Document Document Title
US07958293B2 Virtualized serial attached SCSI adapter
A method, computer program product and computer system for the virtualization of an SAS storage adapter for logical partitions of a computer system, which includes providing a hypervisor, assigning a logical storage adapter to an operating system on one of the logical partitions, configuring the logical storage adapter using the hypervisor, and enabling data storage operations to use the logical storage adapter.
US07958284B2 Multi-channel fractional clock data transfer
Methods and apparatus to transfer data between one or more clock domains are described. In one embodiment, a plurality of signals corresponding to write pointers of a buffer and a read pointer of the buffer are generated. The signals corresponding to the write pointers of the buffer are to be generated based on different data patterns for transmission over different channels. Other embodiments are also claimed and described.
US07958281B2 Method and apparatus for transmitting data in a flexray node
A method of transmitting data to a recipient comprising the steps of dividing the data into a plurality of groups, providing a synchronizing means for each of the groups, using the synchronizing means to synchronize the data in each group, and transmitting the data to a recipient characterized in that the data is divided in accordance with its synchronization requirements with the recipient.
US07958271B2 Method and system for radio frequency management in a mesh network with a path distance factor
A method and system for radio frequency management (RFM) in a mesh network using a path distance factor (PDF) is disclosed. According to one embodiment, a computer-implemented method, comprises calculating a path distance factor (PDF) between a first mesh router and a portal. A frame is transmitted to a second mesh router, wherein the frame includes the path distance factor.
US07958265B2 Coding method of vector network address
A coding method of vector network address (VNA), which encodes the VNA according to output port names (OPN) of one source device and the forwarding devices along the Data Transmission Path (DTP). Each OPN acts as a component address, and all component addresses compose a sequence in the order along the direction of the DTP. This sequence is the result of the coding method, i.e. the VNA. More specifically, the VNA is a finite sequence as follows: The first component address in the sequence is the OPN of the source device, the second that is the OPN of the first forwarding device in the DTP, the third that is the OPN of the second forwarding device in the DTP, and so on. The final OPN in the sequence is the OPN of the final forwarding device in the DTP.
US07958257B2 Message filtering and demultiplexing system
A publish/subscribe system includes a publisher and multiple subscribers. The published includes a packet generator to generate a packet with at least one of: a fixed length flow label labeling a message or a message bundle and a fixed length node label labeling at least one message bundle and indicating at least one of the nodes of a topic tree to which the flow label belongs. Each received includes a user selection data holder and a message selector. The data holder stores a selection of topics of interest to a user from the topic tree. The message selector receives a packet having a header and data, determines which flow and/or node labels are incorporated in the header and accepts the data if the user selection data holder indicates that the labels within the header are of interest to the user.
US07958254B2 Method and device for performing floor control
A method of controlling a floor controller (14) of a communications network (8) including a group of network components (14, 16) which receive a data stream (12) from a data source (10) is described. The method comprises the steps of selecting the network component (14, 16) which is to control the data source (10), receiving a control instruction from at least one of the network components (16), the control instruction relating to a control of the data source (10), and, in response to receipt of the control instruction from the selected network component (16), triggering the transmission of a corresponding session control command to the data source (10).
US07958251B2 Method and system for processing raw financial data streams to produce and distribute structured and validated product offering data to subscribing clients
A method and system is disclosed for processing information provided from various content providers in the form objects having states subject to periodic updates. Formatted information indicating a current state of the objects are delivered to subscribing clients in substantially real-time. An information manager module is configured to receiving raw data objects from the content providers, format the information, and broadcast current state information on various broadcast data stream. A client manager module supports multiple client communication sessions and connects to at least one broadcast data stream. Current state information received on a broadcast data stream is processed and transmitted to specific clients in accordance with processing rules specified in the client profiles.
US07958249B2 Highly scalable, fault tolerant file transport using vector exchange
A file transport mechanism according to the invention is responsible for accepting, storing and distributing files, such as configuration or control files, to a large number of field machines. The mechanism is comprised of a set of servers that accept, store and maintain submitted files. The file transport mechanism implements a distributed agreement protocol based on “vector exchange.” A vector exchange is a knowledge-based algorithm that works by passing around to potential participants a commitment bit vector. A participant that observes a quorum of commit bits in a vector assumes agreement. Servers use vector exchange to achieve consensus on file submissions. Once a server learns of an agreement, it persistently marks (in a local data store) the request as “agreed.” Once the submission is agreed, the server can stage the new file for download.
US07958244B2 Imposed policies for handling instant messages
Chat sessions are managed between at least one sending computer and a receiving computer. A first chat session is initiated by a receiving computer in response to a first request from a first sending computer. A second chat session is initiated by the receiving computer in response to a second request from a second sending computer. The first and second chat sessions are prioritized in accordance with priority parameters to identify a higher priority chat session and a lower priority chat session. The lower priority chat session is restricted until the higher priority chat session is downgraded to a priority level that is below the lower priority chat session.
US07958233B2 Method for lawfully intercepting communication IP packets exchanged between terminals
A method for lawfully intercepting communication IP packets exchanged between terminals is provided. The method involves assigning an IP address associated with a telecommunication service provider to, for example, a sending terminal for use as its IP address in communications with a receiving terminal, the telecommunication service provider providing SIP proxy services for establishing communication between the sending and receiving terminals. The communication IP packets are intercepted in such a way that the terminals are unaware of the interception.
US07958231B2 Method for redirection of web streaming clients using lightweight available bandwidth measurement
In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, a method for selecting a server to provide content to a client is presented. A media controller receives a request from a client for content. The media controller instructs a plurality of servers each storing the content required by the client to perform a bandwidth measurement referred to in the disclosure as a bandwidth probe. The result of the bandwidth probe is communicated to the media controller. The media controller selects a server (i.e., an identified server) for communication with the client based on the result and communicates the selection in the form of a redirect command to the client. The client then communicates directly with the identified server.
US07958227B2 Attributes of captured objects in a capture system
A system and method for capturing objects and balancing systems resources in a capture system are described. An object is captured, metadata associated with the objected generated, and the object and metadata stored.
US07958224B2 Incentive network for distributing incentives on a network-wide basis and for permitting user access to individual incentives from a plurality of network servers
An incentive network equipped with methods for distributing incentives on a network-wide basis and for permitting user access to individual incentives from any network server. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a method performed by a server for accessing incentives in an network, comprises steps of receiving an access request from a device associated with a user and connected to the network, transmitting identifying information corresponding to the access request to a host, receiving incentive information from the host reflecting available incentives corresponding to the identifying information, and transmitting a network document, including the incentive information, to the device associated with the user in response to the access request. In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a computer-implemented method for accessing incentives in an network, comprises transmitting an access request to access a server in the network, receiving a subscriber request for a subscriber ID associated with the access request, transmitting the subscriber ID to the server, and receiving in response to the access request incentive information reflecting available incentives corresponding to the subscriber ID, wherein the server provides the subscriber ID to a host that selects and transmits the incentive information to the server.
US07958218B2 System for determining unreturned standby resource usage
An apparatus, program product and method for determining unreturned standby resource usage. Unreturned standby resource data is monitored and stored separately from other standby resource data for billing and other accounting purposes.
US07958217B2 Job management system and method for minimizing log data
Provided is a job management system includes: a terminal for executing a job, and for collecting operation information corresponding to respective operations executed by an operator; and a management server for managing the operation information collected by the terminal, the management server being connected to the terminal via a network, in which: the terminal transmits, to the management server, operation log data including the operation information capable of identifying the respective operations executed by the operator; and the management server stores, in advance, information indicating categories for the operation information and combinations thereof which are used for interpreting the operation information transmitted from the terminal as the corresponding operation executed by the operator with respect to the terminal, and selects categories for the operation information and a combination thereof which minimize a data size of the operation log data to be transmitted by the terminal.
US07958216B2 Method for implementing an unplanned shutdown of a computer system
Methods, systems, and computer-readable media are provided for managing system actions on a network. In one exemplary embodiment, there is provided a method for managing system actions on a computer network, comprising the steps of initiating a system action sequence in response to a received command, transmitting information about the system action sequence to one or more user computers or administrator computers, receiving feedback information about the system action sequence from one or more user computers or administrator computers, and selectively performing one of continuing the system action sequence, canceling the system action sequence, or reinitiating the system action sequence at a later time, based on the feedback information.
US07958215B2 System management using real time collaboration
The present invention provides a method of improving the response time to IT problems and ensuring that some will respond to a problem. In one embodiment, a management system uses a monitoring system to detect problem conditions with a managed device. When such an event occurs, the managed device sends a message containing a description of the alert to an intelligent agent. In response, the intelligent agent selects an administrator who is both qualified and available to respond to the alert, and then sends an instant message containing the description of the alert to the selected administrator. The administrator may accept responsibility for the alert by sending an instant message acknowledgement back to the intelligent agent. If the intelligent agent does not receive an acknowledgement, it automatically finds another administrator to respond to the alert.
US07958211B2 Automatic configuration of wireless device for router
A user of a wireless device connects a cable to a router and is given the option of manually or automatically creating a user profile to configure the wireless device for subsequent wireless communication with the router when the user removes the cable.
US07958210B2 Update management method and update management unit
A management node for managing a program update time refers to an update management table in which a plurality of managed nodes are classified into a plurality of groups and the sequence of program updating of the groups is defined. The management node sequentially selects the groups in accordance with the sequence of program updating in such a manner that after program updating processing has been completed in all managed nodes included in the selected group, the next group is selected. The management node refers to the update management table, transmits a program update request to each of the managed nodes included in the selected group, receives an update completion notification from the managed node, and notifies update management information storing means that the update processing has been completed in the managed node.
US07958209B2 Methods and systems to generate and implement a changeover sequence to reconfigure a connection-oriented network
A method to reconfigure a connection-oriented network from an existing configuration to a desired configuration includes generating a sequence of configuration specifications for the connection-oriented network. The sequence specifies a plurality of intermediate configurations between the existing and the desired configurations. The sequence of configuration specifications is implemented within the connection-oriented network by, for each configuration specification, issuing at least one instruction to an element of the connection-oriented network to modify configuration information maintained at the element to thereby instantiate respective configurations. The implementing includes issuing a specific instruction to instantiate a subsequent configuration specification only if an acknowledgment is received that a preceding configuration has been successfully instantiated.
US07958208B2 System and method for designing a customized switched metro Ethernet data network
A method for automatically designing a switched metro Ethernet data is provided. During execution of the method, data network information, customer demand information, equipment information, and at least one design constraint is received. Based thereon, a potential topology design for the switched metro Ethernet data network is automatically established. The potential topology for the switched metro Ethernet data network can be a tree topology that is rooted at a predetermined hub node and that has a plurality of leaves. Each leaf is located at a customer location. In a particular embodiment, an aggregation node is placed at the hub node. Further, an aggregation node is placed at a predetermined redundant hub node. Additionally, an aggregation node is placed at another location in the tree topology.
US07958207B2 Method of installing software for enabling a connection of a phone to an interconnected network
Method of installing software for enabling a connection of a phone to an interconnected network A method of installing a software on a computer using an operating system in order to enable a connection of a phone to an interconnected network, said method comprising the steps of: reading (303) audio input and audio output keys in operating system registers, said keys indicating devices which will be used for recording and playback, respectively, checking (304) if audio input and audio output key contents match with the phone, if yes, asking (305) end user to unplug the phone and returning to the reading step, if no, saving (306) audio input and audio output keys in a buffer, inviting (307) end user to plug in his phone to the computer, —installing (308) the software, writing (310) the saved audio input and audio output keys in the operating system register.
US07958199B2 Switching systems and methods for storage management in digital networks
Disclosed are improved methods, devices and systems for storage management in digital networks.
US07958197B2 Dynamic type-ahead for lists of prior specified addressees
Embodiments of the present invention provide a method, system and computer program product for type-ahead processing for multiple different addressees. In an embodiment of the invention, a method for type-ahead processing for multiple different addressees can include detecting character input in an addressee field of a composition view of a messaging client executing in memory by a processor of a computer. The method also can include matching the detected character input to entries in a table of different lists in that each of the entries in the table includes multiple different addressees specified for a previously composed message. Finally, the method can include auto-completing the addressee field with a selected list of multiple different addressees matching the detected character input.
US07958196B2 Messaging system
A messaging system comprises a server which registers clients (users) and stores uploaded contact data in contacts databases. The contact databases have meta data including profile attributes indicating the subject matter profiles of the contacts. A content manager receives content items such as collateral parts and message text and stores them in content databases, also with meta data having profile attributes. When a client requests a message to be sent to a contact, the content manager automatically identifies relevant content items according to the profile attributes, and a messaging engine sends a message with a wrapper having links to these content items. When the contact responds, a response management function captures response data and instructs a build engine to build content from the identified items. The content is then sent to the contact.
US07958194B2 System and method for parallel processing using a Type I Howard Cascade
A method using for performing a scatter-type data distribution among a cluster of computational devices. A number of nodes (equal to a value Cg, the number of tree generator channels) are initially generated, each connected to an initial generator, to create respective initial root nodes of an initial tree structure. Data is transmitted from the initial generator to each of the initial root nodes. Cg root nodes, each connected to a respective new generator, are generated to create respective roots of Cg newly generated tree structures. Each of the tree structures is expanded by generating Ct (the number of communication channels per node in each tree structure) new nodes connected to each node generated in each previous step. Data is then transmitted to each of the new nodes from an immediately preceding one of the nodes, and from each new generator to an associated root node.
US07958191B1 System and method for client management
A computer-based method and system for selectively triggering client actions including: providing directions for obtaining client instructions, from a content provider to a client device, over a network, in response to a content request from the client device, providing the client instructions to the client device, receiving an initial image request at the computer-based management server from the client device wherein the initial image request is submitted by the client device upon execution of the client instructions, and composing and sending a beacon from the computer-based management system to the client device in response to the initial image request with the properties of the beacon triggering the client selection and execution of the action.
US07958189B2 Systems and methods for mapping user experiences in network navigation
In accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, systems and methods for mapping user experiences over a network include tracking user navigation events through a network site of a resource provider, identifying recurring navigation events of the user, and generating a map of the user navigation events and the recurring navigation events as a user experience. The systems and methods for mapping user experiences, as disclosed herein, provide improved analysis of network site usage patterns for purposes of streamlining and optimizing network site operation.
US07958188B2 Transaction-initiated batch processing
A system and method is provided for initiating batch processing on a computer system from a terminal. The method generates a message from the terminal, where the message defines a transaction to be performed on a computer system. The transaction schedules and runs a program that extracts data from the message. The message is then transmitted to the computer system. The data is then used to generate batch job control language and a batch job is run on the computer system. The output of the batch job is then routed back to the terminal.
US07958179B2 Arithmetic method and device of reconfigurable processor
Provided are an arithmetic method and device of a reconfigurable processor. The arithmetic device includes: an Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU) for performing an addition and subtraction operation and a logic operation of a binary signal; a multiplier for performing a multiplication operation of the binary signal; a shifter for changing an arrangement of the binary signal; a first operand selector and a second operand selector each for selecting one of values output from the ALU, the multiplier, and the shifter; and an adder for adding the values selected by the first operand selector and the second operand selector.
US07958178B2 Finite impulse response filter for a time-synchronized system
A Finite Impulse Response (“FIR”) filter that uses an approximation of the time integral of the impulse response derived from data collected at non-uniform intervals and processes time-synchronized measurements taken at uneven intervals.
US07958177B2 Method of parallelly filtering input data words to obtain final output data words containing packed half-pel pixels
The present invention is to provide a parallel filtering method, which is implemented to an interpolation filter and comprises the steps of separating coefficients of the interpolation filter into two sets comprising the positive and negative coefficients respectively for parallelly filtering a plurality of input data pixels packed into data words inputted to the interpolation filter concurrently to obtain a first result data word, and clipping and shifting the first result data word to obtain a final output data word containing packed half-pel pixels for parallelly and efficiently filtering data stream of video without increasing the complexity, cost, size and power consumption of circuitry of an electronic video apparatus.
US07958166B2 System and method for providing write-once-read-many (WORM) storage
Techniques for providing write-once-read-many (WORM) storage are described herein. According to one embodiment, a range of values is received to set an attribute of a file, where the received range of values is outside of an ordinary range of the attribute in accordance with a file system associated with the file. In addition, a management action is received to be associated with the received range of values of the attribute, where the management action is unrelated to an ordinary action associated with the attribute of the file in accordance with the file system. In response, the received management action is associated with the received range of values of the attribute. Other methods and apparatuses are also described.
US07958163B2 System and method for bulk transfer of digital goods
A system and method for transferring digital goods facilitates bulk upload of file images to a central repository. The software gets a File ID and a path to each file image to be uploaded from a list, typically an XML file, of input attributes. After successful verification, the file image is uploaded to the central repository and linked with a corresponding metadata object. Each metadata object contains attributes that describe the corresponding file image. Although file attributes may be defined when the metadata object is created, the software determines file image attributes as the file image is being uploaded and records them in the metadata object. File images are either uploaded from a server, typically an FTP server, having been placed there by the goods vendor; or the file images can be uploaded directly from a computer operated by the vendor.
US07958162B2 Method and system for generating analogous fictional data from non-fictional data
A method and system for generating analogous fictional data from non-fictional data, is provided. One implementation involves recording non-fictional data, scoring the non-fictional data in terms of occurrence percentile, obtaining a set of user-configurations that represents a likeness range between non-fictional data and corresponding fictional data, based on the scores and the user-configurations, generating analogous fictional data from the non-fictional data, and comparing hash values for the fictional data with hash values for the non-fictional data to determine matches, and in case of matches, generating analogous fictional data from the non-fictional data based on the scores and incrementally lowered likeness range, whereby entire records of fictional data are generated based on entire records of non-fictional data, wherein the fictional data is consistent with the non-fictional data.
US07958161B2 Methods and apparatuses for providing hosted tailored vertical applications
Embodiments of the invention provide methods and apparatuses for providing hosted highly tailored vertical applications. In accordance with one embodiment, a set of universal configuration options for a customer relationship management application is created and presented to a user. The user selects one or more options from the set of options provided and the selected options are used to automatically configure a tailored customer relationship management application. For one embodiment of the invention multiple incompatible business entities and processes from existing verticals are decomposed to provide a set of configurations options to a customer company. The customer company selects from the provided configuration options and a highly tailored vertical is automatically configured based upon the selected configuration options.
US07958160B2 Executing filter subqueries using a parallel single cursor model
Techniques are provided for generating execution plans for, and executing, database statements that contain filter subqueries. Upon receiving a database statement that contains a filter subquery, the database server builds an execution plan that includes a filter operation that is fed by a subtree that corresponds to the subquery. The database server performs a cost analysis to determine whether (1) the filter operation should be parallelized, and (2) the subquery tree should be parallelized. Techniques are also described for generating plans and executing queries where (1) both the filter operation and the subquery subtree are parallelized, (2) the filter operation is parallelized but the subquery subtree operation is performed serially, and (3) the filter operation is performed serially but the subquery subtree operation is parallelized.
US07958159B1 Performing actions based on monitoring execution of a query
In a database system, a database request is received, and database software dispatches steps associated with the database request to plural access modules of a database system for execution. Statistics are collected regarding execution of each step by a respective access module in response to receiving an indication of completion by the respective access module. It is determined whether statistics relating to execution of the database request violate one or more predefined rules, and in response to determining that the statistics relating to execution of the database request violate one or more predefined thresholds, one or more actions are performed by the database software.
US07958157B2 Method of interpreting handwritten data inputted on a printed form
A method of interpreting handwritten data inputted on a printed form using an optically sensing pen. The form has a plurality of different form fields for the handwritten data input. The form also includes a plurality of printed tags and the method includes the steps of: (a) receiving, from the pen, digital ink representing handwritten data input of the pen relative to the form; (b) identifying the form field in which handwritten data has been inputted; (c) identifying a set of predetermined text values associated with the identified form field; and (d) interpreting the handwritten data by decoding the digital ink and converting the decoded digital ink into computer text. The computer text is selected only from the set of predetermined text values.
US07958153B2 Systems and methods for employing an orthogonal corpus for document indexing
Methods and systems for processing a body of reference material to generate a directory for accessing information from a database.
US07958152B2 Elimination of redundant objects in storage systems
Provided are a method, system, and article of manufacture, wherein a data structure corresponding to a set of client nodes selected from a plurality of client nodes is generated. Objects from the selected set of client nodes are stored in the data structure. A determination is made that an object corresponding to a client node of the selected set of client nodes has to be stored. An additional determination is made as to whether the object has already been stored in the data structure by any client node of the selected set of client nodes. The object is stored in the data structure, in response to determining that the object has not already been stored in the data structure by any client node of the selected set of client nodes.
US07958151B2 Voice operated, matrix-connected, artificially intelligent address book system
An online address book system having sufficient hardware and software to operate an address book user interface and to perform intelligent interpretations of voice and text inputs from users. The system includes at least one server software module that includes software to perform a plurality of functions. These include the ability to receive voice input data and separate user voice queries, wherein the software can arrange the data so as to create a data base that includes at least three access dimensions, including contact access, contact-relationship access and contact-time frame access, and so as to create a connectivity matrix based on a plurality of contact pair relationships applying connective recognition logic. The system provides a voice operated user interface that permits access to address book stored data based on user input selected from the group consisting of contact, a contact-relationship pair, a contact-time frame pair, and combinations thereof.
US07958148B2 Systems and methods for filtering file system input and output
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 filtering I/O requests of a computer system includes: receiving a plurality of I/O requests from a filter manager of the computer system, the filter manager executing in the system space of an operating system; applying a hierarchical rule set to at least a portion of the plurality of I/O requests by a mini-filter executing in the system space; and providing at least one of the plurality of I/O requests from the mini-filter to an agent executing in user space in response to the application of the hierarchical rule set by the mini-filter.
US07958144B2 System and method for secure reciprocal exchange of data
A system for transmission of data between a first device operated by a first user and a second device includes a database that receives a first set of data input by the first user and a second set of data input by the second user. In one embodiment, the first set of data includes an immediate mode of access and/or one or more future modes of access of the first user which correlate to one or more specific time periods during which the future mode of access will become the immediate mode of access. Additionally, the first set of data can include a time-dependent schedule of the future mode of access of the first user.
US07958141B2 Query utilization
Methods and system for query utilization are described. A rate of a plurality of queries to a data source may be determined for a plurality of time periods. The plurality of queries may be associated with a term. A cost may be associated with a normal-to-deviated query state transition and a deviated-to-normal query state transition. A normal query state or a deviated query state may be assigned to a particular query on a particular time period of the plurality of time periods based on the rate of queries for the particular time period and the cost of the normal-to-deviated query state transition and the deviated-to-normal query state transition. A query burst may be identified during the plurality of time periods based on assignment of the normal query state or the deviated query state to the plurality of queries. The query burst may have the normal query state, the normal-to-deviated query state transition, and the deviated query state during a time period.
US07958140B2 Method of controlling user information and information processing apparatus
A method of controlling user information for an information processing apparatus includes the steps of a process of an application program requesting user information controlling unit to obtain an item of said user information, and said user information controlling unit providing the obtained item of said user information to said process. The user information controlling unit obtains the user information requested by the process of the application program and provides the user information to the process. Accordingly, the user information can be shared by the application programs and centrally controlled.
US07958138B2 Method and apparatus for enhancing electronic reading by identifying relationships between sections of electronic text
An apparatus, method and article of manufacture of the present invention detects the presence of references to the same concept in separate sections of text, and, with no input required from the reader, presents the reader with information concerning the detected references to the concept. The information provided may comprise information related to the location of the reference to the concept in other sections of text, and the reader also is provided the ability to move from one reference to a concept directly to another reference to the same concept.
US07958135B2 Information processing apparatus, information recording system, information recording method, and computer-readable medium storing program
An information processing apparatus is disclosed that that acquires image/audio information in response to an operations command and generates predetermined electronic data from the acquired information. The information processing apparatus includes a user information storing unit that stores and manages information for identifying an operator issuing the operations command, a personal information storing unit that stores and manages personal information of the operator, a gathering information storing unit that stores or describes a personal information managing service managing personal information that is subject to processing, and an information extracting unit that analyzes the personal information managing service of the gathering information storing unit and extracts relevant personal information from the personal information of the operator stored in the personal information storing unit corresponding to the personal information managing service.
US07958134B2 Recording device for writing content data without continuity in presentation timing
A recorder to write content data on a storage medium and includes: a determining section, which receives incoming content data and determines data properties thereof; a selecting section for selecting, depending on whether a predetermined condition is satisfied, either a first type of write processing to add the data to an existent file on the storage medium or a second type of write processing to write the data as a new file; and a writing section for writing the data on the storage medium by performing the selected type of write processing. The selecting section selects the first type of write processing if at least one part of the data properties of the data that have been determined by the determining section is identical with those of the data that is stored in the existent file on the storage medium but selects the second type of write processing unless this condition is satisfied.
US07958132B2 Voting based scheme for electronic document node reuse
Systems and methods for processing data transform a first data structure (e.g., a hierarchical data structure) into a second data structure (e.g., using a parsing system), wherein the second data structure includes a first set of leaf nodes under a first ancestor node (additional sets of leaf nodes and/or ancestor nodes also may be defined in the second data structure). One or more potential candidate nodes for the ancestor nodes may be identified based, at least in part, on the ancestor nodes from the first data structure associated with the leaf nodes grouped under the new ancestor nodes. In at least some examples, the leaf nodes grouped under a new ancestor node will “vote” for their original ancestor node, and the node receiving the most “votes,” in at least some instances, will be reused as the corresponding ancestor node in the second data structure.
US07958131B2 Method for data management and data rendering for disparate data types
Methods, systems, and products are disclosed for data management and data rendering for disparate data types that include aggregating data of disparate data types from disparate data sources, synthesizing the aggregated data of disparate data types into data of a uniform data type, identifying an action in dependence upon the synthesized data, and executing the identified action. Data management and data rendering for disparate data types may also include channelizing the synthesized data and presenting the synthesized data to a user through one or more channels.
US07958128B2 Query-independent entity importance in books
A corpus contains information including text from books and metadata about the books. The book texts mention entities of various types, such as location, date, event, and person entities. An entity importance engine analyzes the information in the corpus to identify the entities mentioned therein, and ranks the entities using query-independent importance scores. The importance scores can be based in part on the contexts in which the entities are mentioned by the books. A presentation engine enables searching of the corpus to identify books satisfying a search query. The presentation engine presents information about a designated book. Entities mentioned in the book are presented in a style selected to enhance comprehension and utility. For example, location entities can be presented on a map with markers showing the locations of the entities. The number of entities presented are limited and ordered based on the query-independent importance scores.
US07958118B2 Method for retrieving keyword showing difference between two groups and system for executing the method
A method and system for sorting out a keyword showing a difference between two groups is provided. The method includes the steps of: defining a tuple with respect to an N number of keywords and defining a data group including a group of the tuple; creating a keyword value for each of the N number of keywords by using the data group; and creating a keyword group associated with the keyword value, and creating an output group including the keyword group, wherein the two groups includes a first group and a second group.
US07958116B2 System and method for trans-factor ranking of search results
A system and method for trans-factor ranking of search results. Any number of attributes of items in a database being searched may be synthesized into a uniquely suitable ordering that brings relevant and authoritative results to the top of the list whenever such results exist in the database. The manner in which the attributes are used to create this ordering may be varied by users to tailor the ranking to their needs, and by database providers to take advantage of unique database contents. Attributes that are not in the database may be created dynamically and used to synthesize the order, based on the intersection between attributes that do exist in the database and attributes that are associated with the user or database manager. Attenuation and amplification factors are applied to attributes to control rankings. A multi-ranking interleaver determines a final ordering when more than one ranking strategy is used.
US07958115B2 Search systems and methods using in-line contextual queries
Systems and methods are provided for implementing searches using contextual information associated with a Web page (or other document) that a user is viewing when a query is entered. The page includes a contextual search interface that has an associated context vector representing content of the page. When the user submits a search query via the contextual search interface, the query and the context vector are both provided to the query processor and used in responding to the query.
US07958112B2 Interleaving query transformations for XML indexes
During query optimization, XML index and view merge transformations may be interleaved.
US07958111B2 Ranking documents
A plurality of documents are ranked. The documents are returned as the result of a query computed for each search engine of a plurality of search engines. Each document of the plurality of documents is associated with a Uniform Resource Locator (URL). The plurality of documents includes at least one document returned as a result of the query from each of the search engines. For each URL associated with a document from the plurality of documents, a frequency of the URLs is determined. Ranking the plurality of documents includes ranking them based on one or more factors, which are based on the frequency determined for each URL associated with the plurality of documents.
US07958110B2 Performing an ordered search of different databases in response to receiving a search query and without receiving any additional user input
Providing a speculative search result for a search query prior to completion of the search query. In response to receiving a search query from a client node, a speculative search result is provided to the client node for the search query prior to receiving an indication from the client node that said search query is completely formed. The speculative search result may be displayed on the same web page on the client node as the search query, while the search query is being entered by the user. As the user further enters the search query, a new speculative search result may be provided to the user.
US07958109B2 Intent driven search result rich abstracts
Techniques for providing useful information to a user in response to a search query are provided. Based on the search query, one or more potential intents of the user are identified and a plurality of matching resources are identified. For at least one matching resource, a particular abstract template is selected based on the one or more potential intents. Each abstract (a) corresponds to a different intent than any other intent to which any other abstract template of the plurality of abstract templates corresponds, and (b) dictates a different manner of displaying information about a matching resource than any other manner of displaying dictated by any other abstract template of the plurality of abstract templates. A search results page is generated and sent to the user. The search results page includes an abstract for the at least one matching resource. The abstract is displayed based on the particular abstract template.
US07958107B2 Fuzzy keyword searching
A fuzzy, or ambiguous, keyword searching process and systems for implementing the fuzzy keyword searching process are provided. In general, one or more keyword search terms are first identified for a search. Next, a user is enabled to adjust a logical fuzziness, or logical ambiguity, for each of the one or more keyword search terms. As used herein, logical fuzziness of a keyword search term refers to the extent to which associated keywords are considered for the search. In one embodiment, the user may also be enabled to view and adjust keyword associations for each of the keyword search terms. A search is then performed based on the one or more keyword search terms and the logical fuzziness of the one or more keyword search terms, and results of the search are presented to the user.
US07958102B1 Method and apparatus for searching a storage system for confidential data
Method and apparatus for searching a storage system for confidential data is described. One aspect of the invention relates to searching a computer for confidential data related to user. User information comprising the confidential data is obtained from a digital identity for the user. A rule that provides a secure representation of the user information is generated. A storage system in the computer is searched using the rule to detect one or more instances of the user information within at least one file.
US07958101B1 Methods and apparatus for mounting a file system
One aspect involves mounting a file system stored on a CAS system. The file system has a directory structure that includes a plurality of directories arranged in a hierarchy and including a root directory at the top of the hierarchy. Each of the directories is represented by a content unit stored on the CAS system, the content unit having a content address that is computed based, at least in part, on at least a portion of the content of the content unit. The file system is mounted by specifying the content address of the content unit that represents the root directory and determining the file system to be mounted based on the content address of the content unit that represents the root directory.
US07958093B2 Optimizing a storage system to support short data lifetimes
A system and method for optimizing a storage system to support short data object lifetimes and highly utilized storage space are provided. With the system and method, data objects are clustered based on when they are anticipated to be deleted. When an application stores data, the application provides an indicator of the expected lifetime of the data, which may be a retention value, a relative priority of the data object, or the like. Data objects having similar expected lifetimes are clustered together in common data structures so that clusters of objects may be deleted efficiently in a single operation. Expected lifetimes may be changed by applications automatically. The system automatically determines how to handle these changes in expected lifetime using one or more of copying the data object, reclassifying the container in which the data object is held, and ignoring the change in expected lifetime for a time to investigate further changes in expected lifetime of other data objects.
US07958089B2 Processing of a generalized directed object graph for storage in a relational database
Creating transaction instructions is disclosed. A description of a set of objects is received. For each of at least a subset of objects in the set of objects, a description of one or more associated relationships is received. The description of the set of objects and the descriptions of the one or more associated relationships for each object in the at least a subset of the set of objects are processed to create an ordered list of transaction instructions for storing the set of objects and the one or more associated relationships for each object in the at least a subset of the set of objects.
US07958085B1 Managing media-content licenses, including option formation
Embodiments of methods, apparatuses, systems and/or devices for managing content are disclosed. Briefly, in accordance with one particular embodiment, managing content includes presenting one or more references to one or more digital media assets. A request to reserve one or more of the referenced digital media assets is received, and the references to one or more digital media assets are updated such that the references include data indicating that one or more of the referenced digital media assets have been reserved.
US07958083B2 Interacting methods of data summarization
Summarization methods can interact on a common data source using identifiers that correspond to events or other actions. These identifiers can be updated, whenever appropriate, once the corresponding data has been summarized, in order to provide for multiple extraction methods to operate only on the data of interest, and obtain a lock only on the data within the scope of extraction. High water marks, such as identifiers in the sequent, can be used to further designate which data has previously been extracted. Similarly, summarization methods can interact by utilizing corresponding persistent tables in the flows for the methods, but utilizing separate intermediate tables to allow for data transformations and application of various business rules and tuning techniques. The ability to switch between different methods can accommodate business, performance, or other such needs, and can provide for the dynamic extraction and summarization of different volumes of data.
US07958080B2 Idea page system and method
Ideas, groups of ideas, projects, documents, and related materials may be depicted, organized, modified, and shared according to Idea Page systems, methods, and user interfaces. Published workflow templates may additionally be copied into a user context, modified, and depicted in a multi-level visual space, including first-level ideas organized and visually arranged in a first-level idea page, and second-level ideas organized and visually arranged in a second-level idea page.
US07958079B2 Intelligently interactive profiling system and method
One aspect of the invention is a method for identifying at least one property of data. An example of the method includes receiving data, and making assessments regarding the data. The method also includes applying at least one behavioral operator, and outputting results. The method further comprises receiving feedback concerning system performance. Additionally, the method includes adjusting at least one parameter based on the feedback received concerning system performance, wherein the at least one parameter is a parameter of a machine learning method.
US07958074B2 Method and structure for domain-independent modular reasoning and relation representation for entity-relation based information structures
A method (and structure) for using reasoning heuristics in a network-based information system based on an entity/relation paradigm and characterized as being a self-similar hypergraph. The method includes packaging domain-independent reasoning heuristics so that they can be attached to data in a self-similar-hypergraph information system, thereby allowing self-describing knowledge capsules to be created from the data.
US07958073B2 Software and methods for task method knowledge hierarchies
A system is disclosed for the graphical entry of knowledge information in Task-Method-Knowledge (TMK) notation into a computer system. The system comprises methods for entering the TMK hierarchy, defining new tasks 510, methods 512, procedures 522, and subtasks 518. Defined elements may be reviewed, modified, or deleted. Inputs to the tasks may be defined and the outputs of methods and procedures may be assigned. The hierarchy may be processed towards a solution. The entered hierarchy is displayed with visual clues as to the state and progress of the solution process.
US07958070B2 Parameter learning method, parameter learning apparatus, pattern classification method, and pattern classification apparatus
A plurality of pieces of learning data, each associated with a class to which the piece of the learning data belong, are input. In each piece of the learning data, a statistical amount of attribute values of elements in each of specific k parts, k being equal to or larger than 1, is calculated. Each piece of the learning data is mapped in a k-dimensional feature space as a vector having the calculated k statistics amounts as elements. Based on each piece of the mapped learning data and the classes to which the pieces of learning data belong, parameters for classifying input data into one of the plurality of classes are learned in the k-dimensional feature space. By using the parameters, pattern classification can be performed with high speed and high accuracy.
US07958068B2 Method and apparatus for model-shared subspace boosting for multi-label classification
A computer program product includes machine readable instructions for managing data items, the instructions stored on machine readable media, the product including instructions for: initializing a plurality of base models; minimizing a joint loss function to select models from the plurality for a plurality of labels associated with the data items; and at least one of sharing and combining the selected base models to formulate a composite classifier for each label. A computer system and additional computer program product are provided.
US07958065B2 Resilient classifier for rule-based system
A resilient classifier for using with a rule-based system is provided. A system for classifying data for a rule-based system, may include: a system(s) for generating two training data sets, one data set is generated from input data while the second data set is generated from disturbed data; a system for merging the two training data sets; and a system for training a data classifier with the merged training data sets. As a result, the classification of data becomes more accurate, including when disturbed data is encountered.
US07958064B2 Active feature probing using data augmentation
Systems and methods are disclosed that performs active feature probing using data augmentation. Active feature probing is a means of actively gathering information when the existing information is inadequate for decision making. The data augmentation technique generates factitious data which complete the existing information. Using the factitious data, the system is able to estimate the reliability of classification, and determine the most informative feature to probe, then gathers the additional information. The features are sequentially probed until the system has adequate information to make the decision.
US07958063B2 Methods and systems for identifying and localizing objects based on features of the objects that are mapped to a vector
A method of identifying and localizing objects belonging to one of three or more classes, includes deriving vectors, each being mapped to one of the objects, where each of the vectors is an element of an N-dimensional space. The method includes training an ensemble of binary classifiers with a CISS technique, using an ECOC technique. For each object corresponding to a class, the method includes calculating a probability that the associated vector belongs to a particular class, using an ECOC probability estimation technique. In another embodiment, increased detection accuracy is achieved by using images obtained with different contrast methods. A nonlinear dimensional reduction technique, Kernel PCA, was employed to extract features from the multi-contrast composite image. The Kernel PCA preprocessing shows improvements over traditional linear PCA preprocessing possibly due to its ability to capture high-order, nonlinear correlations in the high dimensional image space.
US07958058B2 System, method, and service for migrating an item within a workflow process
An item migration system generates a workflow process comprising logical nodes and physical nodes. Candidate physical nodes are associated with the logical nodes. An item generated at an initial logical node within the workflow process is inserted into the workflow and logically migrated to a subsequent logical node. The system determines whether the item requires physical migration based on properties of the item, characteristics of the subsequent logical node, characteristics of candidate physical nodes, and weighting factors applied to the properties and characteristics. If the item requires physical migration, the system selects an optimum target physical node from the candidate physical nodes. The present system migrates the item to the physical location corresponding to the selected physical node. Otherwise, the present system performs logical migration to the logical node without physical migration.
US07958050B2 Payment account monitoring system and method
A network includes an account status system for checking the status of checking accounts used to make payments, and a payment account monitoring system that includes linking files that store, for individual credit card accounts, the account numbers for checking accounts used to pay the credit card accounts. The monitoring system periodically retrieves checking account numbers from the linking files and checks the account numbers at the status system. If a negative status is indicated at the status system, an alert is provided to the credit card company.
US07958045B2 System and method for graphically displaying market related data using fixed size bars
A system and method are provided for displaying market related data, such as traded volume at each price level, or any other trader-selected values, using one or more fixed size bars. In one preferred embodiment, a graphical display interface is provided and includes a plurality of fixed size bars that display traded volume at different price levels. In such an embodiment, the length of each bar may correspond to a predefined maximum value, and each bar may be progressively color-coded using a first graphical format to represent traded volume that is lower than the maximum value. If the traded volume exceeds the maximum value, the overflow value may be represented by progressively color-coding the bar using a second graphical format that may be used in relation to the first graphical format color-coding.
US07958043B2 Test trading
In various embodiments, real and test trading orders are processed and results are transmitted back to the entities originating the orders.
US07958040B2 Online computation of market equilibrium price
Auction prices for a quantity of items, the quantity of which is not determined prior to auction, are equilibrated among bidders to reflect supply and demand for the items. For example, in auctioning Internet advertising opportunities, the first available opportunities are auctioned to a high bidder. Later in the course of the auction period, once the high bidder's budget has been exhausted, the price for advertising opportunities is reduced. The difference in price paid by the high bidder and the reduced price for the quantity of advertising opportunities purchased is credited to the high bidder's account. Once the high bidder's account regains a level sufficient to acquire additional advertising opportunities, the high bidder may continue to acquire advertising opportunities. Other bidders similarly are credited the difference between prices previously paid and the current price. An equilibrium price is reached based on the recursive adjustment of prices paid by the bidders.
US07958037B2 Method and apparatus for product selection
A method for determining a total benefit derived from a subset of products in a product portfolio includes identifying a set of customer orders having a set of ordered products from the product portfolio and an order benefit and selecting the subset of products from the product portfolio. The method also totals the order benefits from the set of customer orders whose set of ordered products are included within the subset of products from the product portfolio. An apparatus is provided for use in determining a total benefit derived from a subset of products in a product portfolio.
US07958035B2 Accelerated benefit insurance product management and distribution system and method
Disclosed is a novel insurance product that provides an accelerated death benefit to the insured individual. The insurance product contains a lifeaccess accelerated benefit feature that allows the insured individual to file a claim and receive benefits under a life insurance product if the insured individual becomes chronically or terminally ill.
US07958031B2 Apparatus, system, and method for automated identity relationship maintenance
An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for automatically maintaining identity relationships among disparate enterprise information systems. The apparatus comprises a synchronization hub comprising an identity relationship repository, a relationship service module, a consistency module, and an adjustment module. The relationship service is configured to access a target relationship entry using a unique key from a source business object, wherein the source business object is representative of changes made in a source enterprise information system. The various components and modules of the synchronization hub cooperate to determine identity relationships that need updating and to propagate identity relationship changes to one or more destination enterprise information servers.
US07958027B2 Systems and methods for managing risk associated with a geo-political area
Methods and systems are presented for managing Risks, including regulatory and reputational risk. The methods can be implemented in a computer and include receiving data descriptive of informational artifacts with content related to at least one of reputational and regulatory risk into the computer system. The computer system can have one or more geo-political areas defined within it. The computer system can also receive data descriptive of details of a financial transaction, wherein the details include an indication of at least one geopolitical area associated with the financial transaction. At least one informational artifact related to at least one of reputational and regulatory risk can be associated with the at least one geopolitical area associated with the financial transaction and the computer system can generate a report comprising data descriptive of the informational artifacts associated with the at least one geopolitical area associated with the financial transaction.
US07958021B2 Method and device for collecting and reporting data
Embodiments of the invention are directed to a slot machine data collection and reporting system capable of operating with multi-denomination, multi-game machines. These machines allow the patron to select the denomination of the wager unit, the game type, and the exact game pay schedule to be played. Each possible combination of denomination, game type, and game pay schedule may result in a unique theoretical hold percentage. Each combination may also have differing levels of player acceptance. The described system allows for the computation and tracking of handle, game hold percentage, theoretical hold percentage, and net win for each of the possible combinations within a single slot machine cabinet, and for all the games coupled to a gaming network.
US07958017B1 Automatic book purchasing and consolidation method
A system and method that includes several automatic purchasing features. The method includes establishing purchasing criteria for items to be purchased, and automatically searching marketplaces for availability of the items to be purchased. The method also includes identifying available items, of the items to be purchased, that meet the established purchasing criteria.
US07958011B1 Obtaining community association data in a direct, efficient manner
A method, computer program product and system for obtaining property owner or community association data. An order for a selection of products is directly received from a requestor. The order is built using a master questionnaire, which is stored on a database from which all sub-questionnaires (products) are created. As all “products” are created at the moment the order is placed, the information (community association data) in the master questionnaire is the information which will be incorporated into each sub-questionnaire. By receiving an order directly with the requestor and building the order using a master questionnaire which includes questions and answers that may be incorporated into the sub-questionnaires (products), the association data may be obtained by requestors in a direct, efficient manner without the use of a third party service provider.
US07958009B1 Method and system for bidding on multiple auctions
A method and system for bidding on multiple auctions. The multiple auction bidding system allows a user to define various models for bidding at multiple auctions. The bidding system then automatically places bids on behalf of the user. The bidding rules may specify to win at most one of multiple auctions at the lowest price or to bid at an auction only if successful at bidding at another auction.
US07958004B2 Methods for supply chain management
According to various embodiments, the present teachings include inventory control policies that are defined in terms of functions of aggregate cost rates, involving thresholds Ω and an order-up-to point S. An embodiment of the present teachings includes a method. The method includes tracking an inventory position of each of the plurality of items by a logistics network and determining an item cost rate for each of the plurality of items based on the tracked inventory position. The method also includes determining an aggregate cost rate for the plurality of items based on the determined item cost rates, comparing the aggregate cost rate with a cost rate threshold Ω, and ordering the plurality of items to an order-up-to point S if the compared aggregate cost rate is greater than or equal to the cost rate threshold Ω.
US07957999B2 Electronic acquisition system and method
A system and method providing a centralized acquisition utility for facilitating event requests for multiple client products and/or services, where a dispatcher forwards event requests to one or more handlers to apply client business logic to process and fulfill said request. The handlers further employ task-specific workers for facilitating the individual steps required to complete the process.
US07957996B2 Market expansion through optimized resource placement
A company's ability to expand its market presence by delivering value to emerging and immature markets is influenced by its ability to develop a rich and differentiated value net within these emerging markets. Techniques are disclosed for making resource placement decisions in an objective manner, using results from a value chain analysis. Geographies or locations that are candidates for the resource placement are analyzed in terms of a set of criteria which, in preferred embodiments, are directed toward identifying strengths and weaknesses of each location as part of an overall value chain.
US07957994B2 Defining service funding for a service oriented architecture
Methods and systems for defining service funding for a Service Oriented Architecture (‘SOA’) are described that include, in response to an event requiring a change in service funding, identifying a potential SOA funding model for a business's SOA, the potential SOA funding model governing funding of services implemented in the business's SOA; reviewing for approval the potential SOA funding model by relevant stakeholders of the business; and upon approval of the potential SOA funding model by relevant stakeholders of the business, implementing the approved SOA funding model.
US07957993B2 Apparatus and method for determining a validity index for key performance indicators
A computer readable storage medium comprises executable instructions to define and calculate a plurality of performance indicators, including key performance indicators. A validity index for a key performance indicator is determined based on variances of performance indicators that are in conflict with the key performance indicator.
US07957992B2 Modification of a diagram for business process optimization
System and method for displaying information regarding a business process. A diagram of the business process may be displayed on a display. The diagram may include a plurality of icons connected by lines, where each of the icons represents a respective step in the business process and the lines indicate flow paths between the steps. Historical data regarding the business process may be received. The historical data may be analyzed to determine information regarding steps and/or flow paths in the business process. Graphical indications associated with one or more icons and/or lines in the diagram may be displayed. The graphical indications may visually indicate characteristics of corresponding steps and/or flow paths in the business process. For example, the graphical indications may indicate lengths of time, costs, or other characteristics associated with various ones of the steps. The graphical indications may indicate path traversals of ones of the flow paths.
US07957987B2 Using software agents to schedule airline flights
Airline scheduling may be performed using software agents that participate in a mediated auction. To schedule flights, agents are used to represent airports and aircraft in the process of scheduling aircraft to service flights between airports. Airport agents represent airports that have made requests for flights. Aircraft agents represent aircraft that may be scheduled to service a flight from one airport to another airport. An aircraft agent submits a bid to service a flight. Bids received from multiple aircraft agents for a flight are evaluated and aircraft are selected based on the demand of passengers for the flight, the cost of the aircraft corresponding to the bidding aircraft agents to perform the flight, and the minimization of aircraft costs across all flights being scheduled. A resource manager agent helps to ensure that an aircraft agent does not bid for a flight when the aircraft represented by the aircraft agent is in need of maintenance or is unprofitable.
US07957986B1 System and method for managing account processing
Systems and methods for managing subrogation and recovery of insurance claims with a computer including receiving data for a first insurance claim; determining from the data whether the first insurance claim has recovery potential; thereafter when it is determined that the first insurance claim has recovery potential, collecting information about the event from which the first insurance claim was derived; repeatedly seeking data, as necessary, for additional insurance claims associated with the event such that all insurance claims arising from the event are processed together.
US07957980B2 Systems and methods for the prevention of extended utility theft
Systems, methods, and computer program products for identifying utility theft include a property management system operable to receive tenant data associated with a property. A service provider in communication with the property management system receives the tenant data from the property management system via a network such as the Internet, where the tenant data identifies a tenant responsible for payment of a utility service associated with a utility service account. The service provider, which may be a utility, compares the tenant data to utility data to determine if the tenant corresponds to a utility service account. A notification module provides one or more alerts identifying when the tenant fails to correspond to the utility service account.
US07957979B2 Method and system for providing real estate information using a computer network, such as the internet
The present invention provides methods and systems for providing real-estate information using a computer network, such as the Internet. A buyer information web page showing relevant buyer list information in an easy-to-read, summary format is created and displayed to a real estate agent. Buyer information provided includes summaries of various aspects of information needed by a real estate agent to effectively represent and assist a buyer. Examples of information provided include a potential buyer name, a new activity summary summarizing newly-listed properties and other activity meeting the buyer's profile, a new views summary summarizing any views of detailed property information by the buyer using an online property data search and information system provided by the agent, and a new tags summary summarizing any properties that the buyer or the agent finds of particular interest. Moreover, a comparative market analysis (CMA) list web page showing relevant CMA information in an easy-to-read, summary format is also created and displayed to the real estate agent.
US07957978B2 Method and terminal for encoding or decoding an analog signal
An analog signal divided into time frames is encoded and a synthetic signal is formed on the model thereof in a time frame manner via a synthesis filter which is excited by an excitation signal. The excitation signal is formed by at least one adaptive code list containing a plurality of scanning values provided with a defined scanning space. For the actual excitation signal, a segment corresponding to the time frame length is selected from the plurality of scanning values via a speech-based frequency parameter which can take non-integer values and, in such a case, the values intermediate to the scanning values defined by the speech-based frequency parameter are formed in such a way that the time space between the intermediate values and the scanning values is reduced and the totality of the intermediate and the scanning values is used for forming the excitation signal.
US07957977B2 Media program identification method and apparatus based on audio watermarking
The invention provides a method for obtaining related information about a media program containing an audio signal, comprising: embedding an audio watermark containing identification information of the media program into the audio signal; transmitting the media program; recording a portion of the audio signal ; extracting the audio watermark from the recorded portion to obtain the identification information and providing the identification information to a server; and providing the user with the related information according to the identification information from the server, wherein the embedding comprises: performing pre-processing on the identification information to obtain pre-processed identification information; determining an echo delay array; modulating amplitudes of the plurality of pairs of antipodal echoes with the pre-processed identification information; repeating the amplitude-modulated plurality of pairs of antipodal echoes; and embedding the repeated and amplitude-modulated plurality of pairs of antipodal echoes into the audio signal along the echo delay array.
US07957976B2 Establishing a multimodal advertising personality for a sponsor of a multimodal application
Establishing a multimodal advertising personality for a sponsor of a multimodal application, including associating one or more vocal demeanors with a sponsor of a multimodal application and presenting a speech portion of the multimodal application for the sponsor using at least one of the vocal demeanors associated with the sponsor.
US07957975B2 Voice controlled wireless communication device system
A wireless communication device is disclosed that accepts recorded audio data from an end-user. The audio data can be in the form of a command requesting user action. Likewise, the audio data can be converted into a text file. The audio data is reduced to a digital file in a format that is supported by the device hardware, such as a .wav, .mp3, .vnf file, or the like. The digital file is sent via secured or unsecured wireless communication to one or more server computers for further processing. In accordance with an important aspect of the invention, the system evaluates the confidence level of the of the speech recognition process. If the confidence level is high, the system automatically builds the application command or creates the text file for transmission to the communication device. Alternatively, if the confidence of the speech recognition is low, the recorded audio data file is routed to a human transcriber employed by the telecommunications service, who manually reviews the digital voice file and builds the application command or text file. Once the application command is created, it is transmitted to the communication device. As a result of the present invention, speech recognition in the context of a communications devices has been shown to be accurate over 90% of the time.
US07957967B2 Acoustic signal classification system
A system classifies the source of an input signal. The system determines whether a sound source belongs to classes that may include human speech, musical instruments, machine noise, or other classes of sound sources. The system is robust, performing classification despite variation in sound level and noise masking. Additionally, the system consumes relatively few computational resources and adapts over time to provide consistently accurate classification.
US07957966B2 Apparatus, method, and program for sound quality correction based on identification of a speech signal and a music signal from an input audio signal
According to one embodiment, a sound quality correction apparatus calculates various feature parameters for identifying the speech signal and the music signal from an input audio signal and, based on the various feature parameters thus calculated, also calculates a speech/music identification score indicating to which of the speech signal and the music signal the input audio signal is close to. Then, based on this speech/music identification score, the correction strength of each of plural sound quality correctors is controlled to execute different types of the sound quality correction processes on the input audio signal.
US07957958B2 Pitch period equalizing apparatus and pitch period equalizing method, and speech coding apparatus, speech decoding apparatus, and speech coding method
To provide a speech coding technology that realizes a low bit rate and can suppress distortion of reproduction speech as compared with a conventional technology.There are provided pitch detecting means 5 that detects a pitch frequency of an input speech signal, residual calculating means 6 that calculates the difference (residual frequency) between the pitch frequency and a reference frequency, a frequency shifter 4 that shifts a frequency of the input speech signal in proportional to the residual frequency in a direction for being close to the reference frequency and equalizes a pitch period, and orthogonal transforming means that orthogonally transforms the speech signal (pitch-equalizing speech signal) output by the frequency shifter 4 by a constant number of the pitch intervals and generates transforming coefficient data, and waveform coding means that encodes the transforming coefficient data.
US07957955B2 Method and system for providing word recommendations for text input
Word recommendations are provided in response to text input. For a particular text input, possible word recommendations are identified based on the characters of the input and corresponding neighbor characters on a keyboard layout. The possible word recommendations are scored based on how closely they match the input word on a character-by-character basis, and a subset of the possible word recommendations are selected for presentation to the user.
US07957943B2 Method and system for modeling effects visually
A system for defining the effect of forces on a model. The model is displayed and the model includes a goal axis and an equilibrium line. A plurality of qualitative effects are added to the equilibrium line. Each of the added qualitative effects apply a force to the equilibrium line. A qualitative strength and a quantitative strength are assigned to one or more of the added qualitative effects. The equilibrium line is bent in a positive and a negative direction based on an amount and a direction of force applied to the equilibrium line by each of the added qualitative effects. Also, the equilibrium line is moved in a positive or a negative direction along a goal axis based on a net effect of forces applied to the equilibrium line by the added qualitative effects. In addition, the model as effected by the added qualitative effects is saved to storage.
US07957942B2 Position and angle digital detection and simulation
A position detection and simulation platform includes software configurable logic and programmable inputs and outputs to support software configuration only changes for use with a variety of position feedback devices including synchros, resolvers, linear variable differential transformers, and rotary variable differential transformers. The platform provides support for all of these devices without making hardware changes to the platform; all changes are accomplished through software programming of configurable registers and logic devices. In this way the platform can universally be applied to applications that require interfacing to any of the supported devices. Additionally, the platform can be reconfigured through software to provide complete simulation of any of the supported devices.
US07957939B2 Maximum entropy signal detection method
Methods of detecting radioactivity in dynamic situations in which radiation is detected from large and small radioactive objects with at least one radiation detector as the objects pass through the field of view and combinations are made from those measurements which are either adjacent in time, from multiple detectors, or at different energies. An elevated signal is reported when an analysis of the various combinations shows an elevated signal in anyone combination. Small amounts of radioactivity can be detected even in the presence of large amounts.
US07957934B2 Method and system for processing application performance data ouside of monitored applications to limit overhead caused by monitoring
The present invention provides a system and method that aggregates and processes monitoring data acquired inside a monitored application outside of the said application to reduce overhead caused by monitoring tasks in the monitored application. Monitoring data acquired by monitoring sensors is stored in a ring buffer after acquisition, which decouples acquisition of data and its transfer, enabling asynchronous sending of performance data to a monitoring server for analysis. Memory consumption of said ring buffer is limited to a fixed size which keeps memory consumption caused by monitoring processes low and predictable. Correlation, analysis, all computation of monitoring data, and bytecode manipulation to place sensors is performed outside of the monitored application, by a monitoring server.
US07957931B2 Positioning pattern
An absolute position detection device, system and method using a pattern comprising two types of position data: location of the pattern relative an object and position of the pattern relative a sensing device, e.g. a camera. The device comprise the sensing device acquiring images of the pattern located on the object and a computational unit analysing the images for determining absolute position of the object relative the sensing device. The present invention is realized in a number of applications, such as forming part of a torque sensor, a theodolite, an articulating arm, or an angular detector.
US07957930B2 Angle sensing device and angle sensing system
An angle sensing system for sensing a rotating angle of a steering wheel includes a sensing unit, a processing unit, and a storage unit. The sensing unit detects the rotating angle of a steering column connected to the steering wheel and outputting a sensing signal based on the rotating angle. When the steering column rotates for a circle, the sensing signal presents a non-continuous status. The processing unit calculates the relative angle in a single loop of the steering column based on the sensing signal and the number of loops according to the number of the non-continuous status. The storage unit stores the information of the relative angle and the number of loops. Based on the number of loops and the relative angle, the rotating angle of the steering wheel is detected.
US07957927B2 Temperature compensation for pneumatic pumping system
Temperature compensation is applied to correct for temperature mismatch between a reference chamber and a disposable chamber in a pneumatic pumping system for dialysis fluid for peritoneal dialysis. The mismatch creates an error in the calculation of pumping volume of dialysate fluid. Applying a correction for the temperature mismatch helps to more precisely control the volume of dialysate that is metered to the patient. Also disclosed are ways to keep temperatures constant and to use temperature sensors to accurately measure the temperatures of the chambers. In other aspects, the temperature of the dialysate fluid itself may be measured and used to apply a correction to the volume of fluid that is pumped to the patient.
US07957926B2 System and process for calibrating pyrometers in thermal processing chambers
A method and system for calibrating temperature measurement devices, such as pyrometers, in thermal processing chambers are disclosed. According to the present invention, the system includes a calibrating light source that emits light energy onto a substrate contained in the thermal processing chamber. A light detector then detects the amount of light that is being transmitted through the substrate. The amount of detected light energy is then used to calibrate a temperature measurement device that is used in the system.
US07957923B2 Device for jitter measurement and method thereof
The device for jitter measurement and a method thereof are provided. The device for jitter measure includes a signal retrieving module, a signal amplifying module, an edge detecting module, and a time-to-digital converting module. The signal retrieving module receives a signal-under-test, and retrieves a first pulse signal having a pulse width equal to a period of the signal-under-test. The signal amplifying module amplifies the pulse width of the first pulse signal and thereby generates a second pulse signal. The edge detecting module detects a rising edge and a falling edge of the second pulse signal, and generates a first indication signal and a second indication signal according to the respective detected results. The time-to-digital converting module converts the pulse width of the second pulse signal existed in time domain to a digital signal according to the first indication signal and the second indication signal.
US07957922B2 Data logger system
A data logger system utilizing a censor which obtain a plurality of measurements of an environmental parameter and generates a plurality of signals representing such measurements. A processor receives the plurality of signals and produces a table of counts in sequential format. An external prime converter receives the table of sequential counts and converts the same to human readable values representing the environmental parameter measurement.
US07957921B2 Model-based estimation of battery hysteresis
A method of battery state of charge estimation considering battery hysteresis includes using a Preisach-model-based algorithm to calculate a battery state of charge.
US07957919B2 Process for the determination of the correct fuel flow rate to a vehicle engine for carrying out diagnostic tests
A method for evaluation of the true fuel flow rate supplied to a test vehicle engine under various operation conditions is disclosed. The method includes the steps of determining the load applied to the tested engine by way of a deceleration test and determining the true fuel flow rate through the use of a reference engine of the same type as the tested engine, subjected to the load applied to the tested engine.
US07957915B2 Process of statistic validation of corneal endothelial cells analysed samples
Process of statistic validation of corneal endothelial cells analysed samples”, refers to a process complementary to the conventional process known as cornea specular microscopy, by incorporating information obtained by currently available apparatuses, inferring their statistical, and eventually medical, validity, in order to obtain more accurate diagnosis, and better clinical and/or surgical conducts, in so increasing the quality of this procedure to a new level of medical reliability, with the advantages of avoiding that inadequate exams could be considered as valid ones, contribute to diagnosis accuracy, check validity or infirmity of exams already accomplished, guide the eyes bank in the selection and classification of reliability of donated cornea, make use of equipment currently available in the world to improve their own results, identify exams made with not significant sampling, and demonstrate, in a graphic and in numeric form (statistical-analytical rulers).
US07957912B2 Methods for identifying and producing polypeptides
In silico nucleic acid recombination methods, related integrated systems utilizing genetic operators and libraries made by in silico shuffling methods are provided. One disclosed method involves identifying and producing a polypeptide. The method may involve (a) receiving data identifying sequences of two or more parental polypeptides or parental nucleic acids that encode the polypeptides; (b) selecting one or more cross-over sites on the sequences thereby defining one or more recombinant polypeptides or recombinant nucleic acids; (c) selecting at least one of the recombinant polypeptides or recombinant nucleic acids; (d) recombining one or more oligonucleotides, at least one of which has a sequence matching some or all of that of the recombinant polypeptides or recombinant nucleic acids selected in (c); (e) selecting at least some of the recombined oligonucleotides produced in (d); and (f) producing a polypeptide encoded by the selected nucleic acid.
US07957909B2 Identification, monitoring and treatment of disease and characterization of biological condition using gene expression profiles
Gene expression data, in particular gene expression profiles, are created and used in the identification, monitoring and treatment of disease and characterization of biological conditions. Profile data sets are derived from subject samples and include quantitative substantially repeatable measures of a distinct amount of RNA or protein constituent in a panel selected to enable evaluation of a biological condition. Such profile data sets may be used to provide an index indicative of the biological state of a subject, which may be compared to a normative value of the index determined with respect to a relevant population of subjects.
US07957907B2 Method for molecular genealogical research
A genealogical research and record keeping system and method for identifying commonalities in haplotypes and other genetic characteristics of two or more individual members of a biological sample. Chromosomal fragments identical by descent identify family ties between siblings, parents and children and ancestors and progeny across many generations. It is particularly useful in corroborating and improving the accuracy of genealogical data, and identifying previously unknown genetic relationships.
US07957905B2 Data processing method for determining acoustic velocities from acoustic well logging instruments
A method for estimating interval travel time of an Earth formation using an acoustic well logging instrument having a plurality of spaced apart acoustic transmitters and acoustic receivers includes measuring travel time between a transmitter and a receiver for substantially all possible combinations of each of the plurality of transmitters and each of the plurality of receivers. Each of the possible combinations includes a common depth interval of the Earth formations. The method then include determining at least one statistical measure of center of the measured travel times.
US07957901B2 System for guiding an obstacle avoidance direction including senses for supersonic waves
An obstacle avoidance system having an ultrasonic sensor is provided. The system includes an ultrasonic sensor array having at least one ultrasonic sensor for measuring a distance to an obstacle using an ultrasonic wave, an orientation tracker for tracking a proceeding direction, an controller for receiving distance data and orientation data from the ultrasonic sensor array and the orientation tracker, respectively, and for determining an avoidance orientation based on the distance data and the orientation data, and an avoidance orientation guiding unit for informing the pedestrian of the avoidance orientation determined by the controller. The controller stores distance data for a certain number of previous frames and, if the controller determines that distance data of a first frame is noise, the distance data of the first frame is replaced with an average between the distance data of a frame prior to the first frame and the distance data of a frame after the first frame. Also, the controller calculates an amount of orientation change for a second frame using the orientation data of the orientation tracker and regards the distance data of the second frame as noise, if the calculated amount of orientation change is greater than a threshold.
US07957900B2 Tracking vehicle locations in a parking lot for definitive display on a GUI
A computer implemented method for displaying on a map a definitive image of precise locations of multiple mobile objects such as vehicles in a lot. The lot is mapped digitally to display precise locations of sub-areas of different types, such as parking and movement slots and their raw, approximate distances from vehicles are determined from approximate coordinates of vehicles obtained remotely. A data base of vehicle and sub-area types is established and a vehicle placement matrix is determined providing probabilities of respective sub-areas being occupiable by respective vehicles derived from business environment rules based on compatibilities of respective vehicle types with respect sub-area types. Raw, approximate distances of vehicles from sub-areas are divided by the probabilities to provided adjusted distances, sub-areas ranked by least adjusted distances and the respective vehicles placed in their top ranked sub-areas for more accurate display of location on a GUI.
US07957897B2 GPS-based in-vehicle sensor calibration algorithm
A system and method for calibrating the bias and scale factors of a heading rate sensor, such as a yaw-rate sensor, using GPS signals. The system receives wheel speed or rotation signals, a vehicle odometer reading, GPS signals and yaw-rate signals. The system includes a wheel-slip detection processor that determines whether there is wheel-slip based on the wheel speed signals and the GPS signals. The system also includes a wheel-based acceleration processor that estimates vehicle acceleration. The system also includes a differential odometry processor that determines vehicle heading based on wheel speed. The system also includes a GPS reference data validation processor that determines whether the GPS signals are valid using the estimated vehicle acceleration and wheel speeds. The valid GPS signals are then used to calibrate the yaw-rate sensor signals, which can be used for vehicle heading purposes.
US07957896B2 Vehicular display system and method
A vehicular display system includes an in-vehicle navigation device and a vehicular meter device. The in-vehicle navigation device includes a display, a navigation data producing device for producing first data that is to be displayed on the display, and a transmitting device for transmitting intermediate data to the vehicular meter device. The vehicular meter device includes a receiving device for receiving the intermediate data from the in-vehicle navigation device and a navigation data display area for displaying second data. A display size changing device for changing the first data into the second data is included in at least one of the in-vehicle navigation device and the vehicular meter device. A display size of the first data is different from the display size of the second data.
US07957892B2 Condition-sensitive exhaust control
A method and exhaust control system for controlling a vehicle, including adjusting a vehicle parameter in response to a determined ambient condition or to local time.
US07957891B2 Electronic control device for remote control and teleoperation system using same
An ECU for a main remote control has a termination resistance having a first terminal connected to a high level signal line CAN of a CAN cable and a second terminal connected to an external terminal of a connector. The CAN cable also has a low level signal line CAN connected to an external terminal of a connector. A power wire VCC is divided at its midportion, and respectively connected to external terminals of the connector. When a connector is connected, the termination resistance is connected between the high level signal line CAN and the low level signal line CAN of the CAN cable by a jumper line, and power is supplied through a jumper line. When the connector is disconnected, the termination resistance is not connected and the ECU for a main remote control does not operate since no power is supplied thereto.
US07957887B2 Engine controller
In an engine controller capable of carrying out spark ignition type combustion and compressed self-ignition type combustion, in order to suppress operation performance deterioration and exhaust performance deterioration at the time of switching a combustion mode from the compressed self-ignition type combustion to the spark ignition type combustion, intake pipe pressure downstream a throttle is quickly reduced by making the throttle opening degree smaller than a target throttle opening degree of the spark ignition type combustion immediately after switching for a certain period during the combustion mode is switched from the compressed self-ignition type combustion to the spark ignition type combustion. As a result, responsiveness of an intake amount at the time of switching the combustion mode from the compressed self-ignition type combustion to the spark ignition type combustion is enhanced, and combustion switching without exhaust deterioration and torque variation is realized.
US07957883B2 Handheld information device and control method thereof
A handheld information device, including: a display part to display one or more control menus; and a controller to calculate a velocity of a vehicle, and to control the display part to display an enlarged control menu relatively increased in size than a predetermined control menu on the display part if the calculated velocity is faster than a predetermined reference velocity.
US07957881B2 Vehicle and method of controlling driving force for the vehicle based on detected slip of the drive wheel
The occurrence or non-occurrence of a certain slip of a drive wheel is detected based on only a motor torque used for driving a vehicle, a brake torque, and a rotation speed of a motor computed from an output of a rotational position detection sensor. In response to detection of the occurrence of the certain slip, drive restriction of the motor is activated for slip control. The slip control is attainable by a brake system and the drive restriction of the motor. Even in the event of any failure or abnormality arising in the brake system or in the event of prohibiting traction control of the brake system in response to the driver's operation of a TRC off switch, the drive restriction of the motor accomplishes the slip control. This arrangement desirably prevents slip-induced unstable driving of the vehicle and damages of devices involved in slip control for the vehicle.
US07957876B2 Deceleration control apparatus and method for vehicle
A deceleration control apparatus and method for a vehicle applies a deceleration, which is equal to or smaller than a guard value, to the vehicle based on a vehicle running environment parameter. The deceleration control apparatus determines the manner in which a driver performs an operation for decelerating the vehicle, and changes the guard value based on the manner in which the driver performs the operation for decelerating the vehicle. The manner in which the driver performs the operation for decelerating the vehicle may be determined based on at least one of the time at which the driver performs the operation for decelerating the vehicle, the time period during which the driver operates the brake, and the deceleration achieved by the brake operation.
US07957875B2 Method and apparatus for predicting braking system friction
A brake system control method determines vehicle operating conditions, compares the conditions to an allowable range, and uses a neural network to predict an expected coefficient of friction when the conditions are within the range. When the conditions fall outside of the range, the method determines an amount of required braking force using a constant coefficient of friction, and calculates the required braking force using the expected coefficient of friction when the conditions are within the range. The vehicle operating conditions include a vehicle speed, brake pressure, modeled brake rotor temperature, and apply state. The expected coefficient is multiplied by a constant or a calculated correction factor. A vehicle has an engine, transmission, and braking system, with a controller and an algorithm for predicting a coefficient of friction for two brake rotors, calculating a hydraulic brake pressure, and for applying the braking system using the hydraulic brake pressure.
US07957869B2 Method for operating an automatic gearbox
A method of operating an automatic transmission of a motor vehicle, in particular a variable-speed transmission. The automatic transmission includes at least five shift elements, at least three of which are engaged in a forward and a reverse gear to transfer torque or force. When disengaging gears for shifting the automatic transmission from a forward or reverse gear to a neutral position, at least one of the at least three shift elements that are engaged in the respective forward or reverse gear is completely disengaged.
US07957861B2 Tracking emissions data
A system for use in transport vehicles includes an auxiliary power unit (APU) for a transport vehicle, the APU having a locator unit for use in a tracking and monitoring system 5 for communicating over a communication network. The locator unit can be attached to or installed within the APU or any other form of auxiliary provided power. Furthermore, the locator unit can have multiple sensor inputs that can read and store sensor data, including location information and emissions output. Then, the locator unit can transmit that information to a remote monitoring station or can use that information to calculate emission reduction data information for conversion to one or more emission reduction credits.
US07957859B2 Methods for cleaning lines on a game playing surface
A method for clearing lines on a playing surface is provided. The method includes automatic direction of a cleaning device along the lines to clean the lines. The method also preferably includes calibrating the means of measuring the distances moved by the cleaning device along the surface. Associated software is provided as well.
US07957857B2 Direction guiding apparatus and direction guiding method
The present invention discloses a direction guiding apparatus for indicating a guidance direction to a user. The direction guiding apparatus includes an operation device having an operations part movable on an operation plane, and a control part for transmitting control data to the operation device for controlling the movement of the operations part. The guidance direction is distinguishable by the movement of the operations part.
US07957854B2 Active vibration damping (AVD) system for precision pointing spacecraft
An active vibration damping (AVD) control system for spacecraft provides a simple-to-implement and robust formulation that provides a novel damping control method for reducing spacecraft structural vibrations and improving antenna and instrument pointing. The AVD control system comprises an excitation signal generator configured to generate excitation input signals, and a damping model identification unit configured to receive system identification data and configured to produce control model parameters, the system identification data comprising the excitation input signals and information associated with motion of the spacecraft. The AVD control system further comprises an AVD control unit configured to receive the control model parameters, the AVD control unit configured to produce AVD control signals to control one or more actuators of the spacecraft.
US07957853B2 Flight restriction zone detection and avoidance
A method, system and computer program product to detect and indicating TFR zone violations, potential TFR zone violations or TFR zones in vicinity of an aircraft and indicating measures to avoid or exit a TFR zone are provided. TFR zone information and an aircraft's position information are received. The aircraft's position information is processed to determine the aircraft's current heading. A TFR zone violation is determined based on the aircraft's current position. A potential TFR violation is determined based on whether the aircraft's current heading intersects a TFR zone. The presence of a TFR zone in the vicinity of the aircraft is determined based on the aircraft's current position and heading. Indicators of a TFR violation, potential TFR violation, no TFR violation or TFR zones in the vicinity are provided. If a TFR violation, or possible TFR violation or TFR zone in the vicinity are found, measures are indicated to exit the TFR zone or change the aircraft's current heading to avoid the TFR zone.
US07957847B2 Voltage regulating systems responsive to feed-forward information from deterministic loads
Voltage regulating systems are provided that adjust their output control signals in response to feed-forward information that is indicative of deterministic changes in the load current. A feed-forward circuit provides a feed-forward signal in response to an input signal generated from a source that is external to the voltage regulating system. The voltage regulator systems can proactively respond to the predictive information by adjusting their output, thereby improving the regulation tolerance to dynamic loading. As an example, the feed-forward information can include signals indicating multiple deterministic events that affect the load. Signals from multiple events can be summed together to generate a feed-forward term. As another example, the voltage regulating systems can be responsive to feedback information and feed-forward information from internal to the regulator, in addition to external deterministic information.
US07957846B2 Energy arbitrage by load shifting
Methods and systems are provided for realizing energy cost savings through load shifting utilizing a battery bank that may serve as a battery back-up on a premises for providing power in the event of a grid power outage or curtailment. A budget of unreserved cycles of battery charging and discharging is determined, taking into account the rated battery life in terms of both time (e.g., years) and number of cycles. That cycle budget is allocated to days of the year identified as days on which the greatest savings can be realized through load shifting. These days are identified by taking into account the peak and off-peak usage rates applicable on those days, any rate tiers that may be entered as a result of the additional energy expended to load shift, and the round trip efficiency of the charge/discharge cycles. Load shifting is executed in accordance with an established schedule of the identified days, by discharging the batteries during peak usage hours and charging the batteries during off-peak periods. In the event the budget of unreserved cycles exceeds the number of profitable days for load shifting, the depth of discharge on each cycle may be increased to realize greater savings on the scheduled days, at the tolerable cost of losing cycles not expected to be used in any event.
US07957845B2 Apparatus and method for predictive control of a power generation system
A method for controlling a power system control area according to a first and a second control performance standard, wherein operation of the control area determines area control parameter values. The method comprises (a) determining a first compliance target for the first performance standard and a second compliance target for the second performance standard (100/200); (b) determining a first performance standard statistical measure responsive to the control area parameter values from a beginning of a first compliance period to a time at which the first average is determined (108); (c) determining a second performance standard statistical measure responsive to the control area parameter values from a beginning of a second compliance period to a time at which the second average is determined; (d) determining a first area control parameter target responsive to the first performance standard statistical measure (116); (e) determining a second area control parameter target responsive to the second performance standard statistical measure (204); (f) determining a first area control parameter correction responsive to the first area control parameter target and the area control parameter values (150); (g) determining a second area control parameter correction responsive to the second area control parameter target and the area control parameter values (228) and (h) controlling the power system according to one or both of the first and the second area control parameter corrections (154/232).
US07957843B2 System and method for irrigation controller
A method of controlling the duration of irrigation is described, comprising compiling a database that includes information relating to historical evapo-transpiration rates for a plurality of sectors (preferably identified by zip code) located within a geographical area. Period Reduction Factors for each sector are derived. Parameters are entered into the controller including a Maximum Irrigation Duration, a sector identifier; and the current date. The Maximum Irrigation Duration is adjusted by multiplying the Maximum Irrigation Duration by a Period Reduction Factor for the current period associated with the sector that has been identified by the user, to obtain an Actual Irrigation Duration. The irrigation system is caused to irrigate for the Actual Irrigation Duration during the current period.
US07957840B2 Control apparatus and control method for multi-room air conditioner
A heat source side controller of an air conditioner has an operating mode allocator and an operating mode setter. The air conditioner has a heat source unit and a plurality of room units. The heat source unit can be switched among a plurality of operating modes having different noise-reduction levels. The operating mode allocator allocates one operating mode to each of the operating room units. The operating mode setter sets the heat source unit to one operating mode from among the plurality of operating modes on the basis of the operating modes allocated by the operating mode allocator to each of the operating room units. In cases in which a specific operating mode is allocated to all of the operating room units, the operating mode setter sets the heat source unit to the specific operating mode.
US07957839B2 HVAC zone controller
A zone controller having an electronic board with a plurality of electronic components attached thereto. The electronic components are constructed and arranged to receive a plurality of signals from a plurality of thermostats and to transmit a plurality of signals to a plurality of air control devices for controlling airflow in ducts. The electronic components include a first grouping of electronic components that are not accessed to perform either installation or operation functions, a second grouping of electronic components that are accessed to perform installation functions, and a third grouping of electronic components that are only accessed to perform operation functions. A first cover is provided that covers and prevents access to the first grouping of electronic components. A second cover is provided that selectively covers and prevents access to the second grouping of electrical components but not the third grouping of electrical components.
US07957835B2 Legged robot and control method thereof
Technology is provided that can compute a center of gravity pathway for a robot in which the ZMP matches the target ZMP, even if the robot is caused to perform a crouching movement during a single leg ground phase. The robot of the present invention is a legged robot that moves the center of gravity in the vertical direction when one leg link is grounded by changing joint angles, and comprises means for generating the vertical pathway of the center of gravity, means for computing the horizontal pathway of the center of gravity, based upon the generated vertical pathway of the center of gravity, a tridiagonal equation which is a discretization of a ZMP equation, a target ZMP, and horizontal speeds of the center of gravity at the beginning and the completion of the vertical pathway, means for computing chronological data of target values of the joint angles, based upon the generated vertical pathway and the computed horizontal pathway of the center of gravity, and means for rotating the joints based upon the computed chronological data of the target values of the joint angles.
US07957833B2 Asset localization identification and movement system and method
A system and method for identification and location of an asset by tracking the mover of the asset using a locating device associated with the mover and identifying the asset using an identification reader associated with the mover and a passive identification tag associated with the asset. A single mover may move many assets. An asset is identified; the mover then moves the asset to a destination location, whereupon the mover and asset position are determined. The asset location may then be recorded in memory. The measurement of the destination location may be extended from the location measured by the active location device by using additional measurement devices, for example a forklift height sensor. A further embodiment utilizes RFID or barcode technology for the passive tag and may utilize near field positioning technology for the active location device.
US07957830B2 CNC instructions for solidification fixturing of parts
A customer transmits their 3D CAD file for a part to be total profile machined. Computer analysis of the transmitted CAD file produces CNC machining instructions, which are transmitted back to an address defined by the customer. The customer can then use the transmitted CNC machining instructions to total profile machine their own part using their own CNC mill at the location where the part is likely needed. The transmitted instructions include not only the tool paths for CNC machining of the total profile of the part, but also for additional features formed into the encircling portion of a material block from which the part is to be total profile machined. For instance, the CNC machining instructions transmitted back to the customer can define a registration recess and/or channels or undercuts for fluid support material on an A-side of a material block. After the A-side of the block is machined, the customer adds and solidifies fluid support material into the machined recess. The CNC mill is then used to machine a support surface into a portion of the solidified support material surface. A registration fixture is applied into contact with the support surface CNC machining on the B-side of the material block is then performed while the part is supported by the solidified support material, substantially separating the part from the encircling block of material. The support material is then removed, such as by dissolving, freeing the part from the encircling block of material.
US07957828B2 Temperature setting method for thermal processing plate, temperature setting apparatus for thermal processing plate, and computer-readable storage medium
In the present invention, the line widths within a substrate of an etching pattern are measured for a substrate for which photolithography processing and an etching treatment thereafter have been finished. The line width measurement results are converted into the line widths of a resist pattern using relational expressions which have been obtained in advance. From the converted line widths of the resist pattern, coefficients of a polynomial function indicating variations within the substrate are calculated. Next, a function between line width correction amounts for the resist pattern and temperature correction values is used to calculate temperature correction values for the regions of the thermal plate to bring the coefficients of the polynomial function close to zero. Based on each of the calculated temperature correction values, the temperature for each of the regions is set.
US07957826B2 Methods for normalizing error in photolithographic processes
A method for fabricating parts using a photolithography system, includes: performing a search of normalization data for an estimated dose operating point; and using the estimated dose operating point for fabrication of new parts.
US07957825B2 Splicing fuselage sections without shims
Fuselage sections of an aircraft are joined using splice elements that compensate for gaps caused by mismatches between mating surfaces on the fuselage sections. The fuselage sections are virtually assembled using computer models that are based on non-contact measurements of as-built fuselage sections. The virtually assembled fuselage sections are used to map the gaps between the mating surfaces. The mapped gaps are used to produce tool inserts having profiles that reflect the dimensions of the gaps. The tool inserts are used to manufacture splice elements having profiles that fill the gaps when the fuselage sections are assembled and joined, thereby eliminating the need for shims and spaces to fill the gaps.
US07957822B2 Component mounter control method and component mounter
A method controls a component mounter which includes a mobile unit for mounting a component onto a circuit board, and judges on which side of the component mounter as user, who issues an instruction to the component mounter, is present. Additionally, the method performs position control by shifting the mobile unit to a position which allows a maintenance task to be performed on the component mounter from the side on which the user is judged to be present.
US07957810B2 Motion compensation for a visual prosthesis
The present invention is a motion compensation system for a visual prosthesis to adapt a visual image to movement of a user's eyes and head. The system includes a camera providing a video signal, an eye movement tracking device, a head movement tracking device, and a video processing unit processing the video signal and correcting the video signal for eye and head movement. The corrected video signal is sent to an implanted neural stimulator including electrodes stimulating visual neurons to create a perception of the video image.
US07957805B2 Implantable microstimulator with external electrodes disposed on a film substrate and methods of manufacture and use
An implantable microstimulator includes a housing, an electronic subassembly, conductive vias, and an electrode arrangement. The housing defines an interior and an exterior with the electronic subassembly disposed in the interior of the housing. The conductive vias extend from the interior to the exterior of the housing. The electrode arrangement is disposed on the housing and includes a film substrate with electrodes disposed on the film substrate and coupled to the electronic subassembly through the plurality of vias.
US07957802B2 Method, apparatus, and system to optimize cardiac preload based on measured pulmonary artery pressure
Optimizing cardiac preload based on measured pulmonary artery pressure involves varying, for each repetition of an acute burst protocol, a parameter of pacing applied to a patient's heart during the acute burst protocol. Pulmonary artery pressure is measured during the repetitions of the acute burst protocol. The length of the repetitions is chosen so that the patient's baroreflex system does not adjust to the varied parameter of pacing during the repetitions of the acute burst protocol. An optimum ventricular preload is determined based on the measured pulmonary artery pressure. Pacing therapy is provided using a value of the parameter that is selected based on the determination of optimum ventricular preload.
US07957798B2 Defibrillator/monitor system having a pod with leads capable of wirelessly communicating
A modular external defibrillator system in embodiments of the teachings may include one or more of the following features: a base containing a defibrillator to deliver a defibrillation shock to a patient, (b) one or more pods each connectable to a patient via patient lead cables to collect at least one patient vital sign, the pods operable at a distance from the base, (c) a wireless communications link between the base and a selected one of the two or more pods to carry the at least one vital sign from the selected pod to the base, the selection being based on which pod is associated with the base.
US07957793B2 Methods for identifying neuronal spikes
A method for identifying neuronal spikes (extracellular action potentials) is described wherein measured microelectrode readings from tissue are reviewed to identify spikes (successive readings having prolonged rises and/or falls). The frequency of such spikes as a function of their amplitude assumes a bimodal distribution wherein higher amplitude spikes represent neuronal spikes (signal) and lower amplitude spikes represent noise, and thus the higher amplitude spikes can be assumed to be neuronal spikes. Neuronal spikes from the same neuron can then be assumed to have substantially the same waveform shape and period, with the only significant difference between them being the scaling of their amplitudes (i.e., the amplitudes of spikes from the same neuron tend to be proportionate at any given time along their period). Thus, by testing identified neuronal spikes for matching timing and for proportional amplitudes, the neuronal spikes may further be identified as coming from the same or different neurons.
US07957791B2 Multi-beat integration 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.
US07957789B2 Therapy delivery system including a navigation element
An electromagnetic receiver assembly is included in a navigation element for a therapy delivery system. If the system is modular, the navigation element may be an insertable module thereof and/or include a lumen to receive another insertable module.
US07957787B2 Method of examining dynamic cardiac electromagnetic activity and detection of cardiac functions using results thereof
A method of examining cardiac electromagnetic activity over a heart for diagnosing the cardiac functions of the heart is disclosed. The method includes collecting a plurality of sets of spatially distributed, time-varying magnetic field signals of the heart of a subject, wherein the magnetic field signals exhibit features of at least a wave, identifying a time corresponding to a local maximum intensity of the magnetic field signals of the wave at each measurement position and plotting a temporal evolution of the local maximum intensity of the magnetic field signals during a time interval of the wave.
US07957786B2 Methods and apparatus for communicating signals between portions of an apparatus in relative movement to one another
A data transmission system that includes a transmitter; a receiver; and a magnetically coupled rotary transformer having a first portion and a second portion in moveable relationship with one another. The transmitter is electrically and mechanically coupled to the first portion of the rotary transformer, and the receiver is electrically and mechanically coupled to the second portion of the rotary transformer. The transmitter and the receiver are configured to wirelessly communicate data across the rotary transformer while the first and the second portions of the rotary transformer are in relative rotary motion.
US07957783B2 Electrical lead for an electronic device such as an implantable device
A lead for an electronic device which resists the induction of a current from an electromagnetic field external to said lead includes one or more pairs of adjacent segments of electrical wire, each of the pairs including a first segment of electrical wire and a second segment of electrical wire. The lead also includes one or more shielded RF chokes, wherein each of the shielded RF chokes is provided between the first segment of electrical wire and the second segment of electrical wire of a respective one of the one or more pairs of adjacent segments. Also, an implantable device that includes a generator for generating one or more electrical pulse and a lead as described for delivering the pulses to tissue within a patient's body. A method for making the described implantable device is also provided.
US07957782B2 Binding strap used in connection with SpO2 sensor
A binding strap used in connection with a SpO2 sensor comprises two clamping portions each of which is provided with an access opening for passing the light emitting portion or light receiving portion of the SpO2 sensor and a holding recess for holding corresponding light emitting portion or light receiving portion, wherein said access openings are designed to allow corresponding light emitting portion or light receiving portion to pass only when said access openings are undergoing a certain amount of deformation. The binding strap of the present invention is advantageous in that the light emitting portion and the light receiving portion of the SpO2 sensor might be tightly secured to the binding strap, and the lost of the binding strap when not use is ensured to be hard.
US07957778B2 Folding portable communications device
A folding mobile phone (folding portable communications device) includes a first housing including a liquid crystal display part (display part) provided at a surface thereof, a second housing including an operating part provided at a surface thereof, and a hinge connecting the first and second housings to allow the first and second housings to be freely opened and closed in their folded form. A cam mechanism (support mechanism) supports the liquid crystal display part switchably between a vertical position and a horizontal position and to allow the liquid crystal display part to turn both clockwise and counterclockwise as viewed from the front.
US07957777B1 Wake on wireless LAN schemes
A system includes a host interface module and a power management module. The host interface module is configured to receive configuration information from a host processor of a wireless device. The configuration information indicates that the host processor is to (i) operate in a power save mode, and (ii) in response to the wireless device receiving data of a predetermined category from a wireless network, transition from the power save mode to an active mode. The power management module is configured to generate a first signal in response to the wireless device receiving data of the predetermined category from the wireless network. The first signal transitions the host processor from the power save mode to the active mode in which the host processor processes the data of the predetermined category.
US07957776B2 Integrated switch-mode power supply and linear regulator
A power supply includes a switching voltage regulator, and a linear voltage regulator coupled electrically in series with the switching voltage regulator. The switching voltage regulator includes a first input for receiving a DC input signal, a semiconductor switching stage coupled to the first input and configured to provide a first DC voltage signal from the received DC input signal. The magnitude of the first DC voltage signal is less than the received DC input signal. The linear voltage regulator includes a semiconductor current pass stage coupled to the output of the semiconductor switching stage and configured to provide a constant second DC output voltage signal from the first DC voltage signal. The voltage regulators are implemented together within a common integrated circuit housing.
US07957774B2 Hands-free communication system for use in automotive vehicle
A hands-free system, through which a driver communicates without using hands with an on-board mobile phone such as a cell phone, is mounted on an automotive vehicle. Plural speakers including a center speaker installed in an instrument panel and door speakers each installed in each door are mounted on the vehicle. Whenever the center speaker is mounted on the vehicle, the center speaker is selected as a speaker from which voices transmitted from the mobile phone are outputted. Only when the center speaker is not mounted, the door speakers are selected. When the center speaker is selected, the voices transmitted from the mobile phone can be heard from a direction to which a driver's eye line is directed. Accordingly, the driver is able to hear the speaker sounds from the natural direction for him/her.
US07957768B2 Wireless communication device
A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a wireless communication device including a housing assembly formed from a first section that is rotatably coupled about an axis to a second section such that the first and second sections are movable between a closed position in which a first side of the first section is aligned with and in close proximity to a first side of the second section. The wireless communication device can also include a first display screen positioned in the first section and a second display screen positioned in the second section. The first and second display screens can be configured to display images. The wireless communication device can also include a keypad including keys on the first and second sections, thereby creating a foldable keypad rotatable about the axis between the first and second sections. Additional embodiments are disclosed.
US07957767B2 Communication devices with integrated gyrators and methods for use therewith
A device includes an on-chip gyrating circuit that generates a motion parameter based on motion of the device. An RF transceiver generates an outbound RF signal from an outbound symbol stream, transmits the outbound RF signal to a remote station of a wireless network, and generates an inbound symbol stream from an inbound RF signal received from the at least one remote station. A processing module is coupled to process the motion parameter to produce motion data, to convert outbound data into the outbound symbol stream, and to convert the inbound symbol stream into inbound data, wherein the outbound data includes the motion data.
US07957765B1 Mobile phone with integrated wireless camera
A wireless mobile telecommunications device includes a detachable camera that wirelessly communicates data with the device body. The device is usable not only to make and receive telephone calls in the conventional manner but also to take photographs or video. When the camera portion is detached from the device body, the camera can be used in essentially the same manner as any digital photography or video camera. Images captured by the camera are wirelessly transmitted to the device body.
US07957764B1 Personal lifestyle device
A wireless device including memory and a control module. The memory is configured to store authentication information in the wireless device. The authentication information is used to authorize communication between the wireless device and a service provider. The control module is configured to establish communication between the wireless device and the service provider using the authentication information. The control module is further configured to transmit an order for a service from the wireless device to the service provider based on at least one of (i) an ambient temperature, (ii) a body temperature of a user of the wireless device, and (iii) a heart rate of the user.
US07957761B2 Method of communicating neighbor base station information
A method uses inter-base station control messages to provide neighbor base station information to mobile subscriber stations in a mobile communication system. The method includes obtaining, at a serving base station, physical channel information of neighbor base stations over a backbone network via, either directly or via a server; periodically transmitting the obtained physical channel information from the serving base station to a mobile subscriber station connected to the serving base station; and measuring, based on the updated physical channel information, signal quality of the at least one neighbor base station at the mobile subscriber station. Thus, the serving base station receives from the neighbor base stations the inter-base station control messages containing the neighbor base station information, updates the information, and provides the updated information to the corresponding mobile subscriber station(s), to be used for a specific purpose such as handover or network entry.
US07957759B2 Wideband reference signal transmission in SC-FDMA communication systems
Embodiments of the invention provide methods for transmitting reference signals (RS) from user equipments (UEs) in wireless communication systems. These RS are used, among other functions, by a serving base station to schedule data transmission from UEs and perform power and timing control of the UE signal transmissions. The RS are constructed based on constant amplitude zero autocorrelation (CAZAC) sequences, including their possible modifications. The invention describes methods to multiplex transmission of RS from multiple UEs by having the serving base station control the CAZAC sequence and the associated cyclic shift, transmission bandwidth, transmission period, and transmission power applied to the RS transmission by each UE.
US07957758B2 Method of and apparatus for reducing power consumption in a mobile telephony system
A method of decoding data comprising a plurality of data-bursts, comprising the steps of: i) receiving a first one of the data-bursts, ii) associating hypothesis data with the or each received data-bursts; iii) attempting to decode the data; and iv) if the decode is successful to power down the receiver, and if the decode is unsuccessful receiving a further one of the data-bursts and repeating steps ii) to iv), until all of the data has been received.
US07957755B2 Mobile station, radio access network apparatus, mobile communication system and broadcast information transmitting and receiving method
A mobile station for establishing a signaling control channel and a shared data channel between a radio access network apparatus and the mobile station to perform communication includes discontinuous reception means configured to perform discontinuous reception of broadcast information using the signaling control channel, shared data channel reception determination means configured to determine whether to receive the shared data channel based on an item of broadcast information and information indicating presence or absence of change of content corresponding to the item of the broadcast information that are transmitted by the signaling control channel, and shared data channel reception means configured to receive the shared data channel according to the determination.
US07957754B2 Method and system for authenticating short message calling party
A method for authenticating a Short Message (SM) calling party, including: if a Signal Relay Function for support of Mobile Number Portability (MNP-SRF) module detects a calling party number carried in an SM belongs to its serving network after receiving a Mobile Originated (MO) SM, the MNP_SRF module adds an identifier of the MNP_SRF module's network to the calling party number. A Short Message Serving Center (SMSC) determines whether the SM passes calling party authentication according to the fact that whether the calling party number carries an identifier of the SMSC's network. The invention provides a system for authenticating an SM calling party, including: a Mobile Switching Center (MSC), a calling MNP_SRF module, a Number Portability Database (NPDB) and a Short Message Serving Center (SMSC). The invention may avoid a mobile number having subscribed to a new network from using resources of the SMSC of a network to which the subscription has been canceled.
US07957750B2 Location estimation method
A location estimation method is provided. The method locates coordinates of a mobile station (MS) by referencing a plurality of base stations (BS). A geometric distribution of the BS is analyzed to provide a list of conditional equations. A virtual BS is allocated, having a virtual distance to the MS to provide a constraint equation. The MS location is derived from the conditional equations and the constraint equation.
US07957748B2 System and methods for establishing a real-time location-based service network
A network and method to establish a real-time location based service for client mobile device users. Asynchronous data connections are established between client mobile devices and a data server over wireless networks. Synchronous data connections are established between the client devices and a map server over wireless networks. The data server receives geographic location information from the client devices, indicating a geographic location of each client device, and relays the geographic location information to the client devices in real time via the asynchronous data connections. The map server provides map data to the client devices as requested from the client devices via the synchronous data connections. The geographic location information may be overlaid onto the map data and displayed on any of the client mobile devices to indicate the various locations of the various client devices in real time.
US07957747B2 Method and system for providing quick service access
Provided are apparatuses and methods for transmitting and receiving quick access services. For example, a mobile terminal may receive a data stream containing a quick access service of a particular type. The quick access service may have a fixed Packet Identification (PID) and/or fixed IP address. The fixed PID and/or fixed IP addressed may be associated with a quick access service based on the particular type of the quick access service. In another example, a mobile terminal and a user interface on a mobile terminal may provide a menu for selection of an access mode for accessing the quick access service. Also, a quick access service may be selected based on the type of the quick access service.
US07957744B2 Method and system for delivering telematics services via a handheld communication device
A method for providing vehicle services to a user of a motor vehicle includes receiving a text message from the user via a handheld communication device in wireless communication with a call center and requesting vehicle information from a telematics unit in a vehicle associated with the user via a wireless connection. At least one vehicle service is provided based on the text message and the requested vehicle information. Another embodiment provides a method for transmitting a text message to a hearing impaired user of a motor vehicle includes receiving a trigger-based request from a telematics unit at a call center, via a wireless communication and determining a handheld communication device associated with the telematics unit. A text message is transmitted to a hand-held device associated with the user.
US07957741B2 Token-based receiver diversity
A token-based receiver diversity processing is described. In one embodiment, a receiver diversity comprises repeaters receiving wirelessly transmitted packets from a mobile station, and one of the repeaters forwarding packets of the wirelessly transmitted packets to a switch if the one repeater is currently assigned to forward packets from the mobile station based on an indicator assigned prior to the wirelessly transmitted packets being sent.
US07957740B2 Apparatus and method for performing handoff to reduce number of session transfers in a mobile communication system
A handoff apparatus and a method for reducing the number of session transfers in a mobile communication system are provided, in which an ANC determines whether a target ANT is included in an active set of the mobile communication system, establishes a connection session between the mobile communication system and an AT through a path connecting a target ANC of a different vendor and the target ANT if the target ANT is not included in the active set, and establishes the connection session between the mobile communication system and the AT through a path connecting the ANC and the target ANT if the target ANT is included in the active set.
US07957739B2 Method and apparatus for transmitting/receiving network sharing information about neighbor cells in a network sharing system
A method and apparatus is provided for signaling network sharing information about neighbor cells in an NS system where a RAN is shared among a plurality of CN operators. In the signaling method, it is determined whether each of neighbor cells of a current cell in which a UE is located, is shared by a CN operator other than a CN operator controlling the neighbor cell. System information without network sharing information is generated if at least one of the neighbor cells is shared by a CN operator other than a CN operator controlling the neighbor cell. System information including the network sharing information is generated if none of the neighbor cells are shared by any CN operator other than CN operators controlling the neighbor cells. The system information is then broadcast to the UE from the current cell.
US07957738B2 Adaptive and scalable QoS architecture for multi-bearer multicast/broadcast services
The invention relates to a method for filtering and a network entity of the core network or the radio access network of a mobile communication system filtering streams belonging to a single user service. The packet streams, each being transported by a bearer service, provide a multicast or broadcast service and is delivered from a service center via the network entity to a mobile terminal. The network entity comprises a service manager providing a quality-of-service management function. The invention further relates to a communication system comprising the network entity. To provide an adaptive multimedia broadcast/multicast service QoS architecture that is scalable to a great number of users, the invention suggests providing the service in form of a packet streams, each being provided via a single bearer service, and equipping nodes within the distribution tree of the service filter capability allowing to (de)register bearer services providing the service based on the downlink quality-of-service constraints obtained from a service manager.
US07957735B1 System and method for associating a wireless mobile communications device with a specific vehicle
A communications system may include a first transceiver and a second transceiver both mountable to a vehicle. The first transceiver may include a range substantially limited to a close proximity of the vehicle. The communications system may also include a mobile communications device. The mobile communications device may be adapted to receive a signal from the first transceiver when within the range of the first transceiver. The signal may include information useable by the mobile communications device for configuration of the mobile communications device for two-way communications with the second transceiver.
US07957733B2 Method and apparatus for multimedia communications with different user terminals
Multimedia communications with cross-layer optimization in multimedia communications with different user terminals. Various optimization for the delivery of multimedia content across different channels are provided concurrently to a plurality of user terminals.
US07957731B2 System and method for determining mobile telephone voice quality in a live network
A system and method for determining the quality of communications provided by a plurality of mobile telephones is provided. The method may comprise, for example, receiving one or more telephone voice signals from each mobile telephone; storing the one or more telephone voice signals in a memory; concurrently with aid receiving telephone voice signals from a mobile telephone, receiving one or more reference device voice signals from a reference device substantially co-located with the mobile telephone; storing the one or more reference device voice signals in a memory; determining voice quality data for the telephone voice signals; determining voice quality data for the reference device voice signals concurrently received with the telephone voice signals; and normalizing the voice quality data of the telephone voice signals from each mobile telephone based on the voice quality data of the reference device voice signals concurrently received with the telephone voice signals.
US07957721B2 Coordinated subscriber access handling for shared network support
To facilitate, e.g., determination of access rights in a shared network context, a telecommunications network transmits, in a broadcast channel over an air interface, an access group eligibility message to a user equipment unit. The access group eligibility message enables the user equipment unit to ascertain, on a basis of access group to which the user equipment unit belongs, whether the user equipment unit is eligible to operate in a cell for which the access group eligibility message is transmitted. The telecommunications network also includes a core network node which, classifies the user equipment unit in at least one of plural access groups. Further, the core network node generates an access group classification message which advises the user equipment unit as to which of the plural access groups the user equipment unit belongs. Upon receipt of the access group classification message, the user equipment unit stores an access group classification obtained from the access group classification message in a memory at the user equipment unit. An access controller of the user equipment unit (upon receiving the access group eligibility message) compares the stored access group classification with contents of the access group eligibility message to determine whether the user equipment unit is allowed access to the cell for which the access group eligibility message is transmitted.
US07957720B2 Systems and methods for providing multiple simultaneous calls from the same prepaid account
Prepaid services include associating a plurality of users with a prepaid services account. The account is configured to track a prepaid balance associated with the account as well as to allow at least a subset of the plurality of users associated with the account to draw down the prepaid balance at least generally at the same time. Drawing down the prepaid balance includes allocating a portion of the prepaid balance to each respective user, monitoring a provision of service, and repeating, selectively, the allocating and monitoring.
US07957718B2 Method and apparatus for telecommunication expense management
The user of a handheld wireless communicator, for example a cell phone or so-called smartphone completes a call or email or other communication event. The event is timed by the device or the duration is calculated, or otherwise the event is quantified and the information is stored in for example a log within the device. At the end of the communication event, the telecommunication expense management system provides a pop up user interface asking the user to decide whether to capture the communication event so as to assist in billing the event, to delay capturing the communication event to a future time, to dismiss the communication event as if it had not occurred, or to add the communication event to a list which is of personal interest to the user but which is not in the user's opinion billable or the costs not recoverable or otherwise of a business nature that requires capturing.
US07957717B2 System and method for differentiating between incoming and outgoing messages and identifying correspondents in a TTY communication
A method and system are provided that examine incoming and outgoing TTY transmissions to determine an identifier for distinguishing between correspondents in a TTY call. The system may utilize existing contact information associated wit an incoming call to provide context to a user for accepting incoming calls and during conversations and may apply various display settings. For TTY users, the additional context simplifies the ability to conduct critical reasoning, especially those with cognitive impairments. In particular, a picture from the user's address book is provided to assist in identifying the caller. The other display settings may include modified font styles, colors, multi-line display etc. to differentiate between incoming and outgoing messages.
US07957714B2 Radio-frequency tuner with differential converter
A system for tuning a radio-frequency signal includes a first input path, a second input path, a common reference generator, a selector, a mixer, and a filter. The first input path and the second input path propagate a first single-ended input signal and a second single-ended input signal, respectively, to the selector. The selector converts the first single-ended input signal and the second single-ended input signal into a first differential input signal and a second differential input signal, respectively, using a reference signal generated by the common reference generator.The selector selectively couples one of the first and the second input path to an input of the mixer. The mixer downconverts a selected on of the differential input signals received from the selector. The filter attenuates a portion of the downconverted input signal outside a passband associated with the filter.
US07957711B2 Apparatus for transmitting a signal below a standard transmit power in a network
A transmitter includes a detection element to determine when a current power requirement of a communication link is less than the standard transmit power. The current power requirement may be determined by a current operation condition of the communication link, for instance. The transmit power of the transmitter may be set to be less than the standard power in any of a variety of ways. For example, a center tap voltage of the transmitter may be reduced. In another example, a class of operation of the transmitter may be changed. In yet another example, the transmitter may include a current mirror having a plurality of diode-connected transistors coupled in parallel, thereby reducing the current at output terminals of the transmitter. Reducing the current at the output terminals decreases the output power of the transmitter, which may reduce the power consumed by the transmitter.
US07957710B2 DCDC converter unit, power amplifier, and base station using the same
A DCDC converter includes a signal splitting unit that splits an input signal into N signal components; N DCDC converter elements that process individually the N split signals; and an adder that adds outputs from the plural DCDC converter elements to generate output signals. Each of the DCDC converter elements has an operation band narrower than an applicable frequency band of the input signal, and selects a design parameter that allows a conversion efficiency of the DCDC converter elements to be optimized for any band of the applicable frequency bands. For example, the parameter of a PMOS transistor and a NMOS transistor, which configure an inverter is designed to optimize the efficiency at any of frequency bands. The frequency band of the input signal is split, and each of the split outputs is input to a DCDC converter element that has a corresponding frequency and high efficiency characteristic.
US07957709B1 Beta correction block
Embodiments of apparatuses, methods, and systems for a radio frequency (RF) amplifier with a beta correction block are generally described herein. In some embodiments, the beta correction block may be configured relative to an output stage so that a variation in a beta of the output stage is tracked by a corresponding variation of a reference provided by the beta correction block. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.
US07957706B2 Combined matching and filter circuit
A combined matching and harmonic rejection circuit with increased harmonic rejection provided by a split resonance for one or more of the capacitive or inductive elements of the circuit. At a fundamental frequency, the circuit comprises an inductive series arm with capacitive shunt arms. The capacitance of a shunt arm may be provided by two or more parallel paths, each having a capacitor and an inductor in series so that, in addition to providing the effective capacitance necessary for impedance matching at the fundamental frequency, two separate harmonics represented by the series resonances of the parallel paths are rejected. In this manner, an extra null in the circuit's stop-band may be achieved using the same number of shunt elements necessary to achieve impedance matching at the fundamental frequency.
US07957702B2 Adaptive duplex modes in telecommunication equipment
A transceiver is operated in a cellular communications system, wherein the transceiver has a variable transmitter output power that spans a range of power levels comprising a low-power domain and a high-power domain. Operation includes determining whether the transmitter output power of the transceiver is in the low-power domain or the high-power domain. If the transmitter output power of the transceiver is in the low-power domain, then transceiver operation is initiated in a full-duplex mode in which transmitted and received signals pass through a duplexer associated with a transceiver antenna. If the transmitter output power of the transceiver is in the high-power domain, then transceiver operation is initiated in a half-duplex mode and bypassing the duplexer.
US07957701B2 Closed-loop multiple-input-multiple-output scheme for wireless communication based on hierarchical feedback
The present invention provides methods implemented in a base station having a plurality of antennas and one or more user terminals. One embodiment of the method includes receiving feedback from at least one user in response to transmitting a first frame to said at least one user. The first frame is formed by pre-coding at least one symbol using at least one first code word selected from at least one first code book associated with the at least one user. The method also includes transmitting at least one second frame to the user(s). The second frame(s) are pre-coded using at least one second codeword selected from at least one second codebook. The second codebook(s) determined based on the feedback and the first codeword(s).
US07957700B2 Transmitter delay and phase adjustment
A transmitter, including at least two transmitter units, each transmitter unit being configured to input an instance of a digital transmit signal, to convert the digital transmit signal to an analog radio signal, and to amplify the analog radio signal. The transmitter is configured to determine a timing difference between the amplified signals, and to adjust timing of at least one of the input signals, so that a predetermined criterion is fulfilled.
US07957693B2 Wireless relay amplification apparatus
A wireless relay amplification apparatus includes an interference canceller which generates cancellation waves to cancel interference waves from a mobile station antenna, which are included in downlink signals received by the base station antenna, a downlink amplifier which amplifies downlink signals from which the interference waves have been canceled by the interference canceller, an uplink amplifier which amplifies uplink signals received by the mobile station antenna, a receiver which detects a level of received signals based on the downlink signals from which the cancellation waves have been canceled by the interference canceller, and outputs a propagation loss calculated based on a difference between the detected reception level and a transmission level of the base station included in notification information in the downlink signals, and a controller which controls gain of at least one of the downlink amplifier and the uplink amplifier based on the propagation loss output by the receiver.
US07957691B1 Distributing content to mobile devices
Computer implemented methods and systems are provided for distributing content. Information is collected on usage of a mobile device. The information is analyzed to identify a content type preference of the mobile device. A portion of a unit of content is pushed to the mobile device, wherein the unit of content is associated with the content type preference. The remainder of the unit of content is provided to the mobile device in response to a selection of the unit of content.
US07957689B2 Image forming apparatus
An image-forming apparatus includes a body casing having on upper surface thereof a paper ejection tray on which a sheet of paper ejected after formation of an image is stacked; a side cover capable of opening and closing a side surface of the body casing on the downstream side in the direction of ejection of the sheet of paper so as to cover the side surface of the body casing; and an extension tray being attached to an upper portion of the side cover. The extension tray is capable of extending to the downstream side in the direction of ejection of the sheet of paper with respect to the paper ejection tray so as to support an end portion of the sheet of paper.
US07957683B2 Color image forming apparatus capable of suppressing mixture of colors and scattering of toner
A color image forming apparatus comprising: a first development device which develops an electrostatic image on a first image bearing member with toner of color other than black; a first transfer member which forms a nip portion for nipping an image receiving member with the first image bearing member; a second development device which develops an electrostatic image on a second bearing member with black toner so as to form a toner image and collects the toner on the second image bearing member; and a second transfer member which forms a nip portion for nipping the image receiving member with respect to the second image bearing member and transfers the toner image on the second image bearing member electrostatically to the image receiving member, wherein the position of the second transfer member to the second image bearing member in the moving direction of the image receiving member is in the downstream side relative to the position of the first image bearing member of the first transfer member.
US07957679B2 Developer supply container
If a user is not familiar with the operation for the developer supply container, the rotating operation for the developer supply container may be insufficient, so that developer supply container does not reach a predetermined operating position, with the result of abnormal developer supply. by increasing a rotation load of a second gear 6 which is in an operable connection with a drive gear member 12 of the developer receiving apparatus 10 by a function of a locking member 7, the developer supply container 1 mounted to the developer receiving apparatus 10 is rotated toward the supply position. After the developer supply container 1 rotates to the supply position, the locking by the locking member 7 is released, by which the rotation load applied to the second gear 6 is reduced, so that drive transmission, thereafter, to the feeding member 4 for developer supply is smooth.
US07957677B2 Developing device and image forming apparatus using the same
A developing device that forms a toner image on an image carrier, including: a cleaning device that recovers a toner that remains on the image carrier; a recovered toner supply port to which a recovered toner is returned; a toner transporting section that transports the toner supplied from the recovered toner supply port within the developing device; a capturing section including a plurality of capturing members formed on a path along which the toner is transported by the toner transporting section, and capturing a foreign material; and a foreign-material removal member that moves along an elongating direction of the plurality of capturing members, and removes the foreign material captured by the plurality of capturing members.
US07957671B2 Image forming device and developing unit with movement member
A developing unit is to be attachable to and detachable from an image forming device main body. The developing unit is provided with a developer case, a developing roller coupled with the developer case, and a movement member coupled with the developer case. The movement member is capable of moving between a housing position where the movement member is substantially housed inside the developer case and a protruding position where the movement member protrudes beyond the developer case. The movement member is positioned at the protruding position and pushed by the image forming device main body in a predetermined direction while the developing unit is being attached to the image forming device main body.
US07957669B2 Photosensitive member cartridge, developer cartridge and process cartridge
A process cartridge includes a developer frame portion and a photosensitive member frame portion, wherein when the photosensitive member frame portion is attached to the developer frame portion, a first extension portion and a second extension portion are positioned in a substantially overlapping configuration and the first extension portion engages the second extension portion so as to urge a developer carrying member toward a photosensitive member.
US07957667B2 Intermediate coupling unit between two image forming apparatuses and image forming apparatus adaptable thereto
Provided are intermediate coupling unit that can maintain universal applicability of image forming apparatus so it can singly form images/be installed in small offices, but can also couple two apparatuses if necessary, and image forming apparatus adaptable to this unit. Intermediate coupling unit includes carry-in port at lower surface right side, plural conveying roller pairs sandwiching and conveying internally-carried-in recording medium, discharge ports formed near upper surface right/left ends for externally discharging recording medium, first/second flaps switching among conveying paths, A, B, C, paper discharge tray fixed at upper internal position, and internal paper feed cassette detachable downward. Two identical-shape printers are linked through conveying path A and enable double-speed-printing when coupled to top/bottom of intermediate coupling unit to face same direction, and linked through conveying path B and enable fast-double-side-printing when coupled to face opposite directions.
US07957666B2 Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus is described. The image forming apparatus may include a casing including an image forming section, an ejecting section above the image forming section and an image scanning section above the ejecting section, formed with an ejecting port communicating with the ejecting section; and an operating section. A side surface of the casing closer to the ejecting port includes a generally vertical surface and an upper surface of the casing includes a generally horizontal surface. The casing is provided with an inclined surface inclined along a direction intersecting with the generally vertical surface and the generally horizontal surface for connecting the generally vertical surface and the generally horizontal surface with each other. The ejecting port is formed on the inclined surface. The operating section is inclined along a direction approaching a horizontal surface than the inclined surface under the ejecting port on the inclined surface.
US07957665B2 Dual-range power supply for an image forming device
The embodiments disclosed herein are directed to methods and devices for a control system to regulate the output voltage of a high voltage power supply (HVPS) in an image forming device. In one embodiment, the HVPS comprises at least two voltage sources connected in series. A print engine controller is configured to disable at least one of the voltage sources when a voltage draw of a load exceeds a maximum differential voltage of the at least two voltage sources.
US07957664B2 Image forming apparatus which determines billing amount
There is provided an image forming apparatus in which when printing is performed based on an electrophotographic process, counting is performed by a counter for each print operation, and billing corresponding to the kind of the print operation is performed based on the count value of the counter, and which includes, as counters, a number-of-sheet counter to count the number of sheets for each print operation, an integrating counter to integrate the counter value of the number-of-sheet counter, and a billing counter to determine billing from the counter values of the number-of-sheet counter and the integrating counter, and a multiplication rate previously stored in a data table.
US07957661B2 Control of overheating in an image fixing assembly
An image fixing assembly includes a heating unit having a heating element and a fusing member enclosing the heating element; a backup member; and a heat conducting member. The fusing member is configured to rotate around the heating element. Further, the fusing member is capable of being heated by the heating element. The backup member is abuttingly coupled to the fusing member for configuring a nip portion therebetween, and is capable of pressing media sheets against the fusing member, when the media sheets pass through the nip portion. The heat conducting member is capable of retractably coupling to one of the fusing member and the backup member for enabling flow of heat between the one of the fusing member and the backup member, and the heat conducting member, for reducing a thermal gradient. Further disclosed is a method for fixing images on the media sheets using the image fixing assembly.
US07957655B2 Systems and methods for imaging components
A cartridge chip for use with a first type of imaging cartridge and a second type of imaging cartridge comprises a controller and a resistive element connected between the controller and a reference potential, the cartridge chip adapted for operation in a first mode of operation compatible with the first type of imaging cartridge when the controller detects the reference potential through the resistive element, the cartridge chip adapted for operation in a second mode of operation compatible with the second type of imaging cartridge when the controller cannot detect the reference potential through the resistive element.
US07957651B2 Configurable optical transceiver feature specific cost transaction
An environment that facilitates the purchasing and updating of specific operational features in an optical transceiver (or optical transmitter or optical receiver). The environment includes a host computing system (hereinafter referred to as the “host”), a network, a remote computing site, and an optical transceiver having a system memory and at least one processor. The host determines what specific operational feature is desired. A request to purchase the specific operational feature is sent over the network from the host to the remote computing site. The remote computing site responds to this request by providing the host information by which microcode corresponding to the purchased specific feature may be accessed. The host may then access the feature specific microcode. Finally, the host provides the feature specific microcode to the optical transceiver memory where it may later be executed by the processor.
US07957648B2 Electromagnetic device with integral non-linear component
An optical antenna assembly including multiple optical antenna elements, each of the optical antenna elements are arranged in a regular pattern and carried by a supporting body. The regular pattern of the plurality of optical antenna elements is nonuniform. Certain ones of the optical antenna elements are configured to respond to the one or more waves of light.
US07957647B2 Passive optical network system and ranging method
In a WDM-PON system wherein a plurality of ONUs transfer signals by sharing wavelengths, one wavelength dedicated to a ranging procedure is set, and the ranging is performed with only the dedicated wavelength, so as to measure reciprocating delay times. At the other wavelengths, transmission signals from a plurality of ONUs are transferred in time division multiplexing based on the obtained reciprocating delay times. An OLT includes a burst receiver circuit for only the wavelength dedicated to the ranging, and subsequently to the ranging, the OLT adjusts transmission amplitudes and transmission phases for the ONUs, so as to equalize received amplitudes and received phases in the OLT. For this purpose, the OLT includes means for measuring the amplitudes and phases of received signals, as the burst receiver circuit, and it includes a table for managing the received amplitudes and received phases of the respective ONUs.
US07957646B2 Optical time division multiplexing transmitter
The optical time division multiplexer generates a time-division-multiplexed optical signal by time-division-multiplexing optical signals of a plurality of channels, the carrier-wave phases of which are shifted with respect to one another. The circulator guides the multiplexed optical signals split by the optical splitter to the optical interference device and the superimposed light outputted from the optical interference device is guided to the optical intensity detector. The optical interference device extends the pulse width of the multiplexed optical signal to a width equal to or more than the bit interval and superimposes the extended light of an adjacent bit onto the extended light. The optical intensity detector detects the intensity of the superimposed light outputted by the optical interference device. The temperature regulator controls the temperature of the modulator so that the phase difference of the carrier waves constituting the optical signal trains is to be a half wavelength.
US07957635B2 Method and system for providing background blurring when capturing an image using an image capture device
A method and system are described for providing background blurring when capturing an image using an image capture device. According to one aspect, input is received for initiating an image capture process for capturing an image of a subject at an image capture device. A depth of field for capturing the image of the subject in a half of the depth of field furthest from the image capture device is automatically determined. The image is captured using the automatically adjusted depth of field to provide background blurring in the captured image.
US07957634B2 Circuit for calibrating focus position of optical module and calibrating method thereof
A circuit for calibrating a focus position of an optical module includes a calibration signal generating unit and a focus position adjusting unit. The calibration signal generating unit is utilized for generating a calibration signal according to a first focus signal and a second focus signal at the same time, where the first focus signal and second focus signal correspond to a first focus position and a second focus position, respectively, and the first focus position is different from the second focus position. The focus position adjusting unit is coupled to the calibration signal generating unit and is utilized for adjusting the focus position of the optical module to a specific focus position according to the calibration signal.
US07957622B2 Manufacturing method of opto-electric hybrid board and opto-electric hybrid board obtained thereby
A method of manufacturing an opto-electric hybrid board which is capable of reducing the number of steps for the manufacture of the opto-electric hybrid board and which achieves the reduction in thickness of the opto-electric hybrid board to be manufactured, and an opto-electric hybrid board obtained thereby. A plurality of protruding cores (optical interconnect lines) 3 are formed in a predetermined pattern. Thereafter, a thin metal film 4 is formed in grooves defined between adjacent ones of the cores 3. Electroplating is performed on the thin metal film 4 to fill the above-mentioned grooves with an electroplated layer 6a. The electroplated layer 6a serves as electrical interconnect lines 6.
US07957621B2 Light extraction film with nanoparticle coatings
A multifunctional optical film for enhancing light extraction includes a flexible substrate, a structured layer having nanoparticles of different sizes, and a backfill layer. The structured layer effectively uses microreplicated diffractive or scattering nanostructures located near enough to the light generation region to enable extraction of an evanescent wave from an organic light emitting diode (OLED) device. The backfill layer has a material having an index of refraction different from the index of refraction of the structured layer. The backfill layer also provides a planarizing layer over the structured layer in order to conform the light extraction film to a layer of an OLED display device. The film may have additional layers added to or incorporated within it to an emissive surface in order to effect additional functionalities beyond improvement of light extraction efficiency.
US07957614B2 Suspension board with circuit and producing method thereof
A suspension board with circuit includes a circuit board containing a metal supporting board, an insulating pattern formed on the metal supporting board, and a conductive pattern formed on the insulating pattern; an optical waveguide disposed on the circuit board; and a positioning portion provided on the circuit board in order to position the optical waveguide with respect to the circuit board.
US07957613B2 Automatic original feeding device, and image reader and image forming apparatus using automatic original feeding device
An automatic original feeding device includes an original paper feed tray that loads an original to read the image, the original paper feed tray being supported on an upper face of a platen glass for an image reader that reads an image of the original passing through an original reading position set along a straight line on the upper face of the platen glass disposed at an upper end; an original paper output tray, original feeding members feeding sequentially the original laid on the original paper feed tray to the original reading position and the original paper output tray and a strip sheet attaching part attaching detachably a strip colored sheet, the strip sheet attaching part provided in a back platen member disposed in a portion opposed to the original reading position under the condition that the sheet attaching part is supported on the upper face of the platen glass.
US07957610B2 Image processing method and image processing device for enhancing the resolution of a picture by using multiple input low-resolution pictures
An image processing device according to the present invention uses a representative picture having a first resolution and multiple reference pictures having the first resolution to generate a high-resolution picture having a second resolution higher than the first resolution. The image processing device includes a first repetition processing unit operable to repeat positioning processing while switching from one reference picture to another, and a second repetition processing unit operable to repeat update processing for updating an estimated value of a pixel in a target high-resolution picture. At least one of the first and second repetition processing units includes a determination unit operable to determine a pixel that satisfies a completion condition from the result of one of the positioning processing and the update processing, and an exclusion unit operable to exclude a pixel that satisfies the completion condition from one of the positioning processing and the update processing.
US07957609B2 System for extended high frame rate imaging with limited-diffraction beams
The present invention provides a method and a system for producing an image using an imaging system by weighting: i) the signals transmitted from at least one element of a transducer array to form limited diffraction transmitted beams or the transmitted beams are steered with linear time delay over transducer aperture; and, ii) weighting the echo signals received at the separate elements to form limited diffraction receive beams or doing Fourier transformations of the echo signals over the transducer aperture. Fourier transformations of the weighted or Fourier transformed signals form multi-dimensional k-space data sets which are used to interpolate into a rectilinear k-space of the object to be imaged. Inverse Fourier transformation along each dimension of the rectilinear k-space to produce an image.
US07957607B2 Decoding apparatus, dequantization method, and computer readable medium storing program thereof
There is provided a decoding apparatus that decodes data encoded by transform coding in units of predefined image areas, including a coefficient setting unit that sets modification coefficients for each of the image areas; and a dequantized value generating unit that generates a dequantized value corresponding to a first quantized index value of a target area which is an image area to be modified, based on the first quantized index value of the target area, a second quantized index value of other image area in predetermined relative position to the target area, and the modification coefficients set by the coefficient setting unit.
US07957606B2 System and method for edge sharpening
Presented herein are a system and method for sharpening edges in a region. In one embodiment, there is presented a method for sharpening edges. The method comprises measuring differences between at least a value associated with a first pixel and a value associated with a second pixel of a plurality of pixels; and applying a sharpening mask to the plurality of pixels, wherein the sharpening mask is a function of at least one of the measured differences, a first value associated with any one of the plurality of pixels, and a second value associated with any other of the pixels, thereby resulting in sharpened pixels.
US07957604B2 Moving image coding apparatus, moving image decoding apparatus, control method therefor, and computer-readable storage medium
In this invention, even if final code data is to be generated by selectively discarding code data for each bitplane, errors due to bitplane rounding down operation can be suppressed from being gradually accumulated in predicted data such as P- and B-pictures, thereby preventing a deterioration in image quality. For this purpose, a block segmentation unit (31) segments an input frame into a plurality of blocks, and supplies the respective blocks to a difference computing unit (32). The difference computing unit (32) outputs the blocks to a DWT unit (33) without any change when the intra-frame coding mode is set. When the inter-frame coding mode is set, the difference computing unit (32) outputs the result obtained by computing a difference from predicted data from a motion compensation unit (42) to the DWT unit (33). The frequency component data obtained by the DWT unit (33) and a quantization unit (34) is entropy-coded by an entropy coding unit (35), and a bitplane formed by bit information at the bit position of each component value is coded. A bitplane round-down unit (36) rounds down the code data of bitplanes from the least significant position to an upper bit position such that the resultant code amount becomes equal to or less than a target code amount. A code forming unit then generates code data. Only when the intra-frame coding mode is set, a dequantization unit (39) and inverse DWT unit (40) are executed to update a frame memory (41).
US07957599B2 Enhancement of compressed images
A method and apparatus for enhancing compressed images is described. In one embodiment, the method comprises characterizing quantization noise in reconstructed low pass coefficients generated in response to application of an inverse wavelet transform and removing the quantization noise from the reconstructed low pass coefficients constructed during decoding.
US07957592B2 Video object segmentation method and system
A method and system of video object segmentation are disclosed herein. A pixel data of an image is received, wherein the pixel data has a corresponding location. A difference value between a pixel value of the pixel data and a pixel value in the corresponding location of a previous image is obtained. Utilizing the difference value and the pixel data, a multi-layered background registration is performed to get a background. Using the background, a background region of the image is removed. Furthermore, a process of removing an average value of luminance from the image and from the background is carried out to prevent object segmentation failure caused by the non-uniform luminance problem, which is produced by variation and flickering of illumination.
US07957590B2 Image processing method, display image processing method, image processing device, image processing program, and integrated circuit device including that image processing device
An aim of the invention is to achieve an image processing method that performs color information correction of an image more naturally with a simple configuration. The image processing method of the invention is an image processing method that performs color information correction of image data that have been input, and includes an information calculation step (S11), a characteristic calculation step (S12), a color information correction step (S13), and an output step (S14). The information calculation step (S11) calculates the color information of the image data. The characteristic calculation step (S12) calculates the visual characteristic information in accordance with the color information. The color information correction step (S13) corrects the color information based on the visual characteristic information that is calculated in the characteristic calculation step (S12). The output step (S14) outputs the image data after color information correction based on the color information that has been corrected in the color information correction step (S13).
US07957589B2 Arbitrary power function using logarithm lookup table
A display device performs the fractional part of gamma translation by using a logarithm lookup table. The logarithm of an image data value is found in a look-up table. The retrieved result is multiplied by the fractional portion of the power, and a search in the look up table for this product produces an index related to the desired result. In another embodiment, rather than a search of the first look up table, a second inverse logarithm look up table is used to produce the desired result by looking up the exponentiation of the product.
US07957586B2 Method for converting color space of image signal
Provided is a method for converting a first image signal expressed in a first color space into a second image signal expressed in a second color space on a subword parallelism basis. The method includes determining a first image parameter of a second image signal matrix as a function calculated by multiplying conversion coefficients of a first row constituting an image conversion matrix by image parameters constituting a first image signal matrix; determining a second image parameter of the second image signal matrix as a function expressed by at least one of image parameters constituting the first image signal matrix and the determined first image parameter of the second image signal matrix; determining a third image parameter of the second image signal matrix as a function expressed by at least one image parameter unused for determining the second image parameter of the second image signal matrix among the image parameters constituting the first image signal matrix, and by the determined first image parameter of the second image signal matrix; and finally calculating the second image signal matrix by shifting the determined image parameters constituting the second image signal matrix by a predetermined number of bits.
US07957579B2 Pattern inspection method and apparatus
An apparatus for processing a defect candidate image, including: a scanning electron microscope for taking an enlarged image of a specimen by irradiating and scanning a converged electron beam onto the specimen and detecting charged particles emanated from the specimen by the irradiation; an image processor for processing the image taken by the scanning electron microscope to detect defect candidates on the specimen and classify the detected defect candidates into one of plural classes; a memory for storing output from the image processor including images of the detected defect candidates; and a display unit which displays information stored in the memory and an indicator, wherein the display unit displays a distribution of the detected and classified defect candidates in a map format by distinguishing by the classified class, and the display unit also displays an image of a defect candidate stored in the memory together with the map which is indicated on the map by the indicator.
US07957578B2 Method for automatically inspecting polar directions of polar element
A method for automatically inspecting positive and negative polar directions of a polar element on a substrate is provided. Firstly, an image of a standard substrate is retrieved to form a standard sample, and relevant data of the polar elements on a substrate to be inspected is obtained to form the inspected sample. Then, transforming the geometry coordinates to the pixel coordinates, using different shapes of frames to make each polar element be positioned within, and marking the positions, positive and negative polar directions of all the polar elements in the image of the standard substrate. A database is set up to record the relevant data of each polar element as the standard sample for inspecting. The standard sample is compared with all the samples to be inspected to inspect whether the polar directions of each polar element is correct or not.
US07957576B2 Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and image processing program
Data representing a sheet of document is obtained. Then, an area where it is possible to obtain a paper fingerprint from the obtained data representing the sheet of document is determined, and a paper fingerprint intensity of the sheet of document is calculated based on a number of areas of one or more paper fingerprint obtaining patterns allocated in the area where it is possible to obtain a paper fingerprint. Furthermore, a result of the calculation is reported to a user.
US07957568B2 Image interpretation report creating apparatus and image interpretation support system
An image interpretation report creating apparatus for retrieving a key image corresponding to that in the previous examination from among images taken in this examination to display it on an image display terminal. The apparatus includes: a follow-up observation examination determining unit for determining whether this examination is an object of follow-up observation; a previous report determining unit for determining, as previous report data, report data on the same patient from among the report data; a previous report data acquiring unit for acquiring the previous report data; an image data acquiring unit for acquiring image data at this time; a key image estimating unit for estimating a key image at a slice position corresponding to the previous examination based on the previous report data; and an image data output unit for outputting image data representing examination images containing the key image to the image display terminal.
US07957558B2 System and method for optically tracking a mobile device
A system and method for optically tracking a mobile device uses a first displacement value along a first direction and a second displacement value along a second direction, which are produced using frames of image data of a navigation surface, to compute first and second tracking values that indicate the current position of the mobile device. The first tracking value is computed using the second displacement value and the sine of a tracking angle value, while the second tracking value is computed using the second displacement value and the cosine of the tracking angle value. The tracking angle value is an angle value derived using at least one previous second displacement value.
US07957557B2 Tracking apparatus and tracking method
A tracing device and a tracing method for realizing a real-time trace of a moving object such as a person from a time-varying image by method of a light processing load, and for learning features through the trace thereby to realize a trace of higher precision. The tracing device divides time-varying data inputted into partial images (in a strip or rectangle shape), and compares the background image containing no tracing object thereby with the current image thereby to extract the divided image having the tracing object. In order to discriminate the tracing object, moreover, the tracing device calculates the color high-level local self-correlated data, from which the features of color and shape can be extracted all at once, and performs the discrimination on the basis of a distance from the featuring data of the tracing object registered. The tracing device updates the background image and the registered featuring data into the latest ones. The features are acquired while tracing the tracing object, and the object is discriminated by utilizing the features so that a strong and highly precise trace can be realized.
US07957556B2 Vehicle surroundings monitoring apparatus, vehicle, vehicle surroundings monitoring method, and vehicle surroundings monitoring program
An object such as a person is extracted from images captured by cameras (2R, 2L) to determine the degree of vertical symmetry of the object (step 33). In the case where the degree of vertical symmetry is determined to be high, the object is determined to be other than a living body (step 33a). In the case where the degree of vertical symmetry is determined to be low, the object is determined likely to be a living body (step 33b). In the case where determined likely to be a living body, the object is further determined to be a predetermined kind of living body (for example, a person) or not based on the image of the object (steps 34 and 35). This allows an extremely reliable and simple determination of whether the type of the object extracted from the image captured by the camera is a living body such as a person.
US07957552B2 Optimized digital watermarking functions for streaming data
A digital watermark detector comprises a memory buffer for receiving an incoming stream of data. The detector includes a registration module for determining registration of embedded data in blocks of the incoming stream of data, and logic for re-using the registration for subsequent blocks of the incoming stream of data to detect machine readable signals. Another digital watermark detector comprises a message reader for extracting message estimates from blocks of media signal data and a decoder for combining the extracted message estimates and decoding a message from the combined message elements. Another digital watermark detector comprises a memory buffer and pipelined watermark processor segments. The segments each perform a different watermark detector operation. These segments concurrently operate on different data segments of the block of data in a processing pipeline.
US07957551B2 Loudspeaker
A loudspeaker includes the following components: a frame (5) that has a magnetic circuit (4) including a magnetic gap (4a) therein; and a diaphragm (6) that is bonded to a voice coil (7) fitted into the magnetic gap (4a) in the center thereof, and to the periphery of the frame (5) along the outer periphery thereof. The magnetic circuit (4) includes a yoke (1), a magnet (2), and a top plate (3). Tongue-shaped flanges (1a) are disposed at a substantially equidistant spacing in three positions to protrude from the top end face of the yoke (1). The total area of these tongue-shaped flanges (1a) in the three positions does not exceed a half of the total area corresponding to the flange part without flanges (1a). The frame (5) also includes engaging parts (5a) each for receiving one of the tongue-shaped flanges (1a) therein.
US07957545B2 Stereo speaker system having acoustic filter for improving low frequency characteristic
A stereo speaker system including: a speaker unit having a plurality of speakers which output audio; and a filter unit selectively receiving low frequency components of the outputted audio. The filter unit eliminates the received low frequency components to decrease back pressure on the speakers. Thus, the phenomenon of air-loading caused by back-pressure is removed and the low frequency characteristic of stereo speakers is improved by activating the vibration of a vibrating plate.
US07957544B2 Audio signal output control device that suppresses pop sound
The potential of a smoothing capacitor for a speaker is smoothly changed by controlling the potential with use of a PWM signal and switching between outputting the PWM signal and an actual audio signal, thereby suppressing a pop sound. The scale of circuitry is reduced and cost is lowered by implementing a PWM circuit in a one-chip microcontroller. Noise is eliminated by outputting a pulse that has been divided in the PWM signal generation stage.
US07957543B2 Listening device
In a listening device such as for example a hearing aid (1) where an input signal (10) is received by a microphone (2), converted from analog to digital (3), digitally processed (4) including a conversion from a time domain into a frequency domain, converted from digital to analog (5) and transmitted to a user by means of a loudspeaker (6), the internal digital processing (4) generates an unwanted noise signal, the so called undesired periodic noise (12), at specific frequencies. The undesired periodic noise is coupled via ground and the battery (7) into the signal processing path. According to the invention, the undesired periodic noise is filtered out of the input signal (10.2) during the digital signal processing (4), after the conversion of the digital signal into the frequency domain.
US07957539B2 Sound enhancement system
A system for enhancing sound quality comprising a filter that square roots the instantaneous amplitude of frequencies in an input signal for generating artificial harmonics corresponding to said frequencies. The system can comprise an automatic level control that momentarily boosts the amplitude of a higher frequency portion of the input signal to emphasize attack transients occurring within the input signal.
US07957535B2 Data storing method, data playback method, data recording device, data playback device, and recording medium
A method for performing a high-speed search for a content key associated with encrypted content for a key-separation-type content management method where content keys and pieces of encrypted content are correlated by ID information and stored in different recording media. An external recording medium stores content files including: pieces of encrypted content that are encrypted with different encryption keys; and content IDs, each associated with a corresponding piece of encryption content, and a semiconductor recording medium stores a list including: encryption key storage location information, each indicating where a corresponding encryption key is stored; and content IDs, the list sorted in accordance with the content IDs. When encrypted content is played back, the list is searched to find encryption key storage location information associated with content ID that matches the content ID of the encrypted content, and the encryption key is read based on the encryption key storage location information.
US07957531B2 Method and apparatus for detection of loss of cipher synchronization
Detecting loss of stream cipher synchronization between a transmitter and a receiver in a video processing system may be achieved by receiving, by the receiver, an encrypted video frame from the transmitter, obtaining an encrypted value for a selected pixel in the encrypted video frame, decrypting the encrypted pixel value using a first portion of the receiver's current key stream, re-encrypting the pixel value using a second portion of the receiver's current key stream, sending the re-encrypted pixel value from the receiver to the transmitter, obtaining, by the transmitter, a plaintext value for the selected pixel from a corresponding original video frame and encrypting the plaintext pixel value using a second portion of the transmitter's current key stream, and comparing the re-encrypted pixel value received from the receiver with the encrypted pixel value generated by the transmitter and detecting a loss of cipher synchronization when the values do not match.
US07957530B2 Method and system for ensuring secure scrambling and de-scrambling and the distribution of vectoral visual sequences
A process for secured distribution of vector visual sequences in at least two dimensions, animated and including a succession of frames containing at least one multidimensional geometric object to be displayed on a screen of a user and determined by at least one parameter including: analyzing the stream prior to transmission to addressee equipment to generate a modified main stream by deletion and replacement of information coding the original visual signal, having a format the same as the format of the original stream, but of which at least one frame was modified, and complementary information of any format including digital information suitable for permitting reconstruction of the modified frames, which modified main stream and which complementary information are transmitted separately to the addressee equipment.
US07957526B2 Confidential information implementation system and LSI
A security information implementation system includes a storage section 120a for storing first encrypted security information EDK (MK) provided by encrypting final security information DK according to internal security information MK and second encrypted security information EMK (CK) provided by encrypting the internal security information MK according to conversion security information CK and an LSI 120b including a seed generation section 131 for storing a first constant value containing address information on which a conversion seed is generated based and a second constant value and a third constant value on which a test conversion seed is generated based and outputting the first constant value and the second constant value or the third constant value as the conversion seed or the test conversion seed in response to a test signal and a mode setup value; a one-way function circuit 32 for converting the conversion seed or the test conversion seed output from the seed generation section 131 according to the first encrypted security information EDK (MK) input from the storage section 120a to generate the conversion security information CK or test conversion security information; a decryption circuit 33 for decrypting the second encrypted security information EMK (CK) input from the storage section 120a using the output of the one-way function circuit 32 as a key; and a decryption circuit 34 for decrypting the first encrypted security information EDK (MK) input from the storage section 120a using the output of the decryption circuit 33 as a key.
US07957518B2 Communication handoff between telephone devices
A method of moving telephone communication from a first device engaged in a call, to a second device. The method includes initiating a determination of status of the first device from the second device, joining the second device to the call to form a conference in response to an active call status indication, and removing the first device from the conference, leaving the second device engaged in the call.
US07957517B2 Method and apparatus for providing internet protocol call transfer in communication networks
A method and apparatus for enabling a network provider, in concert with IP technology and protocols, to provide the ability to offer a simple pre-answer or post-answer call redirection, such as call transfer, to customers with IP endpoints is disclosed. The present invention allows call transfers to be initiated from an IP endpoint but processed in the packet network, e.g., the VoIP network instead of being processed by the endpoint. When a redirecting party (RP) receives a call from a calling party (CP), the RP simply sends a VoIP signaling message to the network to initiate a call transfer to redirect the call from the CP to a TP instead and the network will complete the call transfer on behalf of the RP.
US07957512B2 Source selection for conference bridges
The present invention provides an audio source selection process for a conference bridge. The conference bridge receives multiple audio sources and selects at least one of the audio sources based on the relative signal levels associated with the audio signal at each of the audio sources. The audio signals associated with the selected source are delivered to conference participants via one or more audio outputs. The conference bridge will repeatedly employ a selection process to select an audio source based on signal level measurements for the audio signals of the audio sources. During the selection process, the influence of a selected audio source relative to the other unselected audio sources is reduced, after the selected audio source has remained selected for more than a first time period.
US07957506B2 Automobile scanning system
A dual energy x-ray imaging system searches a moving automobile for concealed objects. Dual energy operation is achieved by operating an x-ray source at a constant potential of 100 KV to 150 KV, and alternately switching between two beam filters. The first filter is an atomic element having a high k-edge energy, such as platinum, gold, mercury, thallium, lead, bismuth, and thorium, thereby providing a low-energy spectrum. The second filter provides a high-energy spectrum through beam hardening. The low and high energy beams passing through the automobile are received by an x-ray detector. These detected signals are processed by a digital computer to create a steel suppressed image through logarithmic subtraction. The intensity of the x-ray beam is adjusted as the reciprocal of the measured automobile speed, thereby achieving a consistent radiation level regardless of the automobile motion. Accordingly, this invention provides images of organic objects concealed within moving automobiles without the detritus effects of overlying steel and automobile movement.
US07957505B1 X-ray radiography for container inspection
Arrangements of X-ray inspection systems are described for inspecting high-z materials in voluminous objects such as containers. Inspection methods may involve generating a radiographic image based on detected attenuation corresponding to a pulsed beams of radiation transmitted through a voluminous object. The pulsed beams of radiation are generated by a high-energy source and transmitted substantially downward along an incident angle, of approximately 1° to 30°, to a vertical axis extending through the voluminous object. The generated radiographic image may be analyzed to detect on localized high attenuation representative of high-z materials and to discriminate high-z materials from lower and intermediate-z materials on the basis of the high density and greater attenuation of high-z material for higher energy (3-10 MeV) X-rays, and the compact nature of threatening masses of fissionable materials.
US07957503B2 Medical breast-image capturing apparatus
A medical breast-image capturing apparatus includes an aperture member for exposing a breast of a test subject. To perform adequate breast cancer screening, the aperture member has a noncircular shape, is arranged to be replaceable with another aperture member, or has a variable opening. Another medical breast-image capturing apparatus includes a pressure-reducing device for reducing a pressure in a hollow section in which a breast is exposed.
US07957501B2 Solid target system and method for the handling of a Cu-64 target
The present invention provides a system and method for a system for accommodating a solid target in an accelerator. The system and method includes a target changer having at least one port for accommodating the solid target, an insert for receiving the solid target in the target changer, a piston for providing a vacuum and a cooling system for the solid target, a cylinder for displacing the piston in one of three positions; and a bracket for securing the insert, piston and cylinder to the target changer.
US07957492B2 TFCI decoding apparatus and method
Wireless communication systems according to 3rd Generation standards allow for large flexibility in payload transmission. To signal the specific combination of transport block sizes multiplexed into one composite transport channel, a transport format combination indicator is transmitted in addition to the encoded payload data. The correct decoding of this transport format combination indicator codeword information is crucial to retrieve the correct number and size of transport blocks from the incoming data stream in the receiver, which can be both, the user equipment or the base station. The decoding apparatus (1) of the invention allows an in-time processing of the incoming data, while the decoding performance for the next codeword information is increased. Therefore, a codeword decision unit (15) determines a first codeword decision on the basis of a first codeword information received. This first codeword decision is usable for the processing of the first payload data. Then, the codeword decision unit (15) decides and outputs a second codeword decision on the basis of the first codeword information and the second codeword information. This second codeword decision has an improved reliability.
US07957491B1 Digital technique of compensating mismatches between in phase and quadrature channels
Methods and systems for filtering include accessing first and second signals produced from an input signal and producing first and second filtered outputs, which correspond to the first and second signals, based on a filtering characteristic. The filtering characteristic can include a first filtering coefficient weighting the first and second signals. The filtering characteristic can include a second filtering coefficient weighting third and fourth signals, the third and fourth signals being produced prior to the first and second signals. The first and second filtering coefficients can include matrices which have non-symmetrical terms.
US07957490B2 Insertion of repetitive PN sequences into DTV data fields
An echo cancellation reference signal is generated within a DTV transmitter by approximating a pair of successive repetitive PN sequences with 8VSB symbols arranged in sequences that are capable of being generated by ⅔ trellis coding. The trellis coding is controlled so that the two sequences of 8VSB symbols can be linearly combined to generate a repetitive PN sequence doubled in amplitude and superposed on a constant-value pedestal. After this linear combining is performed by a comb filter in a DTV receiver, the resulting signal is convolved with the PN sequence as known a priori at the DTV receiver. This is a correlation procedure which generates the impulse response of the channel through which the DTV signal was received. The channel impulse response (CIR) provides a basis for computing the weighting coefficients of adaptive channel-equalization filtering in the DTV receiver.
US07957489B2 Digital amplifier and television receiving apparatus
A digital amplifier including a clock generation unit configured to output a clock signal, a pulse width modulation unit configured to pulse width-modulate the clock signal based on an input signal, a driving unit configured to alternately drive at least two switching elements which convert the output of the pulse width modulation unit, an analysis unit configured to analyze characteristics of the input signal, and a control unit configured to control frequencies of the clock signal based on an output of the analysis unit.
US07957488B2 Wireless communication apparatus and operating frequency control method of power conversion apparatus
A wireless communication apparatus includes a DC/DC converter that is operated based on a second clock signal generated by an oscillator with high accuracy when receiving the annunciation signal. Therefore, it is possible to reduce negative influences on other electrical apparatuses due to the conduction noise. The DC/DC converter is operated based on first clock signal generated by an oscillator with low accuracy while in a non-receiving time of the annunciation signal. Therefore, it is possible to reduce negative influence on other electrical apparatuses and to reduce the consumption of electrical power.
US07957481B2 Method and an apparatus for estimating a delay spread of a multipath channel
Low complex algorithms for estimating a delay spread or a RMS delay spread of a multipath channel using channel estimates are disclosed, leading to low overall power consumption. According to an embodiment of the present invention, a delay spread or a RMS delay spread of the multipath channel is determined based on a metric calculated as a function of channel estimates. In another embodiment, an average signal to noise ratio is taken into consideration in addition to the metric to estimate the delay spread or the RMS delay spread. In a further embodiment, the delay spread or the RMS delay spread of the multipath channel is estimated based on an average signal to noise ratio and on a metric being a function of the slope between subcarrier channel estimates. The present invention further relates to an apparatus for estimating a delay spread or a RMS delay spread of the multipath channel.
US07957479B2 Apparatus and method for supporting distortionless vector perturbation in multiple antenna system
An apparatus and method for supporting distortionless vector perturbation in a Multi-Input Multi-Output (MIMO) system are provided. The apparatus includes a transmitter for supporting distortionless vector perturbation in a MIMO system. The transmitter includes a label inserter for generating a label and for inserting the label into a user information bit, a scrambler for scrambling the user information bit inserted with the label and for generating N independent candidate sequences, a modulator for modulating the N independent candidate sequences according to a modulation scheme and a vector perturbation unit for adding a limited offset vector so that the modulated symbols are mapped to a constellation point in a feasible region. The apparatus and method provide vector perturbation with improved performance and reduced computational complexity.
US07957478B2 Radio signal generator
A signal generator includes a memory for storing content information in the form of vectors including in-phase and quadrature elements of an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing waveform, a processor for converting the vectors to a radio frequency signal, and a logic device for controlling the operation of the memory and the processor. The in-phase and quadrature elements represent baseband content of the orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing waveform.
US07957475B2 Dual carrier modulation (DCM) demapper and DCM demapping method
A DCM demapper and a DCM demapping method are provided. The DCM demapper includes: a basic signal generation unit generating a plurality of basic signals using a signal and channel information of two subcarriers; a soft decision generation unit generating a plurality of soft decisions using the plurality of basic signals; and a soft decision selection unit selecting a soft decision corresponding to each bit of the two subcarriers among the generated soft decisions.
US07957469B2 Video comfort noise addition technique
A decoding arrangement for decoding pictures in an incoming video stream includes a noise generator for adding a dither signal containing random noise to the pictures after video decoding, to improve the subjective video quality. The noise generator adds noise to each pixel in an amount correlated to additive noise of pixels in a prior picture, either a previously displayed picture (i.e., a previously decoded picture to which noise has been added), or a previously decoded picture.
US07957468B2 Method for processing motion image
A method for processing a motion image comprises of receiving a plurality of frames of a motion image, and dividing each frame into a plurality of macro blocks. Then, one of the macro blocks defines a comparing block. The pixels in the comparing block of a current frame are processed using a SAD operation with the pixels in a macro block in a searching of the pre-frame to obtain a SAD threshold value. In addition, the present invention lets the pixels in the comparing block process a SAD operation with the macro block that has not yet been processed by a SAD operation, thus obtaining an accumulation value of a plurality of the SAD values. When the accumulation value is greater than or equal to the SAD threshold value, the SAD operation is interrupted.
US07957466B2 Adaptive area of influence filter for moving object boundaries
A method of performing adaptive temporal prediction includes receiving a target image, wherein a position of an object in the target image is different from a position of the object in a reference image, using a boundary of the object to generate an irregular pattern of target image motion vectors, using the target image motion vectors to partition the target image into area of influence cells, wherein each area of influence cell contains a unique one of the target image motion vectors, and generating a prediction of the target image by applying an adaptive area of influence filter to the area of influence cells.
US07957460B2 Method of and a device for generating a signal having a predetermined quality criterion for use in or on a communication system
There is disclosed a signal having a predefined quality criterion for use with a communication systems, a method of and a system for generating, such a signal, a method of testing the operation of a communication system using such a signal and a (tele)communication system arranged for operating such a method. The method for generating the signal having a predefined quality the steps of:—representing a first signal (10) comprising a plurality of frequency components each having spectral amplitude and phase properties, and—processing the represented signal by arranging (11) its spectral amplitude properties, and processing the represented signal by arranging (11) its spectral amplitude properties in accordance with the predefined quality criterion.
US07957457B2 Voice data RF wireless network IC
An integrated circuit (IC) includes at least one baseband processing module, an RF section, and an interface. The baseband processing module converts outbound voice signal into an outbound voice symbol stream; an inbound voice symbol stream into an inbound voice signal; outbound data into an outbound data symbol stream; an inbound data symbol stream into inbound data; outbound wireless network data into an outbound wireless network data symbol stream; and an inbound wireless network data symbol stream into inbound wireless network data. The RF section converts an inbound RF voice signal into the inbound voice symbol stream; the outbound voice symbol stream into an outbound RF voice signal; an inbound RF data signal into the inbound data symbol stream; the outbound data symbol stream into an outbound RF data signal; an inbound RF wireless network data signal into the inbound wireless network data symbol stream; and the outbound wireless network data symbol stream into an outbound RF wireless network data signal. The interface module couples the baseband processing module(s) to the RF section.
US07957455B2 Method and circuit arrangement for calibration of a sampling control signal which influences the sampling time of a received signal from a sampling phase selection element
A discrete sampling control signal, which influences the sampling time, from a sampling phase selection element is calibrated by definition of quantization intervals for a sampling time error signal. For this purpose, a received signal is shifted through a series of time shifts τi in the signal path upstream of the sampling phase selection element. The sampling time errors ei associated with the respective time shifts τi are measured. The quantization steps of the sampling control signal that are suitable for the sampling phase selection element are then determined from the relationship obtained between τi and ei.
US07957451B1 Cognitive spectral sensor-based PN hopping/spreading sequence generator
A spread spectrum communication system includes a transceiver configured to transmit a spread spectrum waveform. The spread spectrum waveform comprises transmitted signals at varying frequencies within a radio frequency spectrum of operation. The frequency variation is controlled according to a hopping sequence. A spectral sensor of the communication system is configured to dynamically scan the radio frequency spectrum of operation and to generate channel occupancy data based upon the scans. A real time hopping sequence generator is configured to dynamically generate the hopping sequence in real time as a function of the channel occupancy data.
US07957450B2 Method and system for frame formats for MIMO channel measurement exchange
A method and system for frame formats for MIMO channel measurement exchange is provided. Aspects of a method for communicating information in a communication system may comprise transmitting data via a plurality of radio frequency (RF) channels utilizing a plurality of transmitting antenna, receiving feedback information via at least one of a plurality of RF channels, and modifying a transmission mode based on the feedback information. Aspects of a method for communicating information in a communication system may also comprise receiving data via a plurality of receiving antenna, transmitting feedback information via at least one of the plurality of RF channels, and requesting modification of a transmission mode for the received data in transmitted response messages comprising the feedback information.
US07957448B2 Optoelectronic circuit with a photoreceptor and a laser diode, and module comprising the same
The optoelectronic circuit includes a photoreceptor (1) made in a silicon semiconductor substrate (4), and a monomode VCSEL laser diode (2) made in a gallium arsenide substrate. The photoreceptor includes at least one photosensitive area with a pixel array for picking up light and an area with a control and processing unit for the signals supplied by the pixels. The laser diode is mounted and electrically connected directly on one part of the photoreceptor. The laser diode is connected by a conductive terminal (12) to a first contact pad (3) at the bottom of a cavity (13) made through a passivation layer (5) of the photoreceptor. An electrode (17) on the top of the diode is connected by a metal wire (15) to a second contact pad (3) of the photoreceptor. The photoreceptor controls the diode directly via the electrode and the conductive terminal to generate a laser beam (L).
US07957447B2 VCSEL array device and method for manufacturing the VCSEL array device
Provided is a VCSEL array device that includes at least a first multilayer reflective film, an active layer, and a second multilayer reflective film, formed on a substrate that extends in a longitudinal direction. Plural mesa portions are formed on the substrate by selectively removing at least a portion of the first multilayer reflective film, active layer, and second multilayer reflective film. A selectively oxidized region is formed in at least one of the first multilayer reflective film and the second multilayer reflective film. The VCSEL array device further includes an interlayer insulating film that covers at least a side portion and a bottom portion of the mesa portions, and a surface protecting film that covers the interlayer insulating film. The surface protecting film has plural grooves formed along a longitudinal direction of the substrate in which at least a portion of the surface protecting film is removed.
US07957446B2 Semiconductor laser and method of making semiconductor laser
A semiconductor laser includes a first optical confinement layer, a plurality of first quantum wires and buried semiconductor regions disposed on a first area, a plurality of second quantum wires and buried semiconductor regions disposed on a second area, an active layer disposed on a third area, and a second optical confinement layer. The plurality of first quantum wires and the buried semiconductor regions constitute a first distributed Bragg reflector, and the plurality of second quantum wires and the buried semiconductor regions constitute a second distributed Bragg reflector. The third area is disposed between the first area and the second area. The buried semiconductor regions have a refractive index different from the average refractive index of the first quantum wires and the average refractive index of the second quantum wires. These distributed Bragg reflectors form a DBR laser having a cavity length defined by the length of the active layer.
US07957442B2 Semiconductor optical device
An edge-emitting semiconductor optical device comprises a first cladding layer, an active layer, and a second cladding layer. The first cladding layer is provided on a semiconductor substrate. The active layer is provided on the first cladding layer. The semiconductor substrate has a higher band gap than that of the active layer. The first cladding layer includes a first light-absorbing layer and a first light-transmitting layer. The first light-absorbing layer has a lower band gap than that of the active layer, and the first light-transmitting layer has a higher band gap than that of the active layer. The second cladding layer is provided on the active layer.
US07957432B2 Light coupler and fiber laser system including the same
A light coupler emitting a high power laser with a high beam quality and a fiber laser system including the light coupler is disclosed. The light coupler includes a first optical fiber bundle comprising a plurality of first optical fibers having either a single-mode core or a few-mode core and a second optical fiber, which guides multi-mode beams and is connected to the first optical fiber bundle. The optical fiber laser system includes a light coupler having a first optical fiber bundle comprising a plurality of first optical fiber having either a single-mode core or a few-mode core and a second optical fiber, which is connected to the first optical fiber bundle, is either a single cladding optical fiber or a double cladding optical fiber, and guides multi-mode beams, and one or more gain medium optical fiber, which is connected to the light coupler and emits light.
US07957427B2 Method and apparatus for estimating traffic flows using dynamic latency constraints
A method and apparatus that use dynamic latency to estimate traffic flows in a communication network are disclosed. For example, the method obtains a demand matrix having at least one point pair demand, and satisfies each of the at least one point pair demand in the demand matrix by selecting a shortest path that minimizes a dynamic latency and a number of hops.
US07957426B1 Method and apparatus for managing voice call quality over packet networks
The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for maintaining voice call quality over a packet network by providing optimal de jitter buffer depth and rate of change of depth. Buffer depth and rate of change of buffer depth may be initially determined by classifying the incoming call. Classification of the incoming calls may be accomplished by categorizing calls into groups based on characteristics of the calls. The buffer depth and rate of change of depth may be further optimized at the start of calls based on voice-path delay and packet loss probability measurements over one or more calls of the same class such that the voice-path delay is minimized while maintaining a certain packet loss probability, the packet loss probability is minimized while maintaining a certain voice-path delay, or an R-factor, which is an objective measure of voice quality, is maximized.
US07957425B2 Communicating distinct data using polarized data signals
A method and system is provided for communicating distinct data over a single frequency using multiple polarized data signals. Data signals of the single frequency conveying first data, second data, and third data are polarized in a first polarization scheme and a second polarization scheme. The data signals comprise a first data signal, a second data signal, a third data signal, and inverse of the third data signal in a first configuration or a second configuration. The polarized data signals are transmitted from transmitting stations to one or more receiving stations. The first data, second data, and third data are obtained from the data signals received at the receiving stations using an antenna of a first polarity and an antenna of a second polarity. The amount of distinct data transmitted over the single frequency is increased by, for example, about 50% without causing interference between the data signals.
US07957421B2 Method and system for managing data service network of metropolitan area network
The present invention discloses a method and system for managing data service network of Metropolitan Area Network (MAN), as well as a method for searching data service paths based on the MAN system. The solution of the present invention includes binding Virtual Channel Trail Termination Points (VCTTPs) at each end of at least two Virtual Channels (VCs) as Path Trails with Trunk Trail Termination Points (TrunkTTPs) of a Trunk trail by Trunkbind to form a Trunk trail; and connecting the TrunkTTPs to termination points of a data service trail by Ethernet cross connection to carry data service. The present invention converges the data service with the prior Synchronous Digital Hierarchy (SDH) service smoothly, facilitates the management of data service network of MAN, increases the compatibility of network system and efficiency of service management and improves the transport efficiency and the reliability of data services of MAN.
US07957420B2 Packet transfer method and packet transfer node
The present invention provides a method of performing packet transfer among nodes on a network by a packet transfer node. When the network is divided into a plurality of network areas and routing within an individual network area and between network areas is performed, the method divides packet transfer processing of the packet transfer node into a higher layer and a lower layer, selects one of the higher layer and the lower layer for each packet to be transferred in accordance with information set in the packet transfer node, and performs the packet transfer by the selected hierarchical layer. According to the present invention, an added packet transfer node can be coupled with a network area which is not adjacent to the added packet transfer node to increase flexibility of expanding the network.
US07957417B2 Methods of allocating access across a shared communications medium
A method of providing network access across a shared communications medium between competing users includes the steps of monitoring network access usage by each user for a past time interval and, based on the monitored network access usage, allocating network access for each user during a future time interval. Features include forecasting network access that will be utilized or requested by users in a future time interval, and prioritizing the users for allocating network access to the users.
US07957416B2 Data transfer system and method
A transmission source bridge collects packets sent from nodes connected to a serial bus in accordance the IEEE1394 Standards, into one packet in an order they are to be transmitted and then sends them onto an ATM network, so that a transmission destination bridge receives this packet and divides it into a plurality of smaller packets and transfers them, in the order they were sent, to nodes connected to the serial bus in accordance with the IEEE1394 Standards.
US07957413B2 Method, system and program product for outsourcing resources in a grid computing environment
A technique for efficiently processing resource allocation requests in an on-demand environment. When a user logs into a resource allocation request manager, various resource requirements entered are immediately sent to a remote resource manager to allow for dynamic, real-time feedback to the user who is entering the resource requirements as to any issues or concerns regarding the requested resource(s) or plug-in element(s), such as lack of availability. The user can thus reconfigure or otherwise modify the various resource requests based on this feedback to optimize the overall resource allocation request. This also allows an organization providing services such as computer hosting services to re-allocate resources in advance if a new resource request would exceed a service level agreement outlined in advance with a customer, thereby improving resource planning in a data center environment. In addition, the dynamic feedback on the new resource request that exceeds a service level agreement can be used to develop a new service level agreement or temporary service offer that addresses the unique resource condition.
US07957397B2 Bandwidth allocation for video-on-demand networks
A method and apparatus is provided for determining bandwidth allocation that includes initiating a transmission of a plurality of at least portions of content from a root node of a tree topology network along a path having a plurality of links connecting nodes to at least one destination node, allocating bandwidth for the plurality of at least portions of content carried on a respective link with an available bandwidth capacity such that a sum of the allocated bandwidths of all of the plurality of at least portions of content carried on the respective link does not exceed the available bandwidth capacity, and using a Lexicographic Minimax Algorithm for a Flexible or Constrained Bandwidth Allocation Model to provide bandwidth allocations to the plurality of at least portions of content and to determine an ordered list from the plurality of links from a most critical link to a least critical link.
US07957396B1 Targeted flow sampling
A device may include two or more line interfaces. One of the line interfaces may include a component to buffer a packet that is received at the line interface, perform a lookup of information related to selecting a flow based on a header of the packet, apply a symmetric hash function to addresses in the header to obtain a hash when the information related to selecting the flow indicates the flow is to be selected based on a random method, compare the hash to a particular number using the information related to selecting the flow, the particular number being same for the line interfaces, sample a flow when the hash matches the particular number, create a flow record for the flow, and sample packets based on the flow record.
US07957388B2 VLAN protocol
A switch controller includes a plurality of ports, a hash table, and a hash table control unit. The plurality of ports includes at least one bus port associated with ports connected to other switch controllers in a network. The hash table stores MAC addresses and VLAN ids of ports within the network. The hash table control unit hashes a MAC address and a VLAN id of a packet to identify a first location in the hash table. For each one of the VLAN ids stored in the hash table, one of the MAC addresses identifies one of the other switch controllers having ports belonging to the one of the VLAN ids without identifying each one of the ports of the one of the other switch controllers that belongs to the one of the VLAN ids.
US07957386B1 Inter-autonomous system (AS) multicast virtual private networks
Principles of the invention are described for providing multicast virtual private networks (MVPNs) across a public network that are capable of carrying high-bandwidth multicast traffic with increased scalability. In particular, the MVPNs may transport layer three (L3) multicast traffic, such as Internet Protocol (IP) packets, between remote sites via the public network. The principles described herein may reduce the overhead of protocol independent multicast (PIM) neighbor adjacencies and customer control information maintained for MVPNs. The principles may also reduce the state and the overhead of maintaining the state in the network by removing the need to maintain at least one dedicated multicast tree per each MVPN.
US07957382B1 Method and apparatus for handling embedded addresses in data sent through multiple network address translation (NAT) devices
Disclosed are methods and apparatus for handling data containing embedded addresses. In general terms, prior to transmission of data having an embedded address or port, an initiating host sends a NAT Probe to an end-host with which the initiating host wishes to communicate. The NAT Probe includes the embedded address or port and a type indicating that translation of the address and/or port is requested if needed. As the NAT Probe traverses through one or more NAT devices as it is transmitted to the end-host, each NAT device is enabled to recognize the NAT Probe type and translate the embedded address and/or port, depending upon the individual NAT device's configuration. When the NAT Probe reaches the final hop NAT device or end-host, a NAT Probe Reply is sent back to the initiating host. The NAT Probe Reply contains a translated embedded address and/or port which is compatible with the end-host's network. The NAT Probe Reply also contains a type which differs from the type of the NAT Probe. As the NAT Probe Reply traverses back through the same NAT devices, the NAT device recognize the type of the NAT Probe Reply and do not translate the embedded address and/or port.
US07957374B2 Mechanism for enabling layer two host addresses to be shielded from the switches in a network
A mechanism is disclosed that enables layer two host addresses (e.g. a MAC addresses) to be shielded from a network. In one implementation, the mechanism updates each packet sent by the hosts into the network to indicate that the source layer two (L2) address for that packet is a shared L2 address instead of the actual L2 address of the sending host. By doing so, the mechanism exposes only the shared L2 address to the network, and shields the actual L2 addresses of the hosts from the network. The effect of this is that the switches in the network will need to store only the shared L2 address in their forwarding tables, not the actual L2 addresses of the hosts. By reducing the number of L2 addresses that need to be stored in the forwarding tables of the switches, the mechanism improves the scalability of the network.
US07957372B2 Automatically detecting distributed port scans in computer networks
A detection and response system including a set of algorithms for detecting within a stream of normal computer traffic a subset of (should focus on network traffic eliciting a response) TCP or UDP packets with one IP Source Address (SA) value, one or a few Destination Address (DA) values, and a number exceeding a threshold of distinct Destination Port (DP) values. A lookup mechanism such as a Direct Table and Patricia search tree record and trace sets of packets with one SA and one DA as well as the set of DP values observed for the given SA, DA combination. The detection and response system reports the existence of such a subset and the header values including SA, DA, and multiple DPs of the subset. The detection and response system also includes various administrative responses to reports.
US07957370B2 Synchronous read channel
A synchronous read channel having a single chip integrated circuit digital portion which provides digital gain control, timing recovery, equalization, digital peak detection, sequence detection, RLL(1,7) encoding and decoding, error-tolerant synchronization and channel quality measurement is disclosed. The integrated circuit accommodates both center sampling and side sampling, and has a high degree of programmability of various pulse shaping and recovery parameters and the ability to provide decoded data using sequence detection or digital peak detection. These characteristics, together with the error-tolerant sync mark detection and the ability to recover data when the sync mark is obliterated, allow a wide variety of retry and recovery strategies to maximize the possibility of data recovery. Various embodiments, including an embodiment incorporating the analog functions as well as the primary digital functions of the read channel in a single integrated circuit, and preferred embodiments utilizing a reduced complexity, programmable modified Viterbi detector supporting a broad class of partial response channels are disclosed.
US07957367B2 IP telephone apparatus, ENUM server, and calling method via the internet
An ENUM server stores NAPTR records including PSTN telephone numbers and the corresponding IP telephone numbers of a source IP telephone apparatus and a destination IP telephone apparatus. When the ENUM server receives an ENUM query from the source IP telephone apparatus, the ENUM query setting a domain name based on the PSTN telephone number, the ENUM server searches for a NAPTR record corresponding to the domain name and returns, to the source IP telephone apparatus, an ENUM response including the NAPTR record. When receiving the ENUM response from the ENUM server, the source IP telephone apparatus retrieves the IP telephone number of the destination IP telephone apparatus, the IP telephone number being specified in the NAPTR record contained in the ENUM response, and starts a call connection sequence with the destination IP telephone apparatus.
US07957365B2 Connection routing based on link utilization
A method and system for connection routing based on link utilization. A link utilization limit is accessed at a node of a network. The link utilization limit is compared to a utilization of a link coupled to the node. If the utilization of the link is greater than the link utilization limit, then the link is excluded from a virtual circuit.
US07957364B2 Determining network paths
In an embodiment of a method of tracing a path through a switch mesh from a first device connected to the switch mesh to a second device connected to the switch mesh, hardware addresses of the first and second devices are obtained. At least one switch that is a neighbor to the first device is identified. At least one switch that is a neighbor to the first device is queried to identify at least one port of at least one switch that is forwarding packets having the hardware addresses of the first and second devices.
US07957362B2 System and method of communication in mesh networks
A network node is provided that includes a transceiver and a component. The transceiver is operable for communication of messages having a broadcast portion and a beamformed data portion. The broadcast portion includes an indicator. The component is operable to promote the transceiver being enabled for communication with other network nodes, in response to the message including the indicator and further in response to the message being intended for a specific network node other than the network node. The component is operable to promote the transceiver receiving the data portion of the message, in response to the message including the indicator and the message being intended for the network node.
US07957358B2 Apparatus, method, and computer readable medium for transmitting data via a plurality of network interfaces
An apparatus, a method, a computer program, and a computer readable medium for transmitting data via a plurality of network interfaces are provided. The apparatus derives statuses of transmission media and then transmits data based on the statuses. In addition, each base station adopts tunneling technique by adding a tunnel header to each of the transmitted packets. By the aforementioned arrangement, a mobile device is capable of adjusting the data amount for each of the network interfaces. Thus, the throughput of mobile host can be increased and connection can be dependable.
US07957356B2 Scalable media access control for multi-hop high bandwidth communications
A scalable medium access control (“MAC”) module is provided that avoids conflict resource reservation so that network performance does not degrade as the number of hops or nodes in a wireless network increases. The MAC also provides different access schemes for traffic with different quality of service (“QoS”) requirements such that QoS is guaranteed and network resources are efficiently utilized. Furthermore, the resource allocation scheme determines the routing path as resources is allocated for data traffic, thereby achieving more robust layer-2 routing at the MAC layer. Finally, the scalable MAC is compliant with both WiMedia MAC and IEEE 802.15.3 MAC.
US07957353B2 System and method for informing that user is in or not in wireless LAN service
A preset data storing means 108 stores identification data of the user's own subscribed hot spot data and identification data of a hot spot dealer in roaming contract relation to the own hot spot dealer. A wireless communication means 107 obtains the electric field intensity of a channel as a subject of survey and identification data of a dealer. A means functions, when the obtained identification data is identical with the identification data user's own subscribed hot spot dealer as stored in the preset data storing means, to display on a display means 105 that the obtained identification data is the identification data of the user's own subscribed hot spot dealer such that the user can understand the displayed content at a glance, and when the obtained data fails to be identical with the roaming contract relation hot spot dealer, to display on the display means 105 that the obtained electric field intensity is that of the roaming contract relation dealer such that the user can understand the displayed content at a glance.
US07957351B2 Method and apparatus for management of multi-carrier communications in a wireless communication system
A method and apparatus manages resources in a wireless communication system by transmitting a multi-carrier switch command message to an access terminal instructing the access terminal to switch between a diversity mode where each antenna module of a plurality antenna modules receives a single carrier signal transmitted at a single carrier frequency and a multi-carrier mode where a first antenna module of the plurality antenna modules receives a first multi-carrier signal transmitted at a first carrier frequency and a second antenna module receives a second multi-carrier signals transmitted at a second carrier frequency.
US07957350B2 Access network selection
A network, computer readable medium, and method for ranking a plurality of available access networks by a provider, the provider serving a user equipment and the user equipment being configured to connect to at least one of the plurality of available access networks. The method includes receiving a selection request at a selection entity of the provider, where the selection request includes a vector parameter P that includes required characteristics of a data flow for the user equipment, sending from the selection entity a capability request, including the vector parameter P, to the plurality of available access networks, receiving at the selection entity a capability response from the plurality of available access networks, wherein each capability response includes a normalized value expressing a capability of a corresponding available access network to provide the required characteristics of the data flow, and generating a ranking list of the available access networks based on the received normalized values.
US07957349B2 Handover method and apparatus in a mobile communication system
A method and apparatus for minimizing data forwarding between Evolved Node Bs (ENBs) during a handover. A User Equipment (UE) sends a status report to an ENB of a source cell immediately before the handover occurs. In this manner, a target cell avoids retransmission of the RLC PDUs, which were successfully transmitted but have not yet been ACKnowledged (ACKed) by the UE, thereby minimizing the amount of data being forwarded from the ENB of the source cell to an ENB of the target cell.
US07957348B1 Method and system for signaling traffic and media types within a communications network switching system
Signaling regarding traffic and media types within a communications network control system is described. In one embodiment, the invention includes receiving an assignment request message from a call server of a communications network, the assignment request message including a description of a bearer connection between a subscriber and the communications network, sending a channel activation request to the subscriber, the channel activation request including at least a portion of the description of the bearer connection between the subscriber and the communications network, receiving connection information about a channel activated by the subscriber in response to the channel activation request, and sending the connection information to the call server to allow the call server to modify the bearer connection.
US07957345B2 Adaptive HARQ in an OFDMA based communication system
The present invention discloses constructs and methods for transmitting a HARQ re-transmission in an adaptive manner in a wireless communication system. The system of the present invention discloses: scheduling the re-transmission of a data packet, based on decoding results from a receiver; determining a plurality of parameters for re-transmission in an adaptive manner; sending an assignment message if required; using a plurality of fields in the assignment message for re-transmission to indicate the plurality of parameters in the re-transmission; using a MACID field in the assignment message for re-transmission to indicate a target mobile station for the re-transmission; transmitting a data packet for the re-transmission; and decoding the data packet at the receiver to determine if a further need of re-transmission exists.
US07957344B2 Path setting method, mobile terminal, and path managing device
A technique is disclosed, by which a mobile terminal (mobile node) performing handover can quickly and continuously receive after the handover the additional services as it has been receiving before the handover. According to this technique, MN (mobile node; mobile terminal) 10 transmits a message including a session identifier or the like of a path 24 to QNE (proxy) 68 under the condition connected to AR (access router) 21 before the handover. QNE 62 and QNE 63 on a path 34 where this message is transferred are present on the path 24, and its own interface address is added to the message. On the other hand, QNE 67 is not present on the path 24 and transfers the message as it is. As a result, QNE (proxy) 68 determines QNE 63 as a crossover node and turns the path upstream from QNE 63 to an identical path, while a path 35 as changed from a downstream path can be set as a path to be used by MN after the handover.
US07957340B2 Method of allocating frequency subband and apparatus adopting the same
A method of allocating frequency subbands in an ultrawideband (UWB) wireless communication system and an apparatus adopting the same are provided. The method of allocating frequency subbands to a device in a communication system, the method including: (a) determining whether usage of a first frequency band including upper frequency subbands is necessary; and (b) if it is determined that the usage of the first frequency band is necessary, not setting usage permission for the first frequency band to the device and not granting access to the first frequency band if a request for usage of the first frequency band is received from the device. When generation of a new piconet is necessary or generation of a new piconet is requested in a multi-piconet environment, since subbands of a high frequency group are allocated through negotiation, frequency resources are efficiently managed.
US07957331B2 Power saving wireless local area network portable device
A system and method are provided for controlling bandwidth allocation in a wireless local area network (wLAN). The method comprises: expressing device bandwidth allocations in terms of a time base; in response to expressing the bandwidth allocation in terms of a time base, monitoring network communications; and, measuring the allocated bandwidths. The method may further comprise: establishing polling schedules in response to expressing the bandwidth allocation in terms of a time base; and, de-energizing devices in response to the polling schedules. Expressing device bandwidth allocations in terms of a time base includes establishing: an inter-transmission opportunity (TXOP) interval; and, a TXOP jitter. These fields are supplied in the IEEE 802.11e transmit specification (TSPEC). Then, de-energizing devices in response to the polling schedule includes disengaging transmission and receiving functions in the minimum TXOP intervals between polling events, where the minimum TXOP interval is the inter-TXOP interval minus the TXOP jitter.
US07957327B2 Efficient support for TDD beamforming via constrained hopping and on-demand pilot
Systems and methodologies are described that facilitate providing time-division duplexed beam-forming support in traditionally non-time-division duplexed wireless systems, such as an OFDMA system, a WCDMA system, etc. According to an aspect, a base station can analyze pilot information, such as a portion of bandwidth over which a user device is transmitting, and can transmit on the downlink using pre-hopped portion of bandwidth utilized by the user device on the preceding reverse link time slot. The base station can additionally transmit bandwidth segment reassignments to the user device to facilitate bandwidth segment hopping between user devices served by the base station. Additionally, the base station can instruct the user device to provide on-demand pilot information to resolve ambiguity related thereto.
US07957326B1 Integrated home service network
The present invention provides a centralized home controller that is used to coordinate a plurality of associated packet communication clients. The home controller provides a centralized and unified control and messaging system for the various packet communication clients. The home controller also allows the packet communication clients to establish and control packet sessions among the associated packet communication clients, as well as between any one of the packet communication clients and remote clients. The packet communication clients are provided in consumer electronics devices, and the associated packet sessions support data, voice, audio, or video content. In one embodiment, the home controller acts as a proxy for the various communications between the packet communication clients.
US07957325B2 Method and network element configured for limiting the number virtual local area networks creatable by GVRP
A Layer 2 device configured for providing at least one of bridging and switching functionality in a local area network comprising computer readable instructions for providing GVRP functionality and computer-readable instructions for limiting the number of dynamic VLANs that the GVRP functionality creates on a Layer 2 device of a local area network and on all ports of a data plane card of the Layer 2 device.
US07957324B2 Utilizing bandwidth in ring network using path cost and protection techniques
The disclosed network includes two rings, wherein a first ring transmits data in a clockwise direction, and the other ring transmits data in a counterclockwise direction. The traffic is removed from the ring by the destination node. During normal operations (i.e., all spans operational), data between nodes can flow on either ring. Thus, both rings are fully utilized during normal operations. The nodes periodically test the bit error rate of the links (or the error rate is constantly calculated) to detect a fault in one of the links. The detection of such a fault sends a broadcast signal to all nodes to reconfigure a routing table within the node so as to identify the optimum routing of source traffic to the destination node after the fault.
US07957320B2 Method for changing a group key in a group of network elements in a network system
The invention relates to a method for changing a group key GK for a secure data exchange in a group of network elements P1 . . . Pn (n=2, 3, . . . ) in a network system having a closed peer-to-peer configuration and a virtual synchronism supporting group communication protocol in a communication layer of a system architecture of the network system, wherein in the case of a change in a composition of the group of network elements P1 . . . Pn, caused by the join of a new network element Pn+1 into the group of network elements P1 . . . Pn or by the leave of a network element Pv (1≦v≦n) from the group of network elements P1 . . . Pn, a group key renewal, in which a network element Pi* (1≦i≦n) selected from the group of network elements P1 . . . Pn generates a new group key GKneu, is carried out and the new group key GKneu is transferred from the selected network element Pi to all the remaining network elements Pk (1≦k≦n, k≠i) of the group of network elements P1 . . . Pn in the changed composition, which the selected network element Pi* achieves by carrying out a key exchange with all the remaining network elements Pk in accordance with the Diffie-Hellman principle in order to transfer the new group key GKneu.
US07957315B2 System and method for sampling network traffic
Disclosed herein are systems, computer-implemented methods, and computer-readable media for sampling network traffic. The method includes receiving a plurality of flow records, calculating a hash for each flow record based on one or more invariant part of a respective flow, generating a quasi-random number from the calculated hash for each respective flow record, and sampling flow records having a quasi-random number below a probability P. Invariant parts of flow records include destination IP address, source IP address, TCP/UDP port numbers, TCP flags, and network protocol. A plurality of routers can uniformly calculate hashes for flow records. Each router in a plurality of routers can generate a same quasi-random number for each respective flow record and uses different values for probability P. The probability P can depend on a flow size. The method can divide the quasi-random number by a maximum possible hash value.
US07957306B2 Providing reachability information in a routing domain of an external destination address in a data communications network
An apparatus for providing reachability in a routing domain of a data communications network having as components nodes and links therebetween for a routing domain external destination address is provided. The apparatus is arranged to advertise destination address reachability internally to nodes in the routing domain and associate a reachability category with the internal advertisement of the destination address reachability.
US07957305B2 Hierarchical cable modem clone detection
A hierarchical cable modem clone detection system: A cable modem clone detection system uses a cable modem media access control (MAC) address and physical location information such as information relating to a cable interface, upstream and downstream port numbers, fiber node information, and load balancing group descriptors to determine if a cable modem is a clone. The hierarchical approach first make a clone determination at a cable modem termination system, then at a regional operations center and finally at a network operations center.
US07957300B2 Network management apparatus and method thereof
A network management apparatus in a network that includes a physical network, and a logical network assigned to the physical network performs: acquiring nodes stored in a distance information storage unit with distances larger than a distance for a node identified by fault information, and a service providing device to which the nodes are connected from the distance information storage unit when the fault information is received; acquiring link information stored in a link information storage unit based on the nodes acquired by a node acquisition unit; and a fault area identification unit that acquires information on a device connected to nodes indicated by the link information acquired by a link information acquisition unit, and identifies the acquired device information, the service providing device acquired, and link information acquired as an area on which the fault influences.
US07957298B2 Method for detecting failures of random access procedures
A method of performing a random access channel (RACH) procedure between a mobile terminal and a network includes the steps of detecting whether a random access response (RAR) is received from the network within a certain time period, the RAR including information about a random access channel (RACH) preamble transmitted to the network; and if the RAR is not received within the certain time period or if the information about the transmitted RACH preamble included in the RAR does not match the transmitted RACH preamble, performing a first procedure to detect failures in the RACH procedure; and if the RAR is received within the certain time period and if the information about the transmitted RACH preamble included in the RAR matches the transmitted RACH preamble, performing a second procedure to detect failures in the RACH procedure.
US07957296B2 Apparatus for and method of detecting loss of signal in a radio frequency cable
A novel apparatus and method of detecting loss of signal events in RF cable. The loss of signal may be caused malicious cable cuts, inadvertent disconnects, loss of signal from the cable head-end or for any other reason. The invention is particular applicable to use in cable modems which provide cable service, Internet service and telephone service to subscriber premises including both homes and businesses. All RF channels are scanned and the signal power of each is measured and compared to a threshold. If the signal power on all channels is below the threshold, then it is concluded that a “cable signal loss” event has occurred. The telephone line originating in the cable modem is shut down which causes the alarm system connected thereto to generate an alert.
US07957292B2 Token-based congestion control method for the internet
A computer network system with congestion control includes an edge router, a core router, and an inter-domain router in a computer network domain. A token level is inserted into the packet header of a data packet for congestion control in the computer network domain.
US07957291B2 Apparatus and methods for controlling effective communication traffic rates
Apparatus and methods for controlling effective communication traffic rates are disclosed. Communication signals that include communication traffic are generated for transfer on a wireless communication link based on fixed signalling characteristics. An effective communication traffic rate of the wireless communication link is controlled by controlling a rate at which communication traffic is provided to a communication module, illustratively a wireless transceiver, that generates the communication signals. Techniques according to embodiments of the invention thereby enable rate control for wireless communication links without changing wireless signalling characteristics or subjecting links to downtime during link reconfiguration. Collaborative rate control, in which rate control information is exchanged between rate control systems, is also contemplated.
US07957288B2 Method and system of efficient packet reordering
A method and system is provided to efficiently order packets received over a network. The method detects breaks in sequences for one or more packet flows by detecting out-of-sequence packets and enters the segment of sequential packets into a separate memory area, such as a linked list, for a particular flow. A transmission queue and reorder table is used to record the beginning sequence number for each segment. The transmission queue is consulted to locate the segment beginning with the lowest packet sequence number for a flow. The packets associated with the segment are transmitted in order. The transmission queue is then repeatedly searched for the next lowest packet sequence number for transmission of the associated packet chain until the transmission queue is emptied.
US07957286B2 Method for estimating optimized transmission bit rate in wireless local area network system
The present invention relates to a method for estimating an optimized transmission bit rate in a wireless local area network (LAN) system, which is to provide an accurate data transmission bit rate according to channel status when block data are transmitted in the wireless LAN system. According to the present invention, there is provided a method for estimating an optimized transmission bit rate according to the status of a data transmission bit rate in a wireless LAN system, comprising the steps of determining whether to change a current data transmission bit rate in a wireless LAN network; and estimating an optimized transmission bit rate on the basis of results of the determination in the determining step, and reflecting the estimated transmission bit rate upon transmission of data. The method is effective in that when data blocks are transmitted in the wireless LAN system, the performance degradation of data transmission invited due to an inappropriate selection of a transmission bit rate can be reduced.
US07957285B1 Inter-device flow control
A network switching device comprises first and second ports. A queue communicates with the second port, stores frames for later output by the second port, and generates a congestion signal when filled above a threshold. A control module selectively sends an outgoing flow control message to the first port when the congestion signal is present, and selectively instructs the second port to assert flow control when a flow control message is received from the first port if the received flow control message designates the second port as a target.
US07957283B2 Multi-port ethernet transceiver
According to one embodiment, an Ethernet physical interface transceiver comprises a link interface configured to be segmented into one or more active ports. First circuitry is configured to transmit and receive data either at a relatively high data rate via a single active port of the link interface when the transceiver is configured in a first mode or at a relatively low data rate via at least two different active ports of the link interface when the transceiver is configured in a second mode. Second circuitry is configured to communicate with a media access controller either at a relatively high data rate when the transceiver is configured in the first mode or at a relatively low data rate when the transceiver is configured in the second mode. Clock circuitry is configured to independently synchronize operation of each active port of the link interface.
US07957277B2 Wireless communication method and system for routing packets via intra-mesh and extra-mesh routes
A wireless communication system including a mesh network having a plurality of mesh points (MPs), a plurality of wireless transmit/receive units (WTRUs), extra-mesh local area network (LAN) resources, and an external network is disclosed. When one of the MPs receives a packet, a determination is made as to whether the received packet is destined to another MP belonging to the same mesh network, (or to a WTRU served by another MP), and, if so, a determination is made as to whether there are at least two mesh portals in the mesh network that provide access to the external network via the extra-mesh LAN resources. The packet is routed according to an intra-mesh routing algorithm if there are less than two mesh portals in the mesh network. Otherwise, a determination is made as to whether an extra-mesh routing algorithm or an intra-mesh routing algorithm should be used.
US07957275B2 Queuing system
An improved architecture for switches and a method for transmitting data with the switching are disclosed. An increased amount of memory is utilized, operating at speeds lower than are required by Input Queued switches, and a simple scheduling algorithm. The architecture divides the input ports into groups, where each input port group has an associated set of memory elements. Incoming packets are routed to the appropriate element in the set of memory elements. The number of groups and the number of ports that are included in each group can be varied, allowing the architecture to be modified based on the system architecture, the semiconductor technology, and other design considerations.
US07957271B2 Using mobile traffic history to minimize transmission time
A method of reducing the time needed for sending data over a communication network. The method can include analyzing bandwidth usage of a user over a communication network and receiving data associated with the user to be sent over the communication network. The method further can include determining, from the bandwidth usage of the user, a probability that additional data will be received within a specified time period and selectively sending the data via the communication network according to the probability.
US07957268B2 Cooperative TCP / BGP window management for stateful switchover
A system and method for performing stateful switchover with reduced data, such as only metadata about a TCP window state. The metadata comprises a size of TCP packets used to send BGP messages, and which of those have been acknowledged by a neighbor networking device. The networking device comprises a BGP module to establish a BGP session between the networking device and a neighbor networking device. An active transport module within the networking device synchronizes with a standby transport module within the networking device by sending the metadata. A fault detector within the networking device initiates a stateful switchover from the active transport module to the standby transport module responsive to detecting a failure of a process and/or processor. The standby transport module uses the metadata to determine stateful metadata for preserving current BGP and TCP sessions of the networking device.
US07957260B2 WiMAX system analyzer having RAS emulation function and method of acquiring UL synchronization and testing PSS using the same
Disclosed herein are a WiMAX system analyzer having an RAS emulation function and a method of acquiring UL synchronization and testing a PSS. The WiMAX system analyzer includes a clock counter, a D/A conversion unit, an A/D conversion unit, an RF processing unit, switching means, a signal generation unit, a signal analysis unit, and control means. The clock counter creates a frame number. The D/A conversion unit converts a DL sub-frame into an analog signal. The A/D conversion unit converts a UL sub-frame signal into digital data. The RF processing unit RF-modulates the DL sub-frame, outputs the modulated DL sub-frame, and demodulating a modulated UL sub-frame. The switching means connects the RF processing unit to the D/A conversion unit or the A/D conversion unit. The signal generation unit assigns a CID, and creating a DL sub-frame. The signal analysis unit decodes the UL sub-frame, and conducts various analyses. The control means performs control so that the switching means connects to the A/D conversion unit.
US07957259B1 Mode detection for DVB receiver
Systems, apparatus and methods are provided for detecting the mode of a received OFDM signal. A received signal may be correlated with one or more time-delayed version of itself resulting in a set of correlation signals. Each correlation signal may be analyzed for one or more characteristics that can be used to determine the symbol length of the received signal. In order to minimize the number of correlations performed, one or more correlations can be used with varying symbol lengths and a fixed guard interval length. The correlation signals can be processed by filters, and the characteristics of the filtered correlation signals can be analyzed to determine the guard interval length of the received signal. In addition to detecting symbol length, the present invention can be used to detect receiver impairment and perform any appropriate compensations.
US07957256B2 M-ary orthogonal keying system
A digital modulation system provides enhanced multipath performance by using modified orthogonal codes with reduced autocorrelation sidelobes while maintaining the cross-correlation properties of the modified codes. For example, the modified orthogonal codes can reduce the autocorrelation level so as not to exceed one-half the length of the modified orthogonal code. In certain embodiments, an M-ary orthogonal keying (MOK) system is used which modifies orthogonal Walsh codes using a complementary code to improve the auto-correlation properties of the Walsh codes, thereby enhancing the multipath performance of the MOK system while maintaining the orthogonality and low cross-correlation characteristics of the Walsh codes.
US07957251B2 Systems and methods for reduced latency loop recovery
Various embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for reduced latency feedback in a data processing system. For example, some embodiments provide a data processing system that includes a variable gain amplifier, a processing circuit, a data detector, and an error signal calculation circuit. The variable gain amplifier amplifies a data input signal and provides an amplified signal. The processing circuit generates a signal output corresponding to the amplified signal, and includes a conditional multiplication circuit. The conditional multiplication circuit conditionally multiplies the signal output by a gain correction signal and provides the result as an interim output. The data detector applies a data detection algorithm to the signal output and provides an ideal output. The error signal calculation circuit generates a gain correction signal based at least in part on the interim output and a derivative of the ideal output. The level of amplification by the variable gain amplifier is based at least in part on the gain correction signal.
US07957249B2 Objective lens, optical pickup apparatus and optical information recording and/or reproducing apparatus
An objective lens according to the present invention is an objective lens used for an optical pickup apparatus, and the objective lens includes a superimposed structure on a surface of a lens with a power in which a first optical path difference providing structure changing spherical aberration in under-corrected direction when a wavelength of an incident light flux becomes longer, and a second optical path difference providing structure changing spherical aberration in over-corrected direction when a wavelength of an incident light flux becomes longer are superimposed.
US07957245B2 Recording medium, recording method, and computer program
A recording medium (100) is provided with: a first recording layer (L0) and a second recording layer (L1) to record therein record information, and a control area (102, 118) in said recording layer and a control area in said second recording layer to record therein control information for controlling at least one of recording and reproduction of the record information, wherein a distance between an inner radius of the control area in the first recording layer and an outer radius of the control area in the second recording layer is larger than or equal to a first predetermined value.
US07957244B2 Method of reading optical information in super-resolution
The invention relates to the reading of digital optical recordings at very high density (CD, DVD, etc.). Reading is done by a PRML (“Partial Response Maximum Likelihood”) technique which uses a model of analog response to the recording of an isolated information bit. Customarily, the response model is represented by four or five signal samples having standardized levels 1 or 2. To take account of particular phenomena of super-resolution reading, the invention proposes the use of a model having 6 to 10 samples that can take 4 or 5 standardized levels. This model can result from the superposition of two simpler models having only two possible levels of samples taken from 1, 2 and 3.
US07957243B2 Magnetic and optical rotating storage systems with audio monitoring
An integrated circuit (IC) for controlling a rotating data storage device comprises a drive module that is implemented by the integrated circuit and that at least one of processes data, stores data and controls operation of the rotating storage device. An audio monitoring module is implemented by the integrated circuit, communicates with the drive module and analyzes audio signals that are based on noise generated by the rotating storage device during operation.
US07957241B2 Device and method for detecting defect signals on an optical disc
A device for detecting defect signals on an optical disc includes a finite state machine (FSM) to control a servo system of an optical disk drive. When the FSM is in a DETECT state and defect signals are greater than thresholds, a detection counter is set to a first predetermined value and the FSM enters an ARM state. In the ARM state, when the detection counter counts zero, the FSM enters a KICK state and the detection counter is set to a second predetermined value. In the KICK state, a flag signal XDFCT is asserted. When the detection counter in the KICK state counts to zero, the FSM enters a WAIT state and the detection counter is set to a third predetermined value. When the flag signal XDFCT is asserted, corresponding servo control signals for the servo system are clamped to a programmable constant voltage.
US07957240B2 Test writing method and information recording device
The object of the present invention is to provide a test writing method for seeking the optimum write power correctly and in a short time under a high speed recording condition in a test writing method and an information recording device for recording information by forming different marks from the unrecorded part by injecting energy onto the recording medium. To achieve the above object, even number length marks and odd number length marks are separately test written in the 2T strategy to seek the respective optimum write power. Due to the possibility of enhancing the precision of test writing, a good recording ability can be obtained.
US07957234B2 Optical pickup apparatus
An optical pickup apparatus comprising: a laser diode; an objective lens configured to focus laser light emitted from the laser diode on a signal recording layer of an optical disc; a first aberration correction element arranged in an optical path between the laser diode and the objective lens; and a second aberration correction element arranged in the optical path between the laser diode and the objective lens and having an aberration correction speed lower than the aberration correction speed of the first aberration correction element, the first aberration correction element and the second aberration correction element being selectively operated according to the required aberration correction speed.
US07957232B2 Gap controller and optical information processor
A gap controller according to the present invention can set a reference level reasonably for a gap control that needs to be done to keep the gap between a solid immersion lens (SIL) and an optical disc constant. With the gap varied at a substantially regular step, gap detection signal levels are logged to find an extreme value of its second-order difference. And the gap control reference level is determined by the gap detection signal level that results in that extreme value.
US07957231B2 Optical pickup apparatus and objective optical element
A light flux from the first light source forms a converged spot on first optical information recording medium by only a refraction action of the aspheric surface, or by a combination of the refraction action and an optical action given by at least one of the first phase structure and the second phase structure, a light flux from the second light source forms a converged spot on second optical recording medium by a combination of a refraction action of the aspheric surface and an optical action given by at least one of the first phase structure and the second phase structure, and a light flux from the third light source forms a converged spot on third optical recording medium by a combination of a refraction action of the aspheric surface and an optical action given by at least one of the first phase structure and the second phase structure.
US07957229B2 Optical disc controller and optical disc drive system using error correction codes
An object of this invention is to provide an optical disc controller and an optical disc drive system which reduce the proceeding time for supplementing data that is deficient at the time of writing to the optical disc. The present invention relates to an optical disc controller and a optical disc drive system. An optical disc controller includes an interface circuit, a buffer, a memory manager, an ECC circuit, a modulation circuit, and an operation processor. The memory manager has a control register part, a copy transfer controller, and a buffer controller. The control register part further includes a copy sector number setting register for taking out and holding information of plural sector numbers of deficient data from a control signal of the operation processor. The copy transfer controller successively conducts copy transfer process for plural sector numbers based on the sector number information.
US07957226B2 Correction device for timepiece display mechanism and wheel fitted thereto
A correction device for a timepiece display mechanism, which includes a display member fitted with a toothing of pitch P, includes a pinion provided with a toothing of pitch p, mounted on a winding stem so as to occupy at least one display correcting position A, and a correction wheel mounted between the pinion and the display member. The correction wheel includes a first toothing defined by pitch P, a head diameter D, and a foot diameter d1, formed of teeth including a tip extending substantially angularly, and the tip is cut so as to form a second discontinuous toothing that is coplanar and concentric to the first toothing, defined by pitch p less than the pitch P of the first toothing, a head diameter D equal to the head diameter of the first toothing, and a foot diameter d2 greater than the foot diameter d1 of the first toothing.
US07957225B2 Alerting system for a facility
A surveillance system is configured to detect a rotary-wing aircraft approaching a fixed facility and provide a warning upon detection. The system includes acoustic processing nodes that receive acoustic signals from the environment surrounding the fixed facility. As the nodes receive the acoustic signals, the nodes perform a spectral analysis of the signals to detect if the source of the acoustic signals is a rotary-wing aircraft. Additionally, based upon the acoustic signals, the nodes detect an altitude of the rotary-wing aircraft and a distance between the rotary-wing aircraft and the fixed facility. In the case where the system identifies the rotary-wing aircraft as encroaching a predefined geographical area outside of the facility, based upon the altitude and distance between the rotary-wing aircraft and the facility, the system generates a warning to allow security forces to intercept the rotary-wing aircraft prior to its arrival at the facility.
US07957221B2 Method for optimum combination of pressure and particle motion sensors for a 3-D spread of dual-sensor marine seismic streamers
A method for determining upgoing pressure components of seismic signals from signals detected by combined pressure responsive sensors and motion responsive seismic sensors disposed in a plurality of laterally spaced apart streamers includes determining a threshold time at which angle of incidence error in the motion responsive signals in the cross-line direction falls below a selected threshold. Below the threshold time, the motion responsive signals are corrected for angle of incidence in the in-line and cross-line directions. Above the threshold time, the motion responsive signals are corrected for angle of incidence only in the in-line direction. Both sets of incidence corrected measured motion responsive signals, and the pressure responsive signals are used to determine upgoing or downgoing pressure components or upgoing or downgoing motion components of the measured motion responsive and pressure responsive seismic signals.
US07957220B2 Active steering for marine seismic sources
A seismic survey system having a source array (11) coupled to a deflector device (15) that controls the position of the source array. A positioning system unit (16) is mounted on the source array to provide a signal to a controller, informing the controller of the current position of the source array so that the controller can control the position of the deflector device (15) and the coupled source array. A seismic source (14) on the source array may be triggered when the source array is at a desired location as measured by the positioning system unit. The deflector device (15) comprises one or more wings (18) in a generally vertical or, alternatively, in a generally horizontal arrangement disposed adjacent to a central body (19). The streamlined central body has connection points that allow the deflector device (15) to be connected to a tow cable (13) from the tow vessel (12) and to the source array (11).
US07957219B2 Method and apparatus for elevation focus control of acoustic waves
An acoustic probe includes an acoustic transducer having acoustic transducer elements arranged in a one-dimensional array; and a variably-refracting acoustic lens coupled to the acoustic transducer. The variably-refracting acoustic lens has a pair of electrodes configured to adjust the focus of the variably-refracting acoustic lens in response to a selected voltage applied across the electrodes. In one embodiment, the variably-refracting acoustic lens includes a cavity, first and second fluid media disposed within the cavity, and the pair of electrodes. The speed of sound of an acoustic wave in the first fluid medium is different than the speed of sound of the acoustic wave in the second fluid medium. The first and second fluid media are immiscible with respect to each other, and the first fluid medium has a substantially different electrical conductivity than the second fluid medium.
US07957215B2 Method and apparatus for generating temperature-compensated read and verify operations in flash memories
Methods and an apparatuses for generating a word-line voltage are disclosed. A word-line voltage generator includes a first current source, an adjustable current source, adjustable current sink, and a voltage converter, all operably coupled to a current sum node. The first current source generates a first current having a temperature coefficient substantially equal to a temperature coefficient of at least one-bit cell. The adjustable current source generates a second current that is substantially independent of a temperature change. The adjustable current sink sinks a third current that is substantially independent of a temperature change. The voltage converter is configured for generating a word-line signal having a word-line voltage proportional to a reference current, wherein the reference current comprises the first current, plus the second current, and minus the third current.
US07957211B2 Method and apparatus for synchronization of row and column access operations
A circuit for synchronizing row and column access operations in a semiconductor memory having an array of bit line pairs, word lines, memory cells, sense amplifiers, and a sense amplifier power supply circuit for powering the sense amplifiers, the circuit comprising, a first delay circuit for delaying a word line timing pulse by a first predetermined period, a first logic circuit for logically combining the word line timing pulse and the delayed word line timing pulse to produce a sense amplifier enable signal, for enabling a sense amplifier power supply circuit, a second delay circuit for delaying the word line timing pulse by a second predetermined period, and a second logic circuit for logically combining the word line timing pulse and the second delayed word line timing pulse to produce a column select enable signal, for enabling selected ones of a plurality of column access devices wherein the second predetermined time period is selected so that ones of a plurality of column access devices are activated after the sense amplifier power supply circuit is enabled.
US07957208B1 Flexible memory architectures for programmable logic devices
In one embodiment, a programmable logic device includes a plurality of logic blocks; a plurality of input/output blocks; volatile configuration memory adapted to store configuration data for configuration of the logic blocks and input/output blocks; embedded block RAM adapted to store user data; flash memory having at least a first partition and a second partition; and a data port adapted to provide external device access to the first partition of the non-volatile memory. The flash memory is adapted to store within the first partition user data from the data port and is further adapted to store within the second partition user data from the embedded block RAM.
US07957206B2 Read circuitry for an integrated circuit having memory cells and/or a memory cell array, and method of operating same
An integrated circuit device (e.g., a logic device or a memory device) having a memory cell array which includes (i) a plurality of memory cells, wherein each memory cell is programmable to store one of a plurality of data states, and (ii) a bit line, having a plurality of memory cells coupled thereto. Memory cell control circuitry applies one or more read control signals to perform a read operation wherein, in response to the read control signals, a selected memory cell conducts a current which is representative of the data state stored therein. Sense amplifier circuitry senses the data state stored in the selected memory cell using a signal which is responsive to the current conducted by the selected memory cell. Current regulation circuitry is responsively and electrically coupled to the bit line during a portion of the read operation to sink or source at least a portion of the current provided on the bit line. Sensing circuitry responsively couples the current regulation circuitry to the bit line during the portion of the read operation.
US07957204B1 Flash memory programming power reduction
A non-volatile memory device includes an array of non-volatile memory cells. When programming the memory cells, a voltage supply source is used that includes multiple independent charge pumps. The independent charge pumps supply the programming voltage to different ones of bit lines in the array of memory cells. Using multiple charge pumps tends to reduce output voltage fluctuations and thereby reduce power loss.
US07957200B2 Semiconductor memory device and read access method thereof
The semiconductor memory device includes a plurality of memory cell arrays and a control circuit that outputs a first signal and a second signal. The first signal instructs start of precharging of each memory cell array. The second signal instructs completion of the precharging and transition to a read access. The first signal is wired through one or more delay circuits to arrive at each memory cell array with a time difference, and the second signal is wired not through the one or more delay circuits.
US07957192B2 Read and volatile NV standby disturb
A method of operating a nonvolatile memory circuit having a plurality of transistors arranged in series between a voltage/current source node and recall sink node includes asserting a gate bias on an isolation transistor between the source node and a charge storage transistor during nonvolatile STANDBY.
US07957190B2 Memory having P-type split gate memory cells and method of operation
A memory comprising a plurality of P-channel split-gate memory cells are organized in rows and columns. Each of the plurality of P-channel split-gate memory cells comprises a select gate, a control gate, a source region, a drain region, a channel region, and a charge storage layer comprising nanocrystals. Programming a memory cell of the plurality of P-channel split-gate memory cells comprises injecting electrons from a channel region of the memory cell to the charge storage layer. Erasing the memory cell comprises injecting holes from the channel region to the charge storage region.
US07957185B2 Non-volatile memory and method with power-saving read and program-verify operations
A non-volatile memory device capable of reading and writing a large number of memory cells with multiple read/write circuits in parallel has features to reduce power consumption during read, and program/verify operations. A read or program verify operation includes one or more sensing cycles relative to one or more demarcation threshold voltages to determine a memory state. In one aspect, selective memory cells among the group being sensed in parallel have their conduction currents turned off when they are determined to be in a state not relevant to the current sensing cycle. In another aspect, a power-consuming period is minimized by preemptively starting any operations that would prolong the period. In a program/verify operation cells not to be programmed have their bit lines charged up in the program phase. Power is saved when a set of these bit lines avoids re-charging at every passing of a program phase.
US07957182B2 Memory cell having nonmagnetic filament contact and methods of operating and fabricating the same
A magnetic cell structure including a nonmagnetic filament contact, and methods of fabricating the structure are provided. The magnetic cell structure includes a free layer, a pinned layer, an insulative layer between the free and pinned layers, and a nonmagnetic filament contact in the insulative layer which electrically connects the free and pinned layers. The nonmagnetic filament contact is formed from a nonmagnetic source layer, also between the free and pinned layers. The filament contact directs a programming current through the magnetic cell structure such that the cross sectional area of the programming current in the free layer is less than the cross section of the structure. The decrease in the cross sectional area of the programming current in the free layer enables a lower programming current to reach a critical switching current density in the free layer and switch the magnetization of the free layer, programming the magnetic cell.
US07957181B2 Magnetic tunnel junction magnetic memory
This magnetic memory with a thermally-assisted write, every storage cell of which consists of at least one magnetic tunnel junction, said tunnel junction comprising at least:one magnetic reference layer, the magnetization of which is always oriented in the same direction at the time of the read of the storage cell;one so-called “free” magnetic storage layer, the magnetization direction of which is variable;one insulating layer sandwiched between the reference layer and the storage layer.The magnetization direction of the reference layer is polarized in a direction that is substantially always the same at the time of a read due to magnetostatic interaction with another fixed-magnetization layer called the “polarizing layer”.
US07957179B2 Magnetic shielding in magnetic multilayer structures
Techniques and device designs associated with devices having magnetically shielded magnetic or magnetoresistive tunnel junctions (MTJs) and spin valves that are configured to operate based on spin-transfer torque switching.
US07957178B2 Storage cell having buffer circuit for driving the bitline
An integrated circuit includes a memory array including a plurality of memory cells, the memory cells include a core storage element having at least a first storage node (S) and a complementary second storage node (S-bar), and a first pass gate coupled to the first storage node (S). A single bitline (BL) is coupled to a node in a source drain path of the first pass gate. The BL is for Reading data from and Writing data to the first storage node (S). A buffer circuit includes a second pass gate and a driver transistor, wherein the second pass gate is coupled between the driver transistor and the source drain path of the first pass gate. A gate of the driver transistor is coupled to the second storage node (S-bar). At least one wordline (WL) is coupled to the first pass gate and the second pass gate.
US07957177B2 Static random-access memory with boosted voltages
Dual port memory elements and memory array circuitry that utilizes elevated and non-elevated power supply voltages for performing reliable reading and writing operations are provided. The memory array circuitry may contain circuitry to switch a power supply line of a column of memory elements in the array to an appropriate power supply voltage during reading and writing operations. Each memory element may contain circuitry to select between power supply voltages during reading and writing operations. During reading operations, an elevated voltage may power cross-coupled inverters that store data in the memory elements while a non-elevated voltage may be used to turn on associated address transistors. During writing operations, the non-elevated voltage may power the cross-coupled inverters while the elevated voltage may be used to turn on the associated address transistors.
US07957175B2 Information storage devices using movement of magnetic domain walls and methods of manufacturing the same
An information storage device using movement of magnetic domain walls includes a writing magnetic layer having a magnetic domain wall. A stack structure is formed on the writing magnetic layer. The stack structure includes a connecting magnetic layer and an information storing magnetic layer stacked sequentially. The information storage device also includes a reader for reading information stored in the information storing magnetic layer.
US07957173B2 Composite memory having a bridging device for connecting discrete memory devices to a system
A composite memory device including discrete memory devices and a bridge device for controlling the discrete memory devices in response to global memory control signals having a format or protocol that is incompatible with the memory devices. The discrete memory devices can be commercial off-the-shelf memory devices or custom memory devices which respond to native, or local memory control signals. The global and local memory control signals include commands and command signals each having different formats. The composite memory device includes a system in package including the semiconductor dies of the discrete memory devices and the bridge device, or can include a printed circuit board having packaged discrete memory devices and a packaged bridge device mounted thereto.
US07957170B2 Cooling-fin mounted rectifier for vehicular AC generators
A rectifier for an alternating current generator is provided. The rectifier comprise a plurality of high-side rectifying elements and a plurality of low-side rectifying elements. The high-side rectifying elements are held by a plurality of high-side cooling fins, while the high-side rectifying elements are held by a plurality of low-side cooling fins. By way of example, the plurality of high-side cooling fins are disposed to be apart from each other by a predetermined distance and the plurality of low-side cooling fins are disposed to be apart from each other by a predetermined distance.
US07957169B2 Power inverter
A power inverter comprises at least a box-shaped housing; and a power module, a smoothing capacitor, a base plate made of a flat plate, and a rotating electric machine control circuit board arranged in order in the housing. The base plate is arranged with the fringes fixed to the inner wall surfaces of the housing, and the smoothing capacitor and rotating electric machine control circuit board are fixed.
US07957160B2 Current waveform construction to generate AC power with low harmonic distortion from localized energy sources
Methods and apparatus to provide low harmonic distortion AC power for distribution by converting energy from natural or renewable sources into electrical form, and constructing a current waveform on a primary winding of a transformer by recapturing inductive energy previously stored in the transformer so as to transform the converted electrical energy into substantially sinusoidal AC voltage at a secondary winding of the transformer. For example, AC power may be supplied to a utility power grid from raw electrical energy from renewable energy sources (e.g., solar cells). An inverter may construct the primary winding current waveform using two unidirectional switches. On each half cycle, one of the switches first applies energy previously recaptured from primary winding inductance, and then applies the raw energy to the transformer primary winding at the utility power grid frequency. Accordingly, the constructed primary winding current may exhibit substantially improved total harmonic distortion.
US07957158B2 Circuit device
A circuit device having improved packaging density is provided. A circuit device of the present invention includes: a circuit board having its surface covered with an insulating layer; conductive patterns formed on a surface of the insulating layer; circuit elements electrically connected to the conductive patterns; and leads connected to pads formed of the conductive patterns. Furthermore, a control element is fixed to an upper surface of a land part formed of a part of a lead, and a back surface of the land part is spaced apart from an upper surface of the circuit board.
US07957157B2 Printed circuit board
A printed circuit board including: a semiconductor package; a board; first to fourth electrodes on a second face of the semiconductor package; fifth to eighth electrodes on a mount region of the board; a first conductor connecting the first electrode with the second electrode; a second conductor connecting the third electrode with the fourth electrode; a third conductor connecting the sixth electrode with the seventh electrode; fourth conductors respectively connecting to the fifth electrode and the eighth electrode; conductive bonding portions bonding each of the electrodes on the second face with corresponding one of the electrodes on the mount region; and a determination circuit connected to the fourth conductors and configured to determine a difference between a value of current supplied to one of the fourth conductors and a value of current received through the other fourth conductor.
US07957154B2 Multilayer printed circuit board
A multilayer printed circuit board, wherein, on a resin-insulating layer that houses a semiconductor element, another resin-insulating layer and a conductor circuit are formed with conductor circuits electrically connected through a via hole, wherein a electromagnetic shielding layer is formed on a resin-insulating layer surrounding a concave portion for housing a semiconductor element or on the inner wall surface of the concave portion, and the semiconductor element is embedded in the concave portion.
US07957153B2 Electrical connection interfaces and methods for adjacently positioned circuit components
Electrical components, such as packaged integrated circuit devices that are mountable on a substrate surface, are provided with at least one exposed electrical contact on a side surface of the component that will be substantially perpendicular to the substrate surface when the component is mounted. Two such components can be mounted side-by-side on the substrate surface with the above-mentioned contacts close to one another between the above-mentioned side surfaces. An electrical connection between the contacts can be made (or perfected) by depositing an electrically conductive connector material in contact with both of the contacts between the above-mentioned side surfaces.
US07957152B2 Crash-hardened memory device and method of creating the same
A crash-hardened memory device in which only a single electronic component, such as a memory chip, mounted on a small printed circuit board (PCB), is protected against an impact. The portion of the PCB containing the electronic component is wrapped in fire-retardant material. The wrapped PCB assembly is placed in a rigid, hardened enclosure which provides an environmental seal for the portion of the PCB containing the electronic component. A portion of the PCB extends outside of the enclosure to allow electrical connections to be made to the electronic component contained inside. A score line is created on the PCB to create an acceptable shear point between the internal and external portions of the PCB in the event of a crash. Threaded fasteners extend through and beyond both enclosure halves to provide a means for mounting the crash-hardened memory device on an external surface.
US07957151B2 Circuit component, electrode connection structure and display device including the same
An electrode connection structure including a first circuit component including a resin plate, a barrier film stacked on a surface of the resin plate, a circuit section formed on the barrier film and a first electrode provided on the surface of the resin plate on which the barrier film is stacked, and a second circuit component arranged to face the first circuit component and having a second electrode facing the first electrode, wherein the first and second electrodes are electrically connected via pressure applied thereto in the directions approaching each other and a portion of the barrier film surrounding the first electrode is at least partially removed from the surface of the resin plate.
US07957148B1 Low profile computer processor retention device
A low profile computer processor retention device, the computer processor including a processor substrate and a heat spreader mounted on the processor substrate. The retention device includes a retention housing. The retention housing is shaped to fit around a socket. The retention device also includes a load frame. The load frame is operatively coupled to the retention housing and is configured to retain the computer processor in the socket of a motherboard with direct contact between the load frame and the processor substrate. The load frame has a cutout. The retention device also includes a heat sink fastening member coupled to the retention housing and configured to fasten a heat sink to the retention housing and configured to couple the heat sink to the heat spreader through the cutout of the load frame.
US07957147B2 Electronic device with circuit board support
An electronic device includes a circuit board comprising a first surface and a second surface, a heat sink positioned on the first surface, and a support positioned on the second surface to support the circuit board. The circuit board includes a pair of first locating holes extending through the first surface and the second surface. The heat sink includes a pair of second locating holes corresponding to the first locating holes. The support includes a pair of locating posts projecting from a pair of diagonal corners thereof and extending through the corresponding first and second locating holes to limit unwanted movement of the heat sink and a shim projecting from a center thereof to prevent the circuit board from flexing. Dimensions of the shim are contoured to provide compensation for bending of the support under an applied load.
US07957146B2 Illumination device comprising a substrate plate and a heat sink
The invention relates to an illumination device (1) comprising at least one preferably ceramic substrate plate (2), at least one luminous element (3) arranged on a front side (A) of the substrate plate (2) in particular at least one light emitting diode (LED) (3), and at least one preferably metallic heat sink (4) connected, in particular adhesively bonded and/or soldered, to a rear side (B) of the substrate plate (2) over a large area, wherein the coefficients of thermal expansion of substrate plate (2) and heat sink (4) differ at least by the factor 1.5, in particular by a factor greater than 2. The heat sink (4) has at least one preferably linear recess (6) on its side facing the rear side (B) of the substrate plate (2).
US07957141B2 Heat-dissipating mechanism for use with memory module
A heat-dissipating mechanism includes a first heat-dissipating device, a first positioning device, a second heat-dissipating device and a second positioning device. The first heat-dissipating device is contacted with a memory module. The first positioning device is disposed on the first heat-dissipating device and includes a protrusion. The second heat-dissipating device is connected with the first heat-dissipating device. The second positioning device has a positioning rail formed in the second heat-dissipating device and corresponding to the protrusion. The second heat-dissipating device is connected with the first heat-dissipating device when the protrusion of the first positioning device is embedded into the positioning rail second positioning device.
US07957139B2 Electronic equipment enclosure with side-to-side airflow control system
An electronic equipment enclosure system with a side-to-side airflow control system includes an enclosure, having a front, a rear, a top, a bottom and two sides, and a side-to-side airflow control system. The airflow control system includes a side wall disposed adjacent one side of the enclosure, and a manifold disposed adjacent the other side of the enclosure. Electronic equipment having a front, a rear, a top, a bottom and two sides is disposed between the side wall and the manifold. Cooling air is routed into a first of the two sides of the electronic equipment, and heated exhaust air is routed out of a second side of the two sides of the electronic equipment and into the manifold. The side wall prevents the heated exhaust air from mixing with the cooling air at the first side of the electronic equipment.
US07957138B2 System and method for blocking lateral airflow paths between modules in an electronic equipment enclosure
A gap filler member apparatus for blocking air flow through a gap existing between an edge of a first electronics board and a surface of a second electronics board that is disposed generally perpendicular to the first electronics board, where the first and second electronics boards are coupled by at least one pair of connectors and disposed within an electronics equipment enclosure, to block air flow through the gap. The apparatus has at least one rib extending therefrom, with the base portion being secureable to the surface of the second electronics board. A rib extends away from the base portion and has a height approximately equal to a height of the gap, and a length at least as long as a length of the gap so that the rib at least substantially blocks air flow through the gap.
US07957136B2 Electronic apparatus
An electronic apparatus includes: a housing having an internal space formed by top, bottom and side plates; and a power-source housing section formed next to a part of the side plate in the internal space and having a plate wall shaped such that a part adjacent to the side plate is near the side plate on one side and is away from the side plate on the other side in a direction connecting the top plate with the bottom plate. The apparatus further includes: a power-source block having an outer wall-surface whose shape conforms to the plate wall and housed in the power-source housing section; an antenna disposed in a space between the side plate and the plate wall; and a circuit board disposed in the internal space and mounted with an electronic circuit that operates based on power supplied from the power-source block housed in the power-source housing section.
US07957132B2 Efficiently cool data centers and electronic enclosures using loop heat pipes
Disclosed in the present invention are methods for cooling components contained in enclosures that reject 500 or more Watts employing two phase passive heat transfer devices including Loop Heat Pipes and devices we refer to as LHPLs. The methods minimize the amount of energy employed in cooling while at the same time maximizing the quality of heat rejected to the secondary cooling loops that transmit the heat to the outside world. Where data centers provide direct access to chilled water it becomes possible to reject heat directly to cooling towers in locations as hot and humid as Atlanta Ga. eliminating 40% or more of the total energy consumed. The key advances that make this energy efficient performance possible employ LHPLs that have the smallest possible total thermal resistance, methods that maximize their effectiveness and ancillary devices that minimize the energy consumed in cooling with air.
US07957130B2 Attached-type memory device
The present invention relates to an attached-type memory device, which includes a support seat, a connection part. The support seat has an accommodation room for housing a flash memory; the connection part contains at least an elastic sleeve member and at least a fitting member, in which the fitting member is integrated with the support seat, and two sides of the elastic sleeve member are disposed on two side edges of an end face of the fitting member.
US07957129B2 Display device
A supporting mechanism movably supports a display body, a display surface of which is in the vertical position and in an inclined position. A pressing mechanism has an elastic member which stores repulsive force by being pressed by the display body as the display body moves from the vertical position to the inclined position, and presses the display body by the repulsive force in the direction from the inclined position to the vertical position. A position holding mechanism holds the display body at an optional position anywhere between the vertical position and the inclined position.
US07957126B2 Transmission structure, input device, and data processing system
A transmission structure disposed in an input device of a data processing system is disclosed. The transmission structure includes a fixed plate, a movable plate, a connection member, and a motor driving unit. The fixed plate is mounted in the input device and includes a set of grooves extending toward a first direction. The movable plate is movably disposed on a first surface of the fixed plate and includes a set of first pillars to be disposed in the set of grooves. The connection member is connected to the movable plate. The motor driving unit is connected to the connection member and drives the movable plate through the connection member to move toward the first direction or a second direction opposite to the first direction.
US07957124B1 Electronic device
According to one embodiment, a note PC has a disk drive connected to a system board via a connector. A power receive coil is attached to the disk drive. Power produced by the power receive coil as a result of excitation of a power feed coil is fed to a power supply control circuit via an unused pin of the connector.
US07957122B2 Panelboard plug-on neutral with breaker mounting
A load center is equipped with a neutral phase conductive rail with breaker mounting and retention features providing automatic neutral connection for a plug-on mounted AFI and/or GFI circuit breaker. Breakers may be designed to have specific interfaces to the breaker mounting and retention features of the load center rails. The neutral rail may have two pieces including a breaker undercut positioning rail shorted to a standard neutral rail, or a neutral rail may be designed to have all mounting features integrated therewith. The new panel is compatible with non-AFI and non-GFI breakers.
US07957119B2 Metal films, methods for production thereof, methods for production of laminated electronic components, and laminated electronic components
A metal film containing Ni as a main component and Mn and at least one element selected from the group consisting of the elements of Groups 3b, 4b, 5b, and 6b of the periodic table includes a central part and a peripheral part in which Mn and the element selected from the group consisting of the elements of Groups 3b, 4b, 5b, and 6b of the periodic table are present in a concentration higher in the peripheral part than that in the central part. The metal film used as a conductor layer can have an increased melting point at the peripheral part and thus can be prevented from shrinking during heating. The metal film used as a conductor layer in electronic components and the like can be prevented from plastically deforming or shrinking during heating so that the conductor layer can have a large effective area and high adhesion to ceramic layers.
US07957117B2 Voltage surge and overvoltage protection
Disclosed are various embodiments of voltage protectors that include a first voltage clamping device configured to clamp a voltage of an input power applied to an electrical load, and a second voltage clamping device configured to clamp the voltage applied to the electrical load. A series inductance separates the first and second voltage clamping devices. Also, a switching element is employed to selectively establish a direct coupling of the input power to the electrical load, where a circuit is employed to control the operation of the switching element.
US07957112B2 Protection circuit for limiting operating power of electrical device and method thereof
A protection circuit limits operating power supplied to an electrical device from an electrical power source below a predetermined power rating. The protection circuit comprises a switching device for adjusting electrical power supplied from the power source to the electrical device; a sensor sensing a parameter relating to the operating power; and a comparator comparing the parameter sensed by the sensor and, in response to identifying an undesirable operating condition, controlling the switching device to adjust electrical power supplied to the electrical device to below a predetermined power rating.
US07957111B2 Differential current output driver with overvoltage protection
A differential current output driver and a method for overvoltage protection of a differential current output driver circuit are provided. The output driver includes a differential current output driver circuit operable by a power supply voltage and including first and second driver transistors in a differential current configuration and first and second output pads, and an overvoltage protection circuit configured to generate a protected voltage in response to a voltage on at least one of the first and second output pads and an absence of the power supply voltage, and to apply the protected voltage to at least one transistor of the differential current output driver circuit.
US07957108B2 Magnetoresistive element having spacer layer that includes two layered regions composed of oxide semiconductor and nonmagnetic conductor phase sandwiched therebetween
An MR element includes a free layer having a direction of magnetization that changes in response to an external magnetic field, a pinned layer having a fixed direction of magnetization, and a spacer layer disposed between these layers. The spacer layer includes a first region, a second region and a third region that are each in the form of a layer and that are arranged in a direction intersecting the plane of each of the foregoing layers. The second region is sandwiched between the first region and the third region. The first region and the third region are each composed of an oxide semiconductor, and the second region includes at least a nonmagnetic conductor phase.
US07957106B2 Chemically disordered material used to form a free layer or a pinned layer of a magnetoresistance (MR) read element
Magnetoresistive (MR) read elements and associated methods of fabrication are disclosed. A free layer and/or a pinned layer of an MR read element are formed from a magnetic material such as Co2−x−yMn1+xAl1+y, Co2−x−yMn1+xSi1+y, Co2−x−yMn1+xGe1+y, and Co2−x−yFe1+xSi1+y, where x and y are selected to create an off-stoichiometric alloy having a crystalline structure that is chemically disordered. The chemically disordered magnetic material has a lower spin-polarization than a Heusler alloy, but still exhibits acceptable GMR amplitudes and low spin-torque noise.
US07957104B2 Suspension with bi-layer flexure base whose layers have different coefficients of thermal expansion to eliminate thermally induced flying height variations
A flexure with improved temperature sensitivity is disclosed. An embodiment of the present invention includes a bi-layered flexure that raises or lowers a read/write element a distance that is approximately equal to the distance of protrusion and retraction at varying temperatures.
US07957100B1 Disk drive gimbal having reduced residual stress and related method of manufacture
A disk drive gimbal, an apparatus, and a related method of manufacture, wherein the disk drive gimbal includes a strut having a trace with a zig-zag shape. The trace is made from conducting material, and the zig-zag shape is configured to provide a level of stress relief to the conducting material that is included in the trace.
US07957098B2 Magnetic recording head and magnetic recording apparatus
A magnetic writing head includes: a main magnetic pole; a laminated body; and a pair of electrodes. The laminated body includes a first magnetic layer having a coercivity lower than magnetic field applied by the main magnetic pole, a second magnetic layer having a coercivity lower than the magnetic field applied by the main magnetic pole, and an intermediate layer provided between the first magnetic layer and the second magnetic layer. The pair of electrodes are operable to pass a current through the laminated body.
US07957097B2 Magnetic head for perpendicular magnetic recording and method of manufacturing same
An encasing section includes an encasing layer having an encasing groove, and a nonmagnetic film disposed in the encasing groove at a position between the encasing layer and a pole layer. The pole layer includes a track width defining portion and a wide portion. The track width defining portion has a first side surface and a second side surface. The wide portion has a third side surface and a fourth side surface. The encasing layer has a first wall surface and a second wall surface. The distance between the third side surface and the first wall surface is smaller than the distance between the first side surface and the first wall surface. The distance between the fourth side surface and the second wall surface is smaller than the distance between the second side surface and the second wall surface.
US07957091B2 Recordable disc with fluid bearing features
A device comprises a fluid bearing including a textured fluid bearing surface and a second surface and a recordable disc. The recordable disc includes a substrate, a recordable media layer on the substrate, and at least one of the textured fluid bearing surface and the second surface. The device may be manufactured using MEMS techniques. MEMS techniques provide the high precision necessary to create the textured fluid bearing surface. MEMS techniques also allow the recordable disc to be batch-fabricated with one or more additional recordable discs.
US07957090B2 Seek control apparatus and method for generating control data for seek control
There is provided a method for generating acceleration data used in feed-forward control of head seeking, wherein, a seek distance and one of a seek period and the count of samples are received; a weighting factor for the change rate of acceleration between adjacent sample times is determined respectively; and an optimum acceleration at each sample time is obtained by performing an optimization calculation that minimizes an objective function under a constraint condition based on variables representing accelerations at each sample time, either the seek period or the count of samples, and the seek distance.
US07957085B2 Thermally assisted magnetic head, head gimbal assembly, and hard disk drive
A thermally assisted magnetic head has a slider substrate having a first surface located on the opposite side to a medium-facing surface, and side surfaces located between the medium-facing surface and the first surface; a magnetic head portion having a waveguide having a light exit face on the medium-facing surface side, and a magnetic recording element disposed in proximity to the light exit face, the magnetic head portion being fixed to one of the side surfaces of the slider substrate; a light source support substrate having a second surface facing the first surface; a light emitting element facing a light entrance face of the waveguide and fixed to the light source support substrate; and an adhesive interposed between the first surface and the second surface; at least one of the first surface and the second surface has a recess and the adhesive is disposed in the recess.
US07957080B2 Imaging lens
It is to provide an imaging lens that can improve optical performance while reducing size and weight.An imaging lens includes, in order from an object side to an image surface side: a diaphragm 2, a first lens 3 having a positive power whose convex surface faces the object side, and a second lens 4 that is a meniscus lens having a negative power whose convex surface faces the object side, wherein a condition expressed by the following expression is to be satisfied: 0.4≦r1/FL≦0.55 (where, r1: center radius curvature of the object side face 3a of the first lens, and FL: focal distance of the entire lens system).
US07957078B2 Projection optical system and projection type image display device
A projection optical system includes: a refracting optical section composed mainly of a plurality of lenses disposed in order from a reducing side, and having positive power; a first reflecting optical section having a concave reflecting optical surface; and a second reflecting optical section having a convex reflecting optical surface, wherein the projection optical system satisfies the following conditional expression, denoting a focal length of a total system combining the refracting optical section, the first reflecting optical section, and the second reflecting optical section as F, and a focal length of the refracting optical section as FL: 0.2
US07957076B2 Optical lens system for taking image
An optical lens system for taking image comprises, in order from an object side to an image side: a first lens element with positive refractive power having an aspheric convex object-side surface and an aspheric concave image-side surface; a second lens element with positive refractive power having an aspheric convex object-side surface and an aspheric concave image-side surface. Radii of curvature of the object-side surface of the first lens element, the object-side and image-side surfaces of the second lens element are R1, R3 and R4 respectively, focal lengths of the optical lens system for taking image, the first and second lens elements are f, f1, f2 respectively, an on-axis distance between the first and second lens elements is T12, a center thickness of the second lens element is CT2, they satisfy the relations: 0.76 mm−1<1/R1<2.0 mm−1; 0.41.0.
US07957068B2 Optical near-field distribution transfer device
Long-distance transfer of a super-resolution near field can be performed with a wavelength condition of high degree of freedom. Not only an image in same size can be merely transferred, but also a magnified image can be transferred. Thus the processing technique of a near-field image is improved. Small rods are erected at predetermined spacing with one another on a two-dimensional plane. At least the exterior surface of each small rod is made of a predetermined material having a dielectric constant ∈m meeting the condition “∈m≦−∈d” where ∈d is the dielectric constant of the surrounding medium. The axes of the small rods can be extended to a predetermined direction with respect to the two-dimensional plane. An optical near-field is incidented to one end of each small rod.
US07957067B2 Lens array, LED head, exposure device, image forming apparatus and reading apparatus
A lens array includes a plurality of lens units each of which includes a plurality of microlenses linearly arranged, and a light shielding member having a plurality of openings as apertures. The openings are disposed so as to face the microlenses of respective lens units. Facing microlenses of the lens units have optical axes substantially aligned with each other and passing the openings of the light shielding member. Light absorbing portions are provided in the openings.
US07957066B2 Split field inspection system using small catadioptric objectives
A system for inspecting a specimen is provided. The system includes an illumination subsystem configured to produce a plurality of channels of light energy, each channel of light energy produced having differing characteristics (type, wavelength, etc.) from at least one other channel of light energy. Optics are configured to receive the plurality of channels of light energy and combine them into a spatially separated combined light energy beam and direct it toward the specimen. A data acquisition subsystem comprising at least one detector is provided, configured to separate reflected light energy into a plurality of received channels corresponding to the plurality of channels of light energy and detect the received channels.
US07957063B2 Diffractive optical device, optical system using the diffractive optical device and method for manufacturing diffractive optical device
A diffractive optical device 1 is composed of resins of different materials, and has a laminated structure, in which a second diffractive device element 20 is bonded between a first diffractive device element 10 and a third diffractive device element 30; a first diffraction optical surface 6 is formed by adhering a diffraction grating groove 2, which is formed on the first diffractive device element 10, to a diffraction grating groove 3, which is formed on the second diffractive device element 20, on a bonding surface of the first diffractive device element 10 and the second diffractive device element 20, a second diffractive optical surface 7 is formed by adhering a diffraction grating groove 4, which is formed on the second diffractive device element 20, and a diffraction grating groove 5, which is formed on the third diffractive device element 30, on a bonding surface of the second diffractive device element 20 and the third diffractive device element 30, and both the non-bonded surface of the first diffractive device element 10 and the non-bonded surface of the third diffractive device element 30 are composed of planes.
US07957061B1 Device with array of tilting microcolumns to display three-dimensional images
This invention is a device for displaying three-dimensional images using an array of tilting microcolumns. It can create high-resolution, large-scale, moving, three-dimensional images that can be viewed by people in different locations, with full parallax, without special eyewear. Unlike currently available methods, this invention: does not require special eyewear, works for multiple viewers, provides parallax in all directions, does not have a very restrictive viewing zone, does not produce only transparent images, does not require coherent light, is scalable to large displays, does not require liquid movement to adjust lens shape, and does not require complex systems to individually control large numbers of lenses.
US07957060B2 Optical filter and visual display device with optical filter
An aspect of the present invention provides an optical filter that includes a plurality of slits arranged in parallel, each slit corresponding to a pair of displays including at least a first display of a first image, and a second display of a second image, wherein the slits form a slit row in a horizontal direction arranged essentially in the same interval spacing and parallel to each other, with the slit row arranged with slit pitch patterns that differ by at least between the upper and lower positions.
US07957056B2 Zonal lenslet array
The invention includes a master lens, which initially focuses a laser pulse, and then the pulse passes through a zonal lenslet array, which uses different lenslet elements that provide for predetermined focal lengths so as to establish a three or two dimensional, predetermined dispersion of foci of the laser pulse. The zonal lenslet array of the present invention may be thought of as a variant of a Shack-Hartman wave front sensor, but used for an entirely different application.
US07957054B1 Electro-optical display systems
Electro-optical display systems are disclosed. An electro-optical display system may include a plurality of electrodes; a display volume containing a fluid having a plurality of colorant particles; a layer adjacent to or part of at least one electrode of the plurality of electrodes and configured to at least one of (i) reflect at least one wavelength of light and (ii) absorb at least one wavelength of light; and recessed regions configured to contain the plurality of colorant particles, wherein the plurality of electrodes are configured to selectively move the plurality of colorant particles between a compacted position in which all or nearly all of the plurality of colorant particles are in the recessed regions, and a spread position in which the plurality of colorant particles are spread across the display volume.
US07957050B2 Mirror device comprising layered electrode
The present invention provides an image display system implemented with a mirror device comprises a plurality of pixel elements formed on a substrate: wherein: each of said pixel elements comprises a micromirror disposed above and supported on a hinge extended from said substrate; and; a drive electrode disposed on the substrate for receiving signals to control and drive the mirror, wherein the drive electrode comprises an insulation layer, and a first electrode connected to a memory and a second electrode connected to a plate line with the insulation layer disposed between and insulating the first and the second electrode.
US07957046B2 Optical beam scanning apparatus, method of manufacturing optical beam scanning apparatus, image forming apparatus and method of manufacturing image forming apparatus
In an image forming apparatus according to the invention, an optical beam scanning apparatus of an overillumination scanning optical system includes a laser, a pre-deflection optical system, a polygon mirror, and a post-deflection optical system, wherein the post-deflection optical system includes at least one optical element configured by allowing a resin to flow into a molding die through a gate opening provided in advance to the molding die and then molding the resin into a prescribed shape; and in the optical element, a side corresponding to aside of the gate opening through which the resin flows is provided to a light incidence side where the luminous flux enters into the polygon mirror.
US07957043B2 Image recording apparatus and image recording method
In an image recording apparatus, shift times for shifting switching timings of light modulator elements are obtained so that rise times (U1) after input of output start signals to driving elements connected to respective light modulator elements of a spatial light modulator and fall times (D1) after input of output stop signals become a constant target rise time (U2) and a constant target fall time (D2). This makes it possible to suppress unevenness of the rise times and the fall times after correction of light amounts even if light modulator elements where the rise times and the fall times change by correction of light amounts are used and consequently, an image can be appropriately recorded without a complicate apparatus.
US07957041B2 Image forming apparatus and method for performing job interrupt
An image forming apparatus comprises a document reading unit for reading a document on a table or at a predetermined reading position to which the document is transported by a document feeder and an interrupt key for receiving an interrupt job. When a user turns on the interrupt key, an inquiry whether a document for an interrupt job is read on a table or at a predetermined reading position to which the document is transported by the document feeder is displayed on a liquid crystal display. When the user selects either one of them, an interrupt process is executed.
US07957035B2 Transport amount correcting method, recording apparatus, and storage medium having program stored thereon
A transport amount correcting method, including: (A) storing in a memory, in regard to a medium of a predetermined size, correction values associated with relative positions of the medium and a head; and (B) when carrying out recording on the medium of the predetermined size, transporting the medium while correcting a target transport amount using a correction value associated with a relative position of the medium and the head, and when carrying out recording on a medium smaller than the predetermined size, transporting the medium while correcting the target transport amount by not using a portion of the correction values, the portion of the correction values being a portion of the correction values among the correction values used when the medium of the predetermined size is being transported by both an upstream side roller and a downstream side roller.
US07957032B2 Defect and maintenance detection for image capture device
Defect and maintenance detection for an image capture device (ICD) capable of distinguishing between a defect in the ICD and one on the imaged object. The defect detection system includes, inter alia: a value combiner that combines a brightest image video value for each sensing element of the ICD experiencing the imaged object with a corresponding stored device video value to create a combined value for each image video value; and a defect determinator determines the presence of a defect(s) by comparing the combined values to a defect threshold. The maintenance detection system includes a determinator that determines when maintenance is required based on whether a single image is considered defective or whether a number of consecutive defective images have been created. Device video values are updated sluggishly according to corresponding image video values.
US07957031B2 High-image-quality halftone process
An image processing method involves processing image data indicative of an image represented with a prescribed number of input tones by each of pixel groups composed of a plurality of print pixels, and generating dot data representing a status of dot formation on each of the print pixels to be formed on a print medium. The method includes preparing a first conversion table and a second conversion table, determining the pixel group tone value in response to the input tone value corresponding to the pixel group, converting the determined pixel group tone value into the code values for each of the pixel groups, by referring to the first conversion table, decoding the acquired code value into the output dot arrangement for each of the pixel groups, by referring to the second conversion table, and outputting the dot data in response to the output dot arrangement.
US07957029B2 Image processing apparatus, image processing apparatus administration information display method, system, program and storage medium
To enable for a user to easy recognize plural counter information notifications even when plural image input and output processes performed by using plural input and output paths are administrated by plural kinds of counter information, any of counters that a remaining number is necessary for a setting mode is selected by an administration apparatus from among plural counters (independently administrating plural kinds of number-of-image information representing the number of scanner-read images, the number of own-apparatus-output images, the number of externally received output images, and the like) administrated in regard to each ID, the selected counter is displayed on an operation unit, and it is controlled by a CPU to notify the user of impossibility of process continuation with alert when the counter reaches an upper limit value.
US07957026B2 Image transmitting apparatus, including a reading condition determining unit
An image transmitting apparatus receives a first reading condition relating to an image from an external apparatus via a network. The image transmitting apparatus compares the first reading condition with a pre-set second reading condition, if the two conditions are different, decides one of the first reading condition and the second reading condition as a reading condition when selecting an image data to be transmitted to the external device. The image transmitting apparatus selects an image data that matches with the reading condition, and sends the selected image data to the external apparatus.
US07957025B2 Systems and methods for processing pixel data for a printer
An apparatus and method for processing pixel data is presented that includes an image forming apparatus that includes an image forming module coupled to a data control module that comprises a plurality of memory units, wherein each of the memory units stores a corresponding portion of pixel data of an image. The data control module writes out portions of pixel data stored in corresponding memory units to the image forming module and dynamically associates each memory unit with a further portion of pixel data after its corresponding portion of pixel data has been written out.
US07957021B2 Image handling apparatus, image processing system, image process controlling method, and image process controlling program product
An image handling apparatus is disclosed, including an operation panel, hardware resources, a transferring part, and an image generation controlling part. The transferring part transfers image handle information input at the input screen to an external apparatus. The image generation controlling part receives and parses image generation information for at least one of the hardware resources to execute an image generation based on the image handle information, from the external apparatus in response to an instruction of the image generation, so that at least one of the hardware resources executes the image generation.
US07957017B2 Document managing apparatus
A document managing apparatus includes a determining unit which determines whether a document print image can be generated or not when the document is entered in file managing information in which a data file is entered, the data file constituting the document which is a managing target, a print image generating unit which generates the document print image when the determining unit determines that the document print image can be generated, the document print image being entered as the file in the file managing information, an application start-up unit which starts up an application program according to the document when the determining unit determines that the document print image cannot be generated, and a screen dump generating unit which generates a screen dump of the document entered as the file in the information based on the document displayed on a display unit by the application program started.
US07957014B2 Printers and printer systems having cellular input/output
In one embodiment, a system comprises a printer configured to provide one or more print services, one or more processors associated with the printer, and a cellular interface associated with the printer and through which one or more print services can be accessed by a cellular phone. One or more computer-readable media are associated with the printer, and computer-readable instructions on the computer-readable media are executable by the processor(s) to cause the processor(s) to enable the printer to be accessed by a cellular phone and provide one or more print services for a user of the cellular phone.
US07957010B2 Printer for printing position-coding pattern onto a surface
A printer for printing an interface of human-readable visible information and a machine-readable position-coding pattern onto a surface. The printer comprises: an input for receiving document data; a memory buffer storing dot data for the visible information and dot data for the position-coding pattern; a printhead for printing the interface; visible ink channels dedicated for printing the visible information; and an infrared ink channel exclusively dedicated for printing the position-coding pattern. The printhead is configured to print the interface onto the surface by printing the visible information and the position-coding pattern simultaneously.
US07957006B2 System and method for optical sensing of surface motions
There is provided an optical perturbation sensing system, including a probing beam incident on a medium, a sensing beam redirected from the medium and incident on a surface area of a photodetector, an array of photodetector elements, and a constructive combiner for constructively combining detected signals from the elements, to form a stronger detected signal. A method for detection of perturbations in a medium is also provided. The invention avoids the need for detection of the phase or the frequency variations of the scattered signal as used in the more complex hitherto-proposed approaches.
US07957005B2 Fiber optic apparatus and method for sensing hazardous materials
An apparatus and method for sensing hazardous materials utilizes first and second optical fibers and a recirculator coupled to a substrate. The first optical fiber is coupled to the substrate and has first and second opposing ends and a first substance embedded therein. The first substance is reactive to a first hazardous material type. The second optical fiber is coupled to the substrate and has first and second opposing ends and a second substance embedded therein. The second substance is reactive to a second hazardous material type. The at least one recirculator is coupled to the substrate and configured such that when light propagates from one of the ends of at least one of the first and second optical fibers, at least some of the light is directed by the at least one recirculator into the opposing end of the respective optical fiber.
US07957000B2 Web inspection calibration system and related methods
Systems and methods for calibrating a web inspection system.
US07956997B2 Systems and methods for food safety detection
A method for detecting an ingredient in a food product includes establishing a spectral signature in a Raman spectrum obtained from a chemical substance; allowing a food sample solution obtained from a food product to come to contact with a first nano-scale surface structure in a first sensor, wherein the first sensor comprises a substrate, wherein the nano-scale surface structure comprises a plurality of columns over the substrate or a plurality of holes in the substrate; illuminating the food sample solution and the first nano-scale surface structure on the first sensor by a laser beam; scattering the laser beam by the food sample solution and the first nano-scale surface structure to produce a scattered light; obtaining a first Raman spectrum from the scattered light using a spectral analyzer; and identifying the spectral signature in the first Raman spectrum to determine the existence of the chemical substance in the food product.
US07956996B2 Distinguishing between invasive ductal carcinoma and invasive lobular carcinoma using raman molecular imaging
A system and method to provide a diagnosis of the breast disease state of a test breast sample. A database containing a plurality of reference Raman data sets is provided where each reference Raman data set has an associated known breast sample and an associated known breast disease state. A test breast sample is irradiated with substantially monochromatic light to generate scattered photons resulting in a test Raman data set. The test Raman data set is compared to the plurality of reference Raman data sets using a chemometric technique. Based on the comparison, a diagnosis of a breast disease state of the test breast sample is provided. The breast disease state includes invasive ductal carcinoma or invasive lobular carcinoma disease state.
US07956994B2 Measurement apparatus for measuring transmittance distribution of optical system
A measurement apparatus which measures a transmittance distribution of an optical system, comprises a light source, a first spherical mirror which forms reference light by reflecting light which is emitted by the light source and is not transmitted through the optical system, a second spherical mirror which forms test light by reflecting light which is emitted by the light source and is transmitted through the optical system, a measurement unit which measures intensity distributions of the reference light and the test light, a unit which calculates reflectance distributions of the first spherical mirror and the second spherical mirror, and an arithmetic unit which calculates a transmittance distribution on a pupil plane of the optical system, on the basis of the intensity distributions of the reference light and the test light, and the reflectance distributions of the first spherical mirror and the second spherical mirror.
US07956989B2 Surface plasmon assisted microscope
The present invention includes a microscope and a method for using the microscope for single molecule with reduced photobleaching of a fluorophore (20) that includes a light translucent material (16); a metal layer (18) disposed on the light translucent material (16); a medium (15) disposed on the metal layer (18), the medium (15) having one or more fluorophores (20) capable of binding a target analyte (e.g., inside a cell); a microscope positioned to observe the surface plasmon emissions from the one or more fluorophores (20) within 50 nanometers of the surface of the metal layer (18); an excitation source capable of exciting the one or more fluorophores (20), the excitation source positioned to strike the light translucent material (16) at a first angle; and a light detector (38) that selectively detects emitted light generated by excited fluorophores (20) at a second angle (22), wherein light emitted by the one or more fluorophores (20) at the surface plasmon angle is detected through the microscope, such that single molecules may be detected without significantly degrading fluorophore (20) emissions.
US07956987B2 Measurement apparatus, exposure apparatus, and device manufacturing method
A measurement apparatus includes a polarization controller which controls polarization of light, a wavefront dividing unit which divides a wavefront of the light, a polarizing unit which polarizes the light, a detector which detects the light, a first driving unit which moves the wavefront dividing unit with respect to the detector, a second driving unit which moves the polarizing unit with respect to the detector, and a processor which calculates the optical characteristics of the detection target using a detection results obtained when the wavefront dividing unit is positioned in the optical path and a detection result obtained when the wavefront dividing unit is positioned outside the optical path.
US07956985B2 Exposure apparatus
An exposure apparatus includes a driver used for one of height, inclination, curvature-of-field, magnification, and rotation corrections, and a controller configured to control a substrate stage so that it can change an exposure area from a first shot to a third shot even if a moving distance of the substrate stage from the first shot to the second shot is smaller than that from the first shot to the third shot, if a time period necessary for the driver to transfer from a correction state for the first shot to a correction state for the second shot is longer than a time period necessary for the substrate stage to move the exposure area from the first shot to the second shot, and a time period necessary for the driver to transfer from a correction state for the first shot to a correction state for the third shot.
US07956979B2 Display apparatus
A display apparatus includes a display module displaying an image using power and a control signal, the display module having a first surface including at least one power supply unit for supplying the power and a control board for supplying the control signal, and a heat radiation cover portion covering a part of the first surface of the display module including the power supply unit and the control board, wherein the heat radiation cover portion forms an air passage between the first surface of the display module and the heat radiation cover portion.
US07956978B2 Liquid-crystal display device having a particular conductive layer
Techniques are provided for unifying steps of sealing material so that the yield and the reliability of a liquid-crystal display device become high. A starting film of scanning lines is patterned so that prismatic dummy wirings 301 for the first layer which are not electrically connected are formed in regions R1 and R2, and wirings 302 extending from the pixel section are formed in a region R3, and wirings 303 having connection end portions 303a are formed in a region R4. After an interlayer insulation film is formed, the starting film of the signal lines is patterned so that the dummy wirings 304 for the second layer are formed to embed the gaps between the wirings 301 to 303, and also the wirings 305 and the wirings 303 which extend from the pixel portion are connected to each other. This permits unification of the cross-sectional structure of the sealing material formation region.
US07956974B2 Liquid crystal device and electronic apparatus
Provided is a liquid crystal display device including: a pair of substrates having a liquid crystal layer interposed therebetween; a pixels which is provided along a predetermined arrangement axis and constitutes a display area; sub pixels constituting the pixels; pixel electrodes which are disposed on one of the pair of substrates and are provided in correspondence with the sub pixels; and a common electrode which is provided on the pixel electrodes with an insulating film interposed therebetween, wherein the common electrodes includes first electrodes which extend in a direction obliquely intersecting the arrangement axis, a second electrode which has a portion obliquely intersecting the first electrodes and connects one ends of the first electrodes, and a third electrode which has a portion obliquely intersecting the first electrodes and connects the other ends of the first electrodes.
US07956965B2 Vertically aligned liquid crystal display having a wide viewing compensation film using +A-film and +C-film
This invention provides a vertically aligned liquid crystal display, including a first polarizing plate and a second polarizing plate having absorption axes perpendicular to each other and a vertically aligned panel provided therebetween and including vertically aligned liquid crystals having negative dielectric anisotropy, in which a +A-film and a +C-film are provided between the first polarizing plate and the vertically aligned panel, the +C-film is positioned between the first polarizing plate and the +A-film, and the optic axis of the +A-film is parallel to or perpendicular to the absorption axis of the first polarizing plate. According to this invention, the contrast of the vertically aligned liquid crystal display can be improved at surface-facing angle and tilt angle thereof and the color shift depending on the viewing angle in a dark state can be minimized, thus greatly increasing the viewing angle range of the vertically aligned liquid crystal display.
US07956963B2 Pixel structure for transflective LCD panel having a reflective structure formed in a depression on the TFT substrate
A pixel structure for a transflective LCD having a transparent region and a reflective region is provided. The pixel structure includes a transparent substrate, a TFT, at least one reflective structure, a passivation layer, a pixel electrode and a reflective layer. The TFT is disposed in a reflective region of the transparent substrate. The reflective structure is configured at one side of the TFT, and located in the reflective region of the transparent substrate. The passivation layer is disposed over the transparent substrate and covers the TFT and the reflective structure. The pixel electrode is disposed above the TFT and the reflective structure, and is at least located in a transparent region. The pixel electrode is electrically connected to the TFT. The reflective layer is disposed above the TFT and the reflective structure, and is located in the reflective region.
US07956959B2 Display device and method of manufacturing of the same
A display device includes: a back light unit for emitting a light; a lower polarization plate on the back light unit; a liquid crystal display panel on the lower polarization plate for displaying an image; an upper polarization plate on the liquid crystal display panel; an optical film bonded to the upper polarization plate; and a transparent material on the optical film for improving hardness of the optical film.
US07956954B2 Optical sheet, backlight unit, and liquid crystal display
An optical sheet, a backlight unit including the optical sheet and a liquid crystal display including the backlight unit are disclosed. The optical sheet includes a reflective polarizing film, and a first diffusing layer on the reflective polarizing film. The first diffusing layer includes a plurality of first diffusion particles. The first diffusion particles have a volume distribution as a function of diameter. For a diameter D of a first diffusion particle corresponding to a maximum value of the volume distribution, a summation of volumes of a portion of the first diffusion particles having diameters between D−2 μm and D+2 μm is about 40% to 80% of a total volume of the first diffusion particles.
US07956952B2 Liquid crystal module with lamp socket having slits that receive tabs of lamp reflector
A liquid crystal module includes a liquid crystal panel and a back light unit. The back light unit has a rear frame, a light guide plate and a lamp reflector assembly. The lamp reflector assembly including a light source, a lamp reflector and a lamp socket. The lamp reflector has a front plate, a rear plate and a side plate with a tab. At least one of the front plate and the rear plate has a fixing hole. The lamp socket has a fixing protrusion that is fitted into the fixing hole of the lamp reflector, and a slit that receives the tab of the lamp reflector.
US07956947B2 Thin film transistor array substrate having improved electrical characteristics and method of manufacturing the same
A thin film transistor array substrate, which can have high mobility of charge and can achieve uniform electrical characteristics for wide display devices, and a method of manufacturing the thin film transistor array substrate, are provided. The thin film transistor array substrate includes an oxide semiconductor layer having a channel and formed on an insulating substrate, a gate electrode overlapping the oxide semiconductor layer, a gate insulating film disposed between the oxide semiconductor layer and the gate electrode, and a passivation film formed on the oxide semiconductor layer and the gate electrode. At least one of the gate insulating film and the passivation film contains fluorine-containing silicon.
US07956943B2 Thin film transistor array panel and manufacturing method thereof
A thin film transistor array panel according to an embodiment includes: a substrate; a plurality of gate line formed on the substrate; a plurality of first capacitor electrodes formed on the substrate and separated from the gate lines; a plurality of data line intersecting the gate lines; a plurality of thin film transistor connected to the gate lines and the data lines; a plurality of second capacitor electrodes disposed on the first electrode; a plurality of interconnections connected to the second capacitor electrodes and the thin film transistor and disposed symmetrical to the data lines; and a plurality of pixel electrode, each pixel electrode including a first subpixel electrode connected to one of the thin film transistors and a second subpixel electrode connected to one of the first capacitor electrodes.
US07956941B2 Method and apparatus for reducing speckle in coherent light
According to one embodiment, a method for reducing speckle in an image produced from a coherent light source includes directing a beam of coherent light at an electrically controlled diffuser. An electrical signal is applied to the electrically controlled diffuser to produce an electrical field across the electrically controlled diffuser layer. At least one of an amplitude and a frequency of the electrical signal are varied to transition the controlled diffuser between a first state and a second state. The varied application of the electrical signal operates to reduce spatial coherence in an image projected through the electrically controlled diffuser.
US07956940B2 Display system
A display system includes a liquid crystal display (10) including a backlight (3), a liquid crystal display panel (1), and a viewing angle control panel (2) for controlling the viewing angle of the display panel (1), the display system causing the amount of external light reflected by the liquid crystal display (10) to be relatively larger than the amount of light leaked from the backlight (3) onto the liquid crystal display panel (1). This provides a display system having an enhanced blocking effect.
US07956937B2 Projection apparatus and color-level correcting method therefor
A projection apparatus, an illumination module and a color-level correcting method therefor are provided. The projection apparatus comprises a projection lens, an imaging unit and an illumination module. The illumination module comprises a light source, a color wheel and a controlling unit. The light source provides a light beam. The color wheel is disposed on an optical path of the light beam and the controlling unit is connected to the color wheel and the imaging unit. A plurality of color wheel indices is stored in the controlling unit. When the projection apparatus receives an image signal, the controlling unit selects one of the color wheel indices according to the received image signal and controls the imaging unit according to the selected color wheel index. The projection apparatus automatically selects the corresponding color wheel index according to the received image signal for projecting an image with good tints and color-level performance.
US07956935B2 Control method and device for controlling a controllable device
An example method and device for controlling a controllable device involves using a control device comprising a numeric keypad and a delimiter key. Control operations for the controllable device are respectively associated with digits of the numeric keypad and one of the control operations is initiated by pressing the delimiter key followed by the digit key associated with the one control operation. Control operations include by way of example channel tuning operations for a television, input selection operations for a television and menu screen selections.
US07956933B2 Tuner circuit and digital broadcast receiver with low distortion performance and low power consumption
In a tuner circuit, an automatic gain control circuit generates an RF-AGC voltage for automatically controlling a gain of an RF-AGC amplifier in accordance with a level of a signal output from an IF amplifier. An emitter follower circuit includes a transistor for current amplification, and varies a drive current of the transistor in accordance with the RF-AGC voltage. Thus, when an interference signal is at a high level, the drive current of the transistor becomes large. Therefore, distortion performance of the emitter follower circuit is improved. On the other hand, in a normal state where the interference signal is at a low level, the drive current of the transistor fails to become large. Therefore, low power consumption is achieved.
US07956932B2 Image signal processing apparatus, method of controlling the same, and television signal receiving apparatus
According to one embodiment of the invention, a smoothing module is configured to smooth and reduce grayscale differences in a plain area of an input digital image signal according to a collection parameter. A histogram acquisition module is configured to acquire a histogram value of the input digital image signal for one frame. A histogram value buffer module is configured to buffer histogram values for a plurality of frames. A luminance level transition detection module is configured to detect an interval during which an image gradually changes from light to dark or from dark to light, based on the histogram values for a plurality of frames, and to output the correction parameter.
US07956931B2 Delay circuit and video signal processing circuit using the same
A delay circuit is disclosed. A switched-capacitor group includes a plurality of switched-capacitor units, each of which have a switching element and a capacitive element charged/discharged by turning on/off the switching element. The switched-capacitor units are connected such that the input signal is input in common to all of the switched-capacitor units and the capacitive elements are charged as well such that the capacitive elements are discharged to allow the output signal to be output from the switched-capacitor units. A switching control unit performs on/off control of the switching elements to cause the capacitive elements to be charged in sequence based on the input signal, causing the capacitive element charged last time to be discharged to allow the output signal to be output in sequence from the switched-capacitor units, and performs control of all of the switching elements to be turned off upon on/off switching of the switching elements.
US07956928B2 Apparatus and method for video de-interlace
A video de-interlace apparatus and a method thereof are disclosed. The apparatus includes a combing detection apparatus and a de-interlace format determining apparatus. The combing detection apparatus receives a plurality of successive fields, performs combing detection to the fields, and outputs a combing detection result. The de-interlace format determining apparatus receives the combing detection result and compares the combing detection result with a plurality of models. When the combing detection result is conform to a specific model among the models, the de-interlace format determining apparatus determines a specific de-interlace format corresponding to the specific model to de-interlace the foregoing fields.
US07956924B2 Fast computational camera based on two arrays of lenses
Method and apparatus for a fast (low F/number) computational camera that incorporates two arrays of lenses. The arrays include a lenslet array in front of a photosensor and an objective lens array of two or more lenses. Each lens in the objective lens array captures light from a subject. Each lenslet in the lenslet array captures light from each objective lens and separates the captured light to project microimages corresponding to the objective lenses on a region of the photosensor under the lenslet. Thus, a plurality of microimages are projected onto and captured by the photosensor. The captured microimages may be processed in accordance with the geometry of the objective lenses to align the microimages to generate a final image. One or more other algorithms may be applied to the image data in accordance with radiance information captured by the camera, such as automatic refocusing of an out-of-focus image.
US07956923B2 Mobile terminal having image corrector
A mobile terminal has an image corrector which includes a comparator for receiving a first image signal photographed by a camera in a camera mode and a second image signal displayed in a normal mode, and for comparing them with a reference signal to generate a deviation signal, and a corrector for receiving the deviation signal from the comparator, and for supplying the first or second image signal, in which white balancing and gamma are corrected, in response to the deviation signal so that luminance and white balance of the first image signal displayed in the camera mode become equal to or similar to luminance and white balance of the second image signal displayed in the normal mode.
US07956922B2 Viewfinder and image pickup apparatus
A viewfinder includes a main body detachably attached to a camera body, a display unit on which an image captured at the camera body is displayed, and an eyepiece unit detachably attached to the display unit. The eyepiece unit magnifies the image. The display unit includes a support connected to the main body in a rotatable manner, a display panel having a display surface on which the image is displayed, and a connecting mechanism that connects the display panel to the support in a rotatable manner. The support and the display panel can be set to a first folded state in which a rear surface of the display panel that is opposite to the display surface is placed on the support, a second folded state in which the display surface is placed on the support, and an unfolded state in which the display panel is raised from the support.
US07956919B2 Method for driving semiconductor device having capacitive load, method and apparatus for driving load, and electronic apparatus
When a signal is read from a CCD solid-state image pickup element, the CCD solid-state image pickup element is driven with at least two driving voltages so that high-speed reading is performed with generation of noise due to interference between the driving voltages reduced. The CCD solid-state image includes a charge storage section between a vertical transfer register and a horizontal transfer register. By performing the transfer of charge in the direction of columns during an effective transfer period of the transfer in the direction of rows, signal charge of one row generated by a light receiving sensor is transferred to the charge storage section, and by performing the transfer outside the effective transfer period in the transfer in the direction of the row, the signal charge of one row transferred to the charge storage section is transferred to the horizontal transfer register.
US07956912B2 Active pixel sensor with mixed analog and digital signal integration
An active pixel sensor includes mixed analog and digital signal integration on the same substrate. The analog part of the array forms the active pixel sensor, and the digital part of the array does digital integration of the signal.
US07956911B2 Digital photographing apparatus, and method and program for controlling the same
A digital photographing apparatus capable of obtaining an image in which a distant subject is clearly represented and a near subject is naturally represented, and a method and program for controlling the same. The digital photographing apparatus includes a range determiner for determining a distance between the digital photographing apparatus and a main subject, an image pickup element for generating image data from incident light, an edge data acquisition unit for obtaining edge data in different degrees of extraction of the edge data based on the distance between the digital photographing apparatus and the main subject which is determined by the range determiner, when obtaining the edge data on edges of a subject from the image data, and an image data modifier for modifying the image data based on the edge data obtained by the edge data acquisition unit.
US07956908B2 Read-out circuit of image sensor
A read-out circuit of an image sensor is provided. The read-out circuit includes: a CDS block, including: a plurality of reset capacitors storing inputted reset values of pixels; a plurality of signal capacitors storing inputted signal values of the pixels; a plurality of reset driving devices outputting the reset values stored into the reset capacitors; a plurality of signal driving devices outputting the signal values stored into the signal capacitors; and a plurality of capacitor equalization devices equalizing electric potential levels of the reset capacitors and the signal capacitors; a reset line transferring reset value output signals of the CDS block; a signal line transferring signal value output signals of the CDS block; a differential amplification unit amplifying a difference between the individual reset value output signal and the individual signal value output signal; and a line equalization device equalizing electric potential levels of the reset line and signal line.
US07956907B2 Image capture device with low-frequency noise suppression
An image capture device which can reduce low-frequency noise even circuitry of a small scale is provided. An image capture device includes: an acquisition section which is used to acquire sensitivity information concerning a sensitivity; an imager for generating first image data; a zoom section for changing a size of an image which is based on input image data, the zoom section outputting second image data which is obtained by reducing a size of an image represented by the first image data; and a noise suppression section for outputting third image data which is obtained by reducing noise in an image represented by the second image data. In accordance with the sensitivity information, the zoom section changes a zoom factor by which to reduce the size of the image represented by the first image data.
US07956904B2 Image file reproduction device and image file reproduction method
A method of reproducing an image file from a recording medium that stores an image file of a first type and/or an image file of a second type includes reproducing the first type of image file or second type of image file, detecting whether each of a predetermined number of image files stored on the recording medium is the first type of image file or the second type of image file during the reproduction of an image file, and converting the second type of image file to the first type of image file by reading the main image data from the second type of image file, generating display-image data (image data for display use) based on the read main image data, and storing the generated display-image data in the original image file if the image file is determined to be the second type of image file based on the detection result. The first type of image file is an image file containing a header, main image data, and display-image data, and storing the display-image data in an area other than an area storing the header. The second type of image file is an image file containing a header and main image data, and storing no display-image data in an area other than an area storing the header. The image files of predetermined number being image files that can be reproduced when reproduction is done in the forward and/or reverse direction from the image file being reproduced.
US07956903B2 Imaging apparatus
An imaging device (1) including; a fluctuation correcting section (13) for correcting fluctuation of the input/output characteristics of the imaging element (4), and the linearizing section (14) for converting the signals outputted from the imaging element (4) into the state where the output signals are uniformly converted by one conversion characteristic. The fluctuation correcting section (13) is provided with a first correcting section (13a) for correcting fluctuation based on a computing equation obtained by modeling a plurality of kinds of conversion characteristic, and a second correcting section (13b) for correcting the output signals in a region close to a switch point of a plurality of kinds of conversion characteristics among the output signals whose fluctuations are corrected by the first correcting section (13a), by using model equations of two characteristics on the sides of the switch point, so that the output signal overlaps the characteristic of the imaging element (4).
US07956900B2 Video delivery device, video delivery method, video delivery program and recording medium
A video distributing apparatus that distributes video data of a program to an external viewer includes an editing-data calculating unit that calculates, based on scenario data describing contents of the program and reservation data describing a reservation for a video shoot using a camera, editing data indicating the contents of the video data; a video-data acquiring unit that selectively acquires, based on the editing data, the video data shot by the camera installed at a fixed position; and an output unit that outputs, to the external viewer, the video data acquired by the video-data acquiring unit. As a result, video data corresponding to the demands of each user can be easily acquired without requiring equipment and personnel to switch the camera angles and edit the shot video.
US07956898B2 Digital image stabilization method
A digital image stabilization method that integrates a digital stabilization device and a digital video encoder is disclosed. The digital stabilization device comprises a determining module for determining background regions, a comparison module for calculating motion vectors, and an adjustment module for adjusting jerky image motion in frames. When there are frame jiggles, the motion vector between an I frame and a P frame is used for motion estimation to get a first motion vector and also define a background region of the P frame. Next, a second motion vector of a B frame is calculated according to the background region to adjust jerky motion of the P frame and the B frame for stabilization. The next P frame then uses the background region of the preceding P frame as its background region.
US07956890B2 Adaptive multi-modal integrated biometric identification detection and surveillance systems
A surveillance system is provided that includes at least one sensor disposed in a security area of a surveillance region to sense an occurrence of a potential security breach event; a plurality of cameras is disposed in the surveillance region; at least one camera of the plurality has a view of the security area and can be configured to automatically gather biometric information concerning at least one subject person in the vicinity of the security area in response to the sensing of a potential security breach event; one or more other of the plurality of cameras can be configured to search for the at least one subject person; a processing system is programmed to produce a subject dossier corresponding to the at least one subject person to match biometric information of one or more persons captured by one or more of the other cameras with corresponding biometric information in the subject dossier.
US07956887B2 Image orienting coupling assembly
A coupling assembly for a scope and an image sensor housing is disclosed generally comprising an image orientation unit having first and second coupling sections for coupling the unit to a scope and an image sensor housing, such as a camera head, an optical assembly with a rotatable optical element for rotating the images, a rotation sensor for monitoring rotation of the optical element, an accelerometer for monitoring rotation of the unit, and a processor for receiving signals from the rotation sensor and the accelerometer and calculating the orientation of the images relative to the direction of gravity. In certain embodiments, the processor causes an actuator to rotate the optical element to level the images. In some embodiments, the processor activates a visual indicator, such as a diode, to indicate the direction of vertical.
US07956886B2 Multi-eye image pickup apparatus and adjusting method
A stereoscopic camera includes a master camera for photoelectric conversion of object light to generate a first image signal with three color components G, R and B. A slave camera generates a second image signal. In an adjusting method, a first gain Dmr, Dmg and Dmb of the color components is determined according to the first image signal to correct a brightness level and white balance of the master camera, to adjust the first image signal by use thereof. A second gain Dsr, Dsg and Dsb of the color components is determined according to the first gain and color calibration information predetermined according to color sensitivity of the master and slave cameras in relation to the color components. The second image signal is adjusted by use thereof, for color matching between the first and second image signals to set equal the brightness level and the white balance.
US07956883B2 Light-emitting device, driving circuit, driving method, and electronic apparatus
A light-emitting device includes: light-emitting elements whose luminous energy is controlled according to a current value and a pulse width of a driving signal; a storage unit that stores first and second coefficients for every light-emitting element; a pulse width determining unit that determines the pulse width of the driving signal supplied to each light-emitting element on the basis of the first coefficient, a current value determining unit that determines a current value of the driving signal supplied to each light-emitting element on the basis of the second coefficient, a driving unit that supplies the driving signal having the current value determined by the current value determining unit within the determined pulse width determined, to the light-emitting element, and a coefficient determining unit that calculates the first coefficient based on target values of a light amount and first peak light amounts of one of the light-emitting elements, and calculates the second coefficient.
US07956882B2 Multiple-beam scanning device and image forming apparatus having the multiple-beam scanning device
A multi-beam scanning device includes a light source part having a plurality of light emitting sources which light emitting sources are monolithically arranged in a surface perpendicular to an optical axis; a light deflection part configured to deflect a plurality of light beams from the light source part in a lump and scan an image carrier surface; and an image-formation optical system where lateral magnification is set so that beam spots of the plural light beams are arranged at a designated pitch in a sub-scanning direction on the image carrier surface.
US07956875B2 Display device which reduces variation in chromaticity of red, blue, and green LEDs
A display device configured to realize a high display quality by correcting irregularity, caused by a lighting unit, by signal processing. The target light quantity in a displayed image of the liquid crystal panel is set, the estimated light quantity at each pixel location in the plane of the backlight is calculated, matrix coefficients are calculated based on the estimated light quantity and the target light quantity, image signals are subjected to matrix operations using the matrix coefficients, and the liquid crystal panel is driven by image signals resulting from the matrix operations. Therefore, the light quantity distribution in the displayed image becomes identical to the target light quantity distribution.
US07956873B2 Image rotation with substantially no aliasing error
A system, method and program product for rotating a first image in an image buffer such that the resulting, rotated image is substantially free of an aliasing error, i.e., broken lines, stair stepped edges, etc., is disclosed. An algorithm is applied to the first image that uses weighted sums of data points of the first image to create the rotated image. The weighting is based on the skew angle and data point location of the first image. The resulting rotated image also has a reduced data storage space requirement compared to rotated images created by prior art techniques.
US07956870B2 Systems and methods for providing image rendering using variable rate source sampling
Systems and methods are provided for variable source rate sampling in connection with image rendering, which accumulate and resolve over all samples forward mapped to each pixel bin. In accordance with the invention, the textured surface to be rendered is sampled, or oversampled, at a variable rate that reflects variations in frequency among different regions, taking into account any transformation that will be applied to the surface prior to rendering and the view parameters of the display device, thus ensuring that each bin of the rendering process receives at least a predetermined minimum number of samples. A variety of image processing applications are contemplated wherein variable rate source sampling, and accumulation and resolution of forward mapped point samples can be applied, ranging from 3-D graphics applications to applications wherein images recorded in a recording/storage environment are mapped to the arbitrary requirements of a display environment.
US07956868B2 Gamut map model with improved gradation fidelity at low chroma values
An improved gamut map model (GMM) useful in conjunction with Windows Color System (WCS). The method uses the WCS Minimum Color Difference (MinCD) GMM to handle gamut mapping for the Saturation rendering intent at low input chroma values. For input values to the gamut map model profile (GMMP), if the chroma value C falls within a predetermined chroma value range, the MinCD GMM will be applied, otherwise the Hue Mapping GMM is applied. The predetermined chroma value range can be determined by experimentation. The range is 0≦C≦10 in a preferred embodiment. This method will improve the gradation fidelity of the rendered images and reduce or prevent major hue shifts at low chroma values. The method may be implemented as a plug-in utility for a computer.
US07956864B2 Archival imaging system
An imaging system for use with an external memory system, an external memory system for use with an imaging system, and methods for archiving digital content are provided. The imaging system has a source of content data files and a communications link adapted to exchange data with the external memory system. A processor is adapted to prepare content data files for archival storage on the external memory system and to cause the external memory system to store the prepared content data files.
US07956851B2 Self-tuning drive source employing input impedance phase detection
An untethered device is configured to inductively couple to a source device. The source device includes a driver circuit configured to generate a varying magnetic field and comprising a drive coil circuit. A phase detector is coupled to the driver circuit and configured to detect a phase of an input impedance of the driver circuit in response to the source device inductively coupling with the resonant circuit of the untethered device. A controller is coupled to the phase detector and the driver circuit, and is configured to adjust a frequency of a source voltage applied to the driver circuit in response to an output signal of the phase detector. The controller adjusts the source voltage frequency so that the phase of the input impedance as indicated by the output signal of the phase detector is substantially zero.
US07956850B2 Touch sensor and signal generation method thereof
A touch sensor and a signal generation method thereof are provided. The touch sensor includes: an input signal generation unit generating an input signal; a reference signal generation unit delaying the input signal by a predetermined time to generate a first signal; a plurality of touch sensing signal generation units having a touch pad and delaying the input signal differently according to whether or not the touch pad is touched to generate a second signal; a plurality of variable delay units varying a delay time in response to a control signal and delaying the second signal in response to the varied delay time to generate a varied second signal; a plurality of touch signal generation units generating a touch signal according to a difference in delay time between the first signal and the second signal; and a control unit receiving and analyzing the plurality of touch signals, generating touch outputs when the touch pad is in a touched state, and supplying the control signals to the variable delay units when the touch pad is in a standby state. Accordingly, the delay value may be automatically adjusted even when the delay value, which has been initially set, is varied due to an external environment, so that the touch pad may be prevented from being mis-operated.
US07956843B2 Handheld electronic device with text disambiguation employing advanced editing features
A handheld electronic device includes a reduced QWERTY keyboard and is enabled with disambiguation software. The device provides output in the form of a default output and a number of variants. The output is based largely upon the frequency, i.e., the likelihood that a user intended a particular output, but various features of the device provide additional variants that are not based solely on frequency and rather are provided by various logic structures resident on the device. The device enables editing during text entry and also provides a learning function that allows the disambiguation function to adapt to provide a customized experience for the user. The disambiguation function can be selectively disabled and an alternate keystroke interpretation system provided. Additionally, the device can facilitate the selection of variants by displaying a graphic of a special key of the keypad that enables a user to progressively select variants generally without changing the position of the user's hands on the device. If a field into which text is being entered is determined to be a special input field, a disambiguated result can be sought first from a predetermined data source prior to seeking results from other data sources on the device.
US07956836B2 Liquid crystal display device having balanced clock signal lines
The present invention provides a liquid crystal display device which can effectively reduce electromagnetic radiation caused by clock signals or data signals. In a liquid crystal display device, a timing controller outputs a clock signal and a reverse clock signal. The clock signal and the reverse clock signal are transmitted to a clock signal line and a reverse clock signal line arranged in parallel to each other. The clock signal line is connected to normal terminals of data driver ICs, and the reverse clock signal line is connected to dummy terminals of the data driver ICs.
US07956832B2 Liquid crystal display device
A liquid crystal display device includes a liquid crystal display panel DP in which liquid crystal pixels PX are connected to a source line X via pixel switching elements, and a display control circuit CNT which performs non-video signal writing for driving the source line X according to a non-video signal and applying the potential of the source line X to one of the liquid crystal pixels PX via a selected one of the pixel switching elements T and performs video signal writing for driving the source line X according to a video signal and applying the potential of the source line X to one of the liquid crystal pixels PX via a selected one of the pixel switching elements T. The display control circuit CNT is configured to provide a precharge period between a non-video signal writing period in which the non-video signal writing is performed and a video signal writing period in which video signal writing is initially performed after the non-video signal writing and transition the potential of the source line X to a level which is close to an intermediate gradation display level corresponding to a video signal in the precharge period.
US07956830B2 Organic light-emitting diode (OLED) panel and driving method with compensation voltage thereof
An organic light-emitting diode (OLED) panel and driving method thereof is provided. The OLED panel includes a plurality of data lines, scan lines, pixels, sampling voltage lines and compensation voltage lines. The sampling voltage line transmits a compensation voltage in response to compensation signals from the data lines, threshold voltages of driving transistors and organic light emitting diodes in the pixels connected to the same scan line. The corresponding compensation voltage line adjusts data signals transmitted into the pixels connected to the same scan line in response to the compensation voltage.
US07956829B2 Display apparatus
Disclosed herein is a display apparatus includes, a pixel array and a driver configured to drive the pixel array. The pixel array includes rows of scanning lines, columns of signal lines, a matrix of pixels disposed at crossings of the scanning lines and the signal lines, and feeding lines associated with respective rows of the pixels, the pixels including respective sampling transistors having respective gates connected to the scanning lines; and the driver includes a main scanner configured to supply control signals to the scanning lines, the main scanner including a shift register, output buffers connected respectively between the shift register and the scanning lines, and a pulse power supply configured to supply power supply pulses, each having a predetermined pulse duration, to the output buffers, and wherein the main scanner outputs power supply pulses supplied from the pulse power supply as the control signals to the respective scanning lines in response to a shift pulse output from the shift register.
US07956823B2 Color display device, color compensation method, color compensation program, and storage medium readable by computer
A color display device determines a relationship between RGB components of an input color image signal in terms of their gradation levels, and carries out a different calculation for each input color image signal depending on which of six patterns of the relationship that the input color image signal belongs to. Further, the color display device carries out the calculation for each of the RGB components excluding a component with a smallest gradation level, using variables that vary depending on the respective gradation levels of the RGB components.
US07956819B2 Stereoscopic two-dimensional image display device
There is provided a stereoscopic two-dimensional image display device including: a stereoscopic image display unit that includes a display unit having an image display surface that displays an image, and an image transmitting panel apart from the image display surface, and a stereoscopic two-dimensional image by imaging light emitted from the image display surface, on an imaging surface at a side opposite to the display unit with respect to the image transmitting panel; a position detecting sensor that outputs an output signal corresponding to a position of a detection target inserted to the imaging surface; and a control unit that changes the image displayed on the image display surface in accordance with the output signal from the position detecting sensor so as to change the stereoscopic two-dimensional image displayed on the imaging surface. A user interface region is formed on a peripheral portion of the imaging surface.
US07956818B1 Leaky coaxial cable with high radiation efficiency
An leaky coaxial cable antenna with high radiation efficiency and low insertion loss is described. The outer shield of the coaxial cable is constructed to facilitate energy transfer between the bifilar mode and the monofilar mode by constructing the outer conductor of a first conductive strip wrapped in a spiral about the dielectric and a plurality of second conductive strips wrapped in a counter spiral about the first but spaced serially along the length of the coaxial cable such that portions of the cable are wrapped by a single spiral and the other portions are wrapped by two spirals.
US07956816B2 Compact portable antenna for digital terrestrial television with frequency rejection
The invention relates to a portable compact antenna formed from a first dipole type radiating element operating in a first frequency band and comprising a first and at least one second conductive arm, differentially supplied, the first arm, referred to as cold arm, forming at least one cover for an electronic card and the second arm, referred to as hot arm, being linked to the cold arm at the level of the supply. According to the invention, the hot arm comprises at least one slot resonating in a second frequency band such as the GSM band.
US07956812B2 Wide-band antenna and manufacturing method thereof
A wide-band antenna and a manufacturing method thereof are provided. The wide-band antenna includes a substrate, a first radiator, a second radiator, a grounding portion, and a signal feeding portion. The first radiator is disposed on a first surface of the substrate while the second radiator is disposed on the first surface or a second surface opposite to the first surface. The first radiator and the second radiator are spaced apart by a predetermined distance. The grounding portion is disposed on the substrate to couple with the second radiator. The signal feeding portion has a coupling unit disposed on the second surface and at least partially overlapping the first radiator. The signal feeding portion is coupled with the grounding portion and feeds signals to excite the first radiator to form a first band mode through coupling effect by the coupling unit. The first radiator feeds signals to excite the second radiator to form a second band mode by coupling effect.
US07956811B2 Antenna and antenna set with lower height
An antenna and an antenna set are provided. The antenna is composed of a horseshoe sheet member and two rectangular sheet members. The horseshoe sheet member and the two rectangular sheet members are all made of a metal material. The antenna is made of a metal material, such as tinplate, and the antenna is adapted for receiving or emitting wireless signals of vertical polarization and horizontal polarization. The antenna set includes three antennae as above disposed on a substrate. The antenna set is adapted for polarization diversity, pattern diversity, and space diversity. Comparing with the conventional antenna and antenna set, the antenna and the antenna set according to the present invention have lower costs and lower heights, and can be designed as embedded antennae or hidden antennae.
US07956810B2 Antenna device and antenna system utilizing said antenna device
An antenna device includes a first conductive piece, a second conductive piece, a third conductive piece and a feeding point. The second conductive piece is electrically coupled to a predetermined voltage level. The third conductive piece is electrically connected to the first conductive piece and the second conductive piece. The feeding point is located on the first conductive piece.
US07956801B2 Mobile device comprising a GPS receiver
A mobile device comprising a GPS receiver for receiving GPS signals; a communications receiver for receiving historical ephemeris data from an external server; and a processor configured to determine later ephemeris data from the historical ephemeris data and to determine a GPS position fix from the later ephemeris data. In particular, the later ephemeris data may be valid for a time period greater than any single set of the historical ephemeris data.
US07956793B2 Selective reflective and absorptive surfaces and methods for resonantly coupling incident radiation
Methods and apparatus for providing a tunable absorption band in a wavelength selective surface are disclosed. A device for selectively absorbing incident electromagnetic radiation includes an electrically conductive surface layer including an arrangement of multiple surface elements. The surface layer is disposed at a nonzero height above a continuous electrically conductive layer. An electrically isolating intermediate layer defines a first surface that is in communication with the electrically conductive surface layer. The continuous electrically conductive backing layer is provided in communication with a second surface of the electrically isolating intermediate layer. The arrangement of surface elements couples at least a portion of the incident electromagnetic radiation between itself and the continuous electrically conductive backing layer, such that the resonant device selectively absorbs incident radiation, and reflects a portion of the incident radiation that is not absorbed.
US07956789B2 Disconnection detecting circuit and disconnection detecting method by using capacitor
A disconnection detecting method includes charging a capacitor by connecting a node of the capacitor to a first power source line supplied with a first power source potential, connecting the node of the capacitor to an input terminal, after the node of the capacitor is disconnected from the first power source line, and converting a first value on the node to a first digital data. The method further includes discharging the capacitor by connecting the node of the capacitor to a first power source line supplied with a second power source potential, after the node is disconnected from the input terminal, connecting the node of the capacitor to the input terminal, after the node of the capacitor is disconnected from the second power source line, and converting a second value on the node to a second digital data. The method further includes comparing the first digital data with the second digital data to determine whether a difference between the first and second digital data exists, and determining that the input terminal is abnormal when the difference exists.
US07956782B2 Current-mode sigma-delta digital-to-analog converter
In general, this disclosure is directed to a differential current-mode sigma-delta digital-to-analog converter (SD DAC) with improved accuracy and reduced offset and gain errors. In one example, the SD DAC may include a current source configured to provide a differential current. The SD DAC may further include a switching network configured to adjust a polarity of the differential current according to a bit within the bit-stream to produce a differential current signal. The SD DAC may further include a current-to-voltage converter configured to convert the differential current signal to a differential voltage signal. In additional examples, the differential current source may include one or more source degeneration resistances. In further examples, the current-to-voltage converter may include a fully-differential operational amplifier. A low pass filter may be included within the current-to-voltage converter and/or coupled to the output of the current-to-voltage converter.
US07956781B2 Analogue-to-digital converter apparatus and method of reusing an analogue-to-digital converter circuit
An analogue-to-digital converter apparatus comprises a first integrator coupled to a second integrator. The first and second integrators are coupled so as to provide a complex pole. The first integrator is selectively electrically decoupleable from the second integrator, thereby removing the complex pole.
US07956779B2 Non-linear interpolation circuit, interpolation current generating circuit thereof and method for converting digital data into analog data
A non-linear interpolation circuit includes current interpolation units and an I-V converter. The current interpolation units receive an operating voltage corresponding to digital image data and corresponding reference voltages to generate corresponding operating currents. When the operating voltage changes, at least one of the corresponding current interpolation units generate the corresponding operating current, and the operating currents with respect to the operating voltage are superimposed to form an interpolation current. The I-V converter converts the interpolation current into an interpolation voltage. An interpolation current generating circuit and a method for converting digital data into analog data are also disclosed herein.
US07956768B2 System for metering vehicular traffic at a toll plaza
A system and method is provided for metering vehicular traffic. Specifically, the system uses a computer to prevent delays as vehicles transition from a greater number of toll lanes to a lesser number of travel lanes. Toll collection devices are used to send a ready signal to a computer to indicate a vehicle is ready to leave a start point. The computer receives ready signals from the toll collection devices and uses a pre-programmed departure schedule to queue the vehicles. After the vehicles are queued, the computer uses time delay variables to ensure efficient traffic flow between the toll lanes of the plaza and the travel lanes of the bridge or tunnel. An indicator signal responsive to a departure signal sent by the computer is employed to direct vehicles from a start point towards a travel lane.
US07956767B2 Automatic meter reading communication
An automatic consumption meter reading system utilizing a radio frequency network and a power line carrier network is provided. The radio frequency (RF) network and the power line carrier (PLC) network are communicatively linked with a radio frequency to power line communication bridge device. The radio frequency to power line communication bridge device is communicatively linked to a consumption meter. An automatic meter reading device includes an RF modem and a PLC modem and transmits and receives data to and from a consumption meter using the RF and PLC modems.
US07956765B2 Message image display device, message image display device control method, and information storage medium
There is provided a message image display device enabling a user to grasp a content of each massage image when a plurality of message images are displayed. A display control unit (76) causes a display unit (82) to display a screen containing a plurality of message images. A judging unit (78) judges whether display of at least a part of a message image is limited by one or more other message images. A display-time determining unit (84) determines a display time of each of message images according to the judgment result of the judging unit (78). The display control unit (76) displays each of the message images over the display time of the message image determined by the display-time determining unit (84).