Document Document Title
US07958336B2 System and method for reservation station load dependency matrix
A device and method may fetch an instruction or micro-operation for execution. An indication may be made as to whether the instruction is dependent upon any source values corresponding to a set of previously fetched instructions. A value may be stored corresponding to each source value from which the first instruction depends. An indication may be made for each of the set of sources of the instruction, whether the source depends on a previously loaded value or source, where indicating may include storing a value corresponding to the indication. The instruction may be executed after the stored values associated with the instruction indicate the dependencies are satisfied.
US07958334B2 Method and apparatus for an efficient multi-path trace cache design
A novel trace cache design and organization to efficiently store and retrieve multi-path traces. A goal is to design a trace cache, which is capable of storing multi-path traces without significant duplication in the traces. Furthermore, the effective access latency of these traces is reduced.
US07958332B2 Parallel data processing apparatus
A controller operable to control an array of processing elements comprises a retrieval unit operable to retrieve instruction items for each of a plurality of instructions streams, each instruction stream having a plurality of instructions items, a combining unit operable to combine the plurality of instruction streams into a serial instruction stream, and a distribution unit operable to distribute the serial instruction stream to an array of processing elements.
US07958331B2 Storage device with opportunistic address space
A data storage device comprises storage media including physical data blocks. The data storage device comprises a storage circuit. The storage circuit compresses a user data block into a compressed user data block before storing the compressed user data in one of the physical data blocks, leaving an unused block portion of the physical data block. The data storage device comprises a remapping circuit that remaps the unused block portion to an opportunistic block address. The data storage device comprises a circuit that stores data in the unused block portion.
US07958330B2 Compiler program, compiler program recording medium, compile method, and program processing system
A compiler program creates a program, which is executed on a platform where use of a pointer is limited and that can perform a pointer operation without specifying addresses allocated to a memory. When a source code, which is related with the pointer operation to be executed for data having references for simultaneously identifying respective data and offset information for simultaneously specifying positions in the data identified by the references, is read, a code for performing the pointer operation using a pseudo-pointer having a predetermined data length is created by the compiler program based on information simultaneously specified by the references for identifying the data and the offset information.
US07958324B2 Computer system and command execution frequency control method
A computer system of the present invention can adjust the execution frequencies of a command issued from a host and a command issued from a storage. An external manager disposed in the host configures a priority for a host command issued from a command issuing module inside the host. An internal manager disposed in the storage configures a priority for an internal command issued from a command issuing module inside the storage. The internal manager adjusts the execution frequency of the host command and the execution frequency of the internal command based on the host command priority and the internal command priority.
US07958323B1 Multithreading implementation for flops and register files
A processor having a multithreading memory system, including a main memory element, at least one special memory element and a controller. The main memory element may be configured to receive a data signal and a control signal. The at least one special memory element may be associated with the main memory element. Further, the special memory element may be configured to receive an output signal from the main memory element. The controller may be configured to receive an output signal from the at least one special memory element and a scan input signal. Further, the controller may be further configured to select one of the output signal from the at least one special memory element and the scan input signal based on an advance thread signal. The selected one of the output signal from the at least one special memory element and the scan input signal may be forwarded to the main memory element as the control signal.
US07958321B2 Apparatus and method for reducing memory access conflict
Provided are an apparatus and a method of reducing memory access conflict. An apparatus for reducing memory access conflict when a plurality of data processing elements perform simultaneous access to a memory including a plurality of pages, each of which includes a plurality of subpages, the apparatus comprising: an access arbiter mapping a subpage division address corresponding to least significant bits of a memory access address received from each of the data processing elements to another address having a same number of bits as the subpage division address in order for data to be output from each of the subpages in a corresponding page at a time of the simultaneous access; and a selector, prepared for each of the pages, selecting to output one of the data output from the subpages using the mapped results.
US07958317B2 Cache directed sequential prefetch
A technique for performing stream detection and prefetching within a cache memory simplifies stream detection and prefetching. A bit in a cache directory or cache entry indicates that a cache line has not been accessed since being prefetched and another bit indicates the direction of a stream associated with the cache line. A next cache line is prefetched when a previously prefetched cache line is accessed, so that the cache always attempts to prefetch one cache line ahead of accesses, in the direction of a detected stream. Stream detection is performed in response to load misses tracked in the load miss queue (LMQ). The LMQ stores an offset indicating a first miss at the offset within a cache line. A next miss to the line sets a direction bit based on the difference between the first and second offsets and causes prefetch of the next line for the stream.
US07958309B2 Dynamic selection of a memory access size
A method of data processing in a processing unit supported by a memory hierarchy includes the processing unit performing a plurality of memory accesses to the memory hierarchy. The plurality of memory accesses includes one or more memory accesses targeting a full cache line of data. The processing unit monitors utilization of data accessed by the plurality of memory accesses, and based upon the utilization of the data, dynamically alters a memory access mode of operation so that a subsequent storage-modifying memory access targets less than a full cache line of data.
US07958308B2 Recording controller and recording control method
Upon retrieving, after occurrence of replacement of a first cache, move out (MO) data that is a write back target, a second cache determines, based on data that is set in a control flag of a register, whether a new registration process of move in (MI) data with respect to a recording position of the MO data is completed. Upon determining that the new registration process is not completed, the second cache cancels the new registration process to ensure that a request of the new registration process is not output to a pipeline.
US07958307B2 Method and system for grouping storage system components
Methods and systems are provided for associating a storage system component, e.g. a server, client, machine, sub-client, or other storage system component, with one or more other storage system components into a group. Storage preferences are defined for the group which is automatically associated with each component in the group. The storage preferences define how storage operations are to be performed on the storage system components.
US07958306B2 Computer system and control method for the computer system
A computer system including a first storage system connected to a first host computer, a second storage system connected to a second host computer and a third storage system connected to the first and second storage systems. The second storage system sets transfer setting before an occurrence of a failure, the transfer setting being provided with a dedicated storage area to be used for transferring data to the third storage system by asynchronous copy in response to a failure at the first host computer. Before the start of data transfer between the second storage system and third storage system to be executed after an occurrence of the failure, the second storage system checks the dedicated storage area, data transfer line and transfer setting information, and if an abnormal state is detected, this abnormal state is reported to the host computer as information attached to the transfer setting.
US07958304B1 Dynamically adapting the fault tolerance and performance characteristics of a raid-based storage system by merging and splitting raid groups
Redundant Array of Inexpensive Disks (RAID) groups in a storage system are dynamically reconfigured by merging and splitting the RAID groups. When an indication of a change to data or system characteristics is received, disks in the RAID groups of the storage system can be reorganized to adapt to the change.
US07958302B2 System and method for communicating data in a storage network
Systems and methods for communicating data in a storage network are disclosed. A method may include communicating, from a host to a storage array, a request for data having different portions stored in different storage nodes of the storage array. In response to the request, a first storage node of the storage array may communicate to the host a first portion of the requested data stored on the first storage node. The first storage node may communicate a message to the host indicating that a second portion of the requested data is stored on a second storage node of the storage array. The host may communicate a message to the second storage node indicating that the host is ready to receive the second portion of the requested data. The second storage node may communicate to the host a second portion of the requested data stored on the second storage node.
US07958300B2 Data storage methods and systems for use on a mobile device
Systems and methods for operating upon a mobile communications device. A system and method can be used with data operations with respect to the mobile communications device's memory, wherein the memory has sectors. Data structures are used with the data operations to determine whether a sector contains valid data or to locate a record's pointer in the memory. The data structures can be used for such operations as record creation, record movement, recovery, etc.
US07958299B2 Hard disk system state monitoring method
A hard disk system state monitoring method is provided. The hard disk system state monitoring method is to monitor the state of a hard disk system. The hard disk system comprises a backplane, an expander and a plurality of hard disks adapted in the device slots of the backplane. The hard disk system state monitoring method comprises the steps of: retrieving a logic and physical address mapping table from the expander; retrieving a physical address and device slot number mapping table; generating a logical address and device slot number mapping table according to the logic and physical address mapping table and physical address and device slot number mapping table; receiving a plurality of hard disk instant state signals; and establishing a hard disk system state database according to the logical address and device slot number mapping table and the hard disk instant state signals.
US07958298B2 System and method for providing address decode and virtual function (VF) migration support in a peripheral component interconnect express (PCIE) multi-root input/output virtualization (IOV) environment
The present invention is a method for providing address decode and Virtual Function (VF) migration support in a Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (PCIE) multi-root Input/Output Virtualization (IOV) environment. The method may include receiving a Transaction Layer Packet (TLP) from the PCIE multi-root IOV environment. The method may further include comparing a destination address of the TLP with a plurality of base address values stored in a Content Addressable Memory (CAM), each base address value being associated with a Virtual Function (VF), each VF being associated with a Physical Function (PF). The method may further include when a base address value included in the plurality of base address values matches the destination address of the TLP, providing the matching base address value to the PCIE multi-root IOV environment by outputting from the CAM the matching base address value. The method may further include constructing a requestor ID for the VF associated with the matching base address value, the requestor ID being based upon the output matching base address value and a bus number for a PF which owns the CAM.
US07958297B2 Card-type peripheral device
A card-type peripheral device includes an electronic component including a memory disposed in a case, a terminal part including connection terminals connectable with a to-be-connected device, and a switch for disabling writing to the memory. The card-type peripheral device further includes a signal terminal capable of transmitting a signal indicating the status of the switch to the to-be-connected device.
US07958296B2 System management and advanced programmable interrupt controller
Methods for processing more securely are disclosed. Embodiments provide effective and efficient mechanisms for reducing APIC interference with accesses to SMRAM, where enhanced SMM code implementing these mechanisms effectively reduces APIC attacks and increases the security of proprietary, confidential or otherwise secure data stored in SMRAM.
US07958294B1 Integrated circuit having data transceivers and method of positioning circuits on an integrated circuit
An integrated circuit having a plurality of data transceivers positioned on opposite ends of the integrated circuit is disclosed. The integrated circuit comprises a first plurality of data transceivers positioned in a column on a first end of the integrated circuit and a second plurality of data transceivers positioned in a column on a second end. A circuit is preferably positioned between the first plurality of data transceivers and the second plurality of data transceivers. The circuit could comprise, for example, circuits for implementing a programmable logic device. The circuitry of the plurality of data transceivers is also preferably arranged such that analog circuitry is positioned closer to an end of the integrated circuit than the digital circuits to reduce interference with the analog circuits. According to another aspect of the invention, the data transceivers are formed on layers to reduce the amount of interference.
US07958292B2 Disk drive system on chip with integrated buffer memory and support for host memory access
A circuit for a storage device that communicates with a host device comprises a first high speed interface. A storage controller communicates with the high speed interface. A buffer communicates with the storage controller. The storage device generates storage buffer data during operation. The storage controller is adapted to selectively store the storage buffer data in at least one of the buffer and/or in the host device via the high speed interface. A bridge chip for enterprise applications couples the circuit to an enterprise device.
US07958291B2 Supplemental communication interface
An apparatus includes a first interface having a communication channel through which data is transmitted to or received from a target device and a first control register that is configured to control, based at least in part on its contents, transmission or reception of data through the communication channel. The apparatus also includes a second interface having a second control register that is configured to control, based at least in part on its contents, transmission or reception of data through the communication channel. A circuit in the apparatus harmonizes the contents of the first control register and the second control register, such that an external controller can control transmission or reception of data through the communication channel by providing control data in a first format to the first control register or by providing alternate control data in a second different format to the second control register.
US07958290B2 Serial bit ordering of non-synchronous bus signals
The quantity of input and output signal lines that must be directly supported by a bus logic to transmit signals to and receive signals from bus devices is minimized by serializing the states to be driven onto the output signal lines and serially transmitting those states to one or more external shift registers having parallel outputs to drive output signal lines, by receiving states of input signal lines at parallel inputs to one or more other external shift registers to be serialized and serially transmitted to the bus logic, wherein the order in which the states to be driven onto the output signal lines is such that those states corresponding to actual output signal lines are the last states to be serially transmitted, and wherein the order in which the states received from the input signal lines are transmitted to the bus logic is such that those states corresponding to actual input signal lines are transmitted first to the bus logic, thereby also minimizing the quantity of shift registers required externally of the bus logic.
US07958288B2 Semiconductor storage device and method of controlling the same
A semiconductor storage device includes a first nonvolatile memory to store user data of a file, a second nonvolatile memory to store management data of the file, the second nonvolatile memory being different in type from the first nonvolatile memory, and a controller to control read/write of data with respect to the first and second nonvolatile memories.
US07958287B2 Semiconductor storage device and method of controlling the same
A semiconductor storage device includes a first nonvolatile memory to store user data of a file, a second nonvolatile memory to store management data of the file, the second nonvolatile memory being different in type from the first nonvolatile memory, and a controller to control read/write of data with respect to the first and second nonvolatile memories.
US07958286B2 Resistor identification configuration circuitry and associated method
Programmable on-chip identification circuitry and associated method are disclosed that provide integrated circuits with the ability to select and report from multiple different vendor and system identification configurations. The integrated circuit device includes programmable circuitry that utilizes vendor identification, system identification, configuration or other device information provided or selected at least in part based upon selection information from a source external to the integrated circuit. The selection information may be provided through one or more externally generated digital and/or analog control signals that are then processed within the integrated circuit device to select, access and utilize desired identification information stored in an on-chip database. For example, one or more analog control signals can be generated using resistor circuits for which specific selectable resistor configurations map to particular information stored in a look-up table or other database structure within the integrated circuit. The analog control signals are converted to digital values within the integrated circuit, and these digital values are used to select device information from the on-chip database. Furthermore, the selected device information can be stored in on-chip device information registers. And the digital values themselves can be stored and used as identification, configuration or other device information.
US07958282B2 Method, apparatus and system for serial attached SCSI (SAS) zoning management of a domain using initiator isolation
Embodiments of the invention include a method and apparatus for managing SAS zoning using initiator isolation. The method includes assigning initiator devices in the SAS domain to a first initiator zone group, assigning target devices in the SAS domain to a second target zone group, and establishing an access control policy in which each of the initiator devices assigned to the first initiator zone group can communicate with each of the target devices assigned to the second target zone group but no initiator devices assigned to the first initiator zone group can communicate with any other initiator devices assigned to the first initiator zone group. Assignment of devices can be based on attachment information associated with each device, such as the ZPSDS entry point of the device, the SAS address of the device, and the phy of the zoning expander device in the SAS domain that is closest to the device.
US07958280B2 Parallel data transfer in solid-state storage
A process of data storage utilizing a data management system that transfers data between a host system and multiple storage devices through multiple channels. The data management system receives data from the host system and writes the data as data segments to the multiple storage devices. Each data segment may comprise one sector, more than one sector, or a portion of a sector, depending on the embodiment. The data segments are transferred to and from the multiple storage devices in parallel fashion while the data in each data segment is transferred to its corresponding data storage device sequentially. The data management system reassembles data segments received from the data storage devices and sends the data to the host system.
US07958278B2 Image forming apparatus, job execution apparatus, and job execution method
An image forming apparatus includes a job execution portion, a connecting portion for detachably connecting an external storage, a detection portion for detecting connection to the connecting portion of the external storage, a stored information reading portion for reading stored information of the external storage based on connection detection of the external storage by the detection portion, an internal storage portion for storing the read stored information, and a job administration portion for making the job execution portion execute a job about the stored information stored in the internal storage portion and for registering the job about the stored information as a processing wait job when the job execution portion is executing another job.
US07958277B2 Video player and electronic system utilizing the same
A video player transmits a first video signal to a display device through a first connection group. At least one first output terminal outputs the first video signal. At least one second output terminal outputs the first video signal. A controller determines whether the first output terminal is coupled to the display device through the first connection group and determines whether the second output terminal is coupled to the display device through the first connection group. The controller only provides the first video signal to the first output terminal when the first output terminal is coupled to the display device through the first connection group. The controller only provides the first video signal to the second output terminal when the second output terminal is coupled to the display device through the first connection group.
US07958274B2 Heuristic status polling
Methods, compute nodes, and computer program products are provided for heuristic status polling of a component in a computing system. Embodiments include receiving, by a polling module from a requesting application, a status request requesting status of a component; determining, by the polling module, whether an activity history for the component satisfies heuristic polling criteria; polling, by the polling module, the component for status if the activity history for the component satisfies the heuristic polling criteria; and not polling, by the polling module, the component for status if the activity history for the component does not satisfy the heuristic criteria.
US07958273B2 System and method for connecting SAS RAID controller device channels across redundant storage subsystems
A system comprising a first expander device and a second expander device. The first expander device and the second expander device comprise a subtractive port and a table mapped port and are suitable for coupling a first serial attached SCSI controller to a second serial attached SCSI controller. The first and second expander devices are cross-coupled via a redundant physical connection.
US07958272B2 Method and apparatus for outputting a user interface (UI) event of 3rd party device in home network
Disclosed are a method and apparatus for outputting a user interface (UI) event of a 3rd party device in a home network having a server, a client and a control point, the server and the client joining a UI session by using a remote protocol, the control point controlling the server and the client. The method includes (a) receiving by the control point a UI event message from the 3rd party device not joined in the UI session, the UI event message representing change in a state of the 3rd party device, (b) selecting by the control point a target client for processing a UI event, (c) transmitting by the control point an Out-of-session connect action message (OOSConnect Action) requesting connection setup with the 3rd party device to the selected target client, and (d) transmitting by the target client a permission message for the OOSConnect Action to the control point, thereby setting an Out-of-session connection OOSConnect with the 3rd party device and processing the UI event.
US07958266B1 Multiple URL identity syntaxes and identities
Any arrangement of URLv identity syntax can now be used in a repository, once its second.top domain is known to have an identity syntax. The repository can extract, select, store, organize, prioritize, and consolidate URLvs of differing identity syntaxes. The correlation and association among different contact entities' containing the same individual's identities can yield accurate same individual's identity and URLvs. These increase the competition of the Internet by enabling users to transport their data easily to websites allowing for individuals' data-transport.
US07958264B2 URI pointer system and method for the broadcast of MPEG-4 data in an ATSC MPEG-2 transport stream file system
A URI pointer system and method are provided for the referencing of MPEG-4 data resources carried in an American ATSC MPEG-2 TSFS. The method comprises: receiving an MPEG-2 TS, with a packetized ATSC TSFS; locating a URI in the TS; in response to the URI, accessing an address such as a lid or an http address; retrieving MPEG-4 resources from the ATSC TSFS; and, decoding the MPEG-4 resources. Accessed lid URIs provide a binding name and access scheme to the objects in the ATSC TSFS, as a lid URI embedded in an Initial Object Descriptor (IOD) is used to locate resources in the TSFS such as a BIFS scene description stream and/or an object descriptor stream. Receiving an MPEG-2 TS, with a packetized ATSC TSFS, means that MPEG-4 resources are formed in a hierarchical directory structure of BIOP objects including a DSM::ServiceGateway, a DSM::Directory, and a DSM::File.
US07958263B2 Address reduction for data storage enclosures
A data storage enclosure management system of a plurality of service processors is configured to communicate externally via a pair of FC-AL loops. Lead and subsidiary service processors are defined and lead service processors connect to ones of the FC-AL loops with an FC-AL address, and the lead and subsidiary service processors are connected by a secondary communication link. The lead service processor(s) employ an identifier unassociated with the FC-AL address to differentiate communications of the lead service processor from communications of an associated subsidiary service processor, the lead service processor serving as a proxy for the associated subsidiary service processor with respect to the FC-AL address and communicating with the associated subsidiary service processor via the secondary communication link.
US07958260B2 Method and apparatus for queuing data flows
In a data system, such as a cable modem termination system, different-priority flows are scheduled to be routed to their logical destinations by factoring both the priority level and the time spent in queue. The time that each packet of each flow spends waiting for transmission is normalized such that the waiting times of all flows are equalized with respect to each other. A latency scaling parameter is calculated.
US07958258B2 Mobile communication device domain name system redirection
A device provides, to a domain name system (DNS), uniform resource locator (URL) information received from a user device, and generates a redirect query when a redirect error is received from the DNS based on the URL information. The device also provides the redirect query to a policy server/accounting database, and receives, from the policy server/accounting database, information indicating that the user device subscribes to a redirect service and subscriber information associated with the user device. A device management database (DMD) query is generated based on the subscriber information, provides the DMD query to a DMD server, and receives, from the DMD server, model information associated with the user device, where the URL information and the model information are used to retrieve redirect information for the user device.
US07958256B2 System and method for providing application categorization and quality of service in a network with multiple users
Internet protocol (IP) data service providers may provide several services over a single communications channel and/or circuit. For example, the provider may deliver public services such as Wi-Fi, content, gaming, etc. as well as business-critical “back-office” services such as credit card processing, VoIP, streaming video, video conferencing, etc. Some applications can very demanding from a quality of service standpoint, whereas other applications are unwanted or unauthorized on the network such as worms, viruses, denial of service attacks and/or certain types of peer-to-peer file sharing applications. Applications sharing the communication channel may be classified into one or more application classifications. The available bandwidth over the communications channel and/or circuit may then be managed via a prioritization system that can be parameterized based on the available bandwidth and/or the desired application behavior for given characterized applications. Many of the above unwanted applications can be suppressed, after being classified.
US07958253B2 Method and apparatus for transmitting and receiving content on distributed storage system
A method and apparatus are provided for transmitting and receiving a stream of content in a distributed storage system. According to the method, a stream of a copy of content is received from a plurality of storages being distributed in a network, wherein an original of the content is stored in a server and archival fragments of the copy of the content are separately stored in the storages, and a stream of the original content is selectively received according to the quality of the copy of the content, wherein the quality is determined based on the number of archival fragments received from the storages. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent degradation in the quality and reliability of content when archival fragments of a copy of the content are received from a distributed storage, thereby stably receiving a high-quality content streaming service.
US07958246B2 Establishing unique sessions for DNS subscribers
A method and system for providing service over a communication network. The method includes establishing a plurality of virtual DNS servers that is supported by a DNS server. A plurality of target IP addresses is assigned for the plurality of virtual DNS servers. Each target IP address includes a first IP subaddress identifying the DNS server, and a second IP subaddress identifying a corresponding virtual DNS server. A plurality of network capable devices is uniquely assigned to the plurality of virtual DNS servers for domain name resolution. Each network capable device accesses the communication network through a corresponding network device associated with a corresponding source IP address. A service plan of a client is assigned to a first network capable device used by the client. The service plan is implemented through a DNS request under a session established between the first network capable device and its assigned first virtual DNS server. The session is uniquely identified by a combination of a first source IP address of a first network device used by the first network capable device to access the communication network, and a first target IP address of the first virtual DNS server.
US07958245B2 Method and system for providing secure access to private networks with client redirection
Improved approaches for providing secure access to resources maintained on private networks are disclosed. The secure access can be provided through a public network using client software of client-server software and/or with file system software. Multiple remote users are able to gain restricted and controlled access to at least portions of a private network through a common access point, such as an intermediate server of the remote network.
US07958243B2 Direct file transfer between subscribers of a communications system
Systems and techniques for transferring a file from a first client associated with a first subscriber to a communications system to a second client associated with a second subscriber to the communications system by connecting from the first client to a communications system host; sending, through the communications system host, a request to the second client to establish a direct connection to the second client; when the second client accepts the request, establishing a direct connection to the second client that bypasses the communications system host; and transferring a file over the direct connection.
US07958242B2 Establishment of media sessions with media adaptation
The present invention relates to a method and terminal for reporting media format adaptation resources to convert a media format of a media stream of a media session to be established between terminals through a packet switched communications network towards a requesting terminal. The invention further relates to a method and NSIS router for reporting media format adaptation resources for converting a media format of a media stream of a media session to be established between terminals. To allow terminals to establish a media session utilizing media adaptation, the invention provides a NSIS (Next Step In Signaling) based signaling framework facilitating the detection and reservation of media adaptation resources on (and off) a media data path on which media data are transported utilizing a media transport protocol among terminals participating in the session.
US07958238B1 System and method for managing network access for an end user
A method for managing network access is provided that includes receiving a signal indicating a change in a network parameter, the change reflecting that an end user associated with a communication session has changed from using a first network node to a second network node. Each of the network nodes is operable to facilitate the communication session associated with the end user. The method also includes communicating with a billing system element to notify the billing system element of the change in the network parameter and receiving quota information for the end user associated with the second network node. The billing information associated with the second network node may be applied to the communication session, the billing information being based on the quota information.
US07958237B2 Method for managing computer network access
A client computer initiates a first communication session at a first network address and receives therefrom a second network address. The client computer then initiates a second communication session at the second network address and receives therefrom an access configuration including a control setting for a communication protocol capable of being utilized during a third communication session. Concurrent with the second communication session, the client computer initiates a third communication session at a third network address whereupon the conveyance of data to or from an instantiated process on the client computer via the third communication session is controlled based on the control setting for the communication protocol.
US07958236B2 Method and system for remote diagnostic, control and information collection based on various communication modes for sending messages to users
A method, system, and program product for communicating with machines and end users connected to a network. Information sent to or from the machines is transmitted using electronic mail or a via a direct connection. The electronic mail may be transmitted over the Internet to a service center or from a service center to a resource administrator, but also may remain within a local or wide area network for transmission between a machine and an end user or a resource administrator. E-mail messages may be transmitted from a computer which is attached to a device which is being monitored or controlled and include information regarding the status, usage or capabilities of the attached device. The device may send status messages and usage information of the device by an end user to either a resource administrator or to a service center on the Internet through a firewall. The message may be sent directly to the resource administrator station if an urgent need of the end user is indicated, so that a communication may be sent either directly to the end user or to a device driver so that the device driver may communicate the message to the end user. For example, an end user may have exceeded a predetermined limit of resource usage, and needs to be informed. For routine information, the service center may manage all the resources on an intranet and may send predetermined types of information such as summary information regarding usage of network resources to the end user using e-mail.
US07958235B2 Point-based customer tracking and maintenance incentive system
A computer terminal connected to a manufacturing apparatus as an object of the maintenance management is connected to a server machine providing a maintenance management service by a network, enabling bi-directional communication. The computer terminal monitors whether or not the object apparatus is restarted and transmits restart information indicating restart completion due to maintenance performed on the object apparatus by the customer to the server machine upon determining that the object apparatus is restarted. The server machine generates a random number within the specific range when receiving the restart information from the computer terminal, retrieves points corresponding to the random number from the lottery point setting storage unit, and stores the retrieved points in the lottery point storage unit. This can encourage the customer to perform maintenance on the object apparatus in order to indicate said restart completion to obtain more points.
US07958234B2 System and method for monitoring user interaction with web pages
Systems and methods for monitoring usage of an electronic device are disclosed herein. A client component in stalled in a client device is operative to monitor usage of the client device in accordance with a monitoring profile, and to generate corresponding usage data. The monitoring profile typically includes information specifying which features of which application programs are to be disabled on the client device. A server component, installed on a server device in communication with the client device, provides the monitoring profile to the client device and receives the usage data from the client device.
US07958232B1 Dashboard for on-the-fly AJAX monitoring
A system and method for monitoring a web-page utilizing a dashboard application is disclosed herein. On the server-side, the present invention modifies each of the plurality of objects of a web-page by adding additional instrumentation code and attributes to create a modified web-page with reporting functions to the dashboard application. The modified web-page is served to the client-side and real-time information for the modified web-page is reported to the dashboard application.
US07958230B2 Test driven deployment and monitoring of heterogeneous network systems
A test system (and corresponding method and computer program product) for generating unit tests for a heterogeneous network system and validating test results to ensure that the network system functions properly is described. In one embodiment, the test system is an appliance that is capable of normalizing communication protocols supported by component systems of the network system. The test system creates objects and methods corresponding to component systems and their supported protocol commands in the network system, and generates unit test cases based on the objects, the methods, and the normalized protocols. The test system transmits the unit test cases to the component systems, receives test results, and validates the test results to ensure that the network system functions properly.
US07958223B2 Content management application for an interactive environment
The content management application is an intranet application which provides a process for implementing changes to an internet website of a company by providing the company the ability to define and enforce a common style of page layout. The application can be accessed via a desktop browser and multiple users may access the application for multiple reasons at the same time. The application also dynamically generates new page designs and new component design with various people assigned to groups or teams enabling the continuous creation and processing of content. Once the content is created and reviewed, it is then launched onto the company's internet site for viewing by the internet users accessing the company's web page.
US07958212B1 Updating presence information
Systems and methods for updating the presence information of a user associated with one or more clients. The presence information often indicates the status of a user in an instant messaging environment. A client view is associated with each separate client and the master view or status reflected to other subscribers or clients in the instant messaging environment is determined by evaluating each of the separate client views. In this manner the current status of a user may be accurately reflected to a user's subscribers.
US07958206B2 Controlling access rights to network resources based on a hierarchical arrangement of security sets
Mechanisms for securing access to network resources are described. The mechanisms may perform operations for securing access to a network element and which can include associating a network element with a set of data, and configuring a portion of the data to be responsive to a first subset of access rights. The mechanisms may further perform operations for selection an appropriate security to govern access by a user to network resources.
US07958204B1 Community-selected content
Provided are, among other things, systems, methods and techniques for providing resources to participants over an electronic network. In one representative embodiment, a collection of resources is maintained, such that both the collection and the resources can be accessed by a participant over the electronic network at any given time; points are assigned to individual resources based on an amount of participant access of the individual resources over the electronic network; and the collection is modified based on the points assigned to the resources.
US07958201B2 Method, system and apparatus for encouraging frequent and purposeful electronic communications from caregivers to individuals with impaired memory
A computer implemented system and method for encouraging frequent and purposeful electronic communications from caregivers to individuals with impaired memory to, inter alia, alleviate feelings of isolation and improve memory. The system includes a Web-based application through which caregivers send text, image, voice and other forms of data for receipt by the sufferer on a PDA having a simple user interface. The Web application records the dates and nature (i.e., text, audio, photograph, video) of communications sent by each caregiver, processes the data in order to display it in a variety of meaningful ways to all caregivers, thus creating a peer-pressure environment to encourage more frequent communication. The Web application can also be programmed to send electronic reminders to all caregivers who opt-in to the service requesting that they send a communication to the sufferer, and more particularly to individual caregivers whose frequency of communication has been inadequate relative to a group of caregivers or to predefined expectations.
US07958200B2 Methods, computer program products, and apparatuses for providing remote client access to exported file systems
Remote clients may access remotely exported file systems using a remote token manager that provides communication among a plurality of caching file servers. In response to a client request for file system access, a program is invoked to determine whether the request relates to a locally exported file system exported by a local caching file server or a remotely exported file system exported by a remote caching file server. If the request relates to a locally exported file system, a local token manager is invoked to obtain a token granting access permission to the locally exported file system. If the request relates to a remotely exported file system, a remote token manager is invoked to communicate with a local access routine in the remote caching file server to obtain a token granting access permission for the remotely exported file system.
US07958198B2 Redirection of notifications to a wireless user device
Redirecting a notification to a wireless user device includes registering for notification of incoming messages for an account on a message server, the incoming messages being directed to an account on the message server. The redirecting also includes receiving at least one notification and redirecting the at least one notification through a firewall to a wireless user device associated with the account. The remote message server is in communication with a network protected by the firewall. According to one aspect, a cradle is configured to perform the redirection. According to another aspect, the cradle is associated with a remote desktop computer in communication with the network.
US07958193B2 Social network notifications for external updates
Various technologies for notifying users of a social network service of updates to services external to the social network service by members of the social network. The external service may be a typical web service, such as blogging, and video and photo sharing services. In one implementation, a member of a social network may register the external service with the social network service. Thereinafter, updates that the user makes on the external service may trigger notifications to members of the user's social network.
US07958190B2 Method and apparatus of end-user response time determination for both TCP and non-TCP protocols
End-user response time in a network is determined by an analyzer which measures client data transfer time, server response time, server data transfer time and, if the protocol is a TCP protocol, further measuring server network round trip time. End-user response time may be approximated by the sum of these determined times.
US07958187B2 Systems and methods for managing directory harvest attacks via electronic messages
The present invention provides an electronic message management system (EMS) that includes a real-time feedback loop where data is collected from the electronic messages on incoming connection attempts, outgoing delivery attempts, and message content analysis, and written to a centralized data matrix. A separate process accesses the data matrix and analyzes trends in that data. The detected data patterns, trends or behavior is based on configuration parameters for the recipient. Based on these determinations, the process is able to instruct components in the EMS to accept, redirect, refuse, modify, defer, or otherwise dispose of the connection request, the delivery attempt, or the message. Associated methods for managing the transmission of electronic messages are also disclosed.
US07958182B2 Providing full hardware support of collective operations in a multi-tiered full-graph interconnect architecture
A mechanism is provided for performing collective operations. In hardware of a parent processor in a first processor book, a number of other processors are determined in a same or different processor book of the data processing system that is needed to execute the collective operation, thereby establishing a plurality of processors comprising the parent processor and the other processors. In hardware of the parent processor, the plurality of processors are logically arranged as a plurality of nodes in a hierarchical structure. The collective operation is transmitted to the plurality of processors based on the hierarchical structure. In hardware of the parent processor, results are received from the execution of the collective operation from the other processors, a final result is generated of the collective operation based on the received results, and the final result is output.
US07958181B2 Method and apparatus for performing logical compare operations
A method and apparatus for including in a processor instructions for performing logical-comparison and branch support operations on packed or unpacked data. In one embodiment, a processor is coupled to a memory. The memory has stored therein a first data and a second data. The processor performs logical comparisons on the first and second data. The logical comparisons may be performed on each bit of the first and second data, or may be performed only on certain bits. For at least one embodiment, at least the first data includes packed data elements, and the logical comparisons are performed on the most significant bits of the packed data elements. The logical comparisons may include comparison of the same respective bits of the first and second data, and also includes logical comparisons of bits of the first data with the complement of the corresponding bits of the second data. Based on these comparisons, branch support actions are taken. Such branch support actions may include setting one or more flags, which in turn may be utilized by a branching unit. Alternatively, the branch support actions may include branching to an indicated target code location.
US07958176B2 Identifying filter coefficients
Techniques for identifying coefficients are described. A technique collects sample input values to the filter and identifies desired output values from the filter for the collected sample input values. The technique then generates a power spectrum of the collected sample input values and a power spectrum of the identified desired output values. The technique then calculates the difference between the generated power spectra. Finally, the technique identifies coefficients that yield a filter transfer function that closely approximates the calculated differences. A technique identifies coefficients for a finite impulse response filter. The technique collects sample input values for a function and identifies desired output values for the filter for the collected sample input values. The technique then approximates the output values from the input values using a linear fitting technique. Finally, the technique sets the coefficients to values obtained from the linear-fitting technique.
US07958175B2 Method and device for generating a random number in a USB (universal serial bus) peripheral
A method for generating a random number, comprising steps of receiving a data transmission binary signal subjected to phase jitter, generating several oscillator signals substantially of a same average frequency and having distinct respective phases, sampling a status of each of the oscillator signals upon the appearance of edges of the binary signal, and of generating a random number using the statuses of each of the oscillator signals. The method may be applied to an integrated circuit usable in a smart card.
US07958174B2 Random number generators and systems and methods relating to the same
A random number generator comprising a sigma-delta modulator, the sigma-delta modulator having a modulation unit and a feedback loop arranged to receive a digital output signal from the modulator and form an adjustment signal in dependence on the digital output signal such that at any given time the absolute difference between an amplitude of a summation output signal of the modulator and a quantizer threshold of the modulator is less than the first voltage range. The random number generator is thus capable of forming a digital output signal that has a high degree of entropy.
US07958170B2 Method and apparatus for collecting and displaying data associated with network devices
In one particular embodiment, the disclosure is directed to a network management system. The network monitoring system includes at least one device definition file, a simple network management protocol enabled communications interface, and a data access interface. The definition file includes query instructions associated with portions of MIBs associated with a network device. The simple network management protocol enabled communications interface may access the network device using the query instructions and may receive response data from the network device. The data access interface may be configured to provide external access to the response data and configure thresholds.
US07958169B1 System and method for supporting change notify watches for virtualized storage systems
A technique supports Change Notify watches in virtualized storage systems. In particular, techniques of the present invention advantageously emulate Change Notify features (e.g., as documented by the CIFS protocol) on virtualized storage systems by leveraging virtualization mapping information (e.g., an inode-to-path or “I2P” mapping) to walk a file system tree backwards from the data blocks to their ancestors to determine whether there are applicable watches on ancestor directories, and to obtain a pathname (e.g., relative) of the watched (changed) data. In particular, changes to data received from different protocols (e.g., CIFS, NFS, HTTP, etc.) can trigger watches to clients on the virtualized storage system. Also, performance may be enhanced using various caching techniques, and watch state may be retained while moving watched data across volumes of the virtualized storage system.
US07958167B2 Integration of unstructed data into a database
The claimed subject matter provides a system and/or a method that extends transactional guarantees to unstructured data in a file system. A database engine, configured to retain structured data, can reserve a portion of the file system to store unstructured data to be managed by the database engine. A kernel component can associate a transaction with at least one stream that corresponds to the reserved portion of the file system. The association enables transaction based access to the reserved portion of the file system managed by the database engine.
US07958165B1 Converting logical aspects of common warehouse model to design elements for relational database
A method and a system for converting logical aspects of a common warehouse model (CWM) to corresponding design items for a relational database by processing in a hierarchical manner the logical aspects and creating the corresponding design items. The logical aspects comprise entity-relationship (ER) libraries. The ER libraries comprise ER models. The corresponding design items comprise design libraries. The design libraries comprise design models.
US07958164B2 Visual design of annotated regular expression
A system that provides a visual mechanism (e.g., user interface (UI)) by which a user can design a regular expression is provided. The graphical interactive mechanism enables a user to develop regular expressions without an understanding of the intricacies of the regular expression syntax. The UI can provide an interactive mechanism by which a user can graphically annotate (e.g., color, highlight) a regular expression thus, mapping the expression to a particular tabulated output. The novel UI can provide a particular kind of dialog layout with several controls and dynamically linked views, e.g., a data view, a regular expression view and a column view which can facilitate definition of the regular expression as well as creation of mappings to output columns (e.g., annotations).
US07958155B2 Systems and methods for the management of information to enable the rapid dissemination of actionable information
Methods, systems and media are provided for turning large volumes of globally distributed data into actionable information by building a distributed semantic graph and maintaining such graph with up to date changes in data and client needs are provided. The semantic graph can be used to run subscriptions over interconnected semantic servers where each server can be capable of coupling to data sources, client applications and other semantic servers.
US07958150B2 Method for implementing fine-grained access control using access restrictions
Disclosed is a data processing system-implemented method, a data processing system and an article of manufacture for controlling access to data stored on a database having relational objects for which access restrictions are defined for elements of the relational objects The data processing system-implemented method includes receiving a user request to access one or more relational objects of the database, identifying any access restrictions defined for the one or more relational objects, determining whether any identified access restrictions are applicable to the user request, determining whether any determined applicable access restrictions are to be enforced for the user request, and allowing access to the one or more relational objects based on the determined enforceable access restrictions.
US07958149B2 Computer program and product for append mode insertion of rows into tables in database management systems
Implementation of append mode concurrent insert operations in tables in a page-based concurrent relational database management system is carried out by defining a set of last pages as a current cache into which rows may be inserted by appenders. Append mode insert operations for each page in the current cache are serialized. Appenders seek to access the pages in the current cache using a two-pass process in which latches are sought to be acquired conditionally in the first pass and unconditionally in the second pass. A shared data structure is provided to define a current cache and a next cache for a table supporting append mode inserts in the relational database. The shared data structure includes information reflecting the unused space for each page in the current cache.
US07958147B1 Method for providing customized and automated security assistance, a document marking regime, and central tracking and control for sensitive or classified documents in electronic format
A software engine runs in a compatible mode with off-the-shelf word processors, e-mail programs and presentation development software and other document development software. The software engine is used for the security classification of sensitive or national security classified information in electronic and resultant hard copy document formats. The software engine ensures that the individual considers all informational portions of a document, that appropriate document marks are employed, that document marks in their electronic format are persistent and that all necessary information, such as classification guides, standards and security regulations, provided by the organization to classify information is at hand and immediately available. In addition to the document sensitivity or classification determination and marking support, the software engine tracks and controls documents and the electronic media storing documents. It also provides warnings and alarms, ad hoc document security analysis and reporting capability to system security administrators with respect to document or network events or captured information that may be indicative of risk to the information requiring protection. The software also provides the ability for an organization to centrally establish and control a security classification or sensitivity marking hierarchy for automated security classification support.
US07958145B2 Creating multiple MBeans from a factory MBean
Provided is a method for creating a unique class of Mbean in which a “parent” Mbean generates and manages multiple “child” Mbeans. When a user requests the functionality of a particular Mbean, a specific type of Mbean, or parent Mbean, is called. The parent Mbean is a factory method that, rather than executing the request, generates a child Mbean to execute the request. The child Mbean is assigned a name that distinguishes the child from other children of the same parent and the process that called the parent is provided with the name. In this manner, the calling process may use the assigned name to access the specific child Mbean for future requests and the child Mbean is employed to store client state information.
US07958143B1 Context search to refine a search
Systems, methods, computer readable media having computer-executable components, and user interfaces for performing a search within a selected category are disclosed. One or more categories are presented where each of the categories is associated with at least one search result of a first set of search results retrieved in response to a first search. A selected category is specified by a user and, in response to receiving the user selection of the selected category, a search input field is produced at a location proximate to the selected category. The search input field receives at least one search term to be used in a refined search of at least one item resulting from the search that is associated with the selected category.
US07958142B2 User profile aggregation
User profile data that may be spread across different service providers and that may vary across different service providers can be aggregated to provide an aggregate user profile. An aggregate user profile can be generated regardless of, among other things, varying user profile semantics, differing data formats, data item conflicts, evolving server protocols and interfaces, and updates to the number, identity, location, and type of servers upon which the service providers are maintained.
US07958133B2 Application conversion of source data
A method leverages the file format information used by a target application to convert a source dataset into an encoding usable by the target application without converting the source dataset before migration and without modifying the target application. The source data when on the source system has random portions of various data types that are encoded in a source encoding based on data type. The target application, which typically processes data encoded in a target encoding that is based on data type, is able to process the source data despite the source encoding using file format information and a modified compiler library.
US07958130B2 Similarity-based content sampling and relevance feedback
A method and a system may be provided to sample media content similar to media content enjoyed by a user. Feature vectors, which describe a number of characteristics, with respect to media content enjoyed by the user, may be employed to find similar media content from a media library, or a media service. The similar media content may be played, interleaved with requested media content. Relevance feedback, with respect to played media content, may be transparently or explicitly provided. The feature vectors may be updated based on the provided relevance feedback. Additional similar media content may be found from the media library, or the media service, based on the updated feature vectors, and may be played. An interface may be provided such that the user may purchase sampled, media content via a media device for playing the content.
US07958126B2 Techniques for including collection items in search results
Techniques are provided for including collection items in the ranked set of search results that are returned to a user in response to a search query. Collection scoring techniques are also provided for generating relevance scores for collection items in a different manner than relevance scores are generated for base items that are not collections. The collection scoring techniques may be applied to non-base collection items, base collection items, or both. Items that match the search query, including base items and collection items, are ranked in a unified ranking based on their respective relevance scores, thereby allowing searches to readily determine the relevance ranking of matching collection items relative to matching base items.
US07958125B2 Clustering aggregator for RSS feeds
A method for merging really simple syndication (RSS) feeds. Stories containing one or more terms may be merged into one or more clusters based on one or more links between the stories. A cluster frequency with which the terms occur in each cluster may be determined. A diameter for each cluster may be determined. A cluster that is most similar to one of the clusters may be determined based on the cluster frequency. The most similar cluster with the one of the clusters may be determined based on each diameter, and each cluster frequency.
US07958123B2 System and method for managing bundle data database storing data association structure
A bundle database management system comprises a search server including a bundle definition unit for defining a core word and a relevant word connected to the core word, and connection relation between the core and relevant words to generate and store bundle data; a description definition unit for defining description data corresponding to the core and relevant words; a search request receiving unit for receiving a search request including a specific search word input by a user; a search result page generating unit for generating a search result page including the bundle data retrieved by the search word as a core word and the description data retrieved by the core word; and a search result page transmitting unit for transmitting the search result page to the user; and a user terminal connected to the search server for transmitting the search request and receiving the search result page.
US07958120B2 Method and apparatus for distributed community finding
Methods and apparatus for a new approach to the problem of finding communities in complex networks relating to a social definition of communities and percolation are disclosed. Instead of partitioning the graph into separate subgraphs from top to bottom a local algorithm (communities of each vertex) allows overlapping of communities. The performance of an algorithm on synthetic, randomly-generated graphs and real-world networks is used to benchmark this method against others. An heuristic is provided to generate a list of communities for networks using a local community finding algorithm. Unlike diffusion based algorithms, The provided algorithm finds overlapping communities and provides a means to measure confidence in community structure. It features locality and low complexity for exploring the communities for a subset of network nodes, without the need for exploring the whole graph.
US07958114B2 Detecting estimation errors in dictinct page counts
A database server may be configured to compute distinct page counts of pages accessed to execute operands of respective queries. The queries may be executed against a table comprised of the pages and having an index managed by the database server. The distinct page counts may be obtained by counting, as a part of the executing of the queries, distinct pages accessed during the execution of the queries.
US07958113B2 Automatically and adaptively determining execution plans for queries with parameter markers
A method and system for automatically and adaptively determining query execution plans for parametric queries. A first classifier trained by an initial set of training points is generated. A query workload and/or database statistics are dynamically updated. A new set of training points is collected off-line. Using the new set of training points, the first classifier is modified into a second classifier. A database query is received at a runtime subsequent to the off-line phase. The query includes predicates having parameter markers bound to actual values. The predicates are associated with selectivities. A mapping of the selectivities into a plan determines the query execution plan. The determined query execution plan is included in an augmented set of training points, where the augmented set includes the initial set and the new set.
US07958108B2 Query processing method for stream data processing systems
A stream data processing system capable of highly reliable and highly usable real time data processing, is provided with: (1) a mechanism of copying some or all of stream data, and archiving the stream data in a non-volatile memory to allow real time data and archive data to be used seamlessly; and (2) a mechanism of improving the performance of query processings by using a plurality of stream data processing systems cooperatively.
US07958105B2 System and method for filtering database results using dynamic composite queries
A method, system and computer program product for retrieving data records to a client computer. An identifier of a base query is received from the client computer. The base query is configured to select a set of data records from a database that the client computer has permission to access. A modifying clause is also received from the client computer. The modifying clause comprises a directive restricting the set of data records to a subset of data records. The modifying clause may optionally comprise an expression for sorting. A combined query is generated from the base query and the modifying clause. The query is configured to return the subset of data records. The combined query is further configured to sort the subset of data records based on the value of the expression if the expression is present. The combined query is executed at the database.
US07958104B2 Context based data searching
Systems, methods, and software are provided for facilitating data searching over a network. For example, in one implementation, a first component may be adapted to communicate with a user via a user device over the network. A second component may be adapted to receive a search request from the user via the user device over the network, process the search request by identifying zero or more contexts related to the user based on information that may be passed with the search request or via other sources, and provide zero or more search results in response to the search request. A database may be adapted to store information, including contextual information, related to the user. The second component may select information from the database related to zero or more contexts in order to provide zero or more search results to the user. Various other implementations are also provided.
US07958103B1 Incorporated web page content
Including search result based content in a webpage is disclosed. One or more search criteria and an indication that a search result based content associated with the search criteria is to be included in a web page are received. A computer script or code configured to enable the search result based content to be retrieved in accordance with the search criteria is generated automatically for the web page.
US07958099B2 Unified management method of various types of messages of a personal information terminal
The present invention relates to a method of displaying several types of messages all together through a single window and of enabling a user to write and transmit a message with no consideration of message type. This unified message management method displays various types of messages all together along with their respective message types through a single window, converts the type of a written message, if needed, to match it to a protocol determined based on information written in its field distinguishing a message type, and transmits the type-converted message, whereby a user can confirm all types of received messages at a time and user's inconvenience that a message type to write should be distinguished in advance prior to choosing a message input screen can be removed.
US07958096B2 System and method for organizing, compressing and structuring data for data mining readiness
Systems and methods for performing data mining in a set of binary data arranged as a plurality of data items in which each data item has a plurality of bits, each bit in a corresponding one of a plurality of bit positions. The set of binary data is arranged in the data storage such that the binary data is in bit position groups. Each bit position group corresponds to a different one of the plurality of bit positions and includes bits of the binary data having that bit position. The binary data of each bit position group is compressed to produce data structures representing the set of binary data. A data mining technique is performed using the plurality of compressed data structures.
US07958095B1 Methods and apparatus for collecting and processing file system data
A storage area network management application provides a data collection agent that processes storage information concerning storage entities such as file systems in a storage area network environment by receiving a data collection policy identifying storage information to be collected concerning a set of storage entities in a storage area network environment. The agent collects storage information concerning the set of storage entities according to the data collection policy and processes the collected storage information to produce at least one summary record of the storage information for the set of storage entities. The summary record(s) contain a summary of the collected storage information for the set of storage entities calculated according to the data collection policy. The agent transfers the summary record(s) from the data collection agent to a storage management application for presentation to a user of the storage management application. This offloads processing requirements of the management application to the agents.
US07958094B2 Management of deletion requests for related documents in a content management system
A method and system for the management of deletion requests for related documents in a content management system. When a user requests to delete a related document associated with a record in the content management system, the request determines whether there are other documents associated with the record, collects the documents and determines if any of the collected documents are parent documents, removes the association between each collected document and the record, and initiates a deletion process to delete the parent documents.
US07958088B2 Dynamic data reorganization to accommodate growth across replicated databases
Methods and apparatuses are provided for dynamically reorganizing the data within a replicated database system. One method, for example, includes performing a split operation across a plurality of replicated databases with regard to an existing partition therein, wherein the existing partition comprises a plurality of data records and the two new partitions each include at least a portion of the plurality of data records, and allowing at least one type of access to the plurality of data records during the split operation.
US07958087B2 Systems and methods for cross-system digital asset tag propagation
Systems and methods for managing digital assets in a distributed computing environment are described. Meta-data for the digital assets is stored separately from the digital assets. Meta-data for some of the digital assets is copied and stored at a central location. Meta-data for the digital assets is generated by clients of the system. A method of propagating a digital asset identification tag associated with a digital asset includes: receiving a command from a client of the distributed computing system to the central computing resource, the command comprising an indication that a change occurred to the asset identification tag of a digital asset and the changed digital asset identification tag; locating the digital asset identification tag at the central resource; updating the digital asset identification tag in response to the received command; and transmitting the updated tag to another client having a copy of the digital asset.
US07958084B2 System, method, and computer-readable medium for providing a regionalized file system
A system, method, and computer readable medium that facilitate operation of a file system capable of dividing an existing homogeneous file system into a series of regions, with each region accommodating storage devices having compatible characteristics are provided. The file system is divided into logical regions, with each region containing a particular class of storage devices possessing a particular set of common storage traits. The regionalization of the file system provides for all cylinders of storage devices sharing a common storage characteristic to be contained within a single region, and dedicated file system logic can be written to service that region. A master index configuration implemented in accordance with disclosed embodiments includes a region descriptor construct that enables cylinder index descriptors associated with cylinders of storage devices sharing a common storage characteristic to be grouped into regions.
US07958081B2 Apparatuses, methods and systems for information querying and serving on mobile devices based on ambient conditions
The disclosure details the implementation of apparatuses, methods, and systems for information querying and serving on mobile devices based on ambient conditions. Such conditions may include weather, traffic, market prices, news and events, and/or the like. Information and/or advertisement providers may use a code triggered information server to serve context, demographic, and behavior targeted information to users via mobile devices. Users, in turn, trigger the provision of information by scanning or observing codes or information. The scans, together with geographic, temporal, and user-specific information, are obtained by the server that receives, processes, and records the message. Based on these messages and a user profile—which may include continuously updated user-specific behavior information, situational and ambient information, an accumulated history of scanned code messages, and integration with outside database information—the server selects information to serve to the users' mobile devices from an information base. In one embodiment, information may also be served to users based solely on the user profiles and ambient conditions, and without any initiating code scan. This is based on the accumulated history of scanned codes, which yields behavioral information about a user, including user space-time trajectories.
US07958075B1 Compressing rectilinear pictures and minimizing access control lists
A geometric model is considered for the problem of minimizing access control lists (ACLs) in network routers. A colored rectilinear pattern is created within an initially white rectangular canvas, and the basic operation is to choose a subrectangle and paint it a single color, overwriting all previous colors in the rectangle. The method operates on rectangular rule lists (RRLs) and access control lists (ACLs) in which all rectangles are strips that extend either the full length or the full height of the canvas. A polynomial-time algorithm optimally constructs such patterns when, as in the ACL application, the only colors are black and white (permit or deny). That algorithm is complemented by a significantly faster approximation algorithm that is guaranteed to be no worse than 3/2 optimal.
US07958072B2 Method and apparatus for calculating required availability of nodes in a tree structure
A method of system design and manufacture includes entering system details in a first user interface program 100, including in particular availability data. A transfer file 110 defining a spreadsheet including cells representing the system is created and transferred to a spreadsheet 120. The spreadsheet calculates both the availability and target availability of the components. The transfer file is arranged to define component count spreadsheet cells to permit user input to vary the numbers of at least some components of the system, and calculation cells to calculate the properties of the system for the component counts entered into the component count cells. The user can then adjust the spreadsheet to obtain a desired result, output the final configuration as output file 130 and pass the file to a manufacturing facility 140 to produce the designed system. The system designed and manufactured may be a computer system with many components.
US07958069B2 Time modulated generative probabilistic models for automated causal discovery using a continuous time noisy-or (CT-NOR) models
Dependencies between different channels or different services in a client or server may be determined from the observation of the times of the incoming and outgoing of the packets constituting those channels or services. A probabilistic model may be used to formally characterize these dependencies. The probabilistic model may be used to list the dependencies between input packets and output packets of various channels or services, and may be used to establish the expected strength of the causal relationship between the different events surrounding those channels or services. Parameters of the probabilistic model may be either based on prior knowledge, or may be fit using statistical techniques based on observations about the times of the events of interest. Expected times of occurrence between events may be observed, and dependencies may be determined in accordance with the probabilistic model.
US07958062B2 Method and system of creating health operating envelope for dynamic systems by unsupervised learning of a sequence of discrete event codes
A method and system for creating healthy operating envelope from only data samples obtained during normal operation/behavior of dynamic systems is provided. This method determines healthy operating envelope by clustering a stream of discrete event code sequences from the underlying system under normal operation condition only. The method is unsupervised, that is, requiring no prior knowledge of event code patterns corresponding to different operation conditions. Such created envelope can be used for fault detection and health monitoring of dynamic systems.
US07958060B1 Business method for giving and tracking gifts
A business method for distributing gifts. The method employs a gift wrap which is marked with a specific code number. The wrap is sold by an originator to a customer who places a gift within the wrap and mails or delivers the package to a first recipient. The customer inputs to the originator's website information comprising the wrap's code number, his name and address and the name and address of the first recipient. Then the first recipient inputs to the website information comprising the code number, his name and address and the name and address of any other recipient to whom the same wrap is sent with another gift. The information is sorted and stored in a database. The customer and first and any subsequent recipient of a wrap access the website over the internet to view the track history of the wrap.
US07958059B2 System and method for interactively entering data into a database
A system and method for facilitating the accurate entry of information into a highly structured database by initially extracting information from a plurality of nonuniformly formatted source data streams, e.g., documents/files, and subsequent interactions with users before storing the accepted and/or modified information into the database. Embodiments of the present invention provide an interactive path for each user (e.g., the author of the source document/file) to interactively modify the extracted data, e.g., according to the source document/file. Preferably, this interactive path is provided via the Internet and the extracted information can be modified by editing and/or selectively copying portions of the source documents/files to supplement and/or modify the extracted information.
US07958056B2 Content data creating device, control method thereof, program for creating content data, and content data display device
A contents data creating device is configured by equipping a computer with a contents creating software. In this contents creating software, a license information file stores license information containing information describing the permitted range of input data or output data. A GUI manager module displays a choice of options indicating the range of input data or output data unpermitted with the license information, in the mode different from that of the choice of options indicating the range of input data or output data permitted. The GUI manager module performs a conversion using the range of the input data or the output data inputted from the outside, as a parameter.
US07958054B2 Apparatus for reproduction song data with limitation dependent on preview or purchase
A song data reproduction apparatus has a storage for song data composed of performance data and order information. The performance data represents a content of a music performance and contains reproduction limiting information for limiting a reproduction state of the music performance. The order information indicates either of a purchase or a preview associated to a usage right of the content of the music performance. A usage right identification section refers to the order information of the song data containing the performance data to be reproduced, for identifying the usage right of the content of the music performance in terms of the purchase or preview. A limiting information read section reads the reproduction limiting information from the performance data when the identified usage right indicates the preview. A reproduction control section controls the reproduction state of the music performance in accordance with the read reproduction limiting information.
US07958052B2 Methods and systems for cardholder initiated transactions
A cardholder-initiated financial transaction using a cardholder controlled input device in communication with a payment card network and a database is disclosed. The cardholder uses a payment card issued to the cardholder by an issuer bank. An exemplary method includes the steps of storing merchant data within the database including data identifying the merchants registered to utilize the card network and receiving from the input device transaction data relating to the financial transaction. The transaction data includes an authorization request and merchant identifying data that identifies the merchant involved in the transaction. The method further includes determining that the identified merchant is registered to utilize the card network by comparing the transaction data with the merchant data stored in the database, forwarding the authorization request to the issuer bank, receiving a response to the request from the issuer bank, and automatically forwarding the response to the input device.
US07958049B2 System and method for obtaining customer bill information and facilitating bill payment at biller websites
An integrated electronic bill presentment and payment (EBPP) system is disclosed which obtains bills for customers (which include individuals, businesses, and organizations) and allow payments including payments by credit card to be processed at the biller websites on behalf of customers. The integrated EBPP system obtains bills for customers from paper billers, electronic billers, and scrape-enabled biller websites, with customers providing access information for biller websites to the integrated EBPP system, which uses a software agent or bot to make scheduled scrapes of biller websites to obtain customer bills. The integrated EBPP system enables customers to automatically set up a user account at biller websites, with customers providing user access information and user financial account information, such as a credit card or debit card, for accessing biller websites and for initiating payments at biller websites.
US07958048B2 Method and apparatus for predicting outcomes of a home equity line of credit
A method and apparatus are described where account information is used to predict possible outcomes of a HELOC. To predict the possible outcomes, HELOC account state transition probabilities are modeled. The transition probabilities, determined by historic data regression analysis, provide the framework for a Monte Carlo simulation. The simulation is seeded with HELOC account information. A calculation engine takes the account information and simulates an elapse of time using a random number generator and the state transition probabilities. The simulation results in updated account information predicting a possible outcome over the elapsed time interval. The updated account information in turn may be used by the calculation engine to simulate the next elapse of time. This method may be iteratively repeated with the account information propagated forward until the end of the prediction period is reached.
US07958047B2 Virtual credit in simulated environments
A method and system provides for the use of credit arrangements in simulated environments. A user can participate in credit transactions involving purchases of virtual products, virtual services, and virtual items of value. Feedback is provided to the user regarding results of the credit transactions. In some embodiments multiple users can make simulated purchases or incur simulated credit obligations that are posted to virtual accounts, and the multiple users can also make simulated compensation against balances due or obligations owed for said virtual accounts. The user is also provided with an opportunity of engaging in real-world financial transactions related to the virtual credit arrangement. In some implementations of the system and method, multiple players at different locations can use virtual charge accounts and/or real world financial accounts in connection with arranging or resolving a virtual credit transaction.
US07958042B2 System and method for auctioning bids on construction projects
A computerized multi-stage bidding system and method for bidding on construction projects is disclosed. The system utilizes Internet client-server technology. The system includes input devices for entering into the computerized system and validating member credentials, accessing construction projects, registering to bid on the construction projects, providing information relative to a type of contract the construction projects will have, sorting, accepting and rejecting bids for the construction projects, posting a winning bid in order for an owner to compare it to the project budget, having the winning bid be reviewed by an owner and architect of the construction projects, via a report provided by the system and providing a forum for new contractors to become members.
US07958036B1 System and method for calculating a volatility carry metric
Systems and methods of generating metrics for volatility products are disclosed. According to various embodiments, the metric may use a carry of the volatility product and a volatility of the implied volatility to determine the metric. Through the metric, or carry quotient, global interest rate volatility may be searched to identify trades with attractive rolldown and carry characteristics.
US07958034B2 Method of providing catastrophic loss protection through a mortgage
A catastrophic hazard protection (CHP) mortgage may be provided on real property or structure(s) on the real property of a owner. The CHP mortgage may be structured to include financial protection in the event that one or more structures of the real property is damaged by a catastrophe such as a hurricane or earthquake. The owner may pay an increased interest rate on the CHP mortgage. If catastrophe damage occurs, the principal amount of the CHP mortgage may be reduced by the lesser of the value of the damage or the principal balance. Alternatively, the owner may receive a payment equivalent to the lesser of the value of the damage or the principal balance. A CHP mortgage may be implemented electronically. Additionally, catastrophic hazard protection may be added onto an existing mortgage.
US07958032B2 Generating event messages corresponding to event indicators
A transaction entity handles event messages associated with events of interest. At least one type of event is identified that is of interest to a user. Each type of event further corresponds to an event type that is to be repeated by a transaction entity to an aggregating entity. Further, a description is associated with each identified type of event. The transaction entity identifies an occurrence of an event that is an identified type of event and generates an event message comprising a token that associates the user with an account maintained by the aggregating and the description that is associated with the identified type of event corresponding to the identified occurrence of the event. The event message is transmitted to the aggregating entity.
US07958028B2 Enterprise management application providing availability control checks on revenue budgets
A budgetary control system limits revenue generating transactions that may be entered in an enterprise management system. When a new revenue posting is proposed to the system, various AVC rules are evaluated. The evaluation compares the revenue posting against predetermined budgetary limits. The AVC rules may address various nodes within a revenue postings data structure and within a revenue budget data structure and they may define a test relationship that must be maintained between them. If proposed revenue posting would violate the test relationship of an AVC rule, then the revenue posting may be rejected from the system depending upon the contents of a response field in the AVC rule. Some AVC rules mandate that a violation cause the proposed transaction to be blocked while others may generate a warning notification within the system but admit the new transaction despite the violation.
US07958018B2 Method and apparatus for procuring goods in an automated manner
An automatic system and method optimizes the purchasing of goods and services by a buyer. A request for a quote for goods or services required is received from a buyer. This request is processed and dealers are selected based on the criteria of the buyer and other criteria. The selected dealers are then sent the request for goods and services and quotes are solicited. Quotes from the selected dealers, for the goods or services, are then receivable within a predetermined time period. Thereafter, the received quotes of the providers of the goods or services are ranked. The ranking and the report of the providers are then outpribed in steps S2 and S3 of FIG. 2.
US07958015B2 Method, medium, and system for marketing integrated circuits
A system and method for marketing and/or providing integrated circuits. Various aspects of the present invention may provide a computer system adapted to receive and process a request for information regarding an integrated circuit. A database may comprise information of a first set of the integrated circuits that meet performance requirements at nominal power supply characteristics, and information of a second set of the integrated circuits that do not meet the performance requirements at the nominal power supply characteristics and meet the performance requirements at non-nominal power supply characteristics. A processor module may, upon receipt of a request for information regarding the integrated circuit, process information in the database to determine whether the second set of integrated circuits is available. A communication interface module may electronically communicate information of the second set of the integrated circuits (e.g., to the source of the request for information regarding the integrated circuit).
US07958014B2 Method and apparatus for building commercial distributed computing networks via computer cost subsidization
A method and apparatus for distributed computing in a network data processing system. A task is accepted for distributed computing. Work units are sent to a plurality of data processing systems on a network, wherein each data processing system within the plurality of data processing systems includes a software for accepting a work unit, processing the work unit to generate a result, and returning the result, wherein the software is monitored for compliance with an operation policy requiring a connection to the network and allocating a period of time for processing work units. Results are received from the plurality of data processing systems. These data processing systems may be individually owned by consumers in which the systems are provided at no cost or some lower cost in return for making available processing resources for processing work units.
US07958013B2 Method, system and business model for a buyer's auction with near perfect information using the internet
A methodology, system and business model are disclosed for facilitating a fully automated buyer's auction in which the major types of transaction costs are significantly reduced by providing the buyer and the sellers with near-perfect information about one another, including information about buyer preferences and competing sellers' offers. The system implements a buyer's auction with multidimensional bidding that minimizes market intelligence, search, bargaining and transaction execution costs and thus creates more competitive, frictionless markets. Buyers and sellers can efficiently conduct the buyer's auction within a unified environment, thereby minimizing buyer integration costs as well. The buyer's auction generates commercially marketable proprietary information and a revenue stream for the auctioneer providing such a service.
US07958008B1 Providing customized media at physical point of sale
A method of providing to a customer customized media at a physical point of sale (PPOS) of a good/service includes the steps of (a) receiving an identifier from the customer at the PPOS, (b) retrieving a media profile that is maintained in a database in association with the identifier, the media profile identifying at least one media content type, (c) generating a deliverable in accordance with the retrieved media profile by obtaining an item of the media content type identified in the retrieved media profile, and (d) communicating the generated deliverable to the customer at the PPOS.
US07958007B2 Method, system, and software for geographically focused network advertising
A software based system and method of displaying location based information from an information site on a network by determining location data of a user of the location based information on the network. The location based information is generated based on the determined location data of the user; and generated location based information is provided to the user over the network.
US07958006B2 System to provide consumer preference information
A system to determine preference information in which preference information associated with a consumer is determined, the preference information is validated, and the preference information is mixed with preference information associated with a plurality of consumers based on the validating step. The validating step may includes provision of trade-off questions to the consumer, reception of actual answers to the trade-off questions, prediction of consumer answers to the trade-off questions based on the preference information associated with the consumer and prediction of subgroup answers to the trade-off questions based on the preference information associated with the plurality of consumers. Moreover, the preference information may be mixed with the preference information associated with the plurality of consumers based on the actual answers, the predicted consumer answers and the predicted subgroup answers.
US07958005B2 Bidding for advertisement positions other than one
Methods, systems, and computer storage media having computer-executable instructions embodied thereon that, when executed, perform methods for determining bid amounts necessary to ensure advertisements or other content items will be presented in designated positions other than the most prominent (or first) position when bid information associated with a lesser included match type is not requested, are provided. Bids are received that are associated with a given keyword, a content item and a desired placement position. Based thereupon, a placement position in which the bid will cause associated content item is determined and compared to the desired placement position. If the determined placement position is not within a given error threshold of the desired placement position, the bid is iteratively adjusted in such a way that an adjusted bid amount is determined which will ensure placement in the desired position.
US07958002B2 Economic model for measuring the cost and value of a particular health insurance plan
The present invention provides a system and method for measuring the relative economic benefits from services offered by health care plans. The present invention quantifies value of health care quality by indicating an economic return on the investment in health care quality, enabling organizations and businesses to view health care quality in a familiar paradigm that extends health plan differentiation beyond premium and benefits. Businesses may employ the present invention to compare different health care plans or classes of plans, such as accredited versus non-accredited plans. Specifically, a particular plan or class of plans may provide improved monitoring, treatment and control of various medical conditions, and the present invention quantifies the economic benefits to employers from the improved health care for employees. In one embodiment, the present invention looks to a set of specific medical conditions and is based on three key steps. First, the present invention identifies the overall level of employees at the organization affected by these conditions. Second, the present invention uses the reduction in absenteeism and low productivity days made possible by improved monitoring and control of the medical conditions. Third, the present invention calculates a monetary valuation to the firm of the reduction in absenteeism and low productivity days based on the firm's average revenue per employee, average daily wage, and other parameters.
US07957995B2 Method for project preparing a procurement and accounts payable system
A method for coordinating a project for designing, implementing, and using a general procurement and accounts payable (GP/AP) system for a customer. A playbook database is created and includes templates of information relating to designing, implementing, and using the GP/AP system. The templates are particularized for the customer. A playbook summary view is generated from the playbook database. The playbook summary view displays a folders and views section, a task title display and selection area, a summary task creation button, and a detailed task creation button, which visually appear together in an undivided display area within the playbook summary view. Communication is between team members of a team and the playbook database via a server coupled to the playbook database and an intranet coupled to both the server and the team members. The team members have responsibility for the designing and implementing of the GP/AP system.
US07957991B2 Technology sharing during demand and supply planning in a network-based supply chain environment
A system, method, and article of manufacture are provided for technology sharing during demand and supply planning in a network-based supply chain environment. Steps included are providing locator and mapping capabilities utilizing the network. Technology that includes streaming audio, stereo audio and video data is also shared utilizing the network. Encryption capabilities for the technology are also included. Further, searching capabilities are provided utilizing the network in addition to logging events and passive user profiling. The event logging includes logging network operations. User profile data is automatically received and stored. User profile data includes user identity, state, preferences and interests. User profile data is also automatically exported to an active profile manager which automatically adds additional user profile data. Additional user profile data includes information related to whether the user is a service provider or a manufacturer and the location of user.
US07957990B2 System and method for managing asset installation and evaluation
Efficient and effective centralized management of automated field force installation and evaluation of assets. Service representatives can each perform an asset installation and/or an asset evaluation with the aid of a handheld device. The handheld device can display worksheets comprising a sequence of instructions and prompts related to the installation/evaluation. In performing the asset installation/evaluation, the service representative can follow the instructions and enter responses to the prompts into the handheld device. The handheld device can communicate with a server to download the worksheets onto the handheld device and to upload from the handheld device data related to the installation/evaluation. Authorized users' network devices can interact with a reporting module of the server to generate reports based on the uploaded data. The reports can provide the authorized users with real-time or near real-time information about the service representatives' performance and about particular assets, including, e.g., information about particular asset installations/evaluations.
US07957988B2 Systems, methods, and computer program products for storing and retrieving product availability information from a storage cache
The present invention provides methods for efficiently handling product availability queries. The present invention provides a local availability cache that is prepopulated with product availability listings from various product sources. Customer product availability queries are processed using the prepopulated availability cache, as opposed to independently querying each product source. The present invention also uses methods to manage the cache, such as by limiting the length of use data records stored for each start of use day to a maximum length of use and updating of data in the query using a function that updates data for start dates of use that occur sooner in time than for start dates of use that occur later in time. The present invention also uses functions to determine availability for length of use requests that exceed the maximum length of use stored in the cache by piecing together availability information for smaller lengths of use.
US07957985B2 Personalized information discovery and presentation system
A personalized health information discovery and presentation system is presented. The system has an input device, a subject-profile module, an information database, an alignment module, a solutions module, an integration engine, a plan module, a graphical user interface, and a processor. The input device allows a user to enter a personalized subject-profile, the subject-profile module receives the subject-profile and converts it into a recognized health profile. The health information database comprises a library of health information, and the alignment module aligns the recognized health profile with relevant health information. The solution's module parses the relevant information into information subsets, and the integration engine integrates the information; identifies conflicting health information, contraindications, or health warnings; creates notifications; and compiles data for presentation to the user. The plan module converts the integrated health information into a personalized health maintenance plan for display in a form selected by the user.
US07957984B1 Device for facilitating compliance with medication regimen
A device and method for facilitating compliance with a medication regimen are disclosed. The device incorporates an icon set that illustrates concepts relating to the medication regimen in a pictographic form that is easily recognized and comprehended. The device is programmed with medication instructions, and generates medication reminders for the medication instructions by displaying icons from the icon set. The device may additionally display text, play audio, vibrate, send text messages to other devices, etc. The device may accept input from the individual and/or caregiver regarding the medication instructions or the medication events. The device may also contain the medication, control access and dosing of the medication, and administer the medication to the individual. The device may also communicate information regarding the medication regimen to the caregiver, such as prescription renewal requests. This device and method may improve the accuracy and thoroughness of compliance and communication regarding the medication regimen.
US07957974B2 Method and apparatus for controlling devices connected to home network
A method and apparatus for controlling home electronic devices connected to a home network are provided. The method for controlling home electronic devices connected to a home network includes receiving a user voice command and converting the user voice command into a character command; extracting actions and objects from the character command and converting the character command into a logical command; extracting an action list containing a series of actions from the logical command by referring to an action library storing action data for controlling home electronic devices connected to the home network; and converting the series of actions included in the action list into a control signal and controlling the home electronic devices connected to the home network. According to the method and apparatus, user commands to home electronic devices connected to a complicated home network can be simplified such that home electronic devices are controlled conveniently and efficiently.
US07957973B2 Audio signal interpolation method and device
An audio signal interpolation device comprises a spectral movement calculation unit which determines a spectral movement which is indicative of a difference in each of spectral components between a frequency spectrum of a current frame of an input audio signal and a frequency spectrum of a previous frame of the input audio signal stored in a spectrum storing unit. An interpolation band determination unit determines a frequency band to be interpolated by using the frequency spectrum of the current frame and the spectral movement. A spectrum interpolation unit performs interpolation of spectral components in the frequency band for the current frame by using either the frequency spectrum of the current frame or the frequency spectrum of the previous frame.
US07957972B2 Voice recognition system and method thereof
A voice recognition system and method thereof. The communication system comprises a setup controller, a voice recognition controller, and an application controller. The setup controller receives a voice keyword table including a voice recognizable keyword and a corresponding application instruction. The voice recognition controller, coupled to the setup controller, receives the voice keyword table from the setup controller, receives a first voice input, and matches a first voice input to the voice recognizable keyword to determine the corresponding application instruction. The application controller, coupled to the voice recognition controller, receives and performs the corresponding application instruction. The setup controller, the voice recognition controller, and the application controller communicate through wireless communication.
US07957971B2 System and method of spoken language understanding using word confusion networks
Word lattices that are generated by an automatic speech recognition system are used to generate a modified word lattice that is usable by a spoken language understanding module. In one embodiment, the spoken language understanding module determines a set of salient phrases by calculating an intersection of the modified word lattice, which is optionally preprocessed, and a finite state machine that includes a plurality of salient grammar fragments.
US07957969B2 Systems and methods for building a native language phoneme lexicon having native pronunciations of non-native words derived from non-native pronunciatons
Systems and methods are provided for automatically building a native phonetic lexicon for a speech-based application trained to process a native (base) language, wherein the native phonetic lexicon includes native phonetic transcriptions (base forms) for non-native (foreign) words which are automatically derived from non-native phonetic transcriptions of the non-native words.
US07957968B2 Automatic grammar generation using distributedly collected knowledge
The invention includes a computer based system or method for automatically generating a grammar associated with a first task comprising the steps of: receiving first data representing the first task based from responses received from a distributed network; automatically tagging the first data into parts of speech to form first tagged data; identifying filler words and core words from said first tagged data; modeling sentence structure based upon said first tagged data using a first set of rules; identifying synonyms of said core words; and creating the grammar for the first task using said modeled sentence structure, first tagged data and said synonyms.
US07957965B2 Communication system noise cancellation power signal calculation techniques
In order to enhance the quality of a communication signal derived from speech and noise, a filter divides the communication signal into a plurality of frequency band signals. A calculator generates a plurality of power band signals each having a power band value and corresponding to one of the frequency band signals. The power band values are based on estimating, over a time period, the power of one of the frequency band signals. The time period is different for different ones of the frequency band signals. The power band values are used to calculate weighting factors which are used to alter the frequency band signals that are combined to generate an improved communication signal.
US07957961B2 Method and apparatus for obtaining an attenuation factor
The present invention discloses a method for obtaining an attenuation factor. The method is adapted to process the synthesized signal in packet loss concealment, and includes: obtaining a change trend of a pitch of a signal; obtaining an attenuation factor, according to the change trend of the pitch of the signal. The present invention also discloses an apparatus for obtaining an attenuation factor. A self-adaptive attenuation factor is adjusted dynamically by using the latest change trend of a history signal by using the present invention. The smooth transition from the history data to the data last received is realized so that the attenuation speed is kept consistent between the compensated signal and the original signal as much as possible for adapting to the characteristic of various human voices.
US07957956B2 Systems and methods for normalization of linguistic structures
A text passage is analyzed to determine whether it contains a “be” verb or a “have” verb. If so, syntactic dependencies are obtained from the text passage, a direct object relation involving the “be” verb or “have” verb is obtained, and a verbal form of a noun appearing in the first direct object relation is obtained. The syntactic dependencies are rewritten based on the verbal form of the noun. Different syntactic rewriting criteria are applied if the text passage also contains a noun object preceding a past participle verb, or also contains an active present participle verb.
US07957954B2 System and computer program product for national language support using a multi-language property file
A system and computer program product for national language support. National language support for an application is provided by recording translations of a text string in corresponding different languages in a single property file so as to allow display of the translations in the property file. One of the translations of the text string recorded in the property file is selected for use by an application based on a locale associated with the execution of the application and the selected one of the translations is used in the execution of the application.
US07957953B2 Weighted linear bilingual word alignment model
A weighted linear word alignment model linearly combines weighted features to score a word alignment for a bilingual, aligned pair of text fragments. The features are each weighted by a feature weight. One of the features is a word association metric, which may be generated from surface statistics.
US07957952B2 Translation block invalidation prehints in emulation of a target system on a host system
Emulation systems and method involving invalidating blocks of translated code in emulation of a target system on a host system in are disclosed. One or more blocks of target system code are translated by the host system to produce one or more corresponding blocks of translated code. The host system uses one or more native target system instructions as hints to invalidate or potentially invalidate one or more blocks of translated code. Blocks containing such hints cause the host system to mark some or all of the one or more blocks of translated code as potentially invalid. The potentially invalid blocks may be re-translated immediately. Alternatively, the potentially invalid blocks may be checked to see if the code in these blocks has been modified. If the code has been modified, corresponding blocks of target code may be re-translated.
US07957951B2 Address translation system for use in a simulation environment
Methods and systems for simulation of a testable system are provided in which a virtual testable system is used. One method includes inputting a system definition file into a translation utility, where the system definition file includes a plurality of physical addresses required for execution of the system definition file in the testable system. The method also includes inputting a memory map file into the translation utility, the memory map representing a virtual memory space for a virtual testable system. The method further includes generating virtual translation information by translating the physical addresses into virtual addresses using the memory map file.
US07957950B2 Hard/soft cooperative verifying simulator
A hard/soft cooperative verifying simulator is based on a SystemC simulator, and provides the capability of reducing overhead of context switching control thereby to shorten processing time. Time keepers for controlling simulation times of a plurality of threads are provided corresponding to the threads generated as simulation models for hardware and software. Each of the time keepers has a variable which holds a simulation time for each thread, a variable which holds a summation time, and a break request queue which stores a break time and its corresponding break method therein. The time keeper manages both variables and the queue in response to six types of method invocations from the thread, and invokes a wait function of the SystemC simulator when necessary. It is thus possible to reduce the number of times that a wait function invocation is performed, and shorten the entire processing time.
US07957949B1 Hierarchical system design
A method of system design, and more particularly a method of designing systems that achieve a set of performance goals using a hierarchically partitioned system representation wherein performance simulations are performed at multiple levels within the hierarchy and are combined to simulate a system level result in order to reduce the aggregate time required for performance simulation.
US07957948B2 System and method for capacity planning for systems with multithreaded multicore multiprocessor resources
A method for expressing a hierarchy of scalabilities in complex systems, including a discrete event simulation and an analytic model, for analysis and prediction of the performance of multi-chip, multi-core, multi-threaded computer processors is provided. Further provided is a capacity planning tool for migrating data center systems from a source configuration which may include source systems with multithreaded, multicore, multichip central processing units to a destination configuration which may include destination systems with multithreaded, multicore and multichip central processing units, wherein the destination systems may be different than the source systems. Apparatus and methods are taught for the assembling of and utilization of linear and exponential scalability factors in the capacity planning tool when a plurality of active processor threads populate processors with multiple chips, multiple cores per chip and multiple threads per core.
US07957947B2 Method and apparatus for managing volatile organic content in polyolefin
The present invention relates generally to polyolefin production and to reducing volatile organic content (VOC) associated with the polyolefin. Techniques include the construction and implementation of a purge column model to calculate or estimate the VOC content in the polyolefin exiting the purge column. The techniques facilitate the design and operation of the polyolefin manufacturing process.
US07957946B2 Method of automatically controlling the trajectory of a drilled well
Steering behavior model can include build rate and/or turn rate equations to modal bottom-hole assembly behavior. Build and/or turn rate equations can be calibrated by adjusting model parameters thereof to minimize any variance between actual response 118 and estimated response produced for an interval of the well. Estimated position and orientation 104 of a bottom-hole assembly along a subsequent interval can be generated by inputting subsequent tool settings into the calibrated steering behavior model. Estimated position and orientation 104 can be compared to a well plan 106 with a controller 108 which determines a corrective action 110. Corrective action 110 can be converted from a build and/or turn rate to a set of recommended tool settings 114 by using an inverse application 112 of the steering behavior model. As additional data 118 becomes available, steering behavior model can be further calibrated 102 through iteration.
US07957941B2 System and method(s) of mine planning, design and processing
The present invention relates to the field of extracting resource(s) from a particular location. In particular, the present invention relates to the planning, design and processing related to a mine location in a manner based on enhancing the extraction of material considered of value, relative to the effort and/or time in extracting that material. The present application discloses, amongst other things, a method of and apparatus for determining slope constraints, determining a cluster of material, determining characteristics of a selected portion of material, analysing a selected volume of material, propagating clusters, forming clusters, mine design, aggregation of blocks into collections or clusters, splitting of waste and ore in clumps, determining a selected group of blocks to be mined, clump ordering and identifying clusters for pushback design.
US07957940B2 Method and system for the detection and/or removal of sinusoidal interference signals in a noise signal
A method for removing sinusoidal interference signals from a noise signal. The method includes transforming a measured signal (x(t), x(μ·Δt)), which is composed of a limited number of sinusoidal interference signals (Ak·ej(ωkt+φk), Ak·ej(ωkμ·Δt+φk)) and a white noise signal (w(t), w(μ·Δt)), into a subspace containing noise components and a subspace containing interference-signal components, and forming the spectrum of only the noise signal using the subspace containing the noise components. The entire frequency range is split into several frequency bands (ν), in which each measured signal (x(t), x(μ·Δt)) consists of a limited number (p(ν)) of sinusoidal interference signals and a white noise signal.
US07957936B2 Presentation system for abnormal situation prevention in a process plant
A system for visually presenting data receives signal processing data generated signal processing data collection blocks corresponding to devices associated with a process plant. The signal processing data collection blocks may generate data such as statistical data, frequency analysis data, auto regression data, wavelets data, etc. The system displays an image representative of the devices and representative of a context of the devices within the process plant. Additionally, data based on signal processing data corresponding to one or more devices is displayed. For example, the signal processing data for the device could be displayed. As another example, data may be generated based on the signal processing data and this generated data may be displayed.
US07957924B2 System and method for distortion analysis
A method, circuit, and computer program product for receiving a first intermediate signal that is at least partially based upon a first reference signal. A second intermediate signal is received that is a time-shifted version of the first intermediate signal. An output signal is generated that is based upon the difference between the first intermediate signal and the second intermediate signal. An anticipated differential change in the output signal is determined, the anticipated differential change to occur based upon a transition in the first reference signal. A realized differential change in the output signal is measured, the realized differential change occurring based upon a transition in the first reference signal. The realized differential change in the output signal is compared to the anticipated differential change in the output signal to determine a nonlinearity indicator.
US07957920B2 Milking machine testing
The invention relates to dynamic/wet testing of a milking machine (i.e. during extraction of milk from at least one animal). A proposed testing arrangement includes a number of sensors(111, 112, 113, 114, 121, 122, 123, 124, 2, 21, 22, 23, 24, 3, 31, 32, 33, 34, 4, 41, 42, 43, 44, 5, 6), which are adapted to register a vacuum pressure at a respective test point in at least one fluid conduit of the milking machine. An analysis unit (A) of the testing arrangement determines at least one pressure difference between the vacuum pressures registered in at least two of the test points being positioned on a respective side of at least one component in the milking machine with respect to a fluid flow through the at least one component to establish a vacuum drop over this component. The unit (A) compares the vacuum drop with a threshold value to conclude whether or not a test condition is fulfilled. A notification is generated with respect to any component for which the condition not is fulfilled. Thus, for instance an appropriate corrective action can be carried out.
US07957918B2 Member designing method and apparatus
A computer performs press forming analysis based on a shape of a formed product or of a member, a blank holder force, a friction coefficient, a tensile strength of a material, a yield strength, a stress-strain relation, and a sheet thickness, as press forming conditions, to calculate sheet thickness distribution and post-formation strain distribution of the formed product. The computer also performs performance analysis based on the sheet thickness distribution, the post-formation strain distribution, and the shape of the formed product or of the member, as state amounts of the formed product. This calculate performance of the member. The computer repeats the calculations performed in the process from the first step through the second step a predetermined number of times, with at least one of the press forming conditions being changed, to output an optimum press forming condition that gives a maximum value or a target value of the performance
US07957916B2 Methods, systems, and computer program products for producing theoretical mass spectral fragmentation patterns of chemical structures
Methods, systems, and computer program products for generating theoretical mass spectral fragmentation patterns of a chemical structure is provided. The method includes obtaining a description of a chemical structure and generating, from the description, a list of chemical structure information. A binary tree data structure is used to organize the list of chemical structure information. The binary tree data structure may be fragmented by determining, based on a set of predetermined rules, a fragmentation point between two nodes in the binary tree data structure thereby dividing the binary tree data structure into a fragment and a complement. The molecular formula and molecular weight of each fragment is determined. The binary tree data structure is traversed and appropriate fragmentation rules are applied to produce a plurality of theoretical molecular fragments.
US07957914B2 Automated identification of genetic test result duplication
The present invention relates to a method and system for determining whether an ordered genetic test will duplicate at least one existing genetic test result. The method includes receiving an ordered genetic test that is for a particular genetic sequence or variant thereof for an individual. The method further includes determining whether the individual has at least one existing genetic test result for the particular genetic sequence or variant thereof. Upon determining that the individual has at least one existing genetic test result for the particular genetic sequence or variant thereof, a notification of the existence of the at least one existing genetic test result is provided.
US07957911B2 Method and apparatus for screening chemical compounds
Methods and apparatus for screening large numbers of chemical compounds and performing a wide variety of fluorescent assays, including live cell assays. The methods utilize a laser linescan confocal microscope with high speed, high resolution and multi-wavelength capabilities and real time data-processing. Imaging may be done at video-rates and with use of ultraviolet illumination.
US07957908B2 System, method and software arrangement utilizing a multi-strip procedure that can be applied to gene characterization using DNA-array data
A system, method and software arrangement are provided that use a fast adaptive multiscale procedure to characterize a random set of points spanning a high dimensional Euclidean space, and concentrated around special lower dimensional subsets. The procedure can be adapted to analyze gene expression data from microarray experiments, and may be applied generally to existing datasets without regard to whether a particular model exists to otherwise describe the dataset. The procedure accordingly can be used for identifying and mathematically isolating stable sets of data points in a given dataset from those in the same dataset that deviate from a stable model under various conditions.
US07957906B2 Method for attenuating low frequency noise in a dual-sensor seismic streamer
A calculated vertical velocity sensor signal is determined from a recorded pressure sensor signal. A constructed vertical velocity sensor signal is determined as a linear combination of the calculated vertical velocity sensor signal and a recorded vertical velocity sensor signal in dual-sensor seismic streamer data, using a mixture coefficient as a proportionality constant. An upgoing pressure wavefield component is determined as one half of a difference of the recorded pressure sensor signal and the constructed vertical velocity sensor signal, as a function of the mixture coefficient. An error in the upgoing pressure wavefield component is determined by propagating errors in the recorded pressure sensor signal and constructed vertical velocity sensor signal terms. A value of the mixture coefficient is determined that minimizes the error in the upgoing pressure wavefield component.
US07957899B2 Method for determining the attitude, position, and velocity of a mobile device
A method is provided for determining the attitude, position, and velocity of a mobile device from knowledge of the direction of the earth's magnetic field in an absolute reference frame. Signals are supplied to a processing means for the signals by gyroscopic measuring means in three axes, accelerometric measuring means in three axes, and magnetic measuring means in three axes, where the measuring means are located on-board the device and according to three three-dimensional reference frames connected to the device reference frame.
US07957895B2 Navigation device and method
A method of operating a portable navigation device or navigation system is described, together, with a computer program and a PND and navigation system. The method includes the steps of providing for a specific premises, location or location range, being identifiable with reference to map data locally stored in the device or system and optionally being or including the current location, can be at least temporarily stored in memory. The method also includes the presenting to the user at least one user-selectable option by means of which qualitative information pertaining to the premises, location or range can be entered locally in the device or system, the selection of the option resulting in the immediate or subsequent recordal and storage of both the qualitative information and an association thereof with the identified premises, location or range.
US07957894B2 Optimum route determination with tiling
An optimum route search may be conducted through the use of a tiling overlay on the network of road segments. Overlaying the tiling (grid) over the road segments allows for a reduction of the number of road segments considered for an optimum path as road segments can be evaluated on whether the road segment is part of an optimal path to the borders of a first tile and then successively larger frames of tiles around the initial tile. By reducing the number of road segments considered for the optimum route search to road segments that are part of optimal routes to various tile boundary edges, the computation of the optimum route for the route of interest may be quicker and less resource intensive than efforts to determine optimum routes through other methods.
US07957889B2 Adjustment system for balancing the cylinders of a gas-burning internal combustion engine
The invention relates to balancing the cylinders of an internal combustion engine. The invention comprises cylinder-specific pressure sensors (1) installed in the cylinders of an internal combustion engine for measuring the cylinder pressures as well as an adjustment unit (2). The adjustment unit is arranged to determine the maximum pressure and knock value of each cylinder as well as the mean maximum pressure of the cylinders as a response to the measurements of cylinder pressures and to determine the differences between the maximum pressure of each cylinder and the mean maximum pressure. The differences are compared to a certain deviation range of the mean maximum pressure and the knock value to a certain knock limit value. The duration of the fuel injection of the cylinder is adjusted in case the difference of a single cylinder exceeds the lower limit of the deviation range and the knock value of the cylinder is less than the knock limit value or the difference of the cylinders exceeds the upper limit of the deviation range.
US07957886B2 Apparatus for and method of controlling internal combustion engine equipped with turbocharger
A compressor flow rate is calculated using a compressor model, which is the physical model of a compressor. A plurality of the compressor models are provided, and the compressor model used for calculating the compressor flow rate is changed in accordance with an operational condition of an internal combustion engine.
US07957885B2 Method for operating a group of glow plugs in a diesel engine
Method for controlling a group of glow plugs in a diesel engine, which are connected with a direct current source via individual supply lines and which are to be controlled by a pulse width modulation process at the same temperature, at least in time average. The electric resistance of the glow plugs, less the resistance of the supply line to the heating element of the glow plugs, is determined during operation of the engine and a relative pulse width at which the glow plugs are to be operated is calculated from the value so obtained.
US07957879B2 Brake control method and brake control device
A brake control device is provided to a wheel equipped with a tire, which has a function of applying a brake force to the wheel to put a brake thereon while adjusting the brake force. In the device, an acceleration sensor outputs acceleration data in a radial direction of the rotating tire, a predetermined detection range is set with respect to the acceleration data, a threshold value is set with respect to a corresponding part of the acceleration data falling within the detection range, the corresponding part of the acceleration data falling within the detection range is specified. Values of the specified acceleration data are compared with the threshold value, and a control signal for causing a braking device to adjust the brake force thereof is output in a case where some values of the acceleration data are larger than the threshold value.
US07957877B2 Curving tendency detection device in vehicle, and vehicle response control apparatus using same
A curving tendency detection device is provided to detecting a curving tendency (curving frequency and amount of curvature) in a vehicle roadway or a vehicle running state (behavior). Basically, the curving tendency detection device has a lateral acceleration differential value calculation section and a curving tendency estimation section. The lateral acceleration differential value calculation section calculates vehicle lateral acceleration differential values of a vehicle lateral acceleration acting on a vehicle as the vehicle lateral acceleration varies over time. The curving tendency estimation section estimates the curving tendency based on the vehicle lateral acceleration differential value calculated by the lateral acceleration differential value calculation section. Thus, the curving can be reliably detected by effectively avoiding a false curving tendency in cases in which the left and right wheels have different effective diameters, or the vehicle is driving straight along a laterally tilted road.
US07957874B2 Override of automatic braking in a collision mitigation and/or avoidance system
A method for returning driver control in a vehicle during automatic braking includes the steps of determining a minimum value of accelerator pedal position during the automatic braking, determining a current value of accelerator pedal position, and disengaging the automatic braking, if the current value is greater than the minimum value by at least a predetermined value.
US07957873B2 Vehicle transmission shift inhibit method and apparatus
A control method is provided including detecting transmission output speed and a forward and reverse shift request, and executing inhibit limits when the detected speed exceeds a predetermined threshold speed. The inhibit limits slow the output speed to zero upon detection of a shift request at output speeds above the threshold, with a pedal progression map executed upon reaching zero output speed. The limits approach zero output torque as vehicle speed increases, reaching zero at a relatively high speed and simulating a neutral transmission upon a detected shift request at high speed. A vehicle is also provided having a transmission, a sensor for detecting transmission output speed, a sensor for detecting a shift request, and a PCM having an algorithm and a threshold transmission output speed. The algorithm inhibits a shift event in the direction opposite that of vehicle travel upon detection when vehicle speed is greater than the threshold.
US07957872B2 Shift control apparatus of a continuously variable transmission and method of determining whether shift control apparatus is operating normally
The invention provides a shift control apparatus of a continuously variable transmission, which includes a feedback control portion which executes feedback control that brings an actual speed ratio close or equal to a target speed ratio, and a normal operation determining portion which determines whether the shift control apparatus is operating normally based on a difference between the actual speed ratio and the target speed ratio, and an amount of change in the actual speed ratio and an amount of change in the target speed ratio during a predetermined interval.
US07957870B2 Torque distribution system for a vehicle
A torque distribution system is provided for a vehicle that uses a planetary gear set, an electric motor, and a torque-transmitting mechanism to control a torque difference between two axially-aligned wheels on a vehicle. The torque distribution system includes a planetary gear set having a first, a second, and a third member. The torque-transmitting mechanism is selectively engagable to connect the first and second members of the planetary gear set for common rotation. The second and third members of the planetary gear set are continuously operatively connected with the first and second rotatable connecting elements, respectively. The motor is continuously connected with the first member of the planetary gear set such that the motor adds or subtracts torque to the first member when the motor is energized and also adds or subtracts torque to the second member when the motor is energized and the torque-transmitting mechanism is engaged.
US07957868B2 Electronic power module for an agricultural vehicle
An electronic power module (EPM) for an agricultural vehicle is provided. The EPM is configurable by an electronic control unit (ECU) to which it is connected by way of a controller area network (CAN) bus. The CAN bus network includes a plurality of electronic control unit (ECU)s and a plurality of EPMs, wherein each of the EPMs is coupled to a corresponding ECU of the plurality of ECUs to be controlled thereby. Each EPM includes an EPM circuit having at least one microcontroller, a driver circuit and a CAN bus communication circuit. The driver circuit is coupled to the microcontroller and is configured by the microcontroller. The driver circuit has a plurality of driver subcircuits. The CAN bus communication circuit is coupled to the microcontroller configured to receive CAN bus messages that include driver configuration instructions and driver current limits from a corresponding ECU and instructions to the microcontroller. The microcontroller receives the driver configuration instructions from the CAN bus communications circuit and responsively configures the driver subcircuits according to the driver configuration instructions.
US07957867B2 Steering system of vehicle
An electronic control unit reads a side slip angle of a vehicle body. Next, the electronic control unit reads a correction amount entered by a driver. Next, the electronic control unit calculates a target steering angle by subtracting a correction term from a rotation amount of a steering output shaft, which has a predetermined relation with a rotation amount of a steering input shaft, to reduce a lateral force generated in the vehicle due to the side slip angle of the vehicle body. Subsequently, the electronic control unit drives and controls an electric motor of a variable-gear-ratio actuator until the rotation amount of the steering output shaft reaches the target steering angle.
US07957866B2 Travel control apparatus for a vehicle
In a configuration in which a control is performed for actuating the steering cylinder 17 so that the steering angle of the front wheel 11a (steering wheel), which is detected by the steering angle detector 62, becomes a target steering angle which is set in accordance with an operational state of the steering dial 42, the target steering angle of the front wheel 11a (steering wheel), which is set in accordance with an operational state of the steering dial 42, is compared with a detected steering angle of the front wheel 11a, which is detected by the steering detector 62, and when the difference between the target steering angle and the detected steering angle is a predetermined value or higher, the traveling speed of the vehicle 10 is regulated so that the traveling speed of the vehicle 10 becomes a predetermined speed or lower.
US07957864B2 Method and apparatus for detecting and differentiating users of a device
The invention provides an apparatus for operator control of an in-vehicle system. This comprises an interface device for receiving inputs for control of the in-vehicle system from the operator. There is a sensing system operative to determine a location of the operator seeking to provide the inputs to the interface device, the location consisting of one of a passenger and a driver. A controller adapts the control of the in-vehicle system based upon the location of the operator providing the inputs.
US07957863B2 Vehicle information recording apparatus, program, and recording medium
There is provided a vehicle information recording apparatus capable of making a user easily recognize vehicle information which is recorded in the presence of electric power supply from a backup power source. When a vehicle is involved in an accident and the impact caused by the accident has triggered the interruption of electric power supply from a vehicle power source section and thereupon electrical power is supplied from a backup power source section, predetermined identification information “−A” is added to a folder name of a vehicle power source folder where still image information is recorded in the presence of electric power supply from the vehicle power source section, whereby a backup power source folder is created on a CF card as a new folder. Part of still image information stored in a second SD-RAM is recorded in the backup power source folder created on the CF card.
US07957852B2 Aviation yoke HSI interface and flight deck control indicator and selector safety system
An aviation yoke HSI interface and flight deck control indicator and selector safety system enhances flight safety. The system incorporates a multi-controlled HSI with a yoke heading adjustment control, a yoke VOR radial selector, and a yoke heading centering control positioned on the captain yoke. The system may also incorporate a first officer multi-controlled HSI with a first officer yoke heading adjustment control, a first officer yoke VOR radial selector, and a first officer yoke heading and course centering control positioned on the first officer yoke. An autopilot mode indicator visually indicates whether an autopilot is flying according to a desired heading or according to a VOR radial signal. A side selector-indicator control permits selection of which side controls the flight of the aircraft. A first control unit and a second control unit may be in electrical communication with both sides to fly the aircraft in autopilot.
US07957851B2 System and method for utilization of transmitted digital flight data acquisition information to accomplish vibration balance solutions
A system and method is provided for monitoring, collecting, storing, transmitting, calculating and uploading to a secure web server real-time balancing solutions for at least the N1 Low Pressure Compressor portion of a jet engine. The method comprises collecting a series of engine vibration data strings and transmitting a data string set to a ground stations for conditioning, formatting and forwarding to a source for calculating and providing fan balance solutions to a secure server wherein the data strings comprise at least phase angle of imbalance data, N1 RPM and the magnitude of the N1 vibration. The balance solution determined comprises the required weight (mass) and location of weight (mass) installation necessary to correct a fan imbalance in a turbine engine.
US07957848B2 Support of deep power savings mode and partial good in a thermal management system
A computer implemented method, data processing system, and processor are provided for managing a thermal management system. A determination is made as to whether a plurality of digital thermal sensors is faulty or functional. A power savings mode of at least one unit within the integrated circuit associated with the functional digital thermal sensor is monitored in response to at least one of the plurality of digital thermal sensors being functional. A functional digital thermal sensor is disabled in response to the at least one unit being in a power savings mode.
US07957844B2 Device and a method for power balancing
A method for stabilization of the power balance in an electric power system including a number of nodes. An instantaneous value of the mains frequency of the electric power system is sensed. In dependence on the frequency deviation of the instantaneous value from a reference frequency value, a selected part of the electric power system, connected in a node, is disconnected in the node. A voltage amplitude value is sensed in the node. A measure of the magnitude of the deviation of the voltage amplitude value from a reference amplitude value is formed. A time lag is formed in dependence on the measure of the magnitude. The part of the electric power system is disconnected in dependence on the time lag.
US07957842B2 Apparatus and method for controlling an air supply for drying painted vehicles and other objects
A method includes determining how to adjust one or more manipulated variables using at least one model. The one or more manipulated variables are associated with a supply of conditioned air for drying one or more objects. The method also includes generating one or more control signals to control one or more controlled variables associated with the supply of conditioned air. The one or more controlled variables include temperature, dewpoint, and/or humidity of the conditioned air. The one or more manipulated variables include a flow of heated material (like steam) used to condition the conditioned air. The one or more manipulated variables could also include a number of active units in a humidifier. Generating the one or more control signals could include accumulating adjustments associated with the humidifier and generating a control signal to alter the number of active units in the humidifier when the accumulated adjustments exceed a threshold.
US07957841B2 Method of calculating pump flow rates and an automated pump control system
A method of determining a flow rate of a pump involves determining a volume capacity for a flow line carrying produced fluids from the pump, determining a starting pressure for the flow line and setting an arbitrary target pressure for the purpose of testing. The test is initiated by preventing flow in the flow line while continuing to operate the pump and monitoring pressure in the flow line to determine a time interval required to reach the target pressure. The method then involves performing calculations to determine flow rate using the volume capacity, the starting pressure, the change in pressure over the time interval required to reach the target pressure. The flow rate is equivalent to ΔV divided by a change in time ΔT. The method is preferably used as part of a manual or automated pump control strategy to keep the pump operating within flow rate ranges that provide optimum pump efficiency.
US07957838B2 Control system, method and computer program
A control system for a plurality of mechanical units, namely robots and/or external axes. A manually-operated control, such as a joy-stick or key panel, is adapted to move at least one of the mechanical units or part thereof. The control system includes an indicator adapted to indicate whether the at least one mechanical unit or part thereof that is to be moved is associated with any other mechanical unit(s) or part(s) thereof and consequently indicate that movement of the at least one mechanical unit or part thereof will also result in the movement of the indicated associated mechanical unit(s) or part(s) thereof.
US07957832B2 Method and system for vibration avoidance for automated machinery
A method for vibration avoidance in automated machinery produces actuator space-time contours that meet design objectives of the machinery while suppressing energy content at frequencies in the space-time contour, by concatenating multiple space-time contour segments together in such a way as to be mostly free of energy at the frequencies of interest while meeting other specified design goals. The segments used to construct these frequency-optimized-contours are a series of concatenated polynomial segments, the independent variable t being time. These segments can define the variable to be controlled (e.g. speed or distance) versus time, or define one of the controlled variable's time-derivatives (e.g., the slope of the speed vs. time, etc.). When these frequency-optimized-contours are fed as a command to a machine controller through an actuator or actuators, the energy at the frequencies of interest is low enough to avoid deleterious vibration from occurring while still meeting the machine performance objectives.
US07957831B2 System and device for designing and forming a surgical implant
A method is provided for determining the shape of a surgical linking device that is to be attached to a bony body structure such as the spinal column based on digitized locations of a plurality of attachment means engaged to the bony structure. The method is implemented by a computer system through a GUI to generate an initial bend curve to mate with the plurality of attachment means. The initial bend curve may be simplified based on user input to the GUI to reduce the number of bends necessary to produce a well-fitting linking device and may be altered to help obtain the goals of the surgery.
US07957829B2 Method for positioning and/or guiding at least one arbitrary process head for the metalization of thin substrates at a defined distance above the substrate surface
A method for positioning or guiding at least one arbitrary print head or a printing unit having at least one pressure nozzle for the imprinting of thin substrates such as wafers at a defined distance above the surface of the substrate, which is to be provided on a support like a paddle or printing table. Distance sensors continuously acquired distance measurements to the surface of the substrate which is to be imprinted. An adjustment of the print head up to 6 degrees of freedom is ensured by actuators in such a manner that the section of the opening of the pressure nozzle of the print head can be adjusted so as to be coplanar to the section of the surface of the substrate which is to be imprinted. The print head is thus maintained or readjusted so as to adjust the section of the opening of the pressure nozzle of the print head to the surface of the substrate which is to be positioned on the support table so as to be coplanar and so as to maintain the coplanar position during the printing process.
US07957827B2 Method of controlling statuses of wafers
A method of controlling statuses of a plurality of wafers is described. A status of a wafer among the wafers is determined. An action related to the status is taken, according to the status determined, to the wafer and/or other wafers to improve a yield or yields thereof.
US07957823B2 Apparatus and method for tuning volume of downloaded sound
An apparatus and method for tuning the volume of a sound downloaded from an outside source in a device for outputting such a sound through a speaker are provided. The apparatus includes a memory, a speaker, a microphone, a codec, a volume tuning determining unit, and a volume tuner. The memory stores a sound signal downloaded from the outside source. The speaker outputs the sound signal stored in the memory. The microphone receives the sound signal output from the speaker. The codec outputs modulation data of the sound signal input from the microphone. The volume tuning determining unit calculates volume figure data with respect to the sound signal, stress figure data of the speaker, and volume adjustment gain data using the modulation data. The volume tuner tunes the volume of the sound signal using the calculated volume adjustment gain data.
US07957812B2 Differential entropy based encoding of data with variable length probabilistic codes
Waveforms are digitally sampled and compressed for storage in memory. The compression of the data includes generating a truncated entropy encoding map and using the values within the map to obtain good compression. An encoder further sub-selects values to be encoded and values to remain unencoded to provide an overall compression of the data.
US07957811B2 Spatial mapping for a visual prosthesis
A visual prosthesis and a method of operating a visual prosthesis are disclosed. Neural stimulation through electrodes is controlled by spatial maps, where a grouped or random association is established between the pixels of the acquired image and the electrodes. In this way distortions from the foveal pit and wiring mistakes in the implant can be corrected. Moreover, broken electrodes can be bypassed and a resolution limit can be tested, together with testing the benefit the patient receives from correct spatial mapping.
US07957808B2 System and methods of deep brain stimulation for post-operation patients
A method for programming a deep brain stimulator implanted in a target region of a brain of a living subject. In one embodiment, the method comprises the steps of creating an efficacy atlas; acquiring a position of each electrode contact of the at least one electrode; mapping the acquired position of each electrode contact of the at least one electrode onto a corresponding position in the efficacy atlas so as to determine the efficacy of stimulation at the acquired position; and selecting one or more electrode contacts having the highest efficacy for stimulation.
US07957807B2 Gastric electrical stimulation with therapy window anti-desensitization feature
The disclosure is directed to gastric stimulation programmers, stimulators and methods for controlling delivery of gastric stimulation therapy to maintain the efficacy of the therapy over time. Maintaining the efficacy of gastric stimulation therapy may be possible by implementing one or more anti-desensitization features in a gastric stimulation controller or stimulator. As electrical stimulation therapy is continuously delivered to a patient, the stimulated tissue may become desensitized to the electrical stimulation therapy such that the beneficial effect of the electrical stimulation is diminished. Once desensitization occurs, the affected tissue may not respond favorably to electrical stimulation therapy. Application of one or more anti-desensitization features to control gastric stimulation therapy may reduce or prevent desensitization and effectively extend the efficacy of the therapy over time.
US07957806B2 Shielded three-terminal flat-through EMI/energy dissipating filter
A shielded three-terminal flat-through EMI/energy dissipating filter includes an active electrode plate through which a circuit current passes between a first terminal and a second terminal, a first shield plate on a first side of the active electrode plate, and a second shield plate on a second side of the active electrode plate opposite the first shield plate. The first and second shield plates are conductively coupled to a grounded third terminal. In preferred embodiments, the active electrode plate and the shield plates are at least partially disposed with a hybrid flat-through substrate that may include a flex cable section, a rigid cable section, or both.
US07957804B2 Non-invasive battery recharger for electronic cardiac implants
The present invention refers to a device used to recharge the battery of electronic cardiac implants, like implanted pacemakers and defibrillators. It can be used to recharge the battery after an emergency requirement, such as: defibrillation or in diagnosis and or reprogramming of implants, during which no energy is demanded from the internal battery, seeing that the energy feed becomes guaranteed (accepted) by the proposed device. The invention is composed by three essential components: a generator (A), a transmitter unit (B) and a receptor coil (C). The generator is destined to produce an energy signal with determined amplitude and frequency and that is carried across through a coaxial cable to the transmitter unit (B). The emitted magnetic field is captured by the receptor coil (C) that is implanted inside the human body, generating a voltage with the absence of the Gibbs phenomenon. Furthermore, the battery recharging device guarantees the energetic supply of a communication channel between the exterior for diagnosis and/or implant reprogramming. In this case, there will be no demand of energy from the internal battery.
US07957801B2 Dynamic pacing interval extension for detection of intrinsic ventricular activity
Methods and devices for identification of intrinsic ventricular activity occurring within a ventricular signal. Ventricular signal morphology is analyzed to determine if the signal contains intrinsic ventricular activity while delivering pacing pulses separated by nearly constant time intervals. Furthermore, an extension of a pacing interval is specified based on whether or not the signal contains autonomous intrinsic ventricular activity. In this manner, the pacing interval is only extended when it is likely for autonomous intrinsic ventricular activity to occur.
US07957800B2 Preferred ADI/R: a permanent pacing mode to eliminate ventricular pacing while maintaining backup support
A preferred atrial-based pacing method and apparatus is provided using an intelligent cardiac pacing system to having the ability to continue atrial-based pacing as long as relatively reliable AV conduction is present. In the event that such relatively reliable AV conduction is not present, mode switching to a DDD/R or a DDI/R pacing mode while continually biased to mode switch back to atrial-based pacing. The standard or relatively reliable AV conduction may be changed either automatically or manually. This increases pacing that utilizes natural AV conduction however possible so as to gain all the benefits of cardiac contractile properties resulting therefrom, while tolerating the occasional missed ventricular depolarization (i.e., non-conducted P-wave). In the event where relatively reliable AV conduction is not present, the pacing mode is switched to a DDD/R mode while detecting a return of the relatively reliable AV conduction (and resulting mode switch to preferred atrial based pacing).
US07957799B2 Non-invasive cardiac potentiation therapy
An external cardiac medical device for delivering Cardiac Potentiation Therapy (CPT). Techniques used with the device include initial diagnosis of the patient, delivery of the CPT, and configuration of the external device, so that CPT can be effectively and efficiently provided. In particular, these techniques include initially determining whether a patient should receive CPT, how to set the coupling interval for delivering CPT, how to configure the external medical device to deliver CPT stimulation pulses while not adversely affecting the device's ability to sense a patient's cardiac parameters and/or signals.
US07957797B2 Closed-loop therapy adjustment
Techniques for detecting a value of a sensed patient parameter, and automatically delivering therapy to a patient according to therapy information previously associated with the detected value, are described. In exemplary embodiments, a medical device receives a therapy adjustment from the patient. In response to the adjustment, the medical device associates a sensed value of a patient parameter with therapy information determined based on the adjustment. Whenever the parameter value is subsequently detected, the medical device delivers therapy according to the associated therapy information. In this manner, the medical device may “learn” to automatically adjust therapy in the manner desired by the patient as the sensed parameter of the patient changes. Exemplary patient parameters that may be sensed for performance of the described techniques include posture, activity, heart rate, electromyography (EMG), an electroencephalogram (EEG), an electrocardiogram (ECG), temperature, respiration rate, and pH.
US07957796B2 Using physiological sensor data with an implantable medical device
A method, system, and apparatus for providing an electrical neurostimulation therapy to a neural structure of a patient's body using an implantable medical device (IMD). A first electrical signal is provided using the implantable medical device. A first electrical signal is applied to the neural structure. An implanted sensor is provided. A physiological parameter is sensed using the implanted sensor. The physiological parameter is selected from the group consisting of a neurotransmitter parameter, a neurotransmitter breakdown product parameter, a neuropeptide parameter, and a glucocorticoid (GC) parameter. The first electrical signal is modified based upon the sensed physiological parameter to generate a second electrical signal. The second electrical signal is applied to the neural structure.
US07957794B2 System and method for transducing, sensing, or affecting vaginal or body conditions, and/or stimulating perineal musculature and nerves using 2-way wireless communications
A system for sensing vaginal conditions or for affecting vaginal or body conditions in a mammal. The system includes a portable probe unit and a separate controller unit, both of which include two-way communication devices to both transmit signals to, and receive signals from, each other, wirelessly and in real time. The substantially smooth and sealed outer surface of the cylindrical body of the probe unit has a rounded end and is dimensioned to permit comfortable and repeated insertion into, removal from, and containment entirely within a mammal's vagina. The probe body has a device substantially flush with its outer surface and configured to deliver electrical pulses, receive electrical pulses, sense or sample vaginal conditions and/or deliver medication. Signals to the probe unit comprise control and programming signals acting as a feedback loop configured to start, stop and/or alter activity of the substantially flush device of the probe unit, either automatically or manually, for sensing vaginal conditions or for affecting vaginal or body conditions.
US07957792B2 Spatial resolution determination for cardiac mapping
A non-contact cardiac mapping method is disclosed that includes: (i) inserting a catheter into a heart cavity having an endocardium surface, the catheter including multiple, spatially distributed electrodes; (ii) measuring signals at the catheter electrodes in response to electrical activity in the heart cavity with the catheter spaced from the endocardium surface; and (iii) determining physiological information at multiple locations of the endocardium surface based on the measured signals and positions of the electrodes with respect to the endocardium surface. Related systems and computer programs are also disclosed.
US07957790B2 Catheter
Catheter for inserting into a hollow organ, in particular a blood vessel, wherein at least one tube- or balloon-like flexural element (12, 12a, . . . , 12l) which can be filled with a filling medium is provided inside the catheter, which flexural element is flexible in the non-pressurized state and stiffens as a result of pressure buildup internally and assumes a predetermined curved shape.
US07957788B2 Interventional magnetic resonance imaging based on global coherent free precession
Methods and systems for obtaining intravascular magnetic resonance images of blood flow are disclosed. In preferred forms, a train of radio frequency (RF) pulses is produced by an intravascularly introduced RF transmitter positioned in proximate location to the blood flow so as to create a continuous stream of coherently excited protons of the blood flow. The coherently excited protons of the blood flow are sampled as the protons freely precess while flowing through a region of three dimensional space unaffected by the ongoing intravascular RF excitation. An image of the sampled coherently excited protons may then be constructed.
US07957785B2 Waterproof bioelectrode
A waterproof bioelectrode includes an electrode pad (101) to be mounted on a living body and a lead wire (110) to be connected to the electrode pad. The electrode pad includes a waterproof base (106) having an adhesive contacting surface and a hole substantially at its center, a waterproof seal member (105) which fixes the lead wire to a lower surface of the contacting surface of the base while covering the hole such that a detection electrode provided to a distal end of the lead wire is exposed from the hole of the waterproof base, and a conductive gel (103) arranged on the contacting surface to come into contact with the detection electrode.
US07957775B2 Low battery notification service for wireless device users
A low battery notification service is provided to a user of a wireless device capable of monitoring the voltage level of its internal battery and sending a low battery warning message. The messages are received at a service provider that maintains subscriber profiles associated with a subscriber's wireless device. When a low battery warning message is received, a wireless device identifier in the warning message is used to access a notification list included in a stored subscriber profile. Notification list entries are selected based on their assigned priorities and the existence or absence of conditions of use, permitting low battery notifications to be sent to target systems on the notification list until an acceptable response is received or the notification list is exhausted.
US07957773B2 System and method for enabling safe hands-free operation of a wireless telephone in a vehicle
A system and method for using a wireless telephone in a vehicle in a hands-free mode. The wireless telephone and the vehicle have corresponding mating units. When a predetermined condition is satisfied while the mating units are not united, one of the wireless telephone and the vehicle is disabled. The predetermined condition can be one of several situations. For example, one condition may be that an attempt is being made to use the wireless telephone in the vehicle while the vehicle is moving. Another condition may be that an attempt is being made to move the vehicle while the wireless telephone is being used in a wireless communication session within the vehicle. When the mating units are united, the vehicle functions normally and the wireless telephone operates in a hands-free mode.
US07957771B2 Hands-free conferencing apparatus and method for use with a wireless telephone
A hands-free teleconferencing apparatus for use with a wireless telephone for enabling multiple users to participate in a telephone call in a hands-free environment. An adapter of the apparatus configured to connect to a wireless telephone includes circuitry for communicating with at least two external speakers and at least one external microphone. The communications between the adapter and the external speakers and microphone may be wired or wireless. If wired, the external speakers and microphone may be part of respective earbud devices or headsets that connect to the adapter. Each earbud device includes an acoustic transducer that functions as an audio speaker and may include a microphone that converts the users' voices into electric audio signals. If wireless, the external speakers and microphone may be in respective headsets that have respective wireless transducers for communicating wirelessly with respective wireless transducers in the adapter.
US07957766B2 Method for controlling a camera mode in a portable terminal
Disclosed is a camera control method for a portable terminal, by which a lens unit of a camera of the portable terminal can be automatically drawn into or out of the portable terminal when a call is received in a camera mode of the portable terminal. The method comprises the steps of: determining if a call is received in the camera mode in which a lens unit of the portable terminal has been drawn out of the portable terminal; controlling the lens unit to be automatically drawn into the portable terminal while reporting call reception when the call is received; shifting the portable terminal into a communication mode and performing communication when a communication key is input; shifting the portable terminal into an initial camera mode when the initial camera mode is selected after the communication is performed and shifting the portable terminal into a previous camera mode when the previous camera mode is selected after the communication is performed; and interrupting call reception and controlling the lens unit to be automatically drawn out of the portable terminal while maintaining the camera mode when a cancel key is selected.
US07957763B2 Method and apparatus for selecting call list numbers based on entry/exit to a WLAN
A wireless communication device (100) includes a transceiver (204) that is operable to communicate with a first wireless communication network (104) and a second wireless communication network (106). The device (100) also includes a memory (216) for storing at least a first destination-device identifier (304) associated with the first wireless communication network (104) and a second destination-device identifier (306) associated with the second wireless communication network (106). The device (100) further includes a controller (210) coupled to the transceiver (204) and the memory (216), for determining whether the device is within coverage of the first wireless communication network (104) and causing only the first destination-device identifier (304) to be selected from the memory (216) if the device is within coverage of the first wireless communication network (104) and causing only the second destination-device identifier (306) to be selected from the memory (216) if the device is outside the coverage of the first wireless communication network (104).
US07957762B2 Using ambient light sensor to augment proximity sensor output
Apparatuses and methods to sense proximity of an object and operate a proximity sensor of a portable device. In some embodiments, a method includes receiving an ambient light sensor (ALS) output, and altering, based on the ALS output, an effect of a proximity sensor output on control of a proximity determination. The ALS sensor and the proximity sensor may be located adjacent to an earpiece of a portable device. In some cases, the proximity determination may be a proximity of an object to the proximity sensor, and altering the effect may include changing the proximity of the object from a proximity greater than a first threshold to a proximity less than the first threshold. Other apparatuses and methods and data processing systems and machine readable media are also described.
US07957760B2 Method and apparatus for transmit power control in wireless data communications systems
The distance between a first Multi Band Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplex (MB-OFDM) data transceiver and a second or more such transceiver is determined using known techniques. The radio frequency path loss between transceivers is estimated given said distance, using a known relationship between distance and path loss, and further accounting for line-of-sight or non-line-of-sight conditions if desired. This path loss value is added to the typically minimum transmit power level, absent path loss, needed for reliable data communication. This modified initial transmit power level is then used by the first transceiver to begin the known iterative feedback process of transmit power control (TPC). Because this modified initial transmit power level, based on distance, is closer to the final optimum level, convergence in the TPC process occurs in fewer steps and less time than had the initial transmit power been maximum power as is typical in known TPC systems.
US07957757B2 Open loop power offset update
Provided is an feedback mechanism to correct power control information in a broadcast signal that is determined to be incorrect by one or more devices that receive and rely on the broadcast information. A device that receives the incorrect broadcast information can determine a correction and to the information and provide a recommendation to the source of the broadcast information. The source can selectively determine whether to modify the broadcast information based on the recommendation from one or more devices. If the broadcast information is modified, subsequent devices that receive the broadcast information are provided with the modified information. If further changes are needed, the subsequent devices can provide further recommended changes.
US07957752B2 Location-aware fitness training device, methods, and program products that support real-time interactive communication and automated route generation
In at least one embodiment, a server receives user input describing a route of an activity. A graphical representation of the route is served to a user device in association with a toolset including at least one of a set including an annotation tool, a rating tool, and a review tool. The server receives route-related information including at least one of a set including a user annotation, a user rating and a user review of the route entered utilizing the toolset. The route and the route-related information is stored on the server, and the server permits access to the route and the route-related information by a plurality of users.
US07957749B1 Location-based bookmarks
Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, implementing and using techniques for using a location aware device to determine a current location, recording a location bookmark for the current location using the location aware device, storing the location bookmark, detecting at some later time that a location of the location aware device is within a specified proximity to the bookmark location and that a user-defined condition is satisfied by the bookmark content, and automatically notifying a user of the location aware device of the location bookmark. A location bookmark includes a bookmark location and bookmark content, the bookmark location being the current location and the bookmark content including data associated with the current location.
US07957746B2 Power management and distributed scheduling for uplink transmissions in wireless systems
To schedule uplink transmission time slots for a collection of mobile communication devices, a set of base station target interference patterns is associated with base stations. A time slot target interference pattern is assigned for each time slot and it repeats after several time slots. The time slot target interference pattern in a given time slot specifies the interference allowed by each time slot to a given base station by any single mobile. A priority index may be determined for each time slot for each mobile associated with the particular base station. The priority index may be based, in part, on a determined correlation between the time-slot target interference patterns and a potential interference profile of a mobile to which a time slot is to be allocated. A mobile's throughput requirement, the throughput already received over a specified past duration, the system fairness requirement, as well as the amount of data available for transmission are also used for evaluating the priority index.
US07957743B2 Self configuring and optimization of cell neighbors in wireless telecommunications networks
The present invention relates to a cellular communications network and in particular to the problem of identifying cells for neighbor lists, or handover candidates when the cells are identified by a limited number of non-unique identities. The present invention includes a method for a radio base station, wherein the base station receives reports from one or more terminals in neighbor cells quality and non-unique identities. The match is sought in a neighbor cell list non-unique identity with a unique cell identity. If the match cannot be made without ambiguity, the base station causes the terminal to detect the unique cell identity. If the reason for the ambiguity is the particular cell is not included in the neighbor cell list it is included when its unique identity has been established. The uniquely identified cell is used if it is determined to perform a handover.
US07957734B2 Push/pull information system for airborne networks
A wireless communications system, and a corresponding method, for use with an aircraft, includes airborne base station equipment mounted on the aircraft, the base station equipment capable of communication with wireless devices used by subscribers on the aircraft and with one or more wireless communications networks, and switching/transaction processing equipment capable of communication with the base station equipment. The system further includes aircraft location equipment capable of communication with the base station equipment, where the aircraft's geographic location, including latitude, longitude, and altitude, is determined; and a push-pull wireless information system that receives the aircraft's geographic location information. The push-pull wireless information system includes an information service notification mechanism that provides notifications to one or more service providers, the service providers providing goods and services of possible interest to the subscribers, and an information delivery mechanism that provides information related to the goods and services to one or more of the subscribers.
US07957732B2 Device and method for quality testing using a battery operated mobile phone
In order to mount a mobile phone in a test device, the current between the battery unit and the phone unit is fed through a switch unit. The switch unit contains at least one switch for interrupting the current, e.g. for resetting the mobile phone after malfunction.
US07957729B2 Communication system and method for operating such a system
The present invention relates to communication system comprising first and second communication devices (11,12) each capable of communicating with a telecommunications network (10), and both being connectable to each other by a data link (17) for information transfer and to a method for operating the same. The first communication device (11) contains individual information, and the second communication device (12) comprises a special memory area (21) for storing individual information acquired from the first communication device (11). To enable an improved and facilitated usage of the system comparator means (22) for comparing the individual information contained in the first communication device (11) with that stored in the special memory area (21) of the second communication (12) device are provided. Therefore, only changes of the individual information of the first communication device (11) are stored in the second communication device (12) after comparing the individual information from the first communication device (11) stored in the second communication device (12) with the individual information in the first communication device (11) when the first communication device (11) is connected again to the second communication device (12).
US07957724B2 Method and apparatus for indicating to a wireless network the operational mode of a wireless communicator
A method for communicating on a wireless network includes receiving a mode signal from a network node. The mode signal represents an operational mode of the network node. The operational mode is defined by selecting from among a plurality of services at least one service whose reception over the wireless network is to be suspended or reinstated. Communication between the network node and the wireless network is subsequently conducted by taking into account the received mode signal. The network node may be a wireless communicator such as a cellular telephone or a fixed station device. Alternatively, the network node may be a wireless switch or a cellular base station.
US07957716B2 Baseband filters for use in wireless communication devices
An embodiment of a baseband filter in a transmitter subsystem of a wireless device comprises an operational amplifier (op-amp), a pole circuit, a feedback capacitor, and an active device. The op-amp is adapted to produce an amplified signal that includes noise gain produced by the op-amp. The pole circuit is electrically coupled with an output terminal of the op-amp, and is adapted to receive the amplified signal and to attenuate the noise gain to produce a filtered, amplified signal. The feedback capacitor is electrically coupled between the first pole circuit and an input terminal of the op-amp, and is adapted to compensate for a phase shift produced by the pole circuit. The active device is electrically coupled with the pole circuit, and is adapted to amplify the filtered, amplified signal and to produce a baseband filtered output signal.
US07957713B2 Method for calibrating automatic gain control in wireless devices
Disclosed herein is an iterative process for calibrating an AGC in a wireless system, wherein the iterative process comprises transmitting a calibration signal, receiving the calibration signal, decoding the calibration signal to produce a measurement, storing the measurement and changing an AGC gain setting.
US07957707B2 Systems, apparatus and method for performing digital pre-distortion based on lookup table gain values
A system (100, FIG. 1) performs digital pre-distortion using gain values stored in a lookup table (150). A method for performing digital pre-distortion includes identifying (310, FIG. 3) a lookup table entry, based on input data, and updating the lookup table entry by writing an updated gain value into the lookup table entry. In an embodiment, update tracking information corresponding to the lookup table entry may be updated (324) to indicate that the lookup table entry has been updated. Another embodiment includes identifying (412, FIG. 4) consecutive lookup table entries based on input data, determining (413) whether the consecutive lookup table entries have been previously updated, and performing (414) a weighted interpolation process to produce an output gain value. A previous gain value (158, FIG. 1) is used in the weighted interpolation process when at least one of the consecutive lookup table entries has not been updated.
US07957705B1 System and method for reducing radio frequency interference caused by a carrier
A base station (BS) and method to reduce RF interference by a carrier. The BS includes a first power amplifier (PA) that emits a first carrier, a second PA that emits a second carrier, a processor, and data storage containing program instructions. The BS is operable in a first state in which the first PA is on and the second PA is off and a second state in which the first and second PAs are on. Execution of the instructions while the BS operates in the first state cause the processor to determine that the BS receives a mobile station communication and cause the BS to operate in the second state, and while the BS operates in the second state, cause the processor to determine that no mobile stations are registered as being authorized to be served by the BS and cause the BS to operate in the first state.
US07957704B2 Method and system for reducing AM/PM distortion in a polar amplifier
Methods and systems for reducing AM/PM distortion in a polar amplifier are disclosed and may comprise adding an offset signal to an amplitude signal in the digital domain and removing the offset signal in the analog domain during polar modulation. A sum of an amplitude signal and an offset signal may be mixed with a phase signal in a first differential amplifier to generate a first voltage signal, and the offset signal may be mixed with the phase signal in a second differential amplifier to generate a second voltage signal, which may be subtracted from the first voltage signal. The amplitude and offset signals may be mixed with the phase signal by modulating a current in the differential amplifiers, which may comprise cascode differential amplifiers. The modulated current may be generated using a current source and a current mirror circuit, which may comprise a cascode current mirror.
US07957699B2 Method and apparatus for measuring state of plurality of channels and for selecting idle channel
A method of measuring a state of a plurality of channels is provided. The method includes transmitting to a second device test signal information needed to transmit/receive a test signal for measuring the state of the plurality of channels; receiving an information received response from the second device, indicating that the second device has received the test signal; if the information received response is received, transmitting the test signal to the second device, using the test signal information, via the plurality of channels; and receiving from the second device the state information regarding the plurality of channels which has been measured by using the test signal.
US07957698B2 Demodulator with output level calibration
A calibration circuit for calibrating an output level of a demodulator includes a test signal generator, an RSSI module and a calibration module. The test signal generator generates a test signal, and the RSSI module detects the test signal to generate a control signal, wherein the control signal controls the demodulator to process the test signal to generate a determined output signal. The calibration module then calibrates the RSSI module according to the output signal in order to calibrate the output level of the demodulator. When the control signal is utilized to selectively enable or disable a soft-mute function of the demodulator, the calibration module can be utilized to calibrate or determine the soft-mute function of the demodulator.
US07957697B2 Apparatus and method for controlling home appliances using zigbee wireless communication
Provided are an apparatus and method for controlling home appliances using zigbee wireless communication. The apparatus, includes: a memory for storing a control profile and an operation program, and operating the stored operation program; a display means for supporting interface with a user; a display input/output control means for controlling input/output of the display means; a first wireless network interface for transmitting/receiving wireless data to/from home appliances based on zigbee wireless communication; and a control means for forming Wireless Personal Area Network (WPAN) with the home appliances based on the first wireless network interface, displaying a list of controllable home appliances based on device product information transferred from the home appliances through the WPAN, reading a control profile in the memory upon home appliances control request of the user, and transferring the control profile through the first wireless network interface.
US07957696B2 System and method for selecting channels for short range transmissions to broadcast receivers
Methods and systems for determining transmission channels for short range transmissions are disclosed. A transmitter provides short range transmission to a broadcast receiver configured to receive and tune channels within a signal spectrum. Channels within the broadcast signal spectrum are scanned, and an indication of received signal strength is obtained for each channel. The received signal strength indication (RSSI) can then be compared to a threshold power level that correlates to a signal level that the transmitter will be capable of overpowering based upon the transmission power of the transmitter. The scan results in an indication of one or more channels that have received signal strengths below the threshold power level of the transmitter.
US07957694B2 Satellite-band spectrum utilization for reduced or minimum interference
A first and/or a second communications system may provide communications service over a geographic area. A method of operating the first and/or the second communications systems may include generating a measure of aggregate interference reaching a satellite of the second communications system substantially from devices of the first communications system. The measure of aggregate interference reaching the satellite of the second communications system may be transmitted to an element of the first communications system.
US07957688B2 Image forming method and image forming apparatus
In an image forming method, an electrostatic latent image formed on a surface of a photoreceptor is developed into a developer image with a developer, and a printing paper transported on a transfer belt is brought into contact with the surface of the photoreceptor so as to transfer the developer image onto the printing paper. The printing paper is transported in a proper transport direction, in which a projection generated in one direction on the printing paper as a result of cutting the printing paper in a printing paper manufacturing process does not face a surface of the transfer belt at a leading edge of the printing paper being transported on the transfer belt. In this way, even in the presence of the projection generated when the printing paper is cut, the printing paper naturally strips off from the surface of the photoreceptor, thereby preventing toner contamination caused by a striping claw in contact with the leading edge of the printing paper.
US07957687B2 Image forming apparatus and conveyance malfunction decision method
Preventing a paper jam as much as possible when actual paper size differs from designated paper size with increasing throughput by starting conveyance of a second sheet before detecting the length of a first sheet. Unless a register sensor has detected the rear edge (step S303), start of feeding the next sheet is checked (step S304). If started, a prescribed value 1 is applied (step S305). If not started, a prescribed value 2 is applied (step S306). Unless the rear edge is detected before a timer measures “estimated time+prescribed value” (step S307), a paper jam decision is made (step S308). If the rear edge is detected before the timer measures the “estimated time+prescribed value” (step S303), the processing is completed without making a paper jam decision. Making the prescribed value 1 less than the prescribed value 2 enables reducing the paper jam caused by incorrect setting.
US07957682B2 Image forming unit and image forming apparatus
An image forming unit includes an image bearing body, a rotating body disposed in contact with or disposed facing the image bearing body, a supporting member that supports a rotation shaft of the rotating body, an insertion hole provided on the supporting member, a bearing inserted into the insertion hole and supporting the rotation shaft of the rotating body, and three or more contact portions provided on the bearing or the insertion hole. The contact portions contact the insertion hole or the bearing.
US07957681B2 Developing device
A developing device includes a developing container in which a developer is contained; a developer carrying member for carrying the developer and feeding the developer by rotation thereof to a developing zone in which the developer carrying member opposes an image bearing member on which a latent image is formed and develops the latent image with the developer; and an electrode, disposed opposed to the developer carrying member, to which a bias for forming an electric field for moving regular-charge toner in the developer container toward the developer carrying member is to be applied. The electrode is provided downstream of the developing zone with respect to a rotational direction of the developer carrying member and is provided vertically above the developer carrying member. At least a part of the electrode is located downstream of a rectilinear line connecting a rotation center and top point of the developer carrying member with respect to the rotational direction of the developer carrying member.
US07957680B2 Toner cartridge
A toner cartridge inserted in an image forming apparatus and supplying toner to the image forming apparatus comprises a container which contains the toner and provided with a discharging opening for discharging the contained toner, the container having a shape with a predetermined curvature at a bottom part, a conveying member which conveys the toner in the container to the discharging opening, an agitating member which rotates centering on a rotational axis in the container, and agitates the toner contained in the container and a sheet member provided in the agitating member such that a front edge part abuts the bottom part of the container, the sheet member having the front edge part which is formed with a part having substantially the same curvature as the bottom part of the container.
US07957675B2 Opening and closing assembly and image forming apparatus including the assembly
An opening and closing assembly includes a first casing, a second casing pivotally coupled to the first casing, and a support stand configured to support the second casing. The support stand includes a proximal end portion pivotally connected to one of the first and second casings, and a distal end portion slidably connected to the other thereof. The other of the first and second casings includes a guide portion for guiding the distal end portion, and first and second wall portions. The distal end portion includes a gripped portion gripped between the first and second wall portions, the gripped portion has a cross section having a width which increases, from one end of the cross section, to a maximum width and decreases from the maximum width until the other end of the cross section. The maximum width causes the first and second wall portions to be spaced apart.
US07957673B2 Toner transfer systems with an adjustable transfer belt for use in an image forming device
The present application is directed to toner transfer systems with an adjustable transfer belt. The transfer belt transfers toner images from a first location to a second location. Two or more support rolls position and drive the transfer belt. A tensioning device is operatively connected to one of the support rolls. The tensioning device moves the support roll between a first position that places a first amount of tension on the belt, and a second position that places a lesser second amount of tension on the belt. The support roll is in the first position during image formation, and in the second position during non-image formation such as storage and shipping.
US07957672B2 Image forming apparatus with a belt unit
An image formation apparatus is provided that prevents a belt from becoming displaced or detached from a belt unit. When a belt unit is detached from a main body casing, a tension roller is fixed in an outwardly protruding position by a fixing member. Thereby, the conveyor belt is stretched such that the conveyor belt is configured to be prevented from becoming displaced or detached. When the belt unit is mounted in the main body casing, fixation of the tension roller by the fixing member is released by a releasing protrusion and a suitable operating tensile force is imparted to the conveyor belt by coiled springs provided on the main body casing side.
US07957670B2 Image forming apparatus, image forming method, and supporting mechanism
An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of process units, a plurality of latent image carriers, an optical writing unit, an upper cover, and a pitch positioning member. The pitch positioning member including a plurality of abutting portions so as to regulate movements of the plurality of process units in the horizontal direction by abutting each of the plurality of process units. The pitch positioning member including a plurality of notches extending from an upper portion to a lower portion of each of the respective plurality of abutting portions with a predetermined pitch.
US07957660B2 Image forming apparatus having fixing device that responds to request when using decolorable ink
An image forming apparatus includes: a first image forming unit which forms a first image on a first recording medium with a first material which is not thermally decolorized; a second image forming unit which forms a second image on a second recording medium with a second material which is thermally decolorized; a fixing unit which is on a common carrying path shared by the first recording medium and the second recording medium and fixes the first image to the first recording medium; and a control unit which controls the fixing unit so that the temperature of the second recording medium passing through the fixing unit becomes lower than a decolorizing temperature of the second material.
US07957658B2 Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus include an image bearing member, a developing container receiving a developer, a developer carrying member for carrying and conveying the developer, a developer feed member for supplying the developer to the developer carrying member, a detection device for detecting an amount of developer in the developing container by detecting an electrostatic capacitance between the developer carrying member and the developer feed member, and a control device for changing a rotational speed of the developer feed member into a plurality of speeds corresponding to the plurality of image forming speeds. The control unit controls the rotational speed of the developer feed member prior to the execution of a detection operation of the detection device so as to be faster than the slowest speed of said plurality of speeds.
US07957657B2 Universal module for enabling measurements on color printers
A measurement module for a printer generally includes a page diverter mechanism configured to selectively divert a sheet of media from a main media path to a module media path; a rotating drum configured to receive the media from the module media path and to affix the media on an outer surface of the drum; a measuring device spaced adjacent to the drum and configured to measure as aspect of the media affixed to the surface of the drum; and a sheet transport configured to remove the media from the drum. According to one embodiment, the module may include a drum with an electrostatic hold-down mechanism that captures a sheet and an axially translating measuring device that is configured to read the entire surface as the drum rotates. The measurement module also allows the printed media to cool to eliminate problems with color measurements due to thermo chromaticity.
US07957654B2 Coherent optical receiver
A coherent optical receiver of the invention combines local oscillator light having orthogonal polarization components in which the optical frequencies are different to each other, and received signal light, in an optical hybrid circuit, and then photoelectrically converts this in two differential photodetectors. Then this is converted to a digital signal in an AD conversion circuit, and computation processing is executed in a digital computing circuit using the digital signal, to estimate received data. At this time, the optical frequency difference between the orthogonal polarization components of the local oscillator light is set so as to be smaller than two times the signal light band width, and larger than a spectrum line width of the signal light source and the local oscillator light source. As a result, it is possible to realize a small size polarization independent coherent optical receiver that is capable of receiving high speed signal light.
US07957652B2 Optical FSK/SSB modulator having intensity balance function
It is an object of the present invention to provide an optical modulator which is capable of adjusting optical intensity of optical signals which contains non-desired components so that the intensity of the components become at a similar level, whereby the optical modulator is capable of effectively suppressing the non-desired components when the optical signals are combined.
US07957650B2 Pluggable optical network unit capable of status indication
A pluggable optical network unit includes a transceiver assembly configured to produce a first electrical signal in response to a first optical signal comprising reception signal data and to emit a second optical signal comprising transmission signal data in response to a second electrical signal. A data processing unit can extract the reception signal data from the first electrical signal and produce the second electrical signal in response to the transmission signal data. An interface unit can receive the reception signal data from the data processing unit, serialize the reception signal data, and send a third electric signal comprising the reception signal data to a network device that the pluggable optical network unit is plugged into. A management unit can modify the third electric signal in accordance to the operation status of at least one of the transceiver assembly or the data processing unit.
US07957644B2 Flexible open ring optical network and method
A flexible open ring optical network includes a plurality of nodes connected by twin or other suitable optical rings. Each node is operable to passively add and passively drop traffic from the rings. The nodes may include a transport element for each ring. The transport elements include an optical splitter element and an optical combiner element. The optical splitter element is operable to passively combine an add signal including local add traffic and a first transport signal including ingress traffic from a coupled optical ring to generate a second transport signal including egress traffic for transmission on the coupled optical ring. The optical combiner element is coupled to the optical splitter element and is operable to passively split a third transport signal including the ingress traffic to generate a drop signal including local drop traffic and a fourth transport signal including the ingress traffic. Protection switching may be provided by selectively openable switches disposed in and distributed around the rings.
US07957643B2 Method and apparatus for automatically controlling optical signal power in optical transmission systems
A method and apparatus for controlling the power level of an optical signal includes detecting the loss of a supervisory signal counter-propagating in an optical fiber.
US07957639B2 Method and system for determining optimal exposure of structured light based 3D camera
Provided are a method and system for determining an optimal exposure of a structured light based 3D camera. The system includes a projecting means for illuminating a predetermined pattern on a target object, an image capturing means for capturing an image of the target object with the pattern projected, and a processing means for reconstructing 3D data for the target object by identifying the pattern of the captured images from the image capturing means. The system automatically determines an optimal exposure of the structured light based 3D camera system through analyzing the captured image of the target object.
US07957638B2 Image pickup apparatus and method of controlling the same
An image pickup apparatus which is capable of achieving excellent moving image shooting even when strobe popup is not successfully performed during moving image shooting. A camera implementing the image pickup apparatus has a strobe that shifts between a retracted position and a service position. When a motor for operating the camera performs reverse rotation, the strobe is driven to the service position. An MPU instructs the motor to drive the strobe to the service position, and determines, based on a signal from a popup position-detecting switch, whether or not the strobe has been normally driven to the service position. When the strobe has not been normally driven to the service position, the MPU performs error handling. The error handling is carried out differently between a case where moving image shooting is being performed and a case where the moving image shooting is not being performed.
US07957631B2 Image stabilization apparatus for stabilizing an image sensor
An image stabilization apparatus for stabilizing an image sensor is disclosed. The image stabilization apparatus includes a transmission component whereon a slot is formed. The image stabilization apparatus further includes a rotary motor including an annular rotor connected to the transmission component, and an annular stator disposed on a side of the annular rotor. The annular rotor is capable of rotating relative to the annular stator. The image stabilization apparatus further includes a carrier for carrying the image sensor. The carrier includes a shaft disposed inside the slot in a slidable manner. The image stabilization apparatus further includes a linear motor coupled to the transmission component and the shaft of the carrier for driving the carrier to slide inside the slot.
US07957630B2 Mobile video/audio device
A mobile video/audio device is provided, comprising a receiving box, a display mounted on a surface of the receiving box for displaying a video content with a corresponding audio content accompanied, a compact disk (CD) drive disposed within the receiving box with an access side thereof exposed and having an eject button formed at a side thereof, a control module comprising a video/audio playing circuit formed in modules for controlling the display, CD drive and other units associated with the video/audio playing circuit, the control module being further disposed within the receiving box and detachable therefrom; and a control panel disposed at a location outside the display within the receiving box and having a plurality of control keys for controlling the control module to play the video/audio content and a plurality of video/audio out/input ports for connecting with an external device.
US07957627B2 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.
US07957625B2 Image recording apparatus and method, and program for selecting a recording mode independent from the recording aspect ratio
The present invention relates to an image recording apparatus and method, and a program for improving usability by removing operational constraints on combinations of an aspect ratio of a recorded moving image and a horizontal resolution from users while the compliance with the DVD-Video standard is strictly maintained. When an aspect ratio is 16:9 in a state that an LP mode is selected, a horizontal×vertical resolution is set to 720×480. When the aspect ratio is 4:3 in a state that the LP mode is selected, the horizontal×vertical resolution is set to 352×480. When an HQ or SQ mode is selected, the horizontal×vertical resolution is set to 720×480 irrespective of the aspect ratio. Accordingly, the image recording apparatus can encode a moving image and record the encoded image onto a DVD 17 without violating the DVD-Video standard while allowing users to arbitrarily select a recording mode and an aspect ratio. The present invention can be applied to video cameras, video recorders, etc.
US07957620B2 Two-dimensional photonic crystal resonator
The present invention intends to provide a two-dimensional photonic crystal resonator having a high Q-value. The slab-shaped body 21 is provided with cyclically arranged holes 22. The body 21 is divided into three areas 31-33 with the holes 22 arranged with cycle distances of a1 in area 31 and a2 in areas 32 and 33, which is smaller than a1. A waveguide 23 passing through the three areas is formed by linearly eliminating the holes 22. The waveguide 23 thus formed can propagate rays of light within a wavelength band that depends on the cycle distance of the holes 22. The cycle distance of the holes in the area 31 differs from that of the areas 32 and 33, and the wavelength band of the light propagating through the waveguide accordingly differs. Therefore, a ray of light whose wavelength is within the waveguide transmission wavelength band of the area 31 but outside of the waveguide transmission wavelength band of the other areas 32 and 33 will be confined within the waveguide of the area 31 and resonate therein. Thus, the waveguide in the area 31 functions as a resonator.
US07957619B2 All-fiber module for femtosecond pulse compression and supercontinuum generation
An all-fiber optical pulse compression arrangement comprises a concatenated arrangement of a section of input fiber (e.g., a single mode fiber), a graded-index (GRIN) fiber lens and a section of pulse-compressing fiber (e.g., LMA fiber). The GRIN fiber lens is used to provide mode matching between the input fiber (supporting the propagation of chirped optical pulses) and the pulse-compressing fiber, with efficient pulse compression occurring along the length of the LMA fiber. The dispersion and length of the LMA fiber section are selected to provide the desired degree of pulse compression; for example, capable of reconstituting a femtosecond pulse as is used in supercontinuum generation systems.
US07957618B2 Integrated photonic circuit
An integrated photonic circuit includes waveguides (12-19) and other photonic components. The photonic circuit has a first part (1) and a second part (2), the first part and the second part being connected to a mirror in the form of a half 2×2 multimode interferometer (MMI) (32), which comprises solely one half MMI (31) in a longitudinal direction, the half MMI (32) having two ports (33, 34) and being arranged to reflect half of the light that is incident on one of the ports to one port and transmit half of the incident light to the second port, and the free surface (35) of the half MMI (32) having been treated with a highly reflective material.
US07957617B2 Methods, materials and devices for light manipulation with oriented molecular assemblies in micronscale photonic circuit elements with High-Q or slow light
An optical device that comprises an input waveguide, an output waveguide, a high-Q resonant or photonic structure that generate slow light connected to the input waveguide and the output waveguide, and an interface, surface or mode volume modified with at least one material formed from a single molecule, an ordered aggregate of molecules or nanostructures. The optical device may include more than one input waveguide, output waveguide, high-Q resonant or photonic structure and interface, surface or mode volume. The high-Q resonant or photonic structure may comprise at least one selected from the group of: microspherical cavities, microtoroidal cavities, microring-cavities, photonic crystal defect cavities, fabry-perot cavities, photonic crystal waveguides. The ordered aggregate of molecules or nanostructures comprises at least one selected from the group of: organic or biological monolayers, biological complexes, cell membranes, bacterial membranes, virus assemblies, nanowire or nanotube assemblies, quantum-dot assemblies, one or more assemblies containing one or more rhodopsins, green fluorescence proteins, diarylethers, lipid bilayers, chloroplasts or components, mitochondria or components, cellular or bacterial organelles or components, bacterial S-layers, photochromic molecules. Further, the molecular aggregate may exhibit a photoinduced response.
US07957615B2 Optical waveguide for touch panel, touch panel using the optical waveguide and manufacturing method of the optical waveguide
An optical waveguide for a touch panel which eliminates the need for alignment between the optical waveguide and a lens and which achieves the appropriate emission and reception of light beams, to provide a touch panel using the optical waveguide, and to provide a manufacturing method of the optical waveguide for a touch panel. A total distance (L) which is the sum of a distance from the center of curvature of the first lens portion 30 to the light reflecting surface 60 and a distance from the light reflecting surface 60 to the tip of the second lens portion 50, and the radius (R) of curvature of the second lens portion 50 satisfy the following condition (A): (L/3)−0.5
US07957612B1 Image processing device, method and distribution medium
A device and method and a distribution medium for performing image processing with a low-cost are provided, in which a main CPU issues instructions to a rendering engine to perform convolution filtering operations using rendering commands. In response to these instructions, the rendering engine repeatedly executes a process by which values calculated by computing convolution filter coefficients on the image data of the texture area of an image memory are overwritten in the rendering area, and thereby executes convolution filtering.
US07957608B2 Image correction across multiple spectral regimes
Systems, including apparatus and methods, for obtaining and/or correcting images, particularly from atmospheric and/or other distortions. These corrections may involve, among others, determining corrective information in a first (e.g., visible) wavelength regime, and then applying the corrective information in a second (e.g., longer) wavelength regime, such as infrared (IR) or millimeter-wave (MMW) wavelengths, in real time or with post-processing. For example, these corrections may include scaling a phase diversity correction from one wavelength to another. These systems may be useful in any suitable imaging context, including navigation, targeting, search and rescue, law enforcement, and/or surveillance, among others.
US07957605B2 Selective local transient improvement and peaking for video sharpness enhancement
A method of selectively sharpening an image may include, for at least some pixels in the image, determining a frequency content associated with a pixel value in the image. The pixel may be linearly sharpened if the frequency content exceeds a threshold. The pixel may be non-linearly sharpened if the frequency content does not exceed the threshold. In some implementations, the non-linear sharpening may include wavelet decomposition of the image and enhancement of decomposed components.
US07957601B2 Systems and methods of inter-frame compression
A system and method for rendering images, and performing operations such as windowing and leveling, when the parameters of a client appliance are known and rendering images when the parameters of a client appliance are unknown. The invention also considers the rendering from the client appliance perspective and the server appliance perspective.
US07957600B2 Methods and systems for rate-distortion optimized quantization of transform blocks in block transform video coding
Provided are methods and systems for rate-distortion optimized quantization and for skipping transform blocks that can take into account the rate-distortion tradeoff as well as the perceptual quality of reconstructed video.
US07957598B2 Methods and systems for dynamic scan compression
A method for compressing data includes transmitting a requested compression factor such as a quality factor known in JPEG compression, to a scanner or like peripheral device. The type of communication link between the scanner or like device and a host computer is identified, and based on the communication link type, the requested compression factor is altered to generate a new compression factor subsequently used to compress the data. The amount of buffer, such as scan buffer, used by the scanner or peripheral device may also be used to alter the compression factor prior to compression.
US07957597B2 Foreground/background segmentation in digital images
An analysis and classification tool compares at least a portion of a captured image and a reference image of nominally the same scene. One of the captured and reference images is taken with flash and the other is taken without flash. The tool provides a measure of the difference in illumination between the captured image and the reference image. The tool compares the measure with a threshold and segments a foreground region from a background region based on the measure.
US07957596B2 Flexible matching with combinational similarity
Computer-readable media, systems, and methods for flexible matching with combinational similarity are described. In embodiments, an object image is received, a query image is received, and the query image is compared with the object image. In various embodiments matching information is determined based upon combinational similarity and the matching information is presented to a user. In various embodiments, comparing the query image with the object image includes dividing the object image into agents, creating a gradient histogram for the agents, determining map areas for the query image, creating a gradient histogram for the map areas, and creating a similarity array for each of the agents. Further, in various embodiments, determining matching information includes creating a combinational array by combining the similarity arrays for each agent and determining whether the combinational array includes a peak value.
US07957595B2 Database management program, database management apparatus and database management method
A database management program, a database management apparatus and a database management method can determine the sameness of shape data at high speed. The program causes a computer to execute a first edge line acquisition step that acquires the edge lines of the first shape data, an information registration step that generates information showing the characteristics of the edge lines acquired by the first edge line acquisition step as first edge line characteristic information, associates the first edge line characteristic information with the first shape data and registers them in a database, a second edge line acquisition step that acquires the edge lines of the second shape data showing the requirements of retrieval, an information generation step that generates edge line characteristic information of the edge lines acquired by the second edge line acquisition step as second edge line characteristic information and a retrieval step that retrieves the third shape data that is the part of the first shape data that agrees with the second shape data according to the first edge line characteristic information and the second edge line characteristic information.
US07957588B2 Image processor and computer program product
To acquire the signal values of all the color components (RGB) at the positions of all the pixels constituting an image, the processing for interpolating the signal value of a lacking color component is performed by converting the gradation space from a linear gradation space into a square root gradation space with offset as follows. An offset ε in proportion to the ISO sensitivity preset for an imaging device is added to a linear gradation signal x. The value (x+ε) after the offset is converted into a gamma space of one-half power. Therefore, the errors contained in the signal values after the gamma conversion are equalized over the whole gradation by the error propagation rule. The slope of the curve 23 indicating the square-root gradation space with offset is not steeper in a region (e.g. 0
US07957587B2 Method and system for specifying color of a fill area
A method and system for generating an image display plan is provided. In one embodiment, a planning system allows a user to create a display plan that specifies a sequence of images that are to be displayed and how the images are to be displayed. The planning system allows a user to specify different versions of the plan for different aspect ratios. When displaying the image, the planning system may display multiple viewports simultaneously on the image, one for each of the different aspect ratios. The planning system may allow the multiple viewports to be moved around and resized as a unit maintaining a common center point for the viewports.
US07957584B2 Fast object detection for augmented reality systems
A detection method is based on a statistical analysis of the appearance of model patches from all possible viewpoints in the scene, and incorporates 3D geometry during both matching and pose estimation processes. By analyzing the computed probability distribution of the visibility of each patch from different viewpoints, a reliability measure for each patch is estimated. That reliability measure is useful for developing industrial augmented reality applications. Using the method, the pose of complex objects can be estimated efficiently given a single test image.
US07957582B2 Method and system for correction of fluoroscope image distortion
Certain embodiments of the present invention provide for a system and method for modeling S-distortion in an image intensifier. In an embodiment, the method may include identifying a reference coordinate on an input screen of the image intensifier. The method also includes computing a set of charged particle velocity vectors. The method also includes computing a set of magnetic field vectors. The method also includes computing the force exerted on the charged particle in an image intensifier. Certain embodiments of the present invention include an iterative method for calibrating an image acquisition system with an analytic S-distortion model. In an embodiment, the method may include comparing the difference between the measured fiducial shadow positions and the model fiducial positions with a threshold value. If the difference is less than the threshold value, the optical distortion parameters are used for linearizing the set of acquired images.
US07957581B2 Image processing apparatus and method
Directions normal to images of an object captured by at least two cameras from different points of view are aligned with each other to form corrected object images, and a correspondence is determined between at least one pixel position on a horizontal line in one of the corrected object images and at least one pixel position on the same horizontal line in another of the corrected object images. The correspondence is determined by determining a similarity in brightness and color components at the pixel positions and a parallax between the corrected object images A robust, accurate image matching can be done by making dynamic matching between all pixels on a scan line in the images captured by the cameras.
US07957580B2 Workpiece picking device
A workpiece picking device capable of correctly detecting the size of a workpiece. The picking device has a robot capable of picking the same kind of workpieces contained in a work container, a robot controller for controlling the robot, a video camera positioned above the work container so as to widely image the workpieces and an image processor for processing an image obtained by the video camera. The three-dimensional position and posture of each workpiece is measured by a three-dimensional vision sensor arranged on a wrist element of the robot.
US07957575B2 Counting biological agents on biological growth plates
The invention is directed to counting techniques for counting biological agents on a biological growth plate or similar medium. In order to automate the counting of biological agents, a biological growth plate is inserted into a biological scanning unit. Upon insertion of the biological growth plate, the biological scanning unit generates an image of the plate. Then, the amount of biological agents that appear in the image, such as a number of bacteria colonies, can be counted or otherwise determined using image processing and analysis routines performed either by the scanning unit or an external computing device, such as a desktop computer, workstation or the like. A variety of counting rules are described herein that can be used to improve the accuracy of automated counts of biological agents on a biological growth plate.
US07957574B2 Methods and apparatus for generating a risk metric for soft plaque in vessels
A method for generating a score for soft plaque in coronary arteries includes using the computer to estimate the soft plaque content within at least one object depicted in a medical image, using the computer to determine a plaque score dependent upon the estimated soft plaque content of the at least one object, and using the computer to report the plaque score.
US07957573B2 Dental image processing device
A subtle color difference between a tooth and a color sample is made recognizable by accentuating the color difference therebetween. The invention provides a dental image processing device including a row-of-teeth image storing unit 21 in which a row-of-teeth image is stored; an area partitioning line provided movably on the row-of-teeth image; a selected color storing unit 29 in which color information for correcting the color of the row of teeth is stored; a color correction unit 30 that corrects the color of the row of teeth, using the color information stored in the color selection storing unit 29, at least in one area of the plurality of areas of the row-of-teeth image divided by the area partitioning line; and a display control unit 31 that displays the row-of-teeth image corrected by the color correction unit 30.
US07957572B2 Image processing device and method
The present invention relates to an image processing device and a corresponding image processing method for processing a multi-dimensional data set of image data, in particular of three-dimensional medical volume image data, including a segmentation unit (6, 16, 26) for a segmentation of an image object in said data set. Further, the present invention relates to a computer program for implementing said image processing method on a computer. In order to allow for a segmentation which is robust in terms of vulnerability to image artifacts and accurate in terms of reflecting anatomical details, wherein the results of the segmentation are achieved within reasonable short processing time an image processing device is proposed which comprises—model-based segmentation means (61, 161, 261) for performing a model-based segmentation (32) of said data set for obtaining a multi-dimensional model representing a first approximation of said image object; data-driven segmentation means (62, 162, 262) for performing a data-driven segmentation (33) of said multi-dimensional data set for obtaining a multi-dimensional subset of said multi-dimensional data set representing a second approximation of said image object; optimizing means (63, 163, 263) for adapting said model and/or said subset for optimizing a similarity value between said first and said second approximation; and —selecting means (64, 164, 264) for selecting said adapted model or said adapted subset as a segmentation of said image object.
US07957570B2 System and method to generate an illustration of a cardiac region of interest
A system and method to generate an illustration of a cardiac region of interest of an imaged subject is provided. The method includes generating a three-dimensional model from a series of acquired images of the cardiac region of interest; measuring a series of values of at least one functional parameter of the cardiac region of interest; generating a map of a spatial relation of the plurality of values of the functional parameter in spatial relation to the three-dimensional model of the cardiac region of interest; generating a three-dimensional model of a vessel structure leading to the cardiac region of interest; generating an output image that includes combining the three-dimensional model of the cardiac region of interest, the map of the series of values of the functional parameter, and the three-dimensional model of the vessel structure in spatial relation to one another relative to a common coordinate system.
US07957569B2 Orientation of radiographic images
An apparatus for determining orientation of an image, comprising: an image receiver, configured to receive the image, and an orientation determiner, associated with the image receiver and configured to automatically determine the orientation of the image, based on analysis of internal image information.
US07957566B2 Eyelid detection apparatus, eyelid detection method and program therefor
An eyelid detection apparatus includes a face-image storing apparatus for storing an image of a face of a subject, an eyelid-candidate extracting apparatus for processing the image stored in the face-image storing apparatus to extract a pair of lines, which becomes a candidate of a combination of a line corresponding to an upper eyelid and a line corresponding to a lower eyelid, a parameter calculating apparatus for calculating a parameter, which indicates a possibility that a pan of the image stored in the face-image storing apparatus, the part corresponding to the pair of lines extracted by the eyelid-candidate extracting apparatus, includes at least one of outer and inner corners of an eye, and an eyelid detecting apparatus for detecting a position of an eyelid of the subject on the basis of the parameter calculated by the parameter calculating apparatus.
US07957563B2 Personal identification apparatus and method using living body
A perfect non-contact type vein authentication apparatus is provided with a light source for emitting infrared light; an input interface equipped with an imaging unit for photographing a vein image of a living body by the infrared light emitted from said light source; a unit for controlling intensity of light to be illuminated; an image calculating unit for performing a feature extracting operation and a feature authenticating operation with respect to an image; and a positioning unit for presenting the living body. More specifically, the light source is provided in front of the living body. Both the light source and the imaging unit are installed in such a positional relationship that the light of the light source gives no adverse influence to the imaging unit. Also, the light source is installed in such a direction that the light of the light source gives no adverse influence to the imaging unit.
US07957561B2 Apparatus and method for measuring quality of image received via communication network
Disclosed herein are an apparatus and method for measuring quality of an image received via a communication network. The apparatus includes an interface unit, a codec unit, a test image detection unit, and a Mean Opinion Score (MOS) measurement unit. The interface unit receives an image, including a start synchronization image and a test image via a communication network. The codec unit decodes the received image into a color signal. The test image detection unit detects any one value of brightness, saturation and hue information of the color signal input from the codec unit, calculates an average value for each frame, and detects the test image from the received image based on the calculated average value. The MOS measurement unit synchronizes the test image with a corresponding reference image, compares the quality of the test image with the quality of the reference image, calculates an MOS value based on the results of the comparison, and outputs the MOS value.
US07957559B2 Apparatus and system for recognizing environment surrounding vehicle
In conventional systems using an onboard camera disposed rearward of a vehicle for recognizing an object surrounding the vehicle, the object is recognized by the camera disposed rearward of the vehicle. In the image recognized by the camera, a road surface marking taken by the camera appears at a lower end of a screen of the image, which makes it difficult to predict a specific position in the screen from which the road surface marking appears. Further, an angle of depression of the camera is large, and it is a short period of time to acquire the object. Therefore, it is difficult to improve a recognition rate and to reduce false recognition. Results of recognition (type, position, angle, recognition time) made by a camera disposed forward of the vehicle, are used to predict a specific timing and a specific position of a field of view of a camera disposed rearward of the vehicle, at which the object appears. Parameters of recognition logic of the rearwardly disposed camera and processing timing are then optimally adjusted. Further, luminance information of the image from the forwardly disposed camera is used to predict possible changes to be made in luminance of the field of view of the rearwardly disposed camera. Gain and exposure time of the rearwardly disposed camera are then adjusted.
US07957549B2 Acoustic apparatus and method of controlling an acoustic apparatus
According to one embodiment, an acoustic apparatus comprises an electro-acoustic transducer with a first function of converting an electric signal to an acoustic signal and a second function of converting an acoustic signal to an electric signal, the electro-acoustic transducer configured to convert a measuring electric signal to a measuring acoustic signal using the first function, and to convert an acoustic response signal responding to the measuring acoustic signal from an object to an electric response signal using the second function, a switch configured to switch the first function to the second function, or vice versa, and a switch controller configured to control a function switching of the switch in accordance with a sound source signal.
US07957546B2 Multi-channel noise reduction system with direct instrument tracking
A multi-channel noise reduction system provides improved noise reduction with direct instrument tracking of all channels. In a two channel noise reduction system, both channels detect and track the input level and dynamic range of the guitar directly with one channel of dynamic noise reduction between the guitar and the input of a guitar amplifier to eliminate the noise of the instrument and another channel of noise reduction connected in the effects loop of the guitar amplifier. Multiple channels of noise reduction can be implemented with separated threshold controls and with low level expansion and dynamic filtering being combined so as to detect and track the input level and dynamic range of the guitar directly. A buffer amplifier can be used to feed the direct guitar signal to the detectors of the noise reduction system and the input of a stereo guitar system.
US07957542B2 Adaptive beamformer, sidelobe canceller, handsfree speech communication device
The adaptive beamformer unit (191) comprises: a filtered sum beamformer (107) arranged to process input audio signals (u 1, u2) from an array of respective microphones (101, 103), and arranged to yield as an output a first audio signal (z) predominantly corresponding to sound from a desired audio source (160) by filtering with a first adaptive filter (f1(-t)) a first one of the input audio signals (u1) and with a second adaptive filter (f2(-t)) a second one of the input audio signals (u2), the coefficients of the first filter (f1(-t)) and the second filter (f2(-t)) being adaptable with a first step size (a1) and a second step size ((x2) respectively; noise measure derivation means (111) arranged to derive from the input audio signals (u1, u2) a first noise measure (x1) and a second noise measure (x2); and an updating unit (192) arranged to determine the first and second step size (a1, (x2) with an equation comprising in a denominator the first noise measure (x1) for the first step size (a1), respectively the second noise measure (x2) for the second step size (a2). This makes the beamformer relatively robust against the influence of correlated audio interference. The beamformer may also be incorporated in a sidelobe canceller topology yielding a more noise cleaned desired sound estimate, which can be used in a related, more advanced adaptive filter (f1(-t), f2(-t)) updating. Such a beamformer is typically useful for application in handsfree speech communication systems.
US07957541B2 Acoustic compliance adjuster
A speaker arrangement is described, suitable for improving the sound quality of a small size first speaker. The arrangement comprises a cavity, to which the first speaker is acoustically coupled. A second speaker is also acoustically coupled to the cavity, and the first and second speakers are excited in phase with each other. The first speaker may be an earphone speaker tuned to be held to a user's ear, whereas the second speaker may be a larger ring alert speaker with lower compliance than the first speaker, both of which are incorporated in the same mobile phone. By exciting the second speaker in phase with the first speaker, the second speaker will aid the smaller first speaker's reproduction of sound, particularly in the lower frequency range.
US07957538B2 Method and apparatus to decode audio matrix
A method of audio matrix decoding in which a moving sound image is restored includes decoding multichannel signals from stereo signals, extracting strengths and positions of virtual sound sources existing between channels based on power vectors of the decoded multichannel signals, comparing the strengths and positions of the extracted previous and current virtual sound sources to predict position movement and the strengths of the virtual sound sources, and redistributing powers to positions of channel speakers in a multichannel arrangement based on the predicted position of a sound image.
US07957537B2 Information processing system and method using encryption key block
An information processing system and method using an encryption key block sets sub-trees classified based on data processing ability of the devices (capability) in a key tree in which respective keys are corresponded to a root, nodes and leaves of a tree in which a plurality of devices are constituted as the leaves, generates a sub-enabling key block which is effective for an entity in a managing subject of each sub-tree (entity), and generates an enabling key block decodable only by the entities having common capability. Also, an information processing system and method using an encryption key block manages a partial tree of a key tree (sub-tree), generates a sub-enabling key block based only on a key set corresponding to nodes or leaves included in the sub-tree, and generates an enabling key block decodable only by selected entities by using the sub-enabling key block. Thus, it is possible to generate and distribute an enabling key block corresponding to data processing ability of a device and to manage devices by dividing a hierarchical key tree structure.
US07957529B2 Procurement and audit of digital rights management event data
A method to procure and audit digital rights management (DRM) event data by collecting a first set of event data in a first event data format, converting the first set of event data to one or more standardized event data formats, and communicating the first set of event data to an event data collection server for storage. The method may also include collecting a second set of event data in a second event data format, converting the second set of event data to one or more standardized event data formats, and communicating the second set of event data to the event data collection server for storage. The method may also include storing the first and second sets of event data in a centralized repository, authorizing access to the event data, and performing an event data audit corresponding to the event data.
US07957528B2 Near field registration of home system audio-video device
A near field communication (NFC) sticker which stores a key is attached to a new client device. A remote commander in a home network reads the key using a NFC interface and IR-transmits it to a home network server. Once the client is connected to the network, it encrypts its own device information with the key and sends the encrypted information to the server, which decrypts the data with the key sent from the remote commander. In this way, client device registration is executed easily and securely.
US07957527B2 Cryptographic processing apparatus
An apparatus and a method for performing a hyperelliptic curve cryptography process at a high speed in a highly secure manner are provided. A base point D is produced such that the base point D and one or more of precalculated data in addition to the base point used in a scalar multiplication operation based on a window algorithm are degenerate divisors with a weight smaller than genus g of a hyperelliptic curve. An addition operation included in the scalar multiplication operation based on the window algorithm is accomplished by performing an addition operation of adding a degenerate divisor and a non-degenerate divisor, whereby a high-speed operation is achieved without causing degradation in security against key analysis attacks such as SPA.
US07957525B2 Encryption and signature schemes using message mappings to reduce the message size
According to some embodiments of the invention, a message is processed before encryption so that the encryption method generates a short ciphertext. The message processing can be viewed as a mapping (610) that maps the message into another message that generates the short ciphertext. The mapping is reversible at least if the (possibly encoded) message (H(M)) is in a restricted set, e.g. a set [0,h″] of short messages. In some embodiments of the present invention, short signatures are provided by mapping the signature into a short signature. The mapping (810) is reversible at least if the original message (H(M)) used to generate the signature is short. Signcryption, aggregate signature, and ring signature outputs are also shortened.
US07957523B2 Method and system for implementing a ring back tone based on group mobile switchboard service
This invention discloses a method and system of implementing a ring back tone based on a group mobile switchboard service. The method includes: a home service control point of the group mobile switchboard obtaining an identification of an extension subscriber which a calling party calls, and sending routing information of a ring back tone intelligent peripheral and the identification of the called extension subscriber to a gateway mobile switching center/mobile switching center which triggers the intelligent service; the gateway mobile switching center/mobile switching center routing the identification of the called extension subscriber to the ring back tone intelligent peripheral according to the received routing information of the ring back tone intelligent peripheral; the ring back tone intelligent peripheral connecting the call to a visited mobile switching center of the called extension subscriber, and playing a group ring back tone subscribed to by the group customer for the calling party.
US07957522B2 Programmable plain old telephone line impedance matching circuits
Programmable plain old telephone line impedance matching circuits that provide an accurate, integrated programmable termination and source impedance for a telephone line interface circuit (SLIC). The accurate matching of this programmable termination and source impedance with the termination impedance of the 2 Wire connection eliminates signal reflections on this connection and therefore removes the echo, which echo can lead to reduced signal quality in packetized VOIP systems. The programmable integrated impedance matching circuits of this invention use a programmable time continuous amplifier preferably in combination with a double sampling programmable switched capacitor feedback stage (sampling twice per clock cycle by sampling on the positive and negative phases of a non-overlapping clock cycle). Use of a switched capacitor circuit to synthesize a resistance allows the realization of the relatively long time constants needed, generally, thereby allowing the realization of the present invention programmable impedance matching circuit as an integrated circuit without external discrete resistors or capacitors.
US07957519B2 Private branch exchange system and method for control thereof
It is one objective of the present invention to provide a private branch exchange that can identify calls to be routed to an extension phone group.A private branch exchange according to this invention comprises: a caller information detector for, when a call is received, obtaining caller information; a group incoming call table in which two or more extension numbers are correlated with an extension incoming call group number; and an incoming call group controller for, when a call received through the telephone line is for an extension incoming call group number, extracting from the group incoming call table extension numbers that are correlated with the extension incoming call group number and transmitting an incoming call signal to extension phones corresponding to the extension numbers, and also for storing, in a group incoming call log table, a caller number that is obtained by the caller information detector.
US07957516B2 System and method for selecting a destination number upon receiving a dialed number from a calling party
A method, system and computer program for utilizing destination information stored in a database are disclosed. The database is queried for information about a service located at a destination, and location information of a requesting party is determined. Routing information is determined based upon the location information of the requesting party and the destination information of the service. The routing information is utilized to establish a route between the requesting party and the destination of the service.
US07957513B2 Method, system and computer program product for providing a no-ring telephone call service
A method provides a no-ring telephone call service. The method includes receiving notification that a telephone call from a calling party device requesting to use the no-ring telephone call service has arrived at a switch. The notification includes a called party telephone number. The method also includes determining if the called party telephone number corresponds to a voice mail platform telephone number in a region wide messaging database. When the called party telephone number corresponds to a voice mail platform telephone number, instructions to route the telephone call to the voice mail platform telephone number are communicated to the switch. When the called party telephone number does not correspond to a voice mail platform telephone number, instructions to play a pre-recorded no voice mailbox message are communicated to the switch.
US07957510B2 Notifying network contacts of inquiries
A method, computer-readable medium, and user interface for displaying an inquiry indication related to an inquiring user's inquiry are described. An inquiring user prepares and submits an inquiry in an inquiry application. Upon preparing and submitting an inquiry, a notice of the inquiry is generated and routed to the inquiring user's network contacts. An inquiry indication is generated to notify network contacts that an inquiry has been submitted by the inquiring user. A network contact may select the inquiry indication to display an inquiry feature and may select an inquiry feature to view the inquiry and respond to the inquiry.
US07957509B2 Voice enhancing for advance intelligent network services
A method for updating communications service parameters includes receiving, at a platform configured for speech recognition functionality and corresponding to a communications address associated with verbally updating communications service parameters, a voice instruction from a requester to update a communications service parameter. The voice instruction is translated into digital command data and the digital command data and the update to the communications service parameter are stored in a database. A change in a communications service corresponding to the update to the communications service parameter is implemented in near real-time.
US07957507B2 Method and apparatus for modulating a radiation beam
An apparatus and method to deliver intensity modulated radiation therapy by irradiating a treatment volume with rotation of the radiation beam. The system includes a collimation device comprising a two-dimensional array of pivoting attenuating leaves, which are temporarily placed into the radiation beam path as the gantry rotates around the patient. The leaves are independently movable between a first position and a second position. The radiation beam intensity is modulated by controlling the time that each leaf is present to attenuate the beam.
US07957500B2 Fast phase-frequency detector arrangement
A detector arrangement for detecting a frequency error between an input signal (DATA) and a reference signal. The detector arrangement comprising first latch circuitry (L1, L2) for sampling a quadrature component (CKQ) of the reference signal based on the input signal, to generate a first binary signal (PDQ); second latch circuitry (L3, L4) for sampling an in-phase component (CKI) of the reference signal based on the input signal, to-generate a second binary signal (PD I); third latch circuitry (L5) for sampling the first binary signal based on the second binary signal, to generate the frequency error signal (FD). The detector further comprising control circuitry (TS) for selectively suppressing operation of a charge pump (82) to which the first binary signal (PDQ) is supplied, in response to a control signal derived from the second binary signal.
US07957495B2 Method and device for suppressing narrowband interference
The method obtains an interference detection result by detecting sampled digital signals in real time in a transform domain, then maps the interference detection result into an interference suppression pulse function on the basis of a unit noise pulse function, and carries out interference suppression filtering in the transform domain according to the interference suppression pulse function. The present invention is capable of detecting narrowband interference such as monotone, frequency modulation, and phase modulation interferences in a receive channel adaptively in real-time, and suppressing the interference adaptively according to the quantity, energy and bandwidth of the interference, so as to reduce the influence of the interference. Therefore, the present invention may enhance robustness of the communication system against interference. Moreover, the present invention does not need multiple notch devices, costs low and may be implemented simply and reliably.
US07957486B2 Transmission link adaptation
According to an embodiment of the invention, a method and apparatus are described for transmission link adaptation. In one embodiment of the invention, data is obtained regarding a quality of a transmitted signal. Data is obtained regarding available power for transmission. A transmission mode is selected based at least in part on the quality of the transmitted signal and on the available power for transmission.
US07957482B2 Bit-operated rearrangement diversity for AICO mapping
Transmit diversity system in which constellation rearrangement is used. Both diversity signals contain the same data and both are 16-QAM, but the location of the data bits within the constellation is different. This averages the effect of the different levels of reliability of the different constellation points. A method for modifying a quadruple of data bits in a data transmission system using Quadrature. Amplitude Modulation with 16 different modulation states, 16-QAM, using an Antipodal Inverted Constellation AICO) mapping, swapping bits selecting contiguous symbol regions with bits selecting non-contiguous symbol regions. Depending on the particular pre-defined mapping and on the particular permutation of bits, inversion of selected bits may be performed in addition. The quadruples thus obtained are mapped to modulation symbols according to a pre-defined AICO mapping. In the corresponding method for receiving the symbols, likelihood values are swapped and modified in a way which is complementary to the permutation and inversion of bits, before they are combined with likelihood values from other symbols representing the same bits. Method ensures that there is a one to one correspondence between Hamming distance and Euclidian distance for the combined received data. In other words it ensures that, once combined, all 4 bit data words which differ by the same number of bits (Hamming distance) are the same distance apart in the constellation (Euclidian distance).
US07957480B2 Wireless communication method and wireless communication apparatus
A wireless communication apparatus generates transmission signal including first and second pilot signal sequences allocated to first and second frequencies symmetrically located in relation to a center frequency, and third and fourth pilot signal sequences allocated to third and fourth frequencies symmetrically located in relation to the center frequency, quadrature-modulates the transmission signal, to obtain a quadrature modulation signal, quadrature-demodulates the quadrature modulation signal, to obtain a reception signal, extracts first to fourth pilot signal sequences from the reception signal, estimates a first transfer characteristic concerning first and second frequency by using first and second pilot signal sequences, estimates a second transfer characteristic concerning third and fourth frequencies using third and the fourth pilot signal sequences, generates a third transfer characteristic from which an influence of transmission IQ imbalance is removed by using first and second transfer characteristic, and estimates, from the third transfer characteristic, reception IQ imbalance characteristic.
US07957476B2 Wireless communicaton apparatus
A wireless communication apparatus for receiving a packet formed of a signal modulated by OFDM includes the following elements. A band-pass filter extracts an OFDM signal of a desired band. A low-noise amplifier having a gain controlled according to a received-signal intensity amplifies the desired OFDM signal. A frequency converter down-converts the amplified OFDM signal into a baseband signal. An analog-digital converter converts the baseband signal into a digital signal. A first high-pass filter removes a DC offset from the baseband signal corresponding to a predetermined preamble portion of the packet. A frequency-offset estimator estimates a frequency offset from the sample signals constituting the baseband signal from which the DC offset has been removed by the first high-pass filter. A frequency-offset corrector removes the estimated frequency offset from the baseband signal. A demodulator demodulates subcarrier signals arranged in a frequency domain from the baseband signal compensated for the frequency offset.
US07957471B2 Encoding apparatus and method, decoding apparatus and method, image processing system and method, and recording medium
In encoding input image data including first and second images, the first image is divided into blocks. A second block corresponding to a first block that is one of the blocks is detected from the second image. Pixels forming the first and second blocks are sorted in order according to pixel values. Block difference data indicating the amount of change in the pixel values of the sorted pixels between the first and second blocks is determined and encoded. In decoding, block information identifying the second block, sort-order information indicating the sorted pixels forming the first block, and the encoded block difference data are obtained. The encoded block difference data is decoded. The decoded block difference data and the second block identified by the block information are used to generate pixel values of the first block. The generated pixel values are reverse-sorted according to the sort-order information.
US07957470B2 System and method for adapting video decoding rate
An embodiment of the present invention provides systems and methods for adaptive video decoding. An example method includes determining that a video decoding rate of received video input is to be reduced, and receiving video input comprising a first and a second plurality of pictures. The method also includes reducing the video decoding rate while maintaining synchronization with an unmodified audio decoding rate, responsive to the determining that the video decoding rate of the received video input is to be reduced. The reducing includes foregoing decoding the first plurality of pictures and decoding the second plurality of pictures.
US07957467B2 Content-adaptive block artifact removal in spatial domain
An image processing method and system removes block artifacts in compressed image/video. Block artifacts are detected based on content analysis performed based on knowledge of the contents of the image/video. Then, a set of priority conditions is evaluated to generate a detection decision for each pixel at the block boundary. A higher priority is given to a short-term temporal processing result and a spatial processing result. The long-term temporal processing result and quantization information are treated as auxiliary information to adjust the strength of filtering. Depending on the result of the detection decision, appropriate filtering is applied to the pixel to remove the block artifacts.
US07957465B2 Moving picture data code conversion/transmission method and device, code conversion/reception method and device
A code conversion/transmission apparatus for being supplied with compressed encoded data and converting and outputting the data to a transmission path has code converter/transmitters for outputting the encoded data input thereto and encoded data produced by re-encoding the encoded data input thereto, or outputting a plurality of encoded data comprising encoded data produced by separately re-encoding the encoded data input thereto, respectively, and transmitting the plurality of encoded data to at least one transmission path. At least a portion of the encoded data input thereto and at least a portion of the re-encoded encoded data are transmitted to the transmission path.
US07957464B2 Digital signal receiver
A digital signal receiver including: a signal edge detector configured to receive a signal including a code and detect an edge of the signal; a reference point detector configured to detect a reference point for pulse width detection from a rising time point or falling time point of the edge detected by the signal edge detector; a pulse width detector configured to detect a pulse width from the rising time point or falling time point of the edge and the reference point; a sampling point determination module configured to generate a histogram of the pulse width and determines a sampling point of the code based on an analysis result of the histogram; and a sampling module configured to perform a sampling of the code based on the sampling point determined by the sampling point determination module.
US07957462B2 Integrated compact eye pattern analyzer for next generation networks
A portable hand-held battery powered eye pattern analyzer is provided that can analyze signal quality of a high speed digital communication network. The system is 10 times smaller in volume and 4 times lighter than the bench-top equivalent instruments. The system includes a housing containing a display, keypad, power supply, battery pack, and RF sampler board along with connections for electrical inputs, optical inputs, clock signal inputs, and clock recovery signal inputs. The sampler circuit board can support connections, such as a USB plug for attachment to a personal computer. The RF sampler board contains the following elements: (1) A dual sampler for two-channel electrical inputs. (2) An Optical-to-Electrical O/E conversion module. (3) A clock recovery unit (CRU) module to recover the clock from the electrical or optical pulse pattern signal. (4) A trigger circuit that accepts an input clock and uses that clock to trigger the sampling of the data signal. (5) A PRBS generator that could be used as stimulus for testing high speed devices, and (6) A controller such as an FPGA that processes the sampled signals and provides statistical analysis along with eye patterns to a display as controlled using the keyboard.
US07957459B2 Symbol rate testing method based on signal waveform analysis
A symbol rate testing method based on signal waveform analysis is provided. A signal with a plurality of quasi bits 1 and a plurality of quasi bits 0 is received and sampled within an acquiring time. Maximum values of the quasi bits 1 are obtained by calculating sampling values of the signal at various sampling points. A minimum value among the maximum values is determined as a critical value. Whether a quasi bit 1 is a bit 1 or not is determined according to the critical value, and a total number of the bits 1 within the acquiring time is counted. Similarly, a number of the bits 0 within the acquiring time are also obtained. Thus, the symbol rate is obtained according to the above information.
US07957458B2 Jitter measurement apparatus, jitter measurement method, test apparatus and electronic device
A jitter measuring apparatus measures timing jitter of a signal-under-test. The jitter measuring apparatus includes a pulse generator for outputting a pulse signal of a predetermined pulse width for an edge of the signal-under-test, and a jitter measuring sub-unit for extracting the timing jitter on the basis of a duty ratio of each cycle of the signal output by the pulse generator.
US07957456B2 Selection of filter coefficients for tranceiver non-linearity signal cancellation
Embodiments of a method and apparatus for selecting coefficients of a non-linear filter are disclosed. The non-linear filter receives a transmit signal and generates a non-linear replica signal of a transmit DAC of a transceiver. The method include applying a plurality of periodic test pattern signals to inputs of the transmit DAC, wherein the periodic test pattern signals include a stream of symbols. Receive symbols are collected at an output of a receiver ADC of the transceiver resulting from the plurality of periodic test pattern signals. A non-linear map is generated that provides a value for each of n consecutive symbols input to the transmit DAC. Coefficients of the non-linear filter are selected based on the non-linear map.
US07957454B2 Transmitter, receiver, and data communications system and method
There is provided a transmitter that transmits data in a spread spectrum communications system including a spread modulation portion spreading transmitting data with a spread code, an RZ conversion portion converting the transmitting data spread to an RZ signal, and an impulse sequence conversion portion multiplying the RZ signal by an impulse sequence to convert the RZ signal to an impulse radio signal.
US07957445B2 Spatial filters
An etched-facet single lateral mode semiconductor photonic device is fabricated by depositing an anti reflective coating on the etched facet, and depositing a reflectivity modifying coating in a spatially controlled manner to modify the spatial performance of the emitted beam.
US07957443B2 Laser device
Provided is a long wavelength laser of which the operating point is stabilized and the laser oscillation is stabilized. The long wavelength laser comprises a resistor element provided to a portion where the surface current is maximum in a surface plasmon waveguide to stabilize a potential difference between a first cladding and a second cladding in the surface plasmon waveguide.
US07957441B2 Method and apparatus for resonant frequency waveform modulation
A resonant modulator device and process are described that provide enhanced resonant frequency waveforms to electrical devices including, e.g., laser devices. Faster, larger, and more complex modulation waveforms are obtained than can be obtained by use of conventional current controllers alone.
US07957435B2 Electronically controlled optical scanning
A device for generating light pulses that are separated in terms of time has a light source that emits a sequence of light pulses. A regulation signal is formed within a regulation circuit from a cycle signal and the light pulse sequence of the light sources via a phase detector. The regulation circuit includes a regulator that generates a setting signal that influences the repeat frequency of the light pulse sequence of the light source.
US07957433B2 Mode-locked two micron fiber lasers
A mode-locked fiber laser comprising a multicomponent glass fiber doped with a trivalent rare-earth ion of thulium and/or holmium.
US07957423B2 Packet error correction
A method for correcting packet errors in a combined stream including steps of receiving a combined and re-packetized transport stream comprising program information for at least two transport streams (A and B), wherein each transport stream (A and B) comprises program information associated with respective distinctive packet IDs (PIDs), detecting an invader packet associated with the combined and re-packetized transport stream A does not belong in the combined and re-packetized transport stream A, offering the invader packet to combined and re-packetized transport stream B in which a gap is detected, and de-combining combined and re-packetized transport stream B such that information from a de-combined version of the invader packet fills a gap in a de-combined version of combined and re-packetized transport stream B.
US07957418B2 Data burst communication techniques for use in increasing data throughput to mobile communication devices
Methods and apparatus for use in increasing data throughput to mobile stations in a wireless communication network, where data is communicated between mobile stations and the wireless network in a plurality of data bursts within time slots assigned to the mobile station. One illustrative method includes the acts of receiving, through a wireless transceiver, data in a time slot W; tuning the wireless transceiver, during a first portion of a time slot X which follows the time slot W, for transmission; reading transmit data from a transmit data queue and encoding the transmit data in a data burst in accordance with a data burst format; and causing the encoded transmit data to be transmitted in the data burst during a second portion of the time slot X. The data burst may be formatted in accordance with a predefined data burst format of the wireless network and merely shifted in time, or the data burst may be formatted in accordance with a reduced-size data burst format. When such alternate data burst technique is utilized, extra available time remains to tune the wireless transceiver from receive to transmit mode, or transmit to receive mode. Thus, an additional downlink time slot(s) per data frame may be allocated to the mobile station for increased data throughput, where at least one uplink time slot per data frame is utilized for data transmission.
US07957414B2 Transmitting apparatus and transmission rate control method
A wireless communication apparatus (10) includes: a transmission data acquisition unit (21) that acquires transmission data; a control data judging unit (24) that judges whether or not the acquired transmission data is control data for causing an apparatus that receives the transmission data to perform a predetermined communication control process; and a transmission rate control unit (33) that controls a transmission rate of the transmission data according to a judgment result of the control data judging unit (24).
US07957411B2 Collision avoidance in multiple protocol communication networks using a shared communication medium
A method for collision avoidance in multiple protocol networks using a shared communication medium begins by determining a first protocol probable active time period. The method continues by determining a first protocol probable inactive time period. The method continues by generating a transmit blocking indication based on the first protocol probable active time period and the first protocol probable inactive time period.
US07957410B2 Proportionally fair-share time slot reservations with a fast increase, slow decrease rate controller
One embodiment of the present invention provides a system for facilitating proportionally fair-share time slot reservations with a fast increase, slow decrease rate controller in an ad hoc dynamic wireless broadcast network. During operation, the system determines local time slot demand, based on transmitted and queued data corresponding to one or more previous decision points. Next, the system broadcasts the local time slot demand to one or more neighbors. The system also determines neighbor time slot demands, where a respective neighbor time slot demand indicates a particular neighbor's local time slot demand corresponding to one or more previous decision points. Next, the system determines neighborhood time slot demand, based on the local time slot demand and the neighbor time slot demands. Next, the system determines allowable reserved time slots based on the local time slot demand and allowable reserved time slots corresponding to one or more previous decision points.
US07957409B2 Methods and devices for transmitting data between storage area networks
Methods and devices are provided for efficient transmission of data between storage area networks. According to some aspects of the invention, novel methods are provided for processing data packets sent by, or received from, a storage area network. Some such aspects of the invention involve storing a packet (or a portion of a packet) in a single memory location during an encapsulation or de-encapsulation process. Instead of repeatedly copying the packet during processing, pointer information is passed along that indicates the single memory location. In some aspects of the invention, the segment boundaries of a packet are retained after data transmission. If data in the packet need to be re-transmitted, the packet is re-transmitted with the same segment boundaries.
US07957407B2 Heterogeneous media packet bridging
Methods and systems for bridging Ethernet frames transmitted over heterogeneous media channels are provided. According to one embodiment, multiple Ethernet frames encapsulated within multiple in-bound media transmissions having different media formats are received via a first set of multiple network interfaces of a network-computing device. The multiple in-bound media transmissions are relayed via a switch fabric of the network-computing device to a virtual bridge application running on a processing resource shared by the network interfaces and which acts as a single bridging domain for all Ethernet frames. The virtual bridge application encapsulates the multiple Ethernet frames within multiple out-bound media transmissions by performing media agnostic Ethernet bridging of the multiple Ethernet frames. The multiple Ethernet frames are transmitted by relaying, via the switch fabric, the out-bound media transmissions to a second set of the multiple network interfaces.
US07957402B2 UDP to TCP bridge
A bridge module bridges communications between computing systems using the UDP (user datagram protocol) communication protocol and computing systems using the TCP (transmission control protocol) communication protocol. Communications between the bridge and the computing system having UDP communication drivers are handled with the UDP protocol. Communications between the bridge and the computing system having TCP communication drivers are handled with TCP protocol. The UDP computing system sends data packets to the bridge module. The bridge module converts these packets from UDP protocol to packets in TCP protocol and sends them to the TCP computing system. The TCP computing system can send data back to the UDP computing system by sending packets to the bridge module using the TCP protocol. The bridge module will convert the TCP data packets from the TCP computing system to data packets in UDP protocol and forward them on to the UDP computing system.
US07957399B2 Array-based routing of data packets
A method of load balancing data packets at an array is disclosed. The method includes receiving a data packet encoded in a first format at an input of the array. The received data packet is assigned to an assigned element of the array, and the data packet is routed to a device. A message encoded in a second format is received from the device at the array. Information is extracted from a payload portion of the message, and the message is assigned to the assigned element of the array based on the information extracted from the payload portion of the message.
US07957394B1 Automatic network switch configuration to support quality of service
A method, apparatus, and computer-readable media for a network device comprises a plurality of ports to exchange packets of data with one or more networks according to Quality of Service parameters configured for each of the ports; a forwarding engine to forward the packets of data between the ports; and a control plane processor to identify one or more planned data flows through the network device between the ports; wherein the control plane processor identifies associations between each of the planned data flows and one of a plurality of services for the planned data flows; and wherein the network device automatically configures the Quality of Service parameters of the ports according to the services and the associations between the planned data flows and the services.
US07957393B2 Network requested packet data protocol context activation
A packet switched (PS) core network (CN) supporting several quality of services levels, comprising at least a serving node (SGSN), a gateway node (GGSN), a home location register (HLR), a short message service gateway and interworking unit (SMS-GMSC, SMS-IWMSC), charging gateway functionality (CGF), and a public data network (PDN) comprising an application server (AS). The core network is adapted for carrying out a packet data protocol (PDP) context activation in which a PDP address is assigned to a mobile station and in which a given quality of service is assigned through the network in a communication session between the mobile station and the application processor in question, whereby the application server (AS) initiates a context activation in which the QoS is seeked altered for the mobile station.
US07957392B2 Method and apparatus for high-performance bonding resequencing
A method, system, and computer program product for receiving and resequencing a plurality of data segments received on a plurality of channels of a bonding channel set, comprising deter mining if a sequence number of a received segment matches an expected sequence number. If so, the process includes forwarding the segment for further processing, incrementing the expected sequence number; and forwarding any queued packets corresponding to the expected sequence number and immediately succeeding sequence numbers less than a sequence number of annexed missing segment. If the sequence number of the received segment does not match the expected sequence number, the received segment is queued at a memory location. The address of this location is converted to a segment index. The segment index is stored in a sparse array.
US07957391B1 Low overhead aggregation at the physical layer
A physical layer device distributes a high-speed packet data stream to multiple lower-speed physical channels, and reverses the process to receive a high-speed packet data stream that has been distributed across multiple lower-speed physical channels. The packet data is distributed by removing interpacket gap characters from between packets and using a different control character to delineate packets. Interpacket gap characters can then be used to delineate equal-length frames distributed to each of the multiple physical channels. Each frame consists of a concatenation of fixed-size blocks of packet data. By selecting a frame size larger than the average packet size, overhead on the multiple physical channels can actually be lower than the overhead on the single high-speed channel, allowing the aggregation to achieve line rate operation at the high-speed rate.
US07957390B2 Detection of signatures in disordered message segments
A method of detecting signatures in message segments comprises employing a state machine for the detection of character strings in the message segments. The state machine executes for each input character a transition determined by a current state of the machine and a current input character. The message segments conform to TCP or other ordering transport protocol. The order of arrival of the message segments is monitored. In the event that an intermediate message segment is missing between a processed segment and an immediately subsequent message segment, the current state of said state machine at the end of the said processed segment is stored. The machine is restarted from its null or datum state for the examination of the immediately subsequent message segment, which is then temporarily stored. When the missing segment eventually arrives, it and the stored segment are successively examined for signatures by means of the state machine, beginning at the stored state. The invention allows for examination of overlapping signatures without requiring re-assembly of the segments or substantial buffering.
US07957389B2 Method of stall identification and recovery
A method of wireless communication. The method includes the step of determining a probability of a stalling condition for at least one data packet in a sequence of data packets. The method also includes the step of transmitting a flush command in response to the determined probability of the stalling condition. Prior to the transmitting of a flush command, a wait time may be estimated in response to the probability determined for the stalling condition. This wait time may be estimated by determining an average number of time slots necessary before the first data packet may be transmission. The estimated wait time may depend on the successful transmission of another packet having a lower order (e.g., previous) designation in the sequence of data packets, as well as on the probability determined for the stalling condition (e.g., the probability of a no-stalling condition).
US07957385B2 Method and apparatus for packet routing
Methods and apparatus for routing a packet in a network are described. The network has a topology characterized by a hierarchical structure of nodes including n layers. L represents a layer in the structure and is an integer with L=0 representing a lowest layer and L=n−1 representing a highest layer. The method includes receiving at least a packet header of a packet at a first node and based on the packet header, determining whether to transmit the packet to a second node in either layer L, layer L+1, or layer L−1. The packet can be transmitted to the second node as soon as the packet is received at the first node without waiting to receive the entire packet and without copying the packet prior to transmission from the first node.
US07957383B2 Method of sharing network identifier and mobile router
In a case where internal links connected to plural mobile routers in a mobile network respectively have unique network identifiers initially set, the mobile router, when receiving a network identifier different from the initial setting advertised from another mobile router, selects either one of the network identifier initially set to the self and that advertised, as a network identifier of the internal link connected to the self. Then, if the one selected is identical to that initially set, the mobile router advertises the network identifier to within the mobile network and registers it in a home agent. If not identical, the mobile router registers the one advertised in the home agent as a network identifier of the internal link connected to the self.
US07957381B2 Globally asynchronous communication architecture for system on chip
This invention relates to the domain of Networks on Chips (NoC) and relates to a method of transferring data in a network on chip, particularly using an asynchronous “send/accept” type protocol.The invention also relates to a network on chip used to implement this method.
US07957377B1 Reducing and load balancing link-state requests in OSPF
A method of administering a plurality of routers in a computer network, comprising initializing a router in the plurality; receiving initial database description packets from at least first and second neighboring routers; processing the data description packet received from the first neighboring router; generating a request for link state advertisements from the first neighboring router; processing the database description packet received from the second neighboring router; if requesting link state advertisements from the second neighboring router that were not requested from the first neighboring router.
US07957375B2 Apparatus and method for policy routing
An apparatus and method for policy routing is provided. The method includes: A. configuring a policy routing to a label switching path and obtaining and saving forwarding information; and B. performing packet forwarding based on the forwarding information. The apparatus includes: a label switching path managing unit, for saving first forwarding information of the label switching path; a route managing unit, for saving second forwarding information of the label switching path; a configuring unit, for transmitting configuration parameters to the label switching path managing unit, and obtaining the first and/or second forwarding information of the label switching path from the label switching path managing unit and/or route managing unit; a forwarding information maintenance unit, for maintaining the first and second forwarding information of the label switching path saved in a node of policy; and a packet forwarding unit, together with the forwarding information maintenance unit, for forwarding the packet, which solves the problem that the prior art couldn't well support strategic route for a MPLS packet.
US07957368B2 Method and apparatus for establishing communications with a remote node on a switched network based on hypertext calling received from a packet network
Disclosed is a system and a methodology enabling a first provider party to provide to a second recipient party software and services to enable the recipient party to embed in an Internet e-mail of the recipient party directed to an addressee, an HTML hyperlink file which includes a telecommunication initiating trigger, sending the e-mail to the addressee via the Internet, the addressee upon receiving the e-mail actuating the hyperlink via its trigger and, responsive to the trigger actuation, connecting the addressee via the Internet to a web page located on an Internet server, wherein the web page includes a request for a telephone number of the addressee. The addressee entering its telephone number information at the server, which information is communicated to a database associated with the server, the server communicating with the database and with a telephony switch, including sending to the switch instructions which result in the switch originating and managing a public switched telephone network (PSTN) communication between the recipient party and the addressee.
US07957363B2 System, method, and service for dynamically selecting an optimum message pathway
A message pathway selection system dynamically selects an optimum message pathway for transmitting messages. The system dynamically optimizes a message pathway according to various criteria such as, for example, efficiency, economy, data requirements, auditing requirements, security, data size, etc. The system can direct a message to bypass an infrastructure messaging server, using a direct message pathway. The system can also switch from an infrastructure messaging server to a direct method. The system can also utilize an infrastructure messaging pathway either as an alternative or in parallel with the direct message pathway. The system allows an application to use a single communication system for both a direct mode and an infrastructure mode of data transfer. The present system can bypass the infrastructure message pathway, thus reducing message latency, number of messages sent, and improving overall bandwidth.
US07957360B2 Method and system for the support of a long DRX in an LTE—active state in a wireless network
A method of DRX signaling in a long-term evolution infrastructure between an evolved node B (eNB) and user equipment (UE), the method having the steps of providing a DRX value in a header of a medium access control protocol data unit (MAC-PDU); acknowledging the MAC-PDU; and activating, deactivating or reconfiguring DRX based on the provided DRX value.
US07957359B1 Method of resource allocation in a multiple access wireless communications network
A scheme is provided for allocating spectral resource made up of a plurality of resource units in a multiple access wireless link linking a partition of a base station and at least one child user equipment of the partition in a wireless communications network. According to the scheme the same fixed allocation of resource units is made to each user equipment of the network. According to one embodiment a measure of a maximum likely number of child user equipments per partition of the network is determined. Then a fixed allocation of resource units based on the ratio of the number of resource units per unit time to the measure is calculated. Then the same fixed allocation of resource units is allocated to each child user equipment across the network. In one embodiment resource units which are not allocated in the fixed allocation remain unallocated to user equipments. In another embodiment the remaining resource units are allocated among the child user equipments by prioritizing user equipments having a high gain link. Also provided is a communications network and a resource allocation controller for a communications network which use the above scheme.
US07957354B1 Internet enabled cellular telephones
A voice web browser system includes a telephone, an access system coupled to a TCP/IP network, a telephone system coupling the telephone to the access system, and a speech-to-text system for “reading” text that had been sent over the TCP/IP network to the telephone user. Preferably, the access system receives TCP/IP packets from web pages accessible over the TCP/IP network and parses the HTML code of the web pages into text and non-text portions, such that the text portion can be read to the telephone user. A computer implemented process for obtaining web page information over a TCP/IP network includes implementing a connection of a telephone user to an access system that is coupled to a TCP/IP network, detecting a selection of at least one navigation command by the telephone user to access a web page accessible over the TCP/IP network, and navigating over the TCP/IP network to the web page in response to the navigation command, resulting in a verbal communication of at least some information derivable from the web page to the telephone user. A method for retrieving e-mail that was sent over a TCP/IP network includes calling from a user telephone to an access computer coupled to a TCP/IP network, providing user identification to the access computer, retrieving e-mail via the access computer that was sent over the TCP/IP network and addressed to the user, and reading the e-mail to the user of the user telephone utilizing a text-to-speech system.
US07957352B2 Inter-system handoff between wireless communication networks of different radio access technologies
Various schemes for performing inter-system handoff, e.g., from a UTRAN to a cdma2000 radio access network (RAN) are described. For a MAHHO scheme, the UTRAN uses measurements obtained by a multi-RAT device to determine suitable cdma2000 cell(s) for handover. The measurements are obtained by a candidate frequency search procedure, and the handover is accomplished by a handoff execution procedure. For a MDHHO scheme, the UTRAN relies on location information for the multi-RAT device to select suitable cdma2000 cell(s) for handover. For a CRHHO scheme, a new call is established on the cdma2000 RAN and the pending call on the UTRAN is released in a manner such that the handover appears seamless to the multi-RAT device. The multi-RAT device includes two modem processors that perform processing for the UTRAN and cdma2000 RAN and an application processor that controls the modem processors.
US07957347B1 System and method for estimating bandwidth requirements of and allocating bandwidth to communication devices operating in a network
A wireless network includes a base station and N stations where N is an integer greater than one. During a first period, M of the N stations transmit packets to the base station at M bandwidths, respectively, using carrier sense multiple access with collision avoidance (CSMA/CA), where M is an integer greater than one and less than or equal to N. During a second period after the first period, the M stations transmit packets to the base station during M sets of timeslots having durations based on the M bandwidths during the first period, respectively.
US07957346B2 Wireless communication apparatus for managing high throughput bandwidth channel availability
According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a wireless communication apparatus for performing a first wireless communication with a first channel having a first bandwidth, and a second wireless communication with a second channel having a second bandwidth wider than the first bandwidth and having a frequency band covering the first channel, in accordance with CSMA/CA system by carrier sense, including: a predicting unit predicting a first time required until a transmission right for the first wireless communication is captured, and a second time required until a transmission right for the second wireless communication is captured; a judging unit judging that either one communication is recommended based upon the first and second times; and a producing unit producing, when judged that a wireless communication different from a present wireless communication is recommended, a notification frame including information indicative of the recommended wireless communication.
US07957343B2 Motion-aware mobile time and frequency tracking
A method is provided for compensating for clock drift error and movement error of an access terminal. A forward link error is obtained that is attributable to at least a first error (e.g., clock drift error) component and a second error (e.g., movement error) component. The first error component and the second error component are estimated based on the obtained forward link error. A receive clock of the access terminal is compensated based on a combination of the first error component and the second error component. A transmit clock of the access terminal is compensated based on a difference between the first error component and the second error component. The forward link error may include a timing synchronization error between the access terminal and an access point as well as a frequency synchronization error between a forward link frequency and a baseband reference frequency.
US07957341B2 Frequency correction in a multi-carrier communication system
Methods and systems for correction of frequency errors in multi-carrier communication systems. The composite frequency error associated with the downlink signals are used to infer or derive the composite frequency error associated with the uplink signals, which are used to pre-compensate the uplink signals. Special signal components are transmitted by multiple base stations to facilitate frequency-error estimation and other system control functionalities at a mobile device. The mobile device carries out temporal, spatial, or spatial-temporal processing of the composite frequency errors associated with one or more base stations to determine the clock frequency error and the Doppler shift with respect to its serving base station.
US07957339B2 Wireless local area network management
Wireless local area network (WLAN) management. A novel approach is provided to associate various wireless stations (STAs) to the WLAN via appropriately selected Access Point (APs). In one implementation, a first AP services only those STAs that have functionality of a first user class (e.g., 802.11b functionality in one instance). In addition, a second AP services only those STAs that have functionality of a second user class (e.g., 802.11g functionality). The WLAN management ensures that STAs having similar characteristics (or similar functionality) are grouped together and associated with an AP that corresponds to those characteristics. For example, 802.11b STAs associate with the WLAN via an 802.11b AP. Analogously, 802.11g STAs associate with the WLAN via an 802.11g AP. When an 802.11g STA is unable to associate with the WLAN via an 802.11g AP, the STA may shift down its functionality set to 802.11b to successfully associate with the WLAN.
US07957336B2 System and method for clock distribution and synchronization and radio location
A system for locating a client in a wireless network. The system includes at least three access points. Each access point is adapted to wirelessly communicate with a client having a location using packeted data, be placed in wired data communication within a selected data network; and to share a common precise time reference using the selected data network. The system further includes a switch adapted to translate the relative position of the access points based on a shared common precise time reference and to calculate the location of the client based on a transmission from the client.
US07957334B2 Communication system, a repeater terminal in a communication system and a communication method
This invention provides a communication system, a repeater terminal in the communication system and a communication method for improving the characteristics in a multi-hop communication by a diversity gain and reduces the power consumption by wasteful retransmission in packet transmission at a wireless terminal. When a transmitter terminal S sends a packet first time, repeater terminals R1-R13 perform a data transmission by retransmission at all the terminals which received the packet. When a transmitter terminal S sends a packet second time, a repeater terminal determines its own contribution based on the hop numbers of the repeating in the packet transmission and the return ACK (or NACK) repeating. The repeater terminal with a high contribution autonomously determines to be in “repeater mode” and the repeater terminal with a low contribution autonomously determines to be in “sleep mode”.
US07957332B1 Memory efficient filtering
In a method and apparatus for providing memory efficient filtering of a received broadcast signal, filter expressions are compared to packet data in the broadcast signal and by a wireless device assembly to determine if a match exists. The wireless device assembly is able to perform such filtering with an associated host assembly in a sleep mode or with that host in an active mode. Upon finding a filter match, the wireless device assembly selectively communicates the received packet data to the host assembly for packet decoding and analysis. If the host assembly is in a sleep mode, the wireless device assembly may send a wakeup signal to the host assembly prior to transmitting the packet data.
US07957323B2 Methods and apparatus for evaluating the sequence of packets
Embodiments of the invention are directed to evaluating the sequence of packets in a received packet stream. In some embodiments, when a packet in the packet stream is received, its sequence number may be determined and compared to an expected sequence number indicative of the highest received sequence number in the packet stream. If the sequence number of the packet is greater than or equal to the expected sequence number, the packet may be considered an in-order packet and a counter that counts the number of received in-order packets in the packet stream may be incremented.
US07957322B2 Flow-through provisioning in utility AMR/AMI networks
A system associated with a utility network having product distribution pathways, including a device management module for automatically provisioning at least a subset of a plurality of electronic utility devices associated with the pathways based on configuration state information received from the subset of the plurality of electronic utility devices and a comparison of the received configuration state information and predefined configuration state information.
US07957321B2 Device control system, method, and apparatus for server-based or peer-to-peer network environments
In a device control system that provides a means for controlling a variety of device types via a unified interface, such as via a handheld controller, a synchronization protocol ensures synchronization between a plurality of such controllers in a peer-to-peer network environment, provides a means for transferring custom configurations between such controllers, and provides a means for migrating such a controller from a peer-to-peer network environment to a server-based network environment and vice-versa.
US07957319B2 Classification techniques for encrypted network traffic
Methods, apparatuses and systems directed to detecting network applications whose data flows have been encrypted. The present invention extends beyond analysis of explicitly presented packet attributes of data flows and holistically analyzes the behavior of host or end systems as expressed in related data flows against a statistical behavioral model to classify the data flows.
US07957316B2 Network device management apparatus and device management method
When a management operation for changing an IP address of a device is applied to a plurality of devices, and the devices as operation targets include a network device management apparatus, the self apparatus is put to the end of operations, and the IP address change operation is applied to other devices (1808). As a result, even when the network device management apparatus as an operation target device is rebooted, since the management operations for all devices as operation targets are complete so far, a situation that the management operations for other devices are not executed due to an interruption of processing by rebooting can be avoided.
US07957314B2 System and method for provisioning charging and policy control in a network environment
A method is provided in one example embodiment and includes requesting real-time transfer protocol (RTP) quality metrics to be generated by a network for a specific flow in the network. The method also includes recording the RTP quality metrics and reporting the metrics as accounting data associated with the flow. In more specific embodiments, the accounting data includes a correlator with application level accounting and the accounting data is used for quality monitoring and troubleshooting on a per-subscriber basis, on a per-flow basis, or on a per-call basis. An application function can request RTP quality monitoring with a trigger that identifies if a quality parameter reaches a certain threshold.
US07957313B2 Diagnosis apparatus for object in TDM communication system and method for diagnosing the same
A method and diagnosis apparatus are provided. A velocity measuring section measures a bit length of communication carried out between nodes based upon a communication signal inputted from a communication bus. The measured bit length is input to a control section, which sets a bit length based upon input from the velocity measuring section and arranges the communication section to decode the communication signal. The communication section specifies a frame reception time and a frame ID as an identification code of a time slot in which a frame is transmitted. Each time the frame is received after setting the bit length, the control section records information of the frame reception time and the frame ID inputted from the communication section in a log file. The control section determines whether the frame is transmitted in a constant period from each time slot based upon the content of the log file.
US07957312B2 Communication unit, communication system, communication method and communication program
A transmission-time measurement section (201) and a jitter measurement section (202) measure transmission time length and jitter, respectively, by using the packets transmitted/received. A forward-error-correction (FEC)-scheme maximum-jitter measurement section (203) calculates a maximum jitter in the case of adopting an FEC scheme, and an automatic-retransmission-request (ARQ)-scheme maximum-jitter measurement section (204) calculates a maximum jitter in the case of adopting an ARQ scheme from the measured information. A packet control section (205) selects a communication scheme having a smaller maximum jitter from both schemes based on the calculation result of the FEC-maximum-jitter measurement section (203) and ARQ-maximum-jitter measurement section (204).
US07957311B2 Programmable hardware-based traffic policing
A hardware-based technique for policing traffic in a network node involves programming a set of algorithm-specific policing primitives that establishes a relationship between condition primitives and action primitives and populating a searchable memory with a set of indexed action primitives. Action primitives are then selected from the searchable memory in response to condition primitives related to a received datagram. Policing actions related to the datagram are performed in response to the action primitive. Because the algorithm-specific policing primitives are programmable, a network node can be adapted to implement a wide variety of policing algorithms. Additionally, multiple different policing algorithms can be implemented in hardware without the need for a different set of combinational logic for each different policing algorithm.
US07957310B1 Network-based notification of voice mail
At least one exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a method comprising the activities of detecting, via a public switched telephone network, a caller's dialing of a telephone number; and after said detecting activity, and prior to call setup, providing to the caller a voicemail status notification. At least one exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a method comprising the activities of placing a telephone call via a public switched telephone network, and receiving, via the public switched telephone network, a voicemail status notification after placing the telephone call and prior to call setup. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. This abstract is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope.
US07957309B1 Utilizing multiple distortion measures
Utilizing multiple distortion measures. A first distortion measure for at least one packet is received. A second distortion measure for the at least one packet is received, wherein the second distortion measure is different than the first distortion measure. A processing operation is performed based at least in part on the first distortion measure and the second distortion measure.
US07957307B2 Reducing effects of packet loss in video transmissions
An error correction system determines a level of error correction protection to apply to a frame of video data to be transmitted by a sending endpoint to a receiving endpoint based on the predicted impact of packet loss as well as the importance of the frame based on inter-frame dependencies, frame size, packet loss probability, historical packet loss pattern, central processing unit (CPU) load, and available network bandwidth. At the receiving endpoint, when packet loss is detected for a particular frame, the receiving endpoint will attempt to recover the frame using protection packets received along with the video data.
US07957303B2 Communication quality evaluation method, derivation device, communication quality evaluation system and computer program
When simulating communication using a communication network such as a VoIP network, an actual communication state is accurately simulated, and communication is simulated. The distribution of delay times of packets is transformed by a predetermined transformation method, packet transmission timings to which delay times are added, are calculated based on the transformed distribution of delay times and predetermined transmission timings, a determination is made as to whether or not the packet transmission order is changed by the calculated transmission timings to which delay times are added, and, when a determination is made that the packet transmission order is changed, packet transmission timings adjusted so as not to cause a change in the transmission order are derived.
US07957301B2 Method, apparatus and system for multicast communication in a wireless multi-hop network
A method for multicast communication in a network having plural nodes according to the ZigBee network specification includes creating a multicast group including a subset of the plural nodes and excluding at least one non-member node in the plural nodes. The multicast group has a multicast address. The method also includes transmitting multicast message including the multicast address and receiving the multicast message at each node in the multicast group.
US07957299B2 System and method for tracking alarms in a packet network
A system and method for locating failures in a metro Ethernet network. Packets are communicated from a maintenance end point through a plurality of maintenance entities. An alarm is generated at a maintenance entity in response to determining the packets are not communicated through a next ME. The alarm indicates the location of the next ME. The alarm is sent back through the one or more of the plurality of maintenance entities to a sending MEP in response to detecting the alarm.
US07957295B2 Ethernet performance monitoring
One embodiment is a source router that monitors the performance of an Ethernet network. The source router generates an Ethernet connectivity check request frame that includes a transmission timestamp, and transmits the Ethernet connectivity check request frame to a destination router. The source router receives a reply from the destination router that is transmitted in response to receiving the Ethernet connectivity check request frame and determines a round trip time between the source router and the destination router based on a time of receipt of the reply and the transmission timestamp.
US07957294B2 PCI express packet filter including descrambler
A packet detecting device used in a receiver employing PCI Express protocol is disclosed. The packet detecting device includes: a physical layer packet detecting unit for detecting a physical layer packet from a PCI express packet received and parallelized to 16 bit data through a physical deserializer; a descrambling unit for descrambling a physical layer packet from a PCI express packet received and parallelized to 16 bit data through a physical deserializer; a data link layer packet detecting unit for detecting a data link layer packet from a descrambled packet outputted from the descrambling unit; and a transaction layer packet detecting unit for detecting a transaction layer packet from a descrambled packet outputted from the descrambling unit.
US07957289B2 Method to reduce IGP routing information
A system and method for routing traffic from an ingress provider edge router to an egress provider edge router that eliminates the need to share state information between the ingress provider edge router and a plurality of core routers in a core network. The ingress provider edge router and egress provider edge router are each coupled to at least two core routers among the plurality of core routers in the core network, the ingress provider edge router learning routes with a next hop equal to an IP address of the egress provider edge router through an internal border gateway protocol (iBGP). The ingress provider edge router balances traffic flows on uplinks between the ingress provider edge router and the at least two core routers coupled to the ingress provider edge router without knowledge of network topology in the core network.
US07957287B2 Broadband wireless access network and method for internet protocol (IP) multicasting
Embodiments of a wireless access network and method for IP multicasting are generally described herein. Other embodiments may be described and claimed. In some embodiments, a serving base station receives a dynamic service addition request from a mobile station on a primary management connection identifier (CID) to join an existing multicast session, and the serving base station responsively establishing a multicast CID for use on a link between the mobile station and the serving base station.
US07957281B2 Method for interworking between access control router and position determination entity in position recognition system based on portable internet and system therefor
Disclosed is a method for interworking between an ACR and a PDE in a position recognition system based on a portable Internet and a system therefor. A scheme for TCP/IP-based socket connection between the PDE and the ACR is defined. A data packet transmitted and received between the PDE and the ACR is also defined so that the PDE can receive a necessary measurement value from the ACR during position determination. The definition of the interworking between the ACR and the PDE serves as a basis for accommodating various services.
US07957280B2 Classification and verification of static file transfer protocols
Classification and verification of static file transfer protocols is provided. A network node sitting in the path of packets classifies traffic according to its content, and then statistically verifies that the content actually matches the initial classification. Classification and verification are standard building blocks in networks systems that provide quality-of-service. However, unlike traditional quality-of-service building blocks, a system of the present invention takes a trust-but-verify approach, and thus can rely on longer-timescale statistical online or offline verification to reduce computational requirements. This improves scalability and reduces the cost and complexity that in part has prevented prior service differentiation systems from succeeding in the Internet. Internet Service Providers (ISPs) can combine the classification and verification building blocks with a networked directory service to allow further classification as to whether particular content is for pay.
US07957278B2 Detection of signaling flows
The embodiments of the present invention provide for methods, devices, and systems for providing quality of service (QoS) to network data that is received by an intermediate node in a local area network. In general, the embodiments of the present invention generally evaluate network traffic. Certain streams or flows are copied in appropriate buffer areas and accordingly evaluated by their traffic flow characteristics and further evaluated to determine if such streams/flows contain signaling or control information, which may be based on characteristic key words and/or structures. Based on the signaling or control information extracted, the appropriate stream is accordingly assigned or configured for quality of service (QoS) handling.
US07957274B2 Intelligent routing for effective utilization of network signaling resources
In source routed or hop-by-hop routed protocol communication networks, when congestion is detected at a certain network element, a notification message is sent to nodes. The nodes keep track of congestion condition and generally have knowledge of the congestion, thereby allowing them to make more intelligent routing decisions, i.e., rate controlling messages, routing traffic around congestion, regulating admission at the edge of the network. The intelligent routing decision is based on the congestion condition indicated by a restriction level which is periodically and dynamically updated.
US07957270B2 Resilient packet ring protection over a wavelength division multiplexing network
A method and system for provisioning a Resilient Packet Ring (“RPR”) over a Wavelength Division Multiplexing (“WDM”) network is disclosed. A plurality of stations send data packets to each other over a dual ring fiber optic link. The data packets travel over the dual ring fiber optic link at a unique wavelength to distinguish the different data packets. When one station of the plurality of stations detects a location of a failure in the WDM network, the station identifying the location of the failure either notifies all stations of the plurality of stations of the location of the failure or notifies only the stations of the plurality of stations abutting the location of the failure. If all stations of the plurality of stations are notified of the failure, all stations steer data packets sent towards the location of the failure away from the location of the failure. If only the stations abutting the location of the failure are notified, only the stations abutting the location of the failure wrap data packets sent towards the location of the failure away from the location of the failure.
US07957269B2 Method and system for synchronization of packet
A message synchronization demarcation method includes: a backup board receives a message of an opposite terminal from an interface board; the message is copied to a main board; the main board processes the message, copies it to the backup board through the buffer unit and transmits the data. Also a message synchronization demarcation system is provided. The data backup between the main board and the backup board is performed through the buffer area without occupying the transport layer resource, so the data flux of communication channels is reduced, the payload is lowered, and the backup steps of messages between the main board and the backup board is simplified. Using the present disclosure, the received message can be demarcated, and the accuracy of message transmission is further improved.
US07957267B2 Fault detection device
A fault detection device capable of detecting network faults by itself with high accuracy in multi-vendor environments, without the need to interoperate with an associated device according to an identical protocol. A monitoring control packet transmitter generates a fault monitoring control packet and transmits the generated packet to the associated device with which the fault detection device need not interoperate to detect faults according to the same protocol. A transmit packet counter keeps count of the transmitted fault monitoring control packet. A receive packet counter receives a control packet transmitted from the associated device, and keeps count of the received control packet. A fault detector monitors the count of transmitted packets and the count of received packets and, if at least one of the counts remains unchanged for a fixed period of time, judges that a fault has occurred and sends a fault notification to outside.
US07957266B2 Efficient and robust routing independent of traffic pattern variability
A scheme for routing packets of traffic to their destination after ensuring that they pass through one or more pre-determined intermediate nodes, thereby permitting all permissible traffic patterns to be handled without knowledge of the traffic matrix, subject to edge-link capacity constraints. In one embodiment, a request for a path with a service demand for routing data between the ingress point and the egress point is received. A set of two or more intermediate nodes between the ingress point and the egress point is selected. Based on a bandwidth of the network, respective fractions of the data to send from the ingress point to each node of the set of intermediate nodes are determined. The data is routed in the determined respective fractions from the ingress point to each node of the set of intermediate nodes, and routed from each node of the set of intermediate nodes to the egress point.
US07957263B2 Method and apparatus for acknowledging reverse link transmissions in a communications system
A method and apparatus for acknowledging reverse link transmissions in a communications system. An information bit is set and then repeated. The repeated information bit is covered with a code having a frame length defined by S=M*N*R, where S is the frame length, M is the number of code symbols per slot, N is the number of slots per frame, and R is the code repetition factor. The gain is then set relative to a power control transmission and the frames resulting from the coding operation are then modulated. After modulation, the result is spread on a designated channel using quadrature spreading and after spreading the acknowledgement is transmitted over the reverse link.
US07957257B2 Communication systems
A transmission method for use in a multi-hop wireless communication system is provided. The method includes, for two apparatuses having overlapping transmission coverage areas, one of the two said apparatuses being an intermediate apparatus, transmitting a first transmission signal from a first one of those apparatuses in a first transmission window of a particular transmission interval and transmitting a second transmission signal from the second one of those apparatuses in a second transmission window of the particular transmission interval but not in said first transmission window, so that a communication apparatus located in the coverage areas of both the first and second apparatuses can receive said first transmission signal substantially without interference from said second transmission signal.
US07957255B2 Method and apparatus for transmitting signals, and method and apparatus for receiving the signals
A storage unit stores a preamble signal defined in a legacy system and a preamble signal defined in a MIMO system. A monitoring unit in a transmitting apparatus monitors the existence of any communication apparatus which is not compatible with the MIMO system but accepts the legacy system. A channel characteristics acquiring unit derives the characteristics of a radio channel between the transmitting apparatus and a receiving apparatus. A selector selects a packet format based on a monitoring result obtained by the monitoring unit. The selector also selects where to place LTS, based on the characteristics of wireless channel derived by the channel characteristics acquiring unit.
US07957252B2 Optical disc and method for image forming thereon
The present invention provides an optical disc on which a visible image can be formed by irradiation of laser light, which comprises a logo area on which visible information is indicated, a pre-pit signal area, and an image forming area on which a visible image can be formed by irradiation of laser light; and an image forming method of forming a visible image by irradiation of laser light on an optical disc, the method including detecting a pre-pit signal from a pre-pit signal area formed on the optical disc, and forming the visible image based on the result of the detection, wherein the optical disc is the optical disc of an aspect of the invention.
US07957250B2 Optical head
A micro optical head is provided, which provides sub-wavelength focusing spot and very long depth of focus. The optical head includes a transparent substrate, an opaque film, and at least one sub-wavelength annular channel. After coherent light transmits the transparent substrate supporting the optical head and passes through the appropriately designed sub-wavelength annular channel, the transmitted light can overcome the diffraction limit, and the transmission energy is improved efficiently. The transmitted light converges after a certain distance behind the optical head and forms a sub-wavelength-scale beam that maintains a very long distance without divergence.
US07957248B2 Apparatus and method of recording/reproducing hologram and hologram recording medium
A hologram recording and/or reproducing apparatus, a hologram recording and/or reproducing method, and a hologram recording medium include a data processing unit to generate a data page which includes recording data and a reference page which includes predetermined patterns to prevent distortion of a signal from occurring when the data page is reproduced, and a light processing unit to record the data page and reference page on a hologram recording medium. The apparatus and method correct distortion and deformation that may occur in part of an image due to aberrations, enhancing compatibility between hologram recording and/or reproducing apparatuses.
US07957246B2 External optical disk drive assembly
The present invention discloses an external optical disk drive assembly, which comprises a slim internal optical disk drive including a first transmission port; and an external module being disposed outside the slim internal optical disk drive and electrically coupled to the first transmission port, so that the slim internal optical disk drive is converted into the external optical disk drive, characterized in that the external module is disposed within the area covered by the slim internal optical disk drive.
US07957242B2 Servo parameter detection method and optical pickup device using the same
An optical pickup inspection device 3 sends to an actuator drive circuit 16 a command for changing defocus offset amount to set defocus offset amounts, and calculates jitter values for each of the defocus offset amounts based on a reproduction signal from a reproduction signal generation circuit 14. Then, the device 3 determines a quadric approximating curve of jitter values relative to the defocus offset amounts and calculates a correlation coefficient R2 of the quadric approximating curve and measured values. If the correlation coefficient R2 is lower than a threshold value, the setting of defocus offset amounts and the calculation of jitter values are executed once again, otherwise, a defocus offset amount corresponding to a bottom value of jitter in the quadric approximating curve is determined as an optimum value of the defocus offset amount. Thus, a less-error, high-accuracy optimum value of the defocus offset amount can be obtained.
US07957236B2 Device and method for recording information with reorganization of defect management information
A device for recording information records blocks having continuous logical addresses on a record carrier at corresponding physical addresses. The logical addresses are translated into the physical addresses in dependence of defect management information, which includes remapping information indicative for translating a logical address initially mapped to a physical address exhibiting a defect to an alternate physical address in a defect management area. The device has a continuous data detection unit for detecting a logically continuous data, and a defect management reorganizing unit. The physical addresses of remapped logical addresses in the logically continuous data are determined, and the defect management information is reorganized by remapping at least one of the remapped logical addresses to a different defect management area. During read-out the remapped logical addresses in the logically continuous address range are retrieved from a single defect management area.
US07957233B2 Near-field gap pull-in method and optical disc apparatus therefor
A gap pull-in method and an optical disc apparatus. Whether light condensed on a disc as an actuator ascends is near-field light is determined using a gap error signal. The range of an actuator driving voltage value during a section where the decrease rate of the gap error signal is constant is obtained when it is determined that the light condensed on the disc is near-field light. Gap pull-in is performed on the disc during a section where the actuator driving voltage value is within the obtained range.
US07957227B2 System for preventing excessive skipping on audio disks
The present invention provides for a method for reducing undesirable skipping during playback of a compact disc in a compact disc player. A lens system of the compact disc player reads audio data and subcode data from the compact disc. The subcode data includes Q channel bits and P channel bits. The actual time lapse of the compact disc playback is calculated from the Q channel bits and the P channel bits, while a target time lapse is calculated based on data received from a real-time clock. The difference between the two time lapse values is calculated, and if the differences is greater than a predetermined threshold, the lens system is repositioned to read the audio data from the compact disc corresponding to a predetermined time interval in advance of the current position of the lens system.
US07957222B2 Acoustic communication and control for seismic sensors
A method for wireless communication in a seismic sensor network is disclosed. The method comprises providing a first acoustic device having at least one seismic sensor with communication and control data to communicate over an acoustic energy wave on a first communications channel. The first acoustic device generates the acoustic energy wave with a first wave intensity. The first acoustic device is configured to receive a reflection of the generated wave at a prescribed signal sensitivity level based on a network configuration. If the first wave intensity is below the prescribed signal sensitivity level, the first wave intensity of the acoustic energy wave is tuned to the prescribed signal sensitivity level to interpret the communication and control data provided by the first communications channel.
US07957218B2 Memory controller with skew control and method
A dual data rate (DDR) memory controller and method are provided. The method includes: receiving a first data strobe at a first terminal from a first memory having a first rank; receiving a first data signal at a second terminal from the first memory having the first rank; calibrating the first data signal with the first data strobe to produce a first calibration value; receiving a second data strobe at the first terminal from a second memory having a second rank; receiving a second data signal at the second terminal from the second memory having the second rank; calibrating the second data signal with the second data strobe to produce a second calibration value; determining a final calibration value using the first and second calibration values; and using the final calibration value to time the first data signal and the second data signal during a read operation of the memories.
US07957216B2 Common memory device for variable device width and scalable pre-fetch and page size
Embodiments of the invention are generally directed to systems, methods, and apparatuses for a common memory device for variable device width and scalable pre-fetch and page size. In some embodiments, a common memory device (such as a DRAM) can operate in any of a number of modes including, for example, a x4 mode, a x8 mode, and a x16 mode. The page size provided by the DRAM may vary depending on the mode of the DRAM. In some embodiments, the amount of data pre-fetched by the DRAM also varies depending on the mode of the DRAM.
US07957213B2 Semiconductor memory apparatus
A semiconductor memory apparatus includes: a compensation voltage input node; a core voltage generator configured to generate a core voltage using an external power source voltage and supply the core voltage to the compensation voltage input node; a compensation controlling unit configured to generate a compensation control signal to determine power compensation, in response to a refresh signal; a power compensating unit configured to selectively supply the external power source voltage to the compensation voltage input node in response to the compensation control signal; and a power supply unit configured to supply a voltage at the compensation voltage input node or the external power source voltage to a sense-amp driver in response to a first power control signal or a second power control signal.
US07957212B2 Pseudo SRAM
A unit memory cell for use in a pseudo static random access memory (SRAM) includes a cell capacitor; a normal accessing transistor whose gate, drain and source are respectively connected to a normal accessing word line, a normal accessing bit line and a storage node of the cell capacitor; and a refresh accessing transistor whose gate, drain and source are respectively connected to a refresh accessing word line, a refresh accessing bit line and the storage node of the cell capacitor.
US07957209B2 Method of operating a memory apparatus, memory device and memory apparatus
A memory apparatus includes at least two memory devices, each memory device including at least one memory bank. A method of operating the memory apparatus includes receiving a row activation command generated by a memory controller, wherein the row activation command includes a bank address. The method also includes activating a word line in a bank of one of the memory devices based on the row activation command, wherein the bank address is used to select the memory device.
US07957207B2 Programmable resistance memory with interface circuitry for providing read information to external circuitry for processing
A memory includes an interface through which it provides access to memory cells, such as phase change memory cells. Such access permits circuitry located on a separate integrated circuit to provide access signals, including read and write signals suitable for binary or multi-level accesses.
US07957202B2 Semiconductor device and method of controlling the same
A semiconductor device comprises a board, a first semiconductor storage device placed on the board, and a second semiconductor storage device placed on the board. Each of the first and second semiconductor storage devices has a first pad for inputting a chip enable signal, a second pad for inputting a write enable signal, a third pad for inputting an output enable signal, a fourth pad for inputting an address signal, and a fifth pad for inputting data. The first semiconductor storage device has a sixth pad which is electrically connected to the first pad of the second semiconductor device, and the second semiconductor storage device has a seventh pad which is electrically connected to the first pad of the first semiconductor device.
US07957199B2 Method of erasing in non-volatile memory device
An erasing method in a nonvolatile memory device is disclosed. The method includes post-programming dummy memory cells; verifying whether threshold voltages of the dummy memory cells are greater than or equal to a first voltage; post-programming normal memory cells; and verifying whether threshold voltages of the normal memory cells are greater than or equal to a second voltage. The first voltage is different from the second voltage, and the post-programming of the dummy memory cells comprises: applying a program voltage to a plurality of dummy word lines coupled to the dummy memory cells to post-program the dummy memory cells; and applying a pass voltage to a plurality of normal word lines coupled to the normal memory cells so that the normal memory cells are not post-programmed.
US07957198B2 Verifying an erase threshold in a memory device
In one or more embodiments, a memory device is disclosed as having an erase verify operation that includes a negative bias on the p-well in which the memory cell or cells being erased are formed. After an erase pulse is applied to the selected cells to be erased, the p-well is biased with the negative voltage and the erase verify operation is performed to determine the erased state of the cell(s).
US07957196B2 Method of programming memory cells of series strings of memory cells
Method of programming memory cells of series strings of memory cells include programming a target memory cell of a series string of memory cells after programming each memory cell of the string located between the target memory cell and a first end of the string, and verifying the programming of the target memory cell by applying a bias at a second end of the string opposite the first end and sensing a voltage developed at the first end in response to the bias.
US07957193B2 Semiconductor memory device including two different nonvolatile memories
There are provided a first nonvolatile memory array including a plurality of nonvolatile memory elements which require an erase operation before a write operation, and a second nonvolatile memory array including a plurality of overwritable nonvolatile memory elements. A request to rewrite data is received by a control circuit. The control circuit writes data to be rewritten to the second nonvolatile memory array when the capacity of the data to be rewritten is not more than that of the second nonvolatile memory array.
US07957191B2 Method of programming non-volatile memory device
A method of programming a non-volatile memory device includes applying a power supply voltage to a drain select line, applying a high level voltage to a drain-side pass word line or a source-side pass word line, and applying a pass voltage to unselected word lines and a program voltage to a selected word line. The high level voltage is applied to the drain-side pass word line or the source-side pass word line before applying the pass voltage to the unselected word lines and the program voltage to the selected word line.
US07957189B2 Drift compensation in a flash memory
A plurality of memory cells are managed by obtaining values of one or more environmental parameters of the cells and adjusting values of one or more reference voltages of the cells accordingly. Alternatively, a statistic of at least some of the cells, relative to a single reference parameter that corresponds to a control parameter of the cells, is measured, and the value of the reference voltage is adjusted accordingly. Examples of environmental parameters include program-erase cycle count, data retention time and temperature. Examples of reference voltages include read reference voltages and program verify reference voltages. Examples of statistics include the fraction of cells whose threshold voltages exceed initial lower bounds or initial medians.
US07957184B2 Magnetoresistive element and magnetoresistive random access memory including the same
The present invention provides a low-resistance magnetoresistive element of a spin-injection write type. A crystallization promoting layer that promotes crystallization is formed in contact with an interfacial magnetic layer having an amorphous structure, so that crystallization is promoted from the side of a tunnel barrier layer, and the interface between the tunnel barrier layer and the interfacial magnetic layer is adjusted. With this arrangement, it is possible to form a magnetoresistive element that has a low resistance so as to obtain a desired current value, and has a high TMR ratio.
US07957183B2 Single bit line SMT MRAM array architecture and the programming method
An SMT MRAM device includes a plurality of SMT MRAM cells arranged in an array of rows and columns. Single bit lines connect the columns of the SMT MRAM cells for receiving an in-phase data signal. Source lines connect pairs of rows of the SMT MRAM cells for receiving an out-of-phase data signal. Out-of-phase switching devices are connected to the source lines for selectively transferring the out-of-phase signal to the at least one source lines. Column select transistors are connected to the single bit lines for transferring an in-phase data signal to a selected column of the SMT MRAM cells. A precharge circuit selectively charges or discharges the single bit lines. Ground switching devices selectively connect to the source lines to a ground reference voltage source. A method for programming a selected SMT MRAM cell within a provided SMT MRAM device is described.
US07957180B2 Phase change memory device having decentralized driving units
A phase change memory device includes a plurality of intersecting bit lines and word lines. A cell array including a plurality of unit phase change resistance cells is formed at intersections of the plurality of bit lines and the plurality of word lines. A plurality of sub word line driving units are configured to drive the word lines in response to a plurality of sub word line signals. A plurality of main word line driving units are configured to drive the sub word line driving units in response to a main word line signal. A precharge unit is configured to precharge the word lines. In the phase change memory device, the driving units are decentralized.
US07957172B2 System for retaining state data of an integrated circuit
According to one embodiment, a system for retaining M bits of state data of an integrated circuit during power down includes M serially coupled scan flip flops divided into M/N groups, where the M scan flip flops are able to save/restore the M bits of state data. Each group contains a merged scan flip flop coupled to a series of scan flip flops. The merged scan flip flop in each of the groups is coupled to a respective read port of a memory unit, and a final scan flip flop in each of the groups is coupled to a respective write port of the memory unit. The system enables the memory unit to save the M bits of state data in N clock cycles. Each merged scan flip flop has a read select input that enables restoring of the state data into the M scan flip flops in N clock cycles.
US07957168B2 Inverter
An inverter (1) for feeding electric power into a utility grid (7) or into a load is described. The inverter (1) contains two direct voltage inputs (2, 3), one first intermediate circuit (8) connected thereto and comprising two series connected capacitors (C1, C2) that are connected together at a ground terminal (14), two alternating voltage outputs (5, 6) of which one at least is provided with a grid choke (L1) and one bridge section (10). In accordance with the invention, a second intermediate circuit (9) that is devised at least for selectively boosting the direct voltage and is intended for supplying the bridge section (10) with positive and negative voltage is interposed between the first intermediate circuit (8) and the bridge section (10).
US07957167B2 Semiconductor element drive device with level shift circuit and apparatus including the same
A high-reliability IGBT drive device in which the high- and low-voltage side IGBTs are complementarily ON/OFF controlled before and after dead time. A reset pulse that turns OFF the high-voltage side IGBT is generated during the dead time as described in the following example. The reset pulse is generated immediately before an ON instruction for the low-voltage side IGBT, so that a period that begins immediately before the ON instruction for the low-voltage side IGBT and overlaps with the ON instruction, continuously during the dead time, continuously during dead time immediately before the low-voltage side IGBT turns ON, or in such a manner as to invalidate the ON instruction for the low-voltage side IGBT when an ON state of the high-voltage side IGBT is observed.
US07957166B2 Variable speed drive
Systems and methods for improved Variable Speed Drives are provided. One embodiment relates to apparatus for common mode and differential mode filtering for motor or compressor bearing protection when operating with Variable Speed Drives, including conducted EMI/RFI input power mains mitigation. Another embodiment relates to a method to extend the synchronous operation of an Active Converter to the AC mains voltage during complete line dropout. Another embodiment relates to an Active Converter-based Variable Speed Drive system with Improved Full Speed Efficiency. Another embodiment relates to a liquid- or refrigerant-cooled inductor. The liquid- or refrigerant-cooled inductor may be used in any application where liquid or refrigerant cooling is available and a reduction in size and weight of a magnetic component is desired.
US07957165B2 DC-DC converter with a plurality of soft-start control circuits
A DC-DC conversion circuit is configured by including a plurality of control signal generation circuits, a plurality of soft-start control circuits, and a start control circuit. The plurality of control signal generation circuits correspond to the plurality of control signals, and generate a corresponding control signal of the plurality of control signals based on a corresponding output value of a plurality of output values. The plurality of soft-start control circuits correspond to the plurality of control signals, and control a variation of the corresponding control signal at a start time of the DC-DC conversion circuit. The start control circuit instructs the corresponding soft-start control circuit to start operation in accordance with a change of the control signal taking part in an output control at the start time of the DC-DC conversion circuit.
US07957163B2 Current controlled synchronous rectifying drive circuit
A current controlled synchronous rectifying drive circuit including a current transducer ST having a primary winding connected in series with a synchronous rectifier SR and having a secondary winding to detect a current signal of a synchronous rectifier SR, a signal shaping and reset circuit connected to the secondary winding of the current transducer ST to convert the synchronous rectifier SR's current signal into a voltage signal and shapes it into a pulse signal, a push-pull power amplifying circuit having an input end connected to the signal shaping and reset circuit and an output end connected to a gate of the synchronous rectifier SR to amplify a drive signal generated by the signal shaping and reset circuit to drive the synchronous rectifier SR, and a drive self-bias drive circuit having an input end connected to the secondary winding of the current transducer ST and an output end connected to the push-pull power amplifying circuit to store energy from the current transducer ST to generate a voltage source.
US07957162B2 Switch mode power supply and driving method thereof
The present invention relates to a switch mode power supply and a driving method for reducing switching loss and audible noise in the burst mode. The switch mode power supply includes a main switch, a power supply, an output unit, and a switch controller. The power supply includes a transformer having a primary coil connected to the main switch, and supplies power to a secondary coil of the transformer according to the operation of the main switch. The output unit is connected to the secondary coil of the transformer and outputs power supplied to the secondary coil of the transformer. The switch controller receives a feedback signal corresponding to the output voltage of the output unit, a sense signal corresponding to the current flowing to the main switch, and a sync signal corresponding to the voltage difference at the main switch, controls the on/off of the main switch, and determines whether to start the burst mode by using the feedback signal, and maintains the switching operation forcibly off period in the burst mode so that the reference frequency of burst switching may be less than a predetermined value.
US07957161B2 Power converters
A power converter capable of improving converter's efficiency and achieving zero-voltage-switching is provided, in which a first series circuit is connected in parallel with a direct current (DC) power supply and has a first inductor, a first primary winding, first and second switching elements connected in series. A second series circuit is connected in parallel with the DC power supply and has third and fourth switching elements, a first capacitor, a second primary winding and a second inductor connected in series. A second capacitor is connected between a first node between the first primary winding and the first switching element in the first series circuit and a second node between the fourth switching element and the second primary winding in the second series circuit. A third node between the first and second switching elements is connected to a fourth node within the second series circuit.
US07957159B2 Electronic module with seamless anti-EMI device
An electronic module (10) includes a housing having outer surface, a metal gasket (5) attached to the housing and covering the outer surface. The gasket (5) has a set of first detents (53) and a set of second detents (52). The set of first detents (53) are spaced apart from each other and the set of second detents (52) substantially cover seams between the set of the first detents (53).
US07957155B2 System for attaching a substantially three-dimensional structure to a substantially two-dimensional structure
A method and system for transporting a fluid, gas, semi-solid, cryogen, or particulate matter, or combination thereof, between a three-dimensional structure and a substantially two-dimensional structure is disclosed. A system and method for electrically coupling a three-dimensional structure to a substantially two dimensional structure is also disclosed.
US07957150B2 Support method and apparatus for printed circuit board
An orthogonal array is formed by performing electromagnetic field analysis only once and determining a range by using the mount position and type of a capacitor and the number of capacitors as parameters to perform circuit analysis a small number of times. An estimation equation is formed by using as an index a result of the absolute value of the calculated power source impedance, and a capacitor is disposed to reduce noises by using the estimation equation.
US07957149B2 Top actuated, force limiting heatsink retention system
Apparatus for securing or retaining a heatsink. The heatsink retention apparatus includes a heatsink module that cooperates with first and second spring loaded latches secure to a circuit board on opposing sides of a heat-generating component. The heatsink module includes a handle pivotally secured to opposing sides of the heatsink body, and bails pivotally secured to the handle. In addition, the bails extend downward to dispose a lower bail member adjacent the spring loaded latches. As the handle pivots between a first position to raise the bails and a second position to lower the bails, the bails automatically move from a locked position to an unlocked position. Each of the spring loaded latches include a hook and at least one pre-loaded spring to transfer a minimum downforce to the lower bail members when the bails are raised. Accordingly, embodiments may be operated from the top of the heatsink without the use of tools, while providing a desired downforce over a range of heatsink heights.
US07957145B2 Electric power converter
An electric power converter for a vehicle, including a semiconductor element from which a motor drive current is output, a drive circuit that drives the semiconductor element, a control circuit that controls the drive circuit, a capacitor that smooths a DC current to be input to the semiconductor element, a container housing the semiconductor element, the drive circuit, the control circuit and the capacitor, a refrigerant retained in a state of vapor-liquid two-phase equilibrium within the container, and a heat exchanger unit that condenses the refrigerant in a vapor phase to be a liquid phase and exchanges heat with outside, wherein the semiconductor element, the drive circuit, the control circuit and the capacitor are disposed in a positional arrangement that will leave the semiconductor element, the drive circuit, the control circuit and the capacitor immersed in the refrigerant as the electric power converter is installed in the vehicle, and the heat exchanger unit is disposed at a side of a wall of the container forming a vapor-phase space.
US07957143B2 Motor controller
A motor controller, which is inexpensive and has small size, is provided by reducing the size of a heat sink used in the motor controller and the number of all parts of the motor controller, wherein said motor controller includes a heat sink, a power semiconductor modules that is in close contact with the heat sink, a substrate (4) that is electrically connected to the power semiconductor module, and a fan (6) that generates the flow of external air and supplies cooling air to the heat sink, wherein said heat sink is formed by combining two kinds of heat sinks, which include a first heat sink (7) and a second heat sink (8), so as to conduct heat therebetween, and, wherein said power semiconductor module is in close contact with the second heat sink (8).
US07957142B2 Cold row encapsulation for server farm cooling system
Apparatuses, methods, and systems directed to efficient cooling of data centers. Some embodiments of the invention allow encapsulation of cold rows through an enclosure and allow server fans to draw cold air from the cold row encapsulation structure to cool servers installed on the server racks. In other particular embodiments, the systems disclosed can be used to mix outside cool air into the cold row encapsulation structure to cool the servers. In some embodiments, the present invention involves using multiple cold row encapsulation structures to cool the servers installed on the racks.
US07957140B2 Air mover for device surface cooling
Embodiments disclosed herein include an apparatus that includes an component capable of generating heat, an external wall with an interior surface, an air mover to be positioned to generate airflow between the interior surface of the external wall and the component. A vent may then be formed within the external wall to provide for a volume of air for the air mover to create airflow between the interior surface and the component. In some embodiments, the vent may be positioned in relation to the air mover to deflect at least a portion of the heat from the component from reaching the external wall. In some embodiments, a louvered portion may be included; and may be formed on the air mover or at the vent in the external wall. Other embodiments are described.
US07957134B2 System and method having evaporative cooling for memory
A system, in one embodiment, may include an in-line memory module with a plurality of memory circuits disposed on a circuit board, wherein the circuit board may have an edge connector with a plurality of contact pads. The system also may include a heat spreader disposed along the plurality of memory circuits. Finally, the system may include a heat pipe, a vapor chamber, or a combination thereof, extending along the heat spreader. In another embodiment, a system may include a heat spreader configured to mount to an in-line memory module, and an evaporative cooling system at least substantially contained within dimensions of the heat spreader.
US07957131B1 Electronic device thermal management
An electronic device comprises a housing, at least one heat generating component in the housing, and at least one thermal management device in thermal communication with the at least one heat generating component, wherein the at least one thermal management device selectively allocates heat flow to one or more portions of the housing. Other embodiments may be described.
US07957128B2 Organic light emitting diode display
An OLED display including: a panel assembly having a display region, a pad region, and a plurality of OLEDs formed in the display region; a bezel disposed around, and spaced apart from the panel assembly; and a fixing member to fix the panel assembly to the bezel.
US07957125B2 Assembly and electronic apparatus
An assembly includes a first housing, a second housing that houses a plate member, and a connecting section that connects the first housing to the second housing in such a way that the first housing is openable and closable with respect to the second housing on one side of the second housing. The connecting section includes a first fastening section fastened to the plate member.
US07957123B2 Portable electronic device
Provided is a portable electronic device having improved degree of freedom in designing. A cellular phone 1 has a display part 9, a frame 44 holding the display part 9, and a case 7 having a peripheral wall portion 31b which forms an open portion 31c. The frame 44 can be mounted in the case 7 from the open portion 31c, is screwed to the peripheral wall portion 31b by a screw 79 inserted in a direction intersecting the mounting direction, and fixed to the case 7, with the display part 9 exposed at the open portion 31c.
US07957121B1 Circuit breakers and circuit breaker box
A circuit breaker box comprising a main circuit breaker for operatively connecting to hot service wires; first and second hot bus bars configured to receive power from the main circuit breaker; a plurality of receiver terminals configured to transfer power from a circuit breaker component to a first wire of an electrical circuit; and a safety shield for enclosing the hot bus bars and receiver terminals, wherein a plurality of slots is disposed in the safety shield, the slots are aligned with the first or second hot bus bars and receiver terminals, wherein the circuit breaker component comprises a first and a second prong contact for contacting the first or second hot bus bar and a receiver terminal, respectively.
US07957120B2 Capacitor chip and method for manufacturing same
The present invention relates to a capacitor chip and a solid electrolytic capacitor, wherein in a capacitor chip in which one or more capacitor element is laminated on a metal lead frame to carry electricity and the whole is encapsulated with resin, a laminated body is located within a certain definite range. The present invention enables to increase the capacitance of a capacitor by broadening the allowable range of the total thickness of the laminated capacitor chips without generating defective appearance of the laminated solid electrolytic capacitor.
US07957115B2 Drive circuit of voltage driven element
A protection circuit is installed between a gate terminal (a control terminal) and an emitter terminal (a ground terminal) of a voltage driven element generally called a power device. The protection circuit is structured as a duplex protection system in which a first discharge circuit is configured to perform a discharge from the control terminal at a current value set in accordance with a current flowing between the load terminal and the ground terminal, an overcurrent generation detection device is configured to detect an existence of an overcurrent between the load terminal and the ground terminal, and a second discharge circuit is configured to perform the discharge from the control terminal at a predetermined constant current value after the overcurrent is detected.
US07957113B2 Undervoltage lockout circuit
An objective is to provide a highly-reliable undervoltage lockout circuit which can block and permit normal gate-driver output even when a supply voltage steeply increases. The undervoltage lockout circuit includes a reference-voltage circuit for outputting a reference voltage, a monitor-voltage circuit for outputting a monitor voltage, and a comparator for outputting, the reference voltage and the monitor voltage being inputted thereinto, a high/low signal, according to a comparison result of the reference voltage and the monitor voltage, in which the time constant of the monitor-voltage circuit for determining an increasing rate of the monitor voltage is set higher than that of the reference-voltage circuit for determining that of the reference voltage.
US07957101B2 Suspension having a trace bent part that is fixed to a tongue part and an outrigger part
A suspension is provided for improving reliability in reading/writing of data by improving stiffness in a longitudinal direction of a flexure while realizing low pitch/roll stiffness of a tongue part. The suspension includes: a flexure, including two branched outrigger parts extending to the tip side of the flexure, and a tongue part for mounting a magnetic head slider, located between the outrigger parts and linked to the tip sides of the outrigger parts; a trace formed on the flexure; and a fixed part in which at least a part of a bent part formed in the trace is fixed to the tongue part.
US07957096B2 Perpendicular magnetic recording head and method of manufacturing same
In a perpendicular magnetic recording head comprising a main magnetic pole layer and a return yoke layer which are laminated with a magnetic gap layer interposed therebetween, a nonmagnetic throat height determining layer and a return yoke reinforcement layer made of a magnetic material having a saturated magnetic flux density higher than that of the return yoke layer are provided on the magnetic gap layer. The nonmagnetic throat height determining layer has a front end face parallel to the medium-opposing surface at a position retracted by a desirable throat height from the medium-opposing surface. The return yoke reinforcement layer is formed directly under the return yoke layer so as to extend at least from the front end face of the nonmagnetic throat height determining layer to the upper face thereof, and is exposed at the medium-opposing surface between the magnetic gap layer and return yoke layer.
US07957095B1 Disk drive having a stationary plate facing a disk and with a recirculation filter coupled to grooves in the stationary plate
A novel disk drive is disclosed and claimed. The disk drive includes a disk and a spindle motor to which the disk is attached to rotate about an axis of rotation. The disk drive also includes a stationary plate facing and disposed over the disk, wherein the stationary plate includes a plurality of grooves through which rotation-induced air flows from an inlet end to an outlet end. The disk drive also includes a recirculation filter coupled to and immediately adjacent said outlet end of said plurality of grooves.
US07957094B1 Thermal solution for drive systems such as hard disk drives and digital versatile discs
A drive system includes a printed circuit board. A first integrated circuit is associated with the printed circuit board. A drive assembly case is connected to the printed circuit board. A first thermal interface material, wherein (i) the thermal interface material is in thermal contact with the first integrated circuit and (ii) the drive assembly case is in thermal contact with the thermal interface material. The drive assembly case dissipates thermal energy generated by the first integrated circuit.
US07957093B2 Recording head with current controlled gamma ratio
A data recording component includes a read transducer and a write transducer. A thermoelectric device generates heat flow between the read transducer and the write transducer. The heat flow is conducted by thermal conductors. A controlled current source provides current to the thermoelectric device that changes polarity to change directions of the heat flow and thereby vary a gamma ratio of transducer protrusion.
US07957092B2 Magnetic disk drive and method for production thereof
Embodiments of the present invention help to provide a magnetic disk drive in which the base and the lid are securely welded together, so that the low-density gas sealed therein is protected from leakage. According to one embodiment, the peripheral surface of the rib of the base is machined to form the surface, which is free of electrocoating and weld surface. The outer lid, which completely conforms to the contour of the base, is placed on the rib, and the laser beam is directed onto the outer lid. Thus the position of laser beam irradiation varies within only ±0.05 mm for both the base and the lid. Laser welding in this manner yields the bead invariably, which makes the enclosure completely sealed without helium leakage.
US07957087B2 Servo write method and servo write system for hard-disk drive
A servo write method for a hard-disk drive. The method includes generating, with an input of characteristics of a magnetic-recording head and a magnetic-recording disk which are incorporated into the hard-disk drive, a yield prediction model from a correlation between yields of the hard-disk drive, and characteristics of the magnetic-recording head and the magnetic-recording disk of the hard-disk drive in a process. The method also includes predicting a yield which is obtained when each magnetic-recording head is used as a position control head, selecting as the position control head a magnetic-recording head that has a highest predicted yield, and writing a servo signal.
US07957086B2 Hard disk drive apparatus, method to control flying height of magnetic head thereof, and recording media for computer program therefor
A method of controlling a flying height of a magnetic head of a hard disk drive apparatus includes producing a reference FOD (flying on demand) voltage profile defining a relationship between the flying height of the magnetic head and an FOD voltage at a measured temperature, wherein an end of the magnetic head thermally expands and protrudes when the FOD voltage is applied to a heater included in the magnetic head and setting the reference FOD voltage profile that is corrected using a reference maximum flying height of the magnetic head that is preset at room temperature, as an applied FOD voltage profile to control the flying height of the magnetic head.
US07957083B2 Method for early detection of magnetic head degradation due to carbon overcoat wear
A method for detecting an impending failure of a disk drive system. The method includes monitoring a signal from a magnetoresistive sensor for the presence of a negative signal spike. A negative signal spike can indicate that the carbon overcoat of the magnetic medium has been locally worn off. The resulting localized absence of carbon overcoat causes the magnetoresistive sensor to short to the magnetic medium. This causes a short, abrupt drop in voltage, which can be used as evidence of the localized absence of the carbon overcoat. If such a negative signal spike is detected, the user can be notified of an impending system failure. In addition to, or in lieu of, notifying the user of the impending system failure, the system can be automatically de-activated to prevent data loss and/or further damage to the recording system.
US07957082B2 Turning film having multiple slopes
The present invention provides a light redirecting article for redirecting light toward a target angle, the light redirecting article comprising: an input surface comprising a plurality of light redirecting structures each light redirecting structure having a near surface having two slopes, sloping away from normal in one direction as defined by a first inclination base angle β1, a second inclination angle β2, and a first half apex angle α2, for accepting incident illumination over a range of incident angles and a far surface sloping away from normal, in the opposite direction relative to the input surface, as defined by a second base angle γ1 and a second half apex angle α1. The invention further provides an output surface opposing to the input surface wherein the near and far surfaces are opposed to each other at an angle (α1+α2) that is in the range from 60 to 70 degrees, and the base angle β1 is in the range from 82 to 87 degrees.
US07957081B2 Optical glass lens set and manufacturing method thereof
An optical glass lens set and a manufacturing method thereof are disclosed. An optical glass lens is used as an insert that is set into a cavity of a mold. By injection molding of the molded insert or press molding, an optical glass lens set with a lens holder is formed. The optical glass lens set includes at least one optical glass lens and a lens holder for fixing the optical glass lens. The manufacturing method simplifies processes and improves the yield rate. Moreover, the produced optical glass lens set is easily packaged into a camera lens, especially suitable for mini-cameras and camera phones.
US07957079B2 Optical lens system for taking image
An optical lens system for taking image comprises: in order from the object side to the image side: an aperture stop; a first lens element with positive refractive power having a convex object-side surface, a second lens element with negative refractive power; a third lens element with positive refractive power having a concave object-side surface and a convex image-side surface; a plastic fourth lens element with negative refractive power having a concave image-side surface, the object-side and the image-side surfaces of the fourth lens element being aspheric. A focal length of the optical lens system for taking image is f, a focal length of the first lens element and the second lens element combined is f12, and they satisfy the relation: 0.98
US07957073B2 Lens apparatus and imaging apparatus
A lens apparatus includes a first lens unit and a second lens unit each of which is configured to move in an optical axis direction, a first cam tube that includes a first cam part and a second cam part respectively on an outer circumferential surface and an inner circumferential surface and moves the first and second lens units respectively in the optical axis direction using the first and second cam parts as the first cam tube rotates around an optical axis, and a linearly moving guide tube that is arranged on an inner circumferential side of the first cam tube and configured to guide the first and second lens units in the optical axis direction.
US07957064B2 Antireflection structure and optical device including the same
A diffusing plate is formed so as to have a surface having a larger surface roughness than a predetermined wavelength and having an aperiodic roughness shape. A plurality of fine concave/convex portions are formed on the surface so as to be regularly arranged within a cycle equal to and smaller than a predetermined wavelength.
US07957062B2 Polarizing element and liquid crystal projector
A polarizing plate having a desired extinction ratio in a visible light region and light resistance against intense light, and a liquid crystal projector using the above polarizing plate are provided. A polarizing element includes a substrate transparent to visible light, and inorganic particle layers in each of which inorganic particles are linearly disposed, the inorganic particle layers being disposed on the substrate at predetermined intervals to form a wire grid structure, the inorganic particles each have an elliptical shape having a major axis of the inorganic particles in the disposed direction and minor axis in a direction perpendicular thereto.
US07957058B2 Microscope
A microscope for introducing light from a light source via an objective lens to a sample so that a user observes the sample via the objective lens includes: a minute opening arranged in an optical path between the light source and the objective lens and on a focal plane of the image side of the objective lens or at a position conjugate with its conjugate plane; position adjusting means for adjusting the position of the minute opening so that the light from the light source via the minute opening is incident to the sample at the Brewster's angle; an polarizing element arranged in the optical path between the light source and the objective lens for extracting rectilinear polarized light from the light from the light source and applying the rectilinear polarized light to the sample.
US07957057B2 Microscope optical system, microscope, and virtual slide forming system
An observation field of view of a microscope can be moved without moving or changing an objective lens and without varying position or state of a sample. A microscope optical system has a mirror that changes the direction of the optical path by reflection and is located in the optical path between an objective lens of the microscope and an image to be observed. The mirror is able to be tilted by changing the position of a reflecting surface of the mirror. Accordingly, the observation field of view is moved by tilting the mirror. In other words, the observation field of view can be moved without changing a positional relationship between the objective lens of the microscope and the sample.
US07957052B2 Display device, method of manufacturing display device and electronic apparatus
A display device comprises a microcapsule-containing layer including a plurality of microcapsules. A variation of the outer diameters of the microcapsules can be defined by an average value and a CV value. Each of the microcapsules is comprised of: a shell having an inner surface; contact particles electrically charged and provided within the shell in an contact state that the contact particles are in contact with the inner surface of the shell; and a scattering body for scattering light; or a colored particles having a different hue from the hue of the contact particles. The display device further comprises a pair of electrodes that when an electrical voltage is applied to between the pair of electrodes, electrical fields to act on the contact particles are generated. The average value of the outer diameters of the microcapsules is in the range of 20 to 60 μm, and the CV value of the outer diameters of the microcapsules is 20% or less. In a case where the electrical voltage is applied to between the pair of electrodes, the contact particles are moved along the inner surface of the shell while maintaining the contact state with the inner surface of the shell.
US07957049B1 Highly reflective MEMS device
An interference-based MEMS device having a lower substrate including a substrate electrode; a lower membrane spaced apart from the lower substrate by a lower gap, the lower membrane including a lower membrane electrode; an upper membrane located on a side of the lower membrane opposite the lower substrate and spaced apart from the lower membrane by an upper gap, the upper membrane including an upper membrane electrode; and control circuitry configured to provide control voltages to the electrodes of the lower substrate, the lower membrane and the upper membrane to change the dimensions of the lower gap and the upper gap to control the reflective properties of the device with respect to light incident upon the lower substrate.
US07957048B2 Display device and method of manufacturing the same
A display device includes an upper substrate and a lower substrate. Black matrixes are formed upon the upper substrate and color filters are formed between the black matrixes. Microshutter electrodes are formed upon the lower substrate and are configured to open and close. The display device also includes fixed electrodes formed in a vertical direction between the upper substrate and the lower substrate.
US07957047B2 Laser projection device
A laser projection device includes: an incidence optical system condensing laser light, a scanning device deflect the laser light in a first scanning direction and a second scanning direction with a mirror, and a projection optical system guiding the deflected light to a surface to be scanned. The scanning device performs the deflection in the first scanning direction by resonant driving and performs the deflection in the second scanning direction by non-resonant driving. The incidence optical system has different optical powers in the first scanning direction and the second scanning direction, and makes light incident on the scanning device in a convergent state in the first scanning direction and in a substantially parallel light state in the second scanning direction. The projection optical system has a negative optical power in the first scanning direction.
US07957042B2 Document feeder and image forming apparatus
A document feeder for transporting a document to a predetermined reading position at which image reading is performed by an image reading portion, including: a document transport portion for transporting the document to a reading standby position upstream of the reading position; and a control portion for controlling the document transport portion so that the document is made to stop at the reading standby position if the image reading portion is not in an image readable state by the time the document arrives at the reading standby position.
US07957040B2 Scan bar for scanning media sheet in image scanning device and method thereof
A scan bar for scanning a media sheet in an image scanning device and a method for scanning the media sheet in the image scanning device are disclosed. The scan bar comprises a sensor arrangement and a lens arrangement. The sensor arrangement comprises a first sensor region and a second sensor region. Light reflected from the media sheet is focused by the lens arrangement onto the sensor arrangement. Each of the first sensor region and the second sensor region is capable of generating image data corresponding to the media sheet from the focused light received from the lens arrangement for scanning the media sheet. The image data generated by the first sensor region is of relatively higher resolution than image data generated by the second sensor region.
US07957039B2 Original-document illumination apparatus, image reading apparatus, color-original-document reading apparatus and image forming apparatus
An original-document illumination apparatus includes an illuminated face on which an original-document is placed. The original-document illumination apparatus also includes a light-source unit having a plurality of light-emitting elements which are arranged along the main-scanning direction of the original-document and which illuminate the original-document. The light source unit is movable in a sub-scanning direction that is orthogonal to the main-scanning direction. In addition, the original-document illumination apparatus includes a lens array disposed between the illuminated face and the light-source unit, and having a plurality of convergent lenses. A luminous flux from each of the light-emitting elements of the light-source unit is radiated onto the illuminated face through each of the lenses of the lens array.
US07957037B2 Image reading apparatus
To provide an image reading apparatus enabling a long light source inside the image reading apparatus to be uniformly cooled in the main scanning direction with a simplified structure without increasing the number of components of the apparatus. An image reading apparatus having an optical reader section that has a long light source along the main scanning direction to read an original, a first holding section that holds the light source, a second holding section adjacent to the first holding section on the side surface side in the sub-scanning direction orthogonal to the main scanning direction of the first holding section, and a partition disposed between the first holding section and the second holding section, where in the partition are formed a first ventilating opening comprised of one or more openings for air inside the first holding section to move to the inside of the second holing section, and second ventilating openings comprised of a plurality of openings provided in the main scanning direction for the air inside the second holding section to move to the inside of the first holding section.
US07957036B2 Facsimile device and program product for facsimile printing
It is intended to provide a facsimile device and a program product for facsimile printing capable of surely making a user know receipt of an irregular e-mail such as an error mail or the like, without requiring extra volume of memory, while preventing waste of paper. When an e-mail is received, there is detected whether a printing mode is set or a not-printing mode is set for a body part of an e-mail in #2. Even though a not-printing mode is set for a body part of an e-mail (#2: No), the body part is printed in #8 in case the e-mail is not accompanied by an attached file of predetermined format (#5: No). Therefore, even if a not-printing mode is set, the facsimile device can make a user know receipts of irregular mails such as an error mail, an e-mail without an attached file of predetermined format, and rough causes of the irregular mails.
US07957033B2 Print control operations
A print control program product comprises creating a new image file of the created printing data for a new watermark when an instruction is given to create the image file based on the created printing data, and storing the created new image file in the memory.
US07957030B2 Image forming apparatus for identifying undesirable toner placement
A method and apparatus for printing data on a print medium is disclosed. The apparatus is configured to format print data to pixel data, the pixel data including pixel values; identify a grid of pixels having a predetermined pattern of pixel values; obtain predetermined pcode grid from memory for the identified grid of pixels; and send the predetermined pcode grid to controller circuit for printing.
US07957028B2 Order processing system for performing image reproduction processing in response to order for reproducing digital image data
An order processing system for performing reproduction processing according to a reproduction processing order by receiving an input image and the reproduction processing order of the input image is provided. The system has a management unit and an execution unit. The management unit is for generating per order a piece of job instruction information to instruct process contents, a process execution sequence, and a process execution destination for reproduction processing according to contents of the reproduction processing order, and managing an execution of the reproduction processing. The execution unit has a plurality of components for executing one or more of a plurality of steps of the reproduction processing, for receiving the input image and the job instruction information and executing the reproduction processing according to the job instruction information.
US07957027B2 Printing and display device
A printing and display device comprising a flat panel display; a printer, including a printhead for printing onto paper; a multi-sheet paper holder; a paper sheet separator configured to separate a single paper sheet from the paper in the paper holder for supply to the printhead.
US07957020B2 Image forming apparatus, image forming system, and control program thereof to manage printing sheet communications
An image forming apparatus is provided, in carrying out an image forming operation using a paper sheet, that uses a sheet containing a wireless tag that stores an address storing control information for performing an optimum image forming. The image forming apparatus obtains the address from the wireless tag using a receiving device, and obtains control information from a server via a network based on the obtained address. The image forming apparatus controls an image forming condition based on the control information, and carries out the image forming under image forming conditions optimum for the sheet.
US07957019B2 Method and apparatus for managing printing devices
A process of managing printing devices at distributed sites, carried out by a contractor for a client. A database portal is provided which is continuously accessible provides a visual display of the performance of the printing devices, and includes the usage and cost of using the printing devices. The database is regularly updated. The contractor regularly monitors the status and usage of the printing devices and associated software and services through the database and uses the information in the database to optimize performance of the printing devices, including phasing in and out printing devices of different manufacturers.
US07957009B2 Image sensing and printing device
An image sensing and printing device is provided has a housing which houses an area image sensor, a printing mechanism and processor. The image sensor senses a viewed image to be printed on media and generates pixel data representing the viewed image. The printing mechanism defines a media feed path and includes a printhead assembly of a pagewidth printhead having at least one printhead chip that spans the media feed path and a feed mechanism which feeds media along the path. The processor includes processing circuitry interconnected with image sensor and printhead interfaces. The image sensor interface converts the pixel data into an internal format and writes the converted data to the processing circuitry which for conversion to print image data. The printhead interface provides signals representing the print image data to the printhead so that the printhead generate a printed representation of the viewed image.
US07957008B2 Optical-type rotational body position detection apparatus
An optical-type rotational body position detection apparatus includes a body being rotational in a predetermined angle at each predetermined time interval to cross an optical axis between fixed light emitting and detecting units, including a standard position hole on a rotational locus crossing the axis, and configured such that after rotating the body at one interval from a standard position at which the hole coincides with the axis, a periphery of the hole is positioned outside the periphery at the standard position. The apparatus further includes a restriction unit on a support to cross the axis and to permit light passing and to restrict a diameter of the passing light. The restriction unit restricts the diameter of the passing light to be smaller than a minimum distance within a positional displacement tolerable error range of the hole after the predetermined angled rotation of the body.
US07957007B2 Apparatus and method for illuminating a scene with multiplexed illumination for motion capture
A projector that illuminates a scene with multiplexed light patterns includes a passive physical mask, and a set of spatially dispersed optical emitters arranged behind the physical mask. The optical emitters are modulated to project a set of unique optical light patterns.
US07957003B2 Nitrogen analyzing apparatus
The present invention provides a nitrogen analyzing apparatus comprising: a nitrogen concentration measuring device configured to measure the concentration of an nitrogen impurities in a mixed gas including argon and oxygen as main components on the basis of emission intensity of a light emitted from the nitrogen impurities by an electric discharge in a discharge tube and an oxygen concentration of a sample gas introduced into the discharge tube, and a diluting oxygen-introducing device configured to add a diluting oxygen in the sample gas sampled from the mixed gas according to the oxygen concentration of the mixed gas.
US07956998B2 Method and system for the polarmetric analysis of scattering media utilising polarization difference sensing (PDS)
A method for polarmetric analysis of scattering media. A first step involves directing stimulus from a linearly polarized stimulus source at a sample. A second step involves directing the stimulus coming from the sample through a collimating system into a polarization segregation unit which causes the stimulus to be segregated into a linearly polarized unscattered component and a depolarized scattered component. A third step involves quantification of scattering processes through computationally comparing the unscattered component and the scattered component.
US07956995B2 Optical sensor and method for manufacturing the same
An optical sensor according to the present invention significantly enhances the sensitivity of an optical sensor for molecular measurement using light such as Surface Enhanced Raman Scattering and Plasmon Resonance Spectroscopy utilizing the local plasmon's excitation of a noble metal. By using a transparent substance deposition step for forming a large number of anisotropic nano-columns having a predetermined aspect ratio, with their longitudinal direction and transverse direction aligned, by depositing a transparent substance onto a substrate from an oblique position while periodically inverting the position and a noble metal deposition step for depositing a noble metal onto surfaces of the formed anisotropic nano-columns, it is possible to manufacture an optical sensor with very high sensitivity at very low cost.
US07956988B1 Light detection and ranging systems and related methods
A sensitivity modulated light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system and related methods. Implementations of sensitivity modulated LIDAR systems may include a pulsed laser and a light detection system coupled with the pulsed laser through a timing system. The light detection system may include a high-bandwidth detector coupled with the timing system, at least one imaging detector coupled with the timing system, and at least one sensitivity modulator coupled with the at least one imaging detector and with the timing system.
US07956984B2 Exposure apparatus, optical projection apparatus and a method for adjusting the optical projection apparatus
An apparatus includes a plurality of projection optical systems, each including optical elements arranged in an optical path between a first plane and a second plane and forming a radiation pattern from the first plane onto an exposure field on the second plane via the optical elements. A movable portion is disposed in the side of the second plane with respect to the projection optical systems, which holds an object to be moved relative to the exposure field in a first direction in the second plane during scanning exposure of the object in which the radiation patterns are formed on the object as the object is moved in the first direction. The projection optical systems may include an adjustable wedge prism. The projection optical systems may include first and second optical units, optical axes of the first and second optical units being decentered from each other.
US07956983B2 Exposure equipment having auxiliary photo mask and exposure method using the same
Example embodiments of the present invention may provide exposure equipment having an auxiliary photo mask. The exposure equipment may include a light source and a first photo mask spaced apart from the light source by a desired distance. A second photo mask may include a third region and a fourth region. An exposure method using the exposure equipment also may be provided.
US07956982B2 Apparatus for cooling
A cooling apparatus is described that has a first cooling structure, in thermal contact with a heat source having a temperature greater than a cool structure, including a channel through which a cooling fluid is passed, an isolator between the heat source and the cool structure, the isolator in thermal contact with the first cooling structure and including a material of low thermal conductivity, and a second cooling structure between the isolator and the cool structure, the second cooling structure including a channel through which cooling fluid is passed.
US07956981B2 LCD based environment scanner and 3-D display
A liquid crystal display (LCD) device (100) has the dual functionality of image display and environment scanning. Specifically, during environment scanning mode, the LCD device searches for targets, i.e., markers (700) in the environment. To enable such scanning, the LC layer (20) is configured to provide a scanning optical path allowing passage of a directional marker signal. The scanning optical path is controlled according to one or more transparent openings programmed to scan at least part of the LC layer. As a marker (700) is detected, based on the marker signal, a positional coordinate (e.g., relative angular position) is determinable based on the current scan position of the transparent opening(s).
US07956973B2 In-plane field type liquid crystal display device comprising liquid crystal molecules with more than two kinds of reorientation directions
A liquid crystal display device includes a first substrate and a second substrate with a liquid crystal material sandwiched therebetween, neighboring first, second, third and fourth regions arranged in a rectangular shape and in a clockwise direction, the first, second, third and fourth regions having a first pixel electrode, a second pixel electrode, a third pixel electrode and a fourth pixel electrode, respectively. The first pixel electrode and the third pixel electrode extend in a parallel direction to one another, and the second pixel electrode and the fourth pixel electrode extend in a parallel direction to one another.
US07956972B2 Liquid crystal on silicon display panel with reducing fringe effect
A liquid crystal on silicon (LCOS) display panel with reducing fringe effect is provided herein. The liquid crystal on silicon display panel includes a common electrode, a semiconductor substrate having a plurality of pixel electrodes and control electrodes, a passivation layer on the pixel electrodes and a part of the semiconductor substrate, an anti-reflection coating (ARC) layers on the control electrodes, a transparent substrate on the semiconductor substrate, and a liquid crystal layer between the transparent substrate and the semiconductor substrate, wherein each of the control electrodes is disposed between and isolated with two adjacent ones of the pixel electrodes.
US07956968B2 Liquid crystal display device and fabrication method thereof
An LCD device including first and second substrates that face each other; a liquid crystal layer between the first and second substrates; first alignment layers are on the first and second substrate; and a second alignment layer on at least one of the first and second substrates. The second alignment layer is based on a CDR (continuous director rotation) mode liquid crystal.
US07956967B2 Liquid crystal display device
A liquid crystal display device related to the present invention can reduce a stress applied to a crystal liquid panel and prevent unevenness in a display of the liquid crystal panel. This liquid crystal display device includes the crystal liquid panel having an upper substrate and a lower substrate facing each other, a transparent protection plate provided on the upper substrate of the liquid crystal panel, a transparent elastic adhesive material that fills a space between the liquid crystal panel and the transparent protection plate, and a planar light source unit that emits light from the lower substrate side of the liquid crystal panel. The planar light source unit has a frame that includes transparent protection plate supporting portions for supporting end portions of the transparent protection plate from below.
US07956962B2 Transflective type display panel having sub pixel areas and particular transmission and reflection electrode arrangement and display apparatus having the same
In a transflective-type display panel and a display apparatus having the transflective-type display panel, the transflective-type display panel includes a first display substrate, a second display substrate and a liquid crystal layer. The first display substrate includes a first substrate and a common electrode arranged on the first substrate. The second display substrate includes a second substrate having a main pixel area where a plurality of sub pixel areas are formed, a plurality of transmission electrodes formed in the sub pixel areas and coupled with each other, and a reflection electrode arranged in at least one sub pixel area. Thus, the transflective-type display panel improves a viewing angle and a display quality thereof and improves productivity.
US07956960B2 Display panel and method for manufacturing the same and electro-optical device including the display panel and method for manufacturing the same
A display panel and a manufacturing method are disclosed. The method is to thin the thickness of a pair of transparent substrates for the display panel by grinding or lapping only, or grinding with simplified polishing, so that at least one of the outer surface of the transparent substrates has Haze substantially less than 90% and a profile arithmetic mean roughness ranged from about 0.02 μm to about 0.66 μm.
US07956958B2 Large-pixel multi-domain vertical alignment liquid crystal display using fringe fields
A multi-domain vertical alignment liquid crystal display that does not require physical features on the substrate (such as protrusions and ITO slits) is disclosed. Each pixel of the MVA LCD is subdivided into color components, which are further divided into color dots. The polarities of the color dots are arranged so that fringe fields in each color dots causes multiple liquid crystal domains in each color dot. Specifically, the color dots of a pixel are arranged so that each color dot of a first polarity has four neighboring pixels of a second polarity. Thus, a checkerboard pattern of polarities is formed. Furthermore, the checkerboard pattern is extended across multiple pixels in the MVA LCD. In addition, many display unit include multiple pixel designs to improve color distribution or electrical distribution.
US07956957B2 Display device
An object is to provide a display device with high contrast ratio. Another object is to manufacture such a high-performance display device at low cost. In a display device having a display element interposed between a pair of light-transmitting substrates, a stack of polarizer-including layers in a parallel nicol state is provided outside each of the light-transmitting substrates. Here, transmission axes of polarizers that are stacked in the stack on one side of the display element and transmission axes of polarizers that are stacked in the stack on another side of the display element are arranged to be displaced from a cross nicol state. Also, a retardation film may be provided between the polarizers that are stacked and the substrate.
US07956956B2 Liquid crystal display device
An ECB-mode liquid crystal display device having a pair of substrates 9 and 12, a liquid crystal layer 11, a pair of polarizing plates (1,3,5) (16,18,20) and at least one optically anisotropic layer 7 and/or 14, wherein they are disposed such that the absorption axes 4 and 19 of the polarizing films 3 and 18 in the polarizing plates are parallel or vertical to the left-rightward direction of the screen of the display device. The orientation axes 10 and 13 of the substrates 9 and 12 and the orientation axes 8 and 15 of the optically anisotropic layers 7 and 14 preferably cross the absorption axes 4 and 19 of the polarizing films 3 and 18 of the adjacent polarizing plates at an angle of 45°.
US07956955B2 Liquid crystal display module
A liquid crystal display module includes: a liquid crystal display panel; a plurality of lamps that irradiates light to the liquid crystal display panel; a bottom cover that receives the plurality of lamps; a diffusion plate on the plurality of lamps, the diffusion plate diffusing the light irradiated by the lamps toward the liquid crystal display panel; and a pair of lamp guides each including a first frame member positioned perpendicular to the lamps on the bottom cover and at least one second frame member forming a predetermined angle with the first frame member, wherein a plurality of supports for supporting the diffusion plate are fastened on each of the first frame member and the second frame member.
US07956951B2 Flat light source unit and liquid crystal display device with the same
A flat light source unit includes a PCB on which at least one light emitting diode is mounted, a connection cord electrically connected to a conductive pattern on the PCB to supply a drive voltage to the at least one light emitting diode, and a mold formed on the printed circuit board to encompass a part of the connection cord.
US07956949B2 Method of manufacturing an array substrate for LCD device having double-layered metal structure
An array substrate in a liquid crystal display device includes a gate electrode, a gate line and a gate pad on a substrate, wherein the gate electrode, the gate line and the gate pad have a double-layered structure consisting of a first metal layer and a first barrier metal layer in series from the substrate, and wherein the first metal is one of aluminum and aluminum alloy; a gate insulation laver; an active layer and an ohmic contact layer; a data line, source and drain electrodes, and a data pad each having a double-layered structure consisting of a second barrier metal layer and a second metal layer of copper; a passivation layer; and a pixel electrode, a gate pad terminal and a data pad terminal on the passivation layer formed of a transparent conductive material.
US07956948B2 Pixel structure
A pixel structure formed on a substrate and electrically connected with a scan line and a data line, and including a semiconductor pattern and a pixel electrode is provided. The semiconductor pattern includes at least two channel areas, at least one doping area, a source area, and a drain area. The channel areas are located below the scan line and have different aspect ratios. The doping area is connected between the channel areas. The pixel electrode electrically connects the drain area, the source area is connected between one of the channel areas and the data line, and the drain area is connected between the other channel area and the pixel electrode. The scan line has different widths above different channel areas, and a length of each channel area is substantially equal to the width of the scan line.
US07956945B2 Array substrate for liquid crystal display device
An array substrate for a liquid crystal display device includes a substrate having a display region and a non-display region at a periphery of the display region; a gate line, a data line, a thin film transistor and a pixel electrode on the substrate and in the display region; a drive integrated circuit on the substrate and in the non-display region; first and second test pads at both sides of the drive integrated circuit, respectively; a common voltage line on the substrate and along edges of the non-display region; and first and second static electricity protecting units on the substrate and in the display region, the first static electricity protecting unit connecting the first test pad with the common voltage line, and the second static electricity protecting unit connecting the second test pad with the common voltage line.
US07956944B2 Liquid crystal display device having light blocking line disposed on same layer as gate line
Active matrix display devices having improved opening and contrast ratios utilize light blocking lines to improve display contrast ratios yet position the light blocking lines on the same level of metallization as the gate lines to thereby limit parasitic capacitive coupling between the data lines and the pixel electrodes. The light blocking lines are also positioned on only one side of the data lines so that improvements in the display's opening ratio can also be achieved. The light blocking lines are preferably patterned so that no overlap occurs between a display's data lines and the light blocking lines. The elimination of overlap reduces the step height in the display's pixel electrodes and thereby reduces the extent of disclination of the liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal material extending opposite the pixel electrodes. The light blocking lines are also preferably patterned beneath the display's data lines so that parasitic capacitive coupling between the data lines and the pixel electrodes is reduced. The light blocking lines are also preferably formed with beveled edges so that the step height in the display's pixel electrodes can be reduced even further.
US07956934B2 Digital TV equipped with universal CPU and method for signal processing therefor
A digital TV equipped with a general-purpose CPU having a higher performance than that of an embedded CPU and a signal processing method thereof are provided. According to the digital TV and method, if the digital TV is turned on, digital broadcast data is received and decoded irrespective of whether or not system booting is completed, and while the system booting is performed, the decoded signal is made to be output to a display apparatus. Accordingly, after the digital TV is turned on, a user does not need to wait until the system booting is completed and can watch the digital broadcasting while the booting process is being performed.
US07956929B2 Video background subtractor system
A video processing system includes at least one video source, a region selecting unit, a subtracting unit and a display unit. The region-selecting unit selects the user-defined region of interest from the video source. The subtracting unit subtracts the required region, selected by the region selecting unit. The output of the subtracting unit is provided to the display unit, which displays the required output. In one embodiment, when video data is received from a plurality of video sources, the selecting of user defined regions of interest from the video sources is supported. The region subtracting unit can be used to subtract the required region of interest from video data and it is displayed on the display unit. In other embodiments of invention, the display unit displays on overlay of two unrelated video streams.
US07956925B2 Method for reading out signal charges from an image sensor having different exposure times
Suppress deterioration in picture qualities while achieving expansion in a dynamic range.An image sensor readout method that reads out, from an area sensor where a plurality of image pickup elements are arranged in matrix, signal charges that are accumulated in the image pickup elements is constituted as follows. First, plural kinds of exposure time different in length from each other are set, and the exposure time is then individually allocated to each line of the area sensor. Next, the signal charges accumulated in the image pickup elements in the allocated exposure time are read out through a line unit of the area sensor. Then, the read out signal charges are synthesized through a screen unit of the area sensor.
US07956920B2 Transfer pulse generator circuit and image pickup apparatus
A transfer pulse generator circuit for outputting a vertical register transfer pulse includes transfer pulse control circuit for controlling to set rise and fall timings of the vertical register transfer pulse to desired timings in a predetermined period.
US07956916B2 Solid-state imaging device
Provided is a solid-state imaging device having pixel units that are two-dimensionally arranged, and including: a photodiode that generates an optical signal charge corresponding to an intensity and an exposure time of light; a MOS transistor that transfers the optical signal charge; an accumulating unit that generates a voltage corresponding to the signal charge through the MOS transistor; a storing unit that stores a voltage corresponding to an optical signal charge in the accumulating unit; and a voltage setting unit that sets a value of a voltage in the accumulating unit to a value corresponding to the voltage in the storing unit.