| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US07900697B2 |
Fracturing isolation sleeve
An apparatus operatively coupled to a well having a production casing positioned therein, the apparatus including a first device having and internal bore, a second device having an internal bore, and a fracture isolation sleeve disposed at least partially within the internal bores of the first and second devices, wherein the fracture isolation sleeve has an internal diameter that is greater than or equal to an internal diameter of the production casing. |
| US07900695B2 |
Well pump device
A well pump device is introduced into a well and connects to a wireline to receive electrical energy from the surface. An electrically driven feed pump connects to and delivers driving fluid to the driving side of an ejector. A hydraulic apparatus uses the well pump device as a pulling tool. |
| US07900693B2 |
Soldered heat exchanger, in particular a condenser for motor vehicles
A soldered heat exchanger, in particular a condenser for motor vehicles which has at least one collector tube, and a flange which is secured to the collector tube and which is used to receive connection tubes. The flange can be fixed and soldered to the collection tube by one or two supports. |
| US07900687B2 |
Apparatus and method for moulding battery group straps
This invention relates to apparatus and methods for molding battery group straps. Molding apparatus, generally indicated at (10), includes a centrally cooled mold block (11) which defines two laterally displaced sets (12, 13) of longitudinal spaced mold cavity (14) and respective lead feed block (15) and (16) having appropriate feed channels. A sensor, in the form of an electrically conducting rod (25), is disposed so that its tip forms one part of the bottom of the mold cavity (14). This can detect as soon as lead enters into the cavity and that detection is used to control the pour time for the lead to a predetermined period, so that the lead entering the cavities is of a constant quantity on each cycle. |
| US07900685B2 |
Investment casting
In an investment casting procedure using microwave energy as the heat source virgin wax models are attached to a spree of wax-type pattern material incorporating a susceptor, the spree having a pour cup also of a wax-type pattern material, the pour cup material having a higher percentage of the susceptor than the material of the spree. In use the pour cup will melt first and the spree second, unblocking the path of the virgin wax so that its expansion will not crack ceramic with which it has been coated. |
| US07900681B2 |
Colonial storm shutter with improved strength and fabricability
A colonial storm shutter assembly with improved impact resistance includes shutter blade elements having a corrugated configuration that exhibits superior structural strength and bending resistance while providing an attractive face. Triple, double and single shutter blade elements overlap to provide enhanced structural strength and simplify assembly. Side frame structures include a reinforcing portion on the outside wall which provides increased strength particularly in the miter joint with top and bottom frame structures. A storm bar includes a center storm bar clip which bolts to the side frames of two shutter panels when in the closed configuration to provide enhanced structural rigidity. Center fastening angles are bolted to the side and top/bottom frames at both the top and bottom where the two shutter panels meet in the closed configuration to provide further structural strength and resistance to opening. |
| US07900680B2 |
Head rail assembly
A head rail or head rail assembly for an architectural closure, the head rail including an elongate front wall having left hand and right hand longitudinal ends and an elongate bottom wall having left hand and right hand longitudinal ends. A left hand end structure is positioned adjacent to the left hand longitudinal end of the bottom wall and a right hand end structure is positioned adjacent to the right hand longitudinal end of the bottom wall. A first slot is defined between the left hand end structure and the left hand longitudinal end of the bottom wall and a second slot is defined between the right hand end structure and the right hand longitudinal end of the bottom wall. At least one of the first and second slots is closed by a removable closure. |
| US07900678B2 |
Device for applying at least one surface section of a transfer layer of a transfer film to a web of material and the use thereof
The invention concerns an apparatus for applying at least one surface portion of a transfer layer of a transfer film to a web of material, wherein the apparatus has at least one support roller and at least one pressure roller for pressing the web of material and the transfer firm against the at least one support roller, wherein the at least one pressure roller is pneumatically or hydraulically resiliently supported by means of at least one resilient arrangement in the form of a diaphragm spring and wherein the apparatus has at least one adjusting device for varying a spring rate of the at least one resilient arrangement and thus for varying a pressure contact force of the at least one pressure roller against the at least one support roller, and the use of such an apparatus. |
| US07900677B2 |
Sheet sticking apparatus
A sheet sticking apparatus comprises a sheet feed-out unit 12 including a peel plate 22 for peeling off an adhesive sheet S from a release liner PS; and a press roller 14 for pressing the adhesive sheet S onto a wafer W supported by a table 13 to stick the sheet thereto, wherein the peel plate 22 is supported movably forward and backward by a cylinder 50. The peel plate 22 is arranged so that the initial position of the front end is adjusted forward/backward corresponding to the size of the wafer W or the size of the table 13 supporting the same. |
| US07900674B2 |
Labeling machine
A labeling machine comprises a self-regulating arresting member of a label holder tape. The arresting member is able to press the tape against an abutting surface when a label has to be applied on a destination surface and it releases said tape when, on the action of a control device the tape is actuated to advance. The labeling machine further comprises a printing device whose inking roller is associated to a device that enables it to be engaged easily and conveniently on a respective support arm. The support arm in turn is advantageously connected to an access door to internal areas of the labeling machine, whose opening determines the exit of the support arm and the exposure of the inking roller. |
| US07900672B2 |
Pneumatic tire with annular reinforcing strip layer
A pneumatic tire has a tread with shoulders, a belt structure, a carcass, and a radial ply structure. The shoulders have a continuous curving radially outer profile so that the shoulders transition smoothly from the tread profile to the tire sidewalls. The locus of the radii defining the shoulder is located on the inner side of the tire. The tire has a belt structure formed of an annular layer of parallel cords directly adjacent to the radial ply structure, the annular layer having a pair of opposing annular edges and a continuous radius curve profile. Located radially inward of the axial edges of the annular layer is an annular reinforcing strip layer. The strip has a width of not greater than 30 mm and extends axially outward by a distance of not more than 10 mm. |
| US07900667B2 |
Tread for a tire
A tire tread and a tire comprising a tire tread, the tire tread having a rubber composition based on a diene elastomer; more than 50 phr of an inorganic filler as reinforcing filler; between 2 and 15 phr of an inorganic filler/diene elastomer coupling agent; between 1 and 10 phr of a methylene acceptor, and between 0.5 and 5 phr of a methylene donor. The tread may be characterized as having a radially increasing rigidity gradient from the surface towards the inside of the tread after mechanical run-in of the tread. In particular embodiments, the tread may be characterized as having a nominal secant modulus at 10% elongation is between 3 and 7 MPa at a radially outer surface of the tread and between 9 and 13 MPa at the most radially inside of the tread. |
| US07900658B2 |
Automated drug preparation apparatus including drug vial handling, venting, cannula positioning functionality
An automated medication preparation system for preparing a prescribed dosage of medication in a drug delivery device includes a plurality of stations for receiving, handling and processing the drug delivery device so that the prescribed dosage of medication is delivered to the drug delivery device and a transporting device that receives and holds more than one drug delivery device and moves the drug delivery devices in a controlled manner from one station to another station. The system is configured so that two or more separate drug delivery devices can be acted upon at the same time. |
| US07900653B2 |
Two-way ball valve to prevent backwash
A two-way ball valve (10) for liquid and/or gas flowing media, essentially comprises a valve fitting (12) made up of two connected housing parts (22, 28), in which a ball (18) with a drilling (20) for the media flow and an operating shaft (68) running perpendicular to the drilling (20) is mounted such as to be able to rotate. Furthermore, sealing shells (40, 42) are arranged to both sides of the ball (18) respectively, coaxial to the longitudinal axis (L) of the valve fitting (12), which enclose the ball (18) and completely fill the dead volume (38) between the valve fitting (12) and the ball (18). Said sealing half-shells (40, 42) have a front opening for the operating shaft (38) in the axial direction (L), corresponding to the cross section of the drilling (20) in the ball (18). The sealing half-shells (40, 42) only contact the ball (18) in the region of the front openings thereof, between which a narrow sickle-shaped annular gap is formed. In one embodiment a control diaphragm (58) is include on the inlet side of the flowing medium (16). |
| US07900652B2 |
Gas supply system for a pumping arrangement
A system (100) for supplying an inert purge gas to a pumping arrangement (106) includes a plurality of flexible capillary tubes (102) each for conveying the gas from a respective outlet of a manifold (12) to a respective port (104) of the pumping arrangement (106). The internal diameter and length of each tube (102) control the gas flow rate to the respective port (104). |
| US07900651B2 |
Material feed container for a thick-matter pump
The invention relates to a material feed receptacle for a thick matter pump comprising a receptacle lower part and a receptacle top that is detachably connected to the receptacle lower part, a two-part front wall, a rear wall, two two-part lateral walls, an upwardly pointing material feed opening delimited by a peripheral edge, and a pipe junction, which is situated inside the receptacle, can, on the entry side, swivel in an alternating manner in front of the delivery cylinder openings and which, on the output side, leads to a pressure pipe. The invention provides that the receptacle top has an upper lateral wall part and upper lateral wall parts, which have free ends and which extend away from the front wall part. The invention also provides that the peripheral edge has a first edge part, which forms an upper edge of the receptacle top, and ha a second edge part on the receptacle lower part, which is situated on the rear wall and is joined to the first edge part. |
| US07900649B2 |
Sanitary single-lever mixer
A sanitary single-lever mixer comprising a housing, known per se, having a receiving compartment which is open towards the top. The housing is associated with a closing part which covers the upper opening of the receiving compartment and comprises a center passage. The adjusting lever or the handle extends through said passage. The closing part has a convex, spherical top when seen from above. The handle is associated with a cover element that has an outer exposed part with an exposed surface and a sliding element connected to the exposed part. |
| US07900648B2 |
Valve for the venting circuit of a liquid tank
A valve for the venting circuit of a liquid tank including a main chamber which opens into the tank and is connected via an aperture to the venting circuit, a float comprising a body, and a head capable of closing off the orifice. The float being able to slide vertically inside the main chamber. The valve further including a baffle surrounding the aperture and defining a secondary chamber via the bottom inside the main chamber. The dimensions and the shape of the secondary chamber, of the body of the float, and of the head of the float are designed so that the head can slide at least partly inside the secondary chamber, while the body of the float cannot do so. |
| US07900641B2 |
Cleaning device and a lithographic apparatus cleaning method
A cleaning tool to clean a surface of a component of a lithographic apparatus is disclosed. The cleaning tool includes a sonic transducer, a liquid supply device configured to provide liquid to a reservoir between the surface to be cleaned and the sonic transducer, and a liquid outlet configured to remove liquid provided by the liquid supply device, the cleaning tool constructed and arranged such that, in use, liquid flows into the outlet under the influence of gravity. |
| US07900633B2 |
Breathing circuit
A breathing circuit is described for the supplying of low pressure oxygen to a patient that is at risk of hypoxia. The breathing circuit includes a patent airway maintaining device, a first tube that includes a substantially rigid elbow and connectors and a flexible tubular extension. An inflatable bag is coupled to the first tube and has a pressure relief valve that exhausts into the atmosphere. A second tube has a first end that terminates in proximity to the patent airway maintaining device and a second opposed end that terminates external to the first tube. A third tube connects an external source of oxygen to the second tube. A method for an oxygen breathing circuit is also described that further includes the use of a carbon dioxide monitor and the inflatable bag for assisted breathing. The breathing circuit uses only non-metallic polymer or composite type materials. |
| US07900631B2 |
Device for holding a tracheal cannula
The invention relates to a device for supporting and retaining a tracheal cannula or a similar appliance on a person's neck. The device comprises wings on the cannula projecting in opposite directions from the cannula. Fastening means connected with the wings comprises an element having an adhesive surface for attachment to the skin of the neck. |
| US07900628B2 |
Patient interface device
A patient interface device that includes a support member sized and configured to span at least a portion of a patient's face while remaining below the patient's eyes responsive to the patient interface device being donned by such a patient. A sealing assembly is attached to the support member via a snap assembly associated with the support member and the sealing assembly. The snap assembly allows the sealing assembly to selectively attach to the support member. |
| US07900619B1 |
System for luminescing and propelling a projectile
A projectile having light emitting structure and a rechargeable power source is launched by projectile launching apparatus such as a gun. The projectile launching apparatus charges the rechargeable power source and when the projectile is propelled a visual display is produced by the lighted propelled projectile. |
| US07900616B2 |
Exhaust gas oxygen sensor monitoring
An internal combustion engine includes an exhaust system, an oxygen sensor in the exhaust system and a sensor malfunction monitor. The sensor malfunction monitor measures a rate of change of a signal from the sensor on detecting a turning point of the signal and detects a malfunction when a rate of change of the signal exceeds a threshold. Alternatively, the sensor malfunction monitor measures a response time interval starting from a point in time at which a diagnostic function begins to force an air-fuel ratio to change (e.g., from lean-to-rich or rich-to-lean) and ends at a point in time when a turning point of the signal is detected. The sensor malfunction monitor detects a malfunction when the delay time of the response time interval, or average delay time from a plurality of measured response time intervals, exceeds a time threshold. |
| US07900614B2 |
Self-calibrating NOx sensor
A system for calibrating a response to an exhaust-stream NOx level in a motor vehicle is provided. The system comprises a NOx sensor that includes an electrode, a current from the electrode responsive to the exhaust-stream NOx level while a bias voltage is applied to the electrode. The system further comprises a controller configured to interrupt the bias voltage and to adjust a motor-vehicle response to the current based at least partly on an attained voltage of the electrode while the bias voltage is interrupted. Other embodiments provide a method of calibrating a NOx sensor response in terms of gain and offset parameters. |
| US07900612B2 |
Valve and cylinder head cover for crankcase ventilation of an internal combustion engine
A valve for crankcase ventilation of an internal combustion engine comprises a fresh-air side for connection with an intake section of the internal combustion engine, an engine side for connection with the crankcase and a valve insert movable as a whole for changing the flow resistance through the valve. Said valve inset is held inside said valve without pre-load. Said valve insert is designed to be freely displaced to a deventilation limit-stop position under negative pressure on the fresh-air side relative to the engine side, and to be freely displaced to a ventilation limit-stop position under excess pressure on the fresh-air side relative to the engine side. The valve insert is designed to open a deventilation cross-section in the deventilation limit-stop position and to open a deventilation cross-section that is different from the ventilation cross-section in the ventilation limit-stop position. |
| US07900611B2 |
Apparatus and method for treating blow-by gas for internal combustion engine
A total amount of engine oil carried from a crankcase into an intake passage by blow-by gas from the start of the use of the internal combustion engine or the engine oil is calculated. It is determined whether the total oil carried amount is greater or less than an optimum value every predetermined operation period of the internal combustion engine. Then, when it is determined that the total oil carried amount is greater than the optimum value, the gas flow rate of the blow-by gas controlled based on the engine operation state is reduced until next determination process is performed. When it is determined that the total oil carried amount is less than the optimum value, the gas flow rate is increased until next determination process is performed. |
| US07900610B2 |
Switching valve for EGR cooler
A switching valve comprises a housing, a gas inflow chamber, a first passage adjacent to the inflow chamber through a first partition wall and communicating with the EGR cooler, a first communication hole providing communication between the inflow chamber and the first passage, a gas outflow passage, a second passage communicating with the outflow passage and adjacent to the inflow chamber through the second partition wall and communicating with the EGR cooler, a second communication hole formed in the second partition wall and providing communication between the inflow chamber and the second passage, and a third partition wall dividing the first passage from the second passage. The first to third partition walls are continuous at a joined portion in a Y-shaped cross section. A valve element is placed to be swingable about a point near the joined portion between the first and second partition walls. The first and second partition walls are slanted with respect to a mold-removing direction to form the inflow chamber and the third partition wall is parallel to a mold-removing direction to form the first and second passages. |
| US07900609B2 |
Dual exhaust gas recirculation valve
An exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system communicates hot exhaust gases from an exhaust manifold to an intake manifold through a first passage and a second passage parallel with the first passage. A first EGR valve assembly controls exhaust gas flow through the first passage and a second EGR valve assembly controls exhaust gas flow through the second passage. Exhaust gas is selectively flowed through one or both of the first and second passages to provide the desired temperature and flow through the intake manifold to the engine. |
| US07900606B2 |
Systems and methods for purging air of a fuel injection system
A system for a vehicle includes an initialization module and a purge control module. The initialization module generates an initialization signal based on a crankshaft speed signal and/or a fuel rail pressure signal. The initialization module also generates the initialization signal based on an initial purge value and an assembly-line monitoring value. The purge control module generates a purge signal to purge air from a fuel injection system of an engine. The purge signal is generated when the crankshaft speed signal indicates that a crankshaft of the engine is stationary and/or the fuel rail pressure signal indicates that a fuel rail pressure is less than a predetermined value. The purge signal is also generated based on the initialization signal. |
| US07900602B2 |
Direct injection assembly of the common-rail type provided with a shut-off valve for controlling the delivery of a high-pressure fuel pump
An embodiment of a direct injection assembly of the common-rail type provided with a fuel tank, a manifold, a high-pressure pump for feeding the fuel to the manifold, a low-pressure pump provided with an intake pipe and connected to the high-pressure pump by means of the intake pipe to feed the fuel taken from the tank to the high-pressure pump; and a shut-off valve of the ON/OFF type which is arranged along the intake pipe to adjust the delivery of the fuel fed to the high-pressure pump; and a pressure regulator, which is arranged along the intake pipe immediately upstream of the shut-off valve to keep the pressure of the fuel inside the intake pipe under a predetermined value. |
| US07900601B2 |
Injection advancement for piston cooling in spark ignition direct injection engines
An engine system comprises a temperature determination module, a temperature comparison module, and a fuel injection control module. The temperature determination module determines an engine temperature. The temperature comparison module compares the engine temperature and a temperature threshold. The fuel injection control module adjusts a timing of fuel injection from a first range of an intake stroke to a second range of the intake stroke based on the comparison. The first range and the second range do not overlap. |
| US07900597B2 |
Self-contained compression brakecontrol module for compression-release brakesystem of internal combustion engine
A compression-release brake system for operating an exhaust valve of an engine during an engine braking operation. The compression-release brake system comprises a self-contained compression brake control module (CBCM) operatively coupled to the exhaust valve for controlling a lift and a phase angle thereof and a source of a pressurized hydraulic fluid. The CBCM includes a casing defining piston and actuator cavities, a slave piston mounted within the piston cavity, a check valve provided between a supply conduit and a slave piston chamber and a compression brake actuator disposed in the actuator cavity. The compression brake actuator includes an actuator element and a biasing spring. The actuator element selectively engages the check valve when deactivated so as to unlock the slave piston chamber, and disengages from the check valve when activated so as to lock the slave piston chamber. The actuator element is exposed to atmospheric pressure. |
| US07900591B2 |
Switchable component for a valve train of an internal combustion engine
The invention proposes a switchable component (1) for a valve train of an internal combustion engine, said component (1) comprising a housing (2) in whose bore (3) an axially displaceable inner element (4) comprising coupling elements (5) is received, said coupling elements (5), for effecting coupling, being able to be brought partially into engagement with an entraining surface (6) of the housing (2), the inner element (4) being biased in outward direction from the housing (2) by a lost motion spring (7), and an (outer) anti-rotation device (11) extending from an outer casing (10) of the housing (2) projects beyond a surrounding structure (12a), the outer anti-rotation device (11) is configured as a C-shaped, thin-walled ring (13) comprising a slit (12), said ring (13) extends after the manner of a clip in an annular groove (14) in the outer casing (10) of the housing (2) parallel to a transversal plane of the component (1) and, for effecting outer anti-rotation, said ring (13) projects with a sickle-like portion (15) of its outer peripheral surface (16) beyond the outer casing (10) of the housing (2). |
| US07900584B2 |
Animal entertainment device
An animal toy having pendulum action is disclosed. The toy includes a movable pendulum swingably secured within a housing. The pendulum is capable of carrying toys, and each toy is accessible through one or more access openings in the housing. |
| US07900581B2 |
Device for the measurement of a milk stream
In order to measure a milk flow, a device is proposed that has a channel that has an inlet and an outlet. At least two electrically conducting element are provided in the channel that are arranged at a distance from one another. At least one element has an essentially annular form. Furthermore, at least one element has an essentially pin-shaped form. With the aid of this design according to the invention of a device for the measurement of a milk stream, a relatively simple construction is achieved, which has a relatively high measuring accuracy. |
| US07900580B2 |
Substrate processing apparatus and reaction container
A substrate processing apparatus comprises a reaction chamber which is to accommodate stacked substrates, a gas introducing portion, and a buffer chamber, wherein the gas introducing portion is provided along a stacking direction of the substrates, and introduces substrate processing gas into the buffer chamber, the buffer chamber includes a plurality of gas-supply openings provided along the stacking direction of the substrates, and the processing gas introduced from the gas introducing portion is supplied from the gas-supply openings to the reaction chamber. |
| US07900574B2 |
Device at a transformable boat
The invention relates to a device in the form of a transformable craft (1). It consists of two or three sections held together, a middle part (10) and one or two end parts (stem and stem) (8, 9). When a so-called “Container & Boat”™ forms a boat, the end parts (8, 9) constitute an extension of the middle part (10). The end parts (8, 9) can be turned up 180° and be fitted into spaces intended therefor on the middle part (10). The result becomes a container (C). Container fittings (4) are placed in the corners underneath the middle part (10), while the end parts (8, 9) are provided with two container fittings (5) each. When a C & B is a boat and the end parts (8, 9) are lowered, the container fittings thereof are in the bottom. When a C & B is a container and the end parts (8, 9) are raised, the container fittings (5) thereof are on the topside. |
| US07900569B2 |
Pedestal for a sailing boat
A pedestal (1) for a sailing boat comprises a casing (2) and inside such a casing (2): at least one driving wheel (11a, 11b) associated with a motion input shaft (3), at least one driven wheel (12a, 12b) associated with a motion output shaft (4) and at least one motion transmission element (13a, 13b) from said at least one driving wheel (11a, 11b) to said at least one driven wheel (12a, 12b). The pedestal (1) further comprises, also inside the casing (2), a speed variation system selectively activatable to vary the rotation speed of the motion output shaft (4) with respect to that of the motion input shaft (3). |
| US07900561B2 |
Reduced friction projectile
A projectile includes a leading part formed by a tip, a tip base, and a leading rod. A trailing part includes a main base, a truncate base, and a trailing rod. A leading end of a cylindrical interface abuts an annular shoulder where the tip meets the tip base and a trailing end abuts an annular shoulder where the main base meets the truncate base. The tip base and the truncate base respectively support the leading and trailing ends of the cylindrical interface. A medial extent of the cylindrical interface is unsupported by the leading and trailing rods and is deformed radially inwardly by lands in a barrel when the projectile is fired. The leading and trailing ends of the cylindrical interface maintain contact with the lands and the medial extent does not, reducing friction between the projectile and the barrel without sacrificing spin of the projectile. |
| US07900557B2 |
System and method for automated application of inoculants onto forage materials
An automated system and method are provided for application of inoculant products onto forage material. Real time data measurements are taken for relative humidity and moisture content of the forage material in order to timely adjust the dispense rate of the inoculant applied to the forage material. Data gathering capabilities are provided with this system controller to enable an operator to view, adjust, and record various production records, as well as detailed information as to the amounts of inoculant applied. The components associated with the system of the present invention includes an inoculant bin or container including a dispense auger which dispenses a controlled amount of inoculant which is then conveyed to the intake opening of the baling machine the forage material enters the machine. The control system includes various sensors positioned at the intake opening of the baling machine which measures moisture content, and optionally the mass or volume of the incoming forage material. The control system provides a number of user interface options for controlling the dispensing of the inoculant product, as well as capturing data relating to the operation of the baling machine and the application of the inoculant product. In one embodiment, multiple sensors are used to measure moisture over short periods of time in order to provide fine tuning in a control loop that determines the amounts of inoculants to be applied. |
| US07900553B1 |
Apparatus for cooking using wood pellets
An apparatus for cooking using wood pellets comprising: a direct cooking zone; an indirect cooking zone separated from the direct cooking zone by a divider; and a wood pellet burner positioned in the direct cooking zone such that food items in the direct cooking zone will be positioned above the burner. The cooking apparatus has a combustion flow path such that combustion gas from the burner will flow upwardly in the direct cooking zone, then over the divider, and then downwardly into the indirect cooking zone. The downward flow of combustion gas into the indirect cooking zone provides a top down cooking mode for food products placed therein. |
| US07900536B2 |
Chain saw sharpener with composite wiskar
A wiskar for sharpening cutting teeth of a chain provided on a chain bar of a chain saw. A housing is removably attached to the chain bar and includes a recess to receive the wiskar therein. The wiskar includes a first member configured to be operationally engaged by the recess of the housing; and a second member configured to frictionally engage a bottom surface of the cutting teeth. The second member includes a body portion intermediate the opposing ends, wherein opposing ends of the second member each have at least one lobe defined therein. Abrasives are uniformly impregnated throughout the first and second member to sharpen the bottom surface of the cutting teeth. At least the second member is manufactured from a pliable material that erodes due to friction caused by the cutting teeth engaging the lobes of the second member. |
| US07900535B2 |
Transmission
A transmission includes: a casing of the transmission; a shaft rotatably supported by the casing and having an oil passage; plural gears mounted on the shaft. The lubricant is partly lifted and stirred in response to a shift operation implemented by selectively engaging and rotating the gears. The transmission further includes a lubricating mechanism placed at a position higher than the shaft and having an upper end opening in an upward direction so as to collect and store the lifted lubricant. The lubricating mechanism is provided with an oil supply port through which the lubricant is guided to the oil passage of the shaft. |
| US07900530B2 |
Drive device
A drive device for a hatch of a motor vehicle, wherein a spindle drive is provided with a threaded spindle and a spindle nut mounted on the threaded spindle, by which drive the first fastening element and the housing tube can be driven axially relative to each other. The spindle drive can be rotatably driven by an electric motor, where the output shaft of the motor can rotate the threaded spindle or a connecting component of a clutch. The spindle drive can be rotatably driven by two or more series-connected electric motors. |
| US07900528B2 |
Apparatus with multiple sensors wherein the sensors are connected in separate sealed sockets
Apparatus (2) for sensing parameters, which apparatus (2) comprises a housing (4), a plurality of sockets (6) in the housing (4), a sensor (8) in each of the sockets (6), first electrical contacts (10) on the sensor (8), and second electrical contacts (12) in each socket (6) at an end of the socket (6) remote from the sensor (8), and the apparatus (2) being such that: (i) the sensors (8) are for sensing different parameters; (ii) the sockets (6) are such that when they contain their sensors (8) then the sockets (6) are sealed from each other whereby a liquid caused to be present in a socket (6) consequent upon an operator error is unable to pass to the other sockets (6); (iii) the second electrical contacts (12) define the type of sensor (8) that is appropriate for each socket (6); and (iv) the sensors (8) each comprise a flat sensor part (14), a transversely extending mounting part (16), and a body part (18), the transversely extending mounting part (16) being located in a bore in the body part (18), and the body part (18) being sealingly located in the socket (6) for the sensor (8). |
| US07900526B2 |
Defect classification utilizing data from a non-vibrating contact potential difference sensor
A method and system for identifying and classifying non-uniformities on the surface of a semiconductor or in a semiconductor. The method and system involves scanning the wafer surface with a non-vibrating contact potential difference sensor to detect the locations of non-uniformities, extracting features characteristic of the non-uniformities, and applying a set of rules to these features to classify the type of each non-uniformity. |
| US07900522B2 |
Flow meter having rotor with multiple flow channels of different diameter
A gas flow meter for obtaining flow volume readings in a gas conduit, including sensors mounted upstream and downstream of a flow restriction device on a rotor, the rotor further including at least one more flow restriction device that can be rotated into position relative to the conduit. |
| US07900518B2 |
Microfabricated implantable wireless pressure sensor for use in biomedical applications and pressure measurement and sensor implantation methods
A variable capacitor, a microfabricated implantable pressure sensor including a variable capacitor and an inductor, and related pressure measurement and implantation methods. The inductor may have a fixed or variable inductance. A variable capacitor and pressure sensors include a flexible member that is disposed on a substrate and defines a chamber. Capacitor elements extend indirectly from the flexible member. Sufficient fluidic pressure applied to an exterior surface of the flexible member causes the flexible member to move or deform, thus causing the capacitance and/or inductance to change. Resulting changes in resonant frequency or impedance can be detected to determine pressure, e.g., intraocular pressure. |
| US07900515B2 |
Acceleration sensor and fabrication method thereof
First and second semiconductor layers are attached to each other with an insulation layer sandwiched therebetween. An acceleration sensor device is formed in the first semiconductor layer. A control device for controlling the acceleration sensor device is formed on the second semiconductor layer. Through holes are formed in the second semiconductor layer, and an insulation layer is formed to cover the wall surfaces of the through holes. Through interconnections are formed within the through holes for electrically connecting the acceleration sensor device and the control device to each other. Accordingly, it is possible to obtain an acceleration sensor having excellent detection accuracy while having a reduced size, and a fabrication method thereof. |
| US07900514B2 |
Tuning-fork-type bimorph piezoelectric vibrator and vibrating gyroscope module including the vibrator
A tuning-fork-type bimorph piezoelectric vibrator includes two piezoelectric bodies that are bonded together and have opposite polarization directions. An intermediate metal layer is disposed between bonding surfaces of the piezoelectric bodies. A first slit is arranged to define legs and a base of the tuning fork structure. Second slits are provided in a first principal surface having a front metal layer to define driving/detecting electrodes. The tuning-fork-type bimorph piezoelectric vibrator provides improved temperature characteristics of a detuning frequency by not including a back metal layer on a second principal surface at least in an area in which greater than a predetermined level of stress is applied during operation. |
| US07900510B1 |
Marine trolling sensor
A method and apparatus to implement a trolling device. The trolling device can assist maritime sports fishermen in defining the actual water depth and/or water temperature of the location at which a lure is situated in troll. The readings from the device enable an angler to adjust variables such as boat speed, length of line deployed and ballast weight to adjust to desired depth. The device comprises a temperature sensor, a pressure sensor, a micro-controller chip, a printed circuit board, an LCD display, and a cycle switch, all housed within a dense metal (for ballast), water-proof body designed specifically for deep marine submersion and in-line trolling. The device has a pre-programmed data-logging algorithm that is activated by a fisherman via a magnetic controlled reed switch prior to letting out trolling line with the device set in-line to the trolling gear. Upon retrieving the device, the fisherman can view the data to place or reset the trolling lures/rigs, as necessary, at the appropriate zone. |
| US07900504B2 |
High pressure fracture tester
A system for testing a drilling fluid including a vessel having a fluid inlet, a filtrate outlet, a fluid outlet, and at least one permeable media disposed within the vessel. The system further including a base fluid container in fluid communication with the fluid inlet, a test fluid container in fluid communication with the fluid inlet, a filtrate container in fluid communication with the filtrate outlet, and a collection container in fluid communication with the fluid outlet. |
| US07900502B2 |
Seal checker
A seal checker for conveying and pressing a packaging bag by upper and lower conveyance units is provided which is capable of saving space with a compact structure, and is also capable of improving maintainability and cleanability. A lower transfer conveyor is mounted on a main body frame, and an upper transfer conveyor is supported by an elevating mechanism mounted to the main body frame. The elevating mechanism includes first and second link members and a frame that connects upper end portions of the link members to each other. Lower portions of the first and second link members are connected to the main body frame. The frame is configured so as to move in parallel with the lower transfer conveyor. |
| US07900501B2 |
Air quality monitor
An air quality monitor having multiple sensors deployed in an electric circuit returns a single sign indication of atmospheric impurity regardless of whether the impurity gas is of the oxidizing or reducing type. Each sensor employs a gas sensitive material that exhibits a response in the form of a change in electrical resistance of the material in the presence of a gas and that exhibits a negligible response to changes in the moisture content of the atmosphere. A powder is dried and calcined and the result is ground into a fine powder and pressed into a desired shape to make the gas sensitive material. Adding a binder during the pressing and firing the shaped powder results in a gas sensitive material with porosity. Gas is flowed to the gas sensitive material and the resulting change in resistance is measured and returned as a single sign indication of atmospheric impurity. |
| US07900500B2 |
Particulate matter sensor electrodes with embedded self-calibrator, and methods using same
A particulate matter (PM) sensor includes an embedded self-calibrator. The PM sensor is to be installed in an exhaust corridor of an internal combustion engine. The PM sensor can self-calibrate by imposing a known potential across a protective housing in which the conductive probe is suspended. An image charge that is imposed upon the conductive probe is fed back and correlated to generate an updated calibration for the PM sensor. |
| US07900497B2 |
System, method and apparatus for obtaining true roughness of granular media
The true roughness of highly granular perpendicular media is measured by forming an inverse replica of the surface of the media. The invention enables AFM measurements of granular media valley depth to more consistently predict the corrosion performance of the media. A liquid resist is used to first replicate the media topography and form the inverse replica. The narrow valleys in the original media are precisely modeled as sharp peaks on the replica. The height of the peaks are readily measured with an AFM tip. The resulting image is a negative of the original surface. |
| US07900494B1 |
Trailer bed frame straightener
A device for re-shaping a trailer frame includes a support structure for receiving the trailer frame therein and means connected to the support structure for securing the trailer therein. Once secured, at least one hydraulic ram that is connected to and selectively moveable about the support structure is able to apply a predetermined force against the frame. A control device is positioned on the support structure and connected to the at least one hydraulic ram for controlling operation thereof. Upon securing the trailer via the securing means, the at least one hydraulic ram is positioned adjacent the frame and the control mechanism is selectively operable to cause the at least one hydraulic ram to apply the predetermined force on the frame thereby reshaping the frame. |
| US07900493B2 |
Closed forging die and forging method
A closed forging die and a forging method with which sagging can be reduced, a constant velocity joint and a universal joint can be made compact and lightweight, removal of a shaft tip thereof by machining prior to heat treatment is not required, and material costs and machining costs can be reduced by using a closed forging die includes openable dies, and punches that move in an opening/closing direction of the dies to pressurize a material in the dies. By using the die, a product having shaft portions formed radially is manufactured. A clearance is provided to each of the formed shaft portions between a tip surface, and abutting portions are provided to the dies side abutting against at least a tip side of an outer circumferential surface of the shaft portions. |
| US07900492B2 |
Method for press forming of a panel part having a bent portion and press forming device
An addendum shape portion of a panel material is drawn by a drawing portion of a press forming die by an amount equal to or less than the limit to which the panel material can be drawn, whereby a to-be-product portion of the panel material is roughly conformed to a forming face of a punch. In this state, the to-be-product portion of the panel material is stretched or drawn. Accordingly, the cross section of the to-be-product portion is uniformly changed at the minimum level, which makes it possible to produce, by press forming, a fender panel made of aluminum base alloy, which has a great plane dimension L and high quality. As a result, flexibility in the design of panel parts, which are formed by pressing the panel material into shapes, is increased. |
| US07900491B2 |
Rekeyable lock assembly and method of operation
A lock cylinder has a reset condition wherein the lock cylinder can be put into a “learn” mode. In the “learn” mode, the original key can be removed and replaced by replacement key and, when the replacement key is removed, the lock cylinder 10 is rekeyed to the new key. The original key no longer operates the rekeyed lock cylinder 10. |
| US07900490B2 |
Method for engaging with a projection of a first component to removably secure a second component to the first component
In certain embodiments, the present invention includes a method for engaging with a projection of a first component to removably secure a second component to the first component. The method includes positioning a rotatable member of the second component in a first rotational orientation such that the rotatable member is allowed to receive, via a gap in a perimeter of the rotatable member, the projection of the first component. The method also includes positioning the rotatable member in a second rotational orientation such that the rotatable member is prevented from disengaging with the projection of the first component to secure the second component to the first component. The method also includes returning the rotatable member to the first rotational orientation such that the rotatable member is allowed to release, via the gap in the perimeter, the projection of the first component to remove the second component from the first component. |
| US07900489B2 |
Lock assembly
A lock cylinder for a door including an opening, and operable to interact with a latch bolt assembly. The lock cylinder includes a housing that has a cavity, and a plug assembly that has a casing and a plug housed in the casing and rotatable between a locked position and an unlocked position. The plug is operable to interact with the latch bolt assembly, and the casing is disposed within the cavity. The lock cylinder also includes a spin ring member that at least partially encloses the housing, and an adapter that is configured to be installed in the opening of the door and that includes a spin ring interface engaged with the spin ring member. The adapter further includes a shield portion extendable into the opening of the door, and the spin ring interface and the shield portion are formed as a single piece. |
| US07900486B2 |
Agent dispenser
An agent dispenser for a fabric treatment appliance includes a housing having a manifold and an agent compartment. The manifold may be configured to receive water and supply the water to the agent compartment through an outlet port. The agent compartment may be configured to receive an agent, such as a detergent or additive, in liquid or powder form. The outlet port may be in fluid communication with the bottom of the agent compartment to supply the water to the bottom of the agent compartment whereby the water supplied to the agent compartment mixes with the agent in the agent compartment substantially from the bottom up. |
| US07900483B2 |
Integrated system for closing stockings on circular knitting machines
A system is disclosed for closing the toe of a knit circular product, and particularly of a stocking, without a significant interruption of the sewing operation. In one embodiment, a circular device is inserted inside the cylinder used for producing the stocking, which, appropriately programmed, catches the knit fabric from under the needles and carries it to the sewing machine. |
| US07900482B2 |
Knitting tool
A knitting tool that has a measuring tape, a retractable crochet hook, a cutting blade, a counter, and a compartment for scissors, rings, and other knitting accessories combined in a single tool. The crochet hook can be retractable. |
| US07900480B2 |
Method of determining heating amount, method of fusion splicing, and fusion splicer
A method of determining a heating amount adequate for fusion splicing is provided. In the method, the melting state of the end portions of optical fibers can be monitored on a real time basis so that fewer tests need to be performed. A method of fusion splicing and a fusion splicer are also provided. In the method of determining the heating amount, end portions of optical fibers that are placed opposite one another with a predetermined gap therebetween are heat-melted; an image of portions to be heat-melted is observed with an image-capturing device; and a luminance, a light emitting width, or a change in the luminance or the light emitting width is measured. In the method of fusion splicing, optical fibers are heat-melted with the heating amount that is determined using test fibers in advance, or determined using the optical fibers to be fusion spliced. |
| US07900479B2 |
Method and device for melting the ends of rods
The invention relates to a method for treating the ends of glass rods in which glass rods are inserted into receptacles in a carrier and with the carrier are carried past a burner and at least one rail in an advancing direction, the flame of the burner melting at least one end of the glass rods and the glass rods being lifted by the rail in the receptacles and rolling on the rail so that the glass rods are made to rotate during the melting process. |
| US07900476B2 |
System for and method of batch analysis and optimization for glass manufacturing
A system for and method of analyzing a cullet stream prior to batch formulation in glass manufacturing. Cullet is fed onto a conveyor where a real-time composition analysis is performed. Contaminants are optionally removed, and a determination is made as to whether the cullet batch color is consistent with a predetermined tolerance threshold. If necessary, the glass batch formulation is modified in view of the cullet analysis. Virgin raw materials requirements of the modified glass batch formulation may then be communicated to the batch controller before sending batch ingredients to the mixing stage and completing the overall glass manufacturing process. |
| US07900473B2 |
Method for adiabatic cooling type crystallization of organic compound and apparatus therefor
The present invention provides a method for adiabatic cooling type crystallization of organic compound and an apparatus therefore, by which running cost and facility cost can be reduced.The method comprises carrying out adiabatic cooling and evaporation operation of a coolant in a crystallizer 20 for a mixture solution of a target organic compound containing the coolant; taking out crystal slurry produced by the operation from the crystallizer 20; pressurizing evaporated vapor to a pressure higher than the operation pressure in the crystallizer 20 by a compressor 30, introducing the vapor to an absorption condenser 10; cooling for condensation the mixture solution of organic compound and the evaporated vapor that has been pressurized while allowing them to contact each other in the absorption condenser 10; and introducing this absorption condensate to the crystallizer 20. |
| US07900461B2 |
Combustor liner support and seal assembly
The invention is a combination that includes a gas turbine engine extending along an axis. The gas turbine engine includes an annular combustor with a combustor liner. The combination of the invention also includes a plurality of projections extending from the combustor liner and spaced from one another circumferentially about the axis. The combination of the invention also includes a free-standing ring disposed about the combustor liner and positioned adjacent to the plurality of projections along the axis. The plurality of projections engage a corresponding circumferentially-facing portion of the free-standing ring and circumferentially support the combustor liner while allowing relative radial displacement between the combustor liner and the free-standing ring. The combination of the invention also includes a rolling assembly operably disposed between the free-standing ring and the plurality of projections to reduce binding during the relative radial displacement. |
| US07900453B1 |
Metal fuel combustion and energy conversion system
A metal fuel combustion system and method for producing energy. The energy may be used to drive a water vessel such as a submarine. The system and method comprises a combustion device having inner and outer combustion chambers. The metal fuel comprises aluminum, magnesium, and silicon, and is preferably in the form Mg2Al4Si5, and is preferably burnt using water as an oxidant. The byproduct of and the metal oxide byproduct is Mg2Al4Si5O18, which has an appearance and consistency similar to basaltic sea sand. In addition to the combustion device, the system may include additional energy producing elements such as fuel cells, thermoelectric cells, and photovoltaic cells. |
| US07900449B2 |
Vibration suppressor
A vibration suppressor and a vibration damper are configured in a system including an internal combustion engine and an exhaust-gas turbo charger. The vibration suppressor and vibration damper are secured to an exposed place on the system which is subjected to strong vibrations. As the vibrations are the strongest in said area, the vibration reducer can be used to a maximum. The system including the internal combustion engine and the exhaust-gas charger is enhanced in such a manner that the internal combustion engine can be operated in all of the rotational speed ranges without reducing the service life of individual components or the entire system. |
| US07900446B2 |
Hydrostatic drive with rotational speed limitation
The invention related to a hydrostatic drive comprising a hydraulic pump (3) which is driven by a drive machine (2) and pumps into at least one first working line (4), and a pressure line (18) in which a feed quantity dependent on the speed of the drive machine (2) flows. When a differential pressure value in the pressure line (18) is exceeded, the pressure means can be extracted from the first working line (4). |
| US07900445B2 |
Hydraulic supply systems
Disclosed is a hydraulic system for supplying primary and auxiliary pressure medium consumers with different system pressures, which exceed the load pressure by a pre-determined control pressure differential. Primary load pressure is used to produce a first control pressure differential for operating a primary pressure medium consumer. Auxiliary load pressure is converted in an amplifying device to produce a second, higher control pressure differential for operating an auxiliary pressure medium consumer. The amplifying device consists of a pressure reducing valve, which is permanently adjusted to a pre-determined reduced pressure and has a line conducting the system pressure connected to a first pressure inlet, a load reporting line conducting the load pressure of the auxiliary pressure medium consumer connected to a second inlet and a load reporting line subjecting the pressure control valve to increased load pressure connected to an outlet and the control piston is subjected on its one side to the force of a permanently adjusted spring. |
| US07900441B2 |
Precat-NOx adsorber exhaust aftertreatment system for internal combustion engines
The invention provides a NOx adsorber aftertreatment system for internal combustion engines which utilizes at least one precat operatively coupled to at least one NOx adsorber to aid in the regeneration of the NOx adsorber. Fuel is injected into a precat located upstream of a NOx absorber producing heat, H2O, and reductants such as CO, HC, and volatile hydrocarbons, which are input into the NOx absorber. The combination of heat, water, and reductants help to efficiently regenerate the NOx Adsorber which in turn releases exhausts products such as CO2 and N2. Regeneration of a NOx adsorber can be performed during periods of reduced exhaust gas flow lowering the fuel penalty associated with NOx adsorber regeneration. The pre-cat, NOx adsorber regenerating aftertreatment system of the present invention may be used with any suitable control system. |
| US07900438B2 |
Heat transfer system and method for turbine engine using heat pipes
A heat transfer system is provided for a turbine engine of the type including an annular casing with an array of generally radially-extending strut members disposed therein. The heat transfer system includes at least one primary heat pipe disposed at least partially inside a selected one of the strut members; at least one secondary heat pipe disposed outside the fan casing and thermally coupled to the at least one primary heat pipe and to a heat source. Heat from the heat source can be transferred through the secondary heat pipe to the primary heat pipe and to the selected strut member. |
| US07900435B1 |
Micro-coaxial injector for rocket engine
An improved coaxial injector for injecting first and second propellants into a combustion chamber of a rocket engine is provided. The injector includes a first plate, a second plate, a plurality of channels formed in the first plate, and a plurality of tubes extending through the second plate and into the plurality of channels. The tubes inject a first propellant, such as an oxidizer, into the combustion chamber, and the channels inject a second propellant, such as a fuel, around the tubes and into the combustion chamber. |
| US07900434B2 |
Thermally-integrated fluid storage and pressurization system
An oxygen-hydrogen pressurization system includes a cryogenic oxygen tank, cryogenic hydrogen tank, thermal switch, supercritical oxygen bottle, supercritical hydrogen bottle, and pressure management system and a thermodynamic vent system. The thermal switch permits heat to flow between hot and cool areas within the space vehicle to help facilitate pressure management within the cryogenic liquid oxygen tank and the cryogenic liquid hydrogen tank in conjunction with the higher pressure fluid from the supercritical oxygen tank and the fluid from the supercritical hydrogen tank and the added cooling from the pressure management system. |
| US07900429B2 |
Liquid herbicide applicator drive shaft rotary seal
An apparatus and method for supply of treating fluid to a cutting apparatus directly to cut vegetation substantially simultaneously with the cutting of the vegetation. Treating fluid is delivered from the supply to an intermediate, sealed reservoir into which a desired volume of treating fluid is maintained and a rotary shaft seal is provided to seal the reservoir against entrance of debris. The treating fluid is then delivered from the sealed reservoir, via centrifugal force, through a channel to a passageway formed in the bolt connecting the cutting blade to a blade mount of the mower. |
| US07900428B1 |
Edging and trimming apparatus for attachment to lawn mowers
A gear assembly may have a first gear attached to a gear shaft and a second gear attachable to a powered rotating element of a mowing machine. An attachment element may have a shaft hole with the gear shaft rotatably inserted through the shaft hole with one end of the gear shaft positioned in a coupling end of the attachment element. A trimming device with a trimmer tube open at a first end and an end of a shaft of the trimming device with a shaft socket fitting inserted in the coupling end of the attachment element for the shaft socket fitting to engage the gear shaft. An anti-rotating clamp attached adjacent the first end of the trimmer tube for positioning and retention in a clamp recess in a front face of the coupling end to inhibit rotation of the trimmer tube in the coupling end. |
| US07900426B2 |
Method for packaging food products, and an arrangement for use in such a method
A method for packaging of food products, in which at least two products are to be packaged at the same portion carrier is disclosed. The method may include: raising the food product to be moved to a portion carrier by a gripping device; moving the food product to the selected portion carrier, and releasing the food product to the portion carrier. The releasing of the food product may include: positioning the gripping device at a predetermined level in relation to the portion carrier; and setting the gripping device to a first open position, whereby the gripping device defines a space for the food product to be placed in. |
| US07900420B2 |
Hammer drill attachment and method
A pressure joining method includes a hammer drill attachment device mountable within the chuck of a hand-held hammer drill. Using the hammer drill attachment, an operator installs flooring sheets onto a hook and loop flooring subfloor. The hammer drill attachment includes a shaft for mounting the attachment within the chuck. The hammer drill imparts vibration to the shaft when operated. An angled body member is attached to the shaft and extends downward toward a foot assembly having a foot pad means. The foot assembly vibrates when the hammer drill is actuated to cause the foot pad means to abut against the overlapping sheets of a flooring system and to press the sheets onto an underlying subfloor, thereby forming a seam between the edges of the floor sections. |
| US07900412B2 |
Sealing material
A sealing material comprises a partially or fully cured polysulphide sealant and a reinforcing element, especially glass fibre. The sealing material is a flexible solid and is preferably in sheet form. The sealing material is cut to shape like a gasket and is assembled between components to be fastened, for example, in airframe manufacture. |
| US07900411B2 |
Shear wall building assemblies
Novel building systems, in particular low cost superior strength building assemblies incorporating single or double shear walls, and disaster resistant window attachments are described herein. The inventive building systems are particularly well-suited for adding rooms to existing buildings, such as attached residential room additions, basements, disaster relief housing, and Do-It Yourself (DIY) projects. |
| US07900408B2 |
Storm panel for protecting windows and doors during high winds
A storm panel of high strength fabric is constructed, reinforced, and installed in such a way as to comply with the building codes as a large missile impact system. When not in use, the fabric can be rolled and stored and placed in an attractive cover without disassembly. |
| US07900404B2 |
Combination flashing and drainage system
A combination through-wall masonry flashing/drainage device having a flashing membrane with at least one reinforcing cloth adhered to at least one side of the flashing membrane. A wicking cloth made of a synthetic wicking material is then adhered to the device. The wicking cloth material is selected for wicking ability, life expectancy, mildew resistance, and strength characteristics. |
| US07900403B2 |
Log staircase and a method of producing components for a log staircase
A log staircase is disclosed along with a method of producing components for the log staircase. The log staircase includes an elongated stringer capable of angularly extending from a lower level to an upper level. The stringer has an outer circumference with a notch formed therein. A protuberance extends upward from the notch. The log staircase also includes a tread having a semicircular periphery with a flat surface. An opening is formed in the semicircular periphery of the tread. The opening is designed to mate with the protuberance to retain the flat surface crossways to the stringer. The method includes cutting a number notches and protuberances in each of a pair of stringers, and cutting a pair of openings in a predetermined number of treads which are capable of mating with the protuberances to retain each of the treads crossways to the pair of stringers. |
| US07900402B2 |
Powered dual level telescopic seating riser assembly
A telescopic seating system generally includes an innermost lower riser assembly and successive outer elevated riser assemblies. Each elevated riser assembly includes a dual deck surface and a telescopic leg assembly. Each elevated riser assembly supports a toothed belt drive system which provides the interface between each adjacent elevated riser assembly and the motive force to extend and retract the riser system. In operation, electric motors of the toothed belt drive system on each elevated riser assembly are driven by a controller to extend and retract the telescopic seating system between a fully extended position, a half-deployed position and a storage position. The half-deployed position utilizes the dual deck surface to provide half the seating capacity of each riser at twice the rise between each seating row to thereby accommodate particular venues. |
| US07900400B2 |
Adjustable window hinge
The present invention corrects sash sag in casement windows by implementing an adjustable hinge. The adjustable hinge includes a sash arm, a support arm, a retaining clip and an adjustment mechanism. The adjustment mechanism serves a twofold purpose. First, it allows one to adjust the hinge for sash sag, and it also secures the support arm to the track of the adjustment hinge. The adjustment mechanism includes a threaded support post and a threaded member. The threaded support post has a circumferential groove which is used to receive the arms of a retaining clip. The sash arm is mounted to the track of the adjustable hinge via a shoe block. The sash arm has a protrusion located on its bottom surface. The protrusion serves as a movement restrictor. |
| US07900399B2 |
Portable start gate assembly
A start gate assembly for use by a racer when racing on a ground surface is provided with a moveable start gate frame that is pivotally attached to a foundation platform and a moving mechanism for placing the moveable start gate frame in a ready position where the ready position is of sufficient height to obstruct forward movement of the racer. A control device is further provided that regulates the movement of the moveable start gate frame from the ready position to a go position and a start switch that activates the control device to initiate the moving mechanism. |
| US07900394B2 |
Entangled cotton byproducts and biofiber hydraulic mulch- erosion control products, and the process for their manufacture
A method for making a hydraulically applied mulch using a natural biofiber material preferably comprising of 100% cotton byproduct or a mixture of cotton byproducts and other biomaterials selected such as, hay, grass, kenaf, straw, coconut, bamboo, hemp, bagasse and plant residue (cereal grains, rice, soybeans, grass seed, wood, sawdust, wood pulp, paper, or mixtures thereof). These fibers bear a natural waxy coating. The method includes the optional step of introducing the shredded biofiber composition into a first steaming chamber to stem the biofiber composition, followed by shredding the biofiber composition, and then introducing the shredded biofiber composition into a second steaming chamber to steam, break down and create porosity in the waxy coating of the fibers causing the fibers to become more hydrophilic. The biofibers are steamed followed by drying causing them to curl or physically deform. The shredded and steamed biofiber composition is then mixed to entangle the fibers, and the shredded, mixed and steamed biofiber composition is introduced into a drying chamber for drying, the resulting composition is then cooled and packaged, ready for mixing with water and spray application. The shredded, steamed and dried composition promotes entanglement of the fibers in a 3-dimensional matrix suitable for use as hydraulically applied mulch, and binding agents (tackifiers), dyes, rewetting agents, activators, and other additives may be added as desired. |
| US07900390B2 |
Light rail and accessory rail mount for vertical fore grip
Devices, and methods of attaching accessory mounts to vertical fore grip handles on firearms, such as rifles. The accessory mounts can be molded to extend off of the handles. The accessory mounts can attach to the handles by interlocking plugs and slots. The accessory mount can have rails so that an accessory can attach to the rails on the accessory mount. The accessory can include lights, lasers, bayonets, sights, scopes, and the like. The vertical fore grip can be an elongated handle fixed to the firearm. The vertical fore grip can be an elongated handle that is detachable from beneath rails on the firearm. The vertical fore grip can include expandable bipod legs. |
| US07900384B2 |
Magical image cups and containers with 3D displays
An optical illusion device such as a drinking glass/cup for providing a multi-dimensional visual display. The device includes a body with tubular sidewalls extending from an opening at a first end to an opening at a second end. A base assembly is provided at the second end. The base assembly includes a top wall, a bottom wall, and a sidewall that together form or define an inner chamber. A visual display assembly is provided with a mirror element with a convex reflective surface or mirror positioned within the chamber with the reflective surface facing the top wall of the base assembly. A primary image element is provided proximate to the reflective surface such that the primary image and mirror element can be observed via the opening in the body. A framing element is included proximate to the top wall of the base assembly including background images facing the reflective surface. |
| US07900379B2 |
Article of footwear with a removable foot-supporting insert
An article of footwear is disclosed that includes an upper that defines an interior void, a sole structure secured to the upper, and a foot-supporting insert that is positionable within a lower area of the void and removable from the void. A system having a protrusion and an indentation may be utilized to, for example, secure the insert within the void. As an example, a protrusion may extend outward from a surface of the void, and the insert may define an indentation in a corresponding location and with a corresponding shape. When the insert is positioned within the void, the protrusion will extend into the indentation. The locations, shapes, numbers and overall configuration of the protrusion and indentation may vary significantly. |
| US07900378B1 |
Low profile deflation mechanism for an inflatable bladder
An article of footwear includes a movable knob and a lever coupled to the knob. The movable knob is accessible from an exterior surface of the article of footwear and has a substantially low profile with respect to the exterior surface of the article of footwear. The lever has a first position in which the lever lays flat against the knob and a second position wherein the lever is positioned for a user to move the knob via the lever. In one embodiment, an article of footwear also includes an inflatable bladder, an inflation mechanism and a deflation mechanism. The knob is part of a deflation mechanism including a cap and a base, wherein the base is anchored to the inflatable bladder and the cap is rotatable with respect to the base. In another embodiment, an article of footwear includes a movable knob accessible from an exterior surface of the article of footwear and an apron substantially surrounding the movable knob. The apron includes ramped sides and provides a substantially low profile to the knob with respect to the exterior surface of the article of footwear. The apron may be temporarily removed from the knob such that a user may access the knob. |
| US07900375B2 |
Ballet pointe shoes
Disclosed herein is an improved design and construction for Ballet Pointe Shoes using a box and shank that interlock in an over-under fashion, where the shank is designed with a cavity that allows varying rigidities along its length. |
| US07900374B2 |
Apparatus for automatically drying and method for controlling the same
An automatic drying apparatus and a method of controlling the same is disclosed, enabling exact drying by using a humidity sensor (37) provided at a location having a stabilized output characteristic for automatic drying, the automatic drying apparatus including a heating apparatus (31) for heating air supplied into a drum into which a drying object is introduced, a fan (32) for forcibly drawing air into the drum; and a humidity sensor (37) provided between the fan (32) and the heating apparatus (37) such that a sensing surface is positioned to be parallel to a flowing direction of air passed through the fan (32), for outputting a sensing voltage value for determining dryness of the drying object. |
| US07900373B2 |
Method for conditioning semiconductor wafers and/or hybrids
The present invention provides a method for conditioning semiconductor wafers and/or hybrids having the steps: preparation of a space (1) which is at least partially enclosed and has a wafer/hybrid holding device (10) which is located therein and has the purpose of holding a semiconductor wafer and/or hybrid; and conduction of a dry fluid through the wafer/hybrid holding device (10) in order to heat-treat the wafer/hybrid holding device (10); wherein at least a portion of the fluid leaving the wafer/hybrid holding device (10) is used to condition the atmosphere within the space (1). The invention also provides a corresponding device for conditioning semiconductor wafers and/or hybrids. |
| US07900372B2 |
Clothes dryer with louvre cover
A clothes dryer has horizontally extending louvres located in its rear cabinet wall that permit ambient air to enter the dryer cabinet during normal dryer operation. U-shaped cover brackets are positioned to horizontally extend and cover the louvres where the brackets each define a horizontally extending airflow channel having opposing open ends. Air entering the dryer flows through the louvres along the airflow channels and out through the open ends. The cover bracket helps to contain a fire within the dryer cabinet should one occur by restricting flow of ignited particles and other debris as a result of a fire from exiting through the louvre. |
| US07900368B2 |
Train rail alignment and distance system
A train rail alignment and distance system. The train rail alignment and distance system is a durable, highly accurate, portable electronic measurement system that is used for determining both rail inclination and distance between substantially parallel train rail sections during the processes of railway construction, maintenance, and monitoring. The system is designed to work accurately across a wide temperature range and in extreme weather conditions. It is designed to be easily manufactured, configured and maintained. The system also includes several optional integrated features and functions such as: field calibration, factory configuration, GPS and/or USB integration, PC and/or Internet-based communications, and data logging, data storage, and data analysis capabilities. |
| US07900366B2 |
Illuminated level
A longitudinally-elongated, hand-held level includes a body having a reference surface, a longitudinally-extending corner adjacent the reference surface, and a plurality of bubble vials for indicating an orientation of the reference surface. One or more battery-powered lights (e.g., LEDs) create a longitudinally elongated light emitting region along the corner to illuminate a longitudinally-elongated area that is adjacent to the level for use in low-light environments. The light(s) may project light through a light guide and/or light diffuser(s) extending along the corner to disperse light along the longitudinal extent of the level. The light(s) may also illuminate the corner(s) of the level and/or the bubble vials to enhance use in low-light environments. |
| US07900361B2 |
Current bypass for distributed power harvesting systems using DC power sources
A converter circuit providing multiple current bypass routes between the output leads to provide reliability in a series connection of several converters. If the converter malfunctions due to component failure, the current bypass routes provide a path for the current that views the malfunctioning converter as substantially a short. Diodes prevent backflow into the power source connected to the converter. Redundancy is provided in the bypass portions of the converter circuit that provides alternate parallel paths in case a defective component in one of the paths opens the circuit along that path. In one example, the converter is implemented as a buck plus boost converter where either the buck or the boost portion or both are operative responsive to a controller controlling the switches of both portions. Most of the converter circuit may be implemented in an integrated circuit. |
| US07900360B2 |
Cutter assembly and method of producing same
A cutter assembly for a dry shaver, comprising an elongate carrier member (221); and a cutter element (1210) having a plurality of turns forming a helix, each having an arcuate cutting portion (1211) and an arcuate mounting portion following sequentially along the helix; said carrier member being disposed substantially parallel to the axis (D-D) of said cutter element; and said carrier member contacting and supporting the mounting portions of the turns and leaving the cutting portions as free-span arches. |
| US07900359B2 |
Hair trimmer
A hair trimming device is detachably mounted on a handle housing a battery for supplying electric current to a motor located in a drive unit of the trimming device. A trimmer unit includes a plurality of trimmer blade assemblies with different configurations and is rotatable on the drive unit for moving a selected one of the blade assemblies to the operative position in which it is coupled to be driven by the drive unit whilst the other blade assembly which is not in the operative position is uncoupled from the drive output of the drive unit. |
| US07900353B2 |
Method for combining axially heated heat pipes and heat-conducting base
A method for combining axially heated heat pipes and a heat-conducting base includes the steps of preparing a heat-conducting base and a plurality of heat pipes, providing a plurality of penetrating holes on a surface of the heat-conducting base, inserting one end of each heat pipe into the individual penetrating hole of the heat-conducting base, performing a lateral pressing to the heat-conducting base so as to bring each heat pipe into a tight and planar contact with the wall of each corresponding penetrating hole in the direction of pressing, and grinding the bottom surface of the heat-conducting base to become a flat surface to make the end of each heat pipe flush with the bottom surface of the heat-conducting base. |
| US07900350B2 |
Method of manufacturing a wiring board
A circuit element comprises a wiring board; the wiring board comprises a substrate and a wiring formed on the substrate, and a lid joined on the substrate containing a part of the wiring with a binder and making a sealed space above the substrate, wherein if a spot of the wiring joined with the lid by a binder is a spot of junction, a flank of both flanks of the wiring comprise bends in the spot of junction. |
| US07900349B2 |
Method of fabricating an electronic device
An electronic device with a reworkable electronic component, a method of manufacturing the electronic device, and a method of reworking the electronic component are disclosed. The electronic device includes a first cavity provided in a board body. A first metal pattern is provided on the board body and adjacent to the first cavity. A first electronic component is provided in the first cavity. A first connection pattern is provided adjacent to an upper edge portion of the first electronic component and extends to the first metal pattern so that the first metal pattern is electrically connected to the first electronic component. |
| US07900343B1 |
Magic spheres assembled from conically magnetized rings
A group of magnetic strands are configured into a minimal number of solid magnetized toroidal rings with a conical magnetization direction and then aligned, stacked and assembled into a magic sphere magnetic structure. Each magnetized toroidal ring has predetermined dimensions to form the inner and outer surfaces of a spherical shell. The present invention also encompasses a magic sphere magnetic device with unsegmented solid magnetized toroidal rings and methods for assembling a magic sphere by stacking magnetized toroidal rings with a conical magnetic direction. |
| US07900336B2 |
Precise hand-assembly of microfabricated components
A hand assembled MEMS apparatus includes meso-scale microfabricated components adapted for being moved by hand relative to one another from a loose-fit preliminary alignment orientation to a relatively tight-fit assembled orientation. A microfabricated spring member is integrally disposed on one of the components to bias the other component towards the assembled orientation. A cam surface disposed on the other component is configured to slidably engage and move the spring member against its bias upon continued hand movement in the assembly direction. A microfabricated abutment is disposed to limit relative movement of the components in at least one direction other than the assembly direction. A microfabricated tactile feedback member is configured to disrupt the hand movement in the assembly direction once the components have substantially reached the assembled orientation. |
| US07900335B2 |
Method and system for profiling and manufacturing curved arches
A system and method for profiling and manufacturing curved arches includes cutting out the outer dimensions of individual curved sections from sheet material, each curved section including an outer radius, an inner radius, a top surface, a bottom surface, a male end and a corresponding female end. Assembling together the individual curved sections by joining interferingly end to end male ends with female ends to form an assembled curved section. Milling a profile into the top surface of the assembled curved section thereby resulting in an assembled curved section with a profiled top surface. |
| US07900332B2 |
Method of removing a telecommunications connector
A tool for engaging a telecommunications connector within a slot so that a releasable latch of the connector is released by the tool. The tool may be used to remove a telecommunications connector from a mating opening of a receptacle or may be used to insert a connector within a receptacle. |
| US07900328B2 |
Method for manufacturing fluid ejecting head and method for manufacturing fluid ejecting apparatus
A method for manufacturing a fluid ejecting head includes providing a channel unit including a vibrating plate having nozzle openings through which fluid is ejected and a pressure chamber that communicates with the nozzle openings. A piezoelectric unit includes a piezoelectric element that vibrates the vibrating plate of the channel unit and which includes a securing plate which secures the piezoelectric element. A head case having a housing chamber houses the piezoelectric unit which is pressed against the vibrating plate in a housing direction such that a portion of the piezoelectric unit is also pressed against a sidewall of the housing chamber. The piezoelectric element is secured directly the vibrating plate and the securing plate is secured directly to head case using a bonding process which is performed while the piezoelectric unit is being pressed against the vibrating plate and the sidewall. |
| US07900324B2 |
Self-aligning handling or storing device having side or top actuation and methods of use therefor
A device for handling or storing items uses jaw members that hinge to one of several closed positions in which the inner surface of a first jaw is engaged by an engagement device of the second jaw. An external release member in the second jaw is used to move the engagement device between an engaging and a disengaged position. The second jaw also incorporates a retaining surface, positioned opposite the outer surface of the first jaw when the jaws are closed, which opposes outward flexing of said first jaw member, and thus reduces the opportunity for disengagement due to forces from inside the jaws. |
| US07900323B2 |
Hinge and a lamp with the hinge
A lamp has multiple arms and multiple hinges mounted between two adjacent arms. The hinge has a stationary leaf, multiple pivot assemblies being mounted in the stationary leaf and multiple brackets being respectively connected to the pivot assemblies and two corresponding brackets are attached to each arm. Each pivot assembly has a shaft and a locking nut being mounted on the shaft and selectively engaging a locking hole of each bracket. Since the locking nuts selectively engage the locking holes of the brackets, an angle between the adjacent arms can be adjusted and fixed. Further, two adjacent arms do not influence each other's position, which is convenient for adjusting. |
| US07900322B2 |
Friction hinge for push-out style window
A push-out style window assembly including window hardware for frictionally retaining an open position of the window under typical loading conditions. A push-out style window assembly generally includes a friction hinge assembly including a track, a sash arm, a support arm, and a friction arm. The friction arm can include an adjustable and/or detachable slide enabling adjustment of a frictional resistance between the friction slider and the support arm. Using the friction arm, frictional resistance is provided so as to provide control both during opening of the window and in retaining the position of an open window. |
| US07900321B2 |
Damper arrangement
A damping arrangement, in particular for displaceable furniture parts, includes a damper (1) which is provided with a tappet (2) which can be impinged upon, and which can be supported by a support element (3). The support element (3) can be positioned and/or displaced in relation to the tappet (2). |
| US07900319B2 |
Hinge structure for self-closing doors
A hinge structure (1) for self-closing doors or the like comprises a first stationary element (2) attachable to the frame (T) of a door (P), a first movable element (3) securable to the door (P) and pivotally mounted to the first stationary element (2) for rotating about a longitudinal axis (X) between an open door position and a closed door position. The structure (1) further comprises closing means (4) acting on the first movable element (3) for automatically returning the door (P) to the closed position during opening, hydraulic damping means (5) operating on the first movable element (3) to oppose and damp the movement produced by the closing means (4). The closing means (4) and the hydraulic damping means (5) are housed within a first operating chamber (6) locate internally of the first stationary element (2). An assembly incorporates such hinge structure. |
| US07900317B2 |
Vacuum cleaner with noise suppression features
A vacuum cleaner includes a cyclonic airflow chamber that facilitates the separation of contaminants from a suction airstream. The airflow chamber includes a chamber inlet and a chamber outlet, with the chamber inlet being fluidically connected with at least one of a suction nozzle and an above-the-floor cleaning tool. An exhaust filter housing includes a suction duct and an exhaust plenum, with the suction duct communicating with the chamber outlet. A suction source housing includes an open end communicating with the exhaust plenum and a closed end. A suction source is positioned within the suction source housing to define an annular exhaust flow passageway surrounding the suction source from the housing closed end to the housing open end. The suction source includes a suction inlet communicating with the suction duct and an exhaust outlet communicating with the housing closed end. |
| US07900316B2 |
Filter for a vacuum cleaner
A filter assembly for a vacuum cleaner comprises a filter carrier and a filter element. The filter carrier has a curved rear surface and a pair of protrusion for mounting the filter carrier to the vacuum cleaner. |
| US07900315B2 |
Integrated central vacuum cleaner suction device and control
An integrated apparatus has a cooling section, a motor section, a suction section and control module. The motor section drives the suction section to draw vacuum air through inlet and exhaust vacuum air through outlet. The motor section also drives the cooling section to draw cooling air through cooling air inlet, and push it through the motor section to cool the motor section. The control module controls the operation of the motor section. The control module is located in the cooling air path after the motor section. The cooling air for the motor section also cools the control module. The cooling section, motor section, suction section and control module are integrally mounted to form a single unit. |
| US07900311B2 |
Wafer edge cleaning
In a first aspect, an apparatus for cleaning a thin disk is provided. The apparatus includes a support roller for supporting a rotating wafer within a wafer cleaner. The support roller comprises a guide portion, for receiving an edge of a wafer, having an inclined surface comprising a low-friction material and adapted to allow the wafer edge to slide thereagainst; and an edge-trap portion for retaining the edge of the wafer and having a transverse surface comprising a high-friction material and adapted, when in communication with the edge of the wafer, to resist sliding thereagainst. Numerous other aspects are provided. |
| US07900310B2 |
Powered cleaning appliance
A powered sweeper includes a housing, a brushroll chamber disposed in the housing, a brushroll mounted in a brushroll chamber, a dirt chamber disposed in the housing, a drive motor disposed in the housing, and a driven wheel operatively connected to the drive motor. The brushroll rotates in the brushroll chamber and the dirt chamber communicates with the brushroll chamber such that debris is propelled by the brushroll into the dirt chamber. |
| US07900307B2 |
Boarding bridge
It is an object to provide a boarding bridge in which differences in level are eliminated between walkway portions of adjacent gangway units so that falling or the like of passengers can be prevented. A boarding bridge is provided in which a proximal-end tunnel and a distal-end tunnel are telescopically fitted and extend and contract by relative movement in a longitudinal direction, wherein, of the proximal-end tunnel and the distal-end tunnel, a variable-length walkway of the distal-end tunnel located on the outside is configured to move between a passage position set at a predetermined height and an outside-of-passage position located lower than the passage position; and the longitudinal length of the passage portion is changed in accordance with a moving distance along with the movement relative to the proximal-end tunnel. |
| US07900306B2 |
Guiding device for strands
Guiding device (1) for strands (2), the guiding device (1) comprising a body (5) in which at least one curved channel (6) is made, including a longitudinal axis curved according to the curvature of said channel (6) and a first part (8) which, situated in principle at the side of the intrados of the longitudinal axis (7), permits, in the limit of the length of the channel (6), the support of the strand (2) on at least one portion of the peripheral face (10) which this strand (2) presents. |
| US07900305B2 |
Automatic washing machine with spin drain flow channels and reservoir; wash action tub ramps and cycles
An automatic washing machine includes a wash basin having a plurality of apertures and an annular liquid reservoir formed at an upper portion of the basin. A plurality of flow channels are arranged around the exterior surface of the wash basin. The plurality of flow channels includes upward flow channels, configured for directing wash liquid extracted from the wash basin into the reservoir under centrifugal force generated in a spin cycle. The plurality of flow channels also includes downward flow channels configured for directing wash liquid from the reservoir to a central drain following the spin cycle. The arrangement avoids the need for an outer wash tub, and at the same time provides stabilization to the wash basin during high speed spins. In another aspect, the wash basin may include wash action ramps provided on a bottom surface of the wash basin and at an upper sidewall of the wash basin. The wash action ramps, in conjunction with a sequence of wash basin acceleration and deceleration cycles, induce an effective wash action, and circulation of the wash load, in lieu of a conventional central agitator. |
| US07900302B2 |
Adjustable bed having snap-on actuator drive
An adjustable bed includes an articulated deck comprising head, seat, leg and foot deck boards hingedly joined together and supported from a frame movable relative to a stationary base. An actuator assembly, including a motor driven actuator operatively coupled by snap-fit connectors to the frame, inclines at least one of the deck boards. |
| US07900301B2 |
Woven fabric product
A woven fabric product 1 made of woven fabric pieces cut out of woven fabric into specified shapes and sewn together is provided, wherein the warp and weft directions of weave patterns 200 of the woven fabric are positioned obliquely to the longitudinal direction of the woven fabric piece. |
| US07900298B1 |
Refund saving account manager
A method for managing a tax refund account by a taxpayer, comprising obtaining a tax refund account comprising financial information associated with the taxpayer, wherein the financial information comprises tax information, calculating a current refund balance representing a value of the tax refund account for the taxpayer contemporaneously with displaying the current refund balance, wherein the value of the tax refund account is based on the tax information of the taxpayer, displaying a list of contributions, wherein the list of contributions comprises a plurality of activities and a value associated with each of the plurality of activities, adjusting the current refund balance based on at least the list of contributions to obtain an estimated refund amount, and displaying the estimated refund amount comprising an estimated value of a tax refund. |
| US07900290B2 |
Dual flush refill device
A dual flush refill device refills a bowl of a siphonic toilet with adequate supply of refill water in response to either a full or partial flush without wasting the refill water. The device provides a relatively high flow rate of refill water from a refill tube to an overflow tube in response to a partial flush, and a relatively low rate of refill water from the refill tube to the overflow tube in response to a full flush. As a result, the toilet bowl is refilled with a substantially similar volume of refill water regardless of which flush option is selected. |
| US07900289B2 |
Magnetic sink strainer
The present invention provides a magnetic sink strainer with at least one magnet securely attached to the strainer, to create a magnetic field. The invention also provides a magnetic sink strainer made of a magnetized material to provide a magnetic field. The magnetic sink strainer is firmly placed over a standard sink drain and functions to capture and retain objects that are attracted by a force as a result of being subjected to the magnetic field. This prevents such objects from accidentally being discarded into the sink drain. The magnetic sink strainer also includes at least one slit to enable fluids and other non-magnetic substances to easily and rapidly flow down to the sink drain. |
| US07900288B2 |
Drain cartridge having removable valved system
Various embodiments of a cartridge for regulating a fluid flow are described that include an upper housing, and an insert that is user-removable from the upper housing. The cartridge can include one or more valves that are biased in a closed position to prevent odors from escaping the cartridge. The cartridge can also include a fluid trap that is at least partially disposed within the cartridge or fluidly coupled thereto. An ultraviolet light can be inserted within the cartridge to disinfect a fluid passageway of the cartridge. |
| US07900284B2 |
Garment for sporting activity
Garment (10) for sporting activity, in particular a suit for motorcyclists, which is made of breathable fabric in selected regions and comprises a protective shield (40). At least the bottom portion (44) of the shield is removably inserted underneath a layer (58) of puckered elastic material fixed to the breathable fabric. |
| US07900281B2 |
Protective device, such as safety work goggles, bow-type ear protector, or the like
In a protective device for the human body, in particular a bow-type ear protector, a pair of safety work goggles, or the like, that includes a joint between two parts that are to be joined in articulated fashion that is formed by a film hinge in the form of a strap hinge injection-molded integrally with the parts to be joined, it is provided that in addition to the first strap hinge, a second strap hinge, also injection-molded integrally with the parts to be joined, is provided, which can be folded up and which is disposed in the joint region at a spacing from the first strap hinge. |
| US07900278B2 |
Ergonomic duty gear belt
An ergonomic duty gear belt for carrying duty gear components having a first curved conically shaped side section and a second curved conically shaped side section pivotably hinged together and a lumbar pad wrapped around the hinged connection of the belt to provide support for the lumbar area of the wearer. |
| US07900276B2 |
Belly covering garment
The present invention relates to a garment worn during different stages of pregnancy and different stages of postpartum body changes. A garment upper portion has a belly panel that is expansible to cover and fit over a growing abdomen during different stages of pregnancy, and a garment lower portion having a first torso encircling circumference that recedes downward to make way for expansion of the belly panel. The garment upper portion has a second torso encircling circumference to hold the garment up and in place over the torso. |
| US07900273B2 |
Closure system
A closure system comprises a hook and pile material having hooks on one side and pile on the other side. With regard to footwear, the present invention is a shoe comprising this material allowing a wearer to adjust the point of attachment of closure straps on the exterior of the outer member of the shoe, thereby allowing every shoe wearer to wear the strap across the throat of the shoe at a different location. With regard to apparel, the present invention is a closure system comprising a single-ply hook and pile material in which the overlapped piece, or the exterior piece attaches to the underlapped piece, or the interior piece that provides the wearer with the ability to customize the fitting of the apparel, including the tightness of the apparel around an individual. |
| US07904963B2 |
Generating code to validate input data
Input data is validated by generating code based on the input data. A schema is generated based on the input data indicating conditions for the input file. The schema may then be customized based on a type of application to consume the input data. A validator executable code is generated based on the schema and checks the input file for compliance with the conditions determined by the schema. Results of validation may be provided to the application in yes or no form, or as number of non-compliances. In the latter case, the application may decide to accept or reject the data based on predetermined non-compliance levels. |
| US07904962B1 |
Network attack modeling, analysis, and response
Disclosed is a system for modeling, analyzing, and responding to network attacks. Machines are mapped to components, components are mapped to vulnerabilities, and vulnerabilities are mapped to exploits. Each of the exploits includes at least one precondition mapped to at least one postcondition. An attack graph which defines inter-exploit distances is generated using at least one of the exploits. The attack graph is aggregated. At least one hardening option is determined using the aggregated attack graph. Hardening options include applying at least one corrective measure to at least one initial condition, where the initial condition is the initial state of a precondition. |
| US07904960B2 |
Source/destination operating system type-based IDS virtualization
Systems and methods for virtualizing network intrusion detection system (IDS) functions based on each packet's source and/or destination host computer operating system (OS) type and characteristics are described. Virtualization is accomplished by fingerprinting each packet to determine the packet's target OS and then vetting each packet in a virtual IDS against a reduced set of threat signatures specific to the target OS. Each virtual IDS, whether operating on a separate computer or operating as a logically distinct process or separate thread running on a single computer processor, may also operate in parallel with other virtual IDS processes. IDS processing efficiency and speed are greatly increased by the fact that a much smaller subset of threat signature universe is used for each OS-specific packet threat vetting operation. |
| US07904950B2 |
Dynamic network security
In a dynamic network security system and method for networks using a firewall, in judging whether packets using unfixed IPs and ports, such as VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) packets, are to be passed or blocked by a firewall, a current communication condition is reflected, thereby enhancing QoS (Quality of Service) of networks. |
| US07904942B2 |
Method of updating intrusion detection rules through link data packet
A method of updating intrusion detection rules through a link data packet is used to dynamically update rules storages of Snort system hosts. Firstly, an update sponsor in the network transmits a link data packet with an intrusion detection rule to the Snort system host. The Snort system host acquires the intrusion detection rule from the received link data packet, and parses an operation type of the intrusion detection rule. Then, the Snort system host verifies the validity of the intrusion detection rule. Subsequently, the rules storage is updated according to the type of the valid intrusion detection rule and a rules tree. |
| US07904941B2 |
Adaptive system for content monitoring
A content monitoring system applies policies to data transfers, and adapts the policies based on violations. Each policy includes a rule that detects violations and actions performed when the rule is violated. Policies may be adapted by, for example: enabling an inactive policy; modifying a parameter within a rule or an action; generating a new policy by combining a policy macro with the violating content block or with associated meta-data, for example, a user ID or IP address. An optional rolling buffer can be used to hold the most recent transfers, and newly adapted policies can be reapplied to the buffered content. Some content blocks are reassembled from a stream of terminal control protocol (TCP) packets that are transferred across a network barrier point. Other content blocks come from writes to removable media. Some content must be decoded, for example, a word processor file. |
| US07904940B1 |
Automated environmental policy awareness
Configuring a device operating in a network environment comprises receiving a network policy from a policy authority, classifying the network policy based on the identity of the policy authority, determining a local policy according to the classification, and determining a device configuration change to comply with the network policy in accordance with the local policy. Configuring a device joining a network environment includes detecting that a device has joined the network environment, sending a network policy from a policy authority to the device, the network policy including authentication information for the policy authority, and notifying the presence of the device to a policy monitor. |
| US07904939B2 |
Methods, systems, and products for automated control of devices
Methods, systems, and products are disclosed for automated control of devices. A tag is received with Electronic Programming Guide data, and the tag includes control data. The tag is stripped from the Electronic Programming Guide data and communicated to a device. |
| US07904933B2 |
Generating and managing DTV application signaling based on asset definition
An implementation is described herein that generally pertains to digital video television technology. At least one implementation, described herein, provides an asset definition framework for digital television (DTV) managed applications. This abstract itself is not intended to limit the scope of this patent. The scope of the present invention is pointed out in the appending claims. |
| US07904932B2 |
Wideband node in a CATV network
A novel node device enables transmission of a wideband signal, in compliance with various acceptable transmission standards and protocols. The signal consists of the legacy spectrum of about 5-860 MHz as well as a new downstream spectrum of about 1000-2000 MHz and a new upstream spectrum of about 2000-3000 MHz or about 930-1100 MHz. The novel device enables transfer of additional data in the upstream direction employing multiple upstream bands without making substantial investment in upstream physical node splitting thus providing networking services to residential subscribers, as well as to small and medium-sized businesses (SMB), which may operate under existing DOCSIS protocols and controlled by standard DOCSIS routers (CMTSs). |
| US07904931B2 |
Efficient software bitstream rate generator for video server
An apparatus and a method for constraining the delivery rate of a plurality of bitstreams, such as MPEG bitstreams using a single software process. |
| US07904930B2 |
Broadcast content delivery systems and methods
In an implementation of broadcast content delivery, content is broadcast to television-based client devices via a broadcast communication link. The content can be generated for display to include a user-selectable control to initiate a request for additional content that includes broadcast content and/or on-demand content. A content provider receives the request for the on-demand content from a client device via a two-way communication link, and broadcasts the on-demand content to the television-based client devices via a channel of the broadcast communication link. The content provider also communicates an identifier via the two-way communication link to the client device such that the client device can identify the channel of the broadcast communication link and receive the on-demand content via the broadcast communication link. |
| US07904928B2 |
Content delivery system, content delivery apparatus, content recording and reproduction apparatus and content recording and reproduction method, and computer program
The invention relates to properly protecting broadcast contents stored on a receiver side from copying without permission and illegal use in server type broadcasting. According to the invention, contents are sent from a broadcast sending side in a state in which copyright information for the contents is added to the contents. On the other hand, on a receiving client side applicable to server type digital broadcasting, it is possible to perform appropriate control for reproduction of contents and recording reservation on the basis of copyright information for contents such as the number of times of reproduction of contents, restriction of display resolution at the time of reproduction of contents, and an expiration date of content reproduction. According to this copyright information, it is possible to perform detailed control for a display device incorporated in or connected to a receiver. |
| US07904927B2 |
Mobile terminal, TV program recording system for mobile terminal, and TV program recording program
A mobile terminal 10, which includes a TV receiver to receive a broadcast of a TV program and which is provided with the function of recording and pre-programming a received TV program, uses the detection parts (151, 152, 153) to detect the occurrence of an event which will preclude the operation of the TV program recording function, and uses the message transmission/reception part 155 to instruct the recording or pre-programming of an in-recording or pre-programmed TV program, based on an instruction from the event occurrence detection part 154, to a server device 20 or a video recorder 30, which is an external recording device having the TV program recording function and connected with the mobile terminal via a communication line (50). |
| US07904922B1 |
Template creation and editing for a message campaign
A system and method for dynamically creating individualized, multi-media messages and to deliver the messages to specific target groups or individual viewers. A message, story, or advertisement is assembled on demand, based upon rules applied to each viewer's profile and a library of media segments. The framework for the final personalized message is a story or message template designed for a campaign. A set of viewer profiles is assembled from designated databases for each of the targeted entities. A collection of media segments is also created or selected and then made available to produce the final personalized message at assembly time. Specific media segments are selected and merged according to the message template and information about the viewer derived from each viewer's profile. The information from the viewer profile is interpreted by a rule system to determine which of several potential media segments to select for use in the personalized message. The merged composite is then encoded to match the distribution media and forwarded to the viewer. |
| US07904921B2 |
Method of processing broadcast signal associated with emergency alert system in terrestrial broadcasting and broadcast receiver for the same
A broadcast signal associated with an emergency alert system in terrestrial broadcasting, a processing method thereof, and a broadcast receiver for the same are disclosed, by which information on a channel for carrying emergency alert news can be completely prevented from being overlapped with information on other general channels in a terrestrial broadcasting environment. |
| US07904920B2 |
Method for skipping advertisement broadcasting
A method for skipping advertisement broadcasting is provided. Whether or not it is advertisement broadcasting is determined using an program ID of received broadcasting contents. When it is advertisement broadcasting, the advertisement is skipped. During the advertisement broadcasting skipping, a multi tasking environment other than broadcasting viewing is provided. By skipping advertisement broadcasting during the broadcasting content recording, the recording results not including the advertisement is obtained. |
| US07904911B2 |
Management of multiple network devices using unsigned java applets
Remote management of a plurality of network devices is described wherein each device is managed with its own unsigned Java™ applet. Unsigned applets launched from different devices operate within the same shared environment of a webpage. Furthermore, a transmitting applet communicates with a recipient applet. In one embodiment, the recipient applet is a central management applet that combines data from 10 a plurality of devices into one data pool, which can then be used to provide higher level management capabilities. A combination of centralized management and distributed management is allowed within the Java security model, without having to resort to signed Java applets or Java applications. |
| US07904909B1 |
Architecture for using a model-based approach for managing resources in a networked environment
An architecture including a model-based management layer for managing resources and applications, and a method of software and resource management enabled by such an architecture. |
| US07904907B2 |
Processing architecture having passive threads and active semaphores
Multiple parallel passive threads of instructions coordinate access to shared resources using “active” semaphores. The semaphores are referred to as active because the semaphores send messages to execution and/or control circuitry to cause the state of a thread to change. A thread can be placed in an inactive state by a thread scheduler in response to an unresolved dependency, which can be indicated by a semaphore. A thread state variable corresponding to the dependency is used to indicate that the thread is in inactive mode. When the dependency is resolved a message is passed to control circuitry causing the dependency variable to be cleared. In response to the cleared dependency variable the thread is placed in an active state. Execution can proceed on the threads in the active state. |
| US07904906B2 |
Tracking modified pages on a computer system
A method for tracking modified pages is provided. The method is utilized in a fault-tolerant system, the fault-tolerant system comprising a first computer system and a second computer system. The method involves copying a memory from the first computer system to the second computer system at a first point in time. Between the first point in time and a second point in time, a scheduler tracks processes that execute on the first computer system in a harvest list. After the second point in time, the processes that made changes to the memory between the first and second points in time are retrieved. The changes to the memory are then copied to the second computer system and the changes are applied to the memory of the second computer system. |
| US07904900B2 |
Method in a network of the delivery of files
A method in a network of the delivery of files from a server computer (101) to a client computer (102) in which the client computer is polling the server computer looking to see in the server if at least one new file associated with this client computer is available. If yes, then the client computer is downloading the files associated with this client computer at specific intervals. The client computer is all by itself polling the server computer at specific intervals and it itself controls the downloading of the updates which occurs at times during which the downloading does not disturb the working of the client computer. |
| US07904899B2 |
Third-party customization of a configuration file
Systems and methods for customizing a configuration file. A system includes a configuror client that generates and exports a configuration file, a configuration sharing server that makes the configuration file assessable, and a configuree client that imports the configuration file. The configuration sharing server provides a community-based collection of configuration files for access by the public or by a specific organization. The configuree client can detect when a new profile is being used (e.g., the first time that the financial management application is executed after installation). In response, the configuration client begins an interview process for customizing the financial management application (e.g., by presenting a series of user interfaces). Part of the interview process allows an end-user to select a particular configuration file stored on the configuration sharing client or on a local memory device. |
| US07904887B2 |
Learning and cache management in software defined contexts
A method of optimizing a computer program includes executing a program including a hint defined as a variable in program and providing within the program, and a marker instruction that receives the hint as a parameter. The marker instruction marks a section of the computer program for a subsequent optimization. During the execution of the computer program, and in response to the marker instruction being executed, a hardware engine monitors data accesses associated with execution of instructions in the marked section and stores the data accesses in the storage of the hint. A subsequent execution of the marked section of the computer program is optimized using the data stored in the storage of the hint. |
| US07904879B2 |
Reorganized storing of applications to improve execution
Storing an application onto a system includes receiving the application, determining specifications of the system, and reorganizing the application in accordance with the specifications of the system so as to improve execution of the application. The reorganized application is stored on the system. |
| US07904876B1 |
Interactive graphics format model
The present invention provides a graphical model that can be viewed without a graphical modeling environment. An interactive graphic version of the model is generated from the model of the graphical modeling environment. The interactive graphic version can then be viewed using an interactive graphic viewer, such as a plug in to a web browser. The use of an interactive graphic version of the model allows the user to interact with the model. For example the user may pan, zoom, or view properties or subsystems of elements of the model. |
| US07904873B2 |
System-on-chip (SOC), design structure and method
Disclosed is a system-on-chip (SOC) structure that allows for automated integration of multiple intellectual cores. The SOC structure incorporates a plurality of cells connected to a common bus on a chip. Each cell incorporates a functional core and an automated integration unit (AIU) connected to the functional core. Each AIU communicates integration information for its functional core over the common bus to the AIUs in the other cells. The exchange of information between the AIUs is controlled either by the integration units themselves or by a controller. Based on received integration information, each AIU can automatically make any required configuration adjustments for integration. Furthermore, based on this exchange of information, the functional cores can interact, as necessary, during SOC operation. Also disclosed are an associated method of forming such a SOC structure and a design structure for such an SOC structure. |
| US07904870B2 |
Method and apparatus for integrated circuit design model performance evaluation using basic block vector clustering and fly-by vector clustering
A test system or simulator includes an enhanced IC test application sampling software program that executes test application software on a semiconductor die IC design model. The enhanced test application sampling software may include trace, simulation point, CPI error, clustering, instruction budgeting, and other programs. The enhanced test application sampling software generates basic block vectors (BBVs) and fly-by vectors (FBVs) from instruction trace analysis of test application software workloads. The enhanced test application sampling software utilizes the microarchitecture dependent information to generate the FBVs to select representative instruction intervals from the test application software. The enhanced test application sampling software generates a reduced representative test application software program from the BBV and FBV data utilizing a global instruction budgeting analysis method. Designers use the test system with enhanced test application sampling software to evaluate IC design models by using the representative test application software program. |
| US07904866B2 |
Computer readable recording medium with a wiring design program stored thereon and wiring design device
An apex is extracted from a designed wiring layout. In start/end portion circular arc processing a circular arc is added to the apex-containing portion, and the layout data file is rewritten so that a portion, representing a region surrounded by circular arc and two lines, is added to the wiring line. In bend portion circular arc processing circular arcs are added to the respective apex-containing portions, and the layout data file is rewritten so that: a portion corresponding to a region surrounded by the circular arc and two lines is added to the apex-containing portion of the layout when the determined angle is less than 180 degrees; a portion corresponding to a region surrounded by the circular arc and two lines is removed from the apex-containing portion of the layout when the determined angle exceeds 180 degrees. |
| US07904864B2 |
Interconnect layer of a modularly designed analog integrated circuit
A method of constructing an integrated circuit involves selecting modular tiles and then generating a functional circuit layout using the tiles. Modular tiles that perform predetermined functions and that have approximately the same length and width dimensions are selected from a library of validated tiles. The tiles have input-output terminals embedded in their upper active layers. A functional circuit layout for the integrated circuit is generated using the tiles. In many implementations, the physical layout of the integrated circuit does not include the step of routing. Then an interconnect layer is added over the functional circuitry of the tiles and connects the input-output terminals to bond pads located at the perimeter of the functional circuit layout. Chip data corresponding to the functional circuit layout is generated, and then mask reticles corresponding to the chip data are generated. The integrated circuit is formed on a wafer based on the mask reticles. |
| US07904863B2 |
Circuit-design supporting apparatus, circuit-design supporting method, computer product, and printed-circuit-board manufacturing method
An FPGA-information managing unit included in a circuit-designing CAD apparatus retrieves FPGA information, such as pin assignment information and attribute information, that is created by an FPGA-designing CAD apparatus. A library creating unit creates a symbol library by using the FPGA information. When creating a symbol library, if an FPGA subjected to create the symbol library is arranged in the circuit diagram, the library creating unit manages not to change a portion dividing and a pin layout of the existing symbol library arranged in the circuit diagram as much as possible. When arranging a symbol of the FPGA that a symbol library is newly created, a circuit-diagram reflecting unit arranges the symbol without changing the existing layout. |
| US07904858B2 |
Logic synthesis apparatus
According to the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for executing logic synthesis for a module having a plurality of clock domains, having: an input unit which inputs circuit description data about a circuit function and a constraint in logic synthesis; a path selection unit which selects a path included in the module using a result obtained by analyzing the circuit description data; a recognition unit which recognizes a start point and an end point of the selected path and recognizes clock domains to which the start point and the end point belong; and a technology library setting unit which sets a technology library for the selected path in accordance with the clock domains to which the start point and the end point belong. |
| US07904857B2 |
Computer-aided design system to automate scan synthesis at register-transfer level
A method and system to automate scan synthesis at register-transfer level (RTL). The method and system will produce scan HDL code modeled at RTL for an integrated circuit modeled at RTL. The method and system comprise computer-implemented steps of performing RTL testability analysis, clock-domain minimization, scan selection, test point selection, scan repair and test point insertion, scan replacement and scan stitching, scan extraction, interactive scan debug, interactive scan repair, and flush/random test bench generation. In addition, the present invention further comprises a method and system for hierarchical scan synthesis by performing scan synthesis module-by-module and then stitching these scanned modules together at top-level. The present invention further comprises integrating and verifying the scan HDL code with other design-for-test (DFT) HDL code, including boundary-scan and logic BIST (built-in self-test). |
| US07904847B2 |
CMOS circuit leakage current calculator
This invention provides a method for determining leakage current in a CMOS circuit having several devices. It includes the steps of reading a netlist which describes the circuit and includes information on both these devices in the circuit and how these devices are interconnected. Next, an input signal state data file is generated which provides all of the possible input states for the circuit. A determination is made of which devices in the circuit are in an OFF state for each of the input signal states provided. Then the leakage current for each of these devices in the OFF state is computed for each of the input signal states. |
| US07904845B2 |
Determining locations on a wafer to be reviewed during defect review
Various methods, designs, defect review tools, and systems for determining locations on a wafer to be reviewed during defect review are provided. One computer-implemented method includes acquiring coordinates of defects detected by two or more inspection systems. The defects do not include defects detected on the wafer. The method also includes determining coordinates of the locations on the wafer to be reviewed during the defect review by translating the coordinates of the defects into the coordinates on the wafer such that results of the defect review performed at the locations can be used to determine if the defects cause systematic defects on the wafer. |
| US07904842B1 |
Modifying a logic implementation by swapping inputs of fanout-free cones
An implementation of a logic description is improved. The implementation has two signals coupled to two inputs of a fanout-free cone. A swap function is determined of the inputs of the fanout-free cone. The swap function indicates whether there is a difference at an output of the fanout free cone between the fanout-free cone with and without swapping the two signals between the two inputs of the fanout-free cone. A do-not-care function of the inputs of the fanout-free cone is determined for the logic description. The do-not-care function indicates that a modification of the output of the fanout-free cone is not observable at the primary outputs of the logic description. A modified implementation of the logic description is output in response to the do-not-care function covering the swap function. The modified implementation of the logic description has the two signals swapped between the two inputs of the fanout-free cone. |
| US07904841B1 |
Method and system for optimizing digital filters
A method and system is described for optimizing a digital filter defined by coefficients that are multiplied by input data and accumulated to generate output data. A factorization set of candidate factors is compiled based on the coefficients. For each of the candidate factors, an optimized solution is generated. To generate the optimized solution, the candidate factor is applied to the coefficients and a working set of terms is compiled. Terms in the working set are converted to power-of-two representations and grouped with other terms that have a common partial sum, or multiple of the partial sum, within their respective power-of-two representations. A reduction set is compiled from the grouped terms and an order of application is selected based on optimization objectives. The reduction set is then applied to the working set of terms to generate the optimized solution, which is ranked and stored based on the optimization objectives. |
| US07904840B2 |
Method and system to redistribute white space for minimizing wire length
Disclosed are a method and a system for redistributing white space on an integrated circuit. The method comprises the steps of providing a series of circuit blocks for the integrated circuit, and placing the blocks on the integrated circuit to obtain a predefined optimal wire length. In accordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention, we first show that the problem of placing the blocks to obtain an optimal wire length, can be formulated as linear programming. Then, we find it can be solved by efficient min-cost flow implementation instead of general and slow linear programming. The approach guarantees to obtain the minimum total wire length for a given floorplan topology. We also show that the approach is capable of handling various constraints such as fixed-frame (fixed area), IO pins, pre-placed blocks, boundary blocks, range placement, alignment and abutment, rectilinear blocks, cluster placement, and bounded net delay, without loss of optimality. |
| US07904837B2 |
Information processing apparatus and GUI component display method for performing display operation on document data
An information processing apparatus includes an interpretation unit configured to interpret a command written on computerized document data, a creation unit configured to create a graphical user interface (GUI) component used to perform execution of the command interpreted by the interpretation unit, and a display control unit configured to cause a display apparatus to display document data corresponding to target data that represents a target of the execution and to display the created GUI component at a position corresponding to the command written on the document data. |
| US07904835B1 |
Synchronizing keyboard cursor and mouse cursor movements
A system and method for moving a mouse cursor along with the keyboard cursor on a display. The method extracts a location of the keyboard cursor on a display, and locates the mouse cursor into the location of keyboard cursor automatically. The method of an embodiment of the invention saves the mouse dragging time on the display while performing a mouse operation at the location of the keyboard cursor. |
| US07904831B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image displaying method, and computer-readable recording medium storing program of the method
An image processing apparatus which displays a thumbnail image of a stored image is disclosed. When a thumbnail image of a stored image is displayed, it is determined whether the stored image is open or secret by using an attribute attached to the stored image. When the stored image is open, the thumbnail image of the stored image is displayed, and when the stored image is secret, a dummy thumbnail image is displayed. |
| US07904828B2 |
Computer system with graphical user interface including drawer-like windows
A window management mechanism allows a user to open a window as a drawer or, perhaps more appropriately named, a pop-up window. The drawer is an opened window that a user has dragged down to a drawer region at the bottom of the screen such that only the title bar or some drawer handle illustration is left showing. When the user does this, the window remains open but is kept offscreen. The user may momentarily pop the window back onto the screen by clicking on the window title bar or drawer handle, or by dragging the cursor into the window icon during a drag. The window stays onscreen as long as no other windows are selected. As soon as a user selects another window, or opens a file with a double click within the drawer, the window slides back offscreen. This allows the user to set up easy access windows. Another feature of a drawer window allows the user to open them during a drag. To do so, the user drags an object or the cursor into the drawer window that is desired to be opened. When the cursor touches the bottom of the screen, or an area within a threshold of the bottom of the screen, the drawer window slides open a notch at a time. As long as the user pushes against the bottom or remains in this threshold region, the drawer slides open. |
| US07904826B2 |
Peek around user interface
An operating system shell has an underlying desktop object that is rendered according to different views. The operating system shell renders on a display screen a desktop graphical user interface with windows, tools, icons, etc. that are within a segment of the desktop object that can be observed (i.e., rendered) from one of the views. In illustrated implementations, the desktop object is of an extent that is greater than can be rendered from a single view. Allowing a user to select or access different views of the desktop object effectively provides an extended desktop that overcomes the fixed and limited display capabilities of conventional operating system shells. |
| US07904825B2 |
Graphical user interface for gathering image evaluation information
A method is disclosed for operating a computer to gather input from respondents to electronic surveys and to evaluate preferences related to digital two dimensional and three dimensional images. The method includes providing a drawing tool for enabling survey respondent(s) to designate areas of interest on digital two dimensional and three dimensional images within an electronic survey. A graphical user interface enables the survey respondent(s) to utilize the drawing tool to create data files, which may include designated area data, attributes, and survey respondent opinions for designated area(s) of interest within an image. The data files are saved in a machine-readable file for analysis. |
| US07904824B2 |
Medical imaging programmable custom user interface system and method
Methods and systems for a user to create a custom menu for medical imaging are provided. To maximize the ease of use and increase user efficiency, the user interface is tailored to a particular user or for a certain application. The user selects from various imaging parameters in a preprogrammed user interface displayed on a monitor or other display device. The selection is by collecting the desired items or by discarding undesired items. After selection, the desired items are displayed in a customized display state. This customized display state can be labeled and stored for later use. An assignable key is also provided. Imaging functions, such as a type of B-mode or Doppler imaging, are assigned to the key. Different or new functions may be later assigned to the key as the most used imaging functions change. Any customization may be different for different users of the same system, such as by saving the customization related to a log-on procedure. |
| US07904813B1 |
Method for editing video information and editing device
A regular edition video of a video title is split into shots or scenes with time codes, and provided information, which is the semantic evaluation of the story, is added to the respective scenes to organize the scene score. Necessary scenes for each purpose are extracted on the basis of the scene score and a threshold value (process Pr14). Video characteristic evaluation information is added for each shot constituting each of the extracted scenes so as to organize the shot score (process Pr16). Optimum shots for each of the extracted scenes are selected on the basis of a predetermined rule suitable for the purpose (process Pr16). The optimum shots are sequentially cut out from the regular edition video (process Pr21), thus automatically organizing a preview video suitable for the purpose (process Pr22). |
| US07904811B2 |
Text/image storage device, image reading device, and image forming apparatus
A storage device is disclosed. The storage device includes a text/image information memory unit, a unit that converts the data format of text/image information, a unit that communicates with a user terminal having a display, and a delivery unit configured to, in response to a request for the property of a file stored in the memory unit from the user terminal through the communication unit, show the property of the corresponding file stored in the memory unit on the display of the user terminal. When the user terminal requests a download of the file by selecting a file format applicable to binary image data, the conversion unit converts text/image information contained in the file into binary image data if the data format of the text/image information is not binary image data but is multilevel image data (color image). Then, the delivery unit sends the binary image data in the selected file format to the user terminal. |
| US07904810B2 |
System and method for editing a hand-drawn list in ink input
A system and method for editing ink objects recognized in ink input is provided. An ink parser may recognize an ink object in ink input and then an ink editing user interface may edit the ink object recognized by the ink parser. The ink parser may include a chart detector, shape recognizer, and various ink object recognizers such as a chart recognizer, a list detector and a table detector. The various ink object recognizers may recognize particular ink objects. The ink editing user interface may edit the ink object recognized by the ink parser. The ink editing user interface may include a chart editor, list editor, table editor, mode switcher, and a visualizer. The mode switcher may switch the ink editing system between inking mode and ink editing mode. |
| US07904809B2 |
Model-based editors for dynamic validation
Tools and techniques for dynamically validating editors are described herein. The tools may provide machine-readable storage media containing machine-readable instructions for receiving indications of user edits to a portion of a document, and for determining whether a customized editor is available for the edited portion of the document. The tools may also provide systems that include at least the dynamically validating editor. |
| US07904804B1 |
System and method for web sites in hierarchical relationship to share assets
Systems and methods for enabling the parent in a hierarchically organized pair of objects to allow the child to share access to selected assets. In one embodiment, the assets are shared in one of three modes: an IMPOSE mode; an INHERIT mode; and a CO-OWN mode. In the IMPOSE mode, the parent allows the child to utilize the asset, but not to modify it. In the CO-OWN mode, the parent and child have equal rights to access the asset, including the right to modify it. In the INHERIT mode, both the parent and child have equal rights to access the asset, including the right to modify it, but if the child attempts to modify the asset, it actually gets a copy of the asset, which it then modifies. The asset is no longer a single asset shared between the parent and child. |
| US07904800B2 |
Transforming a portion of a database into a custom spreadsheet
A method and computer system for transforming a portion (e.g., a view) of a database into a custom spreadsheet. The transforming includes determining whether to omit in the custom spreadsheet a column that is in the view, determining whether to add to the custom spreadsheet a column that is not in the view, or both. The transforming may also include implementation of rules that control how various portions of the custom spreadsheet are configured. |
| US07904799B1 |
Method and apparatus for generating a link to a presented web page
A technique for generating links to a web page by: presenting a web page; defining one or more other web pages to include a link to the presented web page; and placing a link on at least one of the other web pages linking to the presented web page. A prompt for an acceptance of the link may be presented to the other web pages whereby a link is not added until the corresponding acceptance of the link is received. |
| US07904798B2 |
Method of generating a presentation with background music and related system
To improve precision when generating multimedia presentations synchronized to background music, number of beats of the background music is determined. The beats of the background music are grouped to form presentation segments, and digital images are assigned to the presentation segments. Presentation display templates that further segment display of the digital images for synchronization with beats of the background music are also provided. |
| US07904791B2 |
Information recording medium to which extra ECC is applied, and method and apparatus for managing the information recording medium
An information recording medium to which data extra ECC is applied, and a method and apparatus for managing the information storage medium is provided. The method includes: determining whether extra ECC is applied with respect to data that is to be recorded on the information recording medium, and deciding an extra ECC application rate; assigning an area for recording a data block including an extra parity generated by applying the extra ECC to the data that is to be recorded on the information recording medium, to the information recording medium; assigning an extra ECC management information area for recording extra ECC management information for managing the extra ECC, to the information recording medium; and recording or updating the extra ECC management information in the extra ECC management information area. Therefore, it is possible to improve reproduction reliability while maintaining reproduction compatibility with conventional apparatuses. |
| US07904790B2 |
Flash memory device error correction code controllers and related methods and memory systems
An ECC controller for a flash memory device storing M-bit data (M: a positive integer equal to or greater than 2) includes an encoder and a decoder. The encoder generates first ECC data for input data to be stored in the flash memory device using a first error correction scheme and generates second ECC data for the input data using a second error correction scheme. The input data, the first ECC data, and the second ECC data are stored in the flash memory device. The decoder calculates the number of errors in data read from the flash memory device and corrects the errors in the read data using one of the first ECC data and the second ECC data selectively based on the number of the errors. |
| US07904787B2 |
Pipelined cyclic redundancy check for high bandwidth interfaces
Techniques for validating the integrity of a data communications link are provided. By executing error correction/detection calculations, such as CRC calculations, in a pipelined manner, logic may be distributed over multiple machine cycles. As a result, delay involved in the logic for each cycle may be reduced, allowing calculations in systems with higher clock frequencies. |
| US07904784B2 |
Serial concatenated convolutional code decoder
A serial concatenated convolutional code (SCCC) decoder is provided. The SCCC decoder includes an input buffer memory one or more processing loop modules, and an output buffer memory. Each processing loop module includes a permutation module, inner decoding engines, a depermutation module, and outer decoding engines. The depermutation module includes a concatenating device and two or more depermutation buffer memories. The concatenating device is configured for writing a codeword segment containing a plurality of soft-decision bits to each of the depermutation buffer memories in a single write operation. The permutation module also includes a concatenating device and two or more permutation buffer memories. The concatenating device is configured for writing a codeword segment containing a plurality of soft-decision bits to each of the depermutation buffer memories in a single write operation. |
| US07904780B2 |
Methods of modulating error correction coding
Data is stored in a nonvolatile memory so that different pages of data stored in the same memory cells are encoded according to different encoding schemes. A first page is decoded according to its encoding scheme and an output is provided based on the decoding of the first page that is subsequently used in decoding a second page. |
| US07904779B2 |
Forward error correction and automatic repeat request joint operation for a data link layer
A method and apparatus are provided for error correction of a communication signal. Joint operation of forward error correction (FEC) techniques and automatic repeat request (ARQ) techniques are conducted above a physical layer of a communication network. Forward error correction is applied if the number of errors is equal to or less than an error threshold. Automatic repeat request techniques are applied if errors remain in the data decoding using the forward error correction or if an error correcting module reports a failure in the data. In an embodiment, the error threshold is two errors or less. In an embodiment, information is encoded in a data link layer using a forward error correction module providing a code rate of 0.98 or greater. |
| US07904775B2 |
Microprocessor comprising signature means for detecting an attack by error injection
A method for monitoring the execution of a sequence of instruction codes in an integrated circuit comprising a central processing unit provided for executing such instruction codes. Current cumulative signatures are produced using deterministic address, control or data logic signals involved in the execution of the sequence and taken off at various points of the integrated circuit. A final cumulative signature is compared with an expected signature and an error signal is produced if the two signatures are not identical. Particularly useful to secure integrated circuits for smart cards. |
| US07904774B2 |
Wafer scale testing using a 2 signal JTAG interface
Testing of die on wafer is achieved by; (1) providing a tester with the capability of externally communicating JTAG test signals using simultaneously bidirectional transceiver circuitry, (2) providing die on wafer with the capability of externally communicating JTAG test signals using simultaneously bidirectional transceiver circuity, and (3) providing a connectivity mechanism between the bidirectional transceiver circuitry's of the tester and a selected group or all of the die on wafer for communication of the JTAG signals. |
| US07904773B2 |
Multiple-capture DFT system for scan-based integrated circuits
A method and apparatus for providing ordered capture clocks to detect or locate faults within N clock domains and faults crossing any two clock domains in a scan-based integrated circuit or circuit assembly in self-test or scan-test mode, where N>1 and each domain has a plurality of scan cells. The method and apparatus will apply an ordered sequence of capture clocks to all scan cells within N clock domains where one or more capture clocks must contain one or more shift clock pulses during the capture operation. A computer-aided design (CAD) method is further developed to realize the method and synthesize the apparatus. In order to further improve the circuit's fault coverage, a CAD method and apparatus are further developed to minimize the memory usage and generate scan patterns for full-scan and feed-forward partial-scan designs containing transparent storage cells, asynchronous set/reset signals, tri-state busses, and low-power gated clocks. |
| US07904769B2 |
Debugging system and method including an emulator for debugging a target device
A debugging system includes an emulator connected via a communication line for two-way communication and a target device to be debugged by the emulator. The emulator includes a serial signal transmitting unit to transmit a control signal as serial data to the target device and an A/D converter to convert an analog signal into a digital signal and to output the digital signal, the analog signal is input from the target device via the communication line. The target device includes a trace circuit, a serial signal receiving unit to receive the serial data and a D/A converter to convert, in response to the control signal received, trace information into an analog signal, and to output the analog signal, the trace information is output by the trace circuit. |
| US07904768B2 |
Probing system for integrated circuit devices
A probing system for an integrated circuit device, which transmits a testing data/signal between an automatic test equipment (ATE) and an integrated circuit device, is disclosed. The probing system includes a test head having a first transceiving module. There is a test station having a test unit coupled to the test head to perform a test operation. A communication module has a second transceiving module configured to exchange data with the first transceiving module in a wireless manner. There is an integrated circuit device having a core circuit being tested, and a test module having a self-test circuit coupled to the core circuit and the communication module for performing the core circuit self-testing. |
| US07904764B2 |
Memory lifetime gauging system, method and computer program product
An apparatus, method, and computer program product are provided for identifying at least one aspect associated with a lifetime of memory. Further, an indicia is visually displayed reflecting the at least one aspect. |
| US07904755B2 |
Embedded software testing using a single output
An integrated circuit includes a processor and a circuit. The processor is configured to execute software. The software includes a plurality of software events. The circuit is configured to output a pulse on a single pin or pad of the integrated circuit in response to executing each software event. A pulse width of each pulse identifies a software event. |
| US07904754B2 |
Systems and methods for automated determination of out of memory handling
Systems and methods for automatic determination of out of memory handling situations are provided. A system and method can include receiving data that includes one or more memory allocations or one or more pool heaps and running a test on the data to capture one or more tracebacks. If the one or more tracebacks are unique, then the one or more unique tracebacks are added to a list. The test is run a second time on the first traceback on the list to determine a result that indicates correct execution or incorrect execution with respect to memory handling. The result is stored in a computer-readable storage medium. |
| US07904753B2 |
Method and system to eliminate disruptions in enterprises
A method is implemented in a computer infrastructure having computer executable code tangibly embodied on a computer readable storage medium having programming instructions. The programming instructions are operable to receive disruption data for an enterprise and determine optimal selected disruption data from the received disruption data. Additionally, the programming instructions are operable to correlate triggering events of the optimal selected disruption data to one or more systemic root cause categories and identify a systemic root cause based on the triggering events of the optimal selected disruption data. Furthermore, the programming instructions are operable to determine an optimal enterprise solution set based on the identified systemic root cause and determine an optimal enterprise transformation set based on the optimal enterprise solution set. Moreover, the programming instructions are operable to output the optimal enterprise transformation set for implementing the optimal enterprise transformation set in the enterprise. |
| US07904749B2 |
Fast data recovery from HDD failure
A storage system comprises a first storage device having a first plurality of hard disk drives and a first controller. The first controller stores data in the first plurality of hard disk drives by stripes. Each stripe includes M data and N parity data allocated to M+N hard disk drives of the first plurality of hard disk drives. A first hard disk drive includes data or parity data of both a first stripe of the stripes and a second stripe of the stripes, while a second hard disk drive includes data or parity data of only one of the first stripe or the second stripe. During data recovery involving failure of one of the first plurality of hard disk drives, the data in the failed hard disk drive is recovered for each stripe by calculation using data and parity data in other hard disk drives for each stripe. |
| US07904739B2 |
Managing a power state for a peripheral
A method for managing a power state for a peripheral includes listening for activity packets communicated from one or more of a plurality of clients configured to utilize the peripheral. Activity packets received during a selected period are examined. Each activity packet, if any, includes activity data representative of a likelihood that one of the plurality of clients will utilize the peripheral. A power state is selected according to the examination of the activity packets received during the selected period and the peripheral is caused to enter the selected power state. |
| US07904737B2 |
Remote control save and sleep override
An approach is provided that handles a power down signal received by a device. Other types of signals, such as suspend or save and sleep, may also be handled. A device, such as a parent device, sends a power down signal to another device, such as a child device. The power down signal is received by the child device and acted upon, based on the activities currently being executed by the child device. Each activity currently being executed by the child device is handled according to its corresponding setting in an activity list. For example, if the child device is currently executing a preferred activity, the power down signal is ignored. A user of the child device may also send an explanation (or explanations) to the parent device. |
| US07904733B2 |
Computer system and control method thereof, and remote control system
A computer system including a system unit that performs a predetermined operation; a remote control signal receiving unit that receives a user setting from a remote controller, the user setting including at least one of a lock setting and a unlock setting of the system unit for security; and a controller that controls the system unit to perform a locking function of the system unit according to the user setting that is received by the remote control signal receiving unit. |
| US07904731B2 |
Integrated circuit that uses a dynamic characteristic of the circuit
An integrated circuit has a first component that has a dynamic characteristic that varies among like integrated circuits, for example, among integrated circuits fabricated using the same lithography mask. Operating the first component produces an output that is dependent on the dynamic characteristic of the first component. A digital value associated with the integrated circuit is generated using the output of the first component, and then the generated digital value is used in operation of the integrated circuit. |
| US07904729B2 |
Specifying a set of forbidden passwords
Various embodiments are described for providing password approval on a device. The password approval includes getting the user password, generating at least one symbolically equivalent password and then comparing the at least one symbolically equivalent password with at least one specified forbidden password. The user password is disapproved if one of the symbolically equivalent passwords corresponds to the at least one forbidden password. |
| US07904728B2 |
Consumable resource access control
A consumable resource access control unit includes a consumable resource and an authorization interface coupled to the consumable resource. The interface is configured to limit use of the resource. |
| US07904727B2 |
Method to control access between network endpoints based on trust scores calculated from information system component analysis
Signatures are generated for modules in a computer system. The signatures can be assembled into an integrity log. The signatures are compared with signatures in a database in an integrity validator. Once signatures are either validated or invalidated, a trust score can be generated. The trust score can then be used to determine whether the computer system should be granted access to a resource using a policy. |
| US07904722B2 |
Method for securely using digital signatures in a commercial cryptographic system
A system for securely using digital signatures in a commercial cryptographic system that allows industry-wide security policy and authorization information to be encoded into the signatures and certificates by employing attribute certificates to enforce policy and authorization requirements. Verification of policy and authorization requirements is enforced in the system by restricting access to public keys to users who have digitally signed and agreed to follow rules of the system. These rules can also ensure that payment is made for public and private key usage. Additionally, users can impose their own rules and policy requirements on transactions in the system. |
| US07904715B2 |
Method for authenticating dual-mode access terminals
A method is provided for operating a dual-mode access terminal such that a CAVE based authentication process may be used in both an IS-2000 and an HRPD mode of operation. Generally, the access terminal receives a CHAP challenge from an access network, and then derives a RAND challenge based on at least a portion of the CHAP challenge. The CAVE based authentication process is then performed using the RAND challenge to produce a SMEKEY and a PLCM. Thereafter a secret CHAP key is derived from the SMEKEY and PLCM and provided to the access network for purposes of authenticating the access terminal in the HRPD mode of operation. |
| US07904710B2 |
Method and system for providing a secure message transfer within a network system
Secure message transfer of at least one message from a sender to a receiver within a network system may be provided. For example, a message structure information regarding the at least one message may be computed on a sender-side and according to a pre-given scheme. The computed message structure information may be added as message account information into the at least one message to be sent. The message account information may be protected by a signature. The at least one message may be transferred through the network system to the receiver. On a receiver-side, the message account information may be validated after reception of the at least one message and according to the pre-given scheme. |
| US07904708B2 |
Remote management of UEFI BIOS settings and configuration
In an information handling system (IHS), remote management of basic input/output system (BIOS) settings and configuration includes maintaining a BIOS setting/configuration database, providing an application to communicate a BIOS setting/configuration from the database to a BIOS system, determining whether the BIOS setting/configuration communicated from the database to the BIOS system is a special BIOS configuration capsule packet, and validating BIOS setting/configuration. |
| US07904707B2 |
Systems and methods using cryptography to protect secure computing environments
Secure computation environments are protected from bogus or rogue load modules, executables and other data elements through use of digital signatures, seals and certificates issued by a verifying authority. A verifying authority—which may be a trusted independent third party—tests the load modules or other executables to verify that their corresponding specifications are accurate and complete, and then digitally signs the load module or other executable based on tamper resistance work factor classification. Secure computation environments with different tamper resistance work factors use different verification digital signature authentication techniques (e.g., different signature algorithms and/or signature verification keys)—allowing one tamper resistance work factor environment to protect itself against load modules from another, different tamper resistance work factor environment. Several dissimilar digital signature algorithms may be used to reduce vulnerability from algorithm compromise, and subsets of multiple digital signatures may be used to reduce the scope of any specific compromise. |
| US07904705B2 |
System and method for repairing a speculative global history record
A system and method are provided for updating a speculative global history prediction record in a microprocessor system using pipelined instruction processing. The method accepts microprocessor instructions with consecutive operations, including a conditional branch operation with an associated first branch address. A speculative global history record (SGHR) of conditional branch resolutions and predictions is accessed and hashed with the first branch address, creating a first hash result. The first hash result is used to index a branch history table (BHT) of previous first branch resolutions. As a result, a first branch prediction is made, and the SGHR is updated with the first branch prediction. A non-speculative global history record (NSGHR) of branch resolutions is updated with the resolution of the first branch operation, and if the first branch prediction is incorrect, the SGHR is corrected using the NSGHR. |
| US07904703B1 |
Method and apparatus for idling and waking threads by a multithread processor
A system, apparatus and method for idling and waking threads by a multithread processing device are described herein. Embodiments of the present invention provide a multithread processing device for idling and waking threads including a scheduler configured to determine a bandwidth request mode of a first instruction execution thread and allocate zero execution cycles of an instruction execution period to the first instruction execution thread if the bandwidth request mode is an idle mode. In various embodiments, the multithread processing device may be configured to wake the first instruction thread by allocating one or more execution cycles to the first instruction execution thread if the bandwidth request mode is modified to a wake mode. Other embodiments may be described and claimed. |
| US07904699B2 |
Processing unit incorporating instruction-based persistent vector multiplexer control
Persistent vector multiplexer control is used in a vector-based execution unit to control the shuffling of words in operand vectors processed by the execution unit. In addition, a persistent swizzle instruction is defined in an instruction set for the vector-based execution unit and is used to cause state information to be persisted such that the operand vectors processed by subsequent vector instructions executed by the vector-based execution unit will be selectively shuffled using the persisted state information. As a result, when multiple vector instructions require a common custom word ordering for one or more operand vectors, a single persistent swizzle instruction may be used to select the desired custom word ordering for all of the vector instructions. |
| US07904697B2 |
Load register instruction short circuiting method
An apparatus and method for executing a Load Register instruction in which the source data of the Load Register instruction is retained in its original physical register while the architected target register is mapped to this same physical target register. In this state the two architected registers alias to one physical register. When the source register of the Load Address instruction is specified as the target address of a subsequent instruction, a free physical register is assigned to the Load Registers source register. And with this assignment the alias is thus broken. Similarly when the target register of the Load Address instruction is the target address of a subsequent instruction, a new physical register is assigned to the Load Registers target address. And with this assignment the alias is thus broken. |
| US07904689B1 |
Just in time storage allocation analysis systems and methods
A method for storage allocation analysis is provided. Storage usage is measured for a file system to determine a burn rate. A date is calculated when the storage usage is projected to exceed allocated storage for the file system based on the burn rate. Whether the calculated date is less than an allocation period from the current date is determined. An amount of additional storage is requested in response to determining that the calculated date is less than the allocation period from the current date. The amount of additional storage is based on projecting the burn rate for at least one storage procurement cycle. |
| US07904686B2 |
Data security for use with a file system
An embodiment of the invention provides an apparatus and method for providing data security for use with a file system. The apparatus and method performs acts including: applying a mapping function to data block numbers that are associated with a file; and obtaining mapped data block numbers after applying the mapping function, wherein the mapped data block numbers are addresses of data of the file in a storage device. |
| US07904683B2 |
Storage system
Provided is a storage system enabling the addition of a storage apparatus without going offline. When a first storage apparatus receives from a host system a command for writing first data in any one of the primary volumes in a primary volume group, it writes the first data in the relevant primary volume and sends to a second storage apparatus a first command for writing the first data in a secondary volume specified using first mapping information. When the second storage apparatus receives from the host system a command for writing second data in any one of the secondary volume groups in a secondary volume group, it writes the second data in the relevant secondary volume and sends to the first storage apparatus a second command for writing the second data in a primary volume specified using second mapping information. |
| US07904679B2 |
Method and apparatus for managing backup data
A method and apparatus for managing backup data is disclosed. A data backup system defines a plurality of time windows for creating and maintaining backup data in accordance with a data backup policy. Each of the time windows is assigned a predetermined amount of storage space. When the data backup system creates backup data, the system determines whether a storage space assigned to a time window is large enough to accommodate new backup data. If the storage space is large enough, the new backup data is stored. However, if the storage space is not large enough, the system deletes the oldest backup data until enough storage space is obtained. |
| US07904676B2 |
Method and system for achieving varying manners of memory access
A method and system for operating a computer system are disclosed. In at least some embodiments, the present invention relates to a method of operating a computer system that includes operating a first cell of the system in accordance with a first memory access configuration, and migrating a first attribute of a first core of the first cell to a second cell of the system. The method additionally includes configuring a portion of the first cell so that the first cell is capable of operating in accordance with a second memory access configuration, and migrating at least one of the first attribute and a second attribute from the second cell back to the first core of the first cell, whereby subsequently the first cell operates in the second mode of operation. In at least some embodiments, the first and second configurations are direct and agent access memory configurations, or vice-versa. |
| US07904675B2 |
Cache memory, system, and method of storing data
A cache memory has a set associative scheme and includes a plurality of ways made up of entries, each entry holding data and a tag; a first holding unit holds, for each way, a priority attribute that indicates a type of data to be preferentially stored in that way; a second holding unit, included in a first way among the ways, holds, for each entry of the first way, a data attribute that indicates a type of data held in that entry; and a control unit replaces control on the entries by prioritizing a way whose priority attribute held by the first holding unit matches a data attribute outputted from a processor, wherein the control unit is further operable to store data into the entry of the way other than the first way. |
| US07904674B2 |
Method for controlling semiconductor memory device
A semiconductor memory device includes a plurality of independently accessible memory cores. Each memory core includes at least one flag cell storing a flag value and a plurality of data cells storing data. An access control circuit included in the semiconductor memory device selects an access-control subject memory core from the memory cores based on the flag value of the at least one flag cell of each memory core. |
| US07904671B2 |
Method regarding a memory device for a programmable logic controller (PLC)
Certain exemplary embodiments can provide a method for utilizing a memory cartridge connected to a Programmable Logic Controller (PLC). The memory cartridge can comprise a plurality of memory segments. The method can comprise a plurality of activities comprising: providing a default identifying stamp for records in a data log file, a structure for the data log file stored separately from the data log file in the memory cartridge, and obtaining a request to provide the data log file. |
| US07904670B2 |
Methods for conversion of update blocks based on comparison with a threshold size
A method for operating a memory system is provided. In this method, a write command is received to write data following a previous write command. The write command and the previous write command have a discontinuity in logical addresses and the discontinuity in logical addresses defines a gap between a logical address of the write command and a logical address of the previous write command. Here, a sequential update block and preexisting data associated with the sequential update block are provided. The gap is compared with a threshold size and the data are written to the sequential update block if the gap is less than the threshold size. |
| US07904665B2 |
Multiprocessor system and its operational method
The multiprocessor system includes multiple cells having identical functions, and each of the multiple cells has a processor, a cache memory, and a main memory. The multiple cells include the first cell as a request cell, the second cell as a home cell, and the third cell as an owner cell. The latest version of the target data stored in the main memory of the second cell is stored in the cache memory of the third cell. When the first cell issues a read request for the target data to the second cell, the second cell issues a snoop request to the third cell in response to the read request. The third cell directly transmits the target data to the first cell in response to the snoop request. Also, the third cell issues the reply write back to the second cell in response to the snoop request. The first cell issues a request write back to the same address as that of the target data in the second cell. The second cell discards the reply write back when the reply write back from the third cell is received later than the request write back from the first cell. |
| US07904659B2 |
Power conservation via DRAM access reduction
Power conservation via DRAM access reduction is provided by a buffer/mini-cache selectively operable in a normal mode and a buffer mode. In the buffer mode, entered when CPUs begin operating in low-power states, non-cacheable accesses (such as generated by a DMA device) matching specified physical address ranges are processed by the buffer/mini-cache, instead of by a memory controller and DRAM. The buffer/mini-cache processing includes allocating lines when references miss, and returning cached data from the buffer/mini-cache when references hit. Lines are replaced in the buffer/mini-cache according to one of a plurality of replacement policies, including ceasing replacement when there are no available free lines. In the normal mode, entered when CPUs begin operating in high-power states, the buffer/mini-cache operates akin to a conventional cache and non-cacheable accesses are not processed therein. In one usage scenario, data retained in the buffer/mini-cache is graphics refresh data maintained in a compressed format. |
| US07904653B2 |
Disk order examination system for dual-controller redundant storage system and method thereof
A disk order examining system for a dual-controller redundant storage device and method thereof, implementing in a dual-controller redundant device with a master controller and a slave controller. Examining if the linkage orders of the disks to the master controller are the same as those of the slave controller by sequentially writing random values into each disk of a disk concatenation, and then reading out to discriminate their sequence. |
| US07904647B2 |
System for optimizing the performance and reliability of a storage controller cache offload circuit
A method for offloading a cache memory is disclosed. The method generally includes the steps of (A) reading all of a plurality of cache lines from the cache memory in response to an assertion of a signal to offload of the cache memory, (B) generating a plurality of blocks by dividing the cache lines in accordance with a RAID configuration and (C) writing the blocks among a plurality of nonvolatile memories in the RAID configuration, wherein each of the nonvolatile memories has a write bandwidth less than a read bandwidth of the cache memory. |
| US07904643B1 |
Range code compression method and apparatus for ternary content addressable memory (CAM) devices
A content addressable memory (CAM) device, method, and method of generating entries for range matching are disclosed. A CAM device (800) according to one embodiment can include a pre-encoder (806) that encodes range bit values W into additional bits E. Additional bits E can indicate compression of range rules according to particular bit pairs. A CAM array (802) can include entries that store compressed range code values (RANGE) with corresponding additional bit values (ENC). Alternate embodiments can include pre-encoders that encode portions of range values (K1 to Ki) in a “one-hot” fashion. Corresponding CAM entries can include encoded value having sections that each represent increasingly finer divisions of a range space. |
| US07904635B2 |
Power cut data recovery and data management method for flash media
The present invention provides a method of data management for a flash memory medium, characterized in that the status flag of the memory block of said flash memory medium is set as an unfinished state during operating the memory block; after finishing the manipulation, the status flag is set from the unfinished to a finished state. This method ensures that the original data in the flash memory medium will not be lost even if the false power cut occurs when writing the data into the flash memory medium. The present invention also provides a method of writing and a method of recovering the data in the flash memory medium using the above-mentioned data management method. |
| US07904633B2 |
Switch providing external access to computer-system components and computer-system peripherals
Embodiments of the present invention include a switch component, incorporated within a computer system, that receives switch commands from users and that controls internal switches to direct output to, and receive input from, either components of the computer system or one or more external-access ports. The switch component allows one or more external computers to access internal components of, or external peripherals attached to, a computer system that includes the switch component. |
| US07904631B2 |
Protocol independent bridge
A wireless bridge includes a first universal asynchronous receiver/transmitter (UART) for coupling to a serial bus that receives data packets. A protocol independent module has a timer set to a desired time to detect a start and/or an end of a data packet received from the serial bus. A wireless transceiver is coupled to the universal asynchronous receiver/transmitter for sending and receiving data packets. |
| US07904629B2 |
Virtualized bus device
A virtualization of the internal interconnection bus, which results in a virtualized switch or virtualized multi-ported bridge. In the case of a PCI Express switch, one embodiment includes virtualization of the undefined interconnection bus. In the case of a Multi-ported bridge, one embodiment includes virtualization of the internal PCI/PCI-X bus. Through virtualization of the internal interconnection bus, the integrated circuit topology (the physical bridges and ports) may advantageously be spatially separated and remotely distributed far a field from the host computer, yet appear to the host system and host system software as single physical device (i.e. a normal PCIe switch or a normal multi-ported bridge). |
| US07904623B2 |
Ethernet controller
An Ethernet controller semiconductor chip has a system control unit, a media access control layer coupled with the system control unit, a physical layer coupled with the media access control layer, wherein the physical layer comprises a receiving port and a transmitting port, a switch control unit for providing a control signal for auto media device interface switching, and a plurality of external pins, wherein four pins are coupled with the receiving and transmitting port of the physical layer and one pin is coupled with the switch control unit for providing external access to the control signal for auto media device interface switching. |
| US07904622B2 |
Device for wireless transmission of digital information
Disclosed is to a USB device for receiving data from other data transmitting devices. The inventive USB device comprises a printed circuit board having a microprocessor and memory, a USB controller connected to the microprocessor, a USB connector connected to the printed circuit board, and wireless receiving means connected to the printer circuit board for receiving external data to be stored in the memory. The data stored in the memory include, but are not limited to, unique identifiers from external devices. The inventive USB device may further comprise means for transmitting data from the device to external devices. The inventive USB has a power source to provide power for it to work for an extended period of time. The above inventive USB device may further provide means for a user to initiate the device to transmit the ID to other receiving devices within the proximity. |
| US07904617B2 |
Indicating data buffer by last bit flag
A method and structure for determining when a frame of information comprised of one or more buffers of data being transmitted in a network processor has completed transmission is provided. The network processor includes several control blocks, one for each data buffer, each containing control information linking one buffer to another. Each control block has a last bit feature which is a single bit settable to “one” or “zero” and indicates when the data buffer having the last bit is transmitted. The last bit is in a first position when an additional data buffer is to be chained to a previous data buffer indicating an additional data buffer is to be transmitted and a second position when no additional data buffer is to be chained to a previous data buffer. The position of the last bit is communicated to the network processor indicating the ending of a particular frame. |
| US07904614B1 |
Direct memory access controller with multiple transaction functionality
A direct memory access controller is set forth. The direct memory access controller includes first and second registers storing various values that are used to set the parameters of DMA transfers that take place during a single data transaction. The first register stores a start address location value used to define a start address at which direct memory access transfers for the transaction are to begin. The second register stores a value used to end data transfers of the data transaction. The DMA controller also includes transfer control circuitry for executing the data transaction. The transfer control circuitry is adapted to automatically execute multiple, consecutive data transactions using the values stored in the first and second registers. |
| US07904611B2 |
Wireless communication apparatus and control method for the same
According to one embodiment, a wireless communication apparatus includes a receptacle, a power supply controller and a control module. The receptacle is adapted to receive an audio and visual (AV) signal in which a video signal and an audio signal are superimposed on each other, and various commands for operation control. These various commands may be defined in a HDMI-CEC standard. The power supply controller is configured to supply drive power to the wireless communication module. The control module is configured to control the power supply controller, to acquire setting information showing whether the electronic equipment is set to be activated in response to an activation command. The setting information is acquired based on expansion commands, which are vendor specific commands, transmitted and received through the receptacle. |
| US07904609B2 |
Device and file transfer system
A device is connectable to a computer and recognized by the computer as a USB multi function device capable of functioning as a USB storage device and an additional device. The device includes a mode switching section configured to switch the device to one of a first mode and a second mode in which an access from the computer to a USB storage device is permitted and prohibited, respectively. When the device is in the first mode, the device accesses the physical storage area of the data storage section. When the device is in the second mode, the device transmits a pseudo response to the computer. The pseudo response indicates that no storage medium is mounted to the data storage section. When a particular data string different from the standard data string is received, the device accesses a file through a file system provided in the device. |
| US07904605B2 |
Computer command and response for determining the state of an I/O operation
A computer program product, apparatus, and method are provided for determining a state of an input/output (I/O) operation in an I/O processing system. A request from a channel subsystem is received at a control unit for performing the I/O operation. After a predetermined amount of time passes without the I/O operation completing, an interrogation request is received from the channel subsystem at the control unit for determining the state of the I/O operation. A response is sent from the control unit to the channel subsystem indicating the state of the I/O operation in response to the interrogation request. The response also includes information regarding a state of an I/O device executing the I/O operation and information indicating a state of the control unit controlling the I/O device executing the I/O operation. |
| US07904604B2 |
Expedited and low power command sequence servicing
Method and apparatus for servicing commands such as the type issued by a host device to load an operating system from an associated data storage device. A controller is adapted to, upon receipt of a selected command sequence comprising a first command followed by a second command, determine an elapsed time interval between the first and second commands. The controller further uses the elapsed time interval to subsequently service the first and second commands during a subsequent receipt of the selected command sequence. Preferably, a command history table is generated to list the commands in the command sequence and the associated time intervals, and to use the time intervals to predict when the next command will occur. Readback data are pre-fetched to a buffer to expedite servicing of the commands, and the controller selectively enters one or more reduced power modes between successive commands to reduce power consumption levels. |
| US07904603B2 |
Adaptable datapath for a digital processing system
The present invention includes an adaptable high-performance node (RXN) with several features that enable it to provide high performance along with adaptability. A preferred embodiment of the RXN includes a run-time configurable data path and control path. The RXN supports multi-precision arithmetic including 8, 16, 24, and 32 bit codes. Data flow can be reconfigured to minimize register accesses for different operations. For example, multiply-accumulate operations can be performed with minimal, or no, register stores by reconfiguration of the data path. Predetermined kernels can be configured during a setup phase so that the RXN can efficiently execute, e.g., Discrete Cosine Transform (DCT), Fast-Fourier Transform (FFT) and other operations. Other features are provided. |
| US07904589B2 |
Intelligent computer network routing using logically centralized, physically distributed servers distinct from network routers
A route control architecture allows a network operator to flexibly control routing between the traffic ingresses and egresses in a computer network, without modifying existing routers. An intelligent route service control point (IRSCP) replaces distributed BGP decision processes of conventional network routers with a route computation that is flexible and logically centralized but physically distributed. One embodiment supplements the traditional BGP decision process with a ranking decision process that allows route-control applications to explicitly rank traffic egresses on a per-destination, per-router basis. A straightforward set of correctness requirements prevents routing anomalies in implementations that are scalable and fault-tolerant. |
| US07904588B2 |
Method and system for creating an overlay structure for management information bases
A method, a system, and an apparatus are provided for organizing management information bases (MIB) in a network. A table, associated with an overlay MIB structure, is populated with entries. Each entry defines an object identifier (OID) of a mount point and an OID of a mount target. A selection is made between the existing OIDs and OIDs corresponding to a MIB overlay. When management communication refers to managed objects, they can be referred to in terms of OIDs defined by the MIB overlay, as an alternative to their existing OIDs. An agent infrastructure is defined to support the MIB overlay structure. |
| US07904586B1 |
Traffic engineering method with tunable inter-domain egress selection
A flexible mechanism for routers to select the egress point for each destination prefix, herein referred to as tunable inter-domain egress (TIE) selection, comprises the step of ranking possible points of egress according to a metric, allowing network administrators to satisfy diverse goals, such as traffic engineering and robustness to equipment failures. A weighting function is discussed whereby known hot potato routing can be weighted against a fixed ranking scheme. TIE has been applied to data of two different autonomous systems posing different problems solved using integer-programming and multi-commodity flow techniques, respectively, to tune the TIE according to the weighting function to satisfy network-wide objectives. Experiments with traffic, topology and routing data from two different backbone networks demonstrate that TIE is both simple (for the routers) and expressive (for the network administrators) and can be practically applied in traffic engineering. |
| US07904585B1 |
Predictive browser and protocol package
The present invention provides transparent proxies for random access channels. Client proxies and server proxies are provided at opposite ends of random access channels. The Predictive Browser (PB) of the present invention replicates many of the client browser functions at the Server Proxy in order to predict and encode the client traffic flowing in an ALOHA channel to the server. The replication moves the browser function away from the user into the Server Proxy on the other side of the random access channel. Several methods have been developed to reduce ALOHA channel HTTP traffic. These methods are Proxy Recursion and Page Caching, Request Tokenizing, Predictive Tokenizing and Request Compression. These methods, collectively integrated into the invention, reduce the amount of data required to be sent across the ALOHA channel. |
| US07904584B2 |
Source identifier-based trunking for systems of network devices
A method of handling frames in a network device is disclosed. The steps include receiving a frame by a network device of an assembly of network devices, with the assembly of devices divided into a first side and a second side and the network device being on the first side, examining the received frame to determine whether the frame is destined for a member of a specific trunking group, determining whether a destination device identifier for the frame corresponds to one of the network devices on the second side and forwarding the frame to a destination port based on the specific trunk group membership and the destination device identifier. |
| US07904582B2 |
Network relay apparatus
A network relay apparatus which conducts data transfer by using a plurality of network LSIs includes a transfer engine unit having at least two network LSIs and a central control unit which controls the operation state of the network relay apparatus. The transfer engine unit includes the network LSIs capable of changing over at least one of a clock and an operation which differ every function block, a load judgment unit for judging a load laid upon each of function blocks in the network LSI, and a frequency voltage control unit for individually changing over at least one of the clock and operation voltage supplied to each function block on the basis of the load judged by the load judgment unit. |
| US07904581B2 |
Fast channel change with conditional return to multicasting
In a digital video network that is capable of distributing digital video content to a client via multicasting and unicasting, servicing a channel change request from a client involves switching from providing the digital video content to the client via multicasting to providing the digital video content to the client via unicasting and continuing to provide digital video content to the client via unicasting until a pre-established condition is met. Continuing to provide digital video content to the client via unicasting until a pre-established condition is met allows the network to opportunistically switch the client from unicasting back to multicasting. |
| US07904579B2 |
System and method for using a webpad to control a data stream
A system and method for using a webpad to select a target device which is to receive from a source device a stream of digital media. The webpad is used to send a transmission to the source device to cause the source device to route the stream of digital media to the target device. |
| US07904578B1 |
Bandwidth and topology management device for home networks
Systems, methods, and equipment for use in the management of network topology and bandwidth for computing networks are provided. In an illustrative implementation of a device acting as a patch panel is provided. The patch panel works on both the physical wire and on the frequencies of the wire to route data to appropriate destination points. For example, both ADSL and telephony could be bridged among copper wires, using several independent busses. Home Phone Network Alliance Association (HPNA) standardized data could either be bridged among wires, or connected to an internal switching device, that would store and forward the native Ethernet packets used by HomePNA in a way similar to that done by Ethernet switches today. Additionally, an Ethernet uplink could attach the HPNA ports to a larger network or to a DSL Modem, and HPNA/ADSL could be removed from wires that might have privacy concerns or otherwise need filters to perform properly. |
| US07904577B2 |
Data transmission protocol and visual display for a networked computer system
An on-line multi-player virtual reality game is provided. The multi-player game system is capable of handling many simultaneous players connected to a computer system using personal computers or other gaming consoles via the Internet or other telecommunications network. A unique retransmission transport protocol is used for transmitting and retransmitting data of the multi-player game. A visual display is also provided having a network transmission status display bar. |
| US07904574B1 |
Managing locally stored web-based database data
The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for locally storing Web-based database data in a local relational database at a computer system and for managing and modifying the web-based database data from a web server. Embodiments of the present invention permit Web-based database data to be locally stored at a computer system to increase the efficiency of rendering the Web-based database data within a Web browser at the computer system. Web-based database data can be sandboxed per domain to mitigate (and possibly eliminate) the exposure of the Web-based database data to malicious computer systems. The local relational database may be managed and modified by a statement processor according to database statements generated by a statement generator on a web server. |
| US07904573B1 |
Temporal access control for computer virus prevention
An access control system (200) enables a computer network (1) to prevent execution of computer code that may contain computer viruses. An access control console (201) generates an access control message (260) including control parameters such as a time limit (255). Said time limit (255) is disseminated to computers (2, 3) on the network (1). Said computers (2, 3) use the time limit (255) to determine the executability of computer code. Access control system (200) also enables blocking data communications with suspicious or susceptible programs in network (1) during virus outbreaks. |
| US07904571B1 |
Method and apparatus for generating a set of aggregates
A method and apparatus for generating at least one aggregate (e.g., a set of aggregates) for a given area of a network such that the number of aggregates is minimized subject to a maximum acceptable path selection error are disclosed. One operational benefit of the present method is that network administrators can select aggregates for an area based solely on the topology of the area without worrying about remaining areas of the OSPF network. Another benefit is that the present method enables trade-offs between the number of aggregates and the bound on the path selection error. |
| US07904570B1 |
Configurable file placement
In publishing to a Web server, a set of placement rules are entered by a user. These placement rules set a location on the Web server for storing the various files supporting a request to publish to the Web server. Type identifiers, such as file extensions, Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions (MIME) types, and the like, are used in the rules to assign certain types of files to the desired locations. When a developer or designer requests to publish to the Web server, all of the files supporting this publication request are read to determine their file type identifiers. Using the type identifiers, a location is assigned to each of the files that corresponds to the location assigned in the placement rules. |
| US07904568B2 |
Systems and methods for managing the distribution of electronic content
The present invention provides systems and methods for transferring electronic information from one location to another such that only one original work exists at a given time. The methods and systems of the present invention allow distribution of originals without requiring a registration authority or other entity to vouch for what constitutes an “original” piece of information, thus reducing (or eliminating entirely) the need to centrally record changes in ownership each time originals change hands. |
| US07904567B2 |
Method, apparatus and computer program product for integrating heterogeneous systems
Disclosed are a method, computer program product and apparatus for integrating resource and coordinator components in a heterogeneous computer system. The technique disclosed involves the introduction of a negotiation phase into the resource enlistment or registration process wherein the resource component and coordinator component request and respond with indicators showing the quality of service that each supports, thus jointly establishing at runtime a quality of service to be supported for the resource and coordinator pairing. The qualities of service may include commit phase support and recovery support. |
| US07904563B2 |
Establishing and utilizing terminal server dynamic virtual channels
The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for establishing and utilizing terminal server dynamic virtual channels. In some embodiments, a terminal server sends a new channel request to a terminal server. The client receives the new channel request and forwards the new channel request to a listener for a plug-in. The listener creates an instance of the client side plug-in and sends a channel accept to the terminal server. The terminal server receives the channel accept and creates an instance of a server side plug-in. The server and the client agree to use a unique identifier for identifying the established dynamic virtual channel. In other embodiments, data for a dynamic virtual channel is tunneled between computers over a static virtual channel. |
| US07904561B2 |
Brokering mobile web services
The invention provides a novel mobile web services discovery method that is capable of fulfilling the requirements from both the clients and providers. It allows the provider to balance the cost to performance ratios and utilize the network bandwidth more effectively, while also attaining the quality levels expected by the client. |
| US07904559B2 |
HTTP-based publish-subscribe service
Resources are retrieved asynchronous through the use of resource requests to a feed server. When the feed server returns an initial requested resource, a URI for a next resource is sent to the requesting subscriber. The URI for the next resource was pre-generated by the feed server before the next resource was created, thus allowing the subscriber to have a pending asynchronous resource request at the feed server. This resource request persists on the feed server until the new resource becomes available. |
| US07904557B1 |
Granting access to a content unit stored on an object addressable storage system
Aspects of the invention relate to sharing content stored on an object addressable storage (OAS) system among a plurality of users of the OAS system and authenticating users to an OAS system. In some embodiments, a user may store content units on the OAS system and control access by other users to these content units. In some embodiments, when a user grants one or more other users access to a content unit stored on the OAS system, the OAS system may send a notification of grant of access to the other user(s). |
| US07904555B2 |
Systems and methods for flow signature formation and use
An embodiment of a method for use in performing interoperability testing between two network architectures includes forming multiple transaction signatures that each characterizes a communication transaction conducted over the two networks and analyzing each of the transaction signatures to determine if the transaction signature matches a previously classified pattern. The method may further include generating a report identifying each of the communication transactions and indicating that each of the communication transactions is classified with a classification associated with a previously classified pattern or are of unknown classification. Another method includes receiving a transaction signature composed of multiple transaction elements, and determining whether the received transaction signature corresponds to a previously identified transaction signature pattern. If the transaction signature does not correspond to a previously identified transaction signature pattern, a new transaction signature pattern is created, and classified as one of a plurality of classifications indicative of completion or failure of the communication transaction. |
| US07904553B1 |
Translating network data into customer availability
A system is provided for translating network data into customer availability. The system includes a processor, a user interface, and a database manager. The database manager, when executed by the processor, parses router configurations to determine port data for each port on each router in a network, and integrates the port data with customer data to create an integrated database. The database manager also determines a planned port availability for the customer based on the integrated database and port state data, and determines port outages based on port outage data, card outage data, and router outage data. Additionally, the database manager determines an actual port availability for a customer based on the integrated database and concurrent outages identified for the port outages, and outputs a customer availability to the user interface, wherein the customer availability is based on the actual port availability and the planned port availability. |
| US07904551B2 |
Unicast clustering messaging
A system for clustering messaging in application server specific environment can comprise group leader application server nodes that are inter-connected to each other directly and with group member application server nodes. A group can include at least one group leader application server node and at least one group member server nodes. The group member application server nodes can send and receive messages through associated group leader application server nodes. |
| US07904547B2 |
Method, system, and program product for optimizing monitoring and discovery services for a grid computing environment
Under the present invention, a stability and updateability (SUP) ratio for a grid computing environment is generated. Thereafter, a size of a set (e.g., at least one) of scale free graphs for the grid computing environment is estimated. Then, based on at least one predetermined parameter such as a quantity of nodes in the grid computing environment, the set of scale free graphs is actually generated. Based on the set of scale free graphs a set of perturbed scale free graphs is generated. In one example, this may be accomplished using a preferential rewiring technique. This process is repeated for each of the monitoring and discovery services, which will yield at least two sets of perturbed scale free graphs. Using these sets of graphs, a set of monitoring and discovery service (MDS) topology graphs for the grid computing environment will be generated and deployed for optimization. |
| US07904542B1 |
Probe device for testing broadband wireless system
A probe device tests a broadband wireless system. The probe device receives an instruction to execute a plurality of tests. The probe device then executes the plurality of tests to measure performance of the broadband wireless communication system based on the instruction. The probe device determines performance information from the plurality of tests. The probe device stores the performance information in a memory of the probe device. |
| US07904528B2 |
Apparatus and associated method for downloading an application with a variable lifetime to a mobile terminal
Apparatus, and associated method, provides for downloading an application with a selectable lifetime from an application database to a mobile terminal. The mobile terminal user's identification information and the selected lifetime for the application are stored in an application-license database. When the user seeks to download the same application on a subsequent occasion the user is able to download that application for a reduced fee if lifetime remains from when the application was first downloaded. In addition, the application may be configured to delete or uninstall itself from the mobile terminal when the selected lifetime for the application expires. |
| US07904527B2 |
System and method for remote servicing of embedded devices
A service system permits remote personnel to service a local embedded device. In an exemplary application, the device being diagnosed communicates with a local computer system that interfaces to a remote computer system via, for example, the Internet. A service program may be downloaded to the local computer system that enables diagnostic interaction with the device by the remote computer system. In some instances, the device is automatically queried for model number and/or other identifying information such that the service program is matched to the particular device being diagnosed. In other embodiments, a local user might, for example, visit a designated Web page, enter identifying information, and the appropriate diagnostic program, such as a JAVA applet, downloads to the local system. The downloaded applet may be used by the remote computer system to, for example, query the device, control its operation, re-program it, receive real-time operational data, etc. |
| US07904523B2 |
Intelligent delayed broadcast method and apparatus
A method, system, and article of manufacture that improves the chance of getting an answer to a broadcast chat by sending the messages in subscribers in periodically delayed groups. If a group of subscribers does not produce enough suitable answers, the present invention will then rebroadcast the inquiry to another group of subscribers. This process will continue until enough suitable answers are received. |
| US07904522B2 |
Method, system, and storage medium for providing search and reference functions for a messaging system
An exemplary embodiment of the invention relates to a method, system, and storage medium for providing search and reference functions for a messaging system. The method comprises receiving a request to search a data archive for reference information relating to at least one keyword selected by a messaging system user while the messaging system user is actively engaged in composing a message or a response to a message. The keyword is selected from the body of text contained in the message. The method further includes searching the data archive and, if a reference is found, presenting the reference to the messaging system user within the message. The data archive includes information gathered from the messaging system user's message folder and at least one of a local data storage system, and a shared online repository. Embodiments of the invention also include a system and a storage medium. |
| US07904520B2 |
First party advertisement serving
Adservers with the ability to access advertiser cookies and vice versa when both are serving from the advertiser's domain are provided, thereby avoiding the overhead and delay in backend cookie synchronization efforts. Further, advertising cookie data can be gathered regardless of whether a user is browsing a publisher's web site with an advertisement served by an adserver, or browsing the advertiser's web site, because the cookies were previously set when the user visited the advertiser's web site in the context of a first-party cookie. Even if the user has configured his or her browser to limit the setting of third-party cookies, the cookies can still be read by the adserver. By making cookie and advertising data immediately available in real time to both the advertiser and the adserver, the solution also provides for instantaneous and accurate targeting of web advertising to allow an educated ad selection process by either party. |
| US07904518B2 |
Apparatus and method for analyzing and filtering email and for providing web related services
The inventive methodology provides an integrated plug and play solution designed to protect home networks against spam, phishing emails, viruses, spyware as well as other similar threats. The described content filtering appliance can be used for processing of web and email traffic implemented and can be deployed as a stand-alone appliance. In one implementation, the content processing appliance utilizes backend content filtering provided by a remote scanning service accessed via a network. The system employs network level analysis and translation of content and executes various procedures to handle the network traffic. In an embodiment of the invention, the appliance is provided with an automatic remote updating capability, wherein the software and data used by the appliance can be updated remotely via a network. Finally, the appliance may also implement parental controls. |
| US07904517B2 |
Challenge response systems
Disclosed are systems and methods that facilitate securing communication channels used in a challenge-response system to mitigate spammer intrusion or deception. The systems and methods make use of unique IDs that can be added to outbound messages originating from a sender, a recipient, and a third-party server. The IDs can be correlated according to the relevant parties. Thus, for example, a sender can add a signed ID to an outgoing message. A challenge sent back to the sender for that particular message can echo the same ID or a new ID derived from the original ID to allow a sender to verify that the challenge corresponds to an actual message. The IDs can include cookies as well to facilitate correlation of messages and to facilitate the retrieval of messages once a sender is determined to be legitimate. |
| US07904516B2 |
Voice attachment to an email using a wireless communication device
The present invention is directed to a multimedia electronic (mail) system and method for sending a voice message to an email recipient. The multimedia mail system includes a wireless communications network, at least one wireless communication device, an interactive voice response server for converting the voice message to a digitally stored audio file, and an email server for sending the audio file to the email recipient. The method of the present invention comprises the steps of communicatively connecting to a first server over the wireless communications network, selecting an option to send the audio file to the email recipient, communicatively connecting to a second server over the wireless communications network, recording the audio file on the second server, and sending the audio file to the email recipient. |
| US07904514B2 |
Online graphical message service
A system and method for achieving an electronic information service (also called an online graphical message service) hosted by a computer system (e.g., a server) connected to a network. Remote users can write information into and read information from the information service over the network. In response to a request from a first user, the service may create a first information object that comprises a virtual whiteboard. The virtual whiteboard may include information written by the remote users. Then, the service may transmit the first information object via the network to the first user. Later, the service may receive a second information object from the first user corresponding to part of the virtual whiteboard. The second information object may include modifications the first user made to the virtual whiteboard. The service may then update the virtual whiteboard utilizing the received second information object. |
| US07904512B2 |
Methods and systems for computer based collaboration
An exemplary method for computer based collaboration between a plurality of participants communicating over a data network comprises steps of receiving communications data with the computer, using a text analysis tool to identify at least a plurality of k-words from the communications data and a plurality of relations linking at least a portion of the plurality of k-words, and displaying the k-words and relations to the plurality of participants over the computer network. |
| US07904507B2 |
Determination of extent of congruity between observation of authoring user and observation of receiving user
A computationally implemented method includes, but is not limited to: acquiring a result of an observation of an authoring user; acquiring a result of an observation of a receiving user; comparing the result of the observation of the authoring user with the result of the observation of the receiving user; and presenting data indicative of an extent of congruity between the result of the observation of the authoring user and the result of the observation of the receiving user based at least in part on said comparing. In addition to the foregoing, other related method/system aspects are described in the claims, drawings, and text forming a part of the present disclosure. |
| US07904504B2 |
Policy enforcement and access control for distributed networked services
Apparatus for controlling cross-organizational access by end users associated with a plurality of organizations to one or more distributed object services available via a resource server across an information technology communications network. The apparatus comprises at least one Requesting Organization (RO) having access to services via the resource server, the Requesting Organization being adapted to issue enrollments to one or more end users upon request and electronically transmitting the enrollments to the respective end users. The apparatus further comprises at least one Servicing Organization (SO) communicating with the Requesting Organization and defining the credentials required for access to a service via the resource server by end users associated with each of the organizations. A Clearance Service (CS) is provided in which is stored one or more mappings of enrollments to credentials, the end user being adapted to transmit to the resource server a request for access to a resource together with data relating to their respective enrollment, in response to receipt of which request, the Requesting Organization is adapted to transmit the data relating to the enrollment to the Clearance Service which is adapted to map the enrollment to one or more respective credentials and return data representative of the credentials to the resource server which in turn is adapted to compare the data representative of the credentials to the original resource request and to comply (or otherwise) with the request. The Requesting Organization the resource server and the Clearance Service are all implemented as web or e-services. |
| US07904503B2 |
Method of enhancing rendering of content item, client system and server system
A client system (200, 220) receives a content item. The user can mark the received content item as being of interest. In response to said marking, tracking means (204, 224) automatically provide identifying data for the marked content item to a remote server system (250). The server receives a portion of the content item from a client system (200, 220), processes the received portion to obtain an identifier for the content item, obtains further information on the content item using the identifier, and transmits the further information back to the client system (200, 220). The tracking means (204, 224) subsequently receive further information on the content item from the remote server system (250). An identifier for the content item can be used in an e-commerce system (160), for example by putting it on a shopping list (161) or to obtain a list of related items. |
| US07904499B2 |
Methods and apparatus for carry generation in a binary look ahead system
Methods and apparatus provide for a carry generation tree for a carry look-ahead binary adder, which includes N stages of operators, reducers, and/or repeaters, wherein: a first of the stages receives binary outputs from a series of binary adders; a last of the stages produces a carry out signal representing the carry state of the series of binary adders; and any operator in a given stage does not receive signals from more than one operator in a preceding stage. |
| US07904492B2 |
Method and apparatus for concurrent read-only access to filesystem
A storage server obtains metadata to describe a filesystem, then processes the metadata to locate a data block and reads the data block from a remote storage subsystem. Apparatus and software implementing embodiments of the invention are also described and claimed. |
| US07904488B2 |
Time stamp methods for unified plant model
A system that facilitates generation of a unique identifier comprises a random number generator. A unique identifier creator receives a number generated by the random number generator and object instance data associated with an object. The unique identifier creator utilizes the object instance data and the random number to generate a unique identifier for an object associated with the object instance data. |
| US07904487B2 |
Translating data access requests
A system is disclosed for translating access requests between a format suitable for a relational database and a different format used by an application. When the system receives a data access request from the application, the system accesses a mapping catalog and translates the request based on the mapping catalog. The translated request is then provided to the relational database. |
| US07904483B2 |
System and method for presenting geo-located objects
A system and method for presenting digital information is described. The system comprises a local client, a plurality of geo-located objects (GLOBs), a GLOB Data Sheet, a grouping of GLOBS, and a display device are described. The local client is configured to collect a plurality of objects, in which each object is composed of digital information. Each of the geo-located objects (GLOBs) comprises a location component that is associated with each object. One GLOB Data Sheet (GDS) is associated with each GLOB and each GDS is configured as a data structure that comprises one or more auxiliary data fields that are searchable and store auxiliary information associated with each GLOB. The grouping of GLOBs is organized as a function of time and location information that is gathered from each GDS. The display device is configured to present the organized grouping of GLOBs. The display device is also configured to receive at least one computer instruction that allows additional information that is extracted from the associated GDS to be presented on the display device. |
| US07904481B1 |
Workforce management system
A system and method for collecting work volume data where a work process is modeled into work queues. A link is created between one of the modeled work queues and an implied work queue. Upon the receipt of a first work event, information is updated that is associated with the first work queue. Based upon the receipt of the fist work event and the link, a first implied work event is generated. Based on the first implied work event, information associated with the first implied work queue is updated. |
| US07904479B2 |
Detection of network security breaches based on analysis of network record logs
Computer program products and methods of inspecting a log of security records in a computer network are provided. The method includes retrieving a log record, processing the log record including deriving a key to a table, determining a data value from information in the log record and adding the data value to a list of data values associated with the key if the data value is unique. One or more entries of the table are evaluated based on predetermined criteria to detect attempted security breaches. |
| US07904477B2 |
Object verification enabled network (OVEN)
The present invention is a method and system for handling a plurality of information units in an information processing system, such as a multimodal human computer interaction (HCI) system, through verification process for the plurality of information units. The present invention converts each information unit in the plurality of information units into verified object by augmenting the first meaning in the information unit with a second meaning and expresses the verified objects by object representation for each verified object. The present invention utilizes a processing structure, called polymorphic operator, which is capable of applying a plurality of relationships among the verified objects based on a set of predefined rules in a particular application domain for governing the operation among the verified objects. The present invention is named Object Verification Enabled Network (OVEN). The OVEN provides a computational framework for the information processing system that needs to handle complex data and event in the system, such as handling a huge amount of data in a database, correlating information pieces from multiple sources, applying contextual information to the recognition of inputs in a specific domain, processing fusion of the multiple inputs from different modalities, handling unforeseen challenges in deploying a commercially working information processing system in a real-world environment, and handling collaboration among multiple users. |
| US07904474B2 |
Entry based access control cache
A method and apparatus for retrieving data from a Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) repository. In one embodiment, the method includes retrieving a list of lightweight directory access protocol (LDAP) access control instructions (ACIs) for an LDAP entry, and storing the list in a cache of an LDAP server as an entry associated with the LDAP entry. |
| US07904473B2 |
Community-based parental controls
According to a general aspect, a method includes maintaining rating groups, each rating group providing a rating for content compiled based on information received from a user evaluating the content. The method also includes receiving, from a first user, a selection of a first rating group, from among the rating groups, to be applied to a set of users associated with the first user. The method also includes receiving, from a user, a request for a piece of content from the content. The method also includes determining that the user from which the request was received belongs to the set of users associated with the first user. The method also includes, based upon the determination that the user belonged to the set of users associated with the first user, accessing information associated with the first rating group and determining whether the first rating group includes a rating for the requested piece of content. The method also includes determining whether or not to provide information to the requesting user conditioned on the indication or absence of a rating for the requested piece of content within the first rating group. |
| US07904471B2 |
Method, apparatus and computer program product for preserving privacy in data mining
Privacy in data mining of sparse high dimensional data records is preserved by transforming the data records into anonymized data records. This transformation involves creating a sketch-based private representation of each data record, each data record containing only a small number of non-zero attribute value in relation to the high dimensionality of the data records. |
| US07904470B2 |
Discovery service for electronic data environment
A method includes storing, at a discovery service, address information for each of a plurality of information services providers. For each of the plurality of information services, product data of a respective information provider and access right data (defining access rights to the product data) are also stored. At the discovery service, a query is received from an information requester, the query being related to specific product data for a product identifier included in the query. A first information service, of the plurality of information services, is identified as an information provider of the specific product data, and first address information for the first information service is retrieved. The query is routed from the discovery service to the first information service using the first address information. The first information service selectively responds directly to the information requester in accordance with the access right data of the first information service. |
| US07904465B2 |
Network-extensible reconfigurable media appliance
Extensible reconfigurable media appliance for security and entertainment captures images digitally for storage. Digital effects and filters are applied to incoming video stream on-the-fly or to video data stored in memory. Digital effects and filters are dynamically stored, modified, updated or deleted, providing extensible reconfigurable effects studio. Digital media appliance communicates wirelessly with other media appliances, computers, security systems, video storage, email, chat, cellular services or PDAs to provide seamless integration of captured video stream. |
| US07904463B2 |
Information display apparatus and method
An information display apparatus which reproduces images stored in a detachable recording medium acquires file identifying information which identifies a file stored in the recording medium. Also, it determines whether or not specific attribute information about the file identified by the file identifying information exists and acquires attribute information existence information which indicates the presence or absence of the attribute information. Then, the information display apparatus generates an image file list which associates the file identifying information with the attribute information existence information. The information display apparatus acquires, from the recording medium, specific attribute information about files determined to have attribute information by the attribute information existence information among files recorded in the image file list and determines a reproducing method of files stored in the recording medium based on the file identifying information and the attribute information. |
| US07904461B2 |
Advertiser and user association
The subject matter of this specification can be embodied in, among other things, a method that includes generating content-based keywords based on content generated by users of a social network. The method includes labeling nodes comprising user nodes, which are representations of the users, with advertising labels comprising content-based keywords that coincide with advertiser-selected keywords that are based on one or more terms specified by an advertiser. The method also includes outputting, for each node, weights for the advertising labels based on weights of advertising labels associated with neighboring nodes, which are related to the node by a relationship. |
| US07904458B2 |
Method and apparatus for optimizing queries under parametric aggregation constraints
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for optimizing queries. The present invention discloses an efficient method for providing answers to queries under parametric aggregation constraints. |
| US07904456B2 |
Security monitoring tool for computer network
A security monitoring tool and method for a computer network receives data and determines whether the data is associated with a host already stored in a database. Based on the determination, the tool stores the data as a new host or associates it with an existing host. The tool also uses the received data to improve how previously stored data is associated with hosts. In one aspect, the tool determines whether the received data indicates that data currently associated with a stored host represents data for at least two hosts. If so, the tool splits the data into two hosts and associates the received data to the appropriate host. In another aspect, the tool determines whether the received data indicates that data currently associated with two or more hosts represent data for only one host. If so, the tool merges the data into one host and associates the received data with that host. |
| US07904452B2 |
Information providing server, information providing method, and information providing system
According to one embodiment, a record information storage module stores record information related to content recorded by an external apparatus in association with a keyword representing the content and user information. A search information storage module stores a search phrase used for searching in an external apparatus in association with user information. A search word handler extracts a predetermined number of words having high search frequency from search phrases stored in association with specific user information to generate a word list. A record information handler extracts keywords stored in association with the specific user information to generate a keyword list. A ranking processor generates ranking information indicating a word in the word list which matches a keyword in the keyword list. A communicator provides the ranking information to an external apparatus corresponding to the specific user information. |
| US07904446B1 |
Searchable menu system via keyword search
Displaying a visual cue is disclosed. One or more search criteria is/are received. One or more objects that are associated with a user interface is/are searched based at least in part on the one or more search criteria to obtain a search result. A sequence of one or more choices associated with accessing the search result is/are obtained. A visual cue is displayed for at least a portion of the sequence of one or more choices. |
| US07904441B2 |
Apparatus and method for recovering final display
An apparatus and method of recovering a final display are provided. The apparatus includes a query-string-creating module creating query strings in response to a cursor-request message, a query-string-controlling module creating a first cursor as a result of processing the query strings, and returning the created first cursor to the query-string-creating module, and a cursor-recovery module storing information about the first cursor and recovering information about a second cursor in response to the cursor-request message. |
| US07904438B2 |
Updating first data value before second data value
A flag and a wait period are used to guarantee that readers of two data values see the updated first value before they see the updated second value, where the second value has to be updated after the first value is updated and thus is dependent on the first value. The first value is updated, and a flag associated with the first data value is set. The flag effectively prevents further updating of the first data value until it has been cleared. A length of time is waited for, such that any reading of the first data value and the second data value is guaranteed to not see the second data value as updated unless the first data value is also seen as updated. The flag is then cleared, such that further updating of the first data value can again occur. The second data value is finally updated. |
| US07904435B2 |
System and method for resource lock acquisition and reclamation in a network file system environment
Systems and methods for acquiring, releasing, and reclaiming a lock of a data structure in a network file system (“NFS”) are discussed. Generally, a text file is created in a management library of the data structure. The name of the text file includes an identifier of the lock, an identifier of a process attempting to acquire the lock, and an identifier of a machine on which the process attempting to acquire the lock is running. The identifier of the process attempting to acquire the lock and the identifier of the machine on which the process attempting to acquire the lock is running are is saved in the contents of the text file and a hard line is created pointing to the text file. Finally, a lock of the data structure is granted based on a number of links pointing to the text file. |
| US07904434B2 |
Framework for handling business transactions
Techniques are provided for freeing up resources before operations that change the resources have successfully completed. Resources are freed up by committing database transactions that perform portions of operations before the operations themselves have successfully completed. If the operations fail to complete successfully, then “compensation information” is used to remove the effects of the committed changes that were performed as part of the operation. Techniques are also provided for allowing database transactions to update values without retaining exclusive locks on those values. Operational constraints set forth conditions that must be satisfied before an update is allowed to proceed. If an attempt is made to update a particular value that has changes that may be undone, then the database server determines a plurality of “possible result values” for the particular value. If the possible result values satisfy the operational constraint conditions, then the update is allowed to proceed. |
| US07904432B2 |
Compressed data structure for extracted changes to a database and method of generating the data structure
A method of identifying and storing data changes of a first compressed database compared with a previous compressed database and updating a second compressed database on a user device based on the stored data changes. Data changes are stored in a compressed data structure and data in the first, second, and previous compressed databases is stored in compressed form in one or more uniquely identified data pages. A data page of the first compressed database and the previous compressed database are decompressed and an entry from the first and previous compressed databases is read and compared. If the read entries differ, a type of action performed on the previous entry is identified and an entry in a delta file based on the read entry comparison is stored. The delta file is then compressed. The second compressed database is updated based on the delta file. |
| US07904430B2 |
End-user portal session logging by portlets
A portal uses portlets to provide a session to a user. Based on portlet events that occur in the session, portlet log entries are sent from the portlets to a log server. The log server stores log entries comprising the portlet log entries and the portal log entries. A customer service representative in communication with the user is provided a display of an activity of the user in the session based on the log entries from the log server. |
| US07904429B2 |
System and method for searching strings of records
System and method for detecting the inclusion of strings of words (records) in an input string of words. In a preparation phase, the records are pre-processed. Each record is represented by a string of chunks, each chunk composed of a pre-defined number of words. Each chunk found in at least one record is assigned a number of attributes, such as a “Begin of Record” attribute and an “End of Record” attribute. In the searching phase the input string is also divided in chunks, and for each input chunk, an Incremental Hash Function (IHF) is calculated for comparing with a prerecorded value ΔI. If the two values IHF and ΔI coincide for matching chunks with certain predefined attributes, a “probable match” is set, indicating a very high probability that a chunk was found in the records. |
| US07904425B2 |
Generating backup sets to a specific point in time
Generating backup sets for a specific point in time from backup data stored in a backup storage device is provided. A backup set, in accordance with an illustrative embodiment, is a collection of the files and data that would have been the most recently backed-up version of a computer's files and data at the particular point in time if the backup set had been created at that point in time. In order to generate the backup set, versions of data objects are identified in the backup storage system that have backup timestamps equal to or prior to the designated point in time and that have deactivation times that are after the designated point in time. In addition, a mechanism for deleting versions of data objects based on a retention time and an inactive version limit is provided. |
| US07904417B2 |
Recursive metadata templating
A computer-implemented method and system are provided for retrieving a metadata instance defining at least part of an application. In the method, a first metadata instance is loaded. Then, one or more templates specified in the first metadata instance are identified. The identified templates are recursively loaded, and metadata from the first metadata instance is applied to the recursively loaded templates to produce a new metadata instance. The new metadata instance is returned. |
| US07904415B2 |
Systems and computer program products to manage the display of data entities and relational database structures
Systems and computer products that present typically large amounts of entity information with a graphical display that efficiently maps the display of a large number of OLAP objects to related relational database tables thereby retaining contextual information about the data associated with the objects and tables. The efficient mapping is enabled by the use of areas that contain and include objects. The preferred embodiment of the present invention enhances analysis, by OLAP techniques, of the objects and the associated relational database information. An embodiment of the present invention further operates in a recursive manner by enabling the objects to include and contain additional objects. |
| US07904414B2 |
Adaptive multi-channel answering service for knowledge management systems
Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to inquiry resolution for KM systems and provide a method, system and computer program product for multi-channel answering services for inquiry resolution in a KM system. In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, a method for multi-channel answering services for inquiry resolution in a KM system can include receiving a request for interaction with an answering server of the KM system, extracting question text from the request along with question text meta-data, and deducing a context for the question text from the question text meta-data. Thereafter, the context can be analyzed to determine a preferred channel of communication, a preferred mode of interaction and a preferred delivery format for interacting with the answering server. Finally, the answer content can be provided for the question text according to the preferred channel of communication, the preferred mode of interaction and the preferred delivery format. |
| US07904413B2 |
Method and system to segment an OLAP set
A segmentation management system manages segmentation of a set of members in a multi-dimensionally modeled data source. The segmentation management system comprises a segment definition manager, a segmentation engine and a segment application manager. The segment definition manager manages definitions of identifiable non-overlapping segments for a given base set of members in a multi-dimensionally modeled data source. The segmentation engine divides the base set of members into the segments based on the definitions of the segments. The segment application manager allows the segments to be used as objects. |
| US07904410B1 |
Constrained dynamic time warping
A method for processing data in two data sets may include executing a constrained time domain warping (CDTW) algorithm to compare the data in the two data sets. The CDTW algorithm may use a band constraint that defines a function used to identify potential matches between observations in the two data sets. The CDTW algorithm may also use a width constraint that defines a number of matched observations that are to be scored. |
| US07904406B2 |
Enabling validation of data stored on a server system
Enabling validation of data stored on a server system. According to an aspect of the invention, a portion of the data is received at a client system and processed based on a rule to generate a result. The generated result is used to determine the compliance of the received portion of data with a requirement and thus validate the portion of data. According to another aspect, a user is provided a convenient interface to generate rules (including the requirement) for validating data stored on a server system. |
| US07904403B2 |
Method for solving application failures using social collaboration
A computer-implemented method, system and computer usable program code for solving an application failure using social collaboration are provided. A search request to search a central repository of knowledge is received. The search request comprises a user identity and an application failure problem to be solved. The central repository of knowledge comprises data regarding attempts to solve an application failure problem compiled from registered users of the central repository of knowledge. A determination is made as to whether the application failure problem to be solved exists in the central repository. If the application failure problem to be solved exists within the central repository, search results for previous attempts at solving the application failure problem are collected. The search results are ranked based on a frequency of access and feedback from users and are grouped according to social groupings defined by the requester. The results are displayed to a requester. |
| US07904402B2 |
Pluggable dialects for a rule engine
Some embodiments of pluggable dialects for a rule engine have been presented. In one embodiment, a rule file substantially written in a rule language is compiled. The rule file may include a set of rules, each rule having one or more semantic code blocks written in a dialect different from the rule language. Further, each rule may include a dialect parameter indicative of the dialect. The compiled rule file is input to a core engine of a rule engine for execution. |
| US07904400B2 |
Help system with an online help facility and an offline help facility, an automation device with such a help system and a method for providing help data
A help system, an automation device with such a help system and a method for providing help data are disclosed. The help system includes a first offline help facility which is installed as part of an application on a data processing device, the first help facility providing a user with help data based upon context data defined by the user, the help data being stored in the first help facility and thus on the data processing device. A second online help facility is provided which is accessed by the data processing device via the internet such that the context data defined by the user in relation to the first help facility is automatically adopted in the second help facility as context data, the second help facility providing the user with additional help data based on this context data, the help data being stored in the second help facility. |
| US07904399B2 |
Method and apparatus for determining decision points for streaming conversational data
A method for determining a decision point in real-time for a data stream from a conversation includes receiving streaming conversational data; and determining when to classify the streaming conversational data, using a measure of certainty, by performing certainty calculations at a plurality of time instances during the conversation and by selecting a decision point in response to the certainty calculations, the decision point not being based on a fixed window of conversational data but being based on accumulated conversational data available at different ones of the plurality of time instances. Systems and computer program products are also provided. |
| US07904398B1 |
Artificial synapse component using multiple distinct learning means with distinct predetermined learning acquisition times
Neuron component and method for use in artificial neural networks (ANNs) with input synapses (204, 204b . . . 204n), each synapse includes multiple weights called synapse weights (206-1, 206-2, 206-3). Each synapse further includes a facility to modulate, or gate, an input signal connected to the synapses, by each of the respective synapse weights within the synapse, supplying the result of each modulating operation. The neuron also sums the results of all modulating operations, and subjects the results to a transfer function. Each of the multiple weights associated with a given synapse, may be specified to have its own weight-adjustment facility (214, 214b, 214c), with its own error-values (216, 216b, 216c), and its own specified learning and aspect (1000) includes a separate sum (1018, 1018b) and transfer function (1020, 1020b) for each synapse weight. |
| US07904395B2 |
Consumer rating and customer service based thereon within a virtual universe
The present invention is directed to providing consumer ratings and customer service based thereon within a virtual universe. A method for providing a consumer rating and customer service within a virtual universe includes: determining a consumer habit(s) of a customer in the virtual universe and then calculating a consumer rating, based on the determination of the consumer habit(s). From the calculated consumer rating, a particular consumer service is selectively providing in the virtual universe. |
| US07904391B2 |
Methods of returning merchandise purchased by a customer from a vendor, computer implemented methods performed by a vendor, and return of merchandise processing apparatuses
A currency distribution system and method. In accordance with the invention, a first transaction is facilitated by which currency is transferred electronically between a first entity and a second entity, and whereby a first balance of currency is maintained by said second entity. A second transaction is facilitated by which at least a portion of the first balance of currency is transferred electronically between the second entity and a third entity. In particular, the second transaction is facilitated by a processor that includes code for ascertaining data with respect to the third entity, the data pertaining to goods or services unrelated to the currency, and providing a qualification in response thereto. A second processor included for enabling the second transaction in response to the qualification. A database is employed and a query is made to determine the qualification for the second transaction. In an illustrative embodiment, the first entity is a postal service, the second entity is a vendor, and the third entity is a customer of the vendor. In the illustrative application, the currency is postage and the processor communicates the ability to print and utilize postage to the customer. The postage is used to return goods from the customer to the vendor. |
| US07904388B1 |
Method and system for processing recurring payments
According to an embodiment of the present invention, a computer implemented method and system for processing payments may involve receiving a payment file from a paying entity; identifying at least one payee from the payment file; identifying a payment amount for the at least one payee for a contribution based on a pre-existing contract between the paying entity and the at least one payee for recurring payments to the at least one payee; identifying a payment method for the at least one payee from a payee profile; and distributing the payment amount via the payment method to the at least one payee; wherein a group manages the recurring payments for the at least one payee. |
| US07904386B2 |
System, method, and computer program product for saving and investing through use of transaction cards
A system, method, and computer program product are used for saving through use of transaction cards. This is done through associating a transaction account of the transaction card with one or more deposit accounts. An amount of funds to be deposited from the transaction account into the deposit account is established. A number of times a deposit will be made is established. A time duration between the deposits when more than one deposit will be made is established. An event that initiates at least a first one of the deposits is established. The amount of funds from the transaction card account is deposited into the deposit account based on the above criteria. |
| US07904384B2 |
System and method for providing extra lines of credit
A system and method for upgrading existing credit cards with additional lines of credit is disclosed. Credit information associated with customers holding credit cards issued by a credit card issuer are analyzed to determine a level of risk associated with each customer. One or more extra line of credit may be established for selected customers based on the determined level of risk associated with each customer. Each extra credit line may be exclusively associated with a selected set of vendors that have a partnership agreement with the credit card issuer. The credit card issuer may allow customers to select vendors to be associated with the extra credit line or may automatically choose vendors for selected customers. Customers with established extra credit lines may purchase goods and/or service directly from vendor sites or at the credit card issuer's web sites. Purchases at selected vendor sites may be automatically applied to a customer's newly established extra credit line. Additionally, a customer may choose to apply purchases to their extra credit lines or their primary line of credit. |
| US07904383B2 |
Method and system for monitoring for and reporting of lien distress events
A computer-based method of monitoring for and reporting of a lien distress event relatable to a lien against a property includes the steps of extracting loan data from a client loan portfolio, defining the lien distress event relatable to the loan data by using one or more lien distress event criterion, detecting an occurrence of the lien distress event iteratively, and notifying a client of the occurrence of the lien distress event. |
| US07904382B2 |
Methods for financing renewable energy systems
A business method for financing renewable energy systems includes offering a home loan to a homeowner in which the interest payable by the homeowner are tax deductable. A lease is also offered to the homeowner for the installation and use of a renewable energy system. A deposit of cash proceeds from the home loan is put into a trust held by an escrow agent for the single purpose of paying lease payments for the lease as each payment becomes due. Such that the proceeds from the home loan are effectively used to defease the debt represented by the lease. |
| US07904378B2 |
Auction result prediction with auction insurance
An auction result prediction system predicts auction results. The system may determine item, seller, or auction characteristics from prior or pending auctions. The system also obtains item characteristics of an item for which a result prediction is sought, either by a buyer or by a seller. A price predictor in the system accepts the auction and item characteristics and predicts an auction result based on the characteristics. The system also determines insurance parameters for insuring online auctions, and the insurance parameters may be based on predicted auction results. An insurance policy reflecting the insurance parameters may be offered to an online auction buyer, seller, or other market participant. The insurance policy may insure, for example, that an item for sale will obtain at least a price specified by the insurance policy. |
| US07904374B2 |
Click based trading with intuitive grid display of market depth
A method and system for reducing the time it takes for a trader to place a trade when electronically trading on an exchange, thus increasing the likelihood that the trader will have orders filled at desirable prices and quantities. The “Mercury” display and trading method of the present invention ensure fast and accurate execution of trades by displaying market depth on a vertical or horizontal plane, which fluctuates logically up or down, left or right across the plane as the market prices fluctuates. This allows the trader to trade quickly and efficiently. |
| US07904373B2 |
Method for electronically initiating and managing agricultural production contracts
A method of facilitating the contracting of agricultural products using the Internet is used for providing buyers and sellers with real time information relating to the type and amount of agricultural products available for contract. The invention includes a relational database for the storage and retrieval of information. One or more end use buyers can store information in the database relating to a desired type and quantity of agricultural products. Agricultural producers, such as farmers, can view listings of agricultural products desired and the system can facilitate the contracting between the buyers and producers for the agricultural products. The system can display in real time the quantity and types of agricultural products under contract and available for contract. The system can manage delivery preferences, quality data and determine contract pricing based on these criteria. |
| US07904370B2 |
System and method for variably regulating order entry in an electronic trading system
A system and method are provided to intelligently limit the frequency at which automated or semi-automated trading tools move or re-price orders in an exchange order book. A tolerance may be input that limits when one or more orders in the exchange order book are moved from one price to another. The system and method assist in reducing the number of orders that are entered into the system which can lead to reduced exchange transaction fees, lost queue position, and reduce network bandwidth consumption. |
| US07904364B2 |
Systems and methods for auctioning access to securities research resources
Methods and systems for auctioning units of securities research resources from a supplier of securities research services to potential consumers of the supplier's securities research are disclosed. According to various embodiments, the method includes the steps of receiving from a plurality of the potential consumers at least one bid for at least one unit of the securities research resources services of the supplier in at least one bidding stage, and allocating units of securities research resources services of the supplier to certain of the potential consumers (i.e., winning bidders) based on the received bids of the potential consumers. The units may be, for example, research time units of a research team of the supplier of the securities research. Also, the units may be a preferred service access level to a member of a research team of the supplier of the securities research. The preferred access level may entitle a holder thereof to direct enhanced consultative contact with the member of the research team. |
| US07904361B2 |
Risk management customer registry
Methods and systems are provided for managing Risk associated with a financial account initiated by an intermediary institution. Risk related information descriptive of a customer of the intermediary can be registered with a neutral entity and a certification can be generated that is associated with the customer and includes the registered information. An instruction can be received to convey the certification associated with the customer to a Primary Financial Institution after which the certification can be conveyed to the Primary Financial Institution. |
| US07904357B2 |
System, method and apparatus for monitoring and billing food preparation equipment and product
A system, method and apparatus for monitoring and billing beverage preparation equipment and product. The system includes a controller for monitoring the use of beverage preparation equipment. The beverage preparation equipment or apparatus includes a dilution source and a product source connected to the controller and controllably dispenses a dilution component and product component to mix these two components to produce a resultant combination. Information is provided from the dilution source, product source or both to the controller which relates to the dilution material, product or both used by the apparatus. The information is provided to a data collection portion, also connected to the controller, which uses the information for billing purposes. The method includes a method of billing, servicing and resupplying of the apparatus. Information may be provided to a supplier to periodically deliver a product to the operator of the apparatus. |
| US07904356B1 |
Icon based data management
A financial computer program includes an icon representing a financial circumstance within the financial computer program, where the icon is selectable by a user to indicate the financial circumstance relevant to the user and manipulatable by the user to support a financial operation, data associated with the icon, and a software module configured to perform the financial operation at least partly dependent on the data associated with the icon. |
| US07904355B1 |
Systems and methods for a revenue causality analyzer
A revenue causality analyzer that provides attribution of causality effects for changes in revenue. The analyzer includes a selector for selecting a reference time period and a comparison time period, a receiver configured to receive transaction data including pricing data and volume data about the products at reference and comparison times, a preparer that includes a missing data exchanger and data error corrector, an attributor for attributing causality effects including a price effect, a volume effect, a mix effect an exchange effect, a cost effect, a dividend effect, a loss effect, and an inventory appreciation effect, by analyzing transaction data through a causality equation; and an output. Price effect sums the product of change in price and volume of the products across the products and currencies. Volume effect multiplies change in volume by the revenue per product sold. Mix effect multiplies percent revenue change by the volume of products sold. |
| US07904354B2 |
Web based auto bill analysis method
Method for automatically analyzing customer's bill, such as cell phone bill, received in electronic format for errors and utilization against company's published plan by third-party on third-party's website for customer. The company's published plan is previously stored on third-party's website. Third-party advises customer of results, in real-time, and provides blind feedback to billing company by type error and utilization. Results and feedback are specific to each customer and billing company, and also provides security for both. Promotional materials are provided to customer for revenue to third-party. |
| US07904353B2 |
Method and system for processing payments
A payment processing method and system is described which involves serially processing remittance documents, e.g. financial instruments, remittances, and associated documents obtained from diverse sources, electronically scanning the financial instruments and other remittance documents, thereby converting the information contained thereon into a digital format. The digital information is passed through a series of software programs and associated hardware that read the scanned financial instruments, remittances, and other documents, and compares the information obtained with preexisting information about the payor, detects errors, and the like automatically, with minimal human intervention. It also allows the information to be corrected and passed to a check encoding machine or process which imparts desired information on said checks before they are sent to a bank for deposit.The system is a plurality of electronically interconnected machines and computer servers having unique software programs installed therein, thereby allowing the remittances, financial instruments, and other documents to be processed automatically with a minimum of human interactions. |
| US07904350B2 |
Network-based supply chain management method
An exemplary embodiment of the invention relates to a method for facilitating supply chain collaboration in a network environment, said supply chain including an enterprise and at least one supplier. The method includes generating and transmitting an unconstrained forecast to a supplier; receiving a supplier capability statement in response; and generating a constrained forecast utilizing the supplier capability statement. The constrained forecast is transmitted to the supplier which responds with a formal commitment to product a needed supply indicated in the constrained forecast.The method also comprises monitoring inventory levels at a replenishment service center by a supplier based upon a formal commitment; refilling inventory items at the replenishment service center; and facilitating delivery of the inventory items to the enterprise site by transmitting a pull signal to the replenishment service center whereby inventory items are delivered in response to the pull signal. |
| US07904348B2 |
System and method for eCatalog supplier portal
A Supplier Portal is provided to allow a Supplier to self-author the business process elements (BPEs) of a business process (BP) to create, manage and publish rich-content for use in eCatalogs, Data Pools, Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems, and other knowledge management situations. The resulting business process (BP) for content management incorporates the Supplier's business process (BP) model. At the business process (BP) level, self-authoring allows users to adapt business process elements (BPEs) such as workflows, approval rules and approver roles and permissions, event notification and metrics. At the activity level, self-authoring allows users to adapt business process elements (BPEs) such as user interaction templates, business process (BP) rules and user roles and permissions that relate to the input, configuration, rationalization, classification, value extraction, quality control, publication, and ongoing management of rich-content. The resulting published rich-content incorporates a supplier's unique way of doing business while adhering to the quality, integrity and consistency imposed by the Supplier Portal to achieve a seamless published rich-content such as an ecatalog. The Supplier Portal can be any and all of a hosted behind a firewall solution, accessible via a browser on at least one of a Personal Computer, hand held, or wireless/wired networked communication or standalone device. |
| US07904341B2 |
Adaptive commerce systems and methods
A system and method for adaptive commerce is disclosed. Adaptive commerce enables recommendations of products or services based on usage behaviors and commercial contextual information. Commercial contextual information may include the business environment of the recommendation recipient, purchase histories, and product or service attributes. Bundles of products and/or services, or specific product or service configurations may be recommended. Corresponding prices may be determined in accordance with behavioral inferences and commercial contextual information. |
| US07904338B2 |
Display device and funds transaction device including the display device
A display device is disclosed which may be used in a mobile telephone or other article which is intended to make secure transactions such as financial transactions, as well as other personal transactions such as telephone calls. The device includes a display (24) for displaying information, a financial transaction controller (26) including a processor (28), a display driver (30) for driving the display (24) and a secure memory (32). The financial transaction controller allows the display section (24), and an input keypad (12), to operate under the control of the device to enable personal functions other than financial transactions to be performed. However, in the event of a financial transaction, the financial transaction controller takes over control of the display section (24) and the input keypad (12) so that the financial transaction can be performed while the device is under the control of the financial transaction controller to thereby prevent tampering with or tapping off of data, and also the display of information other than under the control of the financial controller. |
| US07904337B2 |
Match engine marketing
Enabling advertisers using a computer network such as the Internet and a match engine to submit their offerings to product, service, benefit seeking entities. In some embodiments, a database having accounts for the providers is made available. Accounts contain contact and billing information for an advertiser; and at least one offering having at least a description, a criteria set comprising one or more criterion factors, and a bid amount. An advertiser influences a position of an offering in the advertiser's account by first selecting offering relevant criteria. The advertiser enters the criteria and the description into a listing; influencing at least in part the position for the listing within a results page through an online bidding process. This results page is generated in response to a seeking entity query of the match engine. Pay for performance demographic, geographic, psychographic criteria/characteristics targeted directly advertising (frictionless advertising) is enabled. |
| US07904334B2 |
System and method for reducing excess capacity for restaurants and other industries during off-peak or other times
A system and method for reducing excess capacity for restaurants and other industries during off-peak hours is provided. Customers or potential customers may bid on gift certificates redeemable at restaurants during a predetermined time. Users may register with the system and provide identification and demographic information which may be used by restaurants for targeted marketing strategies, promotions, and special offers. The system may include a registration module, an auction module, a restaurant guide module, a restaurant manager module, rewards and referral center module, restaurant reservation module, and advertisement displays. |
| US07904333B1 |
Web-based electronic commerce (EC) enabled shopping network configured to allow members of a consumer product management team and authorized parties to communicate directly with consumers shopping at EC-enabled websites along the world wide web (WWW), using multi-mode virtual kiosks (MMVKS) driven by server-side components and managed by product team members
A Web-based electronic commerce (EC) enabled shopping network configured to allow members of a consumer product management team and authorized parties to communicate directly with consumers shopping at EC-enabled WWW-sites along the World Wide Web (WWW), serviced by programmable Multi-Mode Virtual Kiosks (MMVKs) driven by server-side components and managed by product management team members and authorized parties. When generated by the first Internet-enabled information server, each MMVK has a graphical user interface (GUI) that is characterized by a plurality of independently programmable display modes. Upon the Web-browser of each consumer encountering an installed MMVK tag along an EC-enabled Website, the corresponding server-side driven MMVK is automatically generated by the first Internet-enabled information server and served to the Web browser for display and review by the consumer. |
| US07904332B1 |
Integrated financial processing system and method for facilitating an incentive program
A library of available incentive programs is established for an agricultural product. Input is accepted from an agricultural producer or a crop planner to facilitate tailoring the library of incentive programs to the requirements (e.g., needs, objectives, and resources) of a particular producer. The library of available incentive programs is searched based upon the accepted input to select a tailored list of candidate incentive programs from the library. Information on the tailored candidate incentive programs is made accessible to the agricultural producer. The agricultural producer may select a preferential incentive program between or among the candidate incentive programs. Further, the producer may readily seek financing via electronic communications to purchase or otherwise conduct a transaction under the preferential incentive program. If the producer applies for a financial product for financing the transaction under the preferential incentive program, the previously gathered input (e.g., background data on the particular producer) is transferred to a financial screening process to reduce duplicative reentry of data and to reduce or eliminate potential clerical errors. |
| US07904330B2 |
Event type estimation system, event type estimation method, and event type estimation program stored in recording media
An event type estimation system includes a log aggregation unit that generates time-series data representing the fluctuation in traffic to a site from log data, a deviation testing unit that extracts an interval showing an anomalous fluctuation from the time-series data, a waveform decomposition unit that optimizes a peak waveform, a normal waveform and a vertical waveform set by a waveform setting unit, in order to approximate the fluctuation in traffic in the interval extracted by the deviation testing unit with a composite of the peak waveform, the normal waveform and the vertical waveform, and an event determination unit that determines the type of event that caused the anomalous fluctuation, based on the waveforms optimized by the waveform decomposition unit and the rules of a rule recording unit. The event type estimation system is thereby able to extract access fluctuation anomalies from log data and estimate the type of event that caused the anomalous fluctuation. |
| US07904324B2 |
Method and system for assessing schedule performance issues of a project
A computer-implemented method and system for assessing schedule performance issues of a project. A Behind Schedule Performance Index (BSPI), an ahead/behind trend graph, a behind schedule report or an ahead of schedule report is generated. The BSPI excludes an ahead of schedule component from the project's scheduled performance index. The ahead/behind trend graph has ahead of schedule and behind schedule indicators indicating that a portion of the project is behind schedule while the project, as a whole, is ahead of schedule. The behind schedule report filters out ahead of schedule tasks and includes only behind schedule tasks. The ahead of schedule report filters out behind schedule tasks and includes only ahead of schedule tasks. |
| US07904321B2 |
Systems, methods and computer program products for user-selected calendar and task alerts
A method for electronic information transfer by a sender. The method includes composing an electronic message, typically a calendar and/or task event, on a sender terminal. At least one announcement file is associated with an attribute of the electronic message, the announcement file configured for playing at a recipient terminal upon the recipient terminal receiving the electronic message. The electronic message and the association to the announcement file is sent over a network to a recipient at the recipient terminal. Embodiments include a computer program product for implementing the method. |
| US07904319B1 |
Computer-implemented systems and methods for warranty analysis
Computer-implemented systems and methods for providing warranty analysis. A system and method can be configured to receive claims data and products data and to perform statistical analysis of the received claims data and products data. The statistical analysis includes performing a statistical comparison of current claims activity levels in the received claims data with expected claims activity levels. One or more claim issues are detected based upon the statistical analysis. The detected one or more claim issues are provided to a user. |
| US07904318B2 |
Computerized method and system of determining right of way and liability for an accident
Methods and systems are provided for estimating liability and right of way in an accident. In one embodiment, liability estimation in a vehicle accident may be based on a plurality of characteristics that describe the accident. In addition, right of way estimation in a vehicle accident may be based on the plurality of characteristics that describe the accident. These characteristics may include: the configuration of the roadway, the type of accident, the traffic controls at the vehicle accident scene, and impact points of each vehicle. The characteristics from an actual accident may be compared to those in a past or theoretical accident. Liability may be estimated from a preassigned liability associated with a nearest matching past or theoretical accident. Right of way may be estimated from a predetermined right of way associated with the nearest matching past or theoretical accident. The liability estimate may include a base liability and one or more adjustments due to various factors. |
| US07904316B2 |
System and method for gathering, managing, and analyzing patient recruitment
A system and method for gathering, managing, and analyzing patient recruitment contains logic configured to receive patient marketing material from a source and logic configured to determine whether the patient marketing material is approved for use by a system administrator. The system also contains logic configured to provide the patient marketing material to a sponsor of a clinical study requiring patient recruitment, where the patient marketing material is provided to the sponsor for approval by the sponsor, and the system contains logic configured to determine if regulatory approval of the patient marketing material is required. Further, the system contains logic configured to make the patient marketing material available to a patient investigatory site for use in recruiting a patient for the clinical study. |
| US07904314B2 |
System and method for ordering patient specific healthcare services
A system and method for ordering healthcare services wherein a list of selectable orders for medical services for a given patient is dynamically generated based on medical information of the patient (e.g., the patient's condition or set of conditions) and presented to a user (e.g., a physician). In one aspect, a system for ordering patient specific healthcare services comprises a user interface that enables a user to input a medical condition of a patient and to select desired medical services from a list of orderable medical services presented to the user; a services database comprising a plurality of predetermined medical services that are each associated with a medical condition; and an engine for compiling the list of orderable medical services from one or more predetermined medical services in the services database that are associated with the input medical conditions of the patient. A clinical knowledge model is used by the engine to identify a medical condition that is potentially associated with a known or identified medical condition of the patient, based upon potential etiology, potential complication, clinical associations, or any combination thereof. |
| US07904312B2 |
Patient communication method and system
A healthcare communication system can include a patient terminal having a keyboard unit with message keys for transmitting different ones of one or more programmed messages, and alphanumeric keys for composing messages. The patient terminal can be communicatively linked to a patient terminal display for presenting the programmed messages and composed messages. Each of the message keys can include identifying indicia associated with a programmed message transmitted upon selection of the message key. The patient terminal keyboard also can include one or more destination keys for specifying one of multiple destination addresses within the healthcare communication system for delivering individual ones of the messages. |
| US07904307B2 |
Health-care e-commerce systems and methods
A virtual health-care electronic commerce community includes a network to communicate information relating to the community; one or more patients coupled to the network; one or more treating professionals coupled to the network; and a server coupled to the network, the server storing data for each patient and performing patient data visualization in response to a user request. |
| US07904301B2 |
Processing digital data
An original digital audio signal represents unimpaired audio information. The digital audio signal is compressed and encrypted without substantial impairment to produce a first audio signal. A second, unencrypted, audio signal is produced. The first and second audio signals are combined. Preferably the first audio signal is losslessy compressed. The second audio signal may be an impaired version of the original digital audio signal. |
| US07904299B2 |
Method, system, and apparatus for monitoring security events using speech recognition
A method of monitoring for security events using a speech recognition system can include receiving a sound signal within the speech recognition system and determining at least one attribute of the sound signal. The attribute of the sound signal can be compared with one or more acoustic models associated with a security event. The method can further include identifying the sound signal as a security event according to the comparing step. |
| US07904297B2 |
Dialogue management using scripts and combined confidence scores
Representation-neutral dialogue systems and methods (“RNDS”) are described that include multi-application, multi-device spoken-language dialogue systems based on the information-state update approach. The RNDS includes representation-neutral core components of a dialogue system that provide scripted domain-specific extensions to routines such as dialogue move modeling and reference resolution, easy substitution of specific semantic representations and associated routines, and clean interfaces to external components for language-understanding (i.e., speech-recognition and parsing) and language-generation, and to domain-specific knowledge sources. The RNDS also resolves multi-device dialogue by evaluating and selecting among candidate dialogue moves based on features at multiple levels. Multiple sources of information are combined, multiple speech recognition and parsing hypotheses tested, and multiple device and moves considered to choose the highest scoring hypothesis overall. Confirmation and clarification behavior can be governed by the overall score. |
| US07904292B2 |
Scalable encoding device, scalable decoding device, and method thereof
A scalable encoding device for realizing scalable encoding by CELP encoding of a stereo sound signal and improving the encoding efficiency. In this device, an adder and a multiplier obtain an average of a first channel signal CH1 and a second channel signal CH2 as a monaural signal M. A CELP encoder for a monaural signal subjects the monaural signal M to CELP encoding, outputs the obtained encoded parameter to outside, and outputs a synthesized monaural signal M′ synthesized by using the encoded parameter to a first channel signal encoder. By using the synthesized monaural signal M′ and the second channel signal CH2, the first channel signal encoder subjects the first channel signal CH1 to CELP encoding to minimize the sum of the encoding distortion of the first channel signal CH1 and the encoding distortion of the second channel signal CH2. |
| US07904287B2 |
Method and system for real-time prediction of power usage for a change to another performance state
A method and system for real-time prediction of power usage for a change to another performance state provides input data for power management decision-making processes or for display to system operators. The unit(s) for which power usage is predicted may be a single processor in a uni-processor system or may extend up to the level of facilities within a complex of processing facilities. The method and system gather real-time data on the power consumption of the unit(s) and create a model, such as a regression model, of power versus performance. A resulting power usage change required by a prospective nominal performance state change is shown as display data, or is transmitted to a power budgeting controller to inform the controller as to potential changes that can enhance system operation, such as managing tradeoffs of power allocated to various sub-units of a processing system. |
| US07904284B2 |
System and method for optimizing animal production based on empirical feedback
A system for generating optimized values for variable inputs to an animal production system. The system includes a simulator engine configured to receive a plurality of animal information inputs and generate a performance projection. At least one of the animal information inputs is designated as a variable input. The system further includes an enterprise supervisor engine configured to generate first and second optimized values for the at least one variable input. The first optimized value is generated based on an optimization criteria and the second optimized value is generated based on empirical feedback after application of the first variable input. |
| US07904278B2 |
Methods and system for program execution integrity measurement
The present disclosure is directed towards methods and systems and methods for measuring the integrity of an operating system's execution and ensuring that the system's code is performing its intended functionality. This includes examining the integrity of the code that the operating system is executing as well as the data that the operating system accesses. Integrity violations can be detected in the dynamic portions of the code being executed. |
| US07904273B2 |
In-line depth measurement for thru silicon via
A system, method and device for measuring a depth of a Through-Silicon-Via (TSV) in a semiconductor device region on a wafer during in-line semiconductor fabrication, includes a resistance measurement trench structure having length and width dimensions in a substrate, ohmic contacts on a surface of the substrate disposed on opposite sides of the resistance measurement trench structure, and an unfilled TSV structure in semiconductor device region having an unknown depth. A testing circuit makes contact with the ohmic contacts and measures a resistance therebetween, and a processor connected to the testing circuit calculates a depth of the trench structure and the unfilled TSV structure based on the resistance measurement. The resistance measurement trench structure and the unfilled TSV are created simultaneously during fabrication. |
| US07904269B2 |
Overhead traveling vehicle testing and calibration
A method, system and test fixture for allowing testing and calibration of various operation parameters of an overhead traveling vehicle (hereinafter “OTV”) are disclosed. The invention implements a test fixture that includes a rotatable bearing set for rotatably engaging a wheel of the OTV such that the wheel can rotate but the OTV remains stationary. The bearing set is held in a raised position, similar to the operational position of the OTV, by a raised support. The test fixture may also include a reflective tape for use with an optical sensor(s) of the OTV. In this fashion, operation parameters of the OTV such as drive servomotor velocity, current gain, current offset, OTV travel profile, optical sensor op-amp gain, etc., can be tested and calibrated. |
| US07904266B2 |
Method and apparatus for calculating the separation time of arcing contacts of a high-volume switchgear
A method and an apparatus for calculating the separation time of the arcing contacts of a high-voltage switchgear which is operatively coupled to a synchronous switching device and to an auxiliary switch having auxiliary contacts operatively connected to the arcing contacts. During execution of a predefined test condition the separation time of the arcing contacts and of the auxiliary contacts is measured. The time delay between the measured separation time of the arcing contacts and of the auxiliary contacts is calculated. Upon separation of the arcing contacts under an operating condition other than the predefined test condition, the separation time of the auxiliary contacts is measured. Then, the separation time of the arcing contacts is calculated as the difference between the separation time of the auxiliary contacts measured during the operating condition other than the predefined test condition and the calculated time delay. |
| US07904261B2 |
Method and system for using phasor measurements in state estimation of power systems
A method of state estimation is provided, including: (a) acquiring a plurality of positive sequence voltage and current phasor measurements; (b) designating a reference positive sequence voltage phasor measurement from the acquired phasor measurements; (c) correcting the acquired phasor measurements to account for the reference phasor measurement; (d) calculating complex power having a real component and an imaginary component, using the corrected positive sequence voltage and current phasor measurement; (e) using the real component of said complex power as a calculated mega-watt and the imaginary component of the complex power as a calculated mega-volt-ampere; and (f) using the mega-watt and mega volt-ampere calculations in a state estimation algorithm. |
| US07904259B2 |
Waterproof testing device, waterproof testing method, and waterproof test program
A waterproof testing device tests waterproof performance of a waterproof component. The testing device includes an input unit, a storing unit and a determining unit. The input unit inputs permeability of one or more test objects with waterproof components disposed thereon and an air flow rate that is a volume of gas passing through the test object per unit time for each test object. The storing unit stores, in a data pair, the permeability and the air flow rate of each test object input by the input unit. The determining unit determines a range of permeability in which no water leakage occurs in the waterproof component based on a range of air flow rate in which no water leakage occurs and the stored permeability and air flow rate. |
| US07904256B2 |
Startup techniques for a digital flowmeter
Startup and operational techniques for a digital flowmeter are described. The techniques select an optimal mode of operation for the digital flowmeter, depending on a current environment of the flowmeter. For example, during a startup operation of the flowmeter, the mode of operation might include a random sequence mode, in which filtered, random frequencies are applied as a drive signal to a flowtube associated with the digital flowmeter. Once the flowtube reaches a resonant mode of vibration, the digital flowmeter may transition to a positive feedback mode, in which a sensor signal representing a motion of the flowtube is fed back to the flowtube as a drive signal, as part of a feedback loop. Once an oscillation of the flowtube is achieved and analyzed, a digital synthesis mode of operation may be implemented, in which the analyzed sensor signals are used to synthesize the drive signal. In either the positive feedback mode or the digital synthesis mode, the digital flowmeter may revert to a previous mode to regain stable and desired oscillation of the flowtube, such as might be required during a recovery operation associated with a disturbance to an operation of the digital flowmeter. |
| US07904253B2 |
Determination of chemical composition and isotope distribution with mass spectrometry
A method for determining elemental composition of ions from mass spectral data, comprising obtaining at least one mass measurement from mass spectral data; obtaining a search list of candidate elemental compositions whose exact masses fall within a given mass tolerance range from the accurate mass; reporting a probability measure based on a mass error; calculating an isotope pattern for each candidate elemental composition from the search list; constructing a peak component matrix including at least one of the isotope pattern and mass spectral data; performing a regression against at least one of isotope pattern, mass spectral data, and the peak component matrix; reporting a second probability measure for at least one candidate elemental composition based on the isotope pattern regression; and combining the two the probability measures into an overall probability measure. A method for determining elemental isotope ratios from mass spectral data. |
| US07904247B2 |
Drive assist system for vehicle
An in-vehicle drive assist system adjusts a viewing angle of a camera mounted in a vehicle using environmental information obtained from outside the vehicle. An early risk determination is thus allowed to be made in the vehicle, while maintaining reliability. |
| US07904239B2 |
Travel route display system
A travel route display system executes a searching step of searching a database based on a given search condition; a numerical data calculating step of executing a predetermined calculation on a result obtained at the searching step to calculate numerical data displayed together with a travel route; an image data generating step of generating a plurality of kinds of image data for displaying the travel route on a screen, the generation being based on results obtained at the searching and calculating steps; a display image controlling step of so controlling the plurality of kinds of image data that an individual piece of image data or a synthesis of a plurality of image data can be displayed on the same screen, the plurality of kinds of image data being obtained at the generating step; and an image data displaying step of displaying the image data controlled at the controlling step. |
| US07904238B2 |
Presenting a travel route using more than one presentation style
Techniques are provided for presenting a route in a manner that emphasizes the route and provides context information. For example, a vivid color or vivid colors may be used to display the route, and pastel colors or other desaturated colors may be used for non-route context information. This may result in a map in which the vivid colors of the route stand out over the faded style of the non-route context information to emphasize the route. In this manner, the map may both emphasize the route and provide context information for the route. |
| US07904237B2 |
Electronic device and electronic device operation control method
Disclosed herein is an electronic device including: a reader configured to read information from a noncontact-type communications device storing unique identification information; and a controller configured to determine whether the identification information read by the reader is already registered or not yet registered and, if the identification information is found already registered, get user setting information corresponding to the identification information to execute setting processing on the basis of the user setting information and, if the identification information is found not yet registered, execute processing for registering the identification information. |
| US07904234B2 |
Method for determining fuel volatility and consequently performing cold starting of an internal combustion engine
A method for determining fuel volatility and consequently performing cold starting of an internal combustion engine; in the event of cold starting, the method provides for the determination of an enrichment percentage as a function of a stored value for fuel volatility; the determination of a predicted value for starting quality before performing starting; the starting of the engine using the previously determined enrichment percentage; the determination of a measured value for starting quality; the determination of a correction value of the stored value for fuel volatility as a function of the comparison between the measured value for starting quality and the predicted value for starting quality; and the updating of the stored value for fuel volatility by applying the correction value to said stored value, so consequently modifying the amount of enrichment in force. |
| US07904232B2 |
Method for operating an internal combustion engine
An internal combustion engine includes a plurality of cylinders, into whose combustion chambers the fuel is introduced individually for each cylinder. It is proposed that, during a time period a setpoint fuel quantity is varied individually for each cylinder in such a way that the average formed over the time period equals, at least approximately, a normal setpoint fuel quantity which would have to be injected without the above-mentioned variation for inducing or maintaining a setpoint operating state of the internal combustion engine. |
| US07904230B2 |
Control apparatus and control method for vehicle
A control apparatus for a vehicle is equipped with a detection portion that detects a required output of an internal combustion engine, an acquisition portion that acquires an ignition timing of the internal combustion engine, a setting portion that sets an operation curve of the internal combustion engine such that the operation curve approaches an optimal fuel consumption operation curve as the acquired ignition timing is retarded with respect to a set ignition timing, a decision portion that decides a target power of the internal combustion engine on the basis of the detected required output and the set operation curve, and a control portion for controlling the internal combustion engine on the basis of the decided target power. |
| US07904228B2 |
Distance related cruise control system and method
A distance-related cruise control system and method for a motor vehicle performs a speed control to a predefined desired speed during free travel of the motor vehicle and performs a distance regulation to a predefined distance to the vehicle traveling ahead during following travel. After deactivation of the distance regulation during following travel, the system performs a speed control, not to the previously defined speed, but rather to the current speed of the motor vehicle at the instant of the deactivation of the distance regulation as the desired speed. |
| US07904223B2 |
Post impact safety system with vehicle contact information
A system for providing post-impact signals in a vehicle is provided. The vehicle includes at least one impact zone with a passive safety sensor positioned at designated sections of the vehicle. The system comprises a plurality of passive safety sensors, a passive safety controller, and an active safety controller. The passive safety controller determines the impact location, impact direction and intensity. The passive safety controller transmits a passive output signal indicative of the impact intensity, impact direction and impact location. The active safety controller stabilizes the vehicle post-impact in response to the passive output signal. |
| US07904217B2 |
Battery pack management strategy in a hybrid electric motor vehicle
A software algorithm (FIG. 3) determines the strategy by which a controller (34) will manage state of charge (SOC) of a battery pack (32) in a hybrid electric vehicle but always gives the driver the opportunity to make his/her own selection instead. The algorithm causes one of two strategies to be selected each time that the ignition switch is operated from “off” position to “on” position. The manner in which the algorithm executes depends on the value of a calibratable parameter electronically programmed into the controller of the particular vehicle when the vehicle is being built at the factory. |
| US07904216B2 |
Electric train control apparatus
According to one embodiment, an electric train control apparatus having a plurality of electric motors and a plurality of inverters configured to control electric motors, independently of one another, including shaft speed calculating units respectively, and configured to calculate shaft speeds of electric motors, reference speed calculating unit configured to calculate a reference speed from shaft speeds of electric motors, acceleration detection control units configured to calculate torque reduction values from rates at which shaft speeds calculated, slip speed control units configured to reduce torques in accordance with a difference between shaft speeds of electric motors, state monitoring units configured to monitor states of detecting shaft speeds and output state signals, and changeover unit configured to switch control of inverters, between control performed by acceleration detection control units and control performed by slip speed control units, in accordance with state signals received from state monitoring units. |
| US07904205B2 |
Network opening method in manufacturing robots to a second network from a first network
A method of opening a network in a manufacturing system, the system including a plurality of robots, a plurality of robot controllers individually controlling the robots and a plurality of networks connecting the robot controllers with each other. The method includes the steps of opening a first network to the plurality of robot controllers, by setting, in each of the plurality of robot controllers, conditions, including addresses, required for opening the first network; designating an address range prepared in the first network for robot controllers to which a second network is opened and which is selected from among the plurality of robot controllers; and opening the second network to the robot controllers addressed within the address range designated in the first network, by setting, through the first network, conditions required for opening the second network. |
| US07904203B2 |
Apparatus and method for robot control
A robot control apparatus for controlling walking of a robot includes a control information generating unit that generates control information based on a posture of a robot at a plurality of different points of time including at least a reference posture when the robot is independently standing without falling down, a feedback control unit that, with respect to the robot controlled according to the control information generated by the control information generating unit, performs a gyro feedback control based on a rotation angle measured at two points of time when rolling to left and right becomes maximum by a gyro sensor installed in the robot, and a rolling amplitude correcting unit that, while the robot is in motion, corrects a rolling amplitude that is used by the control information generating unit in generating the control information so that the gyro feedback control performed by the feedback control unit is reduced. |
| US07904197B2 |
Methods and systems for providing one code address correction service
One code address correction service. A carrier of items provides a sender of an item an address change service for an undeliverable address. The item includes a human readable address and a machine readable code. The machine readable code identifies at least the sender. The carrier scans the machine readable code to identify the sender and creates an address change record for the sender. The address change record includes the undeliverable address. The carrier then sends the address change record to the sender. |
| US07904195B2 |
Method for prognostic maintenance in semiconductor manufacturing equipments
A method for prognostic maintenance in semiconductor manufacturing equipments is disclosed. The said method comprising: collecting a plurality of raw data from the default detection and classification system for equipments, preprocessing the raw data, using the neural network model (NN model) to find a plurality of health indices, generating health information by using the principal component analysis (PCA) to identify the health indices, and using the partial least square discriminated analysis (PLS-DA) to find a health report. The health report provides the engineers with current risk levels of equipments. By the health report, the engineers can initiate prognostic maintenance and repair the equipments early. |
| US07904189B2 |
Programmable audio system
An audio system and method. The audio system comprises a sensing device and a memory device. The memory device comprises a list of groups of gesture types. A first specified audio sound is stored within the memory device. A user programs a first association between the first specified audio sound and a first specified gesture received by the sensing device. The first specified gesture is associated with a first group from the list of groups. The first association is stored within the memory device. The audio file is amplified by the audio system. The user uses the sensing device to perform the first specified gesture. The audio system recognizes the first specified gesture as a gesture from the first group. The audio system enables and amplifies the first specified audio sound and integrates the first specified audio sound with the audio file. |
| US07904183B2 |
Methods and apparatus for implementing manual and hybrid control modes in automated graphical indicators and controls
The present invention concerns methods and apparatus for enabling manual control over selection of a value for at least one operating parameter of a computer system resource. Manual control is enabled by de-coupling a pointer of a graphical indicator and control from an automated system advisor. During automated operation, the automated system advisor selects the value for the parameter of the computer system resource as indicated on a scale of the graphical indicator and control by the pointer. When the pointer of the graphical indicator is under manual control, a user can select the value of the at least one operating parameter of the computer system resource using the pointer of the graphical indicator and control. The present invention also concerns methods and apparatus for disabling manual control over selection of a value for at least one operating parameter of a computer system resource by re-coupling the pointer to an automated system advisor. The present invention further concerns hybrid control modes that permit users to exercise a degree of control over operations of an automated selection process in a graphical indicator and control. |
| US07904179B2 |
Implantable medical device system with fixation member
A fixation device for a subcutaneous implantable medical device includes a deformable tip portion that reduces in width when coupled with a fixation tool such that implantation of the implantable medical device through tissue is facilitated. Upon release from the fixation tool, the fixation device returns to its initial shape and stably secures the position of the implantable medical device. |
| US07904178B2 |
Medical electrical lead body designs incorporating energy dissipating shunt
An elongate body of a medical electrical lead includes at least one conductor formed into a coil that includes a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion extends within an outer insulation sheath and the second portion extends outside the outer insulation sheath to be exposed to an environment external to the lead body as an energy dissipating shunt. |
| US07904173B2 |
Functional metallicity ion band
A pair of functional metal ion bands are provided. The pair of functional metal ion bands are attached to meridians and acupoints of the human body in a simple manner to induce a smooth flow of current in the body, thereby rapidly changing a disease condition to a normal state. The pair of functional metal ion bands comprise a gold-colored thin metal plate as a positive electrode and a silver-colored thin metal plate as a negative electrode wherein the gold-colored thin metal plate is composed of Cu and a metal selected from Ag, Au and Pt and the silver-colored thin metal plate is made of an alloy of Al, Si, Fe, Cu, Mn, Mg and Zn. The pair of functional metal ion bands are manufactured by processing each of the thin metal plates to have a thickness of 1 μm to 1 cm and a diameter of 1 mm to 50 cm, and attaching the processed metal plate to one side of a soft adhesive fabric using an adhesive. |
| US07904172B2 |
Programmable apparatus and method for optimizing and real time monitoring of gene transfection based on user configured arbitrary waveform pulsing train
The present invention provides an apparatus and a method for generating and applying an electric field according to a user configured arbitrary waveform pulsing train. A control module allows the user to input operation parameters and configure the arbitrary waveform pulsing train for the electroporation process. A micro-controller unit coupled to the control module controls an arbitrary waveform generator unit and a customized power module. During the electroporation process, the arbitrary waveform generator unit produces the arbitrary waveform pulsing train that is amplified by the customized power module. The customized power module is coupled to at least two electrodes, wherein the at least two electrodes will produce an electric field across a target media. |
| US07904152B2 |
External defibrillator with charge advisory algorithm
A method of delivering electrical therapy to a patient by a medical device includes activating the medical device and performing a first analysis of a first set of data signals sensed by the medical device. If the first analysis shows the first set of data signals meets a first criterion, then charging of an energy delivery circuit is commenced upon completion of the first analysis. A second analysis of a second set of data signals from the patient is performed, and if the second analysis determines that the second set of data signals meet a second criterion, the therapy is delivered. The steps of performing the first analysis and performing the second analysis may be begun at substantially the same time. The step of charging may overlap in time with the step of performing a second analysis. The medical device may be an external defibrillator and the therapy may be a defibrillating shock. |
| US07904150B2 |
Biofeedback electronic stimulation device
A biofeedback electronic stimulation device includes a processor for generating a first control signal and a plurality of second control signals responsive to at least one input signal. Transformer circuitry generates a stimulation signal including packets of at least one pulse responsive to the first control signal. Pulse circuitry configures the at least one pulse in the packet to a selected one of a plurality of configurations responsive to the plurality of second control signals. Output electrodes apply the at least one pulse in the packet to a user and detector circuitry detects zero crossings of the at least one pulse in the packet. The processor further causes generation of an indicator responsive to the detected zero crossings. |
| US07904137B2 |
Medical device guidance system
The present invention realizes a medical device guidance system capable of improving propulsion control characteristic. The capsule guidance system 1 includes a rotating electromagnetic field generating device 4 for generating a rotating electromagnetic field for applying from the outside of a subject into the subject; a capsule 3 to be inserted into the body cavity of the subject; a magnet 16 provided in this capsule 3 and acting on the rotating electromagnetic field generated by the rotating electromagnetic field generating device 4; a spiral projection portion 12 provided on the outer peripheral surface of the capsule 3 and converting the rotational movement generated by the magnet 16 into a thrust; a controller 6 for controlling the rotating electromagnetic field generating device 4 to continuously change the state of the rotating electromagnetic field generated by rotating electromagnetic field generating device 4; and a capsule rotational direction pattern generator 41 for interchanging the rotational directions of the rotating electromagnetic field generated by the rotating electromagnetic field generating device 4 for each set rotational direction. |
| US07904135B2 |
Magnetic resonance spatial risk map for tissue outcome prediction
Diffusion weighted images and perfusion weighted images are acquired with an MRI system and used to produce low b, DWI, ADC, CBV, CBF, and MTT images of brain tissues following an ischemic event. These MRI physiological measurements are input along with a spatial location measurement to a generalized linear model that predicts the outcome of tissues surrounding a lesion. |
| US07904125B2 |
Slide module for portable terminal
A slide module of a portable terminal that provides relative sliding movement in longitudinal and transverse directions between a first body and a second body. The portable terminal includes a first body, a second body positioned facing the first body, and a slide module provided between the first body and the second body to guide the first body in sliding movement in longitudinal and transverse directions relative to the second body. The slide module includes a first slide member fixed to the first body, a second slide member fixed to the second body, and a guide unit provided between the first slide member and the second slide member to guide the first slide member in sliding movement in longitudinal and transverse directions. |
| US07904115B2 |
Adaptive power management for a node of a mobile telecommunications network
A telecommunication apparatus, e.g. a radio base station in a mobile telecommunications network, comprises a plurality of traffic handling units and a plurality of power supply units powering the traffic handling units. Control means are provided for determining a power budget based on a power criterion. The control means activate an amount of traffic handling units and power supply units having a total power consumption equal to or less than the power budget. The power criterion for determining the power budget can comprise any power related parameter, such as an amount of solar cell generated power, a charging condition of a backup battery, a value of a mains voltage, a failure of a power supply unit of the apparatus, etc. |
| US07904114B2 |
Method and system for automated planning using geographical data
A portable device for collecting data at a geographic location and providing accurate, comprehensive, efficient and timely work prints. The portable device for collecting data at a geographic location, the device including a memory that stores preliminary site information associated with the geographic location; a receiver that receives geographic position data of at least one point at the geographic location; an interface that enables a user to input data corresponding to the received geographic position data; and a processor that supplements the preliminary site information with the received geographic position data and the corresponding input data. |
| US07904113B2 |
Method and apparatus for detecting and selectively utilizing peripheral devices
A method and apparatus for providing a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) with access to at least one peripheral device, and/or at least one peripheral device associated with an available auxiliary device. The current peripheral device requirements of the WTRU are determined. The radio frequency (RF) environment of the WTRU is scanned to determine if there are any available wireless peripheral devices or wireless auxiliary devices proximate to the WTRU. A determination is also made as to whether there is a wired peripheral device or a wired auxiliary device available. A list of currently available peripheral devices is compiled by scanning at least one peripheral device registry associated with at least one of a wireless auxiliary device and a wired auxiliary device. The list is presented on the WTRU's display and a user selects at least one of the available peripheral devices from the list. |
| US07904112B2 |
Simultaneous operation of wireless LAN and long-range wireless connections
A method for communication includes establishing a first connection between a wireless terminal and a base station of a long-range wireless data network, which operates in accordance with a first protocol that defines a sequence of time frames for transmission of data between the wireless terminal and the base station. A signal is sent from the wireless terminal to the base station identifying an interval including one or more of the time frames during which the wireless terminal will not receive data from the base station. During the interval, a second connection is established between the wireless terminal and an access point of a wireless local area network (WLAN) in accordance with a second protocol, different from the first protocol. |
| US07904108B2 |
Double transformer balun for maximum power amplifier power
Double transformer balun for maximum PA (Power Amplifier) power. A novel approach is presented herein by which conversion from a differential signal to single-ended signal may be achieved using a double transformer balun design. The secondary coils of the double transformer balun also operate as a choke for the PA supply voltage. The secondary coils can operate as an RF (Radio Frequency) trap or choke to keep any AC (Alternating Current) signal components and to pass any DC (Direct Current) components. By using a double transformer balun design, relatively thinner tracks may be employed thereby ensuring a high degree of electromagnetic coupling efficiency and high performance. Also, these relatively thinner tracks consume a relatively small amount of space on the die. The double transformer balun design also includes a matching Z (impedance) block that is operable to math the Z of an antenna or line that the PA is driving. |
| US07904102B2 |
Mobile communication system and control method thereof and radio network controller and base station used for the same
In a mobile communication system, the information on a downlink DCH actually not used is regarded as removable from the construction target of a TFI and a TFCI, so that a discrepancy of the perception regarding the TFI and the TFCI is not occurred between a base station and a UE (User Equipment). An indicator information in terms of an “Unidirectional DCH Indicator” is generated in an Indicator processing portion of a RNC so that the base station can remove the information regarding the downlink DCH actually not used from the construction target of the TFI and the TFCI, and the information, which is included in the NBAP message, is transmitted to the base station from the NBAP message composition portion. When, at the NBAP message analyzing portion of the base station, it is determined that the “Unidirectional DCH Indicator” is included in this message, the information regarding the downlink DCH actually not used in a TFCI construction portion is removed from the construction target of the TFI and the TFCI. |
| US07904098B2 |
Method of assigning transmission channels in a telecommunications network and user station
A method of assigning transmission channels in a telecommunications network and a user station are provided, which facilitate an increase in the capacity of a telecommunications network. The telecommunications network may include multiple base stations and mobile stations, the transmission channels being provided for transmitting signals between the base stations and the mobile stations. In uncoordinated operation of the base stations, at least one of the transmission channels is assigned for transmitting signals between one of the base stations and one of the mobile stations as a function of a channel measurement, in which the transmission power on all possible transmission channels is measured, if the previously measured transmission power on this transmission channel is minimal. |
| US07904097B2 |
Location determination techniques
A method for estimating a target object properties, including location, in an environment. A topology model indicates permissible locations and transitions and a data model models a location-dependent physical quantity which is observed by the target object's sensing device. Motion models model specific target object types, obeying the permissible locations and transitions. The target object is assigned a set of particles, each having a set of attributes, including location in relation to the topology model. The attributes estimate the target object properties The particles' update cycles include: determining a degree of belief for each particle to estimate the target object properties; determining a weight for each particle based on at least the determined degree of belief and generating new particles for update cycle n+1 in an evolutionary process. |
| US07904094B2 |
Method for reducing wireless communication procedure failure
A method for reducing wireless communication procedure failure. The method can include initiating a procedure over an existing radio resource control connection on a universal mobile telecommunication system. The method can also include receiving a connection release signal prior to receiving a response from a core network regarding the initiated procedure. The method can further include immediately retrying the procedure. |
| US07904093B2 |
Method and apparatus for allocating a pilot signal adapted to the channel characteristics
A set of different pilot structures are designed for use in different environments and/or different user behaviours that are expected to occur in a cell. The radio conditions for a user are estimated. Each user is then assigned an area (108A-E) in resource space for its communication, which has a suitable pilot configuration. In one embodiment, the entire resource space is provided with different pilot structures in different parts (110A-D) In advance and allocation of resources to the users are then performed in order to match estimated radio conditions to the provided pilot structure. In another embodiment, allocation is performed first, and then the actual pilot structure is adapted within the allocated resource space area to suit the environmental conditions. |
| US07904086B2 |
Method and computer program for handoff of mobile devices between wireless systems
A method and computer program are provided for handing off a mobile device in communication with a first wireless system having a first network address to one or more other wireless systems within communication range of the mobile device. The method and computer program include periodically monitoring by the mobile device of communications from the first wireless system and the other wireless systems, calculating a signal strength associated with each of the monitored communications, selecting one of the other wireless systems, and transferring communication to the selected wireless system upon detection of a predetermined threshold of the signal strength associated with the first wireless system. |
| US07904085B2 |
Mobile device and radio interface arrangement method
A transmitter/receiver 101 on a mobile body 10 utilizes a plurality of antennas 100. It is assumed that a plurality of the antennas 100 are distributed and arranged in a moving direction of the mobile body, and the antennas at both ends are away from each other at an extent that a distance between the antennas is not negligible as compared with an interval of the base station. A radio wave from the base station 102-1 is stronger in intensity in 100-1 than in the center, and the radio wave from the base station 102-2 is stronger in intensity in 100-2 than in the center, respectively, whereby the communication stabilization effect, which is larger as compared with the case that the antennas are locally located in the center, is expected. This enables the interval of the base station, which is broader than the conventional one, to be employed, yet both of a speed and a frequency of a hand-over process to be lowered, and in addition hereto, the bandwidth utilization efficiency, which is higher as compared with that of the conventional example, to be realized. |
| US07904084B2 |
Intelligent access point scanning with self-learning capability
A method and apparatus for intelligent access point scanning with self-learning capability enables a wireless handset to conserve power while scanning for unlicensed mobile access. |
| US07904082B2 |
ACARS messages over iridium
A system in a method are provided for sending and receiving messages between a point located on the ground and a point located on an aircraft via an Iridium Short Burst Data Service. The messages may conform to Airlines Electronic Engineering Committee (AEEC) Specification 618. The messages may be ground-to-air messages or air-to-ground messages. The messages may be ACARS messages and at least some of the messages may have a length exceeding a maximum payload of the Iridium Short Burst Data Service. ACARS messages, which exceed the maximum payload of the Iridium Short Burst Data Service may be segmented and each of the segments may be sent in respective Iridium Short Burst Data messages via the Iridium Short Burst Data Service. When the separate Iridium Short Burst Data messages are received, the segments may be combined to reconstruct the ACARS message for delivery to an intended destination. |
| US07904078B2 |
Mobile peer-to-peer networks
Mobile terminals may connect to one another of dynamically formed local networks to exchange certain files, such as bandwidth intensive files. Licensing or payment information for these files may be exchanged via a wide-area network, such as the cellular network to which the mobile terminals normally connect. In one embodiment, a mobile terminal includes logic to join a local network in response to the mobile terminal coming into range of the local network; logic to request a file from the local network; logic to receive the file from the local network when the file is available from another mobile terminal in the local network; and logic to exchange payment or license information for the file over a cellular network. |
| US07904074B2 |
Remote configuration and control of local devices via a broadband access gateway
A system and method for the remote configuration and control of a access devices via a broadband access gateway is disclosed. The broadband access gateway may comprise a wireless interface and a broadband network connection for exchanging information via, for example, a digital subscriber loop, a cable connection, a T1 connection, and T3 network connection. A user using any of a plurality of access devices may communicate with the broadband access gateway via the wireless interface or the broadband network connection to make remote requests of another of the access devices. Such requests may comprise, for example, accessing, recording, playing, exchanging, transmitting, receiving, converting, translating of multimedia information. The remote requests may include enabling, disabling, configuring, monitoring, administering, and scheduling of smart appliances and premise systems such as, for example, security, heating, and cooling systems. |
| US07904071B2 |
Determining presence of radio frequency communication device
A RF data communication device operates in at least two states. In a first state, the device transmits a response to an RF transmission if specific data therein represents an inquiry as to the presence of one or more RF data communication devices and if specific data therein corresponds to a class maintained by the device. The device does not transmit a response if specific data in the RF transmission is not representative of an inquiry as to the presence of one or more RF data communication devices, or if specific data therein does not correspond to at least one maintained class. In a second state, the device does not transmit a response when specific data is included therein that is representative of an inquiry as to the presence of one or more RF data communication devices and specific data therein corresponds to at least one maintained class. |
| US07904065B2 |
Serving data/applications from a wireless mobile phone
Various methods and apparatuses associated with the serving of data from a wireless mobile phone, including a wireless mobile phone, are described herein. |
| US07904064B2 |
Methods and systems for targeted delivery of information based on current location of wireless device
Methods and apparatus are disclosed for delivering targeted information to a mobile wireless device based on proximity of the wireless device to a given destination location. The information may include travel or routing information directing the user of the mobile device to the destination location, and other information concerning the sponsor of a destination. The travel information may be tailored to the mode of locomotion inferred from movement information determined for a mobile wireless device carried by the user. |
| US07904062B2 |
Scrolling mobile advertisements
A mobile device, system, and method are directed towards displaying an advertisement within a navigable view on a mobile device. In one embodiment, the navigable view employs a scrollable list. In one embodiment, a capability of the mobile device is employed to determine the mechanism for displaying of the advertisement within the navigable view. In one embodiment, the display mechanism may enable the advertisement to disappear from the mobile device's display after scrolling past the advertisement. In another embodiment, the advertisement is treated as a fixed entry within the scrollable view. As a fixed entry, scrolling past the advertisement results in the advertisement disappearing from the display of the mobile device. In still another embodiment, the advertisement is treated as a continually viewable entry within the navigable view, and in another embodiment, the advertisement may bounce to a top or a bottom of the navigable view as it is scrolled. |
| US07904060B2 |
Dynamic PRL assignment system
A system for selectively providing an updated PRL to a remote wireless device reduces airtime requirements by determining the PRL to be loaded based on a collection of information relating to the wireless device. Depending upon the nature, connectivity and location of the device, the system loads a partial or full PRL, and may in certain circumstances decline to load any PRL, instead flagging the existing PRL as out-of-date. |
| US07904059B2 |
Method and mobile terminal for implementing vector animation interactive service on mobile phone browser
Disclosed is a method for implementing a vector animation interactive service on a mobile communication terminal browser. The method includes the steps of: a) requesting a supply of a WAP page through a wireless Internet; b) downloading a WML script constituting the WAP page; c) transferring the WML script to an embedded plug-in, and processing a portion, which includes information for an image and a dynamic image or execution information for a game in the WML script, at a variable value for conversion in the embedded plug-in; d) transferring the information processed at the variable value to a vector graphic engine; and e) displaying or executing the image, the dynamic image or the game through the vector graphic engine. According to the method, it is possible to provide users with various multimedia services such as interactive menus, games, advertisements and content reproduction even in a state where a browser is not closed, so that browser capacity can be minimized and a resource such as a memory of the mobile communication terminal can be saved. Consequently, it is possible to promote interest of the user for use of a wireless Internet. |
| US07904046B2 |
Radio equipment having an attenuator between antenna and radio module
A radio equipment, wherein an attenuator (10) is inserted between antennas (91, 92) and a radio module (2), and output and input sensitivities are raised and lowered simultaneously so as to keep the balance of a radio covering range with an input receiver coverage at a constant, and the antenna (91) and the antenna (92) with attenuator are switched over by a switch (8) to increase and decrease the radio coverage range and input receiver coverage while keeping the balance of the dynamic radio coverage range with the input receiver coverage. |
| US07904044B2 |
Automatic gain control apparatus and method in mobile communication system
The present invention relates to an automatic gain control apparatus and method in a mobile communication system. According to the automatic gain control apparatus of an embodiment of the invention, when downlink signals include both directional beam signals and beam signals traveling in all directions due to the antenna system, different reception gain reference values are used according to whether downlink signals including only the beam signals traveling in all directions are received or downlink signals including the directional beam signals are received, thereby controlling the gain of the received signal. When the downlink signals including the directional beam signals are received, the automatic gain control apparatus can appropriately control the gain of the received signal on the basis of the directional beam signals to prevent saturation of the received signal. Further, in a place where the channel condition between the terminal and the base station is bad, such as the boundaries between the cells, the reception gain is controlled on the basis of the reception gain reference value that is set in correspondence with the beam signal traveling in all directions, which makes it possible to reduce the loss of a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). |
| US07904039B2 |
Multi-user adaptive array receiver and method
An array receiver which reduces complexity and cost by exploiting multiuser information in signals received from a plurality of transmitting users preprocesses (40) samples of antenna signals (x1, x2 . . . , xN) from the antenna elements (22/1, . . . , 22/N) to form basis signals (yO, . . . , yM) together having fewer space-time dimensions than the space-time dimensions of the combined antenna signals. The receiver processes and combines the basis signals to produce sets of estimated received signals (z0, . . . , zM), each for a corresponding one of the users. Each of the basis signals comprises a different combination of the antenna signals. The receiver combines the basis signals to provide a user-specific output signal, and periodically updates parameters of the filters (40/0, . . . , 40/M) used for deriving each particular basis signal such that each user-specific output signal will exhibit a desired optimized concentration of energy of that user's received signal as received by the array antenna. |
| US07904037B2 |
Adaptive radio transceiver with offset PLL with subsampling mixers
An exemplary embodiment of the present invention described and shown in the specification and drawings is a transceiver with a receiver, a transmitter, a local oscillator (LO) generator, a controller, and a self-testing unit. All of these components can be packaged for integration into a single IC including components such as filters and inductors. The controller for adaptive programming and calibration of the receiver, transmitter and LO generator. The self-testing unit generates is used to determine the gain, frequency characteristics, selectivity, noise floor, and distortion behavior of the receiver, transmitter and LO generator. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract which will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or the meaning of the claims. |
| US07904035B2 |
Calibration system and method in a communications device
A radio frequency (RF) communications device is provided. The RF communications device includes transmitter circuitry configured to generate a calibration signal on a signal line coupled to an antenna port in a calibration mode of operation and an RF output signal for broadcast across the antenna port subsequent to the calibration mode of operation, tuning circuitry coupled to the signal line and configured to receive the calibration signal, and a controller configured to adjust a signal level of the calibration signal generated by the transmitter circuitry and a tuning of the tuning circuitry during the calibration mode of operation. The transmitter circuitry, the tuning circuitry, and the controller are at least partially integrated on the same integrated circuit. |
| US07904034B2 |
Method and system for providing an interference cancellation in a wireless communication system
A system, a receiver apparatus, a transmitter apparatus and a method for inter-user interference cancellation when simultaneous transmissions from two wireless users to the same base station are repeated using the same time-frequency resource. The percentage of interference cancellation is pre-set and phase shifts of the first and repeated transmitted symbols for each mobile user are determined in accordance with this pre-set percentage. The receiver uses a pre-determined technique for estimating the received symbols in accordance with the pre-set percentage and phase shifts. |
| US07904033B1 |
Constant gain digital predistortion controller for linearization of non-linear amplifiers
The invention is related to methods and apparatus for controlling and adapting a digital predistortion linearizer for amplification of bandlimited signals using non-linear amplifiers. The control method advantageously permits the predistortion function applied by a predistortion entity to provide a relatively constant gain. This attribute is advantageous for operation within cellular radio systems, which often employ digital power control systems. However, the disclosed techniques can also be applicable to virtually any type of digital predistortion for which an input signal or reference signal to be amplified is predistorted in a manner that is complementary to the distortion induced by a non-linear amplifier. Embodiments of the invention advantageously enhance the practicality of using digital linearization and predistortion amplification techniques. Embodiments of the invention can automatically adjust the characteristics of a predistorted signal so that a deviation from overall linearity is compensated and subsequently reduced while maintaining a nearly constant gain attribute. |
| US07904031B2 |
High-frequency module for transmitting and receiving transmission-reception signals of at least three communication systems using a single antenna
A high-frequency module includes a GaAs switch defining an FET switch for selectively connecting one of four RF input-output terminals to an antenna input-output terminal to be connected to an antenna. A GSM transmission signal input terminal is connected to the RF input-output terminal of the GaAsSW through a low-pass filter, and a DCS/PCS transmission signal input terminal is connected to the RF input-output terminal through a low-pass filter. A GSM 850 reception signal output terminal and a PCS reception signal output terminal are connected to the RF input-output terminal through a diplexer, and a GSM 900 reception signal output terminal and a PCS reception signal output terminal are connected to the RF input-output terminal through a diplexer. |
| US07904028B2 |
Wireless communication device
A device peripheral is disclosed. The device peripheral comprises a controller having a plurality of converters, a transceiver controllable by the controller for performing a signaling operation, the signaling operation being one of receiving reception signals, transmitting transmission signals and simultaneously receiving the reception signals and transmitting the transmission signals, and a data interface couplable to a device for communicating the controller with the device, the controller for identifying one of the plurality of converters for use during data communication with the device. More specifically, first media data provided by the device to the controller is converted by the identified one of the plurality of converters into transmission data for transmission by the transceiver as the transmission signals, and reception data received by the transceiver as the reception signals is converted by the identified one of the plurality of converters for into second media data for provision to the device. |
| US07904027B2 |
Branching filter and multiplex transceiver
Disclosed herein are branching filter suitable for connection with a transmission/reception integrated radio device, and a multiplex transceiver which utilizes the branching filter. A band pass filter unit separates an outgoing wave from an incoming wave. An antenna duplexer transmits an outgoing wave from the band pass filter unit to an antenna, and transmits an incoming wave from the antenna to the band pass filter unit. The band pass filter unit has two ports on the antenna side, and one port on the radio device side. A transmission/reception integrated radio device is connected to the port of the branching filter on the radio device side. |
| US07904026B2 |
Dynamic channel quality measurement procedure implemented in a wireless digital communication system to prioritize the forwarding of downlink data
A wireless digital communication system includes a base station in communication with a plurality of user equipment mobile terminals (UEs). The system prioritizes the forwarding of blocks of downlink data to designated ones of the UEs. The system employs adaptive modulation and coding (AM&C) to achieve improved radio resource utilization and provides optimum data rates for user services. Blocks of downlink (DL) data are received by the base station which requests downlink (DL) channel quality measurements only from those mobile terminals (UEs) with pending downlink transmissions. The UEs respond to the request by measuring and reporting DL channel quality to the base station, which then allocates resources such that the UEs will make best use of radio resources. The base station notifies the UEs of the physical channel allocation indicating the modulation/coding rate and allocated slots followed by transmission of blocks of downlink data which are transmitted to the UEs. |
| US07904021B2 |
Selecting carriers for modulating signals in a communication network
Communicating over a network of communication stations includes monitoring for reception of an electromagnetic wave that has a power above a threshold and a frequency in a predetermined frequency interval, and selecting carrier frequencies for modulating information onto signals transmitted over the network. The carrier frequencies are selected based at least in part on whether an electromagnetic wave having a power above the threshold and a frequency in the frequency interval has been received in a predetermined time interval, and based at least in part on a demand by one or more stations in the network for capacity for communicating over the network. |
| US07904020B2 |
Downstream broad beam diversity with interference cancellation
Downstream satellite communication systems and methods are disclosed according to embodiments of the invention. According to embodiments of the invention, a composite signal may be received by a subscriber terminal that includes at least a first signal that is transmitted from a first user through a first satellite, a second signal that is transmitted from the first user through a second satellite, and a third signal that is transmitted from a second user through the second satellite. The first signal and the second signal are transmitted to the first and second satellites as the same signal from a gateway, transmitter or subscriber terminal. The third signal is isolated from the composite signal and the subtracted from the composite signal. |
| US07904018B2 |
Digital multimedia broadcast receiver and user interface method thereof
A digital multimedia broadcast (DMB) receiver and a user interface including a processor that processes the received DMB signal and extracts information regarding ensembles and services from the DMB signal so that the user interface can display received services using the extracted information regarding the ensembles and services. The user interface can be a grid-type interface which includes an ensemble axis and a service axis to display multiple services linked to an ensemble along with the total duration of each service and the duration that each service has been viewed so that a user can easily determine the current status of each service. |
| US07904017B2 |
Process for automated assessment of problem solving skill
A process for using a computer to assess problem-solving skill includes a computer program that grades multi-step problems and is made aware of several different but equally valid formulas or methods that use answers to one or more prior steps to arrive at a correct answer to any problem step for which such choices exist. The user is allowed to submit answers, repeatedly if necessary, to any or all of a problem's steps, in any desired order, until all steps are either graded as correct or the correct answer was requested and given. A user's problem-solving skill level is assessed by compiling how many times answers to each step were submitted and on which Tries; if graded as correct, the Try on which credit was given and whether credit was given for a submitted answer, a submitted formula, or an unsubmitted answer for which prior-answer credit was given; if the correct answer was requested, the Try for which the request was made; and if hints are provided, a summary of their use. This data is stored and used to assess a user's skill level. |
| US07904015B2 |
Cut sheet media handling transport
A media handling transport includes first and second device halves. Each of the device halves includes first, second and third body members, with the first end portion of the second body member disposed adjacent the first end portion of the first body member, the first end portion of the third body member disposed adjacent the second end portion of the first body member, and the second end portion of the third body member disposed adjacent the second end portion of the second body member. An inner body member defines a first media transport passageway with the second body member define, a second media transport passageway with the third body member, and a third media transport passageway with the first body member. The second end portions of the second and third body members define an abutting end of the device half, with the abutting end of the first device half disposed adjacent the abutting end of the second device half in an installed transport. |
| US07904013B2 |
Image-forming apparatus
An image-forming apparatus that is provided with an intermediate transfer member that has a hard releasing layer formed on the surface thereof, supports a toner image primary-transferred onto the hard releasing layer from a latent-image supporting member, and secondary-transfers the supported toner image onto an image-receiving medium, and a cleaning blade that is arranged in contact with the intermediate transfer member, and removes residual toner from the hard releasing layer of the intermediate transfer member, wherein the cleaning blade has an impact resilience in the range from 20 to 50% at 20° C. |
| US07904011B2 |
Temperature control unit and image forming apparatus including same
A temperature control unit that maintains a temperature of a fixing liquid includes a container, some or all of which is formed of a heat conservation member, configured to store the fixing liquid that dissolves or causes a toner to swell, a heater provided to an image forming apparatus for heating the container through the heat conservation member, a temperature sensor for detecting a temperature of the fixing liquid in the container, a controller for controlling an amount of heat that is transferred from the heater to the heat conservation member of the container based on a detection result provided by the temperature sensor, and a fixing liquid applicator for supplying the fixing liquid in the container to a toner on a recording medium so as to fix the toner onto the recording medium. The image forming apparatus includes the temperature control unit. |
| US07904007B2 |
Developer storage container and image forming apparatus
A toner cartridge is a developer storage container for storing toner (developer) in a hollow cylindrical section that is driven to rotate on its axis so that the stored toner is discharged from an outlet. The cylindrical section has an inner circumferential surface provided with a plurality of liner protruding portions that extend in a direction tilted with respect to a rotation direction of the cylindrical section. Moreover, the toner cartridge includes a stirring member capable of moving in the cylindrical section so as to collide with the protruding portions. This makes it possible to stably supply a developer and to realize an inexpensive developer storage container whose size can be reduced. |
| US07904006B2 |
Developer replenishing device for image forming apparatus
A toner replenishing device that provides a container and a device having a high toner volumetric efficiency and a low cost, suppresses vibration during replenishment to a minimum, and stores recovered toner without impairing the volumetric efficiency of unused toner is constituted by a developer replenishing device which is provided with a developer container storing a developer used in an image forming apparatus and replenishes a developing device of the image forming apparatus with the developer in the developer container. The developer container is rectangular in a horizontal direction, and comprises an outside container storing unused developer and a deformable inside container enveloped by the outside container. The developer replenishing device comprises a developer discharging mouthpiece portion for discharging the developer from the interior of the container, which is provided in a lengthwise direction end portion of the outside container, an air supply nozzle, provided in an opposite side end portion to the developer discharging mouthpiece portion in the lengthwise direction, for introducing air into the inside container, and an air pump for supplying air to the supply nozzle. |
| US07904005B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming apparatus body that includes a container attaching portion to which a developer container is removably attached; a container put-on member on which the developer container is put; and a support member to which the container put-on member is attached, the support member supporting the container put-on member to perform a movement between a first position in which the container put-on member is at the container attaching portion and a second position in which the container put-on member is pulled out from the container attaching portion, wherein at the second position, at least a part of the container put-on member is displaced downward through a rotating shaft provided on the support member to a lower position than a height of the container put-on member at the second position in the direction of gravity. |
| US07904002B2 |
Developing device and image forming apparatus with a flow guide plate
A developing device for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on an image bearer with a dual-component developer, includes: a developing hopper for storing the developer; an agitation and conveying member for conveying the developer while agitating; a developer support which supports the developer that has been mixed and agitated inside the developing hopper and supplies the developer to a developing area located opposing the image bearer; a layer thickness-regulating member for regulating the layer thickness of the developer being conveyed by the developer support; a flow-guide plate member for flowing down the surplus developer that was rejected and conveyed away from the layer thickness-regulating member; a multiple number of diffusing elements arranged upright on the flow-guided plate member for flowing down the surplus developer in a predetermined direction whilst diffusing the developer with respect to the longitudinal direction of the developer support; and a downflow direction turning mechanism for periodically turning the downflow direction of the surplus developer regulated by the diffusing elements. |
| US07904000B2 |
Image forming apparatus with deceleration measuring section
An image forming apparatus including: a first and a second photoconductor groups constituted of one or more photoconductors respectively; a first and a second drive control sections for controlling the drive of the first and second photoconductor groups respectively to rotate the photoconductors thereof, and a deceleration measuring section for measuring respective degrees of deceleration when the first and second photoconductor groups rotate under their own inertias with a drive thereof being stopped, wherein the rotational phases of the first photoconductor group and the second photoconductor group are adjusted to be matched therebetween; and the first and second drive control sections determine a control pattern for decelerating so that a degree of deceleration to be applied at the stage of stopping drive of the first and second photoconductor groups become equal to or slower than the slowest one among the degrees of deceleration being measured. |
| US07903999B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive member; a developing device for developing an electrostatic image formed on said photosensitive member into a toner image; a transfer charger for transferring a toner image from said photosensitive member onto an image receiving member; a non-rotational brush and a rotatable brush for electrically charging toner, which remains on said photosensitive member after image transfer by said transfer charger, to collect the remaining toner into said developing device; a driving mechanism provided with a driving source for rotating said rotatable brush; and a moving mechanism for reciprocating said non-rotational brush by a driving force through said rotatable brush in a direction along an axis of said photosensitive member. |
| US07903991B2 |
Method and apparatus for measuring nip width in an image production device
A method and apparatus for measuring nip width in an image production device is disclosed. The method may include receiving a signal to measure the nip width, the nip width being the distance of an arc length created by an intersection of a fuser roll and a pressure roll, positioning a nip width measuring device into the nip, measuring the nip width, determining if the measured nip width meets a required nip width, wherein if the measured nip width does not meet the required nip width, adjusting the nip width. |
| US07903987B2 |
Image forming apparatus and control method therefor
An image forming apparatus includes an exposure mechanism to form a latent image by exposure, a latent-image carrier to hold the latent image, a charging mechanism to charge the latent-image carrier evenly, a development device to develop a latent image on the latent-image carrier into a toner image, a transfer mechanism to transfer the toner image formed on the latent-image carrier onto a transfer material, at least one asperity profile reading mechanism to read an asperity of an entire image area of the transfer material at least in a width direction thereof onto which a toner image is to be transferred, and a control mechanism to adjust a toner adhesion amount of the toner image transferred to the transfer material in accordance with a localized asperity of a surface of the transfer material read by the asperity profile reading mechanism. |
| US07903983B2 |
Optical receiver and control method for optical receiver
An optical receiver converting an optical signal modulated by differential phase shift keying to electrical first and second data signals; generating a clock signal from the first data signal; demultiplexing the first data signal into two signals; latching the two signals using the clock signal; delaying the clock signal by a certain amount; latching the two signals using the delayed clock signal; demultiplexing the second data signal into two additional signals; generating an inverted clock signal by inverting the clock signal; latching the two additional signals using the inverted clock signal or the clock signal; and further latching the two additional signals using the delayed clock signal. |
| US07903979B2 |
Low-cost WDM source with an incoherent light injected Fabry-Perot laser diode
The present invention discloses a low-cost light source for optical transmission systems and optical networks based on wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM) technology. A light source in accordance with the present invention is implemented by externally injecting a narrow-band incoherent light into a Fabry-Perot laser diode (F-P LD). After injection of narrow-band incoherent light, the output of F-P LD becomes wavelength-selective rather than multi-mode and the output wavelength of F-P LD coincide with the peak wavelength of the injected incoherent light.Multi-channel WDM light sources according to the present invention can be implemented using a single broadband incoherent light source and plurality of F-P LDs. An optical transmission system for upstream signal transmission in an passive optical network using the light source according the present invention is also disclosed. |
| US07903976B2 |
Optical element integrated module
In an optical element integrated module, first through n-th optical data signals are externally input to first ports of first through n-th optical circulators and are input to first through n-th optical/optical converters via second ports. The first through n-th optical/optical converters modulate first through n-th optical short pulse trains in accordance with the first through n-th optical data signals. First through n-th modulated optical data signals are input to the second ports of the first through n-th optical circulators and are input to an optical time division multiplexing section. The optical time division multiplexing section generates optical time division multiplexed signals by time division multiplexing the first through n-th modulated optical data signals. |
| US07903975B2 |
Optical add-drop multiplexer
A problem to be solved in an optical communication system for carrying out bidirectional transmission between communication nodes by wavelength-division-multiplexed optical signals is that a plurality of optical add-drop multiplexers installed in the communication nodes are required for each transmission direction, and therefore, the communication cost is increased. An optical circulator or an optical coupler is arranged at an input/output port of the optical add-drop multiplexer and the wavelength-division-multiplexed optical signals are assembled for each transmission direction, whereby optical signals transmitted bidirectionally can be handled by one optical add-drop multiplexer. |
| US07903974B2 |
Optical transmission system for transmitting signal of E-band with other bands
Disclosed is an optical transmission system capable of transmitting optical signals of E-band and other bands through one optical fiber. The system includes a first thin film filter for receiving optical signals of E-band and other bands at both sides thereof respectively, and multiplexing the optical signals of both E-band and other bands by selectively transmitting wavelength ranges received at one side, reflecting wavelength ranges received at the other side, and then coupling the optical signals of both E-band and other bands; an optical fiber for transmitting the optical signals multiplexed by the first thin film filter to a receiving portion; and a second thin film filter for selectively separating and demultiplexing the E-band and other bands from the optical signals transmitted through the optical fiber. |
| US07903969B2 |
Link connectivity verification method
A link connectivity verification message to recognize a physical link connection state is transmitted from the WDM to the PXC on a C-plane. The PXC transmits a link connectivity verification ACK message including information representing a physical link connection state, and the WDM transmits a cross-connect instruction message to cross-connect a transmission side and a reception side of a port (port 1) of the PXC. Probe light transmitted from the port (port a) of the WDM is turned back by a cross-connect of the port (port 1) of the PXC. The WDM receives the probe light to verify a link connectivity. |
| US07903965B2 |
Safety apparatus for controlling operation of functional equipment having movable parts
The safety apparatus for controlling operation of functional equipment having movable parts is configured to use a camera to view and cause detection of a safety related event in a field of view of the camera. The device is useful in a reverse vending machine (RVM) for receiving, handling, sorting and storing returnable items or objects. The RVM includes an item supporting, rotating, sorting and conveyor unit, an upwardly oriented storage chamber for such items, the safety apparatus to avoid operational hazards, a camera aided detection device for detecting at least one of a bar code on and other characteristics, e.g. contour of an item, a simplified token system, and a drive system with a releasable power coupling for operating the sorting device and a further storage device. |
| US07903958B2 |
Hanging water heater
A hanging water heater includes a machine body installed inside with plural quartz heating tubes respectively composed of a quartz external tube having its opposite ends sealed, and a quartz internal tube positioned in the quartz external tube, installed therein with a remote-infrared-ray heating member and having one end connected with an electrode terminal. Each quartz external tube has its lower sidewall bored with water intakes and its upper wall bored with a vapor vent. The machine body is further provided with a water inlet and a water outlet communicating with a circulating tube. The circulating tube communicates with the vapor vent of the quartz external tube, having its wall bored with lots of through holes. The hanging water heater performs heat conduction by vapor, and light and heat radiation, impossible to produce water stains and able to economize energy. |
| US07903953B2 |
Image recording and reproducing apparatus and method
An image recording and reproducing apparatus and method are provided, in which a current broadcasting and a previous broadcasting with respect to one image content can be viewed at the same time using multi-decoding. One embodiment of the apparatus includes mode setup unit for users to select a time shift mode. |
| US07903950B2 |
Information storage medium and information recording/playback system
There are provided an information storage medium capable of real-time recording/playback of digital moving picture information, and a digital information recording/playback system using this medium. In a medium that records/plays back data including video data and control information, the control information (DA21 in FIG. 4; RTR_VMG in FIG. 30) includes information (VOBU entry in FIG. 31) for accessing a specific portion (VOBU) of the video data. |
| US07903949B2 |
Information storage medium and information recording/playback system
There are provided an information storage medium capable of real-time recording/playback of digital moving picture information, and a digital information recording/playback system using this medium. In a medium that records/plays back data including video data and control information, the control information (DA21 in FIG. 4; RTR_VMG in FIG. 30) includes information (VOBU entry in FIG. 31) for accessing a specific portion (VOBU) of the video data. |
| US07903948B2 |
Information storage medium and information recording/playback system
There are provided an information storage medium capable of real-time recording/playback of digital moving picture information, and a digital information recording/playback system using this medium. In a medium that records/plays back data including video data and control information, the control information (DA21 in FIG. 4; RTR_VMG in FIG. 30) includes information (VOBU entry in FIG. 31) for accessing a specific portion (VOBU) of the video data. |
| US07903947B2 |
Recording apparatus and method, playback apparatus and method, recording medium, and computer-readable medium for recording and playing back moving images
The present invention relates to a recording apparatus and a method, a playback apparatus and a method, a recording medium, and a program capable of quickly playing back a picture associated with a unit in which a moving image is encoded. An extraction section 51 extracts one picture from each GOP. A number-of-pixels conversion section 40 reduces the amount of information of the extracted picture by thinning out pixels. A static-image compression section 41 encodes the picture whose amount of information has been reduced by a JPEG technique. A microcomputer 31 associates the encoded picture with the GOP from which the picture has been extracted and controls recording of the picture associated with the GOP onto a disk 45 on which the moving image is to be recorded. The present invention can be applied to a recording apparatus for recording a moving image onto a data recording medium. |
| US07903945B2 |
Information storage medium and information recording/playback system
There are provided an information storage medium capable of real-time recording/playback of digital moving picture information, and a digital information recording/playback system using this medium. In a medium that records/plays back data including video data and control information, the control information (DA21 in FIG. 4; RTR_VMG in FIG. 30) includes information (VOBU entry in FIG. 31) for accessing a specific portion (VOBU) of the video data. |
| US07903944B2 |
Information storage medium and information recording/playback system
There are provided an information storage medium capable of real-time recording/playback of digital moving picture information, and a digital information recording/playback system using this medium. In a medium that records/plays back data including video data and control information, the control information (DA21 in FIG. 4; RTR_VMG in FIG. 30) includes information (VOBU entry in FIG. 31) for accessing a specific portion (VOBU) of the video data. |
| US07903942B2 |
Information storage medium and information recording/playback system
There are provided an information storage medium capable of real-time recording/playback of digital moving picture information, and a digital information recording/playback system using this medium. In a medium that records/plays back data including video data and control information, the control information (DA21 in FIG. 4; RTR_VMG in FIG. 30) includes information (VOBU entry in FIG. 31) for accessing a specific portion (VOBU) of the video data. |
| US07903939B2 |
Information storage medium and information recording/playback system
There are provided an information storage medium capable of real-time recording/playback of digital moving picture information, and a digital information recording/playback system using this medium. In a medium that records/plays back data including video data and control information, the control information (DA21 in FIG. 4; RTR_VMG in FIG. 30) includes information (VOBU entry in FIG. 31) for accessing a specific portion (VOBU) of the video data. |
| US07903938B2 |
Information storage medium and information recording/playback system
There are provided an information storage medium capable of real-time recording/playback of digital moving picture information, and a digital information recording/playback system using this medium. In a medium that records/plays back data including video data and control information, the control information (DA21 in FIG. 4; RTR_VMG in FIG. 30) includes information (VOBU entry in FIG. 31) for accessing a specific portion (VOBU) of the video data. |
| US07903935B2 |
Information storage medium and information recording/playback system
There are provided an information storage medium capable of real-time recording/playback of digital moving picture information, and a digital information recording/playback system using this medium. In a medium that records/plays back data including video data and control information, the control information (DA21 in FIG. 4; RTR_VMG in FIG. 30) includes information (VOBU entry in FIG. 31) for accessing a specific portion (VOBU) of the video data. |
| US07903934B2 |
Information storage medium and information recording/playback system
There are provided an information storage medium capable of real-time recording/playback of digital moving picture information, and a digital information recording/playback system using this medium. In a medium that records/plays back data including video data and control information, the control information (DA21 in FIG. 4; RTR_VMG in FIG. 30) includes information (VOBU entry in FIG. 31) for accessing a specific portion (VOBU) of the video data. |
| US07903933B2 |
Information storage medium and information recording/playback system
There are provided an information storage medium capable of real-time recording/playback of digital moving picture information, and a digital information recording/playback system using this medium. In a medium that records/plays back data including video data and control information, the control information (DA21 in FIG. 4; RTR_VMG in FIG. 30) includes information (VOBU entry in FIG. 31) for accessing a specific portion (VOBU) of the video data. |
| US07903924B2 |
Connector for splicing and hanging cable trays
A connector that can function as a cable tray splice is provided. The connector may have a frame that is configured for being placed against first and second portions of cable tray. The connector may also have a flange located at an end of the frame that is capable of being shaped by a user. The flange and the frame define an aperture. A connector that may be a configured as a cable tray hanger and a method of securing a connector to the cable tray are also provided. |
| US07903923B2 |
Drop terminal releasable engagement mechanism
A terminal for mounting to a fiber distribution cable includes a base and a cover releasably engaged to the base by a releasable engagement mechanism. The releasable engagement mechanism includes a resilient latch having a base end and a free end. The free end defines a plurality of openings. The releasable engagement mechanism further includes a plurality of protrusions having a lip and a sloped surface. The plurality of protrusions is adapted for engagement with the plurality of openings of the resilient latch. |
| US07903920B2 |
Implementation of one or more optical waveguides in reduced optical material
One or more first portions of a reduced optical material wafer are covered with a masking layer that leaves uncovered one or more second portions of the reduced optical material wafer. The reduced optical material wafer is exposed to an oxidizing atmosphere to reverse a reduction of the one or more second portions of the reduced optical material wafer that makes the one or more second portions receptive for implementation of one or more optical waveguides. |
| US07903917B2 |
Low bend loss single mode optical fiber
Optical waveguide fiber that is bend resistant and single mode at 1260 nm and at higher wavelengths. The optical fiber includes a core of radius R1 and cladding, the cladding having an annular inner region of radius R2, an annular ring region, and an annular outer region. The annular ring region starts at R2, and the ratio R1/R2 is greater than 0.40. |
| US07903914B2 |
Method and apparatus for manufacture of a non-helical subsea umbilical
A method and apparatus to produce a non-helically wound subsea umbilical is disclosed. The apparatus to produce a non-helically wound umbilical may be portable to facilitate manufacturing of subsea umbilicals in remote locations. This apparatus is smaller and more economical to build and operate than conventional cabling machines that currently are used by many manufactures to produce helically wound subsea umbilicals. |
| US07903912B2 |
Optical connector
In an embodiment of the invention, an optical connector for optically coupling respective end faces of two optical fiber cables including an optical fiber composed of a core and a cladding includes a beat shrinkable tube, a cable insertion tube disposed in the heat shrinkable tube for inserting thereinto and butting the respective end faces of the two optical fiber cables, an uncured refractive index matching resin disposed between the beat shrinkable tube and the cable insertion tube, and a resin supply hole formed in the cable insertion tube for supplying the uncured refractive index matching resin to an inside of the cable insertion tube. In an alternative embodiment, an optical connector includes a protection sleeve, a cable insertion tube disposed in the protection sleeve for inserting thereinto and butting the respective end faces of the two optical fiber cables, an optical instantaneous adhesive material disposed between the protection sleeve and the cable insertion tube, and an adhesive material supply hole formed in the cable insertion tube for supplying the optical instantaneous adhesive material to an inside of the cable insertion tube. |
| US07903911B2 |
Optical link module, optical interconnection method, information processor including the optical link module, signal transfer method, prism and method of manufacturing the prism
An optical link module of the present invention for connecting light beams by deflection and including light-emitting devices arranged in a planar manner; an optical fiber bundle that is an optical waveguide for receiving the light beams from the light-emitting devices, and an optical turn which includes a plurality of aspherical lenses which are disposed between the light-emitting devices and the optical fiber bundle and are formed while corresponding to the number of the light-emitting devices and the number of optical fibers. |
| US07903910B2 |
Coupled optical waveguide resonators with heaters for thermo-optic control of wavelength and compound filter shape
An integrated optical device is disclosed comprising a substrate, optical waveguide, and compound optical resonator having a temperature sensor, at least two coupled optical resonators, and a heater localized to each optical resonator. An optical input signal is coupled to one of the resonators making up the compound resonator to form an optical output signal. The center wavelength and shape of the output signal is optimized with a feedback loop using the temperature sensor to control the power dissipated in at least one of the localized heaters. The power dissipated in the remaining resonator heaters is set according to a predetermined function having as an input variable the power dissipated in the resonant heater under control of the said feedback loop. |
| US07903909B2 |
Low-loss bloch wave guiding in open structures and highly compact efficient waveguide-crossing arrays
Low-loss waveguide structures may comprise a multimode waveguide supporting a periodic light intensity pattern, and attachments disposed at the waveguide adjacent low-intensity regions of the light intensity pattern. |
| US07903907B1 |
Force and deflection sensor with shell membrane and optical gratings and method of manufacture
A sensor for force is formed from an elastomeric cylinder having a region with apertures. The apertures have passageways formed between them, and an optical fiber is introduced into these passageways, where the optical fiber has a grating for measurement of tension positioned in the passageways between apertures. Optionally, a temperature measurement sensor is placed in or around the elastomer for temperature correction, and if required, a copper film may be deposited in the elastomer for reduced sensitivity to spot temperature variations in the elastomer near the sensors. |
| US07903906B2 |
Optical sensing devices and methods
An optical sensing system and method of using it includes a light source and a first bus waveguide having an input port that is in optical communication with the light source. The system further includes a microresonator configured so that the light source excites at least first and second resonant guided optical modes of the microresonator. The microresonator includes a first location on a surface of a core of the microresonator where a field intensity of the first mode is greater than a field intensity of the second mode. The microresonator core has a first cladding at the first location. The microresonator also has a second location on a surface of the core of the microresonator where a field intensity of the first mode is less than or equal to a field intensity of the second mode, the microresonator core having a second cladding at the second location. The first cladding is different than the second cladding. |
| US07903905B2 |
Pen-shaped scanning device having a region identity sensor
Provided is a pen-shaped scanning device for scanning a surface having coded data disposed thereon which is substantially invisible to the average unaided human eye. The device is configured to determine at least two dimensions of a rotational orientation of the sensing device relative to the surface, the coded data being indicative of at least two dimensions of the rotational orientation of the sensing device. The device includes an orientation sensor configured to generate, when positioned or moved relative to the surface, using at least some of the coded data, orientation data indicative of the at least two dimensions of the orientation of the sensing device relative to the surface. The device also includes a transmitter for transmitting the orientation data to a computer system, as well as a region identity sensor configured to sense, when the sensing device is positioned or moved relative to a region of the surface, and using at least some of the coded data, region identity data indicative of an identity of the region, the transmitter being configured to transmit the region identity data to the computer system. |
| US07903903B1 |
Integrated live video production system
Techniques are described for processing one or more input sources. One or more frames are received which are to be combined into a composite result frame. Each of the one or more frames corresponds to one of the input sources. For each of the one or more frames, processing is performed to mathematically combine desired video effects to be applied to each frame for a current frame time. For each frame, a set of control settings including scaling and positioning settings is determined. Another set of control settings used to combine one or more transformed frames is determined. Each of the one or more frames is processed to generate a corresponding one of the transformed frames in accordance with the set of control settings associated with each frame. The one or more transformed frames are combined into the composite result frame in accordance with the other set of control settings. |
| US07903901B2 |
Recursive filter system for a video signal
A recursive filter system and method is provided. A weighted value of luminance and chrominance of a stored picture element is generated by summing weighted values of luminance and chrominance of a picture element and neighboring picture elements. A first proportional parameter for the stored picture element is generated with a sum of differences between the luminance and chrominance of the stored picture element and surrounding picture elements. A weighted picture element is generated from a proportion of the stored picture element and a complimentary proportion of the weighted value. Picture elements of the next image and a second proportional parameter are inputted. A filtered image is generated by combining a proportion of each input picture element of the next image with a complementary proportion of the weighted stored picture element of the first image. The filtered image is stored for corresponding combination with a succeeding image. |
| US07903898B2 |
Visual processing apparatus, visual processing method, program, recording medium, display device, and integrated circuit
It is possible to inhibit side effects even when an image that has sharp edge regions has been input, using a spatial processing portion (10) outputting surrounding image information US from an input image signal, a control signal generation portion (40) outputting an effect adjustment signal MOD according to a degree of flatness of an edge proximal region, and an effect adjustment portion (20) outputting a synthesized signal MUS that is synthesized by changing a ratio of the image signal IS and the surrounding image information US according to the effect adjustment signal MOD. Further, the side effects are inhibited using a visual processing portion (30) visually processing the image signal IS based on the synthesized signal MUS and the image signal IS. |
| US07903895B2 |
Data transformation device for image processing
A data transformation device including a pre-processing unit, a calculating unit and a post-processing unit is disclosed. The pre-processing unit performs a first pre-process with received image data to generate pre-processed image data, and performs a second pre-process with received result data to generate pre-processed result data. The calculating unit generates first calculated data and second calculated data according to the pre-processed image data and the pre-processed result data, by both a first calculating component and a second calculating component respectively. The post-processing unit performs a first post-process to generate the result data according to the first calculating data, and performs a second post-process to generate the image data according to the second calculating data. |
| US07903890B2 |
Image processing device, learning device, and coefficient generating device and method
A target-pixel-setting section (31) sets a target pixel in a target image to be predicted. A motion-direction-detecting section (32) detects a motion direction corresponding to the target pixel. A pixel-value-extracting section (36) extracts from peripheral images corresponding to the target image, in order to extract a main term that mainly contains component of the target pixel in a moving object that encounters a motion blur in the peripheral images, at least pixel values of pixels in the peripheral images whose space position roughly agree with space position of the target pixel. A processing-coefficient-setting section (37a) sets a specific motion-blur-removing-processing coefficient. A pixel-value-generating section (38a) newly generates pixel values for processing from the pixel values extracted by the pixel-value-extracting section (36) corresponding to the motion direction and generates pixel values corresponding to the target pixel based on the pixel values for processing and the specific motion-blur-removing-processing coefficients. It is possible to perform a robust motion-blur-removing processing on any shifts of motion vector. |
| US07903886B2 |
Partial precision compression scheme for transmitting data to a display over a limited-bandwidth transmission path
An image display system includes a data processing device that processes image data, an image display device that displays an image, and a transmission path that transmits data between the data processing device and the image display device. The data processing device generates compensated image data, a partial precision data generating unit divides the compensated image data into a plurality of partial precision data according to precisions, a transmission data judging unit judges whether or not the individual partial precision data are to be transmitted, and a transmitting unit transmits data. The image display device includes a receiving unit, a storage unit, a data synthesizing unit that synthesizes the partial precision data for the individual precisions stored in the storage unit, and an image display unit that displays image data synthesized by the data synthesizing unit. |
| US07903883B2 |
Local bi-gram model for object recognition
A local bi-gram model object recognition system and method for constructing a local bi-gram model and using the model to recognize objects in a query image. In a learning phase, the local bi-gram model is constructed that represents objects found in a set of training images. The local bi-gram model is a local spatial model that only models the relationship of neighboring features without any knowledge of their global context. Object recognition is performed by finding a set of matching primitives in the query image. A tree structure of matching primitives is generated and a search is performed to find a tree structure of matching primitives that obeys the local bi-gram model. The local bi-gram model can be found using unsupervised learning. The system and method also can be used to recognize objects unsupervised that are undergoing non-rigid transformations for both object instance recognition and category recognition. |
| US07903878B2 |
Capturing and presenting text during optical character recognition
A method of presenting text found on a substantially planar object. The method comprises positioning the substantially planar object for imaging; capturing an image from the substantially planar object; converting the image to a digital text; associating a media type with the text found on the substantially planar object; organizing the digital text according to the media type; and converting the digital text to an output format. |
| US07903869B2 |
Automatic color removal in digitally captured image technical field
In general, this disclosure relates to processing techniques for processing images captured by an image capture device. More particularly, the techniques relate to automatic color removal in digitally captured images. In accordance with this disclosure, an image processing apparatus dynamically determines whether a color component of an image is likely to be considered important by a human viewer based on color information associated with the image, and removes at least a portion of the color component of the image during image processing when it is not likely to be considered important. |
| US07903866B2 |
Measurement system, lithographic apparatus and method for measuring a position dependent signal of a movable object
An encoder-type measurement system is configured to measure a position dependent signal of a movable object, the measurement system including at least one sensor mountable on the movable object a sensor target object mountable on a substantially stationary frame, and a mounting device configured to mount the sensor target object on the substantially stationary frame. The measurement system further includes a compensation device configured to compensate movements and/or deformations of the sensor target object with respect to the substantially stationary frame. The compensation device may include a passive or an active damping device and/or a feedback position control system. In an alternative embodiment, the compensation device includes a gripping device which fixes the position of the sensor target object during a high accuracy movement of the movable object. |
| US07903865B2 |
Automatic optical inspection system and method
An automatic optical inspection system includes a rotary device for driving an object to rotate. At least one line-scan camera is implemented for generating two-dimensional planar images of cylindrical surfaces of the object. A device for detecting defects is operable to generate the two-dimensional planar images of the cylindrical surfaces of the object according to a normalized grayscale absolute difference inspection method. |
| US07903858B2 |
Practical image reconstruction for magnetic resonance imaging
A set of image-space data is reconstructed from a set of k-space data. The set of image-space data is generated by minimizing a cost functional by an iterative non-linear conjugate gradient process. The iterative process may be accelerated by introducing k-space weighting to the cost functional. With proper choice of k-space weighting, a block-Toeplitz matrix is generated which permits use of Fast Fourier Transform techniques. An image is rendered from the set of image-space data. |
| US07903857B2 |
Robust click-point linking with geometric configuration context: interactive localized registration approach
Disclosed is robust click-point linking, defined as estimating a single point-wise correspondence between data domains given a user-specified point in one domain or as an interactive localized registration of a monomodal data pair. To link visually dissimilar local regions, Geometric Configuration Context (GCC) is introduced. GCC represents the spatial likelihood of the point corresponding to the click-point in the other domain. A set of scale-invariant saliency features are pre-computed for both data. GCC is modeled by a Gaussian mixture whose component mean and width are determined as a function of the neighboring saliency features and their correspondences. This allows correspondence of dissimilar parts using only geometrical relations without comparing the local appearances. GCC models are derived for three transformation classes: pure translation, scaling and translation, and similarity transformation. For solving the linking problem, a variable-bandwidth mean shift method is adapted for estimating the maximum likelihood solution of the GCC. |
| US07903854B2 |
Image transmission method, image transmission apparatus, and image transmission program
Volume data formed of tomographic images (medical images) is stored in a storage unit of a data center. Recorded in a tag area of each tomographic image is site information indicating the site contained in each tomographic image. A data server of the data center reads the volume data from the storage unit in response to a transmission request from a medical facility. Then, the data server extracts from the volume data the tomographic images of the same site as designated by the transmission request. The data server transmits the extracted tomographic images to the medical facility which made the transmission request. |
| US07903846B2 |
Method for using an electronic lock box with a biometric identification device
An improved electronic lock box system is provided for more secure control over the accessibility of a secure compartment in the electronic lock box, which is typically used to store a dwelling key. The new system uses biometric identification sensors to determine if the correct, authorized user is attempting to access the secure compartment of the electronic lock box. In one embodiment, the biometric identification sensor uses thermal scanning to detect a person's fingerprint pattern. This is compared to previously stored (enrollment) biometric identification information/data, and if the “live” (observed) biometric identification information/data sufficiently correlates to the stored enrollment biometric identification information/data, access will be granted. |
| US07903845B2 |
Electronic apparatus and program storage medium
There is provided an electronic apparatus that can scroll an image on a display screen with a simple operation and in various modes. A glide point is provided and a fingerprint sensor is provided adjacently to the glide point. Scroll mode is changed in response to a touch of a finger or thumb on the glide point and a vertical or horizontal movement of the finger or thumb on the glide point and an image on the display screen is scrolled in response to an upward or downward movement of a finger or thumb on the fingerprint sensor. |
| US07903842B2 |
Target position setting device and parking assist device with the same
A target position setting device includes a distance meter, an imager, first and second calculating portions, a determination portion, and a setting portion. The distance meter measures a distance to an object around a vehicle. The imager takes an image of an environment around the vehicle. The first calculating portion calculates a first candidate of a target position of the vehicle according to a measuring result of the distance meter. The second calculating portion calculates a second candidate of the target position of the vehicle according to an imaging result of the imager. The determination portion determines whether a relationship between the first candidate and the second candidate meets a given condition. The setting portion sets the target position according to the second candidate of the target position when the determination portion determines that the relationship between the first candidate and the second candidate meets the given condition. |
| US07903838B2 |
Vision-enabled household appliances
The invention is generally related to the systems and methods through which household appliances can provide intuitive and enhanced interactivity through visual inputs. In particular, the disclosure presents methods relating to control of a household appliance, such as a microwave or a refrigerator, via recognition of visual indicia, such as graphics, text, and the like, using a visual sensor such as a camera. |
| US07903836B2 |
Implantable microphone with shaped chamber
An implantable microphone is disclosed having an external diaphragm and housing that forming chamber capable of being pressurized by deformational movement of the diaphragm induced by pressure waves (e.g., acoustic signals) propagating through overlying tissue. The chamber is shaped such that the volume of the chamber upon deflection of the diaphragm is reduced compared to a static volume of the chamber (i.e., volume of the chamber with no diaphragm deflection). As a result, the change in pressure within the chamber for a given diaphragm displacement is greater than it would be within a chamber having a cylindrical volume, leading to greater microphone sensitivity. In one arrangement, the chamber is shaped such that it is deeper at its center than at its edges, for example, to form a conical or paraboloidal volume. |