| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US07866257B2 |
Cooking utensil for frying taco shells
A cooking utensil for frying a tortilla into a taco shell comprises a shell section having first and second U-shaped shell members and a handle assembly that linearly biases the second shell member into nested relation with the first shell member. A brace member attaches to the first shell member. The first end of an outer tubular shaft attaches a first handle member and its second end slidably attaches to the brace member. An inner shaft having a first end attached to a second handle member and a second end pivotally attached to the second shell member is slidably disposed in the outer shaft. The first handle member has a cavity that receives the second handle member, which is biased outwardly from the cavity by a spring. A user supplied anti-biasing force separates the first and second shell members for insertion of the tortilla and removal of the taco shell. |
| US07866252B2 |
Gasket, cover with gasket, and pneumatic cylinder with cover and gasket
A gasket includes a damping buffer (1) for a piston (2) that can be charged with a pressure medium and that can be moved back and forth axially in a cylinder pipe (3) and includes at least one static seal (4) for sealing the cylinder pipe (3) vis-à-vis a cover (5) connected to the face of the cylinder pipe (3) and a dynamic seal (6) having at least one dynamically loaded sealing lip (7) that, during the proper use of the gasket, can be laid against the surface (8) to be sealed of a damping journal (9) that is connected to and axially movable back and forth with the piston (2) and that has at least one flow-guiding connection opening (10) that connects the axial faces (11, 12) of the gasket. |
| US07866251B2 |
Power plant
A power plant produces power by using high pressure gas to push a piston. The power plant uses a supply device to provide the high pressure gas to a cylinder and controls an admission valve and an exhaust valve to admit and exhaust the high pressure gas for pushing the piston and rotating a crank member to produce power. |
| US07866243B2 |
Slicer
A food slicer having a blade is disclosed having a runway for supporting food prior to cutting by the blade and a landing for supporting the blade and the food after being cut. The runway and landing are adjustable for selecting a thickness of a food slice. The runway and landing are simultaneously adjusted, by a single mechanism, so that the blade and runway are maintained generally parallel with respect to each other. The adjusting mechanism includes a plurality of rotatable cam portions that engage with respective portions on the runway and landing so that each of the runway and landing may be oppositely pivoted around an end to maintain the parallel relationship. The food slicer also includes on-board storage for inserts, such as julienning or cubing inserts. The storage is located on a bottom of the runway, which is pivoted upward for storage. |
| US07866241B2 |
Cutter for cutting a coiled band
A cutter for cutting a coiled band includes a main body, and a cutting base installed on the main body, having a rectangular frame and a cutting groove formed in the long bottom side of the frame. Respectively fixed at one side and two ends of the cutting base is a sliding plate that has a sliding rail pivotally connected with two ends of a pressing rod respectively, so as to let the front end of the coiled band pass under the pressing rod to run out of the frame while having the pressing rod lifted up. Then, the pressing rod is released to press on the coiled band so as to let a knife unit pivotally connected with the main body flatly and securely cut the coiled band. The cutter is convenient and safe to use, with a cut band being flat and straight. |
| US07866238B2 |
Sawing apparatus for cutting rolls of web material
A sawing apparatus is implemented to cut rolls out of an elongated log. An in-feed conveyor pushes the log, and a braking system stops the log at a controlled position. A clamping system then holds the log in place while a saw blade travels to cut a roll out of the log. While the log is being cut, a bending pressure is applied on the log. The roll then is unloaded onto a discharge conveyor. |
| US07866235B2 |
Multi-angle tool handle
A multi-angle tool handle including a handle device, a connecting device and a locking unit adapted for connecting an interconnecting element to the handle device. The locking unit is moveable between a first position and a second position. When the locking unit is in the first position, the interconnecting element is able to pivot and slide with respect to the handle device. And when the locking unit is in the second position, the interconnecting element is fixed with respect to the handle device in position. |
| US07866233B2 |
Magnetic fastener holder
Described herein is technology for, among other things, a tool for assisting the attachment or removal of a first fastener and a second fastener to or from a structure. The tool includes a lower portion adapted to magnetically attach to a surface of the structure. The tool also includes an upper portion configured to be spaced a distance from the surface of the structure when the lower portion is magnetically attached to the surface of the structure. The upper portion also includes a holder extending therefrom and adapted to hold the first fastener. The holder is biased to urge the first fastener in a direction of the surface of the structure. |
| US07866232B2 |
Transmission for a commercial vehicle with a main group and a downstream group
In a commercial vehicle transmission with a main group and a downstream group including a downstream group countershaft, the downstream group includes means for decoupling the downstream group countershaft in direct through drive so that in direct through-drive the countershaft does not run in an oil sump and no churning losses occur thereby increasing vehicle transmission efficiency. |
| US07866226B2 |
Electromotive actuator for deflecting a mechanical part
An electromotive actuator for deflecting a mechanical part, comprising a rotatable component and a non-rotatable component of a deflection gear, whereby the rotatable component can be driven by an electric motor in such a way that it can be moved linearly relative to the non-rotatable component between a first position and a second position. The two components of the actuator are constituents of a ball-ramp adjustment device, whereby a rotatable component of the ball-ramp adjustment device is non-rotatably connected to the rotor of the electric motor and acts directly or indirectly on the mechanical part that is to be deflected. |
| US07866218B2 |
Electromagnetic flow meter
An electromagnetic flow meter is described having a pressure containing vessel or conduit through which the fluid to be metered is passed. The pressure containing vessel is formed of first and second sections which are made of respective materials having first and second magnetic permeabilities, such as stainless steel and carbon steel. A single magnetic field generating coil is provided adjacent the first section for generating a magnetic field across the pressure containing vessel. |
| US07866217B2 |
Device and method for measuring snap member detaching force, and snap chuck
A device and method for measuring snap member detaching force, the snap member detaching force measurement device includes a cloth holding unit for holding cloth on the periphery of the snap member attached to the cloth; a snap chucking unit for chucking the snap member from its side portion by a plurality of chucking portions of the unit; a torque gauge for applying torque to the snap member chucked by the chucking portions; a tension unit for relatively pulling the snap member from the cloth; and a tensile force gauge for measuring tensile force provided by the tension unit. The snap chucking unit includes turning arms which can lock, with constant chucking force, the state of the snap member chucked by the chucking portions. |
| US07866215B2 |
Redundant self compensating leadless pressure sensor
There is disclosed a redundant pressure sensing chip which includes first and second redundant devices. Each pressure sensing device produces an output proportional to applied pressure irrespective of vibration/acceleration of the device. Each device also provides an output proportional to pressure and because of the nature of the devices, thermal effects as well as acceleration and the vibration are canceled. Based on chip operation and subtracting the signals from the two diaphragms, acceleration/vibration is canceled but also the effects of absolute pressure and differential pressure is also canceled. Therefore the chip can be used as a redundant absolute pressure sensor as well as a differential pressure sensor. |
| US07866209B2 |
Fluid level regulator
A biological specimen collection and transfer system, including a biological sample container configured for storing a biological fluid sample, a vacuum source, a specimen filter having an interior chamber and an opening in communication with the chamber, and a fluid level regulator configured to determine a fluid level in the biological sample container and to dispense a fluid into the container if the determined fluid level is less than a desired fluid level. The fluid level regulator includes a fluid level monitor, a fluid dispenser, and a controller in communication with the fluid level monitor and the fluid dispenser, wherein the fluid level monitor includes a sound source configured to emit sound towards a surface of the fluid sample, and a sound detector configured to measure sound reflected from the surface of the fluid sample, wherein the controller determines the fluid level based at least in part on a measurement of reflected sound emitted from the sound source. |
| US07866204B2 |
Adaptive real-time contaminant detection and early warning for drinking water distribution systems
A method for monitoring water in a distribution system is disclosed where the sensor sampling schedule is changed in real time in response to a contaminant or other chemical passing through the sampling location. This results in finer determination of where the contaminant is located in the water distribution and identification of the contaminant with a lower false rate than random or scheduled sampling. |
| US07866203B2 |
Method for the quantitative determination of poloxamers
The invention relates to the analytical determination of poloxamers in a liquid protein sample. |
| US07866201B1 |
On-line fast response device and method for measuring dissolved gas in a fluid
A method and device for the measurement of dissolved gas within a fluid. The fluid, substantially a liquid, is pumped into a pipe. The flow of the fluid is temporally restricted, creating one or more low pressure regions. A measurement indicative of trapped air is taken before and after the restriction. The amount of dissolved air is calculated from the difference between the first and second measurements. Preferably measurements indicative of trapped air is obtained from one or more pressure transducers, capacitance transducers, or combinations thereof. In the alternative, other methods such as those utilizing x-rays or gamma rays may also be used to detect trapped air. Preferably, the fluid is a hydraulic fluid, whereby dissolved air in the fluid is detected. |
| US07866199B2 |
Method for manufacturing seamless steel pipe made of high Cr-high Ni alloy steel
a billet made of high Cr-high Ni alloy, which contains, by mass percent, 20 to 30% of Cr, 30 to 50% of Ni, and at least one element selected from Mo and W with a value “Mo+0.5W” of 1.5% or more is heated under conditions satisfying the following formula (1), and then the billet is pierced and rolled using an inclined roll type piercing mill with a roll gouge circumferential speed of 2.28 m/sec or higher. This prevents melted rash on the inner surface and lengthens the plug life. T≦1575−4.45×Vf−104.7×{−ln(th/ro)} (1) wherein T indicates a heating temperature (° C.) of the billet, Vf indicates the roll gouge circumferential speed (m/sec), ro indicates a radius (mm) of a billet at an entry-side, and th indicates a radial thickness (mm) of a pipe after piercing. |
| US07866195B2 |
Door lock indicator
A door lock indicator device is disclosed. The door lock indicator device can include a rotatable portion, a lock status display, and a switch (e.g., a button). The rotatable portion can define an opening shaped to receive a key blade. The door lock indicator device can be installed on a face of a door lock with the opening aligned with a keyhole of the door lock. Rotating a key blade within a keyway of the door lock can cause the rotatable portion to rotate with the door lock's cylinder. The lock status display can include a first indicator light and a second indicator light. Activating the switch can cause the lock status display to indicate a direction of a most recent rotation of the rotatable portion and/or a locked or unlocked status of the associated door lock. |
| US07866189B2 |
Dehydration-sintering furnace, a manufacturing method of an optical fiber preform utilizing the furnace and an optical fiber preform manufactured by the method
A dehydration-sintering furnace for dehydrating and/or sintering an optical fiber preform for use in production of an optical fiber includes a muffle for accommodating the optical fiber preform, a heater for heating the muffle, and a pressure fluctuation absorbing apparatus connected to the muffle. Since the pressure fluctuation absorbing apparatus is thermally insulated from a room temperature atmosphere or heated, vapor produced in a dehydration-sintering process is prevented from condensing (liquefying) in a pressure fluctuation absorbing apparatus, thereby preventing reduced dehydration effectiveness in the muffle and reduced quality of the optical fiber preform. |
| US07866186B2 |
Device for producing a gas cushion
The gas cushion serves to support a preheated glass sheet and is produced by a chamber, which is connected to a source (21) of compressed gas. The upper wall (10) of the chamber is adapted to the shape of the glass sheet and has a plurality of apertures for the passage of gas in the form of nozzles (14), which comprise an entry bore (22) and, following thereupon, a progressively widening exit hole (16) with a nozzle exit area (15). The upper wall (10) of the chamber has a greater degree of perforation (sum of the nozzle exit areas (15) in relation to the total area of the respective zone) in its edge zone (12, 13) than in its central zone (11). The nozzles ensure that no jet marks can arise. The gas of the gas cushion can also flow out undisturbed at the side, so that no cooling edges are present and the occurrence of cooling shadows is accordingly avoided. |
| US07866181B2 |
Refrigerator with ice-making unit
Disclosed herein is a refrigerator having an ice-making unit wherein the coupling structure of a cover to open and close an ice-making compartment is improved such that a user can easily attach and detach the cover to and from the ice-making compartment. The refrigerator includes a refrigerator body having a refrigerating compartment and a freezing compartment defined therein, an ice-making compartment mounted at one side of the refrigerating compartment, the ice-making compartment having an opening formed at the front thereof, an ice-making compartment cover to open and close the opening of the ice-making compartment, a rotary lever mounted at the ice-making compartment cover, latching hooks rotatable along with the rotation of the rotary lever, and latching projections formed in a side wall of the ice-making compartment such that the latching hooks are coupled with the latching projections. |
| US07866180B2 |
Graded pressure apparatus for cooling food and beverages and methods of making the same
A self cooling container for a beverage includes a receptacle holding a refrigerant under pressure. When an outer cap of the container is opened, the refrigerant is exhausted, cooling the receptacle and the beverage surrounding it. The receptacle includes an inner receptacle member and one or more walls extending around the receptacle member, with spaces between adjacent walls being established at descending pressure values outward from the inner receptacle, which is held at a high pressure. |
| US07866179B2 |
Compact heat pump using water as refrigerant
Disclosed is a compact heat pump using water as refrigerant, including a casing having a first and second end sections and an intermediate section located therebetween, with an evaporator located at the first end section, configured for containing said water and allowing evaporation of at least a part of the water to produce vapor and remove heat from the remainder of the water. At least one agitator scoop is located within said evaporator, with one or more demisters installed between the evaporator and the compressor. The one or more compressors induce evaporation by maintaining vacuum at least at an intake conduit, and are configured for receiving the vapor through the intake conduit after passing through a heated demister. The condenser is configured for receiving the compressed vapor from the compressor, lowering the vapor temperature and condensing it back into a liquid state. |
| US07866176B2 |
Autonomous water source
An autonomous water source for extracting water from ambient air and delivering it to a plant to support growth. The system is based on an adsorption-desorption-condensation cycle using a sorption material to extract moisture from ambient air and condensing the water vapor driven off from the sorption material by subsequent heating and followed by condensation. Liquid condensate produced in this process on the condenser is collected and delivered by gravity to a plant to reduce thermal stress and to support growth. The invention provides a sustainable source of irrigation water for agriculture and forestry, including areas where no water resources exist or are not economically viable. It can be tailored in size, and therefore, output capacity, reflecting the desired water requirements of a particular application, and can be used to replace most agricultural situations now reliant on surface water drip feed systems. The device is simple, rugged, invulnerable to rain, snow, and freezing conditions, and can be designed to last for many years without service as there are few moving parts and power required for operation is provided by sunlight. |
| US07866169B2 |
System and method for vehicle defogging condition calculation and control
A method and apparatus for controlling a vehicle HVAC system to automatically defog a windshield glass and to prevent fogging or condensation of the windshield glass. The ambient air temperature and vehicle speed are measured and used to determine a windshield glass temperature. The in-cabin air temperature and relative humidity are measured and used to determine a dewpoint. An dewpoint margin is calculated to compensate for sensor accuracy and fog predictability. A fog margin, which is based upon calculated windshield glass temperature and dewpoint, is calculated and used, in conjunction with the dewpoint margin, to control the HVAC system to anticipate potential fogging conditions and to scale the intensity of the HVAC system response based upon the severity of fogging conditions. |
| US07866163B2 |
Radiographic detector docking station with dynamic environmental control
A docking station for one or more x-ray detectors is disclosed and designed to secure an x-ray detector when not in use to limit exposure of an x-ray detector to drops, jars, and other potentially damaging incidents. The docking station may be equipped to regulate the temperature of a stored x-ray detector. Thermal regulation can be achieved passively or actively using convection, conduction, radiation, and other thermal transference principles. The docking station may also include an electronic interface that communicates with a stored x-ray detector such that thermal regulation may be achieved dynamically and responsively. The docking station may be free-standing or wall-mounted. The docking station may be remote from or integrated with an x-ray scanner. The docking station may also be equipped to charge/re-charge batteries of a stored x-ray detector. |
| US07866157B2 |
Waste heat recovery system with constant power output
A waste heat recovery system for use with an engine. The waste heat recovery system receives heat input from both an exhaust gas recovery system and exhaust gas streams. The system includes a first loop and a second loop. The first loop is configured to receive heat from both the exhaust gas recovery system and the exhaust system as necessary. The second loop receives heat from the first loop and the exhaust gas recovery system. The second loop converts the heat energy into electrical energy through the use of a turbine. |
| US07866156B2 |
Device and method for supplying fresh air to a turbocharged reciprocating-piston internal combustion engine
A device for fresh-gas supply for a turbocharged, compression-ignition, reciprocating-piston internal-combustion engine is provided. The engine has fresh-gas supply pipe and exhaust gas manifold pipe, between which an EGR device is installed. A tubular inside space section of the fresh-gas supply pipe located downstream of a turbocharger has a compressed-air connection with a volume control device, and a butterfly valve for controlling throughflow. Operation of the butterfly valve is controlled by an electronic control unit of the engine which processes sensor signals. A control valve of the EGR device, which is electronically controlled and controls the exhaust gas throughflow volume, is connected to the electronic control unit for synchronized operation of the butterfly valve with the volume control device. |
| US07866155B2 |
Master cylinder and method of manufacturing the same
An object of the present invention is to provide a master cylinder capable of controlling an increase in an intruding amount of a cup seal while relieving a stress concentration therein to thereby prevent the cup seal from being damaged. Provided is a master cylinder in which a piston is moved in slidable contact with an inner circumference of a cup seal held in a cylinder main body so as to pressurize a brake fluid in a pressure chamber formed of the piston and the cylinder main body, wherein an annular wall configured integrally with the cylinder main body is provided behind the cup seal. Further, a chamfered portion having a curved shape in a cross-section taken along a diameter direction of the cylinder main body is provided between the annular wall and a cylinder wall to which the piston is facing. One end of the chamfered portion is formed continuously so that a tangent thereto is in line with the annular wall, and the other end of the chamfered portion is formed to constitute a flexed portion in combination with the cylinder wall. |
| US07866149B2 |
System and method for rapidly shaking an implement of a machine
A fluid system for use with a machine that employs an actuator, that provides for rapid shaking of an implement. The fluid system includes a source for providing fluid flow to the actuator and an operator input device for enabling an operator to control the movement of the implement by inputting a plurality of commands that specify movement of the implement. A controller is provided for monitoring the commands received from the operator input device and entering a mode for controlling the displacement of the source when the controller detects a pattern of commands that indicates an operator-request for rapid movement of the implement. |
| US07866147B2 |
Side branch absorber for exhaust manifold of two-stroke internal combustion engine
A method of improving scavenging operation of a two-stroke internal combustion engine. The exhaust pressure of the engine is analyzed to determine if there is a pulsation frequency. Acoustic modeling is used to design an absorber. An appropriately designed side branch absorber may be attached to the exhaust manifold. |
| US07866146B2 |
Exhaust gas purifying apparatus, exhaust gas purifying method, and particulate matter measuring method
An exhaust gas purifying apparatus includes a primary diesel particulate filter provided in an exhaust line of a diesel engine, a secondary exhaust line branched from the exhaust line from an upstream side of the primary diesel particulate filter, and a secondary diesel particulate filter provided in the secondary exhaust line. The secondary diesel particulate filter has a soot storage capacity smaller than the soot storage capacity of the primary diesel particulate filter. The apparatus further includes a differential pressure measuring part for measuring a differential pressure between an inlet and an outlet of the secondary diesel particulate filter. |
| US07866145B1 |
Particulate emission reducing device
Particulate emission reducing devices reduce particulate emissions from a vehicle. A housing is attached to a vehicle's exhaust pipe downstream of its muffler by an intake funnel having a desiccant bed and check valve. An ionizer is connected to the intake funnel. A collection unit is removably inserted into the housing through a collection unit opening with support bar notches in the housing's top downstream of the ionizer. Contacts in the bottom of the housing negatively charge collector plates, which collect positively charged particulates from the exhaust stream. Exhaust gases are emitted by an exhaust funnel attached to the housing downstream of the collection unit. A handle attached to the access panel of the collection unit facilitates removal of the collector plates for cleaning. The vehicle may include an indicator light to remind the user to clean the collector plates. The vehicle's trunk may include an access opening. |
| US07866143B2 |
Exhaust gas treatment system
An exhaust gas treatment system for an exhaust system of an internal combustion engine includes a basic housing and an add-on housing mounted thereon so it is at least partially detachable. The basic housing contains at least one inlet pipe which can be connected to the exhaust system and leads into the basic housing, at least one outlet pipe which can be connected to the exhaust system and leads out of the basic housing, at least one SCR catalyst and at least one oxidizing catalytic converter. The add-on housing contains at least one particle separation device and at least one reducing agent feed mechanism. |
| US07866138B2 |
Microfiber core mop yarn and method for producing same
A spun yarn formed with a core of microdenier synthetic filaments wrapped with a sheath. The sheath generally includes carded staple fibers that are spun around the core. |
| US07866136B1 |
Belt pickup for a draper header
A crop gathering device is provided for use with a harvesting header including a frame carrying a belt to deliver a crop to the header, the frame having opposed ends and connected to the header. The frame includes a first support member and a second support member each extending unsupported between the opposed ends of the frame. A driven roller assembly has at least two axially aligned rollers extending between the opposed ends of the frame, regions of the rollers of the driven roller assembly being rotatably secured to the first support member. An idler roller assembly has at least two axially aligned rollers extending between the opposed ends of the frame, regions of the rollers of the idler roller assembly being rotatably secured to the second support member. The roller assemblies move the belt for delivering a crop to the header. |
| US07866131B2 |
Vertical bagging machine comprising two linear motors
The invention relates to a vertical bagging machine (1), equipped with a first linear motor (18) for displacing a transversal seal unit (10) in a first direction, preferably vertically (20), and a second linear motor (19) for executing a displacement in a second direction, preferably horizontally (21), in order to displace a heat-sealing jaw (11) in the latter direction or to cause two heat-sealing jaws (11, 12) to be displaced against one another by means of a gear (22). The linear motors (18, 19) are interconnected (23) by means of a cross formation. Each linear motor (18, 19) consists of a primary part (24, 26) and a secondary part (25, 27). The cross formation (23) forms a stable connection for the linear motors (18, 19) that act in displacement directions running perpendicularly to one another |
| US07866129B2 |
Device and method for producing packages with at least one twisted end
Described herein is a shuttle device for producing wrappers of sheet material (F) containing a product (P) with at least one fantail-twisted end obtained by twisting said sheet material (F). The shuttle (10) comprises a first part (112a, 112b) for receiving the product (P) located in the precursor of wrapper and at least one second part (212a, 212b; 312a, 312b) that grips on a respective part of precursor of wrapper (F). The first part (112a, 112b) and the second part (212a, 212b; 312a, 312b) of the shuttle (10) are able to turn with respect to one another about a given axis (X10) so as to produce at least one fantail-twisted end as a result of the twisting action imparted on the precursor of wrapper (F) following upon the relative movement of rotation about the aforesaid given axis (X10). |
| US07866128B2 |
Container bottom and methods
Substantially triangular shaped container bottoms include a bottom wall with a concave surface. The container bottom can be used with a container body having an interior chamber for receiving at least one article. Exemplary embodiments include a container bottom attached to a container body wherein the container bottom includes a central surface area that is inwardly concave towards an interior chamber of the container body. Methods of loading a plurality of articles in a container are also provided. |
| US07866126B2 |
Method to reduce the packaging foam by using extra folds in the carton
A fold may be made in a conventional box which reduces the amount of packaging material necessary to secure an item in the box. Rear projection televisions may have a thick base and a thin top. Therefore, rectangular boxes may have much space at the top from the front of the box to the back of the box, in particular, when the television is in the carton, there may be substantial space between the back of the top of the television to the back panel of the carton. Typically, packaging material is placed in this space. By placing a fold in the carton along the portion of the box where this packaging material may conventionally extend, the amount of packaging material may be reduced by abutting the packaging material to the fold in the carton instead of the back panel of the carton. |
| US07866125B2 |
Dunnage production and packaging
A packaging system for automatically producing dunnage pads and inserting one or more of the pads into a container for packaging an article in the container. The invention includes a pad discharge assembly and/or pad insertion assembly. The discharge assembly includes a gating device for effecting passage of the pad out of a holding zone in a direction transverse to the pad length and onto a working surface, preferably a conveyor. The conveyor conveys the pad into a pad insertion zone in a first direction, and a pusher assembly is operative to push the pad from the pad insertion zone in a direction transverse to the first direction. A plunger is provided for pushing a pad located at the pad insertion zone through an opening over which the pad is conveyed for insertion into a container. |
| US07866124B2 |
Method and agricultural bagger with upper tunnel compaction
An agricultural bagger apparatus and method for compacting feed into a horizontally deployed bag including a compression mechanism and an input hopper that receives agricultural feed. The hopper has a sloping wall and a lower end exit chute located to transfer the feed into the primary compression mechanism (e.g., a rotating toothed cylinder). The tapered hopper causes the feed to bridge, stopping the feed from falling through the chute. A new distribution mechanism in the hopper sweeps the feed adjacent to the sloping wall to prevent feed bridging. By preventing the feed from clogging, there is less reason to risk one=s safety by foolishly inserting their limb into the hopper. Some embodiments also compact feed in the upper portion of the tunnel, for example, by reciprocating a hinged piston above the primary compression mechanism. This increases the compaction on the top portion of the tunnel without unduly juicing the feed. |
| US07866123B2 |
Multilevel container filling machine such as a multilevel beverage bottle filling machine
A filling machine for containers such as bottles, cans, or similar containers. The filling machine comprises at least one rotor, which is driven in rotation around a vertical machine axis, and filling stations on the rotor. Each filling station is designed to receive a container and for the filling of this container during the rotational movement of the rotor between a container inlet point and a container outlet point. The filling stations are provided in at least two filling planes, which are offset from one another in the direction of the machine axis. |
| US07866116B2 |
Method for connecting layers of nailable material together
A connecting device includes an axial core and a plurality of helical projections that extend radially from the core. The core has a cross section comprising two-fifths or less of the circumscribed cross sectional area of the device and the accuracy of the pitch of the helical projections varies by no more than 0.5% from any given probate pitch along the axis of the device. Another connecting device includes an axial core and two or three helical fins projecting radially from the core, wherein the core has a cross section comprising two-fifths or less of the circumscribed cross sectional area of the device, the accuracy of the pitch of the helical fins varies by no more than 0.5% from any given probate pitch along the axis of the device and wherein the root of the fin material includes a radiused surface. A further connecting device includes a twisted wire portion having an axial core and a plurality of projecting fins that extend radially from the core in a constant helical configuration, wherein the core has a cross section comprising two-fifths or less of the circumscribed cross sectional area of the wire, wherein the device has a pointed leading end and a rear end having a retaining head or clip. |
| US07866115B2 |
Floorboards with decorative grooves
Floorboards are shown, which consist of a core and a surface layer and are provided with decorative joint edges which are formed by removing the surface layer. |
| US07866112B2 |
Slotted metal truss and joist with supplemental flanges
A slotted channel with a supplemental flange as a building member has at least one supplemental flange extending from at least one slot in the member web or primary flanges yielding a building member with increased strength, both compressive (longitudinally) and in shear (transverse). The slotted member presents a reduced area through which heat or sound may be conducted and slots in which insulation is received, both increasing resistance to heat and sound transfer. |
| US07866110B2 |
Mechanical locking system for panels and method of installing same
Floor panels (1, 1′) are provided with a mechanical locking system including a flexible locking element 15 in a locking groove 14 which during a horizontal motion is displaced vertically. |
| US07866108B2 |
Head-of-wall fireblock systems and related wall assemblies
A fire retardant head-of-wall assembly configured to seal a linear head-of-wall construction joint or gap when exposed to a heat source such as a building fire is disclosed. The inventive fire retardant head-of-wall assembly comprises a header track having an elongated intumescent strip affixed lengthwise on at least one of the outer sidewall surfaces of the header track and above a centrally located and outwardly protruding lengthwise corrugated groove. The intumescent strip comprises expandable graphite and a fire retardant (C2-C8 alkyl diamine phosphate). When exposed to a heat source such as a building fire, the intumescent strip expands so to fill the head-of-wall construction joint or gap, thereby retarding or preventing the spread of smoke and fire. The inventive fire retardant head-of-wall assembly has been certified as complaint with respect to Underwriters Laboratories, Inc.'s standards set forth in its Tests for Fire Resistance of Building Joint Systems—UL 2079. |
| US07866106B2 |
Portable ballistics barrier
A barrier comprising a body member. The body member has a first side, a second side, a front side, a rear side, and one or more cavities within the body member. The body member further has a first overlap portion and a second overlap portion. The first overlap portion extends from the first side adjacent to the front side and spaced apart from the rear side. The second overlap portion extends from the second side adjacent to the rear side and spaced apart from the second side. The second overlap portion is shaped to mate in an overlapping manner with the first overlap portion of an adjacent body member. A barrier wall comprising two or more barriers is also disclosed. |
| US07866102B2 |
Cove base corner cover
Two integrally formed multipurpose devices with the resemblance of an aesthetic pillar hollowed out incorporating a cove element at the lower portion that is preformed to fit over and cover intersecting corners of previously installed cove base used in the flooring industry. The Cove base corner cover provides a unified junction between the two adjacent sides of a corner. This invention also provides an inexpensive, simplistic and productive procedure for installations of inside and outside corners. Precision cuts along with most all of the numerous steps currently being utilized to navigate into or from and around intersecting corners is eliminated. The problems such as, the cove element collapsing into itself as well as the popping of the upper edge associated with wrapping cove base around a corner, is also eliminated and for the most part, frustration and aggravation incurred while facilitating installations at the corners is significantly reduced. Repairs of damaged, cracked and split corners of already existing wall coverings are easily achieved with the use of the Cove base corner cover along with adapting the purpose as a corner protector while ultimately providing a final presentation of a well-designed and high-quality end result. |
| US07866099B2 |
Mounting structure of solar cell module
A mounting structure of a solar cell module includes a fastening for mounting the solar cell module on a lateral beam. The fastening includes a body, and a plurality of hooks formed at an end of the body. The hooks have a hook having a form bent toward one side, having an end directed downward and serving as a first hook, and a hook having a form bent away from the one side, having an end directed downward and serving as a second hook. The hooks are opposed to and engaged with a projection of a hooked and L-shaped form formed on the solar cell module. |
| US07866091B2 |
Breeding plants
A process for breeding plants which comprises growing plants of a species in an array of containers charged with growing medium of uniform characteristics in an environment of controlled climatic conditions with controlled supply of nutrients and feed water and changing the positions of the containers within the environment as required to ensure at least substantially uniform exposure of all plants in the containers to conditions in the environment. A process for the breeding of open pollinating plants in a greenhouse environment is also provided. A process for breeding plants which comprises identifying trait leads. |
| US07866090B2 |
Method for cultivating plants as well as a culture medium
A method for cultivating plants, wherein use is made of a multitude of cells, each comprising a container having a cylindrical or frustoconical inner side wall, which container is open at the upper side, wherein the containers are filled with a growth substrate containing a seed, and wherein a layer of powder is applied to the inner side walls of the containers before the growth substrates are placed in the containers. |
| US07866085B1 |
Bottom bouncer with adjustable weight
A bottom bouncer preferably includes a flexible line, a float and at least one weight. A loop is formed on one end of the flexible line for attachment of a swivel loop or the like. The float includes a lengthwise through hole for receiving the flexible line. The float is preferably retained on the one end of the flexible line. The weight preferably includes a lengthwise through hole for receiving the flexible line. A set screw or the like may be threaded into the weight against the flexible line to secure the weight thereto, such that the loop or swivel loop will be a set distance off the bottom of a body of water. A set screw in a clamp collar may also be tightened on the flexible line to retain the at least one weight on the flexible line. However, other types of fastenable weights may be used. |
| US07866081B2 |
Firearm support device
The firearm support device includes one or more “beanbags” directly mounted to a rifle stock that can be moved between a secured transportation position held against the stock and a support position suspended beneath the stock. The support device includes a stock attachment and one or more beanbags pivotally connected to the stock attachment. The stock attachment includes cinch and stirrup straps that secure the support devices to the stock and prevent it from inadvertently sliding up the stock. The bean bags are constructed of cloth pouches filled with a granular substance. The beanbags are sewn directly to the cinch strap or connected to the cinch strap by a slide buckle that rides along a rail strap sewn to a beanbag. The beanbags are securely held against the sides of the rifle stock in the transportation position by elastic cords, buckles, snaps, hook and loop fastening patches or other connection mechanisms. |
| US07866077B2 |
Striker assembly for use with a firearm
A striker assembly for a firearm and a method of assembly the striker assembly is disclosed. The striker assembly includes a generally cylindrical body having a first distal end, a middle portion, and a second distal end. A coaxial spring encompasses the middle portion of the body and abuts an annular ring on the first distal end. The striker assembly also has a spacer having a first side and a second side with the first side of the spacer abutting a ridge on the second distal end of the body. A snap ring holds the spacer in place on the spacer's second side, and the snap ring is secured by a circumferential groove in the second distal end of the body. Finally, the striker assembly includes a cap that abuts the coaxial spring and encompasses the second distal end of the body, the spacer, and the snap ring. |
| US07866074B2 |
Collapsible freestanding drawing board
A collapsible, freestanding oversized drawing board including a frame comprised of a plurality of frame members, a drawing sheet, and attachments to the frame. Specifically, the sheet can be drawn on, painted on, washed, or receive magnets. |
| US07866072B2 |
Game animal tag and method of use
A game animal tagging apparatus includes a substantially transparent flexible plastic strip having a front side, a back side, and predetermined dimensions, with a pocket member disposed on a portion of the front side. The plastic strip has at least one wing portion and an adhesive covers at least 20 percent of the front side of the plastic strip, and a removable protective member covers at least all of the adhesive. |
| US07866071B1 |
Vehicle lock box with license plate holder
A vehicle lock box with a weather-proof compartment and a license plate holder that mounts to the license plate bracket. An outer frame is comprised of a pair of hinged, rigid panels that is secured closed by the locking mechanism. Each panel has a raised lip that forms a hollow in the panel. The rear panel includes holes for mounting to the license plate bracket. The license plate is placed inside the front panel adjacent to a cutout that exposes the license plate face. The weather-proof compartment is composed of a pair of mirror image, resilient, water-impermeable sheets, each of which fits within the hollow of one of the panels. Both sheets have a raised rim that forms a depression in the sheet. The sheet in the front panel holds the license plate against the cutout. When the frame is closed, the sheet rims abut, forming a weather-tight compartment. |
| US07866066B2 |
Footwear device with scrolling light emitting diode display
A footwear unit having a pre-programmable, self-programmable and reprogrammable display with a panel that is operably aligned with a window located on the outside surface of the footwear unit. The programmable display has two or more modes of operation for displaying information on the panel. Inside of the programmable display unit is a controller that controls the display of information on the panel. The controller also stores information or data that later be viewed on the panel. |
| US07866062B2 |
Footwear separable to two piece
Disclosed herein is footwear separable into two pieces in which an insertion body is adapted to be fit into an insertion recess formed at the heel portion of a footwear body, for absorbing the impact applied to a wearer upon walking, thus to achieve better wearing effect, the insertion body is freely assembled with and separated from the footwear body, thus to form a variety of designs thereon, the insertion recess has a drain hole connected from the bottom portion thereof to the corresponding bottom portion of the footwear body, thus to prevent water from gathering into the insertion recess, and if the footwear body is formed of a polyurethane material, the insertion body is formed of an ethyl-vinyl acetate (EVA) material, and vice versa, thus to provide high flexibility to the footwear, which makes the wearer feel comfortable. |
| US07866057B2 |
Domestic appliance for the care of washed articles
A domestic appliance for the care of washed articles having with a container for receiving washed articles; a process air supply which is operationally connected to the container in fluid communication therewith whereby process air flows through the container during appliance operation; and a first heat exchanger which is in fluid communication with the process air supply for dehumidifying the process air exiting the container, the domestic appliance comprising a supplementary heat exchanger for lint filtering operationally disposed in the process air supply in fluid communication with the heat exchanger and the container. |
| US07866056B2 |
Calibration method and apparatus
A method is described for calibrating apparatus including a measurement probe mounted on a machine, such as a machine tool. The machine is arranged to capture machine position data indicative of the position of the measurement probe and the measurement probe is arranged to capture probe data indicative of the position of a surface relative to the measurement probe. The measurement probe may be an analogue or scanning probe having a deflectable stylus. The first step of the method involves moving the measurement probe at a known speed relative to an artefact whilst capturing probe data and machine position data. In particular, the measurement probe is moved along a path that enables probe data to be captured that is indicative of the position of two or more points on the surface of the artefact relative to the measurement probe. A second step of the method comprises analyzing the machine position data and the probe data and determining from that data the relative delay in capturing probe data and machine position data (i.e. the so-called system delay). |
| US07866053B2 |
Apparatus for sensing a mount for optical lenses and associated method
The apparatus (10) comprises a turret (50), rotatable about a first axis (B-B′), a slide (52) mounted on the turret (50) and a sensor (30) mounted for sliding in the slide (52) along a third axis (C-C′) substantially parallel to the first axis (B-B′). It comprises means (34) for displacement of the sensor for displacing a contact surface (42) of the sensor along the mount (14) during the sensing of the mount. The displacement means (34) comprise means (70) for driving the turret (50) in rotation about the first axis (B-B′). The apparatus comprises control means (82) for controlling means (72) for displacement of the turret in a plane perpendicular to the first axis (B-B′) and suitable for displacing the turret (50) in said plane when the turret is driven in rotation about the first axis (B-B′) during the sensing of the mount. |
| US07866045B2 |
Method for use in manufacturing a bicycle spoked wheel
A method intended for manufacturing a bicycle spoked wheel is described. By inserting the nipples or barrels for the attachment of the spokes in the spoke attachment seats from the inside of the spoke attachment chamber through a suitably sized opening, instead of from the outside, the rim of the bicycle wheel can be manufactured without additional openings, even when using conventional nipples or barrels. |
| US07866042B2 |
Method for producing a split louver heat exchanger fin
A method of manufacturing serpentine fins for assembly between tubes in a heat exchanger core. The method includes providing a flat metal strip and forming in the strip, multiple rows of split louvers. Each row of split louvers has louvers formed in pairs of adjacent, spaced louver banks extending across the width of the strip. Each row includes ribs formed in the strip parallel to the louver openings and extending across the pair of louver banks. The metal strip has unformed portions extending across the strip width between rows of split louvers for forming folds across the width of the strip. After forming the rows of split louvers, pressure is applied to the strip to cause the flat strip to buckle along the unformed portions forming folds in the strip resulting in the serpentine fin. Preferably, the strip has ribs formed both in the center portion and along the edges. |
| US07866041B2 |
Method of manufacturing a duct for a gas turbine engine
The present invention provided a method of manufacturing a duct for a gas turbine engine or the like from sheet metal material; the method comprising the steps of: fabricating a duct from sheet material (10,12,14) including rolling or folding metal sheet along ruled lines to form a ruled surface geometry approximately corresponding to at least part of a desired irregular final duct geometry; welding corresponding rolled or folded parts of the duct skin together and positioning the duct on a heat treatment fixture (30) having a shape corresponding to the said desired irregular duct geometry; the material of the heat treatment fixture having a greater thermal expansion coefficient than the duct material; heating the duct and fixture substantially to a stress relieving temperature of the duct material such that differential thermal expansion of the duct and fixture at the said stress relieving temperature causes the duct to distort and adopt the shape of the exterior surface of the fixture on which the duct is located. |
| US07866035B2 |
Water-cooled photovoltaic receiver and assembly method
Embodiments in accordance with the present invention relate to the design and manufacturing of inexpensive photovoltaic or thermal receivers for cost-effective solar energy conversion of concentrated light. Particular embodiments in accordance with the present invention disclose the design of a photovoltaic receiver and a low-pressure, low-flow-rate liquid cooler. Embodiment of the present invention also disclose a preferred low-cost and scalable manufacturing approach. |
| US07866030B2 |
Process for forming a lamination stack
A process for forming a lamination stack of superposed metallic laminations, comprising the steps of: providing a locking lamination having locking openings adjacent to respective projecting tabs; providing a passage lamination with passage openings, each having a deformed edge portion; axially aligning and fitting each tab of the locking lamination through a passage opening of the passage lamination; and pressing each tab against an adjacent face of the passage lamination, until each tab is contained in a respective passage opening of the passage lamination and partially seated on an edge portion of the passage opening, deformed to the inside of the locking opening of the locking lamination, axially locking the latter to the passage lamination. |
| US07866028B2 |
Method for manufacturing resonant element
A resonant element is manufactured through a process including a setting step and a forming step. A substrate of the resonant element is made of a dielectric material. A ground electrode is formed on a rear principal surface side of the substrate. Principal-surface electrodes that define resonators together with the ground electrode and the dielectric material are formed on a front principal surface side of the substrate. An electrode protecting layer is formed on substantially entire surfaces on a front principal surface side of the principal-surface electrodes and the substrate. A coupling adjusting electrode with both ends facing a plurality of the principal-surface electrodes is formed on a front principal surface side of the electrode protecting layer. In the setting step, the shape of the coupling adjusting electrode is set in each manufactured lot. In the forming step, the coupling adjusting electrode having the shape set in the setting step in each manufactured lot is formed on the front principal surface side of the substrate and the electrode protecting layer that are sintered in advance, and the coupling adjusting electrode is baked to the electrode protecting layer. |
| US07866022B2 |
Method and system of subduct and cable installation
Cable is installed into a duct, by increasing cross-sectional areas of subducting provided in the duct, so as to allow the cable to be received into the subducting, and then decreasing the cross-sectional area of the subducting containing the cable so as to reduce the volume occupied by the subducting in the duct. Cables may be inserted into the subducting, for example, by forcing compressed gas through the subducting, which simultaneously inflates the subducting. |
| US07866021B2 |
Methods and assemblies for manufacturing components
A machine assembly for manufacturing a component includes a frame, a first guide member mounted on the frame, and at least one component support configured to support the component. The at least one component support is coupled to the first guide member such that the component is supported below the first guide member when the component is supported by the at least one component support. The at least one component support is configured for movement along said first guide member. The assembly also includes a second guide member mounted on the frame, and at least one tool support coupled to the second guide member and configured to support a tool for one of inspecting and machining the component. |
| US07866017B2 |
Modular comfort assembly diffuser bag having integral air mover support
A method of manufacturing a ventilation diffuser bag includes providing a perforated, occupant facing side of the diffuser bag and an air mover; molding a non-perforated, support facing side of the diffuser bag having an opening to allow air flow therethrough and including an integral air mover support, the air mover support including an endless sidewall extending from the opening for supporting the air mover, the endless sidewall including a retaining edge spaced from the non-perforated side for suspendably retaining the air mover, and a vibration dampening suspension portion; mounting the air mover in the air mover support such that the air mover engages the retaining edge; disposing an air permeable material adjacent the non-perforated side; and permanently connecting edges of the perforated, occupant facing side to edges of the non-perforated, support facing side such that the air permeable material is disposed between the perforated side and the non-perforated side. |
| US07866010B2 |
Holding device for connecting a gas mask to a protective helmet
A holding device for a breathing mask that is fastened to a protective helmet when in use includes a fastening hook connected to a flexible, length-adjustable tightening strap that is hooked into a receptacle on the protective helmet. Stop elements that are both frictionally engaged and in positive contact prevent the accidental release of the fastening hook together with the flexibility of the tightening strap that at the same time ensures an individually adjustable fit of the mask while sliding elements arranged at an offset to the stop elements ensure automatic optimum orientation of the tightening straps. The tightening strap and the fastening hook are coupled using a retainer piece molded to the tightening strap that is held in positive contact in the recess of a grip end connected with the fastening hook. |
| US07866003B2 |
Damping device
A buffer which can achieve a buffering effect corresponding to the speed of a sliding door is provided. Corresponding to the abutment force of an engagement pin 3 which is on a sliding door 2 with respect to a retaining recessed portion 67 of a hook body 61 which is slidably provided in a case body, an engagement stepped portion 71 of the hook body 61 presses a pressing member 44, and a brake pad 47 of the pressing member 44 and a brake pad 39 of a slider 31 come into sliding contact with a brake plate 28. |
| US07866002B2 |
Combinative handlebar grip for bicycles or the like
A handlebar grip capable of combining with or without an auxiliary handle is disclosed. Four first tongue plates in an annular arrangement extend from a main grip. There is a gap between two adjacent first tongue plates. Each first tongue plate has a first rib extending therefrom. A cap having second tongue plates corresponding to the first tongue plates is fixed on the outer end of the main grip by interlacing the tongue plates. A hitching ring is sandwiched between the cap and main grip to form an extended portion of the main grip. Each the second tongue plate has a second rib, which connects the first ribs to form an annular rib with the first ribs. The ring has an annular groove to receiving the annular rib and to engage the main grip and cap. The ring may be changed into a horn shape as an auxiliary handle. |
| US07866001B2 |
Door opening/closing device for vehicle
To provide a vehicle door opening/closing device arranged to pivotally connect a vehicle body and a door with a hinge member and provided with a damper arranged to impart a braking force to the door when the door is turned, the damper being directly connected to the hinge member, the hinge member includes a first hinge arm fixed to a floor, a pin shaft fixed to the first hinge arm and extending outward of the first hinge arm, and a second hinge arm pivotally mounted on the pin shaft and fixed to a lower end of a lower door, and the damper includes a rotors connected to a projecting portion of the pin shaft, a housing rotatably mounted on the rotor and fixed to the lower door, and a braking means contained in the housing to impart a braking force to the housing when the housing is rotated relative to the rotor. |
| US07865998B2 |
Bearing housing, and motor assembly and vacuum cleaner having the same
Disclosed are a bearing housing, and a motor assembly and a vacuum cleaner having the same. The motor assembly includes: a motor housing; a motor installed in the motor housing, for supplying suction force; an impeller rotatably installed on a rotation shaft of the motor; an impeller cover coupled to the motor housing, for covering the impeller; a guide vane installed between the motor and the impeller, and composed of a plurality of diffuser vanes for converting some of dynamic pressure of the air passing through the impeller into static pressure, and a plurality of return vanes formed on the bottom surfaces of the diffuser vanes, for forming passages for guiding the air with its pressure raised by the diffuser vanes to the motor side; and a bearing housing including a passage formation unit for forming passages by contacting the bottom ends of the return vanes, and a shaft support unit for supporting the rotation shaft of the motor. The motor assembly and the vacuum cleaner having the same solve incomplete passage formation of the return vanes due to miniaturization of the fan-motor, and provide the passages with an optimum area. |
| US07865997B2 |
Dry type cleaning apparatus and dry type cleaning method
A dry type cleaning technology is disclosed. Dust adhering to a cleaning object is removed with a cleaning medium caused to flow by a high-speed airflow. The removed dust is separated from the cleaning medium with a porous member including holes through which air, dust, and granular material can pass but the cleaning medium cannot pass. An area on the porous member where air is received to cause the cleaning medium to flow and an area on the porous member where air is received to suction the dust separated from the cleaning medium are switched. |
| US07865991B2 |
Washing machine and steam washing method thereof
A washing machine and steam washing method thereof are disclosed. The method includes performing primary steam washing by supplying steam to laundry, performing a washing cycle by supplying wash water to the laundry, performing a rinsing cycle, performing a spin-dry cycle to remove the wash water from the laundry, and performing secondary steam washing by supplying steam to the laundry. The washing machine has improved sterilizing effects by sterilizing bacteria and fungi with hot steam. |
| US07865990B2 |
Washing machine and operating method thereof
A washing machine and an operating method thereof are provided. The washing machine detects an input voltage, and increases or reduces a wash time according to the input voltage. Thus, the washing machine can precisely calculate a wash time by reflecting a heating time that varies according to the input voltage. In addition, the washing machine can improve user convenience by enabling a user to easily determine the progress of a washing operation and the end time of the washing operation. |
| US07865983B2 |
Patient care equipment support transfer system
A patient support apparatus, such as a hospital bed, comprises a lower frame, an upper frame supported above the lower frame and configured to support a patient, and a support structure coupled to the lower frame. The support structure includes a lift having a movable portion that is movable generally vertically relative to the lower frame and relative to the upper frame. The movable portion of the lift is configured to carry a patient care equipment support. |
| US07865981B2 |
Bed base assembled without using tools or separate fasteners and method
A bed base has parts adapted to be assembled together manually without the use of a tool or separate, non-integrated connectors. These parts include side members, corner connectors, and a cross-rail assembly. The side members are assembled into a rectangular support and attached at its corners by a male-female connection mechanisms in lower portions of the side members. The corner connectors overlap and lock together the upper portions of adjacent side members at the corners and are attached by male-female connection mechanisms. Each opposed side member includes a notch along an upper portion and the notches in the opposed side members are aligned upon assembly. The cross-rail assembly, which sits across the opposed side members within the notches, has an orthogonal leg member near each end. Each individual leg member projects through a corresponding notch and terminates in one component of two-component connector. The other component of each two-component connector is in the side member with the other component's corresponding notch. |
| US07865974B1 |
Ear covering method
An ear covering method includes providing a covering comprised of a flexible and water impermeable material. The covering has an outer wall, an inner wall and a perimeter wall extending between the outer and inner walls. The inner wall has an aperture extending therethrough to access an interior of the covering. An adhesive is mounted on an outer surface of the inner wall. A person's ear is extended through the aperture and the adhesive secures the inner wall to skin adjacent to the ear. |
| US07865970B2 |
Sports lifting aid
A grippable sports device in the form of a band is configured for use as a lifting aid and comprises a main body for placing in a position on the limb of a sports player for use during a sports game, the main body comprising fixing means for fixing the main body in a substantially fixed position directly on the player's limb, with the main body further including a non-slip surface configured to enable a second player of the sports game to firmly grip the main body. When the sports band is in a fixed position on a wearer, the fixing means substantially encircles a portion of the wearer's limb. The grippable sports band is particularly useful in a line-out in the game of Rubgy Union. |
| US07865968B2 |
Head suspension system and headgear that have an adjustable visor and method of adjusting same
Headgear adapted to protect a wearer having a visor and a flexible circumferential band adapted to be supported by a head of the wearer. A mounting attachment attaches the visor to the flexible circumferential band at each of two side attachment locations with the visor generally positioned in front of a face of the wearer. The mounting attachment has a slide channel associated with the flexible circumferential band and a slide associated with the visor. The slide is able to slide forward and aft in the slide channel with respect to the face of the wearer and is selectively securable in a plurality of forward and aft positions. This allows the visor to be adjusted inwardly and outwardly with respect to the face of the wearer. |
| US07865967B2 |
Body armor
A body armor accessory adds protection to unguarded areas of conventional body armor. The removable accessory comprises an axillary panel having a coverage area and is made of material that impedes the penetration of a foreign object. The accessory can be worn on either the left or right side of the wearer. The coverage area to the deltoid and flank areas of the wearer provided by the axillary panel is greater than that provided by the vest without the panel. A deltoid panel provides added protection to the deltoid area of the wearer. |
| US07870616B2 |
Probe arrangement
A probe arrangement with a probe for local electrophysiological analysis of cells (4) such as patch-clamp techniques for use with atomic force microscopy, has a probe with a cantilever arm (2) connected to a probe holder (3). The probe has a probe tip (4) at a probing end (5) of the cantilever arm (2) and a fluid channel (6) in the cantilever arm (2) connecting a probe tip aperture (7) with a fluid reservoir (8) via a duct (9). The fluid channel (6), the duct (9) and the fluid reservoir (8) are adapted to be filled with a fluid solution (10) enabling ion transport for electrophysiological analysis. A first electrode (15) for electrophysiological analysis is placed in the fluid reservoir (8) and/or in the duct (9) and/or in the fluid channel (6). |
| US07870615B2 |
Information terminal with function of playing back contents
In one aspect of this invention, upon playing back contents, a content to be played back is selected from a plurality of contents stored in a storage unit, and it is checked for this selected content if a first playback mode that requires a prior playback confirmation operation or a second playback mode that does not require any prior playback confirmation operation is suitable as the playback mode of the content of interest. If it is determined that the first playback mode is suitable as the playback mode of the selected content, the content is skipped without being played back. On the other hand, if it is determined that the second playback mode is suitable as the playback mode of the selected content, that content is played back. |
| US07870611B2 |
System method and apparatus for service attack detection on a network
Embodiments of the invention are directed to a detection system, method and apparatus that identifies and eradicates fraudulent requests on a network. Embodiments of the detection system comprise at least one router, a server, and an activity monitoring system. The activity monitoring system comprises a route arbiter and a traffic analyzer, wherein the route arbiter monitors the activity on the router. The route arbiter continuously monitors the router and firewall device to determine if abnormal activity or traffic patterns are emerging. If a determination is made that abnormal activity or abnormal traffic patterns exist, the activity monitoring system responds by blocking the activity or redirecting the traffic. |
| US07870604B1 |
Methods and apparatus to configure network nodes supporting virtual connections
A computer system includes functionality enabling a provider edge router to determine whether network data such as VRF information is properly associated with a corresponding virtual private network. A first node through which the network data is transmitted generates a signature value uniquely associated with the virtual private network. The first node forwards the signature value along with the network data to a second node of the physical network. The second node, in turn, verifies that the network data (such as VRF information) is properly associated with the second node (and virtual network) based on its own generation of a signature value, which is compared with the signature value received from the first node. |
| US07870603B2 |
Method and apparatus for automatic filter generation and maintenance
A method is disclosed for automatic filter generation and maintenance. From information transmitted on a network, a first device identifier and a second device identifier are detected. Based on the first and second device identifiers, a filter is automatically configured to deny network-transmitted information that attempts to establish an association between the first device identifier and a device identifier other than the second device identifier. |
| US07870602B2 |
System and method for reducing data stream interruption during failure of a firewall device
A system and method of using a controller and firewall devices. Each of the firewall devices operate in an active mode during normal operation. The method may include the steps of determining when a first and/or second redundant data packet is received from a first/second firewall device, respectively, determining a valid sequence number, and transmitting the first/second redundant data packet to a target device when a sequence number of the first/second redundant data packet matches the valid sequence number and a first/second logical condition is satisfied, respectively. The first/second logical condition is at least one of the second/first firewall device is failed, a sequence number of the second/first redundant data packet varies from the valid sequence number, and the first/second firewall device is a primary firewall device. |
| US07870595B2 |
Apparatus, methods, and system for role-based access in an intelligent electronic device
The present disclosure describes apparatus, methods, and system for secure access control of an intelligent electronic device (“IED”) by multiple personnel. Within the IED a set of basic permissions is defined. A software program allows a security administrator create specific roles from the basic permissions. The software program can then be used to assign to a user a specific role for one or more specific IEDs. This action creates a set of unique security keys for the user and a unique security file for each IED. When a user accesses an IED the system identifies the user from the security key and determines his/her permissions using the security file. The security key may take the form of a password inputted into the IED, an access device incorporated within the IED, and/or a remote access device positioned proximate the IED or removably positioned in the IED. |
| US07870593B2 |
DSL video service with storage
A list of video programs downloadable via a digital subscriber line, including a presently-unavailable video program and its associated date of download availability, is presented to a user. A user selection of the video program is received. Based on the user selection, an entry is added to a download schedule to schedule downloading the video program on or after its associated date of download availability. The video program is downloaded via the digital subscriber line based on the download schedule. |
| US07870592B2 |
Method for interactive video content programming
The present invention is directed to a system and method for interacting with video by displaying one or more interface links associated with video content being displayed, pausing the video content when an interface link is interacted with, allowing the user to view ancillary content the interface link is linked to over a network, and un-pausing the video content after the user elects to continue viewing the video content. In one or more embodiments, the ancillary content may permit e-commerce, display additional video or other images, and/or include links to additional ancillary content. The present invention also includes a method for creating an interactive video. |
| US07870582B2 |
Method for providing long term program guide data in a video recorder system with access to only short term program guide data
Herein described are at least a method and a system for providing an extended forecast of scheduled video programming information provided by a multimedia provider. The extended forecast processes electronic program data (EPG) provided by the multimedia provider, such that a long term program guide (LTPG) may be developed. The LTPG provides a forecast of programs to be broadcasted that extends beyond what the EPG may provide. The method generates the LTPG by utilizing algorithms that compare newly received EPG data against historically processed EPG data. The system comprises a controller, a processor used for extracting EPG data from a signal, a memory that stores software, and a remote sensor capable of receiving signals transmitted by a remote control. When executed by the controller, the software implements the algorithms that generate the LTPG. |
| US07870580B2 |
Systems and methods for managing and distributing media content
In accordance with the present invention, a media content management application that allows a user to customize, assemble, distribute, and track one or more versions of media content based on semantic criteria is provided. |
| US07870562B1 |
Media rendering hierarchy
To process media data from one or more sources, a hierarchy of media components are formed. Each media component receives as input one or more streams of media data and manipulates the media data to produce an output media stream. The media components conform to a uniform plug-in structure. The plug-in structure defines an abstraction that facilitates the hierarchical organization of the media components and that allows the media components to interact, in a decoupled manner, with each other and with processors that perform specific types of media data manipulations. The hierarchy can be reorganized dynamically. |
| US07870561B2 |
Technical place servicing integration
A method includes providing a technical place object to a Customer Resource Management (CRM) system wherein the technical place object includes information from an Enterprise Resource Management (ERP) system about a technical place including information associated with servicing the technical place. A service object may be provided to the ERP system wherein the service object includes information from the CRM system including information based on the technical place object and a service request associated with the servicing of the technical place. The CRM system may be provided an update of the service object wherein the update is based on a response to the service object by the ERP system. |
| US07870560B2 |
Method of receiving a message processable by a component on one of plurality of processing threads
There is disclosed a method, apparatus and computer program product for receiving a message, the message being processable by a component on one of a plurality of processing threads. A message is received from a first component on a current thread. The communication style that was used by the first component is determined. Responsive to receipt of the message, the communication style that is desired to be used by a second component is determined. Responsive to determining that the two components are asynchronous, communication takes place with the second component using the current thread. |
| US07870559B2 |
Methods, systems, and computer program products for continuous availability of non-persistence messages in a distributed platform
A method, system, and computer program product for continuous availability of non-persistence messages in a distributed platform are provided. The method includes providing a first client application independently in operative communication with at least two servers via a first client abstraction layer, generating a critical message by the first client application, duplicating the critical message at the first client abstraction layer for each of the servers, and transmitting the duplicate critical messages independently to each of the servers. The method further includes providing a second client application independently in operative communication with each of the servers via a second client abstraction layer, receiving one or more of the duplicate critical messages at the second client abstraction layer, selecting a critical message from the one or more duplicate critical messages, and delivering the selected critical message to the second client application. |
| US07870557B2 |
Apparatus, system, and method for autonomously maintaining a single system image in a parallel systems complex
An apparatus, system, and method for autonomously maintaining a single system image in a parallel systems complex. A computer program product causes the relevant systems in a parallel systems complex to receive requests with a global scope from a user. The request is sent to each IMS system in the sysplex, and each IMS system applies the resource information and logs the resource information for recovery. The request is written to a shared medium which IMS sysplex members can access. When an IMS member is brought online, the IMS member restores status information first from local recovery logs. The IMS member then checks the information against the global medium to determine if requests were issued while the IMS was offline. If so, the IMS inherits the information in the global medium before processing work. An IMS added into the sysplex applies the information from the global medium before processing work. |
| US07870555B2 |
Workload scheduling method and system with improved planned job duration updating scheme
A method for scheduling execution of a work unit in a data processing system comprises assigning to the work unit an expected execution duration; executing the work unit; determining an actual execution duration of the work unit; determining a difference between the actual execution duration and the expected duration; and conditionally adjusting the expected execution duration assigned to the work unit based on the measured actual execution duration, wherein the conditionally adjusting includes preventing the adjustment of the expected execution duration in case said difference exceeds a predetermined threshold. The method further includes associating to the work unit a parameter having a prescribed value adapted to provide an indication of unconditional adjustment of the expected execution duration: in case said parameter takes the prescribed value, the expected duration assigned with the work unit based on the measured actual execution duration even if the difference in durations exceeds the predetermined threshold. |
| US07870554B2 |
Process scheduler employing ordering function to schedule threads running in multiple adaptive partitions
A system includes a processor, one or more memory storage units, and software code stored in the memory storage units. The software code is executable by the processor to generate a plurality of adaptive partitions that are each associated with one or more process threads. Each of adaptive partition has one or more corresponding assigned scheduling attributes. The software code includes a scheduling system for selectively allocating the processor to run process threads based on a comparison between ordering function values for each adaptive partition. Ordering function values are calculated based on scheduling attributes of the corresponding adaptive partition. A critical ordering function value also may be calculated and used to determine the proper manner of billing an associated adaptive partition for the processor allocation used to run its associated critical threads. Methods of implementing various aspects of such a system are also set forth. |
| US07870550B1 |
Systems and methods for automated management of software application deployments
Systems and methods for managing a deployment of a software application are disclosed. One system comprises a machine-readable repository of rules describing problems associated with the software application, a monitoring component that collects state metrics from the deployment, and a problem detector that programmatically uses the rules to map combinations of the collected state metrics to problems. |
| US07870548B2 |
Method for updating an image file
The present invention relates to a method for updating an image file that is performed by a server, when a workable image file pre-stored in a storage unit of said server needs to be updated by a new image file, that duplicates said workable image file to said storage unit as a backup image file, and then restarts said serve by invoking the operating system with said new image file, and if an operating system can not be successfully invoked with said new image file, said server automatically selects said backup image file to invoke the operating system and restore to the status before said update. |
| US07870541B1 |
Context tracing for software with a frame pointer and a stack pointer and with a stack pointer but without a frame pointer
A computer implemented method or computer readable code for determining function call history for a system, which runs both code with a frame pointer and a stack pointer and code with a stack pointer and without a frame pointer. Execution is frozen on at least one CPU. A function of plurality of functions that were executing on the at least one CPU is stepped through, where some of the plurality of functions have a frame pointer and a stack pointer and some of the plurality of functions have a stack pointer but do not have a frame pointer. The stack offset to the stack memory location, where the return address in parent function is stored, is calculated to find the return address in parent function, which called the function being stepped through. |
| US07870540B2 |
Dynamic object validation
A system that facilitates validating an object in a software design tool comprises a component that receives input relating to development of an object. A validating component, prior to compile, automatically determines whether the object is associated with an error upon receipt of the input. An alarm component can generate an alarm upon the validating component determining that the object is associated with an error. |
| US07870538B2 |
Configuration inheritance in system configuration
Methods and apparatuses provide configuration inheritance. One configuration can be derived from another (target) configuration, and properties and all content of the target configuration are inherited by the derived configuration. The derived properties and all content may exist virtually at the derived configuration, and local settings can exist locally at the configuration. The configuration architecture may allow for overwriting the derived configuration with local content to allow for modifications of the derived content to adapt to the circumstance/environment of the derived configuration. |
| US07870534B2 |
Method and apparatus for creating wiring model, computer product, and method of manufacturing device
A wiring-model creating apparatus creates a three-dimensional model of a wiring pattern on a printed board based on printed-board information created by an electrical computer-aided design, as a wiring model for a mechanical computer-aided design. A three-dimensional-model creating unit creates the three-dimensional model including holes on the printed board in addition to the wiring pattern, based on the printed-board information. |
| US07870532B2 |
Lithography simulation method, method of manufacturing a semiconductor device and program
A lithography simulation method of obtaining a resist image by a simulation using a first function and a second function, the lithography simulation method comprising: determining a mask transmission function from a mask layout, modulating the mask transmission function using the first function to determine a modulated mask transmission function, obtaining an optical image of the mask layout using the modulated mask transmission function, and applying the second function to the optical image to obtain the resist image of the mask layout. |
| US07870530B2 |
Operational cycle assignment in a configurable IC
Some embodiments provide a method of designing a configurable integrated circuit (“IC”) with several configurable circuits. The method receives a design having several sets of operations for the configurable circuits to perform in different operational cycles. For at least a first set of operations that has a start operation and an end operation, the method assigns a particular operation in the first set to a first operational cycle based at least partially on the position of the particular operation with respect to the start and end operations. |
| US07870523B1 |
System and method for test generation with dynamic constraints using static analysis and multidomain constraint reduction
The present invention provides a system and method for resolving a test generation problem involving constraint resolution problems where a verification environment includes constraints that are suitable for resolution using one type of solver for a first domain and other constraints that are suitable for resolution using a different solver in a second domain. The invention further comprises variables and, in instances where at least one variable is in each of the first and second domains, using these solvers to restrict the set of permissible values of variables to be consistent in multiple domains, preferably in all relevant domains.A constraint resolution problem is divided into clusters of constraints connected within a domain, and connected clusters of clusters that are connected through shared variables that are subject to constraints in more than one cluster.A preferred solver is applied to constraints in each of various domains such that constraints in multiple clusters and domains in a connected cluster are consistent for connected constraints in a domain, and preferably all constraints in all clusters in all domains within the connected cluster are consistent. |
| US07870519B2 |
Method for determining features associated with fails of integrated circuits
A method for testing an integrated circuit and analyzing test data. The method includes: defining a set of signal path selection criteria; selecting a subset of signal paths of an integrated circuit design, the selecting signal paths meeting the selection criteria; identifying pattern observation points for each signal path of the subset of signal paths; selecting a set of features associated with the integrated circuit design; applying a set of test patterns to one or more integrated circuit chips; determining failing signal paths of the subset of signal paths for each integrated circuit chip; mapping failing signal paths of the subset of signal paths to the set of features to generate a correspondence between the failing signal paths and the features; and analyzing the correspondence and identifying suspect features of the set of features based on the analyzing. |
| US07870512B2 |
User interface (UI) prototype using UI taxonomy
A method of organizing user interface information in a computer system includes receiving a user's definition of at least a user interface (UI) layout and a UI principle, and creating a UI taxonomy that is an abstraction of a class of UIs being consistent with the UI layout and the UI principle. A computer system includes an application development software for a developer to create an application having a user interface (UI), and a UI taxonomy including a UI layout and a UI principle, the UI taxonomy being an abstraction of a class of UIs. The computer system provides a UI prototype to the developer in creating the UI for the application, the UI prototype being created using the UI taxonomy. |
| US07870510B2 |
Method and apparatus for generating and managing parts-configuration information
An information output device, an information display device, and an information management system for the efficient management of the parts of an industrial product. Information about the parts constituting the product is included in a table at the engineering stage. In the subsequent production stage or service stage, information may be added or altered when some of the parts are aggregated as an assembly or a set. A section is provided in the tables for each of the parts constituting the product according to a plurality of display modes, so that part configuration information such as part configuration diagrams needed in engineering, production, and service may be displayed as trees. |
| US07870509B2 |
Method and apparatus for improving the visibility of a treemap
The visibility of a treemap is improved by offsetting the area of a parent node relative to a bounding box containing all of its child nodes while constructing the treemap, so that a part of the bounding box lies outside the area of the parent node, and the area of each child node in the bounding box is located entirely or partially within the area of the parent node. The present invention highlights the parent-child relationships in the treemap with a cascading effect to make the structural information therein more apparent and easier to recognize. |
| US07870506B2 |
Audit trail management for a menu system in a digital consumer product
A digital consumer product having a menu system includes an audit trail system having an audit trail management system that removes screens from an audit trail triggered by the addition of a new screen to the audit trail. Menu screens and/or video screens are added to the audit trail as navigated by the user and, accordingly, certain screens are removed from the audit trail. The audit trail management system also provides the ability to store two or more instances of full-screen video and all intervening screens, the ability to provide all data and temporary state information for all screens stored in the audit trail and the ability to restore and refresh them, the ability to retain partial screens and screen objects and the ability to restore and refresh them, and the ability to remove any or all stored screens. |
| US07870505B2 |
Graphical user interface for phacoemulsification surgical system
A graphical user interface for use in phacoemulsification surgical systems that allows a user to select different pulse modes by touching portions of the display screen. The user interface includes first and second display elements. One display element includes a representation of the on-time of the pulses, and the other display element includes a representation of the off-time. The representations show how the on-time and off-time change relative to a position of a controller, such as a foot pedal. The representation show a constant time, or that a time increases or decreases as the foot pedal is pressed. To select a pulse mode, a user can scroll through different pulse representations by touching the screen at the display elements. The selected pulse mode can be continuous, pulse, burst, or a combination or derivation thereof. |
| US07870499B2 |
System for composing software appliances using user task models
A method, of composing a software application having a user interface, includes receiving input relating to a plurality of tasks and defining a task model of a process, the plurality of tasks including at least one user task to be performed by a user of the application; automatically identifying a plurality of user interface templates by identifying at least one user interface template associated with at least a subset of the plurality of tasks; and creating a user interface model for an application using the plurality of user interface templates. |
| US07870495B2 |
Method of offering a service provided by a server computer in a communication network
A method of offering a service provided by a server computer in a communication network comprises a step (E11) of sending a service description document comprising a description of a functionality implemented during a preprocessing or post-processing of data in XML format of a message exchanged during the execution of the service on the communication network.Use for specifying the various processings applied to data in XML format. |
| US07870485B2 |
Method and apparatus for generating multiple documents using a template and a data source
A system that generates multiple documents using a template document and a data source. During operation, the system receives the data source, which includes parent records, child records, and metadata which describes the data stored in the parent and child records. Next, the system receives the template document which includes tables. The system then generates a flat data source from the data source, wherein the flat data source includes column names for the tables in the template document. Next, the system generates an intermediate document using the template document by concatenating multiple replicas of the template document to obtain an initial version of the intermediate document and by using the flat data source to populate the column names in the tables within the initial version of the intermediate document. The system then generates a final document by using the child records to populate rows in the tables within the intermediate document. |
| US07870483B2 |
Encoding and distribution of schema for multimedia content descriptions
The encoding and distribution of schema for multimedia content descriptions are described. Before the schema is sent to a system for use, it is encoded by assigning a first token for each component in the schema and a second token for each attribute of each component. In one aspect, a signifier is sent first to signal that the schema is to be sent in a particular format. In one aspect, the schema is sent as a whole entity first. In another aspect, some of the components of the schema are sent first, followed by the schema that refers to these components. In another aspect, the schema is sent first, followed by a set of component types. When the decoder receives the signifier and encoded schema, it looks up values for the first and second tokens in a look up table for all components and attributes to decode the schema. |
| US07870480B1 |
Methods and apparatus for storing and retrieving annotations accessible by a plurality of reports
Methods and apparatus for storing and retrieving annotations accessible by a plurality of reports are disclosed. When an annotation including comments entered by an author is received in association with a data element or field of one of the plurality of reports, the annotation is stored such that it is retrievable using a key. Specifically, the key is composed of both a scope of the annotation and a period end date of the annotation. The scope indicates a subject matter with which the annotation is associated. When annotations associated with a particular data element or field of a report are viewed, the scope of the annotation and the period end date of the data element or field are ascertained. A key composed of the scope and period end date is then used to retrieve the annotation(s) that are pertinent to the data element or field of the report. Specifically, since the reports are related in a hierarchical manner, the scope and period end date of the annotations that are retrieved are those within the scope and period end date of the data element or field of the report. |
| US07870479B2 |
Electronic in-application postcards
A system, method and apparatus are disclosed for generating a composite message representative of an application experience to be sent to a remote recipient by receiving a user input selecting multimedia information provided by an application, generating a message form from within the application to receive message information, combining the selected multimedia information and the message information into a composite message, and sending the composite message to the intended recipient. A composite message is created by any or all of the following: capturing a current image, linking an associated audio file to the message, removing extraneous user interfaces from the image, scaling the image to a more appropriate display size, adding corporate logo or other identifying information to the message, and receiving text to be transmitted to the remote recipient. The electronic mail address of the sender is automatically retrieved and placed in the message form, the recipient's name and address are received, and the address information, message text, and multimedia information are displayed to the sender to allow the sender to decide whether or not to send the composite message. A predetermined third party can be notified of the identity of the recipient of the composite message to use the information to market the application to the recipient if the recipient is not currently an owner of the application. |
| US07870478B1 |
Repurposing subsections and/or objects
Briefly, in accordance with one or more embodiments, a form may be configured with one or more subsections that may be reused, and automatically be converted to a utilizable format to a second application. |
| US07870477B2 |
Method and system for portable data aggregation
A system for portable data aggregation may include a communications module to receive an electronic form, an extractor to extract field data from the electronic form, an aggregator to associate the field data with an aggregate package. The system may further include a characterization module. The characterization module may be configured to preserve visual presentation of the electronic form. The field data may be presented in the aggregate package in an aggregated format. |
| US07870467B2 |
Data converter, information recorder, and error detector
A data converter includes: an input module to which a first data series is input, the first data series having a first data sequence and a first error detection code corresponding to a remainder of division of the first data sequence by a predetermined polynomial; a conversion module converting the first data sequence into a second data sequence by processing including one of insertion, exchange, and inversion of a bit or a bit sequence, and exclusive-OR with a predetermined bit or bit sequence; a processing bit sequence generation module generating a processing bit sequence corresponding to the processing; and a code generation module generating a second error detection code corresponding to the second data sequence based on an exclusive-OR of the generated processing bit sequence and the first error detection code. |
| US07870463B2 |
Optical disc recording and playback apparatus
A DSP of a DVD recorder includes: a gain setting portion determining appropriate values of a first gain α and a second gain β when playback of an optical disc is performed, recording the first gain α and the second gain β thus determined in a gain storing portion, and setting them in a main differential amplifier and a sub differential amplifier, respectively; and a correction performing portion reading, when recording on the optical disc is performed, the first gain α and the second gain β stored in the gain storing portion, correcting at least one of them, and setting them in the main differential amplifier and the sub differential amplifier, respectively. |
| US07870461B2 |
Apparatus to generate a dual transport stream and method thereof
An apparatus and method to generate a dual transport stream. The apparatus includes an eraser encoder to receive a turbo stream and to eraser-encode the turbo stream, a duplicator to provide a parity insertion region for the eraser-encoded turbo stream, and a multiplexer to receive a normal stream and to multiplex the turbo stream processed by the duplicator and the normal stream to generate the dual transport stream. The duplicator provides the parity insertion region using a ½-rate conversion method or ¼-rate conversion method. Only the turbo stream is detected prior to the transmission of the dual transport stream, and the parity is inserted into the parity insertion region, so that the turbo stream can be robustly processed. |
| US07870451B2 |
Automatable scan partitioning for low power using external control
Scan architectures are commonly used to test digital circuitry in integrated circuits. The present invention describes a method of adapting conventional scan architectures into a low power scan architecture. The low power scan architecture maintains the test time of conventional scan architectures, while requiring significantly less operational power than conventional scan architectures. The low power scan architecture is advantageous to IC/die manufacturers since it allows a larger number of circuits (such as DSP or CPU core circuits) embedded in an IC/die to be tested in parallel without consuming too much power within the IC/die. Since the low power scan architecture reduces test power consumption, it is possible to simultaneously test more die on a wafer than previously possible using conventional scan architectures. This allows wafer test times to be reduced which reduces the manufacturing cost of each die on the wafer. |
| US07870450B2 |
High speed double data rate JTAG interface
A process and apparatus provide a JTAG TAP controller (302) to access a JTAG TAP domain (106) of a device using a reduced pin count, high speed DDR interface (202). The access is accomplished by combining the separate TDI and TMS signals from the TAP controller into a single signal and communicating the TDI and TMS signals of the single signal on the rising and falling edges of the TCK driving the DDR interface. The TAP domain may be coupled to the TAP controller in a point to point fashion or in an addressable bus fashion. The access to the TAP domain may be used for JTAG based device testing, debugging, programming, or other type of JTAG based operation. |
| US07870444B2 |
System and method for measuring and correcting data lane skews
A system and method for measuring and correcting data lane skews uses a predefined datum within data streams transmitted on different data lanes to determine the fastest data lane and to compute relative data lane skew values for the data lanes with respect to the fastest data lane. The relative data lane skew values are then used to compensate for the data lane skews. |
| US07870443B2 |
Method to isolate crash of an embedded multi-threaded application to a shared library call without core dump files or debugger
The present disclosure relates in general to embedded information handling systems, and more particularly to systems and methods for isolating a crash of an embedded multi-threaded application to a shared library call in embedded information handling systems. |
| US07870441B2 |
Determining an underlying cause for errors detected in a data processing system
Determining an underlying cause for errors that are detected in the data processing system is performed. An occurrence of at least one error in the data processing system is detected, thereby forming a detected error. Responsive to detecting the detected error, a determination is made as to whether there is at least one previously recorded error in an error history data structure that is the underlying cause for the detected error. The at least one previously recorded error is related to the detected error and the at least one previously recorded error is of a different type from the detected error. Responsive to identifying the at least one previously recorded error, the at least one previously recorded error is reported to a user. |
| US07870433B2 |
Minimizing software downtime associated with software rejuvenation in a single computer system
An approach is provided that rejuvenates a software application to reduce the effects of software aging. An active replica corresponding to a software application is identified. If rejuvenation of the software application is appropriate, a new replica is created and state information is transferred from the active replica to the new replica. In addition, client requests are redirected to the new replica. After the state data has been transferred and requests have been redirected, the active replica is terminated. Once the active replica has been terminated, the new replica becomes the active replica. When rejuvenation is again proper, another new replica is created and the state data is transferred from the new active replica to the new replica and requests are redirected to the new replica. This process repeats whenever rejuvenation of the application is needed. |
| US07870429B2 |
Control apparatus
For a control apparatus to be boundary scan testable even when running, including processor cores in an operator to be capable of self-repairing a troubling part, an operator (2) has processor cores (2a, 2b) connected to a boundary scan bus (12), and adapted to mutually diagnose opponent processor cores for troubles, by boundary scan testing each other in a time-dividing manner. |
| US07870425B2 |
De-centralized nodal failover handling
Embodiments of the present invention provide a method, system and computer program product for de-centralized nodal failover handling in a high availability computing architecture. The system can include multiple different nodes coupled to one another in a cluster over a computer communications network including an initial lead node and remaining auxiliary nodes. The system further can include a messaging service coupled to each of the nodes and nodal failover handling logic coupled to each of the nodes and to the messaging service. The logic can include program code enabled to periodically receive heartbeat messages from the messaging service for the initial lead node and to subsequently detect a lapse in the heartbeat messages, to post within a message to the messaging service a request to become a replacement lead node in response to detecting the lapse in the heartbeat messages, and to periodically post heartbeat messages to the messaging service as the replacement lead node for the initial lead node. |
| US07870422B2 |
Apparatus and method for backing up data on server using at least one cache as a client
An apparatus and method is provided in which a server causes a client to back up a part of resource data of a server by use of an HTTP protocol. The method includes the steps of: transmitting the resource data to be backed-up to the client; determining whether or not the recovery of the resource data to be backed-up is required; transmitting, to the client, an HTTP response having a message that indicates the necessity of recovering the resource data to be backed-up, together with a message indicating that there is no update in the resource data to be backed-up, in response to the determination that indicates the necessity of recovering the resource data to be backed-up; and recovering the resource data to be backed-up by receiving a backup of the resource data to be backed-up from the client. The method of the present invention facilitates the processing of backing up, in the client, the resource data of the server and recovering the data when the resource data of the server is lost. |
| US07870418B2 |
Enhanced presence routing and roster fidelity by proactive crashed endpoint detection
Endpoint crashes in a real time communication system are detected by a home server providing presence and other services to the endpoint upon receipt of an error message from an access server between the endpoint and the home server. The home server uses a cookie inserted into a dialog between itself and the endpoint identifying the endpoint, a session state created by the access server identifying the endpoint, or a transaction state maintained by the home server to look up the endpoint associated with the error message. Race conditions occurring when an endpoint crashes and recovers rapidly can be avoided employing a timestamp or sequence number incremented for each new endpoint registration and comparing a current timestamp or sequence number to the stored one before updating records at the home server. By notifying other subscribers about crashed endpoints, routing fidelity is enhanced. |
| US07870411B2 |
Tracking current time on multiprocessor hosts and virtual machines
An operating system in a virtual environment can obtain the current time of the processor that the OS is utilizing through a method for synchronizing timers on multiple processors with a standard reference time, such as the Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). A hypervisor controlling the processors obtains a number of synchronization values that, together with a local timer counter value, are utilized by the guest operating system to determine the physical processor time. |
| US07870410B2 |
Automatic reduced audio low battery warning
A method and apparatus for a low battery life warning that includes detecting when a battery life of a battery in a device has fallen below a certain level, and generating a warning of a low battery life by decreasing an audio level output by the device to a percentage of an audio volume set on the device responsive to the battery life having fallen. |
| US07870406B2 |
Method and apparatus for frequency independent processor utilization recording register in a simultaneously multi-threaded processor
Mechanism for accurately measuring useful capacity of a processor allocated to each thread in a simultaneously multi-threading data processing system. Instructions dispatched from multiple threads are executed by the processor on a same clock cycle. A determination is made whether Time Base (TB) register bit (60) is changing. A dispatch charge value is determined for each thread, and added to the Processor Utilization Resource Register for each thread when TB bit (60) changes. |
| US07870403B2 |
Centralized service for awakening a computing device
Various technologies and techniques are disclosed for providing and interacting with a centralized wake service. A server-side wake service is provided that is operable to allow applications to subscribe to the wake service. The wake service receives a wake request directed to a particular computing device from a particular one of the applications. The wake request is forwarded from the wake service to a client-side communication service on the particular computing device if forwarding is determined to be appropriate. When the client-side communication service on the particular computing device receives the wake request while in a reduced power mode, the computing device wakes up and an appropriate response is determined. |
| US07870400B2 |
System having a memory voltage controller which varies an operating voltage of a memory and method therefor
A system and method saves power in a system memory of a processing system. A peripheral, a processor, an arbiter and a system memory are coupled to a system communication bus for communicating via the system communication bus. In one form a voltage controller is coupled to the system memory for varying the operating voltage of the system memory based upon whether the data processor or the peripheral is accessing the system memory. In another form a storage buffer is coupled to the memory for receiving and storing data from the memory. The buffer provides at least one signal that is used for either determining a rate at which the storage buffer is being emptied of data or a measure of fullness of the storage buffer. In one form the voltage controller varies the operating voltage of the memory based upon either the rate at which the storage buffer is being emptied of data or the measure of fullness. |
| US07870396B2 |
Storage medium, method, and apparatus for creating a protected executable program
A storage medium readable by a computer is provided. The storage medium stores a program of instructions executable by the computer to perform a function for protecting a target function. The function includes generating an inserted function, having a function name identical to the function name of the target function, that includes code for a process relating to protection of the target function and a call instruction for calling the target function after this process, and generating a protected executable code on the basis of an object code, in which the function name of a function definition of the target function has been changed to a second function name, and the inserted function. |
| US07870395B2 |
Load balancing for a system of cryptographic processors
In an array of groups of cryptographic processors, the processors in each group operate together but are securely connected through an external shared memory. The processors in each group include cryptographic engines capable of operating in a pipelined fashion. Instructions in the form of request blocks are supplied to the array in a balanced fashion to assure that the processors are occupied processing instructions. |
| US07870394B2 |
Method and system to scan firmware for malware
A method, system and computer program product for scanning firmware of a processing system for malware. The method (400) comprises obtaining a copy of firmware stored in the processing system (410); and analysing the copy of the firmware to determine if the firmware has been modified or infected by malware (420). |
| US07870390B2 |
Data watermarks created by using an uneven sampling period
Input signals are electronically watermarked using an uneven or non-uniform sampling rate. The uneven or non-uniform sampling may be pseudo-random. The uneven or non-uniform sampling meets the Nyquist criterion so that aliasing and loss of content are avoided. The resulting sampling pattern in the sampled data is detectable by a comparison with the original source data. |
| US07870388B2 |
Page encryption system
Text containing files are encrypted by first formatting the files for display. The display-formatted files are then run length coded to form files indicating the information. The files are encrypted. |
| US07870386B2 |
Method for permanent decryption of selected sections of an encrypted document
The present invention allows the viewer of a document to select certain portions of an encrypted document for decryption and optionally re-encryption while other portions of the document remain encrypted or as originally created. In this decryption process, the user would use a standard word processing editor technique to highlight (or swipe) portions of a document that the user desires to decrypt. The highlighted area would then be ‘tagged’ with a surrounding attribute indicating that the highlighted area is to be decrypted. This process is similar to the existing word processor capability to highlight areas on a document and then assign rich text attributes, such as BOLD, ITALICS, etc., to those areas. |
| US07870374B2 |
Validating physical and logical system connectivity of components in a data processing system
A mechanism is provided for validating a connection of powered elements within a data processing system. A request for data is issued to a set of powered elements using a set of communication channels. The set of communication channels comprises one or more alternating current power lines. The request is sent as a set of instructions injected onto the communication channels to the set of powered elements. Data received from the set of powered elements using the set of communication channels includes physical connection information for the set of powered elements. A determination is made as to whether each powered element in the set of powered elements is connected in a predetermined configuration. A notification is presented to a user identifying each powered element in the set of powered elements that is not connected in the predetermined configuration. |
| US07870371B2 |
Target-frequency based indirect jump prediction for high-performance processors
A frequency-based prediction of indirect jumps executing in a computing environment is provided. Illustratively, a computing environment comprises a prediction engine that processes data representative of indirect jumps performed by the exemplary computing environment according to a selected frequency-based prediction paradigm. Operatively, the exemplary prediction engine can keep track of targets, in a table, taken for each indirect jump and program context (e.g., branch history and/or path information) of an exemplary computing program. Further, the prediction engine can also store a frequency counter associated with each target in the exemplary table. Illustratively, the frequency counter can record the number of times a target was taken in the recent past executions of an observed one or more indirect jump. The prediction engine can supply the target address of an indirect jump based on the values of the frequency counters of each stored target address. |
| US07870369B1 |
Abort prioritization in a trace-based processor
A method of determining a reason for a trace to be aborted includes receiving at least two incoming indications of occurrences of abort triggers stemming from the execution of at least two of the operations that are different from each other, where each of the abort triggers has an associated abort priority level, and where the trace represents multiple instructions. The method further includes prioritizing among the abort triggers for the trace based on the abort priority level of each abort trigger, where the prioritizing does not take into account a correspondence between operations and instructions and where the prioritizing selects as a pending abort reason one or more of the abort triggers that have the same abort priority level, and where that abort priority level is the highest among the abort priority levels of the abort triggers for the trace. |
| US07870362B2 |
Semiconductor memory device having advanced tag block
A semiconductor memory device includes a row decoding block for decoding an inputted address to thereby generate a logical unit cell block address and a decoded word line address; a tag block for converting the logical unit cell block address into a physical unit cell block address; a decoded address latching block for latching the decoded word line address to thereby output the decoded word line address as a word line activation signal in response to the physical unit cell block; and a cell area for outputting a data, which is stored therein, in response to the word line activation signal. |
| US07870360B2 |
Storage area network (SAN) forecasting in a heterogeneous environment
The present invention provides an approach for SAN forecasting in a heterogeneous environment. Specifically, under the present invention capacity data on the heterogeneous environment is gathered. Capacity management techniques will then be used to analyze the SAN utilization, identify growth trends and patterns. Proactively, plans are made to account for these changes. Thereafter, a Capacity Planning Margin (CPM) will be applied to the forecast to reflect actual customer usage. The CPM adjusted forecasts will then be reviewed. Then, the SAN environment can be monitored by comparing actual vs. planned and return to adjust the forecast accordingly. |
| US07870359B2 |
System and method for persistent and robust storage allocation
A method for managing computer memory, in accordance with the present invention, includes maintaining multiple sets of free blocks of memory wherein a free block is added to a set based on its size. In response to a request for a block of a request size, a set of blocks is searched for a free block which is at least as large as the request size but smaller than the request size plus a threshold. If such a block is found, the block is allocated in its entirety. |
| US07870358B2 |
Zero-penalty RAID controller memory leak detection and isolation method and system utilizing sequence numbers
A method and system for detecting and isolating memory leak in RAID controllers utilizing sequence numbers. The system monitors whether the count of un-freed memory blocks for a sequence number (SN) zone (after a start-of-day SOD operation, but smaller than the current sequence number zone) is not eventually decremented to zero. The memory leak can be detected when un-freed memory blocks exist and follow a similar pattern with respect to all other adjacent SN zones. The detected memory leak can be isolated utilizing shell commands, task information, caller information, sequence number, memory allocation size and a pointer to the next allocated memory block. |
| US07870357B2 |
Memory system and method for two step memory write operations
A method of operating a memory component that includes a memory core includes receiving, from external control lines, a write command that specifies a write operation. The write command is stored for a first time period after receiving the write command. After the first time period, the write operation is initiated in response to the write command. During the write operation, unmasked portions of received data are written to the memory core, where the unmasked portions of the data are bits of the data that are identified by received mask information as not being masked. |
| US07870353B2 |
Copying storage units and related metadata to storage
Provided are a method, system, and program for copying storage units and related metadata to storage. A user data storage location includes user data and a metadata storage location includes metadata data for the user data. A first type of copy operation is performed to copy at least one specified storage unit having user data to at least one copy of the at least one specified storage unit. A second type of copy operation is performed to copy metadata for the at least one specified storage unit being copied to a copy of the metadata for the copied at least one file set. |
| US07870340B2 |
Methods and apparatus for controlling hierarchical cache memory
Methods and apparatus for controlling hierarchical cache memories permit controlling a first level cache memory including a plurality of cache lines and controlling a next lower level cache memory including a plurality of cache lines. An additional memory may be associated with the next lower level cache memory and include a plurality of memory lines, the number of memory lines corresponding to the number of cache lines in a way set of the first level cache memory. Alternatively, the memory lines may include L-flags for multiple cache lines of each way set of the next lower level cache memory. L-flags associated with a given index plus any index offset from the first level cache memory may be contained in a single memory line of the additional memory. |
| US07870337B2 |
Power-aware line intervention for a multiprocessor snoop coherency protocol
A snoop coherency method, system and program are provided for intervening a requested cache line from a plurality of candidate memory sources in a multiprocessor system on the basis of the sensed temperature or power dissipation value at each memory source. By providing temperature or power dissipation sensors in each of the candidate memory sources (e.g., at cores, cache memories, memory controller, etc.) that share a requested cache line, control logic may be used to determine which memory source should source the cache line by using the power sensor signals to signal only the memory source with acceptable power dissipation to provide the cache line to the requester. |
| US07870335B2 |
Host adaptive seek technique environment
A data storage system and associated method implement a HASTE with a policy engine that continuously collects qualitative information about a network load to the data storage system in order to dynamically characterize the load, and continuously correlates a command profile to a data storage device of the data storage system in relation to the characterization. |
| US07870333B2 |
Performing data operations using non-volatile third dimension memory
Performing data operations using non-volatile third dimension memory is described, including a storage system having a non-volatile third dimension memory array configured to store data, the data including an address indicating a file location on a disk drive, and a controller configured to process an access request associated with the disk drive, the access request being routed to the non-volatile third dimension memory array to perform a data operation, wherein data from the data operation is used to create a map of the disk drive. In some examples, an address in the non-volatile third dimension memory array provides an alias for another address in a disk drive. |
| US07870331B2 |
Fully-buffered dual in-line memory module with fault correction
A memory system comprises first memory that includes memory cells that are selectively refreshed at a refresh rate. A test module tests operation of the memory cells at the refresh rate and that identifies T of the memory cells that are inoperable when refreshed at the refresh rate, where T is an integer greater than zero. Content addressable memory (CAM) includes D CAM memory cells where D is an integer greater than or equal to one. An adaptive refresh module selectively adjusts a refresh rate of the first memory based on T and D. |
| US07870329B2 |
System and method for optimizing interconnections of components in a multichip memory module
An apparatus and method couples memory devices in a memory module to a memory hub on the module such that signals traveling from the hub to the devices have approximately the same propagation time regardless of which device is involved. Specifically, the devices are arranged around the hub in pairs, with each pair of devices being oriented such that a functional group of signals for each device in the pair, such as the data bus signals, are positioned adjacent each other on a circuit board of the module. This allows for a data and control-address busses having approximately the same electrical characteristics to be routed between the hub and each of the devices. This physical arrangement of devices allows high speed operation of the module. In one example, the hub is located in the center of the module and eight devices, four pairs, are positioned around the hub. |
| US07870326B2 |
Multiprocessor system and method thereof
A multiprocessor system and method thereof are provided. The example multiprocessor system may include first and second processors, a dynamic random access memory having a memory cell array, the memory cell array including a first memory bank coupled to the first processor through a first port, second and fourth memory banks coupled to the second processor through a second port, and a third memory bank shared and connected with the first and second processors through the first and second ports, and a bank address assigning unit for assigning bank addresses to select individually the first and second memory banks, as the same bank address through the first and second ports, so that starting addresses for the first and second memory banks become equal in booting, and assigning bank addresses to select the third memory bank, as different bank addresses through the first and second ports, and assigning, through the second port, bank addresses to select the fourth memory bank, as the same bank address as a bank address to select the third memory bank through the first port. |
| US07870325B2 |
Cache memory system
The cache memory system 1 comprises: a virtual index obtaining unit 13 operable to obtain, based on a virtual address, virtual indexes of an access-target cache line and a cache line potentially having a cache-aliasing relationship with the access-target cache line; a physical tag obtaining unit 15 operable to obtain a physical tag of a physical page by performing address translation on the virtual address; and a comparing unit 16 operable to compare a physical tag TAG obtained by the physical tag obtaining unit 15 with each tag information piece TAG(i) belonging to cache lines corresponding to the virtual indexes and output from the tag array 11a based on the virtual indexes obtained by the virtual index obtaining unit 13, and determines a cache hit/miss. |
| US07870323B2 |
Bridge circuit for interfacing processor to main memory and peripherals
A bridge circuit includes a bus, a memory interface module, a memory control module, and an external storage control module. The memory interface module receives a memory address from a processor via a memory interface and outputs the memory address to the bus. The memory address corresponds to one of a plurality of address regions of an address space of the processor. The memory control module receives the memory address via the bus and communicates with a memory when the memory address corresponds to a first one of the plurality of address regions. The external storage control module receives the memory address via the bus and communicates with an external storage device when the memory address corresponds to a second one of the plurality of address regions. |
| US07870320B1 |
Interrupt controller for prioritizing interrupt requests in an embedded disk controller
An interrupt controller for a disk controller includes an interrupt scanner module that receives a plurality of interrupt requests (IRQs) from a plurality of corresponding interrupt sources, performs a scan of respective vector values of the plurality of IRQs, and selectively outputs a priority based on the scan. An interrupt generation module receives the priority and generates at least one of a fast interrupt and a regular interrupt based on the priority. |
| US07870314B2 |
Method and system for implementing store buffer allocation
A method and system for implementing store buffer allocation for variable length store data operations are provided. The method includes receiving a store address request and at least one store data request and stepping through data operations for each of the store data requests and an address range for the store data requests to determine alignment and data steering information used to select a storage buffer destination for the data in the store data requests. The method further includes determining availability of the storage buffer by maintaining a reservation list for each storage buffer, maintaining a count of the number of available entries for each storage buffer, updating the reservation list to reflect a reservation acceptance for designated available entries, and clearing entries upon completion of the processing of store data operations. The method also includes reserving the selected storage buffer when the number of available entries meets or exceeds the number of entries required for the data. |
| US07870313B2 |
Method and structure to support system resource access of a serial device implementating a lite-weight protocol
On-chip resources of a serial buffer are accessed using priority packets of a Lite-weight protocol. A priority packet path is provided on the serial buffer to support priority packets. Normal data packets are processed on a normal data packet path, which operates in parallel with the priority packet path. The system resources of the serial buffer can be accessed in response to the priority packets, without blocking the flow of normal data packets. Thus, normal data packets may flow through the serial buffer with the maximum bandwidth supported by the serial interface. The Lite-weight protocol also supports read accesses to queues of the serial buffer (which reside on the normal data packet path). The Lite-weight protocol also supports doorbell commands for status/error reporting. |
| US07870312B2 |
Automatic maintenance of configuration information in a replaceable electronic module
The present invention provides methods and systems to automatically manage hardware and software capabilities of replaceable electronic modules as the modules are replaced or reassigned to different tasks. Each such module stores configuration information in a persistent memory. This configuration information enables the module to use only selected hardware and to execute only selected software. A replaceable electronic module manager stores copies of each module's configure information in a separate persistent memory. When a module is replaced, a copy of the configuration information is fetched from the module manager's persistent memory and sent to a replacement module, thereby making the replacement module functionally equivalent (from a point of view of which hardware can be used by the module or which software can be executed by the module) to the replaced module. In addition, when a module is assigned to a different task, appropriate configuration information can be sent to the module, so the module can appropriately perform the assigned task, such as use selected hardware or execute selected software. |
| US07870311B2 |
Preemptive packet flow controller
Described is a system to control a flow of packets to and from an electronic processor which includes a packet processor engine programmed to interpret the packets from a packet memory, and to perform switching between packet chains in response to events, a working chain pointer register of the packet processor engine, programmed to indicate progress in executing an active buffer chain, prioritized pointer storage registers of the packet processor engine, each of the registers being programmed to point to one of the active buffer chains, a control register of the packet processor engine having chain start bits and chain protect bits, the chain start bits identifying the chains that have been started and wsa status register of the packet processor engine, having a chain actives group identifying the chain that is currently running, a chain matches group, a chain stops group identifying the chains that have been stopped and a timer expirations group. |
| US07870310B2 |
Multiple counters to relieve flag restriction in a multi-queue first-in first-out memory system
A method of operating a multi-queue device, including: (1) storing a plurality of read (write) count pointers, wherein each of the read (write) count pointers is associated with a corresponding queue of the multi-queue device, (2) providing a read (write) count pointer associated with a present queue to read (write) flag logic, (3) adjusting the read (write) count pointer associated with the present queue in response to each read (write) operation performed by the present queue, (4) indicating a read (write) queue switch from the present queue to a next queue, (5) retrieving a read (write) count pointer associated with the next queue; and then (6) simultaneously providing the read (write) count pointer associated with the present queue and the read (write) count pointer associated with the next queue to the read (write) flag logic. |
| US07870309B2 |
Multithreaded programmable direct memory access engine
A mechanism programming a direct memory access engine operating as a multithreaded processor is provided. A plurality of programs is received from a host processor in a local memory associated with the direct memory access engine. A request is received in the direct memory access engine from the host processor indicating that the plurality of programs located in the local memory is to be executed. The direct memory access engine executes two or more of the plurality of programs without intervention by a host processor. As each of the two or more of the plurality of programs completes execution, the direct memory access engine sends a completion notification to the host processor that indicates that the program has completed execution. |
| US07870308B2 |
Programmable direct memory access engine
A mechanism for programming a direct memory access engine operating as a single thread processor is provided. A program is received from a host processor in a local memory associated with the direct memory access engine. A request is received in the direct memory access engine from the host processor indicating that the program located in the local memory is to be executed. The direct memory access engine executes the program without intervention by a host processor. Responsive to the program completing execution, the direct memory access engine sends a completion notification to the host processor that indicates that the program has completed execution. |
| US07870305B2 |
Proxy association for devices
A first connection is established between a first device and a host, wherein the first device is host-capable. A second connection is established between a second device and the host. Proxy association is performed between the first device and the second device by the host to associate the first and second devices, wherein the first and second devices are unable to directly associate, wherein the host passes association information between the first and second devices. |
| US07870303B2 |
System and method for managing hardware configuration parameters
A system and method manages configuration data within a hardware component of a device to support hardware component changes during development or manufacture of the device. A Standardized Virtual Part (SVP) file is formed as a binary file and includes a SVP header that comprises metadata of one of at least schema version, revision numbers, part numbers, creator and description. The SVP file also includes hardware configuration data and a SVP trailer that includes error checking data for data authentication. The SVP file is loaded onto the device during development or manufacture for configuring the hardware component. |
| US07870302B2 |
Method for automatically identifying an operating system for a USB device
A method for automatically identifying an operating system for a USB device begins at initializing the USB device, and recording USB commands sent from the operating system. The USB device determines the operating system as a first operating system when there are two successive USB commands of Get Product String, there is one USB command of Get Vender String, there is no USB command of Reset ahead of a USB command of Set Address, there is no USB command of Get Language ID, or there is no USB command of Set Feature Report. The USB device determines the operating system as a second operating system when there is no USB command of Get Vender String, there are two USB commands of Get Language ID and two USB commands of Get Product String, there is one USB command of Get Device Descriptor following a USB command of Get Product String, or there is one USB command of Set Interface Report. |
| US07870299B1 |
Advanced logic system
The Advanced Logic System (ALS) is a complete control system architecture, based on a hardware platform rather than a software-based microprocessor system. It is significantly different from other PLC-type control system architectures, by implementing a FPGA in the central control unit. Standard FPGA logic circuits are used rather than a software-based microprocessor which eliminate problems with software based microprocessor systems, such as software common-mode failures. It provides a highly reliable system suitable for safety critical control systems, including nuclear plant protection systems. The system samples process inputs, provides for digital bus communications, applies a control logic function, and provides for controlled outputs. The architecture incorporates advanced features such as diagnostics, testability, and redundancy on multiple levels. It additionally provides significant improvements in failure detection, isolation, and mitigation for the highest level of integrity and reliability. |
| US07870298B2 |
Information processing apparatus, information processing system, routing apparatus and communication control method
Two logical partitions within a single computer communicate with each other internally. The protocol stack of a first logical partition generates a frame in a memory space provided in a driver and referred to by the first logical partition. The driver transfers the frame generated in the memory space of the first logical partition to a communication port of a Layer 2 switch using DMA. The communication port of the Layer 2 switch loops back the frame input from the driver. An interrupt is signaled to the driver and the frame is transferred from communication port of the Layer 2 switch to the driver using DMA. The frame is received in a memory space referred to by a second logical partition. |
| US07870297B1 |
Organizing computer network identifications and concurrent application of policy selectors
Methods, apparati, and computer-readable media for associating computer network identifications with network policies. A plurality of network detectors (3) are coupled to a client computer (1). A network probe (4), coupled to the network detectors (3), associates each network identification revealed by a network detector (3) with a netspec. A netspec database (6), coupled to the network probe (4), associates netspecs with locations. A policy guide (8), coupled to the network probe (4), associates network identifications with locations. A network interface module (9), coupled to the policy guide (8), implements network policies based upon locations. |
| US07870295B2 |
Parsing messages with multiple data formats
Provided are a method for parsing a bit stream including multiple data formats, and an apparatus and computer program including a set of parsers and parser-selection and invocation capabilities for handling parsing of multiple data formats. A first parser is selected and invoked to handle a first formatted component of the bit stream, and this selected parser selects and invokes a next parser which is capable of handling a differently formatted next component of the bit stream. This is differentiated from systems which rely on a single generic parser or a single high-level parser selection process, and is especially advantageous when parsing messages to enable message processing in systems in which a message can include multiple different, nested data formats. |
| US07870293B2 |
Header-based network API
A method and apparatus for communicating with entities outside of a secure network by intercepting and modifying messages is provided. Techniques for accomplishing the communication include inserting, retrieving, and deleting information from messages. The entities involved in the communication include, but are not limited to, users, content providers, and access providers. Furthermore, the types of information used in modifying messages include billing, location, demographic information, profile data, multimedia data, and code. |
| US07870291B1 |
Packet prioritization systems and methods using address aliases
A switch fabric includes input links, output links, and at least one switching element. The input links are configured to receive data items that include destination addresses. At least some of the data items have different priority levels. The output links are configured to output the data items. Each of the output links is assigned multiple ones of the destination addresses. Each of the destination addresses corresponds to one of the priority levels. The switching element(s) is/are configured to receive the data items from the input links and send the data items to ones of the output links without regard to the priority levels of the data items. |
| US07870290B2 |
Handheld computer system that attempts to establish an alternative network link upon failing to establish a requested network link
A computer system that attempts to establish an alternative network link upon failing to establish a requested network link is described. The computer system may encounter conditions where access to numerous networks, in particular wireless networks, is not available. Rather than only providing an error message to the user upon a failed attempt to establish the requested network link, the computer system determines whether the user has designated an alternative network link in case the requested network link cannot be established, whereas the alternative network link is selected from the plurality of network links that the computer system is configured to support. If an alternative network link has been designated, the computer system attempts to establish the alternative network link. Hence, the user experience is made smooth and uneventful when the requested network link cannot be established. |
| US07870282B2 |
Media sharing network
A computer-readable medium has a computer program stored thereon. The computer program senses the presence of a physical medium loaded on a media-sharing network and senses the presence of metadata and content on the physical medium. The computer program wraps the metadata and the content in a container. The container includes the location of the metadata and the location of the content. The computer program assembles the container such that it is recognized as a virtual physical medium on the media sharing network and such that it enables playback of the content by control commands compatible with a media sharing protocol. |
| US07870279B2 |
Method and apparatus for scanning, personalizing, and casting multimedia data streams via a communication network and television
A streaming data filtering method and apparatus utilizing users' profiles to deliver streaming data to users is presented. The invention uses context-based cues to extract content from both video and text ontologies. The invention provides novel techniques that semi-automatically generate a media concept hierarchy using hierarchical classifiers for representing text, closed-caption, and video features. This hierarchy is used to classify arrival of real-time news and will also be used to match users' profiles. Moreover, this hierarchy can be dynamically re-organized based upon user changes and arrival of real-time news. Matching a request with respect to a concept hierarchy is more efficient and reliable than searching specific keywords since the views of collected documents are refined as the hierarchy is traversed. |
| US07870276B1 |
Interface plugin
Means are disclosed by which developers of network-analysis applications may develop network-analysis applications that can interface with multiple different versions of network-management applications, wherein each version of network-management application may have a different interface implementation, without having to be familiar with the different interface implementations. In particular embodiments disclosed herein, a network-analysis application requests and receives version information from a version of a network-management application. Based on the received version information, the network-analysis application selects version-dependent interface-implementation software and then integrates the selected version-dependent interface-implementation software with a version-independent interface-façade to produce an interface between the network-analysis application and the version of the network-management application. |
| US07870273B2 |
Method and system for indentifying a device implementing a digital rights management protocol
A system and method is provided for identifying electronic devices belonging to the same authenticated user to allow access to shared media even if the electronic devices use incompatible digital rights management (DRM) schemes. By providing a method of registering electronic devices in a centralized rights server database, a user can acquire DRM licenses for the appropriate electronic device by simply registering the electronic devices. When the user later requests a DRM license, it only needs to provide cryptographic proof of a UID, or unique identifier, assigned to the device by the rights server. In this manner, media can he shared across devices Using incompatible DRM schemes. |
| US07870266B2 |
Finding a management server
To find a management server, a computer selects one of plural techniques of obtaining an address of the management server. One of the plural techniques comprises the computer exchanging configuration messaging with a configuration server to obtain the address of the management server. |
| US07870263B2 |
Carrier interoperability for critical services
A system processes communication path requests in an autonomous system. The system includes a proxy server that receives a request message from an external system requesting establishment of a communication path through the autonomous system. The request message includes a desired communication path profile including a desired level of redundancy. The system also includes a management server in the autonomous system that receives the request message from the proxy server, generates a response message indicating whether a communication path corresponding to the desired communication path profile is available, and sends the response message to the proxy server. The proxy server receives the response message and transmits the response message to the external system. |
| US07870249B2 |
Networked system for interactive communication and remote monitoring of individuals
A system for remotely monitoring an individual. The system includes a server system for generating a script program from a set of queries. The script program is executable by a remote apparatus that displays information and/or a set of queries to the individual through a user interface. Responses to the queries that are entered through the user interface together with individual identification information are sent from the remote apparatus to the server system across a communication network. The server system also includes an automated answering service for providing a series of questions from a stored set of questions for an individual at the remote apparatus to respond to, storing responses to each provided question in the series of questions and providing a service based on the individual's response to the questions. |
| US07870246B1 |
System, method, and computer program product for platform-independent port discovery
A system, method, and computer program product are provided. Initially, platform-independent information relating to a network device is collected. Thereafter, a port on which the network device resides is determined based on the platform-independent information. |
| US07870242B2 |
Flexible compliance agent with integrated remediation
A flexible compliance system is described herein that provides a deployable meta-agent and automated remediation of computer system compliance failures based on configurable compliance rules. An administrator defines one or more rules that represent compliance elements that the flexible compliance system will enforce. The flexible compliance system reads the rules defined by the administrator like a flexible set of conditions to check, and correlates the outcome of the conditions to the rules. The flexible compliance system may take various actions with respect to a computer system in violation of a rule, including attempting to resolve the violation or quarantining the computer system to avoid interaction with other computer systems. Administrators can use the flexible compliance system to define these and many other types of actions to automatically remediate non-compliant computer systems and protect the health of the organization's resources. |
| US07870238B2 |
Vendor-independent network configuration tool
Techniques are described for managing and configuring network devices from a plurality of vendors with a single network configuration tool. This vendor-independent network configuration tool may extract configuration information stored to devices from disparate vendors, and parse tags from extracted configuration information. Each tag defines a configuration property. The tool may further analyze the tags to determine relationships and present configuration information based primarily on the determined relationship and only secondarily on the devices. The tool may also perform analysis on the tags to detect one or more errors or configuration inconsistencies, as well as, update or change tags, which causes the tool to push any changes to the appropriate device. Furthermore, the tool by automatically share information related to the above described steps with other vendor-independent network configuration tools to more quickly propagate efficient extraction and updating techniques. |
| US07870231B2 |
Efficiently assigning precedence values to new and existing QoS filters
A wireless data network delivers packets from a network router to a mobile station so that each application running on the mobile station receives an adequate quality of service (QoS). The mobile station sends configuration messages to the network router containing prioritized filters associated with each application. The router filters incoming IP packets into IP flows having the appropriate QoS for the corresponding application. The configuration messages consume valuable air interface resources. Network resources are conserved by assigning precedence values to filters in such a way that fewer configuration messages are needed to reorder the filters when new filters are added. Precedence values for existing filters are spread out in one portion of the precedence space. When the precedence values in that portion are insufficient to accommodate new filters with the correct priority, both new and existing filters are reassigned precedence values in an unassigned portion of the precedence space. |
| US07870230B2 |
Policy-based cluster quorum determination
A system, method and computer program product for use in a server cluster having plural server nodes implementing a server tier in a client-server computing architecture in order to determine which of two or more partitioned server subgroups has a quorum. A determination is made of relative priorities of the subgroups and a quorum is awarded to the subgroup having a highest relative priority. The relative priorities are determined by policy rules that evaluate comparative server node application state information. The server node application state information may include one or more of client connectivity, application priority, resource connectivity, processing capability, memory availability, and input/output resource availability, etc. The policy rules evaluate the application state information for each subgroup and can assign different weights to different types of application state information. An interface may be provided for receiving policy rules specified by a cluster application. |
| US07870221B2 |
Multiple bindings in web service data connection
The invention features a method, system, and computer program product. User input defining a form that has one or more fields is received. User input defining a set of entries associated with the form is also received, the set of entries identifying available connections to data repositories and fields of the form that are associated with the connections. Each data repository is connected with the fields associated with the data repository using one or more declarative statements that enable one-to-many mappings from fields in the form to data repositories as defined by the set of entries. |
| US07870220B1 |
Methods and apparatus for analyzing VSAN configuration
A system identifies at least one VSAN, and analyzes a configuration of the VSAN by applying a policy to the configuration of the VSAN. The system then outputs a result of the policy applied to the VSAN. |
| US07870219B2 |
System method and apparatus for portable digital identity
Two-way digital media devices typically store digital identifying data that identify the user to providers of content and interactive data. In the case of a Web browser of a personal computer, the digital identity is stored in the form of a plurality of cookies that are used by respective web sites to personalize the web site experience for each particular user. When a user is at a different computer, the digital identifying data is not available. In addition, other types of interactive devices, such as CATV settop boxes, cell phones, PDAs and the like, may not have enough non-volatile memory (persistent storage) to store the digital identifying data. In order to provide users with a portable digital identity, a digital identity server is provided as a server node on the Internet, which retrieves digital identifying data and downloads such digital identifying data to any device upon request. In such manner, the user's digital identity is portable and available at any computer or other digital device that is being used. The system digital identity server permits devices without sufficient non-volatile memory storage to download a digital identity for temporary storage in volatile memory, thereby providing a digital identity in devices without non-volatile memory. |
| US07870214B2 |
Proxy email method and system
A system and method of proxy domain name registration permits a would-be domain name registrant anonymity. A registrar affords customers the opportunity to use the proxy registration. If the customer seeking registration of a domain name requests, the registrar obtains contact information needed for registration from a proxy entity established for this purpose. The registrar completes the registration of the domain name with the appropriate registry (i.e. “.com, .net” etc.). The contact information published in WHOIS is that of proxy entity. Contractually the customer is afforded control over the domain name. Emails intended for the customer are received by the proxy entity who may filter them if the customer requests. Emails sent by the customer are sent to the proxy entity who in turn sends them to the indicated addressee. |
| US07870213B2 |
Proxy email method and system
A system and method of proxy domain name registration permits a would-be domain name registrant anonymity. A registrar affords customers the opportunity to use the proxy registration. If the customer seeking registration of a domain name requests, the registrar obtains contact information needed for registration from a proxy entity established for this purpose. The registrar completes the registration of the domain name with the appropriate registry (i.e. “.com, .net” etc.). The contact information published in WHOIS is that of proxy entity. Contractually the customer is afforded control over the domain name. Emails intended for the customer are received by the proxy entity who may filter them if the customer requests. Emails sent by the customer are sent to the proxy entity who in turn sends them to the indicated addressee. |
| US07870212B2 |
System and method for embedding a record of activity within electronic messages
An indication of a creation of an electronic message is received. An activity report is generated in response to, at least in part, the indication, wherein at least a portion of the activity report is based, at least in part, upon a determined activity level of a computing system. The activity report is associated with the electronic message. |
| US07870201B2 |
Apparatus for executing an application function using a mail link and methods therefor
A method for effecting the execution of an application function on an application server from a client device via a proxy server, including transmitting a first text message pertaining to a request to execute the application function to the proxy server. The method additionally includes authenticating a user associated with the first text message by authenticating the user via a confirmation address that is different from the text message origination address. After authentication, the method also includes executing the application function at the application server as specified by the first text message, whereby the first application function is ascertained based at least on the text message destination address. |
| US07870195B1 |
Inter-processor messaging
A data storage system in which a several processors communicate with each other includes a shared memory that is accessible to each of the processors. The shared memory has a message section having a message list made up of an ordered sequence of message slots in which processors leave message for each other. Each message slot includes a static-information repository for static information specifying all intended recipients of a message carried by the message slot as well as a dynamic-information repository for dynamic information specifying which of the intended recipients have already encountered the message slot. |
| US07870189B2 |
Input device having positional and scanning capabilities
A multi-purpose input device (2500) for providing conventional positional tracking, and one or more read capabilities for automatically connecting a user PC (302) to remote node. In one embodiment, a user reads optically encoded indicia (1606) of a product by passing the input device (2500) thereover. A software interface (2505) processes the read information, assembles a message packet, and appends routing information thereto to connect the user PC (302) to an ARS (308) disposed on a common network (306). The ARS (308) performs a matching operation with the received product information to obtain an associated network address of a vendor server (314) having the desired product information. The ARS (308) returns the vendor server address to the user PC (302) whereby the vendor advertiser server (312) is automatically accessed by the user PC (302). The respective product information is then returned from the vendor server (312) to the user PC (302) for presentation to the user. |
| US07870186B2 |
Contents receiving apparatus and recording medium for storing program thereof
A contents receiving device may automatically receive contents, and a recording medium may store a contents receiving program. The contents receiving device may refer to an agent table, receive contents having the greatest weight of the agent having the least preference deviation as a top priority from a contents providing server or a P2P network, and store the contents in a contents storage unit. Therefore, the contents receiving device and a device for operating the contents receiving program may automatically download contents satisfying the user's preference. Further, the devices may allow easy finding of user preferences on the contents and similarities on contents preference with respective agents. |
| US07870183B1 |
Multicast enabled mail
A method for distributing electronic mail efficiently across a network of information processing units and intermediate nodes. The method on an information processing unit includes receiving a mail message created by a user with a list of destinations. Also, the method further includes sending a single copy of the mail message across the network via intermediate nodes to addresses corresponding to the list of destinations using a reliable multicast technique. Also, the invention includes receiving a packet on an intermediate node where the packet contains address information for a list of destinations. Also, the invention includes determining at an intermediate node the “next hop” or “next hops” that the packet should be forwarded to and forwarding a copy of the packet to each of those “next hops”. |
| US07870179B2 |
Apparatus and method for optimal implementation of the CORDIC algorithm for wireless RFIC digital down-conversion
A Coordinate Rotation Digital Computer (CORDIC) circuit capable of performing precise vector rotation, including a pre-rotation stage configured to selectively rotate an input vector by ±90 degrees and to produce a pre-rotated vector. A first stage is configured to perform a first set of iterative CORDIC calculations on the pre-rotated vector and to produce a first rotated vector and a remaining rotation value. A second stage configured to perform a second set of iterative CORDIC calculations on the first rotated vector and to produce a second rotated vector, the second rotated vector corresponding to the input vector. |
| US07870178B2 |
Systems and methods for extracting coherent correlation data
An apparatus and method allow receivers to quickly acquire a pseudorandom noise signal. A receiver advantageously detects frequency shifts using a compact parallel process hardware implementation of a Discrete Fourier Transform (DFT). The simultaneous detection of multiple frequencies allows the receiver to search the frequency range of the transmitted signal in larger increments of frequency, thereby increasing the speed of acquisition. One receiver does not use coherent integration before computation of the transform and advantageously maintains a flat frequency response. The flat frequency response of the DFT circuit enables searching of multiple frequency offsets without CPU intensive processing to compensate for frequency response variations. A receiver can include a Doppler correction circuit, which permits correlation data with frequency shift in the code to be non-coherently integrated among relatively fewer addresses or tap positions in memory. |
| US07870175B2 |
Random number generation including skewness control
Random numbers can be generated in a statistically independent manner and with identical probability if the bits generated by a controlled bit generator are stored by a storage in a plurality of memory regions, wherein the bits are each stored in such memory regions associated with a difference of the bits of the values 1 and 0 generated up to the time of storage, and if all the bits stored within a memory region are subjected to algorithmic post-processing as soon as a predetermined number of bits within a memory region is exceeded. The fact that the bits are not stored and processed sequentially, i.e. in the order of generation, allows using a sequence of bits within which the individual bits are statistically independent of one another for the algorithmic post-processing. Thus, a way of performing algorithmic post-processing of the bits without reducing the entropy is provided. |
| US07870174B2 |
Reference partitioned tables
Systems, methodologies, media, and other embodiments associated with supporting reference partitioned tables in a relational database are described. One example method includes identifying a partitioning strategy (e.g., range, list, hash) associated with a parent table that is related to a child table by a referential constraint. The example method may also include creating the child table to be a reference-partitioned table partitioned according to the partitioning strategy associated with the parent table. The example method may also include creating the child table to be equi-partitioned with respect to the parent table. The child table is not to replicate a partition key of the parent table but rather is to inherit a partitioning key associated with the parent table through a foreign key relationship. |
| US07870172B1 |
File system having a hybrid file system format
Embodiments of this invention disclose a file system having a hybrid file system format. The file system maintains certain data in two formats, thereby defining a hybrid file system format. In one exemplary application, the first format has properties favorable to write operations, e.g. a log-structured file system format, while the second format has properties favorable to read operations, e.g. an extent-based file system format. The data is stored in the first file system format and then asynchronously stored in the second file system format. The data stored in the second file system format are also updated asynchronously. |
| US07870168B2 |
System and method for locating a document containing a selected number and displaying the number as it appears in the document
The disclosure describes a system and method for locating a number in a source document by presenting and manipulating data on private and public companies. A central database of financial information is established. A target entity is entered within the central database by a user, and financial information of the target entity from the central database is displayed. Once a number within the display of financial information is selected, the system and method determines which document is the source document containing the numbers, searches through the source document for the number, identifies the location of the number in the source document and highlights and displays the number as it appears in the source document to the user. |
| US07870166B2 |
Method and apparatus for menu generation
Methods and Apparatus related to generating representations of information. The information may include menu information for merchants such as restaurants. Referring to menus, methods may include receiving potential information for a first menu, and receiving indications of associations of the information with the first menu and/or any number of additional menus. Information and/or associations may later be updated by a desired set of users. |
| US07870163B2 |
Implementation of backward compatible XML schema evolution in a relational database system
In-place XML schema evolution occurs by evaluating an existing XML schema in a database system to see if it is compatible with a new XML schema. To determine if the old schema is compatible with the new schema, a lock-step traversal is performed on the two schemas. Each instruction in the old schema is compared to instructions in the new schema. Detected differences between the two schemas are evaluated to determine if existing XML documents are still compatible with the new schema. If they are, then an in-place schema evolution operation can take place. The in-place schema operation basically, involves appending the updated object information to the underlying object type and preserving the order of elements in a document by storing element mapping information on disk. |
| US07870161B2 |
Fast signature scan
Systems and methods for scanning signatures in a string field. In one implementation, the invention provides a method for signature scanning. The method includes processing one or more signatures into one or more formats that include one or more fingerprints and one or more follow-on search data structures for each fixed-size signature or signature substring such that the number of fingerprints for each fixed-size signature or signature substring is equal to a step size for a signature scanning operation and the particular fixed-size signature or signature substring is identifiable at any location within any string fields to be scanned, receiving a particular string field, identifying any signatures included in the particular string field including scanning for the fingerprints for each scan step size and searching for the follow-on search data structures at the locations where one or more fingerprints are found, and outputting any identified signatures. |
| US07870159B2 |
Algorithm for sorting bit sequences in linear complexity
A computer program product and associated algorithm for sorting S sequences of binary bits. The S sequences may be integers, floating point numbers, or character strings. The algorithm is executed by a processor of a computer system. Each sequence includes contiguous fields of bits. The algorithm executes program code at nodes of a linked execution structure in a sequential order with respect to the nodes. The algorithm executes a masking of the contiguous fields of the S sequences in accordance with a mask whose content is keyed to the field being masked. The sequential order of execution of the nodes is a function of an ordering of masking results of the masking. Each sequence, or a pointer to each sequence, is outputted to an array in the memory device whenever the masking places the sequence in a leaf node of the nodal linked execution structure. |
| US07870158B2 |
Systems for receiving and forming marketplaces for working on digital information blocks
A remote access medical image exchange system utilizes a decentralized, i.e., self-organizing, distribution system combined with bid queues to establish a market place which allows for continuously negotiated prices with control (over who reads the images, when they are read and what the fee will be for such a reading) being placed in the hands of the patient/gatekeeper and the diagnostic physician. |
| US07870154B2 |
Method and apparatus for NAS/CAS unified storage system
An integrated NAS/CAS system is disclosed. The system includes a view management program that is able to provide a NAS view and a CAS view of files to NAS and CAS clients. The system applied NAS or CAS features to stored files according to the view status of the file. Migration of files from NAS to CAS for archiving may be done without transmitting the file, thereby reducing bandwidth requirements and increasing security. CAS features, such as retention policy and metadata can be added to the file when its view is changed from NAS to CAS. |
| US07870153B2 |
Methods and systems for executing, by a virtual machine, an application program requested by a client machine
A method for executing, by a virtual machine, an application program requested by a client machine includes the step of receiving a file including access information for accessing a plurality of application files and for executing a first client capable of receiving an application stream. An identification of the plurality of application files is retrieved, responsive to the received file. At least one characteristic required for execution of the plurality of application files is retrieved, responsive to the file. A determination is made as to whether a client machine includes the at least one characteristic. A second client is executed, responsive to a determination that the client machine lacks the at least one characteristic, the second client requesting execution of the plurality of application files on a remote machine comprising a virtual machine providing a computing environment having the at least one characteristic. |
| US07870147B2 |
Query revision using known highly-ranked queries
An information retrieval system includes a query revision architecture providing one or more query revisers, each of which implements a query revision strategy. A query rank reviser suggests known highly-ranked queries as revisions to a first query by initially assigning a rank to all queries, and identifying a set of known highly-ranked queries (KHRQ). Queries with a strong probability of being revised to a KHRQ are identified as nearby queries (NQ). Alternative queries that are KHRQs are provided as candidate revisions for a given query. For alternative queries that are NQs, the corresponding known highly-ranked queries are provided as candidate revisions. |
| US07870144B2 |
Method and system for updating attachment files
A method of updating a file attached to an electronic document can include attaching a file to an electronic document and storing a reference to the attached file. The reference can specify a location from which the attached file was obtained. Responsive to a user input, the attached file can be replaced with a file specified by the reference. The attached file also can be updated from newly specified locations. |
| US07870133B2 |
Method for semantic based storage and retrieval of information
A method of storing semantically similar documents on proximally located peers in a structured peer to peer overlay network, where each peer is assigned a unique identifier and each document includes one or more words belonging to at least one hierarchical structured collection of words. A method of searching and retrieving documents, corresponding to a search query, from a structured peer to peer overlay network is also provided. |
| US07870128B2 |
Assigning data for storage based on speed with which data may be retrieved
A method, system, and apparatus for improving performance when retrieving data from one or more storage media. Files to be stored on the one or more storage media are classified into a ranking of different sets. Differences in retrieval value of different regions of the one or more storage media are exploited by selecting which files to store in which regions. For example, files that have a higher classification are stored in regions with faster retrieval values. The files can be classified based on frequency of access. Thus, files that are more frequently accessed are stored in regions that have a faster retrieval value. The files can be classified by another measure such as priority. For example, the classification for some or all of the files can be based on user-assigned priority. The classification may be based on events or data grouping. |
| US07870127B2 |
Automated method and system to calculate the surface distance between two geographical locations, and to filter a data set based on the calculation
A method and apparatus for calculating the surface distance between two geographical locations are described. According to one aspect of the present invention, values are stored in a square look-up table for determining the square of a value. Also, values are stored in a square of linear to surface distance look-up table for determining the surface distance of a linear value. Cartesian co-ordinates of the two geographic locations and the square look-up table are then used to calculate the square of the linear distance between the two geographical locations and the square of linear to surface distance look-up table is used to convert the calculated square of the linear distance to a surface distance. |
| US07870126B2 |
Campaign awareness management systems and methods
A campaign management system manages campaign data for one or more campaigns and geospatial data for areas in which the campaigns are directed. The system performs spatial queries, data queries, and/or geocode-based queries, generates maps geographically identifying where campaign events are occurring in the geographic area, and generates feature data for display. Campaign symbology, such as shading, color coding, patterns, icons, or other symbols identify one or more campaign events in the geographic area. |
| US07870119B2 |
Advanced scrolling for relational database applications
Disclosed are a method, a system and a computer program for scrolling to an arbitrary position in a set of unfetched rows of data in a relational database. Each of the rows has a plurality of columns and a class value in each of the columns. Also, each column of the set of rows of data has class values for a specified data class, and the rows ore ordered in the set according to a given sequence of these classes. The method of this invention, preferably, comprises the steps of identifying one of the rows in the database, and finding that one of the rows by identifying the given sequence of data classes by which the rows are ordered in the database, and for each of the data classes in the given sequence, determining the class value for the data class in the identified one of the rows. These rows may be ordered for purposes of a query in the database. Preferably, values of the data classes in the identified one of the rows are themselves determined, one data class at a time, and in the order in which the data classes occur in the given sequence. |
| US07870115B2 |
Variable length file header apparatus and system
A viewing configuration is determined for a data portion of a first computer file according to a first view state. The viewing configuration has a parameter, and the first view state includes a first value corresponding to the parameter. The content of the first data portion of the first computer file is presented to a display device based on the viewing configuration. In response to a user request, the presenting is manipulated corresponding to another viewing configuration having the parameter. A second view state is captured from the another viewing configuration. The second view state includes a second value corresponding to the parameter of the another viewing configuration. A second header portion and a second data portion of a second computer file are created. |
| US07870114B2 |
Efficient data infrastructure for high dimensional data analysis
Described is a technology by which high dimensional source data corresponding to rows of records with identifiers, and columns comprising dimensions of data values, are processed into a file model for efficient access. An inverted index corresponding to any dimension is built by mapping data from raw dimension values to mapped values based on mapping entries in a dimension table. The record identifiers are arranged into subgroups based on their mapped value; a count and/or an offset may be maintained for locating each of the subgroups. The raw values for a dimension are maintained within a raw value file. For sparse data, the raw value file may be compressed, e.g., by excluding nulls and associating a record identifier with each non-null. A data manager provides access to data in the data files, such as by offering various functions, using caching for efficiency. |
| US07870113B2 |
System and method for organizing data
A system and method for organizing and retrieving data is provided. The present invention replicates existing data in a format that is representative of naturally occurring relationships associated with the elements in the data. The data is organized into groups which represent a collection of information including one or more data fields. These groups are organized into a hierarchy based on relationships in the underlying data referred to as mappings. The hierarchy provides an organizational structure that is flexible in terms of traversing, organizing, searching, and presenting data. This organization structure is also conducive for extracting a portion of the database relevant to a particular purpose and replicating that portion elsewhere, such as on a palmtop computer, personal data apparatus (“PDA”), etc. Data is extracted from the database in a context that includes all information relevant to an item of data at a top, or parent, level of the hierarchy. The context provides a useful way for a user to analyze data within each of the various contexts in which that item of data exists. |
| US07870111B2 |
Method, system, and program for lock and transaction management
Disclosed is a method, system, and program for locking management. A command is received that specifies an operation identifier. It is determined whether the command is associated with a transaction using the operation identifier. If it is determined that the command is associated with a transaction, operating at a transaction level of locking.Further disclosed is a method, system, and program for lock management. Under control of a lock manager, lock request queuing is performed, heartbeat functions are performed, and state information is maintained. |
| US07870105B2 |
Methods and apparatus for deduplication in storage system
In one implementation, a storage system comprises host computers, a management terminal and a storage system having block interface to communicate with the host computers/clients. The storage system also incorporates a deduplication capability using chunks (divided storage area). The storage system maintains a threshold (upper limit) with respect to the degree of deduplication (i.e. number of virtual data for one real data) specified by users or the management software. The storage system counts the number of links for each chunk and does not perform deduplication when the number of reduced data for a chunk exceeds the threshold, even if duplication is detected. In another implementation, the storage system additionally incorporates a data migration capability and migrates physical data to high reliability area such as area protected with double parity (i.e. RAID6) when the deduplication level for a chunk exceeds the threshold. |
| US07870104B2 |
Storage system and storage device archive control method
An archive management that allows random access. An archive managing part reads out files stored in an on-line volume at a timing determined by the respective file type, and stores these files in a specified volume among archive volumes. A retention term is designated for each set of file data, and respective retention terms are also set for the respective volumes. The file data is stored in a volume having a retention term that matches the retention term of the file data. The respective volumes are set in a device that allows random access. The areas in which data is written into the respective volumes are managed as write prohibited areas by pointers such that the respective volumes are used as a WORM device. |
| US07870101B2 |
Method and apparatus for presentation of a security-focused repository with a party-focused repository
An abstraction layer associates a party-focused object, a security-focused object, or both, with an abstraction object. The party-focused or security focused object has one or more properties. The properties are presented in the abstraction object defined by the mapping schema. The abstraction layer converts a set of repository objects to at least one abstraction object. |
| US07870100B2 |
Methods and systems for publishing electronic documents with automatic fragment detection
Techniques for automatically detecting similar subsets (e.g., fragments) in electronic documents such as dynamic content-based data, e.g., web pages. The techniques of the invention may perform a systematic analysis of the web pages with respect to one or more of their information sharing behavior, their personalization characteristics, and their change pattern over time. Thus, the invention may be applied to discover fragments in web pages of web sites that are most beneficial for caching the contents of the web site. The present invention also comprises techniques for publishing electronic documents with automatic fragment detection. |
| US07870091B2 |
Methods and systems for receiving data, selecting a condition table, selecting a ruleset based on the condition table, and determining and applying rules to data
Systems and methods are provided for reconciling data. In one implementation, the systems and methods may receive first data corresponding to an expected state of at least one of a plurality of objects and create second data corresponding to an actual state of the at least one of the plurality of objects. In addition, the systems and methods may compare the first data to the second data to determine if the actual state corresponds to the expected state. In accordance with another implementation, systems and methods are provided for determining and applying rules to data. Such systems and methods may receive data comprising a root element and at least one leaf element, the root element having attributes and the attributes comprising characteristics, select a condition table based upon the characteristics, select a first ruleset based upon the selected condition table, and apply rules defined by the selected first ruleset to the data. |
| US07870088B1 |
Method of delivering music and information
The invention comprises music and information delivery systems and methods. One system comprises a portable communication device configured to receive a piece of music from an audio source and transmit the piece of music via a first communication medium to a host computer. The host computer is configured to receive the piece of music from the portable communication device and search a storage medium to identify and access the piece of music from the storage medium. The host computer is configured to transmit the piece of music via a second communication medium to one or more reception units that are configured to receive the piece of music from the host computer via the second communication medium. |
| US07870075B1 |
System and method for managing software development
A system and method of managing external content that is used within a software product or software development process is disclosed. In some approaches, the system and method manages and tracks the use of external content, as well an approval process for determining whether the external content is to be used or incorporated. The system and method manages and tracks compliance with terms and restrictions of the external content. |
| US07870074B2 |
Dynamic transferring of avatars between virtual universes
Interruption and degradation of service within a virtual universe leads to an unsatisfactory experience for users of the virtual universe. Dissatisfaction with service of a virtual universe may lead users to see alternate universes providing higher levels of service. Functionality can be implemented to identify alternate virtual universes that meet a user's service requirements and dynamically move the user's avatar from one virtual universe to another. |
| US07870070B2 |
Methods and systems for electronic bill presentment and payment
The present invention provides methods and systems for processing bills for a customer. A request for master data of the customer is received from a first processing module by means of a second processing module having access to the master data of the customer and the master data comprising bill format information. The second processing module sends the requested master data to the first processing module and receives a bill in a format specified in the master data of the customer from the first processing module. |
| US07870069B2 |
Method and system for facilitating switching of financial institution accounts
Techniques for switching a financial institution account for a debit account holder are provided. A request to convert a financial institution account is received from a customer. Information is obtained from the customer and used to identify a list of possible financial institution candidates. The list of possible financial institution candidates includes financial institutions that have an on-going relationship with an existing payment association and are interested in offering a new financial institution account to the customer. A new financial institution account is then established with a financial institution selected from a list of possible financial institution candidates. Then, the new financial institution account is linked to one or more additional accounts. The one or more additional accounts may be an account with the customer's existing payment association or accounts associated with any recurring transactions. |
| US07870068B2 |
Internet-based money order system
A system and method for purchasing a money order via the internet including the steps of providing an internet based money order system capable of generating money orders upon the receipt of a purchase request by a prospective buyer via the internet for a predetermined amount of funds. The prospective buyer transmits information to the money order system. via the internet, which information is required to purchase the money order. The money order is then remotely generated by the money order system and is delivered to an intended recipient of the money order. |
| US07870067B2 |
Donation system
A donation system that would encourage registered individuals to make small contributions to a charity or political campaign (or cause of their choice) as well as facilitate the process of doing so. The system provides a central location for all donation activity and works as a “contribution bundler” to empower those otherwise disempowered in the political marketplace. The system also acts as a “Civic Marketplace” that gives citizens a central location to turn to for civic information. The system provides safety features for registered users. |
| US07870064B2 |
Method and apparatus for on-line trading display
The present method and software provides a display for a trader in tradable instruments that shows the market price and market depth. The display dynamically updates with data received from an electronic exchange and centers on the market price. Upon the trader moving a cursor over a trade entering portion of the screen to make a trade, the price is held stationary and no longer centers on the market price so as to permit the trader to select a price and quantity for trading. The displayed data is still being updated in the stationary screen, however. The trade is made by the trader selecting a price and quantity on the display. Movement of the cursor away from the trade selecting area results in the display again automatically centering on the market price in the dynamic display mode. |
| US07870063B1 |
System and method for determining implied market information
Implied prices and their quantities are computed. Markets are characterized by exhaustively computing one or more combinations of other related markets. Each combination when summed in a particular way results in the market under consideration. In a described embodiment, the number of market combinations found is an exhaustive list of market combinations such that the market under consideration can be fully and completely characterized, such that each combination provides implied market information about the market under consideration. Implied market information can include implied prices and their quantities, which are computed for each combination and used accordingly in displays or used by automated or semi-automated trading tools. |
| US07870061B2 |
System and method for transferring longevity risk
A system and method for transferring longevity risk is disclosed. According to an example of the disclosure, a trading system receives an order to trade a financial instrument in which counterparties agree to exchange, for a predetermined period of time, a difference between an expected and actual cash flow stream associated with one or more assets or liabilities affected by mortality-based longevity risk, wherein the predetermined period of time includes one or more calculation periods that each last less than a term of the one or more assets or liabilities, receives updated mortality information underlying the longevity risk, and calculates the difference to be exchanged for each of the one or more calculation periods. |
| US07870059B2 |
Display of selected items in visual context in algorithmic trading engine
A graphical user interface is used along with an automated algorithm selection function to enable market participants to initiate automated, multi-algorithm trading strategies through a single drag and drop motion. A symbol representing a security can be dragged and dropped onto an icon representing a tactical or strategic algorithm. Other features of the graphical user interface show information such as the progress of the algorithms. |
| US07870057B2 |
Method and system for requesting a reservation for a set of debt instruments to be offered
A method and system for the determination of optimal pricing and allocation of securities in an open, competitive environment. The method and system may also be used in developing pre-markets of other items that are difficult to price and allocate in a competitive manner, such as the underwriting/securitization of contracts for property; future revenue/earning streams from an asset and/or group of assets; underwritten insurance portfolios, intellectual property and other goods and services. The system of price optimization and allocation is accomplished by interactive feedback of information using a display and including competitive participation of individual members of the public (and/or their agents) or institutional buyers over a data network e.g., the Internet, uncovering the nature and identification of demand in a self-organizing fashion. Demand emerges through participants' interaction with the system and with each other, via a graphically-supported, interactive reservation process. The number of units available for allocation may be limited. |
| US07870055B2 |
Method and system for providing simultaneous on-line auctions
A method and system for providing simultaneous online auctions includes automatically auctioning a first item and a second item during a common time period via an electronic auction system. Bids for both of the first item and the second item are automatically received at the electronic auction system during the common time period. |
| US07870053B1 |
Apparatus and methods for auctioning time and desktop space to product and service suppliers
Apparatus and methods for auctioning time and desktop space to product and service suppliers are provided. The apparatus and methods obtain bids from various product and service suppliers and determine which of the bids are the highest ranking bids. The particular product and service suppliers from which bids are obtained may be determined based on user preferences stored in a user profile, for example. Based on the ranking of the bids, commercial information from the product and/or service suppliers is presented to the user. Higher ranking bids are provided with larger display space on a user's client device display and are provided with a longer display time before cycling to the next lower ranking bid. In addition, multiple displays of commercial information may be provided at a same time with the size and duration of the displays being determined based on the ranking of the associated bid from the product/service supplier. |
| US07870051B1 |
Selecting investments for a portfolio
A method of constructing a portfolio includes receiving target allocations for different types of assets, receiving a list of investments available for inclusion in the portfolio, and selecting investments from the list of investments based on a measure of the risk-adjusted excess return of selected investments and the target allocations. |
| US07870049B1 |
Systems and methods for implementing real estate value insurance
To protect a person with a property interest in real property against a loss of market value thereof, a base market value of the real property is determined at a current time when the property interest in the real property arises or thereafter, and a number of types of events that cause the real property to lose market value as compared with the base market value are defined. A number of the defined types of events are selected, and a real estate market value policy is issued to the person at about the current time. The policy promises to compensate the person for any loss experienced by the person if the real property loses market value as compared with the base market value based on any of the selected types of events. |
| US07870047B2 |
System, method for deploying computing infrastructure, and method for identifying customers at risk of revenue change
A system (and method, and method for deploying computing infrastructure) for identifying a customer at risk of revenue change (e.g., revenue loss or revenue gain) including computing a risk score based on a plurality of risk factors associated with the customer. |
| US07870046B2 |
System, apparatus and method for standardized financial reporting
Standardized financial reports are automatically generated from company financial reports using a taxonomy library that maps company-specific terms to corresponding standard terms. Line items in the standardized financial reports include standardized terms derived from company-specific terms in the company financial report as well as corresponding financial information obtained from the company financial report. The financial information in the standardized financial report may be highlighted to indicate its source, and may also be cross-referenced back to its source location in the company financial report so that the information can be verified. |
| US07870045B2 |
Computer system for central management of asset information
A computer system includes one or more host computers, one or more hardware devices, and a management server for managing the assets in the system. The host computer includes an agent unit for notifying the management server of the data of the assets of the device to which it belongs based on a predetermined data structure. The hardware device includes an assets information notification unit for performing a similar process of the agent unit. The management server includes an information management unit for managing the data of the assets received from the agent unit and the information notification unit as associated with the predetermined data structure. Thus, the data of all assets in the system can be centralized using the predetermined data structure, and can be centrally managed corresponding to the structure. |
| US07870037B2 |
Method for graphically presenting auction information
A method for graphically presenting auction information. Characteristics of an auction for an item are received, wherein the characteristics comprise a target price for the item and a close time of the auction. The auction is then published to at least one bidder. At least one bid is received at a bid time, wherein the bid comprises a price for the item. A graphical presentation of status of the auction is generated, presenting auction information. The graphical presentation comprises a first axis and a second axis, wherein the bid is plotted as a point within the graphical presentation where the first axis corresponds to the bid time and the second axis corresponds to the price. New bids received are automatically plotted in real-time. |
| US07870036B2 |
Method and system for receiving and handling orders for commodities
An order-reception system has: an order-reception subsystem which receives, from a customer, customer order information including order-reception information and/or support request information and customer information; a business management subsystem having a customer-information database storing the customer information including information regarding a price of a commodity purchased frequently by the customer, and a cost of a support requested frequently by the customer, the price and the cost set by a seller; an order-entry subsystem which performs an order-reception processing based on the customer order information; and a delivery subsystem which arranges delivery of the commodity and providing of the support. |
| US07870032B2 |
Method of and system for processing transactions
A method of and system for conducting electronic commerce segments an enterprise is segmented into a single firm side system, and multiple customer facing and street side systems. The firm side system maintains a single system of record for the enterprise. The customer facing systems provide an interface between the enterprise and the customer. The street side systems are in communication with the customer facing systems. The street side systems provide an interface between the enterprise and various markets. |
| US07870026B2 |
Selecting and displaying advertisement in a personal media space
The embodiments provide methods of selecting relevant advertisement to target users by utilizing the knowledge of friends or acquaintance of the target users. The target users and friends or acquaintances of the target users belong to the same on-line communities, groups, or circles. In an exemplary embodiment, a method for providing advertising content for display in a personal media space of an Internet networking tool of a user is provided. The method includes defining the personal media space in a display region of a graphical user interface window. The personal media space being controlled by the user in terms of content. The method also includes selecting an advertisement content unit to be added to the personal media space for display by the user. The method further includes establishing a communication session between the user and another user. The communication session includes an interaction space for enabling communication between the user and the other user. The interaction space is displayed in the graphical user interface window along with the personal media space and the advertising content unit selected by the user to be displayed in the personal media space. |
| US07870022B2 |
System and method for offering and fulfilling situation-based, location specific rewards and offers to mobile-oriented consumers
A system, method and computer-readable medium are disclosed for advertising and completing a transaction using a credit card or a debit card. The method includes receiving situation information at a device, based on the situation information, transmitting an advertisement to the device, associating an advertisement with an identification card such as a debit card, credit card, student ID card, biometric data, or club card, and receiving an indication of a purchase associated with the advertisement and completed using the card. The disclosure enables a user to receive an advertisement on a device such as a mobile device and then make a purchase decision based on that advertisement in a normal fashion or transparent to the user and sales clerk, without the use of coupons, special codes or any other additional and annoying requirements for making the purchase. The user only needs to use an appropriate identification card. The merchant for the clerk at a point of sale handles the transaction in a standard fashion. The user can then receive a confirmation of a discount for the transaction on the consumer mobile device and later receive a rebate on an identification card statement. |
| US07870021B2 |
Delivery, organization, and redemption of virtual offers from the internet, interactive-TV, wireless devices and other electronic means
Disclosed are methods and systems for redeeming virtual coupons by associating the coupons with consumers' credit cards for redemption. In disclosed methods, coupon databases are associated with consumers and associated with the consumers' credit cards. Coupon offers are stored in the coupon databases and are redeemed by consumers by the use of the credit cards that are associated with the consumers' coupon databases. |
| US07870020B2 |
System and method for interactive marketing using networked devices
An interactive marketing technique may include distributing a marketing item to electronic devices. The users of the electronic devices may share the marketing item with other electronic devices to progressively attain credit that leads to an ability to use the marketing item. Also, sharing of the marketing item may progressively display larger portions of an image content component of the marketing item on a display of the electronic device. |
| US07870019B2 |
Method and system for providing promotions to a customer based on the status of previous promotions
A system, computer program product and method including delivering an initial promotion to a customer, determining a status of the initial promotion delivered, selecting a related promotion based on the status of the initial promotion determined, and delivering the related promotion to the customer. The related promotion is selected based on the status of the initial promotion determined by selecting a predetermined related promotion associated with the status of the initial promotion determined. Moreover, the initial and related promotions may be delivered through an electronic or hard delivery medium, and the status of the initial promotion delivered may be determined by determining a status of the initial promotion based on electronic feedback from the customer or based on predetermined status criteria assigned to the initial promotion. Promotions may be delivered primarily through an effective delivery medium for a particular customer which is determined by applying a predetermined effectiveness criteria which includes one of determining the number of occurrences of a predetermined status within a delivery medium and determining the frequency of the customer's use of the delivery medium. |
| US07870014B2 |
Performance management system
An outsourcing command center collects and processes outsourcing data for multiple engagements and multiple outsourcing offerings. The command center may apply a metric set to the outsourcing data that is broadly applicable across multiple outsourcing offerings, but also tailored to specific outsourcing offerings, and extended by engagements to meet their particular metric reporting criteria. The command center provides a portal through which an engagement may access processed metric information for outsourced functions, including metric reporting screens with convenient drill-down link sets to display progressively more detailed views of metrics processed for the engagement. |
| US07870010B2 |
Apparatus and method for processing lease insurance information
An apparatus and method for processing lease insurance information, including a processor for processing information for generating at least one of an insurance premium and an insurance policy for providing insurance for excess wear or post warranty repairs for a leased entity, wherein the processor generates a information regarding an insurance premium or an insurance policy, wherein the processor generates information regarding at least one of a liability, a potential liability, and a risk of loss, associated with the at least one of an insurance policy and an insurance product, and at least one of a display device and an output device for providing information, the insurance premium, the insurance policy, or the insurance product. |
| US07870009B2 |
Computerized system and methods for generating and processing integrated transactions for healthcare services
A method for adjudicating and reimbursing a care provider for services provided for a clinical event is provided. The method includes the step of receiving a transaction having a number of clinical data elements. The method also includes the steps of accessing a data store including payer information and determining whether the transaction is eligible for reimbursement by at least one payer. The method also includes the steps of accessing a first knowledge base comprising evidence-based standards for providing medically appropriate care and selectively performing analysis of the clinical data elements of the transaction against at least one standard to determine if the care provided is medically appropriate. The method further includes the steps of accessing a second knowledge base containing at least one criterion for assessing quality of care and selectively performing analysis of the clinical data elements of the transaction against the at least one criterion to determine if the care provided is medically appropriate. Also, the method includes determining a level of reimbursement based on the medical appropriateness and quality of the care provided and authorizing reimbursement of the care provider from at least one payer. |
| US07870004B2 |
Method of modeling frameworks and architecture in support of a business
An enterprise architecture for a business is divided into a business architecture and an information technology architecture. The business architecture is the main driver for the information technology architecture but the information technology architecture can also have an impact on the construction of the business architecture. A framework tower is built around essential and mandatory components of the enterprise architecture. The framework tower is made up of a plurality of planes representing mandatory components of the enterprise architecture. The components of the framework tower include a strategic plan, a business architecture, an information architecture, an application architecture, a technology infrastructure architecture, an enterprise information technology management architecture, and a security architecture. Each component identifies and categorizes requisite architectural components and elements of a business. Each component in the framework tower addresses the people, processes, and technology of the enterprise architecture so that strategic information technology planning and repeatable and effective information technology enabling solutions can be performed and delivered to the business. |
| US07869998B1 |
Voice-enabled dialog system
A voice-enabled help desk service is disclosed. The service comprises an automatic speech recognition module for recognizing speech from a user, a spoken language understanding module for understanding the output from the automatic speech recognition module, a dialog management module for generating a response to speech from the user, a natural voices text-to-speech synthesis module for synthesizing speech to generate the response to the user, and a frequently asked questions module. The frequently asked questions module handles frequently asked questions from the user by changing voices and providing predetermined prompts to answer the frequently asked question. |
| US07869997B2 |
System and method of pattern recognition in very high dimensional space
A system and method of recognizing speech comprises an audio receiving element and a computer server. The audio receiving element and the computer server perform the process steps of the method. The method involves training a stored set of phonemes by converting them into n-dimensional space, where n is a relatively large number. Once the stored phonemes are converted, they are transformed using single value decomposition to conform the data generally into a hypersphere. The received phonemes from the audio-receiving element are also converted into n-dimensional space and transformed using single value decomposition to conform the data into a hypersphere. The method compares the transformed received phoneme to each transformed stored phoneme by comparing a first distance from a center of the hypersphere to a point associated with the transformed received phoneme and a second distance from the center of the hypersphere to a point associated with the respective transformed stored phoneme. |
| US07869992B2 |
Method and apparatus for using a waveform segment in place of a missing portion of an audio waveform
A method for using a waveform segment in place of a missing portion of an audio waveform generated in response to a packet stream encoding portions of the audio waveform, the method comprising: phase matching a trailing portion of the waveform segment with a trailing portion of the audio waveform that follows the missing portion; and adding the phase matched waveform segment to the audio waveform. |
| US07869991B2 |
Mobile terminal and operation control method for deleting white noise voice frames
A mobile terminal and method of eliminating a call sound noise thereof are disclosed, by which a user can have a call of a clear sound quality by removing a frame including a white noise from a voice frame received from an originator terminal. The present invention includes a communicating unit receiving a voice frame; a control unit deleting the voice frame, if a white noise is included in the voice frame; an audio processing unit decoding the voice frame under the control of the control unit. |
| US07869988B2 |
Group foreign language teaching system and method
A method and system for teaching a foreign language to a user who has knowledge of a base language is disclosed. The method and system may include delivering a video presentation simultaneously to a plurality of users. The method and system may also include simultaneously delivering a plurality of mixed known language-foreign language audio and/or text streams to the plurality of users, each of the plurality of mixed known language-foreign language audio and/or text streams corresponding to the video presentation. |
| US07869980B2 |
Using statistics to locate signals in noise
Computation of variance or variance of the autocorrelation over a moving window of various sizes of a signal containing noise and possibly a small digital signal provides a sensitive, frequency independent indication of the likelihood of the presence of a small pulse, chirp or even spread spectrum digital signal possibly obscured by noise or larger signals in the signal to much lower signal-to-noise ratios than previously possible. Large signals in the signal which may also obscure any small signal are removed to a different signal path from the noise and small signals by subtraction after compression and reconstruction of the large signal. The compression noise thus added to the signal may also increase sensitivity of the variance of the autocorrelation to small signals obscured by the large signals. Controlling storage in response to the computed variance or variance of the autocorrelation allows substantial avoidance or limitation of storage of signals which contain only noise. |
| US07869976B2 |
Generator system with intelligent processing of position signal
An electric power generator system is provided with improved power efficiency due to a reduced sensitivity to errors in the sensing of angular rotor position. The system includes a power generator with a rotor, and a position encoder connected to sense angular position of the rotor and to generate a position signal accordingly. A processor receives the position signal, calculates an angular position in response, calculates an estimated angular position based on earlier received position signals, and finally generates a processed angular position based on the calculated angular position and the estimated angular position. This processed angular position is a more reliable measure of the rotor position, reducing the influence of short-term errors in the position signal, allowing normal wind turbine operation during temporary position encoder failure, and allowing an orderly shutdown during complete position encoder failure. |
| US07869973B2 |
Calibration circuit
To include a first replica buffer that has substantially the same circuit configuration as a pull-up circuit which constitutes an output buffer and a second replica buffer that has substantially the same circuit configuration as a pull-down circuit which constitutes the output buffer. When a first calibration command ZQCS is issued, either a control signal ACT1 or ACT2 is activated, and a calibration operation is performed for either the first replica buffer or the second replica buffer. When a second calibration command ZQCL is issued, both of the control signals ACT1, ACT2 are activated and the calibration operation is performed for both the first replica buffer and the second replica buffer. |
| US07869969B2 |
Defect review apparatus and method of reviewing defects
A defect review apparatus for reviewing a specimen by moving the specimen to pre-calculated coordinate includes: a function to measure a deviation amount between the pre-calculated coordinates and coordinates of an actual position of the specimen; a function to optimize a coordinate correcting expression to minimize the measured deviation amount; and a function to determine that the deviation amounts have converged. When the deviation amounts have converged, the measurement for the coordinate-correcting-expression optimization is terminated, minimizing a reduction in throughput. field of view (FOV) necessary for the specimen to be within the FOV is set according to a convergence value of the calculated deviation amount. |
| US07869968B2 |
Diagnosis and calibration system for ICP-MS apparatus
A diagnostic system designed such that an aggregate of parameter combinations is stored, which is an aggregate of combinations of parameters consisting of a first parameter for determining the output of the high-frequency power source, a second parameter for determining the flow rate of the carrier gas in the aerosol, and a third parameter for determining the distance between the plasma torch and the interface, and which forms a specific array such that the measurement points corresponding to the respective combinations are lined up in order along the direction of length of an envelope that forms the end on the high-sensitivity side of a graph drawn as an aggregate of all measurement points on a sensitivity-oxide ion ratio graph, and a diagnostic measurement is performed with a specific diagnostic sample using the parameter value of each combination of the above-mentioned parameter combinations that form the aggregate such that the device properties can be confirmed from the position on the envelope on the sensitivity-oxide ion ratio graph of the actual measurement points corresponding to each combination. |
| US07869964B2 |
Method for evaluation of absorption behavior of absorbent articles
A method for designing an absorbent article and evaluating its absorption behaviour is disclosed. A system using the method, is also disclosed. The method may be used for analyzing movement of a fluid in an absorbent article that comprises fluid-swellable composite material, to determine the performance of at least one feature of the absorbent article. The method includes inputting one or more properties for said fluid-swellable composite material into a virtual model of the absorbent article to produce a representation of at least one feature of the absorbent article and evaluating the virtual model of the absorbent article to determine the performance of the feature. |
| US07869958B2 |
Structure-based modulators of B1 G-protein coupled receptors
The present invention relates to a method for identifying modulators of B1 G-protein coupled receptors. The present invention also relates to a method for identifying an antagonist or agonist of the corticotropin-releasing factor receptor 2 (CRFR2). The present invention also relates to a method for improving antagonists or agonists of CRFR2. The present invention also relates to the three-dimensional structure of CRFR2 as representative of the B1 GPCR subfamily and its use as a basis for rational drug design of antagonist or agonists of B1 GPCRs. |
| US07869957B2 |
Methods and systems to identify operational reaction pathways
The present invention provides a method of refining a biosystem reaction network. The method consists of: (a) providing a mathematical representation of a biosystem; (b) reconciling said mathematical representation of said biosystem; (c) determining differences between observed behavior of a biosystem and in silico behavior of said mathematical representation of said biosystem under similar conditions; (d) modifying a structure of said mathematical representation of said biosystem, and (e) determining differences between said observed behavior of said biosystem and in silico behavior of said modified mathematical representation of said biosystem under similar conditions. |
| US07869953B1 |
System and method for presenting lightning strike information
A system and method for presenting lightning strike information in a manner so as to be easily understood and appreciated by viewers of televised weather report presentations. Lightning strike information is displayed with a marker and textual indication of the lightning strike location in a viewer friendly format. Lightning strike data from a lightning strike data source is filtered to select individual lightning strikes to be displayed and processed to obtain the viewer friendly lightning strike location information to be presented overlaid on a geographic map or satellite image background. Personalized lightning strike information indicating the distance of a lightning strike from a viewer location of interest may be generated and provided directly to individual viewers via the internet, cellular phone, and/or other wired or wireless communication channels. |
| US07869948B2 |
Method and apparatus in positioning without broadcast ephemeris
Provided herein are methods and system for enabling a navigation receiver to generate receiver specific satellite orbital models based on relatively small sets of parameters obtained from a server. In an embodiment, a set of parameters for a satellite includes a force parameter (e.g., solar radiation pressure), initial condition parameters (e.g., satellite position and velocity at a time instance) and time correction coefficients, which the receiver uses in a numerical integration to predict the position of the satellite. The set of parameters needed for the integration is small compared to current methods which require transmission of a complete set of ephemeris and other parameters for each satellite. Since the set of parameters is relatively small, it requires less communication resources to transmit compared to current methods. Further, the integration based on the small set of parameters enables the receiver to predict satellite orbits with low computational load. |
| US07869944B2 |
Systems and methods for recording and reporting data collected from a remote location
Systems and methods for recording and reporting data collected from a remote location are disclosed. A work order, defining infrastructure to be inspected at a remote site and including an inspection plan for collecting inspection information, is generated on a first computer system and transferred to a portable computing system. Inspection data is collected pursuant to the inspection plan on the portable computing system. A global positioning system (GPS) receiver associated with the portable computing system provides location information related to inspected infrastructure during the inspection. After collection, inspection data is transferred from the portable computing system to the first and/or to a second computing system for storage and the generation of related reports. The location information obtained during the inspection can be used to determine dimensional measurements of the infrastructure and to generate visual depictions of infrastructure components and defects. |
| US07869937B2 |
Method for processing multimedia broadcasting data in wireless terminal while driving vehicle
Disclosed is a method for processing a multimedia broadcasting in a portable terminal having a navigation module, while a vehicle is being driven. The method includes steps of: proceeding to a vehicle driving mode, if it is recognized that the vehicle is currently being driven when the multimedia broadcasting data is outputted; confirming at least one vehicle driving function set as the vehicle driving mode in the vehicle driving mode and driving navigation module, and then acquiring vehicle driving information; and reflecting the acquired vehicle driving information in the vehicle driving function and then outputting the multimedia broadcasting data after applying the vehicle driving function to the multimedia broadcasting data. |
| US07869935B2 |
Method and system for detecting traffic information
A traffic information sensor system includes an image acquisition device to generate video images of a traffic scene. The system also includes an image detection device to extract traffic information from the video images in connection with the lane position information of the traffic scene. The system also includes an information transfer device to transmit the extracted traffic information instead of the video images to a traffic management center. A traffic information detection method and system is also described. |
| US07869934B2 |
Determination of an expected speed level
A method provides traffic condition data in the context of a traffic condition recognition by a motor vehicle, in particular traffic condition data for detecting the position of traffic, preferably for detecting traffic jams. In a first step the type of road along which the vehicle is traveling is determined by use of a position recognition device and a digital road map. In a second step, the category of road along which the vehicle is traveling is determined by use of the position recognition device and the digital road map. A third step utilizes assignments, in particular a table, which assigns at least one lower speed threshold, one upper speed threshold and preferably also a normal speed to both the relevant road type and the relevant road category of the road along which the vehicle is traveling. Finally, in a fourth step, at least the lower speed threshold and the upper speed threshold are used to determine the traffic condition. |
| US07869933B2 |
Temperature sensing coordination with engine valve timing using electric valve actuator
A method of operation for an engine including an electrically actuated engine valve in a cylinder head, with at least an actuator coupled to the valve, the method including applying a potential to generate a current indicative of temperature in the actuator at least partially during a substantially non-moving condition of the actuator and adjusting a timing of the application of the potential based on valve location in the cylinder head. |
| US07869932B2 |
Engine autostop and autorestart control
Systems and methods are described for controlling engine operation of an engine that may be shut-down during engine idle stop conditions. The engine may include a high pressure direct injection fuel system. In one embodiment, a method stops the engine when a temperature of a fuel rail is below a threshold during a selected engine idle stop condition. On the other hand, when the temperature of the fuel rail is above the threshold, engine operation is maintained during the selected engine idle stop condition. |
| US07869928B2 |
Estimating health parameters or symptoms of a degrading system
The present invention is concerned with the estimation of health parameters p(k) representing symptoms of a slowly degrading system, in particular industrial gas turbines. According to the invention, an estimation of a true health or independent parameter vector at time step k uses the estimation of the true health or parameter vector at a previous time step k−1 as a starting value for the production of a predicted health parameter vector at time step k. Based on the latter and a set of measured values of input variables of an extended model of the system, a prediction of output variables of the model is produced. This predicted model output is compared with measured values of the output variables to yield an error. From this error, a health parameter estimator in turn produces a health parameter estimate as a revision of the predicted health parameters. Preferably, the estimation of a true health or independent parameter vector at time step k includes a generalized process noise representing stochastic uncertainty and/or a-priori knowledge of an evolution of the health parameters. |
| US07869924B2 |
Method and apparatus to monitor a flow management valve of an electro-mechanical transmission
A flow management valve is operative to enable a multi-range electro-mechanical transmission in first and second ranges. Fluid pressure in a hydraulic circuit is monitored to detect a fault in the flow management valve. |
| US07869923B2 |
Slewing controller, slewing control method, and construction machine
In an excavator equipped with an offset boom, an offset command value generating device of a rotation control device offsets a second boom arranged on a distal end side in a rotation direction relative to a first boom arranged on a proximal end side when an acceleration start judging device judges that a rotation operation is started, and offsets the second boom in a reverse rotation direction when a deceleration start judging device judges that a rotation deceleration operation is started. Accordingly, when a rotation acceleration is performed using a reaction force generated in the offset, clearances between members of a work machine can be contracted in advance in the rotation direction, while when the rotation deceleration operation is performed, these clearances can be contracted in advance in the rotation reverse direction, thereby reducing an impact in the acceleration and deceleration. |
| US07869918B2 |
Method of identifying nodes in a computer network in a motor vehicle air conditioning installation
In a motor vehicle air conditioning installation comprising a central control unit (12), a computer network (14) connected to the central control unit (12) and a plurality of peripherals (101, 102, 103, . . . , 10n) connected to nodes (N1, N2, N3, . . . , Nn) of the computer network, the peripherals are connected in series via a common conductor (18). The installation comprises means (120) for inputting at the level of each peripheral an electric signature on a common conductor, means (130) for detecting an electric signal depending upon the electric signatures of the peripherals situated upstream on the common conductor (18), means for generating a data item representing the relative position of the peripheral on the basis of the electric signal detected, and means for identifying the node of the network to which it is connected on the basis of the relative position data item generated. The identification of the node of the network permits the assignment of an address or monitoring of the connection of the peripheral from the central control unit. |
| US07869917B2 |
Vehicle control apparatus and control method of same
A vehicle control apparatus includes a first storage area in which malfunction record information that is information on the record of a malfunction in a vehicle, and identifying information used to identify a program are stored in a nonvolatile manner; and a second storage area in which the program is stored in a rewritable and nonvolatile manner. If the identifying information stored in the first storage area does not match the identifying information corresponding to the rewritten program stored in the second storage area when rewriting of the program stored in the second storage area is completed, the control portion erases the malfunction record information in the first storage area, and rewrites the identifying information stored in the first storage area to the identifying information corresponding to the rewritten program. |
| US07869914B2 |
Vehicle quality analyzing system and plural data management method
Image data (44) assigned to a specific language is included in a second data file (28) at a specific position. A first data file includes a position information data specifying the position of the image data. A processing unit obtains the image data assigned to the specific language based on the position information data in the first data file. An image is displayed on the screen based on the obtained image data (44). The language is set in the first data file for generation of the image. A change of the position information data in the first data file enables a facilitated change of language included in the display image data. |
| US07869913B2 |
Vehicle-use electric generator apparatus
A vehicle power supply apparatus has first and second engine-driven electrical generators and first and second storage batteries, the first generator supplying a stable voltage to the first battery and a first set of loads, and the second generator supplying the second battery and a second set of loads, which can tolerate supply voltage variations. Operation of the second generator and charging/discharging of the second battery are controlled to maintain the total engine torque applied to the generators at a level whereby fuel consumption is reduced, while the supply voltage of the variation-tolerant loads is allowed to vary substantially. |
| US07869910B1 |
Auto-catalytic oscillators for locomotion of underwater vehicles
A system is provided to control maneuvering flapping foils of an underwater vehicle. An oscillator generates periodic signals in which effects of external disturbances are minimized or amplified as required; the periodic signal can be either sinusoidal or can depart significantly from a sinusoid; the amplitude and frequency are varied by changing the oscillator parameters and the phase between the signals are varied by changing the parameters. The oscillator restores the parameters after a disturbance. Since the oscillator functions without external sensors, the oscillator serves as an inner-loop controller with a centralized control. An open loop control architecture for the controller, results in a motion where the vehicle maneuvers execute as force and moment commands. The non-linear, auto-catalytic oscillator can be realized using a variety of second-order differential equations. An oscillator model is added to a conventional motor control, where the outputs of the oscillator control the foils in real-time. |
| US07869909B2 |
Stress monitoring system for railways
A rail stress monitoring system is disclosed. This system includes a sensor module that further includes a sensing device that is adapted to be mountable directly on a length of rail. The sensing device further includes a generally flat metal shim and at least one, and typically two or more, sensors mounted on one side of the shim. The sensors are typically strain gauges, which are mounted on the shim in a specific, predetermined configuration. At least one data acquisition module is in electrical communication with the sensing device and a data processing module receives and processes information gathered by data acquisition module. |
| US07869908B2 |
Method and system for data collection and analysis
A computer-implemented system and method of contemporaneously testing a respective system on-board each of a plurality of locomotives with a common user interface where the locomotives are in electrical communication with one another for transmitting electronic signals among the locomotives. An electronic signal may be transmitted to the plurality of locomotives instructing a respective on-board computer of each locomotive to synchronously engage a self-load sequence. An electronic signal may be transmitted to the plurality of locomotives instructing a respective engine of each locomotive to execute a testing sequence. Operating parameter data associated with the respective systems may be downloaded from each of the plurality of locomotives through the common user interface to a database engine to determine whether the downloaded operating parameter data is within acceptable operating limits. |
| US07869905B2 |
Method and apparatus for using a heater to control the temperature of a power supply in a computer system
A system that controls the temperature of a power supply in a computer system is presented. A state of the computer system is monitored. Next a signal is generated in response to the state of the computer system. The signal is then used to control the temperature of the power supply. Controlling the temperature of the power supply can involve heating the power supply. |
| US07869903B2 |
Interactive adjustable media bed providing sleep diagnostics
An bedding apparatus is provided that allows a user the ability to control a bedroom environment using one selectable control. The apparatus includes an adjustable bedding unit and a computing unit coupled to the adjustable bedding unit. A number of controllable electronic appliances, having an effect on the bedroom environment, are electrically coupled to the computing unit. These electronic appliances are capable of being controlled by the computing unit. A user interface control unit is coupled to the computing unit. The user interface presents the user with a number of user-selectable settings that cause an adjustment in the position of the adjustable bed and at least one of the electronic appliances. |
| US07869900B2 |
Integrated cuber management system
A method and system for monitoring and controlling the processing of thermoplastics. The system includes a graphical interface and a server attached to the equipment in the cubing process. The interface includes a depiction of the equipment in the cubing process. A touch screen interface allows the user to control the equipment in the cubing process. In addition, information from the equipment is transmitted to the interface and conveyed to the user either through visual displays (e.g. numerical or graphical) or auditory signals (e.g. alarms or status beeps). The server may include software used to monitor the feed rate into the cuber with a modified proportional integral derivative (PID) algorithm in which the prime feedback input is a real-time electrical consumption signal derived from the motor driving the cuber. |
| US07869898B2 |
Axis control method
Methods and devices are provided for adjusting the relative position and/or relative movement between a workpiece and a tool of a machine tool in the direction of an axis. An actuating variable for a basic axis comprising one or more drives is generated in the first controller of a basic axis control system, an actuating variable for a higher-dynamic additional axis comprising a drive is generated in a second controller of an additional axis control system, and a third actuating variable, which is fed both to the additional axis control system and to the basic axis control system, is generated in a third controller. |
| US07869895B2 |
System, method, and computer program product for computing orientation alignment transfer tool locations to transfer predicted cruise orientation alignment of an as-built airplane
Illustrative computer-executable methods, systems, and computer software program products compute orientation alignment transfer tool location. Orientation of at least one aerodynamically significant feature of an as-built airplane is automatically determined. Orientation of an orientation monument for the as-built airplane is automatically determined from the determined orientation of the at least one aerodynamically significant feature of the as-built airplane, and motion to align an orientation alignment transfer tool with the determined orientation of the orientation monument is automatically determined. |
| US07869893B2 |
Exposure apparatus
An exposure apparatus includes a plurality of stations and a plurality of substrate stages, and exposes a substrate to radiant energy by executing a plurality of jobs using the plurality of stations and the plurality of substrate stages. The apparatus includes a controller configured to acquire the plurality of jobs, and to determine an execution sequence of the plurality of jobs. One of the plurality of substrate stages includes a measurement unit that is different from any measurement unit included in another of the plurality of substrate stages in what to measure. The controller is configured to determine the execution sequence of the plurality of jobs based on information of respective positions of the plurality of substrate stages, information of measurement units that the plurality of substrate stages respectively have, and information of the measurement units respectively necessary for the plurality of jobs. |
| US07869892B2 |
Audio file editing system and method
An audio file editing system enabling creation and editing of audio content within a single multi-layer audio file. The audio editor and method of the invention enables “layering” of audio content relative to other audio content within a single file to create a multi-layered audio file. This enables audio information to be combined in a way that keeps all content active and editable until the final product. An unlimited number of layers can be assembled within a file, constrained only by practical file size limits and system capabilities. |
| US07869891B2 |
Method and apparatus for generating bitstream of audio signal and audio encoding/decoding method and apparatus thereof
A method and apparatus for generating a bitstream of an audio signal, in which an audio signal can be easily extended to a multichannel audio signal, the processing speed of an audio signal can be improved, and channel signals of an audio signal can be processed simultaneously, and an audio encoding/decoding method and apparatus using the method and apparatus. The method for generating a bitstream of an audio signal using an encoded audio signal and encoding information includes generating a flag indicating whether the encoded audio signal is a multichannel audio signal, generating a bitstream header including the generated flag, and generating the bitstream using the generated bitstream header and the encoded audio signal. |
| US07869882B2 |
Electrical stimulation system and method for treating tinnitus
According to one aspect, an electrical stimulation system for treating tinnitus is provided. The system includes an electrical stimulation lead adapted for implantation into the person's skull for electrical stimulation of target brain tissue located in the person's temporal lobe. The lead includes one or more electrodes adapted to be positioned near the target brain tissue and to deliver electrical stimulation energy to the target brain tissue. The system also includes a stimulation source operable to generate signals for transmission to the electrodes of the lead to cause the electrodes to deliver electrical stimulation energy to the target brain tissue located in the person's temporal lobe to reduce tinnitus effects. |
| US07869881B2 |
Baroreflex stimulator with integrated pressure sensor
An aspect relates to an implantable medical device. An embodiment of the device comprises a pulse generator, sensor circuitry, a lead, and a controller. The pulse generator generates baroreflex stimulation pulses. The lead is adapted to be electrically connected to the pulse generator and to the sensor circuitry. The lead includes an electrode to distribute the baroreflex stimulation pulses to a baroreflex site and a pressure sensor to provide a signal indicative of blood pressure to the sensor circuitry. The controller is connected to the pulse generator and the sensor circuitry. The controller adapted to adjust the baroreflex stimulation pulses based on the blood pressure. Other aspects are provided herein. |
| US07869880B2 |
Methods and apparatus for treating anaphylaxis using electrical modulation
Methods and devices for treating anaphylaxis, anaphylactic shock, bronchial constriction, and/or asthma include providing an electrical impulse to a selected region of the vagus nerve of a patient suffering from anaphylaxis to block and/or modulate nerve signals that would regulate the function of, for example, myocardial tissue, vasodilation/constriction and/or pulmonary tissue. |
| US07869879B2 |
Electrical stimulation treatment of hypotension
Methods and devices for treating hypotension, such as in cases of shock, including septic shock and anaphylactic shock, wherein the treatment includes providing an electrical impulse to a selected region of the vagus nerve of a patient suffering from hypotension to block and/or modulate nerve signals that regulate blood pressure. |
| US07869877B2 |
Cardiopulmonary functional status assessment via heart rate response detection by implantable cardiac device
An implantable cardiac device is configured and programmed to assess a patient's cardiopulmonary function by evaluating the patient's heart rate response. Such evaluation may be performed by computing a heart rate response slope, defined as the ratio of an incremental change in intrinsic heart rate to an incremental change in measured activity level. The heart rate response slope may then be compared with a normal range to assess the patient's functional status. |
| US07869873B2 |
Method and system for setting cardiac resynchronization therapy parameters
A method or system for computing and/or setting optimal cardiac resynchronization pacing parameters as derived from intrinsic conduction data is presented. The intrinsic conduction data includes intrinsic atrio-ventricular and interventricular delay intervals which may be collected via the sensing channels of an implantable cardiac device. Among the parameters which may be optimized in this manner are an atrio-ventricular delay interval and a biventricular offset interval. In one of its aspects, the invention provides for computing optimum pacing parameters for patients having some degree of AV block or with atrial conduction deficits. Another aspect of the invention relates to a pacing mode and configuration for providing cardiac resynchronization therapy to patients with a right ventricular conduction disorder. |
| US07869871B2 |
Pacing therapy for diastolic heart failure
Described herein are methods and systems for delivering pacing therapy to HF patients who do not exhibit a reduced EF. Such patients do not have systolic dysfunction and generally do not benefit from established HF therapies that either augment contractile function or counteract conduction abnormalities. In one embodiment, a HF patient with a normal EF is tested for the adequacy of heart rate response during exercise. If the patient is found to be chronotropically incompetent, a rate-adaptive pacing mode is employed in order to improve functional capacity. |
| US07869863B2 |
Apparatus and method for non-invasive, passive fetal heart monitoring
The present invention provides a method and apparatus for monitoring the fetal condition in an objective, quantitative, and non-invasive manner by enabling continuous and highly specific data collection during pre-natal development and the intra-partum period. In an embodiment, monitoring the fetal condition comprises monitoring a fetal heart rate, a fetal heart rate variability, and/or the fetal heart vector orientation of a fetus in a pregnant mother. Automated signal processing techniques are applied to a multiplicity of transducers to select an optimum signal vector to monitor at least one of a fetal heart rate, a fetal heart rate variability, and/or the fetal heart vector orientation of a fetus in a pregnant mother. |
| US07869862B2 |
Systems and methods for functional imaging using contrast-enhanced multiple-energy computed tomography
A method of generating images of a portion of a body includes introducing a contrast agent into the body, generating a first set of image data using radiation at a first energy level after the contrast agent is introduced into the body, generating a second set of image data using radiation at a second energy level after the contrast agent is introduced into the body, and creating a volumetric composite image using the first and the second sets of image data. |
| US07869861B2 |
Flexible tracking article and method of using the same
A method of registering an article having a surface to previously created scan data of the article includes the steps of providing a flexible substrate having multiple tracking points attached to the substrate, applying the substrate to the article to be registered, creating a model of the surface of the article from a location of each tracking point; and registering the model with the previously created scan data. A method of creating a model of a surface having a shape and an article to enable the creation of a model of a surface are also disclosed. |
| US07869860B2 |
Method for enhancing the accuracy of PET/CT images
A method is disclosed for obtaining linear attenuation coefficients for interpreting a PET scan of a region. The method is suitable for use when high molecular weight materials are present in the region, such as contrast agents or metal objects. The method includes obtaining first and second x-ray CT data sets of the region of interest at two different energies or voltage potentials and differencing corresponding CT numbers. The difference values are used to distinguish portions of the region that are bone from portions of the region that are contrast agent or other high molecular weight material. The obtained CT data set is then used to obtain an attenuation coefficient map of the region at the PET energy of 511 keV, for example, using a linear scaling factor suited to the particular identified material. Difference values at or near zero may be used to identify soft tissue portions of the region. |
| US07869859B2 |
X-ray CT apparatus having a display to display information inputted from a remote operator console
A medical apparatus including a main unit including an X-ray CT imaging unit configured to image a patient and a display unit provided on the X-ray CT imaging unit and configured to display a name of the patient to be imaged, and a console unit remote from the main unit and including an input unit configured to input condition information of the main unit and individual information including the name of the patient. The console also includes a control unit configured to extract at least one item including the name of the patient in the individual information from the inputted condition information and the inputted individual information. The display unit is configured to display the extracted item including the name of the patient on a screen. |
| US07869858B2 |
Patient table system and apparatus
A patient table is disclosed. The patient table includes a cradle for linearly receiving and transferring a board comprising a top surface defined by a single plane for carrying a patient, a cradle supporting member for slidably receiving the cradle, a locker within the cradle for positioning the board and patient on the table, and for preventing the board from sliding off the cradle, and a stopper within the cradle for preventing the cradle form sliding off the cradle supporting member. |
| US07869857B2 |
Combination magnetic resonance imaging apparatus and patient table
A combination Magnetic Resonance imaging apparatus and patient table, which apparatus has a magnet structure, defining a cavity for accommodating a part of the body under examination, which is supported by a base block, the patient table and the apparatus having a base block and a supporting structure respectively, that are slidable in at least one, or more directions. The patient table and the Magnetic Resonance imaging apparatus have a mechanism for removable connection therebetween and guide thereof along predetermined relative displacement paths. |
| US07869845B2 |
Sliding type mobile terminal
A mobile terminal having a first body, a second body slidably attached to the first body, the second body being movable between an open and a closed position, and an input device at an exterior surface of the mobile phone that is exposed when the second body is in the closed position. The input device being located on the first body and having a roller member and at least one button adjacent the roller member. |
| US07869842B2 |
Folder type portable terminal with variable-type grounding unit
The present invention relates to a folder or hinge type portable terminal having a grounding unit. A main body has a main board. A folder opens and closes at an angle from the main body. At least one component of a hinge module is formed of a metallic material, and opens and closes the folder at an angle from the main body. A connecting means selectively contacts a grounding portion of the main board to the material components of the hinge module in response to the opening and closing operation of the folder, to provide optimal antenna radiation characteristic irrespective of the opening and closing operation of the folder. |
| US07869840B2 |
Semi-automatic swing device for swing-type portable terminal
A semi-automatic swing device for a swing-type portable terminal. The semi-automatic swing device includes a first member; a second member for semi-automatically performing first and second swing operations along a desired trajectory on the first member, while facing the first member; guide means having a first guide portion formed in the first member and a second guide portion spaced apart from the first guide portion, for determining a direction of the swing operations; a driving source installed in the first guide portion, for allowing the second member to semi-automatically perform the swing operations; and first and second coupling members mounted on the second member and coupled with the first and second guide portions, respectively, the first and second coupling members moving along the first and second guide members and restricting the first and second members while the first and second members face each other. |
| US07869838B2 |
Global management of local link power consumption
Power reduction in links, such as transmitters and receivers, based upon global decisions such as the data transmission frequencies, communications media, and traffic types associated with links, is disclosed. In particular, embodiments take advantage of high-level decisions by reconfiguring internal circuits of transmitters and receivers of links to reduce power consumption. At the global level, a decision determines the links that are active, the data frequency at which the links operate, and the media through which the links transmit the data. At the local level, the links receive the decisions and reconfigure circuitry automatically to minimize power based upon the decisions. In some embodiments, the links may receive the decisions in the form of power modes. In further embodiments, the links may receive settings such as on/off settings, data frequency settings, and traffic/media settings, the combination of which indicates power modes. |
| US07869831B2 |
Communication terminal, and dial registration method and dial registration program therefor
A communication terminal having one or more one-touch-dial buttons simplifies operations needed for registration of destination data such as phone numbers or mail addresses. A communication terminal (e.g., a cellular phone) having one or more one-touch-dial buttons includes a destination-data registration unit (e.g., a phone-directory database) that allows destination data such as phone numbers or mail addresses to be registered therein, a one-touch-dial registration unit that allows destination data to be registered therein so as to be associated with the one or more one-touch-dial buttons, and a control unit that, in response to an operation of the one or more one-touch-dial buttons, determines whether destination data has been registered in the one-touch-dial registration unit or the destination-data registration unit, and that outputs a result of the determination and a query message regarding registration of the destination data. |
| US07869829B2 |
Radio communication system, including a plurality of radio base stations, radio base station, radio communication method, and computer readable medium for radio communication system
The present invention increases, even while transmission rights are not being allocated to respective radio communication terminals, a maximum number of simultaneous connections within a communication capacity range of a communication frequency set in advance, reduce a waiting time, and increase speed of communication without causing an increase in cost for addition of radio base stations, replacement with a high-performance model, and the like. A radio base station 2a calculates a guard time based on beacon transmission timing from a difference between reference times in beacon transmission, and transmission and reception time frame information based on beacon transmission timing of a radio base station 2b. In other words, the radio base station 2a calculates a guard time based on beacon transmission timing to prevent overlap of a transmission and reception time frame of transmission and reception to and from a radio communication terminal 3 belonging to the radio base station 2b, and transmission and reception timing of transmission and reception to and from a radio communication terminal 3 belonging to the radio base station 2a. |
| US07869828B2 |
Adjust equipment and method for array antenna transmission link
Adjust equipment and method for array antenna transmitting link, include: power detect device, signal synthesize device and array adjust device; the downlink signal of the transmitting link processed by the power detect device and be transmitted to the power detect signal feed device, and then transmitted to the signal synthesize device; signal synthesize device depart the part of radio frequency signal, output to the power detect device for the power detect; output the power signal to the power detect signal feed device, add the power signal and high frequency signal, power detect signal depart device pick the power signal from the mixed signal, regulate the weight of the adjustment. This invention never use the special adjust signal transmitting device and becoming antenna, placed by using method of signal power detect to calculate the adjust weight value and transmitting phase adjust weight value of the transmit gain, the speed of the constringency become faster. |
| US07869827B2 |
Encapsulating upper layers of CDMA signaling between a multi-mode device and a signaling gateway
Methods and systems are provided for encapsulating upper layers of CDMA signaling messages between a multi-mode device and a signaling gateway. In an exemplary embodiment, a multi-mode device has a CDMA mode and a Wi-Fi mode. In Wi-Fi mode, the device generates an upper-layer portion of a CDMA signaling message. The device then encapsulates the first upper-layer portion in at least one packet-switched-protocol, such as SIP. The device then transmits the encapsulated upper-layer portion of the CDMA signaling message via a Wi-Fi network and a packet-switched network to a signaling gateway, which then translates the upper-layer portion into an SS7 message, and transmits the SS7 message over an SS7 network. |
| US07869824B2 |
Cell phone with remote control system
A remote control system includes a mobile phone, a mobile communication network, a plurality of remote systems, and a server. The mobile phone has an antenna, a mobile communication modem, a processing unit, a system memory, a battery, a keypad, a speaker, and a display The mobile communication network comprises a wireless communication network. The remote systems communicate electronic signals with the mobile phone via the mobile communication network. And, the server is connected to the mobile communication network. The mobile phone controls the behavior of the remote system and communicates electronic signals for data, audio, and video with the processing unit having control software programs. The mobile phone decodes the electronic signals and plays on the display and the speaker. The remote mobile phone downloads and installs the control software programs from the server through the mobile communication network. |
| US07869819B2 |
Intelligent network services in a mobile network
A method and a system in a mobile communication system including plural mobile communications ranges, each range providing basic mobile telephony services to mobile communications units operating within the mobile communications range, wherein per subscriber, ranges per service node, such as MSC, SGSN and GSMC, are defined, whereby within each range, the corresponding network-specific services are defined. |
| US07869817B2 |
Periodic positioning method in mobile communications system
A positioning method in a SUPL based position information system, and more particularly, a method for performing periodic positioning capable of processing a periodic positioning request by a location server or a periodic positioning request by a mobile communications terminal when the location server and the terminal respectively manage a trigger generating the periodic positioning, are discussed. |
| US07869815B2 |
Location system with enhanced security
In a location system, gateways maintain privacy settings of mobile terminals. On receiving a location request from a client terminal, each gateway determines which of the gateways maintains the privacy settings of a target mobile terminal specified in the request, and transmits the location request to a gateway if the latter maintains the privacy settings of the specified target mobile terminal. The gateway performs a first privacy check on a location request received either from the client terminal or from other gateway using the privacy settings of the target mobile terminal, transmits the request to a positioning system to obtain a measurement result indicating the location of the target mobile terminal if the request conforms to the privacy settings, and performs a second privacy check on the measurement result using the privacy settings. A result of the second privacy check is then communicated to the client terminal. |
| US07869813B2 |
Position detection with frequency smoothing
The invention relates to a method for calculating a position of a mobile communications equipment. In order to obtain a more accurate position information of the mobile communications equipment, receiving physical communication channels within the mobile communications equipment, receiving first signal codes within said physical communication channels, measuring a signal phase of said first signal code within said mobile communications equipment, measuring a pseudodoppler frequency within said physical communications channels within said mobile communications equipment, reducing a noise level of said measured signal phase by using said pseudodoppler frequency, and calculating said position of said mobile communications equipment using at least said noise level reduced signal phase, is proposed. |
| US07869812B2 |
Method and apparatus for determining location using a hybrid solution
A method and device for location determination includes receiving at least one signal from a first transmitter and receiving at least one signal from a second signal transmitter. The first transmitter transmits a first type of signal and the second transmitter transmits a second type of signal different from the first type of signal. Location determination further includes assessing a signal quality of the signals received from at least one of the first signal transmitter and second signal transmitter and determining a location of a device using the received first and second type of signals at least from both the first signal transmitter and from the second signal transmitter. |
| US07869810B2 |
Method and system for computing and displaying location information from cross-correlation data
Two or more receivers in a plurality of receivers are selected and the signal data from each receiver obtained. A cross-correlation of signal data is computed for each receiver paring in the selected receivers. The results of each cross-correlation are then combined and mapped into a graphical indicator function. The graphical indicator function generates a visual representation of location information using the results of each cross-correlation computation. The visual representation is then displayed to a user. Additional location information may also be simultaneously displayed with the visual representation or upon command. |
| US07869809B2 |
Radio resource measurement and estimation
Apparatus and systems, as well as methods and articles, may operate to conduct radio measurement request and response operations between two stations to determine receive channel power indicator values associated with direct and indirect wireless links, and to select one of the links for use by the stations based on estimated link capacities. |
| US07869803B2 |
Profile modification for roaming in a communications environment
The claimed subject matter relates to systems and methods for roaming in a wireless communications environment. A method for roaming between networks is provided in one aspect. This includes receiving a request for network access at a visited network and receiving a profile from a home network in response to the request. Upon receiving the profile, selectively offering services to one or more access terminals based at least in part on the profile. |
| US07869801B2 |
Method for terminal configuration over a radio control channel
An embodiment is a method for configuring a terminal (e.g., a radio) over a radio control channel. Instead of requiring on-site technicians to physically connect to the radios or error-prone and time consuming data calls to individual radios, an embodiment broadcasts software and configuration data as part of one or more radio control channel messages. As the radio control message or multiple messages are broadcast, any radio listening to the radio control message(s) may be configured. Additionally, radios of a particular type will be configured to use the same version of software and configuration data. |
| US07869800B2 |
Portable cellular phone system having automatic initialization
A portable cellular phone system is provided, wherein matched sets of algorithmically generated communication units are generated, each defining an increment of authorized communication. One set is stored on a system server, i.e. a service provider, and the pre-paid set is available for use within a portable cellular phone. The portable cellular phone, which is normally non-activated, automatically contacts the system server upon selective activation by the user, to initiate a call (outgoing or incoming). A voice recognition system allows the user to place calls and/or receive calls. During a call, the portable cellular phone and the system server allow authorized access to communication, while the communication units are decremented at the system server and at the portable cellular phone. The portable cellular phone typically has either an internal energy supply and storage for the pre-paid communication units, or a removable airtime cartridge, typically containing an energy supply and either the ability to store or to generate a set of pre-paid single use airtime communication units. |
| US07869793B2 |
Method and apparatus for preventing unauthorized use of mobile terminal
A method and apparatus for preventing unauthorized use of a mobile terminal are provided, in which an execution code processor decrypts an Mobile Phone Certificate (MPC) using an MPC decryption code stored in it, when the mobile terminal is booted, an MPC processor compares a pre-stored MPC decryption execution code with the MPC decryption execution code, compares a pre-stored MPC encryption key with an MPC encryption key stored in the execution code processor. When the MPC decryption execution codes are identical, sets data required for an initial operation of the mobile terminal using an MPC management execution code included in a pre-stored MPC. When the MPC encryption keys are identical, decrypts Secured Code (SCode) blocks for execution of an application program, after executing the MPC management execution code. The execution code processor performs an operation program of the mobile terminal using the MPC management execution code and the decrypted SCode blocks. |
| US07869790B2 |
Policy-based controls for wireless cameras
A system and method of the present invention provide parental and corporate control for a camera-phone. An administration authority web site is provided that enables an owner of a camera-phone to log into a server and establish a set of control policies that specify what actions on the phone are authorized for what user. The control policies that affect behavior of the camera-phone are downloaded to the camera-phone, and the camera-phone is then operated such that a user of the camera-phone is only able to perform actions authorized by the control policies. In a further embodiment, a control policy is provided that requires the camera-phone to upload captured images to the server for review by the camera-phone owner. In addition, the images may be quarantined until the camera-phone owner authorizes their release to the user. |
| US07869789B2 |
Computing device with environment aware features
A method and mobile electronic device are provided which automatically adjust settings based on the environment of the mobile electronic device. The settings of the mobile electronic device which are adjusted may be security settings, filter settings, or status for instant messaging in dependence on the determined location of the mobile electronic device. |
| US07869788B2 |
Device billing agent
Access devices using billing agents and methods are disclosed. In one embodiment, the method comprises capturing, at an access device, a communication to be transmitted from the access device. The method further comprises determining billing information about the communication and transmitting, from the wireless communications device, the billing information to a billing system. |
| US07869784B2 |
Radio frequency circuit with integrated on-chip radio frequency inductive signal coupler
A radio frequency (RF) circuit (100) as disclosed herein is fabricated on a substrate (204, 304) using integrated passive device (IPD) process technology. The RF circuit (100) includes an RF inductor (200, 300) and an integrated inductive RF coupler (202, 302) located proximate to the RF inductor (200, 300). The inductive RF coupler (202, 302), its output and grounding contact pads, and its transmission lines are fabricated on the same substrate (204, 304) using the same IPD process technology. The inductive RF coupler (202, 302) includes a coupling section (212, 306) that is either located inside or outside a spiral of the RF inductor (200, 300). The inductive RF coupler (202, 302) and the RF inductor (200, 300) are cooperatively configured to function as the windings of an RF transformer, thus achieving the desired coupling. The inductive RF coupler (202, 302) provides efficient and reproducible RF coupling without increasing the die footprint of the RF circuit (100). |
| US07869783B2 |
Extended smart antenna system
A communications device for receiving a propagating electromagnetic signal representing an information signal. The communications device comprises a first and a second radiator each comprising a plurality of structural elements; a controller for configuring one or more of the structural elements of the first radiator to produce first operating characteristics of the first radiator, the first radiator producing a first received signal responsive to the first operating characteristics; the controller for configuring one or more of the structural elements of the second radiator to produce second operating characteristics of the second radiator different than the first operating characteristics, the second radiator producing a second received signal responsive to the second operating characteristics and a signal processor responsive to at least one of the first and the second received signals for determining the information signal. |
| US07869781B2 |
Method and system for mitigating the effects of pulling in multiple phase locked loops in multi-standard systems
Certain aspects of a method and system for mitigating effects of pulling in multiple phase locked loops in multi-standard systems may include selecting an input frequency range of operation at a voltage controlled oscillator based on a particular wireless band of operation in a system that handles a first wireless communication protocol and a second wireless communication protocol. An image rejection mixer may be enabled to generate an output signal for the particular wireless band of operation based on mixing a plurality of received signals within a selected frequency range. An in-phase (I) component and a quadrature (Q) component of the generated output signal may be generated by utilizing a RC-CR quadrature network. |
| US07869778B2 |
Master-slave local oscillator porting between radio integrated circuits
A technique to share a local oscillator signal between two radio frequency integrated circuits (RFICs). The local oscillator signal generated internally by one RFIC is ported to the other RFIC for use in transmit or receive operation. The local oscillator signal that is ported may be an RF local oscillator signal. Each RFIC may include a bi-directional port circuit that can be operated to make the RFIC a master, slave or may be totally disabled to disable the porting feature. This is particularly useful in RFICs that are used to communicate using MIMO radio algorithms which rely for optimum performance on phase and frequency coherency among a plurality of transmitters and a plurality of receivers. |
| US07869775B2 |
Circuit and method for biasing a gallium arsenide (GaAs) power amplifier
A circuit for biasing a gallium arsenide (GaAs) power amplifier includes a reference voltage generator circuit implemented in a gallium arsenide (GaAs) material system, a field effect transistor (FET) bias circuit implemented in the gallium arsenide material system and adapted to receive an output of the reference voltage generator circuit and adapted to provide an output to a radio frequency (RF) amplifier stage. |
| US07869774B1 |
RF saturation voltage sensor
An apparatus and method is disclosed for providing a sensor circuit to detect when an output stage of a radio frequency (RF) power amplifier is driven into a non-linear saturation region and provide an output detection signal that is representative of the degree of saturation of the output stage. The sensor circuit includes a detection element operably coupled with an output stage and a reference voltage element operably coupled with the detection element, the reference voltage element is capable of providing an output detection signal. |
| US07869772B2 |
Mobile phone and use management system thereof
A mobile phone use management system which manages use of the mobile phone includes the mobile phone and a signal transmitting device which transmits the signal for controlling the power supply of the mobile phone. The mobile phone having a non-contact IC card function includes a mobile phone including a power unit which executes power supply of the mobile phone, a non-contact IC card unit which can execute wireless communication with an external terminal device, a power supply control unit which executes control of switching the power supply from the power unit between a power supply stopped state and a power suppliable state based on a signal received from the non-contact IC card unit, and a transmitting unit which transmits a signal for controlling the power supply to the power supply control unit when the non-contact IC card unit receives the signal for controlling the power supply from the external terminal device. |
| US07869771B2 |
Multi-band transformer for wireless transmitter
Various embodiments are disclosed relating to wireless transmitters, and also relating to multi-band transformers. According to an example embodiment, an apparatus may include a multi-band transformer configured to receive as an input a signal associated with a first frequency band or a signal associated with a second frequency band. The transformer may include one or more inputs and a first output and a second output. The transformer may also include one or more switches coupled to the transformer and configured to selectively output a received input signal onto the first output and/or the second output of the transformer. |
| US07869768B1 |
Techniques for controlling speaker volume of a portable communications device
A technique is directed to controlling speaker volume of a speaker of a portable communications device (e.g., a cellular telephone, a cordless hand phone, a combination of a cellular phone and a hands-free ear piece, etc.). The technique involves receiving an environmental signal from an environmental microphone of the portable communications device. The technique further involves identifying a level of environmental noise based on the environmental signal, and adjusting the speaker volume of the speaker of the portable communications device (e.g., ringer volume, voice output volume, etc.) based on the identified level of environmental noise. Such operation enables a user to accommodate a variety of settings without burdening the user with ongoing manual volume control of the portable communications device. |
| US07869767B2 |
Method and apparatus for adaptively controlling signals
A signal processing system according to various aspects of the present invention includes an excursion signal generator, a scaling system and a filter system. The excursion signal generator identifies a peak portion of a signal that exceeds a threshold and generates a corresponding excursion signal. The scaling system applies a real scale factor to contiguous sets of excursion samples in order to optimize peak-reduction performance. The filter system filters the excursion signal to remove unwanted frequency components from the excursion signal. The filtered excursion signal may then be subtracted from a delayed version of the original signal to reduce the peak. The signal processing system may also control power consumption by adjusting the threshold. The signal processing system may additionally adjust the scale of the excursion signal and/or individual channel signals, such as to meet constraints on channel noise and output spectrum, or to optimize peak reduction. The magnitude threshold, excursion signal and/or individual channel signals may also be adaptively adjusted based on, for example, a channel signal quality such as a noise level specification. |
| US07869765B2 |
Device with broadcast receiver and local wireless interface
A device that includes a broadcast receiver and a local wireless interface where the broadcast receiver is capable of receiving broadcast data, and the local wireless interface is capable of communicating with at least one wireless device and transmitting at least some of the broadcast data to the at least one wireless device. The broadcast receiver may be an audio receiver, a video signal receiver, or a satellite receiver. The local wireless interface may be a Bluetooth interface, an IEEE 802.11 (WiFi) interface, an IrDA interface, or a home radio frequency (HomeRF) interface. |
| US07869764B2 |
Electronic circuit for a high-frequency switch
An electronic circuit for a high-frequency switch for opening an antenna resonance circuit of an RFID system, wherein the high-frequency switch can be opened and closed by d.c. voltages, in which circuit a rectifier circuit generates the blocking voltage for opening the high-frequency switch from the high-frequency supply voltage, the rectifier circuit is designed such that it generates a blocking voltage whose value corresponds at least to the peak-to-peak value of the high-frequency voltage to be switched, the blocking voltage is conducted via the same electric connecting line via which the high-frequency supply voltage and a closing voltage are also conducted to the antenna of the RFID system, and a resistor is connected in parallel with each of the PIN diodes, which are series-connected with respect to direct current. |
| US07869760B2 |
Radio communication apparatus and radio communication method
A radio communication device capable of lightening the influence of a frequency selective fading in the wide-band transmission of a single carrier thereby to prevent deterioration of error rate characteristics. In this device, an FFT unit (13) subjects a modulated signal inputted from a modulation unit (12) to a Fourier transformation. A pilot insertion unit (14) inserts a pilot symbol into a plurality of individual frequency components (1-N) of the modulated signal. Weight multiplication units (15-1, 15-2) multiply the individual frequency components (1-N) and the pilot symbols inserted into the individual frequency components (1-N), by weight coefficients (W11-W1N, W21-W2N) set at a weight coefficient setting unit (54). IFFT units (16-1, 16-2) subject the frequency components (1-N) to an inverse Fourier transformation, thereby to convert the frequency components (1-N) into time domains. |
| US07869755B2 |
Automatic document feeder, image reading device including the same, and image forming apparatus including the same
An automatic document feeder, for transferring a document through a scanning position three times, includes: a first transfer mechanism to reverse a given document via a reversing path, and transfer the same to a scanning position; a second transfer mechanism to transfer the given document from the scanning position to one of a switchback path and a document discharging part; a switchback mechanism to transfer the given document to a lay-by on the switchback path, and then transfer the given document towards the reversing path via a re-entry path; and a control unit to control the mechanisms so that a second original document passes through the scanning position a first time before a first original document passes through the scanning position a third time, and to pause travel of the second original document at the lay-by as the first original document is passed through the scanning position a third time. |
| US07869751B2 |
Transfer device and image forming apparatus
An endless belt is supported by a plurality of rollers. A transfer roller comes in contact with an outer surface of the belt to form a transfer nip. An auxiliary member makes contact with a recording medium on an upstream side of the transfer nip in a movement direction of the belt, to cause the recording medium to be in close contact with the outer surface of the belt. A bias applying unit applies to the auxiliary member a bias for electrostatically transferring a toner adhered to the auxiliary member to the outer surface of the belt. |
| US07869750B2 |
Image forming apparatus with a phase of a first load torque substantially opposite to a phase of a second load torque
A reciprocating-motion converting mechanism includes a cam that rotates around a rotation center; a reciprocating member that is reciprocated due to rotation of the cam; and a pressing unit that presses the reciprocating member to the cam. A first load torque is generated by a load applied at a point of contact of the cam and the reciprocating motion member. A load applying unit applies a load to the cam to generate a second load torque having a phase substantially opposite to a phase of the first load torque. |
| US07869747B2 |
Developer container and method for filling the same
A developer container includes: a container chamber that has a container space for containing a developer; and an conveyance member having a rotation shaft and a spiral member and which rotates inside the container space about the rotation shaft, the spiral member being spirally extended to hold a first angle to an axial direction of the rotation shaft, and the spiral member being provided with a plurality of low-angle portions, wherein at least one of the low-angle portions is provided in each unit segment which is equivalent to one turn of the spiral member about the rotation shaft, and an amount of a developer contained in the container space is enough to constantly bury any of the plurality of low-angle portions in the developer under a condition that the axial direction of the rotation shaft is held to be horizontal inside the container space. |
| US07869746B2 |
Image forming device, powder supply device, and powder storage unit including a gas supplying unit
In an image forming device including an image support object which supports an electrostatic latent image, and a developing device which turns the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the image support object, into a visible image with toner, a powder storing unit stores powder for image formation which is either a developing agent containing a toner and a carrier or a toner. A powder supplying unit supplies the powder stored in the powder storing unit, to the developing device. The powder storing unit includes a gas supplying unit which blows off a gas from an exhaust outlet of the gas supplying unit into the powder storing unit, and a powder passage which allows the powder storing unit to communicate with the developing device. |
| US07869745B2 |
Developing device having an agitating member and image forming apparatus using same
A developing device includes: a developer carrying body that carries liquid developer containing toner and carrier liquid; a developer supplying member adapted to rotate in a first sense of rotation to supply liquid developer to the developer carrying body; a contact member arranged at a first side relative to a virtual perpendicular plane passing through the axis of the developer supplying member so as to contact the developer supplying member; a supply section that stores liquid developer to be supplied by the developer supplying member to the developer carrying body; and an agitating member adapted to rotate in a second sense of rotation different from the first sense of rotation and arranged at a second side relative to the virtual perpendicular plane passing through the axis of the developer supplying member. |
| US07869742B2 |
Developing cartridge and image forming device with pressing member
A developing cartridge that maintains a pressing condition to press a developer carrier against the image carrier is described. The developing cartridge may include a coil spring that presses the developer carrier against the image carrier. The coil spring may include a handle that transmits a pressing force to the coil spring via the contacting member. By doing so, every time the developing cartridge is replaced, a new coil spring and handle can be provided for the color laser printer with the developing cartridge attached. Therefore, a constant pressure by the coil spring can be continuously maintained. Thus, a preferable pressure condition of the developer carrier against the image carrier can be continuously maintained. |
| US07869740B2 |
Process cartridge and image forming apparatus
A process cartridge is detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus. The cartridge includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum, a developing roller, a drum unit containing the drum, a developing unit containing the roller and being movable so the roller contacts and is spaced from the drum, and a first force receiver receiving a force from a main-assembly first force applier by movement of a door from open to closed positions when mounting the cartridge and a second force receiver movable from a stand-by position by movement of the first force receiver by a force received from the first force applier. The second force receiver takes a projected position receiving a force from the second force applier to move the developing unit so the roller moves out of contact with the drum, the projected position being higher than the stand-by position. |
| US07869732B2 |
Amplitude modulation of illuminators in sensing applications in printing system
An image printing system includes a print engine and a sensing system. The print engine is configured to print a marking material image on a image bearing surface. The sensing system includes a plurality of illuminators, a modulator, a sensor, and a demodulator. Each illuminator is configured to simultaneously emit a light beam at the marking material image on the image bearing surface, thereby producing reflectance from the marking material image at least in a first direction. The modulator is configured to modulate an intensity characteristic of each of the light beams emitted by the illuminators such that each light beam has a different modulated waveform characteristic, where the waveform characteristic includes at least frequency. The sensor is configured to detect the reflectance from the plurality of light beams in the first direction and output a reflectance signal. The demodulator is configured to demodulate the reflectance signal to isolate a response of the marking material image to each of the individual illuminators. |
| US07869727B2 |
Image forming apparatus with control section to control development bias potential
High quality images are provided by controlling development conditions based on the proportion of the toner layer potential difference, which a difference between the toner layer potential and electrostatic latent image potential, to the development contrast potential difference, which is a difference between the development bias potential and electrostatic latent image potential. The control section for controlling a development power supply controls the voltage supplied by the development power supply, based on the toner layer potential difference and development contrast potential difference in the development section. This arrangement ensures formation of high-quality images free from concentration of toner. |
| US07869725B2 |
Method and device for measuring surface potential distribution, method and device for measuring insulation resistance, electrostatic latent image measurement device, and charging device
A surface potential distribution measurement method and device including setting a sample having a surface with a surface potential distribution in a sample installation unit wherein both an electric field intensity formed on the sample surface and a potential bias component of the sample are variable, and scanning the sample surface in a one-dimensional or two-dimensional manner by irradiating a charged particle beam to the sample. The method also includes obtaining a detection signal from charged particles generated by the scanning, to measure the surface potential distribution of the sample by varying the electric field intensity and the potential bias component in order to control a quantity of the detection signal obtained from the charged particles. |
| US07869722B2 |
Blade maintenance process and system for maintaining adequate toner dam
A toner dam maintenance process and system model the amount of toner mass at a toner cleaner blade, and apply a corrective procedure, such as insertion of a paperless copy into the print job mid-job or immediately prior to cycle out, to replenish the toner mass at the cleaner blade to maintain lubrication and reduce cleaning failure. The modeling includes contributing factors toward toner dam input and output, including untransferred toner, cycle-in/cycle-out bands, untransferred background, and leakage of toner from the cleaner blade. One or several threshold can be reached to cause one or more different corrective actions to take place. The action may be adding or skipping a pitch to insert a corrective maintenance pattern without transfer. |
| US07869718B1 |
Power monitoring photo eye controller
A wireless, automatic door obstruction detection system for protecting a motorized door or gate by signaling various hazardous conditions and reacting to said conditions by signaling control means. The invention utilizes wireless infrared emitter, receiver and controller apparatus. Infrared pulse timing data is sent as pulse repetition rate changes depending upon battery condition. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the photoelectric transmitter emits timed pulse groups to present control information differentiating between a good battery and a low battery condition in the wireless transmitter. A wireless photoelectric transmitter extends the time period between pulse groups to indicate a low battery condition. A low battery condition signaling thereby presents a low power drain condition allowing for an extended period of low battery condition signaling. |
| US07869715B2 |
Dispersion compensating apparatus and dispersion compensation control method
A variable dispersion compensating unit compensates an optical signal, and changes the compensation amount according to a control signal that has a given frequency. After demodulation of the compensated optical signal, error conditions of the signal are monitored and an error signal is output. A band pass filter filters the error signal for a component having a frequency equal to or less than the given frequency. Based on the component and on the control signal, a synchronous detecting circuit generates a compensation amount modification signal. The compensation amount modification signal is superposed on the control signal. |
| US07869706B2 |
Shooting apparatus for a microscope
A camera head acquires a sample image by shooting a scaled up image of a sample obtained by a microscope body. A memory device records the sample image in a record medium. A CPU detects the completion of the sighting on an observed portion of a sample in a microscope body on the basis of a R. G. B data value of each pixel configuring a microscope image detected by the R. G. B data value. Furthermore, the CPU detects the completion of the focusing on the observed portion by the microscope boundary on the basis of the height of the contrast of the microscope image detected by the focusing completion detection unit. When both completion of the sighting and completion of focusing are detected, the CPU controls a memory device to record a sample image acquired by a camera head on a record medium. |
| US07869705B2 |
Lighting array control
A subject captured by a camera may be affected by environmental lighting provided by nearby light sources and the sun or moon, which may cause underexposure or overexposure of the image or aesthetically displeasing color tones. Image processing and camera adjustments may mitigate some imaging problems with limited effect and introduce undesirable side effects. A lighting array may be devised to expose the subject to various types of light (e.g., white light comprising full spectrum illumination and red, green, and blue lights comprising partial spectrum illumination) to resolve lighting problems in a more effective manner. Moreover, the lighting array may be responsively controlled to adjust the subject image with respect to one or more target spectra specifying desirable colors for the subject image. The lighting array may be iteratively controlled, e.g. by a gradient descent algorithm, for incrementally adjusting parameters with respect to proximate target spectra for the image. |
| US07869695B2 |
Optical disc apparatus
To improve operability of figure key input in a title search, a chapter search, a track search, and a time search mode in an optical disc apparatus, for example, the quantity number of titles and the quantity number of digits thereof are detected from an optical disc. When a figure for title search is inputted, if this figure exceeds a figure included in the ten's digit of the quantity number of titles, this figure is considered as a figure in the one's digit for search. If the figure for search is equal to or smaller than the figure in the ten's digit of the quantity number of titles, the figure inputted for search is registered as a figure in the ten's digit. Subsequently, if the figure for search is smaller than the figure in the ten's digit of the quantity number of titles, a figure in the one's digit for search within a range from 0 to 9 is inputted and registered. If the figure for search is equal to the figure in the ten's digit of the quantity number of titles, a figure inputted in the one's digit for search, which is limited to a figure equal to or smaller than the figure in the one's digit of the quantity number of titles, is inputted and registered. |
| US07869689B2 |
Apparatus and method for integrated scheduled recording in multi-tuner system
An apparatus and method are disclosed for setting scheduled recording of a plurality of standard broadcast signals received by a multi-tuner system on a single integrated scheduled recording setup graphical user interface (GUI) screen. The apparatus comprises a multi-tuner receiver for receiving a plurality of broadcast signals complying with different standards, a timer unit for providing timer information necessary for a plurality of tuners and scheduled recording of channels available in the tuners, and a graphic user interface (GUI) engine for integrally displaying information regarding tuners available for scheduled recording and channels available in the available tuners on a single screen in response to a user's input. The method comprises displaying an integrated scheduled recording setup graphic user interface (GUI) screen that provides respective fields for displaying a selected tuner, a selected channel available in the selected tuner at one time, and setting a scheduled recording by facilitating the inputting of necessary information for scheduled recordings by different tuners. Timer information necessary for scheduled recording is used in common on the integrated scheduled recording setup GUI screen regardless tuner type. |
| US07869681B2 |
Optical connection closure having at least one connector port for optically connecting a drop cable to a distribution cable
An optical connection closure has at least one connector port located within an external wall of the closure for receiving a connectorized optical fiber of a distribution cable on the inside of the closure and a pre-connectorized fiber optic drop cable on the outside of the closure. The closure includes a base, a cover affixed to the base and movable between a closed position and an opened position, and an end wall that defines at least a portion of at least one cable opening for receiving the distribution cable in a butt-type or a through-type closure configuration. The base and the cover define an interior cavity that optionally contains a splice tray for interconnecting the optical fiber of the distribution cable with a pigtail to create the connectorized optical fiber. The connector port may be located within an end wall, a bottom wall or a top wall of the closure. |
| US07869679B2 |
Modular imaging system, modules for this system and method implemented using this system
An imaging device includes an illumination module comprising at least one emitter for emitting at least one excitation beam; a scanning and injection module comprising an image guide, a proximal end and a distal end of which are linked by a plurality of optical fibers; a scanning and injection optical system configured to alternately inject the at least one excitation beam into an optical fiber of the image guide from the proximal end of the image guide; a detection module comprising a detector for detecting a luminous flux collected at the distal end of the image guide, wherein at least one of the illumination module and the detection module is optically conjugated with the scanning and injection module using a conjugating optical fiber. |
| US07869672B2 |
Optical assemblies and methods for fabrication of optical assemblies
An optical assembly is formed with a silicon substrate having a first surface and a second surface confronting the first surface. A reflective coating is formed over the first surface. Multiple diffraction gratings are formed integrally within the second surface of the silicon substrate. An optical absorber is formed over the second surface between the diffraction gratings. |
| US07869668B2 |
Method for generating carrier residual signal and its device
A method for generating a carrier residual signal and its device, in which a heterodyne optical signal used in a photometric field or an optical fiber radio communication field can be stably generated with a simplified structure. The device includes an optical modulating unit that includes a light source generating a light wave having a specific wavelength, and an SSB optical modulator. A light wave emitted from the light source enters into the optical modulating unit. A light wave emitted from the optical modulating unit includes a carrier component related to a zero-order Bessel function and a specific signal component related to a specific high-order Bessel function while suppressing signal components other than the specific signal component related to the specific high-order Bessel function, and a ratio of optical intensity between the carrier component and the specific signal component is set substantially to 1. |
| US07869666B2 |
Video processing system and method with dynamic tag architecture
An image processing system and method, in which a plurality of image processing operations are dynamically controlled based on dynamically changing tag data associated with pixels being processed. |
| US07869664B2 |
Systems and methods for alignment of objects in images
Systems and methods for aligning objects in object sets are provided. An object set has objects that are in a corresponding image in a plurality of images. For each respective object in a first object set, a corresponding object group is constructed that contains the respective object, thereby constructing a plurality of object groups. Similarity metrics are computed between object groups and objects in objects sets in order to assign the objects to object groups. The object groups are then refined in order to align objects in the object sets. |
| US07869661B2 |
Image coding apparatus, image coding method, and image coding program for coding at least one still frame with still frame coding having a higher quality than normal frame coding of other frames
An image coding apparatus includes a still frame coding judgement unit for judging whether a target frame to be coded is a still frame or not from a difference value between the target frame and an immediately previous reference frame, and a quantization parameter control unit for performing control of a quantization parameter value to be used for coding, on an initial one frame at which an image starts to come into a standstill, wherein the initial frame is subjected to coding with less coding error as compared with coding for other frames. |
| US07869658B2 |
Representative image selection based on hierarchical clustering
In a computer-mediated method for providing representative images, image records are classified spatio-temporally into groups. In each group, image records are partitioned into clusters and the hierarchically highest cluster is ascertained. The partitioning is between a hierarchy of feature clusters and a remainder cluster, based on a predetermined plurality of saliency features. Feature clusters each have one or more of the saliency features. The remainder cluster lacks the saliency features. Feature clusters are each exclusive of the saliency features of any higher clusters in the hierarchy and non-exclusive of the saliency features of any lower feature clusters in the hierarchy. A representative image of each group is designated from respective image records based on: the respective saliency feature of the highest cluster when the highest cluster is a feature cluster and independent of the saliency features when the highest cluster is the remainder cluster. |
| US07869657B2 |
System and method for comparing images using an edit distance
A system and method for comparing images by calculating an edit distance between the images using the results of matching portions of one image to the other. The first image is divided into blocks of pixels. For every block of pixels, a closest match is found in the second image. Substitution is equated to the sum of the errors in the closet matches. Deletion is equated to the percentage of the second image not involved in any of the matching. Insertion is equated to the percentage of the second image simultaneously involved in matching more than one block. The image edit distance may then be calculated as the weighted sum of the insertion, deletion and substitution. Recognition may be done by finding a minimum edit distance between an image of an unknown object and a set of reference images. |
| US07869653B2 |
Magnetic ink character recognition apparatus and magnetic ink character recognition method
Column misalignment between a magnetically-recognized character string and an optically-recognized character string is corrected to improve character recognition reliability. A character string is read magnetically and the result outputted. The same character string is also read optically and the result outputted. A magnetic data reading unit detects the magnetism of a character string printed in magnetic ink and outputs the detected magnetic data. A recognition result comparing unit then applies a column offset detection process to detect misalignment between the character columns in the magnetic and optical results, then applies a column offset correction process to correct any column offset and align corresponding character columns. The comparing unit then compares corresponding character columns in the magnetic data recognition result and image data recognition result. For each position comparison, the comparing unit outputs the common character if the magnetically-recognized and optically-recognized character at that position match, or a question mark if the magnetically-recognized and optically-recognized character at the position do not match or if one or both of the magnetically-recognized or optically-recognized character is missing. |
| US07869649B2 |
Image processing device, image processing method, program, storage medium and integrated circuit
It is an object to perform color correction that is simple and utilizes existing devices to achieve an increase in the feeling of depth in 2D images. Input image data are transformed into predetermined color information by a color information calculation portion 11. A correction amount control portion 10 determines a correction gain value for the color information according to depth information that has been input. A color information correction portion 12 performs color information correction based on the correction amount due to the contrast between the color information of a target pixel and representative color information of the surrounding region, and the correction gain value of the correction amount control portion. An output portion 13 converts this into a predetermined image format and outputs the result. Thus, by correcting the color information based on the contrast effect in conjunction with the depth information of the foreground and the background, for example, it is possible to easily increase the feeling of depth in a 2D image. Moreover, by controlling the color contrast effect with the depth information when performing the color correction, it becomes possible to more easily give a sense of depth that is perceived by humans. |
| US07869647B2 |
System and method for processing training data for a statistical application
Representative embodiments are directed to systems and methods for processing training data for a statistical classification application. In one embodiment, confidence values are calculated for training data elements to identify the probabilities of the training data elements belonging to identified classes. An interactive scatter plot is generated using the calculated confidence values. The scatter plot visually indicates the confidence values of points in the scatter plot. Accordingly, the user is able to identify potentially misclassified training data elements. The user may select training data elements from the scatter plot and reclassify training elements as appropriate. Upon reclassification, the confidence values may be recalculated and the scatter plot revised. |
| US07869646B2 |
Method for estimating three-dimensional position of human joint using sphere projecting technique
A method for estimating three-dimensional positions of human joints includes the steps of: a) marker-free motion capturing a moving figure for obtaining a multiview 2D image of the moving figure, and extracting a 2D feature point corresponding to a bodily end-effector; b) three-dimensionally matching the 2D feature point corresponding to the bodily end-effector, and recovering the 3D coordinates of the bodily end-effector; c) generating a 3D blob of the bodily end-effector, generating a virtual sphere with a radius that is a distance from a center of the 3D blob to a joint, and projecting the virtual sphere onto the obtained multiview 2D image of the moving figure; and d) detecting a coinciding point of a surface of the projected virtual sphere and the multiview 2D image of the moving figure, and estimating a 3D position corresponding to the coinciding point as a 3D position of the joint. |
| US07869638B2 |
Image processing method and computer readable medium for image processing
An intestine is cut by a cross section of a spherical surface or a combination of a plane and a spherical surface, and voxel values on the cross section are projected onto a projection plane in parallel, whereby a cross-sectional image of the intestine is created. Unlike a CPR image, the image of the spherical portion is projected without being extended. If the radius of the spherical surface is increased, the depth toward a screen can be seen and thus perspective of the inside of the observation object can be understood. On the other hand, if the radius of the spherical surface is lessened, the cut surface of the observation object is displayed as flat MPR and can be observed without distortion. Therefore, the radius of the spherical surface is set appropriately in conjunction with the thickness of the observation object, whereby a precise diagnosis can be conducted. |
| US07869635B2 |
Fingerprint scar recognition method and apparatus
A method of recognizing an injury pattern on a fingerprint is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of providing biometric information to a contact imager; imaging and characterizing the biometric information; comparing an image of the biometric information against previously stored templates; upon a comparison result of the comparison, determining an injury pattern; wherein upon an injury pattern determination, performing a comparison against a stored template based on features extracted from the biometric data and the damage data. |
| US07869630B2 |
Apparatus and method for processing image
A template representative of an image of a human face is provided. At least one of the template and image data is rotated to adjust a relative angle between an original orientation of the template and an original orientation of the image data, so as to exclude an angle range including 180 degrees. It is examined a matching between a part of the image data and the template to identify a region in the image data containing an image of a human face. The image data is corrected in accordance with a condition of the image of the human face. |
| US07869626B2 |
Iris recognition method and apparatus thereof
An iris recognition method is provided. In the iris recognition method, binary image data is obtained by receiving eye image data and filtering the received eye image data using a predetermined threshold value. Then, candidate center search regions are searched for finding a pupil center using profile information of rows and columns of the binarized image. a pupil boundary and a center point are detected by performing a mask operation using 8 pupil boundary mask templates for each of concentric circles formed of pointes in the searched candidate center search regions as candidate pupil centers and different radiuses. An iris boundary region is detected by performing a masking operation using 6 iris boundary mask templates corresponding to 6 locations for concentric circles formed of the pupil center as an origin and different radiuses. |
| US07869623B2 |
Inspection machine and process
The machine comprises at least a first sheet inspection unit with an inspection cylinder for transporting a printed sheet during inspection, an illumination means and a camera connected to an analysing device, an input transfer cylinder to bring the printed sheet to the at least one inspection unit and an output transfer cylinder to take away the printed sheet from the at least one inspection unit. The inspection unit and the transfer cylinders are arranged in such a manner that the output transfer cylinder takes away the inspected printed sheet only once the inspection is completed. |
| US07869620B2 |
Methods for processing images to detect objects below the surface of the water
The present invention is a processing method to increase the detection of objects below the surface of the water comprising the steps of: acquiring image data in separate spectral regions simultaneously and converting the image data into intensity value arrays for each spectral region, transforming the intensity value arrays into two-dimensional discrete wavelet transform arrays for each spectral region, and subtracting in a pair wise manner the two-dimensional discrete wavelet transform arrays thereby obtaining images showing an object below the surface of the water. |
| US07869616B2 |
Active crossover and wireless interface for use with multi-driver in-ear monitors
A headset with an active crossover network is provided. The headset is coupleable to a first audio source using a wired connection and to a second audio source using a wireless connection. A controller is used to determine whether the first, or second, audio source is coupled to the active crossover network which, utilizing either analog or digital filtering, divides each channel of the incoming audio signal into multiple frequency regions sufficient for the number of drivers contained within the in-ear monitors of the headset. The output from the network's filters is amplified using either single channel or multi-channel amplifies. Preferably, gain control circuitry is used to control the gain of the amplifier(s) and thus the volume produced by the drivers. More preferably, the gain of the gain control circuitry is adjustable. The headset includes a power source that is coupled to the amplifier(s) and, if necessary, the network's filters. The power source can be included within some portion of the headset or included within the wireless interface. Alternately, an external power source can be used, for example one associated with the audio source. |
| US07869614B2 |
Fixing device for operating elements of hearing devices or hearing aids
The present invention provides a fixing device for receiving and attaching operating elements to the faceplate of hearing devices or hearing aids, whereas the operating elements comprising connectors for the electrical connection to further electric or electronic components of the hearing device or hearing aid, further comprising a bush having a slot continuously extending from one end to the other end of said bush. Such a bush may on one hand be shifted from the outside onto a defined area of the operating element and on the other hand be inserted into an opening of the faceplate with an opening diameter dimensioned according the outer diameter of the bush. The clamping effect thus acts both onto the bush and the operating element, thereby fixing reliable both the bush and the operating element within the faceplate. The bush or the operating element respectively may thus easily non-destructively be removed from the faceplate by pulling it out of the opening in the faceplate. |
| US07869610B2 |
Balanced armature bone conduction shaker
A bone conduction transducer suitable for use in a listening device, such as hearing aids, in-ear monitors, headphones, electronic hearing protection devices, and very small scale acoustic speakers, has an end mass assembly disposed within the housing. The end mass assembly is mounted to the acoustic assembly and operatively coupled to the motor assembly via a coupling assembly. |
| US07869608B2 |
Electronic device accessory
Electronic devices and accessories such as headsets for electronic devices are provided. A microphone may be included in an accessory to capture sound for an associated electronic device. Buttons and other user interfaces may be included in the accessories. An accessory may have an audio plug that connects to a mating audio jack in an electronic device, thereby establishing a wired communications link between the accessory and the electronic device. The electronic device may include power supply circuitry for applying bias voltages to the accessory. The bias voltages may bias a microphone and may adjust settings in the accessory such as settings related to operating modes. User input information may be conveyed between the accessory and the electronic device using ultrasonic tone transmission. The electronic device may also gather input from the accessory using a voltage detector coupled to lines in the communications path. |
| US07869607B2 |
Quiet active fan for servers chassis
An Active Muffler in the form of a duct having two open ends for conveying air from a within a cabinet to outside the cabinet. A fan or blower is incorporated in the duct. An Automatic Noise Control (ANC) unit is associated with the duct, and at least one microphone and at least one speaker are incorporated in to the duct for noise-reduction. An outer portion of the duct may be sound-absorbing material. the ANC unit may cause noise to be shifted to a frequency that can be absorbed by the sound-absorbing material. |
| US07869606B2 |
Automatically modifiable hearing aid
For modifying or adapting at least one basic hearing aid setting such as volume, low/high frequency balance etc., it is suggested that at particular time intervals at least one current user-selected setting entered on the hearing aid is registered and combined or linked with the existing basic setting in or on the hearing aid by means of a predefined algorithm in order to arrive at a new basic setting and to store same in or on the hearing aid. The current user setting is acquired for instance in sound-specific fashion, i.e. with reference to a specific registered sound category or at least one hearing-related ambient parameter, and is linked with the corresponding, associated sound-specific basic setting in order to arrive at the new sound-specific basic setting. |
| US07869604B2 |
System for an encryption key path diagnostic
A system is provided to perform a key path diagnostic that aids in isolating an error within the encryption storage system. The system includes at least one drive, a key proxy, a key server, a key manager, and a processor. The processor performs a first communication test on a path between the key proxy and the drive. The first communication test verifies that the path between the drive and the key proxy is operational. The processor performs a second communication test on a path between the key proxy and the key server. The second communication test verifies that the path between the key proxy and the key server is operational. In addition, processor sends a command to the key manager to attempt communication with the key manager. The communication attempt verifies the installation and configuration parameters related to the key manager. |
| US07869596B2 |
Method of recording scrambled digital data, storage medium and method of reading such data
A method of recording scrambled digital data comprising the steps consisting in: (a) receiving a scrambled digital data stream; (b) identifying in the data stream a control packet (ECM) containing at least one key (CW) for descrambling at least a part of the data of the stream; (c) storing the control packet in a table; and (d) recording the data stream and the said table on a data storage medium. A storage medium and a method of reading the recorded data are also proposed. |
| US07869594B2 |
Digital broadcasting receiving system and digital broadcasting receiving device
A digital broadcasting receiving system is provided. The digital broadcasting receiving system includes an information processing device for executing a loader, a main process, and a supervisory process, a digital broadcasting receiving device detachably connected to the information processing device. The information processing device includes storage section on which the loader is developed, and transmits the main process and the supervisory process to the digital broadcasting receiving device. The digital broadcasting receiving device includes receiving section for receiving the broadcast signal to generate content data, decryption key storage section, process decryption section for decrypting the main process and the supervisory process using the decryption key, protective data adding section for adding protective data to the main process decrypted by the process decryption section, and first protective data storage section. The information processing device, in accordance with the loader, receives the decrypted main process and the decrypted supervisory process from the digital broadcasting receiving device. |
| US07869593B2 |
Software for providing based on shared knowledge public keys having same private key
Facilitating communication using a digital signature includes: communicating software to a first party; receiving from the first party public keys of public-private key pairs generated using the software; and recording in a database the public keys in association with information pertaining to the software. The key pairs have the same private key. The software additionally provides digital signatures utilizing this private key. Each public key of these key pairs is generated, in part, based on data that is specified by the first party. |
| US07869590B2 |
Method and system for hardware accelerator for implementing f9 integrity algorithm in WCDMA compliant handsets
In a wireless communication system, a method and system for a hardware accelerator for implementing the f9 integrity algorithm in WCDMA compliant handsets are provided. Intermediate variables may be initialized in an integrity function and a first processing block of bits and at least one additional processing block of bits may be generated for the integrity function from a padded string generated from input variables. Values for a first and a second processing variable may be generated for each processing stage based on a corresponding processing block of bits and on immediately generated previous first and second processing values. The first processing value may be generated utilizing a KASUMI operation after an indication that an immediately previous generated first processing value is available. An authentication code may be generated based on a last of the second processing values and a modified integrity key. |
| US07869585B2 |
Declarations for transformations within service sequences
A declarative model for specifying appropriate transformations that may occur at the input and output of each service of a sequence of services that accomplish a more complex task. Each of the services may have access to the appropriate transformation declarations, and may interpret the declarations to thereby be appropriate directed on transforms to occur in its input data and/or output data. In order to change a transformation, the transformation declaration may be altered. |
| US07869577B2 |
Remote access system and method and intelligent agent therefor
The invention relates to remote access systems and methods using automatic speech recognition to access a computer system. The invention also relates to an intelligent agent resident on the computer system for facilitating remote access to, and receipt of, information on the computer system through speech recognition or text-to-speech read-back. The remote access systems and methods can be used by a user of the computer system while traveling. The user can dial into a server system which is configured to interact with the user by automatic speech recognition and text-to-speech conversion. The server system establishes a connection to an intelligent agent running on the user's remotely located computer system by packet communication over a public network. The intelligent agent sources information on the user's computer system or a network accessible to the computer system, processes the information and transmits it to the server system over the public network. The server system converts the information into speech signals and transmits the speech signals to a telephone operated by the user. |
| US07869576B1 |
Power management system for a plurality of at least partially rechargeable vehicles
A power management system for a plurality of rechargeable vehicles comprising an administrator interface for transmitting messages to a rechargeable station network using a processor in communication with data storage; a dynamic information database comprising a classification for at least one user, a rechargeable station identification, a user contact device information, discretionary power consumption information, and at least one dispatchable or non-dispatchable power source; and computer instructions in the data storage for instructing the processor to provide at least one message to the rechargeable station network. An administrator initiates distribution of the at least one message, which is transmitted through at least one industry standard protocol, and the administrator manages distribution and usage of the dispatchable power and non-dispatchable power to the rechargeable station network. |
| US07869563B2 |
Integrated multi-mode mammography/tomosynthesis x-ray system and method
A system for multi-mode breast x-ray imaging which comprises a compression arm assembly for compressing and immobilizing a breast for x-ray imaging, an x-ray tube assembly, and an x-ray image receptor is provided. The system is configured for a plurality of imaging protocols and modes. |
| US07869562B2 |
Automatic patient positioning system
A patient positioning system for positioning a patient relative to radiographic equipment. The system includes: a 3D optical imaging system for optically scanning the patient, such 3D optical imaging system having a focal plane and providing, for each position on the object, data representative of the intensity of reflected energy received by the system from such position and data representative of distance from such position on the object to the focal plane; a table apparatus for supporting the patient and for moving the table relative to the radiographic equipment in response to positioning signals; and a processor responsive to data from the radiographic equipment and the data from the a 3D optical imaging system for producing the positioning signals. The system enables a method for displaying temporal changes in a patient positioned with a bore of radiographic equipment. |
| US07869561B2 |
Cone-beam CT
Apparatus for CT cone beam scanning, comprising: a table for holding a subject; a gantry; a first detector array, having a given number of rows of detector elements spaced along an rotation axis of the gantry, mounted on the gantry; a first plurality of x-ray sources mounted on the gantry for rotation about the patient table on a rotation axis, the number of rows being at least twice the number of sources; and a controller that acquires data responsive to radiation from the sources from the detector array attenuated by at least part of the common volume of the subject irradiated by the plurality of radiation sources. |
| US07869560B2 |
X-ray CT apparatus and image processing apparatus
An X-ray CT apparatus includes an X-ray radiation unit which applies a first X-ray having a first energy spectrum and a second X-ray having a second energy spectrum different from the first energy spectrum to a subject, an X-ray data acquisition unit which acquires first X-ray projection data of the subject based on the first X-ray and second X-ray projection data of the subject based on the second X-ray, and an image reconstruction unit which determines information about a difference between the first X-ray and the second X-ray with respect to an image of the subject, segments the image into at least two pixel areas based on the difference information, and sets part of the segmented pixel areas to a dual energy image obtained by a weighted subtraction process based on X-ray projection data having a plurality of energy spectrums. |
| US07869558B2 |
Method and apparatus for calibrating a counting circuit
Timing circuitry may use control circuitry to control calibration circuitry to calibrate a counter so that an adder and a calibration period counter are not required. Concatenation circuitry may be used to concatenate a portion of the counter value and the calibration value to provide a calibrated value to the counter. The results from match circuitry may be used to provide status and control information to a calibration history bit and to an enable circuit. The counter may be an up counter or a down counter. |
| US07869557B2 |
Method of stress corrosion cracking mitigating for nuclear power plant structural materials
The object of this invention is to provide a method for mitigating a stress corrosion cracking of reactor structural material which makes it possible to suppress the rise in the main steam line dose rate without secondary effects such as a rise in the concentration of radioactive cobalt-60, etc. in the reactor water. Hydrogen and a reductive nitrogen compound containing nitrogen having a negative oxidation number (for example, hydrazine) are injected into the core water of boiling water nuclear power plant. By injecting the reductive nitrogen compound containing nitrogen having a negative oxidation number into the core water, the stress corrosion cracking of structural material of reactor can be mitigated without side reactions such as a rise in the concentration of cobalt-60, etc. |
| US07869554B2 |
Phase/frequency estimator-based phase locked loop
A phase/frequency estimator-based phase locked loop (PFE-PLL) may be use to obtain a phase and frequency estimation by using an algebraic summer, a gain block and a (co)sine waveform generator. The apparatus and methods of the present invention may provide the phase estimation of an input signal from which a frequency of the signal is estimated by a derivative function. Unlike conventional phase lock loop systems, which may use a multiplier to perform complex calculations on an input and a feedback signal to develop a demodulated voltage output, the present invention may use a simple algebraic summer to provide an error signal and output a phase and a frequency estimation of the input signal. |
| US07869552B2 |
Receiving apparatus for performing frequency synchronization using specific code pattern
In a receiving apparatus for receiving communication data from a transmitting apparatus, specific code patterns are inserted in the communication data at predetermined intervals. The receiving apparatus includes a first frequency difference measurement device for measuring a first frequency difference between a receiving clock of the receiving apparatus and a transmission clock provided to the communication data, based on one of the specific code patterns and another of the specific code patterns which is positioned later; and a frequency adjustment device for adjusting a frequency of the receiving clock based on the measured first frequency difference so that the frequency substantially coincides with a frequency of the transmission clock. |
| US07869545B2 |
Channel estimation method and apparatus determining a channel impulse response (CIR) distribution area using two adjacent windows
A channel estimation method and apparatus based on two adjacent windows. The channel estimation method includes scanning a signal containing noise and channel impulse response (CIR) information with a first window and a second window, detecting a CIR distribution area based on the ratio between the average power of the signal within the first window and the average power of the signal within the second window and at least one threshold value, eliminating the noise from the CIR distribution area and estimating the CIR information. Accordingly, noise interference can be minimized and accurate channel estimation can be accomplished. |
| US07869544B2 |
System for measuring an eyewidth of a data signal in an asynchronous system
An eyewidth of a data signal is determined by steps including: (a) recovering a phase of a clock from a data signal as a sampling clock; (b) shifting the phase of the sampling clock away from the first phase by a count multiplied by predetermined phase amount; (c) sampling the data signal with the shifted sampling clock phase to obtain sample data; d) determining whether the sample data contains error; (e) when the sample data does not contain error, recovering the phase of the clock from the data signal again for use as the first phase of the sampling clock, increasing the count value and repeating steps (b) through (e); and f) when the sample data contains error, determining the eyewidth based on the last shifted phase of the sampling clock prior to determining that the sample data contains error. |
| US07869543B2 |
System and method for synchronization, power control, calibration, and modulation in communication transmitters
A system is provided for processing a communication signal including a baseband amplitude component and a baseband phase component. The system includes an amplitude predictor configured for closed-loop pre-distortion of a baseband amplitude component, an amplitude lookup table configured for open-loop pre-distortion of the baseband amplitude component, and an amplitude interpolator configured to build up the amplitude lookup table during a closed-loop calibration period. The system also includes a phase predictor configured for closed-loop pre-distortion of a baseband phase component, a phase lookup table configured for open-loop pre-distortion of the baseband phase component, and a phase interpolator configured to build up the phase lookup table during a closed-loop calibration period. |
| US07869539B2 |
Methods, systems, and computer program products for rateless coding
The disclosed methods, systems, and computer-program products for compute a power allocation for a rateless, error-correcting code constructed from a plurality of repeated blocks having a plurality of superimposed layers and having a decoding signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) threshold. A noise threshold for an initial block of the rateless code is determined based on at least the SNR threshold, and a power allocation for each layer of the initial block is then calculated based on the determined noise threshold. The calculated power allocation may ensure that each layer of the initial block experiences the SNR threshold. Power is then allocated to each layer of a block proximate to the initial block such that each layer of the proximate block has an effective SNR equivalent to the SNR threshold. The allocating step for the proximate block is then repeated for each of the plurality of repeated blocks subsequent to the initial block to allocate power to each layer of the plurality of repeated blocks. |
| US07869532B2 |
Cellular communication system and a method of operation therefor
A cellular communication system employs a plurality of bandwidths. The cellular communication system comprises a plurality of base stations (101, 103) each of which transmits a reference signal comprising a Generalised Chirp-Like, GCL, sequence. The length of the GCL sequence is dependent on the bandwidth employed by the base station (101, 103). A sequence generator (105) provides a first subset of GCL sequences for a first bandwidth selected from a set of possible GCL sequences for the first bandwidth in response to properties of a sub-sequence of GCL sequences. The sub-sequence has a length corresponding to a different bandwidth. Sequence processors (107, 109) select GCL sequences for base stations (101, 103) employing the first bandwidth from the first subset of GCL sequences. The invention exploits characteristics of GCL sequences to enable, facilitate or improve multiple bandwidth operation. |
| US07869531B2 |
Wireless communication apparatus, wireless communication system, and transmission method
A wireless communication apparatus (a) generates a transmission symbol; (b) assigns, to the transmission symbol, a given number of units each formed of a symbol and a subcarrier in a frame which is formed of M (M is a positive integer) symbols and N (N is a positive integer) subcarriers and includes M×N units, and the given number being not more than M×N, to obtain the given number of identical transmission symbols; (c) multiplies the identical transmission symbols by a code sequence including a plurality of different elements; and (d) transmits the identical transmission symbols multiplied by the code sequence. |
| US07869526B2 |
System and method for a single stage tunable ultra-wideband pulse generator
The present invention provides a single-stage tunable Ultra-Wideband (UWB) pulse generator, by creating and differentiating a variable edge rate signal. Edge rate variability is introduced by first applying a step recovery diode (SRD) to compress the edges of the source and then applying a simple RC network to adjust the edge rate. Next, the resulting signal is differentiated using microstrip transmission lines. The tunable generator resulting from this approach demonstrates a Gaussian and monocycle pulses with good symmetry and low distortion over the tunable range. |
| US07869522B2 |
Video signal multiplexer, video signal multiplexing method, and picture reproducer
An embodiment of the present invention provides a video signal multiplexing apparatus including a separator separating picture information and additional information from a received video signal, a controller adjusting, if the picture information is out of sync with the additional information, a data amount of the additional information based on a data amount of the picture information in such a manner that the picture information is in sync with the additional information, and a multiplexer multiplexing the encoded data and the additional information the data amount of which has been adjusted. |
| US07869521B2 |
Video encoding/decoding method and apparatus for motion compensation prediction
A video encoding method includes selecting one combination, for each block of an input video signal, from a plurality of combinations. Each combination includes a predictive parameter and at least one reference picture number determined in advance for the reference picture. A prediction picture signal is generated in accordance with the reference picture number and predictive parameter of the selected combination. A predictive error signal is generated representing an error between the input video signal and the prediction picture signal. Encoding the predictive error signal, information of the motion vector, and index information indicating the selected combination is included. |
| US07869520B2 |
Video encoding/decoding method and apparatus for motion compensation prediction
A video encoding method includes selecting one combination, for each block of an input video signal, from a plurality of combinations. Each combination includes a predictive parameter and at least one reference picture number determined in advance for the reference picture. A prediction picture signal is generated in accordance with the reference picture number and predictive parameter of the selected combination. A predictive error signal is generated representing an error between the input video signal and the prediction picture signal. Encoding the predictive error signal, information of the motion vector, and index information indicating the selected combination is included. |
| US07869517B2 |
Video quality measurement
A measure of quality of compressed video signals is obtained without reference to the original uncompressed version, but generated directly from the coded image parameters, thereby avoiding the need to decode the compressed signal. A first measure is generated from the quantizer step size and a second measure is generated as a function of the number of blocks in the picture that have only one transform coefficient. The two measures are combined. Adjustments may be made to the step-size based measure to compensate for spatial or temporal masking effects. |
| US07869514B2 |
Video encoding/decoding method and apparatus for motion compensation prediction
A video encoding method includes selecting one combination, for each block of an input video signal, from a plurality of combinations. Each combination includes a predictive parameter and at least one reference picture number determined in advance for the reference picture. A prediction picture signal is generated in accordance with the reference picture number and predictive parameter of the selected combination. A predictive error signal is generated representing an error between the input video signal and the prediction picture signal. Encoding the predictive error signal, information of the motion vector, and index information indicating the selected combination is included. |
| US07869513B2 |
Video encoding/decoding method and apparatus for motion compensation prediction
A video encoding method includes selecting one combination, for each block of an input video signal, from a plurality of combinations. Each combination includes a predictive parameter and at least one reference picture number determined in advance for the reference picture. A prediction picture signal is generated in accordance with the reference picture number and predictive parameter of the selected combination. A predictive error signal is generated representing an error between the input video signal and the prediction picture signal. Encoding the predictive error signal, information of the motion vector, and index information indicating the selected combination is included. |
| US07869511B2 |
Video encoding/decoding method and for motion compensation prediction
A video encoding apparatus includes selecting one combination, for each block of an input video signal, from a plurality of combinations. Each combination includes a predictive parameter and at least one reference picture number determined in advance for the reference picture. A prediction picture signal is generated in accordance with the reference picture number and predictive parameter of the selected combination. A predictive error signal is generated representing an error between the input video signal and the prediction picture signal. Encoding the predictive error signal, information of the motion vector, and index information indicating the selected combination is included. |
| US07869509B2 |
Video encoding/decoding method and apparatus for motion compensation prediction
A video encoding method includes selecting one combination, for each block of an input video signal, from a plurality of combinations. Each combination includes a predictive parameter and at least one reference picture number determined in advance for the reference picture. A prediction picture signal is generated in accordance with the reference picture number and predictive parameter of the selected combination. A predictive error signal is generated representing an error between the input video signal and the prediction picture signal. Encoding the predictive error signal, information of the motion vector, and index information indicating the selected combination is included. |
| US07869508B2 |
Video encoding/decoding method and apparatus for motion compensation prediction
A video encoding method includes selecting one combination, for each block of an input video signal, from a plurality of combinations. Each combination includes a predictive parameter and at least one reference picture number determined in advance for the reference picture. A prediction picture signal is generated in accordance with the reference picture number and predictive parameter of the selected combination. A predictive error signal is generated representing an error between the input video signal and the prediction picture signal. Encoding the predictive error signal, information of the motion vector, and index information indicating the selected combination is included. |
| US07869504B2 |
Coefficient scaling operational units
Techniques for providing a coefficient scaling operational unit to perform the coefficient scaling computation for various image compression schemes are disclosed. To minimize multiple units, each for one image encoding/decoding scheme (e.g., MPEG4 and WMV9), a single coefficient scaling operational unit is designed to accommodate various standards. In one embodiment, the coefficient scaling operational unit comprises an arithmetic logic unit. The arithmetic logic unit operates in accordance with a formula involving multiplication and division. Parameters such as coefficients and quantization parameters are provided to perform the coefficient scaling operation. |
| US07869503B2 |
Rate and quality controller for H.264/AVC video coder and scene analyzer therefor
A rate control system is disclosed for video coding applications. The rate controller assigns a quantization parameter for video data in a picture in response to complexity indicators indicative of spatial complexity, motion complexity and/or bits per pel of the picture. A virtual buffer based quantizer parameter is proposed based on a virtual buffer fullness analysis and a target rate estimate, which is derived from the complexity indicators. A second quantizer parameter is proposed from a linear regression analysis of quantizer parameters used to code previously coded pictures of similar type (e.g., I pictures, P pictures or B pictures). A coding policy decision unit defines a final quantizer parameter from a comparison of the two proposed quantizer parameters. |
| US07869502B2 |
Video coder providing implicit coefficient prediction and scan adaptation for image coding and intra coding of video
A predictive video coder performs gradient prediction based on previous blocks of image data. For a new block of image data, the prediction determines a horizontal gradient and a vertical gradient from a block diagonally above the new block (vertically above a previous horizontally adjacent block). Based on these gradients, the encoder predicts image information based on image information of either the horizontally adjacent block or a block vertically adjacent to the new block. The encoder determines a residual that is transmitted in an output bitstream. The decoder performs the identical gradient prediction and predicts image information without need for overhead information. The decoder computes the actual information based on the predicted information and the residual from the bitstream. |
| US07869496B1 |
ISI cancellation equalizer
An ISI cancellation equalizer is disclosed. The ISI cancellation equalizer comprises a non-linear mapping circuit, a filter, a delay circuit, and a combiner. The non-linear mapping circuit generates a mapped signal by mapping a level of an input signal into a predetermined value when the input signal falls in a predetermined region, and linearly maps the level of the input signal when the level of the input signal is beyond the predetermined region. The filter depresses an inter-symbol interference (ISI) in the mapped signal to generate a filtered signal. The delay circuit filters the high boosted signal to generate a delayed signal. The combiner combines the filtered signal and the delayed signal to obtain an equalized signal. |
| US07869494B2 |
Equalizer circuitry for mitigating pre-cursor and post-cursor intersymbol interference
One or more embodiments of the invention comprise a continuous-time equalizer (CTE) for reducing both pre-cursor and post-cursor intersymbol interference (ISI) from data received from a communication channel. One such equalizer comprises two independent stages that process the input signal in parallel. One stage subtracts a scaled version of the derivative of the input signal from a scaled version of the input signal to reduce pre-cursor ISI from the input signal. The other stage adds a scaled version of the derivative of the input signal to a scaled version of the input signal to reduce post-cursor ISI from the input signal. The outputs from the two stages are then multiplied to arrive at an output signal in which both pre- and post-cursor ISI is minimized. Because the scalars used in each of the stages are independent, each can be adjusted for greater manipulation of the ISI-reduced signal. |
| US07869490B1 |
Repeater for regenerating spectrally compatible signals along a telecommunication line
A repeater for regenerating signals communicated along a telecommunication line uses a constellation providing a sufficiently high constellation density to ensure that regenerated signals are spectrally compatible. In one exemplary embodiment, such a repeater is configured to implement a method comprising the steps of: receiving first data signals from a first telecommunication line segment; demodulating the first data signals thereby recovering digital data using a constellation that provides a first constellation density; modulating second data signals with the digital data; transmitting the second data signals across a second telecommunication line segment that is bound within a cable; selecting a second constellation density for use in the modulating step such that the second data signals are spectrally compatible with other signals transmitted across a third telecommunication line segment bound within the cable, wherein the second constellation density is higher than the first constellation density. |
| US07869488B2 |
Method and apparatus for removing code aliases when using short synchronization codes
A method and apparatus for estimating a communication channel impulse response h(t) is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of generating a data sequence di having a constrained portion Cdi associated with at least two codes w0, w1, wherein a correlation Acode(k) of the constrained portion Cdi with one of the codes w0, w1 is characterized by a maximum value at k=0 and less than maximum values at k≠0; generating a chip sequence cj having a chip period Tc as the data sequence di spread by a spreading sequence Si of length N; generating com(t)=co(t+mNTc) for m=0, 1, . . . , M by correlating a received signal r(t) with the spreading sequence Si, wherein the received signal r(t) comprises the chip sequence cj applied to the communication channel; and generating an estimated communication channel impulse response ĥM(t) as a combination of com(t) and dm for m=0, 1, . . . , M. |
| US07869486B2 |
Tracking apparatus and method for a mobile communication system
A tracking apparatus and method are provided which can reduce the effects of multipath interference which occurs when a receiving end of a mobile communication system tracks a received signal. The tracking apparatus includes an interference remover for removing an interference component contained in an early energy signal and a late energy signal which are used for tracking. |
| US07869485B2 |
Method and apparatus for detecting lock status of a GPS signal
An apparatus for detecting lock status of a spread spectrum signal, having a first accumulator, a first calculation unit, a second calculation unit, a second accumulator, a multiplier and a comparator. The first accumulator accumulates an in-phase integration result and a quadrature integration result over a time period. The first calculation unit determines a first evaluation value based on the accumulated in-phase integration result and the accumulated quadrature integration result. The second calculation unit processes the in-phase integration result and the quadrature integration result. The second accumulator accumulates the output of the second calculation unit over the time period. The multiplier determines a second evaluation value by multiplying the accumulated result from the second accumulator with a predetermined value. The comparator compares the first and second evaluation results wherein the comparison result is an indicator of the lock status. |
| US07869484B2 |
Transmitter apparatus with adaptive power and phase for CDMA applications
A spread spectrum cellular network (FIG. 1) mobile unit transmitter (30) that enables communication via protocols having different bandwidth (372) and baseband signal generation (260), the transmitter including a phase locked loop and an amplitude control loop. |
| US07869479B2 |
Optical module
An optical module includes a stem; a first lead pin and a second lead pin for receiving differential signals, the first and second lead pins penetrating the stem; a mount block fixed to the stem; a laser diode having a pair of electrodes; a submount mounted on the mount block and having an interdigital capacitor, and a plurality of electrode patterns on a surfaces on the submount; and a first wire and a second wire electrically connecting the submount to the first and second lead pins, respectively. The laser diode is mounted on one of the electrode patterns on the submount and connected to another one of the electrode patterns on the submount by a third wire such that the laser diode and the interdigital capacitor form an electrical circuit. The interdigital capacitor has a capacitance selected to reduce signal reflection at a selected frequency. |
| US07869478B2 |
Apparatus and method for maintaining constant extinction ratio of laser diode
Provided are an apparatus and method for maintaining an constant extinction ratio of a laser diode (LD). The apparatus includes: an automatic power control circuit maintaining the constant optical power of the LD; a correlation deriver deriving correlations between a bias current of the LD and a modulation current to maintain the constant extinction ratio of the LD; and a modulation current control circuit controlling the modulation current to maintain constant the extinction ratio of the LD based on the correlations. The apparatus and method do not use a temperature sensor but derive a relationship between variances of a bias current of the LD and a modulation current according to temperature change, control the modulation current based on the relationship, and maintain the constant extinction ratio of the LD. |
| US07869475B2 |
Misalignment prevention in an external cavity laser having temperature stabilisation of the resonator and the gain medium
The present invention relates to an external-cavity laser module comprising a thermoelectric cooler (TEC) including an upper carrier plate having an upper surface, said TEC being configured to stabilize the temperature of the upper surface at a substantially constant temperature. The laser module further comprises a laser assembly mounted on an optical bench, which is in thermal coupling with said upper surface, said laser assembly comprising a gain medium for emitting an optical beam into the external cavity and an end mirror. |
| US07869472B2 |
Optical locking based on optical resonators with high quality factors
Techniques and devices for providing optical locking of optical resonators and lasers. |
| US07869470B2 |
Devices and methods for providing stimulated raman lasing
Devices and methods for providing stimulated Raman lasing are provided. In some embodiments, devices include a photonic crystal that includes a layer of silicon having a lattice of holes and a linear defect that forms a waveguide configured to receive pump light and output Stokes light through Raman scattering, wherein the thickness of the layer of silicon, the spacing of the lattice of holes, and the size of the holes are dimensioned to provide Raman lasing. In some embodiments, methods include forming a layer of silicon, and etching the layer of silicon to form a lattice of holes with a linear defect that forms a waveguide configured to receive pump light and output Stokes light through Raman scattering, wherein the thickness of the layer of silicon, the spacing of the lattice of holes, and the size of the holes are dimensioned to provide Raman lasing. |
| US07869467B2 |
Receiving device including packet output circuit for outputting control signal
A clocking circuit of a receiving unit performs a clocking operation synchronously with a network clock. A packet output circuit of the receiving unit outputs a second packet included in a first packet and outputs a control signal indicating normality/abnormality of output timing of the second packet based on a result of comparing a time of the clocking circuit and a time of first time information included in the first packet. A clock adjusting circuit of a processing unit synchronizes, when the second packet includes second time information indicating a time based on a transmitting side reference clock and when the control signal indicates normality, a receiving side reference clock with the transmitting side reference clock based on a result of comparing a time based on the receiving side reference clock and a time of the second time information. |
| US07869463B2 |
Transmitting apparatus and receiving apparatus for controlling retransmission of communication data and information communication method using the same
An information communication method, which is executed on a transmitting side, is provided. The method comprises a first step of transmitting communication data to a receiving side; and a second step of retransmitting the communication data to the receiving side without waiting for an arrival of a negative acknowledgement signal of the communication data, which arrives from the receiving side, or an elapse of a predetermined acknowledgement wait time. |
| US07869462B2 |
Broadcast system and method therefor
A sorting section in a restoration section sorts out a packet for an intended service from a transport stream received according to the control of a reception control section. The sorted out packet is provided to an output section and restored to NTSC signals. An audiovisual output section (such as a TV set) receives the signals and outputs images and voices. The reception control section acquires information on the type of contents chosen out of the transport stream through the sorting section, and further compares the contents type information with restorable contents type information recorded in a restorable contents type information recording section. Then, a determination is made whether or not the contents intended for restoration are restorable. Depending on the determination, the manner of process applied to the contents is changed. For example, the restoration of the contents is interrupted. |
| US07869461B2 |
Scheduling mode dependent data transmissions
The present invention relates to a method for transmitting data from a mobile terminal to a radio access network of a mobile communication system, the mobile terminal comprising a medium access control entity and to a mobile terminal. In order to enhance data transmission dependent on the scheduling mode, the present invention provides individual priorities depending on the scheduling mode which are used by the mobile terminal to schedule the transmission data or to multiplex different transmission data of different radio bearers onto a transport channel. Further the invention relates to a method and mobile terminal allowing a scheduling mode dependent scheduling of data transmissions by foreseeing and setting a flag for each logical channel depending on the scheduling mode of the associated radio bearer. |
| US07869460B2 |
Method of allocating upstream bandwidth
A cable modem termination system receives a bandwidth request message, and collects information on the basis of the bandwidth request message. Then, time bandwidth size information is generated on the basis of the bandwidth request message and the collected information, and a bandwidth allocation message is generated on the basis of the collected information and the time bandwidth size information. Accordingly, a cable modem termination system can effectively receive data transmitted from a cable modem. |
| US07869455B2 |
Code division multiplex transmitting and receiving apparatus and method
A code division multiplex transmitting and receiving apparatus has a transmitting apparatus with two coders per channel and terminal units with two matched filters each. One coder and one matched filter employ one spreading code; the other coder and the other matched filter employ another spreading code. The two coded signals output in parallel by the two coders are converted to a single serial signal before being multiplexed. The two matched filters sample alternate chips in the multiplexed signal. The two coders can be supplied with different data signals to double the transmission capacity, or with the same data signal to double the transmission distance. The outputs of the two matched filters are processed separately in the former case and are combined in the latter case. |
| US07869452B1 |
Dataflow FIFO communication buffer using highly-multiported memories
A FIFO communication system is provided using a FIFO and connection circuit to transmit data from a single source to multiple sinks. The connection circuit operates to enable simultaneous reads by the multiple sinks with a single output port FIFO. Multiple FIFOs can likewise be used to distribute data from a single source to multiple sinks without requiring a simultaneous read by both sinks. Similarly, a multiple output port FIFO can be used to supply multiple sinks without requiring simultaneous reads and without requiring additional memory use. |
| US07869450B2 |
Method and apparatus for processing labeled flows in a communication access network
A system and method is provided for managing access communications between the service edge of a communications service provider and a customer. Access communications are carried in the form of carrier-tagged flows, the communications traffic being appended with carrier tags having significance to handling of the traffic through access network elements. A building aggregation system is provided which couples to customer premise equipment and interfaces customer flows to carrier-tagged flows used in the access network. |
| US07869447B2 |
Method and system for multi-domain virtual private network configuration
Information about virtual private networks—VPNs—in each domain of a multi-domain communications system is provided. By comparing a request for a configuration of a VPN with the provided information of other connected domains, a match can be found. VPN configuration can then be performed based on the outcome of the match. The provided domain VPN information is in one embodiment spread to other domains under constrictions put by SLAs between domain operators. The spreading of VPN information can be performed regularly or triggered by an external event. In another embodiment, the VPN configuration request is instead spread to different domains. |
| US07869445B2 |
Method of data transmission in communication system
A communication system includes a source node for transmitting data and general nodes that function as relay nodes for relaying the data or destination nodes for receiving the data. Data encoding is performed in each node of the communication system. The source node is linked to the general nodes by one or more independent paths. The number of independent paths from the source node to each of the general nodes is counted. A tap-proof index is calculated based on the maximum number of independent paths and the size of a set of elements formed by the encoded data. The security level against tapping is determined according to the value of the tap-proof index. |
| US07869443B2 |
Device and method for connection to a wireless network
The invention relates to a device and a method, data acquisition device consisting of a wireless network comprising a first assembly of nodes, termed active nodes (100) of the network, and a second assembly of nodes, termed peripheral nodes (110) of the network, network for which one wishes to perform an access from peripheral nodes (110) to the network of active nodes (100), characterized in that it comprises means for organizing in a perfectly controlled manner a routing of the data and/or commands within the network of active nodes (100) according to a first mode of transmission of data and/or of commands, and means for transmitting data between the peripheral nodes (110) and the active nodes (100) according to a second mode of transmission of data, said first mode of transmission of data and/or of commands and said second mode of transmission of data being temporally separated. |
| US07869442B1 |
Method and apparatus for specifying IP termination in a network element
IP applications may be hosted on processors other than the processor on which their associated routing entity is hosted by causing the routing context to be extended to the new processor and causing IP termination to occur at the new processor. Applications may define policies specifying packet attributes and actions to be taken on matching packets, so that packets matching the policy may be directed to a processor hosting the application rather than a processor hosting the routing entity. A steering policy manager may be implemented to receive policies from the applications, verify the policy format and uniqueness vis-à-vis previously implemented policies, and implement the policies by passing the policies to one or more steering policy agents. Filters may be programmed into the data plane or the control plane to cause IP termination to occur on the processor hosting the application. |
| US07869440B2 |
Efficient splitting and mixing of streaming-data frames for processing through multiple processing modules
Streaming data is processed through one or more pipes of connected modules including mixers and/or splitters. The data is carried in composite physically allocated frames having virtual subframes associated with different ones of the splitters, mixers, and other transform modules. Nesting trees and pipe control tables represent the structure of the pipes. A frame allocator is assigned to a particular module in a pipe. Rather than issuing a control transaction to all modules when any one of them completes an operation upon its source data, a control manager requests a module to begin its operation only when all of its input subframes have become available. Frame control tables record when any module has completed an operation, and a pipe control table lists which modules provide data to which other modules. |
| US07869438B2 |
Pre-authentication across an 802.11 layer-3 IP network
A method for pre-authentication in a wireless network is disclosed. The method begins by receiving, from a mobile client device, an Ethernet pre-authentication frame having an Ethernet address corresponding to a destination infrastructure device in the wireless network. Based upon a network mapping table, the method determines an internet protocol (IP) address that is mapped to the Ethernet address of the destination infrastructure device. The Ethernet pre-authentication frame is encapsulated inside an IP packet having the IP address. Then, the method routes the IP packet to the destination infrastructure device across WLANs with a different VLAN or subnetwork boundary in the wireless network. |
| US07869436B1 |
Methods and apparatus for connecting to virtual networks using non supplicant authentication
A system allows a device to communicate using a virtual network the method by assigning a network address to the device. The network address is selected from a plurality of network addresses that can be assigned to any of a plurality of virtual networks. The system receives a request to authenticate the device, and then determines a virtual network on which to assign the device. The virtual network is selected from the plurality of virtual networks. The system identifies the device as authenticated based on the assigning of the network address and the virtual network. |
| US07869433B2 |
Home network connection management system using UPnP and VLAN multicast
Provided is a home network connection management system using UPnP (Universal Plug and Play) and VLAN (Virtual LAN) multicast. The home network connection management system includes a UPnP-VLAN interfacing section for receiving requests of registration of VLAN and multicast addresses from a UPnP device in response to connection establishment commands from a connection manager, a VLAN managing section for registering the VLAN and multicast addresses in a VLAN mapping table according to connection establishment request from the UPnP device through the UPnP-VLAN interfacing section, the VLAN mapping table for matching and storing the VLAN and multicast addresses under the control of the VLAN managing section, and an Ethernet device driver for retrieving the VLAN and multicast addresses from the VLAN mapping table in response to TCP/IP data from an outside, forming the received TCP/IP data into VLAN frames, and transmitting the VLAN frames. |
| US07869421B2 |
Uplink access request in an OFDM communication environment
The claimed subject matter relates to acquiring channel access in a wireless communication environment. A wireless terminal may transmit first and second sets of tones over respective first and second contiguous transmission periods. The first and second tone sets may be disjoint from each other and may each comprise a number of contiguous tones. The terminal may then refrain from transmitting during a third time period in order to receive a grant signal from a base station in response to the access request. The beginnings of the first time period and the second time period may be a function of a determined uplink transmission time. |
| US07869420B2 |
Method and system for in-band signaling of multiple media streams
Methods and systems are provided for in-band signaling of at least two simultaneous digital media streams in a network, the two simultaneous streams being a part of a media session. Each of the at least two simultaneous streams is generated from a corresponding source. The generated simultaneous streams are synchronized by using a unique marker packet. Each synchronized stream is transmitted to a destination corresponding to each source. |
| US07869415B2 |
Method for physical control format indicator channel mapping
A method of mapping symbols of a physical control format indicator channel (PCFICH) is described. A start position of a resource element to map the symbols for the PCFICH is determined by flooring a value, obtained by multiplying the number of resource blocks by a variable proportional to a symbol index for the PCFICH and then dividing the multiplied result by 2, wherein the resource blocks are transmitted in downlink. The symbols are mapped in the start position. Therefore, a problem of wasting resource elements or not being able to implement mapping can be solved by applying a simple mapping rule while mapping symbols of the PCFICH. |
| US07869413B2 |
Apparatus and methods for central control of mesh networks
A method and a wireless communication device that implements a control node for a mesh network. Preferably, the device and method are used in an 802.11 LAN. |
| US07869412B2 |
Point-controlled contention arbitration
In an example embodiment, there is described herein a method for providing quality of service during a contention period. A tiered access protocol enables an Access Point to act as a channel arbitrator and gain control a channel during a contention period. The Access Point waits a specified amount of time before taking control of a channel for either transmitting an outbound frame or initiating Polled-Contention Free Bursts. In addition, a method for increasing the time span between Delivery Traffic Indication Message beacons by tracking when Wireless Stations are able to receive messages and instantly delivering messages to those Wireless Stations. |
| US07869411B2 |
Compact packet operation device and method
A network device and a method of handling a frame in a network device defining a common header for each rule in a rules table of a search engine, wherein the common header comprises a source port specifying a corresponding rule to be applied to a port or ports, and a frame format specifying a format applied to the corresponding rule. A port receives a frame, with the frame having multiple field values. A pre-parser parses the received frame to obtain the field values and corresponding slices. A search engine receives the slices and determines matches between the slices and the common header of each rule in the rules table. A policy table performs indexing based on the determined matches to obtain an action entry. An action resolution takes an action based on the obtained action entry. |
| US07869409B2 |
System and method for transmitting a multiple format wireless signal
A multi-mode transmitter (301) is adapted to modulate a data packet (200) communicated by a wireless communications signal. The data packet includes a packet header comprising a preamble (201) and a start of frame delimiter (202), and a data payload comprising a payload data length portion (203) and a payload portion (204). The packet header is modulated with a spread spectrum technique. When transmitting a data payload in one mode, the data payload is also modulated with the spread spectrum technique. When transmitting a data payload in another mode, the data payload is modulated with a non-spread spectrum technique. |
| US07869405B2 |
Arrangements and method for handling macro diversity in UTRAN
A Diversity Handover, DHO, node is adapted to execute a macro diversity functionality in a mobile telecommunication system. The DHO node performs an uplink combining of Dedicated Channel, DCH, frames. The DHO node estimates the size of an adaptive receive window for receiving the DCH frames. The adaptive receive window includes a starting point, denoted ref, and an end point for receiving a next DCH frame or a next set of DCH frames to be combined having a Connection Frame Number n, CFNn, based on the Time of Arrival, ToA, of a previous frame or a previous set of frames having a CFNn−1. The adaptive receive window is adjusted by changing its end point for a new frame or a new set of frames in accordance with the estimated size. |
| US07869400B2 |
Method of inter-system coexistence and spectrum sharing for dynamic spectrum access networks-on-demand spectrum contention
This invention relates to cognitive radio based wireless communications of dynamic spectrum access networks, and more particularly to a method of addressing inter-systems (cells) coexistence and spectrum sharing. The described method of spectrum sharing, called On-Demand Spectrum Contention, integrates Dynamic Frequency Selection and Transmission Power Control with iterative on-demand spectrum contentions and provides fairness, adaptability, and efficiency of spectrum access for dynamic spectrum access systems using active inter-system coordination. |
| US07869399B2 |
Method and apparatus for controlling the distribution of multimedia broadcast services
A wireless multi-cell communication system and method of controlling the distribution of multimedia broadcast services (MBMS). The system includes at least one network, e.g., a Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network (UTRAN), which distributes the MBMS to one or more wireless receive/transmit units (WTRUs). In one embodiment, the MBMS are activated and deactivated based on whether periodic cell updates are provided for a particular cell. In another embodiment, MBMS transmission is terminated when receipt of the MBMS are confirmed. In yet another embodiment, the MBMS are segmented to reduce the resources used by the network and/or the WTRUs during MBMS distribution. |
| US07869398B2 |
Method for setting user equipment identifier in radio communication system
The present invention is directed to a method for setting a user equipment identifier as user equipment identification information used when data received through a dedicated logical channel is transmitted through a common transport channel. The method includes transmitting data and a message type indicator as user equipment identification information from a RRC layer to an RLC layer; setting a user equipment identifier indicator according to the received message type indicator in the RLC layer and transmitting it with the data to a MAC layer; and selecting a user equipment identifier type and a user equipment identifier according to the set user equipment indication identifier, adding it to a header of a MAC SDU in the MAC layer and transmitting it to a corresponding MAC layer in a receiving device. |
| US07869390B2 |
Method and system for power save multi-poll (PSMP) communication in wireless systems
The present invention provides a method and a system for PSMP communication in a wireless communication system such as an IEEE 802.11n WLAN including an AP and multiple STAs. An example of such a PSMP communication involves transmitting a PSMP frame from the AP to the STAs over a wireless channel, detecting if the channel is idle for certain duration, and if the channel is idle for said certain duration, then performing a PSMP recovery process. The PSMP frame includes one or more STA info fields which specify schedules of periods for communication over the wireless channel in a PSMP sequence. In performing a PSMP recovery process, the AP constructs and broadcasts a PSMP recovery frame that allows STAs that missed the original PSMP frame to join the PSMP sequence. |
| US07869388B2 |
Class-B transmitter and replica transmitter for gigabit ethernet applications
A method and apparatus for a Gigabit Ethernet transceiver that has a Class-B amplifier in a main transmitter for higher efficiency and power handling capabilities. The output current of the main transmitter is produced by a reference voltage applied across a resistor, where the reference voltage generator, resistor and amplifier are fabricated on the same substrate, such that the output current is constant across process voltage and temperature. The transceiver also has a replica transmitter whose signal is used to cancel the main transmitter signal at the input of the receiver section of the transceiver. The replica transmitter is fabricated on the same substrate as the main transmitter, such that its output signal reflects non-linearities in the main transmitter across process voltage and temperature. |
| US07869386B2 |
Method and system for conveying media source location information
A method for conveying media source location information includes receiving a first communication from a first endpoint and receiving location information indicating a first location of the first endpoint. The method also includes presenting the first communication to a user of a second endpoint in a manner to reflect the first location relative to a second location of the second endpoint. |
| US07869383B2 |
Shared community storage network
A hardware and/or software facility for durably and securely storing data within a shared community storage network. A user may have a storage device that they intend to share with others in the network. All or a portion of the storage device is registered with the community storage network as a storage node. Once registered with the network, third party data may be stored on the storage node and remotely accessed by third parties. In addition, data stored on the storage device by the user may be stored in the shared community storage network by encrypting the data, adding redundancy, and distributing it to other storage nodes within the storage network. Data that is stored in the storage network is accessible to the user even if their storage device is inaccessible or fails. |
| US07869382B2 |
Network management assisted discovery
In one embodiment of the invention, a method for network management assisted discovery, includes performing a discovery of network devices in a network; and sending gathered information associated with a first device that supports a first discovery protocol to a second device that supports a second discovery protocol. In another embodiment of the invention, an apparatus for network management assisted discovery, includes a management computer configured to perform a discovery of network devices in a network, and to send gathered information associated with a first device that supports a first discovery protocol to a second device that supports a second discovery protocol. |
| US07869370B2 |
Portable internet analyzer having handover test function
Disclosed herein is a portable Internet analyzer (PIA) having a handover test function. The portable Internet analyzer includes a transmission unit, a reception unit, a switching unit, and a central control unit. The transmission unit encodes the various DownLink signals of a serving and/or target Base Station (stBS) using a preamble index, synthesizes the encoded signals, and sends the synthesized signals to a Portable Subscriber Station (PSS). The reception unit receives various UpLink (UL) signals from the PSS, and decodes the UL signals using the cell Parameters of the stBS. The switching unit selectively switches the transmission unit and the reception unit to the PSS. The central control unit generates various Media Access Control (MAC) messages to be sent to the PSS through the transmission unit in association with the handover test, analyzes handover test-related MAC messages received through the reception unit, and controls switching operation of the switching unit. |
| US07869369B2 |
Cable modem location analyzing device
Systems and methods are disclosed according to the implementations of the present disclosure for determining whether a cable modem has been placed in an unauthorized location. One system, among others, comprises a first cable modem and a second cable modem. The first cable modem is configured to transfer data between a first subscriber device and a headend facility and is intended to be used in a first residence. The second cable modem is configured to transfer data between a second subscriber device and the headend facility and is also intended to be used in the first residence. The first cable modem sends first information, corresponding to at least one parameter of the first cable modem, to the second cable modem. The second cable modem compares the first information with second information corresponding to at least one parameter associated with the second cable modem. |
| US07869367B2 |
Methods and systems for checking expected network traffic
A method for checking expected network traffic is disclosed. The method for checking expected network traffic includes accessing pre-registered expected results of a network traffic checking exercise that include expected packet content verification information for individual packets of the network traffic. In addition, the method includes accessing network traffic where individual packets of the network traffic include actual packet content verification information. Individual packets are identified that have expected packet content verification information that does not match their actual packet content verification information and individual packets are identified that have expected packet content verification information that does match their actual packet content verification information. |
| US07869363B2 |
Methods and apparatus for prioritizing message flows in a state machine execution environment
A method and apparatus are provided for prioritizing message flows in a state machine execution environment. A state machine is disclosed that employs a flow graph that provides a flow control mechanism The flow control mechanism defines a plurality of states and one or more transitions between the plurality of states, wherein one or more tokens circulate within the flow graph and execute functions during the one or more transitions between the states The disclosed state machine parses one of the tokens to extract one or more predefined information elements; and assigns a priority to the token based on the extracted information elements and a state occupancy of the token, wherein the assigned priority controls an order in which the token is processed. |
| US07869359B2 |
Method and system for controlling data traffic in a network
A method and a system for optimizing the routing of data to be communicated in a network. In one embodiment, the system achieves an improved control for routing of data traffic in a network by minimizing link costs between nodes of the network. |
| US07869349B2 |
Method and system for deducing network routes by querying routers
A method and system for detecting and correcting invalid network paths in a network having a plurality of routers and a set of global invariant rules imbedded in the network including querying a subset of a routing table data structure defining network paths wherein said subset includes a plurality of routing table entries and comparing a network routing table entry with an earlier network routing table entry for the same node. The method and system also includes detecting inconsistencies between the newer network routing table entry and the earlier network routing table entry, and invalidating the network entries of the older network routing table that are inconsistent with the newer entries. The method and system also includes reconstructing the routing structure by replacing the invalidated network routing table entries with new routing table entries that minimize violation of the invariant protocols. |
| US07869348B2 |
Determining rerouting information for single-link failure recovery in an Internet protocol network
For a survivable portion of a network, a backup port for a first router of the survivable network, to reach a destination node in the event of a single link failure, may be determined by (a) accepting a routing path graph having the destination node, wherein the routing path graph includes one or more links terminated by one or more primary ports of the first router, and (b) for each router of at least a part of the routing path graph, (1) assuming that a link terminated by a primary port of the current router is removed, defining (A) a first part of the routing path graph including the destination node, and (B) a second part of the routing path graph separated from the first part wherein the second part defines a sub-graph, and (2) determining the backup port for the first router by examining the sub-graph with respect to the first part of the routing path graph. |
| US07869345B2 |
Loop prevention techniques using encapsulation manipulation of IP/MPLS field
In one embodiment, an edge device communicates with a neighboring routing domain. A failure that prevents communication between the edge device and the neighboring routing is detected. When the edge device thereafter receives a data packet that is directed to the neighboring routing domain, it determines if the received data packet was rerouted to the edge device from another edge device coupled to the neighboring routing domain. If the received data packet was not rerouted to the edge device from another edge device coupled to the neighboring routing domain, the edge device reroutes the received data packet to another edge device for forwarding to the neighboring routing domain. However, if the received data packet was rerouted to the edge device from another edge device coupled to the neighboring routing domain, the edge device prevents the received data packet from being rerouted a second time to prevent loops. |
| US07869343B1 |
Field programmable gate array architectures and methods for supporting forward error correction
A field-programmable gate array (“FPGA”) or programmable logic device (“PLD”) includes relatively general-purpose PLD core circuitry and relatively specialized high-speed serial interface (“HSSI”) hard IP circuitry. To better support applications that include forward error correction (“FEC”), some tasks related to FEC (e.g., FIFO operations) are performed in the PLD core circuitry, while other FEC tasks (e.g., FEC calculations) are performed in the HSSI hard IP circuitry. |
| US07869342B2 |
Transmitting apparatus, receiving apparatus, transmitting method, receiving method, information recording medium and program
In a transmission device 101, a modulation portion 102 carries out modulation of encoded data based on an adaptive modulation command based on feedback information sent from the receiving side, a frequency symbol diffusion block 105 multiplies the plurality of signals outputted by a serial-parallel conversion portion 104 by an orthogonal diffusion code and combines them, a pseudo random-number multiplication portion 106 multiplies each of them by a pseudo random number, an inverse Fourier transform portion 107 conducts inverse Fourier transform, a parallel-serial conversion portion 108 conducts parallel-serial conversion, a guard interval addition portion 109 adds a guard interval and a transmission portion 110 transmits a signal so that only one feedback information and modulation level information is required for each frequency symbol diffusion block 105 and transmission rate can be improved. |
| US07869337B2 |
Information processing system, information processing apparatus and method, program, and recording medium
A user operates a selection panel installed in a shop to select contents which the user wants to review. A reception unit identifies the contents based on the user's operation on the selection panel, acquires an ID of a portable device incorporated in headphones worn by the user, and transmits the ID to a management server. The management server transmits data of the contents to a transmission device, which searches for a signal electrode capable of communicating with the portable device of the user among signal electrodes that are embedded in the floor of the shop. The transmission device transmits a signal representative of the contents from the signal electrode that has been searched for, and the portable device receives the signal transmitted from the transmission device. An audio signal of the contents is output from the headphones. |
| US07869336B1 |
Data storage devices including conductive probes and ferroelectric storage medium and methods of operating the same
A data storage device includes a conductive probe having a tip; a substrate; and a data storage medium including a layer of poled ferroelectric material. The ferroelectric layer is between the tip and the substrate. |
| US07869335B2 |
Multiple ferroelectric films
An apparatus includes a first ferroelectric storage layer and a second ferroelectric storage layer adjacent the first ferroelectric storage layer. A coupling layer may be between the first ferroelectric storage layer and the second ferroelectric storage layer. The ferroelectric storage layers may be configured as a data storage medium for use in a data storage system. A related method is also disclosed. |
| US07869333B2 |
Optical disc apparatus and optical disc reproducing method
The object of this invention is to provide an optical disc apparatus and an optical disc reproducing method that can realize an excellent reproducing operation by suppressing noise in the optical disc apparatus using an optical attenuator. In order to solve this object, a control voltage of the optical attenuator is changed according to reproduction power when reproducing the optical disc and an ambient temperature of the optical attenuator. In addition, the amplitude of a high frequency current for driving a laser diode is changed according to an attenuation factor of the optical attenuator. |
| US07869332B2 |
Solid immersion lens with increased focusing capacity
There is provided a solid immersion lens in a material of refractive index n1, having an effective dioptre (26) separating from a medium of refractive index n2, an optical axis, a virtual object focal point for a convergent optical beam entering the lens via the effective dioptre, this virtual object focal point being conjugate with a real image focal point. The dioptre (26) is defined by the equation √{square root over (x2+y2)}−n√{square root over ((x−a)2+y2)}=L, x, y are the coordinates of a point (I) of the dioptre (26) in a system (A, x, y) whose origin is the virtual object focal point (A) and whose abscissa axis is the optical axis (Ax), a is the, nonzero, algebraic distance between the virtual object focal point (A) and its conjugate (A′), L is the, nonzero, optical path, separating the virtual object focal point (A) from its conjugate (A′), n is the ratio n1/n2 of the refractive indexes. The dioptre (26) is smooth and the conjugate (A′) lies downstream of the effective dioptre (26) for the optical beam. Particular application to reading, writing, reproduction of optical data. |
| US07869326B2 |
Optical disc drive, optical storage medium, optical storage medium inspection apparatus, and optical storage medium inspection method
An optical disc drive having an optical pickup head emitting a light beam to an optical storage medium, detecting the light beam reflected from the optical storage medium, and outputting a signal based on the received reflected light, having a jitter measuring unit measuring jitter in signals output from the optical pickup head and having an evaluation unit determining from the measured jitter if the optical storage medium is good or defective. The jitter measuring unit measures jitter in a train of 3T or longer marks or spaces from an optical storage medium to which digital information is recorded as a train of marks or spaces of length kT based on a period T and an integer k of two or more. |
| US07869324B2 |
Method for identifying type of optical disk
A method for identifying a type of an optical disk includes the steps of: turning on a laser diode of an optical pickup and focusing light emitted from the laser diode on the optical disk; moving the optical pickup to obtain a plurality of servo signals; reading a specific servo signal from the servo signals; and determining the type of the optical disk according to the count of enabled times of the specific servo signal and a corresponding enabled time period. |