| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US07918426B2 |
Adjustable mount
An adjustable mount for mounting a flat panel display screen on a support comprises a first component adapted for securement to the support and forming a rear of the mount, a second component engaged with the first component and forming a front of the mount to which the screen is intended to be secured, in use, and an adjustment device acting between the first and second components to alter the relative positioning therebetween. |
| US07918424B1 |
Suspending buckle mechanism of output water device
A suspending buckle mechanism of output water device, which connects to a supporting arm protruding out of a wall, includes a sucker mechanism, a suspending tube, a supporting hoop and an elastic buckle. The suspending tube has an upper part with a through fixing hole and a lower part fixed to the sucker mechanism. The supporting hoop includes: a connecting sleeve, on which an axial groove is internally and externally disposed, and two connecting sheets. Through holes are disposed in the connecting sheets. The connecting sheets are symmetrically fixed around the connecting sleeve. The elastic buckle is placed between the connecting sheets. The connecting sheets are inserted in the upper opening of the hanging tube in order to make the convex columns of the elastic buckle protrude out of the through hole and then inserted in the fixing hole, so that the connecting sleeve can clasp the supporting arm. |
| US07918423B2 |
Mobile antenna support
An antenna support, including a top transit case stacked upon a bottom transit case and an antenna mounting surface stacked upon the top transit case. The bottom transit case, the top transit case and the antenna mounting surface retained by a plurality of turnbuckle(s), each of the turnbuckle(s) coupling between a respective attachment point of the bottom transit case and the antenna mounting surface. A length of the turnbuckle(s) adjustable to clamp the top transit case against the bottom transit case and the antenna mounting surface against the top transit case. |
| US07918419B2 |
Rocket ejection delay apparatus and/or method
An ejection delay system, apparatus and/or method including an electronic ejection delay system having an ignition device; a power source connected to the ignition device; and, a flight parameter sensor switch electrically connected to the power source to initiate the provision of power from the power source to the ignition device; the electronic ejection delay system being disposed in some implementations in a housing system including a housing; a forward closure for closing the top end of the housing; and, an aft closure for closing the aft end of the housing. Also disclosed is a method for ejecting a rocket recovery system in flight; including sensing a parameter associated with flight; and, initiating deployment of a recovery system. |
| US07918418B2 |
Device for introducing and distributing forces into or inside a luggage compartment
A device for introducing forces into a luggage compartment and for transferring and/or distributing the forces and/or stresses in vehicles, particularly in fast traveling vehicles such as aircraft, ground vehicles and watercraft, e.g. express trains, speedboats and the like, has a ceiling-side connecting element arranged between extensions of end-side side walls of the luggage compartment. The device has a simple design and can be economically produced. The invention provides for the introduction of the forces into the luggage compartment via the ceiling-side connecting element, configured, for example, as a strip that distributes forces for stresses. |
| US07918416B2 |
Ducted fan vehicles particularly useful as VTOL aircraft
A vehicle, including a vehicle frame, a duct carried by the vehicle frame with the longitudinal axis of the duct perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle frame, a propeller rotatably mounted within the duct about the longitudinal axis of the duct to force an ambient fluid therethrough from its inlet at the upper end of the duct through its exit at the lower end of the duct, and thereby to produce an upward lift force applied to the vehicle, and a plurality of parallel, spaced vanes pivotally mounted to and across the inlet end of the duct about pivotal axes perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the duct and substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle frame, the vanes being selectively pivotal about their axes to produce a desired horizontal force component to the lift force applied to the vehicle. |
| US07918413B2 |
Holiday lights string storage device and method
A string of holiday lights and storage device and method that includes a spool made of two coaxially aligned, circular plates spaced apart by at least a transversely aligned first axle. The axle is attached to a handle located outside the circular plate which allows the axle to be manually rotated. Located parallel to the first axle is a second axle located between the circular plates or two lateral extending arms. Disposed between the two axles is a wide, flexible support strap designed to be wound in opposite directions onto each axle. During use, the end of a string of holiday lights is inserted against the inside surface of the support strap. As the strap is wound onto the first axle, the string of lights is also automatically wound into the first axle so that it is held in position against the outer surface of the axle. |
| US07918406B2 |
Override of nonoccupancy status in a thermostat device based upon analysis of recent patterns of occupancy
A thermostat system with a thermostat control program is disclosed for controlling a Heating Ventilation and/or Air Conditioning (HVAC) system which incorporates a mechanism for detecting activity or occupancy in a room, area or conditioned space served by the HVAC system. The thermostat control program analyzes levels, counts or other aspects of activity detected in the conditioned space, with an operating sequence which may include pattern recognition techniques. The operating sequence of the thermostat control program may further depend upon time of day, and upon periods of time identified as being periods for special handling of occupancy, or the recognition of occupancy. These factors may then be utilized by the thermostat control program to influence determination of the temperature setpoint, or to select from alternative programming provided either by the user of the thermostat, or by factory programming, with purpose of balancing energy savings and comfort. |
| US07918405B2 |
System for anonymous communication via interactive surface
A system for anonymous communication between a user and a software application is provided, via interaction of an optical imaging device with an interactive surface to generate interaction data. The device has a unique identity which is associated with the user's identity. The interaction data includes data on the application and device identities. The system has a computer system which receives the interaction data generated by the optical imaging device, identifies the application and the device from the identity data included in the received interaction data, translates the identified application and device identities into an alias identity, sends the alias identity and interaction data to the identified application, receives information from the identified application addressed to the alias identity, and forwards the information from the application to the user via the alias identity. |
| US07918400B2 |
System and method for accessing information of the web
A system and a method for acquiring information on a product, comprising an Internet unit and a communication device, interacting with the Internet unit; wherein the communication device comprises a bar code symbol reader, the bar code symbol reader reading digital code symbologies on the product, the communication device requests information to the Internet unit using the digital code symbologies, and the communication device makes available information returned in response by the Internet unit. |
| US07918399B2 |
Portable scanning device for scanning product item
A portable scanning device for scanning a product item is provided. The product item has visible information relating thereto and a plurality of tags disposed thereon. Each tag encodes data on an identity of the product item and the location of that tag on the product item. The scanning device has a sensor for sensing the data encoded by at least one tag, and a processor for determining, from the sensed data, product identity data indicative of the identity of the product item and location data indicative of a location of said at least one tag on the product item. |
| US07918398B2 |
Indicia reading terminal having multiple setting imaging lens
An indicia reading terminal can include a multiple setting imaging lens assembly and an image sensor having an image sensor array. In one embodiment, an indicia reading terminal in an active reading state can cycle through a set of different lens settings, expose pixels of an image sensor array during an exposure period when each new lens setting is achieved, and attempt to decode decodable indicia represented in frames of image data captured corresponding to each exposure period. In one embodiment, movement of an imaging lens assembly lens element can be provided with use of a hollow stepper motor. |
| US07918394B1 |
Card reader device for a cell phone and method of use
A card reader device for reading a card having data stored on a magnetic stripe incorporated into the card is disclosed in which the card reader device comprises a read head for passing a magnetic stripe of a card by to read data stored on a magnetic stripe and for producing a signal indicative of data stored on a magnetic stripe, a signal setting device for setting an amplitude of the signal indicative of data stored on a magnetic stripe, and an output jack adapted to be inserted into a microphone input associated with a cell phone for providing the signal indicative of data stored on a magnetic stripe to a cell phone. Data stored on the card and sensed by the card reader device is decoded by components such as a microphone amplifier, an analog to digital converter, and a microprocessor already resident in a cell phone. |
| US07918392B2 |
Systems, methods, and devices for selling transaction instruments
The present invention generally relates to a system and method for distributing an open transaction instrument. The system includes the steps of: accessibly offering for sale, in a retail environment, the open transaction instrument; selling a selected open transaction instrument; and enabling the use of the open transaction instrument. The transaction instrument may be, for example, an open pre-paid card. Furthermore, accessibly offering the open pre-paid card for sale, in one exemplary embodiment, is performed by hanging the pre-paid card on a rack. The distribution of the open transaction instrument may also comprise the step of sending a message, in substantially real time, causing the pre-paid open transaction instrument to be funded but not activated. Also, in accordance with further exemplary embodiments of the present invention, an issuer system is suitably configured to leverage existing infrastructure for inventory and related processes. |
| US07918390B2 |
Printing educational material using a mobile device
A system for printing educational information on a print medium, the system comprising: a mobile phone telecommunications device which comprises: a printer module to print the educational material on the print medium, wherein the print medium is provided with first coded data in a first format on a first side of the print medium and second coded data in a second format on an opposing side of the print medium, the first and second coded data encoding first and second information respectively, the first and second information being indicative of a print media identifier of the print medium; and a sensor module to sense the print media identifier of the print medium. |
| US07918388B2 |
Attention economy for attention to messages, tasks and resources
A centrally tracked artificial currency is provided within the context of an enterprise. This currency serves as a unit of account, medium of exchange, and store of value in a corporate “attention economy.” Users (typically coworkers) in the enterprise are allotted a base number of currency units, which they can earn, exchange, and spend in a variety of ways to signal importance and “purchase” attention of others, or priority for other organization resources. In one aspect, senders of messages can specify an amount of currency to be associated with the message, so that recipients can see the specified amount before deciding whether to read the message. Once such a system is in use, it facilitates exchange of value based on user-created transactions regarding behavior, communication, resources, incentives, and priorities. |
| US07918385B2 |
Carton with dispenser
A carton having a dispenser with a removable dispenser panel. The dispenser panel is configured to be easily removed and to allow access to containers in the carton. |
| US07918384B2 |
Carton with dispenser
A carton having a dispenser with a removable dispenser panel. The dispenser panel is configured to be easily removed and to allow access to containers in the carton. |
| US07918383B2 |
Methods for placing substrates in contact with molten solder
Methods and devices for placing a semiconductor wafer or other substrate in contact with solder are described. A wave soldering apparatus includes a solder bath, a nozzle for producing a solder wave, and a jig for orienting a substrate in a substantially vertical orientation and placing the substrate in contact with a cascading solder wave. In another wave soldering apparatus, a jig orients a semiconductor wafer in a substantially horizontal orientation in contact with the solder wave. Another soldering apparatus includes a tank comprising molten solder and a fixture configured to orient one or more semiconductor wafers in a substantially vertical orientation. Methods of placing semiconductor wafers or other substrates in contact with solder using the devices of the present invention are also disclosed. |
| US07918378B1 |
Wire bonding deflector for a wire bonder
Methods and systems are described for enabling the efficient fabrication of wedge-bonding of integrated circuit systems and electronic systems. |
| US07918373B2 |
Combustion type power tool
A combustion type power tool capable of avoiding wasteful injection of combustible gas from a gas canister even if an unintentional operation of the push lever takes place, and capable of avoiding wasteful electric power consumption even if a battery used as power supply remains set in the tool. While the tool is not being used, a stop unit is set at a stop position, preventing a gas canister from injecting gas, and while the tool is being used, the stop unit is set at a release position, allowing the gas canister to inject gas as a result of movement of a combustion chamber frame. |
| US07918371B2 |
Dual ammunition magazine pouch
The dual magazine pouches allows one of the two magazines to be partially ejected from the pouch automatically when the pouch is opened so that a shooter has quick and easy access to the magazine yet the remaining magazine is retained securely within the pouch. The pouches include a main body formed by a cargo pocket sewn to a back/flap, which extends above the cargo pocket and folds over to enclose the open mouth of the pouch, and an “elevator” mechanism, which automatically raises one of the magazine when the pouch is opened. The “elevator” mechanism is provided by two elastic members: an elastic retention band and an elastic “elevator” band or cord. The retention band snugly holds a first ammunition magazine against the back/flap when fully inserted into the pouch. The elevator band forms a “saddle” within which a second ammunition magazine sits. Fully inserting the second magazine stretches the elevator band. When both ammunition magazines are fully inserted into the pouch, the back/flap is folded over the tops of the magazines and secured by hook and loop patches. When the back/flap is lifted, the tension from the elevator band automatically lifts the second magazine partially ejecting it from the pouch above the exposed top of the first magazine. |
| US07918370B2 |
Portable fluid delivering system and kit
A portable fluid delivering system is provided. The system comprises a container, a heat source, a flow rate regulating device and a delivery tube. The container has a containing space for a fluid to be delivered, in a liquid state at room temperature. The heat source provides an elevated vapor pressure in the containing space over the fluid to be delivered, whereby the fluid to be delivered is driven at a desirable rate along the delivery tube. |
| US07918363B2 |
Resealable beverage container
A resealable beverage container includes a main body having a cylindrical sidewall, a bottom wall, and a lid. The lid includes an opening formed through its thickness. The main body of the container defines an interior cavity for holding a beverage. A tubular member extends from a lower surface of the lid downwardly at least partially into the interior cavity of the main body. The tubular member has open opposite axial ends, and a plurality of slots formed through its thickness axially along its length. The tubular member is aligned with the lid opening and defines a bore so that fluid may flow from the interior cavity through the bore and out the lid opening. The tubular member is interiorly threaded. A sealing cap is threadingly received by, and removable from, the bore of the tubular member to seal and unseal the lid of the beverage container. |
| US07918360B2 |
Container with overcap
A closure for a microwavable container has a top wall and a skirt with at least one tab formed of a pair of straps and a thumb grip. The tab has an internal bead extending about its inner periphery which provides a shoulder which abuts a shoulder on the bead of the container to retain the closure on the container. The tab can be gripped by the user's thumb to apply force outwardly and upwardly to disengage the internal bead. |
| US07918359B2 |
Opening device
An opening device of plastics material, which is suitable for closing and re-closing of a metal can end, for example. The opening device has two distinct parts: a base plate and a tab, which are joined together by an integral rivet. The opening device is used to close an aperture in the metal panel of a can end by fitting the base plate to the underside of the panel and connecting this to the tab on the top of the panel. A sliding action by pulling or retaining the tab actuates movement of the base plate for opening and reclosing of the closure panel. |
| US07918356B2 |
Preform and container having thread groove
A finish for a plastic container and a preform adapted to be molded into the plastic container. The finish and the preform include an upper portion having a mouth defining an opening into the container. At least one groove is defined around a radial sidewall of the upper portion. The groove slopes gradually downward along the radial sidewall to a terminal end. |
| US07918355B2 |
Blow-molded container having thread groove
A blow-molded plastic container includes an upper portion having a finish, a body portion and a base. At least one groove is formed in a radial sidewall of the finish. The groove slopes gradually downward along the radial sidewall and away from an opening into the container. A method of making the blow-molded plastic container includes disposing a preform into a mold cavity having a surface defining a body forming region, a finish forming region and a moil forming region. The preform is blown against the mold surface to form an intermediate container having a body portion, a finish and a moil portion. The moil is severed from the finish to define the opening into the container. A closure member is adapted to selectively mate with the finish on the container. At least one thread is formed on the closure member. |
| US07918349B2 |
Composite polyamide membrane with branched poly(alkylene oxide) modified surface
Composite membranes that exhibit long-term resistance to biofouling comprise a porous support and a crosslinked polyamide discriminating layer having an external surface, the discriminating layer comprising a branched poly(alkylene oxide) (PAO) polymer attached to its external surface. The branched PAO polymer typically has the structure of a molecular comb or brush, and is made by polymerization of a PAO macromonomer of the following formula: RO—[(CHR′)n—O]m—V in which R is hydrogen or a C1-20 aliphatic or aromatic group, V is any group containing a polymerizable site, each R′ is independently hydrogen or a short chain alkyl group, n is an integer of 1-6, and m is an integer of 1 to about 200. The α end group can be either polymerized or copolymerized. |
| US07918348B2 |
Filter device and method for the periodic cleaning of a filter
In a filter device and in a method for the periodic cleaning of a filter of a water treatment or sewage treatment plant, a rotating filter is arranged within its own separate filter chamber, the bottom of which is designed as following a contour of the rotating filter. The provision of an own separate filter chamber makes it possible for the rotating filter to be cleaned, without other parts of a filtering installation having to be taken out of operation, and without the rotating filter having to be dismantled and removed from the filter chamber. Therefore no lifting cranes or separate cleaning basins are necessary. |
| US07918345B2 |
Electromagnetic separator and separation method of ferromagnetic materials
Electromagnetic separator comprising two or more solenoids (6, 7) arranged inside a rotatable drum (1) and connected to a continuous current power supply (8) for generating a magnetic field suitable for separating ferromagnetic parts, wherein said power supply (8) supplies a current being substantially constant in time. The invention also relates to a separation method that can be carried out by means of said electromagnetic separator. |
| US07918344B2 |
Method for removal of unburned carbon from fly ash
Disclosed is a method for removing unburned carbon from fly ash at low cost and within a short time. The method comprises the steps of adding a collecting agent to fly ash directly, agitating/mixing the mixture in a mixer (5), adding water to the resulting mixed material in a mixing vessel (7) to yield a slurry, applying a shearing force to the slurry in a submerged stirrer (9), and performing flotation separation of unburned carbon in a flotator (15). |
| US07918342B2 |
Protective and packaging wrapper for a container, the wrapper being constituted by a sleeve of heat-shrink plastics material
The invention relates to a protective and packaging wrapper for a container, the wrapper being constituted by a sleeve of heat-shrink plastics material for shrinking onto the container, said sleeve being obtained from a film that is folded in half and looped by bonding together two corresponding end zones. In accordance with the invention, the film constituting the sleeve is opaque to light over its entire area with the exception of a window zone, and the above-mentioned window zone is covered on the outside face of the sleeve by a detachable adhesive strip that is opaque to light, removal of said adhesive strip giving access to the window zone and making it possible to observe the substance present inside the container directly by eye. |
| US07918340B2 |
Battery packaging
A display package includes a front cover having a first bulbous portion defining a flashlight retaining cavity. A display portion is adjacent the first bulbous portion. A container includes a first side wall and a second side wall, wherein the first side wall of the container is connected to the display package by a living hinge. At least one battery is disposed inside the container and at least one flashlight is disposed inside the first bulbous portion. |
| US07918337B2 |
Pharmaceutical waste container system
A pharmaceutical waste disposal device comprises an upper portion adapted for receiving pharmaceutical waste and a lower portion adapted for collecting the pharmaceutical waste, the lower portion being selectively and removably engagable with the upper portion. The upper portion includes a housing surrounding an internal rotating wheel and a lid slideably engaged with the housing. Additionally, the rotating wheel includes collection areas adapted for collecting pharmaceutical waste placed in the upper portion. The lid includes a lower pivoting flap adapted for contacting and rotating the wheel upon closing the lid to transfer the pharmaceutical waste to the lower portion. Further, the rotating wheel is sized and positioned within the housing in a manner to substantially prevent access to the pharmaceutical waste collected in the lower portion. |
| US07918334B2 |
Versatile enhanced production line for preparing and packaging food products
A method and device for manufacturing a viscous or semisolid product. The device includes a versatile product holding tray for manufacturing or forming the product. This tray is a polygonal member that includes a top surface for receiving the liquid or semisolid product, and a plurality of sides wherein at least one side includes a registration recess that is configured and dimensioned to receive at least a portion of a retaining bar of an endless conveyor to facilitate positioning of the tray upon the conveyor so that the retaining bar advances the tray during manufacture of the product. The device also includes an endless conveyor that includes a plurality of spaced tray retainer bars thereon for holding and advancing the tray to one or more product forming stations for forming the product on the trays. |
| US07918330B2 |
Made to a grain conveyor
This report for Utility Model refers to an improvement introduced in the configuration of drag plates sets installed in a conveyor of the redler type, in a closed circuit circular duct, used for transportation of bulk products, more specifically, for handling vegetable grains and agriculture seeds, such as soy, corn, wheat, rice, oats, barley, coffee and other products. Its major application is for drying and warehousing facilities for grains, which use vertical circular silos, bulk warehouses and also other handling processes employed by agricultural properties, cooperatives, agro-industries and similar industrial facilities. It comprises an innovative replacement of plates of the “U” type currently used, which do not allow the reversing of the change of direction. This improvement to the conveyor corresponds to a new characteristic drawing of the drag plate (8) and respective attachment (9) to the chain, which allows reverting the change of direction of the conveyor chain (1) enabling the sprocket wheel (4) to be used on both sides of said chain along the extension of the circuit. This characteristic allows performance of the conveyor with more flexible configurations as its major benefit, and further reduces the quantity of material used to manufacture the drag plates. |
| US07918328B2 |
Method and apparatus for bottle recirculation
A machine arrangement that operates on a plurality of articles, such as bottles, includes a plurality of machines arranged in a machine arrangement. At least one of the machines includes an apparatus configured to modify the articles by at least one of moving, holding, manipulating and shaping the articles as they pass from an article infeed to an article discharge of the machine arrangement. A recirculation mechanism moves articles from a downstream machine after a first pass (or run) and recirculates the articles back to an upstream machine in a second (recirculation) pass (or run) so that the articles, which are recirculated through the second pass are again subjected to a different machine modifying operation in at least one machine that the articles have previously passed in the first pass. The articles move continuously through the first and second passes while being subjected to at least one machine modifying operation. |
| US07918327B2 |
Apparatus for laterally transferring bars from a receiving path to a braking path
An apparatus is disclosed for receiving successive bars moving longitudinally along an entry path and for laterally transferring the bars from the entry path to a braking path. The apparatus comprises a run in table having a plurality of rollers arranged to convey the bars along the entry path. A braking surface is arranged between the run in table and the braking path. The braking surface and the rollers of the run in table lie in a reference plane sloping downwardly from the entry path to the braking path. A dividing wall is arranged between the run in table and the braking surface. The dividing wall is adjustable between a raised position projecting above the reference plane to block lateral downward movement of bars from the entry path across the braking surface to the braking path, and a lowered position accommodating such downward movement. A switch is positioned in advance of the dividing wall. The switch has a plurality of guide channels arranged around a common axis. The switch is positioned to successively align individual guide channels with the entry path to thereby direct bars passing therethrough along the entry path while the dividing wall is in its raised position, and is rotatable about its axis to successively realign the individual guide channels with the braking path to thereby direct bars passing therethrough to and along the braking path when the dividing wall is in its lowered position. |
| US07918318B2 |
Method and system for modernization of an elevator installation
A method for modernization of an elevator installation with several elevators in a building, wherein at least one floor terminal for input of a floor call is provided on at least one floor of the building, which floor terminal is, for communication of an input floor call, connected with a group control, and at least one elevator is controlled in drive in accordance with the communicated floor call by the group control, includes connecting at least one call detecting unit, for communication of an input floor call, with the group control. At least one new floor terminal is, for input of a floor call, mounted on at least one floor and the new floor terminal is, for communication of an input floor call, connected with the call detecting unit. |
| US07918316B2 |
Separating device in a motor vehicle oil circuit
The invention relates to a cyclone separator integrated into the cover of an oil tank for separating an oil flow charged with gas into a flow which is low in air and into a flow which contains air. |
| US07918311B2 |
Muffler and engine exhaust apparatus
A muffling chamber is located between a first main body wall and a second main body wall with respect to a height direction. An outflow pipe includes: a first opening that connects an outflow passage with a muffling chamber in the vicinity of a first main body wall; and a second opening that connects the outflow passage with the muffling chamber in the vicinity of a second main body wall. The liquid staying on the first main body wall of a first muffler flows into the outflow passage through the first opening. The liquid staying on a second main body wall of a second muffler flows into the outflow passage through a second opening. Therefore, the symmetry of the first muffler and the second muffler is compatible with anti-corrosion. |
| US07918310B1 |
Noise attenuation device for reducing jet engine noise during testing
A noise attenuation device for testing a jet engine. |
| US07918301B2 |
Motorcycle including antilock brake system and brake fluid conduit routing structure
A motorcycle includes a head pipe that is disposed at a front portion of a vehicle body and makes front forks pivot, and a pair of left and right down tubes that extend downward from the head pipe and extend to the rear side of an engine under the engine, wherein connecting members for connecting brake hoses that are formed of elastic members to respective brake pipes that are formed of metal pipes are disposed behind the head pipe, and the brake hoses that extend from the connecting members to a brake for a front wheel extend frontward after passing between the pair of the left and right down tubes. |
| US07918295B2 |
Fluid reservoir
A power assist system for a motor vehicle subsystem having a component support structure is described. The power assist system comprises a fluid reservoir, a pump having an inlet for receiving a fluid from the reservoir and a pump securing structure including at least one aperture. The system additionally includes at least one fastener. The reservoir fluid outlet is directly coupled to the pump inlet and the at least one fastener secures the reservoir mounting structure by passing directly through the pump mounting structure and attaching to the motor vehicle component support structure. |
| US07918294B2 |
Tractor unit and hitch
A powered load-moving tractor unit for moving a wheeled load comprises a tractor body with two powered ground-engaging tractor wheels steerable by a tiller and a draw bar for connecting the tractor body to the load through a releasable load hitch. To steer the load, the tractor body can be moved pivotally about a vertical axis relative to the draw bar. That vertical axis is defined by the two halves of a turntable mounted on the tractor body directly over the axis of rotation of the steerable ground-engaging wheels. The draw bar is rigidly connected over the top half of the turntable and extends down the front of the tractor body to the load hitch. The load hitch comprises telescopically inter-engageable elements on the draw bar and the load, and a latch mechanism that is remotely releasable from the end of the draw bar remote from the load hitch. |
| US07918292B2 |
Earth-boring tools having features for affecting cuttings flow
An earth-boring bit has a bit body having a plurality of bit legs extending longitudinally therefrom, each bit leg comprising one or more groove regions formed along a laterally outer surface thereof. Each groove region comprises a fluid course for drilling fluid and cuttings to pass across the outer surface. A ridge may be disposed adjacent a lower edge of one or more of the groove regions. Each groove region may also be positioned at differing heights on the bit legs. Methods of forming earth-boring bits are also disclosed. |
| US07918290B2 |
Systems and methods for protecting drill blades in high speed turbine drills
A drilling assembly in an elongated hole including a housing defining an interior with a plurality of motor stages in the interior. Each motor stage has at least one blade with supporting platform surfaces. A casing within the interior surrounds the plurality of motor stages and defines an annular flowpath with the housing. The casing also defines at least one offtake passage adjacent each motor stage. A shielding fluid passes through the annular flowpath and, in turn, the at least one offtake of each motor stage to coat and protect the at least one blade and supporting platform surfaces. A driving fluid passes through the casing for propelling the at least one blade of each motor stage. Preferably, the shielding fluid is at a relatively higher pressure than the driving fluid with a substantially constant ratio maintained between the between the shielding fluid and the driving fluid. |
| US07918284B2 |
Protective sleeve for threaded connections for expandable liner hanger
A tubular sleeve is coupled to and overlaps the threaded connection between a pair of adjacent tubular members. |
| US07918282B2 |
Zone isolation assembly array and method for isolating a plurality of fluid zones in a subsurface well
A zone isolation assembly array (794) for a well (712) includes a first zone isolation assembly (722A) and a second zone isolation assembly (722B). The first zone isolation assembly (722A) selectively inhibits fluid communication between a first zone (726) and a second zone (728) of the well (712). The second zone isolation assembly (722B) selectively inhibits fluid communication between the second zone (728) and a third zone (796) of the well (712). In another embodiment, the zone isolation assembly array (794) includes a first docking receiver (748A), a second docking receiver (748B), a first docking apparatus (750A) and a second docking apparatus (750B). The docking receivers (748A, 748B) can be positioned in an in-line manner. The second docking apparatus (750B) is coupled to the first docking apparatus (750A). |
| US07918280B2 |
Radial indexing communication tool and method for subsurface safety valve with communication component
A communication tool apparatus is described which is adapted to provide selective communication of control fluid through a downhole tool, such as a safety valve. The downhole safety valve is a tubing retrievable subsurface safety valve (“TRSSSV”). The communication tool may be run downhole and within the TRSSSV. Once within the TRSSSV, the communication tool apparatus activates a cutting device within the TRSSSV such that communication of control fluid through the TRSSSV is possible. A replacement safety valve run on a wireline may then be inserted into the TRSSSV and be operated via the control fluid line, as a new communication path created by the communication tool described herein. A method of using the communication tool apparatus is also described. |
| US07918277B2 |
Method of treating subterranean formations using mixed density proppants or sequential proppant stages
An increase in effective propped lengths is evidenced in hydraulic fracturing treatments by the use of ultra lightweight (ULW) proppants. The ULW proppants have a density less than or equal to 2.45 g/cc and may be used as a mixture in a first proppant stage wherein at least one of the proppants is a ULW proppant. Alternatively, sequential proppant stages may be introduced into the formation wherein at least one of the proppant stages contain a ULW proppant and where at least one of the following conditions prevails: (i.) the density differential between the first proppant stage and the second proppant stage is greater than or equal to 0.2 g/cc; (ii.) both the first proppant stage and the second proppant stage contain a ULW proppant; (iii.) the rate of injection of the second proppant stage into the fracture is different from the rate of injection of the first proppant stage; or (iv.) the particle size of the second proppant stage is different from the particle size of the first proppant stage. |
| US07918275B2 |
Water sensitive adaptive inflow control using couette flow to actuate a valve
An apparatus for controlling fluid flow into a wellbore tubular includes a flow control member that selectively aligns a port with an opening in communication with a flow bore of the well bore tubular. The flow control member may have an open position wherein the port is aligned with the opening and a closed position wherein the port is misaligned with the opening. The flow control member moves between the open position and closed position in response to a change in drag force applied by a flowing fluid. A biasing element urges the flow control member to the open or the closed position. The apparatus may include a housing receiving the flow control member. The flow control member and the housing may define a flow space that generates a Couette flow that causes the drag force. The flow space may include a hydrophilic and/or water swellable material. |
| US07918274B2 |
Downhole tools
There is disclosed an improved tool, e.g. adapted to comprise at least part of a well completion assembly or well drilling assembly. The invention provides an improved downhole tool (or device) having a friction factor of the order of ten times less than those known from the prior art, e.g. of the order of 0.100 or less. Accordingly the invention provides a downhole tool (10; 10a; 10b; 10c; 10d), at least part of the downhole tool or device being made from Tungsten Disulphide (Tungsten Disulfide). In a disclosed embodiment the at least part comprises at least one surface of the downhole tool, the at least one surface comprising a bearing surface, e.g. a journal bearing surface and/or a thrust bearing surface. |
| US07918273B2 |
Top drive casing system
A torque head for gripping tubular members, in at least some aspects, has a housing, grip mechanism secured within the housing, the grip mechanism for selectively gripping a tubular member, the grip mechanism including at least one jaw selectively movable toward and away from a portion of a tubular member within the housing, the at least one jaw having mounted thereon slip apparatus for engaging the portion of the tubular member, the slip apparatus including die apparatus movably mounted to the at least one jaw, the die apparatus movable with respect to the at least one jaw so that relative movement of the tubular with respect to the torque head is possible to the extent that the die apparatus is movable. |
| US07918270B2 |
Apparatus for flexibly restraining service loops in an oil derrick to prevent entangling of the loops
An apparatus for flexibly restraining service loops in an oil derrick to prevent entangling of the loops, comprising a plurality of identical apparatus wherein each apparatus is positioned at different longitudinal level to restrain the service loops. Each apparatus is comprised of a plurality of interlocking units, wherein each unit is comprised of a central steel ring which is adhesively bonded to a braid of a service loop penetrating therethrough and exteriorly affixed to first and second interconnecting rings. A first flexible cable and second flexible cable connect the respective first and second interconnecting rings of the units of each apparatus. Therefore, the service loops are flexibly restrained to have a uniform path and bend radius when they travel longitudinally during operation of an oil well drilling machine, which results in reduction of damage of the service loops. |
| US07918268B2 |
Heat exchanger
A heat exchanger (10) comprises a first sheet (12), a second sheet (14) and an additional sheet (30). The first and second sheets (12,14) are wound around an axis (X), each sheet (12,14) has hot and cold edges at the hot and cold ends (16,18) respectively of the heat exchanger (10). The hot and cold edges of the first sheet (12) are joined to the hot and cold edges of the second sheet (14). The end (12A) of the first sheet (12) is joined to the second sheet (30) by an axially extending join (28) at a position spaced from the end (14A) of the second sheet (14). The end (30A) of the additional sheet (30) is joined to the end (14A) of the second sheet (14) by an axially extending join (28). The additional sheet (30) is thicker and wider than the first and second sheets (12,14) such that at least one of the hot and cold edges (30C,30D) of the additional sheet (30) extend beyond the hot and cold edges of the first and second sheets (12,14). The additional sheet (30) is wound around the first and second sheets (12,14) about the axis (X) and the end (30B) of the additional sheet (30) is joined to the additional sheet (30) by an axially extending join (34). |
| US07918267B2 |
Heat dissipation device having cap for protecting thermal interface material thereon
A heat dissipation device includes a heat sink having a base with thermal interface material thereon and a protective cap covering the base. The protective cap includes a body shielding the thermal interface material and sidewalls extending from the body and engaging with a periphery of the base of the heat sink. A rotatable portion is rotatable relative to the body of the protective cap. The rotatable portion includes a base-wall being rotatably connected with the body of the protective cap and a plurality of positioning sides extending from the base-wall and engaging lateral sides of a corner of the base of the heat sink. |
| US07918264B2 |
Constant viscosity speed reducer
A speed reducer assembly for rolling screen systems includes a speed reducer chamber. A resistance element is mounted for movement within the speed reducer chamber. A non-viscous resistance material is provided in contact with the resistance element within the speed reducer chamber. |
| US07918262B2 |
Tape cutting dispenser
The present invention provides a tape cutting dispenser comprising a body, a pair of a holders and a cutting device. The body has two opposite walls, each of the walls has a hole and an accommodating space is formed between the two walls. The holder is disposed in the hole. Each of the holders has a protruding portion protruding toward the wall along an axial direction and further has an elastic element. The elastic element has axial flexibility and the elasticity bending away from the axial direction, such that the protruding portion of the holder is recoverably bendable away from the axial direction. The cutting device is disposed on the body opposite to the accommodating space. |
| US07918260B2 |
Unit for applying adhesive labels to a continuous strip
Adhesive labels are applied to a continuous strip by a unit fed with a first continuous strip of wrapping material advancing along a first path, and a second continuous strip of backing material presenting a succession of labels and advancing along a second path. The labels are detached singly from the second strip by a diverter blade placed along the second path and presenting a sharp edge over which the backing strip is routed through an acute angle to induce the separation of the labels. The unit comprises an aspirating first drum rotating substantially in contact with the edge of the diverter blade at an angular velocity greater than the linear velocity of the second strip, so as to increase the distance between successive transferred labels, and a second drum around which the first strip is looped in such a way that it can be offered to the first drum; the first and second drums rotate tangentially one to another and at the same angular velocity through a point of mutual tangency coinciding with the point at which the labels are transferred from the first drum to the first continuous strip. |
| US07918259B2 |
Pneumatic tire with triaxial fabric and method for producing the same
This invention provides a pneumatic tire having a highly improved steering stability, wherein a reinforcing layer formed by spirally winding a strip-shaped triaxial fabric or triaxial fabric-rubber composite having a width W satisfying a relation of the following formula (I): W≧2/3×31/2×(2b/a+d) (I) [wherein d=4×(D/(πρ))1/2×10−2, D is a thickness (total dtex) of cord constituting the triaxial fabric, ρ is a density (g/cm3) of the cord constituting the triaxial fabric, and a is weaving density (cords/b mm) in one axis constituting the three axes] in a circumferential direction of the tire is disposed in one or more of a bead portion 1, a sidewall portion 2 and a belt portion 5. |
| US07918258B2 |
Vehicle tire comprising looped crown reinforcement and circumferentially oriented crown reinforcement elements
A tire for a two-wheeled motorized vehicle includes a carcass-type reinforcement structure, having reinforcement elements anchored on each side to a bead. Each bead extends radially by a sidewall, which meets up radially with a tread. Under the tread is a crown reinforcement structure including at least one working layer of working reinforcement elements, and a layer of circumferentially oriented reinforcement elements disposed radially to the outside of the carcass-type reinforcement structure. Over the profile of the tire in a radial plane, radially to the outside of the two points of tangency of the curvilinear abscissa of the carcass-type reinforcement structure with perpendiculars to the axis of rotation, at least one layer of working reinforcement elements is at least partially radially to the inside of the part of the carcass-type reinforcement structure radially to the outside of the two points of tangency. |
| US07918257B2 |
Run-flat tire
In the invention, a run-flat tire including a pair of bead portions having an annular first bead, sidewall portions respectively extending to an outer side in a tire diametrical direction from the bead portions, reinforce rubber layers arranged in the sidewall portions, a tread portion connecting outer peripheral side ends of the sidewall portions via shoulder portions, wherein the run-flat tire includes an annular inflating portion provided on the outside in a tire width direction of the bead portion arranged on the outside of the vehicle, and having an inner circumferential side face opposing to an outer circumferential curved side face of a rim flange when a regular rim is fixed; and an annular second bead arranged at the annular inflating portion, wherein the reinforce rubber layer arranged on the outside of the vehicle has a rubber hardness of 60 to 82 degree, the reinforce rubber layer arranged on the inside of the vehicle has a rubber hardness of 65 to 90 degree, and the reinforce rubber layer arranged on the inside of the vehicle has the rubber hardness which is equal to or more than that on the outside of the vehicle, and has a maximum thickness which is larger than that on the outside of the vehicle by at least 0.5 mm. |
| US07918256B2 |
Heavy duty tire having ground contacting face at 70% and 100% maximum tire load
A heavy-duty tire having a tread portion improved in the shoulder wear is disclosed. Under the maximum load condition[W100], the tread portion has a ground contacting face G[W100] having circumferential lengths L97[W100] and L70[W100] at specific axial positions. Under the 70% load condition[W70], the tread portion has a ground contacting face G[W70] having lengths L97[W70] and L70[W70] at specific axial positions. The lengths L70[W100], L97[W100], L70[W70] and L97[W70] satisfy specific conditions: 0.95 |
| US07918251B2 |
Substrate carrier and facility interface and apparatus including same
A carrier comprises an enclosure, a cabinet and at least one substrate holder. The enclosure comprises a door. The cabinet is coupled to the carrier. The cabinet comprises at least one valve and contains at least one reduction fluid. The substrate holder is disposed within the enclosure to support at least one substrate. |
| US07918249B2 |
Apparatus for the production of leno fabric
A leno device uses the link mechanisms (31, 31′) to derive the movement of its half shaft (28) from the movement of its pull or lifting shafts (2, 3). The link mechanisms (31, 31′) connect the shaft rods (4, 5) of the pull or lifting shafts (2, 3) to the half shaft (28), whereby a connecting rod (32, 32′) extends between the two pull or lifting shafts (2, 3) from the top to the bottom through said shafts. The upper end of the connecting rod (32, 32′) is connected, on both sides of the connecting rod (32 32′) via connecting levers (33, 34, 33′ 34′), to the joints (36, 37, 36′, 37′) that are connected to the upper shaft rods (4, 5) of the pull or lifting shafts (2, 3). |
| US07918239B1 |
Shock actuated responsive mechanism for vertical and horizontal valve assemblies
A horizontal and vertical shock responsive fluid valve assembly which are capable of automatically closing a fluid valve in response to earthquake forces or other shock forces of a predetermined magnitude. The assemblies are comprised of a respective horizontal and vertical shock and vibration force triggering mechanism working in a similar fashion. The mechanism has a respective cradle comprising a generally concave transverse surface that holds a movable ball and when it is energized by the forces can rotate 360 degrees in any direction and rolls out of the surface such that the ball ricochets off a housing cover covering the cradle and activates the mechanism only when the external forces reach a predetermined magnitude. |
| US07918237B1 |
Crutch with length controllable by pressure sensing and length controlling method thereof
A crutch with a length controllable by pressure sensing and a method thereof are provided. The crutch includes a holding portion, a lead screw shaft, a rod body, a control module, and a supporting portion. The holding portion and the supporting portion have a plurality of pressure sensing units, for generating holding pressure values and feedback pressure values. The rod body is connected to the holding portion, a motor is arranged on the supporting portion, and the lead screw shaft has one end engaged to the motor and the other end pivoted to the rod body. When the holding portion determines that the holding portion is held according to the holding pressure values and the feedback pressure values, and that the crutch is oblique, the motor is enabled to rotate to drive the lead screw shaft to pivotally rotate, thereby shortening or prolonging the length of the crutch. |
| US07918236B2 |
Portable sun and weather shelter
A portable sun and weather shelter is provided. The shelter comprises an umbrella foldable between open and closed positions. The umbrella has a center post, a canopy, and a frame to fold the canopy up and down. A pair of wings are attached to the perimeter edge of the canopy and can be extended outwardly beyond the canopy. |
| US07918235B2 |
Steam generator auto—blow down and scale reduction system
The invention is a dual functioning system for de-scaling or blowing down an electrically powered steam boiler. The steam boilers are generally used for sterilizing equipment and other items commonly used by health care professionals. The system includes a microprocessor controlled module, which is interfaced with the sterilizer controlled module, to measure the frequency and duration of the cleaning or blow down cycles. Typically, a cleaning cycle involves the use of an acid, such as phosphoric acid, to facilitate chemical removal of scale which is mineral deposits resulting from the use of hard water in the boiler. In the blow down cycle, the scale is removed by simple mechanical means without the use of a phosphoric acid cleaning solution. Various pumps and valves are utilized so that cleaning or blow down may be accomplished without having to disassemble or modify any input or drain lines. |
| US07918234B2 |
Washer disinfector equipped with bath to which tray with endoscope mounted thereon is detachably loaded
An endoscope washer disinfector washes and disinfects an endoscope with a mouth ring communicating with an endoscope duct. The washer disinfector comprises a washing disinfecting bath; a nozzle arranged with the bath, loaded into the mouth ring, and formed to supply fluid to the duct via the mouth ring; a tray on which the endoscope is mounted. In this washer disinfector, a bilateral positioning member positions the endoscope and the tray so that the mouth ring of the endoscope mounted on the tray is located at a given position on the tray; and a trilateral positioning member positions the washing disinfecting bath, the tray, and the endoscope so that, when the tray is loaded into the washing disinfecting bath, the mouth ring of the endoscope positioned at the given position on the tray by the bilateral positioning member is positioned at a position that is across is from the nozzle. |
| US07918233B2 |
Finger cleaning multi-tool
The present disclosure is generally directed to a tool with multiple functions for use in cleaning fingers and fingernails. |
| US07918232B2 |
On line formation of recessed cigarette filter
A process for the on line production of cigarette filters comprises the steps of conveying a continuous thin flexible substrate past a source of smoke altering particulate material, such as adsorbents, catalysts and flavorants. An electrostatic charge is applied onto the substrate upstream of the source of particulate material. A layer of particulate material from the source is deposited onto the substrate with the thickness of the layer depending upon the strength of the electrostatic charge. The coated substrate is then cut into pieces, and the pieces are placed into the cavities between spaced apart filter components. In an alternative process, filter paper is coated with smoke altering particulate material by electrostatic deposition techniques, and spaced apart filter components are placed onto the particulate coated filter paper which is then folded around the filter components. |
| US07918230B2 |
Surgical device having a rotatable jaw portion
A surgical device is provided that includes a jaw portion, having a first jaw in opposed correspondence with a second jaw, the second jaw including a surgical member. The surgical device may include a shaft portion coupled to a proximal end of the jaw portion and at least one motor configured to rotate the jaw portion relative to the shaft portion, to move the jaw portion relative to the shaft portion, move the first jaw relative to the second jaw and move the surgical member within the second jaw. The surgical member may be prevented from moving within the second jaw unless the first jaw is in a closed position relative to the second jaw. Advantageously, the surgical member may include one or both a cutting element or a stapling element, disposed within one of the jaws. |
| US07918227B1 |
Endotracheal tube
An improved endotracheal tube is provided which is adapted to optimally and safely accommodate the nasopharyngeal airway during nasopharyngeal intubation. The endotracheal tube includes a body having a nasopharyngeal section adapted to sealably enclose and contain a spirally-wound coil longitudinally therealong. The nasopharyngeal section integrally transposes into a rigid section which extends longitudinally from the nasopharyngeal section and terminates at a lower end of endotracheal tube. The nasopharyngeal section with incorporated spirally-wound coil allows for multiple positioning of nasopharyngeal section about a face of a patient, thereby minimizing pressure sores, abrasions, and ulcerations, and further allows for quick, easy, and efficient surgical access to the nasopharyngeal airway without requiring removal of the endotracheal tube. |
| US07918223B2 |
System and method for circuit compliance compensated pressure-regulated volume control in a patient respiratory ventilator
A system and a method for circuit compliance compensated pressure control in a patient respiratory ventilation system, having a pressure regulated feedback servo control loop, a pressure-regulated volume controller, and a patient volume observer. The patient volume observer is operative to estimate a patient volume, that is, the volume actually delivered to the patient by accounting for volume deviation or loss caused by patient circuit leakage and valve dynamics. Based on the difference between the estimated patient volume and a set tidal volume, the pressure-regulated volume controller is operative to generate and update a circuit compliance pressure compensation factor. The pressure regulated feedback servo control loop is operative to modulate the peak airway pressure based on the circuit compliance pressure compensation factor, so as to achieve the set tidal volume while maintaining a constant inspiratory time and a constant I:E ratio. |
| US07918222B2 |
Method and apparatus for treating obstructive sleep apnea by using negative oral pressure to a patient
The present invention provides a method and apparatus for treating obstructive sleep apnea by using negative oral pressure to a patient. The present apparatus includes a vacuum unit for controlling and maintaining negative pressure of an oral cavity of the patient, a tube with one end thereof connecting to the vacuum unit to suck out air in the oral cavity to generate the negative pressure therein, and a mouthpiece connecting to the other end of the tube and fitting into and sealing the patient's mouth to prevent the oral cavity from air leakage. By using negative pressure in the oral cavity, the patient's soft palate is pulled toward the oral cavity and the patient's tongue is pulled toward an upper palate so as to maintain the patient's nasal air passageway open. |
| US07918221B2 |
Installing a solar panel on a roof
A method and apparatus for installing a solar array on the roof of a residence or the like which uses a pan in the installation of the solar modules that make up the array. The pan may also be used as part of the packaging of the solar modules. The pan is comprised of a length of material having a trough-like cross-section. For packaging, shipping inserts are fitted into the trough of each pan. Opposite edges of a solar module are fitted into respective slots in the inserts of two facing pans and a protector is fitted over each end thereof to form a package for shipping. Once on site, the packages are disassembled, the pans are mounted on the roof, and the modules are connected to the pans to form the array. |
| US07918220B2 |
Portable and compact grill apparatus
A portable and compact grill apparatus can be implemented in the form of free standing portable propane fueled cooking device, which utilizes one or more legs (e.g., four legs) to support the cooking surface. The device permits a standard propane tank to fit between the legs and directly under the cooking surface. The design permits one of the legs to be removed (by rotating it away from the center) to accommodate the exchange of the propane unit (required for refill of fuel). This design creates a very compact unit due to the fact that the fuel tank, burner and cooking surface all fit in a vertical column thus requiring minimal space. |
| US07918219B2 |
Projectile launching assembly
A simulated gun launches a retrievable projectile in the form of a cylinder containing a compressible spring. The spring is compressed by inserting the barrel of the gun into the bore of the cylinder. A tab on the end of the cylinder rides in a helical groove on the surface of the barrel to cause the projectile to rotate about the axis of the barrel as the projectile is launched. |
| US07918218B1 |
Archery bow system
An archery bow system incorporating a bow riser and dual limbs supporting cams or a cam and wheel mounted for rotation about respective axles. The dual limbs are independently adjustable to correct for cam lean and are individually supported in pockets that incorporate variable limb angle attachments to the bow riser. The limbs extend from the riser to flex, when at full draw, to positions that cause the respective axles to initially travel rearward toward the archer upon release of the bowstring. The limbs are adjustably attached to the riser to permit the limb angle with respect to the riser to be changed. |
| US07918215B2 |
Compressor stage assembly lock
The present invention relates to a turbocharger assembly lock comprising a retaining ring partially disposed in a circumferential groove of a first turbocharger stage component and partially in a circumferential groove of a second turbocharger stage component so that the turbocharger stages are securely attached to each other. |
| US07918213B2 |
Control method for an internal combustion engine
In a control method for an internal combustion engine (1) which has a fuel tank (18), a fuel vapor storage device (25) for storing the escaping fuel vapors and a controllable valve (28) for adjusting the stream of fuel vapors fed to the intake tract (4) during a period of tank ventilation, the valve (28) is controlled in such a way according to the method that the stream of fuel vapors varies during the tank ventilation period. The regeneration of the fuel vapor storage device is intended to be improved thereby. |
| US07918210B2 |
Method for determining valve degradation
A method for determining degraded valve operation. According to the method, valve degradation can be determined from the duration of a spark event. This method allows for the determination of both intake and exhaust valve degradation. |
| US07918209B2 |
Coupling arrangement for an injection valve and injection valve
A coupling arrangement for coupling an injection valve to a cylinder head of a combustion engine has a housing with a central longitudinal axis coupled to a fuel rail at a first axial end area and to a valve body at a second axial end area of the housing, and the valve body being arranged at the central longitudinal axis having at least one first protrusion arranged facing a second axial end area of a first ring element. Furthermore, the first ring element is arranged at least partly circumferentially the valve body at the first protrusion, wherein at a first axial end area of the first ring element the first ring element is in contact with the housing at the second axial end area and at the second axial end area the first ring element rests on the cylinder head. The first ring element has a plastic. |
| US07918207B2 |
Fuel delivery system for multi-fuel engine
A fuel delivery system for an engine is described. The system includes a controller for adjusting injection timing when switching between two injectors of a cylinder. The system can improve engine air-fuel control when switching between two injectors of a cylinder. |
| US07918202B2 |
Variable valve lift apparatus
A variable valve apparatus includes a high lift cam and a low lift cam in parallel with the high lift cam. A tappet body includes a high lift tappet body that constantly contacts the high lift cam, and a low lift tappet body that is disposed in the high lift tappet body and selectively contacts the low lift cam. An inner column is connected with a valve and reciprocally disposed within the low lift tappet body. A supporting member is disposed below the tappet body. A lost motion elastic member is disposed between the supporting member and the tappet body for supplying restoring force to the tappet body. A first connector selectively connects the high lift tappet body and the low lift tappet body. A second connector selectively connects the low lift tappet body and the inner column. |
| US07918199B2 |
V-type engine
In a V-type engine, intake and exhaust rocker arms in each bank are arranged in a substantially inverted-V-shape in a plan view, so that side end portions of corresponding intake and exhaust push rods are positioned adjacent to each other. Slipper portions of first and second intake cam followers have end portions at one end along the axial direction of a camshaft protrude respectively in opposite directions to each other so that they face each other across an intake cam therebetween. Slipper portions of first and second exhaust cam followers have end portions at one end along the axial direction of the camshaft protrude respectively in opposite directions to each other so that they face each other across an exhaust cam therebetween. This reduces the distance between the push rods in each bank to provide a compact valve-operating device. |
| US07918197B2 |
Variable valve system
A variable valve system includes a camshaft in which a first lobe having a first height and a second lobe having a second height that is higher than the first height from a rotational center axis of the camshaft are formed; a first tappet that corresponds to the first lobe and that has a depression negatively formed in one side thereof; a second tappet corresponding to the second lobe and that is inserted into the depression; at least a pin positioned at the first tappet and fixing a position of the second tappet; and a hydraulic pressure control portion that transfers hydraulic pressure into the depression so as to move the second tappet upwards or downwards and to the pin so as to engage or disengage the first tappet with the second tappet. |
| US07918192B1 |
Multi-purpose pet utility vest
A multi-purpose utility vest for a pet incorporates a body portion, and a pocket assembly carried by the body portion. The pocket assembly includes overlying outside and inside pocket layers. The outside and inside pocket layers are formed together along a dividing line to define first and second isolated utility compartments having respective first and second access openings for receiving and storing articles therein. A bag-dispensing grommet is attached to the outside pocket layer, and defines a small hole communicating with the first utility compartment for dispensing disposable plastic bags stored in the first utility compartment. |
| US07918191B2 |
Remotely operable gated chute for livestock
One embodiment of a remotely controlled apparatus for selectably admitting a large animal into and then selectably releasing the animal from a livestock chute uses the weight of the animal as its primary energy source for opening and closing the entry and exit gates. The livestock chute has a linking mechanism for communicating with the entry gate, the exit gate, a moveable floor, and a biasing force wherein the weight of the animal is used to overcome the biasing force to open the entry gate and to store energy that can be selectively activated to open the exit gate on the livestock chute. |
| US07918188B1 |
Cage with reversibly mounted door
A cage for housing an animal includes a top wall, bottom, first and second sidewalls, a front wall and a rear wall. A door is disposed in at least one of the walls and is hinged for movement between an open and closed position. The door is mounted in a wall having a doorway. The door includes a plurality of loops on each side of the door. The wall includes a plurality of loops along each side of the doorway. The door loops are positionable adjacent the wall loops when the door is disposed within the doorway to form mating hinge structures. A hinge pin is selectively insertable into either of the door loops on one edge of the door together with the corresponding loops on the wall, to thereby hingedly mount the door to the wall for door swinging movement in either a first direction or a second direction with respect to the wall. |
| US07918186B2 |
Grass-growing devices for pet fountains
Disclosed herein are exemplary embodiments of various grass-growing devices. In one nonlimiting embodiment, for example, a device for growing grass in a container that provides water to a household pet is disclosed. The device includes a basket that is configured for insertion into the container. The basket comprises one or more apertures that allow for fluid movement through the basket. The device further includes a seed-holding unit. The seed-holding unit of this embodiment comprises a housing in which one or more grass seeds can be placed. |
| US07918183B2 |
Protective cover for a motorized vehicle engine hood
A protective cover for an automobile or truck motor protective hood is provided. The cover may be a blanket that is attractive to animals, such as cats, and be pleasant to rest on, paw and chew. The cover may be shaped in a square, a rectangle, a circle, or in an outline of a cartoon character or a team or corporate logo. An image, picture, photo, signage or a logo may be visibly displayed on at least one side of the fabric. The cover may have a pillow section. |
| US07918181B2 |
Stent mandrel fixture and method for reducing coating defects
A stent mandrel fixture for supporting a stent during the application of a coating substance is provided. |
| US07918180B2 |
Film forming apparatus
A film forming apparatus to form a coating film by applying a coating material to an outer circumferential surface of a cylindrical object to be coated, includes a material applying device having a nozzle unit to apply the coating material to the outer circumferential surface of the object and a material supplying unit to supply the coating material to the nozzle unit and a moving device configured to move the nozzle unit relatively to the object such that the coating material is applied uniformly to the outer circumferential surface of the object. The moving device includes an object holding unit configured to hold the object, a nozzle moving unit configured to move relatively the nozzle unit with respect to the object holding unit along a longitudinal axis of the object holding unit, and a guide unit configured to guide the nozzle unit along the object holding unit as the nozzle unit moves along the object holding unit such that an interval between the nozzle unit and the object is maintained constant. |
| US07918179B2 |
Method for apparatus for a drop indicator
The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for a drop indicator having a magnet installed therein. The drop indicator according to the invention is used to determine whether a product has ever been dropped or impacted, either in delivery or in use, by inspecting changes in the original condition of the magnet caused by the interaction between the magnetic force and the acceleration of gravity, inertia force, and colliding force, etc. generated upon collision. Take a cell phone or a PDA, for example, changes in the indicative material of the drop indicator will help decide whether the faulty product has ever been dropped or impacted in delivery or in use, so that liability can be determined. |
| US07918178B2 |
Modular floating watercraft port assembly
A floating watercraft port system is provided which allows for a designer to develop a port assembly of a desired configuration. The system comprises an entry member, an extension member and a bulkhead. The entry member comprises a cradle having an entrance section; and the extension member has a cradle which extends the full length of the extension member and is open at opposite ends of the extension member. Bulkheads are positioned on the entry and/or extension members at desired positions to delineate the forward ends of watercraft receiving cradles. |
| US07918168B2 |
Differential pressure seed meter with an endless belt seed transport member
A seed meter is provided having an endless belt as a seed transport member together with a pressure differential to hold the seed onto the belt. The use of an endless belt as the seed transport member enables the spatial orientation of the seed transport member to vary from location to location along the path of the belt where different seed meter functions are performed. The belt allows greater freedom in determining the location of the seed pick-up region and the seed release or removal region beyond the constraints of a fixed diameter seed disk. The belt further allows for a narrow envelope seed meter which can cross-feed seed into a substantially vertically oriented delivery device. |
| US07918166B2 |
Pallet assembly
A pallet assembly includes an upper deck and a lower deck spaced by a plurality of columns. The weight of the pallet is reduced without significant reduction in strength by providing only a single cross beam in each of the upper and lower reinforcement members and orienting them perpendicular to one another. The reinforcement members are minimized for weight reduction and for improved performance in heat tests. The peripheral rail of the upper reinforcement member is reduced such that it rests on only an inwardly open recess on an inner corner of each of the corner columns. This reduces the size and weight of the upper reinforcement member, while still providing support to the upper deck. Additionally, the peripheral rails of both the upper and lower decks are reduced in length such that either ledge does not directly support them while the pallet is stored on a rack. As a result, in the case of sufficient heat source on the pallets, the pallets will eventually collapse without interference from the reinforcement members and at least partially smother the heat source. |
| US07918164B1 |
Jacketed boat-tail bullet
A bullet includes at least a mid core and a rear core in tandem alignment. The hardness of the mid core is greater than the hardness of the rear core. A jacket envelops both the mid core and the rear core. The jacket has a generally cylindrical sidewall, which is in contact with the mid core, and a boat-tail, which is in contact with the rear core. The rear core is substantially contained within the boat-tail. The mid core and the rear core may be substantially lead-free. In one embodiment, the bullet includes a front core in tandem alignment with the rear core and in contact with a nose portion of the jacket. In another embodiment, the mid core extends from the nose portion of the bullet to the boat-tail. |
| US07918162B2 |
Apparatus for transporting sheets with a gripper device
An apparatus for transporting sheets to or in a sheet-processing machine includes a gripper device having at least one gripper with a gripper housing and a gripper pad. The gripper is actuatable by a pivoting movement of a gripper shaft. The gripper housing and the gripper pad are pivotably disposed on the gripper shaft and are jointly pivotable about an axis of the gripper shaft under a prescribed periphery. |
| US07918159B2 |
Calender
The invention concerns a calender which comprises a vertical stack of interlinked rollers driven individually by regulated electric motors. The regulation process acts on the distribution of the delivered power to the individual rollers such that the forces acting on the rollers in the horizontal direction and measured in the roller bearings are minimized, so enabling slimmer rollers to be used. |
| US07918158B2 |
Baler with automatic sensor calibration
A baler comprises a baling chamber and a sensor arrangement. The sensor arrangement comprises at least one sensor arranged to provide information about a mechanical property of a bale built in the baling chamber and a control unit receiving signals from the sensor. The control unit is operable to automatically calibrate the signals from the sensor based upon at least one signal from the sensor received in at least one known state of the sensor. |
| US07918155B2 |
Piston with a cooling gallery
A piston for an internal combustion engine is provided. The piston crown includes an interior surface that defines at least in part a cooling gallery and a cooling gallery surface within the piston. An annular surface may defines at least in part an annular passageway that allows fluid communication between an outer surface of the piston and the cooling gallery. Opposing annular surfaces may be abutted with a predetermined force, thereby limiting fluid flow from the cooling gallery to an outer surface of the piston. Further, an annular surface may extend into the cooling gallery to form a deflector along the cooling gallery surface, thereby limiting fluid flow from the cooling gallery to an outer surface of the piston. |
| US07918153B1 |
Ammunition magazine box with adjustable tilted interior bracket structure
An ammunition magazine box is provided for receiving a vertically serpentined length of belted ammunition for selective outfeed from the box to a machine gun. A specially designed support bracket structure, representatively of a length adjustable construction, is provided and suitably secured within the interior of the magazine box. At least a portion of the belted ammunition loops rest on a top side surface of the installed support bracket structure. The top support bracket structure side surface is (1) laterally sloped, in a direction transverse to the lengths of the belt loops, to inhibit a tilting-created intermeshing of vertically adjacent projectile ends of the ammunition rounds which could cause a feed jam, and/or (2) longitudinally sloped, in a direction parallel to the lengths of the belt loops, to desirably lessen the ammunition outfeed force that must be exerted by the machine gun. |
| US07918152B2 |
Electric cling film cutter
An electric cling film cutter includes a base provided with a positioning frame, an auxiliary rotating rod and a driving device including a motor and a driving wheel unit. The base is assembled with a delivery wheel having its surface disposed with elongate flutes and plural guide grooves and one side provided with a driven rotating wheel engaged with the driving wheel unit. A cutter positioned before the delivery wheel contains a frame plate, a motor, a belt and a cutter base. The frame plate is provided with idle wheels parallel to and leaning on the delivery wheel. A stripping guide plate is positioned under the delivery wheel, having its upper end formed with plural protruding parting members respectively aligned to the guide grooves on the delivery wheel for pushing the cling film delivered to separate from the surface of the delivery wheel, convenient and safe in use. |
| US07918150B2 |
Blind cut down machine
A blind cut-down apparatus for trimming a blind down to size the blind having at least a head rail component, and blind slats suspended from the head rail, and having a blind holding plate with an opening for holding the components in position for cutting, a slat cutter moveable relative to the holding plate for cutting blind components held in the holding plate, and including a movement device for moving the cutter. Also disclosed is a method of saw cutting ends of blind components in which the blind components are held in a head plate and in which a cutter cuts the components. Also disclosed is a blind cut down machine having a moveable head rail support mounted on a blind holder plate, with a moveable head rail opening in the support, with the support being selectively moveable into and out of position for accommodating various types of head rail. |
| US07918141B1 |
Local residual stress measurement and analysis for detection and prediction of damage in thermal barrier coatings
The present invention provides a method for evaluating degradation of a thermal barrier coating disposed on a turbine blade. The method includes measuring a residual stress of an outer surface portion of a thermal barrier coating on a turbine blade, the turbine blade having been subjected to normal operating conditions and determining degradation of the thermal barrier coating based on a comparison between the residual stress measurement and a control stress measurement. |
| US07918140B2 |
Stress sensor and electronic device with same
The present invention relates to a stress sensor to be combined with an assembled object of an input unit of an electronic device. The stress sensor includes a circuit substrate and a pointing operation element disposed on a surface of the circuit substrate. The circuit substrate is combined with an assembled object of an input unit by a connecting mechanism such that the circuit substrate is directly attached onto a surface of the assembled object. As a result, the overall height of the stress sensor and the assembled object is reduced in comparison with the prior art. |
| US07918136B2 |
Micromechanical sensor element
A micromechanical sensor element (1) is provided, which has a sealed diaphragm (2) affixed in a frame (3), exhibits high sensitivity at high overload resistance and has a small size, and which allows a piezoresistive measured-value acquisition. To this end, at least one carrier element (4), which is connected to the frame (3) via at least one connection link (5), is formed in the region of the diaphragm (2). Furthermore, piezoresistors (6) for detecting a deformation are situated in the region of the connection link (5). |
| US07918134B2 |
Thermal-based diagnostic system for process transmitter
A process transmitter for measuring a process variable in an industrial process comprises a sensor module, a heating device and transmitter circuitry. The sensor module has a sensor for sensing a process variable of an industrial process and generating a sensor signal. The heating device is connected to the sensor module for generating a heat pulse to influence generation of the sensor signal. The transmitter circuitry is connected to the sensor and the heating device. The transmitter circuitry verifies operation of the sensor by measuring a change in the sensor signal due to the heat pulse. In one embodiment of the invention, the heat pulse thermally expands a volume of a fill fluid within the process transmitter. In another embodiment, the heat pulse changes a physical property, such as dielectric, of a fill fluid within the process transmitter. |
| US07918131B2 |
Tire slip state detecting method and tire slip state detecting apparatus
To detect a slip state in a contact region of a rotating tire on a road surface, first, the first radical direction data and the second width direction data of measurement data of acceleration at a tread portion of the rotating tire for a duration corresponding to one round of tire rotation are acquired. Second, time series data of acceleration due to tire deformation is extracted from the first radical direction data and displacement data is obtained by subjecting the time series data of acceleration due to tire deformation to a time integration of second order, thereby a deformation at the tread portion is calculated and a contact region of the rotating tire is determined from the calculated deformation. Next, from the second width direction data, a slip region within the determined contact region is specified based on vibration level of the second data. |
| US07918126B2 |
Intelligent underwater leak detection system
A subsea leak detection system is disclosed which includes a plurality of subsea leak detection sensors and a leak detection controller adapted to receive leak detection data from the plurality of subsea leak detection sensors and direct the sensing activities of the plurality of subsea leak detection sensors based upon the received leak detection data. |
| US07918124B2 |
Non-contact shape sensor and device for moving sheet material
A non-contact shape sensor and shape sensing device employing a plurality of such sensors. A non-contact shape sensor of the present invention may include a fluid-emitting sensor head that is biased toward a surface of a moving strip of material by a linear actuator. Pressurized fluid emitted from said fluid-emitting sensor head forms a cushion that causes said strip of material to remain separated from and glide over said fluid-emitting sensor head without actual contact therewith. A linear displacement sensor is associated with each non-contact shape sensor to measure the linear displacement of its fluid-emitting sensor head by said linear actuator in response to a loose section of said strip of material passing by said fluid-emitting sensor head. |
| US07918119B2 |
Method of controlling the speed of a laying head in a rolling mill
A method is disclosed for controlling the speed of a curved rotatably driven laying pipe through which a longitudinally moving product is directed to exit from the delivery end of the pipe as a helical formation of rings. The method comprises determining the maximum and minimum internal radii Rmax, Rmin of the pipe at the location of the maximum radius R of the pipe as measured from its rotational axis; continuously measuring the velocity Vp of the product entering the laying pipe; and, controlling the rotational speed of the laying pipe such that the rotational velocities Vmax, Vmin of the pipe at said maximum and minimum internal radii bracket a range containing the velocity Vp of the product. |
| US07918115B2 |
Removable core lock device
A removable core lock and key device comprises a cylinder housing (10) and a cylinder core (20), which is accommodated in a circular opening in the cylinder housing. A plurality of pin tumblers (22) are movable under influence from code surfaces of a key, wherein at least part of the pin tumblers are provided in a recess (20b) in the mantle surface of the cylinder core. A cam adapter (40) is rotatably provided in the opening in the cylinder housing. The cam adapter comprises an engagement portion (40c) which engages the recess (20b) in the mantle surface of the cylinder core when the cylinder core is in an operative position, wherein at least one of the pin tumblers is movable between a blocking position, in which the engagement portion of the cam adapter cooperates with the at least one pin tumbler to prevent mutual axial movement of the cam adapter and the cylinder core, and a release position, in which mutual axial movement between the cam adapter and the cylinder core is allowed. |
| US07918114B2 |
Electronic lock actuator with helical drive member
An actuator assembly is for a lock including a handle, a latch, a retractor for retracting the latch when the handle rotates, and a lock member displaceable between locked and unlocked positions, which either releasably couples the handle with the retractor or releasably prevents handle rotation. The actuator includes a motor having a shaft rotatable about an axis and a coupler spring disposed about the axis and having a first end coupled with the lock member and a second end. A drive member is coupled or integrally formed with the motor shaft and has a helical drive surface threadably engaged with the coupler spring second end, such that rotation of the shaft displaces the coupler spring along the axis to move the lock member between the locked and unlocked positions. Preferably, the drive member includes a spring coupled with the motor shaft and threadably engaged with the coupler spring. |
| US07918110B2 |
Washing machine comprising a fuel cell and a hydrogen generating reactor
A machine for washing items of various kinds includes a washing tub for containing the washing liquor, and a reactor for generating heat for heating up the washing liquor and a stream of gaseous hydrogen supplying a fuel cell to generate a source of electric power. In the interior thereof, the reactor contains a mass of metals, which may include magnesium, and produces a stream of gaseous hydrogen. The machine further includes a source of water that is let into the reactor to trigger the reaction process producing the hydrogen, a fuel cell that receives the stream of hydrogen and converts it into electric power, an electric connection adapted to transfer the electric power generated by the fuel cell to a controller and an actuator include in the machine, and heat transferring device for transferring the heat generated by the reactor to the washing liquor. In the interior thereof, the reactor includes a first heat exchanger for transferring the heat being generated therein to the washing liquor contained in the washing tub of the machine. |
| US07918109B2 |
Fabric Treatment appliance with steam generator having a variable thermal output
A steam generator having a steam generation tube defining a chamber for receiving water and converting the water to steam, and a heating element wrapped around the tube and having a first portion emitting a greater thermal output than a second portion. |
| US07918107B2 |
Internal heat exchanger
An internal heat exchanger including an integrated accumulator is disclosed, wherein the heat exchanger is used in refrigerant circuits, particularly in motor vehicle heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems. |
| US07918104B2 |
Water cooling type air conditioner
A water cooling type air conditioner is provided. The water cooling type air conditioner includes first and second heat exchangers, a refrigerant pipe, and a direction controlling unit. The first heat exchanger performs heat exchange between air and refrigerant. The second heat exchanger performs heat exchange between the refrigerant and cooling water. The refrigerant pipe is connected between the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger to guide a flow of the refrigerant. The direction controlling unit is disposed on one side of the second heat exchanger and controls the refrigerant and the cooling water flowing inside the second heat exchanger to flow in respectively opposite directions. |
| US07918098B2 |
Air conditioning system
An air conditioning system can improve the cooling/heating performance of the system because the injection of refrigerant into the compressor is achieved. The air conditioning system can further improve the cooling/heating performance in a low temperature region by injecting refrigerant as a two-phase refrigerant or a superheated vapor state into the compressor. The air conditioning system can prevent damage of the compressor and further improve reliability by controlling such that the ratio of a liquid refrigerant in the refrigerant injected into the compressor may be less than a set value. |
| US07918097B2 |
Air conditioning system
An air conditioning system is able to decrease the amount of refrigerant between a first expansion device and an injection valve and thus adjust the pressure of an injected refrigerant by decreasing the opening degree of the first expansion device and maintaining the opening degree of a second expansion device upon opening of the injection valve, thereby making the system stable upon opening of the injection valve. Furthermore, upon starting up a compressor, the opening degrees of the first and second expansion devices are partly decreased based on the start-up of the compressor and then gradually opened again, and upon completion of the start-up of the compressor, the opening amounts of the first and second expansion devices and the injection valve are controlled, thereby making the cycle more stable. |
| US07918095B2 |
Heat actuated cooling system
The system uses a batch method process absorption cooling through a number of separate sealed two compartment containers which are moved physically between a heating area, a cooling area, a storage area and a refrigeration area. Pressure differentials alone between the two sections of a vessel power refrigerant movement and evaporation of refrigerant. A valve separates a refrigerant collector and evaporator section from an absorber/desorber section allowing the absorbent and refrigerant to be kept separate until needed. This system can be used with either ammonia water mixtures or with lithium bromide water mixtures. |
| US07918094B2 |
Centrifugal bernoulli heat pump
Heat pumps move heat from a source to a higher temperature heat sink. This invention enables spontaneous source-to-sink heat transfer. Spontaneous heat transfer is accomplished by conducting heat from the source through rotating disks to a portion of the generally warmer sink flow that is cooled to a temperature below that of the source by the Bernoulli effect. The nozzled flow required for Bernoulli cooling is provided by the corotating disk pairs. The distance between the opposing surfaces of the disk pair decreases with distance from the rotation axis, forming a nozzle. The heat-sink flow through the nozzle is maintained by centrifugal force caused by the circular motion of the gas near the disk surfaces. Embodiments of the invention differ in the paths followed by the source and sink fluid flows, by the number of disk pairs and by the state (gas or liquid.) of the heat source. |
| US07918092B2 |
Enhanced thermoelectric cooler with superconductive coolers for use in air-conditioners
This is an enhanced thermoelectric cooler with superconductive heat-dissipative coolers for use in air-conditioner. This invention is comprised of a thermoelectric cooling chip sandwiched between two superconductive unidirectional heat-dissipative cooling devices. Each device consists of special superconductive pipes, heat-dissipative plates, and a fan. The cooling devices are to dissipate heat quickly from the thermoelectric cooling chip and to maintain constant hot to cold air flow. |
| US07918091B1 |
Systems and methods for controlling humidity
Systems and methods for controlling humidity of a working fluid used to provided climate control of a mission critical application are provided. Such control may be accomplished by using a humidification system in connection with a CAS or TACAS system. The humidification system may introduce a liquid (e.g., water) into one or more, predetermined points within the CAS or TACAS system to adjust the moisture content of a working fluid used to influence the environment of a mission critical application or enclosure. |
| US07918089B1 |
Modular master cylinder body
A master cylinder has a body formed from a seamless cylindrical tube. Bosses are welded to an exterior sidewall portion of the tube and have passages communicating with the interior bore. An end cap closes one bore end and includes a passageway for supplying pressurized hydraulic fluid from the bore to individual wheel brake cylinders. The mating reservoir includes a pair of downwardly depending legs for attachment. A pair of bolts extend from a vacuum booster, pass through the reservoir mounting bolt apertures and engage the end cap of the body securing the resulting assembly to the vehicle. |
| US07918088B1 |
Dual pump assembly
A dual pump apparatus for use on a vehicle or industrial application having a housing in which a pair of hydraulic pumps are mounted and driven by a prime mover. The prime mover is drivingly coupled to a main input shaft, which drives the hydraulic pumps. An auxiliary pump may be drivingly coupled to the main drive shaft and a power take off unit may also be connected thereto. The power take off unit may be driven by a power take off unit output drive shaft, on which a cooling fan may be attached. |
| US07918085B2 |
Fuel-injection control device for internal-combustion engine
A fuel injection control device performs fuel injection only once corresponding to an over-rich air/fuel ratio immediately after the end of F/C as rich air/fuel ratio control after F/C. Such fuel injection is performed with a fuel amount which is the sum of a fuel amount corresponding to a shallow rich air/fuel ratio AFrich and a predetermined increment. Immediately after this operation, fuel injection is performed with a fuel amount corresponding to the shallow rich air/fuel ratio AFrich. This adjusts the air/fuel ratio of the engine to the over-rich air/fuel ratio for an extremely short period of time immediately after the end of F/C, following which the air/fuel ratio is immediately switched to the shallow rich air/fuel ratio AFrich. |
| US07918078B2 |
Device for picking fruits using mechanical vibration
A device for removing fruit from a plant comprising a vibratory head having means for clamping a fruit plant, and means for controlling the vibratory head, preferably an electronic control means. The vibratory head further comprises at least one reaction mass which is vibratably driveable and connected to the clamping means for relative movement therebetween to provide a unidirectional force transmittable between the reaction mass and the clamping means, and hence transmittable to the plant. |
| US07918077B2 |
Grass treatment devices
A grass treatment device comprises: a first grass treatment element disposed towards a front portion of the device; a second grass treatment element disposed towards a rear portion of the device; a third grass treatment element disposed substantially between the first and second grass treatment elements, the third element being in the form of a grass cutting tool; and a fourth grass treatment element connectable at a position substantially between the first grass treatment element and the grass cutting tool, the grass treatment elements being elongate and having their longitudinal axes disposed substantially parallel to each other, the grass treatment device characterized in that the fourth grass treatment element is configured to be displaced from the position located between the first grass treatment element and the grass cutting tool in order to enable the first grass treatment element to substantially occupy the position. |
| US07918074B2 |
Treeless exercise saddle for racehorses
A treeless exercise saddle for training racehorses is provided. The saddle comprises a top surface having a substantially contiguous seat portion adjacent to opposing side panels, and a substantially flat pommel area; a bottom surface opposed to the top surface of the saddle and having a pair of opposing conformable panels affixed to the bottom surface of the saddle. The conformable panels have substantially rectangular cross sections. Optionally, leg flaps may be affixed to the seat portion and the pommel area. The facing surfaces of the conformable panels, together with the bottom or other surface of the saddle, form a gullet area. The gullet area has a cross section wherein the facing surfaces are substantially straight, and wherein the bottom or other surface of the gullet area is substantially straight and substantially perpendicular to the straight facing surfaces, such that the racehorse's spine may protrude into the gullet area when the saddle is mounted on the racehorse. |
| US07918072B2 |
Mechanical net wrapper
A manually operated bale wrapping apparatus for a round baler having a wrapping apparatus position indicator device which is visually observable by an operator that enables the operator to manually monitor and manipulate the wrapping apparatus, thereby reducing the need for an electronic control system on the baler to manage the operations of the bale wrapping process. |
| US07918070B2 |
Device and method for sealing packages
The invention pertains to a device and a method for sealing a package with a sealing seam by partially fusing together the packaging material, and a supply system for protective gas. The device includes a gas supply for inert gas and an inert gas outlet opening, wherein the gas supply for inert gas and the inert gas outlet opening are arranged such that an inert gas current resulting therebetween flows around the sealing seam during sealing of the package. The method provides a flow of inert gas around the sealing seam during sealing of the package. |
| US07918064B2 |
Structural couplings
The present invention relates to structural couplings for forming of a variety of structures such as floor and wall panels for buildings and internal structures such as hand rails. The structural coupling comprises a structural component or components (1) provided with coupling leg formations (2) and locking flanges (F) and a channel section (8) which interconnect one with the other by means of a snap fit engagement (12) of the leg formations (2) of the structural component (1) with the channel section (8). This has considerable advantages over the prior art where nuts and bolts were needed to fasten the components together. The use of a common channel section which can be engaged by snap fit action provides an elegant and non-limited method of joining structural components together rather than in a direct fashion as with prior systems. |
| US07918062B2 |
Methods and systems for decorating bevel and other surfaces of laminated floorings
Methods and systems for decorating at least one bevel surface or other surface of a laminated flooring are described. The bevel surface can be decorated by non-transfer printing such as digital printing. The digital printer can be an ink jet printer such as a piezoelectric drop-on-demand (DOD) printer that allows a color and pattern to be placed on the bevel surface that matches the print design (décor pattern or face design) of the laminated flooring. Other devices are provided such as a device that takes a picture of or scans an image of the print design, and modifies the taken picture or the scanned image so that the edge pattern thereof matches with an edge pattern of the print design. |
| US07918053B2 |
Container
A basic container has at least one expansion element which can be moved out of the basic container. A lifting device permits lowering of the expansion element such that, after the expansion element has been moved out of the basic container, the floor wall of the expansion element and the basic container are situated at the same level. An expansion element can be lifted such that, after the lowering, the expansion element can be moved back into the basic container. The lifting device is active between the folded-open side wall and the expansion element. |
| US07918052B2 |
Drywall construction for supporting an installation element and method for fastening the installation element
A drywall construction and method including an installation element, such as shelving, a cupboard shell, or the like, for the keeping of objects including a frame construction with vertical upright profiles having a C-shaped cross section with legs, wherein the installation element is fastened to the upright profiles. The installation element may have, on at least part of its outer surfaces, a first groove and a second groove parallel to the first groove and spaced away from it, and in a fastening condition, the legs of the upright profiles are inserted into the first groove and the second groove. |
| US07918049B2 |
Collapsible loop-spring actuated fish cradle device
A design for improvements to the prior art of conventional A-frame fish capture devices which incorporates one or more flexible loop spring mechanism(s) and a multi-functional crossbeam splay limiting and hand grip apparatus, attached to an A-frame structure which enables collapsing the device into a nearly flat condition for storage and when deployed the loop-spring mechanism instantly splays out the crossbeams and pushes the mouth of the net into a deep trough enabling the angler single handed instant deployment and attitude control of the net to enable prompt landing which minimizes stress by rapidly cradling the fish during landing. |
| US07918047B1 |
Corner pocket mount for cards, pictures, menus and the like
A corner pocket mount for positioning cards, pictures, menus and the like on a frame comprising a pentagonal foldable slip including a rectangular component and a triangular component in which the triangular component reinforces the insert edge to reduce wear on the edges because of repeated changing cards, pictures, menus and the like. |
| US07918041B2 |
Footwear cooling system
An article of footwear including a cooling system is disclosed. The article of footwear includes a sole system. The sole system includes a first compression chamber and a second compression chamber, each configured to compress during motion. The compression of the first compression chamber and the second compression chamber creates a pressure imbalance that facilitates the exchange of air throughout the article of footwear by means of apertures disposed along the upper sole portion, and channels configured to transfer air to the apertures. |
| US07918035B1 |
Skate blading squareness indicator
A gauge is disclosed for measuring squareness of a skate blade that has a pair of parallel side walls and a pair of bottom blade edges. The gauge includes a squaring frame that has a vertical blade contact surface fixed to a gauge plate. The gauge plate has a horizontal top surface. The vertical blade contact surface is selectively fixed to one of the side walls of the blade with a magnet having at least two parallel faces. Such a magnet is fixable between the skate blade and the blade contact surface. The gauge further includes a blade angle indicator having a flat lower surface and a parallel flat upper surface. Preferably the squaring frame of the gauge further includes an oblong vertical pivot aperture therein and the blade angle indicator includes an aperture therein, such that the squaring frame and the blade angle indicator may be pivotally fixed to each other with a pivot means. |
| US07918031B2 |
Thread ring gauge
A thread ring gauge includes a body having inner and outer peripheries spaced in a radial direction. The body includes a split extending from the outer periphery through the inner periphery, separating the body into two sections respectively having first and second end faces. The first end face includes a groove extending away from the second end face in a width direction perpendicular to the radial direction. The groove extends from the outer periphery towards but spaced from the inner periphery. The groove has a bottom wall facing the second end face. An adjusting member is extended through the first and second sections and movable to adjust a width of the slit between the first and second end faces in the width direction. A gauge block is received in the groove and abuts the bottom wall of the groove and the second end face. |
| US07918030B2 |
Cutting tools having lighting devices
Cutting tools (1) may include a lighting device (5). The lighting device may be mounted on a tool unit (3) adjacent to a grip portion (26). Preferably, the grip portion serves to protect the lighting device from being damaged by an external force. The tool unit may include a motor case (21) for accommodating a motor. The grip portion may extend from the motor case and the lighting device may be mounted on or within the motor case. The tool unit may further include a blade case (20) that at least partly covers a cutting blade (22). The blade case may be joined to the motor case via a joining portion J defined on the motor case. In this case, the lighting device is preferably disposed proximal to the joining portion. The lighting device may include at least a first light (5a) and a second light (5b) that are arranged and constructed to illuminate different areas. |
| US07918024B2 |
Methods and apparatus for manufacturing components
A method for manufacturing a turbine nozzle assembly using a fixture includes providing a first position of the fixture, positioning at least one datum of the turbine nozzle assembly adjacent at least one datum location point on the fixture when the fixture is in the first position, coupling the turbine nozzle assembly to the fixture when the fixture is in the first position, rotating the fixture from the first position into a second position that facilitates manufacturing the turbine nozzle assembly, and performing a manufacturing process on the turbine nozzle assembly when the fixture is in the second position. |
| US07918023B2 |
Method for manufacturing a variable-vane mechanism for a turbocharger
A variable-vane cartridge mechanism for a turbocharger is assembled from a nozzle ring, an insert that engages a turbine housing bore, and a plurality of spacers. Holes larger in diameter than the spacers are formed in the nozzle ring and a nozzle portion of the insert, such that the spacers fit loosely in the holes. A locating fixture is engaged with the nozzle ring and insert for precisely locating these parts radially (and optionally also axially) with respect to each other; the spacers can move within the holes as needed to allow the positions of the parts to be adjusted. Once located relative to each other, the nozzle ring and insert are fixed in the desired relative positions by affixing the spacers to them, such as by welding. |
| US07918022B2 |
Method of producing a cooling channel piston for an internal combustion engine
A method of producing a cooling channel piston for an internal combustion engine having a cooling channel in its piston crown, wherein a piston lower section with piston bosses, piston pin bores and piston skirts attach to the piston crown, wherein a piston blank is first produced with a circumferential collar radially projecting in the area of the piston crown, wherein the collar is then formed over, wherein, a seating area for the collar is formed in a transition zone between the piston crown and the piston lower section and the collar is formed over in such a way until its outer radially circumferential edge comes very close to or butts completely against the seating area to form a closed cooling channel. |
| US07918021B2 |
Production of via hole in a flexible printed circuit board by applying a laser or punch
A flexible circuit printable board can be favorably produced by a process composed of steps of forming in a polyimide film having a metal coat on each surface side a via hole penetrating at least one metal coat and the polyimide film; and applying a mixture of liquid and abrasive grains under pressure onto the via hole, whereby smoothing an edge of the via hole and cleaning the via hole. |
| US07918019B2 |
Method for fabricating thin touch sensor panels
A method for fabricating thin DITO or SITO touch sensor panels with a thickness less than a minimum thickness tolerance of existing manufacturing equipment. In one embodiment, a sandwich of two thin glass sheets is formed such that the combined thickness of the glass sheets does not drop below the minimum thickness tolerance of existing manufacturing equipment when thin film process is performed on the surfaces of the sandwich during fabrication. The sandwich may eventually be separated to form two thin SITO/DITO panels. In another embodiment, the fabrication process involves laminating two patterned thick substrates, each having at least the minimum thickness tolerance of existing manufacturing equipment. One or both of the sides of the laminated substrates are then thinned so that when the substrates are separated, each is a thin DITO/SITO panel having a thickness less than the minimum thickness tolerance of existing manufacturing equipment. |
| US07918018B2 |
Method of fabricating a semiconductor device
In a method and apparatus for fabricating a semiconductor device having a flexible tape substrate, a hole is punched in the flexible tape substrate. The flexible tape substrate includes a metal layer attached to a polyimide layer without an adhesive there between. A cover is placed on the metal layer to cap a base of the hole. A metal is deposited on the cover exposed at the base of the hole, the metal being used to form a bond with the metal layer. The metal being deposited causes the hole to be plugged up to a selective height. Upon removal of the cover, the metal may also be deposited on the metal layer to increase a thickness of the metal layer. |
| US07918017B2 |
Electronic component taking out apparatus
A plurality of reference electronic components (M1, M2) marked in advance are identified and recognized, and the positions of the plurality of the reference electronic components (M1, M2) positioned in the vicinity of an electronic component to be taken out (2a) and component arrangement information in a wafer mapping file (MF) stored in a storage device (11f) are used to calculate the position of the electronic component to be taken out (2a). |
| US07918012B2 |
Method of making calibration-adjusted analyte sensors
A sensor, and methods of making, for determining the concentration of an analyte, such as glucose, in a biological fluid such as blood or serum, using techniques such as coulometry, amperometry, and potentiometry. The sensor includes a working electrode and a counter electrode, and may include an insertion monitoring trace to determine correct positioning of the sensor in a connector. The sensor is calibration-adjusted, eliminating the need for a user to enter a calibration code or for the meter to read a calibration code. |
| US07918009B2 |
Methods of using radiopharmaceutical pigs
A pharmaceutical pig is used to transport a syringe containing a liquid radiopharmaceutical from a radiopharmacy to a medical facility for administration to a patient. The pharmaceutical pig includes an elongate polymer cap that is removably attached to an elongate polymer base. The elongate polymer cap includes a cap shell that completely encloses a cap shielding element and the elongate polymer base includes a base shell that completely encloses a base shielding element. Preferably the polymer utilized for the cap shell and the base shell is polycarbonate resin, e.g., LEXAN®. An inner liner is not utilized and the cap shielding element and the base shielding element, which are preferably, but not necessarily, made of lead, are completely sealed and unexposed. |
| US07918007B2 |
Caulked assembly of metal plate body with columnar body, caulked assembly of resin molded body with columnar body, and method for producing the same
The present invention provides a caulked assembly to be manufactured at low cost, and maintain sufficient caulking strength, and the manufacturing method and apparatus thereof. The manufacturing method comprises steps of forming a mounting hole for inserting and assembling a columnar body in a metal plate body, and forming a thick part along an inner circumferential edge of a mounting hole; forming a circumferential groove with a predetermined depth at an assembled position of a outer circumferential surface of the columnar body inserted into the mounting hole; inserting the columnar body into the mounting hole to set to the assembled position where the thick part is opposed to the circumferential groove; and caulking for compressively pressing the thick part from an axial direction of the columnar body to plastically deform the thick part in a center direction of the mounting hole to bite the thick part into the circumferential groove. |
| US07918006B2 |
Method for joining ends of sections of pipe
A method for making pipe joints on successive pipe sections introduced into an oil well as assembled into a pipeline in which the joints are substantially of the same dimensions as the pipe sections to allow for subsequent plastic expansion of the sections. In each joint, a female pipe end is tapered on the inside and an adjacent male end is tapered on the outside preferably with a complementary self locking taper which also has an interference fit. The female pipe end is heated to be expanded sufficiently to be assembled onto the male end and thereafter cooled to grip the male end in a leakproof manner. For larger pipe sizes, the tapered shapes have features which interlock in a leakproof manner when engaged after assembly of the pipe ends. The tapered shapes preferably are formed by a reversibly positioned forming tool which is alternately engaged with male and female pipe ends to ensure perfectly matching shapes. |
| US07918002B2 |
Tubing disconnect tool and a method of disconnecting tubing
A tubing disconnect tool and a method of disconnecting tubing. A disconnect tool for disconnecting a tubing end which is inserted within a collet of a fitting comprises a first plate member, a second plate member and bias member. The first plate member has a first front portion, a first rear portion and a first middle portion. The first plate member further has a channel disposed within the first middle portion. The second plate member has a second front portion, a second rear portion and a second middle portion. The second plate member also has a second channel disposed within the second middle portion. The bias member connects together the first plate member and the second plate member such that the bias member spaces the first plate member to attach to the fitting and spaces the second plate member to contact an outer collet surface of the collet wherein the first channel is configured to engage an engagement surface of the fitting and the second channel is configured to contact the outer collet surface in order to force the outer collet surface against the fitting to release the tubing end. |
| US07918000B2 |
Article for holding an object
A clip for holding an object, such as a literature booklet, comprises first (23) and second (25) resilient parts, the first part adapted to hold an object having a first thickness and the second part adapted to hold an object having a second thickness, the first thickness being greater than the second thickness. Consequently, the clip can hold a range of thickness of literature booklets or other objects. The clip may be part of an article, such as a container for compact discs or DVD's. |
| US07917999B2 |
Apparatus at a carding machine for cotton, synthetic fibres and the like, wherein at least one card flat having a card flat clothing is present
In an apparatus at a carding machine for cotton, synthetic fibers and the like, wherein at least one card flat having a card flat clothing is present, the card flat clothing is attached to the card flat, and the clothing is located opposite a roller, for example the cylinder, and an attaching means is present between the card flat and the card flat clothing. In order to make possible, in simple manner, a dimensionally stable clothed card flat and simpler and faster re-clothing (clothing replacement), at least one hook-and-loop closure is present between the card flat and those regions of the card flat clothing which face the card flat. |
| US07917998B2 |
Method and device for the continuous cutting of fibers
A method and a cutting device for the continuous cutting of fibers fed in fiber cables into fiber sections of particularly short length is disclosed. In order to avoid high friction forces between the formed knives and the fiber sections, and furthermore, to prevent excessive deforming of the fiber section during the transport between the knives, the knives are arranged at an offset to each other such that the fibers are initially cut into longer fiber sections, and into shorter fiber sections in a second step. The respective free space between the knives is increased due to the offset arrangement of the knives. |
| US07917995B2 |
Furniture hinge
Furniture hinge with alternative damping and/or braking device with respect to those existing and able to guarantee a better functional efficiency during closing and opening operation of the doors, or other parts of furniture, even after long periods of inactivity of the same device. The better efficiency of such hinge is also obtained by increasing the friction surfaces with a viscous means present in suitable areas of the hinge and by allowing the regulation of the angular velocity trend of a circular shaped element, for example a disk, that acts as a braking element in contact with the viscous means. |
| US07917991B2 |
Steam generator, method of controlling the same, cleaner using the same and method of controlling the cleaner
A steam generator is provided that includes an external case having an opening that allows an internal space to communicate with an external environment. Additionally, the steam generator may be provided with a supplier that supplies water to the internal space, a heater provided to the opening to generate steam, an outlet pipe having a first side that communicates with the external environment to discharge steam, and a steam discharge controller provided to a second side of the outlet pipe to open/close the outlet pipe according to a presence or absence of a discharge of the steam. |
| US07917990B2 |
Apparatus for duct cleaning
A duct cleaning apparatus for cleaning ventilation ducts in a household environment comprises a typical household or light industrial vacuum cleaning having a sealed container, a blower having suction and exhaust, a first flexible hose attached to the suction port and a second flexible hose attached to the exhaust port. The hoses are adjacent and parallel to each other and fixed together using a plurality regularly spaced elastic bands. A blower nozzle and a suction nozzle are adjacent to each other and placed in a duct for cleaning. The blower nozzle directs a jet of air into the vacuum zone of the suction nozzle thereby agitating dirt and debris within the vacuum zone for a more efficient cleaning action. |
| US07917982B2 |
Electric toothbrush and charging unit
A handpiece of an electric toothbrush having a housing in which a drive unit is received. The housing has a forward or rearward housing opening adapted to be closed by a cover in a preferably moisture- and liquid-proof manner, with snap-action detent elements provided on the housing and/or the cover for locking the cover on the housing with a snap action. A combination of snap-fitting and threaded engagement releases the snap-fitting engagement between the cover and the housing. |
| US07917979B2 |
Mattress jack
An apparatus for lifting a mattress to an optimal work level so as to facilitate the bed making process. A generally rectangular size specific inflatable member is disposed between a mattress and box springs in an unsecured manner so as to create a functional space between the mattress and inflatable member into which the bed linen can be secured during the bed making process. A fluid communication means is engageable with the inflatable member and an air pump is engageable with the fluid communication means for providing air for inflating the inflatable member. A power means provides power to operate the air pump and a switch activates and deactivates the air pump. A valve controls inflation and deflation of the inflatable member. |
| US07917978B2 |
Variable height siderail for a bed
A patient support (10) includes a frame (12), a mattress supported by the frame, and a set of siderails (18-20) configured to block the egress of a patient from the patient support (10). The siderails (18-20) are configured to reduce gaps defined between the siderails (18-20) and other components of the patient support (10). |
| US07917977B1 |
Box spring safe
A system and method for providing a storage area within a box spring is disclosed. The system uses a storage box having a storage compartment and a locking door that provides access to the storage compartment. Attached to the storage box is a base plate that is attached to the storage compartment, the base plate includes an engagement hook. The box spring includes a stringer, and is used to support a mattress. The engagement hook of the base plate of the storage box engages the stringer of the box spring while the storage box is in use, so that the storage box is retained within the box spring. |
| US07917973B2 |
Hands free system for lifting and lowering a toilet seat
An apparatus configured to lift and lower a seat assembly of a toilet includes a case that is configured to be mounted to the toilet using mounting bolts of the seat assembly. The case includes a passive infrared sensor (PIR) that outputs a detection signal in response to motion, a motor having a lever coupled to the shaft of the motor via a coupler, a direction control unit that applies a motor supply voltage to drive the shaft of the motor in one of a clockwise or counterclockwise direction in response to the detection signal, and a battery to provide power to the apparatus. |
| US07917971B2 |
Energy absorbing and displacing structure for athletic protective equipment
An energy absorbing and displacing structure for athletic protective equipment, such as an athletic shin-guard, is provided using a flexible web-shaped body to hold a rigid band-shaped member in place.The inner rigid band-shaped member follows the contour of the desired area to protect. The outer flexible web-shaped body is made of a softer rubber like material and works as a locator and supporter keeping the inner, rigid band-shaped member, in proper location. |
| US07917970B2 |
Hooded garment having an integrated cap and visor
A fashionable hooded garment having an integrated cap and visor. |
| US07917968B2 |
Armored garment with rescue strap
An armored garment, such as a vest, has an attached rescue strap allowing a soldier in battle to quickly move a fallen comrade from immediate danger to safety. The rescue strap enables a rescuing soldier to move a wounded soldier in a manner that also allows the rescuing soldier to use his weapon and return enemy fire as necessary. The rescue strap may be affixed to an anchor strap secured to a panel of the garment and that distributes the pulling force across the garment panel. The rescue strap stores when not in use, but in a manner easily reached for quick deployment. A pull handle, for example a ring or a carabiner, can be affixed to an end of the strap to be grasped by a rescuing soldier. Pulling the handle draws the rescue strap from its storage location to be used to pull a wounded soldier to safety. A further feature of the armored garment is a stretchable flexible expansion joint that divides an outer woven back panel of the garment allowing greater freedom of movement to the wearer. |
| US07917967B2 |
Front break away ballistics vest
A front break away ballistics vest (1) having a front (36) and a back section (11) that are securable to one another. The front section (36) has an upper front section (18) and a lower front (12) section. A first clip (38) is located on the upper front section (18) to release a first shoulder strap (4) from the first clip (38) and a second clip (39) is located on the upper front section (18) to release a second shoulder strap (5) from the second clip (39). The first and second clips (38 and 39) are secured to one another, preferably via a release strap (44). A third clip (40) is located on the lower front section (12) to release the first and second clips (38 and 39) from the third clip (40). The third clip (40) is also secured to the first and second clips (38 and 39), preferably via the release strap (44). |
| US07921460B1 |
Rate limiting data traffic in a network
A network device coordinates with other devices in a network to create a distributed filtering system. The device detects an attack in the network, such as a distributed denial of service attack, and forwards attack information to the other devices. The devices may categorize data into one or more groups and rate limit the amount of data being forwarded based on rate limits for the particular categories. The rate limits may also be updated based on the network conditions. The rate limits may further be used to guarantee bandwidth for certain categories of data. |
| US07921459B2 |
System and method for managing security events on a network
A computer-implemented system for managing security event data collected from a computing network. The system employs an event managing software module that can reside on a computing network that is being monitored with security devices. The event managing software collects security event data from security devices located in the monitored computing network and can process the security event data. In processing the security event data, the event manager module can format the data and create manageable summaries of the data. The event manager also supports storage of the security event data and the results of any processing performed on the data. Security event data can be identified by the event manager for use in responding to a security event. |
| US07921458B2 |
Packet routing method, computer system, and computer product
A gateway receives from a file server a packet addressed to another gateway in the same alliance, and transfers the packet to the other gateway. The gateway transmits a packet to the file server via another gateway in the same alliance. Upon receiving a packet from another gateway in the same alliance, the gateway transfers the packet to a PPTP server. The PPTP server transmits a packet received from the file server to a gateway via a different gateway in the same alliance. |
| US07921451B2 |
Access authorization having embedded policies
A facility for receiving an embedded policy is provided. The facility checks an application program image for the presence of an embedded policy. If an embedded policy is detected, the facility extracts the policy from within the application program image. The facility may then apply the extracted policy to the application program image before the application program image is loaded and/or executed. Moreover, the facility may check the application program image's integrity prior to extracting the embedded policy. |
| US07921448B2 |
Multicast media distribution system
The present invention provides for methods, systems, and devices for simultaneously receiving and processing multimedia asset packages transmitted by a plurality of multimedia content providers. The methods and systems of the present invention implement a multiport catcher appliance configured to receive a plurality of transmissions, simultaneously, from multiple content providers in a multimedia asset distribution system. The multimedia catcher receiver includes a multimedia network interface unit configured to simultaneously receive multimedia data segments from content providers, a multimedia network interface unit that provides the multimedia data segments to a receive unit, a receive unit configured to reconstruct and validate a multimedia asset package using multimedia data segments transmitted by a content provider, and a content management system to manage multimedia asset packages and provide multimedia asset packages to a multimedia server. |
| US07921446B2 |
Fast-start streaming and buffering of streaming content for personal media player
A personal media broadcasting system enables video distribution over a computer network and allows a user to view and control media sources over a computer network from a remote location. A personal broadcaster receives an input from one or more types of media sources, digitizes and compresses the content, and streams the compressed media over a computer network to a media player running on any of a wide range of client devices for viewing the media. The system may allow the user to issue control commands (e.g., “channel up”) from the media player to the broadcaster, causing the source device to execute the commands. The broadcaster and the media player may employ several techniques for buffering, transmitting, and viewing the content to improve the user's experience. |
| US07921445B2 |
Audio/video speedup system and method in a server-client streaming architecture
A system and a corresponding method for temporal modification of audio signals, to increase or reduce the playback rates of an audio and/or a video file in a client-server environment. The system and method improve the efficiency of serving streaming media to a client so that the client can select an arbitrary time-speedup factor. The speedup system performs many of the pre-calculations once, at the server, so that the bandwidth needs are reduced and the client's computational load is minimized. The final time-scale-modification can be either done completely on the server, thus reducing the client's needs, or partly on the client's computer to minimize latency, and to reduce on-the-fly computational load from the server that serves multiple clients concurrently. |
| US07921443B2 |
Systems and methods for providing video and data services to a customer premises
Embodiments of the invention provide systems and methods that overcome deficiencies in the prior art. One embodiment of the invention comprises an integrated system for providing video and data services to a customer premises. The integrated system comprises a digital broadcast satellite receiver, a data source, and an integrated network interface device. The integrated network interface device can be coupled to a receiver and/or the data source, and the integrated network interface device can be configured to receive video information from the receiver and data (e.g. Internet Protocol data) from the data source. In certain embodiments, the integrated network interface device can further be configured to distribute the data to the customer premises via a first internal transport medium and/or distribute the video information to the customer premises via a second internal transport medium. In one aspect, network interference devices can be attached to an external wall of customer premises. |
| US07921437B2 |
Optical pick apparatus
An optical pickup apparatus including a first objective lens that focuses first laser light on an information recording layer of a first optical disc in a first mounting state where the first optical disc is mounted on a turntable; a second objective lens that focuses second laser light on an information recording layer of a second optical disc in a second mounting state where the second optical disc is mounted on the turntable, the second optical disc having an information recording format different from that of the first optical disc; and a lens holder that integrally holds the first objective lens and the second objective lens in an adjacent manner on the outside and inside, respectively, along a radial direction of the first optical disc in the first mounting state and of the second optical disc in the second mounting state. |
| US07921435B2 |
Optical disk drive
An optical disk drive according to the present invention includes: an optical pickup 6 including a light source 23 that radiates a light beam 21 to irradiate an optical disk 100, at least one objective lens 22 for converging the beam 21, and an actuator that can move the lens 22 perpendicularly to the disk 100; a transport stage 11 for displacing the pickup 6 in a disk radial direction; a rim detecting section 30 for sensing if the irradiated position of the beam 21 has passed an outer edge of the disk 100 while the pickup 6 is being displaced from an inner area of the disk toward the outer edge thereof to conduct a seek operation; and a control section 40 for getting the lens 22 retracted away from the disk 100 by the actuator and getting the pickup 6 displaced toward the inner area of the disk by the transport stage 11 if the irradiated position of the light beam 21 has been sensed to have passed the outer edge of the disk 100. |
| US07921428B2 |
Multi-registration of software library resources
Data communications, including issuing, by an application program to a high level data communications library, a request for initialization of a data communications service; issuing to a low level data communications library a request for registration of data communications functions; registering the data communications functions, including instantiating a factory object for each of the one or more data communications functions; issuing by the application program an instruction to execute a designated data communications function; issuing, to the low level data communications library, an instruction to execute the designated data communications function, including passing to the low level data communications library a call parameter that identifies a factory object; creating with the identified factory object the data communications object that implements the data communications function according to the protocol; and executing by the low level data communications library the designated data communications function. |
| US07921417B2 |
Method and computer system for activation of source files
Method and computer system for activation of source files. A source file repository stores a plurality of active source files belonging to a component. A central compilation service receives an activation request for at least one inactive source file of the component. In response to the activation request the central compilation service compiles the component using the at least one inactive source file and, in case the compilation is successfully completed, initiates a transfer of the at least one inactive source file to the plurality of active source files. |
| US07921416B2 |
Formal language and translator for parallel processing of data
The present invention, in an example embodiment, provides a special-purpose formal language and translator for the parallel processing of large databases in a distributed system. The special-purpose language has features of both a declarative programming language and a procedural programming language and supports the co-grouping of tables, each with an arbitrary alignment function, and the specification of procedural operations to be performed on the resulting co-groups. The language's translator translates a program in the language into optimized structured calls to an application programming interface for implementations of functionality related to the parallel processing of tasks over a distributed system. In an example embodiment, the application programming interface includes interfaces for MapReduce functionality, whose implementations are supplemented by the embodiment. |
| US07921408B2 |
System and method for applying development patterns for component based applications
A computing device and method for coordinating the development of a client application including application components comprising one or more of at least one of a data component, a message component or a screen component, having corresponding component definitions, or a workflow component comprising a series of instructions. A first development pattern module configured for interaction with a development environment is provided by a computer user interface, the first development pattern module configured for selecting a first pattern from a plurality of patterns based on an application component type central to the client application, the first development pattern module for guiding a user interface with a plurality of predefined steps to coordinate a development of the application components through user input events via the user interface in accordance with the first pattern. |
| US07921405B2 |
Facilitation of multi-project management using throughput measurement
A method on a computer for providing critical chain-based project management is disclosed. The method includes generating a list of sequential time periods for a project comprising a plurality of tasks and calculating a number of tasks for each time period. The method further includes generating a graphic that visually indicates the number of tasks for each time period and a priority of each task and providing the graphic to a user. |
| US07921404B2 |
Method of reusing constraints in PCB designs
A method is disclosed for electronically processing constraints rules defined in a previously developed first PCB design having a first constraints output file, to facilitate the development of a second PCB design having a second constraints output file. The second design has substantially identical topology to the first design and the second constraints output file comprises constraints for signals with identical attributes. The method includes several steps. Firstly, the board file of the first design is compared with the net list file of the second design to identify respective differences between the designs. On the basis of the established differences, a file attributes change report is generated. At least some data from the file attributes change report is stored into an attributes change file. Finally, the method includes the step of processing the first design constraints output file, the second design constraints output file, and the attribute change file to map constraints associated with changed attributes, thus defining a revised constraints output file for the second design. The revised second constraints output file comprises constraints for at least some signals with changed attributes. |
| US07921401B2 |
Stress analysis method, wiring structure design method, program, and semiconductor device production method
A stress analysis method is provided: including dividing, by using a division unit, an inside of a chip into a plurality of analysis areas, deriving, by using a composite property derivation unit, a composite property into which physical property values of a plurality of materials included in an analysis area are compounded, about each of the plurality of analysis areas on the basis of wiring structure data for each of the plurality of analysis areas, and creating, by using a stress analysis unit, a three-dimensional model of a finite element method which uses each analysis area as an element, to apply the composite property to each element, and to perform a stress analysis. |
| US07921400B1 |
Method for forming integrated circuit device using cell library with soft error resistant logic cells
A cell library is disclosed that includes soft error resistant logic cells. The soft error resistant logic cells can be used along with memory cells and conventional logic cells to form integrated circuit designs having increased soft error resistance. A method for forming an integrated circuit device is disclosed in which a first integrated circuit design is formed using conventional logic cells. An iterative process is then performed in which some of the conventional logic cells are replaced with high soft error resistant logic cells to obtain a soft error resistant design. Each soft error resistant logic cell that replaces a corresponding conventional logic cell will have the same cell size as the cell that is replaced, producing a soft error resistant design that does not take up additional surface area on the semiconductor substrate. |
| US07921399B2 |
Method for simplifying tie net modeling for router performance
A method for preprocessing tie net routing data organizes the data into a plurality of tie nets each based on an optimal connection path between a pin or set of pins and the power grid. The router then routs the data embodying the thusly-simplified plurality of tie nets. Once the routing is complete, post processor takes the routed design and returns it to its original net list state while keeping the routing solution. |
| US07921398B2 |
System and medium for placement which maintain optimized timing behavior, while improving wireability potential
A method for determining placement of circuitry during integrated circuit design is presented. The method includes accessing a net list identifying circuitry connections. A plurality of individual net weights are assigned to nets in timing paths within the net list. A composite net weight is determined for said timing paths, the composite net weight being in response to the plurality of individual net weights. Concurrently therewith it is advantageous to utilize our new method of improvements of concurrently proceeding to improve wireability of said design by additional timing optimization and net weight mapping modification steps. |
| US07921397B2 |
Method of designing semiconductor integrated circuits, and semiconductor integrated circuits that allow precise adjustment of delay time
Standard cell libraries and methods of designing semiconductor integrated circuits are provided. At least one of delay-adjusting cell data and load-capacitor cell data is stored in the cell library for a specified type standard cell in addition to the standard cell data. The specified type standard cell may be utilized as a delay-adjusting cell or a load-capacitor cell. Accordingly, precise adjustment of delay times during designing a semiconductor integrated circuit is enabled without requiring registering a new standard cell in the cell library. Semiconductor integrated circuits are also provided that are configured to allow precise adjustment of delay times in the semiconductor integrated circuits. |
| US07921395B2 |
Method for laying out decoupling cells and apparatus for laying out decoupling cells
A method for laying out decoupling cells in a semiconductor integrated circuit including a plurality of paths. The method includes extracting from a timing analysis result a timing slack amount as a timing margin for power supply noise in one of the paths serving as a target path, converting the extracted timing margin to a noise tolerance amount, comparing the noise tolerance amount and a power supply noise amount of the target path, and determining whether or not a decoupling cell must be additionally laid out in the target path based on the comparison result. |
| US07921393B2 |
Tunneling as a boundary congestion relief mechanism
Simultaneous Dynamical Integration modeling techniques are applied to global placement of elements of integrated circuits as described by netlists specifying interconnection of morphable-devices. Solutions to a system of coupled ordinary differential equations in accordance with Newtonian mechanics are approximated by numerical integration. A resultant time-evolving system of nodes moves through a continuous location space in continuous time, and is used to derive placements of the morphable-devices having one-to-one correspondences with the nodes. Nodes under the influence of net attractive forces, computed based on the interconnections between the morphable devices, tend to coalesce into well-organized topologies. Nodes are also affected by spreading forces determined by density fields that are developed based on local spatial node population. |
| US07921391B2 |
Apparatus, method and computer-readable code for automated design of physical structures of integrated circuits
Apparatus, methods, and computer readable code for computing parameters related to layout schemes of integrated circuits are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, an actual layout scheme is computed, for example, for a netlist. In some embodiments, one o or more layout schemes are scored based on, for example, susceptibility to failure and/or yield in manufacturing. |
| US07921389B2 |
Controlling operation of a digital system utilizing register entities
In at least one hardware definition language (HDL) file, at least one design entity containing a functional portion of a digital system is specified. The design entity logically contains first and second latches each having a respective plurality of different possible latch values. With one or more statements, a first Dial instance is associated with the first latch and a second Dial instance is associated with the second latch. A setting of the first Dial instance thus controls which of the plurality of different possible values is loaded in the first latch, and a setting of the second Dial instance controls which of the plurality of different possible values is loaded in the second latch. With a statement, a Register instance is concurrently associated with both the first and the second latches, such that a setting of the Register instance controls the latch values loaded in both the first and second latches. |
| US07921386B2 |
Fabrication method for semiconductor device, exposure method, pattern correction method and semiconductor device
Disclosed herein is a fabrication method for a semiconductor device, including a lithography step of connecting a plurality of mask patterns to each other to form a pattern image of an area greater than the size of the mask patterns. The lithography step includes the steps of: assuring an overlapping exposure region to be exposed in an overlapping relationship by both of two mask patterns to be connected to each other, carrying out exposure transfer of the pattern portions of the two mask patterns to the overlapping exposure region to form a first measurement mark and a second measurement mark in the overlapping exposure region, and carrying out positional displacement measurement of pattern connection by the two mask patterns based on a manner of combination of main marks and sub marks of the measurement marks formed in the overlapping exposure region. |
| US07921385B2 |
Mask-pattern determination using topology types
A method for determining a mask pattern is described. During the method, a first mask pattern that includes a plurality of second regions corresponding to the first regions of the photo-mask is provided. Then, a second mask pattern is determined based on the first mask pattern and differences between a target pattern and an estimate of a wafer pattern that results from the photolithographic process that uses at least a portion of the first mask pattern. Note that the determining includes different treatment for different types of regions in the target pattern, and the second mask pattern and the target pattern include pixilated images. |
| US07921384B2 |
System, methods and apparatuses for integrated circuits for nanorobotics
The invention describes apparatuses for nano-scale integrated circuits applied to nanorobotics. Using EDA techniques, the system develops fully functional nano ICs, including ASICs and microprocessors. Three dimensional nano ICs are disclosed for increased efficiency in nanorobotic apparatuses. Nano-scale FPGAs are disclosed. The nano-scale semiconductors have applications to nano-scale and micro-scale robots. |
| US07921383B1 |
Photolithographic process simulation including efficient result computation for multiple process variation values
A method, system, and related computer program products and computer-readable numerical arrays for computer simulation of a photolithographic process is described. In one preferred embodiment, simulation of a photolithographic process is provided in which a computation time for computing each subsequent result for each subsequent combination of process variation values and/or target depths is significantly less than a computation time for computing an initial result for an initial combination of the process variation values and/or target depths. Accordingly, where computation for the initial combination requires a first time interval T, results for (N−1) subsequent combinations can be achieved such that a total time interval for the N results is substantially less than NT. Computation of a process model used for the computer simulation is also described, as well as calibration of the process model to a physical photolithographic processing system. |
| US07921382B2 |
Method for smooth rotation
A method for smooth rotation of an object viewed from a finite number of angles encompasses resetting the drag origin in response to the pointer exiting a region centered on the drag origin. Upon exiting the region, a new view of the object displays thereby providing the appearance of rotation. |
| US07921380B2 |
Detachable and reattachable portal pages
A portal environment may include at least one detachable and reattachable portal page. The detachable and reattachable portal page may include a detach feature to detach the portal page from the portal environment. A reattach feature may be provided to reattach a detached portal page to the portal environment. In another embodiment, a method to detach and reattach at least one portal page may include detaching a selected portal page in response to activating a detach feature. The method may also include reattaching the detached portal page in response to activating a reattach feature. The selected, detached portal page may be transferred to a window in response to activating the detach feature. Tunneling communication may be provided between the detached portal page and the portal environment. |
| US07921379B1 |
System and method for displaying results of search
The present invention relates to the system and the method for graphically displaying the results of search engine on a terminal of client, so that client can see a search process at first glance and move between a higher category and a lower easily and earn the results of search engine quickly. |
| US07921375B2 |
Integrating user interfaces from one application into another
The invention discloses a system and method for integrating user interfaces (UI) within an application. The invention can be configured to display an UI of a second application within a first application in a manner that the user cannot identify that the second application's UI is displayed on top of a reference window within the first application. The invention can be configured to identify a reference window that is to be replaced by a replacement window of the second application, monitor the reference window, create the replacement window, and align the replacement window over top of the reference window. |
| US07921370B1 |
Object-level text-condition indicators
Novel techniques and tools for indicating, to a user, that a development application has detected a condition of text that is not currently displayed. A user may use the development application to develop other applications at an object level without being distracted by text related to graphical objects in the applications being developed by the user. If the development application detects an undesirable condition in text related to a graphical object, the development application may display a graphical indicator of the detected condition. The user may then interact with the graphical indicator to obtain additional information about the detected condition and to view and modify the text in which the application detected the condition. |
| US07921359B2 |
Computer-implemented system and method for tagged and rectangular data processing
A computer-implemented system and method for tagged data and rectangular data conversions. The system and method receive tagged input data that is in a non-rectangular format and uses a hierarchical arrangement of tags to indicate data relationships. Data directives are used to parse the tagged input data. The data directives indicate which tags in the hierarchical arrangement of tags are to form which columns in the rectangular formatted data output. The rectangular formatted data output is generated based upon the parsed tagged input data. The data directives may also be used to convert rectangular data into a tagged data format. |
| US07921355B2 |
Enhanced human computer user interface system for searching and browsing documents
A system and method for presenting document records to a user through a display interface, comprising means for processing data of the first type through a first applet and data of the second type through a second applet and separately extracting data of the two different types using the separate applets. The user interface provides means for selecting a data file from a plurality of data files, displaying the merged and formatted processed first and second data, and managing a plurality of data files with the host application. Each record on the list may be individually selected, comprising providing at least two distinct categorization inputs from the user, providing an indicia in the record list to indicate a respective record classification, and providing means for selectively processing the records according to a respective classification thereof. The data file employs a standard image format file with an embedded index pointer to segregate two data types. A first data type, preferably an image, is referenced by the index pointer and is located near the terminus of the file. A second data type, for example text, appears immediately after the file header which includes the index pointer, and preferably terminates with an end of file marker. Thus, the single file may be read by both a standard image file reader, and a standard text reader, without parsing or segregation. The two data types are preferably text and image data, and the data file is preferably a tagged image format file (TIFF) file with Group-4 image compression. |
| US07921354B2 |
Computer-readable medium storing program for controlling archiving of electronic document, document management system, document management method, and computer data signal
There is provided a computer-readable medium storing a program causing a computer to execute a process for controlling archiving of an electronic document, the program causing the computer to function as: a requirement memory that stores a document archive requirement for each rule; and an archive processor that judges, on the basis of the requirement memory, each document archive requirement corresponding to each rule to be applied to an electronic document to be archived, determines an archive mode which satisfies all of the judged document archive requirements, and executes a process to archive the electronic document in an archiving device in the determined archive mode. |
| US07921352B2 |
DTV transmitter and method of coding main and enhanced data in DTV transmitter
A DTV transmitter includes a pre-processor pre-processing enhanced data, a data formatter generating enhanced data packets including the pre-processed data and inserting known data place holders to the data packets, and a multiplexer multiplexing the enhanced data packets with main data packets. It further includes an RS encoder which RS-codes the multiplexed data packets, and a data interleaves which interleaves the RS-coded data packets. The RS encoder adds systematic RS parity data to each main data packet and adds non-systematic RS parity place holders to each enhanced data packet. The RS encoder adds the RS parity place holders such that the RS parity place holders are placed after the enhanced data within each interleaved enhanced data packet. |
| US07921351B2 |
Increasing error correction in data streams encoded with linear block code
Disclosed is an apparatus and method for increasing the error correction capabilities of a receiver circuit that receives a data stream of encoded data symbols that are encoded with a linear block code. Analog and digital comparator circuits are used to detect laser clipping or analog to digital converter overloading. Corrupted symbols are detected by comparing in-phase and/or quadrature phase baseband signals with pre-determined threshold limits that indicate that the in-phase and quadrature phase signals have exceeded the normal signal trajectory of an unimpaired signal. Corrupted symbols may also be detected by determining that the laser has been clipped. Corrupted symbols are marked for erasure prior to decoding and error correction. Erasure of corrupted signals increases the error correction capabilities of the decoder circuit. |
| US07921350B2 |
System and method for fault detection and localization in time series and spatial data
A method for fault detection and localization calls for obtaining a data set, smoothing the data set, identifying a plurality of split points within the data set, fitting a piecewise linear function to the plurality of split points; and determining a residual between the function and the smoothed data set. Related systems and computer program products are disclosed and claimed. |
| US07921349B2 |
Mode selection for data transmission in wireless communication channels based on statistical parameters
A method and communication system for selecting a mode for encoding data for transmission in a wireless communication channel between a transmit unit and a receive unit. The data is initially transmitted in an initial mode and the selection of the subsequent mode is based on a selection of first-order and second-order statistical parameters of short-term and long-term quality parameters. Suitable short-term quality parameters include signal-to-interference and noise ratio (SINR), signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), power level and suitable long-term quality parameters include error rates such as bit error rate (BER) and packet error rate (PER). The method of the invention can be employed in Multiple Input. Multiple Output (MIMO), Multiple Input Single Output (MISO), Single Input Single Output (SISO) and Single Input Multiple Output (SIMO) communication systems to make subsequent mode selection faster and more efficient. Furthermore the method can be used in communication systems employing various transmission protocols including OFDMA, FDMA, CDMA, TDMA. |
| US07921347B2 |
Method and apparatus for performing automatic retransmission request in a mobile communication system
A method and an apparatus are provided for performing Automatic Retransmission reQuest (ARQ) in a mobile communication system including an ARQ layer and a Hybrid ARQ (HARQ) layer. The method includes receiving from an ARQ receiving (Rx) entity a status report indicating a reception status of ARQ packets; detecting an ARQ packet having a transmission completion time going ahead of a generation time of the status report, among the ARQ packets whose transmission was completed by an ARQ transmitting (Tx) entity; and retransmitting an ARQ packet not ACK/NACK-ed by the status report, among the detected ARQ packets. |
| US07921340B2 |
Nonvolatile memory device, nonvolatile memory system, and defect management method for nonvolatile memory device
A life parameter generator generates life parameters related to the life of a nonvolatile memory device by using parameters related to allowable capacity for memory defect and occurrence capacity for memory defect. The life parameters are stored in a life parameter storing block of a nonvolatile memory. An access device reads and displays the stored life parameters. Thus, the user can precisely know the life of the nonvolatile memory device or the moment when a device having a built in nonvolatile memory such as a portable audio becomes unusable. |
| US07921337B2 |
Systems and methods for diagnosing faults in electronic systems
Apparatus, systems, and methods for identifying a fault in an electronic system are provided. One apparatus includes memory storing a model of the electronic system, a processor, and a fault module. The processor is configured to pass system inputs through the model to generate corresponding simulated outputs, and the fault module is configured to determine the fault based on a comparison of the system outputs and the simulated outputs. A system includes an electronic system including multiple components generating system outputs based on system inputs and the apparatus for identifying a fault in the electronic system discussed above. One method includes generating a model of the electronic system, passing one or more inputs to the electronic system through the model to generate corresponding simulated outputs, and determining the fault based on a comparison of the one or more simulated outputs and one or more electronic system outputs. |
| US07921335B2 |
System diagnostic utility
A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer usable program code for performing diagnostic testing for an application executing on a computer. A diagnostic utility executes on the computer. The diagnostic utility includes a graphical user interface and a plurality of diagnostic functions. A selection of the application executing on the computer is received for diagnostic testing through the graphical user interface. Responsive to receiving the selection of the application, a set of diagnostic functions from the plurality of diagnostic functions is identified to test at least one of connectivity, operation of the application, and a presence of a set of needed files for the application to form a set of identified diagnostic functions. The set of identified diagnostic functions are identified using configuration information for the application. The set of identified diagnostic function are executed, wherein a result is generated. A result from executing the set of functions is presented using the graphical user interface. |
| US07921333B2 |
Method and systems for providing data replay, reprocess and retrigger functions in an analyzer
A replay analyzer is disclosed. The replay analyzer is able to capture traffic from a transmission medium such as a buss and store it in a trace buffer. The replay analyzer can replay that captured data repeatedly as desired and can trigger activity based on patterns found in the captured data. If desired, the captured data may be used for purposes of traffic generation. |
| US07921332B2 |
Disc drive failure diagnostic system and method
A system and method, which correctly and easily diagnose all types of failures generated in a disc drive, the system includes an interface, a system controller, a failure type diagnosis unit, and an output unit. The interface transmits an operation state information request signal to the disc drive and receives operation state information from the disc drive. The system controller transmits the operation state information request signal to the interface and generates a failure information file using the operation state information when the operation state information is received from the interface. The failure type diagnosis unit analyzes the failure information file generated by the system controller to diagnose the type of failure of the disc drive. The output unit outputs the result of the diagnosis of the type of failure under the control of the system controller. |
| US07921331B2 |
Write filter cache method and apparatus for protecting the microprocessor core from soft errors
A write filter cache system for protecting a microprocessor core from soft errors and method thereof are provided. In one aspect, data coming from a processor core to be written in primary cache memory, for instance, L1 cache memory system, is buffered in a write filter cache placed between the primary cache memory and the processor core. The data from the write filter is move to the main cache memory only if it is verified that main thread's data is soft error free, for instance, by comparing the main thread's data with that of its redundant thread. The main cache memory only keeps clean data associated with accepted checkpoints. |
| US07921330B2 |
Data migration manager
A method and apparatus for transactions during a data migration. The transfer of data from an old database to a new database is structured as a set of small transactions. The transactions can be structured in a hierarchy of dependent transactions such that the transactions are nested or similarly hierarchical. A migration manager includes a set of data conversion methods or processes that enable the conversion of data from a format of an old database to that of a new database. The conversion process generates the nested transactions to resolve dependencies between records such as primary and foreign keys. The method and system provides a higher level of granularity in transaction size, providing the ability to transfer records individually and resolve the dependencies in such transactions without requiring a large mapping of an entire data set in the old database to an organization in the new database. |
| US07921326B2 |
Spatial monitoring-correlation mechanism and method for locating an origin of a problem with an IPTV network
A spatial monitoring-correlation mechanism and a method are described herein for determining an origin of a problem within an Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) network by using topology information about the IPTV network and at least one error notification (e.g., packet loss notification-retransmission request) that is generated by at least one component (e.g., set-top box) within the IPTV network. |
| US07921325B2 |
Node management device and method
A device that is communicably connected to each of three or more nodes constituting a cluster system holds resource information, which is information relating to a resource used by an application, in relation to each of the three or more nodes. The device receives resource condition information indicating variation in the condition of the resource from each node, updates the resource information on the basis of the received resource condition information, determines a following active node on the basis of the updated resource information, and notifies at least one of the three or more nodes of the determined following active node. |
| US07921323B2 |
Reconfigurable communications infrastructure for ASIC networks
Reconfigurable communications infrastructures may be implemented to interconnect ASIC devices (e.g., FPGAs) and other computing and input/output devices using high bandwidth interconnection mediums. The computing and input/output devices may be positioned in locations that are physically segregated from each other, and/or may be provided to project a reconfigurable network across a wide area. The reconfigurable communications infrastructures may be implemented to allow such computing and input/output devices to be used in different arrangements and applications, e.g., for use in any application where a large array of ASIC devices may be usefully employed such as supercomputing, etc. |
| US07921322B2 |
Optimize personalization conditions for electronic device transmission rates with increased transmitting frequency
Systems and/or methods that facilitate expediently transmitting and programming data to an electronic device that contains nonvolatile memory are presented. A host component facilitates the determination of different clock frequencies that an electronic device(s) can accommodate for transmitting data to and receiving data from the electronic device. The host component can facilitate transmitting data to the electronic device at a higher clock frequency than the clock frequency utilized to transmit data from the electronic device to the host component in order to facilitate programming large amounts of data to the electronic device efficiently. The host component can select a downlink and/or uplink clock frequency based in part on the type of electronic device(s), the size of a memory buffer associated with the nonvolatile memory device, and/or a type of protocol associated with the electronic device. |
| US07921320B2 |
Single wire serial interface
A single wire serial interface for power ICs and other devices is provided. To use the interface, a device is configured to include an EN/SET input pin. A counter within the device counts clock pulses sent to the EN/SET input pin. The output of the counter is passed to a ROM or other decoder circuit. The ROM selects an operational state for the device that corresponds to the value of the counter. In this way, control states may be selected for the device by sending corresponding clock pulses to the EN/SET pin. Holding the EN/SET pin high causes the device to maintain its operational state. Holding the EN/SET pin low for a predetermined timeout period resets the counter and causes the device to adopt a predetermined configuration (such as off) until new clock pulses are received at the EN/SET pin. |
| US07921318B2 |
Techniques for integrated circuit clock management using pulse skipping
A processor (400) includes a clock source (402), a central processing unit (CPU) (408), and a clock generator (404). The clock source (402) includes an output for providing a periodic clock signal. The CPU (408) includes an input for receiving a CPU clock signal. The clock generator (404) includes a first input coupled to the output of the clock source (402), a second input for receiving a mode signal that indicates an output frequency, and an output coupled to the input of the CPU (408). The clock generator (404) provides the CPU clock signal using periodic pulse skipping such that the CPU clock signal has a number of transitions over a unit of time corresponding to the output frequency. |
| US07921317B2 |
Method and apparatus for synchronizing central processing units in a multiprocessor apparatus
Updating timers of central processing units (CPUs) in a multiprocessor apparatus involves the repeated performance of update operations by a device that is coupled to the CPUs via a memory interface. The operations include selecting one of the plurality of CPUs and determining an offset value that estimates a delay time to process a timer update at the selected CPU. A corrected timer value of the selected CPU is determined based on the offset value and a reference time. The corrected timer value is written to a cache line of the selected CPU to cause the selected CPU to update the timer of the selected CPU. |
| US07921316B2 |
Cluster-wide system clock in a multi-tiered full-graph interconnect architecture
Mechanisms for providing a cluster-wide system clock in a multi-tiered full graph (MTFG) interconnect architecture are provided. Heartbeat signals transmitted by each of the processor chips in the computing cluster are synchronized. Internal system clock signals are generated in each of the processor chips based on the synchronized heartbeat signals. As a result, the internal system clock signals of each of the processor chips are synchronized since the heartbeat signals, that are the basis for the internal system clock signals, are synchronized. Mechanisms are provided for performing such synchronization using direct couplings of processor chips within the same processor book, different processor books in the same supernode, and different processor books in different supernodes of the MTFG interconnect architecture. |
| US07921315B2 |
Managing power consumption in a data center based on monitoring circuit breakers
Managing power consumption in a data center including reporting, by a circuit breaker communications device of one of the circuit breakers to the management module, a current power load of the circuit breaker, the report transmitted from the circuit breaker communications device through a power supply communications device of a power supply currently providing power to a particular computing device and through an out-of-band communications link to the management module, upon receiving the report of the current power load, determining, by the management module, whether the current power load of the circuit breaker is greater than a predetermined threshold; and if the current power load of the circuit breaker is greater than the predetermined threshold, reducing, by the management module, power consumption through the circuit breaker of the particular computing device. |
| US07921314B2 |
Providing power over ethernet cables
A method for power delivery comprises coupling an Ethernet cable comprising four wire pairs to a power delivery system and providing power to a powered device on all of the wire pairs. A power delivery system includes an interface operable to couple to an Ethernet cable comprising four wire pairs and a controller operable to provide power to a powered device on all of the wire pairs. |
| US07921312B1 |
System and method for providing adaptive voltage scaling with multiple clock domains inside a single voltage domain
A system and method is disclosed for providing a plurality of hardware performance monitors for adaptive voltage scaling in an integrated circuit system that comprises a plurality of clock domains. Each hardware performance monitor is associated with one of the plurality of clock domains and provides a signal that measures a performance of its respective clock domain temperature, process corner and supply voltage. The difference between the measured performance and a nominal expected performance for each hardware performance monitor is determined. The largest of the plurality of difference signals is selected and used in an advanced power controller to provide adaptive voltage scaling for the integrated circuit system. |
| US07921311B2 |
Method and apparatus for mitigating current drain in a low-power hand-held device
An authentication device or other type of low-power hand-held device comprises a processor, an external button alternately configurable in an unpressed state and a pressed state, and current drain mitigation circuitry coupled to the external button and a corresponding input of the processor. The current drain mitigation circuitry is configured to connect the input of the processor to a first potential when the external button is in the unpressed state and to connect the input of the processor to a second potential different than the first potential when the external button is in the pressed state, thereby limiting current drain arising from the external button being stuck in the pressed state. |
| US07921310B2 |
Unified powered device (PD) controller and LAN on motherboard (LOM) in a personal computing device (PCD)
A Power-over-Ethernet (PoE) communication system dynamically provides power and data communications over a communications link. In a computing environment made up of one or more personal computing devices (PCD) and/or one or more powered devices (PD), power source equipment (PSE) determines an allocated amount of power to be supplied to each device. The personal computing devices include a unified LAN-On-Motherboard (LOM) that combines the functionality of a powered device (PD) controller of a conventional PD and a LOM of a conventional personal computing device into a single unified subsystem. This allows the personal computing devices to use the existing hardware architecture and software architecture, such as software drivers and Access Protocol Interfaces (API), with few modifications to implement PoE. Further, the personal computing devices provide the power source equipment with access to some of the operational parameters, such as the voltage and the current of the personal computing device, using a communication via the data link layer, also referred to as layer two in the Open System Interconnection (OSI) networking model. Additionally, the power source equipment may dynamically manage the power requirements for the personal computing devices using the data link layer. |
| US07921308B2 |
Power signal merging for network interface devices
Embodiments disclosed herein describe a network interface device including a first powered device controller coupled to first and second power supply lines. A second powered device controller coupled to third and fourth input power supply lines. A dc-dc converter coupled to receive a single signal representing a sum of power signals output by the first and second powered device controllers. |
| US07921307B2 |
Methods and apparatus providing advanced classification for power over Ethernet
A system conducts a plurality of cycles on the powered device. Each cycle has a detection phase and a classification phase. A classification voltage is applied to the conductors during each cycle. The system measures a current in the conductors while the classification voltage is applied. The system determines a final class responsive to a plurality of measured currents. The final class utilized to determine an amount of inline power to deliver to the powered device. |
| US07921305B2 |
Portable information terminal and data protecting method
Even if a portable information terminal is lost or stolen, a third party is prevented from illegally browsing data stored in the portable information terminal. When a control signal is received through wireless communication part and when the received control signal is an instruction signal to execute an encryption process on plaintext data stored in data memory, the plaintext data is encrypted and encrypted data is stored in the data memory. Thereafter, erasing part erases the plaintext data stored in the data memory. |
| US07921303B2 |
Mobile security system and method
A system and method for providing a secure environment for mobile telephones and other devices are disclosed. The system and method may utilize trust zoning, layered memory, and a secure matrix model having, for example, a memory protection module for protecting memory; a secure debug module for ensuring security of the debug module; a secure file system module for protecting the secure file system; and a trusted time source module for protecting components. Embodiments of the present invention may protect against security attacks on a variety of hardware and software components while permitting suitable levels of accessibility for developmental and maintenance purposes. |
| US07921302B2 |
Universal game download methods and system for legacy gaming machines
A universal method and system for downloading game software to ROM based legacy gaming machines, activating selected games and providing new services. The method includes a ROM emulator for replacing the game program image and an NVRAM emulator for swapping the game context and critical meters accordingly. The method includes detection of the state of the current game activity such as to activate a new game only at an authorized time, when no player is playing a game or is carded-in for example. The system includes emulation of the original peripherals fitted to the legacy gaming machine such as to offer extended functionality and services. The universal method and system therefore prolongs the useful life of legacy machines which otherwise would be prematurely retired. |
| US07921298B2 |
Uniform modular framework for a host computer system
A security framework for a host computer system which allows a host to control access to a compliant security token by ensuring enforcement of established security policies administered by a middleware application. Processing between the host computer system and the security token is performed using one or more modular security application agents. The modular security application agents are counterpart applications to security applications installed in the security token and may be retrieved and installed upon to ensure compatibility between counterpart token and host security applications. The security policies are a composite of host security policies and token security policies which are logically combined by the middleware application at the beginning of a session. |
| US07921292B1 |
Secure messaging systems
A system is provided that uses cryptographic techniques to support secure messaging between senders and recipients. A sender may encrypt a message for a recipient using the recipient's public key. The sender may send the encrypted message to the message address of a given recipient. A server may be used to decrypt the encrypted message for the recipient, so that the recipient need not install a decryption engine on the recipient's equipment. |
| US07921285B2 |
Means of mitigating denial of service attacks on IP fragmentation in high performance IPsec gateways
Embodiments of the invention reduce the probability of success of a DOS attack on a node receiving packets by decreasing the probability of random collisions of packets sent by a malicious user with those sent by honest users. The probability of random collisions may be reduced in one class of embodiments of the invention by supplementing the identification field of the IP header of each transmitted packet with at least one bit from another field of the header. The probability of random collisions may be reduced in another class of embodiments of the invention by ensuring that packets sent from a transmitting IPsec node to a receiving IPsec node are not fragmented. |
| US07921283B2 |
Method for real-time data authentication
A digital signature is applied to digital data in real-time. The digital signature serves as a mark of authenticity assuring a recipient that the digital data did in fact originate from an indicated source. The digital signature may be applied to any digital data, including video signals, audio signals, electronic commerce information, data pertaining to land vehicles, marine vessels, aircraft, or any other data that can be transmitted and received in digital form. |
| US07921282B1 |
Using SYN-ACK cookies within a TCP/IP protocol
A method, apparatus, and system are directed toward managing a Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) handshake. A SYN-ACK cookie is determined based on a cryptographic operation using a secret key and at least one network characteristic. The SYN-ACK cookie is provided in a SYN message's field. The SYN message is sent from a client to a server. Another sequence number based on the received SYN-ACK cookie is included in a SYN-ACK message. The SYN-ACK message is sent to and received by the client. The other sequence number is validated based on the secret key to generate at least another network characteristic. A TCP/IP connection is established if the network characteristic matches the other network characteristic. In one embodiment, the component sending the SYN message may be a different component than the component receiving the SYN-ACK message. In this embodiment, the secret key may be shared between the two components. |
| US07921280B2 |
Selectively powered retirement unit using a partitioned allocation array and a partitioned writeback array
In one embodiment, the present invention includes a retirement unit to receive and retire executed instructions. The retirement unit may include a first array to receive information at allocation and a second array to receive information after execution. The retirement unit may further include logic to calculate an event associated with an executed instruction if information associated with the executed instruction is stored in an on-demand portion of at least one of arrays. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US07921279B2 |
Operand and result forwarding between differently sized operands in a superscalar processor
Result and operand forwarding is provided between differently sized operands in a superscalar processor by grouping a first set of instructions for operand forwarding, and grouping a second set of instructions for result forwarding, the first set of instructions comprising a first source instruction having a first operand and a first dependent instruction having a second operand, the first dependent instruction depending from the first source instruction; the second set of instructions comprising a second source instruction having a third operand and a second dependent instruction having a fourth operand, the second dependent instruction depending from the second source instruction, performing operand forwarding by forwarding the first operand, either whole or in part, as it is being read to the first dependent instruction prior to execution; performing result forwarding by forwarding a result of the second source instruction, either whole or in part, to the second dependent instruction, after execution; wherein the operand forwarding is performed by executing the first source instruction together with the first dependent instruction; and wherein the result forwarding is performed by executing the second source instruction together with the second dependent instruction. |
| US07921277B2 |
Method and apparatus for separate control processing and data path processing in a dual path processor with a shared load/store unit
According to embodiments of the invention, there is disclosed a computer processor architecture; and in particular a computer processor, a method of operating the same, and a computer program product that makes use of an instruction set for the computer. In one embodiment according to the invention, there is provided a computer processor comprising: a decode unit for decoding a stream of instruction packets from a memory, each instruction packet comprising a plurality of instructions; a first processing channel comprising a plurality of functional units and operable to perform control processing operations; a second processing channel comprising a plurality of functional units and operable to perform data processing operations; wherein the decode unit is operable to receive an instruction packet and to detect if the instruction packet defines (i) a plurality of control instructions or (ii) a plurality of instructions one or more of which is a data processing instruction, and wherein when the decode unit detects that the instruction packet comprises a plurality of control instructions said control instructions are supplied to the first processing channel for execution in program order. |
| US07921276B2 |
Applying quality of service (QoS) to a translation lookaside buffer (TLB)
In one embodiment, the present invention includes a translation lookaside buffer (TLB) having storage locations each including a priority indicator field to store a priority level associated with an agent that requested storage of the data in the TLB, and an identifier field to store an identifier of the agent, where the TLB is apportioned according to a plurality of priority levels. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US07921274B2 |
Computer memory addressing mode employing memory segmenting and masking
A computer addressing mode and memory access method rely on a memory segment identifier and a memory segment mask for indicating memory locations. In this addressing mode, a processor receives an instruction comprising the memory segment identifier and memory segment mask. The processor employs a two-level address decoding scheme to access individual memory locations. Under this decoding scheme, the processor decodes the memory segment identifier to select a particular memory segment. Each memory segment includes a predefined number of memory locations. The processor selects memory locations within the memory segment based on mask bits set in the memory segment mask. The disclosed addressing mode is advantageous because it allows non-consecutive memory locations to be efficiently accessed. |
| US07921271B2 |
Hub for supporting high capacity memory subsystem
A high-capacity memory subsystem architecture utilizes multiple memory modules arranged in one or more clusters, each attached to a respective hub which in turn is attached to a memory controller. Within a cluster, data is interleaved so that each data access command accesses all modules of the cluster. The hub communicates with the memory modules at a lower bus frequency, but the distributing of data among multiple modules enables the cluster to maintain the composite data rate of the memory-controller-to-hub bus. Preferably, the memory system employs buffered memory chips having dual-mode operation, one of which supports a cluster configuration in which data is interleaved and the communications buses operate at reduced bus width and/or reduced bus frequency to match the level of interleaving. |
| US07921269B2 |
Storage subsystem and storage system for updating snapshot management information
The first storage subsystem, when new data is written in a first memory device beyond a certain timing, writes pre-updated data prior to update by said new data into a pre-updated data memory region and, in addition, updates snapshot management information that expresses a snapshot of a data group within the first memory device to information that expresses the snapshot at the certain timing and, at a later timing than the certain timing, judges, on the basis of the snapshot management information, in which of either the pre-updated data memory region or the first memory device the data constituting the data group at a certain timing exists, acquires data from the one in which the data exists and writes it into the second memory device of the second storage subsystem, and generates the certain timing repeatedly. |
| US07921268B2 |
Method and system for function-specific time-configurable replication of data
The system and method of the invention provides for function-specific replication of digital data, such as files or objects, with a configurable time delay for each function to be replicated. The system includes a source storage system from which digital data is to be replicated, a destination storage system(s) to which the digital data is being replicated, a replication management module for managing the function specific replication delay and the data replication between the source storage systems and the destination storage system(s). |
| US07921267B1 |
Method and system for fixing a mirror of a dataset
A system and method for fixing data inconsistency between an original dataset stored on a source storage server and a mirror of the original dataset stored on a destination storage server is provided. The method determines whether the mirror is consistent with the original dataset by comparing metadata describing the original dataset with metadata describing the mirror. If the mirror is inconsistent with the original dataset, corresponding block(s) of the original dataset is/are requested and received from the source storage server. The mirror is then fixed according to the received block(s). |
| US07921260B2 |
Preferred write-mostly data cache replacement policies
A computer-implemented method of cache replacement includes steps of: determining whether each cache block in a cache memory is a read or a write block; augmenting metadata associated with each cache block with an indicator of the type of access; receiving an access request resulting in a cache miss, the cache miss indicating that a cache block will need to be replaced; examining the indicator in the metadata of each cache block for determining a probability that said cache block will be replaced; and selecting for replacement the cache block with the highest probability of replacement. |
| US07921253B2 |
Cache coherent switch device
In one embodiment, the present invention includes a switch device to be coupled between a first semiconductor component and a processor node by interconnects of a communication protocol that provides for cache coherent transactions and non-cache coherent transactions. The switch device includes logic to handle cache coherent transactions from the first semiconductor component to the processor node, while the first semiconductor component does not include such logic. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US07921252B1 |
USB integrated bidirectional digital isolator channel across an interface between two USB devices
An interface between USB devices employs isolation techniques to provide electrical isolation of a USB signal for transmission of the USB signal between the devices. Unidirectional isolator channels are utilized to transmit the USB signals, and a selection of an isolator channel operating in an intended direction is performed by either direction control logic or a USB hub function. Logic may be employed to detect a device attempting to initiate a USB signal. The logic operates to enable a transmitter on a receiving side and isolate the USB signal through an isolator channel operating in a transmission direction. |
| US07921249B2 |
Weakly ordered processing systems and methods
The disclosure is directed to a weakly-ordered processing system and method of executing memory barriers in weakly-ordered processing system. The processing system includes memory and a master device configured to issue memory access requests, including memory barriers, to the memory. The processing system also includes a slave device configured to provide the master device access to the memory, the slave device being further configured to produce a signal indicating that an ordering constraint imposed by a memory barrier issued by the master device will be enforced, the signal being produced before the execution of all memory access requests issued by the master device to the memory before the memory barrier. |
| US07921245B2 |
Memory system and device with serialized data transfer
A memory system with serialized data transfer. The memory system includes within a memory controller and a plurality of memory devices. The memory controller receives a plurality of write data values from a host and outputs the write data values as respective serial streams of bits. Each of the memory devices receives at least one of the serial streams of bits from the memory controller and converts the serial stream of bits to a set of parallel bits for storage. |
| US07921240B2 |
Method and system for supporting hardware acceleration for iSCSI read and write operations and iSCSI chimney
Certain aspects of a method and system for supporting hardware acceleration for iSCSI read and write operations via a TCP offload engine may comprise pre-registering at least one buffer with hardware. An iSCSI command may be received from an initiator. An initiator test tag value, a data sequence value and/or a buffer offset value of an iSCSI buffer may be compared with the pre-registered buffer. Data may be fetched from the pre-registered buffer based on comparing the initiator test tag value, the data sequence value and/or the buffer offset value of the iSCSI buffer with the pre-registered buffer. The fetched data may be zero copied from the pre-registered buffer to the initiator. |
| US07921230B2 |
USB devices pre-configuration for KVM switch
According to one embodiment of the present invention, the illustrative embodiments provide a computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer program product for configuring devices. Device information for a plurality of devices is retrieved from an object data manager. A determination is made as to whether a keyboard-video-mouse environment exists. If a keyboard-video-mouse environment does not exist, each device in a plurality of devices is configured to either an available state or a defined state. If a keyboard-video-mouse environment exists, each device in the plurality of devices is configured to the available state. A list of all enumerated devices is requested and a determination is made as to whether a particular device is in the list of enumerated devices. If the particular device is not in the list of enumerated devices, a pseudo device is added to the list to form a modified list of all enumerated devices. |
| US07921228B2 |
Modularized electronic switching controller assembly for computer
A modularized electronic switching controller assembly for a computer includes a computer device; a hub positioned at a rear end of the computer device; two sides of the hub unit being installed with tracks which are retained in a machine frame; the machine frame being formed by four supporting posts; a support arm connected between the computer-related assembly and the hub for receiving conductive wires; a switching controller installed at the tracks having two racks of the hub unit; a connecting surface of the switching controller having an electric connector; a rear side of the switching controller being installed with at least one connecting port; moving the switching controller through the tracks will make the switching controller entering from a rear end of the machine case; by the connection of the electric connector and the hub unit, the connecting port can be connected to external peripherals or a server. |
| US07921224B2 |
Method of maintaining traffic services through congestion caused by network failovers
In a method for controlling data traffic in a wireless or other communication network, one or more hardware/software agents are deployed to interface with one or more network entities such as routers, switches, backhaul transmission lines, and wireless base stations. The agents monitor the L1 (physical) and L2 (data link) layers of the network for the presence of indicators associated with network failover operations, such as DS1 alarms and protocol errors, respectively. Based on detected indicators across all monitored network entities, the agents determine if a failover operation has occurred. If so, data congestion associated with the failover operation is controlled according to a failover congestion monitoring and recovery mode (e.g., a data source backoff model), to reduce instances of dropped calls that would otherwise occur if the failover congestion were handled according to a general purpose congestion monitoring and recovery mode of the network. |
| US07921218B2 |
Method and system for generating a space signature
A method and system implementing a process for generating a signature for a network space using existing resources in the space. The process for generating a signature for a space involves discovering the resources in the space and generating a signature for the space using the identification of the devices. |
| US07921216B2 |
System and method for building and using communication binding objects
The present invention provides for an automated, user friendly way of constructing and using a binding object. A developer is presented with and selects binding elements that will ultimately be used to create a runtime communication channel for transporting a message between a client and service endpoint. After receiving the user input, metadata, a channel factory and listener factory are created. The metadata describes binding elements and provides an abstract representation of a protocol stack that implements communication aspects at runtime. The channel factory is configured to use the collection of metadata at runtime to generate the runtime communication channel. Further, the listener factory is configured to accept the runtime communication channel for de-multiplexing the communication aspects in order to process the message at a service endpoint. The present invention also provides for groupings of binding elements and standardized binding objects organized based on industry need. |
| US07921209B2 |
Apparatus and method for integrating authentication protocols in the establishment of connections between computing devices
An apparatus and method for integrating authentication protocols in the establishment of connections between a controlled-access first computing device and at least one second computing device. In one embodiment, network access user authentication data needed to access the at least one second computing device is transmitted to an authentication server automatically if the user has access to use the first computing device, thereby not requiring the user to manually enter the authentication data needed for such access at the first computing device. The network access user authentication data may be, for example, retrieved from a memory store of the first computing device and/or generated in accordance with an authentication data generating algorithm. |
| US07921207B2 |
Imprint client statistical filtering
A method, system, API and computer product for adapting reverse data channel (RDC) utilization by selectively restricting the reporting of statistics data from client devices using a client-side filter adapted in response to configuration data from a file or other source file. |
| US07921200B2 |
Apparatus, system, and method for interaction with multi-attribute system resources as groups
An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for interacting with multi-attribute managed resources as groups. The apparatus, system and method identify in a repository one or more groups associated with a target attribute. The apparatus system and method further determine a set of managed resources from the repository wherein each managed resource in a set comprises the same value for the target attribute. The apparatus system and method further associate each set of managed resources with a group. The apparatus system and method may subdivide the groups into sub-groups according to additional attributes possessed by members of each group and may display the groups and sub-groups to summarize and highlight the managed resources of each group and sub-group. |
| US07921193B2 |
System and method for leveraging end-users' preferences for efficient communications
A presence server is described herein that implements a method which processes and integrates a presence watcher's communication preferences and a presentity's communication preferences and then distributes the integrated communication preferences along with the presentity's presence information so that the presence watcher can use this information to make a decision on how to contact the presentity. In this way, the presence watcher can achieve promoted communication satisfaction because they know now if they can contact the presentity using their preferred language/device (media type)/security mode (protocol). This enhancement of the communication satisfaction is possible because the integrated communication preferences provided to a presence watcher reflects not only the presentity's communication preferences but also the presence watcher's communication preferences. |
| US07921183B2 |
Communication system, storage device, and control device for accessing external file data on a page unit or sector unit basis
A communication system includes a storage device having a storage area accessed in one of a page unit and a sector unit; a control device operable to request access to data in a file unit; and a predetermined transmission line for transmitting data between the storage device and the control device. The control device transmits to the storage device via the transmission line a request for access to one of each page and each sector forming a file for which access has been requested, and the storage device sequentially accesses one of a requested page and a requested sector, whereby a request for access to the entire file is realized in the storage area. |
| US07921181B2 |
Information processing device, information processing method, and computer program
An information processing apparatus and method for enabling efficient content download and transfer processing operations are provided. In downloading content, a content identifier thereof is acquired, a particular piece of content subject to transfer to an external device is identified on the basis of the acquired content identifier, the identified content is retrieved from a data storage block, and the retrieved content is transferred to the external device or written to an information recording medium, so that the processing of content downloading, the processing of content transfer to an external device and content writing to an information recording medium such as CD can be executed as a sequence of processing operations, thereby providing significantly efficient content download and content transfer or content write processing operations. |
| US07921180B2 |
Method and apparatus for accessing product information using RF tag data
A method and apparatus for convenient and easy access to product- and shipment-related information and/or transactions is disclosed. A radio frequency tag reader is used to read a radio frequency tag having a structured data format. The end device parses one or more particular data entities from the data read. The radio frequency tag reader accesses a URL having at least a portion in common with one or more of the parsed data entities and displays associated web page content or processes an associated transaction. The radio frequency tag reader may sequentially substitute a series of most probable non-common URL portions to locate associated content if the first tried URL does not result in a valid response. Alternatively, a server may provide such search functionality. |
| US07921179B1 |
Reducing latency of access requests in distributed storage systems having a shared data set
Described are methods and apparatus for reducing latency of read and write requests for a set of storage system sites having a shared data set. An owner site may directly write to the shared data set and contains current data regarding the shared data set. The remote sites may experience substantial latency when accessing the shared data set stored at the owner site. Synchronizing and caching methods may reduce overall read latency experienced at remote sites by periodically transmitting images of the shared data set to the remote sites. Also, a migration method may be used to change ownership of the shared data set from a current owner site (that may be receiving a relatively low number of read/write requests) to a new owner site (that may be receiving a relatively high number of read/write requests) to reduce the overall read and write latency experienced in the sites. |
| US07921176B2 |
Mechanism for generating a composite email
A mechanism is disclosed for generating a composite email for an email conversation. The composite email includes content automatically extracted from a plurality of the emails in the email conversation, and may be generated in response to a user accessing just one of the emails in the email conversation. A mechanism is also disclosed for discovering and recovering lost emails in an email conversation. A mechanism is further disclosed for automatically moving emails from one container to another after an email has been read. These and other advantageous email generating, manipulation, and organization mechanisms are disclosed herein. |
| US07921173B2 |
Reducing unwanted and unsolicited electronic messages by exchanging electronic message transmission policies and solving and verifying solutions to computational puzzles
The present invention provides for generating inputs that can be provided to a message classification module to facilitate more reliable classification of electronic messages, such as, for example, as unwanted and/or unsolicited. In one embodiment, a sending messaging server provides an appropriate response to address verification data thereby indicating a reduced likelihood of the sending messaging server using a forged network address. In another embodiment, it is determined if a messaging server is authorized to send electronic messages for a domain. In yet another embodiment, electronic message transmission policies adhered to by a domain are identified. In yet a further embodiment, a sending computer system expends computational resources to solve a computational puzzle and includes an answer document in an electronic message. A receiving computer system receives the electronic message and verifies the answer document. |
| US07921169B2 |
System and method for exactly once message store communication
A system for managing a message store in a network includes an object acting as a message store. In one embodiment, the message store is for Java Message Service. A lead server is selected from several servers. The lead server uses a distributed consensus algorithm to select a host server. The selected host server hosts the message store, providing sole access to the message store. The other servers are notified of the new host by messaging. In one embodiment, servers can send messages to the message store on the host and pick up any messages from the message store. |
| US07921165B2 |
Retaining mail for availability after relay
A processor 104 executes computer-executable instructions to receive messages 302; store 304 the received messages in a foreground memory 108; process 306 the stored messages in the foreground memory 108; send 306 the processed messages; move 308 the sent messages to a background memory 110; evaluate 310, 312 the messages in the background memory with respect to a parameter; and delete 314 selected messages in the background memory as a function of the evaluating. Alternatively, a message queue may be used to track lost messages. |
| US07921162B2 |
Notification system and method for domain name registrars
A system and method of the present invention allow communication via electronic messages between a Customer and a domain name Registrar, avoiding traditional electronic mail (email) communication. Email messages may not be delivered to the Customer for various reasons including the situations where the Customer employs anti-SPAM protective technologies. The system and method of the present invention establish a Communication Link between a Customer's Computer and Registrar's Server, which avoids anti-SPAM protective technologies and email messaging altogether. The implementation of this invention would result in a higher rate of delivered messages to the Customer. |
| US07921161B2 |
Routing T-37 E-mail over an H 323 (VOIP) network
Disclosed are methods and systems for routing T-37 E-mail over an H 323 (VOIP) network. The methods and systems facilitate the obtaining and utilization of data from Gatekeepers with respect to the utilization of Gateways to be utilized to transmit the E-mail from the network over a conventional telephone network to the recipient. They thereby facilitate the choice of a Gateway which is less heavily utilized. |
| US07921150B1 |
Method for viewing videos on distributed networks
A method for viewing digital video assets using a distributed network comprising a user on a first node requesting to view a digital video asset stored on a second node; relaying the request from the first node to the second node; establishing a peer-to-peer link between the first and second nodes; creating a video stream from the requested digital video asset on the second node using a standard video stream server; receiving the video stream using a stream relay client on the second node and converting it into a form that is compatible with the peer-to-peer link; sending the converted video stream to the first node over the peer-to-peer link; receiving the converted video stream using a stream relay server and converting it into a standard video stream form; and viewing the video stream on the first node of the distributed network using a standard video stream client. |
| US07921143B2 |
Declarative pinning
A system and method is provided for efficiently pinning references to the managed heap. The system and method allow for references to managed objects to be declared as pinned during a call to unmanaged code. The references are then reported as pinned to a garbage collector in response to invocation of a garbage collection service. The reference can be declared as pinned by a programmer within the source code or automatically invoked at run-time based on an unsafe condition. The garbage collection service will not move or relocate objects that are referenced by the active pinned local variables. If a garbage collection does not occur, the fact that the local variables are declared pinned is ignored. |
| US07921140B2 |
Apparatus and method for browsing contents
An apparatus and method for browsing contents, the apparatus including: a generation module to generate a key value using metadata of contents as an input value; a management module to manage an index for accessing the key value; and an output module to output a user interface (UI) required to browse the contents using the key value included in a leaf node of the index. |
| US07921138B2 |
Comment processing
Methods, apparatus, and computer-readable media employing computer-readable components for localization of data included in software programs are described. The computer-readable components comprise data elements defined based on a software data schema; and an owned comment data element comprising information about the localization of the data included in the software programs and an associated owner with permission to create, access, and manipulate the owned comment data element. The owned comment data element is included in other data elements. The owned comment data element may also be included in a list of owned comment elements comprising at least one owned comment data element. |
| US07921136B1 |
Method and system for using geographic data for developing scenes for entertainment features
A system and method are disclosed for facilitating development of scenes for entertainment features, such as motion pictures or television shows, that depict or represent actual, real world (or imaginary) geographic areas. A source database contains data that represent geographic features in a region including roads in the region. The data in the source database includes attributes suitable for use for providing navigation-related functions. In addition to providing data from the source database for navigation-related functions, data from the source database are also provided for facilitating development of scenes for entertainment features that depict or represent actual, real world (or imaginary) geographic areas. An application programming interface, as well as other tools for handling geographic data, is provided for accessing and processing of the geographic data. |
| US07921124B1 |
Method and system for filtering online content
A method for filtering online content involves uploading application data from a desktop application to a data repository associated with a website, where the application data are associated with a user of the desktop application, and where the website includes a message board associated with the desktop application. The method further involves designating at least part of the application data as message filtering criteria, and filtering messages on the message board based on message filtering criteria, where filtering messages provides a customized experience of the message board for the user. |
| US07921123B2 |
Method and system for processing physician claims over a network
A method and system for gathering, collating and sorting information items distributed among a plurality of databases containing information items regarding physician treatment/billing claims, insurance payments, and provider/patient relations over at least one communication networks is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of creating an intermediate data base containing information items related to physician treatment/billing claim data, insurance payment data, and insurance provider. The information items are further cross-referenced with regard to at least one common information item. The information items in the intermediate data base are then filtered using at least one selected information item contained in the intermediate data base to create at least one file containing cross-referenced data items relating to the filtering criteria, and reporting a selected one of the file. In another aspect of the invention, the created files may be selectively filtered using additional filter criteria. |
| US07921118B2 |
Methods and systems for developing market intelligence
Methods and systems are provided for characterizing market distribution for a business having multiple business representatives. The business is considered to be in competition with one or more competitors, each of which also has multiple representatives. Locations are determined both for the business representatives and for the competitor representatives, and these locations are used to populate one or more databases. A locator identification is assigned to each distinct location and used as a pointer within the databases. The locator identification may be unique to specific street addresses, permitting improved analysis of the market information, particularly analysis derived from the geographical distributions of the business representatives and of the competitor representatives. |
| US07921116B2 |
Highly meaningful multimedia metadata creation and associations
Systems and methods for generating temporal metadata for a media source as a function of detected content. An analysis engine detects content within a media stream of a media source. A metadata creation engine generates temporal metadata as a function of the detected content. The generated temporal metadata may be used to create a media log for the media source, generate metadata subsequent detected content and to compare to media sources. |
| US07921114B2 |
Capturing and combining media data and geodata in a composite file
Systems and methods are provided for capturing and combining media data and geodata into a composite file. The system may include a media data capture module configured to capture media data at a plurality of geographic locations along a path in a geographic area, and to store the media data in a media data stream. The system may further include a geodata capture module configured to capture geodata indicating the geographic locations along the path at which the media data was captured. The system may also include a multiplexing module for interleaving the media data and the geodata into a composite file. |
| US07921113B2 |
Dictionary creation device and dictionary creation method
A dictionary creation device and dictionary creation method which optimally create and update a dictionary for classifying, searching, or extracting text information in accordance with a changes in content of text information groups. The dictionary creation device includes a keyword extraction unit that extracts a keyword from inputted text information; a keyword statistics unit that finds statistics regarding an appearance of the keyword; a keyword assessment value calculation unit that calculates an assessment value of the extracted keyword based on the statistics regarding the appearance of the keyword; a determination unit that determines whether or not to register or delete the keyword based on the calculated assessment value; a dictionary registration and deletion unit which registers or deletes the keyword in or from a dictionary database based on a result of the determination performed by the determination unit; and the dictionary database. |
| US07921109B2 |
Customizable ordering of search results and predictive query generation
In a computerized search system, a document corpus is searched according to a query and results of the search are presentable as an ordered search result set comprising one or more search hits, a search hit being a document of the document corpus or reference thereto. Based on content of the search result set, a number of suggested queries and/or parameter options are presented to a querier, thereby allowing the querier to select a suggested query and/or provide values for the parameters and those selections can be used to reorder the hits of the search result set. The particular suggested queries and/or parameters presented depend on the page elements of the search result set's documents and their categorization. The categorization might be done using concept networks. |
| US07921108B2 |
User interface and method in a local search system with automatic expansion
The invention also provides a method of interfacing with a client computer system, wherein search results include search results with geographic locations outside the first selected area if the number of the search results that have geographic locations within the selected area are less than a predetermined threshold value. |
| US07921103B2 |
Adaptive materialized view selection for databases
Techniques described herein adaptively select materialized view fragments for persistent maintenance. During an interval of time, the selected fragments are persistently maintained in the database system, while the other non-selected fragments are not persistently maintained as materialized view fragments. Over time, the composition of the set of selected fragments may change. As queries are executed in the database system over an interval of time, statistics including the frequency of access of each currently selected fragment during that interval are generated. At the start of the next interval of time, based on these statistics, some currently selected fragments may be unselected. Some currently non-selected fragments of one or more candidate materialized views may be selected based on the statistics. For the next interval, the newly unselected fragments cease to be persistently maintained as materialized view fragments, while the newly selected fragments begin to be persistently maintained as materialized view fragments. |
| US07921100B2 |
Set similarity selection queries at interactive speeds
The similarity between a query set comprising query set tokens and a database set comprising database set tokens is determined by a similarity score. The database sets belong to a data collection set, which contains all database sets from which information may be retrieved. If the similarity score is greater than or equal to a user-defined threshold, the database set has information relevant to the query set. The similarity score is calculated with an inverse document frequency method (IDF) similarity measure independent of term frequency. The document frequency is based at least in part on the number of database sets in the data collection set and the number of database sets which contain at least one query set token. The length of the query set and the length of the database set are normalized. |
| US07921099B2 |
Guided navigation system
A navigation system is used in combination with a data retrieval system to more effectively locate the correct answers or information in search content. The navigation system provides taxonomies that identify different information categories and sub-categories (facets). Classifiers automatically classify the search content by identifying the content corresponding with associated facets. The facets, in conjunction with the associated classifiers, provide robust classification and correlation between both structured and unstructured content. Rules can be used in conjunction with the facets and classifiers to automatically control different navigation operations. The navigation system can also leverage ontologies to dynamically create taxonomies and provides unique facet expansion and intra-document classification operations. |
| US07921098B2 |
Data query and location through a central ontology model
A data query system including a first storage medium including a data schema having a data schema query language associated therewith, a second storage medium including an ontology model including classes and properties, the ontology model having an ontology query language associated therewith, wherein constructs of the database schema are mapped to corresponding classes, properties or compositions of properties of the ontology model, and an ontology query processor generating a query expressed in the data schema query language corresponding to a specified query expressed in the ontology query language. A method is also described and claimed. |
| US07921097B1 |
Systems and methods for generating a descriptive uniform resource locator (URL)
A method for generating a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) is described. Content associated with a web page is obtained. A URL is generated based on the content of the web page. The URL includes one or more tokens. The URL is limited to a token threshold. The token threshold is defined as a maximum number of words in the URL. One or more tokens are removed from the URL. The URL is associated with the web page. |
| US07921090B2 |
Cluster delta push
Methods and apparatuses for providing access to data in a cluster database are described. Embodiments of the invention include identifying situations in which many nodes require relatively equal access to a data block, and taking appropriate measures to improve the performance of the system in these situations. For example, a node may automatically downgrade its lock from an X lock to an S lock as soon as it has finished a modification of the data. S locks are sent to other nodes in the system as soon as a modification is complete. Modifications to the data are also sent to other nodes in the system as soon as a modification is complete. Depending on the size of the data modification, the entire data block may be sent, or only the modifications to the data may be sent. |
| US07921089B2 |
Feature based data management
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, for data structure locking. In one aspect, a proper subset of variables of a set of variables in a data structure are received. An access privilege to modify variables in the data structure to administrator accounts is assigned. A first administrator access request to modify a variable in the proper subset of variables is received, and the access privilege to modify the variable in the proper subset of variables for the first administrator account. A second administrator access request to modify the variable in the proper subset of variables is received, and an access timer that expires after a time period is initiated; the access privilege is disabled for the first administrator account in response to expiration of the access timer; and the access privilege for the second administrator account is enabled in response to expiration of the access timer. |
| US07921088B1 |
Logical operations encoded by a function table for compressing index bits in multi-level compressed look-up tables
Compressed stride tables in a multi-bit Trie structure perform lookups. An input lookup key is divided into strides including a current stride of S bits. A valid entry in a current stride table is located by compressing the S bits, forming a compressed index of D bits into the current stride table. A compression function logically combines the S bits to generate the D compressed index bits. An entry in a prior-level table points to the current stride table and has an opcode field indicating which compression function and mask to use. Compression functions can include counts of leading-repeated bits, and very complex functions such as hashes, CRC, encryption. A function table stores results of the complex functions that are addressed by the S bits of the current stride. The opcode field in the stride entry selects from among several tables, each storing results for a different function. |
| US07921085B2 |
Method and system for quantifying a data page repetition pattern for a database index in a database management system
A method and system are presented for quantifying a data page repetition pattern for a database index in a database management system. In one embodiment, the method includes identifying a database index to provide a basis for collecting a data page repetition statistic, the database index having a database index key. The method may also include collecting the data page repetition statistic based on the database index key, wherein the data page repetition statistic quantifies a data page repetition pattern associated with database queries that reference sequential entries of the database index. The method may further include optimizing a data page access process based on the data page repetition statistic. In a further embodiment, the method may utilize both cluster ratio and data page repetition statistics to evaluate data page I/O and CPU cost. |
| US07921083B2 |
File management device and electronic equipment
A file management device for a control system, has a file write unit which records data of a file into cluster areas of a recording medium, records file information into a directory area of recording medium, and records FAT chain information into FAT of recording medium; a file delete unit which stores file restoration information having the file information and FAT chain information into a memory area, sends back a restoration descriptor for identifying the file restoration information to control system, and deletes the file information and FAT chain information in recording medium; and a file restoration unit which reads data of deleted file from the recording medium based on the file restoration information and sends the data back to control system, and restores the file information and FAT chain information in the recording medium based on the file restoration information of the file selected by the control system. |
| US07921080B2 |
System and method for a backup parallel server data storage system
A system and method for safe and effective backup and restore of parallel server databases stored in data storage systems. Parallel server databases allow multiple nodes in MPP (Massively Parallel Processor) or SMP (Symmetric Multi-Processor) systems to simultaneously access a database. Each node is running an instance (thread) which provides access to the database. The present invention allows for online or offline backup to be performed from any node in the system, with proper access to all control files and logs, both archived and online, whether the files are stored in raw partitions in the data storage system, or local on certain nodes. Two different types of external restore supported: complete external restore and partial external restore. In a complete external restore, all spaces will be restored to the most recent checkpoint that was generated while creating an external backup. If users lose only a portion of the data (which is more typically the case), a partial external restore may be performed. |
| US07921066B2 |
Characterizing and predicting agents via multi-agent evolution
A method of predicting the behavior of software agents in a simulated environment involves modeling a plurality of software agents representing entities to be analyzed, which may be human beings. Using a set of parameters that governs the behavior of the agents, the internal state of at least one of the agents is estimated by its behavior in the simulation, including its movement within the environment. This facilitates a prediction of the likely future behavior of the agent based solely upon its internal state; that is, without recourse to any intentional agent communications. In the preferred embodiment the simulated environment is based upon a digital pheromone infrastructure. The simulation integrates knowledge of threat regions, a cognitive analysis of the agent's beliefs, desires, and intentions, a model of the agent's emotional disposition and state, and the dynamics of interactions with the environment. By evolving agents in this rich environment, we can fit their internal state to their observed behavior. In realistic wargame scenarios, the system successfully detects deliberately played emotions and makes reasonable predictions about the entities' future behavior. |
| US07921060B2 |
Methods and systems for pricing products that enhance productivity
A method for pricing a productivity enhancing product or method, such as a feed additive, a fertilizer, or the like, that includes consideration of an expected or realized added benefit from the productivity enhancing product or method to an end user and the price that is expected to be received or has been received by the end user. Programs and systems with which such a pricing method are used are also disclosed. |
| US07921058B1 |
Exchangeable equity-linked security
A method of creating, selling, converting, and redeeming exchangeable instruments that may result in favorable tax and/or accounting treatment for a company that is a parent to an issuing subsidiary. The parent company transfers a conversion option to a wholly owned subsidiary. The subsidiary attaches the parent's conversion option to its own nonconvertible debt instrument, creating an exchangeable instrument to be issued to investors. Payment for the exchangeable instrument is remitted to the parent for the value of the conversion option and to the subsidiary with respect to the nonconvertible debt instrument. The split obligations of parent and subsidiary may result in a relatively high tax interest expense and relatively low accounting interest expense. Use of a net share settlement feature may result in reduced dilution of the parent's equity. |
| US07921056B2 |
Processing composite trading orders
An apparatus for processing a composite trading order comprises an interface operable to display a composite value representing a weighted quantity of a plurality of trading products. The apparatus further comprises a processor operable to receive at least one input representing a composite trading order, wherein the at least one input comprises a quantity that is equal to at least a portion of the weighted quantity. The at least one input is usable to generate one or more constituent trading orders that, when filled, combine to satisfy the composite trading order. |
| US07921050B1 |
System and method for analyzing data associated with statistical arbitrage
Providing computer-based systems and methods for analyzing historical performance of financial securities and identifying trades in those securities based on the securities' current position as compared to this historical performance. These computer-based systems and computer-implemented methods include identifying stock pairs to include in a trading portfolio, based on a measure of the pair's relative performance, such as a modified Sharpe Ratio. The value of the stocks in each stock pair in the portfolio is assessed and deviations determined. This assessment can occur daily or at a longer or shorter time step. Stocks are bought or sold based on the current price of the stock as compared to historical performance. The present invention preferably employs a large number of stock pairs in the trading portfolio. This use of a large number of pairs results in a plurality of stocks being in more than one stock pair. |
| US07921049B2 |
Collateralized equity and debt obligation financial product
A financial product is created by receiving funds from investors to purchase collateral, such as stock or bonds, in companies to populate an insurance portfolio and a risk portfolio. Notes backed by the collateral are issued to the investors and pay a coupon amount based on the performance of the collateral. The collateral is monitored over time to determine whether distressed equity events occur which coincide with the collateral value falling below a predetermined amount of its original share price. The number of distressed equity events between companies in the insurance portfolio and risk portfolio offset each other to give a total number of net hits. Subsequently, the total number of net hits is used to calculate an impact on the amount of the coupon pay-out to the investors. |
| US07921046B2 |
High speed processing of financial information using FPGA devices
Methods and systems for processing financial market data using reconfigurable logic are disclosed. Various functional operations to be performed on the financial market data can be implemented in firmware pipelines to accelerate the speed of processing. Also, a combination of software logic and firmware logic can be used to efficiently control and manage the high speed flow of financial market data to and from the reconfigurable logic. |
| US07921044B2 |
System and methods for disseminating real time information
A system and method for real time dissemination of information is provided. One server receives and data bases the information while another server disseminates the information; instead of one server receiving the information, data basing the information, and dissemination the information to all users requesting the information. |
| US07921038B2 |
Conducting commerce between individuals
Receiving payment includes the establishment, at a first server, a transaction record including information identifying a payment amount, a first account to be credited by the payment amount, and a second account to be debited by a debit amount. A financial authorization network performs an authorization analysis on at least the second account. The second account is debited if the authorization analysis is successfully completed, and the first account is directly credited by the payment amount to conclude the transaction. Risk analysis may be performed for each individual. Payment is integrated with shipping. |
| US07921034B2 |
Advertisement platform, system for playing advertisement and method thereof
The present invention discloses an Advertisement Platform (ADP), including an ADP Switch Point (ADP-SP), a voice playing unit and a service logic supporting unit; wherein the ADP-SP connects a call from a calling LS or an MS and initiates an advertisement service call to the service logic supporting unit; upon receiving the advertisement service call from the ADP-SP, the service logic supporting unit returns advertisement service instruction to the ADP-SP after parsing the advertisement service call; upon receiving the advertisement service instruction returned by the service logic supporting unit, the ADP-SP instructs the voice playing unit to play a ring back tone which includes advertisement according to the advertisement service instruction and connects a voice channel used for the voice playing unit playing advertisement with the calling voice channel or the MS voice channel. The present invention also discloses a system and method for playing advertisement. |
| US07921033B2 |
System and method for high-density interactive voting using a computer network
A system and method for facilitating high-density interactive voting (such as during a live event) using a computer network and tabulating and providing voting results in real-time. In general, the high-density interactive voting system of the present invention includes five major components that reside on the voting network: (1) a Live Event Wizard; (2) a Live Event Staging Component; (3) a Live Event Database; (4) a Live Event Object (LEO); and (5) a Live Event Display Engine. The Live Event Wizard is enables a user to quickly and easily create polling questions for distribution and presentation to a voter. The Live Event Staging Component ensures the validity of the polling questions and sends a copy of a live event definition and the polling questions to the Live Event Database. The Live Event Database tabulates current voting results at specified (or pre-determined) time intervals and performs statistical calculations of voting results. The present invention also includes a Live Event Object (LEO) that resides and remains in memory (such as random access memory (RAM)). The LEO establishes and maintains persistent connections with the Live Event Database such that these connections do not have to be continually opened and closed, thus greatly reducing the burden on the server and increasing system performance. The Live Event Display Engine receives the live event definition from the LEO and renders the definition and results on a display device for voters to view. |
| US07921031B2 |
Custom survey generation method and system
A custom survey generation method and system. The system comprises a computing apparatus comprising a list of business processes, reporting outcomes, and groups of questions. The computing system presents to a user the list. The computing system receives from the user a selection for a business process and an associated reporting outcome from the list. The computing system generates a custom survey for the user in response to the selection. The custom survey comprises a first group of questions associated with the associated reporting outcome. The computing system receives from the user a response to each question of the first group of questions. The computing system generates a first benchmarking report based on each said response. |
| US07921029B2 |
Projection factors for forecasting product demand
Projection factors are used to project product sales data from sample retail outlets to the universe of outlets. Weekly forecasts of market conditions and product demand are generated based on the projected product sales data. The projection factors and the weekly forecasts are updated during the course of the forecasted week, for example, daily, as data on actual product sales during the forecasted week is received. |
| US07921028B2 |
Systems and methods of partnering content creators with content partners online
Systems and methods of partnering content creators with content partners online are disclosed. In an exemplary implementation a method may include receiving registration information from a content partner and building a profile describing desired creative content for the content partner and receiving creative content. Based on at least the profile, the method may include determining whether a match exists between a content partner and the creative content. If a match is found, the method may include providing the content partner access to the creative content, and extending an invitation for the content partner to acquire rights in the creative content. |
| US07921024B2 |
IT service management technology enablement
Disclosed are a method and system for transforming organizations from a supply driven to service oriented, demand driven IT organization. The IT Service Management Technology Enablement Model provides a method for supply-oriented customers to move to an advanced, demand driven service utility. The method outlines the key technical enablers that need to be put in place to achieve specific milestones as they move from a supply driven to demand driven model. Key milestones include: aligning IT to the Business (communicate); productizing IT (Structure); IT as a Factory (Standardize); and IT as a Utility (Commoditize). |
| US07921021B1 |
System, method, and manufacture for decreasing the amount of treatment a patient requires from a first care-giver
A process, system, and manufacture are provided for decreasing the amount of treatment a patient requires from a first care-giver. In at least one example, the system comprises a means for receiving a set of records, and the set of records includes at least one representing a treatment prescribed by the first care-giver, and at least one representing at least one patient characteristic. There is also a means for determining, from the set of records, independently of records relating to effectiveness of the treatment prescribed for the patient, and based on a predetermined set of screening criteria, whether a different treatment is appropriate. Further, a means is provided for generating, based on the screening, an eligibility tag associated with the patient for providing notice to the patient associated with the eligibility tag of the different treatment availability at no cost to the patient and of a financial consequence of receipt of the treatment. |
| US07921018B2 |
Translation system and method of providing translation service
A translation system is provided, which comprises: a translation server comprising guidelines for writing original text that serve as criteria for determining whether errors exist in the original text, an original text controller determining whether the original text conforms to the guidelines for writing original text, and a translation engine translating the original text with reference to at least one of a basic dictionary and a plurality of user dictionaries; a user interface comprising an original text processing part receiving and transmitting the original text to the translation server, a translated text processing part outputting the received translated text from the translation server and transmitting a result about whether to approve the corresponding translated text to the translation server, and a user dictionary editing part modifying contents of the user dictionary; and a user community server comprising an original text writing method shared database and a user dictionary shared database. |
| US07921016B2 |
Method and device for providing 3D audio work
A method for providing a 3D audio work includes providing a one-ear HRTF filter and a related function synthesizer storing a related function therein, and inputting sound signals into the one-ear HRTF filter. The sound signals are converted into one-ear output sound signals which are received by one ear and synthesized to output sound signals for the other ear. A method for providing the related function includes inputting sound signals into HRTF filters of opposite ears and obtaining output sound signals which respectively act as raw signals and target signals. The raw signals are synthesized by a synthesizer to output sound signals which compare with the target signals. A related function registered in the synthesizer is accordingly regulated so as to obtain the related function which satisfies a minimum difference between the output sound signals from the synthesizer and the target signals. |
| US07921013B1 |
System and method for sending multi-media messages using emoticons
A system and method of providing sender-customization of multi-media messages through the use of emoticons is disclosed. The sender inserts the emoticons into a text message. As an animated face audibly delivers the text, emoticons associated with the message are started a predetermined period of time or number of words prior to the position of the emoticon in the message text and completed a predetermined length of time or number of words following the location of the emoticon. The sender may insert emoticons through the use of emoticon buttons that are icons available for choosing. Upon sender selections of an emoticon, an icon representing the emoticon is inserted into the text at the position of the cursor. Once an emoticon is chosen, the sender may also choose the amplitude for the emoticon and increased or decreased amplitude will be displayed in the icon inserted into the message text. |
| US07921010B2 |
Information processing apparatus, recording medium, and data signal
An information processing apparatus, comprising: an acquisition section that acquires a plurality of items of document information to be time-sequentially presented and movie information which includes speech that time-sequentially changes in association with the plurality of items of document information; a character string extracting section that extracts, from character strings included in the plurality of items of document information, character strings to be searched for; and a partial selecting section that selects a part of the movie information where at least one of the character strings to be searched for, which are extracted by the character string extracting section, is spoken in the speech included in the movie information. |
| US07921009B2 |
Method and device for updating status of synthesis filters
A method and device for updating statuses of synthesis filters are provided. The method includes: exciting a synthesis filter corresponding to a first encoding rate by using an excitation signal of the first encoding rate, outputting reconstructed signal information, and updating status information of the synthesis filter and a synthesis filter corresponding to a second encoding rate. In the present disclosure, the status of the synthesis filter corresponding to the current rate and the statuses of the synthesis filters at other rates are updated. Thus, synchronization between the statuses of the synthesis filters corresponding to different rates at the encoding terminal may be realized, thereby facilitating the consistency of the reconstructed signals of the encoding and decoding terminals when the encoding rate is switched, and improving the quality of the reconstructed signal of the decoding terminal. |
| US07921007B2 |
Scalable audio coding
The invention relates to an audio encoder and decoder and methods for audio encoding and decoding. In a preferred encoder embodiment an audio signal is encoded by deterministic encoder means to form a first encoded signal part. A spectrum of the audio signal is determined and represented by an excitation pattern, i.e. spectral values corresponding to human auditory filters, as a second encoded signal part. A masking curve is also extracted based on the excitation pattern, thus improving encoding efficiency in terms of bit rate. In a preferred decoder the first encoded signal part is decoded by deterministic decoder means. A noise generator uses the decoded first signal part together with the second signal part, i.e. the excitation pattern for the original audio signal, to generate a noise signal. The noise signal is then added to the first decoded signal part to form an output audio signal. At the decoder side the masking curve is also extracted based on the second encoded signal part, i.e. the excitation pattern. The noise signal is generated so that the output audio signal exhibits an excitation pattern nearly identical to the original audio signal. Thus, a perceived high quality audio is obtained while the encoded signal is scalable since a possible deviation between encoding and decoding of the first signal part is compensated by the noise generator at the decoder side. In preferred embodiments the coding means comprises a sinusoidal coder. |
| US07921002B2 |
Method and system for simulating flow of fluid around a body
A simulation method for flow of fluid around a body, according to the present invention, comprising dividing a target domain of simulation into a plurality of computational unit domains named cubes, generating an uniform number of Cartesian mesh elements named cells, in each of the cubes, performing computation in the cubes in each computational step, and exchanging data between adjacent cubes after completion of each computational step. In dividing the target domain of simulation into cubes, division is repeated while a ratio between adjacent cube sizes is maintained in a certain range until cubes including a boundary between the body and the fluid, is small enough to obtain a desired resolution so that sizes of the cubes are appropriately determined according to a shape of the body. |
| US07921001B2 |
Coupled algorithms on quadrilateral grids for generalized axi-symmetric viscoelastic fluid flows
The present invention is directed towards systems and methods for simulating and analyzing viscoelastic fluid flow. The fluid flows through a channel and is ejected from a channel. The fluid has an interface between a first fluid and a second fluid. The method includes performing finite difference analysis and using a level set projection method to solve equations governing the viscoelastic flow of the fluids through the channel. The equations governing the viscoelastic flow include an azimuthal velocity term that is an approximate description of the azimuthal flow of the fluid. The equations governing the viscoelastic flow also include an approximation of the stress experienced by the fluids being simulated. The equations governing the viscoelastic flow include an advection term that includes an azimuthal velocity term. The finite difference analysis used to solve the governing equations includes a second-order Godunov type upwind scheme to update the advection terms over time. The level set for the first and second fluids is updated periodically during the simulation. |
| US07920999B2 |
Method of predicting internal gettering behavior in silicon substrates and storage medium storing program for predicting internal gettering behavior
Internal gettering behavior in a silicon substrate is predicted by using an arithmetic expression established among an initial iron contamination concentration Cini in the silicon substrate, a density N of oxygen precipitates, a radius R of the oxygen precipitates, internal gettering heat treatment temperature T, internal gettering heat treatment time t, and a concentration C(t) of iron (Fe) remaining in the silicon substrate after a heat treatment. In the prediction of internal gettering behavior in the silicon substrate, an arithmetic expression is added considering a process in which nuclei of a contaminant heavy metal silicide are generated on the surface of the oxygen precipitates, and a process in which the contaminant heavy metal is gettered by the oxygen precipitates having the contaminant heavy metal silicide nuclei generated on the surface thereof. This invention is also applicable for internal gettering of a contaminant heavy metal other than iron (Fe), such as copper (Cu), nickel (Ni) or the like. |
| US07920998B2 |
Diabetes care management system
A medical device for diabetes management, comprising (a) a memory comprising one or more optimal blood glucose values, one or more insulin dose values of a patient, one or more measured blood glucose values, and one or more scaling factors for weighting the impact on a future blood glucose value and that are customizable to an individual patient to predict the effect on the blood glucose of insulin dose actions performed by the individual patient, (b) a microprocessor, in communication with the memory, programmed to calculate a further value, the further value being based on the insulin dose values, the optimal blood glucose values, and the scaling factors, and (c) a display configured to display information according to the further value. |
| US07920994B2 |
Method for the evolutionary design of biochemical reaction networks
The present invention relates to methods for achieving an optimal function of a biochemical reaction network. The methods can be performed in silico using a reconstruction of a biochemical reaction network of a cell and iterative optimization procedures. The methods can further include laboratory culturing steps to confirm and possibly expand the determinations made using the in silico methods, and to produce a cultured cell, or population of cells, with optimal functions. The current invention includes computer systems and computer products including computer-readable program code for performing the in silico steps of the invention. |
| US07920992B2 |
Method and system for modeling uncertainties in integrated circuits, systems, and fabrication processes
A method and system for modeling uncertainties in integrated circuits, systems and fabrication processes may include defining interval values for each uncertain component or parameter in a circuit or system. The method may also include replacing scalar operations with interval operations in an algorithm and discontinuing interval operations in the algorithm in response to a predetermined condition. The method may also include generating a plurality of scalar samples from a plurality of intervals and determine a distribution of each uncertain component or parameter from the scalar samples of the intervals. |
| US07920989B2 |
Remote test facility with wireless interface to local test facilities
A central test facility transmits wirelessly test data to a local test facility, which tests electronic devices using the test data. The local test facility transmits wirelessly response data generated by the electronic devices back to the central test facility, which analyzes the response data to determine which electronic devices passed the testing. The central test facility may provide the results of the testing to other entities, such as a design facility where the electronic devices were designed or a manufacturing facility where the electronic devices where manufactured. The central test facility may accept requests for test resources from any of a number of local test facilities, schedule test times corresponding to each test request, and at a scheduled test time, wirelessly transmits test data to a corresponding local test facility. |
| US07920988B2 |
Capturing system interactions
A computer-implemented method for capturing interactions in a system is disclosed. The method includes receiving a selection of a first component of the system and receiving a selection of a second component of the system. The method further includes receiving a selection of an interaction between the first component and the second component, and displaying a list of functions performed by the selected interaction. |
| US07920986B2 |
Surface shape metric and method to quantify the surface shape of electronic packages
A method of quantifying a shape of a surface includes measuring an elevation (z) of the surface at a plurality of locations in an x-y plane of the surface. The measurement data is fit to a series expansion in terms of one or more base functions that include a series expansion fit. A vector of shape coefficients are calculated from the series expansion fit. A vector of shape coefficients are output. |
| US07920983B1 |
System and method for monitoring resources in a water utility network
A computerized method for monitoring a water utility network, the water utility network comprising a network of pipes for delivering water to consumers and a plurality of meters positioned within the pipes across the water distribution network. The method includes receiving meter data representing parameters measured by the meters, such as flow, pressure, chlorine level, pH and turbidity of the water being distributed through the pipes. The method also includes receiving secondary data from sources external to the meters and representing conditions affecting consumption of water in a region serviced by the water utility network such as weather and holidays. The meter and secondary data is analyzed using statistical techniques to identify water network events including leakage events and other events regarding quantity and quality of water flowing through the pipes and operation of the water network. The events are reported to users via a user interface. |
| US07920979B2 |
Signal generation circuit
A signal generation circuit that uses a waveform generation mechanism to generate predetermined waveform(s) when triggered. A triggering mechanism is configured to repeatedly trigger the waveform generation mechanism at times that are dependent on data provided by a data source. The predetermined waveform may be a bandwidth-limited pulse, but might also be a rising edge or a falling edge of a pulse. Various consecutive waveforms may be summed together to thereby formulate a continuous signal. The waveform may have particular characteristics by design. |
| US07920975B2 |
Methods of detecting anomalies in ambient alternating current fields
Methods of detecting anomalies in ambient alternating current (AC) fields are provided. An exemplary embodiment of such a method includes the steps of placing an AC field sensor in an ambient AC field, generating a signal representative of the ambient AC field received by the sensor, and processing the signal to determine if the ambient AC field includes any anomalies. Various applications for the methods are also provided. |
| US07920974B2 |
Generating a vibration profile for a rotating cooling device in a computer system
One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that generates a vibration profile for a rotational device in a computer system. During operation, the system sequentially sweeps a rotation speed of a rotational device over a range of rotation speeds. While driving the rotational device at each rotation speed, the system collects a time-domain vibration signal produced by the rotational device and subsequently computes a frequency spectrum of the time-domain vibration signal. In this way, the system generates a set of frequency spectra associated with the range of rotation speeds. Next, the system combines the set of frequency spectra to generate a composite vibration profile for the rotational device. |
| US07920973B2 |
System and method for converting clearance data into vibration data
Embodiments described herein generally relate to a method of measuring the vibration of an aircraft engine. One embodiment herein provides an engine monitoring system either connected to and/or positioned in close proximity to an aircraft engine. Also provided is a clearance measuring device within the engine monitoring system. The clearanceometer collects clearance data that is later converted into vibration data. |
| US07920970B2 |
Methods and apparatus for characterization of petroleum fluid and applications thereof
An improved method and system for characterizing the compositional components of a hydrocarbon reservoir of interest and analyzing fluid properties of the reservoir of interest based upon its compositional components. |
| US07920964B2 |
Navigation apparatus and navigation processing method
A navigation apparatus includes: a map data obtaining unit that obtains map data; a navigation processing unit that executes navigation processing by using the obtained map data; a search data obtaining unit that obtains search data; a specific data detection unit that detects specific data for a specified search target by using the obtained search data; a correspondence table obtaining unit that obtains a correspondence table indicating correspondence between identification information used to identify individual road units into which each road is divided in predetermined units and map data road unit information related to map data road units defined in the map data individually corresponding to the road units; and a map position determining unit that determines a position of the specified search target in the map data based upon the specific data for the specified search target having been detected and the correspondence table having been obtained. |
| US07920958B2 |
Procedure for starting an internal combustion engine
In order to make a start-up of an internal combustion engine as quick as possible, whereby an electrical power output, which is as small as possible, is required, it is proposed to at least periodically activate a direct starting control device for the generation of a combustion torque and an electrical starter for the generation of a starter torque simultaneously during the start-up. In so doing, the power output of the electric starter is controlled as a function of a current combustion torque, so that the starter is continually operated only at a currently required power output. For this purpose, the electric starter is, for example, controlled in an open- and/or closed-loop in such a way that the current total torque resulting from the current combustion torque and the current starter torque does not undershoot a specifiable set point torque. |
| US07920957B2 |
Method and control device for metering fuel to combustion chambers of an internal combustion engine
A method for metering fuel into a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine is provided, in which a fuel quantity to be metered for a combustion is metered by a preinjection and at least one additional injection, and in which, in the operation of the internal combustion engine, quantity errors of the preinjection are ascertained from the signal of at least structure-borne noise sensor. The method is distinguished in that a correction value is formed as a function of the quantity error of the preinjection, and at least one of the additional injections is corrected using the correction value. A control device is also provided that controls the method. |
| US07920950B2 |
Vehicle drive torque estimation device and drive torque estimation method, and four-wheel drive vehicle
The estimated drive torque calculation unit, is configured such that if the running condition determination unit determines that the transmission mechanism is in gear, and if the speed of rotation of the output shaft of the torque converter measured by the rotation speed measurement sensor is equal to or less than a predetermined speed of rotation, and if the rotation speed of the wheels measured by the wheel speed sensor is equal to or greater than a predetermined rotation speed, the torque combination unit calculates the first estimated drive torque as the engine estimated drive torque even if the slip ratio of the torque converter is equal to or less than a predetermined value, and even if the first estimated drive torque calculated by the first drive torque calculation unit is greater than the second estimated drive torque calculated by the second drive torque calculation unit. |
| US07920948B2 |
Assumption torque setting device, automatic transmission controller, and method for learning internal combustion engine delay model
An assumption torque setting device for an engine that executes a torque reduction process during gear shifting. The device sets a torque assumed to be output by the engine and based on a target torque from which an amount corresponding to the torque reduction process is excluded as an assumption torque during the gear shifting. The device includes an assumption model torque calculation unit which calculates an assumption model torque from the target torque from which an amount corresponding to the torque reduction process is excluded based on an internal combustion engine delay model. An assumption torque calculation unit calculates before torque reduction is performed an assumption torque based on an engine operation state and calculates when the torque reduction is being performed an assumption torque based on the assumption model torque and an assumption torque calculated from the engine operation state. |
| US07920946B2 |
Methods and systems for end of travel harshness reduction
A control system for controlling a steering system is provided. The control system includes a first module that estimates a command adjust value based on a current position of a hand wheel of the steering system relative to an end of travel region. A second module generates a motor assist command based on the command adjust value to control the steering system. |
| US07920944B2 |
Vehicle diagnostic test and reporting method
A system and method for providing user-initiated vehicle diagnostic testing and reporting in a telematics-enabled vehicle. In the method, a request for a vehicle diagnostic test is received from the driver through a user interface of a telematics unit on the vehicle. A simplified initial diagnostic check is made and a first voice message is played for the driver that provides information concerning any detected vehicle problem. The method then undergoes a more complete diagnostic check and the resulting diagnostic information is used to select and play a second voice message that provides instructions for taking corrective action to fix the detected problem. Communication with a live advisor is also provided by way of a cellular or other wireless carrier system. |
| US07920942B2 |
Control of combined storage and generation in distributed energy resources
A microsource is provided, which includes an energy storage device, a power generation device, and a controller. The energy storage device is operably coupled for power transfer to a load through a first power bus. The power generation device is operably coupled for power transfer to the load through a second power bus. The controller determines a mode of operation for the energy storage device and the power generation device based on an energy level of the energy storage device and on the load; determines minimum power set points and maximum power set points for the energy storage device and the power generation device based on the determined mode of operation, on a storage output power measured at the first power bus, and on a generation output power measured at the second power bus; and controls an output power of the energy storage device and an output power of the power generation device based on the determined minimum and maximum power set points. |
| US07920939B2 |
Method and system for creating and manipulating embroidery designs over a wide area network
A method and system are disclosed for creating and manipulating embroidery designs over a wide area network. The method includes steps to transmit various embroidery design data over a wide area network between a client and a server The manner in which the embroidery design data is created, manipulated, and transmitted allows a user to preview photo realistic renderings of possible finished products, and more precisely adjust interpretations through a provided user interface with minimum latency. |
| US07920936B2 |
Volume element printing system for simultaneously printing multiple layers
A three dimensional object creation system for printing a three dimensional object comprised of layers stacked vertically with respect to each other includes a series of printheads for printing the layers, the series of printheads simultaneously printing at least two layers of different vertical positions within the stack; and a semiconductor memory for storing data defining at least one layer. The series of printheads are arranged in groups of one or more printheads per group, each group being fixedly positioned downstream of a preceding group with respect to the three dimensional object. Each group of printheads is adapted to print a layer at a predetermined vertical position within the stack. |
| US07920933B2 |
Digital mixing system with double arrangement for fail safe
A digital mixing system has a console having a display and an operator for transmitting and receiving a control signal, an engine having input channels and output channels for mixing a plurality of audio signals fed from the input channels while exchanging the control signal with the console and feeding the mixed audio signals to the output channels, and peripheral input and output units connected to the input and output channels of the engine, respectively. The console and the engine are located remotely from each other, and a cable connecting therebetween is duplicated for the purpose of fail safe. The engine may be installed in pair. If a main engine fails, a sub engine backs up instantly to continue the mixing operation. The console may be also prepared in pair for the purpose of fail safe. |
| US07920932B2 |
Audio control using a wireless home entertainment hub
A method of controlling presentation of audio data in a home entertainment system using a wireless home entertainment hub comprises obtaining a registration of at least one audio sink device, where the at least one audio sink device is capable of receiving a first number of audio channels used for presenting the audio data to a user in the home entertainment system. The audio data comprising a second number of audio channels, wherein the second number of audio channels is greater than the first number of audio channels, is received from a source device at the wireless home entertainment hub. The audio data received is processed in response to the capabilities of the at least one audio sink device by down-mixing the audio data to the first number of audio channels. The processed audio data is transmitted to the at least one audio sink device for presentation to the user. |
| US07920931B2 |
Recording and playback of video clips based on audio selections
Video clips (160) are selected for viewing or recording in a video system (160) based on songs that are selected for play in an audio system (110). A history (120) of audio selections is maintained, and based on this history (120), the system identifies ‘favorite’ songs. The system searches sources of video material for video clips (160) that are related to the favorite songs, and records the clips (160). When a favorite song is subsequently selected for play (410), the video system is configured to also play (440), or offer to play (430), the corresponding video clip (160). Optionally, the system is configured to store (390) the location of previously recorded video clips, such as the location of the clip in a user's video collection, or the URL of the clip in a computer network, such as the Internet. |
| US07920928B1 |
Passive fixation for epicardial lead
An epicardial lead is passively fixed in a pericardial space by a passive fixation member. The passive fixation member extends from a distal portion of an epicardial lead and acts against a pericardial layer and an epicardial layer to hold the lead in place. The epicardial lead may include an electrode that is connected to a conductor that extends from a distal portion of the lead. In some embodiments the epicardial lead includes a material that promotes fibrosis to fix the lead to heart tissue. The passive fixation member may include a shocking coil. |
| US07920916B2 |
Capacitor and inductor elements physically disposed in series whose lumped parameters are electrically connected in parallel to form a bandstop filter
One or more inductors and one or more capacitors are physically disposed relative to one another in series and are electrically connected to one another in parallel to form a bandstop filter. Chip inductors and chip capacitors having spaced apart conductive terminals are physically arranged in end-to-end abutting relation to minimize electrical potential between adjacent conductive terminals. The bandstop filter may be hermetically sealed within a biocompatible container for use with an implantable lead or electrode of a medical device. The values of the inductors and the capacitors are selected such that the bandstop filter is resonant at one or more selected frequencies, such as an MRI pulsed frequency. |
| US07920913B1 |
Systems and methods for increasing implantable sensor accuracy
Provided herein are implantable systems, and methods for use therewith, that increase the accuracy of measurements produced using an implanted sensor, where the measurements are affected by cycles of a cyclical body function (e.g., heart beat and/or respiration). In accordance with specific embodiments of system, a measurement that is presumed to be accurate is obtained. The measurement can be of a physiologic property, such as, but not limited to, blood oxygen saturation, hematocrit, or blood glucose concentration. Additionally, the implanted is used to produce a plurality of measurements of the physiologic property. Such measurements, produced using the implanted sensor, are compared to the measurement presumed to be accurate to thereby identify when the measurements produced using the implanted sensor are most accurate. Thereafter, the implanted system is configured to use the implanted sensor to produce measurements when the measurements produced using the implanted sensor are most accurate. |
| US07920911B2 |
Interventional MR imaging with detection and display of device position
A magnetic resonance imaging system for interventional MR imaging involves operations to insert a device such as a catheter into an object. According to the system, a tip position of the catheter is detected, data indicative of moved loci of the catheter are produced from data indicative of the detected tip position, and the produced movement locus data are displayed. In addition, even when an operator changes the progress direction of the device such as a puncture needle, an imaging cross-section automatically tracks movements of the device. Appropriate preoperative planning is also provided. |
| US07920905B2 |
Mobile phone holder, especially for mechanical vehicle
Taught is a mobile phone holder, especially for a mechanical vehicle, having a two-part body with side clamps and provided with a coupling/locking module, which has two step-shaped side clamps (10) on both of its sides. The side clamps are provided with a tooth (14) on their upper arm and are coupled with each other by means of unlocking buttons (3). The clamps are also provided with pins, which engage with the guides and the cams in the body and thus make the clamps move with a translational motion towards the inside of the holder combined with a concurrent rotational motion towards the inside of the holder. In the end phase of this motion the clamps are locked thus also locking the mobile phone in the holder. |
| US07920904B2 |
Mobile terminal
A mobile terminal including a terminal case, a microphone located within the terminal case, and a sound guide unit, is provided. The terminal case includes a first case member, a second case member, and a frame member located between the first case member and the second case member. The frame member includes a microphone hole formed on an outer surface thereof for guiding a sound into the terminal case in a first direction. The microphone includes a sound receiving portion disposed in a second direction different from the first direction, for receiving the sound. And the sound guide unit is located between the microphone hole and the sound receiving portion of the microphone, the sound guide unit guiding the sound, which has passed through the microphone hole, along the first direction and the second direction, toward the sound receiving portion of the microphone. |
| US07920903B2 |
Microphone techniques
Among other features, a boom microphone has a microphone connector; an earcup module includes an earcup connector jack to connect to a headphone and a boom lead-in to receive the microphone connector; and a control module communicates voice signals wirelessly between (a) the boom microphone and headphone and (b) a telephone. |
| US07920895B2 |
Method and system for providing broadcast services through a cellular and/or wireless network to a plurality of mobile devices via service provider integration
A system for controlling signal processing in a multi-network device is disclosed and may include one or more circuits that enable receiving of a digital video broadcast signal. The one or more circuits may enable processing a channel of the digital video broadcast signal according to a first selection. At least one channel of the digital video broadcast signal may include broadcast multimedia content. The one or more circuits may enable receiving a cellular communication signal and processing the cellular communication signal according to a second selection. The broadcast multimedia content may include Internet content. The one or more circuits may enable storing at least a portion of the received digital video broadcast signal and at least a portion of the received cellular communication signal in a commonly accessible memory. |
| US07920891B2 |
Stand alone emergency signal device housed in cell phone
The emergency signal device includes an emergency key on the phone, an independent IC chip set controlling the emergency functions, a dedicated memory chip for emergency information and a by-passing outlet to the cell phone's transmitting parts. It is further provided that the device includes a global positioning system (GPS) receiver, so that the person in danger may always be located. This device utilizes rechargeable solar cells to provide energy. All of its components are powered by a solar cell or solar cell charged battery. |
| US07920888B2 |
Power control and automatic repeat request (ARQ) in a radio communications system
A radio network entity in charge of outer loop power control for a communication with a mobile radio is informed about erroneous data units, requested retransmissions, and/or data units transmission attempts associated with the data units sent by the mobile radio to the radio network. Another radio network entity, which sends a transmission power control signal to the mobile radio to control the mobile's transmit power level based on a target value, detects errors in data units received from the mobile radio and requests retransmission. Information associated with the requested retransmission is used to generate a revised target value. The target value may be revised by an outer loop power controller node or by an outer loop power controller entity in the same node as an ARQ entity that generates the information about erroneous data units, requested retransmissions, and/or data units transmission attempts associated with the data units sent by the mobile radio to the radio network. |
| US07920882B2 |
Human interface device and wireless communication method thereof
Provided are a human interface device and a wireless communication method thereof. The wireless communication method of the human interface includes the steps of: setting up an occupancy channel of the host digital terminal and the wireless input unit by communicating data for setting up the occupancy channel through the emergency channel; transmitting, at the wireless input unit, operation data through the occupancy channel, and receiving, at the host digital terminal, the operation data; and when the operation data is not generated until a predetermined time lapses, enabling the wireless input unit and the host digital terminal to operate in an operation standby state, and confirming whether there is interference on the occupancy channel. Accordingly, efficiency of a frequency band is increased, and cost and size of the product can be reduced. Further, when interference on the occupancy channel is detected, a new occupancy channel can be set up so that reliability and efficiency of the wireless communication can be increased. |
| US07920881B2 |
Clock synchronization for a wireless communications system
A method of clock synchronization for a wireless communications system includes receiving a radio frequency (RF) signal at a base station and at a network reference server (NRS). The NRS is also coupled to receive a reference clock signal. A clock offset value is then calculated in response to the RF signal received at the base station, the RF signal received at the NRS, and the reference clock signal. A local clock signal at the base station is then synchronized with the reference clock signal in response to the calculated clock offset value. |
| US07920877B2 |
Using base-station location to assist mobile-device system acquisition
Methods and systems are provided for using base-station location to assist mobile-device system acquisition. A mobile station, which stores a network identifier, selects a carrier frequency. The mobile station receives, from a base station on a first carrier frequency, geographic coordinates of the base station and a base-station network identifier, and determines whether the base-station network identifier matches the mobile-station network identifier. If the base-station network identifier matches the mobile-station network identifier, the mobile station will scan the indicated home frequency bands and will connect to one of the home frequencies, and if the base-station network identifier does not match the mobile-station network identifier, the geographic coordinates of the base station are used to identify a market area and a most-preferred carrier frequency is selected from the identified market area. |
| US07920874B2 |
Position estimating system
A position estimating system capable of accurately estimating the position assumed by a target terminal user based upon measurement of wireless reception signal levels of signals from a target terminal is provided. The position estimating system includes a target terminal that wirelessly transmits a position estimation request, a plurality of reference terminals disposed at specific positions which, measure the signal strength of wireless signals from the target terminal and a position estimating server that estimates the position of the target terminal based upon the reception signal levels measured in correspondence to each of the reference terminals. The reference terminals each include a reception signal level utilization OK/NG judgment unit that makes a judgment as to whether or not the reception signal level value having been measured is to be used in position estimation based upon an index indicating the level of reliability of the reception signal. |
| US07920872B2 |
Method for the transmisson of location-related information
The supplementary location-related information which may be included in a digital map of the receiver is transmitted in such a way that the location-related information may be downloaded from an Internet page. |
| US07920870B1 |
System and method for adaptive configuration of cell structure based on the position of mobile stations
A telecommunications system and method is disclosed for adaptively configuring the cell structure of a cell having at least two carrier frequencies between an overlaid/underlaid (OL/UL) sub-cell structure and a normal cell structure based on the position of mobile stations within the cell. A Base Station Controller (BSC) for the cell determines the position of all of the mobile stations involved in a call connection within the cell relative to the cell site. If the number of mobile stations within a predefined distance from the cell site is greater than a channel threshold, the BSC adapts the cell configuration to the OL/UL sub-cell structure. The channel threshold is an operator-defined percentage of available channels (throughout the cell or within either the overlaid or underlaid cell). However, if the BSC determines that the percentage of mobile stations closer than the predefined distance is less than the channel threshold, the BSC maintains the normal cell structure. |
| US07920869B2 |
Home network searching when roaming in wireless communications networks
A method in a wireless communications device including determining whether the device is operating in a network other than a home network, determining whether to search for the home network when not operating in the home network by comparing network record information associated with the network in which the device is operating to reference information. In some embodiments, the device indicates that it is operating in a network other than the network in which it is operating. |
| US07920858B2 |
Multiprotocol antenna system for multiple service provider-multiple air interface co-located base stations
In one embodiment of a system for distributing cellular radio frequency signals, a hub unit is configured to digitize first and second analog radio frequency signals in order to generate first and second digital data, respectively, indicative of the first and second analog radio frequency signals. The first and second analog radio frequency signals are broadcast from first and second base stations, respectively, associated with first and second cellular service providers, respectively, using first and second air interfaces, respectively. The first and second digital data are transported to a radio access node from the hub unit using a shared transport medium. The radio access node is configured to reconstruct versions of the first and second analog radio frequency signals from the first and second digital data, respectively, using first and second digital-to-analog converters. |
| US07920857B2 |
Event reminder method
A method is performed by first and second mobile wireless communication devices used respectively by first and second users. In the method, a first user selects, on the first device, a first task for the first user to perform. The first device sends to the second device a request to link the first task to a second task to be performed by the second user. The second device sends to the first device, in response to the second task being completed, a notification to the first device. |
| US07920854B2 |
Printing a map using a mobile device
A system for printing a map on a print medium, the system comprising: a mobile telecommunications device which comprises: a printer module to print the map on the print medium; and, a sensor module to sense a print media identifier of the print medium. |
| US07920853B2 |
Method and arrangement for establishing a conference call
A method and arrangement for establishing a conference call from a mobile station in a call centre environment. A user may choose conference call participants from his mobile phone, and a client application in the mobile phone will communicate relevant parameters to the call centre server, which will then call the conference initiator and other participants via the gateway server. The calls are handed over to the gateway server, which will digitize each call to an audio and/or video stream, typically an RTP stream. The streams are relayed to a computer where the streams are combined to form a successful conference call. The conference call is then recorded to a data file on the computer, and may be sent to participants or stored to a database with relevant metadata. The network infrastructure of the telecommunications network operator need not be consulted, nor is there any need for additional hardware. |
| US07920851B2 |
Secure mobile information management system and method
Information or items that otherwise might be carried in a person's wallet or purse may be managed and stored on a mobile phone. Embodiments include a software application loaded on a mobile phone and an Internet website through which certain information can be transmitted to the phone by the user, third parties, or both. A user may be alerted to certain information or changes in information that meet certain criteria. The website may provide secure storage for information, filter information, and send encrypted and compressed nuggets or fractions of information to the phone for storage based on topic. E-mails may be searched for information, information may be sent to different parties, and signals may be sent locally to exchange information. Personal information may include account information or travel information, for example. |
| US07920850B1 |
Method and system for a hospitality entity to communicate goods and services to a guest
A system and method for a hospitality entity to communicate goods and services to a guest based on events occurring at a facility of the hospitality entity is disclosed herein. The method includes establishing a unique identifier with a mobile phone of a guest and then sending executable offers to the guest which upon acceptance triggers another offer based on the first offer acceptance and events occurring at the time and location of the guest. |
| US07920849B2 |
Method and system for providing advertisements/messages based on wireless data communication technology
An Internet Platform administering an Integrated Network System of Localized (customized) marketing and advertising BLUETOOTH® Broadcasting Points, accessed by cell phone/BLUETOOTH device users in BLUETOOTH Wireless Access Points (BLUETOOTH Hot Spots). The marketing and advertising relies on BLUETOOTH transmissions based on predetermined criteria and can be accomplished in an unlimited number of media formats. |
| US07920846B2 |
Method for implementing access restriction of mobile networks
The present invention discloses a method for implementing access restriction of mobile networks. The method includes the following steps: a Mobile Station (MS) inquiring a list of forbidden Public Land Mobile Networks (PLMNs) and access technology identifiers, which is saved by itself, when selecting a PLMN network; the MS determining whether the selected PLMN network and the access technology exist in the list of forbidden PLMNs and access technology identifiers, if they exist, the MS will not send a Location Updating Request to a Mobile Switching Center/Serving GPRS Support Node (MSC/SGSN); otherwise, the MS will send the Location Updating Request to the MSC/SGSN in order to access to the network. The present invention makes it possible to implement the access restrictions upon different types of access networks using different restriction rules. Furthermore, during the process of implementing the access restriction, the modification to the existing networks and user terminals is very small, the method is easy to implement and can well satisfy demands on the access restriction of operators. |
| US07920839B2 |
System and method for station detection and seek in a radio receiver
A system for detecting a broadcast channel in a radio receiver includes a receive signal strength indicator (RSSI) element configured to develop an RSSI signal that is representative of a power in a desired channel, a switchable bandwidth channel select filter having a power detector configured to compare a power output of the desired channel and at least one channel adjacent to the desired channel to develop a signal to adjacent channel power ratio (SACPR) signal that is representative of the noise in the desired channel, and a seek element configured to determine whether the RSSI signal is greater than a predetermined RSSI threshold and configured to determine whether the SACPR signal is greater than a predetermined SACPR threshold. |
| US07920836B2 |
System and method for saturation detection, correction and recovery in a polar transmitter
A system for saturation detection, correction and recovery in a power amplifier includes a power amplifier, a closed power control loop configured to develop a power control signal (VPC), and power control circuitry configured to reduce the power control signal if the power amplifier is operating in a saturation mode. |
| US07920830B2 |
Method for performing a radio frequency test on a mobile phone
A method for performing an radio frequency test of a mobile phone (5) includes: setting standard parameters of a transmitter (52); controlling an RF tester (3) to send RF signals to a receiver (53); processing the RF signals and transmitting the processed RF signals to the transmitter, reprocessing the processed RF signals and transmitting the reprocessed signals to the RF tester; obtaining resulting parameters of the RF performance of the transmitter; determining whether the RF performance of the transmitter is acceptable; setting standard parameters of the receiver; controlling the RF tester to send RF signals to a combiner (4), and controlling a disturbance source (2) to send channel noise to the combiner; generating combined signals by combining the RF signals and the channel noise, and transmitting to the receiver; obtaining resulting parameters of the RF performance of the receiver; and determining whether the RF performance of the receiver is acceptable. |
| US07920823B2 |
System capability discovery for software defined radio
Capability checking to examine a computing device's capabilities to determine if the device supports a software defined radio to communicate according to a specific wireless protocol. Applicants have appreciated that as the reliance on software defined radio increases, numerous potential options may be available to a user for performing wireless communication. Applicants have appreciated the desirability of providing the ability to discover the capabilities of a user's computer to determine whether it is capable of supporting one or more wireless protocols. |
| US07920812B2 |
Development device and image forming apparatus that uses this device
A development device provided with a first electrode layer and a second electrode layer, which are laminated so as to overlap one another in a normal direction with respect to the surface of the roller part of the toner bearing roller. A plurality of openings are provided in the second electrode layer, over the entire latent image bearable area of a photosensitive body in the orthogonal-to-movement direction. The toner on the surface of the roller part is caused to hop between a plurality of spots directly beneath the openings that respectively exist directly beneath the plurality of openings in the second electrode layer, and a plurality of spots between the openings that respectively exist between the plurality of openings in the second electrode layer, within the entire area of the first electrode layer which is uniformly formed in the roller circumferential direction. |
| US07920811B2 |
Storage container and image forming apparatus
A storage container includes: a storage container main body; a flow-out opening; a shutter; a seal member; a restricting portion; and an open-close movement restricting portion. |
| US07920810B2 |
Electrophotography device with electric field applicator
Embodiments of an electrophotography device are disclosed. |
| US07920809B2 |
Sheet feeding device, and image recording apparatus with the sheet feeding device
A sheet feeding device includes an inner guide member and an outer guide member that define a sheet feeding path therebetween. The sheet feeding device also includes an engaging member positioned adjacent to one of the inner guide member and the outer guide member, and a receiving portion positioned at the other one of the inner guide member and the outer guide member. The engaging member moves between an engaged position to engage the receiving portion and a disengaged position to disengage from the receiving portion. The inner guide member is selectively connected to the outer guide member via the engaging member and the receiving portion. When the engaging member contacts the sheet in the sheet feeding path, the engaging member is in the disengaged position, and when the engaging member is separated from the sheet in the sheet feeding path, the engaging member is in the engaged position. |
| US07920804B2 |
Developing device and image forming apparatus having the same
A developing device according to the present invention includes a developer storing section storing a developer, a stirring member disposed in the developer storing section and transporting the developer while stirring the developer, a developer carrier receiving the developer from the developer storing section and carrying the developer, a developer regulating member regulating the amount of the developer received by the developer carrier from the developer storing section, and a heat-dissipating member disposed at a position in contact with the developer and capable of dissipating heat of the developer. The heat-dissipating member has a surface in contact with the developer and the contact surface of the heat-dissipating member has an arithmetic surface roughness Ra1 that is set to be equal to or less than ⅓ of the volume average particle size of toner particles contained in the developer. |
| US07920801B2 |
Image forming apparatus and method for controlling image forming apparatus
Related is an image forming apparatus by electrophotography having a function of performing adjustment of image quality when performing image formation. The image forming apparatus includes a detection portion for detecting a fixing temperature of a fixing apparatus; a storage portion for storing an application history of a development bias; a count portion for counting a reposed time from a point when an operation of image formation is ended; a determination portion for determining a change range of the development bias immediately before the end of the operation of image formation; and an execution portion for executing adjustment of image quality by setting the development bias based on a determination result from the determination portion when the reposed time or the fixing temperature exceeds a predetermined value. |
| US07920794B1 |
Free space optical communication
Free space optical communication systems, methods, and apparatuses are provided. A system embodiment includes a photodetector for receiving a beacon signal transmitted from a ground communication apparatus, a light source for emitting a light beam toward a source of the beacon signal, where the light beam includes a signal to be transmitted, and a high speed tracking actuator coupled to the light source for moving the light source to maintain the light beam in a direction toward the source of the beacon signal transmitted from the ground communication apparatus. |
| US07920792B2 |
System and method for managing communication in a hybrid passive optical network
In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, a system and method for managing communication in a hybrid passive optical network (HPON) is provided. In a particular embodiment, the method includes transmitting, at a first wavelength, a first configuration message on the HPON. The method also includes receiving at one or more of a plurality of receivers at an optical line terminal (OLT) one or more configuration response messages from one or more optical network units (ONUs) in a first set of ONUs. The method further includes, based on the configuration response messages from the first set of ONUs, associating, in a database, each ONU in the first set of ONUs with the first wavelength and with the receiver receiving the configuration response message from the ONU. The method also includes, after transmitting the first configuration message, transmitting, at a second wavelength, a second configuration message on the HPON. The method further includes receiving at one or more of the plurality of receivers at the OLT one or more configuration response messages from one or more ONUs in a second set of ONUs, wherein the ONUs in the second set of ONUs do not belong to the first set of ONUs. The method also includes, based on the configuration response messages from the second set of ONUs, associating, in the database, each ONU in the second set of ONUs with the second wavelength and with the receiver receiving the configuration response message from the ONU. |
| US07920789B1 |
System for communication of video, audio, data, control or other signals over fiber
A system for communication of signals between remote devices and monitoring and control devices via fiber. The system in accordance with one aspect of the invention includes a plurality of remote interface units each coupled to a corresponding one of the remote devices, a base unit coupled to one or more monitoring devices and one or more control devices, and a central hub coupled between the base unit and the plurality of remote interface units. The central hub is coupled to the base unit by a first fiber optic link, and is coupled to the remote interface units by additional fiber optic links. |
| US07920787B2 |
Method for detecting a check-back signal in an optical transmission system
The invention relates to a method for detecting a check-back signal in a transmission system for optical signals. According to said method, a constant proportion of the output in a defined frequency range of the check-back signal is concentrated in a narrow-band spectral range and is determined after a transmission phase by means of a narrow-band detection of the concentrated energy around the spectral range. If no signal is identified during the narrow-band detection, a line interruption is determined and no pump source is switched on for safety reasons. The narrow-band detection of the check-back signal also allows the transmission attenuation of the transmission system to be measured. |
| US07920782B2 |
Imaging device
An imaging device having a shooting optical system, including an imaging element having a pixel array capable of generating image signals regarding light from a subject coming through the shooting optical system, and a focus-detection pixel line having pairs of pixels, the pixels of each of the pairs receiving luminous fluxes from the subject coming through a pair of individually corresponding partial regions of an exit pupil of the shooting optical system; a rapid-fire shooting unit configured to perform rapid-fire shooting to generate image signals at the pixel array on each exposure and to generate certain signals at the focus-detection pixel line; a focus detection unit configured to perform focus detection by a phase-difference detection method on the basis of the certain signals; and a focus adjustment unit configured to perform focus adjustment during each interval of the exposures on the basis of a result of focus detection. |
| US07920778B2 |
Boiler for use in a steam generating device
A boiler (1) for heating water to steam comprises a boiler housing (10) having a bottom wall (12), a top wall (13) and a circumferential wall (14) extending between these walls (12, 13). When the boiler (1) is mounted in a steam generating device for generating steam and supplying steam to an appliance such as a steam iron (20), the boiler (1) is given an inclined orientation. In a lower portion (13a) of the top wall (13) of the boiler housing (10), an inlet opening (15) for letting in water to a boiler space (11) which is enclosed by the boiler housing (10) is arranged. When water is supplied through the inlet opening (15), the water lands on a lower zone (14a) of the circumferential wall (14) and flows further in a downward direction, along the circumferential wall (14). As a result, the water is pre-heated when it reaches the water which is already present in the boiler space (11), and there is no danger of the steam production getting interrupted. |
| US07920776B2 |
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. |
| US07920774B2 |
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. |
| US07920770B2 |
Reduction of substrate optical leakage in integrated photonic circuits through localized substrate removal
Structures including optical waveguides disposed over substrates having a chamber or trench defined therein, and methods for formation thereof. |
| US07920766B2 |
Surface-plasmon-assisted optical frequency conversion
An optical frequency converter that uses a nonlinear optical process to transfer energy between a surface-plasmon (SP) wave that is guided along an electrically conducting strip and a light beam that is guided along an optical waveguide whose core is adjacent to the electrically conducting strip. The optical frequency converter has a periodic structure that spatially modulates the nonlinear susceptibility of the waveguide core with a spatial period that is related to a momentum mismatch in the nonlinear optical process. The spatial modulation provides quasi-phase matching for the SP wave and the light beam and enables efficient energy transfer between them. |
| US07920762B2 |
Method of sensing coded data on a surface
A method of sensing coded data on a surface is disclosed. Images of the coded data on the surface are captured using a sensor of a sensing device. The coded data is formed from tags, with each tag encoding a unique identity of a region of the surface and the position of the tag within the region. A perspective distortion of the coded data is estimated and compensated for when detecting data elements in the tags. The unique identity of the region from the images is determined, and the position of the sensing device within the region from the position of at least one tag in at least one image captured by the sensor is determined. |
| US07920759B2 |
Triggering applications for distributed action execution and use of mixed media recognition as a control input
A Mixed Media Reality (MMR) system and associated techniques are disclosed. The MMR system provides mechanisms for forming a mixed media document that includes media of at least two types. In one embodiment of the present invention, the MMR system includes an action processor and method, and MMR documents with an associated action. The MMR document structure specifies different actions for different MMR documents combined with the ability to create any number of MMR documents for a particular location on any media, which allows the MMR architecture to serve as a universal trigger or initiator for additional processing. In another embodiment, the MMR system, in particular MMR recognition and the input/output capabilities of the capture device, are used as a control mechanism for a third party system. |
| US07920757B2 |
Method for processing a macro block of image data
The image data are coded with field DCT or frame DCT depending on the characteristics of the image data. However different coding types will result in different boundary marks of boundaries between adjacent blocks or adjacent macro blocks. Therefore the de-blocking of a boundary between two adjacent blocks or adjacent macro blocks should be performed according to the format of image data and the coding type of the adjacent blocks or adjacent macro blocks. |
| US07920756B2 |
Image blur detection using cumulative blur widths
A printer fetches a horizontal direction DCT coefficient group and a vertical direction DCT coefficient group for each block from the JPEG data. The printer selects edge patterns similar to the brightness changes expressed by these coefficient groups from a specified table, and records those pattern numbers in a RAM. The printer judges whether or not the brightness changes of the blocks with each other adjacent are continuous based on the pattern number of each block recorded in the RAM. And by connecting the edge patterns when those brightness changes are continuous, the printer accumulates the blur widths that exist extending over the blocks. Then, based on this cumulative value, the printer determines the presence or absence of image blur. It is possible thereby to detect with good precision the blur of images even for high resolution images while reducing the used memory capacity. |
| US07920755B2 |
Video content detector
The invention relates to determining the image content of an incoming bitstream such that various image improvement effects may be accomplished. The invention provides for determining a realness value of an image formed of a plurality of pixels each having associated pixel data by evaluating a spatial distribution of luminance values of the image. Realness values are first determined for subregions of an image frame through an analysis of a luminance histogram generated for each subregion. Subsequently, the subregion realness values are analyzed to generate a total realness value for the image frame and to classify the image content of the image frame. |
| US07920754B2 |
Television image filtering
A digital image filtering method and system are provided. A first matrix of a plurality of pixels is selected from a digital image to be displayed. The luminosity values of each of the pixels in the pixel matrix are analysed and the luminosity difference between the maximum and minimum luminosity values thereof is calculated. The central pixel of the matrix is then classified according to the luminosity difference in comparison to a predetermined threshold luminosity value, and the above selection, analysis and classification is repeated for each of the pixels of the image in turn. A target pixel is then selected from the classified pixels for further analysis, wherein a second pixel matrix of which the target pixel is the central pixel is selected, the classification of the pixels surrounding the target pixel in the second matrix is analysed, and the target pixel is filtered to an extent dependent upon the classification analysis. |
| US07920752B2 |
Image processing device that quickly performs retinex process
An image processing device includes a reduced-image creating portion, a reduced-retinex-image forming portion, a normalizing-parameter setting portion, and an original-image correcting portion. The reduced-retinex-image forming portion calculates reflectance of each pixel in a reduced image based both on a pixel value of a subject pixel in a reduced image and on a peripheral average luminance of the subject pixel, thereby forming a reduced retinex image that is configured of reflectance of each pixel in the reduced image. The normalizing-parameter setting portion obtains frequencies of the reflectance in the reduced retinex image and sets an upper limit and a lower limit for normalization. The original-image correcting portion includes a retinex-image forming portion, a first normalizing portion, and a first correcting portion. The retinex-image forming portion calculates reflectance of each pixel in the original image based both on a pixel value of a subject pixel in the original image and on a peripheral average luminance of the subject pixel. The first normalizing portion normalizes the reflectance of the original image based on the upper limit and the lower limit, thereby obtaining a normalized reflectance for each pixel in the original image. The first correcting portion corrects the original image based both on the normalized reflectance and on the pixel value for each pixel in the original image, thereby obtaining a corrected original image. |
| US07920745B2 |
Method and apparatus for performing constrained spectral clustering of digital image data
A method and an apparatus process digital images. The method according to one embodiment accesses element data representing a plurality of elements belonging to a plurality of digital images; performs a similarity analysis between the elements from the plurality of elements to obtain inter-relational data results relating to the elements; and performs clustering of the plurality of elements, the step of performing clustering including incorporating in the inter-relational data results at least one hard constraint relating to elements from the plurality of elements, to obtain constrained inter-relational data results, performing a spectral analysis to obtain eigenvector results from the constrained inter-relational data results, and performing discretization of the eigenvector results using constrained clustering with a criterion to enforce the at least one hard constraint to obtain clusters. |
| US07920743B2 |
Displaying time sequence of 2-dimensional data
A method of displaying a time sequence of 2-dimensional data represents each data set in the time sequence as a normalized figure based upon a reference set of data. The perimeter of the normalized figure is color coded to represent deviations from a data standard that corresponds to the 2-dimensional data. For subsequent data sets in the time sequence each normalized figure is sized to form a series of concentric figures for display representing all the data sets in the time sequence so that patterns of both rotational and magnitude changes are visually apparent. |
| US07920741B2 |
System and method for image processing using integral histogram convolution
A system and method for performing integral histogram convolution for filtering image data is disclosed. The method may include generating an initial histogram for a kernel region of an input image comprising two or more column histograms. Each histogram may include a plurality of bucket values, each representing a sum of weights associated with pixels having the same value or a count of pixels having the same value. The method may include incrementally generating a region histogram for each successive region of the image as the kernel is passed over the image and applying a convolution operation to it. Generating the new region histogram may involve merging an additional column histogram with the initial or current region histogram, and may also involve subtracting values of a preceding column histogram from the initial or current histogram. The methods may be implemented by program instructions executing in parallel on CPU(s) or GPUs. |
| US07920739B2 |
Automatically selected adjusters
Automatically selected adjusters are described, including selecting an area of an image, determining a characteristic of the area, and selecting an adjuster of a set of adjusters based on the characteristic of the area. |
| US07920729B2 |
Classification methods and apparatus
A method includes using a point spread function based rule to classify regions in a dataset. |
| US07920726B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and program
An image processing method and apparatus for reproducing moving image data, the method and apparatus comprising detecting defects in receiving moving image data, determining the priority of each defect if there are a plurality of defects in at least one frame of the received moving image data, and performing interpolation for each defect based on the determined priority. |
| US07920725B2 |
Apparatus, method, and program for discriminating subjects
A characteristic amount calculating means calculates first characteristic amounts, which do not require normalization, and normalized second characteristic amounts. A first discriminating portion discriminates whether a candidate for a face is included in the target image, by referring to first reference data with the first characteristic amounts, calculated from the target image. The first reference data is obtained by learning the first characteristic amounts of a plurality of images, which are known either to be of faces or to not be of faces. In the case that the candidate is included, a second discriminating portion discriminates whether the candidate is a face, by referring to second reference data, obtained by learning the second characteristic amounts of a plurality of images, which known either to be of faces or to not to be of faces. |
| US07920724B2 |
Iris recognition method utilizing matching pursuit algorithm
The present invention disclose an iris recognition method, which utilizes a matching pursuit algorithm to simplify the extraction and reconstruction of iris features and reduce the memory space required by each iris feature vector without the penalty of recognition accuracy. The iris recognition method of the present invention comprises an iris-localization component and a pattern matching component. The iris-localization component locates the iris region via the color difference between different portions of the eyeball. The primary iris features are extracted from iris information and transformed into a sequence of iris feature vectors by a matching pursuit algorithm. Thus, the iris image can be represented by a sequence of atoms, and each atom contains base, amplitude and location. Then, the comparison between the feature vectors of two irises is performed to determine whether the two irises match. |
| US07920723B2 |
Two stage detection for photographic eye artifacts
A digital image acquisition device is for acquiring digital images including one or more preview images. A face detector analyzes the one or more preview images to ascertain information relating to candidate face regions therein. A speed-optimized filter produces a first set of candidate red-eye regions based on the candidate face region information provided by the face detector. |
| US07920721B2 |
Vehicle-use image processing system, vehicle-use image processing method, vehicle-use image processing program, vehicle, and method of formulating vehicle-use image processing system
A system or the like capable of detecting lane marks more accurately by preventing false lane marks from being erroneously detected as true lane marks. A vehicle-use image processing system (100) allows a “road surface cluster” to be extracted from the “histogram” of luminance of each pixel in a “reference area” in a road surface image. Among “primary lane mark candidates,” those that overlap the “reference area” are detected as “secondary lane mark candidates.” Among the “secondary lane mark candidates,” those that have “luminance parameter” values falling within the luminance range of the “road surface cluster” are not detected as true lane marks. Thereby, lane marks are prevented from being erroneously detected (erroneous detection). This allows only lane marks to be detected more accurately. |
| US07920718B2 |
Multi-zone passageway monitoring system and method
A method, computer program product, and machine vision system for monitoring an activity area proximate an actuated passageway for the occurrence of an object-related event. The activity area includes a first activity zone and at least a second activity zone. The first and the at least a second activity zones are essentially parallel to the activity area. The actuated passageway is actuatable with a control signal. The occurrence of an object-related event is detected within the activity area. If the object-related event occurs within the first activity zone, a first algorithm is executed to generate the control signal. If the object-related event occurs within the at least a second activity zone, a second algorithm is executed to generate the control signal. |
| US07920717B2 |
Pixel extraction and replacement
A method for pixel extraction and replacement is disclosed. In one implementation, the method includes generating a set of pixel values and pixel value frequencies for a pixel presented in a series of digital images of a scene. A digital image of the scene which includes a pixel value for the pixel is received and a comparison is made between the pixel value and the set of pixel values. A determination is performed to decide upon substitution of the pixel value with a different pixel value based on the comparison. Other techniques are also disclosed. |
| US07920716B2 |
Vehicle search system and vehicle search method
A vehicle search system is provided, which is capable of easily and efficiently searching for a particular vehicle image based on vague and uncertain information. The vehicle search system includes an image database for accumulating vehicle images photographed by a stationary camera placed on the road under a condition that the vehicle images are associated with at least photographing date and time information and photographing place information of the vehicle image; an image recognizing part for extracting feature information (vehicle color, vehicle shape, etc.) from the vehicle image; an image data managing part for selecting vehicle images from the image database, based on at least one of the photographing date and time information, the photographing place information, and the feature information; and a display processing part for displaying the selected vehicle images in a two-dimensional space or a simulated three-dimensional space on a display, in an arrangement in accordance with similarity of at least one of the photographing date and time information, the photographing place information, and the feature information. |
| US07920709B1 |
Vector sound-intensity probes operating in a half-space
Method and apparatus (333) for measuring the sound-intensity vector in a half space bounded by a surface such as a wall or the ground (100) using an acoustic vector probe (AVP) (40), where the AVP consists of four small omnidirectional microphones (1, 2, 3 and 4) supported on narrow straight tubes at the vertices of an imaginary regular tetrahedron. The tubes are attached perpendicularly to a ring (42) with the microphones all pointing into the half space. The sound-intensity vector measured by the AVP determines the direction of a sound source within the half space. Interference from echoes caused by reflections from the boundary of the half space and from surrounding objects on the boundary can be reduced by attaching a concave solid structure (55) to the base of the AVP at the supporting ring (42). The inside of the concave structure is lined with absorbing material (65) to reduce interference by reflections from the structure. |
| US07920707B2 |
Audio system
The designation of a localization position is received in accordance with an input position on a dashboard image in a localization-position reception window, and delay times for audio signals supplied to respective speakers are set so that the sound image is localized at the received localization position. The position where a sound image aurally perceived is localized is received, on the dashboard image in a localization-position confirmation window, from the user, until the user indicates that the position where the sound image aurally perceived is localized matches the localization position designated in the localization-position reception window. The relationship between the delay times and the localization position is re-estimated so as to correspond to the received localization position and the set delay times. In accordance with the estimated relationship, processing for re-setting the delay times is repeated. |
| US07920706B2 |
Method and system for managing cryptographic keys
A key management of cryptographic keys has a data package including one or more cryptographic keys that are transferred to a personal device 100 from a secure processing point 150 of a device assembly line in order to store device specific cryptographic keys in the personal device 100. In response to the transferred data package, a backup data package is received by the secure processing point 150 from the personal device 100, which backup data package is the data package encrypted with a unique secret chip key stored in a tamper-resistant secret storage 125 of a chip 110 included in the personal device 100. The secure processing point 150 is arranged to store the backup data package, together with an associated unique chip identifier read from the personal device 100, in a permanent, public database 170. |
| US07920702B2 |
Digital rights management system and method
A system and a method for providing variable security mechanisms for securing digital content, in which a single security mechanism is not used for all content. Instead, at least one characteristic or feature of the security mechanism is varied between units, instances or categories of content. Therefore, even if unauthorized access is gained to a single unit of content, the overall integrity and security of the system for content distribution is not compromised. Preferably, security is provided though a general mechanism, which is then varied in order to provide variable, dissimilar security schemes for different types of content. By “type of content”, it is meant any of a single unit of content, a single instance of content or a single category of content. For example, for a category of content, the content may be characterized according to the identity of the content itself, such as the title of a movie for example, and/or according to the owner of a particular copy of the content. Thus, different security schemes may optionally and preferably be generated from a particular root structure. Related apparatus and methods are also provided. |
| US07920700B2 |
System and method for data encryption
A method of processing data from a file includes obtaining a first portion of the file, encrypting the first portion of the file to create a first encrypted portion, obtaining a second portion of the file, encrypting the second portion of the file to create a second encrypted portion, and storing the first and second encrypted portions such that each of the first and the second encrypted portions can be individually accessed. A method of processing data from a file includes receiving a request to access a first portion of the file, wherein data in the first portion of the file is encrypted, and data in a second portion of the file is encrypted, and decrypting the data in the first portion, and not the data in the second portion. |
| US07920696B2 |
Method and device for changing to a speakerphone mode
A method (200), and electronic communication device (100), for automatically selectively changing from one mode of operation to a speakerphone mode of operation after a call on the electronic communication device (100) is established. The method (200), and electronic communication device (100), perform establishing a call (210) using a first mode of operation that is a mode of operation other than the speakerphone mode of operation. Then there is performed changing automatically (235) from the first mode of operation to the speakerphone mode of operation when a signal amplitude provided by a microphone used in the first mode of operation does not reach a threshold level before an expiration of a predetermined time period. |
| US07920694B2 |
Generation of consistent haptic effects
A system generates a consistent haptic effect in a handset that includes an actuator. The system determines performance data for the actuator, and generates haptic effect controller parameters from the performance data by comparing the performance data with reference performance data derived from a reference actuator. The system then stores the haptic effect controller parameters on the handset. |
| US07920693B2 |
Home agent access in call routing management based on caller language
Call center management with at home agent access based on caller language is provided herein. Calls from customers of a client are received at an interactive voice recognition (IVR) system, which determines a language of the caller by detecting the language or language selection by keypad entry. The IVR system determines an available at home agent with the proper language skills and forwards the call to be processed by the at home agent. The at home agents can call the call center to set their status. Information associated with the call may be collected and used by associated system(s) such as quality control, status monitoring, financial processing, and the like. |
| US07920692B2 |
PBX call management
Enhanced call management services to users receiving incoming calls on extensions on a private branch exchange (PBX) is provided by an application server configured to provide call management services to at least one of the users and a protocol proxy configured to receive call information from the PBX according to a protocol for establishing call sessions. The application server is further configured to receive the call information from the protocol proxy. |
| US07920687B2 |
Communication networks including flash hook detectors and methods of operating the same
A communication network that includes a flash hook detector and a communication device is operated by detecting a flash hook of the communication device at the flash hook detector. A signal is transmitted from the flash hook detector to the communication network responsive to detecting the flash hook. The flash hook is processed in the communication network. |
| US07920680B2 |
VoIP caller authentication by voice signature continuity
There are provided methods and systems for authenticating a user. A method includes receiving a voice signature certificate corresponding to a setup portion of a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) call. The VoIP call further has a voice conversation portion. The voice signature certificate includes a voice signature segment. The method further includes reproducing the voice signature segment to enable verification of voice continuity from the setup portion to the voice conversation portion. The verification is performing by comparing the voice signature segment to a user's voice during the voice conversation portion. |
| US07920676B2 |
CD-GISAXS system and method
CD-GISAXS achieves reduced measurement times by increasing throughput using longer wavelength radiation (˜12×, for example) such as x-rays in reflective geometry to increase both the collimation acceptance angle of the incident beams and the scattering signal strength, resulting in a substantial combined throughput gain. This wavelength selection and geometry can result in a dramatic reduction in measurement time. Furthermore, the capabilities of the CD-GISAXS can be extended to meet many of the metrology needs of future generations of semiconductor manufacturing and nanostructure characterization, for example. |
| US07920674B2 |
Apparatus and method for image processing
An image processing apparatus and an image processing method. The image processing apparatus includes an image obtaining unit to obtain a plurality of X-ray images using a plurality of X-rays corresponding to each of a plurality of energy bands being different from each other, a first processing unit to generate a plurality of material images using the plurality of X-ray images, and a second processing unit to generate a high contrast X-ray image using at least one of the plurality of material images. |
| US07920672B2 |
X-ray detector gain calibration depending on the fraction of scattered radiation
It is described a gain calibration for a two-dimensional X-ray detector (315), in which the gain coefficients for scattered radiation (307b) and direct radiation (307a) are measured or estimated separately. A weighed average may be applied on the appropriate scatter fraction. The scatter fraction depending gain calibration method produces less ring artifacts in X-ray images as compared to known gain calibration methods, which do not take into account the fraction of scattered radiation reaching the X-ray detector (315). |
| US07920669B2 |
Methods, apparatuses and computer readable mediums for generating images based on multi-energy computed tomography data
Methods, apparatuses and computer readable mediums for generating a volume visualization image based on multi-energy computed tomography data are provided. In one method, an image is rendered based on a multi-dimensional graphical representation of the computed tomography data. The computed tomography data includes at least two different energy image data sets and the multi-dimensional graphical representation represents intensity values of each of the at least two different energy image data sets. |
| US07920668B2 |
Systems for displaying images by utilizing vertical shift register circuit to generate non-overlapped output signals
Systems for displaying images are provided. An embodiment of such a system has a dynamic shift register. The dynamic shift register includes a sampling unit, a holding unit, and a first logic circuit. The sampling unit, which is coupled to an incoming signal and a first input terminal of the dynamic shift register, samples the incoming signal according to a first input signal received by the first input terminal to generate a sampled value. The holding unit, which is coupled to the sampling unit, is utilized to hold the sampled value. The first logic circuit, which is coupled to the holding unit and an output terminal of the dynamic shift register, generates an output signal according to the sampled value and a second input signal inputted into the first logic circuit. |
| US07920664B2 |
Clock synchronization circuit
A clock synchronization circuit includes a clock generation circuit generating a sampling clock for sampling a received signal from an output of a local oscillator, a phase error detection circuit finding a phase error between sampling timing of the sampling clock and ideal sampling timing, and a timing correction circuit finding a correction quantity to correct a frequency error between a frequency of the sampling clock and a frequency of the ideal sampling timing and the phase error every sampling timing of the sampling clock, and outputting a sampling value interpolated according to the found correction quantity. |
| US07920663B1 |
Using the AC mains as a reference for frequency comparison
Adjusting a local frequency source is disclosed. A local frequency comparison data is compared with a received frequency comparison data, wherein the local frequency comparison data reflects a difference, if any, between a locally measured AC frequency and a frequency generated using the local frequency source. The local frequency source is adjusted based at least in part on a result of the comparison. |
| US07920654B2 |
Signal processing method and apparatus using bit confidence values
In a UMTS/GSM receiver with EDGE services capability, a data sequence incorporating PSK symbols is separated into bits which are assigned confidence values and input to convoluntional decoder (33) to provide improved decoding. |
| US07920650B2 |
Method and apparatus for evaluating a clock in a satellite
In a system for characterizing a satellite clock in a satellite, the satellite has a transmitting device that emits a transmission signal at a transmission frequency indicative of a state of the satellite clock, and a receiver clock which has a higher precision than the satellite clock. A receiving device is configured to receive the transmission signal and to determine a received signal therefrom, as well as a received signal frequency and/or phase, using the receiver clock. Finally, an evaluation device is configured to determine a frequency offset, drift, and/or an Allan deviation of the transmission frequency from the received signal frequency and/or the received signal phase. The evaluation device determines the stability of the satellite clock, or the validity of its time indication, from the determined frequency offset, frequency drift, and/or the Allan deviation, to thereby characterize the satellite clock. |
| US07920647B2 |
Receiving apparatus and transmitting apparatus
A partial bit demodulation section that demodulates partial bits among a plurality of bits that form 1 symbol of each modulated signal using a detection method different from likelihood detection, signal point reduction sections that reduce the number of candidate signal points using demodulated partial bits, and a likelihood detection section obtains received digital signals by performing likelihood detection based on the Euclidian distances between the reduced candidate signal points and a reception point, are provided. By this, only some bits which are unlikely to be erroneous are found by the partial bit demodulation section, and other bits can be found by the likelihood detection section, enabling bit error rate performances to be effectively improved with a comparatively small computational complexity. |
| US07920646B2 |
Method for selecting switched beam using pilot signal and system thereof
The present invention relates to a system for selecting a switched beam for supplying a maximum received power to a subscriber station, and a method thereof. The number of switched beams used by a base station is limited, and a weight value vector for forming the switched beam is predefined. The subscriber station uses a pilot signal for discerning transmitting antennas to estimate channel values for the respective transmitting antennas, and uses the channel values and the predefined weight value vectors to determine a switched beam for supplying a maximum signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). The subscriber station notifies the base station of an identifier of a selected beam by using a feedback channel, and the base station uses the switched beam to transmit traffic data. |
| US07920639B2 |
Reception device, communication control method in mobile communication system
When a closed loop transmission diversity control is performed by controlling the phase of the transmission signals from the plurality of antennas according to feedback information noticed by the mobile station to transmit the signals, an antenna verification on-off control unit 370 controls the on-off of an antenna verification process of estimating the phase of the transmission signals from the plurality of antennas according to the information about the channel of the signals transmitted in the uplink from the mobile station to a radio base station. Thus, depending on the channel type (for example, a packet channel, a voice channel, etc.), the on-off control is performed on the antenna verification process, thereby performing easier and more appropriate control and improving the quality of a channel. |
| US07920637B2 |
Single sideband and quadrature multiplexed continuous phase modulation
A class of bandwidth reduction techniques are used develop a broad class of modulation types collectively called SSB-FM. These signals can be used to construct communication systems that provide bandwidth-normalized performance gains of 10 dB or more when compared to popular prior art modulation methods. An aspect of the invention involves mapping trellis paths in a complex signal space onto corresponding real-valued trellis signals with desirable spectral properties. The invention can be used map continuous phase modulated (CPM) signals onto simpler amplitude-modulated trellis signals having double the channel capacity of prior art CPM signals. Multi-amplitude signaling and frequency division multiplexing may also be incorporated to further accommodate more information per symbol. |
| US07920635B2 |
Method, clipper module, and transmitter
There is provided a method of clipping a transmission signal. The method comprises: providing a residual signal of a complex envelope clipper based on the transmission signal to be clipped; providing a reference signal respective to the residual signal, the reference signal corresponding to an ideal residual signal; forming a clipping signal on the basis of the residual signal and the reference signal; subtracting the clipping signal from the residual signal for removing higher amplitudes of the residual signal; and subtracting the clipping signal from the reference signal for providing a reference signal respective to the clipped residual signal. |
| US07920633B2 |
Method and system for parallel processing video data
Described herein is a method and system for parallel processing video data. The system having parallel encoder devices can create a balance between quality of service and delay. In order to maintain quality, compression parameters in a group of pictures can be produced by one encoder device and used by another encoder device for estimation during the encoding of another group of pictures. Compression parameters of different picture types may be stored separately and used for the encoding of a future pictures of the same type. The generation and passing of compression parameters introduces a delay based on the time it takes to encode one or more pictures. |
| US07920631B2 |
Encoding and decoding methods and systems
Methods and systems enable uncompressed source data, corresponding to previously-compressed data, to be manipulated or otherwise modified, prior to being rendered by a rendering application. For example, audio data can be modified to include additional audio content, and/or video data can be modified to include additional video content. Accordingly, when the modified or manipulated source data is rendered by the rendering application, it can contain additional information that was not part of the previously-compressed data. |
| US07920628B2 |
Noise filter for video compression
A method and system for reducing noise in a video stream comprising images divided into macroblocks, where each macroblock includes luma and chroma blocks and each block is comprised of pixels. The method comprises determining correlation of a macroblock with a reference macroblock, comparing its motion vectors to a predetermined threshold, computing a residual signal of the macroblock by subtracting the macroblock from a predicted macroblock, computing a variance of a residual signal of the macroblock, comparing the variance of the residual signal to another predetermined threshold, determining a filter strength for the macroblock based on one or more of factors such as correlation, motion vector size and variance of the residual signal and filtering the macroblock using a filter of appropriate strength. |
| US07920627B2 |
Motion estimation employing adaptive spatial update vectors
A method for motion estimation and for motion compensated interpolation. By taking a source of video data into account, a size of update vectors to be employed for determining spatial prediction vectors is set in accordance with a detected source mode. By selecting an appropriate update vector size, accuracy of predicted motion and consequently, a picture quality of motion compensated interpolated images can be increased considerably. |
| US07920625B2 |
Method of processing a current field macroblock
In one embodiment, the method includes determining reference picture index numbers in a reference picture list. The reference picture index numbers increase for reference pictures having a decreasing display order with respect to a picture including the macroblock. The reference picture index numbers increase for reference pictures having an increasing display order with respect to the picture including the macroblock, and the reference picture index numbers of the reference pictures having a decreasing display order are greater than the reference picture index numbers of the reference pictures having an increasing display order. The embodiment further includes obtaining motion vector information for the current macroblock, obtaining a field reference picture index associated with the current field macroblock, determining a frame reference picture index based on the field reference picture index divided by 2, selecting a frame reference picture based on the frame reference picture index and the reference picture index number, and selecting a field reference picture based on the selected frame reference picture and the field reference picture index. The current macroblock is decoded based on the motion vector information and the selected field reference picture. |
| US07920621B2 |
Digital adaptation circuitry and methods for programmable logic devices
Equalization of an incoming data signal can be controlled by sampling that signal at times when data values in that signal should be stable (“data samples”) and when that signal should be in transition between successive data values that are different (“transition samples”). A transition sample that has been taken between two successive differently valued data samples is compared to a reference value (which can be one of those two data samples). The result of this comparison can be used as part of a determination as to whether to increase or decrease equalization of the incoming data signal. |
| US07920616B2 |
Laser system
A method/apparatus may comprise a laser light source which may comprise a solid state seed laser system producing a seed laser output having a nominal center wavelength at a pulse repetition rate; a first and a second gas discharge laser amplifier gain medium each operating at a pulse repetition rate less than that of the seed laser system; a beam divider providing each of the respective first and second amplifier gain mediums with seed laser output pulses; a frequency converter modifying the nominal center wavelength of the output of the seed laser to essentially the nominal center wavelength of the amplifier gain medium; a beam combiner combining the outputs of the respective amplifier gain mediums to provide a light source output having the pulse repetition rate of the seed laser; a coherence buster operating on either or both of the output of the seed laser or amplifier gain mediums. |
| US07920610B2 |
Pulse mode modulation in frequency converted laser sources
Methods of operating a frequency-converted laser source are disclosed. According to particular disclosed embodiments, a laser diode is driven in a pulsed mode to define pixel intensity values corresponding to desired gray scale values of image pixels in an image plane of the laser source. The pixel intensity values are a function of a laser control signal comprising a discontinuous pulse component, a relatively constant intensity component I, and a continuously variable intensity component I*. The pulse width w of the discontinuous pulse component is selected from a set of discrete available pulse widths according to a desired pixel gray scale value. A low-end pulse width w of the set of available pulse widths is established for a range of low-end pixel gray scale values and progressively larger pulse widths w are established for ranges of progressively higher pixel gray scale values. The relatively constant intensity component I makes a relatively insignificant contribution to pixel intensity at the low-end pulse width w for the range of low-end pixel gray scale values and assumes a non-zero value for enhanced conversion efficiency at the progressively larger pulse widths w established for the higher pixel gray scale values. The continuously variable intensity component I* varies according to the desired gray scale value of the selected pixel and the contributions of the relatively constant intensity component I and the pulse width w to pixel intensity. |
| US07920604B2 |
Data transmission in an SDH network
A method for the transmission of data in a synchronous digital hierarchy (SDH) network comprising the steps of transmitting to a node of the network a form of data signal from outside the network, converting the signal into a virtually concatenated information structure and transporting the signal through the network in the virtually concatenated information structure; means for carrying out the method and tributary cards arranged and configured to process signals received in contiguously concatenated form to convert them into virtually concatenated form for transfer across the network; thus providing for data transmitted in high-bandwidth, contiguosly concatenated signals (ie VC-4-4c) to be transported across a SDH network, not itself capable of carrying contiguously concatenated signals. |
| US07920601B2 |
Vehicular communications system having improved serial communication
A communications system for controlling equipment associated with a vehicle, includes a micro-controller (604) and a digital serial communication link (621, 622, 662, 663) using a multiplexed timing signal and first data signal. A camera or image sensor (650) located in the vehicular component communicates with the micro-controller (604) via the digital serial communication link. |
| US07920599B1 |
Methods and systems for synchronizing wireless transmission of data packets
Methods and systems for synchronizing wireless transmission of data packets is provided. Signals having a data packet frame format including a preamble (with a pattern of symbol sequences) and data are received, and patterns of symbol sequences are correlated. A first metric can be calculated that is a ratio of an average of the correlation values and an average of a power of the signals. A second metric can be calculated that defines an average of a power of noise in the signals. The methods include determining an approximate division of the preamble and data in the data packet of each signal based on the first and second metrics. The methods further include determining a cross-correlation between versions of a transmitted signal to produce a number of peaks equal to a number of transmit antennas, generating a third metric based on combinations of cross-correlations, and identifying a position of a maximum peak within the third metric as a fine timing offset amount. |
| US07920594B2 |
Apparatus and methods for incorporating bandwidth forecasting and dynamic bandwidth allocation into a broadband communication system
A method for providing network access to a shared access communications medium for a plurality of users includes the steps of conducting predictive admission control by arbitrating user requests for access to the shared medium based on predicted aggregate demands, conducting lookahead scheduling for use in making user channel assignments by forecasting schedule transmission opportunities one or more channels of the shared medium, and balancing load by making channel assignments such that a plurality users are each assigned a respective channel of the shared medium based upon a predicted need. Congestion parameters can predicted for each channel of the shared medium and mapped to a congestion measure using a mathematical function that takes into account packet loss rate, packet delay, packet delay jitter, and available capacity. |
| US07920592B2 |
Method of bandwidth control and bandwidth control device
A method of bandwidth control and a corresponding bandwidth control device are disclosed, in which a plurality of queues are provided, bandwidth is assigned to each of the queues on the basis of a strict priority scheme, and additional bandwidth is assigned to the queues on the basis of a fair queuing scheme. |
| US07920591B2 |
Device and method for implenting dynamic adjustmenting bandwidth of data in a transmission device
A method and a device for realizing dynamic adjustment of data bandwidth of the invention are disclosed. The method comprises adding a control channel in a PCM trunk link to describe occupancy condition of time slots for current services. The device comprises a control word process circuit, a time slot distribution circuit and a CPU interface circuit, wherein the control word process circuit is designed to complete abstraction and insertion of control information in a control channel of E1/T1 link, the time slot distribution circuit completes separating voice time slots from Ethernet data time slots and rebuilding the data, and the CPU interface circuit implements time slot distribution control. The method and the device can implement dynamic adjustment of Ethernet data bandwidth while ensuring voice services, to make effective use of trunk bandwidth and enhance user's data service bandwidth, without error code and interruption of data service during bandwidth adjustment. |
| US07920584B2 |
Data processing system
A data processing system is provided comprising a main processor operable to perform a plurality of data processing tasks, a data engine having a data engine core operable to perform a number of said plurality of data processing tasks on behalf of said main processor and a data stream processing unit providing a data communication path between said main processing unit and said data engine core. The data stream processing unit has a control interface operable to receive from said data engine core at least one command and a data stream controller operable to receive at least one input data stream and to perform at least one operation on said at least one input data stream to generate at least one output data stream comprising a sequence of data elements. The data stream processing unit is responsive to said at least one command from said data engine core to control said data stream controller to perform said at least one operation. |
| US07920583B2 |
Message sequencing and data translation architecture for telecommunication services
A telecommunications architecture processes telecommunications service requests received from third parties through a secure access gateway. The third parties may be other telecommunications service providers which employ the services to support their own products and services or may be or individual subscribers. The service broker provides a flexible and efficient layer in the telecommunications architecture for processing the service request. The service broker also overcomes the technical problems associated with third party service request processing. In addition to providing technical solutions for efficient and secure processing of service requests for exposed services, the architecture also provides an additional revenue channel for existing telecommunication service providers. |
| US07920574B2 |
Method for transmitting packet from correspondent node to mobile node
A method is disclosed for transmitting a packet from a correspondent node to a mobile node when the mobile node moves from a home network to an external network equivalent to the correspondent node's local network. The method may include securing a Care Of Address (COA) for the mobile node. The COA may be used to forward a packet intended for the mobile node by a home agent in the home network. The method may also include obtaining the COA at the home agent to update binding information on the mobile node, transmitting the updated binding information to a correspondent node, and setting a target IP address for the packet transmitted by the correspondent node. The target IP address may be the COA of the mobile node when the correspondent node's local network is the same as the external network where the mobile node is located. |
| US07920569B1 |
Multi-link transport protocol translation
A device may receive a packet at a network device, and may retrieve from a table, by using information in a header of the packet as keys, records that include communication performance statistics associated with transport protocols. In addition, the device may select, based on the records, a transport protocol with an optimum communication performance statistics among the transport protocols and send the packet in accordance with the selected transport protocol from the network device. |
| US07920565B2 |
Method for updating a data record and device for carrying out the method
When updating a data record identified by a version number, the problem exists that a simple not equal to comparison or greater than comparison is often insufficient for ascertaining the up-to-date nature of the newly received data record, particularly if the data record is transmitted to a receiving station via an unsecured data link and the version number originates from a limited range which is repeatedly run through periodically.The invention solves the problem by virtue of the fact that it divides the range of values of the version number into the ranges “old” and “new”, on the basis of the current value of a version number. The periodicity with which the range of values is run through is taken into account in this case, however. That is to say that the range “old” or the range “new” may perfectly well include the jump from the highest value in the range of values to the lowest value in the range of values. If the version number of the newly received data record lies in the range “new”, the new data record is accepted as a current data record, and if not it is correspondingly rejected. |
| US07920562B2 |
System and method for switching from a unicast to a multicast data transmission session
A communications system and method provide a seamless switch from a first session to a plurality of multicast sessions. A server transmits data over both a first session and alternatingly between a plurality of synchronized multicast sessions. At predetermined time intervals, the server stops transmitting data over the currently active multicast session and starts transmitting over an idle multicast session. The server is further responsive to a request to stop transmitting the data over the first session at a time when the server alternates transmission between the multicast sessions. The time intervals are advantageously sufficient to allow a receiver to join an idle multicast channel and to send a request to stop the data transmission over the first session. |
| US07920559B2 |
Transponder, transmission system, transmission method and transmission program
The transponder includes a 64B/66B code synchronization bit determination circuit 1511a for notifying a PLL selection control circuit of a control signal which instructs on selection of a variable oscillator or a variable oscillator in response to a case where an electric signal sent from an optical signal reception unit 111 includes a 64B/66B code synchronization bit, an A1A2 byte determination circuit 1511b for notifying the PLL selection control circuit of a control signal which instructs on selection of a variable oscillator or a variable oscillator in response to a case where an electric signal sent from the optical signal reception unit 111 includes an A1A2 byte, and the PLL selection control circuit 1512 for controlling a PLL selector 16 and a PLL selector 17 based on a control signal. |
| US07920556B2 |
Method for improving subscriber access capacity, broadband access device and network
A method for improving subscriber access capacity of a broadband access device is disclosed, including: establishing a Virtual Local Area Network Path Identifier (VlanPI) and corresponding VlanPI Tag, establishing a VLAN Circuit identifier (VlanCI) and corresponding VlanCI Tag for each access port of the broadband access device, dividing the access ports into groups and assigning the established VlanPIs to each group; then, before transmitting an ethernet frame, determining the VlanCI which corresponds to the access port and inserting the VlanCI Tag for identifying the VlanCI into the standard ethernet frame, determining the VlanPI corresponding to the group to which the access port belongs and inserting the VlanPI Tag which is used to identify the VlanPI into the standard ethernet frame, and transmitting the ethernet frame to an uplink device through an uplink port by the broadband access device which directly connects with the uplink device. |
| US07920555B2 |
Composite trunking
An Internet router treats plural output ports with a common destination as a composite port. A routing table uses the IP address to determine a composite trunk to which the packet is to be forwarded. A forwarding table identifies a route along a routing fabric within the router to a specific output port of the composite port. Output ports and fabric routes are selected to maintain order within a flow by routing the flow along a single fabric route to a single output trunk. The forwarding table may favor output ports which are nearest to a packet input port, and the forwarding table may be modified to dynamically balance load across the trunks of a composite trunk. |
| US07920554B2 |
Supporting both packet and circuit-based wireless networks
Middleware may accommodate both packet data and circuit data services in the same cellular telephone. A cellular telephone may travel between networks that are packet and circuit data service based. A protocol middleware may determine whether packet data services are available, and, if so, may determine the mobility management state of the system. Depending on the mobility management state of the system, inappropriate applications may be closed or suspended. |
| US07920551B2 |
Multiple access service convergence
A mobile terminal is anchored in a control subsystem, which will function as the mobile terminal's home service subsystem. Call signaling for an incoming call is routed to the control subsystem, which will provide call processing. The call processing may include determining how to route the call to the mobile terminal. Call signaling may be provided to the mobile terminal via the packet subsystem while the bearer path for the incoming call may be established to the mobile terminal though either the circuit-switched subsystem or the packet subsystem. When the mobile terminal is capable of supporting local wireless communications, the bearer paths for incoming calls may be provided via a local wireless subsystem. The subsystem chosen for the bearer path may be based on whether there is sufficient bandwidth to support the bearer path over an available packet-based connection. |
| US07920548B2 |
Intelligent switching for secure and reliable voice-over-IP PBX service
A switching apparatus for switching packetized voice traffic between a plurality of communication devices, the switching apparatus comprises a multi-layer switch, a plurality of communication ports, control means and ingress processing means, said packetized voice traffic comprises call control packets and medium packets which are exchanged between the communication devices via said communication ports, wherein medium packet traffic from a first communication device to a second communication device is split into a first call segment and a second call segment, the first call segment originates from said first communication devices and terminates at said switching apparatus, the second call segment originates from said switching apparatus and terminates at said second communication device, each medium packet from said first communication device is processed by said ingress processing means of said switching apparatus before onward transmission to said second communication device. |
| US07920546B2 |
Automated attendant multimedia session
An automated attendant system is made multimedia capable by adding a combined user agent to the automated attendant. A search is done to verify that the caller to the automated attendant has combined user agent capabilities. If so, the caller receives multimedia content from the automated attendant's combined user agent so that the content may be presented on the caller's computer to assist the caller in navigating through the automated attendant's menus and options. Upon selection of a desired connection from the menus and options, the automated attendant's combined user agent helps the caller be connected by voice to the selected connection. |
| US07920544B2 |
Method and apparatus for enhancing signal-to-noise ratio of position location measurements
A method and apparatus for generating and use of a position location reference signal that allows a receiver to receive position location signals from relatively weak signal generators when in the presence of a strong signal source. The position location reference signals from multiple sources can be synchronized to occur within a scheduled time slot of a time division multiplexed communication system. During the scheduled time slot, each signal source can configure a transmission that includes a media access control address that corresponds to a value reserved for position location signals. Each signal source also configures the transmission to include a position location reference signal that corresponds to the signal source. The position location signals from each of the signal sources is positioned to occur at a time within the data portion of the scheduled time slot that no neighboring signal source transmits its corresponding position location signal. |
| US07920539B2 |
Communication system and method
A system and method is disclosed for allowing communications between a base station and a group of mobile transceivers in a communications network used for a merchant facility. |
| US07920537B2 |
Method and arrangement for mitigation of intercell interference in a cellular communication system
A method (400) and arrangement (200) for mitigation of intercell and intracell interference in a 3GPP cellular communication system (100) by, in a receiver in a cell of the system, deriving for a first channel in the cell a signal, representative of first channel transfer function (A(1)); deriving for at least a second channel originating in a different cell a signal (A(2 . . . M)), representative of second channel transfer function, based on: deriving a cell specific scrambling code (s), deriving a channel impulse response (h), and deriving a channelisation code (c); and performing multi-user detection using the first and second signals. Where the channelisation code is unknown, a substitute channelisation code is preferably substituted. It will be appreciated that the technique can be applied to both downlink and uplink. This provides the advantage that both intra-cell interference and intercell interference are mitigated. |
| US07920535B2 |
Idle connection state power consumption reduction in a wireless local area network using beacon delay advertisement
A novel and useful apparatus for and method of improving idle connection state power consumption in wireless local area network (WLAN) system. Beacon transmission delay information is determined by the access points and advertised to the stations via a Beacon Transmission Delay Information Element. In response, the stations adjust their Wake For Beacon Reception time accordingly to wake up at a time much closer to the actual receipt of the Beacon, thereby reducing power consumption due to the reduced time the receive circuits need to be powered on. |
| US07920533B2 |
Method and apparatus for calibration and channel state feedback to support transmit beamforming in a MIMO system
A method and apparatus for calibration and channel state feedback to support transmit beamforming in a multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) system are disclosed. For radio frequency (RF) calibration, a first station (STA) sends a calibration request to a second STA, and the second STA sends a sounding packet to the first STA. The first STA receives the sounding packet, performs at least one channel measurement and performs calibration based on the channel measurement. For channel state feedback, the first STA sends a channel state feedback request to the second STA. The second STA sends a sounding packet to the first STA. The first STA receives the sounding packet and performs at least one channel measurement with the sounding packet. The first STA then calculates a steering matrix for transmit beamforming based on the channel measurement. |
| US07920532B2 |
Method and apparatus for providing distributed service composition model for ad hoc networks
A method and apparatus for providing a distributed service composition model in accordance with the characteristics of an ad hoc network are provided. The method includes confirming whether an adjacent mobile node exists within a number of hops from a task initiator node so as to execute a task, establishing a flow for executing the task with regard to the adjacent mobile node if it is confirmed that the adjacent mobile node exists, and executing the task using a routing algorithm in accordance with the flow. At least one service necessary to execute the task and an execution order between services are determined based on cooperation between adjacent mobile nodes. |
| US07920531B2 |
Technique for managing wireless networks
Network connectivity may be managed on a computing device. An identifier of each wireless access point or network that is available at a given location is determined. The identifier determined without the device attempting to connect to any available wireless access point or network at the given location. Each determined identifier is compared to one or more network identifiers that are known to the device. The device connects to an available wireless access point having the identifier that is known and detected. |
| US07920529B1 |
Intermediary query manager for 2G and 3G services
An intermediary system that seamlessly evolves the 2G/2.5G storage mediums to the 3G entities (e.g., a logical HSS) and provides subscriber data to 3G services such as IMS, from legacy data sources. An Intermediary Query Manager (IQM) is provided that functions as intermediary/broker system, and supports defined standard 3GPP interfaces specific to the IMS system (utilizing the existing storage medium servicing the PS domain) and also allows the continued support of the 2G/2.5G interfaces to 2G HLRs (servicing the CS domain). The IQM provides the capability to leverage usage of the current subscriber databases without requiring extraordinary efforts to migrate subscriber information to a new dedicated HSS element. The IQM provides data from multiple sources and processes requests necessary to fulfill these requests. The IQM can look like a MSC (Mobile Switching Center), VLR (Visitor Location Register), and/or SCP (Service Control Point) to the HLRs depending on the type of queries. |
| US07920528B2 |
View sharing between in-range devices
A system and method for sharing a view between systems in a dynamic wireless communication network. Various aspects of the present invention may comprise a first system communicating information of a view to a display resource of the first system. The first system may establish a two-way wireless communication link between the first system and a second system in the dynamic wireless communication network. The second system may, for example, communicate a request to the first system for the first system to share a view with the second system. The first system may, for example, receive such a request and respond to such a request by communicating information of a view to the second system. The second system may then communicate information of the view to a display resource of the second system. Various aspects may comprise the first and second systems communicating view modification information between the systems. |
| US07920527B2 |
Real-time/non-real-time/RF IC and applications thereof
A real-time/non-real-time/RF IC includes first and second baseband processing modules, an RF section, a wireline interface, and a bus structure. The first baseband processing module converts real-time outbound data into real-time outbound symbols and converts real-time inbound symbols into real-time inbound data. The second baseband processing module converts non-real-time outbound data into non-real-time outbound symbols and converts non-real-time inbound symbols into non-real-time inbound data. The RF section converts the real-time outbound symbols into real-time outbound RF signals, converts real-time inbound RF signals into the real-time inbound symbols, converts the non-real-time outbound symbols into non-real-time outbound RF signals, and converts non-real-time inbound RF signals into the non-real-time symbols. The wireline interface couples the non-real-time outbound data, the non-real-time inbound data, the real-time outbound data, and/or the real-time inbound data to an off-chip wireline connection. |
| US07920517B2 |
Uplink load control including individual measurements
A technique is disclosed for determining values of different portions of a total uplink interference, which can be used for scheduling and load control at a base station, for example. A disclosed example includes obtaining measurements from individual users and using those measurements to determine corresponding portions of a total uplink interference at the base station. One portion is associated with users that are controlled by a scheduler for that base station. Another portion is associated with users that are not controlled by that scheduler. Determining each of the portions individually and using a received total wideband power measurement allows for determining each of the major portions of the total uplink interference at a base station. |
| US07920516B2 |
Wireless communication mobile station apparatus and control channel decoding method
A wireless communication base station apparatus that allows the number of times of blind decodings at a mobile station to be reduced without increasing the overhead caused by notifying information. In this apparatus, a CCE allocation part (104) allocates allocation information allocated to a PDCCH received from modulation parts (103-1 to 103-K) to a particular one of a plurality of search spaces that is corresponding to a CCE aggregation size of the PDCCH. A placement part (108) then places the allocation information in one of downstream line resources, reserved for the PDCCH, that is corresponding to the CCE of the particular search space to which the allocation information has been allocated. A radio transmission part (111) then transmits an OFDM symbol, in which the allocation information has been placed, to the mobile station from an antenna (112). |
| US07920511B2 |
Method and system for managing channels in a wireless communication system
A method of managing channels in a wireless communication system is provided. The method includes generating channel quality feedback comprising a maximum channel quality indicator (CQI) and a delta-CQI value at a subscriber station and transmitting the channel quality feedback to a base station. |
| US07920507B2 |
Time division multiple access for network nodes with multiple receivers
A system facilitates communication among nodes in a wireless network. A timeslot is assigned to each of a group of nodes (201) in the wireless network (400, 800, 1200, 1300). The timeslot is a time for a corresponding node to receive messages transmitted by other nodes (201). A modulation scheme is assigned to each of the nodes (201). A message is transmitted from at least one of the nodes (201), using the assigned modulation scheme, to at least one destination node during a timeslot assigned to the at least one destination node. The messages are received at the at least one destination node from the at least one of the nodes (201). |
| US07920504B2 |
Power save system and method
According to various embodiments of the invention a device can announce broadcast traffic in a global access period. Thus, a destination can change its local communication window every global access period. By announcing a local communication window during a global access period it can be more likely that a source device in a network will receive the information because all devices should be active during the global access period. A device can awaken for its local communication window and during the local communication window a source device can schedule a transmission and transmit information to the device. |
| US07920501B2 |
Method and arrangement for bi-directional relaying in wireless communication systems
A relaying node is in bidirectional communication with at least a first and a second sending/receiving radio node, and the relaying radio node receives at least a first signal carrying at least first data and a second signal carrying at least second data. The relaying node generates a reduced representation of at least the first and second signal, with a reduced information content as compared to the first and second data, by a joint non-linearly encoding operation, and transmits the reduced representation to at least the first and the second communication node. The first and second sending/receiving node can extract data from the reduced representation by a non-linear decoding operation using stored a priori information. |
| US07920500B2 |
Controller apparatus, mobile terminal, and communication control method
A controller apparatus of this invention controls transmission of a packet from a source mobile terminal to a destination mobile terminal through one or more relay mobile terminals in an ad hoc network formed by a plurality of mobile terminals. The controller apparatus includes a packet location information managing unit configured to manage packet location information which shows to which mobile terminal the packet has been transmitted in the ad hoc network. |
| US07920498B2 |
Method and apparatus for decoding a control channel in a wireless communication system
A method of decoding a control channel in a wireless communication system is provided. In the method, a terminal calculates the number of sub-bursts to be used during a next decoding and positions of the sub-bursts, based on a signal-to-noise ratio of at least one of a first burst or a second burst. Then, the terminal compares the calculated number of sub-bursts with a reference value. When the calculated number of sub-bursts is greater than the reference value, the terminal does not receive more bursts or sub-bursts and instead enters into a sleep state. When the calculated number of sub-bursts is smaller than or equal to the reference value, the terminal receives and decodes only sub-bursts at the calculated positions. |
| US07920494B2 |
Method and apparatus for performing mobility measurements in a communication network
A method and apparatus for performing mobility measurement in a communication network (100) is described. The method includes of receiving a subframe sequence pattern from a node in the communication network (100). The subframe sequence pattern indicates types of subframes being transmitted by a neighboring cell node (104) in a neighboring cell (112). The method includes receiving a subframe from a sequence of subframes transmitted by the neighboring cell node (104) in the neighboring cell (112), and determining that the received subframe is a multicast subframe based on the subframe sequence pattern. The method then includes performing a single cell-specific reference symbol measurement in response to determining that the received subframe is the multicast subframe. |
| US07920491B1 |
System and method for split isolation in radio frequency electronics
A system and method for designing a full duplex communications transceiver to enable a reduction in isolation between a transmit signal and a receive signal at a diplexer is disclosed. An RFE transmit filter attenuation level can be determined to be sufficient to attenuate a noise power of the transmitter below a thermal noise floor of the power amplifier. A minimum diplexer transmit filter attenuation level can be calculated to attenuate noise power output from the power amplifier in the receive band to a level below a noise floor of the receiver. |
| US07920490B2 |
Systems and methods for wireless transmission and reception of data including frequency and channel code selection
Systems and methods are disclosed for wireless transmission and reception of data including processing and buffering features. According to one or more exemplary aspects, there is provided a wireless audio receiver for receiving a plurality of packets of encoded audio data. Moreover, the receiver includes at least one receiving component that receives the plurality of packets to generate a plurality of decoded signals, a decoding component that decodes the first packet of encoded data transmitted to produce decoded data, and a selecting component that identifies the mechanisms for receiving additional encoded data. Other exemplary embodiments may include one or more receiving components that processing data regarding antenna, frequencies and channels selected for transmission, as well as an audio component that receives the decoded signals and produces decoded audio signals. |
| US07920487B2 |
Method and apparatus for loop prevention in communication networks
A method and apparatus route data packets in communication network. A current routing topology of the network is analyzed and a digest value representing the current routing topology is determined. The digest value is encapsulated within the data packet. The data packet is forwarded according to the current routing topology. |
| US07920483B2 |
System and method of dynamically optimizing a transmission mode of wirelessly transmitted information
The present invention includes a method of optimizing a transmission mode of wirelessly transmitted data. The method includes selecting a first transmission mode based on a predetermined channel database and a first channel characterization. The first channel characterization can be based upon signals transmitted in an initial mode. An error factor is generated based on a difference between an estimated performance characteristic, and an expected performance characteristic. A subsequent transmission mode is selected based upon the predetermined channel database, the error factor and a subsequent channel characterization. The predetermined channel database can include a predetermined look-up-table that provides transmission mode selections based upon the channel characterizations. The look-up-table generally includes a plurality of quality parameter thresholds that determine the selection of a transmission mode. Another method includes receiving transmission signals that include data encoded in an initial transmission mode. A first quality parameter of the received transmission signals is measured. A subsequent transmission mode is selected based upon the quality parameter. Transmission signals are received having data encoded in the subsequent transmission mode. A second quality parameter is measured. A parameter is adjusted within selection criteria of another subsequent transmission mode based upon the second quality parameter. |
| US07920479B2 |
Cost minimization of services provided by multiple service providers
In one embodiment, a plurality of connections couple to a plurality of service providers (SPs) that each provide services at a cost. The cost of the services of each SP is determined according to a tiered pricing structure that includes one or more tiers. Each tier correlates a particular amount of data transferred with the SP to a particular cost. A data collector collects measurement data that indicates an amount of data transferred with each SP. A processor selects a target tier in the tiered pricing structure of each SP based on the measurement data. The processor also generates a momentary target utilization rate (MTUR) for each SP based on the target tier for the SP and the measurement data. The processor then distributes utilization of services among the SPs based on the MTUR and tiered pricing structure of each SP to minimize the cost of the services provided by the SPs. |
| US07920475B2 |
System and method for adaptive removal of delay jitter effect and low end-to-end delay
Systems, modules, methods and computer readable mediums for adaptive removal of delay jitter and low end-to-end delay are provided. The method may include the following operations at a delay buffer: calculating a holding time for a plurality of packets input into a network; buffering each of the plurality of packets for the duration of the holding time; and arranging the buffered packets in a sequence indicative of an order in which the buffered packets were input into the network. The holding time may be based on a difference between a current maximum delay of the plurality of packets in a current time window and a delay of a first packet of the plurality of packets in the current time window. The method may also include playing back the buffered packets at a selected playback time. Playing back the buffered packets may be performed at a reception mechanism. |
| US07920471B2 |
Call admission control method and system
A call admission control technique allowing flexible and reliable call admissions at an ATM switch in the case of an ATM network including both QoS-specified and QoS-unspecified virtual connections is disclosed. In the case where a QoS (Quality of Service) specified connection request occurs, an estimated bandwidth is calculated which is to be assigned to an existing QoS-unspecified traffic on the link associated with the QoS-specified connection request. A call control processor of the ATM switch determines whether the QoS-specified connection request is accepted, depending on whether a requested bandwidth is smaller than an available bandwidth that is obtained by subtracting an assigned bandwidth and the estimated bandwidth from a full bandwidth of the link. |
| US07920470B2 |
Network adapter with TCP support
A network adapter and corresponding method for its use are disclosed. The network adapter has an operational mode that allows a host CPU to offload transmission of a block of data to the adapter. The adapter segments the block into fragments, and builds a data packet for each fragment. The adapter transmits these packets with an adapter-implemented flow control. This flow control uses: a context engine that tracks flow control variables for a “context” established for the block; a context memory for storing the variables; and a receive filter that updates flow control information for the block based on ACK packets received from the remote endpoint receiving the data packets. Because the network adapter implements flow control for data blocks that the network adapter segments, intermediate ACK packets corresponding to that block can be intercepted by the adapter, before they pass to the host, conserving host resources. An added advantage is that the host CPU can offload data blocks larger than the remote endpoint's receive window size, since the adapter can follow the transmit window and transmit packets at appropriate intervals. This further decreases load on the host CPU, decreases latency, and improves bandwidth utilization. |
| US07920465B2 |
Method and apparatus for transmitting the control signal of resilient packet ring media access control
The present invention provides a method and apparatus for transmitting control signal of Resilient Packet Ring (RPR) Medium Access Control (MAC), including: encapsulating a control signal of RPR MAC interface to be transmitted into an RPR data frame of predefined format, and directly sending it to a receiving unit through a standard interface. In this invention, an RPR data frame of predefined format is utilized to transmit signals between an RPR MAC and a receiving unit, e.g., an RPR client, via standard interfaces, which may avoid the increase of unstable factors affecting signal transmission and hardware cost caused by the appending of hardware devices in the standard interfaces. Thus, the reliability of signal transmission is enhanced, and the hardware cost of communication system is reduced. |
| US07920461B2 |
Combined echo and crosstalk cancellation
Combined echo and crosstalk cancellation is provided. Frequency domain adaptive filters are used to remove or reduce the effects of echo and crosstalk for a multi-channel and full-duplex communications system. Data from each transmit channel is buffered and converted to the frequency domain. The frequency domain data is multiplied by crosstalk coefficients to obtain a frequency domain correction signal for each channel. Adaptation of the crosstalk coefficients is based on correlations between the error signals and the data from each of the transmit channels. A single frequency domain transform engine, such as a Fast Fourier Transform engine, is employed for all calculations to save power and area. |