| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US07827337B2 |
Sharing memory interface
A device and a method for sharing a memory interface are disclosed. According to preferred embodiments of the present invention, a supplementary control unit included in a digital processor can control some of the pins, constituting a memory interface, to be shared by a plurality of memory. With the present invention, the number of pins included in a memory interface can be minimized, thereby reducing the size of a supplementary control unit, saving the manufacturing cost, and improving the processing efficiency. |
| US07827334B2 |
Protocol method apparatus and system for the interconnection of electronic systems
Disclosed are methods, apparatus, and systems for the interconnection of electronic system apparatus having one or more different communication protocols. A preferred embodiment is disclosed in which a single physical interface and a single protocol are used for providing an efficient and scalable interconnection between a host and operably coupled subsystem apparatus connected to the MMC. In a disclosed method, a bus is provided for coupling a system host to a plurality of system components and a Multi-Management Protocol (MMP) is employed. The Multi-Management Protocol includes a plurality of subclasses, each further including component identity information and function data. The subclasses are grouped by functionality into at least two groups comprising a standard group and an extension group. In a multi-component electronic system according to the invention, an electronic protocol packet structure includes a starting frame delimiter, a length field, a target address field, a subclass identifier, an operation identifier, a data field, and a frame check field. Disclosed preferred embodiments also include protocol conversion apparatus having a Multi-Management Controller (MMC) using a host bus for transmitting and receiving data between a host and the MMC based on a Multi-Management Protocol (MMP). |
| US07827327B1 |
Circuit for and method of realigning data
A circuit enabling the realignment of data is described. The circuit generally comprises an input multiplexer receiving a first plurality of input data bytes and a second plurality of input data bytes; a switching controller coupled to the input multiplexer and controlling the output of the data bytes from the input multiplexer; a delay register coupled to the input multiplexer and receiving predetermined bytes of the first plurality of input data bytes; and an output multiplexer coupled to the input multiplexer and the delay register. The output multiplexer receives the predetermined bytes of the first plurality of input data bytes and predetermined bytes of the second plurality of input data bytes. |
| US07827326B2 |
Method and apparatus for delegation of secure operating mode access privilege from processor to peripheral
In a processing system comprising a processor and a plurality of peripherals coupled to the processor, access privileges of a secure operating mode of the processor are delegated to at least a given one of the peripherals. The given peripheral is configured to store, in a secure portion of that peripheral, state information indicative of the processor being in a secure operating mode. The given peripheral is further configured to utilize the stored state information to allow the given peripheral to access at least one resource that is accessible to the processor in the secure operating mode but is not otherwise accessible to the given peripheral. The processing system may comprise, for example, a system on a chip, wherein the processor and peripherals are combined into a single integrated circuit. |
| US07827324B2 |
Method of handling flow control in daisy-chain protocols
A system that includes a host and a peripheral device. The host transmits a packet that includes a command and a flow control field. The peripheral device receives the packet and has the ability to execute the command, wherein the peripheral device can determine whether the command can be processed in a timely manner, and can update the packet's flow control field with flow control data based on the determination. The host receives the updated packet and has the ability to adjust the flow control of subsequent packets to the peripheral device based on the flow control data in the updated packet. |
| US07827322B2 |
Method and apparatus for protecting data during storage/retrieval
For protecting data during transmission between a host device and a data storage device, the host device encrypts command-related information and sends the encrypted command-related information to the data storage device. The data storage device decrypts the encrypted command-related information, interprets the decrypted command-related information to generate interpreted commands, and executes the interpreted commands. |
| US07827321B2 |
Central processing unit measurement facility
A measurement sampling facility takes snapshots of the central processing unit (CPU) on which it is executing at specified sampling intervals to collect data relating to tasks executing on the CPU. The collected data is stored in a buffer, and at selected times, an interrupt is provided to remove data from the buffer to enable reuse thereof. The interrupt is not taken after each sample, but in sufficient time to remove the data and minimize data loss. |
| US07827319B2 |
Interactive control apparatus using remote control signal between computer and electric home appliance
An interactive control system using a remote control signal in accordance with HDMI-CEC standards between a computer and an electric home appliance performs power supply control and screen display from a PC to a television, power supply control from the television to the PC, and application control on the PC. In the system, a personal computer (PC) is loaded with a controller capable of operating by a standby power supply. The remote control signal of a PC remote controller is input to an HDMI unit connector of a television through a photoreceiver controller of a PC, a USB/CEC power-on signal connector, a CEC unit connector, a signal line a, an HDMI unit connector, and a cable. The remote control signal of a TV remote controller is input to the cable, the HDMI unit connector, the CEC unit connector, a USB power supply connector, and a USB data processing unit. |
| US07827315B2 |
Compression and abbreviation for fixed length messaging
A method, computer program product, and data processing system for compressing and abbreviating text messages at a first text messaging device for transport and subsequent interpretation at a second text messaging device is disclosed. A user-defined message length reduction profile for producing human-readable compressed text is associated with a source text message at a first text messaging device. The source text message is then shortened using abbreviations and transformation rules in the profile. The shortened text message can then be transmitted to a second text messaging device. In addition, the compression provided by the present invention, although intended to be human-readable, can be complemented with decompression software to expand the compressed and abbreviated text to its full length and verifying, using a checksum or other error detecting code, that the expanded version corresponds to the original text. |
| US07827314B2 |
Device specific pagination of dynamically rendered data
The present invention relates to a system and methodology that provides for adjusting content that is to be received and displayed by a device so that the content is meaningful to a recipient. The invention provides for rendering of variable-sized pages of dynamic content based at least in part on user interface (UI) characteristics of a receiving device (e.g., client program). One particular aspect of the invention provides for an abstraction layer that permits a content developer to specify what content is to be displayed to an end user without requiring the developer to delineate markup tags that are to be employed by different browsers of respective mobile devices. Thus, for example, such aspect of the invention provides for automatically adjusting (e.g., paginating) content into variable-sized pages appropriate for a requesting device. A content analyzer receives and analyzes content to be rendered at a plurality of recipient devices against display capabilities of the respective devices. An abstraction layer accesses information relating to capabilities of the devices, and maps attributes relating to the content to the device capabilities, the abstraction layer provides the mapping to the content analyzer. A content distributor parses the content into subsets coincident with the display capabilities of the respective devices, and sequentially distributes respective subsets to the devices for rendering thereof. |
| US07827310B1 |
Host connectivity verification
Verifying subscriber host connectivity is disclosed. In some embodiments, a unicast address resolution protocol (ARP) request is sent to a subscriber host, and based at least in part on whether a response to the request is received from the subscriber host, it is determined whether the subscriber host remains connected to a network. |
| US07827299B2 |
Transitioning between historical and real time data streams in the processing of data change messages
Provided are techniques for data stream switching. While accepting data change messages from a historical data stream, in response to determining that the end of the historical data stream is approaching, consumption from a real time data stream is resumed. In accepting data change messages from one of a historical data stream and a real time data stream, a data change message identifier (DCMID) for a data change message is obtained. Then, it is determined whether the data change message is from the real time data stream. In response to determining that the data change message is from the real time data stream, the DCMID is processed against a historical data structure to determine whether the related data change message has been seen in the historical data stream. In response to determining that the data change message is from the historical data stream, the DCMID is processed against a real time data structure to determine whether the related data change message has been seen in the real time data stream. It is determined whether a threshold for a number of DCMIDs that correspond to each other in the real time data stream and the historical data stream has been met. In response to determining that the threshold has been met, there is a switch from capturing data change messages in the historical data stream to capturing data change messages in the real time data stream. |
| US07827294B2 |
System and method for dynamic security provisioning of computing resources
The present invention facilitates the dynamic provisioning of computing and data assets in a commodity computing environment. The invention provides a system and method for dynamically provisioning and de-provisioning computing resources based on multi-dimensional decision criteria. By employing specialized computing components configured to assess an asset and requestor of an asset, a provisioning engine is able to transform the input from the computing components into a specific configuration of computing resource provisioning and security controls. According to the rules and policies applying to a security domain, the provisioning engine may dynamically allocate computing resources in a manner that is both safe and efficient for the asset. |
| US07827293B2 |
Secure network resource access system
A secure network resource access system facilitates network access by network terminals to network resources located behind an enterprise firewall, and comprises a proxy server and a polling server. The proxy server is located logically outside the enterprise firewall for receiving application data from the network terminals. The polling server is located logically behind the enterprise firewall, and is configured to poll the proxy server to initiate transmission of the received application data from the proxy server to the polling server, to receive application data and associated network resource data from the proxy server in response to the poll, and to direct the application data to one of the network resources in accordance with the associated network resource data. |
| US07827292B2 |
Flexible automated connection to virtual private networks
A network interface unit is provided for use intermediate a LAN and a public or private network, or a combination of both, for establishing secure links to a VPN gateway. Login by a LAN client with the network interface unit, addressing, authentication, and other configuration operations achieved using a web page-based GUI are applied in establishing tunnels from LAN clients to desired VPN destinations. Illustrative network interface units include a DHCP server and provide encryption-decryption and encapsulation-decapsulation of data packets for communication with VPN nodes. Configuration and connection of a client are further enhanced by a built-in DNS server and other functional servers to provide a high degree of autonomy in establishing connections to a desired VPN gateway via an ISP or other public and/or private network links to. The interface unit then performs required authentication exchanges, and required encryption key exchanges. |
| US07827291B2 |
System for providing security for ad hoc networked computerized devices
A system adapted to provide communication security between computerized devices in, for example, an ad hoc or temporary networked environment. In one embodiment, the network comprises an untrusted network, and the system includes network security apparatus adapted to create security associations between devices on the network, including mutual authentication. Traffic between the associated devices may be encrypted for e.g., data confidentiality and integrity protection. In one variant, the network security apparatus comprises a software entity disposed at least partly within the software stack of the devices. The associated devices may be for example fixed or portable, and may be untrusted (e.g., have an untrusted operating system). |
| US07827289B2 |
Local transmission for content sharing
A personal media device transmits media content to one or more nearby personal media devices so that users can dynamically and easily share content. The method includes, on a first media player device having or having access to selected media content, playing the selected media content such that it can be listened to on a first user's headphones. The selected media content is also transmitted such that it can be received and simultaneously played by one or more authorized media player devices associated with additional users. The transmitted content is preferable secure so that only authorized users can access it. The media player devices receiving the transmitted content can be wireless headsets configured to receive and simultaneously play the content. |
| US07827286B1 |
Providing enhanced access to stored data
Techniques are described for providing enhanced access to stored data and related functionality, such as data stored by a system across multiple alternative storage partitions. At least some of the stored data may be specific to particular users who interact with the system, such as for users to perform tasks supplied by other users. The enhanced data access techniques may include storing at least a subset of each user's associated data on a single storage partition, and then efficiently identifying the storage partition corresponding to a user so that requests from that user may be handled by a computing node associated with that corresponding storage partition. Furthermore, additional data access enhancement techniques may relate to initially identifying an appropriate storage partition for a user and/or for migrating existing user data to a new partition identified as being appropriate for a user. |
| US07827279B2 |
Selecting nodes close to another node in a network using location information for the nodes
A network includes a plurality of nodes. A set of candidate nodes from the plurality of nodes is selected based on location information for the candidate nodes and a first node also in the network. A clustering algorithm is applied to the location information for the candidate nodes and the first node, and a subset of the set of candidate nodes closest to the first node is identified based on the results of applying the clustering algorithm. |
| US07827276B2 |
System and method for providing latency signatures
A system and method for providing latency signatures including a transmitter to transmit a request for one or more latency signatures from one or more servers, a receiver to receive one or more latency signatures from the one or more servers based on the request, and one or more processors to compare the one or more latency signatures in the event there is more than one latency signature for determining optimum connectivity between the one or more clients. The one or more latency signatures provides positioning information of one or more clients relative to the one or more servers in a network. |
| US07827265B2 |
System and method for confirming an association in a web-based social network
A method for confirming a request for an association with an organization by a user of a web-based social network is disclosed. In one embodiment, the request includes an e-mail address not controlled by the organization. The request may also be part of an application for membership with the web-based social network. A determination is made whether the request is accepted based at least partially on a specified number of prior requests for association with the organization or being identified as a member of the organization by another user already a member of the organization. The organization may be a high school, a college, a university, a business, a non-profit company, or any other group of people who may desire to associate with each other. |
| US07827262B2 |
Approach for managing state information by a group of servers that services a group of clients
An approach for managing state information by a group of servers that services a group of clients is disclosed. One server is designated as the primary server and is responsible for generating state information to be used by both the servers and the clients. The remaining servers are designated as secondary servers that help to manage the group, but which do not generate the state information. When the primary server fails or is not available due to a network partition event, one of the secondary servers changes role to become the primary server. With a network partition event, each partition can have a primary server, and when the network partition heals, one of the primary servers changes role back to being a secondary server. As a result, the group of servers maintains a consistent set of state information without being vulnerable to the single failure of a server. |
| US07827258B1 |
Method, system, and apparatus for communicating with a computer management device
Methods, systems, and apparatus are provided for enabling communication with a computer management device. According to a method one or more vendor specific commands for communicating with a management device are defined according to a first communication standard. The one or more vendor specific commands are then transmitted to the management device over a communication link conforming to a second communication standard. A device conforming to the second communication standard may be emulated on the communication link. If vendor specific commands are received by the management device that are not intended for the emulated device, the commands may be used for communicating with the management device. |
| US07827257B2 |
System and method for automatic and adaptive use of active network performance measurement techniques to find the fastest source
Systems and methods are provided through which automatic and adaptive use of active network performance measurement techniques identifies a fastest download source. Before a download source is selected, empirical measurements of the download speed are performed. For small files, the first source to acknowledge an open socket connection is used as an indication of the fastest download source. For large files, a download test is performed as the empirical measurement to determine the fastest download source. |
| US07827256B2 |
Applying quality of service to application messages in network elements
A network element such as a router or switch provides application-level quality of service for application-layer messages processed in the network element, using application QoS logic which when executed by the one or more processors is operable to cause receiving an application-layer message; matching one or more attributes of the application-layer message to the message classification rules; determining a message classification of the application-layer message based on the matching; selecting one of the network-level QoS values using the mapping and based on the determined message classification; and marking a network-level header of the application-layer message using the selected QoS value. As a result, attributes of application messages at OSI Layer 5, 6, or 7 can be used to determine how to mark packets of the messages with QoS values at OSI Layer 2, 3 or 4, integrating application-level concepts of order and priority into network-layer QoS mechanisms. |
| US07827253B2 |
Methods, systems, and computer program products for dynamically annotating web pages passed via a messaging application
A method, system, and computer program product for dynamically annotating Web pages passed via a messaging application is provided. The method includes transmitting a Web page and a graphical user interface (GUI) to a requester of the Web page. The GUI directs the requester to provide annotations to at least a portion of the Web page content, which annotations are translated to instructions interpretable by a Web browser. The instructions are bundled with a uniform resource locator (URL) of the Web page at a computer processing device of the requester. The method also includes receiving a request for the Web page from a second requester who received the instructions bundled with the URL of the Web page within a message transmitted by the requester. The method further includes directing a Web browser of the second requester to apply the instructions as the Web page is being rendered. Application of the instructions causes the Web browser to render the Web page along with the annotations. |
| US07827247B1 |
Verifying instant messaging aliases via online parental control accounts, without disclosing identity to unverified parties
A parental control system is used to verify the identity of parents, based on children's instant messaging aliases. A plurality of verified parental accounts is maintained, each of which includes the identity of the parents and their children, including the children's instant messaging aliases. When a first child wishes to electronically communicate with a second child, s/he makes a request which includes the second child's alias and additional information identifying the target party. Only if an account containing the alias is found and the additional information can be verified, an identity verification request is transmitted, disclosing the identity of the first child's parents, and requesting reciprocal identity verification. Only if the second child's parents disclose their identity is the instant messaging between the children permitted. |
| US07827246B2 |
Dynamic domain based electronic mail signature lines
A method for automatically choosing an electronic correspondence signature line, having an electronic search agent for scanning electronic correspondence for the designated destination address of the electronic correspondence, and retrieving at least one designated destination address for the electronic correspondence. The method also includes determining a domain name associated with the at least one designated destination address for the electronic correspondence retrieved by the electronic search agent and comparing the domain name for the at least one destination address with a predetermined list of domain names. The method also includes selecting at least one signature line for the electronic correspondence from a plurality of signature lines, based on the at least one domain name associated with the designated destination address of said electronic correspondence and attaching the at least one selected signature line to the electronic correspondence designated for the destination address. |
| US07827244B2 |
Storing message rules in global form for transfer between servers
Embodiments provide for storing message rules in a serialized global form on a server for transfer of the data between different servers. Message rules include condition and action data structures, wherein at least the action data structures include global identifiers. A client creates a message object that includes an extended rule with the global identifiers, sets a property on the message object used to identify the object as an extended rule, serializes the message object using a code library, and stores the message object on a message server. Upon execution of a message rule, the rule is desterilized using a copy of the code library and translated into server specific for executing the extended rule on received messages. |
| US07827242B2 |
Method and system for providing a common collaboration framework accessible from within multiple applications
The invention provides a system adapted to enable contextual collaboration within a computer network. The invention provides a collaboration manager that supports manipulation of collaboration spaces. The collaboration spaces contain one or more collaboration elements that have potentially different collaboration modalities. The context manager maintains resources and resource interrelationships within contexts. The resources can include collaboration elements, processes, tasks, business objects, users, and/or roles. A view generator selects a set of the resources to be displayed to a user of the computer network. The invention also includes an interface adapted to allow applications to specify commands to manipulate collaboration spaces, commands to maintain resources and resource interrelationships within contexts, and queries for context-sensitive views. |
| US07827239B2 |
Dynamic media content for collaborators with client environment information in dynamic client contexts
Delivering dynamic media content to collaborators, including providing collaborative event media content, where the collaborative event media content further comprises a grammar and a structured document; acquiring data representing a client's environmental condition; storing, in the context server in a data structure comprising a dynamic client context for the client, the data representing a client's environmental condition; detecting an event in dependence upon the dynamic client context; identifying one or more collaborators in dependence upon the dynamic client context and the event; selecting from the structured document a classified structural element in dependence upon an event type and a collaborator classification; and transmitting the selected structural element to the collaborator. |
| US07827238B2 |
Exchanging data using programmatic conversion to emulated HTML form data
Programming code embedded in an application automatically converts local client data to emulated HTML multi-part form data, without downloading a corresponding form from a web server. The selection of data for conversion is performed programmatically, without the need for interactive user specification of each data item. The emulated HTML multi-part form data is transmitted to a web server as a service request. Preferably, the client application is a configuration utility which generates a record of a computer system configuration, and the server performs the function of configuration verification on configuration data formatted as emulated HTML multi-part form data. The server concurrently maintains a web page which will, on request, download an HTML form corresponding to a system configuration to a web browser, from which a user may specify a system configuration to be verified. |
| US07827236B2 |
Digital transactions for the delivery of media files
An incomplete/partly corrupted media file is delivered ‘in the clear’; in addition, a delta file is delivered to users meeting access control criteria which, when combined with the incomplete/partly corrupted parts allows a complete and uncorrupted version of the media file to be re-constructed. The method allows, in one implementation, a secure music purchase system to operate over digital radio: for example, the start of a song when played over the radio is usually deliberately talked over and the end cut short to prevent listeners being able to record a complete copy. With the present system, this practice can continue, but listeners can also purchase the missing or corrupted sections to enable them to possess a complete and uncorrupted version for playback. |
| US07827234B2 |
Privacy entitlement protocols for secure data exchange, collection, monitoring and/or alerting
Methods, systems and related computer products for providing entitlement controlled levels of collaborative exchange of data using a computer network of Subscribers and Publishers, are configured to: (a) define a set of different privacy levels, each privacy level having associated data sharing parameters that control a participating Publisher's ability to send and a participating Subscriber's ability to receive content specific data; and (b) provide an electronic privacy level register that defines the different data sharing parameters for each of the different privacy levels and identifies an associated at least one privacy level for each participating Subscriber and Publisher. |
| US07827232B2 |
Record button on a computer system
A record button that facilitates audiovisual input into a computer system without requiring manual interaction (direct manipulation interaction) with software. The record button may be grouped with transport controls, a standalone button, or grouped with other controls. The record button may be actuated with different types of actuation techniques, each of which may correspond to a different audio and/or video operating mode, which may be user configurable. A record light may be provided to notify the user of the current recording mode via variable colors and/or flash patterns. The record button can work in conjunction with a camera button and with manual software switching of recording modes. |
| US07827231B2 |
Uniform network access
According to some embodiments, a registry is displayed. The registry may, for example, indicate resources available from a plurality of remote network access devices via a communications network. Moreover, a personal network address may be associated with each available resource, the personal network address including an destination address portion and an application program identifier portion. A direct communications link may then be established between a first network access device hosting an available resource and a second network address device using the personal network address associated with the resource. |
| US07827229B2 |
System and method for document imaging management
The present disclosure provides a system and method for providing an improved system and method for document imaging management. |
| US07827227B2 |
Information distribution systems and methods, programs realizing these methods, and information media concerning the programs
The achievement of broadband information transmission media, makes it possible to perform on-demand information distribution. With this comes a desire for an autonomous information distribution system that meets both diverse client requirements and the need for a high level of immediacy.An objective of the present invention is to provide such information distribution systems. The systems of the present invention comprise a means for managing the number of distributions, a means for generating an advertising list in which the extraction probability of each information material in the case of random extraction is the ratio of the remaining number of distributions of each information material to the overall remaining number of distributions, a means for handicap application which applies a handicap to the remaining number of distributions of each information material included in the advertising list, and a means for random extraction which performs random extraction with respect to the advertising list so as to extract one information material. In these systems of the present invention, extracted information materials are distributed to a distribution demand terminal from the information distribution server via a network, and the contents of the advertising list are updated. |
| US07827222B2 |
Checking of the skew constancy of a bit flow
A method and a circuit for detecting a loss in the equiprobable character of a first output bit flow originating from at least one first element of normalization of an initial bit flow, including analyzing the flow rate of the normalization element. |
| US07827219B2 |
Method for encoding, traversing, manipulating and querying a tree
Embodiments of the invention include a method for encoding a tree. The method includes receiving an input tree of many nodes organized in a parent-child hierarchy with parent nodes being coupled to one or more child nodes. A node ID is assigned to each of the nodes of the input tree. A representation between each parent node and child node associated with the parent node can be generated and a tree code can be computed from prime numbers in the natural sequence of numbers and the assigned node Ids. Finally, the tree code representative of the input tree is stored. |
| US07827216B1 |
Method for coordinating relationships between multiple physical entities
Two objects are identified. A relationship between the two objects is determined. A contract object is used to represent the relationship between the objects. The contract is useful in many applications: for example, file systems, relational databases, and spreadsheets. The contract can also have rules for processing events occurring to either of the objects related by the contract. |
| US07827211B2 |
Method for maintaining a sample synopsis under arbitrary insertions and deletions
A method of incrementally maintaining a stable, bounded, uniform random sample S from a dataset R, in the presence of arbitrary insertions and deletions to the dataset R, and without accesses to the dataset R, comprises a random pairing method in which deletions are uncompensated until compensated by a subsequent insertion (randomly paired to the deletion) by including the insertion's item into S if and only if the uncompensated deletion's item was removed from S (i.e., was in S so that it could be removed). A method for resizing a sample to a new uniform sample of increased size while maintaining a bound on the sample size and balancing cost between dataset accesses and transactions to the dataset is also disclosed. A method for maintaining uniform, bounded samples for a dataset in the presence of growth in size of the dataset is additionally disclosed. |
| US07827210B2 |
Memory efficient XML shredded with partial commit
A method and system that allows efficient shredding of large instances of hierarchical data structures into relational data structures. Large instances of hierarchical data structures, which are able to be larger than the random access storage of a computer used to shred them into relational data structures, are incrementally shredded into a temporary storage. When the amount of data shredded into the temporary storage reaches or exceeds a predetermined commit count, the data in the temporary storage is transferred to a relational data structure maintained by a relational database manager. A Document Type Description annotation is provided to allow the end user to specify execution order for SQL commands and to specify commit count values. |
| US07827204B2 |
Order document data management
Methods and systems for managing order document data are provided. The order document data may be represented as an object, the object being configurable so as to comprise a predetermined number of core components, the core components being configurable in their content, and being hierarchically ordered in a corresponding number of levels. The object may comprise a number of extensions. The core components may comprise a header, at least one item, and/or schedule line. The header may comprise central information about an order. |
| US07827202B2 |
Content scheduling for fantasy gaming
A user database includes information concerning at least one entity of interest. A program database includes multimedia content information associated with items of multimedia content and including a temporal interval during which the items of multimedia content are available. A presentation scheduling facility is communicatively coupled to the user database and the program database. The presentation scheduling facility is configured to determine a number of items of multimedia content that are associated with the at least one entity of interest based on the information concerning the at least one entity of interest and the multimedia content information, and configured to provide a scheduling screen containing identifications of the determined number of items of multimedia content. |
| US07827196B2 |
Evaluation of access control and filter conditions
A method, computer program product, and system for evaluating access control or filter conditions are provided. The method, computer program product, and system provide for developing a test model involving a plurality of access control or filter conditions, assigning a binary value to each of a plurality of scenarios of the test model, wherein the binary value includes a binary digit for each of the plurality of access control or filter conditions, and calculating an expected result for each of the plurality of scenarios through a logical AND operation of the binary digits in the binary value assigned to the scenario. |
| US07827195B2 |
Document management device and document management method
A document management system includes a document processing apparatus which performs processing, such as editing of a document; and a document management server which manages division and combining of the document thus created. The document processing apparatus transmits an XML document thus created to the document management server, and requests to store the document. In this stage, in a case that the XML document includes proper nouns, the proper nouns are stored in the form of a separate file. Upon reception of a request from the document processing apparatus to acquire the XML document stored in the document management server, the document management server certifies the user of the requesting document processing apparatus. Then, the document management server combines the proper nouns with the XML document in an appropriate manner according to the certification level, and transmits the XML document thus combined to the document processing apparatus. |
| US07827194B2 |
Access to shared disk device on storage area network
An access system for accessing a storage area network (SAN) has a shared disk device provided on the SAN, and a client for accessing a file in a file system created in the shared disk device. In the client, a functionality of accessing a file system in the shared disk device is installed as part of a user program of the client by using a dynamic link library. The client preferably has access processing means for inserting, as the functionality of accessing, access processing for accessing the file system in the shared disk device into ordinary file access processing. The access processing means being installed as a dynamic link library. |
| US07827189B2 |
Sense database
There has been conventionally a problem that when the searcher uses, for example, “dry wine” selected according to the searcher's preference as a search key, the searcher cannot be satisfied with the search result because wine entries stored in a database as “dry wines” depend on objective evaluation by another person. A sense database is created by using, as a subjective search index, sense parameter information such as potential variation caused by pungency obtained by a pseudo sensor irrespective of one's ability. Specifically the database comprises a sense information obtaining section for obtaining sense information by associating the sense parameter information acquired by the sensor with representative information, a sense information storage section, a search key obtaining section, and a searching section for searching the sense information storage section using a search key. |
| US07827187B2 |
Frequency partitioning: entropy compression with fixed size fields
A frequency partitioning technique is introduced that amortizes the work of computing codeword lengths within a tuplecode by grouping together tuples that have the same pattern of codeword lengths. Specifically, the technique entropy codes and partitions column values in each column into disjoint sets called column partitions, assigns a codeword length to each of the column partitions, identifies cells (a combination of codeword lengths), and collectively storing tuples associated with each of the cells. |
| US07827184B2 |
System and method for modeling user selection feedback in a search result page
The present invention provides for improving the search relevance of a search results page by including a perceived relevance factor. The system, device and method monitors user selection of elements in the search results page, where these selections indicate relevance of the element compared with the original search request. A perceived relevance factor for the element is then determined based on probabilistic-based computations accounting for the element, which may include a description, a thumbnail and/or meta data, and the position of the element on the search results page. Thereby, for future searches and search results page generation, relevance factors may be calculated based on various factors, including the element attribute based relevant scores and the perceived relevance factor. |
| US07827180B2 |
Methods and apparatus for assigning content identifiers to content portions
A system assigns identities to received content portions by determining if the content portion has an assigned content identifier, and if so, applying the assigned content identifier to the content portion received. If the content portion does not have an assigned content identifier, the system selects an unassigned content identifier, from the set of unassigned content identifiers, for assignment to the content portion and assigns the unassigned content identifier to the content portion so that the unassigned content identifier becomes an assigned content identifier in a set of assigned content identifiers. The system associates a persistence metric to the assigned content identifier. The persistence metric indicates an importance of longevity of the assignment between the content portion and the content identifier. The system performs a recover operation to unassign content identifiers in the set of assigned content identifier based on a persistence metric of those assigned content identifiers. |
| US07827177B2 |
Managing compound XML documents in a repository
A declarative mechanism is used to manage large documents within a repository. The large documents are sectioned into subdocuments that are linked together by a parent document. The combination of the parent document and subdocument is referred to as a compound document. There are multiple options for configuring rules to break up a source document into a compound document and naming the subdocuments. The compound documents may be queried using statements that treat the compound document as a single XML document, or the parent document of a subdocument may be queried and treated independently. Access control and versioning can be applied at the finer granularity of the subdocument. |
| US07827176B2 |
Methods and systems for endorsing local search results
Methods and systems for improving user search experience with a search engine by providing a way for associated users to create and share personalized lists of local search results and/or advertisements through endorsements of such local search results and/or ads. Local search endorsements can be used to personalize the search engine's ranking of local search results by offering a way for users to re-rank the results for themselves and for those who trust them. |
| US07827174B2 |
Dynamic document context mark-up technique implemented over a computer network
Various techniques are disclosed for generating markup information to be displayed on a client computer system. A document (e.g. a web page) is selected for viewing via a web browser on the client system. Selected information relating to the document is parsed and analyzed using selected keyword information. In a specific implementation, the selected keyword information is provided by an entity other than the end user. Using the selected keyword information, specific context in the document is selected to be marked up. Markup operations may be implemented on at least a portion of the selected document context and displayed at the client system. |
| US07827168B2 |
Index clustering for full text search engines
Techniques of index clustering for full text search engines are described herein. In one embodiment, a full text search is performed by a search node using a local copy of an index within the searching node during a search session. In response to an update of a list of data entries the relational database through a Common API (common in the sense the update triggered to the relational DB will also trigger an index change), an index update event is scheduled to update a master copy of the index directory. Periodically the local copy of the index directory is updated by copying index data from the master copy of the index directory (totally or incrementally). Other methods and apparatuses are also described. |
| US07827167B2 |
Database management system and method including a query executor for generating multiple tasks
A database management system has a query interface for receiving a query and a query executor for executing the received query. The query executor dynamically generates a task, and executes a plurality of tasks in parallel. In execution of each task, each time data is required to be read from a database, the query executor generates a task for acquiring the data, and in execution of the generated task, issues a data read request for reading the data from the database, to thereby shorten a time taken to execute each task. |
| US07827157B2 |
Method and system for use with the internet
A method of increasing the awareness of users of the Internet to services and products provided by web sites, wherein the method includes establishing a hosting web site on the Internet having a data processor for registering web site owners (WSO's) as subscribers to a hosting service. The method also includes storing a program of a browser add-on in the web site, and incorporating a set of customizable characteristics, wherein each WSO subscriber is enabled on said hosting web site to customize said browser add-on for defining specific look and functionalities of the browser add-on. The method further includes registering WSO's as subscribers to the hosting service, providing the data processor with a data base for each WSO subscriber, storing the customization data of the browser add-ons in the data bases of the respective WSO subscribers, generating code to be integrated in a web site of the WSO, wherein the code includes a unique identifier of the customization data stored at the hosting web site, in the data base of the respective WSO subscriber. Whenever a user of the Internet activates the code in the WSO subscriber web site, another step provides downloading the browser add-on and the customized data related to the WSO subscriber from the data processor of the hosting web site to the personal computer (PC) of the Internet user and integrating the browser add-on in a web browser installed in the PC. |
| US07827154B1 |
Application failure diagnosis
A method and mechanism for diagnosing application failures. An executable application is augmented with code which generates a list of components, as well as version information, utilized by the application. Also created is data which associates application components with applications which utilize those components. The list of components, version information, and association data are stored in a database and updated each time the application is run. In response to detecting a failure of the application, a database query is generated which returns a list of components utilized by the failed application. By comparing the date that application components changed to the date the application was last successfully run, a high priority list of components which changed since the last successful run may be generated. Diagnosis of the application failure may then begin with components in the high priority list. |
| US07827153B2 |
System and method to perform bulk operation database cleanup
A system and method to efficiently perform database cleanup. Database objects are initially grouped based on selected attributes. The groups may be filtered to identify erroneous data within the group. Structure query language statements are then dynamically generated to directly correct the erroneous data within the database. |
| US07827152B1 |
Asynchronous on-demand service startup
An application server may initialize network services asynchronously and/or on-demand. Some services may be initialized during startup of the application server, while initialization of other services may be delayed. The application server may report that the services are initialized before they are actually initialized and may be configured to receive client requests for non-initialized services. When a client request is received, the application server may delay processing the client request either until the requested service is initialized or until all services are initialized. The application server may hold a received client request in a network layer until the requested service, and possibly other services on which the requested service depends, is initialized able to process the client request. Delaying initialization of some application server network services may result in a faster startup or restart time for the application server. |
| US07827149B2 |
Electronic appliance service system
The risk of a third party referring to or using backup data without authorization upon restoring such backup data in an HDD recorder is mitigated. First authentication information of a user as the HDD owner and second authentication information of an engineer of a repair plant are registered in an online backup service system. The first authentication information is used when backing up data recorded in the HDD to the online backup service system, and the second authentication information is used when restoring the data backed up to the online backup service system. The data backup processing and data restoration processing are executed only when the authentication information is appropriate. Since the user will directly receive an email from the online backup service system regarding who restored which data at what time, such user will be able to audit the data restoration process independently from the person recovering the data. |
| US07827148B2 |
Medical equipment having audit log managing function
A log file generating section generates an audit log file of patient information in response to various kinds of events generated in a medical equipment, and a file compressing section compresses the generated file in a local storage medium at a predetermined timing. Further, a log management section automatically transfers the compressed audit log file to an external storage device and deletes data in the local storage medium at a predetermined timing, e.g., when a remaining capacity in the local storage medium exceeds a limit value. |
| US07827145B1 |
Leveraging client redundancy on restore
A computer system and method for performing restore operations. A computer system includes one or more hosts. At least one host includes a backup agent. In response to a request to restore a file to a first host, a backup component identifies copies of portions of the file stored on a second host, retrieves the copies, and restores the file on the first host from the copies. The backup component maintains a catalog of entries corresponding to copies of portions of files stored on the hosts. In response to a request to restore the file to a first host, the backup component queries the catalog to identify one or more candidate locations where copies of portions of the file have been stored. The first and second hosts may be the same. The backup component may be located on a host or on a backup server. |
| US07827143B1 |
Method and apparatus for generating readable, unique identifiers
A computer apparatus receives seed characters relating to an object and accesses rules to generate an identifier. The identifier includes a human-readable component that conveys understanding to a non-skilled user. The identifier complies with limitations dictated by the rules and is not based on random generation. |
| US07827135B2 |
Method and apparatus for relaxed transactional isolation in a client-server caching architecture
Techniques are provided which enable relaxed transactional isolation and optimistic concurrency control in a distributed client-server architecture, and which address the problems of server overloading and network delays known to exist in conventional distributed client-server architectures. In particular, the invention preferably provides client-side caching techniques which advantageously serve to reduce server overloading and effects of network delay. |
| US07827134B2 |
System and method for transferring data and metadata between relational databases
A script driven infrastructure is provided in order to selectively move structure and data from a source database to a target database. The structure and data is moved using a data transfer mechanism, where the data is contained in disk files stored on the source database and it has corresponding script files describing the structure of the data. The transfer of the data is driven by the script files which allows for selective transfer of structure and data. In one aspect of the invention, the disk files are stored in SQL format and the script files are saved in SQL format and XML format, where the script files saved in SQL format create objects and relational constraints in the target database, and the script files stored in XML format drive the transfer process of the data stored in the disk files. |
| US07827132B2 |
Peer based event conversion
A rule set to convert an event into a standardized format can be established based on cooperation among peer processing nodes. A processing node that receives the event takes the initial responsibility to convert the event. The responsible processing node initially attempts to convert the event using locally available rules. If the initial attempt fails, the responsible processing node will communicate the event to peer processing nodes and request them to provide conversion rules. Upon receipt of the rules provided by the peer processing nodes, the responsible processing node combines the received rules with the locally available rules to generate a rule set to convert the event. The responsible processing node may also transfer the event to another processing node for the other processing node to take the responsibility to convert the event. |
| US07827130B2 |
Fractal memory and computational methods and systems based on nanotechnology
Fractal memory systems and methods include a fractal tree that includes one or more fractal trunks. One or more object circuits are associated with the fractal tree. The object circuit(s) can be configured from a plurality of nanotechnology-based components to provide a scalable distributed computing architecture for fractal computing. Additionally, a plurality of router circuits is associated with the fractal tree, wherein one or more fractal addresses output from a recognition circuit can be provided at a fractal trunk by the router circuits. |
| US07827128B1 |
System identification, estimation, and prediction of advertising-related data
In accordance with the invention, a system, method, and apparatus for analyzing advertisement-related data are presented, which may include receiving data related to an aspect of an advertisement and modeling the aspect of the advertisement with a mathematical model. The mathematical model may include a control-signal-related component, a control-signal-independent component, and an error component. Each component may be updated based on at least one of a control signal, the received data, and a previous state of at least one of the components. An updated model may be created based on the updated components. The system, method, and apparatus may also include predicting the aspect of the advertisement using the updated model. Exemplary aspects of and data related to the advertisement may include one or more of the following: a number of impressions, “clicks,” or “conversions” and/or the impression-to-conversion, impression-to-click, or click-to-conversion ratios. |
| US07827123B1 |
Graph based sampling
An iterative method of sampling real world event data to generate a subset of data that is used for training a classifier. Graph Based Sampling uses an iterative process of evaluating and adding randomly selected event data sets to a training data set. In Graph Based Sampling, at each iteration, a two event data sets are randomly selected from a stored plurality of event data sets. A proximity function is used to generate a correlation or similarity value between each of these randomly selected real world event data sets, and the current training data set. One of the randomly selected event data sets is then added to the training data set based on the proximity value. This process of selection and addition is repeated until the subset of training set is a pre-determined size. |
| US07827122B1 |
Data mining of unfiltered controller data
A data analysis system for utilization in an industrial environment comprises an aggregation component that aggregates data from multiple controllers on a factory floor. An analysis component performs data mining on the aggregated data to determine one of correlations between variables within the aggregated data and trends within the aggregated data. For example, the controllers can be programmable logic controllers, robotic controllers, and the like. |
| US07827119B2 |
Common carrier system
An on-line system and method for buyers and sellers of international container transportation services is disclosed. Specifically, the system offers importing and exporting customers the opportunity to request and select specific service patterns offered by participating carriers in the booking of full container shipments. The system includes user interfaces that allow a shipper to track and trace containers across multiple carriers and an event notifications system, which notifies the user when an event has or has not occurred. |
| US07827112B2 |
Digital signal processing apparatus, digital signal processing method, information center, and data delivery system
A digital signal processing apparatus, a digital signal processing method, an information center, and a data delivery system are capable of judging reliably whether digital signals such as music data signals recorded on a storage medium have been legally purchased by a customer from a legitimate vendor, so that only when the digital signals are judged to be legitimately purchased data, will a new service be offered to the customer. |
| US07827105B2 |
Billing system, mobile terminal, and billing method
To provide a billing system capable of simplifying user's operation and quickly performing a billing process even in the case where there exist a plurality of terminals for billing. A billing system 1 according to the present invention is a billing system for implementing billing by transmitting billing information transmitted from a billing information transmitting terminal 30 to a cellular phone 10, to a billing server 60 on a mobile communication network, in which a service code of a service for which a billing process is allowed is preliminarily stored in the cellular phone 10 and in which, when the billing information is transmitted from the billing information transmitting terminal 30, whether a service code included in the billing information is a service code for which the cellular phone 10 is allowed to perform the process is determined on the basis of whether it agrees with any service code preliminarily stored. When it is then determined that the cellular phone 10 is allowed to perform the billing process, the cellular phone transmits the billing information to the billing server 60 and performs the billing process. |
| US07827104B2 |
Method and system for efficiently billing on-demand service exploitation in computer networks
On-demand services are hosted for customers and offered to users of a computer network. Incoming access requests from users are identified as on-demand service access requests. On-demand service usage data is updated to indicate usage of the on-demand services by the users. Customers are billed for on-demand service usage by the users. |
| US07827100B2 |
Intelligent collections models
Apparatuses, computer media, and methods for analyzing credit and tax form data and determining a collections treatment type to collect revenue. A collections model is constructed to determine a collections score that is based on raw credit data and tax form data and is indicative of a debtor's propensity to pay an owed amount. The collections model includes score bands, each score band being associated with a range of credit scores. A collections score is determined from a scoring expression that is associated with a score band and that typically includes a subset of available raw credit data and tax form data. A collections treatment type is determined from a collections score. Each treatment type corresponds to a treatment action that is directed to the debtor. A collections model is constructed from historical tax data, in which score bands and scoring expressions are constructed for the collections model. |
| US07827098B2 |
Credit intermediary system, credit intermediary apparatus and method thereof, recording medium and program
An affiliated store terminal obtains a security code and a card holder's attribution information of a credit card, such as a card holder's attribution information consists of a date of birth, lower four figures of a home telephone number, a last name and a first name of a card holder. An authorization request transmitted from the affiliated terminal is transmitted to a card company apparatus, and further transmitted to a card issuing company apparatus through an intermediary center apparatus. The card company apparatus executes an authorization process and return a result of the authorization process to the affiliated store terminal through the intermediary center apparatus and the previous card company apparatus. |
| US07827095B2 |
Equilibrium flow between economic systems
Computer implemented methods and systems are provided for analyzing equilibrium flow within economic system. Related systems, apparatus, methods, and/or articles are also described. |
| US07827094B2 |
Trading of derivative secured index participation notes
Techniques are described for securitizing, administrating and trading various index shares securitized by derivative, cash-settled instruments on the underlying index. |
| US07827093B1 |
Call for quote/price system and methods for use in a wholesale financial market
An electronic trading system and associated methods that provide for anonymous pricing data while ensuring the integrity of the system by preventing it from being used for price discovery information only. Methods are included to police the dealers requesting price information and clear rules are implemented to reward the dealer offering the best price. Dealers request price information by submitting an open (not anonymous) request to a broker for a price on an amount of a security or financial instrument, referred to herein as a “Price-For-Call,” which results in an anonymous RFQ being sent to a group of other dealers. If more than one dealer in the group responds with a price, only the best price (bid or offer or both) is returned to the requesting dealer and only the dealer offering the best price is rewarded with knowledge of the price information by virtue of the fact that his price traded. |
| US07827090B2 |
Apparatus and method for displaying trading trends
The present invention provides an apparatus and method of determining and displaying trading trends for one or more currency pairs wherein an opening value and a closing value for the one or more currency pairs for two or more time intervals is obtained. An opening value trend using a market trend indicator and the opening values for the investment is calculated, and a closing value trend using the market trend indicator and the closing values for the one or more currency pairs is calculated. A visual indicator comparing the opening value trend to the closing value trend for the one or more currency pairs is then displayed. This method may be incorporated into a computer program embodied in a computer readable medium using code segments to accomplish the method described above. |
| US07827086B1 |
System and method for conducting a customer affinity program auction
A system and method is described that allows customers to bid on the goods or services using reward points earned through a customer affinity program. The system and method also allows the customers to purchase additional reward points for use in the auction. A specific quantity of reward points may be purchased by the customer for use in the auction or the customer may choose to bid on goods and services in excess of his earned reward points and pay for the additional reward points after the auction is completed. Alternatively, the customer may convert reward points to a cash value for use in the auction. The auction may be customized or targeted to a particular group of customers. |
| US07827083B2 |
Method and apparatus for pricing a commodity
A method of pricing a commodity involving selecting a predetermined market factor, determining at a first time period a first market condition, and providing a formula capable of comparing a predetermined market factor to a market condition to determine the existence of a favorable pricing condition. The method prices a first portion of the commodity when the application of the formula to the predetermined market factor and the first market condition indicates the existence of a first favorable pricing condition. The method prices a second portion of the commodity when the application of the formula to the predetermined market factor and a second market condition indicates the existence of a second favorable pricing condition. |
| US07827081B2 |
Computer method and system for equity financing by retail investors with collective due diligence funding
The present invention provides a business facilitation system enabling retail investors to acquire equity in business entities that are seeking equity financing. The fund seeker electronically posts a proposal seeking funds. Through electronic communication means investors commit to buying the private equity at the rate fixed or indicate interest in getting due diligence conducted. If the funds sought are not met by unconditional commitments then investors who had indicated interest in due diligence can make conditional commitments based on the results of the due diligence for which they are willing to pool in funds. If a certain percentage of the funds sought are committed or met though conditional commitments whose conditions are satisfied within a fixed time period, then the fund seeker honors the proposal. Otherwise the fund seeker can revise, extend, honor or withdraw the proposal. |
| US07827078B2 |
Method and system for managing commodity transactions
The present invention relates to a web based system for handling commodity transactions. The system is an electronic system, and allows for the central filing, storage, issuance, maintenance, cancellation and other actions associated with electronic warehouse receipts, electronic price later credit sales contracts and electronic reports, including status and position reports. |
| US07827076B2 |
Method and system of matching customer demand with production capacity
A method of matching customer demand with production capacity of a plurality of factory facilities. The inventive method includes inputting demand data and supply data, performing a first matching operation, collecting rematched demand data and rematched supply data, classifying the rematched demand data, and performing a second matching operation. |
| US07827073B2 |
Trusted auctions
Embodiments for method and a system for an on online auction system involving a computer server is closed. Values representing a relationship between a seller and a plurality of bidders are determined based on social connections of the seller and social connections of the bidders. An auction method is selected based on the values representing a relationship between the seller and the bidders. The selected auction method is performed for the purpose of selling an item of the seller at a winning bid quoted by any of the bidders. |
| US07827062B2 |
Method of delivery, targeting, and measuring advertising over networks
Methods and apparatuses for targeting the delivery of advertisements over a network such as the Internet are disclosed. Statistics are compiled on individual users and networks and the use of the advertisements is tracked to permit targeting of the advertisements of individual users. In response to requests from affiliated sites, an advertising server transmits to people accessing the page of a site an appropriate one of the advertisement based upon profiling of users and networks. |
| US07827061B2 |
Dynamic selection of outbound marketing events
A database system and method for ordering marketing events for offering to a candidate. The database system comprises a database manager software application, a first database structure storing a first list identifying marketing events, and a second database structure storing a second list of candidates. The database manager software application is stored on a computer readable medium. The database manager software application comprises an optimization tool. Each marketing event from the first list comprises a marketing offer and an identified channel means for communicating the marketing offer. The optimization tool is for optimizing and sorting, the marketing events from the first list for a first candidate from said second list. |
| US07827059B2 |
System and method for rewarding a user's interaction behavior with a computer system
A technique for rewarding a user's interaction behavior in a computer network environment, such as the Internet. A reward is provided for following a hyperlink in a first document to a second document and then returning to the original document again. The reward can be provided in terms of (positively priced) information or payment in the form of bonus points or cash payment or access to computerized services and the like. The required information to effect the reward is stored in databases. The invention provides motivation for the user to definitely and intentionally return to the original document, rather than being lost to the owner of the original document as the user visits other web sites after visiting the second document. |
| US07827056B2 |
Method and apparatus for facilitating electronic commerce through providing cross-benefits during a transaction
A merchant server of a first merchant receives an indication of items that a customer is to purchase via a web site. The indication may be, for example, a signal indicating that the customer is ready to “check out” his shopping cart of items on the web site. In response, the merchant server provides an offer for a subsidy from a second merchant. The offer is provided before the items are purchased, and thus the offer is not provided unless and until the customer has manifested an intent to make a purchase from the first merchant. A response is received from the customer. If the response indicates acceptance of the offer, then the subsidy is applied to the items purchased. For example, the total price paid for the items may be reduced, or the items may even be provided to the customer without charge. In exchange, the customer agrees to participate in a transaction with the second merchant. For example, the customer may be required to switch service providers (e.g. long distance telephone service) or initiate a new service agreement (e.g. sign up for a credit card account). |
| US07827055B1 |
Identifying and providing targeted content to users having common interests
A computer process is disclosed for selecting items to present or recommend to users based on the referring sites accessed by such users. The process includes tracking referrals of users from referring sites to a target site, and recording the item selections of the referred users from an electronic catalog of the target site. The process may also include analyzing the recorded item selections of the users to identify, for a particular subset of the referring sites, a set of items that correspond to group preferences of users referred to the target site by the subset of referring sites. These identified items may thereafter be presented to users who access a site that is a member of the subset of referring sites. |
| US07827052B2 |
Systems and methods for reputation management
A reputation management system, method and computer readable storage medium assigns reputation scores to various types of entities including, but not limited to people, products, advertisers and merchants. A reputation function is based on a directed graph including the reviewers and the reviews. The nodes in the graph represent the reviewers and the reviews and the links in the graph represent the ratings. The reputation function is iteratively solved until a convergence condition is met. Prior to convergence, when a stability condition is met, the reputation function is modified so as to remove portions of the function corresponding to nodes with negative reputations. Upon convergence, reputation values for at least the reviewers and reviews corresponding to nodes that have not been removed from the reputation function are generated. |
| US07827049B2 |
Estimating demand for a supply chain according to order lead time
In one embodiment, estimating demand for a supply chain includes accessing a probability distribution for expected order lead time of the supply chain. The supply chain has nodes including a starting node and an ending node and a path from the starting node to the ending node. The probability distribution for expected order lead time describes ending node demand for the ending node versus order lead time. The path is divided into order lead time segments, and the order lead time segments are associated with the probability distribution for expected order lead time by associating each order lead home segment with a corresponding order lead time range of the probability distribution for expected order lead time. A demand percentage is estimated for each order lead time segment in accordance with the probability distribution for expected order lead time in order to estimate demand for the supply chain. Each demand percentage describes a percentage of a total ending node demand associated with the corresponding order lead time segment. |
| US07827047B2 |
Methods and systems for assisting scheduling with automation
Methods and systems provide scheduling assistance with automation. A party requesting scheduling can make the request to the automated system in various ways such as a voiced call to a voice services node, an email or instant message over the Internet, or a wireless data message from a wireless device. Request data based on the communication from the requesting party is compared to schedule data, such as by querying a database containing the schedule data. If the request data is compatible with the schedule data such that the request can be accommodated, then the schedule data is altered according to the request data to reflect the new scheduling. A notification may then be sent to the requesting party and/or the scheduling party owning the schedule to confirm the scheduling. For example, a voice services node may provide a verbal confirmation to the requesting party over the voiced call, or an email, instant message, or wireless data message may be sent to the requesting party. Likewise, an email, instant message, or a wireless data message may be sent to the scheduling party and/or a web site viewable by the scheduling party may display the updated schedule. |
| US07827046B2 |
Premium transition factor
Auto insurance customers can be transitioned from an initial rating algorithm A to a subsequent algorithm B by phasing in the transition over a period of several years. The premium charged during the transition period is equal to the premium calculated under the rating algorithm B minus a premium adjustment. The premium adjustment is given by the difference between the premium according to algorithm B minus the legacy premium from algorithm A, said difference being multiplied by a rating transition factor. The rating transition factor may be a linearly decreasing function which has a value of 1 just before the transition period and a value of zero at the end of the transition period. The transition period may be in the range of 3 to 8 years long. |
| US07827044B2 |
Analytical tool for managing the treatment of chronic illnesses
A system and method for creating an individual treatment plan which includes a user interface configured to receive user input and communicate with a Relational Remedy Database Server containing information about chronic illnesses and remedies. The Method and System described herein further utilizes a Treatment Plan Software Component, a Patient Data Update Software Component and an Optimization Software Component which performs a multiple regression analysis to determine an optimal combination of remedies based on user responses to create an Updated Treatment Plan. |
| US07827042B2 |
Methods and systems related to transmission of nutraceutical associated information
The present disclosure relates to methods and systems related to transmission of nutraceutical associated information. |
| US07827040B2 |
Patient control of health-related data in a remote patient monitoring system
A networked health-monitoring system for collecting and processing patient health-related data. A plurality of remote patient sites each includes at least one display, a data management unit configured to facilitate collection of patient health-related data, a memory, and stored program instructions for generating health-monitoring related information on the display. At least one central server connects to the data management unit at each patient site and the system allows a patient at a remote patient site to control the display of health-monitoring related information on the display. |
| US07827039B2 |
Personalized audio/video/text wellness program
A system generates one or more of a plurality of wellness programs for a user. Personal data items are entered into a computing system corresponding to a personal profile of the user. A selected one or more of the plurality of wellness programs desired by the user is identified. Selected ones of the plurality of personal data items are then extracted in response to the selected one of the plurality of wellness programs. Then a corresponding plurality of wellness program data elements in response to the selected ones of the plurality of personal data items is determined. The selected plurality of wellness program data elements are then assembled to form a customized wellness program responsive to the step of identifying a selected one of the plurality of wellness programs and the selected ones of the plurality of personal data items. The customized wellness program is recorded on media for the user. |
| US07827035B2 |
Speech recognition system and method
According to the present invention, a method for integrating processes with a multi-faceted human centered interface is provided. The interface is facilitated to implement a hands free, voice driven environment to control processes and applications. A natural language model is used to parse voice initiated commands and data, and to route those voice initiated inputs to the required applications or processes. The use of an intelligent context based parser allows the system to intelligently determine what processes are required to complete a task which is initiated using natural language. A single window environment provides an interface which is comfortable to the user by preventing the occurrence of distracting windows from appearing. The single window has a plurality of facets which allow distinct viewing areas. Each facet has an independent process routing its outputs thereto. As other processes are activated, each facet can reshape itself to bring a new process into one of the viewing areas. All activated processes are executed simultaneously to provide true multitasking. |
| US07827033B2 |
Enabling grammars in web page frames
Enabling grammars in web page frames, including receiving, in a multimodal application on a multimodal device, a frameset document, where the frameset document includes markup defining web page frames; obtaining by the multimodal application content documents for display in each of the web page frames, where the content documents include navigable markup elements; generating by the multimodal application, for each navigable markup element in each content document, a segment of markup defining a speech recognition grammar, including inserting in each such grammar markup identifying content to be displayed when words in the grammar are matched and markup identifying a frame where the content is to be displayed; and enabling by the multimodal application all the generated grammars for speech recognition. |
| US07827032B2 |
Methods and systems for adapting a model for a speech recognition system
Possible errors made by a speech recognition system may be identified without using a transcript of words input to the system. A method for model adaptation for a speech recognition system includes determining an error rate, corresponding to either recognition of instances of a word or recognition of instances of various words, without using a transcript of words input to the system. The method may further include adjusting an adaptation, of the model for the word or various models for the various words, based on the error rate. An apparatus identifies possible errors made by a speech recognition system without using a transcript of words input to the system. An apparatus for model adaptation for a speech recognition system includes a processor adapted to estimate an error rate, corresponding to either recognition of instances of a word or recognition of instances of various words, without using a transcript of words input to the system. The apparatus may further include a controller adapted to adjust an adaptation of the model for the word or various models for the various words, based on the error rate. |
| US07827031B2 |
Method for accelerating the execution of speech recognition neural networks and the related speech recognition device
A neural network in a speech-recognition system has computing units organized in levels including at least one hidden level and one output level. The computing units of the hidden level are connected to the computing units of the output level via weighted connections, and the computing units of the output level correspond to acoustic-phonetic units of the general vocabulary. This network executes the following steps:determining a subset of acoustic-phonetic units necessary for recognizing all the words contained in the general vocabulary subset;eliminating from the neural network all the weighted connections afferent to computing units of the output level that correspond to acoustic-phonetic units not contained in the previously determined subset of acoustic-phonetic units, thus obtaining a compacted neural network optimized for recognition of the words contained in the general vocabulary subset; andexecuting, at each moment in time, only the compacted neural network. |
| US07827022B2 |
Sequential function chart validation tool
Automated program validation components are provided to facilitate software program development for industrial control systems and processes. In one aspect, a simulation tool is provided for an industrial automation system. The simulation tool includes a transform component that receives one or more program chart components as input and outputs a subset of model components for simulation. A simulation component executes the subset of model components in order to validate the program chart components. |
| US07827021B2 |
System for modeling LPAR behaviors in a simulation tool
A simulation tool for modeling LPAR behavior in a mainframe computer. The simulation tool comprises: a system for calculating a resource percentage, wherein the resource percentage represents a percentage of total resources allocated to the LPAR, wherein the resource percentage is equal to: 100%−a percentage of resources allocated to all other LPARs running in the simulated computer; a system for calculating a time slice percentage for the LPAR based on the resource percentage and CP (central processor) data, wherein: time slice percentage=((resource percentage)×(# of physical CPs))/(# of logical CPs); a system for determining a CP (central processor) percentage, wherein the CP percentage represents a percentage of time that all physical CPs in the computer being modeled have been allocated to the LPAR; a system for determining causing the computer simulation not to dispatch CPs to the LPAR for a current modeling interval if the CP percentage is greater than the time slice percentage; and a system for outputting and displaying the behavior of the modeling. |
| US07827020B2 |
Post initial microcode load co-simulation
Disclosed is simulation of circuit behavior by running a central electronic core simulation in a high level simulator up to and including initial microload, creation of a post-IML (initial microcode load) state, and transferring the post-initial microcode state from the central electronic core simulation to the post-initial microcode load co-simulator. |
| US07827018B2 |
Method and computer program for selecting circuit repairs using redundant elements with consideration of aging effects
A method and computer program for selecting circuit repairs using redundant elements with consideration of aging effects provides a mechanism for raising short-term and long-term performance of memory arrays beyond present levels/yields. Available redundant elements are used as replacements for selected elements in the array. The elements for replacement are selected by BOL (beginning-of-life) testing at a selected operating point that maximizes the end-of-life (EOL) yield distribution as among a set of operating points at which post-repair yield requirements are met at beginning-of-life (BOL). The selected operating point is therefore the “best” operating point to improve yield at EOL for a desired range of operating points or maximize the EOL operating range. For a given BOL repair operating point, the yield at EOL is computed. The operating point having the best yield at EOL is selected and testing is performed at that operating point to select repairs. |
| US07827015B2 |
System and method for optimizing animal production based on environmental nutrient inputs
A system for generating an animal feed formulation based on environmental nutrient inputs. The system comprises a simulator engine configured to generate a set of animal requirements in view of environmental nutrients received by an animal based on characteristics of the animal and a formulator engine configured to receive the set of animal requirements and generate an optimized animal feed formulation based on the animal requirements. |
| US07827006B2 |
Heat exchanger fouling detection
Detection of one or more abnormal situations is performed using various statistical measures, such as a mean, a median, a standard deviation, etc. of one or more process parameters or variable measurements made by statistical process monitoring blocks within a plant. This detection may include determination of the health and performance of one or more heat exchangers in the plant, and in particular, detection of a fouling condition of the one or more heat exchangers. Among the statistical measures, the detection may include calculation of an overall thermal resistance of the heat exchanger, which may be indicative under certain circumstances of heat exchanger performance and in particularly degradation of heat exchanger performance as a result of heat exchanger fouling. |
| US07827002B2 |
Contact displacement meter
A contact displacement meter capable of performing an accurate displacement measurement where a movement speed of a contact is fast and having high resistance property to optical noise. A reference light passing regions are away from each other by a distance of a unique value in a movement scale. A peak position of the reference light passing region at which a received light signal of light passed through the reference light passing region takes a local maxim is detected, and an absolute position of the reference light passing region is specified based on the distance between the adjacent peak positions. A relative position of the reference light passing region with respect to a line sensor is specified based on a received light signal of light passed through a lattice region. A displacement of the contact is calculated based on the specified absolute position and the relative position. |
| US07826998B1 |
System and method for measuring the temperature of a device
A method of measuring the temperature of device under test includes the steps of injecting a first current into an on-chip diode wherein a die containing the on-chip diode is under test. A second current is injected into the on-chip diode. A junction temperature is calculated based on the first current and the second current. |
| US07826993B2 |
Method and device for analyzing substances
Some of the embodiments of the present disclosure provide a method for analyzing a substance, where the method includes subjecting the substance to a dynamic excitation to produce an observable response, and determining a characteristic quantity of the substance based on a correlation between the excitation and the response. The correlation between the excitation and the response is expressed by a parametric model for which a specific model structure with a finite number of unspecified parameters is preset. The determining a characteristic quantity of the substance includes calculating the parameters of the model from values of the excitation and the response in a time domain, determining from the calculated parameters a transfer function in a frequency range, and calculating the characteristic quantity directly from the transfer function. Other embodiments are also described and claimed. |
| US07826991B2 |
Temperature-averaging field device compensation
An average-temperature compensated field device comprises a field module, a temperature-averaging sensor, a microprocessor, and an interface. The field module is configured to characterize a process parameter. The temperature-averaging sensor is configured to generate a compensation signal characterizing an extended region of the field device. The microprocessor is configured to compensate a process signal as a function of the compensation signal. The interface is configured to communicate the process signal via a field device communication protocol. |
| US07826989B2 |
Computer-readable medium storing electromagnetic field analysis program, and method of causing computer to perform electromagnetic field analysis
In Internal Analysis Space analysis, assuming that no structural body and the like are placed outside of a conversion surface, an electromagnetic field distribution u0 inside of a conversion surface, on a conversion surface, and close to the outside of the conversion surface is found. In External Analysis Space analysis, on the assumption that there exists a structural body and the like outside of the conversion surface, an entire electromagnetic field distribution u is found. At this time, for the inside of the closed surface, an electric field distribution, where a differential electromagnetic field distribution e between electromagnetic field distribution u0 and electromagnetic field distribution u on the closed surface is a wave source, is found. Also at this time, for the outside of the closed surface, an electromagnetic field distribution, obtained by synthesizing electromagnetic field distribution u0 and electromagnetic field distribution e on the closed surface is found. |
| US07826987B2 |
Method for detecting a condition of engine oil
Provided is a method for detecting a condition of engine oil that allows the progress of degradation of engine oil to be more accurately determined without incurring any significant cost. In a method for detecting a state of engine oil by defining a degradation index that changes with a progress in degradation of the engine oil that lubricates an internal combustion engine and determining a progress of the degradation of the engine oil according to the degradation index, a value related to a concentration of blow-by gas that flows into a crankcase of the engine is computed, and the degradation index is computed according to the computed value related to a concentration of blow-by gas that flows into a crankcase of the engine. The degradation index may consist of a total base number of the engine oil, and the concentration of blow-by gas that flows into a crankcase of the engine may consist of a NOx concentration. |
| US07826986B2 |
Method and system for operating a mass flow controller
A system and method for operating a mass flow controller is described. One embodiment validates the operation of a mass flow controller thermal sensor, including detecting zero drift and span drift in the sensor by comparing the thermal sensor output to a pressure sensor output. In one embodiment, each sensor provides a signal to a digital controller or other processing unit and the controller calculates the mass flow rates of a gas flowing through the unit as measured by the sensors. The mass flow rates may then be compared to determine if one of the thermal sensor is operating properly. |
| US07826985B2 |
Power module life estimation fatigue function
A system and method for estimating a condition of a power module is provided. In accordance with an embodiment, a motor controller may be maintained by tracking a total proportion of power module life expended by a power module in a variable frequency motor controller based on a minimum junction temperature or a mean junction temperature and a junction temperature change, and indicating when the power module is estimated to fail. |
| US07826979B2 |
Method of modeling complex formation between a query ligan and a target molecule
Computer-based methods for modeling complex formation between a query ligand and a target macromolecule are described herein. The methods can include, for example, providing a structural model of a query ligand and a structural model of a target macromolecule; identifying a substructure of the query ligand; identifying comparison ligands in a set of 3-D structural models that each share an identical substructure with the query ligand, wherein each 3-D structural model comprises a comparison ligand and a comparison macromolecule, and wherein the comparison macromolecule has structural features homologous to the target macromolecule; mapping spatial relationships between the substructure atoms of the query ligand and the comparison ligand such that corresponding atoms are identified; assigning atomic coordinates to the corresponding atoms of the query ligand; and generating one or more output models, each model comprising a 3-D structural model of the query ligand substructure and the target macromolecule. Related articles and apparatuses are also described. |
| US07826977B2 |
Systems and methods for high-speed image scanning
Systems and methods for high-speed image scanning are disclosed herein One aspect of the invention is directed to a method for high speed image scanning. The method for high speed image scanning includes adjusting an object using a positioning element; directing a portion of an image of the object toward a sensor by positioning a first mirror relative to the object, and by positioning a second mirror relative to the object and the first mirror; controlling the positioning element, the position of the first mirror and the position of the second mirror using a processor; and detecting the portion of the image of the object using the sensor positioned relative to the first mirror and the second mirror. In accord with this method, the first mirror directs the portion of the image of the object in a first direction and the second mirror directs the portion of the image of the object in a second direction. |
| US07826974B2 |
Preliophic moleculator using electric fields and gradients for manipulating molecules
Apparatus and methods of using the apparatus for inducing movement and interaction of molecules in an electric field of an electrophoretic device that is circular in configuration to mimic a living cell. The circular electrophoretic device supports an isoelectric focusing medium, such as a gel on a gel plate with one charged circular pole at the center and an oppositely charged concentric pole at the perimeter of the plate whereupon molecular substances having electronegative or electropositive charges placed in the gel will tend to migrate toward the oppositely charged pole to their isoelectric points, allowing researchers to devise experiments with multiple substances to track pathways of interaction during osmotic diffusion and polar directed migration through the medium that parallel pathways in a biological cell, the device having a thermal control for regulating the temperature of the analytical experiments using the device. |
| US07826972B2 |
Methods of electromagnetic logging using a current focusing receiver
A method for determining a formation electrical property under a sea floor includes obtaining measurement data using a receiver having an impedance lower than an impedance of seawater at a measurement site; correcting the measurement data to obtain corrected data corresponding to data that would have been acquired using a receiver having an impedance matched with the impedance of the seawater; and deriving the formation property from the corrected data. |
| US07826969B2 |
Determining position of a vehicle with reference to a landmark
A position determining system for a vehicle comprises an imaging unit for collecting image data. A wireless device reads or interrogates a radio frequency identification tag. An identification module determines whether the collected image data contains a visual landmark. A confirmation module determines whether the identified visual landmark is associated with a corresponding radio frequency identification tag having a particular tag identifier. A range finder or distance estimator determines a position offset of the vehicle with respect to the identified visual landmark. A data processor determines a vehicular position of the vehicle based on the determined position offset and a stored reference position associated with at least one of the visual landmark and the radio frequency identification tag. |
| US07826968B2 |
Method, device and vehicle utilizing the same
A global positioning system (GPS) device including an antenna and a baseband unit is disclosed. The antenna receives a wireless signal group. The baseband unit processes the wireless signal group to generate a position signal. The position signal is updated every time interval. The duration of the time interval is changed dynamically. |
| US07826967B2 |
Matching camera-photographed image with map data in portable terminal and travel route guidance method
The present invention relates to matching a camera-photographed image with map data in a portable terminal. Location information of objects of images photographed by a camera and location information of display objects, such as a building included in the map data are calculated based on location information of the camera, and the calculated location information is used to match the objects with the display objects. The image photographed by the camera is displayed on a screen, and text information of display objects matched to the objects is read out from the map data and is displayed on the locations of the objects displayed on the screen. If a user moves, a travel route is guided using the matching information between the objects and display objects, so the user can be guided with the travel route while personally checking objects such as a building. |
| US07826965B2 |
Systems and methods for determining a relevance rank for a point of interest
The present invention provides systems and methods for computing a relevance rank or score of a point of interest based on its proximity to clusters of other points of interest (POI). The methods of the present invention are based upon novel approaches that use location information and weighting functions in order to filter and sort searches of hotels, destinations, and other properties or other points of interest. In one approach, a relevance rank of a target POI at a location is determined by obtaining a plurality of component POIs that are each within the same geographical region as the target POI. Component POI scores for each of the component POIs are calculated as a function of a distance between the locations of the component POI and the location of the target POI. The relevance rank of the target POI is a combination of the plurality of component POI scores. |
| US07826964B2 |
Intelligent driving safety monitoring system and method integrating multiple direction information
An intelligent driving safety monitoring system capable of integrating multiple direction information is adapted to be installed in a vehicle. The system includes a first image capturing device, a second image capturing device, a data processing device, and an indicating device. The first image capturing device is used to capture a face image of a driver of the vehicle. The second image capturing device is used to capture a front lane image. The data processing device, after doing computations based on the face image of the driver and the front lane image, maps a sight direction of the driver and a mid-line of lane into a global coordinate space and integrates the same into multiple direction information. The indicating device outputs the multiple direction information to the driver for suggesting whether driving status of the driver is safe. |
| US07826962B2 |
Electronic control apparatus
The electronic control apparatus includes a microcomputer having a control function of controlling an actuator mounted on a vehicle in accordance with an input signal indicative of a running state of the vehicle, and a self-monitoring function of monitoring whether or not the control function is functioning properly on the basis of the input signal, and a monitor module communicably connected to the microcomputer and having a digital circuit for monitoring whether or not the self-monitoring function is functioning properly. The monitor module includes a reference counter counting up a clock serving as operation reference of the digital circuit. The microcomputer includes a module monitoring section configured to take in a count value of the reference counter and to monitor whether or not the monitor module is functioning properly on the basis of a changing state of the count value taken in. |
| US07826961B2 |
Control apparatus for internal combustion engine and method of controlling internal combustion engine
In an engine ECU (60), a threshold line LS1 and a threshold line LS2 are set as threshold lines used when stopping of an engine is prohibited based on a coolant temperature Tw. The threshold line LS1 is set to ensure a predetermined heating capacity. The threshold value on the threshold line LS2 is higher than the threshold value on the threshold line LS1. When the vehicle is moving, the threshold line LS2 is selected to prohibit/permit stopping of the engine. This increases the amount of heat stored in an engine coolant. When the vehicle is stopped, the threshold line LS1 is selected to prohibit/permit stopping of the engine. This decreases the frequency of starting the engine in the stopped vehicle, while maintaining the predetermined heating capacity. |
| US07826956B2 |
Control system for plant
A control system for a plant, including a sliding mode controller and a transfer characteristic adjusting module. The sliding mode controller calculates a feedback control input with a sliding mode control so that an controlled output of the plant coincides with a target value. The transfer characteristic adjusting module is connected to an output of the sliding mode controller, and has a transfer characteristic set according to a transfer function of a controlled object model which is obtained by modeling the plant. A control input to the plant is set to an output of the transfer characteristic adjusting module. The transfer characteristic of the transfer characteristic adjusting module is set so that a composite transfer function indicative of a transfer characteristic which is obtained by combining the transfer characteristic of the transfer characteristic adjusting module and a transfer characteristic of the controlled object model, coincides with a desired target transfer function. |
| US07826955B2 |
General-purpose internal combustion engine
In a general-purpose internal combustion engine connectable to operating machines such as a snowplow, a washing machine and a wood chipper having an electronic control unit that controls operation of the operating machine when connected, there are provided a signal output terminal that is installed in the electronic control unit and outputs a signal generated by the electronic control unit to the operating machine and a signal selector constituted by a personal computer that selects a signal to be outputted by the signal output terminal from among signals in response to manipulation by an operator. The engine can be easily connected with any operating machine without a complicated electronic control unit, thereby improving versatility and convenience. |
| US07826953B2 |
Method for assisting the driver of a motor vehicle with a fishtailing trailer
The present invention relates to a method for assisting the driver of a motor vehicle with a fishtailing trailer. A vehicle with a fishtailing trailer can be stabilized in an especially rapid manner in that, in a first state, the fishtailing of the trailer is analyzed by evaluating at least one vehicle state variable, and when critical fishtailing is detected, a warning is output to the driver in a second state so as to induce the driver to brake, and the driver—provided he initiates braking—is assisted in the braking operation by automatic actuation of the vehicle brakes, a brake pressure being set at which the most optimal vehicle deceleration possible is achieved. |
| US07826949B2 |
Method for determining the steering ratio of a vehicle
A method for determining the steering ratio of a vehicle from sensed measured values (e.g., yaw rate, steering wheel angle, vehicle speed) in a manner that takes vehicle parameters (e.g., self-steering gradient, wheelbase and other vehicle dimensions) into consideration during stable travel of the vehicle. |
| US07826947B2 |
Method for establishing a rate limit on the damper command signal of a vehicle damper
A first method of the invention is for establishing a limit on the time rate of change of a damper command signal applied to a damper associated with a wheel of a vehicle, wherein the damper has damping characteristics, wherein a change in the damper command signal changes the damping characteristics, and wherein the damper command signal is derived at least from an algorithm for vehicle body control. The first method includes steps a) through c). Step a) includes identifying a noise indicating signal predictive of noise occurring in the vehicle due to operation of the damper, wherein the noise indicating signal is derived from the algorithm. Step b) includes calculating the noise indicating signal. Step c) includes determining the limit based at least on the calculated noise indicating signal. |
| US07826943B2 |
Method and system for diagnosing faults in a particular device within a fleet of devices
A method for diagnosing faults in a particular device within a fleet of devices is provided. The method comprises receiving performance data related to one or more parameters associated with a fleet of devices and processing the performance data to detect one or more trend shifts in the one or more parameters. The method then comprises detrending the one or more parameters to derive noise-adjusted performance data related to a particular parameter associated with a particular device. The method further comprises generating a fleet-based diagnostic model based on trend patterns and data characteristics associated with the fleet of devices. The fleet-based diagnostic model comprises one or more fuzzy rules defining one or more expected trend shift data ranges for the one or more parameters associated with the fleet of devices. The method then comprises computing one or more scaling factors for the particular parameter associated with the particular device and scaling the one or more of fuzzy rules defined for the one or more parameters in the fleet-based diagnostic model, based on the one or more scaling factors, to generate a personalized diagnostic model for the particular parameter associated with the particular device. The method finally comprises evaluating the personalized diagnostic model against the one or more trend shifts detected for the one or more parameters, to diagnose a fault associated with the particular device. |
| US07826940B2 |
Method for starting on an up slope or with a high load
The invention essentially concerns a method for fast starting on an up slope or with a high load. Said method uses a power transmission device (1.1) comprising a traction chain. Said traction chain consists in particular of a heat engine (2), a clutch (3), an electrical macine (4), and wheels (6). The invention is characterized in that while the vehicle is stopped or is running at low speed up a slope, the heat engine (2) is stopped, and when the vehicle is accelerated, the heat engine (2) is started using a starting system (7) mechanically independent of the electrical machine. |
| US07826938B2 |
System for tracking railcars in a railroad environment
A system determines real-time locations of railcars in a railroad environment. Railcars are equipped with at least four RFID tags. A RFID reader at a fixed location at every track branch in the environment reads the RFID tags. Railcar locations are updated for the railcars by determining the branches on which the railcars are located. |
| US07826936B2 |
Vehicle stationary/moving determination apparatus
The vehicle stationary/moving determination apparatus includes an antenna mounted on a vehicle body of a vehicle; and a determination device determining whether or not the vehicle is moving or stationary on the basis of a reception intensity of a radio signal transmitted from a radio transmitter device mounted on the vehicle at a portion other than the vehicle body and received by the antenna. |
| US07826930B2 |
Networked diagnostic and control system for dispensing apparatus
A networked delivery system and method for controlling operation of a spraying system includes nozzles for emitting an agrochemical according to a predetermined spray pattern and flow rate; vibration sensors located adjacent an agricultural spray system component to sense vibrations of the agricultural spray system component, such as spray nozzles. The networked delivery system also includes a control area network with a computer processor in communication with the vibration sensors. The processor conveys information to an operator regarding the agricultural spray system component based on the sensed vibrations. The processor also actuates each of the agricultural spray system components such as the spray nozzles to selectively control each of the nozzles or a designated group of the nozzles. |
| US07826925B2 |
Legged mobile robot
In a legged mobile robot having a body and legs connected to the body, a seating aid is provided at its body so as to enable to sit on a seat. With this, the space occupied by the robot can be decreased to reduce space during storage and transport, and also enhance safety in the course of transport. In addition, maintenance work is simplified because immobilization in the seated condition is possible. Still further, the range of works is expanded to enable deskwork and the like. Further, the seating aid is provided at a location that is rearward of a center of gravity of the robot when the robot is seated. With this, the moment acting on the robot about the center of gravity during seating does not operate to tilt the robot rearward and, therefore, the robot can be enabled to keep a stable posture from before to after sitting down. |
| US07826924B2 |
Standalone intelligent autoloader with modularization architectures and self-adaptive motion control ability for mass optical disks duplication
An autoloader system with modularization architecture and self-adaptive motion control ability for mass optical disks duplication includes four physical modules: a robot arm module with sensors and joints dedicates for delivering and picking up optical disks; an optical disk duplication tower has a number of optical drives in a stack, or a matrix for optical disk duplication; a motion control module has an embedded motion controller and a power source to synchronize the motion of robot arm and duplication; a platform module has a base frame to fix other modules and a user interface. Some disk stacks are situated on top of platform module. The use of a self-adaptive control algorithm, consisting of a Motion Strategy Database, Initial Process, Motion Planning Process, Motion Generation Process and Motion Monitor Process, to ascertain system configurations and components furthest satisfy the required flexibility for modifying/upgrading hardware or ever-changing user needs. The use of DC motors and self-correcting adaptive algorithm provides better versatility to disk copier systems than most commonly used stepper motors, even in the case of “short tray” wherein the tray does not fully extend out. The stand-alone design of present invention further makes the use and operation of the disk copier easier and friendlier. |
| US07826911B1 |
Automatic selection of representative media clips
A system determines human recognizable labels for portions of an electronic media stream, gathers data associated with the electronic media stream from a number of media players, and determines at least one section of the electronic media stream with a particular media feature. The system selects a representative clip for the electronic media stream based on information regarding the labeled portions, the gathered data, and the at least one section. |
| US07826898B2 |
Implantable cardiac device providing intrinsic conduction search with premature atrial contraction protection and method
The extended AV interval of an auto intrinsic conduction search of an implantable cardiac stimulation device has premature atrial contraction protection. A timer times a base AV interval and the extended AV interval. If the heart is paced with the extended AV interval and a premature atrial contraction is detected, the extended AV interval is maintained. Once a predetermined number of consecutive premature atrial contractions are detected, the extended AV interval is reset to the base AV interval. |
| US07826896B2 |
Method and apparatus for impedance signal localizations from implanted devices
Method and apparatus for monitoring a plurality of physiological factors contributing to physiological conditions of a heart, that determines a first impedance, corresponding to the plurality of physiological factors, across a plurality of vectors, and a second impedance, corresponding to the plurality of physiological factors, across the plurality of vectors subsequent to determining the first impedance. A relative change in impedance corresponding to the plurality of vectors is determined in response to the first impedance and the second impedance, first minimally contributing physiological factors of the plurality of physiological factors associated with a first physiological factor of the plurality of physiological factors are determined, and relative change in tissue resistivity corresponding to the first physiological factor in response to physiological factors of the plurality of physiological factors other than the first minimal contributing physiological factors and the relative change in impedance are determined. |
| US07826895B2 |
Organ rejection monitoring
The invention is directed to techniques for monitoring organ rejection. An implanted device monitors the impedance of the transplanted organ. When the impedance measurements indicate that the organ is being rejected, the device provides early warning of rejection. |
| US07826886B2 |
Capture of MRI images
A method of producing an MRI image of an object in cyclic motion by acquiring data in k-space according to the measured position of the object, and an analysis of data previously acquired. The invention also provides a magnetic resonance imaging heart monitor configured to use the method. |
| US07826882B2 |
Electrode lead set for measuring physiologic information
An electrode lead set is provided for electrical connection to a body. The electrode lead set includes a flexible ribbonized cable core extending between a proximal end portion and a distal end portion. The distal end portion includes a plurality of branch end portions that are each configured to hold an electrode. The flexible ribbonized cable core is separable into a plurality of branches that are each joined to adjacent branches by a separable interface prior to separation. Each of the plurality of branches includes a corresponding one of the branch end portions. Each of the plurality of branches includes a generally planar ribbon conductor extending along the corresponding branch from the proximal end portion of the ribbonized cable core to the corresponding branch end portion. |
| US07826881B1 |
Endocardial chamber mapping system
An endocardial mapping system is described to map electric field activity in a heart chamber. The system includes a catheter assembly having an expandable array of electrodes and a plug with each electrode connected to a single connection in the plug. The system also contains an interface apparatus with a plug adapter to receive the catheter plug, a voltage acquisition apparatus, and a signal generator to generate signals in response to voltages received on the electrodes. Finally, the system contains a computer capable of computing a three-dimensional volumetric electric field distribution based on signals received from the signal generator. |
| US07826878B2 |
Optical tomography using independent component analysis for detection and localization of targets in turbid media
Disclosed is a system and a method for detecting the presence of one or more objects in a turbid medium, the method including: illuminating at least a portion of the turbid medium with incident light having at least one wavelength which interacts with the one or more objects contained in the turbid medium differently than the incident light interacts with the turbid medium; measuring light that emerges from the turbid medium; and detecting and locating the one or more objects using Independent Component Analysis (ICA) of the emergent light from the turbid medium. The present invention is useful for medical applications, such as for finding and locating, a tumor(s) in body organs, or excised tissues. Moreover, the present invention can be used to locate objects in obscuring medium, such as, mines in shallow coastal water, a plane in fog, military targets under fog, smoke or cloud cover. |
| US07826876B2 |
Multi-functional detachable mobile phone
An improved portable mobile phone is disclosed wherein the mobile phone comprises two modules and the mobile phone can function properly when the two modules are physically connected as well as when the two modules are detached, and wherein the mobile phone has two modes of operation, one of which is the communication mode of operation and another one of which is the entertainment mode of operation. |
| US07826873B2 |
Contactless energy transmission converter
The present invention is an efficient method of transferring energy wirelessly and an apparatus which efficiently transfers energy wirelessly. A high transmission frequency is modulated by a lower frequency in order to reduce the intensity of the resulting electromagnetic interference. The present invention creates a high magnetic flux density by employing a large number of small induction coils which generates a strong electromagnetic field in a wide range of directions. The present invention is a “true wireless system” in that it overcomes the range limitations and requirement for precise alignment present in the field of art. A number of apparatuses and practical implementations for contactless energy transfer exist. |
| US07826866B2 |
System, apparatus and method to route radio frequency signals
Briefly, a wireless communication device having two or more different wireless radio frequency (RF) units operably coupled to a router by two or more respective buses. The router is able to route bit streams of radio frequency signals from a digital baseband unit to one of the two or more RF units via one of the two or more buses. A method for routing the bit streams is also provided. |
| US07826865B2 |
RFIC with cellular and RFID functionality
An integrated circuit (IC) includes a baseband processing module and a radio frequency (RF) section. The baseband processing module is coupled to convert outbound data into amplitude modulation information and phase modulation information when the IC is in a cellular data mode and to convert an outbound radio frequency identification (RFID) signal into RFID amplitude modulation information when the IC is in an RFID mode. The RF section is coupled to generate an outbound RF data signal in accordance with the amplitude modulation information and the phase modulation information when the IC is in the cellular data mode and to generate an outbound RF RFID signal in accordance with the RFID amplitude information when the IC is in the RFID mode. |
| US07826864B2 |
Apparatus and method for power measurement summation in mobile telecommunications system user equipment
Apparatus and a method for deriving a power measurement summation for use in universal mobile telecommunications system user equipment are disclosed. Conversion from a logarithm scale to a linear scale for summation and back again is avoided. The technique obviates the need for a mathematical processor to convert power measurements in a logarithmic scale (e.g. decibels dB, or dBw) into a linear scale (e.g. mW) to sum the power measurements or a ratio. The summed power component is calculated using data stored in the device (e.g. look up tables) without any need for conversion of the scale used. |
| US07826857B2 |
Observing a moving subscriber on the basis of handover commands
A location of a subscriber can be observed by means of a mobile network in a completely anonymous way, without a subscriber identifier or a temporary subscriber identifier. At first, a method extracts from a first time slot of a radio channel a message which includes information about a second time slot of a radio channel. The first time slot of a radio channel discloses the current cell of the subscriber and the second time slot of a radio channel discloses a new cell of the subscriber. A location of the subscriber is determined on the basis of the current and the new cell. This location is approximately situated in a geographical intersection area of the current and the new cell. Different kinds of statistics can be deduced from the observations concerning activities of subscribers. |
| US07826856B2 |
System and method for limiting a wireless communication device to a specified geographic zone
A method, computer code product for limiting a wireless communication device to a specified geographic zone. The device is configured to connect to a subscriber device in a subscriber network and determine if the subscriber device is on a list of preapproved subscriber devices in the specified geographic zone. The device can also be configured to determine if it is connected to a subscriber device on at least one neighbor list of approved subscriber devices. If the device is connected to a subscriber device on the preapproved list or a neighbor list, the device is permission as if it is in the geographic zone. Additional subscriber devices can be added to the neighbor list(s) when the device is handed off from an approved subscriber device based on the previous subscriber device to which the device was connected. |
| US07826855B2 |
Data transmission method and data retransmission method
A method which can reduce loss in data transmission is provided. A data block is prepared in a high-level layer and the data block is transmitted in a low-level layer. Status report information associated with reception or non-reception of the data block is received through the low-level layer. When a receiver fails to receive data transmitted from a transmitter, the transmitter can rapidly recognize the reception failure and can retransmit the data. |
| US07826854B2 |
Method and apparatus for smart beam selection in a smart antenna system
A method of beam selection in a smart antenna system is provided. The method includes receiving a plurality of uplink beams by a plurality of receivers, each corresponding with one of the plurality of uplink beams. Each uplink beam includes signals transmitted by a mobile station. The method further includes analyzing each of the plurality of uplink beams and selecting an uplink beam from the plurality of uplink beams based at least in part on the analysis of the uplink beams. The method further includes switching to the selected beam in real time to allow the signals communicated in the selected beam to be communicated to a base station transceiver. |
| US07826852B2 |
Radio communication apparatus and method
A radio communication apparatus which communicates with a radio terminal device, the apparatus belonging to a first group, the device performing handoff between apparatuses which belong to the first group, the apparatus includes unit selecting one block from frequency blocks obtained by dividing a specified frequency band, the frequency blocks being continuous on a frequency axis, unit detecting an unused channel among channels contained in the selected block, unit detecting an in-use channel among the channels when the unused channel is detected, unit determining whether a second group to which a device which is using the detected in-use channel belongs is the same as the first group, and unit assigning the detected unused channel as a channel for communication with the radio terminal device when the in-use channel fails to be detected or the determination unit determines that the second group is the same as the first group. |
| US07826846B2 |
Hand over method for dual band/dual mode mobile communication terminal
The present invention relates to a handover method for a dual band/dual mode mobile communication terminal between a synchronous mobile communication network and an asynchronous mobile communication network. The method includes the first step of the main processor setting an initial mobile communication network connection to the asynchronous mobile communication network and connecting to the asynchronous mobile communication network when power is applied; the second step of activating the synchronous RF device and setting up a connection to the synchronous mobile communication network when the intensity of a signal from the asynchronous mobile communication network is equal to or lower than a first predetermined reference value; the third step of determining whether the intensity of a signal from the asynchronous mobile communication network is equal to or lower than a second predetermined reference value previously set for the handover; the fourth step of activating the connection to the synchronous mobile communication network set up at the second step if the intensity of the signal from the asynchronous mobile communication network is determined to be equal to or lower than the second predetermined reference value at the third step; and the fifth step of releasing the connection to the asynchronous mobile communication network. |
| US07826843B2 |
Method for selecting communication network by wireless terminal
Disclosed is a method for selecting a communication network by a wireless terminal, the method including receiving a signal having a predetermined reception power level from one or more communication networks, and calculating a guaranteed data rate of each of said one or more communication networks by using the predetermined reception power level of the signal; comparing the calculated guaranteed datarate with a minimum guaranteed datarate; and calculating a selection factor value of each of said one or more communication networks by using the guaranteed datarate when all guaranteed datarate of said one or more communication networks are equal to or greater than the minimum guaranteed datarate, and selecting a communication network having a lowest selection factor value. |
| US07826842B2 |
System and method for managing forbidden network lists on a wireless user equipment (UE) device
A system and method for managing forbidden network lists on a wireless user equipment (UE) device. In one embodiment, a first database structure is provided that associates a plurality network selection control codes with a corresponding plurality of network selection criteria, the network selection criteria for defining different treatment options for networks identified in a network list associated with the wireless device. A second database structure is populated with a list of networks identified by corresponding network identifiers, wherein each network identifier is associated with a corresponding network selection control code identified in the first database structure. The contents of the database structures, which may be provisioned as part of removable storage module or within a memory of the wireless device, are operable to be updated only by a home network operator. |
| US07826838B1 |
Adaptive contention for wireless devices
A method and apparatus for reducing a contention window range of a client device located in a wireless network is described. In one embodiment, network conditions present in the wireless network are monitored. The network conditions are subsequently utilized to determine if the wireless network is small or if traffic in the wireless network is low. Afterwards, the contention window range of the client device is reduced if either of the wireless network is small or if the traffic in the wireless network is low. |
| US07826837B1 |
Systems and methods for tracking signal strength in wireless networks
Tracking of signal strength in wireless networks is disclosed. In one of many possible embodiments, signal strength of a wireless signal received by at least one wireless device is measured, the wireless device being configured for operation in the wireless network. A parameter of the wireless device is determined, the parameter corresponding with the measurement of signal strength. The measured signal strength and the determined parameter are transmitted to a network operations center. The measured signal strength and the determined parameter are used to analyze signal coverage of the wireless network. |
| US07826834B2 |
Method for downloading software
In a method for downloading software from a mobile network operator to a mobile phone user, the downloaded software can be new network services or user specified applications software or user specified information, written as Java classes capable of running on a Java Virtual Machine. All the Java classes can be continuously broadcast at a relatively modest data rate. In an enhanced mode a list of services available for downloading is broadcast over the network more frequently then the actual services themselves. The user then selects which service he wants, and only that one is downloaded. Payment can be 100 on a subscription or pay-per-use basis. The method could also be adapted to work with one of the new digital broadcasting platforms such as DAB or DVB as a means for delivering the Java classes. |
| US07826833B2 |
Channel assay for thin client device wireless provisioning
The task of configuring a thin client device for networking functionality and connectivity is simplified using a portable computer-readable media device to transfer and automatically load RF interference data into a provisioning device. A wireless radio frequency channel that is usable for the wireless protocol to be employed by the device and which is not currently experiencing prohibitive RF interference is selected by the provisioning device based on the interference data. The portable media device includes, in an embodiment of the invention, a spectrum chip and its support electronics such as a radio receiver and receive-chain processor, to analyze ongoing local RF emissions/transmissions to identify a channel having the least interference. |
| US07826830B1 |
Location-enabled presence for mobile IM
Instant messaging (IM) users in a wireless network are allowed to automatically set their presence status based on their geographical location. A conventional Mobile IM (MIM) client, such as a Brew application, allows an IM user to set his presence status, e.g. “Online,” “Away,” etc. This status is transmitted to the IM server which then publishes this status to other IM users. As disclosed herein, location based presence populates the device position automatically into the presence status or other IM communications. For example, selection of a menu choice |
| US07826825B2 |
Method and apparatus for providing a data protocol voice enabled subscription lock for a wireless communication device
A method and system for restricting at least partial usage of a wireless communication device (100), like a mobile telephone, includes attempting to establish a communication channel (105) across a data network, such as non-IMS VoIP communication channel over a wide area network (103) like the Internet. Where the device (100) has been subsidized by a voice over data protocol service provider (121), the method permits such communication only when data communication channels having service provider identifiers (123) corresponding to one or more permitted data access identification codes (201) are accessible. Where they are not, at least partial usage of the device (100) will be restricted. |
| US07826819B2 |
Communication control system, information center, motor vehicle, communication control program, and system establishing the communication control system
A system controlling an operation of an information processing device mounted on a mobile apparatus such as a motor vehicle to cause it to efficiently receive data, while ensuring economy of the resources of the mobile apparatus, is provided. According to the device control system (10), even when the motor vehicle (1) is switched from the ON state to the OFF state, the first information processing device (11) is maintained in the ON state exceptionally when the device is set to receive data through a high-speed broadcast channel. As such, the first information processing device (11) is maintained in the ON state, while the motor vehicle (1) is in the OFF state, to allow it to receive designated data through the high-speed broadcast channel. Further, since the designated data is broadcast at high speed by the information center (20), the time required for the first information processing device (11) to complete reception of the designated data is reduced. |
| US07826816B2 |
Systems, methods, and apparatus for frequency conversion
A method according to one embodiment includes using a quadrature set of local oscillator signals having duty cycles of substantially less than fifty percent to perform a mixing operation on a radio-frequency current signal. Other embodiments include using a quadrature set of local oscillator signals having duty cycles of less than twenty-five percent. |
| US07826808B2 |
Method, apparatus and system for an omni digital package for reducing interference
A system for an omni digital package for reducing interference may include a passive combiner and a transmit signal canceller. The passive combiner may be configured to combine at least two input frequencies to produce a combined signal. The transmit signal canceller may be configured to determine an interference frequency based on a combination of the at least two input frequencies. The transmit signal canceller may include a tap weight determiner configured to determine a weighting coefficient associated with the interference frequency, and a cancellation function configured to perform a cancellation operation to at least partially cancel the interference frequency from the combined signal based on the weighting coefficient. |
| US07826806B2 |
Mobile terminal
A mobile terminal is provided that includes a housing having an opening formed therein, a cover disposed in the opening of the housing, the cover including at least one light transmission opening, an input switch located beneath the opening of the housing and the at least one light transmission opening, a light emitter to illuminate the at least one light transmission opening, and a light constraining member to direct light from the light emitter towards the light transmission opening and to minimize light emitted from the light emitter from being directed peripherally of the light transmission opening. |
| US07826804B1 |
Wireless animal calling system and associated method
A communication system includes a housing with a base section and a lid pivotally connected thereto. The housing includes insulating layers positioned along a bottom surface of the base section and an inner surface of the lid. The lid includes a handle coupled to a distal end thereof. A power supply source is seated within the base section, and a power regulating circuit is coupled thereto. A controller is coupled to the power regulating circuit, and a transducer is coupled to the controller. A receiver is seated within the housing and includes a aerial connected thereto. A transmitter and a portable media player are positioned on a body portion of the operator. A receiver transmits a control signal to a controller, and the controller parses the control signal and generates a corresponding output signal that is transmitted to the transducer. |
| US07826799B2 |
System for calibrating a hands-free system
A method for calibrating a hands-free system is provided. The hands-free system comprising a hands-free unit and a mobile phone, the method comprising the following steps of setting up a connection between the hands-free system and a distant terminal via a mobile telephony network of the mobile phone, transmitting a predetermined test signal from one of the hands-free system and the distant terminal to the other of the hands-free system and the distant terminal, the predetermined test signal being provided in both the hands-free system and the distant terminal as reference test signal, comparing the received test signal to the reference test signal stored in the other of the hands-free system and the distant terminal, and determining the calibration parameters of the hands-free system in accordance with the comparison. |
| US07826798B2 |
Trained data transmission for communication systems
Various embodiments are described for a trained data transmission for communication systems. |
| US07826796B2 |
Radio-resource management system and method thereof, and management apparatus, base station and terminal to be employed for it
Terminals and base stations belonging to service areas 100 to 102 of plural radio operators periodically measure a radio-link quality and an availability ratio of a radio link to notify them to a radio-resource management server 40. The server 40 alters a frequency of the base station, and a transmitted-power quantity of the base station and the terminal based on these measured results to improve the radio-link quality, and reduces interference with a neighboring radio system. When a load is concentrated on a network of a specific radio operator, an instruction of handover is given to the terminal from the server 40 to realize a load distribution within the radio operator, and between the radio operators. When the server 40 detects excessive radio interference between the radio operators, it notifies occurrence of a fault, an interference quantity, a quantity of the transmitted power that the base station should attenuate, and the frequency that the base station should alter to the above radio operator that becomes an interference source. |
| US07826794B2 |
Distributed underwater electromagnetic communication system
An extended underwater electromagnetic transducer is provided with an electrically insulated transmission line typically connected to a transmitter or receiver or transceiver system. The transmission line allows near-field communications with another transmitter or receiver or transceiver system. The transmission line provided is relatively long, the through water signal path length can be significantly reduced. |
| US07826792B2 |
Composite apparatus and method of changing assignment of function of operation button of remote controller of decoding device
A composite apparatus and associated methods are provided. The composite apparatus has a first function device section, a second function device section, and a remote controller section for remotely controlling the first function device section and the second function device section. An operation button double assigned with a remote control function of a specific second function group of other operation button, in the operation button group of the first function device section of the remote controller for remote control, the remote controlling function assigned to the operation button can be changed to further another remote controlling function. When a plurality of controlling functions are set to be switchable, all the plurality of the controlling functions are made to be available, for the operation button of the remote controller. |
| US07826791B2 |
Satellite broadcast receiving and distribution system
The present invention provides a satellite broadcast receiving and distribution system that will permit for the transmission of vertical and horizontal or left-hand circular and right-hand circular polarization signals simultaneously via a single coaxial cable. The system of the present invention will accommodate two different polarity commands from two or more different sources at the same time. This satellite broadcast receiving and distribution system of the present invention will provide for the signals received from the satellite to be converted to standard frequencies so as to permit for signals to travel via existing wiring which the present day amplifiers can transport in buildings, high-rises, hospitals, and the like so that satellite broadcasting can be viewed by numerous individuals by way of a single satellite antenna. |
| US07826788B2 |
Image forming system, image forming apparatus and program
Based on the image size and folding setting, a recording medium storing device is selected among a plurality of the recording medium storing devices, an image is formed on a recording medium in the selected recording medium storing device based on image information, and the recording medium on which the images is formed is folded by a folding device. |
| US07826781B2 |
Image forming apparatus with controlled application of alternating-current bias
An image forming apparatus has a photoconductive member, and a developing roller develops a latent image on the photoconductive member by a first alternating-current bias in the form of a rectangular wave. The following relationships are satisfied in calculating the duty ratio (D1) of the first alternating-current bias using an application period of voltage in a direction to transfer the toner from the developing roller towards the photoconductive member as a positive period: a CV value in the number particle size distribution of the toner is ≦25%, 4 μm≦Dt≦7 μm, 105 Ω·cm≦pv≦109 Ω·cm, 0.4 μm≦Ra≦1.5 μm, and 35%≦D1≦75%. where Dt denotes the volume average particle diameter of the toner, pv denotes the intrinsic resistance value of a developing roller surface, Ra denotes the arithmetic average roughness of the developing roller surface. |
| US07826780B2 |
Developer cartridge
A developer cartridge that can be attached to and detached from an image forming apparatus and contains developer, the developer cartridge includes: a first body that has an opening for supplying the developer; a second body that covers the first body, the second body having a conductive portion that can transmit electricity; and a memory unit that is disposed between the first body and the second body, the memory unit can be connected to a terminal of the image forming apparatus through the conductive portion of the second body, wherein the second body and the first body are movable relative to each other, the second body is able to open and close the opening by a relative movement with regard to the first body. |
| US07826779B2 |
Developer cartridge
A developer cartridge has: a first body having an opening; a memory unit that has a contact terminal, the memory unit is provided at the first body; and a second body that covers the first body, the second body having a exposure hole; wherein the second body and the first body are movable relative to each other, the second body is able to open and close the opening by a relative movement with regard to the first body, and wherein the contact terminal of the memory faces to outside of the developer cartridge through the exposure hole when the second body is positioned at a first position in which the opening is opened, and the contact terminal of the memory unit is covered with the second body when the second body is positioned at a second position and the opening is closed by the second body. |
| US07826775B2 |
Developing device and image forming apparatus
A disclosed developing device includes a developer carrier including a developing sleeve and a magnetic roller provided inside the developing sleeve. The magnet roller includes a regulating magnetic pole and a pump-up magnetic pole that have different polarities from each other. Among an entire region of the moving surface of the developing sleeve in the surface movement direction, a maximum pump-up magnetic force position where the pump-up magnetic force of the pump-up magnetic pole is maximum faces an upstream position with respect to a supplying position at which the developer is supplied from a supplying screw to the developing sleeve. |
| US07826774B2 |
Methods to control transitions between color printing and black-only printing in an image forming device
The present application is directed to methods for transitioning between color printing and black-only printing in an image forming device. A cartridge is moved between a first position in which color printing may occur and a second position in which black-only printing may occur. In the first position, a color developer unit may be in contact with a color photoconductor unit. The color developer unit may be spaced from the color photoconductor unit in the second position. During the transition, a voltage supplied to the cartridge and a speed of a drive motor driving the cartridge may be adjusted. |
| US07826770B2 |
Printing apparatus and method
Disclosed is a printing apparatus and method to correct for image non-uniformities. The printing apparatus comprises a photoreceptor (P/R) belt charging device positioned to charge the P/R belt after an image is transferred to a media sheet. Subsequently, an image sensing device scans the P/R belt residual image or patches to detect image non-uniformities. |
| US07826768B2 |
Cartridge and image forming device
A cartridge according to one aspect of the invention is detachably attachable to a main body including a first terminal. The cartridge comprises: a case; a memory device configured to store information concerning the cartridge; a cover member configured to cover a part of the case and movably supported on the case to allow a relative movement to the case; and a second terminal provided at the cover member and electrically connected to the memory device. In a state where the cartridge is attached to the main body, the second terminal contacts with the first terminal of the main body. |
| US07826765B2 |
Developer container and image forming apparatus including the developer container with sealing mechanism providing enhanced usability
A developer container supplies developer to a development device and includes a storage, an opening, a first seal member, a through-hole, and a second seal member. The developer is supplied from the storage to the development device through the opening. The first seal member seals the opening and is pulled in a predetermined direction to unseal the opening. The through-hole guides the first seal member toward an opposite side of the opening. The second seal member is provided on at least one of a lead-in opening and a lead-out opening of the through-hole and elastically blocks the at least one of the lead-in opening and the lead-out opening. A non-bonded portion of the second seal member elastically blocks the at least one of the lead-in opening and the lead-out opening when the first seal member is pulled out from the through-hole through the non-bonded portion. |
| US07826764B2 |
Image forming apparatus with an intermediate transfer member and a plurality of cleaning members
An image forming apparatus including an image forming device; an intermediate transfer member; a secondary transferring device; a first cleaning member; a second cleaning member; a contacting/separating device; a release-agent applying device; and a controlling unit which controls the contacting/separating device so that, at a predetermined timing, the first cleaning member is displaced to the state where the first cleaning member is separated from the surface of the intermediate transfer member. |
| US07826762B2 |
Image forming apparatus with toner fusion preventing feature for preventing toner fusion between recording sheets
An image forming apparatus capable of preventing toner fusion between recording sheets to thereby offer high usability, with a construction that does not cause increase in cost and size of the apparatus and an undue reduction in productivity. In the image forming apparatus, a toner use amount in a partial region of an toner image transferred from an intermediate transfer belt to a recording sheet is detected. When it is determined that the toner use amount detected for the partial region is equal to or greater than a predetermined amount, a recording sheet conveyance interval is widened. |
| US07826759B2 |
Power control method and apparatus to heat a heating roller
A power control method includes heating a heating roller provided to fix a toner image of print data in an image forming apparatus, the heating roller having a heating resistor to receive roller power. The power control method includes gradually increasing a maximum level of a source power supplied from an external source up to a specific maximum supply level, supplying the maximum source power to the heating resistor as the roller power while gradually increasing the maximum level of the source power up to a specific maximum supply level, measuring a surface temperature of the heating roller, further supplying the source power of which maximum level is equal to the maximum supply level to the heating resistor as the roller power until the measured surface temperature reaches a specific fixing target temperature, and fixing the toner image onto a fed printing medium. |
| US07826758B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive drum to which an electrostatic image is formed and a developing sleeve carrying a developer including toner carrier. An alternating voltage is applied to the sleeve to form an alternating electric field between the sleeve and the drum to develop the electrostatic image with the developer. A relation |K1|<|K2| is satisfied, where K1: a slope at an electric field intensity Ed=|(Vp2−VL)/D|, K2: a slope at an electric field intensity Eb=|(Vp1−VL)/D|, VL: a potential [V] of the electrostatic image at which a maximum density is obtained, Vp1: a peak potential [V] that provides a potential difference to move the toner toward the drum, Vp2: a peak potential [V] that provides a potential difference to move the toner toward the sleeve, and D: a closest distance [m] between the drum and the sleeve. |
| US07826754B2 |
Image forming apparatus with thickness detecting unit and parameter setting unit
An image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive member, a charging device, a developing device, a thickness detecting unit and a parameter setting unit. A photosensitive layer is formed on a surface of the photosensitive member. The charging device charges the photosensitive member. The developing device forms a toner image on the surface of the photosensitive member. The thickness detecting unit detects a thickness of the photosensitive layer on a basis of a value of a current supplied to the charging device. When the thickness detecting unit detects the thickness of the photosensitive layer, the parameter setting unit sets at least one of a charge parameter for the charging device and a development parameter to be different from that used in forming an image on a recording medium by transferring a toner image formed on the surface of the photosensitive member onto the recording medium. |
| US07826752B1 |
Optical transmission apparatuses, methods, and systems
Apparatuses, systems, and methods are disclosed that provide for an agile coherent optical modem that can generate agile RF waveforms and data rates on a generic opto-electronic hardware platform. An “agile coherent optical modem” [ACOM] approach to optical communications by employing a software configurable and adaptive technologies to the transport system. The ACOM generate agile RF waveforms and data rates on a generic opto-electronic hardware platform. By employing advanced communication techniques to the optical domain such as wavelength agility, waveform agility, and symbol rate agility, it is possible to enable robust optical communications. The ACOM allows for the transport capacity of a communications link to be varied, thereby accommodating variations in transport conditions, range, opacity, etc. |
| US07826750B2 |
Method and arrangement for demodulating an optical DPSK binary signal
An optical differentially phase shift keyed or DPSK binary signal which in the event of phase changes exhibits amplitude reductions and is phase-demodulated is provided. The received optical DPSK binary signal is additionally amplitude-demodulated and resulting phase and amplitude information is evaluated. |
| US07826749B2 |
Method and system for quantum key distribution over multi-user WDM network with wavelength routing
A system and a method for quantum key distribution over a multi-user wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) network are disclosed. The system comprises a tunable or multi-wavelength transmitter; a plurality of receivers, each assigned a receiving-wavelength; and a multi-user WDM network linking the transmitter to the receivers. The transmitter can select a receiver among the receivers to be communicated therewith and transmit quantum signals to the selected receiver over the WDM network. The quantum signals are at a wavelength equal to a receiving-wavelength of the receiver. Therefore the WDM network allows quantum signals to be communicated between the transmitter and the receivers by wavelength routing. |
| US07826747B2 |
Optical burst transport using an electro-optic switch
An optical node for optical burst transport includes optical components operable to transmit and receive optical signals over an optical transmission medium. The optical components include a demultiplexer that is operable to receive a wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) optical signal at an input port and to separate the WDM optical signal into two or more constituent wavelength signals, and a switching matrix that includes one or more electro-optic switches. Each electro-optic switch is operable to receive a wavelength signal and switch the signal to one of two outputs, and the outputs include an output port of the optical node and one or more drop output ports of the optical node. |
| US07826746B2 |
Transient control solution for optical networks
An optically amplified wavelength division multiplexing network has the functionality to add/drop channels at the optical add/drop multiplexing (OADM) nodes. The OADM node includes a receiver amplifier, an OADM module, and a transmitter amplifier. Once the OADM node detects a loss of signal (LOS) due to a fiber cut or network element failure upstream, the receiver amplifier is kept in operation as a noise source. The output of the receiver amplifier is immediately raised by increasing pump power to compensate for the LOS. The noise power received at the transmitter amplifier from the receiver amplifier is substantially equal to the signal power expected before LOS. The transient effect of downstream optical amplifiers is therefore completely suppressed and the inter-channel stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) induced spectrum tilt does not change. After the noise power is raised, the receiver amplifier may be shut down at a speed much slower than the speed of downstream amplifier control circuitry. |
| US07826741B2 |
Optical network system
An optical transponder includes a mapping unit mapping, out of multiple types of signals including a first client signal and a second client signal that transmission rates are different from each other, the first client signal having a lower transmission rate to a Generic Framing Procedure (GFP) frame defined in ITU-T Recommendations; a coding unit applying 64B/66B coding to the first client signal mapped to the GFP frame; and a multiplexing unit multiplexing the first client signal to which the 64B/66B coding has been applied and the second client signal in a frame conforming to an Optical Transport Network (OTN) defined in ITU-T Recommendations; in which the first client signal and the second client signal are accommodated in an identical frame in a mixed manner and transmitted as an optical signal having one wavelength. |
| US07826739B2 |
Determination and adjustment of laser modulation current in an optical transmitter
Systems and methods for controlling the modulation current of a laser included as a component of an optical transmitter, such as an optical transceiver module, are disclosed. Control of the modulation current, which affects various laser operational parameters, including extinction ratio and optical modulation amplitude, enables operation of the laser to be optimized, thereby enabling reliable transceiver performance to be achieved. In one embodiment, a method for modifying the modulation current in an optical transceiver module includes first sensing analog voltage data that proportionally relates to an actual modulation current of the laser. Once sensed, the analog voltage data are converted to digital voltage data. Using the digital voltage data, the actual modulation current of the laser is determined, then a desired modulation current is determined. Should a discrepancy exist between the actual and desired modulation currents, the actual modulation current is modified to match the desired current. |
| US07826735B2 |
Auto focus unit and digital camera
An auto focus unit, comprising a pursuit block, a lens driver, a detection block, and a controller, is provided. The pursuit block pursues the movements of an optical image of the target-object. The auto focus unit brings an optical image of the target-object into focus on a light-receiving surface. The target-object is desired to be brought into focus. The lens driver causes a focus lens to move so that an optical image of a scanning-area is brought into focus. The detection block detects the light intensity of an area including the scanning area. The controller causes the pursuit block to suspend a pursuit of the target-object when the light intensity detected by the detection block is lower than a predetermined threshold value. |
| US07826734B2 |
Camera module and portable terminal using the same
A camera module in which a lens holder that holds one or more lenses is made movable in an optical axis direction and in which an auto-focus function and a zoom function are assembled is reduced in size and weight. To achieve this, the lens holder is provided with a guide bearing section, a bearing section, and a piezo element holding section, a guide shaft is placed in parallel with the optical axis and is made to be in contact with the guide bearing section, a drive shaft is inserted into the bearing section so that the lens holder can be moved in the direction of the optical axis along the guide shaft, a piezo element is pressed by a securing member, having elastic force, against the piezoe element holding section and secured in place and the drive shaft receives driving force by the piezo element. |
| US07826733B2 |
Adjustable anti-shake image-sensing module and method for adjusting the same
An adjustable anti-shake image-sensing module includes a base and a movable platform moving along a first straight line and a second straight line with respect to the base. The movable platform comprises a pair of Hall elements respectively corresponding to the first and second straight lines. When the adjustable anti-shake image-sensing module is adjusted, the movable platform is pressed with respect to the base and is thereby located in an aligned position. A pair of magnets is then disposed on the base and the positions of the magnets with respect to the Hall elements are fine-tuned. When aligned with the Hall elements, the magnets are fixed to the base. A pair of circuit boards is disposed on the movable platform and the positions of the circuit boards with respect to the magnets are adjusted. The circuit boards are then fixed to the movable platform. |
| US07826728B2 |
Image processing system and camera
The image processing system is applied to dentistry, for example, and performs photography of the teeth of a patient while causing a plurality of illumination light LEDs of different wavelengths to emit light by means of a photography device when producing a crown repair or denture of the patient, whereby image data are acquired. The image data are transmitted to a dental filing system constituting a processing device where color reproduction data are determined through computation. In addition, color reproduction data are transmitted to the dental technician's office via a public switched network. Therefore, a repair material compound ratio calculation database is searched and the compound data for a material that matches the hue of the patient's teeth are found, whereby a crown repair or denture or the like that very closely matches the color of the patient's teeth is produced. |
| US07826727B2 |
Electric fireplace
An electric fireplace includes a fireplace housing having a housing first and second side walls and a housing top wall, a housing floor, a housing back wall, and a housing open end opposite the housing back wall; a flame simulator mounted inside the housing; a diffusion screen removably mounted upright within the housing in front of the flame simulator; an ember bed simulating the appearance of fireplace fuel such as fire wood, embers or coal, and removably mounted inside the housing in front of the flame simulator, so that removal of the ember bed and the flame cutout panel provides access to the flame simulator from the housing open end; and a hot air generator removably mounted inside the housing to be accessible from the housing open end. |
| US07826725B2 |
Water level sensor for steam humidifier
A water level sensor for a steam humidifier. The water level sensor includes a plurality of conductive probes, where the plurality of conductive probes includes at least one common probe and a plurality of water level probes. Each of the conductive probes are separated from each other conductive probe. The water level sensor further includes a non-conductive overmolding covering at least a portion of each of the conductive probes. The non-conductive overmolding defines a flange configured to seal an opening in a tank of the steam humidifier and an electrical connection point configured to receive an electrical connector for providing electrical connections to each of the conductive probes. A steam humidifier is also disclosed. |
| US07826722B2 |
Driving apparatus for fan motor
A driving apparatus for fan motors, electrically connected between a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal generator and a controller, includes a converter electrically connected to the PWM signal generator, generating a first reference voltage according to the duty cycle of a PWM signal generated by the PWM signal generator; a reference voltage generator electrically connected to an external power source, generating a second reference voltage according to the external power source; and a comparator having a first and second input terminal and an output terminal; wherein the first input terminal is electrically connected to the converter, the second input terminal is connected to the reference voltage generator and the output terminal is connected to the controller, and when the first reference voltage is greater than the second reference voltage, a driving signal is output from the output terminal to the controller to control the rotation speed of the fan motor. |
| US07826721B2 |
Optical disc recording apparatus and method, and disc recording apparatus with camera
The present invention has been made to increase the number of times of imaging operation in the case where a DVD+RW is used as a recording medium. The present invention provides an optical disc recording apparatus that records data onto an optical disc that adopts a format in which title and chapter are specified as data management units, the title being a playback unit of contents recorded in contiguous physical areas and the chapter being a unit obtained by dividing the title into a plurality of pieces, which includes a record unit that receives contents data as an input, encodes the contents data into a data stream compatible with the format, and records the encoded data stream onto the optical disc, and a control unit that controls recording processing for the optical disc, wherein the control unit records new contents data onto the optical disc in the physical area continuing from the last title of all recorded titles as a chapter continuing from the last chapter included in the last title. |
| US07826719B2 |
Method for recording information on a record medium, record medium containing information, and method and device for reading information from a record medium
A method is described for recording an audiovisual information stream comprising a plurality of alternative parts (VS1; VS2; VS3) and at least one common part (AS1; AS2; GS1; GS2), wherein the alternative parts of the information stream are recorded in an interleaved manner. Each of the alternative information stream parts is divided into alternative information stream blocks (VSB1(i); VSB2(i); VSB3(i)). Each of the common information stream parts is divided into common information stream blocks (ASBI(i); ASB2(i); GSB1(i); GSB2(i)). The information stream is recorded as a succession of consecutive interleaved units (IU(i)), each interleaved unit comprising one corresponding block (ASB 1(i); ASB2(i); GSB1(i); GSB2(i)) of each of the common information stream parts (AS1; AS2; GS1; GS2) and one corresponding block (VSBI(i); VSB2(i); VSB3(i)) of each of the alternative information stream parts (VS1; VS2; VS3), the common information stream blocks being separate from the alternative information stream blocks. |
| US07826718B2 |
Method and apparatus to facilitate the efficient implementation of trick modes in a personal video recording system
A method and apparatus are disclosed for facilitating efficient operation of trick modes in a personal video recording (PVR) system. Stream-navigation data from a data stream is captured and pre-processed to generate a frame-correlated NAV table comprising one entry for each frame within the data stream, during recording of the data stream. The stream-navigation data comprises start code data, content rating data, and conditional access data that is embedded in the data stream. During playback of the data stream in a user-selected trick mode, the frame-correlated NAV table is used to generate command packets that are sent to a data decoder along with selected frames of the data stream. The selected frames are decoded based on information in the command packets and certain selected frames may be displayed as part of the trick mode. |
| US07826717B2 |
Information recording method, information recording medium, and information reproducing method, wherein information is stored on a data recording portion and a management information recording portion
With this invention, at least one of a video file containing video information, a still picture file containing still picture information, and an audio file containing audio information and a management file having management information on a control method of reproducing the information in the file are recorded on an information storage medium. This realizes a data structure that causes the recording and deleting places on the information storage medium to correspond spuriously to places on a single tape, such as a VTR tape. Use of the data structure provides users with an easy-to-use interface. |
| US07826715B2 |
Method and apparatus for reproducing data from the recording medium
A method for downloading data associated with a recording medium from an external source, and reproducing data recorded in the recording medium is disclosed. A method for reproducing data from a recording medium in a player equipped with a network device (i.e., a Network Equipped Player) includes the steps of: a) if the recording medium is loaded, transmitting network configuration information and identification (ID) information of the loaded recording medium to a content provider (CP); b) downloading data associated with the recording medium from the content provider (CP) over a network; and c) reproducing data transmitted over the network and data recorded in the recording medium. |
| US07826714B2 |
Controlling movie subtitles and captions
A method for controlling subtitles and captions information in video is described. The method includes determining at least one subtitle or caption within a video data stream, pausing the video data stream based on the determination and resuming play of the video data stream after a determined time period. The method may also include storing at least one subtitle or caption in a device memory based on the determination of at least one subtitle or caption within the video data stream, receiving a review subtitle or caption request at the device player and presenting at least one stored subtitle or caption for review. A system and computer readable medium including computer readable code for controlling subtitles and captions information in video is also described. |
| US07826713B2 |
Storage medium storing multimedia data for reproduction of AV data and programming function, and reproducing apparatus and method thereof
A storage medium storing multimedia data for the reproduction of audio-visual (AV) data and a programming function, and a reproducing apparatus and method thereof. The storage medium includes: reproduction mode data for reproducing audio-visual (AV) data; program data including a plurality of program applications for providing interactive functions with a user and/or additional functions using the AV data; system data for controlling the execution of the reproduction mode data and the program data; and application objects for managing the execution of the program data and information on the reproduction mode data to be reproduced along with the execution of the program data. Accordingly, various user interfaces and/or various additional functions can be provided, as well as simple reproduction of AV data. Also the program application can be prevented from using malicious intent, and program applications having the same function can be reused without modification or recompilation. |
| US07826712B2 |
Method and apparatus for receiving, storing, and presenting multimedia programming without indexing prior to storage
A method and apparatus for improved digital recording and presentation of broadcast information is disclosed. Received broadcast data, which may include video, audio, private, or other data, relating to one or more particular content programs, is presented from an input section to a buffer and recorded directly onto a storage device without any intelligent parsing, such as indexing, and without any manipulation by intermediate hardware or software functions. Upon normal presentation, statistics are generated to determine the ideal number of frames to skip, the number of bytes to seek, and the size of data files to read from storage during time-shifted presentation. Algorithms and processes are provided to dynamically optimize time-shifted presentation. In this way, data may be captured to the storage device more efficiently and economically, and the time-shifted presentation operations can easily be performed in a smoother, more nuanced manner with the application of appropriate probabilistic algorithms. |
| US07826708B2 |
System and method for automatically customizing a buffered media stream
A “media stream customizer” customizes buffered media streams by inserting one or more media objects into the stream to maintain an approximate buffer level. Specifically, when media objects such as songs, jingles, advertisements, etc., are deleted from the buffered stream (based on some user specified preferences), the buffer level will decrease. Therefore, over time, as more objects are deleted, the amount of the media stream being buffered continues to decrease, thereby limiting the ability to perform additional deletions from the stream. To address this limitation, the media stream customizer automatically chooses one or more media objects to insert back into the stream, and ensures that the inserted objects are consistent with any surrounding content of the media stream, thereby maintaining an approximate buffer level. In addition, the buffered content can also be stretched using pitch preserving audio stretching techniques to further compensate for deletions from the buffered stream. |
| US07826700B2 |
In-line light sensor
The sensor includes an optical waveguide defined in a light-transmitting medium. The waveguide includes a sensing portion and an non-sensing portion. The light-transmitting medium included in the sensing portion has defects that provide the light-transmitting medium with a deep band gap level between a valence band of the light-transmitting medium and a conduction band of the light-transmitting medium. The deep band gap level is configured such that the waveguide guiding light signals through the light-transmitting medium in the sensing portion causes free carriers to be generated in the light-transmitting medium. A detector is configured to detect the free carriers in the sensing region of the waveguide. |
| US07826694B2 |
Electrical/optical integration scheme using direct copper bonding
An electro-optic semiconductor package and fabrication method provides enhanced performance. An integrated circuit (IC) having one or more IC contact pads is provided, where the IC contact pads are connected to an IC on the IC wafer. An intermediate wafer having one or more intermediate contact pads is provided, where the intermediate contact pads are connected to an electro-optic arrangement on the intermediate wafer. The method further provides for direct copper bonding the IC contact pads to adjacent intermediate contact pads such that an electro-optic semiconductor package results. |
| US07826688B1 |
Enhancing the sensitivity of resonant optical modulating and switching devices
Embodiments of the inventions described herein comprise a device and method for manipulating an optical beam. The method comprises propagating an optical beam through a waveguide in proximity to a resonant cavity and pumping the resonant cavity with sufficient optical power to induce non-linearities in the refractive index of the resonant cavity. The method further comprises tuning the resonant frequency band of the resonant cavity with a modulation signal such that the optical beam is manipulated in a useful way. |
| US07826685B2 |
Spatial and spectral calibration of a panchromatic, multispectral image pair
Method and system for creating a fused image from an image pair comprising a high resolution panchromatic image and lower resolution multi-spectral image. The method includes obtaining image data (204) defining a first image of a panchromatic image type and a second image of a multi-spectral image type. The first image has a first spatial resolution and a first spectral resolution. The second image has a second spatial resolution which is lower than the first spatial resolution and a second spectral resolution higher than the first spectral resolution. The method also includes a step (212) of concurrently calculating a point-spread function for down-sampling the first image to the second spatial resolution, and a set of weights for down-sampling the second image to the first spectral resolution. |
| US07826683B2 |
Directional feathering of image objects
This specification describes technologies relating to directional feathering of an image object. In general, one aspect of the subject matter described in this specification can be embodied in a method that includes obtaining an image object and directional information for the image object, the object including a shape having edges. The method also includes creating an opacity mask for the image object based on the shape of the image object. The method further includes processing the opacity mask such that opacity values in the opacity mask are different going from edge to interior of the shape and the opacity mask is processed in accordance with the directional information of the image object. Additionally, the method includes outputting a composite image based on the image object and the opacity mask. |
| US07826679B2 |
Image reading apparatus
An image reading apparatus includes an image reader, operable to read an image corresponding to an original and a back pad, the original being placed on the back pad so that outside of the original contains an area extending in overall width of the back pad; a first data generator, operable to generate first image data based on the image; a second data generator, operable to generate second image data based on a part of the image corresponding to the area; a first processor, operable to compare the first image data with the second image data so as to generate first edge information; and a detector, operable to detect an edge of the original based on the first edge information. |
| US07826676B2 |
Method for filtering data with arbitrary kernel filters
A computer implemented method filters input data with a kernel filter. A kernel filter is defined, and a set of unique filter coefficients for the kernel filter are determined. A linkage set is constructed for each unique filter coefficient such that the linkage set includes relative links to positions in the kernel filter that have identical filter coefficients, and in which each relative link is an inverse of the position of the unique filter coefficient. Each input data point is processed by multiply values on which the kernel filter is centered by each of the unique filter coefficients, and adding results of the multiplying to the corresponding output data points as referenced by the relative links. |
| US07826675B2 |
Feature-aware image defect removal
Provided are systems, methods and techniques which use local image properties to determine which potential defects in an image should be corrected. In one representative embodiment, potential defects in an image are identified based on edge sharpness, and measures of strength for the different potential defects are calculated. The measures of strength for the potential defects are then evaluated in view of certain local properties of the image, in an immediate vicinity of such potential defects, in order to identify the image defects to be corrected. |
| US07826674B1 |
Content signal analysis
A method for modulating a content signal (18) to contain an auxiliary signal, the content signal (18) having content segments, the method comprising logging detections of a test content signal (20) to create one or more log files (44); parsing the one or more log files (44) to create a profile file (46); scheduling the profile file (46) to create an encode file (48); and encoding the content signal (18) with the auxiliary signal according to the encode file (48) and a modulation method. |
| US07826673B2 |
Methods and systems for inter-layer image prediction with color-conversion
Methods for predicting a high dynamic range (HDR) image element based on a received low dynamic range (LDR) image element or data and a HDR image element or data. LDR data is extracted to create either a color-converted image element or a LDR image luminance element and a LDR image chrominance element. The created image element or elements are modified either based on prediction data or through a luminance modification operation and a chrominance modification operation. The HDR residual image element is then combined with either a HDR prediction image element or a HDR luminance prediction element and a HDR chrominance prediction element to form an HDR image element. Alternatively, a residual HDR image element may be calculated through a comparison operation. |
| US07826672B2 |
Lithographic apparatus and device manufacturing method utilizing a multiple dictionary compression method for FPD
A system is provided that includes a device having an emissive portion, a memory, and a dictionary decompressor. The device having an emissive portion is configured to produce a patterned beam. The memory is configured to store a compressed representation of a requested dose pattern, comprising two groups of repeating pattern features, to be formed on a surface by the patterned beam. The dictionary decompressor at least partially decompresses the compressed representation. The dictionary decompressor comprises a first dictionary memory configured to store pattern data corresponding to a first group of the two groups of repeating pattern features and a second dictionary memory configured to store pattern data corresponding to a second group of the two groups of repeating pattern features. The repeating pattern features in the first group have one or more differing characteristics than the repeating pattern features in the second group. Related methods are also provided. |
| US07826671B2 |
Method and system for quantization layer reduction in digital image processing
An image processing method and system is provided for reducing the quantization layer in an input quantized image. The system detects if a pixel in a quantized input image belongs to a ramp area in a selected direction. Based on such ramp detection, a quantization level is dynamically selected. Then, a pre-segmentation operation is performed on a smoothly changing image area for each pixel in that direction. That area can then be refined by segmentation. A low-pass filtering process can then be applied to the refined segment to obtain filtered pixels. An overall gain value is then determined and used to adjust the filtered pixel luminance values to obtain output luminance values with higher precision values than that of the input image luminance values. This provides an output video image with reduced quantization layer and less perceivable quantization artifacts. |
| US07826670B2 |
Data compression apparatus and data compression program storage medium
There are provided a data compression apparatus and a data compression program capable of performing new and preferable compression processing applicable to compression of CT data. They are provided with: a thinning processing section which creates, by cyclically thinning out a numeric value from the sequence of numeric values constituting the data to be compressed, first data to be compressed which is constituted by a sequence of the numeric values taken out from the data to be compressed by the thinning out, and second data to be compressed which is constituted by a sequence of the remaining numeric values; a lossless compression section which performs lossless compression processing for the first data to be compressed which has been created by the thinning processing section; and a lossy compression section which performs lossy compression processing for the second data to be compressed which has been created by the thinning processing section. |
| US07826667B2 |
Apparatus for monitor, storage and back editing, retrieving of digitally stored surveillance images
A system and method of recording digitally stored surveillance images comprises dividing a series of continuous digital picture image frames according to timing intervals; storing a reference image in a frame buffer of a motion analyzer; detecting a motion difference between a captured image and the reference image; attributing a motion code and time stamp on the captured image; and recording the captured image when the motion code and time stamp match a predetermined threshold. |
| US07826661B2 |
Method and apparatus for representing a group of images
A method of representing a group of images comprises determining the values of one or more dominant colors for the group of images and deriving a dominant color representation expressing the group of images in terms of one or more of said dominant color values. |
| US07826658B2 |
Image processing system, image processing method, image processing recording medium, and program suitable for extraction processing
An image-processing apparatus for processing images, whereby the image-processing apparatus includes an image capture unit, a filter, and an extraction unit. The image capture unit acquires image signals composed of multiple color components of a 2×2 color-coding array. The filter then calculates an average pixel value associated with any (2n−1) pixels acquired by the image capture unit, whereby each of the filtered (2n−1) pixels include a target pixel and adjacent pixels having the same color component as that of the target pixel, and the calculated average is designated as the average of the target pixel and the adjacent pixels. At the extraction unit the pixel having the average calculated by the filter as the pixel value is extracted at an extraction rate of 1/(2n−1), where n is a positive integer value. |
| US07826657B2 |
Automatically generating a content-based quality metric for digital images
Techniques are described herein for automatically evaluating the quality of digital images based on one or more color characteristics of the images. In some embodiments, a quality metric that indicates the likelihood that the digital images convey semantics is generated based on color characteristics of the digital images. The quality metric may be used, for example, to determine which keyframe to use to make a thumbnail to represent video data. In some embodiments, feature values are generated for an image based on color characteristics of the image, and the feature values are assigned to bins. In such embodiments, the quality metric may be generated to indicate how uniform the distribution of feature values is among the bins. |
| US07826656B2 |
Method for compensating pixel interference of image
A method for compensating a pixel of an image is provided The method includes using four median value extraction matrices to obtain the edge information of the image, where the edge information obtained by two of the matrices is Gb value, and the edge information obtained by the other two matrices is Gr value, calculating the corresponding average values of the Gb and Gr values, multiplying a differential value between the average value of the Gb value and the average value of the Gr value with a proportion value to obtain a compensation value, and adding the compensation value to or subtracting the compensation value from the original Gb and Gr values to obtain compensated Gb and Gr values. |
| US07826652B2 |
Method for forming an optimally exposed image of cytological specimen
First and second images of respective portions of a cytological specimen are acquired at different brightness levels. Sections of the respective first image are selected and combined with selected sections of the second image of each portion to form a composite image, so that non-nuclei cytological components that would otherwise appear dark in a single exposure image are brighter in the composite image. |
| US07826649B2 |
Data management in a linear-array-based microscope slide scanner
Systems and methods for processing, storing, and viewing extremely large imagery data rapidly produced by a linear-array-based microscope slide scanner are provided. The system receives, processes, and stores imagery data produced by the linear scanner as a series of overlapping image stripes and combines the data into a seamless and contiguous baseline image. The baseline image is logically mapped into a plurality of regions that are individually addressed to facilitate viewing and manipulation of the baseline image. The system enables dynamic imagery data compression while scanning and capturing new image stripes that eliminates the overhead associated with storing uncompressed image stripes. The system also creates intermediate level images, thereby organizing the baseline image into a variable level pyramid structure referred to as a virtual slide. The system facilitates the use of virtual slides in applications such as telemedicine, telepathology, microscopy education, and analysis of high value specimens like tissue arrays. |
| US07826647B2 |
Methods and systems for iteratively identifying vascular structure
Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a method for identifying vascular structure in an image including: receiving at least one image including a vascular network; identifying at least one seed point corresponding to the vascular network; identifying automatically at least a portion of the vascular network to form an original vascular identification based at least in part on the at least one seed point; and allowing a dynamic user interaction with the vascular identification to form an iterative vascular identification. In an embodiment, the iterative vascular identification is formable in real-time. In an embodiment, the iterative vascular identification is displayable in real-time. In an embodiment, the iterative vascular identification is formable without re-identifying substantially unaltered portions of the vascular identification. |
| US07826645B1 |
Wireless fingerprint attendance system
A wireless fingerprint attendance system comprises at least one fingerprint scanner and a computer server. First templates of fingerprint related data are stored on the server, and similar templates are stored on the scanner. When a fingerprint is scanned, the fingerprint data is transmitted wirelessly to the server, where a comparison is made. The server directs the scanner to display an indication whether or not a match was found. If available, an updated list of templates of fingerprint related data is transmitted from the server to the scanner and is added to the first templates. If a connection is not made, the scanned data remains on the scanner, which makes the comparison using the scanner templates. At periodic intervals the scanner and server attempt to connect. At a successful connection, the scanned fingerprint data is wirelessly transmitted to the server, and the scanned fingerprint data is purged from the scanner. |
| US07826643B2 |
Three-dimensional ear biometrics system and method
A method of automatic human identification includes matching an image of a subject'so ear against a database of images of ears from identified people to identify the subject. |
| US07826640B1 |
Hierarchical static shadow detection method
There is provided a hierarchical shadow detection system for color aerial images. The system performs well with highly complex images as well as images having different brightness and illumination conditions. The system consists of two hierarchical levels of processing. The first level involves, pixel level classification, through modeling the image as a reliable lattice and then maximizing the lattice reliability using the EM algorithm. Next, region level verification, through further exploiting the domain knowledge is performed. Further analyses show that the MRF model based segmentation is a special case of the pixel level classification model. A quantitative comparison of the system and a state-of-the-art shadow detection algorithm clearly indicates that the new system is highly effective in detecting shadow regions in an image under different illumination and brightness conditions. |
| US07826637B2 |
Digital watermark embedding apparatus, digital watermark detecting apparatus, digital watermark embedding method, digital watermark detecting method and computer program product
A digital watermark embedding apparatus for embedding watermark information into a digital content, obtains a predetermined topological invariant corresponding to the watermark information to be embedded into the digital content, and sets the predetermined topological invariant to the digital content by modifying the digital content into which the watermark information is to be embedded. |
| US07826636B2 |
Visual watermark in both data area and inner-ring of record carrier
A record carrier including a data area for storing data in the form of marks, in which the data is encoded by means of a channel code, wherein a parameter of the channel code is controlled so as to introduce a predetermined run length distribution in the marks on the record carrier, thereby introducing first information relating to a watermark, and a non-data area comprising second information relating to a watermark, the first and the second information forming the watermark. This watermark, extending over the data-area and the inner-ring area and/or the outer-ring area, can be used for checking the authenticity of the record carrier and/or the recordings made on this record carrier. |
| US07826626B2 |
Cross-over frequency selection and optimization of response around cross-over
A system and method provide at least a single stage optimization process which maximizes the flatness of the net subwoofer and satellite speaker response in and around a cross-over region. A first stage determines an optimal cross-over frequency by minimizing an objective function in a region around the cross-over frequency. Such objective function measures the variation of the magnitude response in the cross-over region. An optional second stage applies all-pass filtering to reduce incoherent addition of signals from different speakers in the cross-over region. The all-pass filters are preferably included in signal processing for the satellite speakers, and provide a frequency dependent phase adjustment to reduce incoherency between the center and left and right speakers and the subwoofer. The all-pass filters are derived using a recursive adaptive algorithm. |
| US07826625B2 |
Method and apparatus for frame-based loudspeaker equalization
A method and apparatus for loudspeaker equalization are described. In one embodiment, the method comprising generating a set of parameters using an invertible, non-linear system based on input audio data and output data corresponding to a prediction of an output of a loudspeaker in response to the input data, and controlling an exact non-linear inverse of the non-linear system using the set of parameters to output a predistorted version of the input data. |
| US07826624B2 |
Speakerphone self calibration and beam forming
A communication system includes a set of microphones, a speaker, memory and a processor. The processor is configured to operate on input signals from the microphones to obtain a resultant signal representing the output of a virtual microphone which is highly directed in a target direction. The processor also is configured for self calibration. The processor may provide an output signal for transmission from the speaker. The output signal may be a noise signal, or, a portion of a live conversation. The processor captures one or more input signals in response to the output signal transmission uses the output signal and input signals to estimate parameters of the speaker and/or microphone. |
| US07826623B2 |
Handsfree system for use in a vehicle
The invention is directed to a handsfree system for use in a vehicle comprising a microphone array with at least two microphones and a signal processing means wherein the signal processing means comprises the superdirective beamformer with fixed superdirective filters. |
| US07826619B2 |
Key-updating method, encryption processing method, key-insulated cryptosystem and terminal device
In a key-insulated cryptosystem according to the present invention, a plurality of external devices are associated with a number of updates of a terminal secret key which has already been updated, and a different piece of secret information is stored in each of the external devices. In addition, a key-updating method in the key-insulated cryptosystem according to the present invention includes steps of: selecting one of the external devices depending on the number of updates of the terminal secret key; and causing the selected external device to generate key-updating information used for updating the terminal secret key based on the number of updates and the stored secret information. |
| US07826617B2 |
Apparatus and method for determining uplink ciphering activation time in universal mobile telecommunications system user equipment
The details of an apparatus and method for determining uplink ciphering activation time in universal mobile telecommunications system user equipment are disclosed herein. The ciphering activation time is determined for radio bearers other than RB2 by measuring the data rate on each target radio bearer during the time that it takes for a polling or RRC message sent from the user equipment UE to be acknowledged by the network UTRAN. For RB2, the uplink ciphering activation time is determined by taking into account the size of the RRC response message and the data already queued on RB2 for transmission. |
| US07826614B1 |
Methods and apparatus for passing initialization vector information from software to hardware to perform IPsec encryption operation
A network interface system is presented for interfacing a host system with a network, including a bus interface system, a media access control system, a memory system, a security system, and a descriptor management system, wherein the descriptor management system obtains initialization vector information from the host system and provides the initialization vector information to the security system. A method of encrypting outgoing data in a network interface system is provided, comprising providing initialization vector information from a descriptor to a security system in a network interface system, selectively encrypting or authenticating outgoing data using the security system, and selectively employing an initialization vector from the outgoing data to perform CBC encryption of the outgoing data according to the initialization vector information. |
| US07826610B2 |
Method to secure an electronic assembly against attacks by error introduction
The invention concerns a method to secure an electronic assembly implementing any algorithm against attacks by error introduction. The method according to the invention consists in performing an additional calculation using a verification function on at least one intermediate result in order to obtain a calculation signature and in performing a least once more all or part of the calculation in order to recalculate said signature and compare them in order to detect a possible error. |
| US07826609B1 |
Method and apparatus for digital near-end echo/near-end crosstalk cancellation with adaptive correlation
A communication transmitting and receiving system in which the effects of near-end echo and near-end crosstalk signal from the communication medium are mitigated by adaptively reproducing the near-end echo and near-end crosstalk signal, which is then subtracted from the received signal. Filter coefficients for a Finite Impulse Response filter are adaptively generated to reproduce the near-end echo and near-end crosstalk. The filter coefficients are regenerated for the Finite Impulse Response filter in an adaptive correlator at the arrival of each received signal and whereby each new filter coefficient is a weighted sum of a previous coefficient and one received signal multiplied by a time delayed version of one transmitted signal. |
| US07826605B1 |
Method and system for integrating information from wireless and landline telephone systems
A method of operating a telephony system. The method includes receiving a call from a caller through a telecommunication network, identifying a phone number associated with the call from the caller, and processing the phone number. The method also includes determining if the phone number is associated with a wireless telecommunications device, prompting the caller to input a residential phone number for a landline associated with the caller if the phone number is associated with the wireless cellular telecommunications device, and transferring the residential phone number from the caller using a communications process. The method further includes receiving the residential phone number and storing the residential phone number in association with the phone number into one or more memory locations of one or more databases. |
| US07826604B2 |
Three-way call detection using steganography
Three-way call detection is an important component of correctional facility telephone equipment because it helps restrict calling access by certain persons to certain restricted telephone numbers. Various three-way call detection methods exist, but all of these implementations suffer from one major limitation—the detection accuracy is not as high as is desired by the industry. The present invention improves detection accuracy, using “steganography.” Steganography involves hiding one set of data or signals within another signal or carrier in such a way that its presence is virtually imperceptible to the end recipient, and potential even the originator of the carrier signal. Television producers use steganographic methods to encode data in video signals for security, distribution monitoring, piracy-control, and other reasons. The present invention involves a device that connects to a telephone, either at the line or handset interfaces, and produces a known signal that is steganographically hidden within the user's normal voice signal. Detection equipment, residing at another location, monitors signals on telephone calls and tests for the presence of the hidden signal or data generated by the invention. Once detection is achieved, appropriate action, such as terminating or recording the call, may be taken. Improved accuracy is achieved by choosing the appropriate hidden signal(s)—ones that never occur in the course of normal conversation and never get generated by telephone company equipment. Once detected, the presence of the signal guarantees the call was made to the restricted party from a particular phone line. |
| US07826603B1 |
Push-to-talk wireless telecommunications system utilizing a voice-over-IP network
A method and system to provide push-to-talk from one user to another in a wireless packet data telecommunications network is described. The system may include: a wireless communication network including push-to-talk (PTT) functionality, with a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) Proxy Server; a SIP Registrar and Location Server operable to store contact addresses of active mobile devices; a Realtime Transport Protocol (RTP) Media Gateway (PTT Server) operable to function as a call endpoint for each of a plurality of mobile devices wherein the plurality of mobile devices are segmented into membership groups, the PTT Server further operable to multicast a communication from one member of the group to the other members of the group; and an Internet Protocol (IP) network interconnecting the SIP Proxy server, the SIP Registrar and Location Server, and the PTT Server. |
| US07826599B2 |
Control of a calling party's telephone service features by a call taker at a public safety answering point
A method of administering an emergency call service in a public switched telephone network (PSTN) (60) includes: receiving a call at a switching facility (70) from an end user terminal (EUT) (52) served by the facility (70), the facility (70) providing the EUT (52) access to a telephone service feature; disabling the telephone service feature for the EUT (52) in response to the facility (70) recognizing the received call as an emergency call; routing the emergency call to a public safety answering point (PSAP) (80) serving a geographic region in which the EUT (52) is located; and, providing a call taker (84) at the PSAP (80) control over the telephone service feature, such that the call taker (84) can selectively enable the telephone service feature. |
| US07826593B2 |
Collimator
A collimator (1) primarily adapted for usage in a narrow scanned pencil beam radiation therapy system (100) includes adjacent pairs (5) of collimator leaves (10, 20). An inner portion (12) of a collimator leaf (10) facing the opposite leaf (20) of a pair (5) is made of a first material having high linear radiation attenuation. The remaining, major portion (14) of the leaf (10) is made of a second material having a comparatively low density, weight and radiation attenuation. The collimator (1) provides effective penumbra trimming of a radiation beam (60), while simultaneously protecting healthy tissue around a tumor in an irradiated patient (80) from the radiation. The new design results in a significantly more compact, lighter and less expensive collimator (1) as compared to traditional collimators. |
| US07826592B2 |
Cone-beam computed tomography with a flat-panel imager
A radiation therapy system that includes a radiation source that moves about a path and directs a beam of radiation towards an object and a cone-beam computer tomography system. The cone-beam computer tomography system includes an x-ray source that emits an x-ray beam in a cone-beam form towards an object to be imaged and an amorphous silicon flat-panel imager receiving x-rays after they pass through the object, the imager providing an image of the object. A computer is connected to the radiation source and the cone beam computerized tomography system, wherein the computer receives the image of the object and based on the image sends a signal to the radiation source that controls the path of the radiation source. |
| US07826591B2 |
X-ray imaging apparatus and X-ray imaging method
An X-ray generation unit for generating X-rays, an X-ray imaging unit for performing X-ray imaging, and an X-ray imaging control unit for controlling X-ray imaging communicate information with one another via a communication line, to pick up a medical X-ray image. The X-ray generation unit receives X-ray imaging permission from the X-ray imaging control unit, and the X-ray imaging unit receives the X-ray imaging permission from the X-ray imaging control unit. The X-ray imaging control unit includes an X-ray imaging permission transmission unit for transmitting the X-ray imaging permission to the X-ray generation unit and the X-ray imaging unit, an X-ray imaging permission reception unit, an imaging condition determination unit for determining an imaging condition from an imaging order, an imaging permission condition determination unit for determining an imaging permission condition from the determined imaging condition, and a processing control unit for performing processing according to the imaging permission condition determined by the imaging permission condition determination unit. |
| US07826585B2 |
Stereo tube computed tomography
A computed tomography system includes at least two x-ray sources (108), a at least one common detector (124), and a reconstruction system (136). The at least two x-ray sources (108) are aligned at different z-axis locations at about a same angular position and concurrently emit radiation that traverses an imaging region (116). The at least one detector (124) detects radiation emitted by the at least two x-ray source (108) and generates composite data indicative of the detected radiation. The reconstruction system (136) reconstructs the composite data to generate one or more images. |
| US07826584B2 |
Phase locked loops capable of burn-in testing with increased locking range and burn-in testing method thereof
In phase locked loop, a phase detector detects a phase difference between a first clock signal and a second clock signal and output a first output signal based on the detected difference. A charge pump generates a control voltage in response to the first output signal from the phase detector. A voltage-controlled oscillator generates the second clock signal. A controller controls the control voltage such that the phase difference between the first clock signal and the second clock signal is increased in response to a burn-in test mode signal. |
| US07826583B2 |
Clock data recovery apparatus
A clock data recovery apparatus includes a phase looked loop unit, a voltage control delay line, a phase detection unit, a charge pump unit, and a loop filter unit. The phase looked loop unit outputs a plurality of clock signals which are different from each other in phase and of which frequency is lower than that of data. The voltage control delay line outputs recovered clock signals by delaying the clock signals according to input voltage levels. The phase detection unit outputs recovered data in synchronization with the clock signals, respectively and outputs increment and decrement signals which have wider pulse width than the data by comparing the recovered clock signals with the data. The charge pump unit outputs a corresponding current in response to the increment and decrement signals. The loop filter unit determines an amount of delay in the voltage control delay line by outputting the voltage. |
| US07826573B2 |
Method of identifying a space-time encoded signal in a wireless communication system
A method of identifying a space-time encoded signal in a wireless communication system having at least two different decoder types is disclosed. The method includes receiving at least one pilot signal from a transmitting end, wherein the pilot signal is represented by either Type 0 or Type 1, determining which of Type 0 or Type 1 is represented in the received pilot signal, and activating the space-time decoder for performing space-time decoding, if the pilot signal is Type 1. |
| US07826569B2 |
Ingress noise reduction in a digital receiver
The invention provides a device for reducing ingress noise in a digital signal, comprising a noise predictor for predicting an amount of ingress noise in the digital signal based on past samples of the ingress noise, and a subtractor for subtracting the predicted amount of ingress noise from the digital signal. Channel distortion is compensated for by a noise-independent equalizer, such as a ZF equalizer, placed upstream of the noise predictor. The device may be incorporated, for example, in a cable modem termination system (CMTS) of an hybrid fiber/coax (HFC) network. |
| US07826565B2 |
Blocker performance in a radio receiver
A multiple stage band pass filter of a Radio Frequency (RF) Integrated Circuit is provided with a low pass mixer output filter coupled to receive a down sampled analog information signal, a buffer coupled to an output of the low pass mixer output filter, a low pass buffer output filter coupled to an output of the buffer and a plurality of band pass filters coupled to an output of the low pass buffer output filter. |
| US07826561B2 |
Single sideband voice signal tuning method
Method for tuning a Single Sideband receiver including processing the signal in the time domain, converting the signal to the frequency domain, processing the signal in the frequency domain, converting the modified signal from the frequency domain to a correlation domain, processing the signal in the correlation domain and analyzing the processed signal from the correlation domain to determine a receiver tuning error. |
| US07826560B2 |
Spatio-temporal processing for communication
A space-time signal processing system with advantageously reduced complexity. The system may take advantage of multiple transmitter antenna elements and/or multiple receiver antenna elements, or multiple polarizations of a single transmitter antenna element and/or single receiver antenna element. The system is not restricted to wireless contexts and may exploit any channel having multiple inputs or multiple outputs and certain other characteristics. Multi-path effects in a transmission medium cause a multiplicative increase in capacity. |
| US07826553B2 |
Multilevel LINC transmitter
A multilevel LINC transmitter. The multilevel LINC transmitter comprises a multilevel signal component separator, a phase modulator block, a mixer block, an up-converter block, a predistorter and an RF block. The multilevel signal component separator comprises a multilevel scaler and converts an input signal to phase signals. The phase modulator block and the predistorter are coupled to the multilevel signal component separator. The mixer block is coupled to the phase modulator block and the predistorter. The up-converter block is coupled to the mixer block. The RF block comprises a plurality of power amplifiers coupled to the up-converter block and a power combiner coupled to the power amplifiers. |
| US07826550B2 |
Method and system for a high-precision frequency generator using a direct digital frequency synthesizer for transmitters and receivers
Aspects of a method and system for a high-precision frequency generator using a direct digital frequency synthesizer for transmitters and receivers may include generating a second signal from a first signal by frequency translating an inphase component of the first signal utilizing a high-precision oscillating signal that may be generated using at least a direct digital frequency synthesizer (DDFS) and at least a Phase-Locked Loop (PLL). A corresponding quadrature component of the first signal may be frequency translated utilizing a phase-shifted version of the high-precision oscillating signal. The inphase component of the first signal may be multiplied with the high-precision oscillating signal and the quadrature component of the first signal may be multiplied with the phase-shifted version of the high-precision oscillating signal. The second signal may be generated from the first signal by adding the frequency translated inphase component to the frequency translated quadrature component. |
| US07826549B1 |
Wireless communication transmitter and system having the same
A method and apparatus is disclosed herein for transmitting data wirelessly. In one embodiment, the transmitter comprises a first group of stages comprising a first plurality of XOR gates and a first plurality of transistors, each XOR gate of the first plurality of XOR gates having a pair of inputs coupled to one bit of a first set data bits and a first clock, both corresponding to a I quadrature baseband signal component, and having a first output coupled to drive one of the first plurality of transistors; a group plurality of stages comprising a second plurality of XOR gates and a second plurality of transistors, each XOR gate of the second plurality of XOR gates having a pair of inputs coupled to one bit of a second set of data bits and a second clock, both corresponding to a Q quadrature baseband signal component, and having a second output coupled to drive one of the second plurality of transistors, wherein the outputs of the first and second plurality of transistors are summed at a node to obtain a single-side band (SSB) RF output. |
| US07826548B2 |
Resource management in a wireless communication network
A method of transmitting more than one signal in a wireless communication system is provided. The method comprises allocating multiple symbols to a first signal constellation and a second signal constellation, wherein the first signal constellation refers to base layer signals and the second signal constellation refers to enhancement layer signals; modulating the multiple symbols of the first signal constellation and the second signal constellation; and transmitting the modulated symbols, wherein configuration information used for modulating the multiple symbols is provided in a control message. |
| US07826539B2 |
Asynchronous serial data interface
A receiver for receiving packet data from a transmitter, the transmitter and the method of controlling transmission. The receiver may comprise first detection means for detecting that its memory has enough space to store a data packet and flow control signal means for providing a flow control signal, preferably a first flow control signal, to the transmitter in response to said first detection means. The receiver may comprise second detection means for detecting when a first portion of a packet has been received from the transmitter and flow control signal means for providing a second flow control signal to the transmitter in response to said second detection means. The transmitter may comprise third detection means for detecting the second flow control signal sent by the receiver and packetwise transmission means arranged, responsive to the third detection means, to complete transmission of a partially transmitted packet and then to stop transmission of further packets. |
| US07826538B1 |
Remote determination of network transmitter identity and output strength
Use of power line carrier communications which introduces a high frequency analog signal onto a cable used to convey power in a portion of an electric distribution network to send a data communication received at a distant receiver through the use of pick-up coil. Changes in the power level of signals received from a remote power line carrier transmitter may indicate that the pick-up coil receiving the signal is starting to degrade. The aggregation of certain power line carrier conveyed data communications about remote transformers and related equipment may be used to look for problems in this transmitter/receiver communication network. The disclosure includes the aggregation of data communications from one transmitter received at several different power line carrier pick-up coils through the phenomenon of cross talk or through the purposeful provision of data along an alternative communication path. |
| US07826532B2 |
Motion picture encoding device and motion picture decoding device
When a prediction is made between fields with different parity, the predicative efficiency of a chrominance vector is improved by adaptively switching the generation of a chrominance motion vector depending on a encoding/decoding field parity (top/bottom) and a reference field parity (top/bottom), and the coding efficiency is improved accordingly. |
| US07826531B2 |
Indicating regions within a picture
A method for indicating size, shape and location of a region within a digital picture the picture being divided into a set of blocks. A value for at least one size parameter, which is indicative of a number of the blocks within said region is defined, and a value for at least one shape evolution parameter, which is indicative of a selection order of the blocks in said region is selected. Then preferably the values for said at least one size parameter and said at least one shape evolution parameter are encoded into a bitstream of a video sequence in order to indicate size, shape and location of the region within the picture. |
| US07826528B2 |
Method and apparatus for variable accuracy inter-picture timing specification for digital video encoding
A method and apparatus for variable accuracy inter-picture timing specification for digital video encoding is disclosed. Specifically, the present invention discloses a system that allows the relative timing of nearby video pictures to be encoded in a very efficient manner. In one embodiment, the display time difference between a current video picture and a nearby video picture is determined. The display time difference is then encoded into a digital representation of the video picture. In a preferred embodiment, the nearby video picture is the most recently transmitted stored picture. For coding efficiency, the display time difference may be encoded using a variable length coding system or arithmetic coding. In an alternate embodiment, the display time difference is encoded as a power of two to reduce the number of bits transmitted. |
| US07826526B2 |
Methods and apparatus for encoding and decoding video data
According to aspects of embodiments of the invention, a method of encoding a sequence of frames of image data, each frame including a number of lines of pixels equal to a frame height, and each line having a number of pixels equal to a line length, comprises: encoding as an encoded symbol stream a sequence of pixels of a frame without including an end-of-line code after each line; identifying as a run having a run length, a sequence of pixels having values less than a threshold; and encoding the run using digit encoding. According to other aspects, the digit encoding may further comprise: identifying a set of most frequently used symbols; assigning a symbolic digit to each of the set of most frequently used symbols; assigning a start symbol; and encoding using digit encoding may include: inserting in the encoded symbol stream the start symbol; and inserting in the encoded symbol stream after the start symbol a sequence of symbolic digits identifying the run length of the run. The method may yet further comprise: assigning an end symbol; and inserting the end symbol in the encoded symbol stream after the sequence of symbolic digits. According to yet another variation, the method may further comprise defining the assigned start symbol to include a field indicating how many of the symbolic digits are required to identify the run length of the run. |
| US07826525B2 |
Pulse-based communication for devices connected to a bus
A method for communicating data is disclosed. The method includes receiving a sequence of electrical pulses during an interval having a pre-determined time period, the sequence of electrical pulses representing a message from one of a plurality of devices, determining the number of received electrical pulses in the sequence of electrical pulses, and decoding the message based on the determined number of electrical pulses received during the interval. |
| US07826524B2 |
Channel equalizer and method of processing broadcast signal in receiving system
A channel equalizer for use in a receiving system includes an overlap unit, a first estimator, an interpolator, and a second estimator. The overlap unit overlaps a group of normal data packets including a head, a body, and a tail, and a known data region is periodically repeated in the body. The first estimator estimates CIRs of the known data regions according to a first algorithm, and the interpolator estimates CIRs of normal data regions in the body by interpolating the estimated CIRs of the known data regions. The second estimator estimates CIRs of normal data regions in the head and tail according to a second algorithm different from the first algorithm. A calculator calculates equalization coefficients based on the estimated CIRs and a compensator multiplies the overlapped data with the coefficients. A save unit saves the compensated data. |
| US07826521B1 |
Rate adaptation using error vector magnitude
Rate adaptation is accurately provided by using an average SNR technique, a predicted PER technique, or an EVM to PER mapping technique. An average SNR is computed by averaging EVM values in a particular domain. Using the computed average SNR, an optimized rate is determined. The predicted PER technique includes computing EVM values for a current packet, determining an average BER using these EVM values for each data rate, determining an average SNR from this average BER, using the average SNR and a PER versus SNR curve to determine the predicted PER for each data rate, and using a data rate and the predicted PER to compute the predicted throughput for that data rate. In the last technique, an EVM is mapped to a packet error rate (PER) for each data rate. A throughput is computed for each data rate and PER. A data rate with a high throughput is selected. |
| US07826511B1 |
Optically pumped laser with an integrated optical pump
An apparatus and method for building an optically pumped laser integrated with an electrically driven pump laser is disclosed. The apparatus disclosed comprises an optically pumped laser containing an active layer and an optical pump laser containing an optical mode at least partially overlapping and propagating substantially parallel to optically pumped laser's active layer. The method discloses forming an optically pumped gain element containing an active layer, forming a pump laser containing an optical mode at least partially overlapping and propagating substantially parallel to optically pumped gain element's active layer. |
| US07826510B2 |
Laser oscillation elements
A laser oscillation element 1 according to the invention comprises a cholesteric liquid crystal layer 2 containing cholesteric liquid crystals, a cholesteric liquid crystal layer 3 containing cholesteric liquid crystals facing the cholesteric liquid crystal layer 2, and a defect layer 4 containing a dye 5 which emits fluorescence upon optical excitation disposed between the cholesteric liquid crystal layers 2, 3. A selective reflection wavelength band in the cholesteric liquid crystals overlaps with the emission band of the fluorescence emitted by the dye 5, the helical winding directions of the cholesteric liquid crystals contained in the cholesteric liquid crystal layers 2, 3 are identical, and the transition moments of the dye 5 are aligned parallel to the surfaces of the cholesteric liquid crystal layers 2, 3. According to the laser oscillation element 1, a laser oscillation can be generated with high efficiency. Moreover, continuous wave lasing can be generated. |
| US07826505B2 |
III-V group GaN-based compound semiconductor device
A III-V Group GaN-based compound semiconductor device with an improved structure having low current comsumption, high optical output, and a long lifetime is provided. The III-V Group GaN-based compound semiconductor device includes an active layer and a first clad layer and a second clad layer, wherein at least one of the first clad layer and the second clad layer has a superlattice structure formed of a plurality of alternating AlxGa(1-x)N layers (0 |
| US07826503B2 |
Extended tuning in external cavity quantum cascade lasers
In a semiconductor lasers using quantum well gain medium, a quantum well stack is mounted in an epi-down configuration. The epitaxial side of the device may be directly bonded to an efficient heat transport system so that heat may more easily leave the quantum well stack layers and be disposed at a heatsink. Such a device runs cooler and exhibits reduced loss mechanisms as represented by a laser system loss-line. External cavity systems using this configuration may permit a high degree of tunability, and these systems are particularly improved as the tuning range is extended by lowered cavity losses. |
| US07826502B2 |
Circuit and method for lessening noise in a laser system having a frequency converting element
A method and circuit is disclosed for a laser system wherein the power of the laser signal is kept at a constant near optimum value and a portion of an frequency doubled output signal is monitored and detected so that noise within the frequency doubled output signal can be minimized. A feedback signal is used to dither the temperature of a frequency doubled crystal so as to minimize the noise in the frequency doubled output signal. |
| US07826500B2 |
Fiber laser and optical device
A fiber laser and an optical device for controlling polarization and outputting single polarized light are provided in a simple structure. The fiber laser includes a solid-state laser fiber (3) doped with a rare earth element, a pump light source (1) for exciting the solid-state laser fiber, a reflective element (2) having wavelength dependency, and a wavelength conversion element (4) arranged at the output side of the solid-state laser fiber away from the reflective element at a specified distance along the solid-state laser fiber, in which an end face of the wavelength conversion element (4) is inclined to an optical axis. |
| US07826499B2 |
Visible continuum generation utilizing a hybrid optical source
An all-fiber supercontinuum source is formed as a hybrid combination of a first section of continuum-generating fiber (such as, for example, highly-nonlinear fiber (HNLF)) spliced to a second section of continuum-extending fiber (such as, for example, photonic crystal fiber (PCF)). The second section of fiber is selected to exhibit an anomalous dispersion value in the region of the short wavelength edge of the continuum generated by the first section of fiber. A femtosecond pulse laser source may be used to supply input pulses to the section of HNLF, and the section of PCF is spliced to the termination of the section of HNLF. A section of single mode fiber (SMF) is preferably inserted between the output of the laser source and the HNLF to compress the femtosecond pulses prior to entering the HNLF. It has been found that the hybrid combination of these two types of fibers allows for extension of the continuum on the short wavelength side—into the visible portion of the spectrum—by virtue of the first section of fiber acting as a “pump” source for the second section of fiber. |
| US07826497B2 |
Data receiving circuit that can correctly receive data, even when high-speed data transmission is performed, using small amplitude clock
A data receiving circuit has a data input terminal, a conversion circuit converting an input signal received via the data input terminal, and a decision circuit making a decision on an output of the conversion circuit. The conversion circuit has a demultiplexer converting the input signal into a signal of a lower frequency than the frequency thereof at the data input terminal, and an output of the demultiplexer is obtained at the drain side of each of a plurality of first transistors having a common source. |
| US07826489B2 |
Method and apparatus for improved estimation of selective channels in an OFDMA system with dedicated pilot tones
The present disclosure provides a method and apparatus of channel estimation for a wireless communication system. Dedicated pilot symbols transmitted over at least one time-frequency region for at least one user are received. Channel parameters are estimated for the at least one time-frequency region based on the received dedicated pilot symbols. |
| US07826488B2 |
Asynchronous line interface rate adaptation to the physical layer with synchronous lines at the connection layer
A method for adapting the rates of a certain number of asynchronous HDLC channels (15) to a single clock domain suited for interfacing with an HDLC processor (13) through a synchronous pseudo-TDM interface (14) in which the HDLC channels are multiplexed in time and vice versa in the opposite direction. In one direction the algorithm is based on the writing of the HDLC channels in a dedicated buffer (17) and in reading these buffers with a common synchronous clock just above the expected maximum HDLC rate. The under-run condition is avoided by inserting neutral information between the end byte and the start byte of the HDLC packets when this is suggested by the buffer fill monitoring function. A simple function to locate the first and last bytes of each HDLC packet read by the buffer is hence used in combination with the buffer fill monitoring function. The algorithm is also suited in the opposite direction in which different asynchronous physical lines receive their HDLC channels from a synchronous TDM-type interface on condition that this interface clock domain be just below the minimum expected HDLC output rate. In this case also the under-run conditions are avoided by insertion of neutral data after having used the same algorithm described above. Adaptation devices and a telecommunications card using them are also proposed. |
| US07826486B2 |
Selective header field dispatch in a network processing system
A method and structure is disclosed for dispatching appropriate data to a network processing system comprising an improved technique for extracting protocol header fields for use by the network processor. This technique includes basic classification of a packet according to the types of protocol headers present in the packet. Based on the results of the classification, specific parameter fields are extracted from corresponding headers. All such parameter fields from one or more protocol headers in the packet are concatenated into a compressed dispatch message. Multiple of such dispatch messages are bundled into a single composite dispatch message. Thus selected header fields from N packets are passed to the network processor in a single composite dispatch message, increasing the network processor's packet forwarding capacity by a factor of N. Likewise, multiple enqueue messages are bundled into a single composite enqueue message to direct enqueue and frame alterations to be taken on the bundle of N packets. |
| US07826485B2 |
MAC extensions for smart antenna support
Apparatus and methods implement aggregation frames and allocation frames. The aggregation frames include a plurality of MSDUs or fragments thereof aggregated or otherwise combined together. An aggregation frame makes more efficient use of the wireless communication resources. The allocation frame defines a plurality of time intervals. The allocation frame specifies a pair of stations that are permitted to communicate with each other during each time interval as well as the antenna configuration to be used for the communication. This permits stations to know ahead of time when they are to communicate, with which other stations and the antenna configuration that should be used. A buffered traffic field can also be added to the frames to specify how much data remains to be transmitted following the current frame. This enables network traffic to be scheduled more effectively. |
| US07826484B2 |
Systems and methods for high-throughput wideband wireless local area network communications
A frame format provides for wideband wireless local area network communications and informs narrower-band communication units when the channels are occupied by wider-band communication units. In some embodiments, the frame format includes a channelization field identifying channels that are used for communicating subsequent wideband fields of a packet, and a wideband-header field communicated on the identified channels. The wideband-header field may identify sub-fields that may be present in the wideband-header field, and may identify the presence of a wideband-data field. A long-compatibility field may be present that provides protection at the MAC level. The long-compatibility field may transport MAC frames that may include medium-reservation information compatible with narrower-band communication units. |
| US07826478B2 |
Method and apparatus for soliciting connectivity from wireless data networks
According to the embodiments of the techniques of this application, a wireless data device or other data node sends solicitation messages periodically to a wireless gateway, such as a PDSN, when there is no data traffic between the wireless data device and a wireless data network. Each solicitation message resets the simple IP inactivity timer on the wireless gateway. When multiple wireless data devices send solicitation messages, the interval between subsequent transmissions of solicitation messages is randomised to reduce the probability of collision with the solicitations from other devices on the same wireless link. The solicitation timer, for instance, may be based on the simple IP inactivity timer setting on the wireless network, and the number of wireless data devices that the wireless data network serves. Expiration of the solicitation timer at the wireless data device or other data node causes the next solicitation message to be sent from or on behalf of the wireless data device. |
| US07826474B2 |
P-persistent carrier sense multiple access (CSMA) for non-packetized wireless digital voice networks
A communications system includes a plurality of radios that form a CSMA wireless communications network to communicate none-packetized digital voice with each other. Each radio is operative for dividing the period following the end of a received transmission into a sequence of time slots, each having a duration at least equal to an effective end-to-end traffic latency. In each time slot, the radio decides randomly with probability p whether to start transmitting on the channel in that slot, provided that a new transmission has not been detected on the channel prior to the start of the slot. |
| US07826472B2 |
Methods and systems for providing priority access to 802.11 endpoints using DCF protocol
A method for providing priority access to 802.11 endpoints. The method includes the steps of sending a Clear To Send (CTS) frame from a designated station, without requiring a Request to Send (RTS) frame from a first station. The CTS frame includes a field identifying the first station for commencing transmission, and a field indicating a duration of transmission. A deferring step is also performed for deferring any transmissions of stations other than the first station until after the duration indicated in the CTS frame has passed. |
| US07826467B2 |
Method and a system for discarding data packets in a packetized network
A system for hierarchically storing packetized data and transferring the packetized data includes an input configured to receive packets of data, a memory coupled to the input and configured to store packets of data, an output coupled to the memory and configured to transfer packets of data from the memory, and a controller coupled to the memory and configured to control the memory to store packets of data in queues associated with a hierarchy in which a first level of the hierarchy includes a group of queue group components, wherein at least one of the queue group components in the group at the first level includes a group of queue group components associated with a second level of the hierarchy that is different from the first level of the hierarchy. |
| US07826465B2 |
Methods, systems and computer program products for dynamic communication data routing by a multi-network remote communication terminal
Methods, systems and computer program products of dynamic communication data routing by a multi-network remote communication terminal across a plurality of networks are provided. The multi-network remote communication terminal is delivered to a locality to receive communication services. The terminal is communicatively connected to a first network, a second network, the second network having a communication characteristic different from the first network, and to a user endpoint device positioned in the locality. Communication data directed to a target device from the user endpoint device is received at the terminal. A characteristic of the received communication data is determined. Routing of received communication data to the target device is allocated across the first network and/or the second network based on the determined characteristic of the received communication data and the communication characteristics of the first and second network. Routing of the received communication data is dynamically re-allocated based on a detected change in the characteristic of the communication data. |
| US07826463B2 |
Method and system for configuring wireless routers and networks
A method and system for configuring a wireless router and a wireless communications network includes establishing connectivity between a wireless router and at least one wireline router. Connectivity between the wireless router and a plurality of neighboring wireless routers is established through the wireline router. The wireless router is configured based on information exchanged with the neighboring wireless routers through the wireline router. |
| US07826457B2 |
Method and system for handling out-of-order segments in a wireless system via direct data placement
A method and system for handling or processing out-of-order TCP segments in a wireless system may comprise at least one of: placing a first TCP segment received by a wireless network processor in a host buffer and having a mapping between a TCP sequence number and a corresponding buffer address. It may be determined whether a second TCP segment received by the wireless network processor is one of an in-order TCP segment or an out-of-order TCP segment. If the second received TCP segment is an out-of-order TCP segment, then control information associated with at least the second TCP segment may be stored locally on the wireless network processor. The out-of-order TCP segment may be placed in a portion of the host buffer. |
| US07826455B2 |
Providing single point-of-presence across multiple processors
A method for providing single point-of-presence for a network element includes receiving a packet at a network processor, determining if the packet is to be directed to a particular one of a plurality of traffic processors if a source address of the packet is associated with a subscriber terminal, and determining if the packet is to be directed to the particular one of the plurality of traffic processors if a destination address of the packet is associated with the subscriber terminal. The method further includes distributing the packet to the particular one of the plurality of traffic processors. |
| US07826453B2 |
Set top box address detection system and method thereof
An address detection system for detecting an address of a set top box is provided; the address detection system includes a first server and a second server. The first server includes a first parsing module and a storage module. The first parsing module parses a first request packet from the set top box, to obtain a media access control (MAC) address and a virtual Internet protocol address (IP) of the set top box. The storage module has a mapping table for storing the MAC address and the virtual IP address therein. The second server includes a second parsing module and an authenticating module. The second parsing module parses a second request packet from the set top box, to acquire the MAC address of the set top box. The authenticating module checks the mapping table for the virtual IP address corresponding to the MAC address, to authenticate validity of the virtual IP address. An address detection method is also provided. |
| US07826451B2 |
Method of stateless group communication and repair of data packets transmission to nodes in a distribution tree
Disclosed is a method for stateless group communication based on constructing and encoding sender based trees. The headers obtained by encoding the distribution trees are inserted in each communication packet. The encoding allows partial or full decoding of the distribution trees. The encoding is performed to minimize the overhead of the header and the processing required for partial decoding of the distribution tree. The invention includes mechanisms for processing the encoded header at intermediate nodes in the distribution tree in order to determine the next communication nodes and mechanisms for modification and re-encoding of the trees in order to provide resilience to network failures or to react to application level specified conditions. |
| US07826447B1 |
Preventing denial-of-service attacks employing broadcast packets
An apparatus having a corresponding method and computer program comprises a processor; a plurality of ports to transmit and receive packets of data, the plurality of ports comprising a processor port in communication with the processor, the packets comprising broadcast packets and multicast packets; a memory to store a table that associates the processor port with one or more Internet protocol (IP) addresses; and a forwarding engine to transfer the packets between the ports, to transfer each of the broadcast packets to the processor port only when the table associates a target IP address of the broadcast packet with the processor port, and to transfer each of the multicast packets to the processor port only when the table associates a target IP address of the multicast packet with the processor port. |
| US07826445B2 |
Message formation and distribution in heterogeneous networks
A system and method is disclosed for communicating with a plurality of network processors, one or more of the processors having a different operating environment, includes receiving an application programming interface (API) call from a user application, the API call including a call address identifying one or more of the network processors; and accessing a memory that identifies an appropriate form for the API call for each operating environment implemented by each network processor identified by the call address; and building one or more messages for the network processors identified by the call address, each of the one or more messages including the appropriate form for the API call for the operating environment of each of the network processors to receive any particular message. |
| US07826443B1 |
Method for network-based remote IMS CPE troubleshooting
A method for use in an IMS VoIP Network provides for remote troubleshooting of a CPE problem. After receiving a customer complaint, customer care begins the troubleshooting process, collecting and compiling information to send to the test platform. The test platform constructs a SIP test call request instruction and sends it to the CPE. The process is repeated for a number of test calls. If there is no response from any of the test calls, it is concluded that the CPE is in trouble. The results are reported to Customer Care Center, which can use those results to take action to resolve the problem. In another embodiment, after failure of all of the test calls, another SIP instruction is sent to run diagnostics on the CPE. The diagnostic results are reported to Customer Care Center, which can take action based on those results to resolve the problem. |
| US07826441B2 |
Method and apparatus for an adaptive de-jitter buffer in a wireless communication system
Adaptive De-Jitter Buffer for Voice over IP (VoIP) for packet switch communications. The de-jitter buffer methods and apparatus presented avoid playback of underflows while balancing end-to-end delay. In one example, the de-jitter buffer is recalculated at the beginning of each talkspurt. In another example, talkspurt packets are compressed upon receipt of all remaining packets. |
| US07826440B1 |
Quality of service in a remote telephone
An information handling system comprises a TCP/IP network connected via a modem to an IP telephony device that is then coupled to a network device. Data sent from the network device is addressed for transmission through the IP telephony device to the TCP/IP network. The IP telephony device monitors when an amount of data being received over the network falls below a predetermined threshold. If this occurs, the IP telephony device will throttle data being received by the IP telephony device from the connected network device. |
| US07826435B1 |
Power control in OFDM and OFDMA wireless communication networks
Methods and systems are described for implementing power control in OFDM and OFDMA wireless communication systems. |
| US07826434B2 |
Buffered crossbar switch
The present invention relates to a buffered crossbar switch which provides a step of changing the size and/or number of queuing buffer entries to ensure optimum buffer memory usage independent of the size of data packets processed. |
| US07826432B2 |
Apparatus and method for routing on a mobile ad-hoc network
An apparatus and method for routing on a mobile ad-hoc network are provided. The apparatus and method allow each node in a network to: measure a packet transmission rate to a neighboring node using a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR); measure variation in the number of nodes due to their insertion or deletion; distribute relative packet transmission time relative to the SNR, which is measured using the packet transmission rate; and determine a routing path using the stored relative packet transmission time relative to the SNR. The apparatus includes a transceiver that receives a reply packet from a neighboring node, a measuring unit that uses the reply packet to measure movement of the neighboring node and a relative packet transmission time thereto, and a routing path determination unit that uses the relative packet transmission time to determine a routing path in the network. |
| US07826429B2 |
Transmit and receive transition accelerator
A transmit and receive machine (TRM) is part of a medium access controller (MAC), in support of the 802.11 wireless standard. The TRM is a control machine that changes the MAC within which it resides from a purely software-based MAC into a software and hardware management system. Timing-critical tasks that were once performed by the embedded processor of the MAC are performed by the TRM. This change enables the MAC to operate at a high speed while the TRM maintains high accuracy of transmit and receive timing operations. |
| US07826428B2 |
Associating a wireless computing device with a different access point
In a network comprising a wireless computing device and a wireless switch coupled to a plurality of access points, techniques are provided for determining a particular one of access points that the wireless computing device is to be associated with and associating the wireless computing device therewith. According to one implementation, the wireless switch monitors one or more wireless communication performance metrics, and determines based on the wireless communication performance metrics, whether the wireless computing device is currently associated with the one of the access points that wireless computing device is to be associated with. If not, then the wireless switch transmits an instruction to the wireless computing device to associate with a particular access point that wireless computing device is to be associated with. |
| US07826427B2 |
Method for secure transfer of data to a wireless device for enabling multi-network roaming
Disclosed is a method for secure transfer of data for enabling roaming of the wireless device between a plurality of wireless networks. The wireless device data from an authentication server via a first channel. The authentication server sends the request for the data to an information server using a second channel. The information server generates the data bases on parameters of the wireless device and provides the data to the wireless device through the authentication server. The secure transfer of data to the wireless device enables roaming of the wireless device in a plurality of wireless networks. |
| US07826426B1 |
Seamless mobility in wireless networks
AP's associated with a communication network and any wireless devices desiring contact, operated according to a protocol in which each wireless device selects AP's with which to communicate. A system coordinator causes the AP's to operate so as to guide each wireless device to an AP selected by the system coordinator. This has the effect that, notwithstanding that the protocol involves having the wireless device make the selection of AP, functionally, the AP's make the selection for it. In a 1st technique, multiple AP's share an identifier, with the system coordinator directing one particular AP to respond to the wireless device, thus appearing to wireless devices as a “personal cell”. In a 2nd technique, AP's each maintain identifiers substantially unique to each wireless device, with the system coordinator directing only one particular AP to maintain any particular wireless device's identifier, thus appearing to wireless devices as a “personal AP”. |
| US07826422B2 |
Synchronized, semi-dynamic frequency hopping method for WRAN and other wireless networks
A method for creating and maintaining semi-dynamic frequency hopping communities. Each community is a set of neighboring cells, such as wireless regional area networks (WRANs) according to IEEE 802.22, that follow a protocol defining coordinated frequency hopping operations, e.g., hopping is performed by community members according to a leader-defined hopping pattern rather than to channels selected in the prior operation period. Each community has one leader base station and one or more community member base stations. The leader determines membership, calculates hopping patterns for all members, and distributes the hopping information to the community members. Members provide their neighborhood and channel availability information, e.g., information about their sensing results and channel usage of neighboring WRANs. In exemplary communities, the community members are one-hop neighbors, each community member is configured to perform sensing concurrently with data transmissions, and the number of available channels is greater than the number of members. |
| US07826414B2 |
Channel allocations in a communications system
Systems and techniques for communications include forming a data packet, selecting a plurality of transmission parameters for the data packet, generating information having one of a plurality of codes identifying the transmission parameters, and transmitting the data packet on a first channel and the information on a second channel. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract which will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or the meaning of the claims. |
| US07826411B2 |
Cooperative transceiving between wireless interface devices of a host device with shared modules
An circuit includes a first wireless interface circuit that transceives packetized data between a host module and a first external device in accordance with a first wireless communication protocol. A second wireless interface circuit transceives packetized data between the host module and a second external device in accordance with a second wireless communication protocol. The second wireless interface circuit includes at least one module that is shared with first wireless interface circuit, the module having a first state where the module is operational and a second state corresponding to a low-power state. The first wireless interface circuit and the second wireless interface circuit operate in accordance with a wireless interface schedule that includes a first time interval where the first wireless interface device and the second wireless interface device contemporaneously use the at least one module in the first state and a second time interval where the at least one module is in the second state. |
| US07826407B2 |
Versatile system for efficient version control messaging in a wireless radio access network
An efficient, non-redundant messaging system is disclosed that communicates version information only when an appropriate network entity (e.g., a PDSN or a PCF) is reset. The methods and constructs of the present disclosure provide a version information message for transmission between first and second entities in a network. A first information element, indicative of a first version information property of the first entity, is provided—as is a second information element indicative of a second version information property of the first entity. The first or second information element is integrated into the message and the message is sent from the first entity to the second entity only when the first entity has been reset. |
| US07826406B2 |
Storing, sending and receiving text message threads on a wireless communication device
A mobile communication device uses a condensed text message store wherein individual messages of a thread are stored in such a manner that the thread can later be reconstructed for display. By storing individual messages rather than thread objects including duplicative content, device memory is conserved. Network bandwidth can also be preserved by sending only individual messages between the device and a central server (which server may also utilize a condensed message store). |
| US07826402B2 |
Signal transfer systems and methods
A signal transfer system. A first device operates with a first voltage and outputs a first signal and a second signal. A protection circuit receives the first and second signals and outputs the first and second signals when the first voltage is greater than or equal to a predetermined voltage, and provides a third signal and a fourth signal when the first voltage is smaller than the predetermined voltage. A delay circuit delays the second and fourth signals to generate a first delay signal and a second delay signal, respectively. A second device operates with the first signal and the first delay signal when the first voltage is greater than or equal to the predetermined voltage, and operates with the third signal and the second delay signal when the first voltage is smaller than the predetermined voltage. |
| US07826400B2 |
Packet ring network system and packet transport method
A packet ring network system including a plurality of packet ring networks to which nodes are brought into ring form connection so that a packet inside a ring obtained by encapsulating a client packet, which a terminal outside the packet ring network transmits, is transmitted and received in a packet ring network. A plurality of subpacket ring networks are connected to the first packet ring network through an interlink used for client packet transport therebetween. The interlink is provided to each of the subpacket ring networks connected to the first packet ring network. The first packet ring network and each of the subpacket ring networks include an interlink node connected to an interlink. |
| US07826396B2 |
System and method for implementing PNRP locality
A method is provided for a host node in a computer network to determine its coordinates in a d-dimensional network space, comprising discovering an address of a peer node in the network, measuring network latency between the host node and the peer node, determining whether network latency has been measured for at least d+1 peer nodes, where, if network latency has not been measured for at least d+1 peer nodes, estimating the network coordinates of the host node, and where, if network latency has been measured for at least d+1 peer nodes, calculating the network coordinates of the host node using d+1 measured latencies. |
| US07826394B2 |
Method, system and device for implementing traffic engineering
A method for implementing traffic engineering, TE, in layer 2, L2, network, includes: collecting TE information which is sent by respective L2 network devices according to extended network topology discovery protocol; calculating and deploying constraint-based routing with the collected TE information of the L2 network. The existing network topology discovery protocol is adopted in the L2 network, so that the L2 network devices do not have to support protocols such as OSPF and ISIS. Therefore, the present invention is helpful to avoid resource consumption of OSPF and ISIS protocols on the L2 network devices and reduce the complexity in implementation of the TE over the L2 network. |
| US07826393B2 |
Management computer and computer system for setting port configuration information
Provided is a computer system capable of cutting the cost of running and managing a company network and improving the security of the network by reducing wrong settings and skipped settings due to human factor. The computer system has switches which constitute a network, a management computer which is connected to the network and manages the network, and clients which are connected to the switches. The management computer sets each switch such that client authentication is executed at port provided in the switch that can be connected to the client. The client authentication is processing of verifying whether the client has the right to connect to the network. |
| US07826392B2 |
Advertisement search agent
An advertisement search agent detects a service that is provided by a node or a service that can be used by a node immediately after the node is newly connected to a domain. A message acquisition unit acquires an advertisement search message broadcast or multicast by a node connected to either one of a plurality of domains. A message database stores advertisement search messages acquired by the message acquisition unit. A node connection monitoring unit detects the connection of a node to either one of a plurality of domains. When the connection of a node is detected by the node connection monitoring unit, a delivery message extractor extracts an advertisement search message stored in the message database. A message delivery unit delivers the advertisement search message extracted by the delivery message extractor. |
| US07826390B2 |
Method and apparatus for providing a distributed subscriber load distribution
A method and apparatus for providing a distributed subscriber load distribution in networks are disclosed. For example, the method receives capacity data from a plurality of devices, and measures a peak period volume for each of a plurality of registered user equipment that is registered with one of the plurality of devices. The method determines whether a peak period volume of the one device reaches an on-set threshold of the one device, and selects one or more of the plurality of registered user equipment if the on-set threshold of the one device is reached, where a sum of the peak period volumes of the selected one or more plurality of registered user equipment is larger than or equal to a volume of traffic that is in excess of the on-set threshold, or in excess of an off-set threshold of the one device. The method sends a request for the selected one or more plurality of registered user equipment to be re-registered in accordance with the capacity data received from the plurality of devices. |
| US07826386B2 |
Facilitating the configuring of communications environments
Configuring of a communications environment is facilitated. A mapping tool is provided that aids in the configuring of various components of a communications environment, such as an input/output (I/O) subsystem of the environment. Data generated from an order process and a logical configuration definition are used as input to the mapping tool. The tool performs mapping and generates as output a physical configuration definition, and optionally, one or more reports. The mapping tool has a manual function, as well as an automatic function. |
| US07826385B2 |
Method for the acceptance of devices, an arrangement which can be used for this purpose, and equipment
Disclosed is an arrangement for determining a chronological acceptance of spaced-apart devices, comprising at least one transmitter unit which is disposed on each device and from which a signal that identifies said device and has a predefined range can be transmitted. Several personal apparatuses are provided that are to be carried by one respective person and are fitted with a receiver for the signals and a device memory for storing data contents of the emitted signals during a given interval. The range of each transmitter unit defines a respective transmission range. The transmission range and a receive sensitivity of the receiver are adjusted to each other in such a way that no data can be received if the device is located outside a typical zone of attention or perception of humans relative to the personal apparatus carried by the person. |
| US07826383B2 |
Home phoneline network alliance responder for IPTV installations
A device for testing a home phoneline network alliance performance of a local network is disclosed. The device includes a first network interface, a second network interface, a test module, and a processor. The first network interface is adapted to connect with the local network through a first type of cable. The second network interface is adapted to connect with the local network through a second type of cable. The test module is connected to the first network interface and to the second network interface, the test module is adapted to receive a test signal transmitted over a cable in the local network. The processor is connected to the test module and is adapted to execute a plurality of program instructions to determine a signal quality for the test signal received over the cable and to output a performance result signal for the cable in the local network based on the signal quality. |
| US07826379B2 |
All-to-all sequenced fault detection system
An apparatus, program product and method enable nodal fault detection by sequencing communications between all system nodes. A master node may coordinate communications between two slave nodes before sequencing to and initiating communications between a new pair of slave nodes. The communications may be analyzed to determine the nodal fault. |
| US07826378B2 |
PON with distributed virtual port loopback
A passive optical network (PON) access network connected to an external data network can be tested using a remote test host operating on the external data network by looping test data from the test host through the PON to an Optical Network Terminator (ONT), through a data path between an ONT test port and an ONT user port, and back through the PON to the test host. Data tunneling is used to route the data through the external data network between the test host and the PON Optical Line Terminal (OLT). The invention can be used to emulate downstream as well as upstream PON traffic for remote diagnostic testing or other purposes. |
| US07826377B2 |
Memory access optimization and communications statistics computation
Memory access optimization and communications statistics computation are disclosed. A method may include receiving data unit information for a plurality of data units. Versions of partial network traffic statistic for the data units based on a current data unit may be prepared. A version of the partial network traffic statistic may be stored sequentially in round robin fashion in each of a plurality of banks of a memory. The method may also include receiving a request for full network traffic statistic and preparing the full network traffic based on each set of the partial network traffic statistics. The full network traffic statistics may be provided to the requestor. The methods may be achieved on a network card in a network testing system or via software executing in a network testing system. |
| US07826375B1 |
Data duplication for transmission over computer networks
Techniques are described that increase the reliability and quality of data transmissions of computer networks. The techniques provide for the generation of at least two duplicate data flows for carrying data in a computer network. The duplicate data flows are transmitted to a receiving device along paths within one or more intermediate networks. In addition, network devices, such as routers or switches within the network, for example, may cooperate to select paths for the data flows that have reduced or minimal common network elements. The network devices may share “fate-sharing” information that relates groups of network elements according to common characteristics, attributes or shared resources, e.g., a shared power supply, close proximity, common physical interface, for the purposes of facilitating selection of independent paths. |
| US07826374B2 |
Method and apparatus for efficient transfer of data over a network
A method and apparatus for improving the efficiency of a network. A source node determines the propagation delay for data to reach a destination node. This enables the source node to transmit data more efficiently by ensuring a greater portion of a specific time slot is used for receiving data by the destination node. The destination node then determines if it is connected to any other nodes, and determines the propagation delay between the other connected nodes. The process continues until a node detects it is not connected to any other nodes for which a propagation delay has not been computed. Thus, each node on the network knows the propagation delay between each node, and the nodes utilize this information to more efficiently transfer data through the network. |
| US07826373B2 |
Wireless routing systems and methods
Wireless communications methods and systems. Metrics for measuring performance of a wireless system are generated and compared to metrics generated with an idealized simulation of the system. If the actual system performance falls below a predetermined level, the system may be reconfigured to improve performance using a centralized or decentralized method for such configuration. |
| US07826372B1 |
Network routing process for regulating traffic through advantaged and disadvantaged nodes
A process for use in conjunction with a communications network routing protocol that automatically adjusts for congestion that may occur due to the presence of advantaged and partially disadvantaged nodes. The network nodes check to determine if they are advantaged or partially disadvantaged. Advantaged nodes may, for example, be airborne or satellite nodes having a high degree of network connectivity. Partially disadvantaged nodes may comprise nodes that are low on power. Advantaged nodes and partially disadvantaged nodes adjust the network metrics entered into the routing tables they use to advertise their routing information over the network to show longer pathways through such nodes. As a result the other nodes in the network reduce the amount of network traffic routed through advantaged and disadvantaged nodes. |
| US07826369B2 |
Subsets of the forward information base (FIB) distributed among line cards in a switching device
Disclosed are, inter alia, methods, apparatus, computer-storage media, mechanisms, and means associated with subsets of the Forward Information Base (FIB) distributed among line cards in a switching device; especially wherein one or more of the line cards does not contain the complete FIB, and this line card forwards packets, for which it does not have the forwarding information, to another line card which has the forwarding information for the packet. |
| US07826368B2 |
Apparatus and method for moving a receive window in a radio access network
A method of moving a receiving window in a wireless mobile communication system, wherein the AM RLC of the transmitting side sends information of the last discarded SDU regardless of continuity of the discarded SDUs. The AM RLC of the receiving side checks whether all SDUs from the start point of the receiving window up to the last discarded SDU are successfully received, delivers the SDUs that are successfully received to an upper layer, and discard only those SDUs that are not successfully received. |
| US07826366B2 |
Joint channel assignment and routing in wireless networks
In a described implementation, a channel cost metric (CCM) is determined in a wireless network environment. The CCM may be determined responsive to an expected transmission time (ETT) and a frequency of air time (FAT), which reflects a channel utilization. In an example implementation, a channel assignment and/or a routing for a network configuration may be switched responsive to the determined CCM. |
| US07826364B1 |
Dynamic service-aware flow control in packet networks
The present invention, including system methods and computer program product, provides the ability to control the flow of traffic into an aggregated trunk port in a network. This is performed by monitoring the trunk port of an aggregation packet switch for congestion and limiting the traffic flowing into the aggregation packet switch through virtual connections with one or more user network interfaces. An access control system executing an access control algorithm monitors the trunk port and controls the user network interfaces to limit the traffic the passes through the trunk port in the event of traffic congestion. Traffic may be limited on the basis of the class of service, the virtual connection, or other parameters. |
| US07826360B1 |
Adjusting transmission rates during packet expansion using in band signaling
Various embodiments provide a way to adjust transmission rates of a medium access controller (MAC) to a physical layer (PHY) to accommodate for packet expansions due to encryption that takes place in the PHY. In at least some embodiments, a communication interface between different MACs in a system is re-purposed to allow the PHY to communicate to a system MAC to notify the system MAC to pause and then resume, at an appropriate time, its packet transmissions. |
| US07826350B1 |
Intelligent network adaptor with adaptive direct data placement scheme
A host is coupled to a network via an intelligent network adaptor. The host is executing an application configured to receive application data from a peer via the network and the intelligent network adaptor using a stateful connection according to a connection-oriented protocol. The intelligent network adaptor performs protocol processing of the connection. Application data is copied from host memory not configured for access by the application (possibly OS-associated host memory) to host memory associated with the application (application-associated host memory). The application data is received from the peer by the intelligent network adaptor and copied to host memory not configured for access by the application. The operating system selectively provides, to the intelligent network adaptor, information of the memory associated with the application. At least one portion of the application data for the connection is provided directly from the intelligent network adaptor to the memory associated with the application. |
| US07826348B2 |
Multicast fast reroute
A method and apparatus for fast reroute of multicast data are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method includes transmitting a multicast join message from a receiver towards a source on a primary path and transmitting an alternate multicast join message from the receiver towards the source on a backup path. Data packets are then received from the primary and backup paths. The method further includes operating in a first mode wherein the data packets received from the primary path are accepted and the data packets received from the backup path are dropped, and switching to a second mode wherein the data packets received from the backup path are accepted, upon detecting a failure in the primary path. |
| US07826347B2 |
Call processing device and method
A call processing device communicating with a plurality of line cards includes a mapping table and an address table. The call processing device receives a telephone number, searches the mapping table for one index related to the received telephone number, searches the address table for one address corresponding to the sought index, rejects a call corresponding to the received telephone number if the sought address is a specially preset address, and updates one or more of the addresses of the line cards in the address table if operating modes of one or more of the line cards are changed. A call processing method is also provided. |
| US07826341B2 |
Methods and systems for implementing a pseudo-noise signaling mechanism in wireless communication
In at least some embodiments, a system may comprise one or more devices configurable to communicate according to a first protocol that implements a first data packet, and one or more devices configurable to communicate according to a second protocol that implements a second data packet having a predetermined quadrature component. The one or more devices configurable to communicate according to the second protocol associate detection of the predetermined quadrature component with a function that is not supported by the one or more devices that communicate according to the first protocol. |
| US07826337B2 |
Communication node, wireless communication system and data relay method
A communication node for relaying a signal between a source node and a destination node is disclosed. The communication node includes: a relay signal generation unit configured to generate a transmit signal by reducing, from a receive signal, an interference signal from another communication node and performing a process such that the transmit signal is not received as an interference signal by another communication node. |
| US07826336B2 |
Data storage nanostructures
The present invention relates to a device for data storage. In particular the invention relates to a single electron memory device utilizing multiple tunnel junctions, and arrays or matrixes of such devices. The data storage device according to the invention comprises at least one nanowhisker adapted to store a charge. Each of the nanowhiskers comprises a sequence of axial segments of materials of different band gaps, arranged to provide a sequence of conductive islands separated by tunnel barriers and a storage island arranged at one end of the conductive island/tunnel barrier sequence, whereby to provide a data storage capability. The number of conductive islands should preferably be between five and ten. |
| US07826331B2 |
Optical pickup device
A flux separating unit is maintained in a stable state with a high positioning accuracy relative to a physical deformation when the light flux separating unit is attached or a great temperature change after the light flux separating unit is attached, in an optical pickup device including in a casing a projection optical system, a light receiving optical system and the parallel flat plate shaped light flux separating unit that separates a light flux advancing in the light receiving optical system from a light flux advancing in the projection optical system. |
| US07826327B2 |
Method for acquiring optimum position of reserved block in holographic storage system
A method for acquiring an optimum position of a reserved block in a holographic storage system is provided. Firstly, an initial offset error between an initial reserved block and its two nearest neighbors is computed. Then, according to a dynamically adjustable modified centroid function β′, a second reserved block is obtained by interpolating the covariance values associated with the initial reserved block and the respective two nearest neighbors. Afterwards, the optimum position of the reserved block is acquired according to the second reserved block and the initial offset error. |
| US07826323B2 |
Reproducing apparatus and method with reduced bit error rate
A reproducing apparatus includes a signal reading unit for reading a signal from a recording medium, an equalizing unit for performing partial response equalization on the read signal and outputting an equalized signal, a maximum likelihood decoding unit for performing maximum likelihood decoding on the equalized signal to decode binary data and outputting a binary data string, a determining unit for determining whether or not a shortest code in the binary data string obtained by the maximum likelihood decoding is correct, on the basis of information on an amplitude of the equalized signal corresponding to the shortest code, a code correcting unit for correcting the shortest code in the binary data string, in accordance with a result of the determination of the determination unit, and a data demodulating unit for demodulating the binary data string obtained through the code correcting unit to obtain reproduction data from the recording medium. |
| US07826321B2 |
Optical disk apparatus and control method thereof
An optical disk apparatus and control method having a rotation driver configured to rotationally drive an optical disk, a laser diode configured to emit a laser light to be irradiated upon a recording surface of the optical disk, for recording or reproducing information onto the optical disk, and a monitor device configured to monitor the laser light emitted from the laser diode. An intensity of the laser light emitted from the laser diode which is detected by the monitor device is memorized by a memory, a detector detects an abnormal condition of the laser diode, by comparing a present laser light intensity with a previous laser light intensity, and a controller controls a rotating velocity of the optical disk in dependence upon detection of the abnormal condition. |
| US07826316B2 |
Optical disc drive and method for processing recorded data
This invention provides a technique which ensures that if a recording error occurs in an optical disc, recorded data will be immediately erased from the disc without leaking to third parties. While recording data onto the optical disc, a controller judges whether the recording process has been executed to completion properly. If the recording process is judged to have failed, the controller will stop the recording process and activate an optical pickup to erase recorded data from the data-recording area on the optical disc by overwriting this area with required erasing data. |
| US07826312B2 |
Optical disc apparatus and control method for optical disc apparatus
An optical disc apparatus includes: an optical pickup; a sled drive section that moves the optical pickup in a radial direction of an optical disc; and position control means for controlling, after bringing the optical pickup to an end of a moving range of the sled drive section, the sled drive section to move the optical pickup a predetermined distance in the opposite direction to place the optical pickup at a predetermined reference position. |
| US07826311B2 |
Time counting assembly with a display for world time zones
A time counting assembly with a display for world time zones comprised of a power source, a second counter, a minute counter, an hour counter, and a time zone display for displaying a correct time over a faceplate. Stir the time zone adjustable ring with the hand to align a first landmark of a local time zone with a fixed point and then calibrate the time counting assembly in accordance with the local time, and then stir the time zone adjustable ring with the hand to align a second landmark of another locating time zone with the fixed point such that the inner gear ring moves the planetary idle gear set and the planetary base wheel to shift engagement of the engaging hooks in the ratchet holes, and the front hour wheel is rotated on the planetary base wheel with a planetary movement along the minute wheel set to cause rotation of a meshed hour wheel so as to turn a hour hand to the time in accordance with the time zone corresponding to the second landmark. The direct time zone adjustment design greatly reduces the thickness of the assembly so that the time counting assembly is usable in a watch or low-profile timer while maintaining world time zone display and adjustable functions, and providing a modularized design function for ultra-thin time recording device. |
| US07826310B2 |
Acoustic navigation device and method of detecting movement of a navigation device
A navigation device for navigating a user interface of a processor-controlled device includes an acoustic transmitter adapted to transmit an acoustic signal, an acoustic receiver adapted to receive the acoustic signal and located at a fixed position with respect to the acoustic transmitter, and a measurement circuit coupled to an output of the acoustic receiver and adapted to determine a distance traversed by the navigation device as a function of time. |
| US07826309B2 |
Filling level measurement device and filling level measurement and monitoring method
A method for measuring a fill level of a fill substance in a container and for monitoring at least one predetermined fill level (LMIN, LMAX), using a fill level measuring device working according to the travel-time principle, as well as a corresponding fill level measuring device, wherein the monitoring satisfies high safety standards, wherein, in each measuring cycle, transmission signals (S) are sent toward the fill substance and their echo signals (E) are received, the fill level is determined, based on the echo signals (E), in a first evaluation method, and it is determined, based on the echo signals (E), in a second evaluation method independent of the first evaluation method, whether the fill level exceeds or falls beneath the predetermined fill levels (LMIN, LMAX). |
| US07826308B2 |
Method for optimal design of non-uniform weighted periodic sparse arrays for ultrasound imaging system
Disclosed herein is a method for the optimal design of an apodization function used for non-uniform weighted periodic sparse arrays for an ultrasound imaging system. The method includes the steps of (a) setting the interval PT of a transmit sparse array and the number LT of array elements within the interval PT so that common grating lobes are not generated in the beam patterns of the transmit sparse array and a receive sparse array; (b) setting the interval PR of the receive sparse array and the number LR of array elements within the interval PR so that common grating lobes are not generated in the beam patterns of the transmit sparse array and the receive sparse array; (c) setting a transmit apodization function WT(n) configured to be applied to the beam pattern of the transmit sparse array; and (d) setting a receive apodization function WR(n) configured to be applied to the beam pattern of the receive sparse array. |
| US07826307B2 |
Identifying an internal multiple generator in a subterranean structure
A technique is provided for identifying an internal multiple generator in a subterranean structure. The technique includes injecting wavefields at different levels in the subterranean structure, where the different levels are proximate a predicted location of the internal multiple generator. Wavefields induced by the injected wavefields are recorded and the effect of the internal multiple generator based on the recorded wavefields is determined. |
| US07826306B2 |
Semiconductor memory apparatus
A semiconductor memory apparatus includes a clock generator configured to generate an internal clock signal, an asynchronous data input buffer configured to buffer a data input signal through a data pad to output a buffered data signal, and a synchronous data input buffer configured to buffer the buffered data signal synchronously with the internal clock signal, wherein a length of a line, through which the internal clock signal is transmitted to the synchronous data input buffer, is configured to be substantially the same with a length of a line, through which the buffered data is transmitted to the synchronous data input buffer. |
| US07826300B2 |
Semiconductor memory apparatus
A semiconductor memory apparatus includes first and second bank blocks, a mode generator configured to generate a chip select mode signal used to control an operational mode of the first and second bank blocks, and a controller configured to drive the first and second bank blocks in response to the chip select mode signal, first and second select signals, and a predetermined address signal that are used to control driving of the first and second bank blocks, wherein the controller receives the chip select mode signal having a level used to determine a single chip mode to control operation of the first and second bank blocks in one rank unit, and the first and second bank blocks are selectively activated by using the predetermined address signal. |
| US07826299B2 |
Method and apparatus for operating maskable memory cells
A plurality of masked memory cells organized in at least two groups, each group using an individual mask signal, is operated by providing a logically valid mask signal only for a selected group comprising the memory cell to be accessed while a logically invalid mask signal are used for all groups other than the selected group. |
| US07826298B2 |
Semiconductor memory device with low standby current
In an SRAM according to the present invention, an internal power supply voltage for a memory cell is applied to a back gate of each of P-channel MOS transistors included in an equalizer, a write driver, and a column select gate. Therefore, even if an internal power supply voltage for a peripheral circuit is shut off to reduce current consumption during standby, a threshold voltage of each of the P-channel MOS transistors is maintained at a high level, and hence a leakage current is small. |
| US07826297B2 |
Power supply switching circuit
In a power supply switching circuit, a transistor that switches to a highest voltage is formed of an enhancement type PMOS transistor, and transistors that switch other voltages are each formed of a depletion type NMOS transistor. A signal for controlling a gate of each of the transistors is input through a level shifter. The depletion type NMOS transistor does not operate in a bipolar manner even if a source voltage thereof reaches a power supply voltage VPP1 or VPP2, and the enhancement type PMOS transistor does not operate in the bipolar manner even if a gate voltage and a source voltage thereof reach the power supply voltage VPP1, and a drain voltage thereof reaches the power supply voltage VPP2. Accordingly, there can be provided the power supply voltage switching circuit that is high in efficiency. |
| US07826294B2 |
Memory with output control
An apparatus, system, and method for controlling data transfer to an output port of a serial data link interface in a semiconductor memory is disclosed. In one example, a flash memory device may have multiple serial data links, multiple memory banks and control input ports that enable the memory device to transfer the serial data to a serial data output port of the memory device. In another example, a flash memory device may have a single serial data link, a single memory bank, a serial data input port, a control input port for receiving output enable signals. The flash memory devices may be cascaded in a daisy-chain configuration using echo signal lines to serially communicate between memory devices. |
| US07826291B2 |
Precharge and evaluation phase circuits for sense amplifiers
A precharge and evaluation circuit for a memory sense amplifier includes a first precharge-phase transistor having a source coupled to a power-supply potential, a gate coupled to a precharge control line, and a drain. A second precharge-phase transistor has a drain coupled to the drain of the first precharge-phase transistor, a source, and a gate coupled to the source through a feedback circuit. A first read-phase transistor has a source coupled to the power-supply potential, and a gate and drain coupled to a comparator. A second read-phase transistor has a drain coupled to the drain of the first read-phase transistor, a source coupled to the source of the second precharge-phase transistor, and a gate coupled to the source of the second read-phase transistor through a feedback circuit. A column decoder is coupled to the sources of the second precharge-phase and second read-phase transistors. |
| US07826289B2 |
Semiconductor memory device and method for driving the same
A semiconductor memory device includes: a driving voltage supplying unit configured to detect a simultaneous activation of banks and selectively supply one of a high voltage and an external voltage lower than the high voltage as a driving voltage; a flag detecting unit configured to detect inputs of flag signals activated in response to an active command and generate a precharge control signal; and a signal generating unit configured to generate a bit line precharge signal swinging between the driving voltage and a ground voltage in response to the precharge control signal. |
| US07826285B2 |
Memory column redundancy scheme
A system for implementing a memory column redundancy scheme is provided. The system comprises a core array having a plurality of columns and a redundancy column each configured for reading or writing a bit of information and circuitry for steering around a defective column in the core array, wherein the circuitry includes one column multiplexor, which results in having the memory column redundancy scheme include one multiplexing stage. |
| US07826275B2 |
Memory circuit with high reading speed and low switching noise
A memory circuit with relatively high reading speed and relatively low switching noise is provided. The memory circuit includes an output buffer device having a first input receiving a data signal having a first voltage level, a second input receiving a pre-set voltage having a second voltage level and an output outputting the data signal, and a pre-set circuit constructed by a pair of MOSFETs and providing the pre-set voltage to the second input before the output buffer device receives the data signal. The pre-set circuit receives a control signal activating the pair of MOSFETs at the same time, and when the output buffer device receives the data signal, a voltage level of the second input is swung from the second level to the first voltage level. |
| US07826273B2 |
Method of verifying programming of a nonvolatile memory device
A first verify voltage is applied to a word line of a selected memory cell, after a bit line is precharged, to program-verify the memory cell in a nonvolatile memory device. A first read evaluation operation for changing a voltage of the bit line is performed. Results of the first read evaluation operation are sensed using a first sensing voltage. A second read evaluation operation for changing the voltage of the bit line is performed again. Results of the second read verify operation are then sensed using the first sensing voltage. |
| US07826272B2 |
Semiconductor memory device
The present invention solves a problem of the degradation of the long-term reliability of a conventional semiconductor memory device due to early deterioration of a FET included in a reference cell therein. DRAM 1 has word lines 101 to 10n, word lines 22 and 24, memory cells 301 to 30n and a reference cell 40. Gates of FETs 32 in the memory cells 301 to 30n are connected to the word lines 101 to 10n respectively. Gates of a FET 42 and a FET 44 in the reference cell 40 are connected to the word line 22 for readout and the word line 24 for writing respectively. Here, potentials applied to the word lines 22 and 24 are lower than those applied to the word lines 101 to 10n. |
| US07826271B2 |
Nonvolatile memory with index programming and reduced verify
In a non-volatile memory a group of memory cells is programmed respectively to their target states in parallel using a multiple-pass index programming method which reduces the number of verify steps. For each cell a program index is maintained storing the last programming voltage applied to the cell. Each cell is indexed during a first programming pass with the application of a series of incrementing programming pulses. The first programming pass is followed by verification and one or more subsequent programming passes to trim any short-falls to the respective target states. If a cell fails to verify to its target state, its program index is incremented and allows the cell to be programmed by the next pulse from the last received pulse. The verify and programming pass are repeated until all the cells in the group are verified to their respective target states. No verify operations between pulses are necessary. |
| US07826270B2 |
Non-volatile semiconductor memory device and method of writing and reading the same
MOS transistors each having different ON withstanding voltages that are drain withstanding voltages when gates thereof are turned on are formed on the same substrate. One of the MOS transistors having the lower ON withstand voltage is used as a memory element. Using the fact that the drain withstanding voltage is low when a gate thereof is turned on, a short-circuit occurs in a PN junction between a drain and the substrate of the one of the MOS transistors having the lower ON withstand voltage to write data. |
| US07826269B2 |
Flash memory device and method for driving the same
Provided are a flash memory device and a method of driving the same for improving reliability of stored set information. The method of driving the flash memory device includes applying power to the flash memory device, the flash memory device having a memory cell array for storing set information regarding operation environment settings, where the set information includes at least one bit. The method further includes performing an initial read operation on the memory cell array and judging a status of data, corresponding to the set information, read during the initial read operation to determine whether the initial read operation has passed or failed. Each bit of the set information is extended to n bits (where n is an integer equal to or greater than 2). The n bits are respectively stored in different input/output regions in the memory cell array. |
| US07826266B2 |
Semiconductor device having global and local data lines coupled to memory mats
A semiconductor device includes a sense amplifier and a decoder provided on a semiconductor substrate together with memory cells provided above the sense amplifier and the decoder. Each of the memory cells includes a channel region, in which current flows in a direction perpendicular to a surface of the semiconductor substrate, a charge accumulation region provided along the channel region, and an insulator film provided between the channel region and the charge accumulation region. |
| US07826265B2 |
Memory device with variable trim setting
A memory device includes a memory array including a plurality of cells. The cells are divided into a plurality of subsets. Each subset has at least one associated trim parameter. The trim parameter for each subset is stored in the memory array within the associated subset. Circuitry is operable to program at least a portion of a selected subset using the associated trim parameter. A method for operating a memory device includes storing at least one trim parameter for each of a plurality of subsets of a memory array in the memory device within each of the subsets. At least a portion of a selected subset is programmed based on the at least one trim parameter associated with the selected subset. |
| US07826261B2 |
Semiconductor memory device, method of writing data therein, and method of reading data therefrom
A semiconductor memory device (1) has a FET (10) (first field-effect transistor), a FET (20) (second field-effect transistor), a contact plug (32) (first conductive plug), contact plugs (34) (second conductive plugs), and a detection circuit (50). The FET (20) is provided in a double well (40). M (m is a natural number) contact plugs (32) are connected to a diffusion layer (22) of the FET (20) while n (n is a natural number) contact plugs (34) are connected to a diffusion layer (24). Here, m is smaller than n. The detection circuit (50) detects the difference between the output of the FET (10) and the output of the FET (20). |
| US07826259B2 |
Staggered STRAM cell
Spin-transfer torque memory having a free magnetic layer having a thickness extending in a out-of-plane direction and extending in a lateral direction in an in-plane direction between a first end portion and an opposing second end portion. A tunneling barrier separates a reference magnetic layer from the first end portion and forms a magnetic tunnel junction. A first electrode is in electrical communication with the reference magnetic layer and a second electrode is in electrical communication with the free magnetic layer second end portion such that current flows from the first electrode to the second electrode and passes through the free magnetic layer in the lateral direction to switch the magnetic tunnel junction between a high resistance state and a low resistance state. |
| US07826258B2 |
Crossbar diode-switched magnetoresistive random access memory system
A magnetic memory or MRAM memory system comprising an M×N crossbar array of MRAM cells. Each memory cell stores binary data bits with switchable magnetoresistive tunnel junctions (MJT) where the electrical conductance changes as the magnetic moment of one electrode (the storage layer) in the MJT switches direction. The switching of the magnetic moment is assisted by a phase transition interlayer that transitions from antiferromagnetic to ferromagnetic at a well defined, above ambient temperature. |
| US07826257B2 |
Magneto-resistance effect element and magnetic memory device
The invention relates to a magneto-resistance effect element and a magnetic memory device. Lowering the magnetic domain wall movement current and drive at room temperature in a current induction single magnetic domain wall movement phenomenon are achieved. A magneto-resistance effect element is formed by including at least: a magnet wire 1 for forming magnetic domain wall potential 7 binding a single magnetic domain wall 2; a magnetic field applying means for generating a magnetic field for introducing the single magnetic domain wall 2 into the magnet wire 1; and a drive current applying means for applying the current 3 including a resonance frequency component determined on the basis of the magnetic domain wall potential 7. |
| US07826256B2 |
STRAM with compensation element
Spin-transfer torque memory having a compensation element is disclosed. The spin-transfer torque memory unit includes a synthetic antiferromagnetic reference element, a synthetic antiferromagnetic compensation element, a free magnetic layer between the synthetic antiferromagnetic reference element and the synthetic antiferromagnetic compensation element, and an electrically insulating and non-magnetic tunneling barrier layer separating the free magnetic layer from the synthetic antiferromagnetic reference element. The free magnetic layer has a saturation moment value greater than 1100 emu/cc. |
| US07826255B2 |
Variable write and read methods for resistive random access memory
Variable write and read methods for resistance random access memory (RRAM) are disclosed. The methods include initializing a write sequence and verifying the resistance state of the RRAM cell. If a write pulse is needed, then two or more write pulses are applied through the RRAM cell to write the desired data state to the RRAM cell. Each subsequent write pulse has substantially the same or greater write pulse duration. Subsequent write pulses are applied to the RRAM cell until the RRAM cell is in the desired data state or until a predetermined number of write pulses have been applied to the RRAM cell. A read method is also disclosed where subsequent read pulses are applied through the RRAM cell until the read is successful or until a predetermined number of read pulses have been applied to the RRAM cell. |
| US07826252B2 |
Read-preferred SRAM cell design
A method for operating a static random access memory (SRAM) cell includes providing the SRAM cell having a static read margin and a static write margin, wherein the static read margin is greater than the static write margin; applying a dynamic power to perform a write operation on the SRAM cell; and applying a static power to perform a read operation on the SRAM cell. |
| US07826249B2 |
Three dimensional programmable resistance memory device with a read/write circuit stacked under a memory cell array
A programmable resistance memory device includes a semiconductor substrate, at least one cell array, in which memory cells are arranged formed above the semiconductor substrate. Each of the memory cells has a stack structure of a programmable resistance element and an access element, the programmable resistance element storing a high resistance state or a low resistance state determined due to the polarity of voltage application in a non-volatile manner. The access element has such a resistance value in an off-state in a certain voltage range that is ten time or more as high as that in a select state. A read/write circuit is formed on a semiconductor substrate as underlying the cell array for data reading and data writing in communication with the cell array. |
| US07826247B2 |
Method for initializing resistance-variable material, memory device containing a resistance-variable material, and method for initializing nonvolatile memory circuit including variable resistor
An initialization method of the present invention is a method for initializing a material (variable-resistance material) (2) whose resistance value increases/decreases according to the polarity of an applied electric pulse. An electric pulse having a first polarity is applied at least once between first and second electrodes (1, 3) connected to the variable-resistance material (2) such that the potential of the first electrode is higher than that of the second electrode. |
| US07826245B2 |
Semiconductor memory
A semiconductor memory includes a memory cell array area having a memory cell, a word line contact area adjacent to the memory cell array area, a word line arranged straddling the memory cell array area and the word line contact area, a contact hole provided on the word line in the word line contact area, and a word line driver connected to the word line via the contact hole. A size of the contact hole is larger than a width of the word line, and the lowest parts of the contact hole exist on a position lower than a top surface of the word line and higher than a bottom surface of the word line. |
| US07826244B2 |
Low cost high density rectifier matrix memory
A high density memory device is fabricated three dimensionally in layers. To keep points of failure low, address decoding circuits are included within each layer so that, in addition to power and data lines, only the address signal lines need be interconnected between the layers. |
| US07826241B2 |
Semiconductor memory device that can relieve defective address
A pre-decoded address is generated at a high speed in a semiconductor memory device. The device comprises a pre-decoder (210) for generating a first pre-decoded address (PDA1) by pre-decoding the input address (ADD), a CAM circuit (220) for activating the match signal (MT) by responding to the indication of a defective memory cell by the input address (ADD), a ROM circuit (230) for outputting a second pre-decoded address (PDA2) and an enable signal (ES) in response to the activation of the match signal (MT), and a multiplexer (240) for selecting either the first or second pre-decoded address (PDA1 or PDA2) on the basis of the enable signal (ES). According to the present invention, there is no need to use a circuit with numerous stages as there is in substituted logic; accordingly, pre-decoded addresses can be generated at a high speed. |
| US07826231B2 |
Power conversion apparatus
A power conversion apparatus comprising a base which includes a first fixation portion and a second fixation portion that are coupled to each other at a desired angle, wherein power modules are fixed on the first fixation portion of the base, a control circuit board is fixed with its first principal surface held in direct or indirect touch with the second fixation portion of the base, and components constituting a control circuit are packaged on the second principal surface of the control circuit board. Owing to the configuration, a versatility for the installation of the power conversion apparatus on a vehicle becomes high, the vibration-proofness of the control circuit board is enhanced, and heats generated by the electronic components, etc. packaged on the control circuit board are sufficiently emitted. |
| US07826227B2 |
Heat dissipation device
A heat dissipation device is disposed in an electronic device and performs thermal exchange with an electronic component of the electronic device. The heat dissipation device includes a heat sink and a plurality of fluttering slices. The heat sink is attached on the electronic component to conduct the thermal energy of the electronic component. The fluttering slices are disposed on the heat sink, and the fluttering slices are actuated to generate an airflow when the electronic device is moved, so as to disturb the air inside the electronic device, thereby achieving the purpose of improving the thermal dissipation performance. |
| US07826226B2 |
Electric power converter and mounting structure of semiconductor device
An electric power converter has a main circuit section including a semiconductor module and a cooling device; a control circuit substrate section electrically connected to a signal terminal of the semiconductor module, and having a control circuit; and a power wiring section connected to a main electrode terminal of the semiconductor module. The main circuit section is interposed between the control circuit substrate section and the power wiring section. |
| US07826220B1 |
Electronic device security container
An electronic device security container is taught which is used for storing valuable objects which consists of a console having electronic devices inside including a clock radio, a iPod® docking station, a fingerprint recognition biometric device and an electrical locking mechanism. A power supply provides electrical energy to the electronic devices housed within the console. An enclosure is attached to the console, which has a top opening lid, and a bottom storage container with a spring loaded hinge attached therebetween. An alternate embodiment is for a slide drawer opening security container differing only in the configuration of an enclosure which contains a sliding drawer under the console instead of the lid opening on the enclosure top. |
| US07826212B2 |
Thermal control through a channel structure
Thermal control through a channel structure is disclosed. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes devices operable at an undesired temperature relative to a desired operating temperature, a vented cover of each of devices, and a channel structure formed along a side face of each of the devices, the channel structure having any number of ridges to transfer a gas between the vented cover and an external location to the apparatus. The gas may modify an operating state of the devices from the undesired temperature to the desired operating temperature. A heat structure coupled to the vented cover and the side face may absorb a portion of an energy dissipated by at least one of the devices. A printed circuit board may be formed along an opposite face relative to the vented cover to enable the gas to escape to the external location through a cavity of the apparatus. |
| US07826208B2 |
Case structure for computer device
A case structure for a computer device is disposed in a cabinet. The case structure includes a case and a stop member. The case has a first slot on a sidewall of the case. The stop member includes a fixing section, a cantilever section, and a stop section. The fixing section is fixed on a side surface of the case. The cantilever section is formed by extending from the fixing section and may be deformed. The stop section is formed by extending from the cantilever section. At least one blocking piece is disposed on a side surface of the stop section. The blocking piece normally passes through the first slot and protrudes on an outer side surface of the case, so that the blocking piece is held against the cabinet. When the cantilever section is deformed, the blocking piece is merged into the first slot. |
| US07826202B2 |
Modular electrical distribution system for a building
A universal power distribution system is provided for routing electrical circuits within a building structure to comprehensively provide electrical power to the building in ceiling configurations, wall-mounted configurations, raised floor configurations and in office furniture configurations. The system components for all of these configurations have common plug connectors that are engagable with each other so as to be readily usable in a wide variety of applications. The system is readily adaptable to form virtually any conventional circuit configuration found within conventional hard-wired systems yet is formed simply through the routing of the cables through the building cavities and interconnection is accomplished merely by plugging components together rather than through labor-intensive manual wiring. |
| US07826201B2 |
Control box arrangement
A control box arrangement including at least one control box which is sub-divided, or which can be sub-divided, into a plurality of cuboid compartments, including functional compartments, by wall sections, where vertical wall sections with a horizontal sub-division are provided. A collecting bar arrangement including a distributing bus bar arrangement guides the current, in order to supply electrical energy to appliance components which are arranged in the functional compartments accessible from the front side. An advantageous arrangement of functional compartments and the energy supply of components received therein is achieved by the distribution buses of the distributing bus bar arrangement are guided through a plurality of vertical functional compartments arranged one above the other and separated by horizontal partition bottoms, are mounted inside the compartments, and covered in a protected manner. |
| US07826186B2 |
Semiconductor device having an ESD protection circuit
When a manufacturing process becomes finer and a threshold value drops, a leakage current generates in a MOS transistor that is normally in an off-state. In order to suppress an influence of a leakage current that is generated in a protection transistor that constitutes a protection circuit on the internal circuit, an adjustor circuit that forms a transit path of the leakage current is disposed within the protection circuit, and a monitor circuit having the same circuit configuration as a configuration of the protection circuit is disposed to control an impedance of the transit path in the protection circuit and the monitor circuit so as to allow the leakage current to flow through the transit path. |
| US07826184B2 |
Series arc fault interrupters and methods
A circuit interrupter for interrupting current on a line conductor is provided. The circuit interrupter includes separable contacts, a trip mechanism, a bimetal, a microprocessor, a series arc detection sequence, a low-pass filter circuit, and a high-pass filter circuit. The trip mechanism selectively opens the separable contacts when activated. The series arc detection sequence is resident on the microprocessor and includes a plurality of series fault detection algorithms. The low-pass filter circuit provides a low-pass signal to the series arc detection sequence. The high-pass filter circuit provides a high-pass signal to the series arc detection sequence. The sequence selects a particular algorithm from the plurality of algorithms based on the low-pass signal. The sequence calculates a plurality of statistical features from the high-pass signal and sends an output signal to activate the trip mechanism based on a comparison of the plurality of statistical features to the particular algorithm. |
| US07826183B2 |
Circuit interrupting device with reset lockout and reverse wiring protection and method of manufacture
Resettable circuit interrupting devices, such as GFCI devices, that include reverse wiring protection, and optionally an independent trip portions and/or a reset lockout portion are provided. The reverse wiring protection operates at both the line and load sides of the device so that in the event line side wiring to the device is improperly connected to the load side, fault protection for the device remains. The trip portion operates independently of a circuit interrupting portion used to break the electrical continuity in one or more conductive paths in the device. The reset lockout portion prevents the reestablishing of electrical continuity in open conductive paths if the circuit interrupting portion is non-operational, if an open neutral condition exists or if the device is reverse wired. Methods for ensuring a reset lock out state before shipment are provided. |
| US07826182B2 |
Current-perpendicular-to-the-plane (CPP) magnetoresistive sensor with CoFeGe ferromagnetic layers
A current-perpendicular-to-the-plane spin-valve (CPP-SV) magnetoresistive sensor has a ferromagnetic alloy comprising Co, Fe and Ge in the sensor's free layer and/or pinned layer. The sensor may be a simple pinned structure, in which case the pinned layer may be formed of the CoFeGe ferromagnetic alloy. Alternatively, the sensor may have an AP-pinned layer structure, in which case the AP2 layer may be formed of the CoFeGe ferromagnetic alloy. The Ge-containing alloy comprises Co, Fe and Ge, wherein Ge is present in the alloy in an amount between about 20 and 40 atomic percent, and wherein the ratio of Co to Fe in the alloy is between about 0.8 and 1.2. More particularly, the CoFeGe alloy may consist essentially of only Co, Fe and Ge according to the formula (CoxFe(100-x))(100-y)Gey where the subscripts represent atomic percent, x is between about 45 and 55, and y is between about 23 and 37. |
| US07826179B2 |
Magneto-resistive effect device of the CPP structure and magnetic disk system
The invention provides a magneto-resistive effect device of the CPP (current perpendicular to plane) structure, comprising a magneto-resistive effect unit, and an upper shield layer and a lower shield layer located with that magneto-resistive effect unit sandwiched between them, with a sense current applied in a stacking direction, wherein the magneto-resistive effect unit comprises a nonmagnetic metal intermediate layer, and a first ferromagnetic layer and a second ferromagnetic layer stacked and formed with that nonmagnetic metal intermediate layer sandwiched between them, wherein the first ferromagnetic layer and said second ferromagnetic layer are exchange coupled via the nonmagnetic metal intermediate layer such that where there is no bias magnetic field applied as yet, their magnetizations are anti-parallel with each other, and at least one of the upper shield layer and the lower shield layer has an inclined magnetization structure with its magnetization inclining with respect to a track width direction, so that by the magnetization of that inclined magnetization structure, a bias magnetic field can be applied to the first ferromagnetic layer and the second ferromagnetic layer. It is thus possible to obtain a magneto-resistive effect device of improved reliability that enables a structure capable of having a narrowed read gap (the gap between the upper shield and the lower shield) to be adopted to meet the recently demanded ultra-high recording density, allows a stable bias magnetic field to be applied in simple structure, and obtain a stable magneto-resistive effect change. |
| US07826177B1 |
Flexure having arms with reduced centroid offset for supporting a head in a disk drive
A flexure for supporting a head in a disk drive includes a tongue including a head mounting surface for attaching the head. The flexure further includes a first arm on a first side of the tongue. The first arm includes a structural material and has a first cross-sectional area in a plane perpendicular to the head mounting surface. The first cross-sectional area has a first centroid. The flexure further includes a second arm on the first side of the tongue. The second arm includes a conductive material layer. The second arm has a second cross-sectional area in the plane perpendicular to the head mounting surface. The second cross-sectional area has a second centroid. The second centroid is not offset from the first centroid by more than 10 microns in a direction perpendicular to the head mounting surface. |
| US07826170B2 |
Apparatus and method for adjusting a feed-forward signal for seek control during a seek operation
A hard disk drive control module has a feed-forward signal input port communicatively coupled with a reference model. The hard disk drive control module has a tracking error signal input port communicatively coupled with a magnetic transducer of the hard disk drive. The hard disk drive control module has an error calculator module configured for determining a difference between an estimated tracking error signal in response to a first feed-forward signal and an actual tracking error signal of the magnetic transducer in response to the first feed-forward signal. The hard disk drive control module has a feed-forward signal adjuster module configured for adjusting a gain and a phase for a second feed-forward signal based on the difference between the estimated tracking error signal in response to the first feed-forward signal and the actual tracking error signal of the magnetic transducer. The hard disk drive control module has a feed-forward signal adjustment output port communicatively coupled to the second feed-forward signal. |
| US07826168B2 |
Method of creating correction table for head position control, head position control method, and disk device
A head position control method controls the position of a head by correcting components synchronizing rotation of a disk based on the head control amount. A correction signal for components synchronizing rotation is generated by using a filter function. The filter function that integrates the sine and cosine terms of DFT and inverse DFT and forms multiply of the complex values a(m) and b(m) and sine and cosine for frequency conversion, is measured in advance. The complex values are the m degree of RRO frequencies having frequency characteristics to be multiplied (1+C(z)P(z)) or −(1+C(z)P(z)/P(z)). |
| US07826167B2 |
Method for establishing and maintaining radial position for hard disk drive self servo write without seed wedges
Magnetic reference patterns may be generated on a disk or other magnetic media without the need for seed wedges. This involves writing a first magnetic reference pattern to the disk with a servo writer. The disk may then be transferred to a hard disk drive. Control circuitry within the hard disk drive may recognize the first magnetic reference pattern and then position a RW head within the hard disk drive based on the first magnetic reference pattern. As the RW drive is accurately positioned based on the first magnetic reference pattern a second magnetic reference pattern may be written to the disk using the RW head. The RW head location is determined based on the velocity and phase between the read-write head and spiral sync marks contained within the first magnetic reference pattern. |
| US07826164B2 |
Contact type thin film magnetic head with heaters for distance control
A contact type thin film magnetic head and method of using the same are provided. The contact type thin film magnetic head comprises a head element that is provided on a disk-facing surface of a slider, a magnetic disk, and heating elements disposed in a plane position different from that of the head element. A protective layer covers the heating elements and the head element. The heating elements and the protecting layer are formed on the disk-facing surface of the slider. The protective layer protrudes further toward the magnetic disk than the head element. |
| US07826160B2 |
Signal reproducing method, magnetic head and magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus
A magnetic head, includes a magnetic oscillation element, the oscillation frequency of which is modulated by a medium magnetic field, and a reproducing device configured to detect a phase difference between the adjacent oscillation signals derived from the magnetic oscillation element and output a phase difference signal as a reproduced signal. |
| US07826158B2 |
Lens drive unit installation structure and lens drive unit
The present invention aims to provide a lens drive unit installation structure which enhances dust resistance to improve reliability and realizes miniaturization and easiness to assemble. For achieving the purposes, the lens drive unit installation structure for installing a lens drive unit including: a lens holding frame for holding a lens, and a lens moving mechanism for slidingly move the lens holding frame in the direction of an optical axis using a drive source, wherein the drive source to be linked with the lens moving mechanism is arranged on the side of the lens holding frame view from the direction of the optical axis, and a partition is set between the lens holding frame and the drive source, thereby the lens and the drive source are arranged separately from each other. |
| US07826155B2 |
Vibration damping for photolithographic lens mount
A connection between two components supported in a mutually vibrating fashion has at least one connection element connecting the two components, and a gap located between the two components in which a medium is located. The gap has a width small enough to largely prevent a displacement of the medium inside the gap during comparatively fast relative movements between the two components. |
| US07826154B2 |
Portable electronic device
An exemplary portable electronic device includes a main body, a first camera module disposed in the main body, a second camera module disposed in the main body adjacent to the first camera module, and a light diverging lens rotatably mounted on the main body. The light diverging lens has a first surface and an opposite second surface. The light diverging lens is rotatable between a first position and a second position. When the light diverging lens is in the first position, the light diverging lens is optically aligned with the first camera module and the first surface of the light diverging lens faces the first camera module. When the light diverging lens is in the second position, the light diverging lens is optically aligned with the second camera module and the second surface of the light diverging lens faces the second camera module. |
| US07826148B2 |
Aspheric lens structures and fabrication methods thereof
Aspheric lens structures with dual aspheric surfaces and fabrication methods thereof are disclosed. An aspheric lens structure includes a first lens component with an aspheric top surface disposed on a second lens component, wherein the interface between the first lens component and the second lens component is spherical. The second lens component includes an aspheric back surface, wherein the radius of curvature of the aspheric top surface of the first lens component is different than the radius of curvature of the aspheric back surface of the second lens component. The second lens component may also include a planar back surface with a third lens component disposed on the planar back surface of the second component. The third lens component includes an aspheric back surface, wherein the radius of curvature of the aspheric top surface of the first lens component is different than the radius of curvature of the aspheric back surface of the third lens component. |
| US07826144B2 |
High speed piezoelectric optical system with tunable focal length
A varifocal optical system includes a substantially circular membrane deposited on a substrate, and a ring-shaped PZT thin film deposited on the outer portion of the circular membrane. The membrane may be a MEMS-micromachined membrane, made of thermal oxide, polysilicon, ZrO2 and SiO2. The membrane is initially in a buckled state, and may function as a mirror or a lens. Application of an electric voltage between an inner and outer electrode on the piezoelectric thin film induces a lateral strain on the PZT thin film, thereby altering the curvature of the membrane, and thus its focal length. Focal length tuning speeds as high as 1 MHz have been demonstrated. Tuning ranges of several hundred microns have been attained. The varifocal optical system can be used in many applications that require rapid focal length tuning, such as optical switching, scanning confocal microscopy, and vibration compensation in optical storage disks. |
| US07826143B2 |
Optical system with wavelength selecting device
The object is to provide an optical system with a wavelength selecting device. According to one aspect of the present invention, an optical system with a wavelength selecting device includes, in order from an object along an optical axis, an objective optical system composed of optical elements having refractive power and an aperture stop, a no-power optical group composed of optical elements having no refractive power, and an imaging device. The no-power optical group includes the wavelength selecting device for making short wavelength light be selectively substantially non-transparent. The wavelength selecting device preferably satisfies the predetermined conditional expressions. |
| US07826140B2 |
Laser marking device
A laser marking device (1) includes a laser light source (24) that emits a laser beam, and a beam splitter (230) receiving the laser beam and allowing a part of the laser beam to be reflected thereat and a remaining part of the laser beam to be transmitted therethorogh. The beam splitter (230) has an unpolarized film (233a, 233b) into which the laser beam is entered to divide the laser beam into a plurality of laser beams that travels in different directions, at a predetermined rate regardless of change of a polarized characteristic of the laser beam. |
| US07826135B2 |
Screen film for light projection brightness enhancement
A front-projection screen that includes a prismatic film that comprises an outside surface of the screen. The film includes parallel prismatic grooved lines. Each of the lines have a draft surface, a groove surface, and, each of the lines are located on a first side of a base portion of the film. The screen also includes a diffuser-reflector layer adjacent to a second opposite side of the base portion. The outside surface of the screen is oriented to receive an incoming light exclusively through the draft surfaces of the lines. The incoming light has an angle of incidence of about 60 degrees or greater with respect to the normal of the outside surface. A draft-base angle between the base portion and the draft surface is about 75 degrees or greater. |
| US07826131B2 |
Tunable photonic crystal device
This application describes a tunable photonic crystal device based on the electrical actuation of photonic crystal films. This device displays non-bleachable structural color, reflecting narrow bands of wavelengths tuned throughout the entire visible spectrum by expansion and contraction of the photonic crystal lattice |
| US07826119B2 |
Light scanning device
A light scanning device includes: a light source which emits light; a frame which supports the light source; an oscillating mirror which rotationally oscillates about a first axis to reflect the light emitted from the light source; a mirror holder which holds the oscillating mirror; a beam member which extends in a first direction orthogonal to the first axis and which is longer than the mirror holder in the first direction; a first fixing member which fixes the mirror holder to the beam member; and a second fixing member which fixes the beam member to the frame. |
| US07826115B2 |
Quantum computing method and quantum computer
An (N+1) number of physical systems each having five energy levels |0>, |1>, |2>, |3>, and |4>, a qubit being expressed by |0> and |1>, are provided in an optical cavity having a cavity mode resonant with |2>-|3>, such that an N number of control systems and a target system are prepared. The target system is irradiated with light pulses resonant with |0>-|4>, |1>-|4>, and |2>-|4> to change a superposed state |c> to |2>. All of the physical systems are irradiated with light pulses resonant with |0>-|3> and |1>-|3>, and a phase of the light pulse resonant with the target system is shifted by a specific value dependent on a unitary transformation U. The target system is irradiated with light pulses resonant with |0>-|4>, |1>-|4>, and |2>-|4>, with a phase difference between them being set to a specific value dependent on the unitary transformation U, to return |2> to |c>. |
| US07826108B2 |
Scanning apparatus for preventing defocus aberration
A scanning apparatus for preventing defocus aberration is provided. The scanning apparatus includes a flatbed scanning portion and a scanning module. The flatbed scanning portion includes a glass platform. The scanning module includes a scanning module case, a light source, multiple reflective mirrors, a lens, an optical sensing element, a printed circuit board and a metallic post. The metallic post is interconnected between the scanning module case and the printed circuit board. The printed circuit board is not in direct contact with the scanning module case so as to prevent defocus aberration resulting from thermal expansion. |
| US07826107B2 |
Scanning device with a fastening unit for fastening a sensing unit to a scanner body
A scanning device includes a scanner body, a scanning unit, a lens unit, a sensing unit, and a fastening unit. The scanner body has a bottom surface that is formed with two slots. The fastening unit includes two first fastening members disposed respectively within the slots, and two second fastening members engaging respectively and threadably the first fastening members so as to fasten the sensing unit to the scanner body. |
| US07826100B2 |
Methods and apparatus for facsimile transmissions to electronic storage destinations including embedded barcode fonts
A method for a computer includes determining a call-in fax telephone number called by a facsimile transmission device, receiving the facsimile transmission from a facsimile transmission device including a digitized representation of a transmission page including an optical representation of data associated with an e-mail address, determining the data optically, which is independent of the call-in number, determining a graphics template associated with the call-in number, combining a digitized representation of the transmission page with the graphics template to form a digitized representation of a composite page, formatting the digitized representation of the composite page into a second format, determining additional service provider data in response to the facsimile or the scanned image, and transmitting the additional service provider data and the digitized representation of the composite page in the second format to the electronic destination address. |
| US07826099B2 |
Variable-dot halftoning
A method for enabling a program that communicates a document description from a composition system to a printing system to manage variable-dot halftones for use with variable-dot printing devices, comprising the steps of creating a set of strings, each string defining a halftone cell intensity value and comprising at least one pixel imbution value, wherein said pixel imbution value is in the range of 0 to P, wherein P is the number of physical appearances that a painted pixel can have; using a selected halftone cell intensity value to directly choose a string from said set of strings; and painting at least one pixel within a halftone cell according to a pixel imbution value within the chosen string. |
| US07826097B2 |
Asymmetrical digital filters for dot gain adjustments
A method for adjusting dot-gain for a halftone binary bitmap file comprises inputting a halftone binary bitmap file consisting of binary pixels (400) to an asymmetric digital filter (500). The binary pixels are filtered with the asymmetric digital filter and generates multi-level pixels (506). The multi-level pixel are compared to a preset level (408) and generates a binary pixel output (410). The binary pixel output is collected and forms an adjusted halftone binary bitmap file (270). |
| US07826095B2 |
System and method for estimating color separation misregistration utilizing frequency-shifted halftone patterns that form a moiré pattern
A method and system for estimating color separation misregistration of a printing system. The method may include marking a substrate to form a misregistration estimation patch. The misregistration estimation patch being formed by first and second color separations. The first color separation marking the substrate with a first halftone pattern. The first halftone pattern has a first halftone-frequency vector in a first direction and a second halftone-frequency vector in a second direction. The second color separation marking the substrate with a second halftone pattern. The second halftone pattern has a first halftone-frequency vector in a first direction and a second halftone-frequency vector in a second direction. The first and second halftone patterns form a moiré pattern. A deviation in at least one the halftone frequency vectors and/or the moiré pattern can be indicative of a color separation misregistration. The method also includes estimating the color separation misregistration of the printing system using the misregistration estimation patch. |
| US07826094B2 |
Apparatus for processing data describing an image and image forming device
An apparatus for processing data describing an image is provided with an input device, a binarizing device, a correcting device, a driving pulse generating device, and an adjusting device. The input device inputs the data. The binarizing device performs a binarizing calculation on the input data. The correcting device corrects the binarizing calculation when a pixel that needs adjustment of a driving pulse thereof has been identified based on the binarized data. The driving pulse generating device generates driving pulses based on the binarized data. The adjusting device adjusts the driving pulse when the pixel that needs adjustment of the driving pulse thereof has been identified based on the binarized data. |
| US07826091B2 |
Image processing apparatus, information processing apparatus, image processing method and image processing system
An image processing apparatus has a printing function. A preview original-image creation part creates an original image for preview based on print data. A preview parts-image creation part creates a parts image for preview peculiar to each equipment. A preview image synthesis part synthesizes a preview image from the original image for preview and the parts image for preview. A preview image retaining part retains the preview image. |
| US07826084B2 |
Output control apparatus, output control system, output control method, computer-readable recording medium and computer program for communicating with a plurality of printing apparatuses
An output destination of a job can be arbitrarily selectively used in accordance with an application of the user. If a state of each of printers to which the print job should be outputted is abnormal, if the states of the printers are unknown, or if there is a trouble in the obtainment and holding of the states of the printers, by controlling so as to output the print job at the output destination according to each situation with reference to an output destination change instruction table which has preliminarily been registered by the user, the output destination of the job is not always changed. If the output destination is changed, the output destination can be manually changed, thereby enabling the job to be outputted at the output destination according to the application of the user. |
| US07826081B2 |
Methods and systems for receiving localized display elements at an imaging device
Embodiments of the present invention comprise systems, methods and devices for imaging device display element localization. |
| US07826080B2 |
Print system, print method, information processing apparatus and method of controlling the information processing apparatus
In a network print system in which a printer and at least one client are connected to each other through a network, and at least a part of a job for the printer can be subjected to load distributed processing by grid computing, wherein when a printer driver of the printer is installed on any one of the at least one client, the system is adapted to build a grid computing network. In this arrangement, it is easily to build the grid computing network in which the printer job is subjected to load distributed processing. |
| US07826077B2 |
Apparatus, system and method for executing image processing based on job data stored in a portable storage medium
The system according to the present invention includes: a portable storage medium which can store data and job data regarding a job to be executed by the image processing apparatus; an information processing apparatus which can record and read the job data in the portable storage medium to be executed by the image processing apparatus; and at least one image processing apparatus which can read and update the job data stored in the portable storage medium. The image processing apparatus reads the job data stored in the portable storage medium and executes image processing based on the job data. In addition, when the job data is interrupted during its execution, the image processing apparatus can add data which indicates that the job is interrupted in the job data or record the data which indicates that the job is interrupted to be related with the job data. The image processing apparatus reads the job data which includes the data indicating that the job is interrupted and resumes the job from the interrupted state. The data which indicates that the job is interrupted may be recorded to be related with the job data separately from the job data. |
| US07826076B2 |
System and method for providing secure value-added document network services
Systems and methods for performing secure value-added network services in a network using one or more operating systems. The system runs on a distribution agent Web server accessible from one or more types of network Operating Systems (“OS”) via a Secure Socket Layer (“SSL”) channel. The system includes one or more subsystems, including a receiving system that receives one or more document service requests over a secure communications medium, an authentication system that authenticates each received document service request, a processing system that processes the one or more authenticated document service requests, and a request fulfillment system that fulfills each processed document service request. |
| US07826075B2 |
Host device to control transmission of bit-map data to an imaging device
A host device to control transmission of bit-map data and/or one or more real-time commands to an imaging device controls processing of a data stream including the bit-map data. In one aspect, if a detector of the host determines that a data stream to be transmitted includes bit-map data, then a processor of the host sends a real-time processing disable command; and then sends the data stream including the bit-map data. In another aspect, if a detector of the host determines that real-time command receipt by the imaging device is disabled, then a processor of the host transmits a data stream including bit-map data, followed by the transmission of a real-time processing enable command, and then the transmission of a real-time command. An imaging device and controlling its receipt and processing of data are also provided. |
| US07826072B1 |
Method for optimizing the configuration of a scatterometry measurement system
The present application discloses a method of model-based measurement of semiconductor device features using a scatterometer system. The method includes at least the following steps. A cost function is defined depending upon a plurality of variable parameters of the scatterometer system and upon a plurality of variable parameters for computer-implemented modeling to determine measurement results. Constraints are established for the plurality of variable parameters of the scatterometer system and for the plurality of variable parameters for the computer-implemented modeling. A computer-implemented optimization procedure is performed to determine an optimized global set of parameters, including both the variable parameters of the scatterometer system and the variable parameters for the computer-implemented modeling, which result in a minimal value of the cost function. Finally, the optimized global set of parameters is applied to configure the scatterometer system and the computer-implemented modeling. Other embodiments, features and aspects are also disclosed herein. |
| US07826064B2 |
Interferometer system for monitoring an object
System for monitoring a position of one or more optical elements in a projection objective (PO) include a plurality of sensors each configured to receive input light and to form output light, each sensor including a first sensor optic and a second sensor optic, the first sensor optic of at least one of the sensors being affixed to a first PO optical element and the second sensor optic of the at least one sensor being affixed to a support element that positions the first PO optical element within the PO, the first and second sensor optics being configured introduce a first optical path length difference (OPD) between two components of the input light to form the output light, the first OPD being related to the position of the first PO optical element with respect to the support element. The systems also include a plurality of detectors configured to detect the output light from the sensors, a plurality of optical fibers configured to direct the input light to the sensors and to direct the output light from the sensors to the detectors, and an electronic controller in communication with the plurality of detectors, the electronic controller being configured to determine information about the position of the first PO optical element relative to the support element based on the detected output light from the at least one sensor. |
| US07826062B2 |
Device to detect or generate optical signals
The present invention relates to a device for detecting or generating and modulating optical signals, and having an angular dispersive element arranged to change angles of the optical signals or carrier and/or reference rays brought to interference. |
| US07826060B2 |
Direct detection of localized modulation of ion concentration on an electrode-electrolyte interface
The present invention directly measures localized electrochemical processes on a planar electrode using differential interferometry. The ionic charge accumulation at the electrode-electrolyte interface may be directly measured by using differential interferometry as a function of magnitude and frequency (for example, 2-50 kHz) of an external potential applied on an electrode. Methods in accordance with the present invention probe the ion dynamics confined to the electrical double layer. An electric field is applied using a pure AC potential and a superposition of AC and DC-ramp potential to measure ion concentration and detect redox processes. |
| US07826057B2 |
Electro-optic modulator assembly for contactless test of flat panel display, method for contactless test of flat panel display using the same, method for manufacturing flat panel display using the method for contactless test of flat panel display, and related technologies
Disclosed is an electro-optic modulator assembly capable of determining whether each process is being carried out normally during a fabricating process of a flat panel display by performing a contactless testing across the flat panel display, an apparatus and a method for contactless test of flat panel display using the electro-optic modulator assembly, and a method for manufacturing a flat panel display using the method for contactless test of the flat panel display. |
| US07826056B2 |
Testing method for testing color wheels
A testing method is configured for testing parameters of a color wheel. The color wheel includes a color filter, which includes three sector-shaped filter segments and a motor for driving the filter segments of the color filter to rotate. The color filter is driven to rotate. Light is emitted toward the color filter of the color wheel, and reflected back by the color filter. Boundary impulses are generated according to changes in intensity of the light reflected back by the color filter. Based on relationships between the boundary impulses, central angles of the filter segments of the color wheel are calculated. |
| US07826053B2 |
Multi-photon absorption detection of materials
An exemplary embodiment includes an apparatus having an energy source for selectively directing a first energy toward a first material. The at least a portion of the first energy excites a preselected second material to an excited state where at least two photons of the first energy are absorbed by the molecule of the second material causing the molecule to emit a second energy at about a predetermined wavelength. The apparatus also includes a control system for directing the first energy toward the first material. The apparatus also includes a detector for detecting at least a portion of the emitted second energy when the detector is more than about 40 meters from the molecule. |
| US07826049B2 |
Inspection tools supporting multiple operating states for multiple detector arrangements
An inspection system can support operation in multiple states. For instance, when inspecting an article, such as a semiconductor wafer, the tool can switch between imaging multiple locations using respective detectors to another operating state wherein multiple detectors operating in multiple imaging modes inspect a single location. An inspection system may combine the use of multiple detectors for multiple locations and the use of multiple viewing angles or modes for the same locations and thereby achieve high throughput. The different imaging modes can comprise, for example, different collection angles, polarizations, different spectral bands, different attenuations, different focal positions relative to the wafer, and other different types of imaging. |
| US07826048B2 |
Apparatus for measuring doctor blade geometric deviations
An apparatus for measuring geometric deviations in a doctor blade includes a camera defining an optical axis. The optical axis defines an X-axis in a Cartesian coordinate system. An origin of the Cartesian coordinate system defines an intersection point. A first light source has a first central axis. The first central axis is angularly disposed from the X-axis by a first angle with respect to the X-axis. A second light source has a second central axis. The second central axis is angularly disposed from the X-axis by a second angle with respect to the X-axis. A doctor blade holding device is configured to mount a doctor blade wherein a portion of the doctor blade to be measured is positioned at the intersection point. |
| US07826047B2 |
Apparatus and method for optical inspection
The present invention provides a variety of optical functions so as to be applicable to various kinds of objects to be inspected. For each of the optical functions, the invention accumulates contrasts (brightness differences), etc. of defects to be detected (DOI) and false defects not to be detected (nuisance), and efficiently selects parameters advantageous for inspection with high sensitivity and low nuisance ratio. A wavelength band, an illumination scheme, and filtering parameters can be selected for an optical system. |
| US07826044B2 |
Measurement method and apparatus, and exposure apparatus
A measurement method for measuring an optical characteristic of a target optical system includes the steps of introducing a light from each of plural patterns that reduce diffracted lights other than a predetermined order, to a different position on a pupil plane of the target optical system, the introducing step including the step of scanning the light in a radial direction in the pupil plane of the target optical system, detecting a imaging position of the light introduced by the introducing step, on an image plane of the target optical system, and obtaining the optical characteristic of the target optical system based on a detection result of the detecting step. |
| US07826042B2 |
Recognition chip for target substance, and detection method and device for the same
A detection device comprising a substrate comprising a plurality of objects of which properties are changed due to the contact with a target substance, means for bringing the target substance into contact with the objects, and means for detecting a change in properties of the objects caused when the target substance is brought into contact with the objects, based on light output when the objects are irradiated with light, wherein the plurality of the objects are located in the direction in which the light for irradiation travels, and the detecting means is means for detecting the change in the properties based on the summation of light output from the plurality of the objects upon irradiation with light. |
| US07826041B2 |
Register mark detection apparatus
A register mark detecting apparatus detects a transparent register mark printed on a conveyed transparent web. The register mark detecting apparatus includes a light source, a parallel light flux irradiation optical system, a collective optical system, a knife-edge, and a light receiving element. The parallel light flux irradiation optical system converts a light flux from the light source into a parallel light flux to irradiate a transparent web with the parallel light flux. The collective optical system collects the light flux transmitted through the transparent web. The knife-edge is disposed near a back focus of the collective optical system. The knife-edge interrupts the light flux going straight in the transparent web and causes only the light flux refracted by being transmitted through the transparent register mark to pass by. The light receiving element receives the light flux transmitted through the knife-edge. |
| US07826039B2 |
Target acquisition device
For the deliberate attenuation of beam components which originate from multiple reflections, an attenuation filter (18; 19) which produces an attenuation of the intensity by at least a factor of 0.7, preferably at least 0.5 or 0.3, is arranged in each case before a receiver (2) and after a transmitter (1). Alternatively or additionally, deflection means, such as a mirror (10) or a cubic prism (14), can be formed so as to attenuate a beam. Since multiply reflected beam components pass through the attenuation means at least twice as frequently as the regular beam components the former are accordingly more greatly attenuated. Furthermore, an entry surface (5) of the receiver (2) may be surrounded by a conical deflection surface which substantially absorbs light incident on it and reflects the remainder in directions other than the direction of incidence, so that this cannot give rise to multiple reflections. |
| US07826038B2 |
Method for adjusting lithographic mask flatness using thermally induced pellicle stress
A method for adjusting the flatness of a lithographic mask includes determining an initial mask flatness of the mask, determining an applied stress for bringing the mask to a desired mask flatness, and determining a mounting temperature of a pellicle frame to be mounted to the mask, the mounting temperature corresponding to the applied stress. The actual temperature of the pellicle frame is adjusted to the determined mounting temperature, and the pellicle frame is mounted to the mask at the mounting temperature. |
| US07826035B2 |
Lithographic apparatus and device manufacturing method
An array of individually controllable elements includes elements, each formed of a stack of layers of dielectric material. At least one layer is an electro-optical material. The at least one layer's refractive index for radiation that is plane polarized in a given direction can be changed by application of a voltage in order to change the reflection/transmission characteristic of the boundary between this layer and the adjacent layer. |
| US07826033B2 |
Method to recover the exposure sensitivity of chemically amplified resins from post coat delay effect
Methods of fabricating a photomask, methods of treating a chemically amplified resist-coated photomask blank, a photomask blank resulting from the methods, and systems for fabricating a photomask are provided. The method is useful for recovering the exposure sensitivity of a chemically amplified resist disposed on a photomask blank from a post-coat delay effect. |
| US07826023B2 |
Display cell, in particular liquid crystal, or photovoltaic cell comprising means for connection to an electronic control circuit
An electro-optical display cell including: a transparent front substrate whose top surface forms the front face of the cell; a back substrate whose lower surface forms the back face of the cell; a sealing frame joining the front and back substrates and defining a volume for retaining an electro-optically or photo-electrically active medium; the front and back substrates including on faces opposite to each other at least one electrode, each connected by conductive paths to an electrical power or control circuit and defining lateral electric contact zones, wherein the conductive paths are each formed of a first part in contact with the electrodes at the level of the lateral electric contact zones, and a second part extending over the back surface, contact means arranged over the edge and/or the back of the cell forming the electrical junction between the first and second parts of the conductive paths. |
| US07826021B2 |
Substrate for liquid crystal display
A method of manufacturing a substrate for a liquid crystal display. The method includes forming a plurality of first line-shaped fine grooves parallel to each other in a lengthwise direction and a plurality of second line-shaped fine grooves parallel to each other in a width direction on the substrate, forming an inorganic insulating film on the substrate including the first and second line-shaped fine grooves, forming a plurality of gate lines within the first line-shaped fine grooves, forming a plurality of data lines that contacts an upper surface of the inorganic insulating film within the second line-shaped fine grooves, and forming a passivation layer on the substrate including the data lines. |
| US07826018B2 |
Liquid crystal display
A liquid crystal display according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes: a substrate; and a pixel electrode disposed on the substrate. The pixel electrode includes a first subpixel electrode and a second subpixel electrode, wherein the first subpixel electrode includes a first electrode includes at least two substantially parallelogram shaped electrode pieces that have different inclination directions. The second subpixel electrode includes a second electrode disposed at a longitudinal position different from the first electrode, and the second electrode includes at least two substantially parallelogram shaped electrode pieces that have different inclination directions. |
| US07826014B2 |
Semi-transparent TFT array substrate, and semi-transparent liquid crystal display with transparent pixel electrode and contrast reduction preventive electrode connected in the same layer
A semi-transparent TFT array substrate has a TFT including a source electrode, a gate electrode, and a drain electrode. The substrate also has an auxiliary capacitive wiring and a reflective pixel electrode. Further, the substrate has a transparent pixel electrode including an electrode extending from a corner of the rest of the transparent pixel electrode to an edge of the auxiliary capacitive wiring closest to a gate wiring connected to the gate electrode. In addition, the substrate has a source wiring connected to the source electrode. The auxiliary capacitive wiring overlaps a space existing between the reflective pixel electrode and the source wiring. The electrode is disposed between the reflective pixel electrode and the source wiring. A connection which connects the electrode and the rest of the transparent pixel electrode does not overlap the auxiliary capacitive wiring in a plan view. The connection does not overlap the gate wiring. |
| US07826010B2 |
Color filter substrate and method of manufacturing the same
A color filter substrate including a substrate, a number of color filter patterns, a black matrix, a number of spacers, a number of protrusions, and a common electrode is provided. The substrate has a number of sub-pixel regions. The color filter patterns are disposed on the substrate, and each color filter is disposed within one of the sub-pixel regions. The common electrode covers the color filter patterns and the substrate. The black matrix is disposed on the common electrode and between the sub-pixel regions. The spacers are disposed on the black matrix and connected to the black matrix. The protrusions are disposed on the common electrode above the color filter patterns. The black matrix, the spacers, and the protrusions are made of the same material. As mentioned above, a color filter substrate manufactured with low cost is provided. |
| US07826005B2 |
Light source supporting member, display device comprising the same and method thereof
A display device includes a liquid crystal display panel, a light source unit and a housing accommodating the light source unit. The light source unit includes a light source part and a light source supporting member supporting the light source part. The housing includes an insertion accommodating part provided in a bottom surface of the housing. The light source supporting member includes a planar main body, a light source holder and an insertion part protruding from the main body toward the housing to be coupled to the insertion accommodating part. The insertion part includes an engagement part and a connecting part. The insertion part is inserted in the insertion accommodating part and the light source supporting member is rotated at a predetermined angle. |
| US07826003B2 |
Back light assembly and liquid crystal display device having the same
Disclosed are a back light assembly for preventing discoloration and deformation caused by heat generated from a lamp, and a liquid crystal display device for displaying an enhanced image. The back light assembly includes a receiving container, a lamp, a glass substrate and a diffuser. The receiving container has a receiving space. The lamp for generating the light is disposed in the receiving space. The glass substrate is interposed between the liquid crystal display panel and the lamp. The diffuser diffuses the light generated by the lamp so as to unify a luminance distribution of the liquid crystal display panel. The liquid crystal display device includes the back light assembly. |
| US07826001B2 |
Display device having anti-fog transparent protection plate
An exemplary display device (10) includes a display module (11), a frame (12), a porous material member (13), and a transparent protection plate (14). The frame has a receiving cavity (121). The display module is confined in the receiving cavity of the frame. The transparent protection plate is configured in front of the light output side of the display module. The porous material member is located between the front surface (122) of the frame and the transparent protection plate. |
| US07825996B2 |
Apparatus and method for virtual retinal display capable of controlling presentation of images to viewer in response to viewer's motion
An apparatus is disclosed which projects light onto a retina of a viewer, to thereby allow the viewer to perceive a display object via a virtual image. The apparatus includes: an emitter emitting light; a modulator modulating the light; a display unit outputting the modulated light to the retina of the viewer through an exit of the display unit, to thereby display in an image display region an image representative of the display object in the form of a virtual image; and a controller controlling the emitter and the modulator so that the image is displayed in the image display region. The controller detects a relative motion of the viewer with respect to a position of the viewer, and performs at least one of control of a display/non-display status of the image, and control of a display position of the image, in accordance with the detected relative motion. |
| US07825990B2 |
Method and apparatus for analog graphics sample clock frequency offset detection and verification
A method and apparatus for an analog-to-digital video signal converter. The converter is controlled by a clock with controllable frequency and phase for sampling an analog signal. A circuit corrects the clock frequency using a period of a columnar frame differences as a function of columnar location. The sampling clock frequency is changed by an amount dependent on the period of the columnar differences. A second measure of the difference between successive frames is computed for a sequence of clock phases. The frequency of the clock is verified using a characteristic of the second measure. The characteristic can be the ratio of the maximum to the minimum of the second measure over selected clock phases. Other characteristics can be used such as a difference of a maximum and a minimum measure. |
| US07825988B2 |
Vehicle-mounted displaying device employing TV program displaying method
A vehicle-mounted device is configured to execute a predetermined function as a foreground process and a TV function as a background process. The vehicle-mounted device is provided with a displaying device. An image corresponding to the predetermined function is displayed on the displaying device when the predetermined function is executed. The device further includes a TV program switching system, a small image generating system that generates a small image when the program switching system is operated to switch the TV programs. The small image is superimposed on the image corresponding to the predetermined function. The device further includes a display control system that displays the small image on the displaying devices such that the small image is superimposed on the image corresponding to the predetermined function, the display control system extinguishing the small image at a predetermined timing. |
| US07825982B2 |
Operation stabilized pixel bias circuit
A pixel bias current supply for supplying a stable source of bias current to pixels of an imager includes a current bypass feature for improving stability when one or more pixels of an imager saturates. The pixel bias current supply also features voltage limiters to restrict the output voltage of a pixel in order to prevent reverse video from being output when very strong light is incident upon one or more pixels. |
| US07825981B2 |
High-polymer optical low-pass filter, method for producing high-polymer optical low-pass filter, and digital camera
A high-polymer optical low-pass filter is produced by cutting out of a high polymer material achieving optical anisotropy diagonally relative to an optic axis thereof. |
| US07825968B2 |
Multi-color image processing apparatus and signal processing apparatus
A multi-color image processor according to the present invention includes an image capturing section 101 and a signal processing section 104. The image capturing section 101 includes a color separating section 10 for separating visible radiation into at least two light rays with first- and second-color components, respectively, and first and second imagers 12 and 14 that receive the light rays with the first- and second-color components. The image capturing section 101 gets images with the first- and second-color components by making the first imager 12 decimate pixels to read, but making the second imager 14 read every pixel, on a field-by-field basis on respective arrangements of pixels of the first and second imagers 12 and 14. The signal processing section 104 includes: a motion estimating section 107 for estimating, based on the images with the second-color components, a motion in a moving picture made up of images with the second-color components and outputting motion information; an image generating section 108 for generating a synthetic image of the first-color components of respective fields based on the images with the first-color components and the motion information and outputting it as a first synthetic image with a higher spatial resolution than the images with the first-color components; and a multi-color image synthesizing section 109 for generating and outputting a multi-color moving picture with the first- and second-color components based on the first synthetic image and the images with the second-color components. |
| US07825965B2 |
Method and apparatus for interpolating missing colors in a color filter array
A method, of interpolating missing colors in a color filter array comprising red, green and blue photosites comprises determining and interpolation direction for each red and each blue photosite based on local edge information and interpolating a green color for each red and each blue photosite in the determined interpolation direction for that photosite. For each green photosite, red and blue colors are interpolated. For each red photosite, a blue color is interpolated in the determined interpolation direction for that photosite and for each blue photosite, a red color is interpolated in the determined interpolation direction for that photosite. |
| US07825964B2 |
Method of processing noise in image data, noise reduction unit, and imaging apparatus
A method of processing noise in image data by an image processor having a signal-processing portion converting an image signal from an image sensor into a digital signal and outputting the converted signal as image data for each frame, the image data indicating sets of pixel values each having a brightness at a corresponding one of coordinate points arranged in directions of rows and columns is disclosed. The method includes the steps of: extracting pixel values; deciding pixel value; finding autocorrelation coefficients of pixel values which are less than a first threshold value; and deciding random noise in the image. |
| US07825959B2 |
System and method for flicker DC offset detection and correction
The present disclosure provides a method for detecting flicker DC voltage offset. The method includes receiving an output signal of an image sensor, the output signal comprising a reference signal and an image signal, and generating a combined signal by combining the image signal with a peak flicker DC voltage signal during a first time period. The method also includes performing an auto zero function in an auto zeroing comparator during the first time period between the reference signal and the combined signal and comparing the reference signal and the image signal with the auto zeroing comparator during a second time period subsequent to the first time period. The method further include storing a first charge corresponding to the image signal during a second time period and storing a second charge corresponding to a current peak flicker DC voltage signal. The method also includes comparing the image signal to the current peak flicker DC voltage signal, and producing the greater of the image signal and the stored peak flicker DC voltage signal as the peak flicker DC voltage signal. |
| US07825958B2 |
Method and apparatus for controlling a camera module to compensate for the light level of a white LED
A method and an apparatus enabling use of a light source emitting a light of changing intensity and changing spectrum as a flash with a camera module having a white-balance routine and an exposure routine, wherein an initial value representative of a color spectrum emitted by the light source is transmitted to the camera module, the light source is turned on, and the camera module is signaled to scan a plurality of images of the scene while the light source is turned on, allowing the white-balance and exposure algorithms to be employed with each image scanned to refine the first initial value to refine the degree of compensation employed in correcting a color and a light level in the last one of the images of the plurality of images scanned. |
| US07825957B2 |
Image input device having color temperature measuring and correcting circuits
An image input device according to the present invention comprises an optical lens, an image sensor, a color filter disposed between the optical lens and the image sensor, a memory for temporarily memorizing the imaging signal from the image sensor, a color temperature measuring circuit for measuring a color temperature of the imaging signal read from the image sensor for each of measurement areas into which an entire area of the image sensor is optionally divided, a measurement result storing circuit for temporarily memorizing a result of the color temperature measurement obtained by the color temperature measuring circuit, and a color temperature circuit for inputting the imaging signal from the memory and the color temperature measurement result from the measurement result storing circuit and the color temperature of the imaging signal for each of divided correction areas based on a result of the per-area color temperature measurement. |
| US07825956B2 |
Imaging device for autonomously movable body, calibration method therefor, and calibration program therefor
An imaging device installed on an autonomously movable body which comprises an image-taking section for taking images of the surrounding environment, and an object detecting section for detecting objects and obstacles by processing the obtained images. The imaging device comprises: an image processing section to perform color detection of the images taken by the image-taking section; a white calibration plate for the image-taking section to perform color correction; and a calibration plate control section for moving the calibration plate into a field of view of the image-taking section, wherein it is determined whether color information which is sufficient to perform color detection is obtainable from the images taken by the image-taking section, and color correction is performed using the calibration plate when it is determined that the images taken by the image-taking section do not provide color information sufficient to perform color detection. |
| US07825953B2 |
Vehicular image display apparatus
A vehicle is provided with two circular fish-eye lens-type cameras and three displays of a rear-window display, rear-pillar display, and side-window display. The first camera takes an image from a first region rearward of the vehicle; the second camera takes an image from a second region left sideward of the vehicle. The first and second regions are partially overlapped. Ultrawide-angle image data of the taken images are converted to typical lens image data, a part of which is clipped to correspond to an integrated region. The integrated region including a part of the first and second regions is viewed by an artificial driver sightline, which is assumed to pass through entire frames of the three displays to reach the integrated region. The three displays then reproduce an image of the integrated region without overlap based on the clipped image data. |
| US07825949B2 |
Closed circuit video magnification system
A closed circuit video magnification system, incorporates a base, upon which the operating components of this system mount, a platform mounted upon the base for shiftable movement both laterally and depth-wise, in the X-Y directions, pivotal mount a LCD screen for projection and viewing of any matter scanned upon the shiftable platform, or of any other images that are detected and picked up by the miniature camera, also incorporated into the structure of this system. The miniature camera is also mounted upon shiftable arms, for scanning downwardly towards the platform, or which can be pivoted vertically, or circularly, in order to view any scene provided in the surrounding area, and which is capable of being picked up by the lens of the camera, for processing and projecting onto the screen, for viewing by the handicapped person. Controls are provided for regulating the amplification, reduction of size, brightness, and contrast, in addition to its on/off control. |
| US07825946B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes: a photosensitive body which is moved in a movement direction; an exposing unit which exposes the photosensitive body, and which includes a guide roller configured to contact with the photosensitive body and rotate with a movement of the photosensitive body and configured to regulate a positional relationship with the photosensitive body, the guider roller being disposed such that a rotation direction of the guide roller is inclined with respect to the movement direction so as to generate a force for urging the exposing unit to one end thereof in an orthogonal direction when the guide roller rotates, the orthogonal direction being orthogonal to the movement direction and to an optical axis direction of a light emitted from the exposing unit; and a regulating member configured to contact with the one end of the exposing unit to regulate a position of the exposing unit. |
| US07825945B2 |
Thermal printer with auxiliary heat sink and methods for printing using same
The present invention provides a thermal printer in which the temperature of the thermal printing head can be modulated by means of an auxiliary heat sink, and methods for printing using such a thermal printer. |
| US07825944B2 |
Recording apparatus and waterproof structure for the same
A recording apparatus includes a main body for recording on a recording medium, a protective cover which has an opening, for covering the main body with a portion other than the opening of the protective cover, and a waterproof cover which is connected to the protective cover via first and second connecting portions. When the first and second connecting portions are respectively in connected states, the waterproof cover is positioned so that the waterproof cover is opposed to the opening of the protective cover, and there is a gap for passing the recording medium between the protective cover and the waterproof cover. When the first connecting portion is in the connected state and the second connecting portion is in a disconnected state, the waterproof cover is moved to a position so that a part of the main body can be exposed to an outside through the opening. |
| US07825942B2 |
Image processing method and apparatus adjusting image data in accordance with image data sub-pixels
A method for processing a frame of image data, wherein the image data is amplified by a gain factor determined in dependence of a number of sub-pixels within said frame of image data having a luminance above a first threshold value. The resulting gain factor allows for optimal amplification of the image data without loss of local detail. This leads to a better perceived image quality. In a preferred embodiment, the gain factor is simultaneously used for reducing the backlight intensity in a backlit LCD device. Thereby, the perceived image quality is similar to that of the unprocessed image data, however the power consumption of the LCD backlight is reduced substantially. |
| US07825941B1 |
Processing illustration artwork
Methods, systems and apparatus, including computer program products, for processing a computer graphics illustration having pieces of artwork. |
| US07825938B2 |
Method and apparatus for processing digital image to be displayed on display device with backlight module
A method and apparatus for processing a digital image to be displayed on a display panel illuminated with a backlight module. The backlight module is set to a specific backlight duty according to a luminance statistic of the digital image. The digital image is remapped through a tone mapping function formed according to the specific backlight duty and the luminance statistic. |
| US07825935B1 |
System, method and computer program product for using textures as instructions for graphics processing
A system, method and computer program product are provided for retrieving instructions from memory utilizing a texture module in a graphics pipeline. During use, an instruction request is sent to memory utilizing a texture module in a graphics pipeline. In response thereto, instructions are received from the memory in response to the instruction request utilizing the texture module in the graphics pipeline. |
| US07825934B2 |
System, medium, and method automatically creating a dynamic image object
A system, medium, and method to automatically create a dynamic image object, which can create content in image unit groups of dynamic image objects. The system may include a template selection module that selects a template from an image unit group corresponding to a desired content group that includes content, a content-arrangement module that arranges the content in the selected template, and a dynamic image object supply module that supplies a dynamic image object in which the content is arranged. |
| US07825933B1 |
Managing primitive program vertex attributes as per-attribute arrays
Systems and methods for compiling high-level primitive programs are used to generate primitive program micro-code for execution by a primitive processor. A compiler is configured to produce micro-code for a specific target primitive processor based on the target primitive processor's capabilities. The compiler supports features of the high-level primitive program by providing conversions for different applications programming interface conventions, determining output primitive types, initializing attribute arrays based on primitive input profile modifiers, and determining vertex set lengths from specified primitive input types. |
| US07825928B2 |
Image processing device and image processing method for rendering three-dimensional objects
An image processing apparatus capable of efficient rendering is provided. In an image processing apparatus which renders, in a screen coordinate system, unit figures each constituting the surface of a three-dimensional object to be rendered, a rasterizing unit divides a rendering area corresponding to a screen into multiple unit areas, while a first unit figure is projected onto a screen coordinate system, and outputs the unit areas. A similar process is applied to second and subsequent unit figures so that the multiple unit areas constituting each unit figure are sequentially output. An area divider divides each of the unit areas sequentially output from the rasterizing unit into multiple subareas. An area discarder discards as necessary a subarea obtained by the division by the area divider according to a predetermined rule. An area writer re-merges subareas that survived the discarding process by the area discarder and writes merged areas obtained by re-merge in the memory. |
| US07825926B2 |
Point-based rendering apparatus, method and medium
A point-based rendering apparatus, method and medium. The point-based rendering apparatus includes a projector to project a point model and to generate a plurality of rendered points, a radius calculator to calculate a radius, corresponding to a predetermined resolution of each of the rendered points, and a splat generator to generate at least one of a hemi-spherical and a spherical splat having the radius of each of the rendered points. |
| US07825925B2 |
Method and system for repairing triangulated surface meshes
A method of repairing a three dimensional surface mesh model to be watertight and manifold generally includes identifying a plurality of hole edges in the surface mesh model, selecting one of the hole edges, creating a cycle of hole edges that defines a hole in the surface mesh model, converting the cycle of hole edges into two or more cycles of exactly three edges each, and adding a triangular facet to the surface mesh model for each of the cycles of exactly three edges. The process may be repeated until the model is substantially watertight. Non-manifold vertices may be repaired by selecting a vertex of the model, identifying a number of independent cycles of triangular facets sharing the selected vertex, and redefining the selected vertex for at least all but one of the number of independent cycles. This process may be repeated until the model is manifold. |
| US07825924B2 |
Image processing method and computer readable medium for image processing
Disks having the maximum radius of a large intestine are created and the contours of the disks are connected by virtual springs. Next, the directions of the disks are adjusted so that virtual spring energy becomes the minimum, so that the adjacent disks are prevented from crossing each other. Virtual rays are projected along the disks for generating an image of inside the large intestine. Accordingly, quivering of the virtual rays along a central path lessens and effect of the scale on the image along the central path can be prevented and in the portion where the central path largely bends, duplicate display of the same observation object can also be prevented. |
| US07825923B2 |
Full screen anti-aliasing with dynamic filters
A method and apparatus for improving the quality of a computer-generated image including a number of different objects. The apparatus includes a graphics display system which identifies objects to be rendered into a graphic display at either ones to which anti-aliasing is to be applied, or ones to which anti-aliasing is not to be applied. |
| US07825922B2 |
Temporary lines for writing
A user is provided with guidelines that are temporarily displayed with content, in order to assist the user in accurately writing electronic ink. The guidelines may appear when the user moves a writing tool close to a display and writing surface. Alternately, the guidelines may appear after the user has begun to write electronic ink, so that the guidelines can correspond to the angle at which the user is writing, the size of the user's handwriting, or both. As the user writes the electronic ink onto the writing surface, the handwritten electronic ink is added to the content being rendered on the display. After the user has finished writing electronic ink and moves the writing tool away from the writing surface, the guidelines may be deleted. Accordingly, the user can employ the temporary guidelines without the guidelines themselves becoming a permanent part of the content. |
| US07825914B2 |
Trigger operated portable electronic device
A trigger operated portable electronic device is provided. A user only needs to insert a touch pen having a first metal contact into a touch pen receiving slot having second metal contacts. When the first metal contact is electrically coupled to the second metal contacts, the portable electronic device can be triggered to perform corresponding operating procedures. Thus, the convenience of operating the portable electronic device is improved. |
| US07825911B2 |
Touch sensor, touch pad and input device
A touch sensor includes a contact sensor and a pressure sensor. The contact sensor includes a first electrode and a first switching element connected to the first electrode, and detects a change in an electric potential when an object contacts a surface. The pressure sensor includes a second electrode and a second switching element connected to the second electrode, and detects a change in a pressure when an object depresses the surface. The touch sensor includes a plurality of the contact sensors and a plurality of the pressure sensors disposed regularly in an array. |
| US07825910B2 |
Touchpad including non-overlapping sensors
A touchpad in which a user input is received includes at least first through third zones, with the first zone and the third zone being non-adjacent. The touchpad further includes at least first and second non-overlapping sensors, with the first sensor disposed in at least a portion of the first and the second zones and configured to transmit a first electrical signal in response to a user input, and the second sensor disposed in at least a portion of the first and the third zones and configured to transmit a second electrical signal in response to a user input. Moreover, the touchpad includes a controller configured to generate first information in response to receiving the first electrical signal but not the second electrical signal, second information in response to receiving both the first electrical signal and the second electrical signal, and third information in response to receiving the second electrical signal but not the first electrical signal. The first information, the second information, and/or the third information are output. |
| US07825909B2 |
Storage medium storing object movement control program and information processing apparatus
An information processing apparatus includes a processor. A movement of an object is controlled in accordance with an input. For example, a starting point of the input is determined by detecting coordinates in a first area including the object. A second area is set, with the starting point set as a reference, and when a continuous input after determining the starting point is given to the outside of the second area, detection coordinates are determined as an ending point of the input. Based on the ending point of the input and for example the starting point or an object position, a moving direction of the object is determined. Then, the object is moved in the moving direction thus determined. |
| US07825901B2 |
Automatic language selection for writing text messages on a handheld device based on a preferred language of the recipient
A mobile station (101) and a method of operating the mobile station (101) are provided. The mobile station (101) determines a preferred language of an electronic message recipient (605) when a user initiates an electronic messaging application and selects a first recipient from an address book (309). The mobile station (101) launches a dictionary for the preferred language if the dictionary is available in memory (205) and not already active from a previous session. If the dictionary for the preferred language is not available in memory (205), the mobile station (101) may download it from a remote server (121). |
| US07825894B2 |
Display device with display panel processing input data
An image display device includes a display surface through which input light is applied from an external object, a color filter having color pixels that are arranged to form a planar surface substantially parallel with the display surface, a substrate having light sensing portions each disposed to face corresponding one of the color pixels, in which the light sensing portion senses light provided through the corresponding color pixel, and a liquid crystal layer disposed between the color filter and the substrate. The substrate includes pixel portions arranged in a matrix form to display images. The light sensing portion includes switching transistors that are respectively controlled by the input light and a gate signal and respectively connected to sensing lines. |
| US07825893B2 |
Liquid crystal display, as well as, a backlight controller and a method for the same
A liquid crystal display, comprising: a liquid crystal display portion for inputting a video signal to display an image thereon; a backlight provided on a rear side of the liquid crystal display portion, for illuminating the liquid crystal display portion from a rear surface thereof; a backlight driver portion for driving the backlight, also having a light control function for controlling a light intensity of the illuminating lights from that backlight; a feature detector portion for detecting an averaged brightness of the video signal, and also a histogram of brightness or a color, upon basis of said video signal inputted; and a light intensity control portion for controlling the light intensity of the illuminating lights from the backlight, through the light control function of the backlight driver portion, upon basis of the histogram of brightness or color, as well as, the averaged brightness of the video signal detected by the feature detector portion. |
| US07825890B2 |
Apparatus, system and method of providing auto-dimming and state transition signal functionality to telephone systems
An apparatus, system and method of providing auto-dimming and state transition signal functionality to a telephone system are provided. Generally, when the telephone system is in use, it will have an illuminated screen that may distract others. Because of this, when the telephone system is entering a state that does not require monitoring by the user, the illuminated screen may dim down to decrease the likelihood of distraction by others. However, since the user may want to know when the telephone system is no longer in that state, the telephone system may alert the user when it has transitioned out of that state. |
| US07825888B2 |
Shift register circuit and image display apparatus containing the same
A shift register circuit comprises a first transistor between a gate line output terminal and a clock terminal, a second transistor between the gate line output terminal and a first power supply terminal, a third transistor between a carry signal output terminal and the clock terminal and a fourth transistor between the carry signal output terminal and the first power supply terminal. Gates of the second and fourth transistors are connected to each other. A fifth transistor connected between a gate of the first transistor and a second power supply terminal and a sixth transistor connected between a gate of the third transistor and the second power supply terminal have gates both of which are connected to an input terminal. With this constitution, it is possible to suppress an influence between two synchronous output signals outputted from the shift register circuit. |
| US07825886B2 |
Liquid crystal display device driven with a small number of data lines
A liquid crystal display device includes a timing control unit for generating first and second control signals, which are transitioned every ½ frame. A polarity signal is set according to a count number obtained by counting the number of wave forms of the first and/or second control signals. A plurality of gate lines and data lines are arranged on a substrate crossing each other. A plurality of pixels are arranged in a matrix format on the substrate, with two pixels being provided in the regions divided by the gate and data lines. A data driving unit determines polarities of the first and second image data according to the polarity signal being received from the timing control unit, and then supplies the first and second image data to the pixels in the first and second columns through the first and second data lines, respectively. |
| US07825884B2 |
Liquid crystal display device
The present invention provides a liquid crystal display device which includes a first pixel and a second pixel which are arranged close to each other and are allocated to the same color, and color filters which differ in color tone and are formed on the first pixel and the second pixel, wherein a voltage for driving liquid crystal of the first pixel and a voltage for driving liquid crystal of the second pixel are controlled independently from each other. |
| US07825876B2 |
Plasma display panel brightness correction circuit and method, and plasma display panel video display device and method
A plasma display panel brightness correction circuit, a brightness correction method, a video display, and a video display method are provided. One embodiment includes a continuity detector that receives video signals and detects those of the video signals having signal level values which are greater than or less than a predetermined value. A video signal corrector is also provided for applying correction factors. The correction factors are calculated according to the ratio of pixels with signal level values greater than the predetermined value to the pixels with signal level values less than the predetermined value. The video signal corrector then corrects the levels of the video signals. |
| US07825875B2 |
Method for driving plasma display panel
Disclosed is a method for driving a plasma display panel in which a plurality of first electrodes and second electrodes are arranged parallel to each other, a plurality of third electrodes are arranged to cross the first and second electrodes, and discharge cells defined with areas in which the electrodes cross mutually are arranged in the form of a matrix.According to the driving method, a reset period is a period during which the distribution of wall charges in the plurality of discharge cells is uniformed. An addressing period is a period during which wall charges are produced in the discharge cells according to display data. A sustain discharge period is a period during which sustain discharge is induced in the discharge cells in which wall charges are produced during the addressing period. The driving method in accordance with the present invention comprises a step of applying a first pulse in which an applied voltage varies with time so as to induce first discharge in the lines defined by the first and second electrodes, and a step of applying a second pulse in which an applied voltage varies with time so as to induce second discharge as erase discharge in the lines defined by the first and second electrodes. These steps are carried out during the reset period. |
| US07825867B2 |
Methods and systems of changing antenna polarization
Methods and systems of changing antenna polarization. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are systems comprising an antenna having a first feed point and a second feed point, an antenna communication circuit, and a switch assembly that selectively couples the antenna communication circuit to the first feed point, and that selectively couples the antenna communication circuit to the second feed point. The feed point (or group of feed points) is selected, for example, based on polarization of an electromagnetic wave to be radiated from or received by the antenna. |