stimulation programs
A user may modify a stimulation parameter in a plurality of stimulation programs with a single adjustment. During stimulation therapy, the user, such as a patient, may desire to change a parameter of the plurality of stimulation programs. The patient may press a single button on an external programmer to make the parameter change, or global adjustment, to all of the plurality of stimulation programs. This global adjustment eliminates the need for the patient to navigate through each of the plurality of stimulation programs separately and adjust the parameter. Additionally, changing the plurality of stimulation programs may be desirable for uniform stimulation therapy between programs used by the patient. The external programmer may calculate an appropriate parameter change for each stimulation program to keep parameter ratios equal between the plurality of stimulation programs. |
| US07747329B2 |
Systems for fitting a cochlear implant to a patient
Systems for fitting an implantable cochlear stimulator to a patient include an interface unit configured to display a graphical representation of an implant fitting line as part of a graphical user interface. The implant fitting line has a slope and a horizontal position and represents a mapping relationship between a plurality of audio frequencies and a plurality of stimulation sites within a cochlea of the patient. The interface unit is further configured to facilitate adjustment of the slope and/or horizontal position of the fitting line. |
| US07747325B2 |
Systems and methods for monitoring a patient's neurological disease state
The present invention provides methods and systems for modulating a patient's neurological disease state. In one embodiment, the system comprises one or more sensors that sense at least one signal that comprise a characteristic that is indicative of a neurological disease state. A signal processing assembly is in communication with the one or more sensors and processes the at least one signal to estimate the neurological disease state and to generate a therapy to the patient that is based at least in part on the estimated neurological disease state. A treatment assembly is in communication with the signal processing assembly and delivers the therapy to a nervous system component of the patient. |
| US07747314B2 |
Distal assembly for a medical device
Alternative designs, materials and manufacturing methods for guidewires. Some embodiments pertain to a composite guidewire having proximal and distal section, and a connector adapted and configured for permanently joining the proximal section to the distal section. In some embodiments, at least one of the sections is made of a linear-elastic nickel-titanium alloy. Several alternative guidewire tip designs including coiled safety/shaping structures are also disclosed. |
| US07747313B2 |
Method for acquiring dynamic magnetic resonance signals for tomography
In a method for acquiring dynamically varying magnetic resonance signals, a respiration cycle of a patient is monitored in a learning phase. Acquisition of varying signals ensues with the highest possible temporal resolution in an initial phase with a breath-hold by the patient. Slowly varying signals are subsequently acquired with lower temporal resolution in a movement phase and with free respiration of the patient. The signal acquisitions are initiated by a pre-established trigger condition. |
| US07747302B2 |
Method for integrating facilitated blood flow and blood analyte monitoring
A method for the integrated facilitization of blood flow and monitoring of blood analyte concentration (for example, blood glucose concentration) includes implanting a stent configured to facilitate blood flow into a cardiovascular system of a user's body with the stent having attached thereto a continuous blood analyte determination module of a blood analyte monitoring system. The method also includes disposing a reader module of the blood analyte monitoring system external to the user's body and in proximity to a portion of the user's skin layer and monitoring blood analyte concentration via (i) emitting an RF carrier signal from the reader module toward the stent; (ii) receiving the RF carrier signal at a reflection antenna of the continuous blood analyte determination module; (iii) reflecting a modulated signal by the reflection antenna with the modulated signal being encoded with a blood analyte concentration determined by a sensor of the continuous blood analyte determination module; (iv) receiving the modulated signal by the reader module; and (v) decoding the analyte concentration from the modulated signal by the reader module. |
| US07747289B2 |
Mobile communication device with a transition effect function
A mobile communication device includes a memory for storing a first frame image corresponding to a first menu and a second frame image corresponding to a second menu, a display unit coupled to the memory for displaying frame images, and a control unit coupled to the display unit for controlling the display unit to display, in sequence, the first frame image, at least one corresponding transitive image generated according to the first frame image or the second frame image, and finally, the second frame image when the control unit receives a command for transferring the first menu to the second menu. |
| US07747286B2 |
Wireless access control system with energy-saving piezo-electric locking
One aspect of the disclosed embodiment is a method and system for conserving battery life in a wireless access control system. This disclosed embodiment comprises a wireless access control system with a lock having an electronic controller and a piezo electronic driven locking mechanism. The electronic controller controls voltage to the piezo electronic locking mechanism. These and other features of the disclosed embodiment are discussed in the following detailed description of the disclosed embodiment. |
| US07747283B2 |
Synchronization of stored service parameters in a communication system
Techniques for synchronization of stored service parameters are disclosed. In one aspect, a configuration identifier is transmitted from a mobile station to a base station, and compared with an identifier generated in the base station. If the identifiers match, the configuration is used for communication. In another aspect, the identifier is generated by selecting an identifier associated with a configuration from a configuration table. In yet another aspect, the identifier is generated by computing a cyclic redundancy check (CRC) of the configuration. Various other aspects are also presented. These aspects have the benefit of preventing attempted use of unsynchronized stored service parameters and associated call setup failures and subsequent renegotiation, with the net effect of reducing call setup time and more efficient use of system resources. |
| US07747277B1 |
Termination routing based on LNP redirection
A system and method for redirecting incoming calls is disclosed. When the status of a wireless or mobile phone meets a predetermined condition or set of conditions, the LNP database is updated to redirect an incoming call to a phone number, such that the incoming call is redirected to the wireless or mobile phone. |
| US07747272B2 |
Wireless access point with temperature control system
An access point device and access point system support wireless and/or wired communications. The access point includes temperature control functionality that is adapted to control/moderate the temperature within an access point. The temperature control functionality may operate to control the transmit power, the throughput or other operating parameters associated with the access point. The temperature control functionality may also actuate a cooling mechanism, e.g., a fan, associated with the access point. Load balancing may also be employed to reduce heat generation associated with an access point. The temperature control functionality may reside at the access point, e.g., a “fat” access point, or may reside at the wireless controller, e.g., a “thin” access point. Error voltage signals may also be generated and transmitted to a TCVCXO to control or moderate temperature conditions and heat generation. |
| US07747271B2 |
Radiated power control for a multi-antenna transmission
To meet a radiated power limit, a transmitting station determines a synthesized antenna pattern based on steering vectors used for spatial processing and estimates an array gain based on the synthesized antenna pattern. Different spatial processing modes (e.g., eigensteering and spatial spreading) result in different synthesized antenna patterns. The array gain may be estimated based on the spatial processing mode used for the data transmission and applicable parameters (e.g., eigenvalues) for that mode. An element gain for each antenna used for data transmission may also be estimated. The transmitting station then limits the transmit power for the data transmission based on the array gain, the element gain, and the radiated power limit, which may be an effective isotropic radiated power (EIRP) limit imposed by a regulatory agency. |
| US07747268B2 |
Handling talk burst denials in group communication system supporting PTT service
A method for processing a talk burst of a PTT server when a PTT terminal requests permission to send a talk burst, but the talk burst has already been allocated to another PTT terminal. The PTT server sends to every PTT terminal having a session established therefor, a talk burst deny message including an ID of the PTT terminal having sent the talk burst request message. Then, each PTT terminal having received the talk burst deny message compares its own ID with the ID included in the talk burst deny message and outputs the comparison result, such that the request for permission to send the talk burst can be processed and every user can check the status information of all PTT terminals having a session established thereof. |
| US07747267B2 |
Apparatus, method and computer program product providing system information advertisement extension for dynamic networks
Disclosed herein are apparatus, methods and computer program products for using access point availability information in a wireless communications system. In aspects of the method performed at an access point in a wireless communications system, the access point generates a message indicating the level of availability of the access point; and transmits the message. In aspects of the method performed at user equipment in a wireless communications system, the user equipment receives messages from access points in the wireless communications system, the messages containing access point availability information indicating the respective levels of availability of the access points available for selection by the user equipment; and selects an access point in dependence on the access point availability information. In variants, the user equipment may perform additional steps to determine whether a current or contemplated operating mode requires selection of an access point be made in dependence on access point availability information associated with the access point. Only if the current or contemplated operating mode provides a quality of service that is dependent on level of availability of an access point will the access point availability information be consulted when selecting an access point. |
| US07747265B1 |
Initiating a wireless communication session from contact information on a computer
A communication session between a wireless communication device and one or more recipient communication devices is initiated in response to user input received at a separate computing device. The intended parties of the call are identified at the computing device in response to the user input. Once the intended parties have been identified, the calling instructions are generated and transmitted to the wireless communication device or a server, which cause a call to be initiated between a wireless communication device and one or more recipient communication devices. This allows a caller to utilize the functionality and resources available on a computer to initiate a call, while enabling the caller to utilize the functionality and resources available on the caller's wireless communication device to engage in and complete the call, without requiring the caller to communicate through the telephony applications of a computer. |
| US07747262B2 |
Paging apparatus and method in a mobile communication system providing multimedia broadcast multicast service
A paging apparatus and method in a mobile communication system providing an MBMS (Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Service). In the mobile communication system, to page a UE for a first service through a primary carrier during a second service in progress through a secondary carrier, a PICH (Paging Indication Channel) transmitter in a Node B transmits paging indication information to the UE through the primary carrier by oscillating the primary carrier as a transmission frequency. A PCH (Paging Channel) transmitter transmits paging information to the UE through the primary carrier or the secondary carrier by oscillating the primary carrier or the secondary carrier as the transmission frequency under a predetermined control. A PBMSCH (Physical Broadcast Multicast Shared Channel) transmitter transmits data of the second service through the secondary carrier by oscillating the secondary carrier as the transmission frequency. A controller controls the primary carrier or the secondary carrier to be oscillated as the transmission frequency of the PCH transmitter if the paging indication information indicates paging. |
| US07747259B2 |
Method and system for sending location coded images over a wireless network
A system is described that utilizes an imager in a wireless device (102) in a wireless network (100) and transmits a digital image to a service center (120) that assists in identifying the location of the wireless device (102) within a cell site (104). |
| US07747258B2 |
Method and apparatus for performing position determination with pre-session action
A network sends to a user equipment (UE) an indication (e.g., a request for permission) to perform a position fix for the UE. The network also selectively sends to the UE a pre-session command for an action related to position determination. For example, the command may direct the UE to (1) clear all or a portion of location-related data at the UE prior to performing the position fix, (2) send back a position estimate for the UE, if available, or (3) apply a time offset and/or a position offset in performing the position fix. The UE sends to the network an acknowledgment (e.g., a grant of permission) to perform the position fix. The UE also performs the action indicated by the command (if any) received from the network prior to or in conjunction with performing the position fix. The network and UE perform the position fix for the UE. |
| US07747251B1 |
Dynamic selection by a mobile station of its home agent using its preferred roaming list (PRL)
Methods and systems are provided for dynamic selection by a mobile station of its home agent using its preferred roaming list (PRL). A mobile station maintains a PRL comprising an association between (i) a first set of data identifying a first wireless wide area network (WWAN) and (ii) a first identifier of a first home agent. The mobile station detects a broadcast of the first set of data by the first WWAN. Responsive to detecting the broadcast of the first set of data by the first WWAN, the mobile station connects to the first WWAN. Responsive to connecting to the first WWAN, the mobile station uses the first identifier to register with the first home agent. |
| US07747250B2 |
Calibration method to achieve reciprocity of bidirectional communication channels
The present invention relates to a method and arrangement to enhance the communication performance in wireless communication systems. The method of the invention provides a method of calibrating at least one first radio node in a wireless communication network. The communication network comprises at least a first radio node and a second radio node, which can be arranged to be in radio communication with each other. The calibration method is based on that at least one representation of radio channel characteristics, which has been exchanged from one radio node to the other. Whereby inaccuracies and differences in transmit receive chains are compensated and channel reciprocity can be used. |
| US07747249B2 |
GSM/UMTS emulator
A GSM/UMTS emulator is disclosed for emulating a real network so that certain device functionalities can be easily tested. The architecture of such a GSM/UMTS emulator may include a terminal PC and a server. The terminal PC runs the device (including a radio interface layer and a multiplexer). The server acts as the application server to emulate UMTS network performance. Such an emulator may enable testing of both control information and data applications. |
| US07747245B2 |
Interrogate-response communication system with privacy indication
A method of and apparatus for obtaining information about a product or service offering having an associated receiver responsive to an information request or query. The method comprise providing a portable subscriber device linked with a communication network, presenting at least one selectable query for information to a subscriber via the subscriber device, selecting the at least one query for information, providing a desired privacy status of the subscriber utilizing the subscriber device, transmitting the query and the privacy status and, at the associated receiver, processing the privacy status and responding to the query by providing the requested information to the subscriber. A corresponding apparatus is also disclosed. |
| US07747241B1 |
Prepaid reservation-based rating system
A billing system comprising servers, routers, and processors programmed to provide reservation based prepaid billing is disclosed. The billing system is also programmed to concurrently process multiple billing events on a single, prepaid subscriber account. |
| US07747239B1 |
MSC based routing of SMS alerts
SMS based alert messages are routed to subscribers via a Mobile Switching Center (MSC) such that SMS alert messages can be provided to specific cell sites. Also, SMS alert message can be provided to all subscribers registered in a specific cell site, including roamers. When an MSC receives one alert message, it routes that one message to all subscribers known to the MSC. In an example embodiment, an emergency alert message along with an indication of the alert area is received by an emergency alert server. MSCs capable of facilitating cellular coverage for the alert area are determined. Cell ID (cell sites) associated with the MSC are determined, and the alert message is routed to subscribers currently registered in the cell ID. |
| US07747238B2 |
Wireless communication device and data interface
A wireless communication device comprises a number of sub-systems operably coupled to a data interface for routeing data between the number of sub-systems. A clock generation function generates a clock signal substantially at a data transfer rate to be used over the data interface whereby the clock signal is generated at a rate that minimises harmonic content of the clock signal at operational frequencies of the wireless communication device. Thus, a suitable data rate is selected and supported by the data interface that accommodates the desired bandwidth, clock rate and/or chip rate of the functional elements that are coupled by the data interface within the wireless communication device, whilst minimising the effects of harmonic interference from the clock signal(s). |
| US07747237B2 |
High agility frequency synthesizer phase-locked loop
A highly agile low phase noise frequency synthesizer is provided for rapid generation of frequency specific signals. The frequency synthesizer is capable of rapidly generating signals at different output frequencies while maintaining low cross-coupling. Two or more signal generators utilize a reference frequency to generate two or more signals. These signals are limit processed to reduce cross-coupling prior to being presented to a switch. Responsive to a control signal, the switch outputs one of the signals to a frequency modification device, such as a frequency divider or multiplier. Responsive to a control signal, the frequency modification device scales the frequency of the switch output to convert the frequency of the switch output signal to a desired output frequency. By maintaining sufficient frequency separation between the switch input signals cross-coupling and phase noise is minimized and implementation on an integrated circuit may be achieved. |
| US07747236B1 |
Method and apparatus for estimating local oscillator frequency for GPS receivers
The present invention is a method and apparatus that produces an estimate of the local oscillator (LO) frequency error using an external reference signal. The error estimate can be used for LO calibration, correction and other purposes. The present invention does not require the external reference signal to be a precision reference signal, nor does the present invention require that the reference signal be continuously supplied. Further, the present invention can be implemented exclusively in software, and therefore does not add to the size or weight of any device that it is resident in. Thus, the present invention can be added to microcontrollers and various specialized programmable digital ICs that were not initially designed for this task. |
| US07747234B2 |
Gain control in a multiple RF transceiver integrated circuit
A radio frequency (RF) transceiver integrated circuit (IC) includes a plurality of baseband Tx sections, a plurality of RF Tx sections, a plurality of RF Rx sections, and a plurality of baseband Rx sections. The RF transceiver IC further includes a static digital interface, a dynamic digital interface, and gain control, distribution, and buffering circuitry. Static digital interfaces are operable to receive static gain control commands from a coupled baseband processor. The dynamic digital interface is also operable to receive dynamic gain control commands from the coupled baseband processor. The gain control, distribution, and buffering circuitry is operable to apply the static gain control commands and dynamic gain control commands to at least some of the plurality of baseband Tx sections, the plurality of RF Tx sections, the plurality of RF Rx sections, and the plurality of baseband Rx sections. |
| US07747232B2 |
Radio reception system with automatic tuning
A method and apparatus for operating a radio reception system, which comprises a plurality of receivers assigned to a common output device, in which one of the receivers is designated as audio receiver and is tuned to a frequency of a radio transmitter, and outputs a signal received from the transmitter to the output device. At least one second receiver is designated as search receiver, and continuously searches its own reception frequency band for a frequency of the same transmitter. The system changes to a frequency of this transmitter, which was found by the search receiver, if the quality of the signal received by the audio receiver falls below a certain limit. |
| US07747229B2 |
Electronic antenna beam steering using ancillary receivers and related methods
Communications device may include a plurality of antenna elements, an ancillary control receiver, and a primary receiver. The plurality of antenna elements may provide respective fixed beams. The ancillary control receiver may be coupled to each of the antenna elements, and the ancillary control receiver may be configured to measure a signal strength from each of the antenna elements and to select one of the antenna elements responsive to the measured signal strengths. The primary receiver may be configured to receive communications using the selected antenna element. Related methods are also discussed. |
| US07747222B2 |
Detection and estimation of radio frequency variations
A system includes a sampling module, a counter module, and a frequency characteristic module. The sampling module samples radio frequency (RF) signals on a first channel for a first predetermined period and a second predetermined period that is subsequent to the first predetermined period. The counter module increments first and second counts when the samples collected during the first and second predetermined periods reverse polarity, respectively. The frequency characteristic module determines a frequency of the RF signal based on at least one of the first and the second counts and determines frequency variation of the RF signal based on the first and second counts. |
| US07747221B2 |
Method of uplink radio resource control, base station apparatus, and radio network controller
A method for controlling uplink radio resource which can improve the capacity and coverage of a mobile communication network includes the steps of: measuring, at base stations, both total interference and intra-cell interference values; reporting measured values to a radio network controller; calculating, at the radio network controller, allowed total interference for individual cells in response to the reporting from the base stations; sending information about the allowed total interference to the base stations; and scheduling, in response to the allowed total interference by the base stations, uplink data packet transmission of mobile stations not to exceed the allowed total interference calculated for the respective cells. |
| US07747220B2 |
Wireless communication system using surface acoustic wave (SAW) second harmonic techniques
An IDT produces a SAW when excited by a single electrical pulse and can be fabricated to embody a code, which code provides for a passive autocorrelation of a SAW input to the IDT and thereby lends itself to further application as a signal generator in a communication device. However, internal dimensions of IDTs are inversely proportional to operating frequency, such that high frequency IDTs present significant manufacturing difficulties. Fabrication of IDTs for high frequency applications is simplified by exploiting a harmonic frequency SAW generated by IDTs. An IDT may therefore be designed according to fundamental frequency internal dimension criteria but can operate at a multiple of the fundamental frequency, thereby providing much higher frequency operation than conventional SAW systems. Operation of a second harmonic SAW system at 2.4 GHz based on a fundamental frequency of 1.2 GHz is contemplated. |
| US07747218B2 |
Communication system and method, and information processing apparatus and method
The present invention relates to a communication system, a communication method, an information processing apparatus, and an information processing method for easily and quickly organizing a communication group containing a plurality of apparatuses. The user places a PDA 2 in proximity to a personal computer 1. When an electromagnetic wave emitted from a reader/writer of the PDA 2 is received by a reader/writer of the personal computer 1, the personal computer 1 notifies the PDA 2 of stored communication group organizing information. The PDA 2 stores the communication group organizing information while establishing a synchronization for a Bluetooth communication with the personal computer 1 based on the communication group organizing information to establish the Bluetooth communication with the personal computer 1. The present invention is applicable to a variety of information processing apparatuses such as a personal computer and a PDA. |
| US07747215B2 |
Apparatus and method for editing a received video and audio signal in a mobile terminal
The present invention relates to a broadcast editing apparatus and method for editing a satellite broadcast signal in a mobile terminal of a wireless communication system. A satellite broadcast signal received from a satellite or a gap filter is divided into a video signal and an audio signal. An inputted user's voice or sound effect is either multiplexed with the separated video signal or integrated with the separated audio signal. The integrated audio signal and the separated video signal may be multiplexed to edit a satellite broadcast. The edited satellite broadcast may be stored to be reproduced at anytime by the user. Accordingly, the user can edit and appreciate the satellite broadcast according to his preference. Also, an audio signal may be transmitted to another person by being inserted into a satellite broadcast through a multimedia message service. |
| US07747212B2 |
Sheet processing apparatus and sheet processing method
A sheet processing apparatus of the invention includes a post-processing unit that applies post-processing to sheets conveyed from an image forming apparatus, a vertical aligning unit that conveys the sheets to the post-processing unit and brings an edge of the sheets into contact with a movable stopper arranged in a conveying path for the sheets to align the sheets in a conveying direction, and a horizontal aligning unit that holds the sheets with a pair of movable aligning plates from both sides along the conveying direction to align the sheets in a direction orthogonal to the conveying direction. The sheet processing apparatus further includes a control unit that switches a position of the stopper according to a size of the sheets and controls the aligning plates to be located on both sides close to the center of the sheets when the sheets are brought into contact with the stopper. The post-processing unit applies the post-processing to the sheets aligned. |
| US07747211B2 |
Booklet loading apparatus, post-treatment apparatus, and image forming system
A booklet loading apparatus has a carry-out unit that sequentially carries out plural booklets to a predetermined carry-out position; a transfer unit that sequentially arranges the booklets carried out from the carry-out unit while the booklets overlap one another, the transfer unit transferring the booklets in a predetermined transfer direction, the transfer unit returning the booklet to an upstream side in the transfer direction once in each time when the booklet is carried out from the carry-out unit, then the transfer unit transferring the booklet in the transfer direction; a loading unit on which the booklet carried out by the transfer unit is loaded; and an orientation correcting unit arranged on the upstream side in the transfer direction with respect to the transfer position, the orientation correcting unit correcting an orientation of the booklet to a predetermined orientation by causing the booklet to abut on the orientation correcting unit. |
| US07747210B2 |
Multi-color printing system and method for high toner pile height printing
Document processing systems and methods are presented in which one or more pages of a print job are segmented into two or more parts, with the first part being transferred and affixed to the printed medium prior to transferring and affixing the second part, in order to facilitate high TMA (pile height) printing while mitigating adverse retransfer, blur, fusing, and hollow character effects. |
| US07747204B2 |
Developing roller, developing assembly, process cartridge and electrophotographic image forming apparatus
A developing roller is provided which is soft enough to enable toners to be kept from deteriorating with time and cannot easily cause permanent set. The developing roller includes a mandrel, an elastic-material layer and a cover layer as a surface layer which covers the elastic-material layer. Asker-C hardness at the surface of the cover layer is from 40° to 85°. The cover layer has a thickness of from 15 nm to 5,000 nm. Martens hardness H1 (N/mm2) at the surface of the developing roller, Martens hardness H2 (N/mm2) of the elastic-material layer and the thickness d (mm) of the cover layer satisfy the relationship of the following expression (1): 400≦(H1−H2)/d≦2,000 (1). |
| US07747199B2 |
Developer material container, image forming unit, and image forming apparatus
A developer material container includes a holding body, a shutter member movably, an operation member, and coupling member. The holding body holds developer therein and includes a developer outlet. The shutter member movably is assembled to the holding body. The shutter member is movable either to an opening position where the shutter member opens the developer outlet or to a closing position where the shutter member closes the developer outlet. The operation member is operated to move the shutter to either the opening position or to the closing position. Depending on the orientation of the discharging opening, an enabling-and-disabling member allows or does not allow the operation member to move the shutter relative to the holding body. |
| US07747196B2 |
Image forming apparatus with an open-close cover
An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming apparatus main body that includes an image forming unit and a sheet conveyance unit; a unit that is at least a part of the image forming unit or the sheet conveyance unit and is openably/closably provided with respect to the image forming apparatus main body; an open-close cover that is openably/closably provided with respect to the image forming apparatus main body; a connection unit that connects the unit to the open-close cover; a connection release unit that releases connection between the unit and the open-close cover by the connection unit; a pressing unit that presses the unit in a closing direction with respect to the image forming apparatus main body; and a prohibition unit that prohibits release of connection by the connection release unit. |
| US07747190B2 |
Image forming device with holding unit engagement mechanism
An image forming device includes: a main body; a plurality of image forming units; a holding unit; and an engagement mechanism. Each of the plurality of image forming units has a developing portion. The holding unit holds the plurality of image forming units. The plurality of image forming units are aligned in the holding unit in a predetermined drawing direction. The holding unit is configured so as to be drawn out in the predetermined drawing direction from a storage position where the holding unit is stored in the main body. The holding unit sequentially reaches a plurality of different drawing positions while moving in the predetermined drawing direction. The plurality of image forming units are sequentially exposed to the outside while the holding unit sequentially reaches the plurality of drawing positions. The engagement mechanism is configured to engage the holding unit with the main body when the holding unit reaches each of the plurality of drawing positions. |
| US07747188B2 |
Image forming apparatus and secondary transfer roller cleaning method of the image forming apparatus
A secondary transfer roller rotates in a first rotation direction during printing, and rotates in a second rotation direction opposite to the first rotation direction during a stop of the printing only within a specified range. When an image forming apparatus includes a lubricant supply unit, the secondary transfer roller rotates in the second rotation direction within the range where an amount of movement of a contact surface between the secondary transfer roller and the cleaning member is 3 mm or more and not larger than a distance on the contact surface from a contact part between the secondary transfer roller and the lubricant supply unit to a contact part between the secondary transfer roller and the cleaning member in the second rotation direction. |
| US07747186B2 |
Image forming apparatus including a cooling mechanism configured to apply cooling processing to a transfer belt
An image forming apparatus includes photoconductive drums aligned side by side for toner images in colors to be formed on peripheral surfaces thereof. A transfer belt turns while stretched over rollers for the toner images to be transferred thereon by being superimposed one another as a surface thereof abuts on the peripheral surfaces of the photoconductive drums. A transfer roller transfers the toner images from the transfer belt onto a recording sheet. The transfer belt uses the position of the transfer roller as a turning position and turns to have a first side that moves in a first direction towards the turning position while abutting the peripheral surfaces of the photoconductive drums and a second side that moves opposite to the first direction using the turning position as a starting point. A cooling mechanism cools the transfer belt by circulating taken-in outside air along a surface of the second side. |
| US07747180B2 |
Methods and apparatuses for determining the number of printed pages remaining in a toner cartridge
A method for determining the number of printed pages remaining in a toner cartridge for an electrophotographic image forming device. A toner cartridge and electrophotographic image forming device for storing and/or performing aspects of the method is also provided. |
| US07747178B2 |
Image forming apparatus
Disclosed an image forming apparatus including: a first input section to receive a setting instruction of an output cycle of sample output; a second input section to receive an instruction of immediate output of the sample output; an image forming section; an ejection section; a control section to count a number of the recording media, the control section judging timing of executing the sample output, based on a counted value of the number of recording media and an set output cycle, the control section ejecting sample output matter according to a judgment result, the control section simultaneously initializing the counted value, the control section allowing the image forming section to form an image and eject the sample output matter when the immediate output of the sample output is instructed with the second input section, the control section simultaneously initializing the counted value. |
| US07747175B2 |
Optical transmission method and optical transmission apparatus
To compensate a waveform distortion by using a nature that a spectral shape is perfectly retained even if all the linear distortions occur on a time-axis. An optical pulse transmitted from an optical pulse transmitter (1) via an optical fiber transmission line (2) is transmitted. An optical Fourier transformer (3) receives an optical pulse, and optically Fourier-transforms an optical pulse on a time-axis onto a frequency-axis to reproduce the frequency spectrum of an optical pulse on a time-axis be effecting switching between frequency and time, thereby compensating a waveform distortion by a linear effect on the optical fiber transmission line (2). A photodetector (4) receives an optical pulse from the optical Fourier transformer (3) and transforms this into an electrical signal to thereby obtain a pulse waveform before a transmission over the optical fiber transmission line (2). |
| US07747171B1 |
Method and apparatus for alleviating slope-induced impairments to chirped optical signals propagating in an optical transmission system
A method and apparatus is provided for reducing impairment to an adiabatically chirped optical signal propagating in an optical communication system. The method begins by receiving an adiabatically chirped optical signal that has traversed one or more network components in the optical communication system. The optical signal has a parameter characteristic of signal quality (e.g., an extinction ratio) that is reduced at least in part by a fidelity-degrading transmission slope accumulated in the one or more network components. A fidelity-enhancing transmission slope imparted to at least one wavelength of the adiabatically chirped optical signal at one or more select points along a transmission path of the communication system so that the optical signal experiences an increase in said parameter characteristic of signal quality. |
| US07747169B2 |
Adaptive polarization tracking and equalization in coherent optical receivers
A method for operating an optical receiver includes at each of a sequence of sampling times, producing a first 2D complex digital signal vector whose first component is indicative of a phase and amplitude of one polarization component of a modulated optical carrier and whose second component is indicative of a phase and amplitude of another polarization component of the carrier. For each one of the sampling times, the method includes constructing a second 2D complex digital signal vector that is a rotation of the first 2D complex digital vector for the one of sampling times. The rotation compensates a polarization rotation produced by transmission of the modulated optical carrier between an optical transmitter and the optical receiver. |
| US07747160B2 |
Intelligent red eye removal
A device measures one or more of a distance from an eye of a subject, a blink of the eye, and lighting adjacent to the subject, calculates automated red eye removal settings based on one or more of the measured distance, blink, and lighting, automatically removes red eye from an image of the subject based on the calculated automated red eye removal settings, captures the image of the subject, and stores the captured image. |
| US07747158B2 |
Photographing apparatus and focusing control method
A photographing apparatus comprises: a photographing device which takes an image of a subject; a focusing control device which controls the focusing status of the photographing device in response to an input of a focusing instruction; a focusing judgment device which, upon an input of the photographing instruction after the input of the focusing instruction, judges whether or not a focus position at the time of the input of the focusing instruction is optimum; and a photographing control device which controls to execute photographing using the focus position as it is if the focus position at the time of the input of the focusing instruction is judged to be optimum, and controls to execute photographing after performing focusing control again if the focus position is judged to be not optimum. |
| US07747147B2 |
Heating unit and heating apparatus
For the purpose of providing a heating unit being small in size, high in efficiency, long in service life, and high in versatility so as to be easily adaptable to various applications, and providing a heating apparatus that uses the heating unit, the heating unit is configured so that a first glass tube is protected against contaminants and the like using a second glass tube, caps and spacers, a reflective sheet may be disposed in a clearance between the first glass tube and the second glass tube, and the clearance in which the reflective sheet is disposed is sealed using the caps. The heating apparatus uses the heating unit described above as a heat source. |
| US07747143B2 |
Digital video recorder
A unique high performance digital video recorder having a number of novel features. The recorder's electronics are all on a unitary printed circuit board. The recorder also requires at least one hard disk drive and audio and video input analog signals (from a source such as video camera or broadcast media) as well as a suitable monitor for receiving output audio and video analog signals. A external time code generator (i.e., VITC digital clock) is also required for synchronization. Also required are various manual control devices (i.e., panel controls) for mode selection. The electronics of the preferred embodiment comprise A-to-D and D-to-A converters, a hard disk interface, a JPEG compression encoder/decoder, a multi-port DRAM and DMA subsystem, a microprocessor with RS-232 and RS-422 access ports, various working memory devices and bus interfaces and a 16-bit stereo digital audio subsystem. Novel features of the preferred embodiment include use of an index table for disk addresses of recorded frames, a multi-port memory controller in the form of a field programmable gate array (FPGA), loop recording using dual channels, and dynamic JPEG compression compensation. |
| US07747135B2 |
Image display system, image reproducing apparatus, digital television apparatus, image display method, and storage medium
There is provided an image display system that can display images recorded by a plurality of image recording apparatuses in such a manner that the images are associated with each other. The image display system is comprised of a TV apparatus that captures and reproduces images recorded by the plurality of image recording apparatuses and additional information added thereto and then displays each of the reproduced images. The TV apparatus detects the presence or absence of relevancy between the images recorded by the plurality of image recording apparatuses based on the additional information captured and reproduced from the plurality of image recording apparatuses, and then displays, on a display, a related image display screen that allows a viewer to recognize the detected related images. |
| US07747134B2 |
Information recording and reproducing device
An information recording and reproducing device allows a content having data about title, among contents recorded on a recording medium, to be contained in a frame for distinguishing the title from a background image so as to generate a framed title image. For a content without data about title, the information recording and reproducing device generates a blank frame image to show the existence of content without a title. The information recording and reproducing device further superimposes the framed title image and the blank frame image on the background image so as to make a title menu screen, and records the title menu screen on the recording medium for display to a user. This title menu screen can enable the user to easily recognize a title of a content and the existence of content without a title which are recorded on the recording medium. |
| US07747132B2 |
Method and system for displaying multiple media content instances during a single viewing session
A method and system for displaying multiple media content instances during a single viewing session. The method includes displaying a recorded program list graphical user interface (GUI) listing a number of recorded media content instances, selecting one of the recorded media content instances to be displayed on a display device, and displaying the selected media content instance and one or more additional recorded media content instances during the single viewing session. |
| US07747128B2 |
Waveguide device
A waveguide device includes a substrate and a first electrode, a first cladding layer, a waveguide, a second cladding layer, and a second electrode sequentially provided on the substrate. At least one of the first cladding layer, the waveguide, and second cladding layer includes a ligand compound which is capable of coordinating to a metal or metal ion. |
| US07747126B2 |
Optical waveguide feedthrough assembly
An optical fiber feedthrough assembly includes a glass plug disposed in a recess of a feedthrough housing. The glass plug may define a large-diameter, cane-based, waveguide sealed within the recess in the housing and providing optical communication through the housing. Sealing occurs with respect to the housing at or around the glass plug of an optical waveguide element passing through the housing by braze sealing to the glass plug and/or embedding the glass plug in a polymer bonded with the plug to form a molded body that is sealed in the housing by, for example, compression mounting of the molded body or providing a sealing element around the molded body. |
| US07747111B2 |
Optical waveguide mounted substrate and method of producing the same
Openings are disposed in an insulating layer to expose a conductor layer. A lower cladding layer is formed, and a resist layer is formed on an insulating layer and the lower cladding layer. Electrolytic plating is performed with using the conductor layer which is connected to the external, as an electrode, to fill openings passing through the lower cladding layer and the resist layer with Cu. The resist layer is removed away to form projections configured by the filled Cu. The projections are processed to have an inclined face. Au layers are formed on the inclined faces of the projection. A core layer and an upper cladding layer are stacked. |
| US07747106B2 |
Method and system for filtering, registering, and matching 2.5D normal maps
An iterative approach to vector median filtering wherein the resulting median vector need not be a member of the original data set. The iterative vector median filtering allows for fast convergence for complex computations and an output which is approximate to the mean, particularly for small data sets.In addition, a method and system for registering and matching 2.5 normal maps is provided. Registration of two maps is performed by optimally aligning their normals through 2-D warping in the image plane in conjunction with a 3-D rotation of the normals. Once aligned, the average dot-product serves as a matching metric for automatic target recognition (ATR). |
| US07747099B2 |
System and method for comparing images with different contrast levels
Systems and methods of automatically adjusting brightness of a digital image are provided. A particular method includes accessing data including a first digital image and identifying text and background in the first digital image. The method also includes calculating an average pixel value exclusive of the text and the background for the first digital image. The method further includes adjusting a brightness setting associated with the first digital image based on the calculated average pixel value. |
| US07747097B2 |
Method for simple hardware implementation of JPEG size limiter
A size limiter module used to limit a file size of an encoded file is disclosed. The size limiter module includes a size limiter set-up calculator and a size limiter processing engine. The size limiter calculator is configured to identify a maximum bit size for a set of data to be encoded based on a maximum value for the file size of the encoded file. The size limiter processing engine is configured to be in communication with the size limiter set-up calculator to process the set of data to be encoded and to monitor a cumulative bit size for the set of data according to an order. When the cumulative bit size is greater than a maximum bit size, the size limiter processing engine inserts end of block data into the set of data. The end of block data signals the substitution of a null value for all data units subsequent to the end of block data. |
| US07747092B2 |
Image encoding apparatus and method, and image decoding apparatus and method
An image encoding apparatus and method, and an image decoding apparatus and method. An image encoding apparatus includes: an image input unit receiving an image to be encoded; a transform encoding unit transform coding the image provided from the image input unit to generate a first bitstream; a pulse code modulation (PCM) encoding unit PCM coding the image provided from the image input unit to generate a second bitstream; and a selector selecting and outputting one of the first bitstream and the second bitstream depending on characteristics of the image. |
| US07747088B2 |
System and methods for performing deblocking in microprocessor-based video codec applications
Two pairs of deblock instructions for performing deblock filtering on a horizontal row of pixels according to the H.264 (MPEG 4 part 10) and VC1 video codec algorithms. The first instruction of each pair has three 128-bit operands comprising the 16-bit components of a horizontal line of 8 pixels crossing a vertical block edge between pixels 4 and 5 in a YUV image, a series of filter threshold parameters, and a 128-bit destination operand for storing the output of the first instruction. The second instruction of each pair accepts the same 16-bit components as its first input, the output of the first instruction as its second input and a destination operand for storing an output of the second instruction as its third input. The instruction pairs are intended for use with the H.264 or VC1 video codecs respectively. |
| US07747085B2 |
Method of isomorphic singular manifold projection still/video imagery compression
Methods and apparatuses for still image compression, video compression and automatic target recognition are disclosed. The method of still image compression uses isomorphic singular manifold projection whereby surfaces of objects having singular manifold representations are represented by best match canonical polynomials to arrive at a model representation. The model representation is compared with the original representation to arrive at a difference. If the difference exceeds a predetermined threshold, the difference data are saved and compressed using standard lossy compression. The coefficients from the best match polynomial together with the difference data, if any, are then compressed using lossless compression. The method of motion estimation for enhanced video compression sends I frames on an “as-needed” basis, based on comparing the error between segments of a current frame and a predicted frame. If the error exceeds a predetermined threshold, which can be based on program content, the next frame sent will be an I frame. The method of automatic target recognition (ATR) including tracking, zooming, and image enhancement, uses isomorphic singular manifold projection to separate texture and sculpture portions of an image. Soft ATR is then used on the sculptured portion and hard ATR is used on the texture portion. |
| US07747082B2 |
JPEG detectors and JPEG image history estimators
An image is classified respective to JPEG compression history. An image signature is derived from the image. The image signature is indicative of spatial frequencies content of chrominance components of the image including spatial frequencies content associated with JPEG compression. The image is classified respective to whether the image has undergone JPEG compression based on analysis of the image signature. |
| US07747080B2 |
System and method for scanning edges of a workpiece
An exemplary method for edge scan of an image is provided. The method includes: setting parameters of an image edge scan; setting parameters for scanning edges of the workpiece; obtaining an image of the workpiece; processing the image and designating a point in the image; searching a first edge point near the designated point in a clockwise direction, wherein there is at least one point adjacent to the first edge point whose color is different with the color of the first edge point; searching other edge points in the manner of searching the first edge point by utilizing a recursive method; calculating coordinates of initial points and end points of scan lines according to the parameters, and searching scanned points according to the initial points and end points on the image that has not been processed; scanning edges of the image based on the scanned points. A related system is also provided. |
| US07747079B2 |
Method and system for learning spatio-spectral features in an image
In a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention, an automated, computerized method is provided for determining illumination flux in an image. According to a feature of the present invention, the method comprises the steps of performing a computer learning technique to determine spatio-spectral information for the images, and utilizing the spatio-spectral information to identify illumination flux. |
| US07747078B2 |
Substring detection system and method
A method, computer program product, apparatus, and system that detects a substring in an input data string by producing a fingerprint of a portion of the data string and comparing the fingerprint of the portion of the data string to at least one predefined fingerprint. The predefined fingerprint may be a fingerprint of a portion of a predefined pattern of interest. If the fingerprints match, further pattern recognition processing may be performed on the input string. |
| US07747073B2 |
Method and apparatus for adjusting color profiles to meet a desired aim
A system and method for generating an adjusted profile for a device in response to a specified aim, where the aim may include parameters established in response to a user's specifications, for device emulation, etc. |
| US07747072B2 |
Image processing method, image processing program, its storage medium, and image processing device for extracting points from a color image
Focusing on pixels that constitute a color image sequentially, color differences Cx and Cy in X and Y directions are found using image data in a mask centering around the focal pixel. For the pixel in which the sum of the color differences is not less than a predetermined value, a color difference is found in each of directions E1 and E2 that pass through the pixel and correspond to the first quadrant and the second quadrant in the X-Y coordinate system, and it is determined that the color change is generated in the direction having the larger color difference. Then, based on the determination result and the values of the color differences Cx and Cy, an angle (edge code) showing the direction of the color change is calculated. |
| US07747071B2 |
Detecting and correcting peteye
Peteye is the appearance of an unnatural coloration (not necessarily red) of the pupils in an animal appearing in an image captured by a camera with flash illumination. Systems and methods of detecting and correcting peteye are described. In one aspect a classification map segmenting pixels in the input image into peteye pixels and non-peteye pixels is generated based on a respective segmentation condition on values of the pixels. Candidate peteye pixel areas are identified in the classification map. The generating and the identifying processes are repeated with the respective condition replaced by a different respective segmentation condition on the pixel values. |
| US07747070B2 |
Training convolutional neural networks on graphics processing units
A convolutional neural network is implemented on a graphics processing unit. The network is then trained through a series of forward and backward passes, with convolutional kernels and bias matrices modified on each backward pass according to a gradient of an error function. The implementation takes advantage of parallel processing capabilities of pixel shader units on a GPU, and utilizes a set of start-to-finish formulas to program the computations on the pixel shaders. Input and output to the program is done through textures, and a multi-pass summation process is used when sums are needed across pixel shader unit registers. |
| US07747066B2 |
Z-axis optical detection of mechanical feature height
Height attributes of features of an object having a plurality of physical features thereon is determined by illuminating the features of the object at a low angle and capturing the reflected light at a camera mounted along the z-axis perpendicular to the object. The reflected light from the features is analyzed to determine if any of the features is of an unacceptable height. The reflected light being either brighter or dimmer than the average determines that the corresponding feature is higher or lower respectively than the average feature. |
| US07747061B2 |
Method and apparatus for any which way check acceptance
An Any Which Way Check Acceptance method and apparatus is provided, which allow a set of checks to be deposited in a stack, where each check can be oriented in any of sixteen different ways. In one embodiment of the invention, the ATM check reader has an MICR and OCR scanner/reader. When a set of checks is deposited, each check is subjected to a MICR scan and an OCR scan. If the check is aligned correctly and right side up, then the check is processed based on the MICR scan information. If the check is not aligned correctly or is upside down, then the MICR read fails because the magnetic stripe on the check is not where it is expected to be. Rather than rejecting the check at this point, the invention uses the OCR scan information from both the front and back of the check to process the check. |
| US07747060B2 |
Currency examining system
A currency examining system for detecting counterfeit currency. There is a magnifying device, substantially above the bill of currency being examined, configured to magnify the image of the currency; a transparent support member, substantially below the magnifying device, whereupon currency for examination may be placed; and a light unit, substantially below the transparent support member, configured to illuminate so as to show light through the transparent support member. Additionally there is a security mark index display, being configured to provide indicia of various security marks for determining authenticity of a bill of currency. The currency examining system also includes an adjustable frame member; a reflective member configured to reflect and direct light from the light unit generally towards the bill of currency being examined; and a control device in communication with the light unit, configured to control the intensity of light emitted from the light unit. |
| US07747057B2 |
Methods and apparatus for BIS correction
A method for performing BIS correction includes scanning an object with a computed tomography (CT) system to obtain data, reconstructing an image using the obtained data, and using the image to perform BIS correction. |
| US07747056B2 |
Image data area extracting system and image data area extracting method
An image data area extracting system includes: a threshold value setting unit configured to set a threshold value for three dimensional image data of an object; an area managing unit configured to extract a threshold value area from the three dimensional image data based at least in part on the threshold value; a three dimensional projection image display unit configured to display an image, the image being constructed from the three dimensional image data; a starting point designating unit configured to designate a starting point for a connected area to be deleted from the image; and an extract connected area deleting unit configured to remove the connected area from the image. |
| US07747055B1 |
Virtual endoscopy with improved image segmentation and lesion detection
A system, and computer implemented method are provided for interactively displaying three-dimensional structures. Three-dimensional volume data (34) is formed from a series of two-dimensional images (33) representing at least one physical property associated with the three-dimensional structure, such as a body organ having a lumen. A wire frame model of a selected region of interest is generated (38b). The wireframe model is then deformed or reshaped to more accurately represent the region of interest (40b). Vertices of the wire frame model may be grouped into regions having a characteristic indicating abnormal structure, such as a lesion. Finally, the deformed wire frame model may be rendered in an interactive three-dimensional display. |
| US07747054B2 |
System and method for detecting and matching anatomical structures using appearance and shape
A detection framework that matches anatomical structures using appearance and shape is disclosed. A training set of images are used in which object shapes or structures are annotated in the images. A second training set of images represents negative examples for such shapes and structures, i.e., images containing no such objects or structures. A classification algorithm trained on the training sets is used to detect a structure at its location. The structure is matched to a counterpart in the training set that can provide details about the structure's shape and appearance. |
| US07747050B2 |
System and method for linking current and previous images based on anatomy
Certain embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for correlating an acquired image with an historical image. Certain embodiments include registering an acquired image and at least one historical image according to a coordinate system, applying a metric to the acquired image and each of the historical image(s), and identifying a correlation between the acquired image and one of the historical image(s) based on the metric. Certain embodiments further include storing the correlation between the acquired image and an historical image for automatic linking of the acquired image and the historical image upon display. In certain embodiments, the acquired image and the historical image may be displayed based on the correlation. In certain embodiments, the acquired image and the historical image may be automatically linked based on the correlation. In certain embodiments, the metric analyzes the acquired image and at least one historical image based on anatomy. |
| US07747048B2 |
Method of analysing separation patterns
The present invention relates principally to the statistical analysis of protein separation patterns. Specifically, the invention provides a method of performing operations on protein samples for the analysis of separation patterns, the method including separating a plurality of protein samples to produce a plurality of respective separation patterns; forming a representation of each separation pattern; building an importance map by iteratively recording performance values of classification models against locations in the importance map which correspond to locations in representations of separation patterns of data points used to build the classification models; and processing the importance map to identify important areas. Parts of the map which include high performance values indicate regions of the separation pattern which are statistically important in predicting a classification of the pattern. |
| US07747046B2 |
Apparatus and method for obtaining images using a prism
An improved apparatus and method for obtaining images through a prism are provided. In an embodiment, a thin fingerprint prism wedge, with a geometry designed to minimize foreshortening and maximize contrast, is provided in an optical path between an optical sensor and an object to be imaged. In some embodiments, the apparatus operates on the principle of internal surface reflections instead of total internal reflection (TIR). |
| US07747045B2 |
Method and apparatus for diffusion based illumination normalization
An exemplary illumination normalization method is provided which includes receiving an input image having at least one spurious edge directly resulting from illumination, performing anisotropic diffusion on the input image to form a diffusion image, and removing at the least one spurious edge using the diffusion image. Another embodiment consistent with the invention is an apparatus for performing illumination normalization in an image which includes a processor operably coupled to a memory storing input image data which contains an object of interest having at least one spurious edge directly resulting from illumination, a model of a representative object of interest, and functional processing units for controlling image processing, wherein the functional processing units further include a model based anisotropic diffusion module which predicts edge information regarding the object of interest based upon the model, and produces a reflectance estimation utilizing the predicted edge information. |
| US07747043B2 |
Registration method for biometrics authentication system, biometrics authentication system, and program for same
A biometrics authentication system uses biometrics information to authenticate individuals. A processing unit acquires biometrics information for the same living body a plurality of times from a detection unit, judges the mutual degree of similarity between biometrics characteristic data sets extracted from the above biometrics information acquired a plurality of times, and registers a plurality of biometrics characteristic data sets with a high degree of similarity in a storage unit. As a result, verification can be performed which accommodates changes in the state of the living body, without lowering verification accuracy. |
| US07747042B2 |
Defining and checking conformance of an object shape to shape requirements
A system and method are provided for automatically defining acceptable shape requirements for an object. A reference shape is a shape that the object should be in, and the acceptable shape requirements define an acceptable shape of the object that may deviate from the reference shape and yet is acceptable to a user. The system includes two elements: a processor, and a scanner coupled to the processor for scanning objects and sending scanned information of the objects to the processor. The processor is configured to perform three steps: (i) receiving scanned information of two or more acceptable shapes from the scanner; (ii) combining the scanned information of the two or more acceptable shapes to define acceptable shape requirements; and (iii) storing the acceptable shape requirements. The processor may be further configured to perform the steps of: (iv) receiving a scanned shape of an object from the scanner, and (v) determining whether the scanned shape of the object is in conformance to the acceptable shape requirements. |
| US07747041B2 |
Automated estimation of average stopped delay at signalized intersections
A system and method for automated estimation of average stopped delay at signalized intersections using digitized still image analysis of actual traffic flow is disclosed. The system and method includes digitizing images of an intersection and creating a line of pixels that acts as a virtual sensor in a traffic lane of interest. Background intensities of the pixel line on the traffic lane without vehicles are compared to pixel intensities on images with traffic. Once vehicles are identified, the present method and system provides for three alternative embodiments of methods for determining the stopped delay for an entire image or for a particular vehicle. Once the stopped delay for all relevant images or for all relevant vehicles is determined, the average stopped delay per vehicle is estimated. |
| US07747036B2 |
Document processing using embedded document information
In this invention, reading conditions for registration are determined in accordance with a document. This allows a user to read a document under recommended reading conditions without any special knowledge, and register the document in a predetermined server after performing anti-tampering processing on the document. For this purpose, a document is read by prescan in accordance with predetermined conditions, and information embedded in a predetermined marker in the read image data is extracted. On the basis of the extracted embedded information, reading condition information of the document is acquired. In accordance with the acquired conditions, the document is read by main scan. After that, at least one of electronic signature information and time stamp information is added to the image data obtained by the main scan. And the added image data are transmitted to and registered in a predetermined server on a network. |
| US07747034B2 |
Speaker device
A speaker device includes a voice coil bobbin around which a voice coil is wound, and a connecting member mounted on an outer peripheral wall of the voice coil bobbin. Plural ventilation holes are provided on a side wall of the voice coil bobbin with constant spaces, and plural ventilation holes are provided at a cylindrical part of the connecting member with constant spaces. Particularly, in this speaker device, each position of the ventilation holes of the connecting member coincides with each position of the ventilation holes of the voice coil bobbin in such a state that the connecting member is mounted on the outer peripheral wall of the voice coil bobbin. |
| US07747033B2 |
Acoustic tube and directional microphone
An acoustic tube that can be manufactured simply and can also be reduced in size easily is obtained. By using the acoustic tube, a directional microphone which has a simple structure and can be reduced in size easily is obtained. In an integrally molded acoustic tube, an acoustic resistance material arranged on the inner circumferential surface of the acoustic tube is integrated to the acoustic tube by molding of the acoustic tube. It is preferable to select resin as the material of the acoustic tube and resin mesh as that of the acoustic resistance material. It is preferable that the acoustic tube have a slit-like acoustic resistance part and the acoustic resistance material be present in the acoustic resistance part. It is preferable to configure a directional microphone by using the acoustic tube. |
| US07747032B2 |
Conjoined receiver and microphone assembly
A transducer assembly may include a first transducer having a first front volume, a first back volume and a first port acoustically coupled to the first front volume; and a second transducer having a second front volume, a second back volume and second port acoustically coupled to the second front volume. The first front volume and the second front volume are acoustically coupled to increase the effective back volume of both the first transducer and the second transducer. An optional signal processing circuit may be used to control the output of the first transducer based upon a signal received from the second transducer. |
| US07747020B2 |
Technique for implementing a security algorithm
Performing a hash algorithm in a processor architecture to alleviate performance bottlenecks and improve overall algorithm performance. In one embodiment of the invention, the hash algorithm is pipelined within the processor architecture. |
| US07747018B2 |
Method and apparatus for providing a message sequence count in a security systems
A security system and method of operation includes a wireless transmitter, a wireless receiver in wireless communication with the wireless transmitter, and a control panel. The transmitter transmits a wireless message, including a unique transmitter identification number, a status portion with a plurality of status bits, and a sequence count which it increments only when any one of the status bits changes. The receiver receives the wireless message, converts the wireless message to a digital message which is sent to the control panel. The control panel processes the digital message by extracting the sequence count and transmitter identification number. A previous sequence count associated with the transmitter identification number is retrieved from memory, and the sequence count from the message is compared with the previous sequence count. If the sequence count is not less than the previous sequence count, then the control panel processes the message. |
| US07747015B2 |
Techniques of imperceptibly altering the spectrum of a displayed image in a manner that discourages copying
Copying of visual images by electronic devices is discouraged by metamerically altering the relative weights of the color components forming the visual images in a manner that is not perceptible to the human eye but which is perceptible in the copy. In a preferred technique, the visual images are represented by more than three primary color components whose relative values are varied in this manner. A primary application is to discourage copying by video cameras of movies displayed on theater movie screens, by causing the copies to contain unacceptable spatial or temporal variations in colors perceived by the human eye. |
| US07747014B2 |
Information transmission system, and information sending apparatus and information receiving apparatus used therein
A receiver sends a first random number to a transmitter. The transmitter generates a sync signal in response to the first random number sent from the receiver. The transmitter embeds the sync signal and key information in a second random number to generate a composite signal. In the composite signal, the sync signal is a position indicator for the key information. The transmitter sends the composite signal to the receiver. The transmitter generates an encryption key from the key information. The receiver detects the sync signal in the composite signal sent from the transmitter. The receiver extracts the key information from the composite signal in response to the detected sync signal. The receiver generates an encryption key from the extracted key information. The encryption key generated by the receiver is equal to that generated by the transmitter. Thus, the transmitter and the receiver hold the same encryption key in common. |
| US07747012B2 |
Process of security of an electronic unit with cryptoprocessor
The invention concerns a process for securing an electronic device incorporating a hardware component capable of autonomous implementation of calculation process f using one key K, the process involves calculating at least two new keys K′i such that at least one of said new keys is identical to key K, and one of said new keys is different from key K, and executing said calculation process f successively with each of said calculated keys K′i, using said hardware component. |
| US07747010B1 |
Telephony software client application for handling the insertion and removal of logical audio devices
A telephony software client application for handling the insertion and removal of logical audio devices. |
| US07747009B2 |
Retaining device for mobile user devices
The invention relates to a retaining device for the purpose of mechanically and electrically connecting a mobile user device, in particular a mobile radio telephone or a PDA, to a vehicle. |
| US07747005B2 |
Opening and closing mechanism, and electronic device
An opening and closing mechanism includes a fixed member which has a fixed cam on its side face; a movable member which has a movable cam on an opposing face to the fixed cam, and which is rotatably disposed relative to the fixed member; a case housing the fixed member and the movable member; and a spring applying a force toward the fixed member to the movable member. The movable member has a recess at its radial center, and the first end of the spring is inserted in this recess. |
| US07747004B2 |
Devices and methods for acoustic usability
Disclosed is a mobile communication device and a method including a first housing including a first side and a second side, a display coupled to the first side of the first housing and a second housing movably coupled to the first housing, the second housing being coupled against the second side of the first housing when the second housing is in a closed position and extending the first side of the first housing when the second housing is in an open position. |
| US07747001B2 |
Speech signal processing with combined noise reduction and echo compensation
A speech signal processing system combines acoustic noise reduction and echo cancellation to enhance acoustic performance. The speech signal processing system may be used in vehicles or other environments where noise-suppressed communication is desirable. The system includes an adaptive beamforming signal processing unit, an adaptive echo compensating unit to reduce acoustic echoes, and an adaptation unit to combine noise reduction and adaptive echo compensating. |
| US07747000B2 |
Subscriber line driver with equalizer
Various embodiments are configured to transform characteristics of a communication signal. One embodiment is a method comprising decreasing amplitude of a first detected portion of the communication signal so that the decreased amplitude is in close proximity to a predefined specification; and increasing amplitude of a second portion of the communication signal so that the increased amplitude is in close proximity to the predefined specification, thereby resulting in a transformed communication signal. |
| US07746996B1 |
Telephone hold feature
A telecommunications device. The device includes a receiver for receiving an incoming call and a processor in communication with the receiver. The processor has a call hold module for placing the call on hold prior to the call being answered by a user of the telecommunications device. |
| US07746995B2 |
Telephone control system
An example master telephone set constituting a telephone control system includes a status setting unit, a status discrimination unit, an incoming-call detection unit, a notification unit, and a master-set control unit for controlling the operations of the respective units. When, in a state in which the incoming-call detection unit has detected a new incoming call signal from any other line, the status discrimination unit discriminates that one line is in a call holding status, the master-set control unit controls the notification unit so that the pertinent incoming call is notified by, at least, tone information. On the other hand, when the status discrimination unit discriminates, in the same state, that one line is in an on-call status, the master-set control unit controls the notification unit so that the pertinent incoming call is notified by, at least, visible information. |
| US07746994B1 |
Method for managing information in a telephone and telephone for managing information
Method for managing data with a telephone, and a telephone that manages data. A personal secret access code is entered into the telephone by a user of the telephone. The user may then create a private list that contains telephone numbers associated with the personal secret access code entered by the user. The user can also create a public list that can be accessed by any user of the telephone. However, the telephone numbers contained in the private list may only be accessed by the user that entered the associated personal secret access code. |
| US07746992B2 |
Adaptive handling of pulse-train signals in a voice gateway
A system and method provide for adaptively monitoring and reporting pulse train characteristics. In one embodiment a DSP operating within a voice media gateway (VMG) is initialized with signal processing criteria, at least one control parameter and, optionally, one or more pulse train characteristic indicators for indicating pulse train characteristics to be determined or reported in accordance with the control parameter or parameters. |
| US07746989B2 |
System and method for recording and attaching an audio file to an electronic message generated by a portable client device
A system and method for recording and attaching an audio file to an electronic message generated by a portable client device. In some embodiments, the audio file may be recorded remotely from the portable client device, and may be attached to the electronic message at an enterprise server while being transmitted from the portable client device to an intended recipient. |
| US07746988B2 |
Method, system and telephone answering device for processing control scripts attached to voice messages
A method, system and telephone answering device for processing control scripts attached to voice messages provides a mechanism by which a caller can leave an interactive list of contact information. The scripts provide for control of a display and input responses from a keypad or other input device so that an entry on the contact information list can be activated in response to user input, thus returning the call. The list information displayed may be arbitrary textual associations with the underlying contact number. The contact information may also include e-mail addresses, so that activation of an e-mail list element will activate a text messaging service, if available. For wireless telephone devices, the method implementing the present invention may be operable at the service provider only, so that standard wireless telephones may be programmed to provide the interactive list from a provider-side interpretation of the scripts. |
| US07746987B1 |
Voice message transmission and retrieval
A method and system for storing, transmitting and retrieving an audio message is disclosed herein. The invention allows a recipient to access a voice message sent by a sender by clicking on an access key in a SMS text sent to the recipient's phone. The SMS text preferably provides information on the sender and the length of the voice message. Once the recipient accesses the message, another SMS text is sent to the sender providing information on the when and how much of the voice message was communicated to the recipient. The voice message is preferably stored at a server of the system. |
| US07746985B2 |
Method, system and device for relay call transfer service
A method, system and device for relay call transfer services in hearing-impaired communications is described. A voice phone number of a relay service is entered into a voice phone and a first segment of a communication session is established between a hearing-capable user on a voice phone and a relay service. The hearing-capable caller provides the relay service with a contact number of a hearing-impaired user. The relay service accesses the user profile of the hearing-impaired user and determines the user's preferred communication devices listed from most preferred to least preferred. An interpreter or communications assistant attempts to establish a connection to the hearing-impaired user's most preferred communication device. If the relay service fails to establish a connection with the most preferred communication device, the relay service can then transfer the call to a subsequent call service system that corresponds to the hearing-impaired user's next most preferred communication device. |
| US07746984B2 |
Method and system for call initiation in a video relay service
A method and system for call initiation and the establishment of a communication session in a video relay service are described. A called party number of a voice phone is entered into a video phone and a first segment of a communication session is established between the video phone and a Video Relay Service (VRS) system according to a network address of the VRS system stored within the video phone. The called party number is forwarded to the VRS system over the first segment of the communication session. A second segment of the communication session is established between the VRS system and the voice phone without any additional interaction by a user of the video phone using the called party number of the voice phone. |
| US07746982B2 |
Rotary anode X-ray tube
In a rotary anode X-ray tube, a disc portion is fitted into a rotary anode with a first gap therebetween and a fixed shaft is fitted into a rotary shaft to support the anode with a second gap therebetween. The disc portion and the fixed shaft are formed integral with each other to have a hollow portion therein. A cooling liquid is allowed to flow through the hollow portion. A liquid metal is filled in the first and second gaps. Dynamic pressure type bearings is formed in the second gap. A passage is formed to directly communicate the first gap to the second gap, whereby the liquid metal being directly supplied from the second gap to the first gap. Thus, the liquid metal can be fed rapidly and surely into the gap between the anode target and a cooling vessel. |
| US07746980B1 |
X-ray reflectometry system with multiple sample holder and individual sample lifting mechanism
An X-ray reflectometry apparatus comprises an X-ray source (1) configured to emit an incident X-ray beam directed onto a sample measuring position and an X-ray detector (2) configured to detect an X-ray beam (3) reflected from a surface of a selected sample (4) located in said sample measuring position and with a multiple sample holder (5) comprising an essentially horizontal one- or two-dimensional array of sample resting positions into which solid samples can be placed from above. A drive mechanism (6) moves the sample holder in one or two directions within a horizontal plane underneath the sample measuring position in order to place a selected sample (4) directly beneath the measuring position and a sample lift mechanism (7) has a vertically movable piston (8) located below the multiple sample holder (5) beneath the sample measuring position. When the sample lift mechanism (7) is activated, the piston (8) moves upwards against a bottom surface of the selected sample (4) or sample container (9) containing said selected sample (4), lifts the selected sample (4) or sample container (9) until it touches a stop (10) that keeps the sample (4) in the sample measuring position. When the sample lift mechanism (7) is deactivated, the piston (8) moves downwards and the sample (4) rests in its resting position. The device prevents signal cross talk to neighboring samples or to the sample holder, while also assuring an alignment which can be parallel to the incident beam. |
| US07746979B2 |
Methods for assisting recovery of damaged brain and spinal cord and treating various diseases using arrays of x-ray microplanar beams
A method of assisting recovery of an injury site of the central nervous system (CNS) or treating a disease includes providing a therapeutic dose of X-ray radiation to a target volume through an array of parallel microplanar beams. The dose to treat CNS injury temporarily removes regeneration inhibitors from the irradiated site. Substantially unirradiated cells surviving between beams migrate to the in-beam portion and assist recovery. The dose may be staggered in fractions over sessions using angle-variable intersecting microbeam arrays (AVIMA). Additional doses are administered by varying the orientation of the beams. The method is enhanced by injecting stem cells into the injury site. One array or the AVIMA method is applied to ablate selected cells in a target volume associated with disease for palliative or curative effect. Atrial fibrillation is treated by irradiating the atrial wall to destroy myocardial cells while continuously rotating the subject. |
| US07746976B2 |
Bone mineral density assessment using mammography system
A method and system for determining the bone mineral density of a body extremity. An image of a body extremity is acquired using a mammography x-ray system whereby a bone mineral density can be performed on the image. The system for determining the bone mineral density of a body extremity includes: a support for supporting the body extremity; a detector for capturing an image of the body extremity; and an x-ray source adapted to project an x-ray beam through the body extremity toward the detector, the x-ray source having a voltage of no more than about 45 kVp and having a target/filter combination of rhodium/rhodium, molybdenum/molybdenum, molybdenum/rhodium, or tungsten/rhodium. An attenuation filter separate from the target/filter combination may be provided between the source and the body extremity, between the body extremity and the detector, or both. |
| US07746972B1 |
Numerically-controlled phase-lock loop with input timing reference-dependent ratio adjustment
A numerically-controlled phase-lock loop with input clock dependent ratio adjustment provides for narrower-bandwidth loops that lock to a wide range of frequencies and/or operation with an absent or degraded input timing reference. A timing reference characteristic detector determines an input frequency range of the input timing reference signal, the data type of the timing reference, and/or whether a timing reference signal of sufficient quality is present. A numerically controlled oscillator is controlled by a numeric ratio that is adjusted to provide the desired clock frequency output in conformity with the detected frequency range and/or data type. If the timing reference signal is absent or degraded, then the numeric ratio can be set to a fixed value or a local timing reference can be applied in order to generate the desired clock output frequency. |
| US07746967B2 |
Beam-former and combiner for a multiple-antenna system
A compensating correction value for adjusting analog signals received from multiple antenna elements takes into account the effects of colored noise, co-channel interference, and inter-sample interference. The method of generating the compensating correction value for analog combining architectures considers the total channel impulse response over a block of time. |
| US07746964B2 |
Signal processing apparatus and signal processing method
A signal processing apparatus includes a plurality of equalizer each used for a corresponding frequency band, controller for setting a gain value in each of the plurality of equalizer, and signal processor for processing an input signal by means of the plurality of equalizer. The controller determines a target gain value for each of the plurality of frequency bands, obtains a value of gain leakage from the first frequency band to a second frequency band adjacent to the first frequency band, updates a gain value set for the second frequency band, updates a gain value set for the first frequency band, repeats an update process for updating the gain value for each of the first frequency band and the second frequency band in an alternate manner until the gain value satisfies a predetermined condition, and sets the updated gain value for each of the frequency bands in the corresponding equalizer. |
| US07746961B2 |
Efficient detection of predetermined sequences
Hypothesis tests, such as maximum likelihood detections, are executed on symbol sequences received by, for example, a user equipment (UE) in a communication system. The hypothesis tester checks a received sequence against a group of predetermined sequences that possibly could have been sent to the UE. For received sequences that are matched or not matched by the hypothesis tester with high confidence, complete decoding, for example, with a Viterbi decoder, is not necessary. Instead, complete decoding is used as a “tie-breaker” for those sequences which the hypothesis tester cannot match or not match with desired confidence levels. |
| US07746957B2 |
Distortion correction control apparatus and distortion correction control method
A distortion correction control apparatus is for compensating for a burst distortion in a transmission amplifier caused by a burst of an input signal of a transmission target. The apparatus includes a holding unit that stores a distortion correction coefficient having reverse characteristics to the burst distortion; a unit that multiplies the distortion correction coefficient read out from the holding unit by the input signal or adds the distortion correction coefficient read out from the holding unit to the input signal, upon reception of burst information notifying of switching between presence and absence of the input signal; and an update unit that updates, based on the input signal, the distortion correction coefficient of the last time, and a signal fed back as an output signal of the transmission amplifier, the distortion correction coefficient by an adaptive algorithm, and that inputs the updated distortion correction coefficient to the holding unit. |
| US07746956B2 |
Method and system for bandwidth calibration for a phase locked loop (PLL)
Aspects of a method and system for bandwidth calibration for a phase locked loop are presented. Aspects of the method may include generating one or more carrier signals based on one or more corresponding calibration signals. A pre-distortion function may be computed based on the generated one or more carrier signals for the phase locked loop circuit. An output radio frequency (RF) synthesized signal generated by the phase locked loop circuit may be modified based on the computed pre-distortion function and a subsequent output RF synthesized signal generated based on the modified output RF synthesized signal. |
| US07746953B1 |
Method and apparatus for asynchronous incremental redundancy transmission in a communication system
Information is coded and segmented into a plurality of sub-packets. Each sub-packet contains identification information and a one-bit information status flag indicating whether the information is ‘new’ information or ‘continue’ information. The information to be transmitted is then applied to a scheduling algorithm that determines when the information is to be transmitted, how much information is to be transmitted and how many attempts at a successful transmission of the information is allowed. In this manner, the transmission of information can be performed in an asynchronous manner. |
| US07746952B2 |
Apparatus for generating precoding codebook for MIMO system and method using the apparatus
An apparatus and method to generate a preceding codebook for a Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO) system, the apparatus for generating a preceding codebook including: a clustering unit to collect a predetermined number of spatial beams into one cluster such that mutual interference is minimized, the predetermined number of spatial beams collected from among a plurality of spatial beams distributed to at least one user during a preceding process of a MIMO communication scheme; and a mapping table generator to generate a mapping table including one or more indexes generated based on information about the cluster, and a value of each element of the mapping table is generated based on interference between the clusters and/or whether overlapping of the clusters is allowed. |
| US07746951B2 |
Log-likelihood ration (LLR) generating apparatus and method in Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) antenna communication system
A Log-Likelihood Ratio (LLR) generating apparatus and method in a communication system using a spatial multiplexing scheme. The reception method includes acquiring at least one estimated transmit vector by demodulating a receive vector using at least one Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) detection process; selecting one of the at least one estimated transmit vector as an optimum estimated transmit vector; calculating LLRs with respect to the optimum estimated transmit vector; calculating a weight to be applied to each of elements constructing the optimum estimated transmit vector; and applying the weight to each of the calculated LLRs. Accordingly, the present invention can generate the LLRs with high reliability similar to the LLRs of a Maximum Likelihood receiver by applying the weight to the LLRs generated from the estimated transmit vector. |
| US07746934B2 |
Image stabilization method
In one embodiment, a method for reducing motion artifacts in an output image is provided. The method comprises capturing multiple frames of a scene; determining local motion vectors between each pixel in a current frame and a corresponding pixel in the a previous frame; and performing a temporal filtering operation based on the local motion vectors wherein pixels from a plurality frames are integrated to form the output image. |
| US07746932B2 |
Vector coding/decoding apparatus and stream media player
A vector coding apparatus includes a decomposing unit to obtain a sign vector and an initial absolute vector, a sign coding unit to code the sign to obtain a sign code, a multi-level permutation-based coding unit to perform multi-level permutation-based coding to obtain an absolute vector code, a combining unit to combine the sign and absolute vector codes to obtain an initial vector code. A vector decoding apparatus includes a decomposing unit to decompose a code of an initial vector to obtain a sign code and an absolute vector code, a sign decoding unit to decode the sign code to obtain a sign vector, a multi-level permutation-based decoding unit to perform multi-level permutation-based decoding on the absolute vector code to obtain an initial absolute vector, and a combining unit to combine the sign and initial absolute vectors to obtain an initial vector. A media player includes the vector decoding apparatus. |
| US07746928B2 |
Method and apparatus for providing rate control
The present invention discloses a system and method for providing a rate control to an encoder, e.g., a H.264/MPEG-4 AVC compliant encoder. Specifically, the rate control method computes a target rate for a segment, where the segment comprises at least one slice of macroblocks. In turn, a target rate is computed for the at least one slice of macroblocks from the target rate for the segment. In turn, a quantization parameter (QPj) is computed for a macroblock (j) of the macroblocks from the target rate for the at least one slice. Finally, the macroblock (j) is encoded in accordance with said quantization parameter (QPj). |
| US07746926B2 |
Pulse width modulation regulator system with automatically switching pulse skipping mode
A pulse width modulation (PWM) Regulator System with automatically switching pulse skipping mode (PSM) is disclosed. The PWM regulator system comprises a PWM regulator, a PSM switching module and a pulse generator. The PWM regulator converts the input voltage by PWM. The PSM switching module determines to enter or exit the PSM. The pulse generator adaptively produces pulse signal for the switching regulator to operate in PSM. |
| US07746924B2 |
Determination of filter weights
For a given channel and a filter having at least one filter tap, a set of at least one weight value is determined for the at least one filter tap according to which at least one weight value substantially minimizes a gradient of a frequency response for the given channel and substantially maximizes energy of the frequency response for the given channel within a predetermined bandwidth. |
| US07746917B2 |
Data transmission method and receiver
A receiver of a communication system includes means for receiving repetition-coded data. The receiver also includes means for generating symbol information from the received repetition-coded data. The receiver also includes means for storing symbol information over a predetermined period and means for making tentative symbol decisions by combining the stored symbol information. |
| US07746916B2 |
Method and apparatus for generating and transmitting code sequence in a wireless communication system
A method of generating a code sequence in a wireless communication system is disclosed. More specifically, the method includes recognizing a desired length of the code sequence, generating a code sequence having a length different from the desired length, and modifying the length of the generated code sequence to equal the desired length. Here, the step of modifying includes discarding at least one element of the generated code sequence or inserting at least one null element to the generated code sequence. |
| US07746914B2 |
Waveguide retroreflector and method of fabricating the same
A waveguide retroreflector consists of an end cap with curved output surface attached to a waveguide such as optical fiber. The radius of curvature of the output surface of the end cap matches the length of the end cap so as to retro-reflect a substantial portion of radiation exiting the waveguide, back into the waveguide. A method of fabricating the waveguide retroreflector includes steps of splicing an end cap to a waveguide, heating the free flat surface of the end cap, so that surface tension changes the shape of the end cap to a convex shape due to surface tension, monitoring amount of light reflected off the surface being heated, and stopping applying the heat when the amount of the reflected light approaches a maximum value. |
| US07746913B2 |
Laser system
An apparatus/method which may comprise a line narrowed pulsed excimer or molecular fluorine gas discharge laser system which may comprise a seed laser oscillator producing an output comprising a seed laser output light beam of pulses which may comprise a first gas discharge excimer or molecular fluorine laser chamber; a line narrowing module within a first oscillator cavity; a laser amplification stage containing an amplifying gain medium in a second gas discharge excimer or molecular fluorine laser chamber receiving the output of the seed laser oscillator and amplifying the output of the seed laser oscillator to form a laser system output comprising a laser system output light beam of pulses, which may comprise a ring power amplification stage; a seed injection mechanism. |
| US07746912B2 |
Surface emitting laser element, surface emitting laser array, optical scanning apparatus, image forming apparatus, and optical communication system
A vertical cavity surface emitting laser element is provided that includes a substrate, a first semiconductor multilayer reflector including plural pairs of layers having differing refractive indexes and thermal resistances, a resonator region including an active layer, and a second semiconductor multilayer reflector including plural pairs of layers having differing refractive indexes and thermal resistances. |
| US07746910B2 |
Semiconductor laser diode and its fabrication process
A semiconductor laser diode device with small driving current and no distortion in the projected image. The semiconductor laser diode includes an n-GaAs substrate and, an n-cladding layer on the n-GaAs substrate, an active layer, a p-clad layer, a multilayer formed from sequentially laminated p-contact layers, and a ridge formed by selectively etching from the upper surface of the p-contact active layer to a specified depth on the p-contact layer, and an insulating film deposited on the upper surface side of the n-GaAs substrate, and formed from the side surface of the ridge to the edge periphery of the n-GaAs substrate, and a p-electrode formed on the insulating layer deposited on the ridge of the P-contact layer, and an n-type electrode formed on the lower surface of the n-GaAs substrate; and the n-GaAs substrate structure possesses a side edge serving as an absorption layer to absorb light emitted at the active layer wavelength; and a groove is fabricated at the side edge forming the front facet (forward emission side), to a depth from the p-cladding layer exceeding the active layer, from a p-cladding layer section a specified distance away from the side of the ridge along the edge, to the side of the active layer; and the groove is covered by the insulating layer. |
| US07746909B2 |
Method and systems for optimizing laser and electro-absorption modulator performance for long-haul optical transmission
The present invention provides a compact, low cost integrated continuous wave (CW) laser/electro-absorption (EA) modulator solution that supports the non-return to zero (NRZ) modulation format for long-haul optical transmission that results in high output extinction ratio of an integrated EA modulated laser (EML) and low modulator chirp. The methods and systems of the present invention treat the laser and EA modulator sections of the EML as separate components. An information signal is connected to two separate drivers: a laser driver that drives the laser section and a modulator driver that drives the EA modulator section. |
| US07746908B2 |
High-repetition laser system for generating ultra-short pulses according to the principle of cavity dumping
A high-repetition laser system for generating ultra-short pulses according to the principle of pulse decoupling is described. This is achieved by the use of an amplifying laser medium, a laser resonator with at least one resonator mirror and at least one pulse decoupling component, a saturable absorber mirror, and a pump source for pumping the laser medium wherein the pulse decoupling component is an electro-optical modulator. |
| US07746905B2 |
Private telephone network connected to more than one public network
In conjunction with a data communication network (53) carrying multiple telephony signals and allowing for connection of telephone sets (17), a system and method in which two external feeders (55a, 55b) connect to the data network (53) at two distinct points via two distinct devices. The data network can be based on dedicated wiring or can use existing in premises medium such as telephone, powerlines or CATV wiring. In the latter case, the wiring can still carry the original service for which it was installed. The external telephone connections can be based on the traditional PSTN, CATV network, cellular telephone network or any other telephone service provider network, using specific adapter for any medium used. In the case of connection to a POTS telephone signal, VoIP gateway (or any other converter) is required. |
| US07746903B2 |
SONET management and control channel improvement
Method of using existing SONET transport overhead bytes (202) to provide additional bandwidth for increased management traffic, without the need to make use of SONET payload capacity (204). Overhead bytes that are undefined by the SONET Telecommunication Standard for certain STS-1 frames (200) of an STS-n frame (500) are used to form data channels. Using the undefined bytes, data can be communicated between a plurality of nodes (402, 404, 406) in the network. |
| US07746901B2 |
Method and system for offloaded transport layer protocol switching
A method for using offloaded transport layer protocols involves signaling a network interface controller (NIC) with a signal to use one of multiple transport layer protocols embedded in the NIC, and transmitting a data packet via the NIC using the transport layer protocol. |
| US07746899B2 |
System and method for calculating bandwidth of mobile terminal for streaming service
A method of calculating a bandwidth for a mobile terminal including requesting, by the mobile terminal, a description of a streaming content from a network and receiving a response from the network, requesting, by the mobile terminal, a Quality of Service (QoS) value corresponding to a required amount of bandwidth resources of the network for receiving a streaming service of the contents from information about the content included in the received response, and receiving, by the mobile terminal, allocated bandwidth resources of the network according to the QoS value. |
| US07746895B2 |
Guided discovery of media content
Guided discovery of content in a device. A device such as a satellite radio can received multiple data streams at least over networks including a satellite network or other wireless networks. The device includes filters that are based on the history of the device, the advertising history of the device, or on lists obtained from other devices. The data streams available to the device are filtered using the filters to discover content in the data streams. Content, including metadata or a portion of the content itself, discovered by the results of the filters can be stored at the device. The device notifies the user of the discovered content. The filters guide the discovery of content that may be of interest to the user of the device. |
| US07746894B2 |
Methods and systems for communicating using transmitted symbols associated with multiple time durations
In at least some embodiments, a system may comprise one or more devices configurable to communicate according to a first protocol that permits interpretation of transmitted symbols associated with a first time duration. The system may further comprise one or more devices configurable to communicate according to a second protocol that permits interpretation of transmitted symbols associated with multiple time durations. The one or more devices configurable to communicate according to the second protocol are operable to communicate using transmitted symbols associated with the first time duration and to communicate using transmitted symbols associated with a time duration that is not supported by the one or more devices configured to communicate according to the first protocol. |
| US07746889B2 |
Storage device and method of controlling access
A storage device is provided. The storage device includes a plurality of ports for a first kind of access, a second kind of access having a band-secured access period longer than that of the first kind of access, and other kinds of access; and an access controller. The access controller is configured to prepare a total schedule by connecting a plurality of slot units for the first kind of access having a time frame within a band-secured access period to obtain the band-secured access period within the access period for the second kind of access on a time axis, and to allocate one time slot to one slot unit regarding the ports for the first kind of access and to allocate one time slot to one period of the total schedule regarding the ports for the second kind of access among the plurality of ports. |
| US07746887B2 |
Dynamic value reporting for wireless automated systems
A wireless automation device monitors a condition and wirelessly reports an event over an automation network in response to detecting a change in the condition. The condition is sampled at a variable periodic interval, and the event reported during intervals when a change in the condition is determined. The change may be determined according to detecting a value for the condition outside a variable range. The change may also be determined according to detecting differences in the value from values detected in prior intervals. The range and the periodic interval may vary according to an analysis of multiple samples of the condition. |
| US07746886B2 |
Asymmetrical MIMO wireless communications
A method for asymmetrical MIMO wireless communication begins by determining a number of transmission antennas for the asymmetrical MIMO wireless communication. The method continues by determining a number of reception antennas for the asymmetrical MIMO wireless communication. The method continues by, when the number of transmission antennas exceeds the number of reception antennas, using spatial time block coding for the asymmetrical MIMO wireless communication. The method continues by, when the number of transmission antennas does not exceed the number of reception antennas, using spatial multiplexing for the asymmetrical MIMO wireless communication. |
| US07746885B2 |
Tower discovery and failover
Described is a communication system including wireless client devices. In the described system, the client devices may be wrist-worn watches such as are in common use today, except that the watches are specially configured to receive transmissions from broadcast towers. A client device is associated with one or more home service regions, and is configured to receive personal messages on a home channel when in the home service region. The client device employs a self-assignment method to identify and select a home channel without the need for interaction by a user. A tower discovery method is employed to identify broadcast towers and available channels within a service region. A failover method is employed to identify a change in the broadcast system, and take appropriate action such as, for example, changing to another broadcast tower, selecting another frequency, selecting a sleep mode, as well as others. |
| US07746884B2 |
Communications gateway and method of using the same
A communications gateway can be used to provide communications services from a communications service provide to electronic devices within a structure. Signals can be transmitted from the communications gateways to the electronic devices over a plurality of different types of wireline media. The communications gateway can allow communication services using a wireline medium (e.g., a set of twisted pair wires) to be transmitted within the structure by taking advantage of existing wireline media (e.g., CAT3 cable, coaxial cable, power lines, etc.). |
| US07746883B2 |
Multi-drop ethernet
Systems, methodologies, media, computing devices, network adapters, and other embodiments associated with network communications are described. One exemplary system embodiment includes a multi-drop Ethernet network. |
| US07746881B2 |
Mechanism for modem pass-through with non-synchronized gateway clocks
A method for compensating for asynchronous clock sources is presented. A buffer is provided for storing frames received from a packet network. The buffer having a preselected playout delay. Upon detecting a buffer overflow, a drain operation is performed on the buffer and the playout delay is modified to provide a sufficient number of buffer locations for frames to be stored. Upon detecting a buffer underflow, a fill operation is performed on the buffer and the playout delay is modified to provide a sufficient number of frames to be played out. |
| US07746880B2 |
Method and arrangement relating to messaging
An arrangement for handling control signal messaging in a distributed system comprising a number of sending nodes and a number of receiving nodes and implementing a control signaling communication protocol. The sending and/or the receiving node is adapted to send and/or receive the current message as a compressed message comprising only the difference portion between a selected or preferred previous message and the current message and the unique identity of said previous message. |
| US07746876B2 |
Method and mobile routers in a communications system for routing a data packet
The present invention relates to moving networks in communication systems. An object of the invention is to provide moving network nodes (205, 206) in a moving network (201) with the ability to simultaneously access several external access networks (211, 212, 213) accessible by different mobile routers (204, 207) such that a data packet directed to an address external to the moving network can be sent from a moving network node via any of the mobile routers (204, 207) and via a tunnel setup in any of the simultaneously accessible external accesses to a home agent (216) in a home network (215) of the mobile router. This is achieved by synchronizing between the mobile routers data regarding the external accesses of each mobile router, and, when a data packet is received at a first mobile router (204), the first mobile router selects external access based on the synchronized external access information, information in the data packet and optionally also based on access selection policies. If a selected access belongs to e.g. a second mobile router (207), the packet is forwarded from the first mobile router to the second mobile router before it is sent to the home agent (215) via the tunnel setup through the selected access (211). |
| US07746873B2 |
Communication processing system, communication processing method, communication terminal, data transfer controller, and program
A virtual network prefix is provided as a dedicated prefix for a mobile node in a domain having a plurality of subnets. The domain includes a layered network that has a quasi-micro mobility network (QMMN) and a pure-micro mobility network (PMMN). The quasi-micro mobility network (QMMN) performs prefix-based routing, and the pure-micro mobility network (PMMN) performs routing using two different routing protocols, that is, prefix-based routing and host-based routing. In each network, processing for changing a route, such as changing cache data or the like, is performed depending on how a terminal moves. |
| US07746864B1 |
System and method for routing inter-carrier short message service or multimedia message service messages
A message originates from a mobile station which is operable within a wireless network. In disclosed examples, the wireless network has a Messaging Service Center (MSC). The MSC determines whether the MSC stores a Uniform Resource Identifier (URI) corresponding to a destination mobile directory number (MDN) that is inputted via the mobile station. Then, the MSC sends the message to the URI corresponding to the MDN if the first MSC stores the URI corresponding to the MDN. The MSC sends a request to find the URI corresponding to the destination MDN to an external tElephone NUmber Mapping (ENUM) server, if the first MSC does not store the URI corresponding to the destination MDN. The MSC sends the message to the URI corresponding to the destination MDN if the external ENUM server sends the URI corresponding to the destination MDN. The MSC also indicates charging policy for delivery of message based on a billing identification corresponding to the destination MDN or URI that is stored in the MSC in the same table. |
| US07746862B1 |
Packet processing in a multiple processor system
Packet processing is provided in a multiple processor system including a first processor to processing a packet and to create a tag associated with the packet. The tag includes information about the processing of the packet. A second processor receives the packet subsequent to the first processor and processes the packet using the tag information. |
| US07746861B2 |
Communication apparatus and method
A communication apparatus includes a receiving device configured to receive a physical frame in which a plurality of MAC frames, each having a sequence number, are aggregated. A reception buffer which stores MAC frames of the physical frame received by the receiving device. A determination device determines whether or not the first MAC frame in the physical frame received by the receiving device has been successfully received. A reception buffer management device determines, when the first MAC frame has been successfully received, a MAC frame to be forwarded to an upper layer, on the basis of the sequence number of the first MAC frame, and extracts the MAC frame from the reception buffer. |
| US07746860B2 |
Testing applications or devices in large networks
When testing network management applications, it is desirable to show that they will work with large or very large networks, to determine the upper bounds of the applications capabilities, and improvements which might increase the upper bounds. A method of testing a network application is disclosed mapping a layer-3 addresses of a real subnetwork onto a plurality of mapped layer-3 subnetwork addresses for conversations with applications or devices. Packets are modified to change a destination layer-3 address in a mapped subnetwork, pointing to corresponding real IP address and forwarding the packets. The conversation to which a response from a reallayer-3 address relates is identified. The source layer-3 address and packet contents are changed into the appropriate mapped subnetwork and the packet is forwarded to the application or device. An existing test network of any size may be used as the basis for testing the network management application. |
| US07746859B2 |
Method for implementing multicast
A method for implementing multicast in the MAC in MAC network, which method enables the operator's backbone network device to support the multicast copy ability based on the private network user, and allows the public network, which supports the MAC in MAC Layer 2 backbone network, to have the full multicast ability, the inventive method adds into the PBB the correspondence of the multicast address between the private network and the public network as well as the multicast forwarding tables in each network equipments, copies and sends downward the multicast messages stage by stage, so that the multicast messages are sent downward in accordance with the typical multicast tree structure, thereby avoiding the huge waste of the bandwidth due to the multicast copy. |
| US07746858B2 |
Scaling enhancement for PIM control messages in multicast VPNs
A mechanism by which PIM network traffic can be aggregated is provided, thereby reducing the number of PIM messages transmitted by routers in a multicast network. PIM messages are adapted to permit information targeted at multiple destination routers to be included in one PIM message. Join/prune lists for a plurality of upstream neighbor routers can thereby be included in a single PIM message. PIM Hello messages can be similarly aggregated in a single PIM message and both PIM join/prunes and PIM Hellos can be aggregated in a single aggregated PIM message. Through such aggregation of information that would traditionally be transmitted in multiple PIM messages, network bandwidth consumption and router load due to transmission of PIM messages can be reduced. |
| US07746854B2 |
Fast flexible filter processor based architecture for a network device
A method of filtering data packets in a network device is disclosed. An incoming packet is received from a port and the incoming packet is inspected and packet fields are extracted. The incoming packet is classified based on the extracted packet fields and action instructions are generated. The incoming packet is then modified based on the action instructions. Further, the inspection and extraction includes applying inspection mask windows to any portion of the incoming packet to extract programmable packet fields. |
| US07746853B2 |
Method and apparatus for transporting broadcast video over a packet network including providing conditional access
A method, an apparatus and a carrier medium for securely distributing multimedia while still retaining compatibility with existing CA systems. The method includes forming a packet including a plurality of encrypted multimedia stream segments. The packet further includes, for each segment of the plurality, a field providing conditional access information associated with the segment. The method further includes sending the packet to an intermediary. The method is such that the intermediary receiving the packet can send a first segment of the plurality and any associated conditional access information to a first receiver, and send a second segment of the plurality and any associated conditional access information to a second receiver. The method is also such that no decryption of any segment of the plurality is required by the intermediary to send the first segment or to send the second segment. |
| US07746851B2 |
Secure communications within and between personal area networks by using private and public identifiers
A Personal Area Network Security Domain (PSD) (50) is formed between PDA (52), mobile terminal (54), PC (56) and printer (58). The PSD (50) allows the sharing of resources between the devices within the PSD. If the devices within the PSD (50) are located remotely from one another, communication between those devices will be performed via mobile or cellular telephone network (66) and the Internet (68). For each set or association of similarly located devices within the PSD (50), one of those devices will be a gateway device. The gateway device is a device that is configured to communicate with an external communications medium (mobile network (66) or the Internet (68)). Data transmissions to other devices within the PSD are channelled through the relevant gateway. In another embodiment resources are shared between the two separate PSDs (of which may or may not be remotely located with respect to one another) by means of data exchanges between the respective gateway devices of the two PSDs. |
| US07746850B2 |
Interface card and CTI system applying interface card
This invention discloses an interface card built in each single unit of a CTI system and connected to the Voice Processing Unit (VPU) of the single unit via local CT-BUS. On the transmitting side of an interface card, low-speed signals from the VPU in the single unit are multiplexed into a single high-speed signal and converted into LVDS signals. On the receiving side of the interface card, external high-speed LVDS signals are converted into low voltage TTL signals, demultiplexed into local CT-BUS compatible low-speed signals and sent to the VPU in the single unit. The invention also discloses a CTI system applying the interface card. The interface card and the CTI system applying the interface card feature low cost, simple and reliable connection, easy installation and operation, high reliability, large channel capacity and good expandability. |
| US07746847B2 |
Jitter buffer management in a packet-based network
A method, system and computer program product for handling a session in a packed-based network is provided. The method involves the transmission of packets representing the session. A minimum and a maximum jitter delay value are set for the session. The minimum jitter delay value is based on the time taken by a tone detection algorithm to detect the end of a DTMF event and the maximum jitter delay value is based on the network delay the first packet has been subjected to. The transmitted packets are buffered in a jitter buffer, based on a pre-defined criterion. The packets are played out of the jitter buffer, based on the minimum and maximum jitter delay values. |
| US07746846B2 |
Method and system for a gigabit Ethernet IP telephone chip with integrated security module
Methods and systems for processing Ethernet data are disclosed and may comprise receiving Ethernet data via a single gigabit Ethernet IP telephone chip. A secure application key may be received from a secure server by an OSM integrated within the gigabit Ethernet IP telephone chip for processing the received Ethernet data. The received Ethernet data may be processed by the gigabit Ethernet IP telephone chip based on the received secure application key. A unique security identifier internal to the single gigabit Ethernet IP telephone chip may be communicated off-chip to the secure server. The unique security identifier may identify the single gigabit Ethernet IP telephone chip. The secure server may authenticate the gigabit Ethernet IP telephone chip based on the unique security identifier internal to the single gigabit Ethernet IP telephone chip, prior to the receiving of the secure application key. |
| US07746836B2 |
Method and apparatus for re-registration of connections for service continuity in an agnostic access internet protocol multimedia communication system
Active sessions and dialogs may be moved between connections and P-CSCFs. For example, in some embodiments either new bindings may be created with a different connection for a Public User ID or the UE may re-register one or more specific bindings for a Public User ID from one connection to another. The capabilities improve service continuity when handing over between IP-CANs. FIG. 13 illustrates exemplary messaging for moving bindings to a new connection for a Private User ID between UE (1305) and P-CSCF (1307) when the UE (1305) is in a visited IP-CAN, that is, visited network (1303). The UE (1305) invokes the unprotected global seamless re-registration of the embodiments via an unprotected initial registration procedure wherein the UE (1305) includes a “seamless-ims” parameter in the Require and Proxy-Require headers of the REGISTER request (1313). The S-CSCF (1311) provides the capability to subsequently re-register bindings over new or existing connections. |
| US07746834B1 |
Method of dynamically locating and connecting to a wireless device
A method for wirelessly connecting a computer network to a destination device located at an unknown location in response to a request from a requesting device. The method of the present invention creates a more versatile wireless computer network by enabling devices within the computer network to efficiently wirelessly connect to mobile devices that are not connected to the computer network but are in range of at least one wireless access point. Therefore, the network can efficiently dynamically adjust to the movement of particular wireless devices throughout the network. Likewise, the method effectively increases the capabilities of the network by enabling devices within the network to efficiently connect with devices that are not actively communicating with the network. The method includes a series of searching routines which are performed at each access point to locate the destination device. |
| US07746833B2 |
Wireless communication system with selectively sized data transport blocks
A wireless transmit receive unit and methods for code division multiple access telecommunications are disclosed that process data in a physical layer and a medium access control (MAC) layer. The physical and MAC layers communicate data between each other via transport channels. The transport channels are associated with logical channels. Logical-channel data for the transport channels is provided in data units having a bit size evenly divisible by an integer N. The respective logical channels associated with a transport channel utilize MAC headers that have a selected modulo N bit size such that there is bit alignment of the MAC headers of all the logical channels associated with a particular transport channel. Preferably, the MAC headers and data units are combined into transport blocks (TBs) to transport data over the transport channels with bit padding such that the TBs have a bit size evenly divisible by N. |
| US07746827B2 |
Methods and arrangements for selection of a wireless transmission method based upon signal to noise ratios
Methods and arrangements for wireless communications are contemplated. Embodiments include transformations, code, state machines or other logic to determine the signal to noise ratios (SNRs) of multiple stations associated with an access point in a wireless network. The embodiments may also include selecting whether one of the stations communicates with the access point by an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) transmission method or a multiple-access joint coding/decoding transmission method, the selecting based upon the SNRs and communicating the selected transmission method to the station of the multiple stations. Some embodiments may include determining an SNR threshold level, selecting the MAC transmission method if the SNR of at least one of the multiple stations is below the SNR threshold level, and selecting the OFDM transmission method if the SNRs of all of the multiple stations are above the SNR threshold level. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US07746826B2 |
Method for wireless terminal dynamically switching window in a wireless LAN environment
The invention discloses a method for wireless terminal dynamically switching window in a wireless LAN environment. The wireless LAN comprises several access points and stations which establish wireless communication connections with the access points. The stations can switch the current access window by scanning. The method characterizes in that including following steps: giving the switching window an initial value through the stations; the stations judge if there is another access point of which the signal quality is greater than that of the current access window through scanning wireless channels; if so, further judge if the stations are in a frequently handoff status, if so, the handoff judging result is not allowed to switch window; if not, the handoff judging result is allowed to switch window. The present invention can adaptively adjust the stations' switch windows according to the stations' handoff status and frequently handoff status. On one hand, the invention avoids the occurring of frequently handoff by changing the handoff conditions of the stations, increasing the access efficiency of the stations which is in the handoff status and in a wireless LAN environment, while maintaining the sensitivity of the stations which is in the handoff status, ensuring the quality of the wireless links between the stations and the access points. |
| US07746815B2 |
Hybrid forwarding apparatus and method for cooperative relaying in an OFDM network
A hybrid forwarding apparatus and method for cooperative relaying in an OFDM network are provided. In a hybrid forwarding apparatus in a relay terminal, a forwarding scheme selector selects a forwarding scheme for transmission. An amplify and forward (AF) block amplifies data received from the forwarding scheme selector, if an AF scheme is selected. A decode and forward (DF) block decodes and encodes data received from the forwarding scheme selector, if a DF scheme is selected. A multiplexer provides the output data of the AF block and the DF block to an OFDM modulator. |
| US07746814B2 |
Method for distributed multicast routing in connection-oriented networks and network for applying this method
A method for multicast routing for a telecommunications network comprising a plurality of communication nodes interconnected by multiple paths, for the establishment of a multicasting connection between a source node and a plurality of destination nodes, in which the destination nodes are informed that a multicast connection request is arriving from a particular source. Each destination node then sends a connection request to the source, and these requests are processed and relayed by each node within the network. The requests are propagated from node to node until they reach the source node, carrying the information on the cost accumulated along the path. Finally, the source node, having received the information on the costs of the possible paths, selects the path which has a satisfactory cost. |
| US07746809B2 |
Method for making correspondence between a maintenance point identifier and a media access control address
A method for making correspondence between an MPID (Maintenance Point Identifier) and a MAC (Media Access Control) address, including: each MP (Maintenance Point) on the network is allocated a unique MPID at first; to obtain the MAC address of a destination MP, a MEP (Maintenance End Point) sends a broadcast query message to all the MPs on the network with the MPID of the destination MP; after receiving the broadcast query message, each MP determines whether the MPID in the message is the same as its MPID; if they are same, returns a unicast response message which includes the MPID and the MAC address; otherwise, no operation is performed; the MEP obtains the MAC address of the destination MP from the received unicast response message. The invention overcomes the problem of the prior art that an MEP cannot know the MAC address of a destination MP. By the present invention, various functions of the OAM can be accomplished and the uniqueness of the MPID and the MAC address of an MP on the network may also be ensured. |
| US07746805B2 |
Communication network using synchronous code division multiplexing method
In a communication network which performs transmission from a plurality of first communication devices to a single second communication device using a synchronous code division multiplexing technique, the phases of signals transmitted from the first communication devices are synchronized easily. The first communication devices control the transmission phase of spread modulated signals using phase control information received from the second communication device. A repeater generates a code division multiplexed signal by superposing the spread modulated signals transmitted respectively from the first transmission devices. The second transmission device demultiplexes the code division multiplexed signal received from the repeater, determines the optimum phase of the demultiplexed signals, and transmits the determined optimum phase to the first transmission devices as the phase control information. |
| US07746802B2 |
Method and apparatus for channel state feedback using arithmetic coding
Disclosed are the design and implementation of a CSI feedback channel in a multi-carrier wireless communication system. An apparatus and a method for channel state feedback using arithmetic coding are provided to ensure efficiency and reliability of a system by transmitting the CSI while compressing the CSI with a predetermined compression rate selected depending on a channel state. The apparatus for CSI feedback in a wireless communication system performing channel estimation at a transmitter or a receiver by using a communication channel includes a transmitter terminal transmitting a signal for CSI measurement by using the communication channel, and a receiver terminal receiving the signal from the transmitter terminal, checking a channel state based on the received signal, and transmitting the signal to the transmitter terminal after compressing the signal according to the channel state. |
| US07746801B2 |
Method of monitoring a network
The present invention relates to a method of monitoring a communication network (100) between an ingress node (102) and an egress node (104), comprising: a first step of assigning first time stamps to data packet samples of a data stream, by the ingress node, a second step of assigning of second time, by the egress node, a third step of determining an evaluation of network performances, these first, second and third steps being performed according to an operating procedure. The method of the invention is characterized in that the ingress node performs further steps of determining a quality measurement of the data stream and, by comparing it to a quality control profile, determining the operating procedure. |
| US07746797B2 |
Non-intrusive monitoring of quality levels for voice communications over a packet-based network
Provided is a method and apparatus for objectively and non-intrusively measuring voice quality on live calls without disrupting the call session or the network. A communication system includes plural communities each including a switch that controls access to a packet-based data network for call sessions. Each of the communities is coupled to the data network by respective packet-based trunks. Quality of service (QoS) monitoring devices are coupled to the respective packet-based trunks to monitor quality levels of routes between any two given communities. Each QoS monitoring device receives packets containing streaming data (which may be actual packets or test packets). From the received packets, the QoS monitoring device can derive QoS parameters, particularly for audio and speech signals on live calls without disrupting the call session. |
| US07746793B2 |
Consistency between MPLS forwarding and control planes
Systems and methods for assuring consistency between MPLS forwarding and control planes. The control plane can be made aware of forwarding plane anomalies and can respond appropriately. One particular application is assuring consistency between forwarding and control planes of a Fast Reroute backup tunnels used to protect an MPLS Traffic Engineering LSP from a link and/or a node failure. When a backup tunnel forwarding failure is detected, the control plane can react by, for example, rerouting the backup tunnel and/or sending a notification to the operator or head-end of the protected Traffic Engineering LSP. |
| US07746789B2 |
Routing control method, apparatus and system
This invention is to enable appropriate routing based on transition prediction of network traffic. This routing control method includes: reading out predicted utilization transition data (e.g. utilization rate, or utilized bandwidth) associated with a received connection set-up request from a predicted utilization transition data storage storing said predicted utilization transition data for each resource (e.g. links between routers, or server) in a network in future; and selecting a resource satisfying a predetermined condition based on the read predicted utilization transition data. Thus, by using said predicted utilization transition data, an appropriate resource is identified in accordance with future time transition of the resource utilization rate, for example, and thereby, appropriate routing is possible. For example, when a link that a traffic volume will increase after a predetermined time exists, it is possible to judge that such a link is not used even when there are a lot of available bandwidths now. |
| US07746782B2 |
Traffic control in an internet protocol network
A method and system based in part on a current network traffic determination and a predetermined acceptable Quality of Service parameter, the system sets a current state of available system services. In order to set the available system services, the apparatus refers to a database containing a listing of services for a given network. The database includes a hierarchy of the services correlated to the amount of bandwidth necessary to provide a given service. The determination is made by the apparatus, as to whether the amount bandwidth necessary to provide a particular type of service would degrade the QoS below an acceptable level if the service was provided on the network at the time of the determination. If degradation would occur, the service is made unavailable until the traffic level subsides to a point at which providing the service would not have an adverse affect on the QoS the network. |
| US07746781B1 |
Method and apparatus for preserving data in a system implementing Diffserv and IPsec protocol
An improved method is described for providing Differentiated Services (Diffserv) traffic to a node in a network that implements a security method that discards duplicate packets received at the node. The method includes the step of identifying at least two service levels to be provided to received traffic and assigning separate sequential sequence numbers and different anti-replay bitmasks to each of the service levels. The anti-replay bitmask indicates the sequence numbers of packets that have been previously received at the node that should be compared against a received packet to determine whether a duplicate packet has been received. Such an arrangement reduces the possibility that traffic having lower priority is dropped as a security measure. |
| US07746776B1 |
Systems and method for dropping data using a drop profile
A system selectively drops data from queues. The system includes a drop table that stores drop probabilities. The system selects one of the queues to examine and generates an index into the drop table to identify one of the drop probabilities for the examined queue. The system then determines whether to drop data from the examined queue based on the identified drop probability. |
| US07746775B2 |
Instant service method for deficit-round-robin (DRR) data packet scheduling
An instant service method and apparatus for deficit-round-robin (DRR) data packet scheduling are provided. The method includes servicing a current flow according to packet scheduling; activating a new flow according to an input of a new data packet; servicing the new flow immediately when the current flow service is completed; and servicing a next flow when the new flow service is completed. The apparatus includes a packet memory; a flow information storage; an active list processor; a main controller; and an output part. |
| US07746767B2 |
Method for providing extra-traffic paths with connection protection in a communication network, related network and computer program product therefor
Extra traffic paths are provided in a communication network including at least two protection channels associated to respective transmission channels. Each protection channel admits an active state for carrying, in the presence of a failure in the associated transmission channel, traffic to be carried by the associated transmission channel, and a stand-by state, wherein the protection channel is adapted to carry extra traffic. The protection channels are run in a sub-network connection protection scheme, whereby one of the protection channels in its stand-by state is adapted to ensure recovery of extra traffic carried by the other protection channel while the other protection channel is switched to its active state or is subject to failure. |
| US07746765B2 |
Method and system for allocating data bursts in a wireless communication system
A method and system for allocating data bursts in a wireless communication system. The system has a frame set by a symbol interval axis and a frequency band axis. The frame includes a first region in which a MAP message is transmitted and a second region to which the data bursts are allocated. A third region based on a symbol interval and a frequency band is set in the second region. The data bursts are sequentially allocated to the third region from a first symbol interval along the frequency band axis. |
| US07746764B2 |
Orthogonal signal generation using vector spreading and combining
The present invention provides an approach for quadrature signal generation, which does not require orthogonal reference signals or nearly orthogonal reference signals as an input or given condition. The techniques provided herein can utilize a reference phase shift less than 90° but greater than 0°, along with an inversion to create orthogonal signals. The techniques provided here reduce the number of critical manipulations required from a hardware perspective. |
| US07746762B2 |
Transmitting apparatus and transmitting method
A control section 101 outputs retransmission information as to whether or not a transmit signal is a retransmission signal, and if a retransmission signal, which (first, second, etc.) retransmission this is, to a selection section 107. An IFFT section 103 performs orthogonal frequency division multiplexing processing of the transmit signal. A GI insertion section 104 inserts a guard interval in the transmit signal. A GI insertion section 105 inserts in the transmit signal a guard interval longer than the guard interval inserted by GI insertion section 104. A GI insertion section 106 inserts in the transmit signal a guard interval longer than the guard intervals inserted by GI insertion section 104 and GI insertion section 105. Based on the retransmission information input from control section 101, selection section 107 selects a transmit signal in which a longer guard interval has been inserted as the number of retransmissions increases. By this means it is possible to prevent an increase in transmission delay due to an excessive increase in the number of retransmissions with almost no lowering of transmission efficiency. |
| US07746758B2 |
Orthogonal-Frequency-Division-Multiplex-Packet-Aggregation (OFDM-PA) for wireless network systems using error-correcting codes
A multiple-access communications downlink uses OFDM and error-correcting codes to send data to multiple terminals from a single access point, in which packets of message information for multiple users are aggregated and encoded into a single error-correction codeword, in which assigned time slots corresponding to specific OFDM symbols are used to separate different users, so that a near-capacity achieving channel coding system constructs a single codeword for use with iterative decoding architectures at the mobile terminals. |
| US07746757B2 |
Optical disc medium and optical disc device
Provided are a medium structure which allows track narrowing onto a three-dimensional pit selection type disc, and its corresponding optical disc device. Multiple data pit strings are formed between track guide grooves, and a phase-change recording film is formed only in the data pit strings. Thereby, a disc configuration is achieved. Reflectivity and a phase of each of a space portion and a mark portion are appropriately set. Thereby, normal resolution signal cancel is implemented to prevent deterioration in data crosstalk and a push-pull signal. An optical disc medium of the present invention is supported by an optical disc device having a configuration in which a signal is selected from a push-pull signal of a main beam and push-pull signals of sub-beams to read out wobble address information. |
| US07746756B2 |
Optical disc recording apparatus
An optical pickup is disposed which irradiates a laser beam onto an optical disc where a guide groove having characteristics of thermal interference (heat discoloration) is spirally formed. The optical pickup irradiates the laser beam along the guide groove to conduct one of data recording in which pits indicating a data length are formed, and visible-image formation in which a part of the optical disc is discolored. The laser beam irradiation position is controlled so that the data recording is conducted with starting from the inner peripheral side of the optical disc, and the visible-image formation is conducted with starting from the outer peripheral side of the optical disc. |
| US07746755B2 |
Optical disc drive
In a recordable data storage medium on which property data was recorded after having been modulated and on which data that is decodable by a cryptographic key to be generated from the property data was recorded, the property data was preferably modulated by a different method from that applied to a read-only data storage medium. Then, an optical disc drive, having no ability to distinguish the recordable data storage medium from the read-only data storage medium, cannot read the recordable data storage medium. Consequently, a greater number of drives should be equipped with the function of recognizing the type of a given data storage medium and the copyright protection function should be consolidated. |
| US07746754B2 |
Method of allocating areas in optical disc, data recording and/or reproducing apparatus adopting the same, and optical disc therefor
Recording areas in an optical disc having a plurality of recording layers allocated so each recording layer includes a data area for recording data, a connection area in which a predetermined pattern of data for indicating that no data area is recorded therein, and a remaining area, wherein a size and location of the data area of each recording layer is determined according to an amount of user data to be recorded. The connection area and the remaining area are allocated next to the data area of each recording layer in a direction from the inner circumference to the outer circumference of the disc. Accordingly, a recording time is reducible, and exclusive areas for recording information except user data can be additionally allocated to outer circumference areas of the optical disc or the sizes of the exclusive areas can be increased, increasing recording medium efficiency. |
| US07746752B2 |
Servo controlling method of optical information processing apparatus and optical information recording and reproducing apparatus
A servo controlling method for controlling an information processing apparatus using a hologram. The method includes a step of irradiating a holographic recording medium with light having a first wavelength and irradiating the holographic recording medium with light having a second wavelength, different from the first wavelength, a step of directing first return light by the light of the first wavelength and second return light by the light of the second wavelength to be incident on the same light receiving element, and a step of performing servo control by separating the first return light from the second return light at the light receiving element. |
| US07746751B2 |
Recording medium, data recording device and method, data reproducing device and method, program, and recording medium
The present invention enables audio data to be recorded or played back more easily. LPCM samples from an LPCM sample 301-1 of a first channel to an LPCM sample 304-1 of a fourth channel in audio data are combined in order to generate a GOLS 310-1. An even number of GOLS are combined to generate an audio frame. Header information is added to the audio frame to generate an audio PES packet, which is multiplexed with a video PES packet and recorded onto a recording medium. As a result, the number of bits of the audio frame is an integral multiple of 32. This increases an affinity with a recording and playback apparatus. |
| US07746745B2 |
Method for determining the type of digital versatile disc
A method for determining the type of a digital versatile disc (DVD) so that a DVD+ can be distinguished from a DVD−. The main steps for determining the type of a DVD include setting up related parameters, reading a general wobble signal or a wobble signal within the general wobble signal from a DVD to obtain a peak hold value and a trough hold value. The peak and trough hold values of the general wobble signal are read to derive a peak-to-peak voltage. Finally, if the peak-to-peak voltage is greater than a predetermined threshold value, the DVD is classified as a DVD−, otherwise it is classified as a DVD+. Furthermore, a DVD-ROM disc can be determined. |
| US07746739B2 |
Writing power determining method and optical disc apparatus
A recording power determining method comprises writing data consecutively into a plurality of test blocks of an optical disc while changing recording power in such a manner that the arrangement of recording power values is distributed over the arrangement of the test blocks, reproducing the information recorded in the test blocks written into consecutively, determining an asymmetry value for each of the recording power values on the basis of the information in each of the test blocks reproduced, determining an approximation characteristic of the asymmetry value for a recording power on the basis of the asymmetry value for each of the recording power values, and determining a recording power for realizing a specific target value of the asymmetry value from the obtained approximation characteristic. |
| US07746735B2 |
Laser focus controlling method on an optical disk and an optical disk apparatus with using thereof
In a focus controlling method of a laser beam for an optical disk, achieving a stable focus drawing-in, lowering ill influences due to stray lights, detecting an electric signal, which is obtainable upon basis of a reflection light from the optical disk loaded, in advance, while executing a focus sweep operation of gradually approaching the laser to a recoding surface of the optical disk, at an unnecessary light detection gain being higher than a gain of normal operation, thereby counting a number of signals generated due to unnecessary lights; and thereafter, detecting the electric signal, which is obtainable upon basis of the reflection light from the optical disk loaded, and thereby conducting a focus drawing-in, by considering an electric signal, which is generated just after a number detected thereof reaches to the counted number of signals generated due to the unnecessary lights, to be a signal reflected from the recording surface of the optical disk loaded. |
| US07746732B2 |
Gong, more particularly for horological movement
A gong for a striking mechanism in a horological movement comprises a first end mounted to a heel and a second end that is free. The first end and the second end define a longitudinal axis along the length of the gong, wherein the gong has a cross-section size that is variable along all or part of its longitudinal axis including an end section of the gong that comprises the free end. |
| US07746721B2 |
Word line driver circuit
A sector of a word line driver circuit is provided, comprising a local reset signal generator module and m word line clusters. The m word line clusters are coupled to the local reset signal generator module. The local reset signal generator module is used to generate j reset signals. The x-th reset signal is determined according to an x-th pre-decoding signal, a bank selectable signal and a sector selectable signal, wherein j is a nature number, and x is an integer from 1 to j. Each of the m word line clusters comprises j row drivers. The x-th row driver of the y-th word line cluster determines a [x+j*(y−1)]-th word line signal according to the x-th reset signal, the x-th pre-decoding signal, the sector selectable signal, and a y-th cluster select signal, wherein m is a nature number, and y is an integer from 1 to m. |
| US07746715B2 |
Erase and read schemes for charge trapping non-volatile memories
The present invention describes a method for operating an array of nonvolatile charge trapping memory devices. The method comprises before a block erase step (52) of substantially all of the non-volatile memory devices of the array, block programming (51) of substantially all of the non-volatile memory devices of the array. It is an advantage of the present invention that, by doing this, a further charge trapping nonvolatile memory device may be used as a reference cell, which is programmed and erased with the block-programming and block-erasing of the memory cells in the array, so that the reference cell shows the same cycling history as the memory cells in the array. This feature can be used for adapting read parameters to ageing of the memory cells. Corresponding devices are also provided. |
| US07746714B2 |
Semiconductor memory device having bit-line sense amplifier
A semiconductor memory device including a bit-line sense amplifier is not affected by variation in manufacturing process and has a stable driving scheme. The semiconductor memory device includes: a unit memory cell for storing a data; a sense amplification unit including a bit-line sense amplifier (BLSA) for sensing and amplifying a voltage difference of a bit-line pair receiving the data of the unit memory cell; a variation detection unit for detecting a variation of a manufacturing process to output a detecting signal; and a sense amplifier controlling unit for controlling the BLSA to be activated after a predetermined time from an activation of unit memory cell in response to the detecting signal. |
| US07746708B2 |
Nonvolatile latch circuit and system on chip with the same
A nonvolatile latch circuit and a system on a chip are provided with the same feature detection of change of latch data in an active period to store new data in a latch without an additional data storage time. The nonvolatile latch circuit does not require an additional data storage period but detects change of latch data in the active period to store new data in a nonvolatile latch unit. When power is accidentally off, new data are constantly stored in the nonvolatile latch unit, thereby preventing data loss and improving an operating speed without a booting time for restoring data. |
| US07746699B1 |
Non-volatile memory read-check
An integrated circuit system (120) includes a memory array (122) storing a configuration data set to configure an integrated circuit. The integrated circuit (121) includes a configuration memory (128) and a configuration controller state machine (126). The configuration controller state machine operates so as to read a read-check signature at a read-check address of the memory array (122) and to compare the read-check signature with a standard signature stored in the integrated circuit (121). If the read-check signature passes the comparison, the configuration controller state machine (126) loads the configuration data set from the memory array to the configuration memory (128) of the integrated circuit. |
| US07746694B2 |
Nonvolatile memory array having modified channel region interface
The technology relates to nonvolatile memory with a modified channel region interface, such as a raised source and drain or a recessed channel region. |
| US07746687B2 |
Thermally assisted multi-bit MRAM
Methods of writing to a multi-bit MRAM memory unit are described. The method includes to self-detected writing to a multi-bit (i.e., multilevel) thermally assisted MRAM. The self-detected writing increases a reading margin between data state levels and decreases reading margin variability due to cell resistance variation. |
| US07746685B2 |
Semiconductor memory device
SRAM cells are arranged in matrix along a first and a second bit line and a word line for single-ended reading of data from the second bit line. A first NMOS transistor and a first transfer transistor contained in the SRAM cell are formed in a first well with respective identical gate lengths and gate widths. A second NMOS transistor and a second transfer transistor contained in the SRAM cell are formed in a second well with respective identical gate lengths and gate widths. These gate widths are made wider than the gate widths of the first NMOS transistor and the first transfer transistor. |
| US07746681B2 |
Methods of making quantum dot films
Optical and optoelectronic devices and methods of making same. Under one aspect, an optical device includes an integrated circuit an array of conductive regions; and an optically sensitive material over at least a portion of the integrated circuit and in electrical communication with at least one conductive region of the array of conductive regions. Under another aspect, a method of forming a nanocrystalline film includes fabricating a plurality of nanocrystals having a plurality of first ligands attached to their outer surfaces; exchanging the first ligands for second ligands of different chemical composition than the first ligands; forming a film of the ligand-exchanged nanocrystals; removing the second ligands; and fusing the cores of adjacent nanocrystals in the film to form an electrical network of fused nanocrystals. Under another aspect, a film includes a network of fused nanocrystals, the nanocrystals having a core and an outer surface, wherein the core of at least a portion of the fused nanocrystals is in direct physical contact and electrical communication with the core of at least one adjacent fused nanocrystal, and wherein the film has substantially no defect states in the regions where the cores of the nanocrystals are fused. |
| US07746680B2 |
Three dimensional hexagonal matrix memory array
A nonvolatile memory device includes a plurality of nonvolatile memory cells arranged in a substantially hexagonal pattern. The nonvolatile memory cells may be pillar shaped non-volatile memory cells which can be patterned using triple or quadruple exposure lithography or by using a self-assembling layer. |
| US07746678B2 |
Amplifier circuit and associative memory
An amplifier circuit according to the present invention includes a plurality of input nodes receiving a plurality of input voltages (VI1 to VIR), a plurality of differential amplifiers provided corresponding to the plurality of input nodes, each having one input which receives a voltage of the corresponding input node, and a control circuit generating a control voltage (CONTROL) that follows a minimum voltage or a maximum voltage of the plurality of input voltages (VI1 to VIR) from outputs of the plurality of differential amplifiers and supplying the generated control voltage (CONTROL) as a common value to the other inputs of the plurality of differential amplifiers. |
| US07746676B2 |
Charge pump
A charge pump includes a first capacitor, a first switch with adjustable on-state resistance, a second switch, a third switch, a fourth switch, a feedback loop, and an oscillator. The first switch is coupled between a first electrode of the first capacitor and an output node. The second switch is coupled between a second electrode of the capacitor and ground. The third switch is coupled between an input node and the second electrode of the capacitor. The fourth switch with adjustable on-state resistance is coupled between the input node and the first electrode of the capacitor. The feedback loop monitors a regulated voltage of the output node and generates a control signal to regulate resistances of the first, fourth switches. The oscillator generates a first and second pulse signals to switch the open and close states of the first, third switches and the second, fourth switches, respectively. |
| US07746674B2 |
Self-oscillating power converter
A push-pull type self-oscillating power converter uses a main power transformer connected to a current transformer in series in such a way that a secondary current flowing through secondary sides of the two transformers is feedback to the primary side of the current drive transformer to generate a drive current for driving two switches. The drive current is proportional to the secondary current in the secondary side of the main power transformer. |
| US07746670B2 |
Dual-transformer type of DC-to-DC converter
A first AC/DC converter circuit is coupled via two transformers to a second AC/DC converter circuit, the first AC/DC converter circuit having a symmetrical configuration of two switching elements performing complementary opened/closed switching, to alternately connect positive and negative terminals of a DC source to a junction between transformer primary windings. Each primary winding alternates between a condition of transferring electrical power to a secondary winding and a condition of serving as a choke coil which temporarily stores electromagnetic energy when a current flows through that primary winding and a primary winding of the other transformer. |
| US07746668B2 |
Galvanically isolated direct current transducer
The invention relates to a switching device for galvanically isolated 1:1 transmission of a direct current signal, with a transformer comprising a primary coil and a secondary coil, wherein the primary coil is powered with alternating current derived from an input direct current and the current induced in the secondary coil is rectified, and with a correction device for compensating transmission losses. To provide a DC transducer free of auxiliary energy, in which the output current is as close to equaling the input current as possible, it is proposed that the number of turns on the primary coil should be greater than the number of turns on the secondary coil. |
| US07746666B2 |
Shield case
A shield case is fixed to a surface of a circuit board with a conductive joining material so as to cover a shielded portion on the circuit board surface. The shield case includes joint terminals extending outward and inclined upward from a lower edge thereof that is in contact with the circuit board surface. The joint terminals are joined to the circuit board surface with the conductive joining material provided therebetween. The shield case can thereby be fixed to the circuit board surface, and grounded to a ground portion provided on the circuit board. |
| US07746665B2 |
Systems and methods for providing a grounded card in an information handling system
An information handling system includes a chassis having a guide slot and a printed circuit board placed in guide slot of the chassis. The guide slot includes at least two opposing channels aligned adjacent the printed circuit board with a guide tab formed in one of the opposing channels. A daughter card electrically couples to the printed circuit board when placed in an attached position. The daughter card includes a first edge and a second edge that slides between the opposing channels of the guide slot such that the card aligns to couple to the printed circuit board. The card also includes a first detent formed in either the first edge or the second edge. The first detent releaseably interacts with the guide tab formed in the opposing channels such that the guide tab contacts the first detent when the card is placed in an intermediate position. |