| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US07874014B2 |
Content distribution server and content distribution system using the same
The present invention relates to a content distribution server or the like, capable of more surely preventing an unauthorized use of a content. Content distribution servers 2 and 3 are arranged to be connectable via a telecommunication circuit to a user terminal device, and include: a distribution-content storing section 14 for storing a distribution content file composed of: content data; and a regulatory program including a first key for regulating reproducing the content data; a key storing section 15 for storing a second key which forms a pair with the first key; a key generating section 34 for generating, when receiving the terminal identification information transmitted from the user terminal device, a third key including the received terminal identification information and information of the second key; and transmitting controllers 16 and 34 for transmitting the third key to the user terminal device. When the distribution content file is opened on the user terminal device, the regulatory program transmits the terminal identification information to the content distribution servers 2 and 3 before the content data are reproduced. |
| US07874013B2 |
Secure and granular index for information retrieval
A method and apparatus for a secure and granular index for information is described herein. According to one embodiment of the invention a computer-implemented method is described including evaluating a user query against a set of documents having sub-document level security control, determining a security access for said user, and providing a result for the user query based on the security access for the user and the sub-document level security control. |
| US07874010B1 |
Method and apparatus for using secret keys to make data permanently unreadable
One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that manages secret keys for messages. During operation, the system receives a desired expiration time T from an encrypter, and possibly a nonce N, at a server that manages keys. If N is not sent by the encrypter, it is generated by a key managing server. Next, the system chooses a secret ST, with an expiration time close to T, and an identifier IDS from a database for which secret ST can be retrieved using the identifier IDS. If such an ST is not already in the database, the server generates a new ST and IDS. The system then calculates a hash H=h(N,ST), and sends H and IDS from the server to the encrypter. The encrypter then encrypts M with H to form {M}H, and communicates ({M}H, N, IDS) to a message reader. The message reader then sends N and IDS to the server. The server then uses IDS to lookup ST, recalculates H=h(N,ST), and sends H to the message reader, thereby enabling the message reader to decrypt {M}H to obtain M. Note that by using the secret ST associated with the expiration time T and the nonce N, the server is able to reconstruct the secret key H for the message M without having to maintain per-message state information. |
| US07874008B2 |
Dynamically configuring extensible role based manageable resources
Methods and systems are provided for dynamically altering the capabilities of a software application in response to a request from a user to perform an action in the application. Based on the user's security role, the software application is reconfigured by either granting access to the user to an existing component of the application, or if no suitable component is available, adding an external vendor component to the software application which is suitable for performing the requested action. |
| US07874006B2 |
Providing guest users network access based on information read from a mobile telephone or other object
Guest user are enabled to access network resources through an enterprise network using a guest user account. A guest user account may be created for a guest for a limited time. Guest account credentials of the guest account may be provided to the guest to use the guest account using any of a variety of techniques described herein, for example, by scanning a guest access card, credit card or mobile telephone of guest user, and providing the guest account credentials to the user based on the information obtained. A guest access management server may be configured to generate and maintain guest accounts, authenticate guest users, and track and log guest activity. A VLAN technology may be used to separate guest traffic from host enterprise traffic on the host enterprise network. After a guest user is authenticated, communications to and from the guest user may be routed to a guest VLAN. |
| US07874005B2 |
System and method for non-law enforcement entities to conduct checks using law enforcement restricted databases
The present invention relates to a method and a system by which non-law enforcement operator(s) can conduct checks (requests, queries or searches) against CJIS (Criminal Justice Information System), NCIC (National Criminal Information Center) and other law enforcement only secure databases and comply with the rules and regulations for disseminating such data. In doing so, the invention provides for a system and process by which the checks (request, queries or searches) of individuals and/or articles are made against the CJIS/NCIC and/or other “law enforcement only” restricted databases, such that the indicia relating to persons and/or articles is compared with said databases. The resulting information regarding matches (and, in certain embodiments, non-matching results) flows to law enforcement officials so that they may use any results deemed relevant for response thereto. Said responses may vary, but in one embodiment, may provide for at least the notification of non-law enforcement operator who originated the above-described checks. |
| US07874004B2 |
Method of copying and reproducing data from storage medium
Provided is a method of copying data stored in a first storage medium to a second storage medium. The method includes recording the encrypted data stored in the first storage medium on the second storage medium; reproducing a first content key, which is used to encrypt the encrypted data, using a first drive into which the first storage medium is loaded; encrypting the first content key; sending the encrypted first content key to a second drive into which the second storage medium is loaded; and recording the encrypted first content key on the second storage medium. In this method, encrypted data stored in a first storage medium is sent to a second storage medium via a host without decrypting the encrypted data, thereby preventing the data from being hacked or being accessed by unauthorized users and increasing a speed of copying the encrypted data. |
| US07874003B2 |
Information processing apparatus, information recording medium, information processing method, and computer program
An information recording medium, storing: main contents having constituent data according to a predetermined format and subcontents having constituent data not according to the predetermined format, as recorded data; the main contents and the subcontents having constituent data established as contents management units; the contents management units including data stored as encrypted data based on individual unit keys associated respectively with the contents management units. |
| US07874002B2 |
Method of connection of equipment in a network and network system using same
A method for connecting equipment in a network system, enabling prevention of the spread of viruses throughout the network resulting from connection to the network of a server, client, PC, or other equipment infected with a virus, in which the network configuration is separated into an operation network and a virus check network using VLAN (Virtual Local Area Network) functions, and at the time of connection of equipment, a virus check is performed in the virus check network, and equipment confirmed by the virus check to be safe is accommodated in the operation network. When safety cannot be confirmed through the virus check, the equipment is isolated from the operation network and from the virus network. |
| US07874001B2 |
Detecting user-mode rootkits
A method and system for determining whether resources of a computer system are being hidden is provided. The security system invokes a high-level function of user mode that is intercepted and filtered by the malware to identify resources. The security system also directly invokes a low-level function of kernel mode that is not intercepted and filtered by the malware to identify resources. After invoking the high-level function and the low-level function, the security system compares the identified resources. If the low-level function identified a resource that was not identified by the high-level function, then the security system may consider the resource to be hidden. |
| US07873996B1 |
Messaging enhancements and anti-spam
In some embodiments, techniques for electronic messaging may include various enhancements. |
| US07873992B1 |
Dynamic system of autonomous parsers for interpreting arbitrary telecommunication equipment streams
A system for parsing an arbitrary input stream is provided that includes a plurality of parsers 304a-n operable to parse an input stream, each parser corresponding to a unique input structure, and a parser selection agent 300 operable to receive the input stream and select a subset of the plurality of parsers to parse the input stream. |
| US07873991B1 |
Technique of defending against network flooding attacks using a connectionless protocol
The invention prevents server overload and possible server crippling due to a flooding of connectionless datagrams caused by intentional attack or otherwise. In response to a datagram from a host for a specified port, the number of datagrams already queued to the port from the host is determined. If this number exceeds a first threshold, the datagram is discarded. In the preferred embodiment, the threshold is determined by multiplying a percentage P by the number of available queue slots remaining for the port. |
| US07873988B1 |
System and method for rights propagation and license management in conjunction with distribution of digital content in a social network
A license server and corresponding method are provided for managing the rights of content as it is propagates through a social network. A license server receives a distribution package from a content producer and establishes a plurality of level-licenses, one for each of n allowable levels as defined by the content producer. Level-licenses define level-rights, or access rules, based on alteration definitions and other distribution parameters provided by the content producer for each allowable level. Alteration definitions may identify degradation characteristics or augmentation files for association with the distributed digital content. Content recipients who receive encrypted copies of the distributed digital content may request a license from the license server. Upon authentication, a license and decryption key is sent to a valid content recipient to enable viewing of a form of the digital content in accordance with the level-rights predetermined by the content producer for that level of access. |
| US07873986B2 |
Communication apparatus, and display terminal
A communication apparatus includes a first generation unit which sequentially generates image data in accordance with an event occurring due to a change in an operating state of an application program; a difference detecting unit which detects a difference between a plurality of consecutive image data generated by the first generation unit; a second generation unit which generates send data to be sent to the display terminal by compressing to the difference; a message generating unit which generates a message to change the spatial multiplexing number to either one or a plural number according to the change in the operating state of the application program or the difference; and a sending unit which sends the message to the wireless access apparatus prior to sending to the display terminal of the send data generated by the second generation unit. |
| US07873983B2 |
Method and apparatus for controlling an experiential data stream in a social space
Apparatus, methods, and program products that enable an audience member of a local device to navigate, by activation of user selectable controls, through an experiential data stream presented on the local device. |
| US07873981B2 |
Methods, systems and computer program products for providing internet protocol television set up
A method of providing set up services to customer premise equipment (CPE), the CPE coupled to an internet protocol television (IPTV) network. The method includes operating a network element as a set up terminal server, the network element being part of a communications network. A request to initiate a set up process is received from the CPE. A set up server coupled to the communications network is accessed to initiate a set up application. The set up server communicates with the CPE through the network element to perform installation of the CPE and provisioning of the CPE. |
| US07873980B2 |
High-speed cable with embedded signal format conversion and power control
A High Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) cable carries high speed encoded data which are transmitted differentially over data channels, along with a clock. A Mobile High-Definition Link (MHL) cable carries high speed data which are multiplexed to achieve smaller connectors with fewer pins. A MHL-to-HDMI cable is proposed which includes an embedded MHL to HDMI format conversion device for demultiplexing the received MHL-formatted signal and outputting an HDMI-formatted signal. The embedded device is powered by a combination of power sources, the power being harvested from the high-speed HDMI signals themselves. |
| US07873979B1 |
Method and apparatus for javaTV xlets for analog broadcast channels
One embodiment of the invention provides a method for receiving Java xlets including receiving an analog service identifier and utilizing the analog service identifier to perform a lookup into a lookup structure containing xlet addressing data. Xlet addressing data associated with the analog service identifier is returned and utilized to request an xlet. |
| US07873978B2 |
Client-server based interactive television program guide system with remote server recording
An interactive television program guide system is provided. An interactive television program guide provides users with an opportunity to select programs for recording on a remote media server. Programs may also be recorded on a local media server. The program guide provides users with VCR-like control over programs that are played back from the media servers and over real-time cached copies of the programs. The program guide also provides users with an opportunity to designate gift recipients for whom programs may be recorded. |
| US07873974B2 |
Identification of television programming using a portable wireless device
A method consistent with certain embodiments provides portable delivery of television programs to a portable wireless device (PWD) involves using the PWD to capture a sample of a program being played by a television; transmitting attributes of the captured sample to a service provider so that the service provider can identify the program being played by the television; and receiving the television program at the PWD from the service provider via a wireless transmission. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments deviate from the features described in this abstract. |
| US07873967B2 |
Pluggable business logic
Business logic may be separated into pieces and each piece may be pluggable (i.e. replaceable). An event model is created to allow subscribers to listen to business events, the business logic is implemented into a series of strategies that are subscribers to the business events and the business strategies are late bound so they can be replaced. Each strategy is written with granular protected behaviors. |
| US07873965B2 |
Methods and apparatus for communicating changes between a user-interface and an executing application, using property paths
A method for detecting a change in a current state of a property associated with an element of a user-interface includes the step of associating the element with a property path including a concatenation of a plurality of identifiers defining a path through a plurality of application components to a property at the end of the concatenation. The property path is mapped to a current state of the property at the end of the path. A request is received, from a local machine, for a change in a state of a property mapped to one of said plurality of concatenated identifiers defining the property path. The request for the change is sent to a remote machine. The remote machine applies the change. The local machine updates the element of the user-interface associated with the property path responsive to the change and the received regeneration. |
| US07873964B2 |
Kernel functions for inter-processor communications in high performance multi-processor systems
In a multi-processor system with a high degree of inter processor communication, an operating system extension is described as a kernel function to poll a receive buffer. This is an opportunistic poll that continues to run in the user context after an application process has invoked the kernel with a blocking receive function. It is also running whenever no higher priority task is running. New data packets may be received for the present user application process while avoiding context switches, and for a different user process while avoiding interrupts. A hardware implemented delay timer and a buffer fill monitor generate interrupts when the system is not polling, thus guaranteeing a maximum latency and preventing buffer overflow, but these interrupts are largely avoided by polling when the system is handling a large amount of inter processor data traffic. |
| US07873958B2 |
System and methods for providing versioning of software components in a computer programming language
A system and methods for versioning software components in connection with a computer programming language are provided. In exemplary aspects, the versioning system makes use of intelligent defaults, provides a vehicle for unambiguous specification of developer intent and implements conflict resolution rules in connection with the versioning of software components. In another aspect, the versioning system bounds names at run-time, but does not bound offsets at compile-time. |
| US07873957B2 |
Minimizing user disruption during modification operations
A reboot reduction infrastructure may be used by applications to make installing modifications as unobtrusive as possible. Applications may register with the reboot reduction infrastructure and use provided APIs to detect which applications and services have files in use, shutdown down those applications with files in use and then restart those applications in a form similar to which they were in when the applications were shut down. |
| US07873956B2 |
Communication terminal and communication network for partially updating software, software update method, and software creation device and method therefor
Disclosed herein are a communication terminal and communication network for partially updating software, a software update method, and a software creation device and method therefor. The software is divided into a plurality of areas each having a predetermined size, and unique identification keys are assigned to the areas of the software, respectively. A search is made for at least one changed area among the areas of the software on the basis of version information of the software or the identification keys, and data of the changed area is downloaded to upgrade the software. Therefore, it is possible to shorten an upgrade time of the software. |
| US07873949B2 |
In source code suppression of binary analysis
Upon accessing binary that was generated by a compiler using corresponding source code, a potential reportable problem in the binary is identified. The binary includes a compiler transformed indication that the potential reportable problem is to be suppressed at least under some circumstances. The transformed indication is generated by the compiler using a corresponding untransformed indication in the corresponding source code. The transformed indication is then used to decide that the potential reportable problem should not be reported. Thus, artifacts within the source code itself may ultimately direct what problems are not to be reported on when the corresponding binary is analyzed after the compile phase. |
| US07873944B2 |
System and method for maintaining and testing a software application
Maintaining and testing a software application by performing regression testing uses standard reusable test cases from change history records to generate actual test cases. A new test case template is created upon saving a change history entry. A subset of the actual and new test cases is determined, and new actual test cases generated and documented from the subset. The new actual test cases are released after successful verification. |
| US07873942B2 |
Design-time architecture for self-contained patterns
A design-time architecture that allows for flexible creation of application programs is disclosed. A composer core generates displays of application components and application interfaces that define patterns of functions and interactions between interfaces. A pattern base kit tool may provide common logic for the application components. A repository stores the application components and interfaces during run-time. |
| US07873940B2 |
Providing packages for configuring software stacks
Described is sharing of portable packages containing encodings of processes. The packages can be provided to and shared among organizations or firms so that the packages can be applied to their software stacks. The packages are portable and distinct from the technology stacks. The packages can cross reference each other. The packages may be in the form of declarative code for configuring the technology stacks and can be plugged into the technology stacks to allow the technology stack to play the packages, thereby automating the processes encoded by the packages. The packages can be digitally signed or provided with certificates that can be used to verify their authenticity. The packages can be distributed over a network as requested by the various firms or organizations. |
| US07873936B2 |
Method for quantifying the manufactoring complexity of electrical designs
A method and system for quantifying manufacturing complexity of electrical designs randomly places simulated defects on image data representing electrical wiring design. The number of distinct features in the image data without the simulated defects and the number of distinct features in the image data with the simulated defects are determined and the differences between the two obtained. The difference number is used as an indication of shorting potential or probability that shorts in the wiring may occur in the electrical wiring design. The simulating of the defects in the image data may be repeated and the difference value from each simulation or run may be used to obtain a statistical average or representative shorting potential or probability for the design. |
| US07873935B2 |
Method of manufacturing a mask
A method of manufacturing a mask includes designing a first mask data pattern, designing a second mask data pattern for forming the first mask data pattern, acquiring a first emulation pattern, which is predicted from the second mask data pattern, using layout-based Self-Aligning Double Patterning (SADP) emulation, comparing the first emulation pattern with the first mask data pattern, and modifying the second mask data pattern according to results of the comparison. The method further includes performing Optical Proximity Correction (OPC) on the modified second mask data pattern, acquiring second emulation patterns, which are predicted from the second mask data pattern on which the OPC has been performed, using image-based SADP emulation, and comparing the second emulation patterns and the first mask data pattern and manufacturing a first mask layer, which corresponds to the second mask data pattern on which the OPC has been performed, according to the results of the comparison. |
| US07873930B2 |
Methods and systems for optimizing designs of integrated circuits
Methods and systems for optimizing and/or designing integrated circuits. One exemplary method includes routing, as part of a process of designing an integrated circuit (IC), connections on a representation of the IC using a first set of wiring resources and marking wiring resources as used once the wiring resources within the first set have been used for routing and routing, using a second set of wiring resources in the representation, connections on the IC without checking whether wiring resources within the second set have been previously used to route connections, wherein wiring resources in the second set differ, on average, in physical size, from wiring resources in the first set. Other methods and systems for optimizing and/or designing ICs are also described, and machine-readable media containing executable program instructions which cause systems to perform one or more of these methods are also described. |
| US07873927B1 |
Partitioning a large design across multiple devices
A method of partitioning a design across a plurality of integrated circuits can include creating a software construct for each one of the plurality of integrated circuits and assigning a plurality of instances to a selected software construct. Each of the plurality of instances can be from a different logic hierarchy. The method further can include automatically adding at least one input/output buffer and port to the selected software construct to accommodate the plurality of instances and creating nets connecting the plurality of instances and the at least one input/output buffer and port within the selected software construct. |
| US07873923B2 |
Power gating logic cones
Power gating logic cones is described. In one embodiment a method includes synthesizing logic for an integrated circuit (IC) design; identifying low switching nodes within the logic that switch less than a threshold; determining a potential power gating cone (PGC) based on the identified low switching nodes; determining a power gating logic expression for the potential PGC that includes a minimum set of inputs to the potential PGC that are least switching; determining whether energy savings using the power gating logic expression meets a criteria; and accepting the potential PGC in response to meeting the criteria. |
| US07873921B2 |
Structure for a voltage detection circuit in an integrated circuit and method of generating a trigger flag signal
A design structure for an integrated circuit that includes at least one tunneling device voltage detection circuit for generating a trigger flag signal. The tunneling device voltage detection circuit includes first and second voltage dividers receiving a supply voltage and having corresponding respective first and second internal node output voltages. The first and second voltage dividers are configured so the first output voltage is linear relative to the supply voltage and so that the second output voltage is nonlinear relative to the supply voltage. As the supply voltage ramps up, the profiles of the first and second output voltage cross at a particular voltage. An operational amplifier circuit senses when the first and second output voltages become equal and, in response thereto, outputs a trigger signal that indicates that the supply voltage has reached a certain level. |
| US07873919B2 |
Content-retrieval device, content-retrieval method, and content-retrieval program
A content-retrieval device includes first and second operation units, a display unit, storage storing contents, and a control circuit. The control circuit shows at least two thumbnails of the contents stored in the storage and an image of a mark indicating one of the thumbnails on the display unit, performs filtering, when showing the thumbnails, for the shown thumbnails under a predetermined selection condition, changes the strength of the selection condition under which the filtering is performed when the first operation unit is operated, and changes the thumbnail indicated by the mark image to another of the thumbnails when the second operation unit is operated. |
| US07873918B2 |
Method and apparatus for displaying workflow
A display method for displaying a workflow system composed of a plurality of discrete Boxes each associated with a document process and linked in a predetermined order. The workflow is defined for causing the processes to be sequentially executed. The workflow is displayed using icons representing the Boxes. If execution of the associated process has been completed, an icon representing a corresponding Box is overlaid with oblique lines. If execution of the associated process is currently in process, an icon representing a corresponding Box is overlaid with a graphical representation of a sand timer. |
| US07873910B2 |
Configuration bar for lauching layer for accessing user interface elements
A user-activatable dashboard (also referred to as a unified interest layer) contains any number of user interface elements, referred to herein as “widgets,” for quick access by a user. In response to a command from a user, the dashboard is invoked and the widgets are shown on the screen. The user can activate the dashboard at any time, causing the dashboard to temporarily replace the existing user interface display on the user's screen. Once the dashboard has been activated, the user can interact with any or all of the widgets, and can configure the dashboard by adding, deleting, moving, or configuring individual widgets as desired. When the user wishes to return to the normal user interface he or she was working with, the user issues a command causing the dashboard to be dismissed. Once the dashboard has been dismissed, the previous user interface state is restored, allowing the user to resume normal interactions with the operating system. |
| US07873906B2 |
Method and system for presenting a visual notification and delaying an action responsive to an onscreen selection
A method and system for presenting a visual notification and delaying an action responsive to an onscreen selection. A computing unit displays a presentation of a software application or a web page including a selectable item. The computing unit receives a position of the cursor and a selection of the selectable item. A pre-defined delay is initiated responsive to receiving the selection. A visual notification is presented onscreen to the audience responsive to the initiation of the delay. Presenting the visual notification facilitates detecting the cursor at the received position by the audience and indicates that an action responsive to the selection is to be executed. The delay is determined to be completed. The action is executed responsive to determining the completion of the delay. |
| US07873905B2 |
Image processing system
An interface screen used for the correlation between video data and reference picture data includes: a screen 70 for displaying the video data reproduced by a video player; and a screen 73 for displaying a reference picture to be correlated with. When an operator enters an instruction to the operation portion 74 while reproduction video, the data for a reference picture displayed on the screen is correlated with a corresponding reproduction time position of the video data. |
| US07873896B2 |
High performance pulsed storage circuit
The application discloses storage circuitry with a pulse generator used to control switches on two inputs to the storage circuitry thereby connecting either operational data or diagnostic data to the storage circuitry. Thus, the pulse generator selects the data paths by outputting pulses to a diagnostic output or to a functional output, and these pulses controlling the switches on the two inputs to the storage circuitry. |
| US07873894B2 |
Reverse concatenation for product codes
Method and computer program product are provided to encode data for recording onto media whereby modulation and linear constraints from a concatenated code or product code are imposed. A first array of unencoded user data is generated. Each row is modulation encoded to enforce a first modulation constraint; the array is transformed into a second array which is transformed into a third array having predetermined empty locations in each column interleaved with the modulated data. A C2-parity byte is computed for at least some of the empty locations of the third array and a fourth array is generated. C1-parity symbols in each row are computed, generating a fifth array. A second modulation constraint is enforced on each C1-parity symbol in each row of the fifth array, generating a sixth array. The rows of the sixth array are assembled with header and sync fields for recording onto a recording media. |
| US07873892B2 |
Techniques to perform forward error correction for an electrical backplane
Techniques to perform forward error correction for an electrical backplane are described. An apparatus comprises a physical layer unit having a forward error correction sublayer to perform forward error correction using a single bit to represent a two bit synchronization header. |
| US07873891B2 |
Programmable voltage divider
A test circuit and programmable voltage divider that may be used in the test circuit. The programmable voltage divider develops a voltage difference signal that may be digitally selected. The test circuit may be used to test and characterize sense amplifiers. The programmable voltage divider develops a signal with a selected polarity and magnitude that is provided to a sense amplifier being tested. The sense amplifier is set and its output latched. The latch contents are checked against an expected value. The difference voltage may be changed and the path retested to find passing and failing points. |
| US07873890B2 |
Techniques for performing a Logic Built-In Self-Test in an integrated circuit device
A method, system and computer program product for performing device characterization Logic Built-In Self-Test (LBIST) in an IC device. Test parameters of the LBIST are saved in a memory of the IC device, and nominal operational parameters of the IC device are used to define a signature of the LBIST. A determination whether the LBIST is passed or failed is made within the characterized IC device. |
| US07873886B2 |
PC-connectivity for on-chip memory
An interface for converting a traditional scan-chain interface into one where locations in the scan-chain can be read or written to from an addressed interface is provided. The interface of the invention includes a scratch pad memory into which the values at the locations in the scan-chain are copied. Those copies in the scratch pad can be read and written to using an addressed interface and if any are changed the values held in the scratch pad are shifted out to update those in the original locations in the scan-chain. |
| US07873885B1 |
SSD test systems and methods
Solid state drive (SSD) testing processes and methods are disclosed. In one embodiment, the SSD testing process comprises: specifying a set of test parameters of firmware, operating system and flash memory for a plurality of SSDs under test (DUTs) in an SSD test system, the set of test parameters includes a model number, a serial number, a desired defective or bad block ratio and a size of the firmware, wherein the model and serial number are configured onto each of the DUTs; performing an initialization test of all of the DUTs based on the specified test parameters to determine a pre-qualified group of the DUTs that passed the initialization test; conducting at least one level of burn-in test for each SSD in the pre-qualified group; conducting at least one level of burn-in test for each SSD in the pre-qualified group; and assigning a quality grade to said each SSD based on which level of the at least one level of burn-in test said each SSD has been tested and passed, wherein the quality grade includes a commercial grade SSD made using at least one Multi-Level Cell flash memory. |
| US07873880B2 |
Data relay device, storage device, and response delay monitoring method
A data relay device relays a read request from a source device to a destination device and relays data corresponding to the read request from the destination device to the source device. The data relay device monitors elapsed time from a time point at which a read request is relayed to the destination device. When the elapsed time reaches warning time or error time, the data relay device sends a warning message or an error message to the source device. |
| US07873877B2 |
System and method for performance monitoring and repair of computers
A system and method for monitoring computer performance and repairing and/or optimizing system configurations. During these idle times, the present process executes a sequence of background system analyses that can trigger associated optimization, maintenance, or repair actions based on a comparison of current computer states and baseline optimal health data. If other tasks are initiated by a user of the system, while the present invention is performing any of its actions, the monitoring and repair program terminates itself and releases full control back to the user and operating system. |
| US07873876B2 |
Image forming device to perform a system diagnosis and method thereof
An image forming device which enables a user to determine a diagnostic item and to perform a system diagnosis easily. The image forming device includes a storage unit to store information corresponding to diagnostic items and keyword information for the respective diagnostic items, an input unit to receive an input of at least one input device, and a control unit to search for information corresponding to a diagnostic item stored in the storage unit which corresponds to the at least one input keyword if the at least one keyword is inputted, and performing a system diagnosis of the image forming device. |
| US07873873B2 |
Remote access integrated tester
In conventional testing, the user is using an on-hand computing device to control testing; however, for the present invention the user is at the access point and the computer is remote, e.g. nearby or in the technician's vehicle, and not being used by the user to run the tests. The present invention provides a means to conveniently connect a customer provided network access device, e.g. a USB “dongle” modem, via a wireless link to the remote computer, which is providing the test application. The computer is remote, and the remote module device extends the reach of the commercial dongle modem so it is not necessary to carry the computer to the test access point. |
| US07873871B2 |
Communication control system and communication control method
A programmable electronic controller in which one central arithmetic processing unit and a plurality of input devices and output devices are connected by means of a parallel bus, the controller being basically configured to activate a self-diagnostic function and a diagnostic test of the input devices and the output devices with an instruction from a microprocessor of the central arithmetic processing unit; and to judge the result with the microprocessor of the central arithmetic processing unit, by using the microprocessor installed in the central arithmetic processing unit also as a processor for tests (diagnostic tests) of the self-diagnostic function of the input devices and output devices and conducting tests of the self-diagnostic function of the plurality of input devices and output devices with the central arithmetic processing unit. |
| US07873864B2 |
Restricting the execution of copy services commands
A system and method for controlling peer-to-peer remote copy (PPRC) operations initiated from one or more host devices that desire to store data contents written to a first storage system to a second storage system over a communications link. The system enables receipt and generation of copy services commands from host devices and the determination of whether a received command pertains to a copy service over an established PPRC relationship for that particular customer to enable that customer to perform storage operations effecting data written to a first storage server having source volumes and stored in a remote second storage system having target volumes. The copy services command effecting data contents of source volumes and/or remote target volumes will be enabled if it is determined that said PPRC relationship is already established for that customer; and, prevented if the received copy services command does effect any volume not already in a copy services relationship. |
| US07873854B2 |
System for monitoring power supply voltage
The single chip microcontroller unit includes a processing unit having normal power mode of operation and a low power mode of operation. Analog circuitry and digital circuitry are connected to the processing unit. A power management unit controls power operations of the processing unit, the analog circuitry and the digital circuitry. Power monitoring circuitry provides power control signals to the power management unit. The power monitoring circuitry further includes a system voltage monitoring circuit for generating a system voltage control signal responsive to a system voltage level with respect to a predetermined level. The power monitoring circuitry also includes a supply monitoring circuit for determining if a chip supply voltage level exceeds a threshold level. |
| US07873850B2 |
System and method of controlling power consumption and associated heat generated by a computing device
Embodiments of a system and method for controlling power consumption in a computing device having at least one CPU and memory. Embodiments reduce or increase the amount of memory available to the at least one CPU in response to changes in power consumption and/or changes in temperature. In some embodiments the amount of memory accessible to the CPU is decreased or increased, in other embodiments the power setting applied to portions of memory is decreased or increased. |
| US07873845B2 |
Classification technique for powered devices using selective frequency filtering
A method, performed by a power sourcing apparatus is provided. The method includes (a) providing an electronic signal to a powered device (PD) over a wire through a circuit device, the circuit device permitting current to flow at pre-determined frequencies, the pre-determined frequencies forming a first set of frequency components, (b) sensing the electronic signal over the wire to detect frequency components present in the electronic signal, the detected frequency components forming a second set of frequency components, and (c) classifying the electronic signal into one of a plurality of classes according to a pattern of frequency components present in the first and second sets. Apparatus for use in conjunction with the method are also provided. |
| US07873840B2 |
System and method for order-preserving encryption for numeric data
A system, method, and computer program product to automatically eliminate the distribution information available for reconstruction from a disguised dataset. The invention flattens input numerical values into a substantially uniformly distributed dataset, then maps the uniformly distributed dataset into equivalent data in a target distribution. The invention allows the incremental encryption of new values in an encrypted database while leaving existing encrypted values unchanged. The flattening comprises (1) partitioning, (2) mapping, and (3) saving auxiliary information about the data processing, which is encrypted and not updated. The partitioning is MDL based, and includes a growth phase for dividing a space into fine partitions and a prune phase for merging some partitions together. |
| US07873838B2 |
Method, apparatus, and program product for flexible redaction of content
A selectively encrypted data unit is generated from an unencrypted data unit. This is accomplished by accessing a list of attributes related to the unencrypted data unit that identify classifications of sensitive information within the unencrypted data unit. In addition, a protection key that is responsive to a random number is selected and auxiliary values computed from the attributes of the sensitive information and the random number are produced. The sensitive information is encrypted with the protection key to create an encrypted version of the sensitive information. The encrypted version is associated with the auxiliary values and linked to an attribute vector that classifies the sensitive information in the encrypted version. Data from the unencrypted data unit and the encrypted version of the sensitive information is stored as the selectively encrypted data unit. |
| US07873830B2 |
Methods for coordinating access to memory from at least two cryptography secure processing units
Electronic circuit chips which include cryptography functions are arranged in multichip configurations through the utilization of a shared external memory. Security of the chips is preserved via a handshaking protocol which permits each chip to access limited portions of the memory as defined in a way that preserves the same high security level as the tamper proof chips themselves. The chips may be operated to work on different tasks or to work on the same task thus providing a mechanism for trading off speed versus redundancy where desired. |
| US07873829B2 |
Offload processing for secure data transfer
Improvements in security processing are disclosed which enable security processing to be transparent to the application. Security processing (such as Secure Sockets Layer, or “SSL”, or Transport Layer Security, or “TLS”) is performed in (or controlled by) the stack. A decision to enable security processing on a connection can be based on configuration data or security policy, and can also be controlled using explicit enablement directives. Directives may also be provided for allowing applications to communicate with the security processing in the stack for other purposes. Functions within the protocol stack that need access to clear text can now be supported without loss of security processing capability. No modifications to application code, or in some cases only minor modifications (such as inclusion of code to invoke directives), are required to provide this security processing. Improved offloading of security processing is also disclosed, which provides processing efficiencies over prior art offloading techniques. Offload components can be controlled from the kernel, an SSL layer or an application. |
| US07873828B2 |
Method and apparatus for encrypting and decrypting data to/from an ESCON tape system
A method and apparatus for encrypting data written to an Enterprise System Connection (ESCON) tape system and reading encrypted data from such a tape system and decrypting the encrypted data is described. One illustrative embodiment, in writing encrypted data to an ESCON tape system, receives from a computer over a first ESCON link a command to write a data block of specified size to the ESCON tape system; requests data constituting the data block from the computer in sub-blocks; compresses and encrypts each sub-block to produce a corresponding compressed and encrypted sub-block; and transmits to the ESCON tape system over a second ESCON link the compressed and encrypted sub-blocks using a series of chained-data write operations, the transmitted compressed and encrypted sub-blocks forming a compressed and encrypted data block on a tape of the ESCON tape system. |
| US07873826B2 |
Routing voice over internet (VoIP) call
A method and system to rout a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) call based on a service class of a subscriber enables efficient utilization of bandwidth by providing service corresponding to the subscriber service class, while enabling use of a Virtual Private Network (VPN) which provides security to a VoIP service. The method includes: determining a service class of a subscriber upon packet data being received from the subscriber; determining whether the received current packet is packet data to be routed over an encrypted network or a non-encrypted network, based on the service class of the subscriber; encrypting the received packet data with an encryption processor and then routing the encrypted packet data to a final destination with a router upon a determination that the received packet data is to be routed over the encrypted network; and directly routing the received packet data to the final destination with the router without encrypting the received packet data upon a determination that the received packet data is to be routed over the non-encrypted network without being encrypted. |
| US07873825B2 |
Identification method and apparatus for establishing host identity protocol (HIP) connections between legacy and HIP nodes
A method of using the Host Identity Protocol (HIP) to at least partially secure communications between a first host operating in a first network environment and a second, HIP-enabled, host operating in a second network environment, with a gateway node forming a gateway between the two environments. An identifier is associated with the first host, stored at the gateway node, and sent to the first host. The identifier is then used as a source address in a subsequent session initiation message sent from the first host to the gateway node, having an indication that the destination of the message is the second host. The stored identifier at the gateway node is then used to negotiate a secure HIP connection to the second host. The first network environment may be a UMTS or GPRS environment, in which case the gateway node may be a Gateway GPRS Support Node (GGSN). |
| US07873824B2 |
Method and apparatus for remote BIOS configuration control
Apparatus and methods for remotely configuring a computer BIOS of a testing computer system are provided. In one aspect, a method of testing is provided that includes establishing an interface between a first computer system and a second computer system. The second computer system includes a computer readable storage device that has a BIOS and a first set of BIOS configuration settings. The first set of BIOS configuration settings is adapted to a first device under test. At least one instruction is sent from the first computer system to the second computer system to enable the second computer system to select a second set of BIOS configuration settings adapted to a second device under test having different electronic characteristics than the first device under test. An electrical test is performed on the second device under test using the second computer system and the second set of BIOS configuration settings. |
| US07873821B2 |
BIOS configuration and management
The present invention provides a system and method for a modular and enhanced kernel device manager (KDM). KDM is passed control during POST after Enhanced Device Initialization Manager (eDIM) has performed device initialization. KDM configures and manages all the devices enumerated by the eDIM. KDM groups these devices into Input Device, Output Device and/or Storage Device classifications and links them with proper class specific kernel (Input Kernel, Output Kernel, and Storage Kernel) through an Input Pipe, Output Pipe, and/or Storage Pipe. |
| US07873820B2 |
Processor utilizing a loop buffer to reduce power consumption
The present invention provides processing systems, apparatuses, and methods that reduce power consumption with the use of a loop buffer. In an embodiment, an instruction fetch unit of a processor initially provides instructions from an instruction cache to an execution unit of the processor. While instructions are provided from the instruction cache to the execution unit, instructions forming a loop are stored in a loop buffer. When a loop stored in the loop buffer is being iterated, the instruction cache is disabled to reduce power consumption and instructions are provided to the execution unit from the loop buffer. When the loop is exited, the instruction cache is re-enabled and instructions are provided to the execution unit from the instruction cache. |
| US07873819B2 |
Branch target buffer addressing in a data processor
A branch target buffer (BTB) receives, from a processor, a current fetch group address which corresponds to a current fetch group including a plurality of instructions. In response to the current fetch group address resulting in a group hit in the BTB, the BTB provides to the processor a branch target address corresponding to a branch instruction within the current fetch group which is indicated by a control field as valid and predicted taken. The BTB generates the branch target address using an unshared lower order target portion, corresponding to the branch instruction and located within the entry of the BTB which caused the group hit, and one of a shared higher order target portion located within the entry of the BTB which caused the group hit or a higher order portion of the current fetch group address based on a value of the control field. |
| US07873811B1 |
Polymorphous computing fabric
Fabric-based computing systems and methods are disclosed. A fabric-based computing system can include a polymorphous computing fabric that can be customized on a per application basis and a host processor in communication with said polymorphous computing fabric. The polymorphous computing fabric includes a cellular architecture that can be highly parameterized to enable a customized synthesis of fabric instances for a variety of enhanced application performances thereof. A global memory concept can also be included that provides the host processor random access to all variables and instructions associated with the polymorphous computing fabric. |
| US07873809B2 |
Method and apparatus for de-duplication after mirror operation
An amount of storage capacity used during mirroring operations is reduced by applying de-duplication operations to the mirror volumes. Data stored to a first volume is mirrored to a second volume. The second volume is a virtual volume having a plurality of logical addresses, such that segments of physical storage capacity are allocated for a specified logical address as needed when data is stored to the specified logical address. A de-duplication operation is carried out on the second volume following a split from the first volume. A particular segment of the second volume is identified as having data that is the same as another segment in the second volume or in the same consistency group. A link is created from the particular segment to the other segment and the particular segment is released from the second volume so that physical storage capacity required for the second volume is reduced. |
| US07873808B2 |
Method and system for synchronizing direct access storage volumes
A method and system for synchronizing direct access storage volumes designated as managed by storage management software with direct access storage volumes available to a computer system. An identifier of a volume is provided. The volume is connected to and available to a computer system, and is not managed by storage management software. A best fit between the identifier and generic identification patterns is determined based on ratings. The database record that includes the best fitting identification pattern is identified. Management options that facilitate managing the volume by the storage management software are retrieved from the database record. The volume is automatically added to a set of volumes being managed by the storage management software. The adding of the volume includes designating the volume as being managed by the storage management software and providing the management options to the storage management software. |
| US07873806B2 |
Snapshot storage and management system with indexing and user interface
A system and method of managing stored data in a storage management system. The storage management system includes a storage manager, a media agent connected to the storage manager, and a primary volume connected to the media agent. A plurality of snapshots are taken of the primary volume. The snapshots are indexed by associating respective information with the snapshot. The indexed snapshots are copied to a recovery volume. In this way, browsing features are enabled for the user. The user may view the snapshots in a hierarchical format, and may even view snapshot data in association with the corresponding application. The resultant recovery volume may be used to replace a primary volume. |
| US07873799B2 |
Method and system supporting per-file and per-block replication
A method for writing data to a storage pool, involving receiving a first write operation to write a first block to the storage pool, determining a first replication type for the first block using a first replication policy associated with the first block, determining a first number of physical blocks required to write the first block to the storage pool using a size of the first block and the first replication type, and writing the first block, in accordance with the first replication policy, to the storage pool by filling in the first number of physical blocks. |
| US07873796B2 |
Information processor system
In an information processor system including a memory device (MEM0), a memory control device (SL0) capable of controlling an operation of the memory device, and a plurality of bus masters (MS0 to MS3) capable of giving access to the memory device through the memory control device, the memory control device includes a control circuit (SDCON) capable of giving a notice of information about a time that a data transfer from the memory device can be started to the bus master related to an access request. The bus master can cause the time information thus given to be a judgment factor as to whether an access request is given to the memory device or not. Consequently, each of the bus masters can avoid the generation of a useless access request and a data transfer to the masters to be accessed can be carried out smoothly. |
| US07873795B2 |
Multi-process support in a shared register
A method of, shared register system and system for controlling access to a register are described. The shared register stores a plurality of bits including control and data bits. An access signal and a combined signal including a control portion and a data portion are received and the data portion of the combined signal is written to one or more data bits of the shared register corresponding to the control portion of the combined signal. A shared register system for controlling access to portions of a shared register includes a register having storage for bits and a register access control configured to receive an access signal and a combined signal. The register access control is operatively connected with the register to control write access to the register based on the access signal and the control portion of the combined signal. |
| US07873791B1 |
Methods and systems for incorporating improved tail cutting in a prefetch stream in TBC mode for data storage having a cache memory
A cache management system and method monitors and controls the contents of cache memory coupled to at least one host and at least one data storage device where data-units are prefetched and stored into a cache memory in a data-set format, comprising the data-units and meta-data associated with the data units. The meta-data contain time stamp information encoded with information whether the cached prefetched information is available for reuse by additional prefetched data. Prefetched data-units are controlled by executing a first prefetch task to prefetch a first prefetch series of data-units from off-cache. A first prefetch operation is executed to prefetch and store a first selected set of data units. The prefetch task contains three dedicated pointers into cache memory. Decisions to prefetch data are made about the first prefetch task, subsequent prefetch operations and prefetch tasks based on these pointers, in-cache data-sets associated with the first prefetch task and on other data-sets that are read from off-cache but that are not associated with the first prefetch task. The cache management system and method reviews data-sets and controls the allocation and deallocation of space in the cache memory. |
| US07873790B2 |
Mass storage system and method with emulation and management priorities
The present invention concerns a storage method and system (1) comprising processing means (11) and storage resources (20, 100) containing firstly storage means (20) including at least one physical library (P201 to P20n) and secondly memory means (100) called a cache (100), in which the processing means (11) of the storage system (1), vis-à-vis the computer platforms (101 to 10n), emulate at least one virtual library (V201 to V20n) from at least one physical library (P201 to P20n) which the storage system has under its control, characterized in that the processing means (11) of the storage system (1) comprise a management module (30) responsible for emulation and managing priorities over time for accesses to the storage resources (20, 100) using the results of calculations of at least one cache activity index per determined periods of time, and of at least one cache occupancy rate at a given time. |
| US07873788B1 |
Re-fetching cache memory having coherent re-fetching
A re-fetching cache memory improves efficiency of a processor, for example by reducing power consumption and/or by advantageously sharing the cache memory. When the cache memory is disabled or temporarily used for another purpose, a data portion of the cache memory is flushed, and some or all of a tag portion is saved in an archive. In some embodiments, the tag portion operates “in-place” as the archive, and in further embodiments, is placed in a reduced-power mode. When the cache memory is re-enabled or when the temporary use completes, optionally and/or selectively, the tag portion is repopulated from some or all of the archive, and the data portion is re-fetched according to the repopulated tag portion. The re-fetching is optionally performed in a cache coherent fashion. According to various embodiments, processor access to the cache is enabled during one or more of: the saving; the repopulating; and the re-fetching. |
| US07873787B2 |
Caching controls/policies for structured markup objects
We provide exemplary systems and methods using structured markup to define objects with cache controls. Examples of structure markup include Extensible Markup Language (“XML”) and Standard Generalized Markup Language (“SGML”). A cache control structure (i.e., the XML-schema) can be added to a variety of levels or layers of granularity in the object. XML data binding, which is the process of converting XML-schema to native object code, may provide an application access to the cache controls of an object. The XML-schema may be accessed using a Uniform Resource Locator (“URL”), for example, for convenient remote access. |
| US07873786B1 |
Network acceleration and long-distance pattern detection using improved caching and disk mapping
A compression device recognizes patterns of data and compressing the data, and sends the compressed data to a decompression device that identifies a cached version of the data to decompress the data. Both the compression device and the decompression device cache the data in packets they receive. Each device has a disk, on which each device writes the data in the same order. The compression device looks for repetitions of any block of data between multiple packets or datagrams that are transmitted across the network. The compression device encodes the repeated blocks of data by replacing them with a pointer to a location on disk. The decompression device receives the pointer and replaces the pointer with the contents of the data block that it reads from its disk. |
| US07873785B2 |
Multi-core multi-thread processor
A processor is provided. The processor includes at least two cores. The at least two cores have a first level cache memory and are multi-threaded. A crossbar is included. A plurality of cache bank memories in communication with the at least two cores through the crossbar is provided. Each of the plurality of cache bank memories communicates with a main memory interface. A plurality of input/output interface modules in communication with the main memory interface and providing a link to the at least two cores are included. The link bypasses the plurality of cache bank memories and the crossbar. Threading hardware configured to enable the at least two cores to switch from a first thread to a second thread in a manner hiding delays caused by cache accesses is included. A server and a method for determining when to switch threads in a multi-core multi-thread environment are included. |
| US07873783B2 |
Computer and method for reflecting path redundancy configuration of first computer system in second computer system
Mapping management information denoting the mapping of a first host and first host volume and a second host and second host volume is prepared beforehand. First-path-redundancy information, which is related to the redundancy of a first path of the first host volume, is acquired, and a second host volume and second host mapped to this first host volume and the first host thereof are specified by referencing the mapping management information. The redundancy of a second path, which links the specified second host volume and a second storage volume, is decided based on the first-path-redundancy information. Second-path-redundancy information, which is related to the decided second-path redundancy, is outputted to configure the decided second-path redundancy in the above-mentioned specified second host. |
| US07873782B2 |
Filesystem-aware block storage system, apparatus, and method
A filesystem-aware storage system locates and analyzes host filesystem data structures in order to determine storage usage of the host filesystem. To this end, the storage system might locate an operating system partition, parse the operating system partion to locate its data structures, and parse the operating system data structures to locate the host filesystem data structures. The storage system manages data storage based on the storage usage of the host file system. The storage system can use the storage usage information to identify storage areas that are no longer being used by the host filesystem and reclaim those areas for additional data storage capacity. Also, the storage system can identify the types of data stored by the host filesystem and manage data storage based on the data types, such as selecting a storage layout and/or an encoding scheme for the data based on the data type. |
| US07873777B2 |
Flash memory system, host system for programming the flash memory system, and programming method thereor
Provided are a multi-channel flash memory system capable of increasing the overall bandwidth by using a plurality of flash memory chips, and a programming method performed in the flash memory system. The flash memory system includes: a plurality of channel units each including at least two flash memory chips, a control unit which controls the flash memory chips, and a buffer unit which stores external data; and a host interface unit which transmits data separated according to the number of the channel units and transmitted by a host to the buffer units of the channel units, wherein the control unit records the data stored in the buffer unit into the at least two flash memory chips. |
| US07873775B2 |
Multiple processor system and method including multiple memory hub modules
A processor-based electronic system includes several memory modules arranged in first and second ranks. The memory modules in the first rank are directly accessed by any of several processors, and the memory modules in the second rank are accessed by the processors through the memory modules in the first rank. The data bandwidth between the processors and the memory modules in the second rank is varied by varying the number of memory modules in the first rank that are used to access the memory module in the second set. Each of the memory modules includes several memory devices coupled to a memory hub. The memory hub includes a memory controller coupled to each memory device, a link interface coupled to a respective processor or memory module, and a cross bar switch coupling any of the memory controllers to any of the link interfaces. |
| US07873774B2 |
Connections and dynamic configuration of interfaces for mobile phones and multifunctional devices
An apparatus and method in a mobile device having a digital application-specific integrated circuit (DASIC) and a multifunctional integrated circuit (chip) providing additional functions to the mobile device. An internal Universal Serial Bus (USB) link connects the DASIC and the multifunctional chip. In one embodiment, the multifunctional chip is an ultra wideband (UWB) Radio Module. The internal USB link may utilize a USB interface, a USB 2.0 Universal Transceiver Macrocell Interface (UMTI+) and Low Pin Interface (ULPI), or a High Speed InterChip (HSIC) interface. The UWB Radio Module communicates over the air with an external remote wireless device such as a wireless USB Host utilizing a UWB radio link. The internal USB link provides connection and maps logical data streams in the DASIC with logical data streams in the UWB Radio Module or multifunctional integrated circuit. |
| US07873773B2 |
Multi-node architecture with daisy chain communication link configurable to operate in unidirectional and bidirectional modes
A circuit arrangement, method and apparatus utilize communication links that are selectively configurable to operate in both unidirectional and bidirectional modes to communicate data between multiple nodes that are interconnected to one another in a daisy chain configuration. As a result, in many instances communications may be maintained with nodes located both before and after a discontinuity in a daisy chain configuration. |
| US07873771B2 |
Smart dock for chaining accessories
A system for communicating between an accessory and an electronic device includes a first interface, a second interface, and a docking station. The first interface is configured to communicate with the electronic device. The second interface is configured to communicate with the accessory. The docking station is coupled to the first interface and the second interface. The docking station is configured to receive a set of preferences from the accessory and forward the set of preferences to the electronic device. |
| US07873770B2 |
Filtering and remapping interrupts
In one embodiment, an input/output memory management unit (IOMMU) comprises a control register and control logic coupled to the control register. The control register is configured to store a base address of a device table, wherein a given input/output (I/O) device has an associated device identifier that selects a first entry in the device table. The first entry comprises a pointer to an interrupt remapping table. The control logic is configured to remap an interrupt specified by an interrupt request received by the IOMMU from the given I/O device if the interrupt remapping table includes an entry for the interrupt. |
| US07873769B2 |
Micro controller unit (MCU) capable of increasing data retention time and method of driving the MCU
A method of operating a micro controller unit including maintaining a stop mode operation when a battery level detected in response to a first interrupt signal input from an external source is in a predetermined low voltage level range during the stop mode operation, and performing a normal operation corresponding to a second interrupt signal input from the external when a battery voltage level detected in response to the second interrupt signal is higher than the highest voltage level belonging to the predetermined low voltage level range. |
| US07873767B2 |
Wireless IC memory, accessing apparatus for use of wireless IC memory, accessing control method for use of wireless IC memory, and wireless IC memory system
A wireless IC memory, for improving the security thereof, for achieving protection of business information and privacy, comprises an RFID tag 100, wherein it is possible to setup “readout disenabling (ReadLock)” condition to the UII code bank for storing ID data of the RFID tag 100, with a predetermined protocol from an external communication apparatus, within the RFID tag 100. Setup of “readout disenabling (ReadLock)” condition is stored on a readout enabling/disenabling condition memory portion 105 within the RFID tag 100. In case where the “readout disenabling (ReadLock)” condition is set up in the UII code bank, a protocol process controller portion 103 of the RFID tag 100, not responding the UII code, normally, but answers a fake UII code or an error code, or gives no answer, to a request or command of readout of the UII data from the external communication apparatus. |
| US07873751B2 |
Infiniband multicast operation in an LPAR environment
A method, computer program product, and data processing system for providing system-area network (SAN) multicasting functionality in a logically partitioned (LPAR) data processing system in which a channel adapter is shared among a plurality of logical partitions is disclosed. A preferred embodiment of the present invention allows LPAR “hypervisor” firmware to assume the responsibility for multicast protocol handling and distribution of packets among logical partitions. |
| US07873747B2 |
Device and method for transmitting data
An apparatus and method for transmitting data. The method for transmitting data includes compressing data to be transmitted and configuring a plurality of packets, arranging the packets such that the entropy mean between the packets neighboring in any one side approximates to a reference entropy set in proportion to the maximum data processing calculation amount of a receiving side portable terminal, referring to the compression entropy of each of the packets, and setting a transmission order in accordance with the arranged order; and transmitting the packets in accordance with the transmission order. |
| US07873743B2 |
Electronic apparatus with router device for managing connections
A method and electronic apparatus is provided for establishing a connection in a first electronic apparatus to a second electronic apparatus using one of a plurality of clients. The method comprises determining whether the first electronic apparatus and the second electronic apparatus, to which a connection is requested, is operating in the same network; establishing the connection using a first client if the first and second electronic apparatuses are operating in the same network; and establishing the connection using a second client if the second electronic apparatus is operating in a different network than the first electronic apparatus. |
| US07873741B2 |
System and method for conveying information
A system and method for conveying data include the capability to determine whether a transaction request credit has been received at a computer module, the transaction request credit indicating that at least a portion of a transaction request message may be sent. The system and method also include the capability to determine, if a transaction request message is to be sent, whether at least a portion of the transaction request message may be sent and to send the at least a portion of the transaction request message if it may be sent. |
| US07873738B2 |
Session initiation protocol system timeout timer method
The present method provides for a session initiation protocol timing arrangement which facilitates instant communications in a packet data communication system (50). Each network server (15-25) sets a time out timer (92) which is coordinated with each of the downstream network servers. Network server (15), for example, sets a time out timer value which is selectable by the system operator. Subsequent network servers (20 and 25) then set the value of the time out timer to be that of the originating server (15) or client (10) less a fixed time such as one second. Further, a provisional message (118) is sent through the network to avoid expiration of the time out timer in upstream stages. |
| US07873736B1 |
Replenishing a user account with more access resources needed for accessing network services
A network access server (NAS) determines the status of availability (e.g., how much more quota is unused) of an access resource, and sends a notification embedded in a point-to-point protocol (PPP) packet. The format of the packet is chosen such that definition/use of higher layers (e.g., HTTP) is not required to communicate the status to a client system. As a result, the user may be notified even if software such as web browser is not being executed on the client system. |
| US07873735B2 |
Method and apparatus to terminate dial-up connections on mobile devices
Disclosed is a method and apparatus to provide an IP connection between a mobile station (MS 10) and a computing device (CD 12). The method includes initiating the set up of the IP connection with a command sent from the CD to the MS over a local interface (13) and, in response to receiving over the local interface an IP message at the MS from the CD, routing the received IP message to an application that is resident in the MS. 2. In a presently preferred first embodiment the command is an AT command, more specifically an AT+CRM command having a value of five. In a presently preferred second embodiment the command places the MS into an auto-answer mode, and is an ATSO=1 command. |
| US07873726B2 |
Versatile terminal adapter and network for transaction processing
A terminal adapter, along with a value added network, is disclosed that interworks a plurality of terminals with a processing host to accomplish transaction processing. The terminals can use different protocols and typically incorporate card readers for completing financial or other types of transactions typically involving credit, debit, ATM or similar cards. The terminal adapter provides reliable and secure communication using a network based in part on the Internet as a primary form of communication. The terminal adapter also provides a secondary communication path in the event of a failure of the primary communication path, as well as automatic recognition of different terminal protocols, various security functions, error detection, and other network administration functions to ensure a flexible system and efficient transaction processing system. |
| US07873723B2 |
Device data
An apparatus includes a processor and a storage medium. The processor is operable to collect device data associated with the apparatus and transmit at least some of the device data to a tag. |
| US07873721B2 |
Information processing system, information processing apparatus, information processing method, storage medium that stores program for implementing it to be readable by information processing apparatus and that program
Upon transferring image data stored in a first information processing apparatus (photo site) to a second information processing apparatus (print site), at least one of information that pertains to whether or not the image data is to be acquired by the second information processing apparatus, information that pertains to whether or not the image data has already been acquired by the second information processing apparatus, and information that pertains to the number of times of acquisition of the image data by the second information processing apparatus is managed, and whether or not unwanted image data is transferred to the second information processing apparatus, and whether or not image data illicitly leaks to the second information processing apparatus are monitored on the basis of the managed information. The first information processing apparatus (photo site) prepares required image data in accordance with the current state of a series of processes to be executed by the second information processing apparatus (print site), and passes it to the second information processing apparatus, thereby preventing the first information processing apparatus that saves image data from passing unwanted image data to the second information processing apparatus that processes image data. |
| US07873720B2 |
Method for modifying the operating mode of a technical communications group platform (TCGPL) of a telecommunications network (TC network)
The invention relates to a method for modifying the operating mode of a technical communications group platform (TCGPL) of a telecommunications network (TC network) for at least one driving object 1 which is controlled by a subscriber object (SUBC), by modifying by means of at least one modifying object 2 the operating mode of at least one object 3 which is to be modified or has been modified, and a telecommunications group platform (TCGPL) for producing technical communications group processes (TCGPs). The invention further relates to a method for managing technical communications group processes (TCGPs) with the steps: provision of a driving object which defines at least one further object to be provided; making available of at least one modifying object for the provision of the further object defined by the driving object; generation of an algorithm from the modifying object; and provision of the further object by execution of the algorithm. |
| US07873719B2 |
Enterprise management system
A Managed Site (10), a logical network entity, is composed of a number of Sub Sites (20) in a one to many relationship. A Sub Site (20) is a logical component, which is composed of a number of Engines (30). Nodes (40) similarly relates to their Engine (30) in a many to one relationship. A Node (40) is a collection of Managed Elements (ME's) (50) (while being an ME (50) itself), which represent network state information. The subsite (20) consists of the engine (30) connected to server nodes (40). One or more clients (110) are connected to the management engine (30) and access management engine (30) information relating to managed elements (50) including nodes (40). The connected manager engines may communicate with one another so that, for example, in the event of a failure, one of the manager engines remaining on line commences monitoring of manage elements assigned to the failed manager engine. Upon accessing the manager engine (30), the client interface displays relationships among managed elements (50) using meaningful connectors and tree-like structures. In addition to basic managed element state monitoring functionality, the manager engine (30) provides a variety of automated tasks ensuring the health of the network and optimal failure correction in the event of a problem. For example, the manager engine (30) performs root cause analysis utilizing an algorithm tracing through managed element (50) relationships and indicating the source of the failure. |
| US07873717B1 |
Progressive layered forensic correlation of computer network and security events
Rules are arranged as nodes among layers of a hierarchical decision tree. Nodes of the decision tree can be copied and re-used at other locations on the current tree, or on another tree, in a highly efficient manner. When this occurs, corresponding field values from a parent or ancestor node are automatically updated in the newly introduced node. In addition, when a decision tree is used to operate on an event repository, the results of various rules, defined as a “match” or “no match”, are stored in a common event table that is accessible by nodes at other layers of the decision tree. In addition, actions can be initiated, for example command scripts, at designated nodes of the decision tree, for example upon the occurrence of certain conditions. |
| US07873715B1 |
Optimized instrumentation of web pages for performance management
A method and system are provided for optimized instrumentation of web pages in a performance management system. A web server receives a request for a web page from a web client. A callout to a performance management agent is inserted into the requested web page. The web page, including the callout to the agent, is sent to the web client. The web client may use the callout to load the agent by sending a request for the agent to a collector server. The agent may collect performance metrics on the web client and send the performance metrics to the collector server for storage and/or analysis. |
| US07873714B2 |
Priorization of management objects
The invention relates to a method for determining the priority of a management object in a device management system comprising management object data in a management tree for maintaining the arranged device management server and management customer device. The contents of sub objects included in at least one management object of the management tree are determined, and thereafter the management server determines a data element comprising the priority data of the sub objects in relation to other sub objects. The data element is attached to the management tree maintained by the management server, and a file definition according to said management tree is sent to a management customer device. The management customer device deassembles the file definitions into management tree form so that the priority data shows the priority data of the sub objects in relation to the other sub objects. |
| US07873713B2 |
Communication device for obtaining an application image or configuration from a service provider
A DSL customer premises equipment modem (DCPE) avoids the requirement of a flash or other static memory for storing an application image or configuration on the modem. The modem instead stores microcode used to boot its chipset and obtain the application image and/or configuration from a remote site, such as the central office (CO). In one possible startup procedure, this microcode initializes the modem's chipset, starts the DSL driver, establishes a data link with the service provider's CO equipment, and downloads the application image and/or the configuration from the CO. Other types of communications devices, such as cellular phones or other portable devices, can perform a similar procedure to obtain an application image from a remote source, such as a base station. |
| US07873706B2 |
System and method for seamlessly providing video content to client systems over a network
A system and method for providing video content to a client system is disclosed. The system includes a server and a computer coupled by a network. The server obtains operating environment information of the computer in response to a request for video content from the computer. The server selects a version of the requested video content for sending based on the obtained operating environment information. The selected video can be received by the computer at the computer's particular connection speed over the network and can be played by the computer using its particular video player. The server sends the selected video to the computer and causes the computer to automatically begin playing the video without requiring any overt interaction by the operator of the computer. |
| US07873702B2 |
Distributed redundant adaptive cluster
Efficiency in the operation of a data archive and media life cycle management system is achieved by utilizing multiple system cores to avoid potential failures and appropriately distribute activities, along with multiple communication channels for efficiently moving information. The two system cores operate in a redundant system fail-over mode, thus insuring continuous operation. The two communication channels include different operating characteristics, one cable of low cost communication, while the other capable of higher cost/higher data rate communication. In the application where large amounts of data are moved between components, efficiency is achieved by having the higher cost/higher data rate network move this large amount of information, while the lower data rate/lower cost communication system allows instructions to easily be communicated, thus coordinating operations of the overall system. |
| US07873694B2 |
Information system management unit
Operational-policy storage means (115) stores therein operational policy to be applied in information systems (103). Operational-policy execution means (113) applies the operational policy. Information-system classification means (114) judges a similar information system (103) based on the application and service level thereof. If an operational policy is input from a console (118), the operational policy is verified using an information-system (103) judged as a similar information system by the information-system classification means (114), to assure the validity of the operational policy. |
| US07873691B2 |
Network control apparatus and method
A network controller is connected to a peripheral device and to a communication line. The network controller receives a data packet from a management apparatus via the communication line. The network controller identifies a variable to be processed by the network controller and a variable to be processed by the peripheral device in the received data packet. The network controller assembles a data packet with the variable to be processed by the network controller and a data packet with the variable to be processed by the peripheral controller. The network controller sends the data packet with the variable to be processed by the peripheral controller to the peripheral device and causes the peripheral device to process the sent data packet. The network controller processes the data packet with the variable to be processed by the network controller. |
| US07873686B2 |
Complex half-band finite impulse response filter and method of making same
An electrical signal filter for processing a discrete-time real signal having a length N. In one embodiment, the filter comprising a delay line having N taps and a corresponding respective N filter coefficients. Values for the filter coefficients are determined by first shifting an impulse function of length N by a fraction of N so as to obtain a shifted impulse function. An analytic-signal-generating method is then applied to the impulse function so as to output the filter coefficient values. The values are then assigned to the N taps to complete the filter. |
| US07873684B2 |
Automatic and dynamic provisioning of databases
Approaches described herein may be used for provisioning of databases that requires a bulk transfer of data within a distributed computing environment, such as a grid. The approaches do not require the manual intervention of a DBA to, for example, transfer a tablespace between the file systems of operating systems. Instead, the tablespaces may be provisioned automatically and dynamically by a grid computing system whenever it determines the need to dynamically provision a database. In addition, as copies of tablespaces are provisioned, synchronization mechanisms can also be automatically provisioned to keep the tablespaces and their copies in sync. |
| US07873677B2 |
Method and apparatus for retrieving and processing data
Data is captured from a web site or other data source. Data is extracted from the web page using a data harvesting script or other data acquisition routine. The extracted data is then normalized and stored in a database. If data cannot be extracted from the web page, a copy of the captured web page is stored without personal information contained in the web page. The data harvesting script is then edited based on an analysis of the captured web page. |
| US07873675B2 |
Set-based data importation into an enterprise resource planning system
Importation of data records organized within tables from a source system to a target system while preserving relationships among data records of the tables when record identification values identifying each data record have been changed during importation includes, using the same database query on an entire table to update each record identification references that refers to a data record in another table. |
| US07873671B2 |
Database relationship constraint
According to the preferred embodiments, a database relationship constraint is defined for a first column that specifies a set of allowable values for the first column that depend on a set of data values in a second column that may be of a different type than data in the first column. In a first embodiment, a database relationship constraint specifies allowable values for one column in a database table based on one or more data values in a different column in the same database table. In a second embodiment, a database relationship constraint specifies a set of allowable values in a first column based on one or more data values in a second column in a different database table. In both cases, the data in the second column may be of a different type than data in the second column. |
| US07873665B2 |
Method for digitally labelling websites
A host website, method and system for digitally labelling websites or subscribers with digital labels which represent characteristics or qualities of the website is disclosed. Digital labels are stored on host websites, each of which is directed to a specific subject or activity. The host website can also provide digital labels for storage in other host websites. The host website is provided with artificial intelligence capabilities. Methods and systems for asymmetric access in a host website database are disclosed. |
| US07873658B2 |
Propagation of filter expressions across multi-layered systems
A method in a data processing system for propagation of filter expressions across multi-layered systems. If a selection criteria expression in a data request received by a first data processing engine from an application is incompatible with selection criteria expressions of a second data processing engine, the data request and the portion of the selection criteria expression that is compatible with selection criteria expressions of the second data processing engine is transmitted to the second data processing engine. If the second data processing engine received a message that matches the compatible portion of the selection criteria expression, the message that matches is transmitted to the first data processing engine. If the message that matches the compatible portion also matches the portion of the selection criteria expression that is incompatible with the selection criteria expressions of the second data processing engine, the message that matches is transmitted to the application. |
| US07873655B2 |
Automated mobile communications
An “Automatic Communicator” provides automated communications services between portable electronic devices (such as, for example, cell phones, PDA's, media players, portable computers, etc.) to facilitate information transfer and matching services while minimizing or eliminating the need for human involvement in responding to queries from one electronic device to another. Such communications are enabled by allowing portable electronic devices (“requesting devices”) to send a query to other portable electronic devices (“answering devices”), and have one or more of those answering devices automatically respond to the query without requiring users of the answering devices to become involved in providing that response. In effect, this allows the portable electronic devices of users to act as digital “butlers” or “personal assistants” that respond to queries on behalf of the users of those devices. In various embodiments, privacy concerns are addressed by authenticating authorized requesting devices or limiting information returned in response to queries. |
| US07873650B1 |
System and method for distributing data in a parallel processing system
A parallel-processing system that is capable of dynamically creating a distributed tree for distributing data. The system includes a plurality of first nodes. Each of the plurality of first nodes is capable of establishing a connection with at least one of the plurality of first nodes to form at least a portion of a dynamically created distribution tree. The system also includes a second node that is capable of receiving data for distribution within the parallel-processing system. The second node is also capable of establishing a connection with at least two of the plurality of first nodes. In this particular embodiment, the second node and the plurality of first nodes operate to form the dynamically created distribution tree. Moreover, the second node also operates to distribute the data to each of the plurality of first nodes through the dynamically created distribution tree. |
| US07873649B2 |
Method and mechanism for identifying transaction on a row of data
Techniques are provided for using XML syntax in exchanging data in relational databases. According to certain embodiments of the invention, one or more portions of the relational database is visualized as an XML document. A standard Uniform Resource Locator (URL) mechanism is provided to access data stored in the relational database by defining the URL as an XPath expression over the visualized XML document. |
| US07873648B2 |
System and method for personalized presentation of web pages
A method for presenting to a user electronic documents is described. The documents are stored at one or more network sites which are accessible via a network by a computer system, and are registered with a page filter system. The method comprises the steps of determining needs and/or intentions and/or a field of interest of the user, defining a user specification based on the determined needs and/or intentions and/or a field of interest of the user, determining a subset of the electronic documents comprising only those of the electronic documents which comprise content that has a predetermined relation to the user specification, and using the identified subset to amend the presentation of at least one of the electronic documents to the user. |
| US07873644B1 |
Computer implemented system for population of forms with information
A computer implemented system which automatically populates the fields of form documents with the corresponding information. |
| US07873643B2 |
Incremental clustering classifier and predictor
The present invention provides mathematical model-based incremental clustering methods for classifying sets of data and predicting new data values, based upon the concepts of similarity and cohesion. In order to increase processing efficiency, these methods employ weighted attribute relevance in building unbiased classification trees and sum pairing to reduce the number of nodes visited when performing classification or prediction operations. In order to increase prediction accuracy, these methods employ weighted voting over each value of target attributes to calculate a prediction profile. The present invention allows an operator to determine the importance of attributes and reconstitute classification trees without those attributes deemed unimportant to further increase classification structure node processing efficiency. An operator can vary instance attribute values via a graphical user interface to explore the domain space of a classified data set, and use the visualization aspect of the present invention to visually contrast data set members with distinguishing features. |
| US07873642B2 |
Method and apparatus for ontology-based classification of media content
A method and apparatus for ontology-based classification of media content are provided. With the method and apparatus, initial confidence values of classifiers in a hierarchical classification structure are modified based on relationships between classifiers. A confidence value for a classifier is boosted by a boosting factor based on a correspondence between the confidence value and confidence values of ancestor classifiers in the hierarchical classification structure. A confidence value for a classifier is modified by a confusion factor based on a correspondence between the confidence value of the classifier and the confidence values of mutually exclusive classifiers in the hierarchical classification structure. In this way, a more accurate representation of the actual confidence that media content falls within the classification associated with the classifier is obtained. From this improved classification mechanism, indices for media content may be generated for use in accessing the media content at a later time. |
| US07873639B2 |
Method and system for processing or searching user records
Preferably for use in a directory enquires system, a method and system are provided for processing user records to determine common entries between them. When two user records are determined to store common information then link data is generated and stored in each user record indicating a link between the two records. This link information is then used in subsequent searching of the user records to determine the most likely result from a list of possible results obtained from a search of the user records. In a directory enquiries system the user records contain user ID and telephone number details as well as address book data of each user's friends, family, or other acquaintances. The address book data is used to determine whether a link between user records should be formed. |
| US07873638B2 |
Apparatus and method for the collection and utilization of user selection in a content delivery environment
A system and method for the collection, analysis, utilization, and/or reporting of user preference of content experienced by the user preferably for managing the distribution network of a content delivery environment, managing the selections of content available, reporting user selections of content available, and/or execution of user instructions as presented in the content. |
| US07873635B2 |
Search ranger system and double-funnel model for search spam analyses and browser protection
Defeating click-through cloaking includes retrieving a search results page to set a browser variable, inserting a link to a page into the search results page and clicking through to the page using the inserted link. Investigating cloaking includes providing script associated with a suspected spam URL, modifying the script to de-obfuscate the script and executing the modified script to reveal cloaking logic associated with the script. |
| US07873631B2 |
Abstractly mapped physical data fields
A method, apparatus, and article of manufacture for managing access to an abstract database are provided. The abstract database may include a data abstraction model comprising a plurality of logical field definitions, each of the definitions comprising a logical field name, and an access method maps the logical field to a physical data field. Collectively, the physical data fields provide an indirection layer logically disposed between the data abstraction model and the underlying physical database. By providing this layer of indirection using the physical data fields, a number of enhancements to the data abstraction model may be provided. This includes providing enhancements to the security, administration, and usability of an abstract database. |
| US07873629B1 |
Dynamic partition enhanced inequality joining using a value-count index
Methods, computer programs, and database systems for performing a database query to join a column A and a column B on an inequality condition are disclosed. A database includes value-count indexes for columns A and B. Minimum and a maximum values for A and B are determined, using the value-count indexes for A and B, respectively. The method includes defining three or more sets of values in A and B, relative to the minimum and maximum values for B and A, respectively. The method includes generating one or more Cartesian products between values in A and B. The database query is performed on a set of values in A and a set of values in B to generate a partial query result. The method includes merging one or more Cartesian products and the partial query result. |
| US07873623B1 |
System for user driven ranking of web pages
Linked documents are ranked by observing link selections for referred documents from referring documents and counting such selections. The counts for each of the link selections are stored at various computer systems of a distributed network, a centralized collection of computers connected through a local network, or a hybrid system (collectively, the “system”) consisting of combinations of distributed and centralized systems, and processed (e.g., using a discrete probability distribution defined by the counts of the link selections) to obtain page ranks for the referred documents. The link selections may be observed by a browser extension running on individual ones of the computer systems of the distributed network and the counts of the link selections may be stored at locations within the system determined by a distributed hash table. Search request results may be displayed in a ranked order as determined by the page ranks. |
| US07873622B1 |
Multi-column search results interface
Graphical user interfaces that are well suited for displaying search results from multiple search categories are described. In one aspect of the invention, a graphical user interface is provided that includes a window having at least two panes that are arranged to display search results from searches in different search categories. Each pane can be presented in an open state suitable for displaying information and a closed state. A user may adjust the relative sizes of the panes and the user may switch the panes between the open and closed states. |
| US07873620B2 |
Desktop search from mobile device
Content management architecture for a portable wireless device. Caching and fetching techniques are provided to improve content handling for portable devices such as cellular telephones and portable computers. A search component automatically performs searches as a background process, and potentially desired content is received and cached by a content storing component to be available in the future when and if needed, mitigating latency associated with slow download speeds, refresh rates, and other system and/or network impediments. Content from background search results can be trickled into the device as part of the background process so as not to burden system resources for other processes. As part of memory management, aged and/or low priority or low interest content can be selectively removed or archived to increase available cache or memory space, as well as to maintain relevant content within the device. A presentation component facilitates presentation of the pre-stored content. |
| US07873616B2 |
Methods of inferring user preferences using ontologies
Methods of inferring user preferences using ontologies use ontology structure based similarity and an inference mechanism in defining ontology filtering (OF). Items are recommended to users by identifying items that the users may prefer, but may not have been aware of. This is performed by computing personalized scores for concepts and selecting an instance having a highest score. |
| US07873612B2 |
Atomically moving list elements between lists using read-copy update
A system, method and computer program product for atomically moving a shared list element from a first list location to a second list location includes inserting a placeholder element at the second list location to signify to readers that a move operation is underway, removing the shared list element from the first list location, re-identifying the list element to reflect its move from the first list location to the second list location, inserting it at the second list location and unlinking the placeholder element. A deferred removal of the placeholder element is performed following a period in which readers can no longer maintain references thereto. A method, system and computer program product are additionally provided for performing a lookup of a target list element that is subject to being atomically moved from a first list to a second list. |
| US07873611B2 |
Boolean literal and parameter handling in object relational mapping
Techniques for object relational mapping in database technologies are described herein. According to one embodiment, in response to a query statement for accessing a relational database, a syntax tree is generated to represent semantic information of the query statement, where the query statement has a boolean parameter and is implemented as an SQL object. A data type of the boolean parameter is predicted based on the semantic information obtained from the syntax tree in view of a structure representing the syntax tree. The boolean parameter is configured to be either a numeric value or a string dependent upon metadata used to map the SQL object to the relational database. Other methods and apparatuses are also described. |
| US07873606B2 |
Advisor framework, systems, methods and software for implementing the same
Various embodiments of the invention provide solutions that can offer a consistent framework for tools that assist in the configuration, tuning, and/or troubleshooting of a database and/or an RDBMS. Merely by way of example, one set of embodiments provides a software framework for an advisor component of a database and/or RDBMS. In accordance with some embodiments, the framework might specify a common data model for such advisor components. The data model can include, merely by way of example, a set of one or more findings (which might, in some cases, describe the result of an analysis of a circumstance in the database, RDBMS, and/or a mid-tier application used with the database) and/or a set of one or more recommendations (which might provide suggestions for addressing the circumstance). In particular embodiments. In particular embodiments, the data model might include a set of on or more rationales, which can explain the recommendations. In some cases, the software framework might include a task associated with the advisor component and/or one or more interfaces, which can include, inter alia, user interfaces and/or APIs. Other sets of embodiments can provide methods, systems and/or software programs for implementing an advisor framework. |
| US07873605B2 |
Apparatus to selectively remove the effects of transactions in online database and enable logical recovery
A method and apparatus for selective removal of user data changes is provided. In one embodiment, the methodology is implemented by a logical recovery mechanism. Upon receiving a request to selectively remove user data changes stored in a database, the mechanism creates an empty set of transactions to be populated for selective removal, identifies one or more transactions and places them in the causal set of transactions. The mechanism further identifies other transactions that logically depend on any transaction already in the causal set of transactions. Finally, either while the causal set of transactions is being identified or after the identification is completed, the mechanism also determines user data changes made by the causal set of transactions. One or more compensating transactions may be generated by the logical recovery mechanism, which when executed, reverse the user data changes. |
| US07873600B2 |
Storage control device to backup data stored in virtual volume
A storage control device uses write management information that manages locations of the occurrence of writing in one or more first storage devices in order to specify one or more locations where writing has occurred, and backs up one or more data elements stored in one or more specified locations to a second storage device. In order to perform a restore operation, write management information at the time of a backup is stored, and data elements stored in the second storage device are restored to one or more locations specified from the write management information at that time of backup, or to one or more new locations specified from new write management information indicating one or more new locations corresponding to the one or more locations. |
| US07873599B2 |
Backup control apparatus and method eliminating duplication of information resources
A backup control apparatus which references duplication management information which includes first stored location information indicating the stored location of first information resource and second stored location information indicating the stored location of a second information resource which duplicates the first information resource, and identifies, from among a plurality of information resources belonging to a backup region. The first information resource stored in the location indicated by the first stored location information, and a second information resource stored in the location indicated by the second stored location information corresponding to the first stored location information. The backup control apparatus replaces the identified second information resource with linked information indicating a link to the identified first information resource, and backs up the backup region in which the second information resource is replaced with the linked information. |
| US07873597B2 |
Data management system, update file generating system, and data updating method
Systems and methods store data in records, each record comprising a plurality of fields. The systems and methods receive an update file that contains a stored field specifying structure that specifies a field that is to be updated in a particular record and that contains the updated data for the field that is to be updated. The systems and methods then write, for the particular record, the updated data that has been extracted from the update file into the field that has been specified by the stored field specifying structure of the update file. |
| US07873592B2 |
Type inference for object-oriented languages
Systems and methods facilitate type inference in a computer-programming environment. Type inference can be applied to generic method or function invocation in object-oriented languages to determine a type argument list left implicit by a programmer. One or more type arguments can be identified as a parameter type to which all other types in a set of associated parameter types can be converted. |
| US07873591B2 |
User-interface architecture for manipulating business models
The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products of user-interface architecture for manipulating business models. Embodiments of the invention facilitate efficient generation and extension of business related software applications, including commingled data-centric applications that represent both data elements and business logic in metadata. Modules of the user-interface architecture permit users to enter commands through common metaphors and wizards that abstract underlying (and more complex) modeling commands and data formats from users. The user-interface architecture can automatically search for existing models to provide and extend business related functionality. |
| US07873587B2 |
Method and system for creating a program to preform a desired task based on programs learned from other tasks
The present invention is directed to a method of creating a program to solve a problem pertaining to a first task. In the method, user input data pertaining to a second task is received from an operator. The second task is different from the first task. A number of subprograms are automatically obtained based on the received user input data. The program is then created based on the obtained subprogram or subprograms. |
| US07873584B2 |
Method and system for classifying users of a computer network
A method of classifying an anonymous user communicating over a computer network, such as by age, gender, or personal interests, based on the content generated or otherwise communicated by the user. The method includes: (a) providing sets of reference attributes, wherein each set of reference attributes is associated with one of a number of personal profile classes; (b) analyzing the user content in order to extract a set of attributes corresponding to such content; (c) comparing the set of extracted attributes against the plural sets of reference attributes in order to find a close match; and (d) associating the user with the personal profile class of the matched set of reference attributes. |
| US07873579B2 |
Merchant facilitation of online card present transaction
An online card-present transaction system facilitates card-present type transactions with a merchant over a public network. A host system is configured to accept authentication data from a user via an authentication device. The host system, after authenticating a user is configured to retrieve the user's account information from a user database system and translate a user account number into a temporary transaction number. The temporary transaction number is then transmitted directly from the host system to the merchant, thereby eliminating the need for the user to send to the merchant over the internet, the user's transaction account number. |
| US07873562B2 |
Methods and machine readable mediums to enable a fixed price purchase within an online auction environment
A method of allowing a seller in an auction facility to offer buyers the option of buying an offering at a pre-auction seller determined price or using a regular auction process. If a buyer is given the option to purchase at the seller determined price and decides to use the regular auction process by submitting a bid, the option to buy the offering at a pre-auction seller determined price is discontinued. |
| US07873556B1 |
System and method for margin loan securitization
A system and method for securitizing margin loans, wherein a processor system operates to analyze account data for a plurality of accounts, and to identify and flag accounts that are marginable. The process provides for flagging a group of accounts which collectively are representative of a portfolio of marginable accounts held by a brokerage company. The system and method also provides for generating a general ledger for the brokerage company, a SPV, and a trust, wherein these general ledgers track the sale of margin loans belonging to the flagged accounts, from the brokerage company to the trust via the SPV. The system and method further provide for processing transactions in the flagged accounts to identify and classify transactions in the flagged accounts which affect the margin balances for the flagged accounts. |
| US07873550B2 |
Process control system and process control method
In a process control system according to the present invention, a history record table, a history record relationship table, a process table, and a process relationship table are provided. The history record table stores information on a history record. The history record relationship table stores information on a history record relationship. The process table stores information on a process. The process relationship table stores information on a process relationship. When a history record is received, history records of the previous process and the next process are searched. Then, both of the history record relationship between a history record of the present process and a history record of the previous process and the history record relationship between the history record of the present process and a history record of the next process are created. Then, using the process table, the process relationship table, and history record information that has been already collected, history records that have not been received are estimated and then are displayed according to work order.With such arrangement, it is possible to trace a product item correctly even when some of history records are not registered since time required to register a history is varied depending on the processes or for other reasons, or there are not some of necessary history records. |
| US07873546B2 |
System and method for calculating parameters for a commerce system
A method and system for processing a parameter for an item in an electronic order processing system is provided. The method has a first step of associating a calculation code with the item. The second step of the method is applying the calculation rule to the item to produce an amount. The third step of the method is providing the amount to an output device. Each operation within each of the first step, the second step and the third step may be modified and flow of execution amongst the first step, the second step and the third step remains the same. |
| US07873544B2 |
Anti-internalization order modifier
An anti-internalization order modifier and related market center and process are disclosed which prevent orders sent from the same trading firm from executing against one another on the posting market center the orders are posted on. |
| US07873543B2 |
Systems and methods for managing product purchase information over a network
Systems, methods, and computer-readable mediums, consistent with principles of some embodiments of the present invention provide for managing product purchase information including receiving a list of a plurality of products to purchase at a personal computing device, wherein the list includes an indication representing whether the plurality of products have been selected for purchase, updating the list with an indication that at least one of the plurality of products has been selected for purchase when the personal computing device receives information that the one of the plurality of products has been selected, updating the list by adding at least one new product, representing ingredients of a recipe, to the list when the personal computing device receives input that the recipe has been selected; and displaying the updated list. |
| US07873533B2 |
Comprehensive employment recruiting communications system with translation facility
An employment recruiting communications system selectively employs language translation to support multi-cultural communications. |
| US07873532B2 |
Method, system, and computer readable medium useful in managing a computer-based system for servicing user initiated tasks
A method for determining whether secondary activities (activities that can be executed during system “down time”) should be executed at a time, and executing at least one of the secondary activities according to a priority or interrupt scheme. The invention monitors a threshold, which can be based on several factors, to determine when system conditions are such that secondary activities should be conducted. When system conditions are such that secondary activities should occur, the invention conducts secondary activities according to an interrupt scheme. |
| US07873527B2 |
Insurance for service level agreements in e-utilities and other e-service environments
A method and system for indemnifying an insurance purchaser by an insurance provider against losses resulting from specified events. In one embodiment, the specified events include quality of service penalties of a service level agreement between a service provider and service purchaser. The invention may include at least one risk metric monitored via a communication network, such that a premium payable to the insurer by the insurance purchaser is dependent on the risk metric. In a particular configuration of the invention, the risk metric is monitored in real-time or near real-time. |
| US07873525B1 |
Method and system for outcome based medical referrals
A method and system is described to provide outcome data to the healthcare industry allowing for fair and accurate quality based purchasing decisions. The system deploys methods to facilitate the accurate and unbiased collection of patient outcome data. From this data warehouse of outcome data, purchasers can access aggregate outcome data identifying those providers or health plans that have achieved the best outcomes for specific criteria. Similarly, individual patient referrals can be made to providers with the best track record of helping comparable patients. Based upon outcome assessment data these searches can automatically be made based on specific patient characteristics and needs. |
| US07873523B2 |
Computer implemented method of analyzing recognition results between a user and an interactive application utilizing inferred values instead of transcribed speech
A computer implemented method of analyzing recognition results between a user in an interactive application having dialogue turns includes receiving and storing information on a computer indicative of dialogue turns between the system and at least one user. The method also utilizes a computer recognition analysis module comprising an inference module operable on a computer to associate an inferred value of a response with a turn where the inferred value is based on analyzing the received information without performing transcription of the user response within the inference module. The method also includes outputting the inferred value. |
| US07873521B2 |
Sound signal detection system, sound signal detection server, image signal search apparatus, image signal search method, image signal search program and medium, signal search apparatus, signal search method and signal search program and medium
A sound signal detection system of the present invention that searches for a portion of stored sound signals similar to a target sound signal, includes a stored feature calculation portion that calculates a stored feature from time-series data of the stored sound signals; a target feature calculation portion that calculates a target feature from time-series data of the target sound signal; a stored feature area selection portion that selects elements corresponding to statistics larger than a threshold from stored features and calculates stored area selection features generated from the selected elements; a target feature area selection portion that selects elements corresponding to statistics larger than a threshold from a target feature and calculates a target area selection feature generated from the selected element; and a feature comparison portion that sets a comparison segment in the stored area selection features and calculates a degree of similarity between comparison segments of both the target and stored area selection features. |
| US07873519B2 |
Natural language speech lattice containing semantic variants
An intelligent query system for processing voiced-based queries is disclosed, which uses a combination of both statistical and semantic based processing to identify the question posed by the user by understanding the meaning of the user's utterance. Based on identifying the meaning of the utterance, the system selects a single answer that best matches the user's query. The answer that is paired to this single question is then retrieved and presented to the user. The system, as implemented, accepts environmental variables selected by the user and is scalable to provide answers to a variety and quantity of user-initiated queries. |
| US07873518B2 |
Device and method for assessing a quality class of an object to be tested
A device for assessing a quality class of an object to be tested includes a unit for detecting a test signal from the object to be tested. Furthermore, the device for assessing includes a unit for providing a stochastic Markov model including states and transitions between states on the basis of reference measurements of objects of known quality classes, and a unit for evaluating the test signal using the stochastic Markov model. In addition, the device for assessing includes a unit for associating the object to be tested with a quality class based on the evaluation of the test signal. Such a device has the advantage to be able to perform a more precise association of an object to be tested with a quality class as compared to prior art. |
| US07873517B2 |
Motor vehicle with a speech interface
A motor vehicle has a speech interface for an acoustic input of commands for operating the motor vehicle or a module of the motor vehicle. The speech interface includes a speech recognition database in which a substantial portion of commands or command components, which can be input, are stored in a version according to a pronunciation in a first language and in a version according to a pronunciation in at least a second language, and a speech recognition engine for automatically comparing an acoustic command to commands and/or command components, which are stored in the speech recognition database, in a version according to the pronunciation in the first language and to commands and/or command components, which are stored in the speech recognition database, in a version according to the pronunciation in the second language. |
| US07873515B2 |
System and method for error reconstruction of streaming audio information
A method includes receiving a sequence of frames containing audio information and determining that a frame is missing in the sequence of frames. The method also includes comparing the frame that precedes the missing frame to the received frames to identify a selected frame. The method further includes identifying a replacement frame comprising the frame that follows the selected frame. In addition, the method includes inserting the replacement frame into the sequence of frames in place of the missing frame. |
| US07873514B2 |
Method for quantizing speech and audio through an efficient perceptually relevant search of multiple quantization patterns
A method and apparatus is disclosed herein for quantizing data using a perceptually relevant search of multiple quantization patterns. In one embodiment, the method comprises performing a perceptually relevant search of multiple quantization patterns in which one of a plurality of prototype patterns and its associated permutation are selected to quantize the target vector, each prototype pattern in the plurality of prototype patterns being capable of directing quantization across the vector; converting the one prototype pattern, the associated permutation and quantization information resulting from both to a plurality of bits by an encoder; and transferring the bits as part of a bit stream. |
| US07873510B2 |
Adaptive rate control algorithm for low complexity AAC encoding
A system and method for adaptive rate control in audio processing is provided. The process could include receiving uncompressed audio data from an input and generating MDCT spectrum for each frame of the uncompressed audio data using a filterbank. The process could also include estimating masking thresholds for current frame to be encoded based on the MDCT spectrum. The masking thresholds reflect a bit budget for the current frame. The process could also include performing quantization of the current frame based on the masking thresholds. After the quantization of the current frame, the bit budget for next frame is updated for estimating the masking thresholds of the next frame. The process could also include encoding the quantized audio data. |
| US07873509B1 |
Memory system for storing and retrieving experience and knowledge with natural language utilizing state representation data, word sense numbers, function codes, directed graphs, context memory, and/or purpose relations
A memory system for storing and retrieving experience and knowledge with natural language through methods and apparatus is disclosed. The primary components of this memory system include syntactic processes, function word processes, ellipsis processes, morphology processes, meaning word sense number processes, purpose identification processes, plausibility and expectedness processes, communication processes, context storage processes, and text generation processes. The function word processes select and evaluate functions associated with function words which are certain words in each part of speech. Ellipsis processes replace unstated words. Morphology processes replace morphological words with phrases or clauses composed of function words and word sense numbers. A word sense number is an address to the meaning of a word. Certain nouns, verbs, and adjectives are meaning words. Word sense numbers are selected to be consistent with the context of the clause containing the words, the context, and stored experience and knowledge. Experience and knowledge are stored as nodes with associated clause implying word sense numbers organized into paths in a directed graph. Nodes in the directed graph have access conditions which determine if a node is accessible on a path. A path has an associated purpose relation which is any concept that labels the path. Purpose identification processes select: purpose relations, experience and knowledge, processes for setting a verb's result states or a state value, object classification paths, and activity selection paths. The communication processes coordinate incoming and outgoing natural language text. Text generation processes generate natural language text from word sense numbers. |
| US07873508B2 |
Apparatus, method, and computer program product for supporting communication through translation between languages
A communication support apparatus includes a speech recognizer that recognizes a first speech of a source language as a first source language sentence, and recognizes a second speech of the source language following the first speech as a second source language sentence; a determining unit that determines whether the second language sentence is similar to the first language sentence; and a language converter that translates the first source language sentence into a first translation sentence, and translates the second source language sentence into a second translation sentence different from the first translation sentence when the determining unit determines that the second language sentence is similar to the first language sentence. |
| US07873507B2 |
Multi-core model simulator
A high-speed multicore model simulator is realized. A multicore model simulator having a plurality of threads, and a plurality of core models executing the aforesaid plurality of threads is provided. The plurality of core models are a plurality of processor core models, each of which executes one thread, and they are synchronized with each other every predetermined number of execution instructions of each thread. |
| US07873506B2 |
Simulation framework with support for multiple integrated circuits having potentially differing characteristics
The operation of an electronic system comprising a plurality of integrated circuits or other circuit elements is simulated using a software-based development tool that provides a generic framework for simultaneous simulation of multiple circuit elements having potentially different clock speeds, latencies or other characteristics. One or more interfaces provided in the software-based development tool permit registration of processing events associated with one or more of the circuit elements. The software-based development tool is further operative to determine a system clock for a given simulation, and to schedule execution of the associated processing events in a manner that takes into account differences between the system clock and one or more circuit element clocks, so as to maintain consistency in the execution of the processing events relative to the determined system clock. |
| US07873505B2 |
Method and apparatus for predicting scheduled system downtime
The invention includes a method for predicting a scheduled downtime associated with a system. In one embodiment, a method includes determining a system model associated with the system according to a system type of the system, determining at least one scheduled system downtime event type associated with the system using the system model, selecting at least one scheduled system downtime event model according to the at least one scheduled system downtime event type, and predicting the scheduled system downtime using the at least one scheduled system downtime event model. |
| US07873503B2 |
Method, system, and product for performing sub-configuration of entities
Techniques to performing sub-configuration of components of an entity. In one method, the entity is configured via a parent model and each sub-configurable component is configured via one of a number of sub-models. Initially a selection to configure a particular sub-configurable component of the entity is received, and a sub-model for the selected component is identified. One or more values for one or more features of the selected component are received (e.g., from the parent model or via the sub-model) and form a configuration for the component, which is then validated based on the associated sub-model and the received values. Configuration of the entity is also validated based on the parent model and the validated configuration for the selected component. Feedbacks may be provided for each configuration of the parent model and sub-models. The data for the parent model and sub-models may be localized or globalized. |
| US07873493B2 |
Method and device for determining angular position
A method for determining angular position, which removes a systematic error in the angular position determination and requires a low calculating effort, by determining a first factor and a second factor as a function of an angular position, forming a first product from a first signal and the first factor, and a second product of the second signal and the second factor, forming a subtraction result by the subtraction of the second product from the first product, and comparing the subtraction result to a quantity. |
| US07873486B2 |
Spectrogram mask trigger
A spectrogram mask trigger is generated in response to multiple or complex frequency events within a signal being monitored. A sequence of frequency masks over a period of time is generated according to a frequency trajectory, frequency hops or other complex frequency events expected in the signal to form a spectrogram mask. The spectrogram mask is then applied to multiple spectra or spectrogram of the signal to determine whether an anomalous frequency event has occurred within the time period or to identify a particular frequency pattern within the signal. Depending upon the results of the spectrogram mask application, the spectrogram mask trigger is generated for storing a block of data from the signal surrounding the triggering event for further analysis. |
| US07873483B2 |
Analyzer and computer program product
Provided is an analyzer capable of analyzing an analyte with an analytical condition corresponding to a minor classification prepared by subdividing the species (major classification) of the analyte. This analyzer selects a major classification corresponding to the analyte to be analyzed from a plurality of major classifications indicating the types of analytes, preferentially displays minor classifications, belonging to the selected major classification, prepared by subdividing the corresponding major classification, selects one of the displayed minor classifications, and analyzes the analyte on the basis of an analytical condition corresponding to the selected minor classification. |
| US07873473B2 |
Motor vehicle having a preventive protection system
A motor vehicle preventive protection system comprises a plurality of safety devices which are actuated as a function of information from at least one vehicle surroundings detection device. The time remaining prior to a collision is determined when the information from the vehicle surroundings detection device represents an anticipated collision with a collision object. Associated activation times for at least two of the actuators assigned to the safety devices are stored and the time remaining prior to the collision is compared with the activation times. At least one safety device is activated if the time remaining prior to the collision is shorter than or equal to at least one of the activation times of the actuators. |
| US07873471B2 |
Transmission of special routes to a navigation device
A vehicle navigation system includes an adaptive routing module (210) that allows a user to provide inputs that influence routes that are calculated to predetermined destinations. A route calculation module (204) executed by a navigation server (102) is operable to calculate a first route from the trip origin to the trip destination. An adaptive route calculation (204) executed by the navigation server (102) is operable to allow the user to enter a user modification of the first route. After the user modification is entered by the user, a second route to the trip destination is calculated as a function of the user modification. The second route is then transmitted to a vehicle navigation system (104). |
| US07873466B2 |
Voice-controlled navigation device and method
A voice-controlled navigation device includes a voice control unit, a display interface, a recognition unit, and a start unit. The voice control unit receives at least one voice command, the display interface displays a menu, and the recognition unit is used for recognizing the voice command for the display interface to display at least one option. The start unit executes a navigation function according to an corresponding option of one of the at least one voice command while receiving a specific voice start command. The menu displays one or a group of different options on the menu while a different voice command is received by the voice control unit, and each of the at least one voice command corresponds to one of the at least one option displayed on the menu. |
| US07873461B2 |
Fuel temperature estimation in a spark ignited direct injection engine
A fuel control system that includes a fuel injector control module that selectively applies a power source to a coil of a fuel injector. The fuel control system also includes a current determination module that selectively measures current flowing through the coil. The fuel control system also includes a fuel temperature estimation module that selectively calculates a resistance of the coil based on the measured current and a voltage value of the power source and that determines an estimated fuel temperature based on the resistance. The fuel injector control module controls operation of a fuel system based on the estimated fuel temperature. |
| US07873455B2 |
Work vehicle access monitoring and control system
An access control system for a work vehicle that has an engine and a location is provided, the system including location sensor that indicates the vehicle's location and an electronic control unit coupled to the sensor that receives the location signal and selectively disables the engine based upon the vehicle's position outside job site boundary's or based upon the time of operation at a plurality of job sites, each job site having its own time of operation. |
| US07873452B2 |
Method and system for controlling a vehicle powertrain based upon actual vehicle load
A method and system for controlling an engine controller in response to actual vehicle load. |
| US07873443B2 |
System, method and program product for targeting and optimal driving force distribution in energy recovery systems
A system, methods, and user-friendly program product to optimize energy recovery or a process or cluster of processes under all possible process changes and stream-specific minimum temperature approach values without enumeration, are provided. The program product can utilize stream-specific minimum temperature approach values ΔTmini, where the superscript i represents the specific hot stream, as the optimization parameters instead of the single global ΔTmin currently used, in addition to identifying the optimal operating conditions. The program product can determine optimal global minimum energy utility values and define optimal process conditions and an optimal driving force distribution in heat recovery systems, and can produce an optimal Pareto-curve that shows the rigorous trade off between energy cost and capital cost for any energy recovery system. |
| US07873441B2 |
System for execution of a load operating plan for load control
A system uses an intelligent load controller for managing use of a consumable resource at an associated load. The controller has a resource measuring component for measuring the rate of use of the resource by the associated load, including measuring at least one of an instantaneous usage rate and a usage rate over an integration period and a load status component for receiving load status data for the associated load. The controller also has a communication component for receiving control messages from and sending load status messages to other associated controllers; a memory for storing a load control goal set; and a load control computer program responsive to the resource measuring component, the load status component, the control messages from other associated controllers and the load control goal set, to determine a load operating level for, and provide control commands to, the associated load. |
| US07873437B2 |
Autonomous machine
A control system is provided for navigating an autonomous machine around a working area in a manner that causes the machine to traverse substantially all of the free surface of the working area. The control system is arranged to cause the machine to follow a boundary of the working area and to perform a plurality of movements, each movement comprising the machine travelling away from the boundary of the working area, at an angle to the boundary, and returning again to the boundary. The machine moves along the boundary of the working area between each movement and repeats the movements as the machine follows substantially the entire boundary of the working area. |
| US07873434B2 |
Cutting pattern manipulation and methods
Automated methods implemented in a computer system are provided that allow the translation of geometric shapes from a cutting pattern having a nested configuration to geometric shapes shown in an installed configuration and vice-versa. Methods are also provided that allow modification of cutting patterns based on various modifications applied to the geometric shapes therein. Additionally, certain methods herein allow cutting patterns to be automatically modified to conform to protective films of different sizes. In certain embodiments, methods are provided for optimization of the arrangement of geometric shapes in a nested configuration so as to substantially minimize the surface area occupied by the geometric shapes. Automated pattern manipulation systems implementing one or more of the methods herein are also provided. |
| US07873431B2 |
Workpiece transfer apparatus, control method for workpiece transfer apparatus, and press line
By adopting a workpiece transfer apparatus, which grips a workpiece by use of a predetermined grip device and transfers the workpiece between press apparatuses each of which drives a die, including a transfer control device for controlling a position of the grip device based on a resultant target value obtained by combining a die position of a press apparatus located on an upstream side of a workpiece transfer direction (an upstream side die position) and a die position of a press apparatus located on a downstream side of a workpiece transfer direction (a downstream side die position), in which the transfer control device sets a resultant target value so that the grip device moves smoothly, it becomes possible to suppress vibration in a workpiece transfer apparatus in a press line. |
| US07873430B1 |
System that can schedule operations that are performed on industrial control devices
The claimed subject matter provides a system and/or method that facilitates automatically scheduling an operation in an industrial environment. An interface component can facilitate receipt of a list/schedule including at least one operation related to a device within the industrial environment. A scheduler component can automatically perform the at least one operation on the device at a time indicated by the list/schedule utilizing at least one agent hosted by an agent component, wherein communication is employed with a bridge component. The bridge component can provide communication as if in the same program space between at least two of the scheduler component, the agent, the agent component, an agent component manager, and/or any suitable component that requires data transfer. |
| US07873424B1 |
System and method for optimizing digital audio playback
A system and method for optimizing digital audio playback is disclosed. The system and method can prevent playback of a digital audio file in an enhanced mode if the digital audio file does not meet a predetermined criterion, such as a particular bit rate. One example of an enhanced mode is a simulated multi-channel surround sound mode. |
| US07873422B2 |
Event-based coordination of process-oriented composite applications
A process model specified using, for example, UML activity diagrams can be translated into an event-based model that can be executed on top of a coordination middleware. For example, a process model may be encoded as a collection of coordinating objects that interact with each other through a coordination middleware including a shared memory space. This approach is suitable for undertaking post-deployment adaptation of process-oriented composite applications. In particular, new control dependencies can be encoded by dropping new (or enabling existing) coordinating objects into the space and/or disabling existing ones. |
| US07873411B2 |
Interface device, interface method and control training device by the use of the interface device
An interface device in accordance with the present claimed invention is an interface device 4 that intervenes between a measuring means 2 that measures brain activities of a subject H and an object 31 to be controlled, and that comprises a reference signal storing part D1 that stores a brain activity signal measured at a time when the subject H conducts predetermined thinking different from direct thinking in order to control the object 31 to be controlled in a desired mode as a reference signal, a discriminating part 41 that compares the brain activity signal measured by the measuring means 2 with the reference signal and discriminates whether or not the thinking of the subject H is the predetermined thinking, and a controlling part 42 that controls the object 31 to be controlled in the desired mode when the discriminating part 41 discriminates that the thinking of the subject H is the predetermined thinking. |
| US07873407B2 |
Systems and methods for in-vivo optical imaging and measurement
Disclosed are methods and systems for: (i) positioning a specimen inside an optical measurement system according to a reference image of the specimen indicative of its position and orientation during an earlier measurement using the optical measurement system; and (ii) measuring radiation emitted from the positioned specimen to provide information about an object embedded in the specimen. |
| US07873404B1 |
Method for performing angioplasty and angiography with a single catheter
A combination catheter enables performing an angiogram and an angioplasty (and repetitions of one or both) with the same catheter instrument, without removal from and re-insertion into an artery until the procedure is completed. |
| US07873402B2 |
System and method for radar-assisted catheter guidance and control
A Catheter Guidance Control and Imaging (CGCI) system whereby a magnetic tip attached to a surgical tool is detected, displayed and influenced positionally so as to allow diagnostic and therapeutic procedures to be performed is described. The tools that can be so equipped include catheters, guidewires, and secondary tools such as lasers and balloons. The magnetic tip performs two functions. First, it allows the position and orientation of the tip to be determined by using a radar system such as, for example, a radar range finder or radar imaging system. Incorporating the radar system allows the CGCI apparatus to detect accurately the position, orientation and rotation of the surgical tool embedded in a patient during surgery. In one embodiment, the image generated by the radar is displayed with the operating room imagery equipment such as, for example, X-ray, Fluoroscopy, Ultrasound, MRI, CAT-Scan, PET-Scan, etc. In one embodiment, the image is synchronized with the aid of fiduciary markers located by a 6-Degrees of Freedom (6-DOF) sensor. The CGCI apparatus combined with the radar and the 6-DOF sensor allows the tool tip to be pulled, pushed, turned, and forcefully held in the desired position by applying an appropriate magnetic field external to the patient's body. A virtual representation of the magnetic tip serves as an operator control. This control possesses a one-to-one positional relationship with the magnetic tip inside the patient's body. Additionally, this control provides tactile feedback to the operator's hands in the appropriate axis or axes if the magnetic tip encounters an obstacle. The output of this control combined with the magnetic tip position and orientation feedback allows a servo system to control the external magnetic field. |
| US07873398B2 |
Saccharide-measuring fluorescent monomer, saccharide-measuring fluorescent sensor substance, and implantable, saccharide-measuring sensor
A saccharide-measuring fluorescence sensor substance including a copolymer of at least the following two compounds (I) and (II) is provided: (I) a fluorescent monomer compound represented by the following formula (1): formula (1) wherein: Q, Q′ and D3 may be the same or different, may be combined together into a fused ring, and are each a substituent selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a hydroxyl group, and substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, acyl, oxyalkyl, carboxyl, carboxylate ester, carboxamido, cyano, nitro, amino and aminoalkyl groups; and D1, D2 and D4 each represent a substituent, wherein at least one of D1, D2 and D4 is a substituent group comprising a vinyl group at an end thereof, and wherein the substituent group comprising a vinyl group at an end thereof enables the fluorescent monomer compound to be soluble in water, and (II) at least one hydrophilic, polymerizable monomer having a vinyl group. |
| US07873396B2 |
Portable terminal with hinge stopper
A portable terminal is equipped with a first housing, a second housing and a hinge device, the second housing being coupled to one end of the first housing and rotating about a hinge axis extending in a longitudinal direction of the first housing, the hinge device rotatably coupling the first housing and the second housing, the hinge device including: a first hinge base mounted on the first housing or the second housing; a second hinge base mounted on the second housing or the first housing, coupled oppositely to the first hinge base, and rotating about the hinge axis; and a hinge stopper mounted adjacent to the second hinge base, and pivoting around the hinge axis as the second hinge base rotates, wherein the hinge stopper is engaged with the first hinge base in at least one point while the second hinge base rotates, and thus stops rotation of the second hinge base. |
| US07873394B2 |
Self contained keypad assembly
Systems and methodologies are provided for fabrication of a self contained key pad module having a top cover and a bottom cover. The top cover and the bottom cover encapsulate and/or sandwich a stack of keypad components via an over mold procedure that is performed around the stack. The packed stack between the top cover and the bottom cover can include a flex member, an electro luminous panel, and a silicone membrane with a plurality of keys thereupon. |
| US07873393B2 |
System and method of determining standby time for mobile stations
A method and system for determining standby time for a mobile station uses a battery simulator, a base station emulator, a computer to control the test equipment and MSUT for testing a mobile station. The computer includes a module for determining a radio off battery voltage, a module for deriving a battery capacity in dependence upon the radio off battery voltage, a module for measuring battery capacity usage in a predetermined time while the mobile station is in standby mode and a module for determining a standby time for the mobile station in dependence upon the battery capacity and the battery capacity usage, where the predetermined time is less than the standby time. |
| US07873390B2 |
Provider-activated software for mobile communication devices
A mobile voice communication device including a wireless transceiver circuit for transmitting and receiving voice communications and for receiving data; a digital processor; and a memory storing application program code which when executed on the digital processor causes the mobile voice communication device to provide predetermined functionality to the user of the mobile voice communication device. The predetermined functionality includes basic features and it includes enhanced features that are in addition to the basic features. The application program code has a deactivated state in which the mobile voice communication device provides the basic features to the user without providing the enhanced features and an activated state in which the mobile voice communication device provides the enhanced features. Toggling between the deactivated and activated states is accomplished by receiving through the wireless transceiver circuit a transmitted key that was sent by a remote source to that mobile voice communication device. |
| US07873388B2 |
Radio base station apparatus, radio terminal apparatus, mobile communication system, and reception operation control program
In response to a connection request from a terminal, a base station provides a signal indicating a reception operation adapted to a transmission operation of the base station to the terminal. Based on the indicating signal, the terminal selects and performs the optimum reception operation. The terminal also provides its own reception operation information in advance to the base station. Based on the reception operation information, the base station transmits a reception operation indication to the terminal. These processes are realized with software by DSP (12, 14) and the like. |
| US07873384B2 |
Multimode mobile communication device with configuration update capability
A system and method in a multimode mobile communication device for providing communication configuration update capability. Various aspects of the present invention may comprise establishing a first communication link characterized by a first communication mode of a plurality of communication modes in which the multimode communication device is capable of communicating. Such a first communication link may, for example, be established utilizing a first communication interface module. Communication configuration (or profile) information for a second communication mode may be received over the first communication link. The communication configuration information for the second communication mode may then be utilized to configure the mobile communication device to perform communications in the second communication mode (e.g., utilizing a second communication interface module). |
| US07873382B2 |
Mobile apparatus with remote lock and control function
A mobile communication apparatus includes a remote lock and control function. More particularly, after theft or loss of the apparatus, it is possible to remotely lock the apparatus by sending a lock command, e.g. an SMS message. The apparatus may also be controlled to upload information enabling the user to retrieve valuable information stored in the apparatus. The apparatus includes a control unit and registers for controlling the operations of the apparatus, including receiving messages. The apparatus further includes locking means capable of detecting codes in messages received and, responsive to detecting a lock code, sending a lock command to the control unit to render the mobile communication apparatus at least partially inoperable. |
| US07873379B2 |
Conference communication system and method with notification
A conference communication system including a conference server which provides a conference for a first and a second communication terminal, a notification device which generates a notification message according to a media data transmission control protocol which is used for signaling whether media data sent out by the first communication terminal have been forwarded to the second communication terminal. |
| US07873378B2 |
Method of reducing delay in push-to-talk over cellular (PoC) by predicting need for connection setup
The present invention relates to a method of reducing setup delay for an uplink message from a user terminal (UT) in a delay sensitive service in a radio telecommunications system, such as a push to talk service (PoC), by predicting that delay sensitive data is about to be transmitted, sending, as a response to the prediction, a connection setup signal from the terminal to a basestation subsystem (BSS) in order to set up an early uplink radio connection, and transmitting the delay sensitive data via the early uplink connection. There is also provided a user terminal (UT) and a radio telecommunications system. |
| US07873377B1 |
Background scan process for wireless devices
A method and system for implementing a background scan in a wireless device having at least two independent radio interfaces is disclosed. Aspects of the exemplary embodiment include using a first one of the radio interfaces for transferring data with an access point; and simultaneously using a second one of the radio interfaces for receiving scan data to search for a new access point. |
| US07873376B2 |
Method and system for transmitting and receiving SMS messages with remapped response codes
A method and system are disclosed in which a Mobile Terminated SMS (Short Message Service) wireless message generated by a Computer Application containing an embedded response menu can be sent to a Mobile Handset and in which a Mobile Originated response from the Mobile Handset can be uniquely re-associated with the original Mobile Terminated message is described. Given that SMS provides no inherent association between Mobile Terminated and Mobile Originated messages, the method and system provide a scheme in which the original Computer Application menu response options are remapped to unique values prior to delivery to the Mobile Handset. When the response is received from the Mobile Handset, the method can uniquely re-associate and reverse map the response code back to the original Mobile Terminated message and original menu response options. |
| US07873375B2 |
Method for the location of mobile terminals, related systems and terminal, computer program products thereof
A method for determining the location coordinates of a mobile terminal with respect to reference elements adapted to send toward the mobile terminal radioelectric signals involves the steps of measuring the radioelectric signals to derive respective measurements, the measurements being affected by measurement errors, and subjecting the measurements to state-based statistical filtering, such as, a Kalman filtering, to derive therefrom the location coordinates of the mobile terminal. At least some of the reference elements are terrestrial reference elements and in the statistical filtering at least one further state is included in addition to the coordinates. The further state is representative of the measurement errors. The terminal is adapted to be mounted on a vehicle, such as, a motorcar, and to have associated therewith a measurement source, such as, an altimeter adapted to provide additional measurements indicative of the location, e.g., the altitude, and/or the displacement of the mobile terminal. |
| US07873367B2 |
Methods and apparatus for locationing in a wireless network using statistical weighting
Methods and systems are provided for determining the location of a first wireless device (e.g., a mobile unit) within a wireless network comprising a plurality of second wireless devices (e.g., access points). The method includes identifying an overlap area corresponding to the intersection of RF ranges for the one or more second wireless devices then computing a set of signal strength values, each associated with a measure of RF signal strength (e.g., RSSI) received by the plurality of second wireless devices from the first wireless device. A decision metric is evaluated for a plurality of locations within the overlap area based on the set of signal strength values. The location of the first wireless device is determined by selecting, from the plurality of locations, a location having the optimum value of the decision metric within the overlap area. The decision metric may utilize a minimum mean square error (MMSE) calculation. A weighting function may be used to remove redundant or weak signal strength values. The systems and methods are applicable, for example, to networks operating in accordance with 802.11, RFID, WiMax, WAN, Bluetooth, Zigbee, UWB, and the like. |
| US07873366B2 |
Method for displaying location of cellular phone caller
The present invention relates to a method for displaying the location of a cellular phone caller. In the present method, a caller's cellular phone transmits a short message preset by a cellular base station to the base station through an Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) function by using a cellular phone and selects to start or stop a function for informing the location of a caller to a phone answerer. When a phone call is made and the location informing function is stopped, the base station transmits no caller location information to an answerer's cellular phone. If the location informing function is activated, the base station uses a positioning technology to calculate position coordinates of the caller. And then, the base station compares the position coordinates with a location data stored in a position coordinate data base of the base station and transforms the location to a closest address so as to display the caller's address in the answerer's phone by a Class 0 SMS (short message system). |
| US07873365B2 |
Optimal load-based wireless session context transfer
A subscriber access unit for transferring session context in wireless communication is disclosed. The access unit contains first context establishing circuitry for establishing a first wireless session context associated with a first wireless coverage area; locating circuitry for determining whether the subscriber access unit is located concurrently in the first wireless coverage area and a second wireless coverage area; loading factor receiving circuitry for receiving a first loading factor and a second loading factor indicative of a throughput load associated with the first and second coverage areas respectively; comparison circuitry for comparing the first loading factor with the second loading factor; and second context establishing circuitry for selectively establishing a second wireless session context continuous with the first wireless session context, the second context associated with the second wireless coverage area, based on output of the circuitry comparing the first and second loading factors. |
| US07873363B1 |
Method for identifying unique FM transmitter locations with enhanced transmission coverage
A method is disclosed for locating a transmitter site location area and identifying optimal transmitter sites within the area that have favorable characteristics to allow for FM signals to be transmitted to cover a radio market. Through use of FCC tables, the required distance from a proposed station to any co-channel, adjacent channel, and IF spaced stations are determined. The area is determined by utilizing city of license criteria where proposed stations can be located and plotted on the map. Candidate station locations with favorable height within the area are determined. Each candidate station location is tested to predict coverage and path profile. |
| US07873360B2 |
Soft handoff system, mobile terminal having the same, and soft handoff method
Disclosed are a soft handoff system, a soft handoff method, and a mobile terminal equipped with the soft handoff system. The soft handoff system for a mobile terminal analyzes periodically monitored wireless conditions of neighbor base stations, transmits a PSMM (Pilot Strength Measurement Message) to a current base station when a condition arises that needs reporting to the current base station, receives an HDM (Handoff Direction Message) from the current base station, wherein upon receiving the HDM from the current base station, the system allows a handoff drop timer of an active base station belonging to an active set having a pilot channel signal strength less than a predetermined value to continue running rather than to be reset until the handoff drop timer expires. |
| US07873357B2 |
Selective disablement of mobile communication equipment capabilities
Network services and/or network capabilities in a mobile terminal operating in a mobile communications system are selectively enabled. This involves receiving an information element encoded to indicate whether each of a number of network services and/or network capabilities is enabled or disabled. The information element is then stored in the mobile terminal. The mobile terminal is then operated in a way that inhibits the mobile terminal from requesting all network services and network capabilities that are indicated by the information element as being disabled. The information element may optionally include a text string and/or a customer service number to be displayed to a user of the mobile terminal for the purpose of assisting the user in determining the cause of the non-availability of one or more services and/or capabilities. |
| US07873355B2 |
Profile-driven response to communication events
A method includes storing a setting in a profile of a wireless device to cause an automatic message response to incoming calls. When the profile is set as the active profile and an incoming call is received, an automatic response is provided to the incoming call in accordance with the setting. |
| US07873352B2 |
Fast roaming in a wireless network using per-STA pairwise master keys shared across participating access points
A fast roaming (handoff) service is provided for a WLAN infrastructure. A given mobile station (STA) obtains a pairwise master key (PMK) when it associates with an access point (AP) in the infrastructure. A neighbor graph identifies prospective APs to which the STA may then roam. At initialization, preferably the neighbor graph is fully-connected (i.e., each AP is assumed to be connected to every other AP). The PMK (obtained by the STA initially) is shared proactively with the neighbor APs as indicated in the neighbor graph. Thus, when the STA roams to a neighbor AP, because the PMK is already available, there is no requirement that the STA initiate a real-time request to an authentication server to re-associate to the new AP. Further, the new AP causes an update to the neighbor graph information implicitly by simply issuing a notification that it is now handling the STA that arrived from the prior AP; in this manner, the prior AP is confirmed as a neighbor, but there is no requirement for any inter-AP dialog before a given neighbor graph is updated. As roaming occurs the neighbor graph is pruned down (to reflect the actual neighbor AP connections) using the implicit notification data. |
| US07873345B1 |
Over-the-air service termination for a telematics device
The disclosed technology automatically terminates wireless service that a mobile communication network provided to a telematics unit, e.g. when the customer is no longer active for telematics service. The disclosed deactivation allows the network service provider to reuse any resources, such as mobile numbers, that were previously assigned to the particular telematics unit. In a disclosed example, a SMS deactivation message causes the telematics unit to delete its mobile provisioning data, such as its MDN and/or its MIN, and replace that data with a dummy number. The deactivation procedure may also provide a replacement destination number for emergency calls, typically a cleared number, such as 911. For example, the deactivated telematics unit would be able to call a PSAP, and the PSAP would recognize that the unit is inactive for wireless service (and cannot be called-back) from the dummy number used to identify the unit. |
| US07873338B2 |
Method and apparatus for determining an appropriate link path in a multi-hop communication system
A determination of link quality (CSR) is made from the subscriber station to a relay station. A determination of link quality (CRB) is made from the relay station to the base station, and a determination of link quality (CSB) is made from the subscriber station to the base station. A quality of a first link path from the subscriber station to the base station that passes through the relay station is determined based on at least the link qualities (Csr, Crb). A quality of a second link path from the subscriber station to the base station that does not pass through the relay station is determined based on at least the link quality (Csb). Finally, a determination is made whether to utilize the first link path or the second link path from the subscriber station to the base station based on at least the quality of the first and second link paths. |
| US07873337B2 |
Small signal identification device
A portable device that scan s a subset of frequencies, such as the FM band, and displays to user the best carrier frequency for transmissions based on the received signal strengths. This device will find the carrier frequency that can provide the least amount of signal interference due to other transmitters in the area, and display the results to the user and/or reconfigures the receiver to tune to the best carrier frequency detected. |
| US07873335B2 |
Current limiting circuit for RF power amplifier
A current limiting circuit, especially for an RF power amplifier (PA) having a power control loop. The circuit is adapted to sense a representation of a bias current fed to a final stage of the PA. The sensed representation of the bias current is compared to a predetermined reference current and a signal is fed back to the power control loop upon the sensed representation of the bias current exceeding the reference current so as to limit output current of the PA. This provides a limitation of a current drawn by the PA which is generally insensitive to supply voltage and temperature variations. Optionally, a second circuit may be added to limit current drawn by the PA. The second circuit comprising a high accuracy VI converter that is adapted to compare a voltage VLIM representing a feed-back voltage of the power control loop and a predetermined reference voltage VBGAP. The circuit is operatively connected to the VI converter so as to reduce the output current lout upon the voltage VLIM representing the feed-back voltage exceeding the predetermined reference voltage VBGAP. Under antenna mismatch conditions both circuits help to limit a supply current drawn by the PA compared to prior art power control loops that are unable to detect and limit a high current draw under mismatch conditions. |
| US07873333B2 |
Transmitter circuits and apparatus of wireless application
In conventional polar-loop transmitter circuits, using two feedback circuits intended to control the amplitude in an open loop and phase of a power output in closed loop, respectively, during transmission, causes current consumption to increase during delivery of a small power output. Therefore, a complex table has to be prepared in order to correct the nonlinearities in the amplitude-to-amplitude characteristic of the power amplifier and the amplitude-to-phase characteristic thereof. In order to reduce the current consumption required for the delivery of a moderate or small power output, a polar-loop transmitter circuit in which two feedback circuits intended to control the amplitude and phase of the power output respectively are active when the power amplifier delivers a large power output exhibiting strong nonlinearity, and when the power amplifier delivers a moderate or small power output, the amplitude of the power output is controlled in the open loop. |
| US07873327B2 |
Method for adaptively controlling other cell interference
Disclosed is a method of controlling a transmit power constraint at a mobile station using a pilot power ratio (PPR) or other measurement of relative received powers (or signal strengths) between a neighbor cell transmission and a serving cell transmission such that other-cell interference produced by the mobile station may be managed. The transmit power constraint may, for example, correspond to a total or per sub-carrier maximum allowable mobile station transmit power. The transmit power constraint may be decreased if an adjacent neighbor cell, or an adjacent neighbor cell with a strongest pilot signal strength at the mobile station, is interference overloaded, i.e., interference levels in the adjacent neighbor cell is above a threshold interference level. Such decrease may be based on a pilot power ratio between a received pilot power of the overloaded adjacent neighbor cell at the mobile station and a received pilot power of the serving cell at the mobile station. Conversely, the transmit power constraint may be decreased if at least one adjacent neighbor cell, or the adjacent neighbor cell with the strongest pilot signal strength at the mobile station, is not interference overloaded. Such increase may be based on a pilot power ratio between a received pilot power of the adjacent neighbor cell with the strongest pilot signal strength at the mobile station and a received pilot power of the serving cell at the mobile station. |
| US07873325B2 |
Cross-core calibration in a multi-radio system
A Radio Frequency (RF) transceiver includes a first RF transceiver group, a second RF transceiver group, local oscillation circuitry, and calibration control circuitry. Each of the RF transceiver group has an RF transmitter and an RF receiver. The local oscillation circuitry selectively produces a local oscillation to the first RF transceiver group and to the second RF transceiver group. The calibration control circuitry is operable to initiate calibration operations including transmitter self calibration operations, first loopback calibration operations, and second loopback calibration operations. During loopback calibration operations, test signals produced by an RF transceiver group are looped back to an RF receiver of another RF transceiver group. |
| US07873321B2 |
Apparatus and methods for determining network access performance of a wireless device
Apparatus, methods, processors and computer readable media for determining the wireless network access performance or capability of a wireless device. Embodiments include a wireless device having a computer platform with a processing engine operable to generate a plurality of network access performance data during processing activities on the wireless device. The wireless device further includes a network access performance module operable to collect selected ones of the plurality of network access data associated with a predetermined data processing capability of the wireless device, and based on a predetermined collection configuration. The embodiments may also include an apparatus operable to generate the predetermined collection configuration, and operable to receive the collected network access data and to generate a performance report characterizing the network access performance or capability of the wireless device. |
| US07873320B2 |
Dynamic antenna control
Undesired interfering signal sources within a wireless communication network disturb the radio communication between radio base stations and mobile stations. The invention presents a method and device wherein the beam pattern of an antenna, comprising two or more sectorised antenna elements with overlapping beam patterns, is adapted such that the position of the source of interfering signal is preferably substantially located within the overlap of said beam patterns. The one or more beam patterns are adapted in bearing such that the resulting interfering signal is reduced by the superimposing effect of radio wave propagation within the overlap area. |
| US07873309B2 |
Addressable actuators for a digital development system
Exemplary embodiments provide a digital development system and methods for making and using the system. Specifically, the digital development system can utilize a roll member that includes a plurality of actuator cells arranged in a 2-dimensional array with each actuator cell having an actuator membrane individually addressable to eject one or more toner particles adhered thereto. In addition, the digital development system can utilize an imager architecture that includes an addressing logic circuit connected to each cell to selectively control the ejection of the one or more toner particles onto an image receiving member that is closely spaced from each actuator membrane. The disclosed digital development system can be used for non-interactive development systems for image-on-image full-color printing similar to HSD (Hybrid Scavengeless Development) technology with the donor roll becoming a high quality silent imager. |
| US07873305B2 |
Developing unit and image forming apparatus having the same
A developing unit of an image forming apparatus includes a developer cartridge detachably mounted on the developing unit, a developing case in which a developing member and a first supply member are provided, a developer supply passage to supply a developer stored in the developer cartridge to the developing case, and a developer supplement unit mounted in a portion connecting the developing case and the developer supply passage, to agitate the developer supplied through the developer supply passage and to supply the agitated developer to the developing case. |
| US07873303B2 |
Upper frame opening and closing mechanism, and image forming apparatus using the same
An upper frame opening and closing mechanism, including an upper frame pivotally attached to a main body, which may include an image forming device, so as to open and close on a hinge, which receives a moment in an opening direction due to gravity when the upper frame is opened at an angle exceeding an inversion angle to expose the image forming device, an arm member, a rail member to guide a leading edge of the arm member along with opening and closing of the upper frame, a biasing member to bias the upper frame in the opening direction, and a cushion member to be pressed by the leading edge of the arm member so as to cushion the opening of the upper frame when the upper frame is opened at a maximum opening angle relative to the main body. |
| US07873301B2 |
Image forming apparatus having a removable photosensitive member unit
An image forming apparatus can include a body casing, a photosensitive member unit configured to be inserted into and withdrawn from the body casing, the photosensitive member unit can be moved between a first position where the photosensitive member unit is stored in the body casing and a second position where the photosensitive member unit is withdrawn from the body casing, and between the second position and a third position where the photosensitive member unit is withdrawn from the body casing. The image forming apparatus may further include a control member disposed in the body casing, the control member configured to move between a holding position in which the photosensitive member unit is prevented from moving between the second position and the third position and a release position where the photosensitive member unit is allowed to move between the second position and the third position. |
| US07873299B2 |
Conveyed material conveying apparatus, image forming apparatus, conveying method, and image forming method
A conveying apparatus includes a conveying unit that includes a conveying passage for conveying a conveyed material, and a positioning and holding unit that holds the conveying unit while positioning the conveying unit. The positioning and holding unit includes a plate-shaped member having at least one protruding portion, the plate-shaped member constitutes a part of the conveying passage, and the at least one protruding portion protrudes towards the conveying passage which the conveyed material passes through. |
| US07873298B2 |
Cleaning device, process cartridge, and image forming apparatus
A cleaning device including a polarity control unit to control a charge polarity of residual toner particles, a cleaning member, a surface of which is movable, to electrostatically remove the residual toner particles, provided on a downstream side from the polarity control unit relative to a surface moving direction of an image bearing member, a toner collecting unit to collect the residual toner particles on the cleaning member, and a neutralizing member to neutralize the image bearing member, provided on a downstream side from the polarity control unit and an upstream side from the cleaning member relative to the surface moving direction of the image bearing member. |
| US07873297B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes an imaging unit for black and imaging units for other colors, a writing unit for black and a writing unit for other colors, a first heater corresponding to the imaging unit and the writing unit for black color, and a second heater corresponding to the imaging units and the writing unit for other colors. Turning ON/OFF of each of the first heater and the second heater are controlled separately. Thus, the first heater can be ON while the second heater is OFF. |
| US07873296B2 |
Photosensitive member cartridge, developer cartridge and process cartridge
A developer cartridge including a frame, a developer carrying member, and an input gear member is provided. The frame includes a first side wall and a second side wall, and the first side wall and the second side wall extend in a length direction. The developer carrying member extends from the first side wall to the second side wall in a width direction perpendicular to the length direction. The developer carrying member includes a developer carrying member shaft rotatably supported by the first side wall and the second side wall, and the developer carrying member is rotatable about a first axis. The input gear member, for supplying a driving force for rotating the developer carrying member, is rotatably supported by the first side wall so as to be rotatable about a second axis. A first distance between the first axis and the second axis in the length direction is about 14.0 mm. |
| US07873295B2 |
Image forming system, image forming apparatus, and method of recovering from energy saving mode
An energy-saving control unit detects a supply of power to an image forming apparatus and performs an energy saving control of an external controller. A switching unit switches a start and a stop of supply of power to an onboard circuit of the external controller. Upon detecting the supply of power to the image forming apparatus, the energy-saving control unit sends a power control signal for instructing a start of the supply of power to the onboard circuit to the switching unit. Upon receiving the power control signal, the switching unit switches to the start of the supply of power to the onboard circuit. |
| US07873294B2 |
Image forming apparatus with increased noise resistance
An image forming apparatus includes a placement tray, an image forming unit, a drive unit, a control board, a power supply substrate, a high-voltage board, and low-voltage power supply harnesses. The placement tray holds a recording sheet thereon. The image forming unit forms an image on the recording sheet. The drive unit supplies driving force to the image forming unit. The control board controls the drive unit. The power supply substrate supplies electric power to the control board. The high-voltage board is disposed in one side of the placement tray. In the high-voltage board, voltage is generated higher than voltage in the power supply substrate. The low-voltage power supply harnesses are disposed in another side of the placement tray so as to supply electric power from the power supply substrate to the control board. |
| US07873291B2 |
Image forming apparatus and process cartridge including charging bias adjustment control
An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member, a charging device to apply a charging bias, a developing device to develop a latent electrostatic image with toner, a transfer device to transfer the toner image to a recording medium, a fixing device to fix the toner image on the recording medium, an image formation speed switching device to switch from one image formation speed to another speed, a storage device to store a charging current target of the charging bias for each image formation speed, an electric current detection device to detect electric current flown through the charging device, and an AC voltage adjustment device to adjust AC voltage of the charging bias applied to the charging device. The charging current target is set for each of at least two image formation speeds such that each AC voltage adjusted by the AC voltage adjustment device is substantially the same. |
| US07873284B2 |
Quadrature amplitude modulation of optical carriers
An apparatus includes an optical splitter, an optical combiner, first and second optical paths, and a digital signal generator. The optical splitter has an input port and first and second output ports. The optical combiner has first and second input ports and an output port. The first optical path couples the first output port of the splitter to the first input port of the combiner. The second optical path couples the second output port of the splitter to the second input port of the combiner. Each optical path includes an electro-optical phase shifter, and one of the optical paths includes an electro-optical attenuator. The digital signal generator is configured to apply binary-valued voltage signals to control inputs of the phase shifters and the attenuator. |
| US07873282B2 |
System, method and apparatus for polarization mode dispension compensation and demultiplexing polarization multiplexed signals
A polarization multiplex transmission system (10) comprises two optical signals (z1, z2) transmitted over the same optical fiber (15) at the same wavelength but with orthogonal polarizations. The system is characterized by receiving apparatus (10) which is operable to filter the two components with orthogonal polarization of the signal received in accordance with an appropriate transfer matrix which is dynamically controlled on the basis of the output signals in such a manner as to approximate the reverse transfer matrix of the fiber in the region of the spectrum occupied by the signal so as to compensate for Polarization Mode Dispersion (PMD) and polarization rotation introduced by the fiber and eliminating distortion and mutual interference effects for both the signals and thereby obtain a demultiplexed output corresponding to the two transmitted signals. |
| US07873281B2 |
Reliable transceiver microcode update mechanism
A method for dynamically updating an optical transceiver (or optical transmitter or optical receiver) that has at least one processor, a persistent memory, and a microcode loader mechanism. The persistent memory includes microcode comprising instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, control at least one component of the optical transceiver, transmitter, or receiver. In order to implement the invention, data is written to the persistent memory of the optical transceiver to indicate that an updating of microcode currently stored on the persistent memory is to occur. The optical transceiver processes received microcode, which contains instructions that are structured such that when executed by the at least one processor of the optical transceiver, the execution of the instructions affects the operation of the optical transceiver. Then, the processed representation of the received microcode is written to the persistent memory. The optical transceiver then determines that all of the microcode that is to be written to the persistent memory during the update has been written to the persistent memory. Finally, the persistent memory is altered to reflect that the update is complete. |
| US07873278B2 |
Underwater optical communications system and method
An underwater optical communications system and method particularly suitable for use in communications with automated equipment. A series of light beacons are dispersed throughout a communications zone. The light beacons are each provided with a plurality of light-emitting elements and light receiving elements which are positioned so that each beacon within the communications zone emits light in a plurality of directions and receives light from a plurality of directions. A submersible craft is similarly provided with light emitting elements and light receiving elements. The submersible craft is thus always in optical communication with one or more beacons when in the communications zone, regardless of the orientation of the craft and regardless of the position of the craft within the communications zone. |
| US07873277B2 |
Passive optical network system and wavelength assignment method
In a PON system with WDM, at the time of initial setting, each ONU negotiates with an OLT, and automatically acquires a wavelength which can be used by the ONU. One wavelength for negotiation of assigned wavelength is fixed as a default, and a newly connected ONU first uses the wavelength. The OLT 200 includes a plurality of light sources for downstream communication. The ONU 300 includes a wavelength variable filter selectively receiving one of wavelengths of downstream communication, and a wavelength variable light source selectively emitting light of one of plural wavelengths for upstream communication. The ONU 300 uses a transmission wavelength (for example, λu32) for negotiation and transmits a wavelength assignment request 1000 to the OLT 200. The OLT 200 selects a wavelength λu1 to be assigned from unused wavelengths, and transmits wavelength information to the ONU 300. The OLT 200 and the ONU 300 communicates using the notified wavelengths. |
| US07873275B2 |
Photonic network packet routing method and packet router for photonic network
A photonic network packet routing method includes the steps of optically encoding destination address information attached to an IP packet using light attributes, discriminating the encoded address information of the IP packet by optical correlation processing, switching to an output path for the IP packet based on a result of the discrimination, and outputting the IP packet labeled with prescribed address information on the output path selected by the switching step. A packet router for a photonic network includes a device for encoding by use of light attributes destination address information attached to an IP packet, a branching device for sending the IP packet having the encoded destination address information onto two paths, an address processing device for subjecting one IP packet received from the branching device to optical correlation processing and outputting a switch control signal based on a result of the discrimination, and a switch device for selectively outputting the packet by switching an output path of the other packet received from the branching device based on the address control signal from the address control device. |
| US07873273B2 |
Apparatus for measuring the characteristics of an optical fiber
An apparatus for measuring the characteristics of an optical fiber is provided. An optical pulse generator generates, from a coherent light, first and second optical pulses having a time interval which is equal to or shorter tan a life time of an acoustic wave in the optical fiber. A detector couples the coherent light with a Brillouin backscattered light which includes first and second Brillouin backscattered lights belonging to the first and second optical pulses respectively, thereby generating an optical signal. The detector further converts the optical signal into an electrical signal. A signal processor takes the sum of the electrical signal and a delay electrical signal which is delayed from the electrical signal by a delay time corresponding to the time interval, thereby generating an interference signal, and finds the characteristics of the optical fiber based on the interference signal. |
| US07873270B2 |
Interchangeable lens type camera system and camera body
An interchangeable lens type camera system includes a camera body and an interchangeable lens mountable to the camera body. An error detector detects whether a communication error occurs between a communication unit of the camera body and a communication unit of the interchangeable lens. A display unit displays a first error handling message when the error detector detects the communication error at a time of activation of the interchangeable lens, and displays a second error handling message when the error detector detects the communication error after activation of the interchangeable lens. |
| US07873268B2 |
Focus adjusting apparatus and method
A focus adjusting apparatus adjusts a focus of a camera imaging a moving object. The apparatus includes a calculating unit that calculates a first out-of-focus level of a portion corresponding to the moving object within a first region of an image picked up by the camera, and calculates a second out-of-focus level of a portion corresponding to the moving object within a second region of an image; and a focus adjusting unit that shifts the focus of the camera in a direction in which the camera is focused onto the portion corresponding to the moving object within the first region when the first out-of-focus level is larger than the second out-of-focus level, and that shifts the focus in a direction in which the camera is focused onto the portion corresponding to the moving object within the second region when the second out-of-focus level is larger than the first out-of-focus level. |
| US07873266B2 |
Motion detector camera
A motion detector camera includes a camera mechanism mounted inside a housing, a motion detector exposed on a surface of the housing, and a controller for controlling the camera mechanism in response to signals received from the motion detector. The camera can include an activity counter mounted to the housing. The controller activates the camera mechanism when the controller receives a triggering signal from the motion detector, or the controller activates the activity counter and does not activate the camera mechanism when a triggering activity occurs. The camera can include digital camera electronics. A camera support can be used to removably mount the camera to an object such as a tree. |
| US07873264B2 |
Recording medium, reproduction apparatus, program, and reproduction method
Play list information is recorded on the local storage 200. The play list information contains main-path information and sub-path information. The main-path information specifies one among a plurality of AVClips as a MainClip and defines a main reproduction section for the MainClip. The sub-path information specifies another one among the plurality of AVClips as a SubClip and defines, for the SubClip, a sub reproduction section to be synchronized with the main reproduction section. On the local storage 200, an audio stream specified as the SubClip is recorded. The audio stream includes a plurality of PES packets which are each attached with a packet identifier (PID) that includes an upper field and a lower field. The upper field indicates that the audio stream containing the packet is a secondary audio stream whose reproduction output is able to be mixed with a reproduction output of the primary audio stream. |
| US07873260B2 |
Video and audio processing control
A system for modifying video including a source of a filter stack specifying filter operations to be carried out on a video clip, a filter registry of filter functions including information on filter operations that can be carried out by the filter functions, and a filter planner that receives the filter stack and accesses the registry in order to generate a filter plan specifying filter functions to be used in carrying out the filter operations specified in the filter stack. |
| US07873256B2 |
Backlight with structured surfaces
A backlight includes a lightguide, a light source disposed with respect to the lightguide to introduce light into the lightguide and a turning film. Optical structures are formed in one of an output surface and a back surface of the lightguide. The optical structures are arranged to extract light from the lightguide. A back reflector is disposed adjacent the back surface. The optical structures are formed to include a varying pattern arranged to mask non-uniformities in the output of the lightguide. |
| US07873251B2 |
Photonic band gap germanate glass fibers
A photonic band gap fiber and method of making thereof is provided. The fiber is made of a germanate glass comprising at least 30 mol % of a germanium oxide and has a longitudinal central opening, a microstructured region having a plurality of longitudinal surrounding openings, and a jacket. The air fill fraction of the microstructured region is at least about 90%. The fiber may be made by drawing a preform into a fiber, while applying gas pressure to the microstructured region. The air fill fraction of the microstructured region is changed during the drawing. |
| US07873250B2 |
LCD with reduced flicker and a method for manufacturing thereof
A liquid crystal display having a plurality of pixels (1), comprising an lower electrode layer (21), a transparent upper electrode layer (13), a liquid crystal layer (10) arranged between the upper and lower electrode layers (13, 21) and an at least partly reflective layer (20, 30), for at least partly reflecting incident light having passed through the liquid crystal layer (10). The reflective layer (20, 30) is electrically isolated from the lower electrode layer (21) and positioned between the liquid crystal layer (10) and the lower electrode layer (21). With this arrangement the DC-component of an electric field in the liquid crystal layer can be eliminated or, at least, considerably reduced, and a flicker-free reflective or transflective LCD thereby realized. Furthermore, flicker is eliminated without having to pay the price of reduced reflectance of the reflective layer and the consequent reduction in display brightness and contrast. |
| US07873249B2 |
Foamed fiber optic cable
A fiber optic cable includes an optical fiber, a strength layer surrounding the optical fiber, and a jacket assembly surrounding the strength layer. The jacket assembly includes a foam. A method for manufacturing a fiber optic cable includes mixing a base material, a chemical foaming agent and a shrinkage reduction material into a mixture in an extruder. The mixture is heated so that the base material and the chemical foaming agent form a foam with shrinkage reduction material embedded into the foam. An optical fiber and strength layer are fed into a crosshead. The mixture is extruded around the optical fiber and the strength layer to form a jacket assembly. |
| US07873247B2 |
Optical waveguide for touch panel
An optical waveguide for a touch panel which includes a planar base; light emitting cores and light incident cores provided on a surface of the base; and an over-cladding layer covering the cores. The light emitting core has a first lens portion provided at the end thereof for suppressing lateral divergence of the emitted light beam, the over-cladding layer has a second lens portion provided in an edge portion thereof covering the end of the light emitting core for suppressing vertical divergence of the emitted light beam, the over-cladding layer has a third lens portion provided in an edge portion thereof covering the end of the light incident core for vertically converging the incident light beam, and the light incident core has a fourth lens portion provided at the end thereof for further laterally converging the incident light beam. |
| US07873243B2 |
Decoding digital information included in a hand-formed expression
Embodiments include a method, a manual device, a handheld manual device, a handheld writing device, a system, and an apparatus. An embodiment provides a device. The device includes an imaging circuit operable to acquire digital information encoded in a hand-formed analog expression marked on a surface by a handheld writing device. The device also includes a translator circuit operable to decode the digital information. The device further includes a correlation circuit operable to generate a signal indicative of the decoded digital information. |
| US07873242B2 |
Information storage medium storing graphic data and apparatus and method of processing the graphic data
An information storage medium including graphic data and presentation information, and an apparatus and method of processing the graphic data are provided. The information storage medium includes the graphic data, page composition information which defines page composition of the graphic data, and the presentation information indicating when graphic screen data, which is composed with reference to the page composition information of the graphic data, is output to a display screen. Therefore, a graphic object is reusable in graphic data processing, and accordingly, a time taken to process the graphic data is reducible and memory area may be saved. |
| US07873238B2 |
Mosaic oblique images and methods of making and using same
A method for creating an oblique-mosaic image from a plurality of source images is disclosed. Initially, a desired area to be imaged and collected into an oblique-mosaic image is identified and then a mathematical model of a sensor of a virtual camera is created, where the virtual camera has an elevation greater than an elevation of the area to be imaged. The mathematical model has an oblique-mosaic pixel map for the sensor of the desired area. A surface location is determined for each pixel included in the oblique mosaic pixel map, and at least one source oblique image pixel of the area to be imaged is reprojected for each pixel included in the oblique-mosaic pixel map to thereby create an oblique-mosaic image of the desired geographical area. The at least one single oblique-mosaic image is visually pleasing and geographically accurate. Further, techniques for compensating for building lean in oblique-mosaic images are disclosed. |
| US07873233B2 |
Method and apparatus for rendering an image impinging upon a non-planar surface
The present invention is directed to a method and system to render an image that impinges upon a non-planar surface to attenuate, if not abrogate, distortions introduced by the surface that features mapping the image as a plurality of spaced-apart planar cells to coordinates of the non-planar surface to produce a plurality of the inverted planar cells, with each of the cells including multiple pixels of the image, minimizing a distance between the cells while minimizing a change in the distance of each of the plurality of cells with respect to the surface coordinates; and impinging the plurality of planar cells upon the non-planar surface. |
| US07873231B2 |
Determining sharpness predictors for digital images
A method for determining a sharpness predictor for an input digital image includes determining one or more image metrics by analyzing the input digital image; and determining the sharpness predictor from the one or more image metrics. |
| US07873228B2 |
System and method for creating synthetic ligatures as quality prototypes for sparse multi-character clusters
A method identifying a ligature within a scanned document, the ligature including two or more touching characters. The two or more touching characters of the ligature are then compared to a plurality of prototypes to identify two or more matched prototypes. A synthetic ligature is then created based on the two or more matched prototypes. |
| US07873227B2 |
Device and method for processing at least two input values
For the reduction of the rounding error, a first and a second non-integer input value are provided and combined, for example by addition, in non-integer state to obtain a non-integer result value which is rounded and added to a third input value. Thus, the rounding error may be reduced at an interface between two rotations divided into lifting steps or between a first rotation divided into lifting steps and a first lifting step of a subsequent multi-dimensional lifting sequence. |
| US07873223B2 |
Cognition integrator and language
In a specification mode, a user specifies classes of a class network and process steps of a process hierarchy using a novel scripting language. The classes describe what the user expects to find in digital images. The process hierarchy describes how the digital images are to be analyzed. Each process step includes an algorithm and a domain that specifies the classes on which the algorithm is to operate. A Cognition Program acquires table data that includes pixel values of the digital images, as well as metadata relating to the digital images. In an execution mode, the Cognition Program generates a data network in which pixel values are linked to objects, and objects are categorized as belonging to classes. The process steps, classes and objects are linked to each other in a computer-implemented network structure in a manner that enables the Cognition Program to detect target objects in the digital images. |
| US07873219B2 |
Differentiation of illumination and reflection boundaries
The present invention provides methods and apparatus for image processing in which brightness boundaries of an image are identified and analyzed in at least two, and more preferably three or more, spectral bands to distinguish illumination boundaries from reflectance boundaries. For example, in one embodiment of the invention, a brightness boundary of the image can be identified as an illumination boundary if at least two wavelength bands of the image exhibit a substantially common shift in brightness across the boundary. |
| US07873218B2 |
Function approximation processing method and image processing method
A function approximation processing method comprises inputting and binarizing image data, extracting contour from the binarized image data, estimating tangent points in horizontal and vertical directions from the contour, and approximating contour between adjacent tangent points among the estimated tangent points with a predetermined function, thereby an input object such as a character or a figure can be processed at high speed, and outline data with high image quality can be generated with a reduced number of points. |
| US07873215B2 |
Precise identification of text pixels from scanned document images
A system or method for identifying text in a document. A group of connected components is created. A plurality of characteristics of different types is calculated for each connected component. Statistics are computed which describe the group of characteristics. Outlier components are identified as connected components whose computed characteristics are outside a statistical range. The outlier components are removed from the group of connected components. Text pixels are identified by segmenting pixels in the group of connected components into a group of text pixels and a group of background pixels. |
| US07873214B2 |
Unsupervised color image segmentation by dynamic color gradient thresholding
A method for segmenting an image includes computing a color gradient map based on an inputted image and selecting at least one initial seed of at least one pixel based on the color gradient map. The method further includes growing a region of pixels adjacent to the initial seed and merging adjacent regions of pixels using a measure of similarity. |
| US07873210B2 |
Automatic film grain reproduction
A method, apparatus, and article of manufacture provide the ability to automatically reproduce film grain into a new image. A reference image and new image are obtained. An image of the reference image is subdivided into two or more tiles. A grain simulation tool is then used to automatically determine if an object feature exists in each of the two or more tiles. Response curves are constructed for each of the tiles that does not contain an object feature. Frames of grain are produced/generated based on the response curves and added to the new image. |
| US07873198B2 |
Methods and apparatus for determining proportions of body materials
The present invention provides an apparatus and methods for measuring proportions of body materials in body parts. The apparatus includes a device for retaining the body part, at least one reference material with at least two thicknesses positioned adjacent to the device, and at least three radiopaque markers positioned on the reference material(s). The reference material(s) each have an attenuation characteristic that is selected in correspondence to the body materials in the body part. The apparatus further includes a radiation device to simultaneously irradiate the body part, the reference material(s) and the radiopaque markers as well as a detector to detect attenuated beams of radiation and a pattern projected from the irradiated radiopaque markers. A calculation device determines the thickness of the body part based on this projected pattern and compares the attenuation values of the body part and the reference material(s) at the determined thickness. |
| US07873197B2 |
Changing the display angle of visualized tubular tissue
An image processing apparatus includes: a center line determination section which determines a center line of a tubular tissue based on volume data; a direction vector determination section which determines a direction vector; a curved surface determination section which determines a curved surface formed by a set of plural lines, each of the plural lines passing through a certain point on the center line and being parallel with the direction vector; a visualizing section which visualizes the tubular tissue based on the volume data on the curved surface; and a tangent vector determination section which determines a tangent vector of the center line at an attention point on the center line. The direction vector determination section rotates the direction vector such that an angle formed between the direction vector and the tangent vector is maintained, and the rotated direction vector will be a new curved surface. |
| US07873190B2 |
Face feature point detection device and method
A face feature point detecting device according to embodiments includes a unit inputting an image containing a face of a person, a unit detecting a feature point set candidate comprising plural kinds of feature points, and a unit calculating an error between each feature point of the projected feature point set candidate and each feature point of the feature point set including plural kinds of feature points of the three-dimensional model information; and a unit selecting a feature point set having consistency from the feature point set candidates on basis of the errors of the feature points or an integral value of the errors. |
| US07873187B2 |
Driver assistance system for vehicle
A driver assistance system for a vehicle includes an imaging device having a field of view forward of a vehicle and in a direction of travel of the equipped vehicle, an image processor operable to process image data captured by the imaging device, and a global positioning system operable to determine a geographical location of the vehicle. The equipped vehicle includes an adaptive speed control system for controlling the speed of the equipped vehicle. The adaptive speed control system may reduce the speed of the equipped vehicle responsive at least in part to a detection of a curve in the road ahead of the equipped vehicle via processing by the image processor of image data captured by the imaging device. |
| US07873184B2 |
Method for automarking postal mail
A method for automarking presorted postal mail includes scanning a mail piece in a first sorting pass at a presort facility and then printing an automark code on the mail piece indicating the type of postage applied. The automark code includes a horizontal line of seven consecutive characters improved in that one character, for example the fifth character, is a redundant code for one or more other characters representing postage type paid for the mail piece. To improve machine readability of the code, the line of characters may be printed with increased spacing between the fifth and sixth and/or between the sixth and seventh characters. |
| US07873182B2 |
Multiple camera imaging method and system for detecting concealed objects
The present invention is an imaging system for detecting concealed objects on an individual. The imaging system includes an imaging zone that is illuminated with millimeter wave energy. A plurality of millimeter wave cameras are focused to fully surround the imaging zone and have the ability to detect millimeter wave frequencies reflected from the imaging zone. As an individual passes through the imaging zone the plurality of millimeter wave cameras detect concealed objects by identifying differences in the millimeter wave energy reflected by the individual's body and a concealed object. A composite image is generated by a central processing unit and displayed on a monitor showing the concealed object on the individual through optical contrast. |
| US07873180B2 |
Voice coil actuator
Provided herein is a voice-coil motor that includes a magnetic field having at least two displaced regions of higher intensity separated by a region of lesser intensity and a counter-coil disposed within the region of lesser intensity. |
| US07873179B2 |
Speaker
The speaker according to the present invention comprises: a magnetic circuit; a diaphragm, a part of which is located in a magnetic gap formed in the magnetic circuit; a ring-shaped first voice coil formed on a first vibrating surface of the diaphragm; a ring-shaped second voice coil which is formed on a second vibrating surface of the diaphragm, the second vibrating surface being an opposite surface to the first vibrating surface, and which is electrically conducted with the first voice coil; and an edge firmly fixed on an outer margin of the first vibrating surface and operable to support the diaphragm in such a manner that enables vibration. The first voice coil is formed so as to be located inside of an inner circumference of the edge and also within the magnetic gap. The second voice coil is formed so as to have at least a part of an outermost circumference thereof is located outside of the inner circumference of the edge and within the magnetic gap. |
| US07873178B2 |
Electro-dynamic planar loudspeaker
A planar loudspeaker includes a shell pot, a magnet, a diaphragm, and a face plate. The magnet may be positioned in a cavity in the shell pot. The diaphragm may be coupled with the shell pot to cover an entrance to the cavity. The shell pot may include a conductive path having an inner contact proximate the central axis of the diaphragm, and an outer contact proximate to a perimeter of the diaphragm. The face plate may be coupled with the shell pot so that the diaphragm is positioned between the magnet and the faceplate. The face plate may include an inner terminal and an outer terminal that are aligned to be in direct contact with the respective inner contact and the outer contact of the diaphragm and form an electrical connection there between when the face plate is coupled with the shell pot. The inner and outer terminals may be coupled with a source of electrical signals, such as an audio amplifier. The face plate may also include a raised surface that deflects the diaphragm into a predetermined shape when the face plate is coupled with the shell pot. |
| US07873174B2 |
Method of controlling output of ultrasonic speaker, ultrasonic speaker system, and display device
A method of controlling an output of an ultrasonic speaker that reproduces audible-frequency-band signal sounds by modulating carrier waves with audible-frequency-band signal waves output from a signal source and driving an ultrasonic transducer with the modulated waves includes: dividing the audible-frequency-band signal waves into a plurality of frequency bands; separately adjusting amplitudes of the signal waves and amplitudes of the modulated waves in the respective frequency bands; and driving a plurality of ultrasonic transducers provided corresponding to the respective frequency bands with the modulated waves generated corresponding to the respective frequency bands. Band-corresponding volume setting data, which is used to set volume of the ultrasonic transducers corresponding to the respective frequency bands by means of a plurality of band-corresponding volume setting units provided corresponding to the respective frequency bands, and overall volume setting data, which is used to set volume in common with respect to the plurality of ultrasonic transducers by means of an overall volume setting unit, are provided. Gains of modulated wave amplitude adjustment units that adjust the amplitudes of the modulated waves in the respective frequency bands are determined corresponding to the respective frequency bands on the basis of a combination of the band-corresponding volume setting data and the overall volume setting data. |
| US07873170B2 |
Maintaining keys removed from a keystore in an inactive key repository
Provided are a method, system, and article of manufacture for maintaining keys removed from a keystore in an inactive key repository. A keystore includes active keys, wherein at least one active key in the keystore is associated with at least one storage device and available for encrypting and decrypting data with respect to the associated storage device. A request is received for an operation with respect to a specified active key that causes the specified active key to be removed as an active key from the keystore. The specified active key is indicated as inactive, wherein keys indicated as inactive are not available for use to encrypt and decrypt data. A request is received to restore one of the inactive keys to make available to decrypt and encrypt data for the at least one associated storage device associated with the requested inactive key. The requested inactive key to restore is indicated as active in the keystore, wherein the restored key and any other active key in the keystore associated with the at least one storage device with which the restored key is associated are available to be provided to use to encrypt and decrypt data with respect to the at least one storage device with which they are associated. |
| US07873169B2 |
Methods, devices and systems for generating anonymous public keys in a secure communication system
Methods, devices and systems for generating a plurality of public keys from one private key with the same generator of a group are described. A public key cryptosystem is also disclosed for generating a plurality of anonymous public keys all of which relate to the same party used for secure communications. Those anonymous public keys are generated using the same generator from one single private key. With the invention, computation is reduced, memory can be saved and security level can be improved. |
| US07873163B2 |
Method and apparatus for message integrity in a CDMA communication system
In a communication system (100), a method and apparatus provides for message integrity regardless of the operating version of an authentication center (198) or an interface (197) between the authentication center (198) and a mobile switching center (199). The method and apparatus include generating a cellular message encryption algorithm (CMEA) key, and generating a CMEA-key-derived integrity key (CIK) based on the CMEA key for message integrity between a mobile station and a base station. The mobile station transmits a registration message to the base station, and determines an operating version of the authentication center (198) in communication with the base station based on whether the mobile station receives a registration accepted order or some elements of an authentication vector from the base station. The CIK is generated based on the CMEA key, if the mobile station receives a valid registration accepted order from the base station. |
| US07873162B2 |
Reproducing method, reproducing apparatus, recording method, and recording apparatus
A recording method including searching for at least one of a plurality of free areas on a storage medium, said storage medium including a file that is stored according to a file system; generating a track descriptor; generating a part descriptor; recording data encrypted with an encryption key in at least one free area; connecting the free area where the encrypted data is recorded to an end of the file managed by the file system; recording in the part descriptor the part pointer information that points to the free area where the encrypted data is recorded; recording in the track descriptor a decryption key so as to enable later decryption of the encrypted data, and pointer information that points to the part descriptor; and recording a track number that points to the track descriptor in a play order table having a play order of a plurality of tracks. |
| US07873160B2 |
Telephone, telephone security control method, telephone security control program and program recording medium
Disclosed is a telephone to be installed in a house or an office and capable of effectively preventing leakage of data stored in or unauthorized use of the telephone. For this end, a security button 15 is provided for inhibiting the use of all or a part of the stored data in or functions of the telephone. The security button 15 enables the user to set the security condition by a single push-down operation or choose desired security levels by continuous operations. An LED may be installed in the security button 15 to emit light in different colors or patterns for respective security levels. |
| US07873157B1 |
Method and apparatus for performing predictive dialing
A method, apparatus and computer program product for performing predictive dialing is presented. A probability of contact for each customer of a plurality of customers for a predetermined period of time is determined. A number of agents available during the predetermined period of time are also determined. A selection is then made regarding which customers to call based on the number of agents available during the time period and the probability of contact for each of the plurality of customers for a predetermined period of time. The number of calls are then placed to the selected customers. |
| US07873154B2 |
Apparatus, system, and method for remote management console for business integration scenarios
An apparatus and method for providing a remote management console for business integration scenarios. The apparatus may be implemented as a computer program product comprising a computer useable medium of computer-readable program. A computer, when executing the computer readable program retrieves environment information from a customer integration server; customizes a business integration solution according to the retrieved environment information; and deploys the customized business integration solution to the customer integration server. |
| US07873141B2 |
X-ray tomographic imaging apparatus
For the purpose of providing an X-ray tomographic imaging apparatus for displaying a dual-energy image to facilitate diagnosis by an operator, an X-ray tomographic imaging apparatus (10) comprises: an image comparison information calculating section (24) for calculating image comparison information between said first-energy projection dataset(LD) or first-energy tomographic image(LT) and said second-energy projection dataset(HD) or second-energy tomographic image(HT); a region-of-interest defining section (23) for defining a region of interest; a weighting factor determining section (25-2) for determining a weighting factor for use in weighted subtraction processing between said first-energy projection dataset or first-energy tomographic image and said second-energy projection dataset or second-energy tomographic image, such that said image comparison information in said region of interest can be substantially eliminated by conducting said weighted subtraction processing; and a dual-energy image reconstructing section (22) for reconstructing a dual-energy image by conducting weighted subtraction processing between said first-energy projection dataset or first-energy tomographic image and said second-energy projection dataset or second-energy tomographic image used in said image comparison information calculating section, using a weighting factor determined at said weighting factor determining section. |
| US07873139B2 |
Signal processing device
A signal processing device includes a detecting part that detects intensity of an input signal, a timer part that includes a time constant circuit and measures time based on a time constant of the time constant circuit, and a determination circuit that counts the number of times of switching of the input signal detected by the detecting part within the time measured by the time constant circuit. |
| US07873137B2 |
Reactivity control arrangement and fast reactor
A fast reactor including a reactivity control assembly including a reactor shutdown rod and neutron absorbers, a reactor shutdown rod drive mechanism, and units of neutron absorber drive mechanism. The reactor shutdown rod drive mechanism causes an inner extension tube to fall and release the reactor shutdown rod by a gripper section by turning off the power supply to a holding magnet at the time of scram. When grasping the neutron absorbers, an outer extension shaft is pulled up to allow both of the extension shafts to be inserted. After the outer extension tube gets to a handling head section of the neutron absorber, the outer extension shaft is pushed down to grasp the neutron absorber externally by latch fingers of the gripper section so that the neutron absorber can be moved up and down. |
| US07873135B2 |
Method and apparatus for mitigating vibration in a nuclear reactor component
A device is provided for mitigating vibration in a component of a nuclear reactor by removing vibration energy. To reduce vibration in the component, a device operatively connected to the component and including a magnet may be actuated within a conductive cylinder. This actuation may generate one or more eddy currents providing a damping function for removing vibration energy from the component, so as to alter vibration characteristics of the component. |
| US07873121B2 |
Oversampling and digitally filtering RFID signals
The disclosure includes a system and method for oversampling and digitally filtering RFID signals. In some implementations of the present disclosure, an RF receiver includes an ADC, a comb filter, and a mask filter. The ADC is operable to directly sample an RF signal independent of a band pass filter and convert the RF signal to a digital signal. The RF signal is sampled at a rate greater than or equal to 60 MHz. The comb filter is coupled to the ADC. The mask filter is coupled to the comb filter. The comb filter and frequency mask filter are configured to filter out-of-band noise in the digital signal. |
| US07873116B2 |
Transmitter
A transmitter is provided which effectively reduces a peak that occurs in transmitting signal electric power. A baseband limiter applies a peak reduction process to digital signals on a plurality of carriers in a baseband. A band limiting filter applies a band limitation process to the digital signal on each of the carriers to which the peak reduction process is applied. Quadrature modulation processing is applied to the digital signal on each of the carriers to which the band limitation process is applied. The digital signals on the carriers to which the quadrature modulation process is applied are added. An intermediate frequency limiter multiplies a signal of the added result by a window function that is weighted depending on the magnitude of the detected peak, and applies a peak reduction process thereto. |
| US07873112B2 |
Orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) receiver, OFDM reception method and terrestrial digital receiver
In an OFDM receiver, one antenna is selected and two moving average integration values (first moving average integration value AI and second moving average integration value AO) of a non-delay symbol and a delay symbol are calculated. Another antenna is selected and two moving average integration values (first moving average integration value BI and second moving average integration value BO) of a non-delay symbol and a delay symbol are calculated. When a result of an evaluation equation “AI/AO>BI/BO” is true, the C/N ratio of the one antenna is judged to be favorable. When the result of the evaluation equation “AI/AO>BI/BO” is false, the C/N ratio of the other antenna is judged to be favorable. |
| US07873111B2 |
Method and system for synchoronizing a receiver in an OFDM system
Method and system for synchronizing a receiver in an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) system. The method comprises transforming (105) a received signal from the time domain into the frequency domain to produce a transformed signal. The method further comprises rotating (110) each set of ranging tones of the transformed signal in the frequency domain based on a corresponding tone index to produce a set of phase-rotated frequency domain received ranging tones that is equivalent to time domain shifted ranging signals. Each ranging tone is rotated iteratively over a predefined set of delay-values and each delay-value within the predefined set of delay-values ranges from zero to a predetermined time delay. Also, the method comprises computing (115) a detection metric corresponding to each delay-value within the predefined set of delay-values based on the set of phase-rotated frequency domain received ranging tones. |
| US07873104B2 |
Digital television transmitting system and receiving system and method of processing broadcasting data
A digital television (DTV) transmitting system includes a first frame decoder, a second frame decoder, and a frame multiplexer. The first frame decoder forms first enhanced data frames, encodes each data frame for error correction, forms a first super frame by combining the encoded first frames, and interleaves the first super frame. The second frame decoder forms second enhanced data frames, encodes each data frame for error correction, forms a second super frame by combining the encoded second frames, and interleaves the second super frame. The frame multiplexer multiplexes the interleaved first and second enhanced data frames. |
| US07873102B2 |
Video quality testing by encoding aggregated clips
A variable-bit-rate (VBR)-encoding of a plurality of clips from a plurality of video content items is performed to produce a VBR-encoded aggregated video content item. The VBR-encoding of each of the clips is based on an encoding complexity of at least one other one of the clips. This can be performed by combining the clips into aggregated video content and two-pass VBR-encoding the aggregated video content. A video quality test may be performed using the VBR-encoded aggregated video content item. |
| US07873101B2 |
Low latency digital filter and method
A digital filter pre-calculates C(1)*S(n−1), C(2)*S(n−2) . . . C(p−1)*S(n−p+1), prior to the arrival of sample S(n). As such y ( n ) = ∑ k = 0 k = p - 1 C ( k ) * S ( n - k ) may be calculated as a result of a single further multiply and accumulate operation, upon arrival of the symbol S(n). This, significantly reduces the latency of the filter. |
| US07873100B2 |
Reception apparatus using spread spectrum communication scheme
In a reception apparatus, a matched filter that has conventionally been arranged in a searcher unit is mounted on an acquisition unit together with a large scale memory. The large scale memory once stores reception chip signals, and thereafter outputs them to the matched filter and to the delay profile calculation unit. A setting register receives an acquisition signal and outputs it to the matched filter. The matched filter performs acquisition of the reception chip signals outputted from the large scale memory, and outputs a despread timing signal to a despread circuit, a code generation circuit and the delay profile calculation unit. |
| US07873099B2 |
Time transfer using ultra wideband signals
Time is transferred from an ultra wideband (UWB) transmitter to UWB receiver by transmitting a signal structure having an associated timing reference point together with a time value for the timing reference point. The UWB receiver receives the timing signal structure by synchronizing a receiver time base to the signal structure, demodulating the time value information, and using the demodulated time value information to set a receiver clock value. Propagation delay information is used to adjust the receiver clock value by advancing the receiver clock value to account for the propagation delay. In one embodiment, propagation delay is determined from a known distance between the transmitter and receiver. In another embodiment, the transmitter and receiver are part of a two-way link wherein propagation delay is measured by round trip timing measurements. |
| US07873096B2 |
Frequency-division multiplexing transceiver apparatus, wave-number-division multiplexing transceiver apparatus and method thereof
A frequency-division multiplexing transmission apparatus for transmitting data in a frequency spectrum specific to both symbol and mobile station, is disclosed. The apparatus encodes transmission data, modulates the encoded data, compresses the time domains of each symbol of the modulated transmission-symbol sequence, repeats the symbols a specified number of times, rearranges each of the symbols of the obtained repetitive-symbol sequence so that they have the same arrangement as the transmission-symbol sequence, generates each phase that changes at a speed specific to each symbol of the transmission-symbol sequence, performs phase rotation specific to the symbols for each symbol of the rearranged repetitive-symbol sequence, generates phase that changes at a speed specific to a mobile station, performs phase rotation specific to the mobile station for the symbol sequence for which the phase rotation was performed, and transmits the phase-rotated symbol sequence. |
| US07873095B1 |
Coordinated frequency hop jamming and GPS anti-jam receiver
An anti-jam receiver for coordinating with a frequency hop jammer includes a receiver assembly for receiving a spread spectrum signal, and a processor for removing an undesired signal from the spread spectrum signal. The processor utilizes an anti-jam algorithm in the frequency domain. The processor has an update interval during which frequencies that have been identified with undesired signals are removed from the spread spectrum signal. The frequency hop jammer has a hop interval during which a jamming signal is transmitted at a constant frequency. By coordinating the update interval of the processor with the hop interval of the frequency hop jammer, the frequency hop jammer appears to be a continuous wave jammer to the anti-jam receiver, while appearing to be a broadband jammer to other anti-jam systems that are not coordinated with the hop interval of the frequency hop jammer. |
| US07873090B2 |
Surface emitting laser, photodetector and optical communication system using the same
A surface emitting laser includes a plurality of light-emitting portions for emitting laser light beams in different linearly polarized light directions. The light-emitting portions are formed on the substrate and located close to each other. The light-emitting portions include metal opening arrays through which light beams in different linearly polarized light directions respectively pass. |
| US07873086B2 |
Semiconductor device
In a semiconductor device where a semiconductor element having an asymmetric temperature distribution during an operation is mounted, inner leads on the right and left ends have asymmetric lengths, so that the right and left regions of a semiconductor element mounting part have different sizes. The semiconductor element is mounted so as to have a high-temperature region side in a wide region of the mounting part, and the inner leads are wire bonded at the center to the wide region of the mounting part. It is thus possible to provide a small semiconductor device in which a long semiconductor element is mounted with heat dissipation. |
| US07873085B2 |
Method and device for controlling optical output of laser diode
A method of controlling an optical output of a laser diode includes applying a bipolar current pulse to the laser diode, thereby substantially suppressing the emission tail of the optical output of the laser diode. A device for generating sub-nanosecond intense optical pulses includes a driver unit operative to generate a plurality of bipolar current pulses, and a semiconductor laser diode driven by the bipolar current pulses and operative to emit the intense optical pulses each of which has a substantially suppressed or completely eliminated emission tail. |
| US07873082B2 |
Semiconductor integrated device
A semiconductor integrated device includes a plurality of wavelength tunable lasers, provided on a semiconductor substrate, and having oscillation wavelength ranges different from each other. Each of the wavelength tunable lasers includes an optical waveguide including, alternately in an optical axis direction, a gain waveguide portion and a wavelength controlling waveguide portion, and a diffraction grating provided over both the gain waveguide portion and the wavelength controlling waveguide portion. A value obtained by dividing a width of the wavelength controlling waveguide portion by a width of the gain waveguide portion in one of the plurality of wavelength tunable lasers is larger than a value obtained by dividing a width of the wavelength controlling waveguide portion by a width of the gain waveguide portion in a different one of the wavelength tunable lasers, which oscillates on a shorter wavelength side with respect to an oscillation wavelength range of the one wavelength tunable laser. |
| US07873079B2 |
Carrier-suppressed optical pulse train generation method and mode-locked semiconductor laser diode for realizing this method
A CS optical pulse train generation method, which is able to change the half width of an optical pulse constituting a CS optical pulse train, and which is compact and has low power consumption. A distributed Bragg reflector semiconductor laser utilized in this method is one which is constituted comprising an optical modulation region, a gain region, a phase control region, and a distributed Bragg reflector region. Current is injected into the gain region by way of a p-side electrode and a n-side common electrode by a constant current source, forming the population inversion required for laser oscillation. Optical modulation required to manifest mode locking is carried out in the optical modulation region. A diffraction grating is formed in the distributed Bragg reflector region. A CS optical pulse train with a repetitive frequency of frep is generated by adjusting the effective indices of both the phase control region and the distributed Bragg reflector region such that, of the longitudinal modes of the mode-locked semiconductor laser diode, the two longitudinal modes close to the frequency f0, which is the Bragg wavelength of the distributed Bragg reflector region converted to a frequency, become f0+(frep/2) and f0−(frep/2). |
| US07873077B2 |
Synchronizing separated edge QAM devices located remotely from a CMTS
The clocks of one or more edgeQAM devices are synchronized with a master clock at the remotely located CMTS. A master clock signal may be transmitted via a dedicated gigabit Ethernet link. Alternatively, master clock information contained in a time synchronization message may be transmitted for use in adjusting local oscillators that drive local clocks at respective edgeQAM devices. |
| US07873073B2 |
Method and system for synchronous high speed Ethernet GFP mapping over an optical transport network
An interworking device, method and system distribute reference timing between at least two communication networks. The interworking device includes a first communication interface operable to communicate with a first communication network operating using a first communication protocol and a second communication interface operable to communicate with a second communication network operating using a second communication protocol. The interworking device also includes a client generic framing procedure/optical transport network (“GFP/OTN”) mapping block in communication with the first communication interface and the second communication interface. The client GFP/OTN mapping block recovers a first reference timing signal from data received from the first communication network. At least one hybrid synchronous equipment timing source transforms the first reference timing signal into a second reference timing signal that is phase and frequency locked to the first reference timing signal, and supplies the second reference timing signal to the client GFP/OTN mapping block to clock the second communication network. |
| US07873067B2 |
Adaptive method of floor control with fast response time and fairness in communication network
In a floor control system for a network, a floor control server controls a floor-based application for communications between multiple participant terminals. The server carries out a floor determination process that includes an adaptive waiting function. Upon receiving an initial floor request message, the server waits for additional requests before determining the floor winner. The wait time is a function of the floor request load. When the system is lightly loaded, the wait time is generally small. For heavier request loads, the wait time is generally longer, to ensure that a reasonable number of requests are received before awarding the floor. The wait time may be limited by a maximum wait time, which is a function of the floor request load. If a designated number of floor requests is received before the maximum wait time expires, a temporary floor winner is granted the floor if its priority is sufficiently high. |
| US07873058B2 |
Outlet with analog signal adapter, a method for use thereof and a network using said outlet
A device for a LAN, containing an integrated adapter that converts digital data to and from analog video signals, allowing the use of analog video units in a digital data network or telephone line-based data networking system, eliminating the need for digital video units or external adapter. The device may include a hub for connecting an analog video signal via an adapter, and retaining the data network connection. In such an environment, the data networking circuitry as well as the analog video adapters are integrated into a telephone device, providing for regular telephone service, analog video connectivity, and data networking as well. In such a configuration, the device would have a standard telephone jack, an analog video jack and at least one data networking jack. Such device can be used to retrofit existing LAN and telephone wiring, and original equipment in new installations. |
| US07873053B2 |
Method and apparatus for reserving network resources for pseudo point-to-point connections
An embodiment includes encoding, into a resource reservation signaling message, (i) a group identifier assigned to a group of pseudo point-to-point connections established between a root node and at least one leaf node and (ii) a sub-group identifier assigned to a sub-group of pseudo point-to-point connections out of the group of pseudo point-to-point connections. The sub-group of pseudo point-to-point connections share a common network tunnel established between a previous signaling hop and a next signaling hop. The method further includes aggregating, into the resource reservation signaling message, resource reservation signaling related to the sub-group of pseudo point-to-point connections based on the group identifier and the sub-group identifier. The resource reservation signaling message is then exchanged between the previous signaling hop and the next signaling hop. |
| US07873050B2 |
Apparatus and method for downlink packet scheduling in base station of a portable internet system
In a base station of an IEEE 802.16 Wireless MAN-based portable Internet system, a forward packet scheduling method and apparatus is provided. The portable Internet system portable Internet service includes a user terminal AT for providing a portable Internet service, a base station AP for supporting an inter-user terminal wireless access and network connection, and a packet access router PAR for performing a mobility control and packet routing function of each user terminal AT. The forward packet scheduler includes a packet-based subsidiary scheduling part for considering a real-time service and a user-based scheduling part for ensuring fairness and increasing system efficiency (throughput). After finishing the 2-step scheduling, the generated frame data are transmitted though a physical layer to a wireless user terminal. Therefore, with such a structure, the forward packet scheduling method may guarantee a maximum of system efficiency and fairness according to each user's QoS requirements, and may also guarantee a delay performance for a real-time service. |
| US07873049B2 |
Multi-user MAC protocol for a local area network
A system comprises a station manager for associating a queue block to each active station in a network, each queue block being configured to implement a contention-based process, e.g., IEEE 802.11e, to select a winning frame from a set of frames; a multiplexer for receiving frames, each frame having a destination address, and for routing each received frame to a queue block based on the destination address; an access controller for receiving the winning frame from each queue block, for forwarding the winning frame(s) to a physical layer for simultaneous transmission to the active station(s) when the number of winning frames is equal to or below a threshold greater than one, and for forwarding a subset of the winning frames to the physical layer for simultaneous transmission to the active stations when the number of winning frames is above the threshold; and a physical layer capable of simultaneous frame transmission. |
| US07873048B1 |
Flexible port rate limiting
A switching device includes a parsing module, a classification module, a bandwidth tracking module, and a rate limitation module. The parsing module receives packets and separates layer four packets from the packets. The classification module classifies the layer four packets into control packets and data packets. The bandwidth tracking module communicates with the classification module and has a fullness level. The rate limitation module selectively performs an action on at least one of the control packets and data packets based on the fullness level. The action includes at least one of discarding, asserting flow control, and accepting the at least one of the control packets and data packets. |
| US07873047B2 |
Method and apparatus for quality of service for packet communications
A packet communications system includes a method for maintaining quality of service by dynamically determining a maximum packet size for a communications system that transports at least one of real-time and time-sensitive data and other data in packets. Accordingly, a plurality of packets is received for transmission over a communications link. Either an encoder type or a packet size for the time-sensitive or real-time data packets is determined. A link speed for the communications link is determined. Based on the link speed and either the packet size or encoder type, a maximum packet size for any packets that do not include time-sensitive or real-time data is determined. Nominally, prior to transmission on the communications link, packets with non-real-time and non-time-sensitive data are fragmented into packets equal to or less than the maximum packet size. The maximum packet size may be dynamically reevaluated if the communications traffic or link characteristics change. |
| US07873045B2 |
Generating an encapsulating header based on encapsulated information provided at protocol-dependent locations
An encapsulation packet is received as a sequence of parallel data segments. First information within the encapsulated packet is obtained based on second information indicative of a location of the first information within the encapsulated packet. The encapsulating header is modified based on the first information. |
| US07873041B2 |
Method and apparatus for searching forwarding table
A method and apparatus for searching a forwarding table are provided. The apparatus includes: a data storage unit storing a forwarding table including a plurality of forwarding entries aligned in the order of MAC address values and stored in each group after being classified into a plurality of groups and a plurality of forwarding databases having hash keys corresponding to the groups and; a hashing unit transforming an externally input MAC address into a hash key and selecting a search group and a search-forwarding entry by respectively using some bits and the other bits of the hash key; and a port information output unit outputting output port information of the search-forwarding entry, when the input MAC address is the same as a MAC address extracted from the search-forwarding entry and outputting output port information after searching and acquiring a forwarding entry having the input MAC address while dividing a search area in the search group, when the input MAC address is different from the extracted MAC address. Accordingly, it is possible to speedily search a forwarding table. |
| US07873040B2 |
Internet radio player
The present invention provides an apparatus for listening to music on the internet. The apparatus includes a memory unit configured to store a plurality of internet protocol addresses of internet radio stations, a communication unit configured to communicate with one of the internet radio stations using a corresponding IP address stored in the memory, a first logic configured to request a data from one of the internet radio stations, a second logic configured to receive a digital data stream from the internet station and store the received digital data stream in a buffer, a third logic configured to decode the received digital data stream, a fourth logic configured to convert the decoded digital data stream into an analog data stream, and a service module configured to extract information regarding a song from the digital data stream and forward the extracted information to an external device. |
| US07873039B2 |
Enhanced optical line terminal controller
An enhanced optical line terminal (OLT) controller capable of providing traffic processing features. The OLT controller comprises an Ethernet switch operable in a stacking mode and being capable of mapping between Ethernet addresses and passive optical network (PON) addresses. The Ethernet switch is connected to a PON medium access control (MAC) adapter via a stacking port and being capable of processing Ethernet frames relayed on the PON network. The mapping information is kept by the Ethernet switch in a forwarding table. |
| US07873038B2 |
Packet processing
Network devices, systems, and methods are provided for packet processing. One network device includes a network chip including logic and a number of network ports for the device for receiving and transmitting packets therefrom. The logic is operable to group a number of ports into a membership group based on a criteria, and define a filter index in association with a network packet to indicate the membership group. |
| US07873037B2 |
Information processing device, information processing system, information processing method, and program
An information processing apparatus, an information processing system, an information processing method, and a program for enabling an information processing apparatus to receive a packet transmitted from a server and making it possible to prevent an increase in the traffic of a communication line of the Internet, etc., are disclosed. The information processing apparatus includes a repetitive packet transmission section for transmitting a repetitive packet, a function determination section for determining whether or not the nearest communication processing apparatus has a port mapping setting function, a port mapping setting section for setting port mapping for the nearest communication processing apparatus if it is determined that the nearest communication processing apparatus has a port mapping setting function, and a transmission control section for controlling the repetitive packet transmission section so as to transmit the repetitive packet if it is not determined that the nearest communication processing apparatus has a port mapping setting function. |
| US07873032B2 |
Call flow system and method use in VoIP telecommunication system
A method of establishing a communication link between a mobile terminal of a wireless network and a subscriber of a network, such as an enterprise network, and/or a residential network. |
| US07873028B2 |
Method and apparatus for a flexible peripheral access router
The present invention provides a method for a local area network router, that allows communication between a number of remotely located users, and a plurality of peripheral devices connected to the local area network router. Users may access the local area network using wireless devices or the Internet. The peripheral devices, which may include a wide variety of multi-media storage, playback, printing, or other functions, are connected to the router via local interfaces, which communicate with the peripheral devices via established protocols. Each of the peripheral devices is provided with an IP address, which facilitates direct communication of the users with the peripheral devices and permits direct communication with the devices over the Internet. Data packets destined for the IP address of a peripheral device are router through the local interface, which converts the data utilizing compatible communication protocols for the target peripheral device. |
| US07873023B2 |
Method of transmitting feedback information in an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM)/ OFDM access (OFDMA) mobile communication system
A method of transmitting feedback information in a wireless communication system is disclosed. More specifically, the method comprises a mobile station (MS) which determines whether to transmit feedback information to a base station (BS) without solicitation from the BS. After determining to do so, the MS transmits a request message to request the BS to allocate an uplink resource for transmitting at least one unsolicited header and thereafter receives the uplink resource allocation from the BS. Lastly, the MS transmits the at least one unsolicited header via the allocated uplink resource. |
| US07873021B2 |
CDMA transceiver techniques for wireless communications
The present invention is related to a method for multi-user wireless transmission of data signals in a communication system having at least one base station and at least one terminal where for a plurality of users have robustness to frequency-selective fading added to the data to be transmitted, then grouping data symbols into blocks formed by demultiplexing a serial-to-parallel operation, and spreading and scrambling a portion of the obtained blocks of data, followed by combining spread and scrambled portions of the blocks, adding transmit redundancy to the combined spread and scrambled portions which is then transmitted. |
| US07873014B2 |
Mobile communication system, mobile station and diversity handover branch control method
A handover method for controlling communication between a mobile station and base station(s) in a wireless communication system. The method includes measuring signal qualities transmitted from the base station(s), the measured signal qualities including a measured quality of a signal received from a certain base station; identifying the base station as an addition candidate based on the measured quality exceeding an addition threshold; thereafter detecting that the measured quality of the signal received from the addition candidate has further exceeded an active threshold which is greater than the addition threshold. The active threshold is determined in accordance with a quality of a signal transmitted from one or more active base stations. In response, the base stations are notified of information about the addition candidate; and a handover process is performed on the bases on this information. |
| US07873012B2 |
Roaming wireless client communication
A method of reducing tunneling in a wireless packet network. The method includes defining a home access point for a client station, determining that the client station is being serviced by an access point different from the home access point, deciding if the client station should change its home access point to the access point from which the client station receives service and initiating a change of the home access point of the client station, if so decided. |
| US07873004B2 |
Method for transmitting and receiving control information through PDCCH
A method for efficiently transmitting and receiving control information through a Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH) is provided. When a User Equipment (UE) receives control information through a PDCCH, the received control information is set to be decoded in units of search spaces, each having a specific start position in the specific subframe. Here, a modulo operation according to a predetermined first constant value (D) is performed on an input value to calculate a first result value, and a modulo operation according to a predetermined first variable value (C) corresponding to the number of candidate start positions that can be used as the specific start position is performed on the calculated first result value to calculate a second result value and an index position corresponding to the second result value is used as the specific start position. Transmitting control information in this manner enables a plurality of UEs to efficiently receive PDCCHs without collisions. |
| US07873002B2 |
Frame structure for multi-hop relay in wireless communication systems
Implementations of systems and techniques for scheduling wireless transmission of data blocks between a base station (BS) and one or more relay stations (RSs) in a wireless relay communication network. |
| US07872999B2 |
Method and relay station for aggregating service connection identifiers in IEEE 802.16
In a method and a RS (Relay Station) for aggregating service connection identifiers in IEEE 802.16, the RS receives a 1st QoS (Quality of Service) from a 1st MS (Mobile subscriber Station), and stores a 1st SFID/CID (Service Flow Identifier)/CID (Connection Identifier) between a BS (Base Station)-RS corresponding to a 2nd SFID/CID between the RS-MS in table information. The RS receives a DSA-REQ (Dynamic Service Addition Request) including a QoS same as the 1st QoS from a 2nd MS, and sends a DSC-REQ (Dynamic Service Change REQuest) to the BS. Then, the RS receives a DSC-RSP (Dynamic Service Change ReSPonse) from the BS, assigns a 3rd SFID/CID between the RS-MS, and stores a 3rd SFID/CID corresponding to the 1st SFID/CID in the table information. The RS sends a DSA-RSP (Dynamic Service Addition ReSPonse) including 3rd SFID/CID to 2nd MS. |
| US07872996B2 |
Mobile communication system and communication method thereof
A communication method in a mobile communication system that copies and transmits data, to which transmission sequence numbers have been attached, over a plurality of paths from a mobile station to a radio network controller via a plurality of base stations; where the radio network controller monitors the communication state of each path, determines to transmit the data over all of a plurality of paths, transmit the data over two or more specified paths, or transmit the data over only one specified path, based on the communication state of each path, and notifies the mobile station of the determined path/paths; and where the mobile station transmits said copied data over said notified path/paths. |
| US07872988B1 |
Methods and apparatuses for generating network test packets and parts of network test packets
Some aspects of the technology relate to the generation for test purposes of test packet ingredients by a microprocessor, ongoing with the generation for test purposes of test packets incorporating the test packet ingredients by a high-speed FPGA. Some aspects of the technology relate to the generation of outgoing test packets incorporating the test packet ingredients, at a programmable logic device such as an FPGA. These aspects are implemented as an apparatus, a method, computer readable medium, and a data structure. |
| US07872984B2 |
Discovering parameters for a communications link
To dynamically adjust at least one setting of an interface to a communications link in a system, in response to receiving an indication of a change in a characteristic of the communications link, a representation of potential solutions for parameters associated with the communications link is constructed. From the representation, at least one solution is selected from among the potential solutions, where the selected at least one solution specifies values for the parameters that define the at least one setting for the interface to the communications link. |
| US07872980B2 |
Determination of a bit rate
The aspects of invention relates to determining a bit rate in a communication device, the communication device including a protocol stack for transferring information to a second communication device, the protocol stack including a protocol layer, the protocol layer providing a logical channel for transferring first information through the protocol layer. According to the method, the first information is transferred through the protocol layer via the logical channel and the bit rate in the logical channel is determined on the basis of second information obtainable from the protocol layer. The invention also relates to a method of determining a bit rate when the communication device is receiving information as well as corresponding transmitting and receiving communication devices. |
| US07872978B1 |
Obtaining parameters for minimizing an error event probability
A set of one or more receiver parameters is adjusted. It is determined whether to adjust the set of receiver parameters. In the event it is determined to adjust the set of receiver parameters, a new set of values is generated for the set of receiver parameters using a cost function (where the cost function does not assume a noise signal in a receive signal to have a particular statistical distribution) and the set of receiver parameters is changed to have the new set of values. |
| US07872977B2 |
Multi-criteria optimization for relaying in multi-hop wireless ad hoc and sensor networks
A generalized multi-parameter mapping function aggregates decision criteria into a single virtual criterion to rank the potential relay candidates. Optimal rules for next hop relay as applicable to both transmitter-side selection and receiver-side election based forwarding schemes are also provided. Examples of network performance based on two optimization criteria include one-hop progress (greediness) and packet success rate (link quality). A suitable mapping function trades off the greediness for link quality. Simulation information is provided that indicates that the implementation according to the mapping function outperforms the reported transmitter-side link-aware forwarding schemes. |
| US07872975B2 |
File server pipelining with denial of service mitigation
A method of metering bandwidth allocation on a server using credits is disclosed. The method may receive a request for data from a client, respond to the request for data and determining if the request for data for the client exceeds a current data allocation credit limit for the client. Using the round trip time, the method may calculate a connection throughput for a client and may increase the current data allocation credit limit for the client if the server has resources to spare, the client is actively using the current pipeline depth allowed and network connection latency and bandwidth indicate a deeper pipeline is necessary for saturation. The method may decrease the current data allocation credit limit for the client if the server does not have resources to spare. |
| US07872971B2 |
Gateway unit
The invention is to solve the problem in that mutual communication between an IPv6-capble device and an IPv4-capble device has not been carried out in a system wherein the IPv6-capble device and the IPv4-capble device are mixed. An entry of a live list is retrieved when SM Device Annunciation is received from the IPv6-capble device, and a transmission IPv4 address is acquired from an IPv4 address pool if the entry is not found, thereby preparing translation rules so as to be stored in a translation rules storage section, while preparing an entry to be registered in the live list, whereby an IP address in a message is translated with reference to the translation rules. Further, a timestamp of the entry is updated every time when the SM Device Annunciation is received. Even if the address is contained in the message, the mutual communication between the IPv6-capble device and the IPv4-capble device can be carried out, and devices connected to the system can be controlled. |
| US07872968B2 |
Priority based bandwidth allocation within real-time and non-real time traffic streams
A method and system for transmitting packets in a packet switching network. Packets received by a packet processor may be prioritized based on the urgency to process them. Packets that are urgent to be processed may be referred to as real-time packets. Packets that are not urgent to be processed may be referred to as non-real-time packets. Real-time packets have a higher priority to be processed than non-real-time packets. A real-time packet may either be discarded or transmitted into a real-time queue based upon its value priority, the minimum and maximum rates for that value priority and the current real-time queue congestion conditions. A non-real-time packet may either be discarded or transmitted into a non-real-time queue based upon its value priority, the minimum and maximum rates for that value priority and the current real-time and non-real-time queue congestion conditions. |
| US07872966B2 |
Protected and high availability paths using DBR reroute paths
A method and apparatus are provided for protecting a connection during implementation of an Active Connection Modify request. Before initiating the ACM request, an alternate connection between the source node and the destination node of the connection are established using Domain-Based Rerouting. The alternate connection may be established in conformance either with the traffic parameters of the existing connection or with the new traffic parameters specified in the ACM request. If the connection along the original connection is to be torn as a result of lost ACM signaling messages, the connection is first switched to the alternate connection in a hitless manner. If the alternate connection is established in conformance with the new traffic parameters, and the ACM request can not be implemented along the original connection, due for example to resource shortage along the original connection, then the connection is switched to the alternate connection in a hitless manner. In this way, connections are protected in the event of lost ACM messages resulting from signal congestion, and the ACM may be implemented even in the event of resource shortage along the original connection. |
| US07872965B2 |
Network resource teaming providing resource redundancy and transmit/receive load-balancing through a plurality of redundant port trunks
A computer system teams its network resources by apportioning each of the resources into one of two or more groups. One or more resources make up each of the groups having a link operative to be coupled together as a port trunk to a different one of two or more coupling devices providing connectivity between the system and a network. A unique layer2 address is assigned to each one of the groups. The one or more resources of each group are programmed to receive on their group's assigned layer2 address. A response is generated to a communication request received from the network. The responses specify one of the assigned layer2 addresses. |
| US07872959B2 |
Objective lens, optical element, optical pick-up apparatus and optical information recording and/or reproducing apparatus equipped therewith
A hybrid objective lens has a refractive lens and a diffractive optical element constructed by plural coaxial ring-shaped zones on at least one optical surface thereof. When n1, n2 and n3 each is a diffraction order of a diffracted ray having a maximum light amount among diffracted rays of each of first, second and third light flux having wavelength λ1, λ2 and λ3 when respective light flux comes to be incident into the diffractive structure respectively, the following formulas are satisfied: |n1|>|n2|, and |n1|>|n3|, and the hybrid objective lens converges a n1-th, n2-th and n3-th order diffracted ray of the first, second and third light flux onto an information recording plane of each of the first, second ant third optical information recording medium respectively so as to form an appropriate wavefront within respective prescribed necessary image side numerical apertures. |
| US07872957B2 |
Optical pickup and optical data processing device using the same
An optical pickup including a light source, a light focus device, a diffraction element, an optical split element, a ¼ wavelength board, a light reception device and a correction element wherein the correction element is divided into multiple areas in a surface vertical to an optical axis, each area of the multiple areas has a sub-wavelength convexo-concave structure having a pitch equal to or shorter than a wavelength of the outgoing light beam and the sub-wavelength convexo-concave structures of the multiple areas adjacent to each other have groove directions perpendicular to each other, and the filling factors of adjacent areas of the multiple areas are determined to substantially equalize effective refractive indices with regard to the polarization direction of the outgoing beam emitted from the light source and impart a phase difference of π with regard to a polarization direction perpendicular to the polarization direction of the outgoing beam. |
| US07872956B2 |
Optical-disc drive apparatus and method of deciding optimum recording powers of laser beam
In cases where forthcoming recording of information on a multi-layer optical disc is first time one, test signals are recorded on trial write areas in first and second recording layers before being reproduced. First-time optimum recording powers of the laser beam for the respective first and second recording layers are decided in response to the reproduced test signals. In cases where forthcoming recording is not first time one, the test signals are recorded on only the trial write area in the first recording layer before being reproduced. A new optimum recording power for the first recording layer is described in response to the reproduced test signals. Thereafter, a new optimum recording power for the second recording layer is calculated from (1) the new optimum recording power for the first recording layer and (2) the ratio between the first-time optimum recording powers for the first and second recording layers. |
| US07872955B2 |
Recording medium, method of configuring control information thereof, recording and/or reproducing method using the same, and apparatus thereof
The present invention provides a method of recording control information in a recordable optical disc including at least one recording layer. In recording control information within a management area of an optical disc including at least one or more recording layers, the present invention includes providing the control information to each of the at least one or more recording layers per recording velocity, recording an information identifying a type of the corresponding control information within the control information, and recording a write strategy (WS) interworking with the type of the control information. In recording a write strategy (WS) within disc information, CLV and CAV are separately recorded, whereby it is able to efficiently cope with the record/playback of the optical disc. |
| US07872953B2 |
Detection of data in burst cutting areas of optical disk
An apparatus generates outgoing data (OD) to be provided on an optical disk (1) in a burst cutting area (2). The burst cutting area (2) further comprises markings (3) which cause a marking frequency spectrum (MFS) when reading out the burst cutting area (2). The apparatus comprises a channel coder (4) which receives processed data (PD) and supplies the outgoing data (OD) having an outgoing data frequency spectrum (DFS) with suppressed DC-content. The apparatus further comprises a data processing device (5) which generates the processed data (PD) to obtain an outgoing frequency spectrum (DFS) wherein a frequency component causing interference with a low frequent component of the markings (3) is suppressed or not present. |
| US07872950B1 |
Time display device and method thereof
A time display device and a time display method are provided. The time display method implemented by the time display device, the method comprising, providing a current time information; controlling the first stepper motor to drive the light source to rotate an angle, then the emitted light representing as an hour hand; determining the current emitted reflector according to hour value in the second time information; determining a rotation angle of the reflector according to hour value, minute value in the second time information and a calculation formula; and controlling the second stepper motor group to drive the reflector to rotate the rotation angle, thus emitted light reflected by the reflector points to a corresponding minute marker, the reflected light representing as a minute hand. |
| US07872949B2 |
Vibrator array, manufacturing method thereof, and ultrasonic probe
In an ultrasonic transducer array, a plurality of vibrators arranged in an array is bonded to a base plate by bond material. The bond material bonds the bottom of the each vibrator to the base plate in a manner to surround lower part of the side face of the vibrator. A filling material is filled in between the vibrators. The filling material has a multi-layer structure of different rigidity. In a double layer structure of the filling material, it is preferable that thickness ratio of layer of filling material at the base plate side (lower side) to the other layer of the filling material is 1:1 to 1:3. Preferably, a beam is provided for connecting the side faces of the adjacent vibrators. |
| US07872943B2 |
Method of accounting for wavelet stretch in seismic data
A computer-implemented method of accounting for angle-dependent wavelet stretch in seismic data based on a novel relationship between wavelet stretch and the cosine of a reflection angle of an acoustic ray. Conventional seismic data having at least one wavelet, such as data generated from a reflection seismic survey, is accessed. The data is processed such that at least one wavelet is subject to angle-dependent wavelet stretch. A reflection angle for at least one wavelet is also determined. An operator is utilized to calculate a wavelet stretch factor for at least one wavelet based on the cosine of the corresponding reflection angle of the wavelet. The wavelet stretch factor is applied to the seismic data to account for angle-dependent wavelet stretch. |
| US07872934B2 |
Semiconductor device and method for writing data into memory
It is an object to provide memory and a semiconductor device in which falsification of data written thereinto is prevented. The memory includes a memory circuit, a writing circuit, and a reading circuit. The memory circuit has a memory cell array in which a plurality of memory cells where “0” and “1” of binary data can be written are arranged. The writing circuit includes a first writing circuit which writes one of “0” and “1” of binary data into one of the memory cells included in the memory circuit, and a second writing circuit which writes the other of “0” and “1” of binary data into one of the memory cells included in the memory circuit. |
| US07872932B2 |
Method of precharging local input/output line and semiconductor memory device using the method
A method and semiconductor memory device for precharging a local input/output line. The semiconductor memory device, which may have an open bit line structure, transmits data through local input/output lines that are coupled to bit lines of first to n-th memory cell array blocks (n being a natural number). The semiconductor memory device may include a precharge unit configured to generate a plurality of precharge signals and a controller configured to control precharging of the at least one local input/output line responsive to block information corresponding to activation of at least one of the memory cell array blocks and responsive to at least one of the precharge signals. |
| US07872927B2 |
Semiconductor memory device and method of controlling power source
A voltage generator that monitors a writing margin as a control amount in order to carry out an optimum power source control when control of a SRAM cell power source is carried out at writing operation, and always keeps the writing margin constant; and a power source selector are included to switch power source voltage at writing. By switching the power source voltage at writing, a semiconductor memory device in which a stable writing operation is achieved without largely deteriorating writing time in the SRAM cell and an ultrahigh speed operation or ultralow power operation can be carried out is obtained. |
| US07872925B2 |
Wired-or typed page buffer having cache function in a nonvolatile memory device and related method of programming
Disclosed is a page buffer having a wired-OR type structure and a cache function which is adapted for use in a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device and a method of programming same. The page buffer embeds the cache latch block in relation to the cache function. Moreover, the nonvolatile semiconductor memory device includes an output driver enabling an internal output line to be unidirectional driven, thereby enabling a program-verifying operation using the wired-OR scheme. |
| US07872924B2 |
Multi-phase duty-cycle corrected clock signal generator and memory having same
Memories, multi-phase clock signal generators, and methods for generating multi-phase duty cycle corrected clock signals are disclosed. For example, one such clock signal generator includes a delay-locked loop having a first multi-tap adjustable delay line configured to delay a reference signal to provide a plurality of clock signals having different phases relative to the reference clock signal. A periodic signal generated by the delay-locked loop is provided to a second multi-tap adjustable delay line as an input clock signal. Clock signals from taps of the second multi-tap adjustable delay line are provided as the multi-phase duty cycle corrected clock signals. |
| US07872920B2 |
Word line drivers in non-volatile memory device and method having a shared power bank and processor-based systems using same
A word line driver system that utilizes a voltage selection circuit to supply one of several voltages to an output node coupled to a plurality of word line control circuits. Each word line control circuit is coupled to a respective word line in an array of non-volatile memory cells. The voltage selection circuit may include selectable low pass filters for filtering the supplied voltage supplied to the word lines in the array of memory cells without significantly increasing the overall die-size of the device. |
| US07872911B2 |
Non-volatile multilevel memory cells with data read of reference cells
Embodiments of the present disclosure provide methods, devices, modules, and systems for non-volatile multilevel memory cell data retrieval with data read of reference cells. One method includes programming at least one data cell of a number of data cells coupled to a selected word line to a target data threshold voltage (Vt) level corresponding to a target state; programming at least one reference cell of a number of reference cells coupled to the selected word line to a target reference Vt level, the number of reference cells interleaved with the number of data cells; determining a reference state based on a data read of the at least one reference cell; and changing a state read from the at least one data cell based on a change of the at least one reference cell. |
| US07872910B2 |
Non-volatile semiconductor storage system
In a memory cell array, memory cells enabled to store plural-bit data are arranged in matrix. The bit-line control circuit is connected to bit-lines to control the bit-lines. A word line control circuit applies a plural-bit data read voltage as a word line voltage to the word line. The plural-bit data read voltage is larger than an upper limit of one of plural threshold voltage distributions and smaller than a lower limit of another threshold voltage distribution. Furthermore, it applies a soft-value read voltage as a word line voltage to the word line. The soft-value read voltage is smaller than an upper limit of a threshold voltage distribution and larger than a lower limit thereof. The likelihood calculation circuit calculates likelihood of the plural-bit data stores in the memory cells based on the soft-value. |
| US07872908B2 |
Phase change memory devices and fabrication methods thereof
In a memory device, a transistor may be formed on a substrate, and a first electrode may be electrically connected thereto. A phase change material film may be vertically formed on the first electrode, and a second electrode may be formed on the phase change material film. |
| US07872907B2 |
Semiconductor device
There is provided a semiconductor device that enables high-speed data read and reduces the area of a drive circuit for activating a word line. By signal transmission through a common word line having a low resistance and coupled at a plurality of points to a word line, it is possible to read data at high speed. Further, since the common word line is provided common to a plurality of memory blocks, a word line driver can be provided common to the memory blocks. Further, by disposing a latch circuit, corresponding to a sub-digit line, for holding the active state of the common word line, it is possible to transmit a row selection signal during data write through the common word line and thereby reduce a metal wiring layer. |
| US07872905B2 |
Method and apparatus for write enable and inhibit for high density spin torque three dimensional (3D) memory arrays
A method and apparatus for write enable and write inhibit for high density spin torque three dimensional (3D) memory arrays. |
| US07872904B2 |
Magnetic random access memory
A magnetic random access memory (MRAM) including multiple memory cells for forming an array is provided. Each memory cell has a magnetic free stack layer and a pinned stack layer. A magnetization of the pinned stack layer is set toward a predetermined direction. The magnetic free stack layer has a magnetic easy axis. Two magnetic easy axes of adjacent two memory cells are substantially perpendicular to each other. |
| US07872903B2 |
Volatile memory elements with soft error upset immunity
Memory elements are provided that exhibit immunity to soft error upset events when subjected to high-energy atomic particle strikes. The memory elements may each have ten transistors including two address transistors and four transistor pairs that are interconnected to form a bistable element. Clear lines such as true and complement clear lines may be routed to positive power supply terminals and ground power supply terminals associated with certain transistor pairs. During clear operations, some or all of the transistor pairs can be selectively depowered using the clear lines. This facilitates clear operations in which logic zero values are driven through the address transistors and reduces cross-bar current surges. |
| US07872902B2 |
Integrated circuit with bit lines positioned in different planes
An integrated circuit includes a memory cell array including a plurality of memory cells. A first plurality of bit lines is positioned in a first plane. The first plurality of bit lines is electrically coupled to a first set of the memory cells. A second plurality of bit lines is positioned in a second plane that is different than the first plane. The second plurality of bit lines is electrically coupled to a second set of the memory cells. |
| US07872889B2 |
High density ternary content addressable memory
A content addressable memory device with a plurality of memory cells storing data words. Each data bit in the data words is set to one of three values of a first binary value, a second binary value, and a don't care value. An aspect of the content addressable memory device is the use of a single memory element and an access device in the memory cells. The memory cells are arranged such that each memory cell is electrically coupled to a single bit line, a single match line, and a single word line. The memory elements in the memory cells store low resistance states if the data bit value is the first binary value, high resistance states if the data bit value is the second binary value, and very high resistance states if the data bit value is the don't care value. |
| US07872885B2 |
Power level balance of frequency converters connected in parallel
A method and a parallel connection arrangement for equalizing the output powers of power converter units (INU11, INU12), in which power converter units is a semiconductor switch bridge controlled with pulse width modulation, andin which is a control unit arrangement (CU1, CU2) for forming control pulses, with which the semiconductor switches are controlled. The control unit arrangement delays the falling edge of the control pulses of at least one semiconductor switch of at least one power converter unit. |
| US07872884B2 |
Cascaded step-up converter and charge pump for efficient compliance voltage generation in an implantable stimulator device
Disclosed herein are circuits and methods for generating a compliance voltage from a battery voltage in an implantable stimulator device. In one embodiment, the battery voltage is boosted to form the compliance voltage for driving the current sources (DACs) that provide therapeutic current to the electrodes on the device. Such improved boosting circuitry is preferably cascaded and comprises two stages. The first stage is preferably a step-up converter, which is used to generate an intermediate voltage from the battery voltage. The second stage is preferably a charge pump, which is used to generate the compliance voltage from the intermediate voltage. By splitting the boosting into stages, power efficiency during generation of high voltages is improved compared to the use of step-up converters and resolution in setting the compliance voltage is improved compared to the use of charge pumps alone. Moreover, depending on the compliance voltage to be produced by the boosting circuitry, the various stages can be selectively activated. |
| US07872881B2 |
Secondary regulation in a multiple output flyback topology
In one embodiment, a power supply includes a flyback transformer having a primary winding and at least two secondary windings. An output voltage is developed across a first one of the secondary windings. The power supply includes a transistor coupled to the first one of the secondary windings. The output voltage is regulated about a nominal output voltage by operating the transistor in a linear mode when current is flowing through the first one of the secondary windings and by operating the transistor in an off mode when current is not flowing through the first one of the secondary windings. |
| US07872878B2 |
EMI shielding device
An EMI shielding device is set in an electronic device. The electronic device includes a shell, a circuit board set in the shell, and an electrical component set on the circuit board. The shielding device includes a middle board and a shielding cover. The middle board is set inside the electronic device. The shielding cover is set on the middle board and covers an outside of the electrical component. Thus, the EMI shielding device is structured. The material of the shielding cover is widely used, so the cost of the material is markedly reduced. After the shielding cover is opened, it is easy to restore the shielding state. The shielding cover is set inside the electronic device via the middle board, so assembly is easy and it is not limited by changes in the shape or the structure of the shell, so applicability is improved. |
| US07872876B2 |
Multi-layered printed circuit board
A printed circuit board (PCB) has a multi-layered substrate including a plurality of signal lines and a ground voltage plate disposed below the signal lines and by which a common ground voltage is applied to the signal lines, a heat sink disposed on the multi-layered substrate, and thermal interface material interposed between the signal lines and the heat sink to transfer heat from the multi-layered substrate to the heat sink. The heat sink thus dissipates the heat generating from the multi-layered substrate and along with the ground voltage plate suppresses electromagnetic interference of signal transmitted through adjacent ones of the signal lines. The thermal interface material also serves in the design phase as a means to tune the impedance of the signal lines. |
| US07872874B2 |
Printed-wiring board with built-in component, manufacturing method of printed-wiring board with built-in component, and electronic device
According to one embodiment, there is provided a printed-wiring board with a component in which an electronic component is mounted on a pattern-forming surface of a base material. In the printed-wiring board, a guiding path for guiding, to the outside, a void formed in mounting the electronic component is formed on the pattern-forming surface. |
| US07872872B2 |
Card-based power system for an electronic device
A computer card comprises a housing insertable into a slot of an electronic device and a power pin configured to provide power to the electronic device. |
| US07872869B2 |
Electronic chip module
Provided is an electron chip module having a heat sink that can increase heat dissipation efficiency. A bottom surface of a module circuit board and an upper surface of a heat sink are in direct contact with each other by using a metal wire, such that heat generated during the operation of a heat-generating device chip mounted onto the module circuit board can be effectively dissipated to the outside. |
| US07872866B1 |
Hard disk drive mounting structure and computer incorporating the same
A computer includes a casing; the computer further comprises a motherboard, a hard disk drive mounting structure and a hard disk drive accommodated in the casing. The motherboard is mounted on a fixing plate of the casing. The hard disk drive mounting structure is located above the motherboard, and includes a heat dissipation apparatus including a heat sink, a mounting frame, and a supporting bracket connected between the mounting frame and a base of the heat sink. A bottom end of the supporting bracket is fixed to the base of the heat sink. A top end of the supporting bracket is fixed to one end of the mounting frame to support the mounting frame, which has another end fixed to a side plate of the casing. The hard disk drive is mounted on the mounting frame. |
| US07872863B2 |
Portable electronic device
A portable electronic device comprises a main body, a sliding cover slidably mounted on the main body, a flipping cover rotatably mounted on one end of the main body, and a transmission mechanism connecting the flipping cover to the sliding cover such that when the flipping cover rotates relative to the main body, the sliding cover slides relative to the main body. |
| US07872860B2 |
Portable apparatus, fastening device and locking mechanism thereof
A portable apparatus includes an electronic device; and a fastening device detachably attached to the electronic device. The fastening device includes a cover comprising a hook for inserting in the electronic device; a pressing member capable of being movable locked and unlocked from the cover; a locking member fastened on the cover and engaged with the pressing member, and an activating member disposed on the cover for activating the pressing portion to unlock from the cover. The locking member includes an inserting portion for inserting into the locking slot to lock the hook in the electronic device. |
| US07872857B2 |
Spacer for an electrode layer gap in a power source
The present subject matter includes a capacitor that includes at least a first element having a first element thickness, including at least a first substantially planar electrode with a first connection member, at least a second substantially planar electrode, and a first spacer member and at least a second element having a third substantially planar electrode with a second connection member, the first element and the second element stacked in alignment and defining a capacitor stack, the capacitor stack disposed in a case containing electrolyte, wherein the first spacer member, the first connection member, and the second connection member are in adjacent alignment defining a connection surface for electrical connection of the first substantially planar electrode and the third substantially planar electrode, with the adjacent first spacer member and first connection member having a first thickness approximately equal to the first element thickness. |
| US07872856B2 |
Hybrid vehicle propulsion energy storage system
An energy storage cell pack cradle assembly for holding multiple rows of energy storage cells oriented along a dominant axis of vibration includes a first cradle member including a plurality of energy storage cell body supporting structures including respective holes; a second cradle member including a plurality of energy storage cell body supporting structures including respective holes; and one or more fasteners connecting the first cradle member and the second cradle member together. The energy storage cell body supporting structures are configured to structurally support the energy storage cells, with the energy storage cells oriented along a dominant axis of vibration, by energy storage cell bodies of the energy storage cells with respective electrically conductive terminals extending through the respective holes without structural support of the electrically conductive terminals by the cradle members. |
| US07872855B2 |
Capacitor and manufacturing method thereof
A capacitor having an electrode made from an electroconductive material and activated carbon in combination with quaternary ammonium tosylate, and a method for manufacturing the same. The method enables the preparation of a high capacitance electrode without special facilities. The capacitor exhibits high specific capacitance and a high energy density. |
| US07872853B2 |
Thin film capacitor, manufacturing method of the same, and electronic component
There is disclosed a thin film capacitor and the like capable of suppressing fluctuations of a capacity, increasing a VBD, and accordingly improving a device. characteristic and reliability of a product. In electronic components 1 to 4, a capacitor 11 is formed on a flat substrate 51 as a base material including a planarization layer 52 formed on the surface thereof. The capacitor 11 has a structure in which a lower conductor 21 constituted of an underlayer conductor 21a and a conductor 21b, a dielectric film 31 made of alumina or the like, a resin layer J1 mainly formed of a novolak resin or the like, a resin layer J2 mainly formed of a polyimide resin or the like, and an upper conductor 25 constituted of an underlayer conductor 25a and a conductor 25b are formed on the planarization layer 52 of the substrate 51. The resin layer J1 has an opening K1 above the lower conductor 21, and the resin layer J2 is provided with an opening K2 opened more widely than the opening K1. |
| US07872851B2 |
Fluidic based variable capacitor for use in a fluidic electrostatic energy harvester
One embodiment of the present invention relates to a variable capacitor that operates without moving mechanical parts. In this capacitor electrically conductive electrodes are separated by an enclosed chamber filled with an electrically conductive material. The electrically conductive material can freely vary its position within the chamber. The capacitance of the device will vary as position of the conductive material changes due to external mechanical motion (ex: rotation vibration, etc.) of the device. Other embodiments of this device are also disclosed. |
| US07872848B2 |
Method of ionizing a liquid and an electrostatic colloid thruster implementing such a method
A method of ionizing a liquid is disclosed herein. The method includes the steps of dispensing an electrically conductive liquid onto an electrically conductive membrane so as to form a liquid film on the surface of the membrane, applying an electrical charge to the liquid film on the membrane, generating ultrasonic waves to vibrate the membrane so as to induce capillary waves in the liquid film, and electrostatically attracting the electrically charged crests in the capillary waves so that electrically charged droplets are extracted from the capillary waves and accelerated therefrom for emission. The method is generally utile in various applications including, for example, spacecraft propulsion, paint spray techniques, semiconductor fabrication, biomedical processes, and the like. In addition to the above-described method, an electrostatic colloid thruster for implementing the method is disclosed herein as well. |
| US07872846B2 |
Protective circuit for intrinsically safe electro-magnetic actuators, and protective circuit for intrinsically safe energy supply systems
A protective circuit (30) for intrinsically safe electromagnetic actuators operating at the voltage of a power supply approved for underground mining, for switching electrohydraulic valves in underground mining, comprising a coil (11) connected to a first potential (2) and a second potential (3) of the power supply and associated with at least two spaced apart short-circuit means (12) connected in parallel with the electromagnetic actuator coil (11) for short-circuiting ting the coil in the event of a reversal of the potential of the coil voltage. In accordance with the present invention the protective circuit comprises a semiconductor switch (T3) which is inserted between the coil (11) and the second potential (3) and, in the event of a voltage reduction or potential reversal, isolates the coil (11) from the second potential, so that the discharge from the coil (11) has no adverse effect on the energy supply system or the intrinsic safety. |
| US07872844B2 |
Composite electronic device
A composite electronic device includes: a coil conductor arranged on at least one of a plurality of insulating layers; a drawing conductor arranged on another insulating layer and partially facing the coil conductor and having one end electrically connected to one end of the coil conductor so as to constitute an inductor in combination with the coil conductor for passing an external signal; an internal conductor having one end formed in the vicinity of a part of the coil conductor on one surface of the insulating layer where the coil conductor is arranged so that static electricity generated in the inductor is discharged to the one end and the discharged static electricity is released from the other end to the ground; and a via electrode for electrically connecting the one end of the coil conductor to the one end of the pull-out conductor. A part of the coil conductor and the internal conductor constitutes a static electricity regulator. |
| US07872842B2 |
Overcurrent protection device for a power supply device and related power supply device
An overcurrent protection device for a power supply device includes a receiving end for receiving a current sensing signal, a compensating current unit coupled to the receiving end for compensating the current sensing signal in order to generate a current sense compensation signal, a first reference voltage generator for generating a first reference voltage, a comparator coupled between the compensating current unit and the first reference voltage generator for comparing the current sense compensation signal with the first reference voltage in order to generate a comparison result, a control unit coupled to the comparator for controlling a power switch of the power supply device according to the comparison result. |
| US07872840B1 |
Erase pin protection in EEPROM using active snapback ESD device with positive feedback and shutdown
In an ESD protection circuit for an EEPROM erase pin a snapback device is provided for discharging high ESD currents, whereas the snapback device is operated in active mode during low voltage electrical overstress and to discharge post ESD event current by connecting an RC circuit over the control electrode of the snapback device. In order to handle high voltage normal operating conditions the snapback device is deactivated once VDD is applied by pulling the control electrode to ground using a VDD controlled switch. |
| US07872837B2 |
Method and apparatus for providing a magnetic read sensor having a thin pinning layer and improved magnetoreistive coefficient
A method and apparatus for providing a magnetic read sensor having a thin pinning layer and improved magnetoresistive coefficient ΔR/R is disclosed. A thin IrMn alloy pinning layer is disposed adjacent a composite pinned layer, wherein the percentage of iron in the pinned layer adjacent the thin IrMn alloy pinning layer in the range of 20-40% to provide maximum pinning. |
| US07872836B2 |
Disk drive device
In a disk drive device in which low-density gas is sealed, embodiments of the present invention help to improve joint reliability at a solder joint section between a feedthrough and an enclosure with respect to stress applied by deformation due to changes in temperature environment in use. According to one embodiment, helium gas is sealed in an interior space of an HDD. A feedthrough is solder jointed to a feedthrough mounting surface of a base. At a part with relatively large thermal stress, a width of the feedthrough mounting surface is increased, and at a part with relatively small thermal stress, a width of the feedthrough mounting surface is decreased. This prevents a crack penetrating path from being generated at the solder joint section due to the thermal stress and prevents the solder joint section from contacting pins. |
| US07872832B2 |
Magnetic head device having hook for mechanically pressure-mounting slider
A locking segment presses a slider towards a supporting member so that the slider is fixed to the supporting member. In the present invention, the slider is mechanically pressure-mounted to the supporting member without the use of an adhesive. This reduces the fluctuation of the distance between the slider and the supporting member. Accordingly, when a magnetic head is scanning a recording medium in a floating fashion, the floating distance of the magnetic head can be readily controlled within a predetermined range. |
| US07872830B2 |
Magnetic medium stack assembly for a data storage and retrieval system
A magnetic medium stack assembly includes a hub, a magnetic medium, and a clamp fixing the magnetic medium to the hub. The hub and clamp include engaging flange members that enable the hub and clamp to lock together without the use of external hardware or an adhesive. The clamp applies a substantially uniform compressive force on the magnetic medium, which helps reduce circumferential acceleration. |
| US07872827B2 |
Impact protection for a retractable control object
Various embodiments of the present invention are generally directed to protecting a device from damage due to an impact event at the conclusion of a free fall condition through the use of a biasing signal that maintains a retention force until the impact event is completed. |
| US07872825B2 |
Data storage drive with reduced power consumption
A data storage drive comprises a storage disk, a read/write head, and signal processing circuitry in signal communication with the read/write head. The read/write head is operative to read data from and write data to the storage disk at a plurality of data transfer rates. Moreover, the signal processing circuitry is powered by a variable power source. The variable power source varies supply voltage to the signal processing circuitry as a function of a current one of the data transfer rates of the read/write head. Power consumption is reduced in this manner. |
| US07872822B1 |
Disk drive refreshing zones based on serpentine access of disk surfaces
A disk drive is disclosed including a first disk surface comprising a plurality of data tracks, wherein each data track comprises a first plurality of data sectors, and a second disk surface comprising a plurality of data tracks, wherein each data track comprises a second plurality of data sectors. A first head is actuated over the first disk surface and a second head is actuated over the second disk surface. The first and second data sectors are accessed in a serpentine access pattern, wherein a plurality of refresh zones are defined relative to the serpentine access pattern. When a write command is received from a host, data is written to at least one of the refresh zones, and a refresh monitor associated with the refresh zone is updated. |
| US07872819B2 |
Lens barrel and imaging apparatus
When an external force that is equal to or greater than the urging force of a first ball spring is applied to a first lens holder, a first ball follower is dislocated from a first cam groove, and a first external force receiving groove and a first external force receiving pin are brought into engagement to receive the external force. When the external force that has been applied to the first lens holder is released, the first ball follower is restored to the first cam groove due to the urging force of the first ball spring. |
| US07872815B2 |
Optical sensor
An optical sensor for the monitoring of combustion processes in a combustion chamber comprises a lens system facing the combustion chamber, a waveguide and a sheath surrounding the lens system. The lens system has at least one essentially plano-concave lens and a double concave lens wherein the planar surface of the plano-concave lens is exposed to the combustion chamber. A method for centering one or more lenses and a waveguide in a sheath of an optical sensor for monitoring combustion processes in a combustion chamber is also disclosed that includes filling the gap between the first lens and the sheath with a soldering paste. |
| US07872814B2 |
Optical device, control method therefor, and program for implementing the control method
An optical device which makes it possible to reduce time for extending lens units while avoiding collision between lens units during a lens units-extending operation. A first-group barrel is driven by a DC motor. A second-group barrel provided rearward of the first-group barrel on the optical axis is driven by a stepping motor. Photointerrupters detect an intermediate position of the first-group barrel between its retracted position and its shooting position located forward of the retracted position. A control unit controls the DC motor and the stepping motor such that extension of the first-group barrel forward from the retracted position is started, and after the intermediate position is detected by the photointerrupters, extension of the second-group barrel is started. |
| US07872813B2 |
Optical element, optical scanning device, and image forming apparatus
An optical element having an optical surface and at least three convex portions on a surface different from the optical surface, wherein, among the at least three convex portions, two convex portions a space between whose centers is a maximum and one convex portion a length of a perpendicular from whose center to a straight line connecting centers of the two convex portions is a maximum satisfy a relationship of tan−1 (h/p)≦a first specification value, wherein h is a greater one of heights of the optical element at centers of the two convex portions with reference to a tangential plane of the optical element at a position of a foot of the perpendicular, and p is a length of the perpendicular. |
| US07872811B2 |
Imaging optical system, and imaging apparatus incorporating the same
An imaging optical system consists of, in order from its object side, a front lens group of negative refracting power, and a rear lens group of positive refracting power. A lens component is defined by a lens body having only two surfaces: an object side surface and an image side surface in contact with air on an optical axis. The front lens group comprises, in order from its object side, a first lens component concave on its image side and having negative refracting power, and a second lens component concave on its image side and having negative refracting power. The rear lens group comprises, in order from its object side, a third lens component convex on its object side and having positive refracting power, and a fourth lens component having positive refracting power. The sum of the total number of lens components in the front lens group and the total number of lens components in the rear lens group is 4. The third component comprises a plastic positive lens that includes an aspheric surface and satisfies the following conditions (1-1) and (1-2): 19<ν3<29 (1-1) 1.59 |
| US07872809B2 |
Optical system and imaging system incorporating it
The invention relates to an optical system that is capable of providing a zoom lens having improved image-formation capability with a reduced number of lenses, and fabricating a slim yet high-performance digital or video camera. The optical system comprises a cemented lens having a cementing surface on its optical axis. Air contact surfaces on the light ray entrance and exit sides of the cemented lens G2 are aspheric, and at least one cementing surface in the cemented lens G2 satisfies condition (1). 6.4<|(r/R)| (1) Here r is the axial radius of curvature of the cementing surface, and R is the maximum diameter of the cementing surface. |
| US07872807B2 |
Zoom lens, and electronics imaging system using the same
A zoom lens with an easily bendable optical path has high optical specification performance such as a high zoom ratio, a wide-angle arrangement, a small F-number and reduced aberrations. It includes a first lens group G1 remaining fixed during zooming, a second lens group G2 having negative refracting power and moving during zooming, a third lens group G3 having positive refracting power and moving during zooming, and a fourth lens group G4 having positive refracting power and moving during zooming and focusing. The first lens group comprises, in order from an object side thereof, a negative meniscus lens component convex on an object side thereof, a reflecting optical element for bending an optical path and a positive lens. Upon focusing on an infinite object point, the fourth lens group G4 moves in a locus opposite to that of movement of the third lens group G3 during zooming. |
| US07872803B2 |
Grid polarizing film, method for producing the film, optical laminate, method for producing the laminate, and liquid crystal display
A lengthy grid polarizer film comprising a lengthy resin film and a plurality of grid lines provided on the surface and/or inside of the resin film and extending substantially in parallel with each other are provided, the grid lines being made of a material G being 1.0 or more in the absolute value of the difference between the real part n1 and the imaginary part κ1 of the complex refractive index (N1=n1−iκ1), said resin film having a plurality of rows of grooves formed extending substantially in parallel with each other on its surface, and said grid line being made of a thin film of the laminated material G on the bottom face of the grooves and/or on the top face of ridges located between the adjacent grooves. A lengthy optical laminated body comprises the lengthy grid polarizer film and another lengthy polarizing optical film. |
| US07872796B2 |
Light field microscope with lenslet array
A light field microscope incorporating a lenslet array at or near the rear aperture of the objective lens. The microscope objective lens may be supplemented with an array of low power lenslets which may be located at or near the rear aperture of the objective lens, and which slightly modify the objective lens. The result is a new type of objective lens, or an addition to existing objective lenses. The lenslet array may include, for example, 9 to 100 lenslets (small, low-power lenses with long focal lengths) that generate a corresponding number of real images. Each lenslet creates a real image on the image plane, and each image corresponds to a different viewpoint or direction of the specimen. Angular information is recorded in relations or differences among the captured real images. To retrieve this angular information, one or more of various dense correspondence techniques may be used. |
| US07872794B1 |
High-energy eye-safe pulsed fiber amplifiers and sources operating in erbium's L-band
An apparatus and that provide an optical-fiber amplifier having at least one erbium-doped fiber section and an optical pump coupled to the erbium-doped fiber section, wherein the apparatus is operable to amplify signal pulses to high energy in the erbium-doped fiber section, the pulses having a wavelength in the range of about 1565 nm to about 1630 nm. In some embodiments, the amplifying fiber is ytterbium free. |
| US07872793B2 |
Spatial light modulator
A spatial light modulator system includes an optically addressable spatial light modulator (OASLM) and an electrical addressable spatial light modulator (EASLM) arranged to transmit light onto the OASLM. A first controller is configured to address the EASLM with both a positive image and a negative image. A second controller is configured to apply a first bipolar voltage pulse to the OASLM associated with reception of the positive image and apply a second bipolar voltage pulse to the OASLM associated with reception of the negative image. |
| US07872791B2 |
Electrochromic device contacting
An electrochromic device (50) includes at least the typical five layer stack (12, 14, 16, 18, 20) between two substrates (22, 24) and connections elements (42, 44, 66) to the electron conducting layers (12, 14). At least one of the connections elements (42, 44, 66) are arranged through the substrate (22, 24). In preferred embodiments the points where the connection elements (42, 44, 66) penetrate the substrates are situated at different lateral positions. The substrates (22, 24) are typically plastic substrates. In another aspect of the invention, a manufacturing method providing an electrochromic device (50) according to the above described principles is provided. |
| US07872790B2 |
Display capable electrowetting light valve
The invention relates to light transmissive, transflective, or reflective flat panel display devices and, more specifically, to light emissive flat panel displays constructed from high performance electrowetting light valve (ELV) devices (10a-g). An array of ELV devices (10a-g) is mounted on or adjacent to a backlight (11), employing a reflector (13) allowing for improved transmission. The backlight (11) may be partially diffusely reflective or translucent as to also allow for creation of a transflective display panel. |
| US07872789B2 |
Optical device, optical scanner, and image forming apparatus
An optical device includes a mass section in a plate shape including a light reflector with light reflectivity, a supporting section for supporting the mass section, a pair of elastic sections with elastic deformability for coupling the mass section to the supporting section in a pivotally movable manner, and a driving unit for pivotally moving the mass section, the driving unit including a magnetic section provided to the mass section, magnetized in a direction perpendicular to a surface of the mass section, a pair of magnetic poles with different polarities, provided in a manner to face each other in a direction perpendicular to a pivotal movement central axis with the magnetic portion intervened on the basis of a top view of the mass section in a non-driven condition, and a magnetic field generator having a coil for generating a magnetic force between the pair of magnetic poles. The mass section is pivotally moved upon torsional deformation of the elastic section by operating the driving unit so that a direction of light reflected by the light reflector is changeable. The magnetic generator is structured in a manner to generate a magnetic field between the pair of magnetic poles by applying a voltage to the coil to pivotally move the mass section with respect to the supporting section. |
| US07872786B2 |
Image display apparatus, image display method and program
The invention provides an image display apparatus that includes a display image creation unit capable of creating a display image that has a plurality of objects superposed on each other; a image display unit capable of displaying the display image created by the display image creation unit on a display; a selection-and-judgment unit capable of receiving selection input from an external source, and based on the selection input, determining which one of the plurality of objects in the display image is selected; and an index information arrangement unit capable of placing an index image at a position different from the position of the display image on the display, wherein the index image visually indicates which of the plurality of objects is determined to be selected by the selection-and-judgment unit, wherein the image display unit displays the index image on the display in addition to the display image. |
| US07872785B2 |
Systems and methods for parameterized spot color rendering
Systems and methods are provided to provide image quality particularly with regard to rendering spot color objects in image forming devices. Input spot color objects are assessed based on an object type and one or more parameters associated with the object, to include, but not be limited to, a desired tint value. A plurality of spot color rendering mechanisms are available within the individual system and/or method. A determination is made automatically regarding which of the plurality of color rendering mechanism to be employed to enhance specific image quality based on sensed and/or obtained parameters regarding the object, to include, but not be limited to, type and/or desired tint values. |
| US07872780B2 |
Flexible printed wiring board arrangement of an imaging device
A flexible printed wiring board arrangement of an imaging device, includes an image pickup device fixing member to which an image pickup device is fixed; a holding member which holds the image pickup device fixing member; an inclination angle adjusting mechanism for changing an inclination angle of the image pickup device fixing member relative to the holding member; a flexible printed wiring board which extends from the image pickup device; and a flexible printed wiring board support member which is fixed to the holding member at a position behind the image pickup device fixing member, a part of the flexible printed wiring board being in contact with the flexible printed wiring board support member. |
| US07872779B2 |
Image reading apparatus including driving module
An image reading apparatus includes an image sensor fixed to a main body of the image reading apparatus, a light scanning carriage, a light reflection carriage, a pair of transport modules to move the light scanning carriage and the light reflection carriage in a sub-scanning direction with a predetermined speed ratio, and a wire having both ends fixed to the main body of the image reading apparatus and a portion fixed to the light scanning carriage, the wire wound around carriage pulleys of the light reflection carriage and fixing pulleys of the main body. Therefore, an accuracy of a moving of the carriages is improved, thus preventing a defective reading operation. Manufacturing costs of the image reading apparatus are reduced. |
| US07872775B2 |
Apparatus and method for a resolution quality redefinition control system for a multi-function device
A resolution quality redefinition control system for a multi function scanner/printer controls a plurality of functions executable such as scanning, printing, copying and faxing. Multiple resolution qualities may be selected by a user for any of the functions through a user input in communication with the controller. A designated quality resolution may not be appropriate for a designated function, however. Some of the functions have an optimal resolution and/or a significant range of resolutions. When the designated quality resolution is not appropriate for a designated function, the controller re-defines the designated quality resolution as an execute resolution for each execution of one of the functions. The execute resolution may be a higher one of the multiple designatable resolutions when the designated resolution is below the optimal resolution but within said significant range, may be a lower of the multiple designatable resolutions when the designated resolution is above the optimal resolution but within said significant range, may be a maximum resolution, may be a minimum resolution or may be a single optimal resolution. |
| US07872773B2 |
Method for ensuring reliable transmission of DCN signal by a gateway
A method for ensuring reliable transmission of a DCN signal by a gateway is disclosed. When acting as a sending gateway, the gateway packs a DCN signal detected into an IFP packet and sends the IFP packet to the IP side, then, reports a fax end event to a Soft Switch after a designated delay period; and the Soft Switch issues a State Switching Command for switching the two gateways back to voice state after receiving the fax end event. When acting as a receiving gateway, the gateway modulates a DCN signal detected and sends the modulated DCN signal to a receiving facsimile machine; if a switching command issued by a Soft Switch is received during sending the DCN signal, the gateway delays the switching; if the gateway has not received a switching command after the DCN data is sent, the gateway initiatively reports a fax end event. |
| US07872772B2 |
Network printing tracking system
A software system and method for monitoring and tracking print transaction event history for a pipeline users, devices, applications and documents in a network environment. The system employs a substitute print driver that comprises the original OEM Print Driver installed at each client or server PC, and at each target output device, wrapped with installed “agent” software. This agent software combined with the original OEM print driver performs the following functions: 1) monitors document origination, generation, acquisition and destination metrics to and from the network pipeline of User(s) and Device(s) connected to the print server; 2) sends data to a data store which the customer and/or dealer controls, and 3) provides content management functionality of document delivery. |
| US07872767B2 |
Parallel printing system
A printing system comprised of a printer, a plurality of processing nodes, each processing node being disposed for processing a portion of a print job into a printer dependent format, and a processing manager for spooling the print job into selectively sized chunks and assigning the chunks to selected ones of the nodes for parallel processing of the chunks by the processing nodes into the printer dependent format. The chunks are selectively sized from at least one page to an entire size of the print job in accordance with predetermined splitting factors for enhancing printer printing efficiency. |
| US07872763B2 |
Device for measuring the position of at least one structure on a substrate
A device for measuring the position of at least one structure on a substrate is disclosed. The substrate to be measured is positioned in a mirror body. A flat insert is provided in the mirror body and is formed such that the substrate and the insert together always have the same optical thickness, irrespective of the mechanical thickness of the substrate. |
| US07872761B2 |
Method for reliable optical coherence tomography scans of volumes of retinal tissue
A method of building up a three dimensional OCT image of an object having a limited region sensitive to movement of a scanning beam performs an OCT scan in a scanning pattern that results in said limited region, typically the fovea of the eye, being scanned last. |
| US07872758B2 |
Determining and compensating for modulator dynamics in interferometric fiber-optic gyroscopes
Determining linear modulator dynamics in an interferometric fiber-optic gyroscope may be accomplished by applying a stimulus at a point within the gyroscope, observing a response in an output of the gyroscope, and determining, from the observed response, the linear modulator dynamics. |
| US07872755B2 |
Interferometer
A double-biprism electron interferometer is an optical system which dramatically increases the degree of freedom of a conventional one-stage electron interferometer. The double biprism interferometer, however, is the same as the optical system of the single electron biprism in terms of the one-dimensional shape of an electron hologram formed by filament electrodes, the direction of an interference area, and the azimuth of the interference fringes. In other words, the longitudinal direction of the interference area is determined corresponding to the direction of the filament electrodes, and the azimuth of the interference fringes only coincides with and is in parallel with the longitudinal direction of the interference area. An interferometer according to the present invention has upper-stage and lower-stage electron biprisms, and operates with an azimuth angle Φ between filament electrodes of the upper-stage and lower-stage electron biprisms to arbitrarily control an interference area and an azimuth θ of the interference fringes formed therein. |
| US07872752B2 |
Detector system for unidentified substances
Disclosed herein is a detection system for identifying an unidentified substance in a sample, comprising light emitting sources, where at least one of the light emitting sources emits light in the infrared region; a circuit board; a trigger, that activates a pulse of electrons from the circuit board to the light emitting sources; a detector; and a central processing unit, where fluorescence generated from the unknown unidentified substance that is illuminated by light from the light emitting sources is collected in the detector and analyzed in the central processing unit. |
| US07872729B2 |
Filter system for light source
The invention is concerned with a filter system for a light source in a lithography process for the production of semiconductor devices with a flowing absorber gas for at least one wavelength (λ) in the range between 20 to 250 nm, the flowing absorber gas intersecting the light path emitted by the light source. Furthermore, the invention is concerned with a lithography apparatus for processing semiconductor substrates, the use of a filter system, a method for filtering light and a semiconductor device manufactured by the method. |
| US07872728B1 |
Liquid crystal panel substrate, liquid crystal panel, and electronic device and projection display device using the same
In a liquid crystal substrate in which a matrix of reflecting electrodes is formed on a substrate, a transistor is formed corresponding to each reflective electrode and a voltage is applied to the reflective electrode through the transistor. A silicon oxide film having a thickness of 500 to 2,000 angstroms is used as the passivation film and the thickness is set to a value in response to the wavelength of the incident light to maintain a substantially constant reflectance. |
| US07872727B2 |
Liquid crystal display panel transferring apparatus having a main body with an area corresponding to a LCD panel that fixes and then cuts the panel from a processed substrate by a plural pin impact applying unit for then transferring
A liquid crystal display (LCD) panel transferring system including a panel transferring apparatus that takes out and transfers a LCD panel formed at a surface of a substrate; a camera installed at the panel transferring apparatus that captures an image of the LCD panel; and a controlling unit that aligns the LCD panel with the panel transferring apparatus based on an image captured using the camera. The panel transferring apparatus includes a main body; a plurality of suction holes formed at the main body that fix an LCD panel to the main body; and a pin formed at the peripheral area of the main body that applies an impact to a dummy region to separate the LCD panel from the substrate. |
| US07872726B2 |
Active device array mother substrate
An active device array mother substrate including a substrate, a plurality of active device arrays, a plurality of common bus lines, at least one first transparent conductive pattern layer, and at least one second transparent conductive pattern layer is provided. The substrate has a plurality of predetermined areas, and the active device arrays are respectively disposed in the predetermined areas. The common bus lines are respectively disposed in the predetermined areas to surround the active device arrays. The first transparent conductive pattern layer is connected or coupled between adjacent two common bus lines. The second transparent conductive pattern layer is extended to the adjacent predetermined area to be connected or coupled to the adjacent common bus line. |
| US07872721B2 |
Horizontal electric field switching liquid crystal display device and fabricating method thereof
A horizontal electric field switching liquid crystal display device includes a gate line, a common line parallel to the gate line and provided at an area adjacent to the gate line, a data line crossing the gate line with a gate insulating film therebetween to define a pixel area, a thin film transistor provided adjacent to a crossing of the gate line and the data line, a common electrode provided in the pixel area and connected to the common line, a pixel electrode connected to the thin film transistor and provided in such a manner to form a horizontal electric field along with the common electrode in the pixel area on the same plane as the common electrode, a storage capacitor electrode overlapping the common electrode to provide a storage capacitor, and a contact electrode contacting the pixel electrode, the thin film transistor and the storage electrode at their side surfaces. |
| US07872719B2 |
Liquid crystal display
A liquid crystal display including a pair of substrates having a predetermined cell gap and arranged opposite to each other, vertical alignment films formed between the pair of substrates, a liquid crystal layer sealed between the vertical alignment films and having a negative dielectric anisotropy, and a cured material provided in the liquid crystal layer and including a liquid crystal skeleton, which is tilted with respect to the substrate at a first angle, for changing tilt angles of liquid crystal molecules for each of predetermined regions. The vertical alignment films have an alignment control direction that defines a second angle with respect to said substrates, wherein the second angle is different from the first angle. |
| US07872718B2 |
Production method of a liquid crystal display device including dividing an exposure step into two exposure regions that partly overlap each other and a photomask with a halftone part
To provide a production method of a liquid crystal display device and a liquid crystal display device, in which generation of a joint line on a display screen is suppressed and yield can be improved even if a substrate is subjected to an alignment treatment by completing exposure for the substrate through several exposures in a liquid crystal display device including pixels each having two or more domains. The present invention is a production method of a production method of a liquid crystal display device, the liquid crystal display device including: a pair of opposed substrates; a liquid crystal layer formed between the pair of opposed substrates; and an alignment film arranged on a liquid crystal layer side surface of at least one of the pair of opposed substrates, and the liquid crystal display device having two or more regions which differ in alignment azimuth in a pixel, wherein the production method comprises an exposure step of exposing the alignment film in such a way that a substrate plane is divided into two or more exposure regions through a photomask in each exposure region, and in the exposure step, exposure is performed in such a way that adjacent two exposure regions have an overlapping exposure region where the adjacent two exposure regions partly overlap with each other, and the photomask has a halftone part corresponding to the overlapping exposure region. |
| US07872717B2 |
Liquid crystal display device having multiple alignment areas and method of manufacturing the same
A liquid crystal display device having vertical alignment films formed on pixel electrodes of a thin film transistor substrate and a common electrode of a common electrode substrate, and horizontal alignment films formed in a shape of plural belts on the vertical alignment films. The horizontal alignment film of the thin film transistor substrate and the horizontal alignment film of the common electrode substrate are substantially perpendicular to each other. Accordingly, a liquid crystal layer interposed between the two substrates includes a splay area, a homeotropic area, and hybrid area, wherein the hybrid area is disposed around the splay area and the homeotropic area. Since the hybrid area serves as an alignment transition seed, the liquid crystal molecules of the splay area can be easily changed to have a band alignment. Therefore, it is possible to decrease an alignment transition voltage and to enhance an alignment transition speed. |
| US07872705B2 |
LED backlight system for LCD displays
A LCD system including multiple light sources optically coupled through different light entry regions to at least one waveguide element positioned to backlight a LCD panel. A LCD system including multiple light sources coupled to light entry regions of two or more waveguides comprising a waveguide system positioned to backlight a LCD panel. Waveguides of various configurations and promoting even lighting of associated LCD panels are provided. Resulting LCD systems enable uniformly lit panels having diagonal measurements in excess of 12 to 14 inches, but the invention is not limited to panels of any particular size. |
| US07872704B2 |
Flat-panel display device and its manufacturing method
A flat-panel display device comprises a display panel, a main surface of which is substantially a viewing area; a bezel cover formed of a metal frame, which covers a fringe part of the display panel; a touchscreen panel that is arranged to cover the viewing area of the display panel so that the bezel cover is sandwiched between the fringe part of the display panel and a fringe part of the touchscreen panel; and an outsert-molded resin part that is formed integrally on said metal frame, by outsert molding with a black resin material, and covers an inner fringe of said metal frame as well as its vicinity on a surface facing the touchscreen panel. |
| US07872703B2 |
Display module supporting structure
A display module supporting structure including a display module having a circuit board carried on a rear surface thereof, a intermediate support members being interposed between a rear surface of the display module and an external support member for supporting the display module from the outside of the display module, the intermediate support members including first fixing surfaces fixed onto the rear surface of the display module, second fixing surfaces substantially parallel to the first fixing surfaces and formed in predetermined locations thereof with fixing portions for fixing the external support member, and connection surfaces interconnecting the first fixing surfaces and the second fixing surfaces and substantially perpendicular to the first fixing surfaces and the second fixing surfaces, and the intermediate support members being fixed to left and right locations on the rear surface outside the circuit board. |
| US07872702B2 |
Flexible printed circuit board and liquid crystal display with the flexible printed circuit board
The present invention provides a liquid crystal display module including housing, a flexible printed circuit board and a plurality of electric devices. The housing has at least a receiving notch. The flexible printed circuit board has a flexible substrate and at least an extension substrate projected from the flexible substrate to mount electric devices thereon. The extension substrate may be bent and received in the receiving notch of the housing to achieve the purpose of mounting more electric device on the flexible printed circuit board without having to increase the size of module. |
| US07872695B2 |
Process of producing optical compensation sheet, polarizing plate comprising an optical compensation sheet produced by said process, and liquid crystal display device
A process of producing an optical compensation sheet is provided, which comprises applying a solution comprising a liquid crystalline compound and a photo-polymerization initiator on a transparent support, drying the solution at a drying temperature which satisfies the following formula (1) to align the liquid crystalline compound, and then fixing the liquid crystalline compound by light irradiation to form an optical anisotropic layer: T≦0.0014×Ecoh−65 (1) wherein T represents drying temperature (° C.), Ecoh represents condensation energy (J/mol) of the photo-polymerization initiator, by which an optical compensation sheet of stable optical characteristics can be obtained by using an essentially needed amount of photo-polymerization initiator for the photo-polymerization reaction. By the process of the present invention, the staining of the production facility of the optical compensation sheet derived from vaporization of photo-polymerization initiator can be reduced. |
| US07872691B2 |
Program restart and commercial ending notification method and system
A method and system are provided for allowing channel surfing during the presentation of a commercial broadcast by returning the viewer to the desired program channel after the commercial broadcast has concluded. When a commercial broadcast is received that interrupts the presentation of a viewer's desired programming, channel surfing is facilitated based on increased audio volume levels broadcast with the commercial broadcast. During channel surfing, the present audio level of the primary channel presenting the undesired commercial broadcast is monitored. If the audio volume level drops below the level of the commercial broadcast or returns to the level set by the viewer for the desired program prior to receipt of the commercial broadcast, the desired program channel may be reselected to return the viewer to her desired program channel. The viewer may be notified that the commercial broadcast has ended prior to reselection of the desired program channel. Notification may be in the form of a notification message displayed to the viewer. |
| US07872690B2 |
Apparatus and method for improving channel change speed in digital broadcasting reception terminal
Disclosed are an apparatus and a method for decreasing a channel change time in a digital broadcasting reception terminal. Starting time information of at least one non-reference channel is selected. When the user selects a non-reference channel, broadcast data thereof is received by using the collected starting time information. The apparatus extracts time offset values between a starting time of a current reference channel and that of each at least one non-reference channel, and then obtains the starting time of each non-reference channel by using the extracted time offset values. When a channel change is performed, the starting time of the non-reference channel is established to receive broadcast data based on the starting time according to a corresponding time offset value. Hence, a time period required for a channel change is significantly reduced. |
| US07872684B2 |
Camera capable of correcting information for focusing control, using information stored in storage section of mounted lens apparatus
A camera on which a lens apparatus is mounted is disclosed. The camera includes a controller which performs a focusing control corresponding to the mounted lens apparatus; a display unit which performs display process corresponding to an output of the controller; and a storage section which stores correction information for correcting a calculation result in the focusing control by the controller, in association with the mounted lens apparatus. |
| US07872683B2 |
Lens barrel for an imaging apparatus
At least one object of the present invention is to provide a lens barrel, including: a fixed frame (21) having a fixed cylinder (21); a telescopic cylinder (22, 23, 24, etc.) configured to be accommodated within the fixed cylinder (21); a plurality of lens groups (11, 12) configured to be retained in the telescopic cylinder; a lens driving device (51, 52, etc.) configured to drive the plurality of lens groups along a optical axis of the telescopic cylinder between a collapsed position and an extended position; and two retractable lens groups (13, 14) configured to be retracted into the telescopic cylinder when the telescopic cylinder is in the extended position and configured to be retracted out of the telescopic cylinder when the telescopic cylinder is in the collapsed position. |
| US07872681B2 |
System and method for a high performance color filter mosaic array
A method of implementing high-performance color filter mosaic arrays (CFA) using luminance pixels. The introduction of luminance pixels greatly improves the accuracy of the image acquisition process for a given pixel and image sensor size. |
| US07872676B2 |
Methods, systems, and devices for offset compensation in CMOC imagers
Methods, devices, and systems for offset compensation in an amplifier are disclosed, wherein the amplifier inputs may be exposed to large loads from an array of pixel columns coupled in parallel. During a sampling phase, an amplifier offset may be sampled by selectively coupling a first amplifier output to a first amplifier input and a second amplifier output to a second amplifier input. During a portion of the sampling phase, the first amplifier output may be buffered to a first storage element. During a different portion of the sampling phase, the second amplifier output may be buffered to a second storage element. To sense the pixel columns during an amplification phase, the first storage element and the second storage element are coupled to the first and second amplifier inputs, respectively, with the result that the amplifier offset is canceled from the amplifier output. |
| US07872671B2 |
Image pickup apparatus and image pickup method
An image pickup apparatus to pick up images by using a solid-state image pickup device includes an image signal reading unit configured to read image signals of a rectangular effective area in an image picked up by the solid-state image pickup device; an effective area setting unit configured to set the effective area to the image signal reading unit so that pixel signals of all pixels of the solid-state image pickup device in one of vertical and horizontal directions of the effective area are read and that a redundant pixel area is provided in the other direction; a camera shake detecting unit configured to detect camera shake in the image pickup apparatus; and a camera shake correction control unit configured to shift the effective area to the other direction so as to correct the camera shake in the other direction detected by the camera shake detecting unit. |
| US07872668B2 |
Video image processing with programmable scripting and remote diagnosis
This document discusses, among other things, systems and methods for receiving a local input video signal, processing the video signal, and providing a processed video signal to a local digital television display panel. A communications port includes an Ethernet or other communications network connector for allowing access to the video signal processing system by a remote device. This allows a remote user to remotely diagnose, debug, and even modify operation of the video signal processing system. In certain examples, this involves downloading a Lua script that can take partial or complete control over operation of the video signal processing system from resident instruction code. In certain examples, the video signal processing system includes pipelined image analysis or processing stages. Video signal data intermediate to such processing, or the processed video signal being provided to the local display can be communicated to the remote user. |
| US07872665B2 |
Image capture and processing
Apparatus and systems, as well as methods and articles, may operate to capture a portion of an omniscopic or omni-stereo image using one or more image capture media. The media may be located substantially perpendicular to a converging ray originating at a viewpoint on an inter-ocular circle and having a convergence angle between zero and ninety degrees from a parallel viewpoint baseline position that includes a non-converging ray originating at the viewpoint. The media may also be located so as to be substantially perpendicular to a non-converging ray originating at a first viewpoint at a first endpoint of a diameter defining an inter-ocular circle, wherein the origin of the non-converging ray gravitates toward the center of the inter-ocular circle as spherical imagery is acquired. |
| US07872662B2 |
Printer
A printer includes an upper unit which opens and closes about a fulcrum lying at a rear position of a lower unit, and a paper path which is opened by opening the upper unit. A sensor unit is attached to the lower unit and includes a lower sensor holder and an upper sensor holder which are disposed in opposition to each other via the paper path. The paper path can be opened by pivoting the upper sensor holder relative to the lower sensor holder. When the upper unit is closed, the upper sensor holder is also closed in accordance with a closing pivoting motion of the upper unit. |
| US07872661B2 |
Image bearing structure and method to detect a defect in the image bearing structure
An image bearing structure includes an image drum including at least one slot, a plurality of ring electrodes formed on an outer circumference of the image drum, and a control board positioned within the slot of the image drum, and connected to the plurality of ring electrodes, to detect a defect of the ring electrodes. As a result, the image bearing structure detects a defect within a short time and without requiring a separate detecting device. |
| US07872654B2 |
Animating hair using pose controllers
The present invention deforms hairs from a reference pose based on one or more of the following: magnet position and/or orientation; local reference space position (e.g., a character's head or scalp); and several profile curves and variables. In one embodiment, after an initial deformation is determined, it is refined in order to simulate collisions, control hair length, and reduce the likelihood of hairs penetrating the surface model. The deformed hairs can be rendered to create a frame. This procedure can be performed multiple times, using different inputs, to create different hair deformations. These different inputs can be generated based on interpolations of existing inputs. Frames created using these deformations can then be displayed in sequence to produce an animation. The invention can be used to animate any tubular or cylindrical structure protruding from a surface. |
| US07872653B2 |
Mesh puppetry
This disclosure describes a variational framework for detail-preserving skinned mesh manipulation or deformation. The skinned mesh deformation occurs by optimizing skeleton position and vertex weights of a skeletal skinned mesh in an integrated manner. The process allows creating new poses and animations by specifying a few desired constraints for the skeletal skinned mesh in an interactive deformation platform. This process adjusts the skeletal position and solves for a deformed skinned mesh simultaneously with an algorithm in conjunction with the constraints. The algorithm includes a cascading optimization procedure. The mesh puppetry displays skinned mesh manipulation in real-time.The user interface will enable interactive design in creating new poses and animations for a skeletal skinned mesh, enabling direct manipulation of the skeletal skinned mesh to create natural, life-like poses, and providing automatic balancing and most-rigid constraints to create a puppet-like animation. |
| US07872652B2 |
Application programming interfaces for synchronization
The application programming interface operates in an environment with user interface software interacting with multiple software applications or processes in order to synchronize animations associated with multiple views or windows of a display of a device. The method for synchronizing the animations includes setting attributes of views independently with each view being associated with a process. The method further includes transferring a synchronization call to synchronize animations for the multiple views of the display. In one embodiment the synchronization call includes the identification and the number of processes that are requesting animation. The method further includes transferring a synchronization confirmation message when a synchronization flag is enabled. The method further includes updating the attributes of the views from a first state to a second state independently. The method further includes transferring a start animation call to draw the requested animations when both processes have updated attributes. |
| US07872647B2 |
System and method for modeling a spheroid world database
A system and method is provided for modeling a world database that is a spheroid in a computer graphics simulation system. The method includes the operation of modeling the world database using a plurality of geodetic terrain gridposts. A further operation is creating a triangulated network mesh based on the geodetic terrain gridposts in real-time as a function of eye position. In addition, the triangulated network mesh is stored in geodetic coordinates. The triangulated network mesh is then rendered using geometry formed by the triangulated network mesh. |
| US07872644B2 |
Aging pad and flat panel display device having the same
A flat panel display device includes: a display panel; a driving circuit unit for applying a drive signal to the display panel; and a plurality of aging pads connected with the driving circuit unit and applying aging signals to the display panel, wherein each aging pad includes a plurality of sub-aging pads. |
| US07872641B2 |
Light sensitive display
A light sensitive display. |
| US07872639B2 |
Optical displacement detection over varied surfaces
Embodiments of the present invention enable an optical device to track on a diffusing surface over which a transparent and/or translucent and/or optically smooth surface is placed. Some embodiments are directed towards detecting when an optical device is lifted off the surface it was resting on. Embodiments also include a sensing system that detects the z distance (distance to the tracking surface) and improves image quality by improving the effectiveness of the optical sensor subsystem and/or the illumination subsystem at the detected z distance. Other embodiments include a system and method that enables an optical device to track on a transparent and/or translucent and/or optically smooth surface alone. This may involve dark-field imaging based on certain features (e.g., dirt) already present on the transparent surface. Alternately, this may involve creating features such as droplets, spreading dirt residue, and creating thermal spots, which can be used for tracking. |
| US07872638B2 |
Motion determining apparatus and storage medium having motion determining program stored thereon
Acceleration data representing accelerations in at least two axial directions which is output from an acceleration sensor included in an input device is obtained. Based on a shift of the acceleration data, a motion direction of the input device with respect to the direction of the acceleration of gravity acting upon the input device is determined. Motion data including at least the determined motion data is output. |
| US07872636B1 |
Virtual pointing devices for displays
Apparatus having corresponding methods and computer programs comprises: an accelerometer adapted to be worn by a user, wherein the accelerometer, when worn by the user, generates an acceleration signal representing acceleration of the user along a plurality of axes; a display device to generate a display comprising one or more objects and a cursor; and a controller to move the cursor in the display in accordance with the acceleration signal. |
| US07872634B2 |
Status sensing mechanism and the cursor-control device applying the same
A status sensing mechanism is disclosed, which comprises: a post, and a sleeve, ensheathing the post for enabling the post to slide up and down therein; wherein the post is abutted against a side of the sleeve as the inertial cursor-control device is subject to a first movement while the post is separated from the side of the sleeve as the inertial cursor-control device is subject to a second movement. By the use of the aforesaid status sensing mechanism, an improved cursor-control device can be provided, in which a sensor is used to detect and determine whether the status sensing mechanism is subjecting to the first movement or the second movement so as to issue different electrical signals corresponding to the detection to an inertial cursor processor arranged inside the cursor-control device for directing the inertial cursor processor to perform one of the following operation: (1) to perform a two-dimensional or three-dimension operation with respect to the received electrical signal for controlling the switching of the sensing capabilities of the cursor-control device, that is, the cursor-control device is controlled to be in a mode of two-dimensional detection or in a mode of three-dimensional detection; and (2) to perform either a displacement locking operation for freeing the cursor from the control of the cursor-control device, or a calculation of displacement for directing the cursor to move accordingly. |
| US07872633B2 |
Electrophoretic display and a method of shaking an electrophoretic display from an extreme position
An electrophoretic display having charged particles that are able to occupy, between a first and second electrode, two limit positions and intermediate positions between the two limit positions which are defined by a drive voltage. An addressing circuit generates the drive voltage waveform by successively applying between the first electrode and the second electrode, during an image update period, a reset pulse enabling particles of the display to substantially occupy one of the limit positions, and a drive pulse having a level in accordance with an optical state to be reached by one of the pixels. The addressing circuit generates a first shaking pulse having at least one preset pulse having energy sufficient to release particles present in one of the limit positions, but insufficient to enable the particles to reach the other one of the extreme limit positions. |
| US07872631B2 |
Liquid crystal display with temporal black point
A backlit display with improved dynamic range. The disclosed display illuminates a pixel of the display at respective non-zero illumination levels during each of a first frame and a second frame and decreases the illumination level of the pixel during the interval between the first frame and the second frame. |
| US07872630B2 |
Liquid crystal display
A liquid crystal display of the present invention facilitates grayscale level transition from a previous frame to a current frame, in such a manner that a modulation driving process section reads out, from one look-up table, corrected image data corresponding to a combination of image data of a previous frame and image data of a current frame and then outputs this corrected image data, irrespective of the ambient temperature. Meanwhile, a temperature circuit controls a heater so as to either stop the heating by the heater when a temperature of the liquid crystal panel exceeds a threshold value which is 1° C. through 1.5° C. higher than a target temperature, or start the heating by the heater when the temperature of the liquid crystal panel goes below a threshold value which is 1° C. through 1.5° C. lower than the target temperature, the target temperature being determined in advance to be in a range between 48° C. and 63° C. In this manner, it is possible to realize a liquid crystal display which is simple in circuit arrangement but can improve a response speed while restraining the degradation of display quality to be hardly recognizable for the viewer. |
| US07872627B2 |
Display unit
A driving circuit of the display unit includes a driving circuit including a read only memory and a rewritable nonvolatile memory. The rewritable nonvolatile memory stores display quality specifying information for specifying the display quality of a display panel connected to the driving circuit. The read only memory stores the display quality initial information used for initialization of the display quality of an optional display panel. By preferentially using the information stored in the rewritable nonvolatile memory, it is possible to drive the display panel at an optimum display quality in the normal state. Moreover, even when it is impossible to normally read data from the rewritable nonvolatile memory, it is possible to drive the display panel at an initial-state display quality by using the data in the read only memory. |
| US07872626B2 |
System and method for dynamically calibrating driver circuits in a display device
A display device has an array of display elements (2) each driven by an input provided on a data conductor (6). These inputs are generated by data conductor addressing circuitry (9) which has a plurality of controllable driver circuits (32,34,40), each for providing an input to an associated data conductor. The number of controllable driver circuits is at least one greater than the number required for providing data to all data conductors. A reference driver circuit (30) is used for calibrating at least one of the controllable driver circuits whilst the other controllable driver circuits provide inputs to the data conductors. This provides a reduction in the spread of driver circuit outputs by calibration of the driver circuits using a reference driver circuit. |
| US07872605B2 |
Slotted ground-plane used as a slot antenna or used for a PIFA antenna
A wireless device includes a ground plane with at least two portions. On each of the at least two portions at least one connecting means is provided. The two connecting means are connected with an electric component for connecting the at least two portions of the ground plane. The ground plane is partially covered with an insulating material and the connecting means are given by a part of the ground plane which is not covered by any insulating material. |
| US07872603B2 |
Method and apparatus for making airborne radar horizon measurements to measure atmospheric refractivity profiles
A method for determining a refractivity profile of an atmosphere of the Earth. The method may involve: generating radar signals from a radar device located above the Earth's surface toward the Earth's surface; measuring a time of flight and a reflected intensity of reflected radar signals received back at the radar device; using the measured time of flight and the reflected intensity of the reflected radar signals received by the radar device to determine a distance to a radar horizon where the radar signals are tangent to the Earth's surface; and using the distance to the radar horizon to determine a refractivity profile of the atmosphere through which the radar signals and the reflected radar signals have travelled. |
| US07872599B2 |
Operational amplifier and operating method thereof
A loading stage for outputting an amplified differential output, including: a noise source inducing noises originally located in a first frequency band, and a first modulating device coupled to the noise source for modulating the noises into a second frequency band from the first frequency band. |
| US07872593B1 |
System and method for collecting image data
A system for creating an image file including a computer subsystem configured to identify camera systems having location coordinates within a target array of location coordinates is disclosed. The computer system is further configured to retrieve image data from the identified camera systems, the image data including images of a region of interest corresponding to the target array of location coordinates. The computer system is also configured to create an image file using the image data retrieved from the identified camera systems. |
| US07872590B2 |
Remote control having extended functionality
A system and method for providing expanded functionality from a remote control handset, wherein multiple command functions are effected by the actuation of a single key or control surface. A remote control handset is programmed to recognize the actuation of keys or control surfaces associated with multiple-functionality. In response to a standard actuation (such as the momentary depression of that key) of a multiple-functionality key, a primary remote control signal is generated by the remote control handset for purposes of controlling a first remote system or component. The remote control handset is further adapted to test for and recognize a non-standard actuation (such as double-clicking or prolonged depression) of a multiple-functionality key, and responsively generate a second remote control signal. This second remote control signal can be generated for purposes of providing and alternate command to same system or component that is controlled by the primary remote control signal associated with the actuated key, or to an completely separate system or component. |
| US07872588B2 |
Monitoring tags
The invention provides a monitoring tag for wearing about the appendage of an individual. It includes a self-contained transmitter module that is located in a housing and transmits radio signals to a base unit, for receipt by the base unit if within a predetermined range. If the individual wearing the monitoring tag moves outside this range then the base unit can trigger an alarm or send a warning signal. The housing has an opening for receiving the end of a flexible elongate strap to secure the tag around the appendage of the individual. The strap is attached to the housing inside the opening using a clip, which has structure for fixedly securing it to the strap and structure for fixedly securing it in the opening. Once the clip is attached to the housing it cannot be removed unless a weakened or frangible region between the securing structures is broken. |
| US07872581B2 |
Method, devices and system for multiple RFID tag read-out
A method is provided, comprising transmitting a first radio frequency identification tag wake-up sequence by a master reader device; responsive to said first wake-up sequence, transmitting a second radio frequency identification tag wake-up sequence by at least one slave reader device; responsive to receiving said first and/or said second wake-up sequence at one or more radio frequency identification tags of a plurality of radio frequency identification tags, responding to said wake-up sequence; receiving responses from said one or more radio frequency identification tags at said master reader; deriving first tag information from said responses; and providing said first tag information. A corresponding system, master reader device and slave reader device are also provide. |
| US07872580B2 |
Synthetic geomaterials with transponder technology
Synthetic geomaterials, such as geotextiles, geocomposites or geogrids (woven, knitted or of monolithic strips), characterized in that the synthetic geomaterial comprises at least one transponder applied thereon for storing and for calling up data related to product and/or state and condition and/or project. |
| US07872579B2 |
Structure including an electronic device, in particular for fabricating a security document or a document of value
A structure for use in fabricating a security document or a document of value is provided. The structure includes an electronic device, an inset layer made at least in part out of fiber, a window within which the electronic device extends, at least in part, and an adhesive layer in contact with the inset layer. |
| US07872578B2 |
Tracking, identification, and security system for a portable device
A system for providing security for an electronic device comprising an embeddable security device and a remote portable device. In operation, when the embeddable security device and the remote portable device are proximate to each other, the embeddable security component will not trigger an external alarm system. However, when the two devices are not proximate, the embeddable security device is configured to emit a signal that activates the external alarm system. |
| US07872569B2 |
Built-in instrument cluster
A built-in instrument cluster for a motor vehicle includes at least one display device, which emits image-forming light and is arranged in the direct field of view of an observer, and at least one illuminated and/or self-illuminating electromechanical indicator device, which is arranged in the observer's field of view, at an angle to the display device, and is moved into the observer's field of view together with the display device via an optical combiner, which is arranged to reflect the image-forming light of the electromechanical indicator device. In order to be able to integrate such an instrument cluster into the tight spatial conditions in the instrument panel in the steering-column region, it is provided that the electromechanical indicator device is at least partially provided by light guides and/or light projectors to save depth at abutting vehicle components. |
| US07872568B2 |
Method for the targeted stimulation of wheel electronics systems of tire groups
A method for stimulating wheel electronics systems of single tires of at least one tire group in a motor vehicle. The wheel electronics systems are stimulated with a low frequency trigger signal, as follows: a trigger signal is emitted from an LF trigger to the wheel electronics systems of the relevant tire group at a variably adjustable first transmission field strength. Radio frequency signals are transmitted from those wheel-side wheel electronics systems, at which a sufficiently high transmission field strength of the trigger signal has arrived containing an item of trigger information, to a vehicle-side receiving unit. A determination is made of the number of RF signals received by the vehicle-side receiving unit, each containing one item of trigger information. |
| US07872567B2 |
Method for transponder access control
A method for transponder access control is disclosed, in which a first identification is stored in the transponder, which is transmitted to a reader unit upon appropriate request by the unit. At least one second identification and an identification selection criterion are stored in the transponder, during a request by the reader unit depending on the identification selection criterion either the first identification or the at least second identification is transmitted and, when the second identification is transmitted, access to the transponder, particularly to the first identification, is released by the transponder when the reader unit transmits a password assigned to the second identification to the transponder. |
| US07872562B2 |
Magnetic coil capable of simultaneously providing multiple multipole orders with an improved transfer function
A method for constructing a conductor assembly of the type formed of one or more coil rows which, when conducting current, generate a magnetic field or in which, in the presence of a changing magnetic field, a voltage is induced. In one embodiment comprises forming a conductor pattern in a first coil row according to the relationship X(θ)=[h/(2*π)]θ+ΣAn sin(nθ+φn) Y(θ)=R cos(θ) Z(θ)=R sin(θ), the first coil row pattern suitable for simultaneously generating at least two multipole orthogonal field components of different orders, wherein: X is measurable along an X axis, Y is measurable along a Y axis and Z is measurable along a Z axis, the coil row extends along the X axis, the coil row is formed with a conductor configured in a series of turns about the X axis creating spaced-apart segments of the conductor such that, along first portions of the segments, individual segments are relatively straight and along second portions of the segments the segments follow a contour having a definable radius of curvature, the series of turns providing a geometrical configuration for generating a first multipole component of order n=i with An=Ai and φn=φi and a second multipole component of order n=j with An=Aj and φn=φj with φi not equal to φj. |
| US07872558B2 |
Coil device with bobbin structure
A coil device having a bobbin structure, includes a body section, a first flange section and a second flange section. The body section is positioned between the first flange section and the second flange section in a first horizontal direction. The first flange section includes a first lower base and a first upper portion. The first upper portion extends upwardly from the first lower base. The first upper portion is provided with a first upper edge on which at least one guide recess is formed. The second flange section includes a second lower base and a second upper portion. The second lower base faces the first lower base in the first horizontal direction. The second upper portion extends upwardly from the second lower base. The second upper portion faces the first upper portion in the first horizontal direction with the body section interposed therebetween. |
| US07872557B2 |
Inductive interface for an article of clothing and use of the interface
The invention relates to an article of clothing (10) comprising at least one layer consisting of a flexible material and an inductive coupling device (20) for transmitting an electric current and/or data signals through the layer or layers of the flexible material. The invention also relates to an inductive interface for an article of clothing, which can inductively transmit an electric current and/or data between the interior and the exterior of an article of clothing, with which the interface is used. In addition, the invention relates to the use of an interface of this type for sending an electric current and/or data signals through a textile layer of an article of clothing. |
| US07872555B2 |
Undulator
An undulator comprises a first magnetic circuit (11) for forming a periodic magnetic field, a first support body (21) for supporting the first magnetic circuit (11), a second magnetic circuit (12) arranged opposite to the first magnetic circuit (11), for forming a periodic magnetic field, a second support body (22) for supporting the second magnetic circuit (12), a space (13) formed between the oppositely arranged first magnetic circuit (11) and the second magnetic circuit (12), for passing an electron beam, a vacuum chamber (1) for vacuum-sealing the first magnetic circuit (11) and the second magnetic circuit (12), and a refrigerant passing tube (30) for cooling a permanent magnet (m) constituting the first magnetic circuit (11) and the second magnetic circuit (12) below the room temperature. |
| US07872551B2 |
Relay
A relay includes a contact point block having a support shaft with both ends spanning a contact point base, a plunger having a movable contact at a lower end thereof, and a movable iron piece configured to drive the plunger and to have a plate spring. The relay also includes an electromagnetic unit and a base block having a fixed contact point at a position opposite to the movable contact point. The movable iron piece is supported on the supporting shaft. The plunger is inserted through an operation hole of the contact point base. Upper and lower surfaces of the contact point block are held by the electromagnetic unit and the base block. The electromagnetic unit directly fixes the iron core to an upper surface of the contact point base. |
| US07872549B2 |
Quasi-lumped resonator apparatus and method
A quasi-lumped resonator apparatus that makes use of an inductive portion having a plurality of spines extending therefrom along at least a portion of a length thereof, and a capacitive portion electrically and physically coupled to an end of the inductive portion. The capacitive portion has a plurality of spaced apart capacitive fringe plates extending therefrom. A housing is included for enclosing the inductive and capacitive portions. In another aspect a method is disclosed for forming a quasi-lumped resonator. |
| US07872538B2 |
Impulse generation circuit
An impulse generation circuit is provided for generating an impulse using a transmission line. Impulse characteristics of the impulse generation circuit are varied with the length of a transmission line rather than the characteristic variation of various devices used therein. The length of the transmission line is adjusted, such that a width of a generated pulse is adjusted. Because an end of the transmission line is short-circuited, the transmission line length can be easily adjusted on a substrate, and a ringing phenomenon due to re-reflection can be removed using termination impedance. |
| US07872532B2 |
High-frequency power amplifier and communication device
It is an object of the present invention to provide a high-frequency power amplifier capable of improving the linearity at the time of high output by preventing decrease in power of bias supply transistor. The high-frequency power amplifier is a high-frequency power amplifier including high-frequency power amplifier transistors and connected in multiple stages and bias supply transistors and each of which supplies bias current to a base of a corresponding one of said high-frequency power amplifier transistors, and each of which is connected to a common power supply terminal which is further connected to a collector of the high-frequency power amplifier transistor at a first stage among said high-frequency power amplifier transistors, and a passive element connected between the common supply terminal and a collector of the corresponding one of said bias supply transistors connected to the high-frequency power amplifier transistor at the first stage. |
| US07872531B1 |
Amplifier bias techniques
Techniques for generating a bias voltage for a class AB amplifier having first and second active transistors. In an exemplary embodiment, a diode-coupled first transistor supports a first current, and the gate voltage of the first transistor is coupled to the gate voltage of the first active transistor. The first current is split into a second current and a first auxiliary current supported by a second transistor, which is biased at a desired common-mode output voltage of the class AB amplifier. The first auxiliary current is further combined with a third current to be supported by a third transistor, with the third transistor configured to replicate the characteristic of the second active transistor. Further techniques are provided for setting the drain voltage of the third transistor to be close to the common-mode output voltage. The techniques described herein may be used to provide a bias voltage for the NMOS and/or PMOS active transistors in a class AB amplifier. |
| US07872530B2 |
Flexible dynamic range amplifier
An amplifying device (10) includes first, second, third and fourth transistors (M1, M2, M3, M4). In the first and third transistors (M1, M3) the source is connected to an input signal source (IN+, IN−), the gate is connected to a biasing potential (VB) and the drain is connected to a signal output (O+, O−). There is a first and second branch (B1, B2) between the source and drain of the first and third transistor (M1, M3), respectively, each including a corresponding second or fourth transistor (M2, M4). The device also includes a third branch (B3) comprising a first capacitor (C1) and a first switch (SW1) connected between the first transistor (M1) source and the third transistor (M3) gate, and a fourth branch (B4) comprising a second capacitor (C2) and a second switch (SW2) connected between the third transistor (M3) source and the first transistor (M1) gate. |
| US07872529B2 |
Switch method for switching class amplifiers
In accordance with one the present disclosure, systems and methods are disclosed that include transmitting a binary signal from a signal source into a switch where the switch is in series between the signal source and a first circuit element. In addition, the switch is operating substantially in a switched mode and creates a switched output signal and the switch is controlled by the binary signal. Also disclosed in this method is detecting a negative voltage in a signal from a second circuit element. In this method the first circuit element is in series between the second circuit element and the switch, and upon detecting the negative voltage from the second circuit element the first circuit element creates high impedance in the first circuit element. |
| US07872523B2 |
Radio frequency (RF) envelope pulsing using phase switching of switch-mode power amplifiers
A radio frequency (RF) power generator includes a first switch-mode amplifier that generates a first RF signal in accordance with a first control signal and a second switch-mode amplifier that generates a second RF signal in accordance with a second control signal. The first and second control signals determine a phase difference between the first and second RF signals. An output signal envelope is based on the first and second RF signals and the phase difference. The first control and second control signals alternate phases of the first and second RF signals. |
| US07872517B2 |
Bus circuit
Clock control is handed over in a bus circuit from a first circuit (14) to a second circuit (12). A clock conductor (10a) is driven to a predetermined voltage level with the driver circuit of the first circuit after a last clock period following the start of execution of the handover command and to continue driving the clock conductor (10a) to the predetermined voltage level for a first time-interval. The clock conductor (10a) is driven to the predetermined voltage level with the driver circuit of the second circuit after a second time interval following the start of execution of the handover command until a third time interval has elapsed following the end of the second time interval. Subsequently the clock conductor (10a) is driven under control of the clock circuit (140) of the second circuit (14). The first time interval contains a first integer number P1 of periods of a first clock signal of the first circuit and the second and third time interval contain a second and third integer number P2, P3 of periods of a second clock signal of the second circuit, a duration corresponding to the second integer number P2 equaling at least a pulse duration of the first clock signal, a duration corresponding to the first integer number P1 equaling at least a duration corresponding to the second integer number P2 plus one, a duration corresponding to the second plus third integer P2, P3 equaling at least a duration corresponding to the first number P1 plus one. |
| US07872514B2 |
Latch circuit and clock signal dividing circuit
Latch circuit and clock signal dividing circuit comprises sequentially connected latch circuits. Each latch circuit has D-type latch with latch clock input, data input and data output. A difference detector is coupled to D-type latch, and has a difference output that provides a difference signal when data at input is different than data at output. Each latch circuit has an edge triggered gate that has gate clock input, output coupled to latch clock input and gate control input coupled to difference output of difference detector. In operation, when both a transition of clock signal supplied at gate clock input is detected by edge triggered gate, and the difference signal is provided to gate control input, will edge triggered gate allow an edge of a clock signal supplied at gate clock input to determine logic values supplied to latch clock input. As a result, data at input is transferred to output. |
| US07872513B2 |
Apparatus and circuit including latch circuit, and method of controlling latch circuit
An apparatus includes a first selector which selects a test data during a first operation mode, and selects a first input data during a second operation mode, a first latch circuit which latches an output signal of the first selector according to a first clock signal, a second selector which selects one from a second input data and an output signal of the first latch circuit, and a second latch circuit which latches the second input data sent from the second selector according to a second clock signal during the second operation mode, and passes through the output signal of the first latch circuit sent from the second selector during the first operation mode. |
| US07872511B2 |
Circuit and method for initializing an internal logic unit in a semiconductor memory device
Provided is a semiconductor memory device and a driving method for initializing an internal logic circuit within the semiconductor memory device under a stable state of a source voltage without an extra reset pin. The semiconductor memory device includes a power-up signal generating unit for generating a power-up signal; an internal reset signal generating unit for generating an internal reset signal in response to a pad signal inputted from an arbitrary external pin during a test mode; an internal logic initializing signal generating unit for generating an internal logic initializing signal based on the power-up signal and the internal reset signal; and an internal logic unit initialized in response to the internal logic initializing signal. |
| US07872509B2 |
Delay lock loop and phase angle generator
The provided delay lock loop delaying an input signal includes a quadrature generator, a voltage controller and a delay cell. The input signal is inputted into the quadrature generator and the delay cell. A phase-changing signal from the quadrature generator and a delay signal respectively from the delay cell are inputted into the voltage controller at the same time so that a control voltage inputted into the delay cell to control a delay time of the delay signal is generated. Also, the provided phase angle generator generates an output signal in an arbitrary phase. |
| US07872507B2 |
Delay lines, methods for delaying a signal, and delay lock loops
Locked loops, delay lines and methods for delaying signals are disclosed, such as a delay line and delay lock loop using the delay line includes a series of delay stages, each of which consists of a single inverting delay device. The inputs and outputs of a selected stage are applied to a phase inverter that inverts one of the signals and applies it to a first input of a phase mixer with the same delay that the other signal is applied to a second input of the phase inverter. The delay of the signals from the selected delay element are delayed from each other by a coarse delay interval, and the phase mixer interpolates within the coarse delay interval by fine delay intervals. A phase detector compares the timing of a signal generated by the phase interpolator to the timing of a reference clock signal applied to the delay line to determine the selected delay stage and a phase interpolation value. |
| US07872506B2 |
Gate driver and method for making same
A gate driver for use in a liquid crystal display has a plurality of shift registers connected in series. Each of the shift registers is used to provide a gate-line pulse to a row of pixels in the liquid crystal display. The gate-line pulse has a front pulse and a rear pulse and the shift register has a front-pulse generating part and a rear-pulse generating part for generating to corresponding pulse. Each of the pulse generating parts has a first pull-up circuit to generate a voltage level to keep a switching element in a second pull-up circuit conducting so as to generate a front or rear pulse, in response to a corresponding clock signal, and two pull-down circuits, in response to the voltage level, to allow the front or rear pulse to be generated only at a pull-down period. |
| US07872505B2 |
Semiconductor apparatus and anomaly detection method of the same
A semiconductor apparatus includes an arithmetic circuit that executes a program based on an operating clock signal input through a clock transfer node, an internal oscillator that generates an internal clock signal to be used internally, a watch dog timer that counts the internal clock signal, detect that a count value reaches a predetermined value of an execution time of the program in the arithmetic circuit and output a notification signal, and a clock monitor circuit that detects presence or absence of the operating clock signal in response to the notification signal. |
| US07872500B2 |
Semiconductor device
According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a semiconductor device including: a first circuit portion including: a first circuit that is connected between a first high-side power line and a low-side power line and that outputs a second signal based on a first signal input thereto; and a second circuit portion including: a first transistor that is connected between a second high-side power line and a node and that has a normally-on characteristic; a second circuit that is connected between the node and the low-side power line and that outputs a third signal based on the second signal input thereto. |
| US07872498B2 |
Current mode circuitry to modulate a common mode voltage
In some embodiments, a chip includes transmitters to transmit differential signals on conductors; and current mode circuitry to selectively modulate a common mode voltage of the differential signals to communicate data. In other embodiments, a system includes a first chip to transmit first and second differential signals on conductors, and a second chip. The second chip includes receivers to receive the first and second differential signals from the conductors and provide received signals representative thereof, and current mode circuitry to selectively modulate a common mode voltage of either the first or second differential signals to communicate data and wherein the first chip includes common mode detection circuitry to detect changes in the common mode voltage. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US07872497B2 |
Flexible carry scheme for field programmable gate arrays
A fast, flexible carry scheme for use in clustered field programmable gate array architectures is described. Each cluster has a cluster carry input node, a cluster carry output node, a cluster carry output circuit having an output coupled to the cluster carry output node, a first input coupled to the cluster carry input node, and a second input and a plurality of logic modules each comprising a logic function generator circuit coupled to a carry circuit. The logic modules are coupled in a series carry arrangement between the cluster carry input node and the second input of the cluster carry output circuit such that the least significant bit of an arithmetic logic circuit can be programmably placed in any of the logic modules. |
| US07872492B2 |
Triple latch flip flop system and method
A triple latch flip flop system and method are disclosed. In one embodiment, triple latch flip-flop system includes a pull up latch, a pull down latch, a primary latch and an output. The pull up latch drives a pull up node. The pull down latch driving a pull down node. The primary latch records state of the triple latch flip-flop system. The output for outputting a logic value based upon outputs of the pull up latch, pull down latch and the primary latch. |
| US07872490B2 |
Semiconductor integrated circuit and method for testing the same
A semiconductor integrated circuit includes a plurality of clock gating circuits, a plurality of flip-flops to which transmission of a clock signal is controlled by a respective clock gating circuit, and a clock gating control circuit that controls an active state and an inactive state of the plurality of clock gating circuits, wherein during a test operation mode, the clock gating control circuit controlling the active state and the inactive state of the plurality of clock gating circuits according to a user logic signal, and controlling setting of an arbitrary combination of clock gating circuits to an inactive state regardless of the user logic signal. |
| US07872481B1 |
Low glitch multiple form C summing node switcher
A measurement system with selectable feedback paths includes a DUT interface including a first and a second DUT sensor, the first sensor being connected to a first feedback path for providing a measure of a first DUT characteristic, the second sensor being connected to a second feedback path for providing a measure of a second DUT characteristic, the sensors having a shared reference path and each feedback path including a set point adjustment; a differential amplifier system including differential inputs and differential outputs, the differential outputs being applied to the DUT interface; and a multi-pole switcher for connecting the differential inputs to either the first feedback path and the reference path or to the reference path and the second feedback path, respectfully. The first feedback path is selected to produce a desired first DUT characteristic or the second feedback path is selected to produce a second desired DUT characteristic. |
| US07872480B2 |
Gas sensor control apparatus
A gas sensor control apparatus for controlling a gas sensor includes a resistance detection unit and a heater control unit. The resistance detection unit detects a resistance of an object cell of the gas sensor. When the resistance of the object cell is lower than a predetermined threshold, the heater control unit controls energization of a heater such that the resistance detected by the resistance detection unit is a first predetermined resistance. Subsequently, after elapse of a predetermined time, the heater control unit further controls energization of the heater in such a manner that the resistance detected by the resistance detection unit is a second predetermined resistance of a resistance value that is higher than that of the first predetermined resistance. |
| US07872477B2 |
Multi-component marine electromagnetic signal acquisition cable and system
A marine electromagnetic sensor cable includes a plurality of sensor modules disposed at spaced apart locations along a cable. Each module includes at least one pair of electrodes associated with the module. The electrodes are arranged to measure electric field in a direction along the direction of the cable. The cable is arranged to form a closed pattern. Another marine electromagnetic sensor cable includes a plurality of sensor modules disposed at spaced apart locations along a cable. Each module includes at least one pair of electrodes associated therewith. The electrodes are arranged to measure electric field in a direction along the direction of the cable. A plurality of spaced apart magnetic field sensors is associated with each module and arranged to enable determining an electric field amplitude in a direction transverse to the direction of the cable from magnetic field gradient. |
| US07872476B2 |
NMR probe
An NMR probe is offered which enables a 1H/19F compatibility mode having a sample coil, a hollow tubular body, and two rod electrodes disposed inside the tubular body substantially in a parallel relationship to each other. The tubular body is formed by a conductive wall at ground potential. An RF input-output portion corresponding to the resonant frequency of 1H nucleus is connected with the one end of the coil via a tuning and matching device. Another RF input-output port corresponding to the resonant frequency of 19F nucleus is connected with an end of the coil via another tuning and matching device. |
| US07872469B2 |
Apparatus and methods of integrated-circuit device testing
A motherboard device (MB) interface board (DIB) configured as universal interface to a family of integrated circuit (IC) devices provides the electrical connectivity to automated test equipment (ATE) and physical mating commonality with an IC device handler for reduced time to market and enhanced economy for design validation and production verification testing. In particular, use of one or more daughter cards (DC) that mount to the MB DIB avoid redesign of the entire DIB assembly for a new IC design. Each DC can be more quickly designed at a lower cost than the entire DIB assembly, enabling replacement of any defective site. The DC increases the available surface area for mounting of support components for the device under test (DUT). |
| US07872467B2 |
Miniature RF calibrator utilizing multiple power levels
A small light-weight battery operated calibrator device provides a precise sine wave output for use in calibration of test equipment, such as a RF Power Meter or a Spectrum Analyzer. The calibration device includes two power levels, one −40 dBm and one 0 dBm. The purpose of the two power levels is to obtain a slope and offset for correction of the RF power measuring device being calibrated. Operation indication LED lights are provided to indicate which of the two powers are in use, and if battery power is below acceptable levels. Miniature low power components including a crystal oscillator and a divide by 2 integrated circuit that generates a precise square wave and a low pass filter for converting the square wave into a precise sine wave allows the calibrator to be battery operated and stored as a calibration component. |
| US07872465B2 |
Apparatus and methods for evaluating material volatility
A method of evaluating material volatility characteristics. A pulse of current flux is delivered through a material sample to simulate a lightning strike. A pressure produced by the sample during the pulse is measured. The measured pressure is used to measure volatility of the material. An apparatus for evaluating the volatility of materials includes a pulse power supply and a test cell through which a pulse is delivered and in which pressure produced by a sample during the pulse is measured. This apparatus and method can reduce the costs of material selection and can shorten development time for new products. |
| US07872463B2 |
Current balance arrangement
A current mirror arrangement comprising two transistors (11, 12) which are of different conductivity types and are each suitable for outputting a bias current (PBIAS, NBIAS) is specified. A controlled current source (13, 13′) is connected between the two transistors (11, 12) and forms the output of a current mirror (18, 13′). The proposed principle ensures that the output bias signals (PBIAS, NBIAS) match one another in a highly precise manner. The proposed current mirror arrangement may preferably be integrated using CMOS circuit technology. |
| US07872462B2 |
Bandgap reference circuits
A bandgap reference circuit is provided. An input node receives a supply voltage. An output node provides a reference voltage. A first transistor is coupled between the input node and the output node and has a first control terminal. A resistor is coupled between the input node and the first control terminal. A second transistor is coupled to the first control terminal and has a second control terminal coupled to the output node. A third transistor is coupled between the second transistor and a ground terminal and has a third control terminal. A voltage dividing unit provides a first voltage and a second voltage according to the reference voltage. A differential amplifier provides a signal to the third control terminal according to a difference between the first and second voltages. |
| US07872460B2 |
Method for detecting output short circuit in switching regulator
A method and circuit for accurately detecting an output short circuit in a switching regulator. A first transistor and a second transistor are connected in series and driven in a complementary manner. A comparator compares output current, which is generated when the first and second transistors are driven, with a short circuit detection threshold to generate a first short circuit detection signal. A timing controller retrieves the first short circuit detection signal generated by the comparator at a predetermined time to generate a second short circuit detection signal. |