| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US07971266B2 |
Method for providing a probe for a probe-microscopic analysis of a test sample in a probe microscope and arrangement with a probe microscope
The present invention relates to a method for providing a measuring probe (1, 1a, 2) for a probe microscopic examination of a sample in a probe microscope, in particular a scanning probe microscope, in which the measuring probe (1), which has a probe base (1a) and a probe extension (2) formed thereon, is held on a carrier device and the measuring probe (1) is processed before or after a measurement by detaching a section of the probe extension (2). The invention further relates to an arrangement having a probe microscope for the probe microscopic examination of a sample, in particular a scanning probe microscope. |
| US07971262B2 |
Protecting against software piracy
Methods and software products are disclosed for protecting against software piracy. When a customer purchases software, the seller performs an activation process by identifying a unique computer identifier (ID) for the computer system of the customer, and activating the software based on the computer ID, such as by encoding the computer ID on the media storing the software. When the customer attempts to install the software on a computer system, the computer system executes an installation process. The computer system identifies its own computer ID and the computer ID used to activate the software. The computer system determines if its computer ID corresponds with the computer ID used to activate the software. If the computer IDs correspond, then the computer system is allowed to install the software. If not, the computer system is prevented from installing the software. |
| US07971257B2 |
Obtaining network origins of potential software threats
A method/system/computer program for obtaining the network origin of a downloaded entity of interest (e.g. a threat or malicious software). The method includes recording the network locations of at least some files downloaded to a processing system and recording the physical locations of the at least some files stored in one or more storage devices of the processing system. Then, identifying an entity of interest in the processing system and searching the recorded network locations and the recorded physical locations for the network location and the physical location of the entity of interest. Then, if the network location and the physical location of the entity of interest is identified, transmitting the network location and the physical location of the entity of interest to a remote processing system. |
| US07971254B1 |
Method and system for low-latency detection of viruses transmitted over a network
This invention relates generally to systems and methods for rapid, low-latency detection of viruses in network transmissions and specifically to methods for determining which parts of a network transmission might contain viruses and checking and cleaning only those parts of the transmission which could potentially be infected as soon as sufficient information is available for such a check. |
| US07971251B2 |
Systems and methods for wireless security using distributed collaboration of wireless clients
Systems and methods for distributed monitoring of a wireless network using a plurality of wireless client devices in communication with the wireless network. |
| US07971250B2 |
System and method for providing data content analysis in a local area network
A system and method for providing data content analysis is disclosed. The system includes an intelligent switch in a local area network, where the intelligent switch has content analysis applications stored therein and is configured to apply one or more content analysis applications on a port-by-port basis. The method includes remotely updating one or more content analysis applications at intelligent switches of subscriber networks. |
| US07971248B2 |
Tolerating and detecting asymmetric races
Detecting and/or tolerating races. Races occur due to malicious threads not respecting software locks. A method of detecting and/or correcting races includes making local copie(s) and reference copie(s) of shared data. Any read and write operations performed by a safe thread are caused to be performed on the local copie(s) during a critical section. The critical section defines a time frame which a variable lock is placed on shared data. Any read and write operations performed by malicious threads are allowed to be performed on the shared data during the critical section. The shared data, the local copie(s), and the reference copie(s) are compared to determine that a race has been detected. An indication can be output that a race has occurred or the race can be corrected. |
| US07971246B1 |
Identity theft countermeasures
In some embodiments, techniques for computer security comprise preventing and/or mitigating identity theft such as phishing. |
| US07971244B1 |
Method of determining network penetration
A method of determining network penetration (which may be carried on a computer readable medium) and an apparatus for performing the method are disclosed. The method includes the computer-implemented step of simulating a packet traveling in a network based on topology data and on security policy data, and providing output related to results of the step of simulating. |
| US07971243B2 |
Security module
A method and apparatus for restricting access of an application to computer hardware. The apparatus includes both an authentication module and a validation module. The authentication module is within the trusted firmware layer. The purpose of the authentication module is to verify a cryptographic key presented by an application. The validation module is responsive to the authentication module and limits access of the application to the computer hardware. The authentication modules may be implemented in software through a firmware call, or through a hardware register of the computer. |
| US07971241B2 |
Techniques for providing verifiable security in storage devices
A verifiable security mode is provided for securing data on a storage device, such as a hard disk drive. When the verifiable security mode is enabled, only authenticated accesses to data stored on the storage device are permitted after entering a password. An end user is prevented from disabling the verifiable security mode. The verifiable security mode can be set to allow or disallow an administrator from disabling the verifiable security mode. The verifiable security mode can be implemented, for example, in firmware on a hard disk drive (HDD). |
| US07971238B2 |
Two-factor authentication of a remote administrator
An information handling system includes a processor, system memory, and a remote access resource that includes a virtual card reader enabled to establish a communication channel between the remote access resource and a remote card reader to communicate smart card reader access requests and response between them. The system may include an authentication module requiring two factor authentication including userid/password authentication and a physical card authentication. The communication channel enables remote physical card authentication. The resource further supports redirection of system console traffic enabling remote userid/password authentication. The virtual card reader is preferably operable to download a virtual card reader client to a remote management station to which the smart card reader is attached. The remote access resource may be operable to direct console traffic of the system to the remote management station to display a system login screen on the remote management station. |
| US07971237B2 |
Method and system for providing fraud detection for remote access services
An approach provides fraud detection in support of data communication services. A usage pattern associated with a particular account for remote access to a data network is monitored. The usage pattern is compared with a reference pattern specified for the account. A fraud alert is selectively generated based on the comparison. |
| US07971234B1 |
Method and apparatus for offline cryptographic key establishment
The invention provides an authentication scheme that allows networked devices to establish trust in connection with the exchange of keys pursuant to an asymmetrical cryptographic technique, such as Diffie-Hellman. The invention provides a technique, referred to as offline key establishment, that establishes a trust relationship between two networked devices that use Diffie-Helman. Offline key sharing provides for the exchange of authentication information using a separate channel which, in the preferred embodiment does not constitute an IP connection. Thus, while communications between networked devices may ultimately proceed via a network connection, trust between the networked devices is established via a separate, offline channel, such as a telephone call or email message. The use of offline key establishment allows for such features as one way key sharing; and addresses situations where one party to the exchange does not want to share all of his keys, but just one or two keys. |
| US07971226B2 |
Interactive game system with computer-animated game pieces
An interactive computer game system (10) for one or more players includes a game server (12) that generates a first game piece (19A) controlled by a first player, and a second game piece (19B). The first game piece (19A) has a first adjustable battle parameter that is adjustable by the first player and a first fixed battle parameter that is not adjustable by the first player. The second game piece (19B) can have a second adjustable battle parameter that is adjustable by the second player and a second fixed battle parameter that is not adjustable by the second player. The game pieces (19A, 19B) engage in a battle having an outcome determined by an algorithm that is based at least partly upon one or more of the adjustable battle parameters and/or one or more of the fixed battle parameters. In another embodiment, the game server (12) generates a pool of game pieces from which the players select activated first game pieces and second game pieces, respectively. The game pieces of each player engage in battles until only one player has at least one activated game piece remaining, and is thereby determined the winning player. |
| US07971222B2 |
Interactive television systems with digital video recording and adjustable reminders
An interactive television system is provided in which an interactive television application is used to support network-based or local personal video recorder capabilities. A user may use this application to view lists of program listings. The user may select a program listing of interest. The interactive television application may allow the user to set a reminder for the selected program at the scheduled broadcast time. This application may also allow the user to set a reminder for the selected program at a later time at which the program is not scheduled to be broadcast. The user may be provided with a reminder at this later time. In response, the user may direct the network-based or local personal video recorder to play back the program or may defer the reminder again. The interactive television application may collect information on program usage and popularity to determine how long to retain certain programming. |
| US07971217B2 |
Content digest system, video digest system, user terminal, video digest generation method, video digest reception method and program therefor
Meta data about content is converted into characteristic values. Each characteristic value is associated with one or more content segments of content. The content can be audio, video, or other data or combinations of data. Importance levels for content segments are determined from content scores. Content scores are generally an indication of how one person would rate a particular characteristic value. The content scores may be estimated by using previously determined scores of similar content segments. The similarity is preferably determined by a particular metric. A user may also supply his or her own content scores for content segments. The user profile content scores can be combined with the determined content scores or completely supplant these scores. Based on the importance levels for content scores for content segments, content segments may be packaged into a content digest that a user may view. |
| US07971215B1 |
System, method and computer readable medium for managing media streams
A method, system and computer readable medium for managing media streams, the computer readable medium has computer-readable code embodied therein for sharing media content, the computer-readable code comprising instructions for: associating different program map tables with devices of different users that are scheduled to filter, at a certain point of time, streams that form a same program; wherein the different program map tables reflect streams that should be filtered by devices of the different users. |
| US07971214B1 |
Electronic device with an antitheft function and method for preventing theft of electronic devices
The present invention is a television receiver that includes a memory that stores a first lock release code, an input device to input a second lock release code, a comparing portion to compare the second lock release code to the first lock release code, and a control portion to output a signal to operate the television receiver when the result of the comparison conforms. Also the present invention includes a method for preventing theft of an electronic device that includes the steps of storing a lock release code in a memory of the electronic device, providing information corresponding to the lock release code to a third party, requesting an input of the information corresponding to the lock release code, comparing input information to the lock release code stored in the memory, and disabling the electronic device when the result of the comparison is not conforming. |
| US07971213B2 |
Spindle motor with stability and vibration reduction mechanism
Disclosed is a spindle motor comprising: an integral turntable including: a table on which a rotating body to be installed, and an inner side wall and an outer side wall formed to be recessed upwards at a portion therebetween on a lower surface of the table so that a predetermined hollow is formed, a surface of thereof being formed slant; a ball cover for covering a ball inserted into the hollow and the hollow; a rotation shaft an upper portion of which is inserted into a center of the integral turntable; a bearing supporting a lower portion of the rotation shaft; a coil formed on an outside of the rotation shaft; and a magnet formed on an outside of the coil. |
| US07971201B2 |
Multiple operating device version software generating system and multiple operating device version software generation support program and method
A multiple operating device version program generating device for generating software for multiple versions of an operating device, has an environment file storage unit having environment file storage folders, prepared for multiple versions of an operating device, each storing environment files including a library, at least one source program, and a compile and link operation instruction file; a generation environment table defining storage positions of the versions of the operating device and the environment file storage folders; a generation environment storage unit storing the environment files when generating the software; a software generation environment construction unit for copying environment files for specific versions of the operating device in the generation environment storage unit; and a software generating processing unit for executing the compile and link operations based on the compile and link operation instruction files in the generation environment storage unit. |
| US07971195B2 |
Transformation of an asynchronous transactional messaging language into a web services compatible language
Instructions in an asynchronous transactional messaging language are transformed into instructions that are compatible with the web services. In one embodiment, the asynchronous transactional messaging language is XLANG/s, and the web service languages are the web services description language (WSDL) and the simple object access protocol (SOAP). A programmer simply writes high level declarative statements that pertain to the specific type of business transaction. During compilation, selected instructions are transformed into instructions that are compatible with web services. This transformation is transparent to the designer of the business application. The asynchronous transactional messaging language source files are compiled in an iterative compilation process. During each pass of this compilation process, different variables are parsed. The parsed results are logically organized in a tree structure. The tree structure is traversed in depth first traversal order. During this traversal, instructions are transformed into instructions compatible with web services. |
| US07971191B2 |
System and method for analyzing a process
The present disclosure relates to a system and method for analyzing a process. Embodiments of the present invention may include obtaining a process execution trace including at least one subtrace, the process execution trace comprising at least one loop repetition. Further, embodiments may include removing loop repetitions within the process execution trace, identifying the subtrace as a point for data collection in a process, and collecting data related to the subtrace. |
| US07971190B2 |
Machine learning performance analysis tool
In general, in one aspect, the disclosure describes a method that includes interrupting a program running on a processor. The active instruction that was interrupted is identified. Event counts since a previous interrupt are harvested. |
| US07971185B2 |
System and method for supporting data driving a software process using objects of arbitrary data types
The present invention provides a method for supporting data driving a software process. The method comprises receiving, from a user, input of a class of an object of a non-primitive data type; and providing to the user a description of the collection of attributes necessary to construct an instance of the object, based only on the class of the object. The step of receiving the class of the object is free of receiving a pre-existing instance of the data type. In further related embodiments, the method further comprises receiving, in a single user step, user input of defining attribute data necessary to create the instance of the object and set it into a desired state; and creating and initializing the instance of the object using the defining attribute data; wherein the defining attribute data does not include a pre-existing instance of the data type. |
| US07971182B1 |
Application environment specifications for provisioning application specific runtime environments using undefined symbols
Systems and methods of executing an application in an application specific runtime environment are disclosed. The application specific runtime environment is defined by an application environment specification to include a minimal or reduced set of software resources required for execution of the application. The application environment is generated by determining software resource dependencies and is used to provision the application specific runtime environment in real-time in response to a request to execute the application. Use of the application specific runtime environment allows the application to be executed using fewer computing resources, e.g., memory. |
| US07971180B2 |
Method and system for evaluating multi-dimensional project plans for implementing packaged software applications
A method for scoring and ranking multi-dimensional project plans for implementing packaged software applications, the method includes: determining one or more dimensions for a project plan; assigning one or more attributes to each of the one or more dimensions; assigning one or more utility functions to each of the one or more attributes; assigning one or more weights to each of the one or more attributes; assigning one or more ordering factors to one or more combinations and permutations of the dimensions; calculating a series of scores for the one or more combinations and permutations of the dimensions; ranking the one or more combinations and permutations of the dimensions based on the calculated series of scores; and wherein each of the one or more combinations and permutations of the dimensions represents a different individual multi-dimensional project plan. |
| US07971176B2 |
Method for testing integrated circuits
A method of testing an integrated circuit. The method includes selecting a set of physical features of nets and devices of the integrated circuit, the integrated circuit having pattern input points and pattern observation points connected by the nets, each of the nets defined by an input point and all fan out paths to (i) input points of other nets of the nets or (ii) to the pattern observation points; selecting a measurement unit for each feature of the set of features; assigning a weight to each segment of each fan out path based on a number of the measurement units of the feature in each segment of each fan out path of each of the nets; and generating a set of test patterns optimized for test-coverage and cost based on the weights assigned to each segment of each of the nets of the integrated circuit. |
| US07971173B1 |
Method and system for implementing partial reconfiguration and rip-up of routing
Disclosed is an improved method, system, and article of manufacture for implementing routing for an electrical circuit and chip design. A routing architecture can be represented as a spectrum of different granular routing levels. Instead of routing based upon area, routing can be performed for specific routes or portions of routes. Different types of representation or levels of abstraction for the routing can be used for the same net or route. Partial topological reconfiguration, refinement, or rip-up can be performed for a portion of the integrated circuit design, where the portion is smaller than an entire route or net. Non-uniform levels of routing activities or resources may be applied to route the design. Prioritization may be used to route certain portions of the design with greater levels of detail, abstraction, or resources than other portions of the design. |
| US07971172B1 |
IC that efficiently replicates a function to save logic and routing resources
Some embodiments provide a reconfigurable IC that implements a design that is designed at a particular design clock rate. The reconfigurable IC includes reconfigurable circuits for performing operations on a set of inputs in the particular design. The IC further includes routing circuits for routing signals to and from the logic circuits to allow the logic circuits to perform the operations. The reconfigurable IC implements the design by having reconfigurable circuits that reconfigure at a rate faster than the design clock rate. For at least one operation which is defined at the design clock rate, the reconfigurable IC replicates the operation set in at least two reconfiguration cycles to reduce consumption of routing circuits. |
| US07971171B2 |
Method and system for electromigration analysis on signal wiring
The invention relates to an electromigration analysis method and a system for analyzing one or more nets in a digital integrated circuit design that are at risk of electromigration. The method comprises the steps of providing at least one interconnect between a driver cell and at least one load cell; applying same extracted netlist data for noise and/or timing analysis and for electromigration analysis; modeling the driver cell by a train of trapezoidal voltage pulses transmitted from the driver cell to the one or more load cells through the at least one interconnect; extracting at least a slew rate of a driver voltage signal and/or timing information from a noise and/or timing analysis for the one or more nets; and comparing a locally measured current density in the at least one interconnect to an effective local maximum current density limit of the at least one interconnect. |
| US07971167B2 |
Semiconductor design support device, semiconductor design support method, and manufacturing method for semiconductor integrated circuit
A semiconductor design support device for designing a semiconductor integrated circuit includes a behavioral description, an RTL description, and a latency analyzer. The behavioral description describes an algorithm of processing performed by hardware in a motion level. The RTL description is generated by reading the behavioral description and recognizes a concept including register and clock synchronism peculiar to the hardware. The latency analyzer analyzes a result of a logic simulation performed on the RTL description to calculate a latency in each block representing an operation in a predetermined unit in the behavioral description. |
| US07971166B2 |
Method, system, and program product for automated verification of gating logic using formal verification
Gating rules for a device design containing microelectronic devices are tested using formal verification. Testbench design code is generated for a device design from a design source containing hardware design language code. A formal verification process on the testbench device code determines whether the devices within the device design will be stable or unstable under a gating condition. If the test shows a design is unstable under the gating condition; it is indicated that a hardware design fix for the device design is required. If not, the test ends. |
| US07971164B2 |
Assessing resources required to complete a VLSI design
A system, method and program product are described in which schematics in a library that a user has tagged are read as ready for layout. The difficulty of each layout is assessed based on statistics indicative of the complexity of the schematic. The statistics may regard the number of connections, pins, devices, and other schematic information. The information is used to calculate the total amount of effort required to complete the design and generate a report. |
| US07971163B2 |
Property generating apparatus, property generating method and program
Disclosed is a property generating apparatus which generates a property representing a specification of an integrated circuit and verifying design information on the integrated circuit described in RTL (Register Transfer Level). The property generating apparatus includes: a storage unit, which stores a register name to identify a register; an address expanding unit, which expands property abbreviated description information on a group of registers including the register, and generates a group of addresses; an RTL analysis unit, which selects a group of register names from the register name stored in the storage unit; and a property generation unit, which generates the property by correlating the group of addresses with the group of register names. |
| US07971160B2 |
Creating method of photomask pattern data, photomask created by using the photomask pattern data, and manufacturing method of semiconductor apparatus using the photomask
A method for creating a pattern on a photomask includes steps of recognizing a space between main patterns by using pattern data which indicate the main patterns to be adjacently transferred onto a wafer, determining a 1st rule about arrangement of an assist pattern on the photomask, the assist pattern being adjacent to the main patterns and not being transferred onto the wafer, estimating a depth of focus in the presence of the assist pattern among the main patterns, determining a 2nd rule about arrangement of the assist pattern on the photomask to improve the depth of focus in the presence of the 1st assist pattern among the main patterns in a group having one or more number of appearance times of the space between main patterns, and correcting the assist pattern on the photomask using the assist pattern data on the basis of the 2nd rule. |
| US07971151B2 |
Graphic display configuration framework for unified process control system interface
A common process control graphical user interface plant operators, plant maintenance personnel, and management is disclosed which provides a real-time interface to both the process and the plant. The common interface is modular in design and is capable of supporting various specializations for each user type. Operator consoles are dedicated to each section of the plant and include additional functions such as maintenance, configuration, simulation and supervisory information. The unified for common graphical interface replaces control room displays filled with single case analog controllers, meters, and digital indicators. The common interface addresses the functions that previously were provided by the panel motor start/stop buttons and status indications, chart recorders, annunciator panels and subsystem interfaces. From a console, operators manage alarms, adjust the process by entering new setpoints or other parameters, “zoom in” on particular portions of the process for details, and utilize other specialized applications to work with their batch, advanced control, or business applications. The interface will run in both dedicated and non-dedicated modes, will run as a rich client or as part of a browser style interface utilizing web services and will run on workstations, laptops, tablet PC's, handhelds, and smart phones. |
| US07971150B2 |
Document categorisation system
A document categorization system, including a clusterer for generating clusters of related electronic documents based on features extracted from the documents, and a filter module for generating a filter on the basis of the clusters to categorize further documents received by the system. The system may include an editor for manually browsing and modifying the clusters. The categorization of the documents is based on n-grams, which are used to determine significant features of the documents. The system includes a trend analyzer for determining trends of changing document categories over time, and for identifying novel clusters. The system may be implemented as a plug-in module for a spreadsheet application for permitting one-off or ongoing analysis of text entries in a worksheet. |
| US07971141B1 |
Method and system for populating a form based on an existing format
A method of populating at least one form involving selecting a current completion option based on a previous completion option, obtaining a first completion process based on the current completion option, and populating the at least one form using the first completion process, wherein a format of the first completion process is determined by the selected current completion option. |
| US07971140B2 |
System and method for generating quotations from a reference document on a touch sensitive display device
The present invention is a system and method for generating quotations from a reference document on a touch sensitive display device or other handheld device, including the following steps: (a) receiving a first input from a user designating a first point in a captured image of the reference document to define a first corner of a crop rectangle; (b) receiving a second input from the user designating a second point in the captured image to define a second corner of the crop rectangle, wherein the first input is released before the second input is initiated; (c) cropping the captured image from the first point to the second point of the crop rectangle when the second input is released to generate an image quotation; and (f) generating a quotation data object comprising the image quotation and a bibliographical reference to a referenced section of the reference document which contains the image quotation. After the image quotation has been cropped, it may be annotated using a similar two-touch method. The present invention may be used in smart phones such as Apple iPhones®, or industrial hand-held devices that inspectors may use to quote reference documents, and in other purposes. |
| US07971132B2 |
Universal multimedia engine and method for producing the same
A method, system and apparatus for adapting the multimedia content for presentation by an application that uses, processes or otherwise services the multimedia content (“multimedia application”) is provided. The method includes receiving the multimedia content formatted in accordance with at least one of a plurality of multimedia protocols; using a function abstracted from the plurality of multimedia protocols to adapt the multimedia content in accordance with one or more capabilities of the multimedia application; and sending the multimedia content so adapted to the multimedia application for presentation. |
| US07971128B2 |
Soft decision correction method, receiver using the same, and program therefor
A soft decision value correction method can detect interference occurring in a desired wave and correct a soft decision value where a received power difference between the desired wave and an interference wave is small. A receiver and a program capable of performing the soft decision value correction method are provided. In the receiver an EVM calculator sets a detection distance for a primary modulation symbol of the first subcarrier in the first OFDM symbol as a reference, and calculates an evaluation value ΔEl,m that is an index of a distance between the primary modulation symbol of the reception signal and the reference. When the evaluation value ΔEl,m is greater than or equal to a normal threshold, a weighting controller infers that interference occurred, and multiplies a soft decision value Wl,m,n by a weighting factor to calculate a corrected soft decision value Vl,m,n. |
| US07971127B2 |
Guided simulated annealing in non-volatile memory error correction control
Data in non-volatile storage is decoded using iterative probabilistic decoding. An error correcting code such as a low density parity check code may be used. In one approach, initial reliability metrics, such as logarithmic likelihood ratios, are used in decoding sensed states of a set of non-volatile storage elements. The decoding attempts to converge by adjusting the reliability metrics for bits in code words which represent the sensed state. Simulated annealing using an adjustable temperature parameter based on a level of error in the data can be performed. The simulated annealing can introduce randomness, as noise for example, into the decoding process. Moreover, knowledge of the device characteristics can be used to guide the simulated annealing process rather than introducing absolute randomness. The introduction of a degree of randomness adds flexibility that permits possible faster convergence times and convergence in situations where data may otherwise be uncorrectable. |
| US07971126B2 |
Apparatus, system, and method for hard disk drive redundancy
An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for hard disk drive redundancy. A demarcation module demarks a parity data block in each set of a specified number of data blocks on a hard disk drive. An association module associates a PBA of each un-demarked data block with a LBA. A write module writes the data to the un-demarked data blocks. A parity module calculates parity data for the data written to the un-demarked data blocks and the write module writes the parity data to the parity data block. |
| US07971117B2 |
Test circuits of semiconductor memory device for multi-chip testing and method for testing multi chips
A test circuit of a semiconductor memory device for performing a test in cooperation with a tester having a plurality of input/output pins connected to a plurality of input/output lines. The test circuit may include a first comparing unit adapted to compare, on a bit-by-bit basis, read data that may be read from memory cells corresponding to an address with expected data, and to output the comparison results as first comparison signals, a second comparing unit adapted to perform a logic operation on the first comparison signals and to generate a flag signal when determining a failure of at least one of the memory cells on the basis of the operation result, and a storage unit adapted to store the first comparison signals in response to the flag signal. |
| US07971114B2 |
Method for testing a memory device
A method for testing a random-access memory (RAM) includes six tests. The first test is performed by performing a write and read test to storage locations of the RAM. The second test is performed by testing walking 1's across each data bus of the RAM. The third test is performed by testing walking 0's across the data bus of the RAM. The fourth test is performed by testing walking 1's across each address bus of the RAM. The fifth test is performed by testing walking 0's across the address bus bit of the RAM. The sixth test is performed by performing a write and read test to random blocks in the storage locations of the RAM. |
| US07971113B2 |
Method for detecting disturb phenomena between neighboring blocks in non-volatile memory
A method for detecting disturb phenomena between neighboring blocks in non-volatile memory includes, sequentially erasing and writing test data (pattern) to each block of a plurality of blocks under test in the non-volatile memory at a first time point, dividing the plurality of blocks under test into a first block group and a second block group based on ordinal number included in each block of the plurality of blocks under test, reading data from each block of the first block group at a second time point, and comparing the data with the test data written at the first time point to generate a first detecting result, and determining applicability of each block of the first block group based on the first detecting result. |
| US07971109B2 |
Method for improving the integrity of communication means
Embodiments of the invention enable the integrity of data processed by a switch to be guaranteed better than 10−9 undetected erroneous frames per flight hour. To do this, rules for disabling ports are included in the switch management program. These rules include a maximum absolute admissible number of erroneous frames, to a maximum relative rate of admissible erroneous frames and a minimum number of erroneous frames constituting a significance threshold. Random errors are detected at the level of each frame due to the insertion of a CRC. Deterministic or data-dependent errors able to deceive systematically the CRC check are made random by means of a frame index. |
| US07971108B2 |
Modem-assisted bit error concealment for audio communications systems
Systems and methods are described for managing bit errors present in a series of encoded bits representative of a portion of an audio signal, wherein the series of encoded bits is received over a communication link in an audio communications system. At least one characteristic of a portion of a received modulated carrier signal that is demodulated to produce the series of encoded bits is determined. A number of bit errors present in the series of encoded bits is then determined based on the at least one characteristic. Based on the estimated number of bit errors, one of a plurality of methods for producing a series of digital audio samples representative of the portion of the audio signal is selectively performed. The series of digital audio samples produced by the selected method is then converted into a form suitable for playback to a user. |
| US07971103B2 |
Contextual and inline error resolution and user community
An event log system for capturing event information associated with error events occurring within a computer system. The event log system includes an event log displaying error messages associated with the error events captured within the computer system, and displaying inline error resolution information within each error message corresponding to each respective error event. User community information such as links to wiki topics and forum threads are contextually provided for and inline with individual error log entries. Also, action buttons to help the user resolve errors and problems are also contextually provided, as are surfaced links to domain experts within the user community, such as online chat buttons to them. |
| US07971100B2 |
Failure location detection using types in assembly files
A failure identification routine uses a two pass stack trace analysis in conjunction with a list of called types. As each method is called, a call list is generated with the called type, method, and various metadata. During the first pass stack trace analysis, each stack frame is analyzed to determine if the failed type is included in the stack frame. If so, the method associated with the frame is flagged as suspect. If the failed type is not found in the first stack trace, a second pass stack trace analysis is performed and an assembly associated with the method associated with the stack frame is analyzed to determine a set of types. The set of types are analyzed to find at least one match with the called types. If a match exists, the methods associated with the matched types are flagged as suspect. |
| US07971091B1 |
Network configuration backup and restore operations using continuous data protection
Systems and methods for performing replication operations on a continuous data protection system. Exemplary systems include a continuous data protection system configured to save a series of transactions of a production application, the continuous data protection system configured to allow a point in time view of the series of transactions, a replication application communicating with the continuous data protection system, the replication application configured to initiate generation of at least one pseudosnapshot of the series of transactions saved on the continuous data protection system and initiate surfacing of a copy of at least a portion of the series of transactions that were saved before the generation of the at least one pseudosnapshot, and a remote server communicating with the replication application, the remote server configured to send replication instructions to the replication application. |
| US07971087B2 |
Dynamic clock control circuit and method
A variable clock control information generator receives graphics engine activity data relating to the operating level of a graphics engine, and memory activity data relating to an activity level of memory. In response, the variable clock control information generator produces graphics engine clock control information and memory clock control information with respect to each other, such that a relative difference between the graphics engine activity data and the memory activity data is within balance threshold data. Accordingly, the variable clock control information generator adapts to the varying levels of graphics engine activity and memory activity and adjusts the frequency of the graphics engine clock signal and the frequency of the memory clock signal to achieve a balanced relative activity level. |
| US07971086B2 |
Integrated waking/while-awake power management system with breaking distance timer for high wake-up latency portion of hardware
A system for activating and deactivating a hardware device including a first stage electronic deactivation unit operative, responsive to a deactivation request, to perform a first deactivation operation including deactivation of a first portion of the hardware device having low wake-up latency at a first time, a second stage electronic deactivation unit including a breaking distance timer activated subsequently to the deactivation request and operative to deactivate a second portion of the hardware device having high wake-up latency at a subsequent second time separated from the first time, and a power management system including a power source and a power supply regulator operative to control the supply of power in accordance with a selectable one of a plurality of regulator settings, selected using a hardware setting selector. Responsive to a wakeup event, the first portion of the hardware device is reactivated and the breaking distance timer is deactivated. |
| US07971085B2 |
Method and apparatus for supplying power, and display device
A power supply apparatus for a display device includes a power unit for receiving commercial power, converting the commercial power into main power, supplying or cutting off a supply of the main power to the display device, and supplying the main power to a device installed in the display device, a user interface unit for receiving a power control signal from a user, and a control unit for, when the power control signal is inputted, supply or cutting off a supply of the main power to the display device, detecting a power control state of the device, and transmitting the power control signal to the device according to a detected power control state. |
| US07971082B2 |
Method and system for estimating power consumption of integrated circuit design
A method and system for estimating power consumption for at least one Intellectual Property (IP) block in an integrated circuit (IC) design includes identifying at least one port in the at least one IP block. The at least one port is associated with at least one operation. A sequence of micro-operations of the at least one operation is identified. The sequence of micro-operations constitutes an operation pipeline. A set of micro-operations per cycle in the operation pipeline and energy per cycle of each cycle of the operation pipeline, based on the set of micro-operations per cycle by using one or more of, an idle energy value, a micro-operation isolated energy (MIE) value, an overlap energy (OE) value, and a micro-operation overlap energy (MOE) value, are determined. Then the power consumption of the at least one IP block is determined using the energy per cycle of each cycle of the operation pipeline. |
| US07971081B2 |
System and method for fast platform hibernate and resume
In some embodiments, an apparatus includes processor cores, a smaller non-volatile memory, a larger non-volatile memory to hold an operating system, programs, and data for use by the processor cores. The apparatus also includes volatile memory to act as system memory for the processor cores, and power management logic to control at least some aspects of power management. In response to a power state change command, a system context is stored in the smaller non-volatile memory followed by the volatile memory losing power, and in response to a resume command, the volatile memory receives power and receives at least a portion of the system context from the smaller non-volatile memory. Other embodiments are described. |
| US07971079B2 |
Apparatus having power saving mode and method of controlling apparatus
An apparatus operable to enter a power saving mode in which a main portion of the apparatus is powered off includes an alarm unit configured to produce an alarm upon detection that the data waiting for processing is present, a power saving mode transition check unit configured to check whether transition conditions for transition to the power saving mode are satisfied, a first control unit configured to cause the apparatus to enter the power saving mode without having the alarm unit powered on upon the transition conditions being satisfied and upon detection that the data waiting for processing is absent, and a second control unit configured to check a predetermined condition upon the transition conditions being satisfied and upon detection that the data waiting for processing is present, and configured to cause the apparatus to enter the power saving mode upon finding that the predetermined condition is satisfied. |
| US07971072B1 |
Secure exchange of IP cores
A method and system are disclosed. The system includes a trusted loader. The method includes downloading an IP core from a vendor to a target device. The IP core is received in an encrypted form at the target device, which can be, for example, a programmable logic device. |
| US07971067B2 |
Method and system for controlling the smart electric appliance
The present invention discloses a method for controlling the smart electric appliance by connecting a key device to a smart electric appliance and performing control operations on the smart electric appliance in accordance with the control settings for the key device after positively authenticating the internal device descriptor of the key device. Also, the present invention discloses a system according to the method mentioned above, including a smart electric appliance comprising a USB interface module, an authentication module, an execution module and a general control module, and a key device comprising a smart storage module. By introducing the key device, authenticating the key device before allowance of use of the smart electric appliance, and setting different control operation levels for different users of the smart electric appliance, it becomes very secure to use the smart electric appliance, while it becomes more flexible to use the same. |
| US07971065B2 |
Method and apparatus for path concealment in networks and graphs
A method for data concealment between two parties in a system, including: permitting the system to solicit one or more data from a user; permitting the system to generate a traversed path in a graph by using the one or more data provided by the user to generate the traversed path; performing a sequence of computations; associating square matrices to each connected node of the plurality of nodes of the traversed path in the graph; initiating each of the sequence of computations with a random vector; performing matrix multiplications at each step in the sequence of computations; obtaining a result vector; using the result vector of a matrix and a vector product of each connected node of the plurality of nodes of the traversed path as a vector in a subsequent node in the traversed path; comparing an outcome of the sequence of computations to a value associated with the traversed path of a correct password. |
| US07971064B2 |
Distributed Rivest Shamir Adleman signature method and signature generation node
A distributed Rivest Shamir Adleman (RSA) signature generation method in an ad-hoc network and a signature generation node are provided, including steps for distributing key information to a plurality of nodes using an RSA parameter and a maximum distance separable (MDS) code, in a dealer node, generating a partial signature using the key information and transmitting the generated partial signature to a signature generation node, in the plurality of nodes, and generating an RSA signature using the partial signature, in the signature generation node, wherein the RSA signature is generated using the partial signature, received from a fewer number of nodes than the entire plurality of nodes. |
| US07971061B2 |
E-mail system and method having certified opt-in capabilities
An opt-in email system in which a recipient that has opted in to an email list can recognize and trust that an email has actually come from a desired sender. When a recipient desires to opt-in to an e-mail list, the recipient is sent to a trusted third party certification service that generates a certificate associated with a key pair. A key is maintained at the sender's location by a secure cryptographic device that can verify the certificate and create a signature, using a key of the key pair, for messages intended for the recipient. When a message intended for the recipient is received from the sender, the signature will be verified based on the status of the certificate and the corresponding key of the key pair. If the signature does not verify, it indicates that the recipient has not opted-in to receive emails from this sender. |
| US07971060B2 |
System and method for add-on services, secondary authentication, authorization and/or secure communication for dialog based protocols and systems
The present invention relates generally to a system and method that provides add-on services and/or facilitates authentication, authorization and/or secure communications of a user using a dialog based interactive protocol and accessing a first computer system, separately from the authentication and security mechanism(s) provided by a second computer system using a dialog based interactive protocol system. |
| US07971058B2 |
System and method for generating a plaintext / cyphertext database for use in device authentication
Plaintext/cyphertext pairs are generated for use in authenticating a device. The device performs a secure authentication algorithm on a secure authentication image file and a received plaintext challenge, and outputs a cyphertext response. If the cyphertext response matches a pre-stored cyphertext string associated with the plaintext challenge, then the device is authenticated. A master processor manages the generation of the plaintext/cyphertext pairs. Plaintext challenges are generated in the master processor using a binary counter and an n-bit key. Each plaintext challenge is transmitted to a first processor and a second processor. The first processor executes the secure authentication algorithm on each plaintext challenge and outputs a cyphertext response associated with each plaintext challenge. The second processor executes the secure authentication algorithm on each plaintext challenge and outputs a second cyphertext response associated with each plaintext challenge. The master processor receives the first and second cyphertext responses for each plaintext challenge. If the first cyphertext response matches the second cyphertext response, then the master processor stores each plaintext challenge and the associated cyphertext response as a vector pair in a database. |
| US07971056B2 |
Direct memory access for compliance checking
A computer is configured for either full operation with metering or limited mode operation. When in limited mode operation, the system memory may be partitioned into active and restricted memory. The active memory may be limited to an amount needed to execute a limited mode operation application. The remaining restricted memory may be made inaccessible to the computer's processor. To verify the restricted memory remains unused, it may be filled with a pattern and the pattern periodically verified to determine that unauthorized programs are not using the restricted memory. |
| US07971050B2 |
Methods of using bios information when booting information handling systems and machine-executable code for carrying out the methods
A method of using BIOS information can include exporting first BIOS information from a first information handling system. The method can further include initiating a boot sequence for the second information handling system and importing second BIOS information into a second information handling system after initiating the boot sequence and before initiating an operating system, wherein the second BIOS information is associated with the first BIOS information. The method can further include initiating an operating system of the second information handling system after importing the second BIOS information. The first and second BIOS information may be the same, or the second BIOS information may be derived from the first BIOS information. The first and second information handling systems may be the same or different. In one embodiment, the first BIOS information can be translated into a text file for editing before using the second BIOS information during a boot sequence. |
| US07971043B2 |
Electronic system and method for changing number of operation stages of a pipeline
An electronic system includes a pipeline having a first number of pipeline stages coupled in series, a pipeline control unit, and a logic engine, wherein each pipeline stage in the pipeline is for outputting data to a next pipeline stage at each cycle of a clock signal. The pipeline control unit is for changing the first number of pipeline stages in the pipeline to a second number of pipeline stages. The logic engine is for performing operations of the electronic system in a first mode by utilizing the pipeline having the first number of pipeline stages and for performing operations of the electronic system in a second mode by utilizing the pipeline having the second number of pipeline stages. A frequency control unit and a voltage control unit, coupled to the pipeline and the logic engine, respectively adjust the frequency and voltage of the electronic system accordingly. |
| US07971041B2 |
Method and system for register management
A system and method of allocating registers in a register array to multiple workloads is disclosed. The method identifies an incoming workload as belonging to a first process group or a second process group, and allocates one or more target registers from the register array to the incoming workload. The register array is logically divided to a first ring and a second ring such that the first ring and the second ring have at least one register in common. The first process group is allocated registers in the first ring and the second process group is allocated registers in the second ring. Target registers in the first ring are allocated in order of sequentially decreasing register addresses and target registers in the second ring are allocated in order of sequentially increasing register addresses. Also disclosed are methods and systems for allocation of registers in an array of general purpose registers, methods and systems for allocation of registers to processes including shader processes in graphics processing units. |
| US07971040B2 |
Method and device for saving and restoring a set of registers of a microprocessor in an interruptible manner
The disclosure relates to a method for executing by a processor an instruction for saving/restoring several internal registers of the processor. The method comprises breaking down the saving/restoring instruction to generate micro-instructions for saving/restoring the content of a register, executing each of the micro-instructions, initializing a progress status of the saving/restoration of the registers, updating the progress status of the saving/restoration upon each generation of a micro-instruction for saving/restoring a register, saving the progress status in the event of an interruption in the saving/restoration of the registers to execute a higher-priority task, and restoring the progress status when the saving/restoration of the registers is resumed. |
| US07971032B2 |
System for native code execution
A process, apparatus, and system to execute a program in an array of processor nodes that include an agent node and an executor node. A virtual program of tokens of different types represents the program and is provided in a memory. The types include a run type that includes native code instructions of the executer node. A token is loaded from the memory and executed in the agent node based on its type. In particular, if the token is an optional stop type execution ends and if the token is a run type the native code instructions in the token are sent to the executor node. The native code instructions are executed in the executor node as received from the agent node. And such loading and execution continues in this manner indefinitely or until a stop type token is executed. |
| US07971030B2 |
Method for using multiple processing resources which share multiple co-processor resources
An apparatus, method, and system for synchronicity independent, resource delegating, power and instruction optimizing processor is provided where instructions are delegated between various processing resources of the processor. An Integer Processing Unit (IPU) of the processor delegates complicated mathematical instructions to a Mathematical Processing Unit (MPU) of the processor. Furthermore, the processor puts underutilized processing resources to sleep thereby increasing power usage efficiency. A cache of the processor is also capable of accepting delegated operations from the IPU. As such, the cache performs various logical operations on delegated requests allowing it to lock and share memory without requiring extra processing cycles by the entire processor. With the processor, execution instructions are optimized reducing the complexity of the processor, throughput is increased as delegation to multiple processing resources is scalable, and power usage efficacy is increased as underutilized and/or waiting processing resources may sleep when not active. |
| US07971020B2 |
Embedding data in an information signal
A method of controlling copying of an information signal, comprises the steps of:prior to recordal and/or transmission, applying to the information signal a substantially imperceptible modification representing copy control data including a password securely encoded according to a predetermined algorithm;upon reproduction for copying by a user, deriving (S1, S3) the copy control data from the modified information signal;comparing (S8, S9, S11, S13, S15) the derived securely encoded password with a reference password securely encoded according to a predetermined algorithm; andenabling (S5) copying of the information signal if the securely encoded password derived from the information signal and the securely encoded reference password have a predetermined relationship, otherwise disabling copying (S7).The reference password is sent to the user via a channel which is separate from a channel used to send the information signal to the user. |
| US07971018B2 |
Method and apparatus for secure context switching in a system including a processor and cached virtual memory
A method and a secure mode controller are provided for controlling context switching between secure and user modes in a processing system including a processor and a memory management unit. The method comprises monitoring the memory management unit to detect a non-cache access to an entry point address that contains a secure mode entry instruction, verifying, in response to detection of the entry point address, that the secure mode entry point instruction is executed by the processor, and enabling context switching from the user mode to the secure mode in response to verifying that the secure mode entry instruction is executed by the processor. Each cache line of an instruction cache and a data cache may have a tag containing a secure bit to identify a secure cache line or a non-secure cache line. |
| US07971017B1 |
Memory card with embedded identifier
A software installation system comprises an interface component that receives a request to access data resident upon a flash memory card. An installation component compares a unique identifier associated with the data with a unique identifier embedded within the flash memory card, and the installation component determines whether to allow access to the data based at least in part upon the comparison. The installation component prohibits access to the data if the unique identifier associated with the data does not match the unique identifier embedded within the flash memory card. |
| US07971014B2 |
Information processing apparatus and data recovering method
In an information processing apparatus, when an instruction is issued to write back storage contents of a main memory unit that is non-volatile, data and a write destination address included in a backup data that is set with a read permission are extracted from the backup data stored in a backup memory unit that is non-volatile. Further, according to the data and the write destination address extracted from the backup data, the data is written to a storage area of the main-memory unit indicated by the write destination address. |
| US07971011B2 |
Remote copy method and storage system
A remote copy method for copying data within a first storage apparatus to a second storage apparatus via a network, includes transmitting data from the first storage apparatus in units of first buffer sets each formed by a plurality of first recording exclusive buffers within the first storage apparatus, and receiving the data by the second storage apparatus in units of second buffer sets each formed by a plurality of second recording exclusive buffers within the second storage apparatus, so as to maintain a sequence guarantee with respect to the data that is copied. |
| US07971010B2 |
Mechanism for performing loitering trace of objects that cause memory leaks in a post-garbage collection heap
A mechanism for performing loitering trace is disclosed. A method of embodiments of the invention includes initiating a loitering trace of objects that cause a memory leak and remain in a heap after surviving at least one garbage collection operation. Initiating the loitering trace includes detecting the objects remaining in the heap via a loitering module of a profiling structure at a first virtual machine of an application server of a first computer system. Initiating the loitering trace further includes performing time-based sampling for the objects remaining, the time-based sampling having method statistics identifying an average runtime associated with each of the objects remaining. The method statistics is calculated based on a number of uses called for each of the objects remaining and a time length associated with each use of each of the remaining objects. The method further includes providing, from the first virtual machine, the time-based sampling to a second virtual machine of the first computer system or a second computer system, and performing an act on the objects remaining in the heap based on the time-based sampling. |
| US07971001B2 |
Least recently used eviction implementation
Methods for a treatment of cached objects are described. In one embodiment, management of a region of a cache is configured with an eviction policy plug-in. The eviction policy plug-in includes an eviction timing component and a sorting component, with the eviction timing component including code to implement an eviction timing method, and the eviction timing method to trigger eviction of an object from the region of cache. The sorting component includes code to implement a sorting method to identify an object that is eligible for eviction from said region of cache. The sorting method includes identifying an object for eviction that is cached in the region of cache and that has been used least recently compared to other objects that are cached in the region of cache. |
| US07971000B2 |
Method and system for maintaining consistency of a cache memory accessible by multiple independent processes
The invention concerns a method and a system for maintaining consistency of a cache memory, accessible by multiple independent processes. The processes can share common data. The processes perform simultaneous data searching operations optionally followed by providing the data to the processes, a removal of same or an insertion of new data. The searching, removal and insertion operations, are comprehensively executed once they have been initiated by the independent processes. They are executed excluding one another when they must operate on common data. The removal or insertion operations are each completely reversible. In that context, the invention provides that the operations for providing, removing or inserting the data have a finite or bound duration of execution so as to prevent any locking. In particular, the insertion operation, which includes a step of releasing an input when a partition of the cache memory is full, if it requires browsing through the entire partition to make a selection, is however possibly interrupted if the maximum browsing time is reached. In that case, the most appropriate input, among the already browsed inputs, is released. The inputs of said partition are browsed exhaustively, which results from storing the last consulted address of the partition after each release. |
| US07970997B2 |
Program section layout method and layout program
A program section layout method capable of improving space efficiency of a cache memory. A grouping unit groups program sections into section groups so that the total size of the program sections composing each section group does not exceed cache memory size. A layout optimization unit optimizes the layout of section group storage regions by combining each section group and a program section that does not belong to any section groups or by combining section groups while keeping the ordering relations of the program sections composing each section group. |
| US07970994B2 |
High performance disk array rebuild
A method, information processing system, and computer program storage product for managing disk failures in a disk array. At least one disk in a first disk array is determined to have failed. The first disk array only accesses data by reading an entire stripe that is distributed across multiple disks in the first disk array. A number of spare disks are selected that is equal to a number of disks making up the first disk. A second disk array is created from the number of disks that has been selected. Data is acquired from the first disk array by reading at least one entire stripe from the first disk array. A corresponding stripe comprising the data from each respective stripe that has been acquired is written to the second disk array. |
| US07970992B1 |
Asymetrical device distribution for a partitioned storage subsystem
A partitioned storage subsystem includes a plurality of directors, each having at least one processor thereon, each of the directors acting as one of: a primary director and a secondary director for a subset of logical devices handled by the partitioned storage subsystem, where primary directors actively perform I/O operations for logical devices and wherein secondary directors receive data to mirror memory of a corresponding primary director. The partitioned storage subsystem also includes a global memory distributed among the plurality of directors, where a different portion of the global memory is provided on each of the directors, and includes metadata for the logical devices, provided in the global memory, where the metadata contains information that correlates logical device data with physical device data. The physical device data may be provided by at least one disk drive coupled to at least one of the directors. |
| US07970987B2 |
Partial block data programming and reading operations in a non-volatile memory
Data in less than all of the pages of a non-volatile memory block are updated by programming the new data in unused pages of either the same or another block. In order to prevent having to copy unchanged pages of data into the new block, or to program flags into superceded pages of data, the pages of new data are identified by the same logical address as the pages of data which they superceded and a time stamp is added to note when each page was written. When reading the data, the most recent pages of data are used and the older superceded pages of data are ignored. This technique is also applied to metablocks that include one block from each of several different units of a memory array, by directing all page updates to a single unused block in one of the units. |
| US07970981B2 |
Flash memory device with multi-level cells and method of writing data therein
In one aspect, a method of writing data in a flash memory system is provided. The flash memory system forms an address mapping pattern according to a log block mapping scheme. The method includes determining a writing pattern of data to be written in a log block, and allocating one of SLC and MLC blocks to the log block in accordance with the writing pattern of the data. |
| US07970980B2 |
Method and apparatus for accessing memory in a computer system architecture supporting heterogeneous configurations of memory structures
A computer system includes at least one processor, multiple memory modules embodying a main memory, a communications medium for communicating data between the at least one processor and main memory, and memory access control logic which controls the routing of data and access to memory. The communications medium and memory access control logic are designed to accommodate a heterogenous collection of main memory configurations, in which at least one physical parameter is variable for different configurations. The bits of the memory address are mapped to actual memory locations by assigning fixed bit positions to the most critical physical parameters across multiple different module types, and assigning remaining non-contiguous bit positions to less critical physical parameters. In the preferred embodiment, the computer system employs a distributed memory architecture. |
| US07970979B1 |
System and method of configurable bus-based dedicated connection circuits
A high performance field programmable gate array is described with one or more signal processing engines coupled to a programmable logic fabric. Each signal processing engine includes a signal processing unit for performing specifying tasks and a bus-based configurable connection box for routing a bus-based input to a bus-based output. The signal processing unit has a floating point unit (FPU)/multiply accumulate (MAC) for computation and register files for storing information. The programmable logic fabric is coupled to the one or more signal processing engines for routing of information between the signal processing engines. |
| US07970972B2 |
Insertion/removal detector
With an external memory to be inserted and removed through an adapter, insertion and removal of the external memory are reliably detected and data destruction with insertion or removal is prevented. A detector includes a card detection section (32) for detecting that a memory card (10) has been inserted into a connector (31), acquiring the ID of the detected memory card (10), and acquiring card information of the memory card (10), an application section (36) for making an access request to a memory card, and a card access section (34) for acquiring the ID of a memory card (11) inserted into the connector (31) at the time of the access request, making a comparison between the ID of the memory card (10) and the ID of the memory card (11), determining whether or not the IDs are identical, and acquiring card information concerning the memory card (11) if the IDs are not identical. |
| US07970971B2 |
Tapping systems and methods
A device may include a link configured to transmit signals. The signals may provide at least one network topology, such as a bus. A tapping structure may be connected to the device using, for example, at least one of a snap fit, a friction fit or an interference fit. The tapping structure may be configured to tap in-band signals, out-of-band signals, or both in-band signals and out-of-band signals. |
| US07970970B2 |
Non-blocking address switch with shallow per agent queues
In one embodiment, a switch is configured to be coupled to an interconnect. The switch comprises a plurality of storage locations and an arbiter control circuit coupled to the plurality of storage locations. The plurality of storage locations are configured to store a plurality of requests transmitted by a plurality of agents. The arbiter control circuit is configured to arbitrate among the plurality of requests stored in the plurality of storage locations. A selected request is the winner of the arbitration, and the switch is configured to transmit the selected request from one of the plurality of storage locations onto the interconnect. In another embodiment, a system comprises a plurality of agents, an interconnect, and the switch coupled to the plurality of agents and the interconnect. In another embodiment, a method is contemplated. |
| US07970963B2 |
Efficient buffer management in a multi-threaded network interface
Some embodiments of the present invention provide a system for receiving packets on a multi-threaded computing device which uses a memory-buffer-usage scorecard (MBUS) to enable multiple hardware threads to share a common pool of memory buffers. During operation, the system can identify a memory-descriptor location for posting a memory descriptor for a memory buffer. Next, the system can post the memory descriptor for the memory buffer at the memory-descriptor location. The system can then update the MBUS to indicate that the memory buffer is in use. Next, the system can store a packet in the memory buffer, and post a completion descriptor in a completion-descriptor location to indicate that the packet is ready to be processed. If the completion-descriptor indicates that the memory buffer is ready to be reclaimed, the system can reclaim the memory buffer, and update the MBUS to indicate that the memory buffer has been reclaimed. |
| US07970952B2 |
Performance counters for virtualized network interfaces of communications networks
Performance counters are provided for virtualized network interfaces of communications networks, while minimizing the use of hardware resources. A virtualized network interface includes physical resources, as well as logical resources. Dedicated performance counters are provided for the physical resources of the virtualized network interface, as well as for logical partitions coupled to that interface, while non-dedicated performance counters are provided for the logical resources. This enables the provision of performance counters for virtualized network interfaces, while minimizing hardware resources consumed by those interfaces. |
| US07970949B2 |
Network interface and protocol
A communication interface for providing an interface between a data link and a data processor, the data processor being capable of supporting an operating system and a user application, the communication interface being arranged to: support a first queue of data received over the link and addressed to a logical data port associated with a user application; support a second queue of data received over the link and identified as being directed to the operating system; and analyse data received over the link and identified as being directed to the operating system or the data port to determine whether that data meets one or more predefined criteria, and if it does meet the criteria transmit an interrupt to the operating system. |
| US07970948B1 |
Packet processing using encapsulation and decapsulation chains
In an embodiment, a network router includes plural interfaces and a chain walker which, upon receipt of a first protocol packet in a first interface, processes the packet by walking the packet through a decapsulation chain associated with the interface and the first protocol and an encapsulation chain associated with an identified second interface and identified second protocol. The walker passes the packet to elements of the decapsulation chain to produce a decapsulated packet. The walker passes the decapsulated packet to elements of an encapsulation chain to produce an encapsulated packet. Each chain includes at least one packet-processing element. An element receives the packet from the walker as processed by a previous element, the packet being further processed as appropriate. The walker, upon receipt of the first protocol packet, passes the packet to elements of a demultiplexer chain associated with the first interface to produce a demultiplexed packet. |
| US07970945B1 |
Method and apparatus for automatic peer-to-peer content comparison
A method and apparatus for verifying the content contained on components of a distributed network is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of selecting at least one parameter specifying at least one content associated with a first selected component, comparing the at least one content associated with the selected parameter associated with the first selected component to the at least one content associated with the selected parameter associated with a second selected component, and providing an indication when the value of the at least one content associated with the first and second components is not the same. In one aspect of the invention, the method disclosed is further repeated for each component in the system by comparing a prior tested component with a next selected component. |
| US07970943B2 |
Providing interoperability in software identifier standards
A system manages information exchanges between components of the system so that information is provided in a format expected by each particular component. In a specific implementation, a translation service provider intercepts information exchanges between client and data sources or data services and translates of converts software identifiers (e.g., UUIDs or GUIDs) as needed so that the client or data source can properly process the data. For example, a client may use GUIDs in a first format, and when information is requested is presented using a GUID in a second format, different from the first, the translation service provider translates a GUID to the first format. The translation service provider may be transparent to the other components of the system. |
| US07970941B2 |
Control server, control terminal, control system, and recording medium storing control communication program
Screen data is generated by a screen generating processor (74) of a control host computer (7) and transmitted to a programmable display apparatus (5). In accordance with the screen data, the programmable display apparatus (5) inquires a PLC (3) or the like about a state of a device (21), so as to update the display or transmit a control instruction depending on an input result. On the other hand, a control host computer (7) has a public server section (77) to transmit to a client apparatus (9) via the Internet an applet, which is generated by a compiler (76) compiling the screen data. The client apparatus (9) executes the applet to transmit to the public server section (77) an or the control instruction inquiry similar to those the programmable display apparatus (5) makes. In this way, the display is updated in accordance with a response. This realizes a control system, which allows a display content of the programmable display apparatus (5) to be remotely checked from a remote area remote from the programmable display apparatus (5), without newly generating a display screen. |
| US07970938B1 |
IP subnet discovery with ranked results
An embodiment of the present invention is directed to a method of determining a probable IP subnet of a network. The method includes maintaining a table of possible networks. The entries of the table include respective network addresses, respective subnet masks, and respective scores. The method also includes observing a packet, determining an IP address of the packet, and comparing the IP address of the packet with the respective network addresses of the entries of the table of possible networks. If the IP address of the packet falls under the respective network address of a particular entry, the respective score of the particular entry is adjusted. Otherwise, a new entry is created in the table of possible networks corresponding to the IP address of the packet. The method also includes ranking the entries of the table of possible networks based on their respective scores. |
| US07970936B2 |
In a world wide web communications network simplifying the uniform resource locators (URLS) displayed in association with received web documents
Simplifying any cumbersome URLs that are made public. The function of converting to simplify cumbersome URLs is performed by Web service providers for appropriate fees. Accordingly, the converted URL will have a new domain portion, i.e. the Web service provider's domain along with a simplified path portion defining the path with the Web service provider's domain that will point to the original URL, stored within the service provider. Within the service provider, URLs of said accessed Web documents are converted to include a domain section specifying the service provider's domain and a path portion within said service provider's domain that is simpler than the original URL path portion. The path portion in the converted URL is usually shorter than the path portion in the original URL. |
| US07970934B1 |
Detecting events of interest
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, for detecting events of interest. In one aspect, a method includes generating a network traffic model that includes forecasted time series data representative of a frequency of actions related to a network traffic entity, and identifying that an event of interest has occurred based on a comparison of actual time series data related to the network traffic entity with the forecasted time series data. |
| US07970931B2 |
Policy-based routing in a multi-homed computer
Policy-based routing system and method for a multi-homed computer. Policy-based routing permits or blocks usage of system level route(s) based on user credentials and/or network application(s) associated with a data transfer. The credentials can include information associated with an application, a user, and the like. Optionally, one or more filter(s) can be configured over classifiable field(s), such as credential(s), information associated with a determined proposed route, to statically permit/block route usage and/or to invoke an inspection module (e.g., custom inspection routine) when the filter condition(s) are met. |
| US07970930B2 |
Communications system and method to control and manage both session-based and non-session-based application services
A system and method that enables session-based and non-session-based application services to be controlled and managed within the IMS/NGN architecture. The IMS/NGN architecture includes a service layer and a transport layer. IMS service control functions are implemented within the service layer, and RACF and transport functions are implemented within the transport layer. The transport functions include access and core network functions, which have corresponding QoS resources. The access or core network function includes an application service control function (ASCF), which includes a PD-FE and a functional element for inspecting packet data flows, and identifying and classifying application services associated with the flows. The ASCF is employed to signal the IMS service control functions on behalf of non-session-based application services, and to reserve and allocate the QoS resources needed to support packet data flows associated with the non-session-based services. As a result, service providers can provide users or subscribers of such non-session-based services with guaranteed or differentiated QoS and/or differentiated service plans, thereby allowing charges to be calculated for the non-session-based services and service plans that are commensurate with the value of the respective service or plan. |
| US07970929B1 |
Apparatus, system, and method for routing data to and from a host that is moved from one location on a communication system to another location on the communication system
An architecture, system, and method are provided for transparently mapping a network identification number of a host to an access point of an internet. The host can be moved from a first point to a second point on the internet without having to reconfigure routing tables or to update routing protocols. The network identification number of the host does not change as it is moved from the first point to the second point. Thus, the network identification number of the host does not perform routing. Instead, routing occurs by targeting the exit end module onto which the host is connected, i.e., at the second point. The exit end module thereby contains configuration registers which store mapping tables that note the new destination address of any data being sent to the new host location, and properties such as security and priority codes. |
| US07970926B2 |
Synchronized transmission of audio and video data from a computer to a client via an interface
A method for controlling data transmission between a computer and a video client via an interface, the method comprising: the computer polling the interface a first time to determine the size of the buffer on the interface; receiving a first buffer size value from the interface; sending a plurality of frames of video and audio data to the buffer on the interface such that a delay period exists between the sending of each frame; the computer polling the interface a second time to determine buffer size after the frames are sent to the interface; receiving a second buffer size value from the interface; and modifying the amount of time between the transmission of frames. |
| US07970925B2 |
Method and apparatus for an improved bulk read socket call
An apparatus and method for an improved bulk read socket call are provided. With the apparatus and method, a new field, so_rcvlen, is added to the socket structure that identifies the bulk read size requested by the user. The kernel of the prior art recv( ) function is also modified so that it sets the so_rcvlen to the size requested by the user prior to the recv( ) function going to sleep and waiting for the full data size requested by the user. A new flag, SP_MSGWAITALL, is also provided in the socket structure. In the TCP input processing, when data is received for a particular socket, the current setting of the SP_MSGWAITALL is checked. If the SP_MSGWAITALL flag is set, it is determined whether the amount of data stored in the socket receive buffer is less than the value of so_rcvlen. If not, the TCP input processing does not wake up the recv( ) thread. However, for every alternate segment, the TCP input processing sends back an acknowledgment (ACK). In the TCP output processing, when the SP_MSGWAITALL flag is set and the amount of data in the socket receive buffer is less than so_rcvlen, the full window is advertised. Once the TCP input processing determines that there is at least an amount of data in the socket receive buffer equal to the value of so_rcvlen, the TCP input processing will wake up the recv( ) thread and the SP_MSGWAITALL flag is reset. |
| US07970919B1 |
Apparatus and system for object-based storage solid-state drive and method for configuring same
An object-based storage system comprising a host system capable of executing applications for and with an object-based storage device (OSD). Exemplary configurations include a call interface, a physical layer interface, an object-based storage solid-state device (OSD-SSD), and are further characterized by the presence of a storage processor capable of processing object-based storage device algorithms interleaved with processing of physical storage device management. Embodiments include a storage controller capable of executing recognition, classification and tagging of application files, especially including image, music, and other media. Also disclosed are methods for initializing and configuring an OSD-SSD device. |
| US07970917B2 |
Virtual file servers with storage device
A system renting out file servers to many companies in a data center has a security problem so that the user cannot perform operation needing manager authorization in the file servers. An OS provides execution administrative area information of an application program designated by process information which can specify the range of an accessible device to operate the server system of the customer in the administrative area information. |
| US07970912B2 |
Method and computer system for matching mobile device users for business and social networking
A business or social networking method described herein enables mobile device users to meet one another, on a permission basis. Whether a given pair of mobile device users are introduced depends on whether a server determines they are in intellectual or “cognitive” proximity, which is typically a function of one or more factors. Individuals who match to a given degree or threshold are said to be in intellectual proximity. When given mobile devices users are within physical proximity of one another during an overlapping time window, the server determines whether the users are also within a given intellectual proximity. If so, and if both users have opted to receive new introductions, the server issues a mutual collaboration opportunity message to the users to determine whether they desire an introduction. If the mobile device users agree to be introduced, the server establishes a direct private messaging session between them. |
| US07970904B2 |
Method and computer program product for selecting among multiple provisioning mechanisms in a self-managing computer system
A computer implemented method and a computer program product provide a provisioning system for automated provisioning of a computing infrastructure by providing relationship factories with resources of the computing infrastructure. The relationship factories include information necessary for establishing relationships within the computing infrastructure. The provisioning system ranks relationship factories according to suitability to provide for appropriate provisioning of new resources added to the computing infrastructure. |
| US07970903B2 |
Storage and server provisioning for virtualized and geographically dispersed data centers
Geographically dispersed data centers each include servers and storage systems and are in communication with each other. An application is installed on a guest operating system on a virtual machine set up on a server at a first data center. The application accesses a logical unit on a storage system at the first data center. When migration of the application is initiated, the process determines whether any of the data centers has server resources and storage resources required to receive migration of the application. A destination data center is selected from candidate data centers meeting requirements for migration of the application. The application and guest operating system are migrated from the first data center to a second virtual machine set up on a second server at the destination data center. If a replica of the LU is not already present at the destination data center, the LU is also replicated. |
| US07970902B2 |
Computing utility policing system and method using entitlement profiles
A method and system for policing resources in a computing utility facility includes policing resources in a computing utility facility includes intercepting a request for resources from an application admitted to access a pool of resources associated with the computing utility facility, acquiring an entitlement profile associated with the application to determine if application is entitled to requested resources over a time period, identifying an entitlement value and corresponding sliding window of the time period from the entitlement profile, determining if the request for resources exceeds the entitlement value associated with the sliding window and indicating application entitlement to the request for resources in response to the determining if the request is excessive. |
| US07970897B1 |
Managing resource consolidation configurations
Systems and methods for monitoring the performance associated with fulfilling resource requests and determining optimizations for improving such performance are provided. A processing device obtains and processes performance metric information associated with processing a request corresponding to two or more embedded resources. The processing device uses the processed performance metric information to determine a consolidation configuration to be associated with the two or more embedded resources. In some embodiments, in making such a determination, the processing device assesses performance metric information collected and associated with subsequent requests corresponding to the content associated with the two or more embedded resources and using each of a variety of alternative consolidation configurations. The processing device may also consider a number of factors, including performance selection criteria obtained from an original content provider. Aspects of systems and methods for generating recommendations to use a particular consolidation configuration to process a subsequent request corresponding to the content associated with the two or more embedded resources are also provided. |
| US07970892B2 |
Tuning and optimizing distributed systems with declarative models
A system for automatically adjusting operation of a distributed application program includes analytics means having a monitoring component. The monitoring component receives one or more event streams of data corresponding to execution of one or more modules of the distributed application program. The monitoring component joins the received event streams with one or more declarative models to create operational data. A forensics component of the analytics means queries, such as by using data from a declarative model store, the operational data to identify trends or behavior information for the various modules or components of the distributed application program. A planner component then reviews data created by the forensics component to identify any needed changes to the declarative models. The planner component passes any modified declarative models back to the system, so that the distributed application program can operate more efficiently using the changes to the declarative models, as needed. |
| US07970889B2 |
Intelligent subscription builder
Techniques are disclosed for enabling end users to subscribe to information content, without requiring the end user to initiate the subscription process. User patterns are observed, and content subscriptions are offered to users based on these observations. Preferably, the user is allowed to customize the offered subscription, including conditions to be evaluated before content is considered as being of interest to this user, and/or one or more actions to be taken when the conditions are met. |
| US07970883B2 |
Communication network designing method, communication designing apparatus, and recording medium
The present invention is to provide a communication network designing method based on an actual condition of social network structured on a communication network, a communication network designing program, and a recording medium on which the program is recorded.A communication network designing method executed by a communication network designing apparatus which is connected to a communication network in which a plurality of communication terminals are connected to each other and which designs the communication network is characterized in that a social network formed on the communication network is analyzed, and the communication network is designed on the basis of the analysis result. |
| US07970882B2 |
Management apparatus and management method
Proposed are a management apparatus and a management method capable of facilitating resource management With the provided management apparatus and management method for managing a resource allocated to a virtual node that provides a file sharing service to a client in units of a resource management group configured from a plurality of mutually associated resources, an association between the resources is extracted based on history information of access from the client, and the associated resource management groups are integrated based on the extracted association between the resources. Thus, it is possible to reduce the number of resource management groups to be managed, and resource management is thereby facilitated. |
| US07970880B2 |
Computer program product for recovery of a failed flash of a blade service processor in a server chassis
A computer program product is presented for recovering a server blade, in a multiple server blade computer, that is lost during a flash update operation on a service processor in the server blade. Because of the flash update failure, the lost server blade is unaware of its location on a management pathway, which in an exemplary form may be a midplane or a bus, which connects the server blade and a management module in a server blade chassis. The lost server blade puts a signal on the management pathway indicating that the flash failed. The signal is put on a special channel reserved for such messages. The management module receives the signal, and then determines which of the multiple server blades are lost due to the flash update failure. |
| US07970876B2 |
Global server load balancer
A method of selecting, by a global server load balancer (GSLB), a server to represent a virtual server hosted by a plurality of servers. The method includes receiving, by the GSLB, values of one or more communication parameters of paths between at least one test unit and at least two servers from the plurality of servers, receiving, by the GSLB, a request to establish a connection with the virtual server from a client, selecting a test unit from the at least one test unit to represent the client, and selecting one of the plurality of servers to represent the virtual server before the client, responsive to the values of the one or more parameters for paths between the selected test unit and the at least two servers of the selected test units. |
| US07970873B2 |
System and method for assigning addresses to information handling systems
Information handling system network addresses are managed to support a consistent MAC address for iSCSI and fiber channel host bus adapter. For example, a management controller retrieves a MAC address from persistent memory, such as a network location, and assigns the MAC address to a non-persistent memory of a predetermined information handling system network component so that the MAC address remains consistent even if the network component is replaced. For example, an offload engine that supports network communications with iSCSI receives a MAC address from a network location and applies the MAC address for use by a host bus adapter. Alternatively, an offload engine supports Fiber Channel with World Wide Name or World Wide Identifier address assignments. |
| US07970869B2 |
Method and system for automatic skill-gap evaluation
A system for automatic user skill-gap evaluation using a proxy server or a proxy application. The proxy server or application receives a user input from a user and analyzes the user input to determine whether the user input falls below an acceptable user skill threshold level. The user input consists of user activity within an application and the user activity is recorded in a user action log. To determine whether the user input falls below the acceptable user skill threshold level, the proxy server or application compares the user activity recorded in the user action log with user skill-gap behavior patterns created by a subject matter expert. In response to determining that the user activity recorded in the user action log falls below the acceptable user skill threshold level, the proxy server or application sends a specific training module to the user based on an identified user skill-gap. |
| US07970866B2 |
Print system including application server to select printer driver for client specific print information
In a print system, an application server holds an application program. A client computer uses the application program, and data obtained by the application program is printed by a printer. The server acquires a printer driver according to the client information. The application program obtains print data by using the printer driver and sends the print data to the client computer or the printer. Thus, the application program automatically changes the printer driver according to the client information or user. |
| US07970865B2 |
Data retrieval method and system
A data retrieval method and system. The method includes transmitting, by a computing device to data source organizations in response to a request for data, a request for populating online forms. The computing device receives input data associated with the online forms. The computing device transmits notification data requesting analysis of the input data and an input form for uploading results of the analysis. The computing device receives analysis data files. The computing device transmits the analysis data files and data transformation requirements to an IT service organization. The computing device receives clarification inquiries data. The computing device transmits the clarification inquiries data to the data source organizations. The computing device receives response data from the data source organizations. The computing device receives modified analysis data files from the IT service organization. The computing device transmits notification data indicating results of the modified analysis data files to an entity. |
| US07970864B2 |
Detecting outbound nagling on a TCP network connection
Systems and media for detecting outbound Nagling on a TCP network connection are disclosed. Embodiments may include creating by a sender computer one or more segments to be transmitted to a receiver computer and determining by the sender computer whether any of the one or more segments to be transmitted are small segments and determining whether a previously transmitted small segment is unacknowledged by the receiver computer. If the previously transmitted small segment is unacknowledged by the receiver computer and at least one of the segments to be transmitted is a small segment, embodiments may also include detecting by the sender computer a Nagling condition on the network connection. Further embodiments may include modifying a Nagle algorithm configuration of the network connection in response to the detected Nagling condition by turning off the Nagle algorithm or reducing a delayed acknowledgement timer for the network connection. |
| US07970862B2 |
Web services response templates
Provided is a Web Services Response Template (WSRT) that addresses the problems of efficiency and robustness to change in Web Services response by allowing a requestor to explicitly specify, in a response template what information is to be returned by the request. A requestor of a web service gets just the information it needs; different requestors of the same operation may get different information; and a responder sends the requestor only what is asked for so there is no problem when new information becomes available. WSRTs are specifically designed to allow the type of control needed in program-to-program (P2P) communication, while being very efficiently and simply processed by a web service. Thus, WSRTs address difficulties that arise in typical distributed, P2P communication without adding much overhead or complexity to either a service requestor or a service provider. The efficiency and flexibility afforded by WSRTs is essential to emerging enterprise architectures based on SOA (Service Oriented Architecture). |
| US07970861B2 |
Load balancing in a distributed computing environment
Systems, methods, and computer storage media for load balancing at a client device in a distributed computing environment based on a dynamic validity duration and utilization metrics of one or more data stores are provided. The client device selects a data store from a plurality of data stores that each maintains a copy of a datum. The selection of data stores by a client is based on utilization metrics of the data stores. The utilization metrics are stored at the client. A data store determines if a request for a particular datum may be fulfilled within a validity period associated with a request from the client. The validity period is dynamically changed by the client across multiple requests to aid in the load balancing process. Additionally, a gossip protocol may be used to propagate utilization metrics of a plurality of data stores across the system. |
| US07970859B2 |
Architecture and method for remote platform control management
An integrated circuit is a baseboard management controller that is a fully integrated system-on-a-chip microprocessor incorporating function blocks and interfaces that provide remote management solution. The integrated circuit uses a microprocessor, a media co-processor to accelerate video processing, and a set of system and peripheral functions that are useful in a variety of remote management applications. It further includes an integrated USB high-speed device and an OTG interface to support keyboard, mouse and mass storage emulation without additional external components, and two integrated MII LAN interfaces and one FSB interface, a memory controller to support a variety of static and dynamic memory components, an encryption controller to ensure secure remote management sessions and IPMI2.0-compliant BMC interfaces. The integrated circuit is based on structured ASIC technology, which enables easy customization of function blocks according to customer demands or new industry standards. |
| US07970853B2 |
System for controlled printing of a signature using web-based imaging
A controlled image including a predetermined graphic symbol, for example a signature on a check or other document, is produced in a web-based imaging environment. From a client program, for example a user's browser, a source service is accessed and dynamically generates under interactive control of the client program a printable version of the controlled image including the predetermined graphic symbol, which references a particular symbol set, for example a font. The printable version is referenced from a composition associated with a user's identity, e.g., an imaging store. A destination service representing a production device is accessed from the client program and then retrieves the printable version. Only if the destination service contains the particular symbol set will the controlled image be produced including the signature or other predetermined graphic symbol. Otherwise the image can be optionally produced including a substitute symbol, e.g., “VOID.” |
| US07970851B2 |
Method and system for managing and monitoring virtual storage servers of a hosting storage server
A storage management application is provided to manage and monitor virtual storage servers in a hosting storage server. In addition, in order to facilitate virtual storage server management and monitoring, a virtual storage server administrator role is provided. The role is allowed to access details of the virtual storage server assigned to the role, but not the details of the hosting server and other virtual servers. |
| US07970848B2 |
Electronic message and data tracking system
Systems and methods for tracking electronic messages and data are provided. In one embodiment, the invention consists of a method of tracking email messages. In various embodiments, steps may include a) identifying an email message for tracking and b) inserting a linking object, into a tracked email message. Responsive to activation by a receiver of the email message, the linking object enables the receiver to submit information to a commercial anti-spam service or a commercial anti-virus service. The method can be used to identify and track email messages defined as spam or defined as containing viruses. The receiver's privacy may be preserved with respect to content of the email message by limiting the information submitted to signatures of the electronic message and other information associated with the electronic message that are reasonably required for spam or virus analysis. |
| US07970845B2 |
Methods and systems for suppressing undesireable email messages
A system for suppressing delivery of undesirable messages through vulnerable systems. The system includes an emulator that emulates one or more of the vulnerable systems. A module associated with the emulator intercepts undesirable messages, which were originally intended to be sent through a vulnerable system. One embodiment includes plural emulators, which include one or more servers that are part of a network of servers. A controller communicates with one or more servers. In this embodiment, the controller includes a database capable of storing statistics pertaining to undesirable messages blocked by one or more of the servers. The statistics may include information pertaining to the sender(s) of the undesirable messages. Undesirable messages intercepted by the network of servers include email spam. |
| US07970832B2 |
Electronic message delivery with estimation approaches and complaint, bond, and statistics panels
Interfaces for message delivery approaches are disclosed. The interface may include pages for administering accounts for senders, pages for administering message processing systems, and pages for viewing information about senders or message processing systems. In another aspect, automatic alert mechanisms are disclosed. The alert mechanisms send a message to one or more users or machines that have been registered to receive alerts. Alerts may be triggered by any event related to a sender, a message, or a message processing system or may be triggered by any other condition or event. In another aspect, techniques for automatically disabling senders are disclosed. The automatic disabling of a sender may be triggered by any event related to a sender, a message, or a message processing system or may be triggered by any other condition or event. |
| US07970830B2 |
Cloud computing for an industrial automation and manufacturing system
A system includes a computing cloud having at least one data storage unit and at least one processing unit. The computing cloud is configured to provide at least one service. The system also includes a client configured to communicate with the computing cloud and to selectively offload data to the computing cloud based upon one or more specified criteria. The client is also configured to offload processes to the computing cloud based upon the one or more specified criteria and to use the at least one service of the computing cloud. At least one of the specified criteria may be based upon a determination of whether the data is required for at least one real time process and/or a determination of whether each process is required for at least one real time process. The system may be used in a data storage and retention application or in an industrial automation application. |
| US07970823B2 |
System for sharing data objects among applications
System and method for sharing data objects among applications. A portion of the data messages includes data objects. A client library is coupled to a requesting application. A client library requests data objects of a data-object set. Requests from the client library are received and parsed by a set of code (SOC) that performs tasks so as to retrieve any matching data objects and cause the return of such matching data objects to the client library. A registration module registers subscriptions from or on behalf of the applications and an event notification module compares a data object in an event message with the subscriptions and notifies the subscribed applications in response. The system can respond to requests in either a query or a procedure call format. |
| US07970820B1 |
Locality based content distribution
A system and method for content distribution are provided. A content provider generates a network topology having one or more subnetworks made up of content sources. The content provider segments content, such as applications, into segments for distribution. The content provider then distributes the content such that for each identified subnetwork, each content segment is distributed to a content source. Subsequent, client computing device requests for content can be serviced by selecting a content source in a particular subnetwork selected for delivering the requested content to the client computing device to minimize traffic flow of the requested content through the nodes of the distribution network. |
| US07970819B2 |
Methods and systems for transmitting digital images
Embodiments of the present invention comprise methods and systems for communicating a recipient-selected customization of a digital image using an index file. The index file associates a customization characteristic with the segments of the digital image required to construct a customized image that exhibits the customization characteristic. |
| US07970818B2 |
Method and system for providing on-line interactivity over a server-client network
Apparatus and a method for communicating media over a network including encoding the media into a server database at a server, downloading from the server database to a client database generally only those portions of the media which are necessary to satisfy user requests and in response to a user request for a given item of media, determining whether the media is present in the client database, and if not, automatically downloading those portions of the media which are necessary to supply the user with the given item of media from the server database. An image server is provided including at least one processor operative to supply portions of image data to clients in response to multiple requests therefrom, and thread management software operating the at least one processor by causing it to process the requests using at least one of a plurality of threads, the thread management software being characterized in that it initiates a new thread when an existing thread has exceeded a predetermined metric of busyness. |
| US07970817B2 |
Information processing device, information processing method, and control program
An information processing method includes a storing step of storing a correspondence between destination names and e-mail addresses in a storage unit; a setting step of setting a destination name to which a document is to be transmitted; and an upload step of uploading the document to a document management server for a network printing in accordance with an e-mail address corresponding to the set destination name, a document being uploaded to the document management server and then being output in response to an output request from an owner of the e-mail address in the network printing. The uploaded document can be downloaded from the document management server to a printer through a communication medium and can be printed. |
| US07970816B2 |
Client-side caching of pages with changing content
The present invention relates to Internet based and web applications and the need to reduce page latency and bandwidth usage. The invention can achieve these goals by making use of the cache built in to standard web browsers. In one embodiment, the invention provides that a web application user will use their browser to request a page from the application web server, which responds with a small page that includes a script. The script appends a previously established cookie value to the URL originally requested and the browser then re-requests the URL with the appended cookie value. (The server computes the cookie value based on the last modified time of the data used to generate the page.) If the most recent version of the page is in the browser cache, the browser gets a cache hit, which means the page is retrieved from browser cache rather than from the server, rapidly displaying the page to the user. If, on the other hand, there is only an older version of the page in the browser cache, there is a cache miss (because the rewritten URL will not match any URL in the cache) and the browser will send the request to the server to retrieve the most recent version of the page. |
| US07970815B1 |
Portable record and/or reproduce device, method of reproducing, and method of recording and reproducing
A reproducing means for performing reproduction processing on digital data which is read out from a predetermined recording medium recording the digital data, a manipulating means for making an instruction of reproducing the digital data inserted in the recording medium, a control means for reading the digital data from the recording medium in accordance with the reproduction instruction input with the manipulating means and sending it to the reproducing means, and for controlling the reproducing means to perform reproduction processing on the digital data, and a cylindrical case for containing the reproducing means and the control means are provided, and wherein the manipulating means is provided on one end side on one plane in the longitudinal direction of the cylindrical case. Thereby the user can manipulate the manipulating means without taking out a portable recording and/or reproducing device from a bag or a pocket, thus making it possible to remarkably improve its manipulation. |
| US07970813B2 |
Methods and systems for imaging device event notification administration and subscription
Aspects of the present invention relate to systems, methods and devices for imaging device event notification administration and subscription. Some aspects relate to imaging device event notification based on a subscribing application address and the occurrence of an event defined in an event identification. Some aspects relate to the use of a subscriber manager that manages imaging device event notification requests received from subscribing applications. |
| US07970812B2 |
Redistribution of space between text segments
A system and method for redistributing space in ink-to-text conversions is described. In stylus-based computing systems, users often desire to convert ink from ink into text. Sometimes the conversion is made such that an interaction region is made too small for effective recognition correction or interaction. A system and procedure is described that adjusts the spacing of text to allow easier interaction with the recognition results. |
| US07970809B2 |
Mixed radix conversion with a priori defined statistical artifacts
A method is presided for masking a process used in generating a random number sequence. The method includes generating a random number sequence. This step involves selectively generating the random number sequence utilizing a ring structure which has been punctured. The method also includes performing a mixed radix conversion to convert the random number sequence from a first number base to a second number base. The method further includes puncturing the ring structure by removing at least one element therefrom to eliminate a statistical artifact in the random number sequence expressed in the second number base. The first number base and second number base are selected so that they are respectively defined by a first Galois field characteristic and a second Galois field characteristic. |
| US07970808B2 |
Leveraging cross-document context to label entity
Entities, such as people, places and things, are labeled based on information collected across a possibly large number of documents. One or more documents are scanned to recognize the entities, and features are extracted from the context in which those entities occur in the documents. Observed entity-feature pairs are stored either in an in-memory store or an external store. A store manager optimizes use of the limited amount of space for an in-memory store by determining which store to put an entity-feature pair in, and when to evict features from the in-memory store to make room for new pairs. Feature that may be observed in an entity's context may take forms such as specific word sequences or membership in a particular list. |
| US07970806B2 |
Methods and apparatus for file management using partitioned file metadata
Management of files in a memory, such as a flash memory, includes storing in the memory a first node including a first type of metadata of the file, a second node including data of the file and a third node including a second type of metadata of the file including file status and memory location information for the first and second nodes. The third node may include a node including memory location information for the second node and a node including an index table that cross-references a memory location for the memory location information for the second node to a memory location of the first node. Methods and devices may be provided. |
| US07970805B2 |
Data managing method in a removable storage device
The invention provides a method for managing the data in the removable storage device. The method includes: applying or organizing or establishing or re-building the file managing system of the storage medium of said removable storage device according to the uses of said memory chips; and utilizing said file managing system to perform the corresponding processing in said memory chips according to the operation instructions of the host system, which is connected with said file managing system. By applying the method for managing the data in the removable storage device, which the invention provides, the capacity of the removable storage device can be extended, and the storage medium can be updated, thus the data security, the functions and the convenience of the system are increased. |
| US07970802B2 |
Document data processing method apparatus, and system for sending encoded document data
XML document data is divided in a page tag unit, and an encoding table is created for each of the XML divided document data. Then, by using the encoding table, the XML divided document data is encoded to create code division data, and then the encoding table and code division data corresponding to the encoding table are sent to a printer. In this manner, the encoding tables with small redundancy and small data size are created, and the encoded XML document data and the code division data in small pieces are sent to the printer. Thus, even an apparatus with a small usable storage area such as an inexpensive printer can decode the XML document data by using the encoding tables with the small data size. |
| US07970800B2 |
Permissions using a namespace
Permissions using a namespace is described. In an embodiment, a namespace system includes a network resource that has a resource permission, and includes a namespace that has one or more members associated with the namespace. The namespace system also includes a namespace permission to permission the network resource to one or more of the members of the namespace. |
| US07970795B2 |
Data model development tool
A tool for creating a multi-dimensional data structure in order to integrate data from disparate data sources. The tool facilitates the mapping of a new multi-dimensional data structure to one or more disparate data sources and allows the documentation of gaps and methods for bridging those gaps that may be implemented at the disparate data source sites. The tool may also facilitate the creation of mapping files for historical data conversation. The tool may be used in many types of environments across multiple industries including financial and insurance industries. |
| US07970793B2 |
Generating, and updating calendar events from non-calendar sources
Calendar events are pulled from an information source, such as a website, having listed events. A user subscribes to an information source where information containing time-stamped events appears. Alternatively, a user specifies a keyword for searching on the information source. If there are any changes on the information source in regard to a user-specified keyword, the event is automatically linked to the user's calendar. In yet another aspect, a publisher of the information source uses a tag set to tag running text on their information source, e.g. website, such that there is no need for the publisher of an information source to maintain a calendar of the events described in the information source. In yet another aspect, the publisher of the information source is not informed of who subscribes to the information source or what keywords the users specify in regard to the information source to provide user anonymity. |
| US07970791B2 |
Re-ranking search results from an enterprise system
A flexible and extensible architecture allows for secure searching across an enterprise. Such an architecture can provide a simple Internet-like search experience to users searching secure content inside (and outside) the enterprise. The architecture allows for the crawling and searching of a variety of sources across an enterprise, regardless of whether any of these sources conform to a conventional user role model. The architecture further allows for security, recency, or other attributes to be submitted at query time, for example, in order to re-rank query results from enterprise resources. The user query also can be transformed to provide for dynamic querying that provides for a more current result list than can be obtained for static queries. |
| US07970785B2 |
Method and computer program product for using data mining tools to automatically compare an investigated unit and a benchmark unit
Sources of operational problems in business transactions often show themselves in relatively small pockets of data, which are called trouble hot spots. Identifying these hot spots from internal company transaction data is generally a fundamental step in the problem's resolution, but this analysis process is greatly complicated by huge numbers of transactions and large numbers of transaction variables to analyze. A suite of practical modifications are provided to data mining techniques and logistic regressions to tailor them for finding trouble hot spots. This approach thus allows the use of efficient automated data mining tools to quickly screen large numbers of candidate variables for their ability to characterize hot spots. One application is the screening of variables which distinguish a suspected hot spot from a reference set. |
| US07970781B1 |
Surfacing forums associated with a search string
Creation, association, and/or placement of search forums for searches strings enable users to discuss aspects of both searches and elements associated with the searches, and further enable the users to view discussions from other users. The search forum may be generated from variations of the search string. In addition or alternatively, search strings may be associated with existing item forums, category forums, and tag forums. Search forums may be placed with, for example, search results or with items, categories, and/or tags, among other possibilities, to provide user access to the search forums. |
| US07970775B2 |
Method, system, and storage medium for providing web-based electronic research and presentation functions via a document creation application
An exemplary embodiment of the invention relates to a method and storage medium for providing web-based electronic research and presentation functions via a document creation application. The method includes scanning an active document on a computer to identify relevant keywords, searching a database for reference materials relating to the relevant keywords, and displaying relevant reference materials on the computer. The method further includes on-demand sharing of process software for providing the electronic research and presentation functions via the document creation application. The on-demand sharing includes creating a transaction containing unique customer identification, requested service type, and service parameters; sending the transaction to a server; querying the server about processing capacity associated with the server to help ensure availability of adequate resources for processing the transaction; and allocating additional processing capacity when needed to process the transaction. |
| US07970774B2 |
Method, system, and storage medium for providing web-based electronic research and presentation functions via a document creation application
An exemplary embodiment of the invention relates to a method, system, and storage medium for providing web-based electronic research and presentation functions via a document creation application. The method includes scanning an active document on a computer to identify relevant keywords, searching a database for reference materials relating to the relevant keywords, and displaying relevant reference materials on the computer. The method further includes deploying process software for providing the web-based electronic research and presentation functions via a document creation application. The deployment includes installing the process software on a server, identifying server addresses for users accessing the process software on the server, sending the process software to the server and copying the process software to a file system of the server. The deployment also includes sending the process software to a client computer and executing the process software on the client computer. |
| US07970761B2 |
Automatic identification of components for a compound document in a content management system
A content management system (CMS) includes a component identification mechanism for identifying components in a component-centric way that takes into account specified conditions for a link location in a compound document as well as component relationships and conditions. By using the relationships and conditions, a more intelligent choice may be made when identifying components for a particular link location. The identifying of components for a given link location in a compound document may be used by the content management system when auto-population is enabled, and may be used by the content management system to provide a list of candidate components to a user when auto-suggestion is enabled. |
| US07970757B2 |
Computer program product for database query optimization
A computer program product for database query optimization including a computer usable medium having a computer readable program, wherein the computer readable program, when executed on a computer, causes the computer to receive a database query, search the database query for a literal term, replace the literal term in the database query with a placeholder term to put the database query in a template form, search a directory for a replacement query that corresponds to the database query in the template form, replace the database query with the replacement query and include the placeholder term in the replacement query, and replace the placeholder term in the replacement query with the corresponding literal term to put the replacement query in an executable format, wherein the replacement query is an optimized substitute for the database query. |
| US07970755B2 |
Test execution of user SQL in database server code
Systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with test execution of user SQL in server code are described. One example method includes producing a reproduced execution environment that reproduces a portion of an execution environment in which a user SQL runs. The example method may also include running the user SQL in the reproduced execution environment and capturing a statistic associated with performance of the user SQL while the user SQL runs in the reproduced execution environment. The method may conclude by storing, displaying, and/or providing a signal concerning the statistic. |
| US07970748B2 |
Systems and methods for reorganizing a database object
The invention is a reorganization system having a reorganization application, a database management system, and one or more database files. The reorganization application communicates with the database management system and the one or more database files to reorganize an object, such as, for example, a table or index, while providing one or more clients substantially continuous access to the object. The reorganization application employs one or more trigger locks to synchronize the data in an original table and a reorganized table. The one or more trigger locks block select data modification operations while allowing one or more read-only operations and structural modification operations. |
| US07970747B2 |
Multi-protocol access to files and directories
An operating system is provided. The system includes an agent component to monitor computer activities between one or more single-item access components and one or more set-based access components. A protocol component is employed by the agent component to mitigate data access between the single-item access components and the set-based access components. |
| US07970746B2 |
Declarative management framework
User productivity can be facilitated by providing an interface between a high-level intent and low-level settings that should be configured to achieve the intent. The intent can be expressed in declarative language. The intent can be verified to determine if it conforms to a target, a policy, or both. Policy binding can provide a relationship between the target and the policy. An application view can be provided that allows the user to view a server having one or more databases. |
| US07970744B2 |
Minimizing problems in accessing referred content
According to an aspect of the present invention, information indicating the list of referrer documents referring to a referred document, is maintained. Thus, when the document identifier (name and directory location of the document) changes, the list of referrer documents that need to be changed can be easily identified. In an embodiment, the administrators of the referrer document are notified (e.g., by an automatic email) of the change of the document identifier of the referred document. According to another aspect of the present invention, a first mapping of the Uniform Resource Locator (URL) of each web accessible page/document to a virtual link is maintained in a web server. The content server maintains a second mapping of the virtual link to the document identifier. Thus, when the document identifier changes, only the second map in the content server needs to be updated for continued access of the content. |
| US07970743B1 |
Retention and disposition of stored content associated with multiple stored objects
Retention and disposition of stored content associated with multiple stored objects is disclosed. An indication is received that a first stored object associated with an item of content comprising a body of managed content is no longer subject to retention under a retention policy applicable to the first stored object. The item of content is deleted or otherwise disposed of only if the item of content is not associated with a second stored object that is still required or desired to be retained. |
| US07970742B2 |
Techniques for implementing indexes on columns in database tables whose values specify periods of time
Techniques for history enabling a table in a database system so that past versions of rows of the history-enabled table are available for temporal querying. The table is history enabled by adding a start time column to the table and creating a history table for the history-enabled table. The history table's rows are copies of rows of the history-enabled table that have changed and include start time and end time fields whose values indicate a period in which the history table's row was in the history-enabled table. Temporal queries are performed on a view which is the union of the history-enabled table and the history table. The temporal queries are speeded up by period of time indexes in which the leaves are grouped based on time period size, identifiers are assigned to the groups, and the keys of the index include the group identifiers. |
| US07970739B2 |
Method and system for maintaining profiles of information channels
A method and system are provided for maintaining profiles of information channels available on the Web, wherein the information channels are accessed via pull-only protocols. The method includes monitoring one or more channels by a channel pull action at a monitoring rate, wherein the monitoring rate is determined for the one or more channels based on the number of update events in a previous time period. The method may optimally include filtering the update events in the time period by a novelty measure, wherein the filtering disregards events that do not include significant novel information. The monitoring rate is adapted based on reinforcement learning applying iterative learning rules over time. |
| US07970736B2 |
System, method and computer program product for storing transient state information
A method, system and computer program product for storing transient state information, the method includes: defining a first logical storage space within at least one storage device in response to at least one characteristic of a processing system logical memory space utilized for storing current transient state information of the processing system; repetitively storing current transient state information at a logical location within the first logical storage space that corresponds to a logical location of the current transient state information within the processing system logical memory space and storing, within a second logical storage space, previous transient state information. |
| US07970727B2 |
Method for modeling data structures by creating digraphs through contexual distances
A method for modeling data affinities and data structures. In one implementation, a contextual distance may be calculated between a selected data point in a data sample and a data point in a contextual set of the selected data point. The contextual set may include the selected data point and one or more data points in the neighborhood of the selected data point. The contextual distance may be the difference between the selected data point's contribution to the integrity of the geometric structure of the contextual set and the data point's contribution to the integrity of the geometric structure of the contextual set. The process may be repeated for each data point in the contextual set of the selected data point. The process may be repeated for each selected data point in the data sample. A digraph may be created using a plurality of contextual distances generated by the process. |
| US07970726B2 |
Apparatus, and an associated method, for quantifying a quality of a use case
A use case quality index tool, and an associated method, analyzes the specifications of use cases. Determinations are made of conformity of a use case with use-case quality rules. And, a calculator calculates a use case quality index value that quantifies the conformity of the use case to the use-case quality rules. |
| US07970725B2 |
Method and apparatus for using a graphical user interface to create, edit, and test expert system rules for a clinical database
A rules system for creating rules to an expert system is provided, the rules system providing a user-friendly, guided process for creating such rules. |
| US07970723B2 |
Defining extensible expression behavior in a rules system
Described herein is technology for, among other things, enabling use of custom expressions in a rules engine. The rules engine may be used in conjunction with a workflow. The technology involves providing a custom expression with access to validation context and execution context of the workflow. The custom expression can then participate in rules engine validation and execution. Furthermore, the technology allows for variables of the custom expression to be analyzed so that the rules engine can discover the variable dependencies of the custom expression and any side effects that drive forward chaining. |
| US07970717B2 |
Method and apparatus for providing fast kernel learning on sparse data
A method and apparatus based on transposition to speed up learning computations on sparse data are disclosed. For example, the method receives an support vector comprising at least one feature represented by one non-zero entry. The method then identifies at least one column within a matrix with non-zero entries, wherein the at least one column is identified in accordance with the at least one feature of the support vector. The method then performs kernel computations using successive list merging on the at least one identified column of the matrix and the support vector to derive a result vector, wherein the result vector is used in a data learning function. |
| US07970716B2 |
Method for expressing emotion and intention in remote interaction and real emotion system thereof
Provided are a method for expressing emotion and intention in remote interaction and a real emoticon system thereof. The system includes a real emotitoy and a terminal. The real emotitoy senses an input pattern corresponding to sensing information from outside and operates according to an expressing pattern corresponding to sensing information. The terminal generates a real emoticon by corresponding at least one of input pattern information and expression pattern information from the real emotitoy to visual symbolization information, transfers expression pattern information of a real emoticon transmitted from the outside to the real emotitoy, and transfers input pattern information of a real emoticon from the real emotitoy to the outside, where the input pattern information is created by selecting and combining at least one of input patterns and the expression pattern information is created by selecting and combining at least one of expression patterns. |
| US07970709B2 |
Method and apparatus for client customization by executing software parts on plural servers
A client computer requests plural program parts from various servers. The plural parts are authorized in accordance with usage rights and combined to create a new computer program. The parts can be executed as the new computer program on the servers, on the client, or on both the servers and the client. |
| US07970702B1 |
Method and system for automated collections
An automated debt collection system receives data relating to debtors and their debts. The system filters the data, according to pre-defined criteria, and contacts debtors who meet the criteria. The system provides interactive messages that enable debtors to make payment commitments, confirm that payments have been made, or make automated payments. Alternately, the system may leave messages for debtors that enable the debtors to contact the system or a client call center regarding remittance of the debt. The system may transfer a debtor to a client call center when necessary. Contact between the system and the debtor may be recorded and data received may be stored and compiled into various reports. |
| US07970700B2 |
Financial products
A method and apparatus for providing a financial product from a first party to a second party, wherein a processing system (10) is configured to receive loan parameters relating to a loan from the first party to the second party; and, determine, using the loan parameters and a repayment rule: payments to be paid by the second party to the first party, and an allocation defining: a first portion used for at least partially repaying the principal and/or interest on the loan; and, a second portion used for at least partially acquiring an investment for the second party. The method and apparatus also allows for the financial product to be maintained. |
| US07970695B2 |
System and method for providing latency protection for trading orders
A system for managing trading orders comprises a memory operable to store an order associated with a first price. The system further comprises a processor communicatively coupled to the memory and operable to identify a latency value. The processor is further operable to receive a counterorder and to identify a potential trade associated with the order and the counterorder, the potential trade based at least in part on the first price. If the latency value satisfies a configurable condition, the processor is further operable to initiate a configurable period of time. If the potential trade is not valid upon expiration of the configurable period, the processor is further operable to prevent the execution of the potential trade. |
| US07970691B1 |
Method for securing licensing agreements on new products
A method for securing licensing agreements on newly developed products, which have been submitted to a host company, includes a plurality of steps that grants a third party company an opportunity to evaluate the product while absorbing minimal financial loss and, therefore, increasing the likelihood of successfully licensing the product on a long-term basis. After receiving an inquiry from the third party company, the host company provides a short-term licensing agreement with a development bonus to the third party company. After conducting due diligence and evaluating the product, the third party receives a long-term exclusive licensing agreement. Such a short-term and the long-term exclusive licensing agreements are executed by at least the inventor, the third party company and the host company. |
| US07970689B2 |
Single-period auctions network decentralized trading system and method
A method and system serve for network dealing for conducting single-period auctions where there is one seller and at least one buyer, but typically multiple buyers. The method and system allow for posting of at least one or multiple items offered for sale on a network by a computer at the seller interconnected to other computers on the network. Bids are submitted by buyers for the items offered for sale with the seller requiring predetermined information about the buyer submitting bids before determining a selling price. The seller applies a selected set of criteria to strike out bids the seller does not wish to consider and applies a seller determined criteria to determine the price at which the seller is willing to sell the item(s). |
| US07970688B2 |
Method for pricing a trade
A method for pricing a trade comprising providing a user input for entering trade data, providing a structure for receiving the trade data and then transmitting the structure to a pricing system. The structure, now populated with both the trade data and the pricing data, is received from the pricing system and the trade data and pricing information is displayed. Advantageously, the structure is encrypted prior to transmitting it to the pricing system and decrypted when received from the pricing system. The pricing system records the data and the pricing information, which may be automatically entered into a trading system if and when the user agrees. |
| US07970686B1 |
System and method of interfacing for client application programs to access a data management system
A system and method are disclosed for communicating information between a securities customer and a trader. The system includes a computer which has three class components for completing the communications between the customer and the trader. A first component manages trading functions, a second component manages customer log-in and password, and the third component manages communication between the first two components and a trading system. |
| US07970682B2 |
Methods and systems for variable annuity risk management
In one aspect the invention comprises systems and methods for providing hedging against loss of value of a block of variable annuity policies to be sold, between the signing and closing dates of the transaction. In one embodiment, a purchase price adjustment grid (or formula) is used to adjust the purchase price for the sale of variable annuities between signing and closing dates as a result of changes in market parameters over that time period. One aspect comprising the steps of: (a) storing data representing at least one equity amount table having a horizontal axis corresponding to a first variable and a vertical axis corresponding to a second variable; (b) receiving a first value of the first variable and a second value of the second variable; and (c) calculating a table amount based on a bilinear interpolation of quantities in the equity amount table. |
| US07970675B2 |
Security receipts management system
A computer system for managing, creating, and support of a novel investment instrument, known as a Security Receipt. This receipt provides translation of ownership of plural underlying securities to the holder of the receipt in a seamless and efficient way. The system permits enhanced security creation, and orderly support to facilitate liquidity and market trading of the Security Receipt. |
| US07970669B1 |
Method and system for store-to-consumer transaction management
The invention provides a method for capturing, tracking and managing a transaction of a user at an advanced Point-of-Sale (POS) register. The method steps include obtaining transaction data of the transaction from the POS register using a mobile device and managing POS-based expenditures of the user using the transaction data including a transaction amount, a payment type of the transaction, and relevant bank or credit card account information for the method of payment used by the user. Managing POS-based expenditures may include generating a real-time balance of the account based on the transaction data and presenting the real-time balance of the account to the mobile device. |
| US07970668B2 |
System and method for automated comprehensive reconciliation processing
A system and method of reconciliation processing that automates multiple steps of data validation. One of the key steps of reconciliation is the review and validation of the input and outputs. An embodiment of this invention includes the maintenance of an automated checklist of the various reconciliation steps, which enables maintaining an audit trail and the generation of metrics. A web-based system can be implemented to achieve the objectives of improving the reconciliation process and utilizing computerized controls. |
| US07970660B2 |
Identifying associations between items and email-address-based user communities
A computer-implemented service analyzes collected data reflective of actions of users of an interactive system to identify items that are significantly more popular in specific user communities than in a general user population. The communities may, for example, include email-based communities (e.g., all users with email addresses associated with a particular company or other organization), shipping address based communities (e.g., all users with shipping addresses in Seattle), and/or communities based on other types of user attributes. The results of the analysis may be exposed to users to assist users in making item selection decisions, and/or may be used to provide item recommendations to users. |
| US07970653B2 |
Electronic authorisation
A method and system for identifying and transmitting data entities in a wireless communication system including at least one mobile user terminal. The method includes the steps of identifying a primary service to be provided, identifying a plurality of data entities associated with that service, selecting which of the plurality of data entities is to be transmitted and transmitting the selected data entities in a single transaction. |
| US07970643B2 |
Method and apparatus for implementing a personal “get out the vote drive” software application
A method and apparatus for a software tool that interfaces with a Field Operations software tool and incorporates Voter Score, Voter Scorecard, Post-Election Voter History, Household Visualization, Voter Support Visualization, Household Mailing Labels, E-Mail Voter Footer, and Voter List of Friends and Family. |
| US07970639B2 |
Project management systems and methods
Embodiments of the present invention provide improved project management systems and methods. In one embodiment the present invention includes a project management system comprising a plurality of radial task regions displayed around a focal point and a plurality of time regions displayed around the focal point, wherein each time region represents a period of time. The present invention may be implemented in software or as a project management template provided on a sheet of material such as paper. |
| US07970637B2 |
Activity-centric granular application functionality
A system that can enable the atomization of application functionality in connection with an activity-centric system is provided. The system can be utilized as a programmatic tool that decomposes an application's constituent functionality into atoms thereafter monitoring and aggregating atoms with respect to a particular activity. In doing so, the functionality of the system can be scaled based upon complexity and needs of the activity. Additionally, the system can be employed to monetize the atoms or activity capabilities based upon respective use. |
| US07970634B2 |
Multiple resource planning system
A system for managing remote doctor medical request workflow may include a workflow module that optimizes assignments of medical requests to remote doctors based on parameterized doctor and scheduling information and may further include a forecasting module that predicts the hospital credentials, state licenses or doctors needed to fulfill a projected volume of future medical requests. In one embodiment, radiologists are parameterized and then matched with requests for radiological readings based on information extracted from DICOM image headers and merged with associated information contained in a medical work order. In this embodiment, the radiologists are parameterized based on their locations, schedules, hospital credentials, state licensing, compensation metrics, and performance metrics and incoming requests for review of CT scans and the like are filtered based on the parameterized radiologist information to identify one or more radiologists who are to fulfill the medical request. |
| US07970630B2 |
Integrated biomedical information portal system and method
A computer-implemented system and method for integrating data from a plurality of biomedical development phases. The system and method include a database that stores data collected from the biomedical development phases. The database further includes a metadata data structure that describes the data collected during a biomedical development phase. At least one graphical user interface collects data during the biomedical development phase. The structure of the graphical user interface is defined based at least in part upon the metadata data structure so that the graphical user interface collects data points as well as metadata that is to be stored within the metadata data structure. The metadata describes the collected data points, and at least a portion of the metadata data structure is determined based upon an issue that arises in a subsequent biomedical development phase. |
| US07970626B2 |
Facilitating payments to health care providers
A computer-implemented method to facilitate a purchase comprising: receiving, at a first host computer, a request from a provider for payment authorization for a charge to a purchaser; examining a database coupled to the first host computer for information concerning the purchaser; providing the information concerning the purchaser to a second host computer associated with the provider; receiving at the first host computer information from a third host computer concerning a negotiated amount of the charge to the purchaser; tendering payment of the negotiated charge to the provider; and withdrawing an amount no greater than the negotiated amount of the charge from an account of the purchaser. |
| US07970621B2 |
Automated order entry system and method
A computer-implemented method for facilitating placement of health care order entry is provided. The method includes receiving input indicative of a desired healthcare order. The order has certain terms therein that are normalized. The method also finds possible order matches for the normalized terms, and calculates a rough score for the possible order matches. The method refines the rough score with a rough score adjustment, and then ranks the found possible order matches from the most-likely to match the desired order to the least-likely based upon the refined rough score. These possible order matches can then be displayed to the user for selection. |
| US07970620B2 |
Multi-user remote health monitoring system with biometrics support
The invention presents a networked system for identifying an individual, communicating information to the individual, and remotely monitoring the individual. The system includes a remotely programmable apparatus that occasionally connects to a server via a communication network such as the Internet. The remotely programmable apparatus interacts with the individual in accordance with a script program received from the server Among other capabilities, the script program may instruct the remotely programmable apparatus to identify the individual, to communicate information to the individual, to communicate queries to the individual, to receive responses to the queries, and to transmit information identifying the individual and the responses from the remotely programmable apparatus to the server. Information identifying the individual may be obtained via a biometrics sensor, a data card, a remote monitoring device, or the interception of data from a separate information system. The information identifying the individual may be used by either or both the server system and remotely programmable apparatus for security, customization and other purposes. As the present invention has multi-user capabilities, it can be used in a public place, such as a pharmacy or health care clinic. The multi-user capabilities also allow collection and tracking of user data for the healthcare industry. |
| US07970616B2 |
Efficient review of data
A server may provide information to a processing device for displaying a parser user interface. The displayed parser user interface may include an input portal for inputting text input. The parser user interface may further include controls for selecting a level of compression. Upon selection of one of the controls, the server may process the text input and may produce text output which may include a placeholder symbol to replace specific words from the text input and/or abbreviated representations to replace other specific words from the text input. The server may send information to the processing device to display the produced text output, as well as other information. The server may further provide information to the processing device for displaying a speed reader user interface. The speed reader user interface may include controls for starting, stopping, and pausing a speed reading operation as well as other controls. |
| US07970610B2 |
Speech recognition
The vocabulary size of a speech recognizer for a large task is reduced by providing a recognizer only for the most common vocabulary items. Uncommon items are catered for by providing aliases from the common items. This allows accuracy to remain high while also allowing uncommon items to be recognized when necessary. |
| US07970606B2 |
Interoperable vocoder
Encoding a sequence of digital speech samples into a bit stream includes dividing the digital speech samples into one or more frames and computing a set of model parameters for the frames. The set of model parameters includes at least a first parameter conveying pitch information. The voicing state of a frame is determined and the first parameter conveying pitch information is modified to designate the determined voicing state of the frame, if the determined voicing state of the frame is equal to one of a set of reserved voicing states. The model parameters are quantized to generate quantizer bits which are used to produce the bit stream. |
| US07970605B2 |
Method, apparatus, program and recording medium for long-term prediction coding and long-term prediction decoding
A method and apparatus multiplies a past sample a time lag τ older than a current sample by a quantized multiplier ρ′ on a frame by frame basis, subtracts the multiplication result from the current sample, codes the subtraction result, and codes the time lag using a fixed-length coder if the multiplier ρ′ is smaller than 0.2 or if information about the previous frame is unavailable, or codes the time lag using a variable-length coder if ρ′ is not smaller than 0.2. A multiplier ρ is coded by a multiplier coder and the multiplier ρ′ obtained by decoding the multiplier ρ is outputted. The process is performed for each frame. |
| US07970603B2 |
Method and apparatus for managing speech decoders in a communication device
A method and apparatus that manages speech decoders in a communication device may include detecting a change in transmission rate from a higher rate to a lower rate, decoding and shifting a first, second and third received first decoder set of frame parameters, generating a first decoder output audio frame from the previously shifted frame parameters, generating a first, second and third second decoder audio fill frame, the second decoder being a higher rate decoder than first decoder, outputting a first and second second decoder audio fill frame, combining the first decoder audio frame and the third second decoder audio fill frame with overlapping triangular windows, and outputting combined first decoder and second decoder frames to an audio buffer for subsequent transmission to a user of the communication device. In an alternative embodiment, another method may include detecting and processing a change in transmission rate from a lower rate to a higher rate. |
| US07970595B2 |
Simulation of multi-antenna radio channel
The invention provides a device for simulating a multi-antenna radio channel, a module and a method. The device comprises channel modules for incorporating propagation effects into channel signals which represent radio signals propagating along propagation paths, which channel modules are electrically connected to neighbour channel modules for forming an (m,n) array configuration. The (m,n)th channel module is configured to receive a first (m,n−1)th channel signal and a second (m−1,n)th channel signal and comprises: a processing resource for processing the first (m,n−1)th channel signal according to a channel model, thus generating a processed (m,n)th channel signal, and a combiner for combining the processed (m,n)th signal and the second (m−1,n)th channel signal, thus generating a second (m,n)th channel signal. The (m,n)th channel module is further configured to output the second (m,n)th channel signal. |
| US07970593B2 |
Method for gradually modifying lithologic facies proportions of a geological model
A method for gradually modifying a geological model representative of an underground reservoir to respect fixed average proportions of lithologic facies. A group of facies is selected and a subgroup of associated facies are selected. A transformation parameter is defined by the ratio between the average proportions of the facies of the association and the selection. Within the context of historical matching, a difference between measured dynamic data values and values calculated by a flow simulator from the geological model is measured. An optimization algorithm is used to obtain therefrom a new value for the transformation parameter that minimizes the difference and the transformation is applied to the lithologic facies of the selection. The modification can be applied to the entire model or to a given zone. |
| US07970591B1 |
Using impedance (Z) parameters to augment circuit simulation
In one embodiment, a method for simulating an electric circuit that is represented as one or more partitions, each partition comprising a plurality of constituents representing portions of the circuit, wherein at least one of the constituents is a variable constituent for which the corresponding portion of the electronic circuit includes non-linear behavior, comprises: determining a first matrix for the variable constituent, wherein the first matrix describes a system of equations that represents a behavior of the variable constituent; determining a second matrix for the partition, wherein the second matrix permits calculation of short circuit currents from open circuit voltages according to a node tearing analysis method; and simulating a timestep of the simulation, the simulating comprising iteratively solving a state of the partition using successive guesses of the state of the variable constituent, wherein each iteration comprises solving the variable constituent independently to generate the open circuit voltages using the first matrix, applying the second matrix to determine the short circuit currents, and resolving the variable constituent with the short circuit currents applied and the forcing functions disabled; converging to a solution during the iteratively solving; and solving the partition state for the timestep responsive to the convergence. |
| US07970589B2 |
Apparatus and program for analyzing electromagnetic field
In an apparatus for analyzing an electromagnetic field in an analytical space: a range setting unit sets the range of the analytical space; an object-information setting unit sets a distribution-index value indicating the amount of particles distributed in the range, the dimensions of the particles, a first material-property value of a first material of which the particles are formed, and a second material-property value of a second material existing around the particles in the range; a model production unit produces a calculation model of an arrangement in which the particles are arranged at random positions in the range so as to realize the distribution-index value, the dimensions of the particles, the first material-property value, and the second material-property value which are set by the object-information setting unit; and an analysis unit analyzes the electromagnetic field in the range in accordance with the calculation model. |
| US07970587B2 |
System and method for defining part interfaces
A system, method, and computer program for defining part interfaces. A method includes comprising selecting a part. The method includes accessing a rule view corresponding to said part and setting a rule to a reference use. The rule limits the part to the reference use for a plurality of other parts. |
| US07970579B2 |
Apparatus for and a method of determining surface characteristics
A coherence scanning interferometer (2) carries out: a coherence scanning measurement operation on a surface area (81) carrying a structure using a low numeric aperture objective so that the pitch of the surface structure elements (82) is much less that the spread of the point spread function at the surface (7) to obtain structure surface intensity data; and a coherence scanning measurement operation on a non-structure surface area (83), which may be part of the same sample or a different sample, to obtain non-structure surface intensity data. A frequency transform ratio determiner (105) determines a frequency transform ratio (the HCF function) related to the ratio between the structure surface intensity data and the non-structure surface intensity data. A structure provider (109) sets that frequency transform ratio equal to an expression which represents the electric field at the image plane of the coherence scanning interferometer in terms of surface structure element size (height or depth) and width-to-pitch ratio and derives the surface structure element size and width-to-pitch ratio using the frequency transform ratio. The structure provider (109) may also extract the surface structure element width, if the pitch is independently known. |
| US07970578B2 |
Compensation table generation method, apparatus and computer program product, and tomography image processing apparatus using the same
A compensation table for compensating interference signal obtained by OCT measurement is generated easily. When a reflection body interference signal is obtained by OCT measurement, the reflection body interference signal is compensated by a compensation table (Formula (1)) to obtain an evaluation output signal. Then, a spectrum of the evaluation output signal is calculated to obtain an evaluation value of the spectrum. Thereafter, a model coefficient is updated such that the evaluation value becomes small. |
| US07970575B2 |
Method and apparatus for determining accuracy of the estimated location for a target in a wireless system
A method for determining the accuracy of the estimated position for a target device in a wireless system includes the computation of a confidence index. In the online location determining phase, after knowing the observations of the radio signal for a target device, the target device's probability distribution of location and its motion model are combined to calculate the position uncertainty, thereby giving the confidence index of this location estimate. The invention determines the location probability distribution, and calculates the uncertainty of the location probability distribution and the possible maximum uncertainty under the current situation. Based on these uncertainties, this invention determines the confidence index of the radio signal. The confidence may be regarded as a quantity that the location uncertainty can be excluded in the location prediction. |
| US07970572B2 |
Method of detecting free fall and apparatus to detect free fall using the method
A method of detecting a free fall of a device includes measuring an acceleration of the device, calculating an integral of the acceleration, and determining whether the acceleration is periodic. If the acceleration is not periodic, the integral of the acceleration is compared with a first critical value to determine whether the device falls freely. If the acceleration is periodic, the integral of the acceleration is compared with a second critical value to determine whether the device falls freely. The first and second critical values are different. Since whether the device is periodically accelerated is considered, free fall of the device can be correctly detected, and thus malfunction of the device can be prevented. For example, an unnecessary protection operation for a hard disk drive of the device can be prevented, and thus a user can conveniently use the device. |
| US07970570B2 |
Methods and systems for analysis of combustion dynamics in the time domain
Methods and systems for analyzing combustion dynamics of a combustor system in the time domain are provided. The combustor system includes an inlet pipe coupled in flow communication with a combustion chamber. The method includes determining a characteristic equation of a wave traveling in the inlet pipe, determining an acoustic pressure oscillation in the combustion chamber, and determining a pressure fluctuation in the inlet pipe using the characteristic equation and the determined acoustic pressure oscillation. |
| US07970569B2 |
Apparatus and method for connection test on printed circuit board
A connection test apparatus includes a controlling section, controlling each connection test device to switch the operation mode between the first and the second modes such that a first connection test device among the connection test devices is in the first mode and the remaining connection devices are in the second mode, and controlling a signal generating circuit to output the connection test signal; and a judging section judging, on the basis of the response signal that the first connection test device outputs in response to the connection test signal, a state of connection of a first connector connected to the first connection test device and a first net including the first connector among the nets. |
| US07970563B2 |
Testing apparatus and method for signal strength of powerline networks
A powerline signal test apparatus has a housing, a pair of prongs protruding from the housing, a powerline module coupled to the pair of prongs within an interior region of the housing. The powerline module is configured to process a first data signal in a first format. The apparatus further has a processor coupled to the powerline module. The processor is configured to initiate transfer of first test data characterized by a first data rate from the pair of prongs through a portion of a powerline network to a target node and initiate receipt of second test data characterized by a second data rate. Moreover, the apparatus has a signal strength indication for the portion of the powerline network associated with the second test data characterized by the second data rate. Furthermore, the apparatus has an output device coupled to the housing and configured to output the signal strength indication. |
| US07970560B2 |
Method and apparatus for measuring and monitoring a power source
A system and method for monitoring a power source using a site controller (905) and first and second sensors. The system includes a first power source in communication with a second power source. The system further includes a first sensor in communication with the first power source and the first sensor calculates an exponential discharge characteristic of the first power source. The system farther includes a second sensor in communication with the second power source and the second sensor calculates an exponential discharge characteristic of the second power source (902). The system further includes a controller in communications with the first sensor via the second sensor wherein the controller determines the characteristics of the first power source as a function of the exponential discharge characteristic of the first power source (901). |
| US07970555B2 |
Method for developing a repair process to correct a deformed gas turbine engine component
A method of developing a repair process for a gas turbine engine component deformed during engine operation includes determining peak stress locations in a model of the component, applying loads to sample components based on the model to produce geometrical correction values in the samples, generating data from the samples including the loads applied and the geometrical correction values produced, destructively analyzing the samples at the peak stress locations for structural imperfections, and correlating the loads applied to the geometrical correction values produced to determine allowable loads necessary to produce target geometrical correction values in a used component substantially free of structural imperfections. |
| US07970554B2 |
Method and device for securely storing data
A system for providing secure access to mechanical data associated with the mechanical properties of a concrete mass. The system includes a logger associated with the concrete mass and having at least one sensor adapted to measure physical properties of the concrete mass and generate sensor data indicative of the physical properties of the concrete mass. The logger also has a microprocessor adapted to receive the sensor data and calculate mechanical data associated with the concrete mass and an outbound data transfer device. The system includes a reader adapted to receive the mechanical data associated with the concrete mass from the outbound data transfer device of the logger. Lastly, the system includes a computer receiving the mechanical data from the reader and distributing the mechanical data to one or more users via the Internet, a world-wide network of information sharing computers, or using the world-wide web. |
| US07970553B2 |
Concurrent optimization in selection of primer and capture probe sets for nucleic acid analysis
Disclosed is a method of iteratively optimizing two (or more) interrelated sets of probes for the multi-step analysis of sets of designated sequences, each such sequence requiring, for conversion, at least one conversion probe (“primer”), and each converted sequence requiring, for detection, at least one capture probe. The iterative method disclosed herein for the concurrent optimization of primer and probe selection invokes fast logical string matching functions to perform a complete cross-correlation of probe sequences and target sequences. The score function assigns to each probe-target alignment a “degree of matching” score on the basis of position-weighted Hamming distance functions introduced herein. Pairs of probes in the final selection may differ in several positions, while other pairs of probes may differ in only a single position. Not all such positions are of equal importance, and a score function is introduced, reflecting the position of the mismatch within the probe sequence. |
| US07970551B2 |
Analysis of DNA
The invention provides methods for providing information on the probability of DNA samples being contaminated over days, weeks and months in relation to collection, processing and analysis of DNA samples. Methods are also provided for analyzing the likelihood of a result arising due to contamination and/or determining the analysis protocol to be applied to a DNA sample and/or methods of operating databases, particularly containing DNA profiles.Improvements in accounting for sporadic and undetected contamination and improvements in the operation of DNA sampling of analysis are provided by the invention. |
| US07970550B2 |
Interactive technique for optimizing drug development from the pre-clinical phases through phase-IV
A method of performing interactive clinical trials for testing a new drug. A pre-clinical phase is performed in which a computer model for pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of the drug is created and adjusted based on in vitro studies and in vivo studies in animals. A phase I clinical research is performed in which a clinical trial on at least a single dose is performed in parallel with performing computer simulation studies using the computer model. An optimal protocol is determined for the most responsive patient populations and indications for a phase II clinical trial. Phase II clinical trial is performed where a number of small scale clinical trials are performed in parallel based on results of the above. Phase III clinical research is performed for chosen indications by chosen protocols. Phase IV studies are performed for post-marketing subpopulation analysis and long term product safety assessment. |
| US07970546B1 |
Diplet-based imaging of seismic data in shot or receiver records
Methods, systems, and software for representing seismic shot or receiver data as a superposition of a plurality of diplets are disclosed. The method includes decomposing one or more prestack shot or receiver records into a set of diplets, migrating the diplets using one or more velocity models, and synthesizing one or more migrated diplets into a migrated seismic volume, wherein each diplet comprises information about spatial location, orientation, amplitude, an associated wavelet, acquisition configuration, and coherency. |
| US07970545B2 |
Attaching drilling information to three-dimensional visualizations of earth models
A system and method for perceiving drilling learning through visualization is provided. In one embodiment using three-dimensional visualization of the earth model as a foundation, a new IT development strategy focuses on perceiving “Drilling Learning” by an intuitive method. Symbols, known as “Knowledge Attachments” are attached to each wellbore trajectory displayed in the three-dimensional environment, with each symbol indicating a specific event—such as one related to drilling operations or problems. A Knowledge Attachment system proves particularly useful to represent disparate data at once, in such a manner that the interdependencies between the earth model and drilling operational data are evident and correlated. Operational issues and lessons learned from prior wells are easily accessed and perceived in the context of the earth model. By understanding this information at the beginning of the well planning process, operational efficiencies may be improved. |
| US07970543B2 |
Predicting tropical cyclone destructive potential by integrated kinetic energy according to the Powell/Reinhold scale
A method of predicting the destructive capacity of a tropical cyclone based on a new Wind Destructive Potential (WDP) and Storm Surge Destructive Potential (SDP) scales which provide a manner to rate the severity of hurricanes and typhoons, based on information provided in operational forecast and warning products, experimental wind field products, or gridded numerical weather prediction model outputs. These new scales are formulated to be consistent with the physical mechanism through which tropical cyclones impact coastal communities through wind, storm surges and wave damage. |
| US07970541B2 |
Navigation device and map scroll processing method
A navigation device that obtains the current position based on information from a satellite, and guides a travel path from the current position to the destination on a map image includes: a display unit that displays the map image; a touch sensor unit that is arranged on the front surface of the display unit; an icon generation unit that generates a smooth scroll operation icon which is available for continuous performs smooth scroll processing for the map image and displays the smooth scroll operation icon on the map image; and a scroll control unit that executes the smooth scroll processing when the touch sensor unit detects that the smooth scroll operation icon is touched to be operated, and executes a predetermined scroll processing when the touch sensor unit detects that a region other than the smooth scroll operation icon is touched to be operated on the screen of the display unit. |
| US07970535B2 |
Drive assist system
When moving a vehicle forward to park, a swept path during a period of parking operation is stored in memory. The vehicle is parked as forward parking, in which the front of the vehicle faces the dead end of a parking space of a side-by-side parking lot. In starting the vehicle from the parking space, an assist start switch is turned on to thereby cause a control unit to compute a rearward exit method to move the vehicle rearward to thereby exit from the parking space by referring to surrounding information on surroundings of the vehicle and the stored swept path. A display device is then caused to display the computed rearward exit method to notify a driver of the vehicle. |
| US07970534B2 |
Mobile unit and system having integrated mapping, communications and tracking
A handheld device and system includes a mapping module, a tracking module interoperative with the mapping module, and a communications module interoperative with the tracking module and the mapping module. At least two antennae are communicatively connected, via the communications module, to at least one central processing unit. At least one of said at least two antenna is suitable for communicating using at least two distinct communication modes. |
| US07970529B2 |
Vehicle and lane recognizing device
A lane recognizing device comprises: an image processing means which performs a process of estimating a lane of a road by processing an image of the road and outputs a result of the process as first lane information; a lane estimating means which performs a process of estimating the lane using a map data of the road and the current position information of a vehicle and outputs a result of the process as second lane information; and an actual lane recognizing means which recognizes an actual lane of the road on the basis of the first lane information and the second lane information. Thereby, even if there is an unpredictable skid mark or road repaired part, it is possible to detect the lane accurately while increasing the opportunities for detecting the lane as much as possible by processing the road image and obtaining the road information and the map data. |
| US07970527B2 |
Engine start control apparatus and engine start control method
An engine start control apparatus enables a user to start an engine of a vehicle irrespective of a user's operation of ignition key. The engine start control apparatus includes a controller that performs engine start control and a storage unit. When the engine abnormally stops during a period in which the controller performs the engine start control, the storage unit stores at least one of a cause of the abnormal stop and a timing of the abnormal stop. |
| US07970524B2 |
Safety concept in electronic throttle control of internal combustion engine controllers
In a method for monitoring a function computer in a control unit which controls the generation of torque by an internal combustion engine, a maximum acceptable torque value is determined from a driver request. A torque actual value is determined from operational characteristic variables of the internal combustion engine and is compared with the maximum acceptable value. The air supply is limited when there is an unacceptably large actual value. The method is distinguished by the fact that the limitation takes place when a fault counter reading exceeds a threshold value. The fault counter reading is increased if the torque actual value is higher than the maximum acceptable torque value and is reduced by a predetermined value if the torque actual value is lower than the maximum acceptable value. In addition, a control unit which is configured to carry out the method is presented. |
| US07970523B2 |
Torque estimator for a machine
A torque estimator is disclosed for estimating torque on a machine. A computer system may include a torque estimator module located on the machine. The torque estimator module may be configured to receive a plurality of engine parameters, receive a drivetrain component parameter, determine an estimated torque value at the drivetrain component based on the plurality of engine parameters and the drivetrain component parameter. The computer system also may include an analysis module located on the machine. The analysis module may be configured to receive the estimated torque value and the drivetrain component parameter, and update a histogram data structure based on the estimated torque value and the drivetrain component parameter. The analysis module may also be configured to evaluate the histogram data structure in order to determine if excessive torque is being applied to a drivetrain component. |
| US07970520B2 |
System arrangement of a lifting device, in particular for a container crane for the lifting of loads and moving for the operation of the system arrangement
The lifting gear comprises two motors (1, 1′) that are connected to a transmission (6) via respective drive shafts (2, 2′), couplings (3, 3′), with fitted brake disks (4, 4′) or brake drums, brakes (14, 14′) and transmission input shafts (5, 5′). The transmission (6) drives cable drums (9, 9′) via transmission output shafts (7, 7′) and couplings (8, 8′). The cable drums have a cable pull (12, 12′) and fitted brake disks (10, 10′) or brake drums and safety brakes (11, 11′). The inventive lifting gear is characterized by comprising, in the drive shafts (2, 2′), devices (13, 13′) that completely or partially disconnect the motors (1, 1′) from the transmission (6) when an excess load exceeds the predetermined load. They are monitored on both sides of the devices (13, 13′) and the brakes (14, 14′) and/or safety brakes (11, 11′) are activated in the event of disconnection. |
| US07970517B2 |
Passive control of vehicle interior features based upon occupant classification
The present invention includes a method of monitoring and controlling interior functions of a vehicle, for example, a memory seat position, a vehicle pedal position, a steering column position, a vehicle interior temperature, and/or whether the vehicle is occupied or unoccupied at certain times and under certain conditions. The interior functions are controlled by passively monitoring a characteristic of an occupant, determining an identity of the occupant based on the monitored characteristic, and regulating the interior function based upon the identity of the occupant. The monitored characteristic, for example, may be representative of a weight classification or biomass associated with the occupant, or a signal or input generated based upon a user identification device, for example, a key fob or other personal electronic device carried by the occupant. |
| US07970516B2 |
Vehicle control system
A vehicle control system estimates the vibration states of tires by using a vehicle vibration model that is separated into a vehicle body vibration model, a chassis vibration model, and a tire vibration model with high precision. The tire vibration model in the vehicle vibration model is formed of a rear wheel tire vibration model, a front wheel tire vibration model, and a virtual coupling element vibration model that virtually couples the rear wheel tire vibration model and the front wheel tire vibration model. Influence of the vibration state that is conducted between the front wheel tires and the rear wheel tires is considered while the tire vibration model and the chassis vibration model are separated from each other, thereby making it possible to estimate the vibrations that occur in the front wheel tires and the rear wheel tires. |
| US07970512B2 |
Integrated control system for stability control of yaw, roll and lateral motion of a driving vehicle using an integrated sensing system with pitch information
An integrated stability control system using the signals from an integrated sensing system for an automotive vehicle includes a plurality of sensors sensing the dynamic conditions of the vehicle. The sensors include an IMU sensor cluster, a steering angle sensor, wheel speed sensors, any other sensors required by subsystem controls. The signals used in the integrated stability controls include the sensor signals; the roll and pitch attitudes of the vehicle body with respect to the average road surface; the road surface mu estimation; the desired sideslip angle and desired yaw rate from a four-wheel reference vehicle model; the actual vehicle body sideslip angle projected on the moving road plane; and the global attitudes. The demand yaw moment used to counteract the undesired vehicle lateral motions (under-steer or over-steer or excessive side sliding motion) are computed from the above-mentioned variables. The braking control is a slip control whose target slip ratios at selective wheels or wheel are directly generated from the request brake pressures computed from the demand yaw moment. |
| US07970509B2 |
Component identification system and method thereof
Disclosed are a system and a method for identifying components in an assembly. The system comprises an assembly including one or more components and a power harvesting device, and a reader. The power harvesting device provides power to the one or more components and queries component identification information from the one or more components. The one or more components provide the power harvesting device with the component identification information which is relayed to the reader by the power harvesting device. The system allows determination of the components of the assembly while precluding the need for dismantling the assembly or powering on the assembly to run diagnostic software. |
| US07970508B2 |
Guided travel control method and control apparatus for unmanned vehicle
The guided travel control method and guided travel control apparatus capable of creating a traveling course by teaching only target earth unloading points, without traveling through all passage points of the traveling course, prior to the guided traveling, when each traveling course to each target earth unloading point is taught, thereby increasing the efficiency of teaching operation and also increasing the operation efficiency. In the invention, a corrected traveling course for guiding an unmanned vehicle is created based on a hopper detour area, a corrected target earth unloading position, and a target movement direction in a target earth unloading position such that the unmanned vehicle moves in the target movement direction to the corrected target earth unloading position without interfering with the hopper detour area, then the unmanned vehicle is guided to travel along the created corrected traveling course. |
| US07970507B2 |
Method and system for autonomous tracking of a mobile target by an unmanned aerial vehicle
This invention provides a system and method for autonomously tracking a moving target from unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) with a variety of airframe and sensor payload capabilities so that the target remains within the vehicle's sensor field of view regardless of the specific target motion patterns. The invention uses information about target location, UAV platform type and states, sensor payload capability, and ratio of target-to-UAV speeds to select from a suite of sub-algorithms, each of which generates desired platform positions (in form of waypoints) and/or sensor orientation commands to keep the target in view. |
| US07970506B2 |
System for maintaining communication between teams of vehicles
A system maintains communication between a plurality of unmanned vehicles within an environment. The system includes a sensor component and an evaluator. The sensor component senses objects within the environment. The sensor component is located on a first unmanned vehicle. The evaluator evaluates data from the sensor component. The evaluator is located on the first unmanned vehicle. The evaluator compares data for the first unmanned vehicle and a second unmanned vehicle and determines whether a trajectory of one of the first and second unmanned vehicles may be modified to maintain communication between the first unmanned vehicle and the second unmanned vehicle. |
| US07970504B2 |
Model train control system
A system which operates a digitally controlled model railroad transmitting a first command from a first client program to a resident external controlling interface through a first communications transport. A second command is transmitted from a second client program to the resident external controlling interface through a second communications transport. The first command and the second command are received by the resident external controlling interface which queues the first and second commands. The resident external controlling interface sends third and fourth commands representative of the first and second commands, respectively, to a digital command station for execution on the digitally controlled model railroad. |
| US07970502B2 |
Apparatuses and systems for controlling autoflight systems
Apparatuses and methods for controlling autoflight systems are disclosed herein. An apparatus for use with an aircraft having an autoflight system can include an autoflight performance selector configured to limit the response of the autoflight system to flight guidance instructions in at least two of the pitch, roll and yaw axes. The autoflight performance selector has at least a first selection and a second selection different than the first selection. Selecting the first selection causes the response of the autoflight system to flight guidance instructions to not exceed a first level in the at least two axes, and selecting the second selection causes the response of the autoflight system to the flight guidance instructions to not exceed a second level in the at least two axes different than the first level. |
| US07970501B2 |
Methods and systems utilizing true airspeed to improve vertical velocity accuracy
An inertial navigation system which includes a first control system and a second control system is described. The first control system is configured to estimate a vertical velocity based in part on received vertical acceleration data. The second control system is configured to receive the estimated vertical velocity from the first control system and determine a compensated vertical velocity utilizing the estimated vertical velocity and airspeed. |
| US07970493B2 |
Management ship and working robots in waters based on wireless network and working robot control method thereof
Provided are a management ship and working robots in waters based on a wireless network and a method for controlling working robots thereof. The robot-ship group includes: a signal strength measuring unit for measuring strengths of pre-defined signals; and a working robot control unit for determining which of the first mother ship and the second mother ship the working robot is to communicate with according to a comparison result of the signal strength, and controlling the working robots to perform the work according to a set-up route, wherein the first mother ship includes: a working robot preparing unit for performing a preparation work required before and after the working robots perform the work; and a mother ship control unit for transmitting the pre-defined signal to the working robot and communicating data with the working robot. |
| US07970490B2 |
Article dispensing system
An article dispensing system is provided which can be customized to selectively store and dispense multiple desired articles to suitable containers. The system of the invention is particularly relevant for items which can be stored on hangers in a vertical format and dispensed therefrom. |
| US07970485B2 |
Systems and methods for determining width/space limits for a mask layout
Systems for determining width/space limits for product mask layouts. A mask writer generates a first pattern on a test mask corresponding to a test mask layout. A lithography tool generates a second pattern on a wafer corresponding to a first pattern on a test mask by a lithography process using a preset exposure dose. A metrology tool measures widths of the first and second pattern. A controller determines a width/space limit for the product mask layout according to the width difference between the first and second pattern. |
| US07970484B2 |
Method of controlling a production process
In order to increase the efficiency of a production process a new method is presented. Thereby a flow of items is generated in a production system. Electronic devices that are attachable to the items are used for tracking the items. An identification of a first electronic device attached to a first item is read out. The identification is forwarded to a computer system that steers the flow of items. Due to a reception of the identification by the computer system, a transport status indicating authorization or prohibition to process the second item is set. The transport status is then transmitted to a second electronic device with an authorizing signal that is sent from the computer system to the second electronic device. The second electronic device contains a signal receiver circuit for receiving the authorizing signal and the second electronic device is attached to the second item. |
| US07970482B2 |
Method and system for process control
A method and system for process control using a model predictive controller. The control system can have one or more control devices operably coupled to a processing system for controlling a process of the processing system; a modeling tool to provide a non-linear model based at least in part on the process and to provide a plurality of linearized models based at least in part on the non-linear model, where the plurality of linearized models are linearized at different linearization rates; and a controller operably coupled to the modeling tool. The controller can select one of the plurality of linearized models based on a comparison of the plurality of linearized models with a reference model. The controller can send one or more control signals to at least one of the one or more control devices. The one or more control signals can be determined using the selected one of the plurality of linearized models. |
| US07970479B2 |
Peripheral neurostimulation
A percutaneous stimulating device 10 comprises a self-contained permanent or long-term unit for neuromodulation in the management of chronic pain and for cosmetic applications in accordance with the invention. It comprises a stimulating zone 12 with one or more electrodes 14, and an integral control unit 16 electrically connected by means of suitable wires 18 to the stimulating zone. The control unit 16 is arranged to supply an electrical stimulating signal to the electrode(s) 14. The device is in the form of a closed cylinder having a diameter of 1.2 to 1.5 mm and is no more than 70 mm in length so that it can be located and inserted into a patient using a stimulating needle, which is subsequently withdrawn from the patient when the device is in place.The invention extends to a method for long term pain management by means of neuromodulation using the percutaneous device in accordance with the invention to supply a stimulating signal at between 2 and 50 Hz. |
| US07970478B2 |
Optimizing stimulation therapy of an external stimulating device based on firing of action potential in target nerve
A method and system for optimizing stimulation therapy of an external stimulating device. The stimulating signal for stimulation of a target nerve is produced using the external stimulating device. A magnetic field is induced in an implanted transmitting coil disposed proximate the target nerve when the action potential is fired along an axon of the target nerve. In turn, a feedback signal is generated in a receiving coil associated with the external stimulating device based on whether the target nerve fires an action potential. Stimulating signal parameters of the stimulating signal are adjusted based on the feedback signal. |
| US07970477B2 |
Method and apparatus for detecting object orientation and position
A signal transmitting and receiving system to track the position and orientation of limb segments in order to provide feedback information for the control of the limb movement. The user will generally be seated in a wheelchair that provides a structure upon which orthogonal and/or non-orthogonally oriented coils can be mounted and energized selectively so as to create variously oriented magnetic fields. Multiple wireless sensors injected into the limb detect the local field strength and send information telemetrically to a central controller. The controller extracts information about the position and orientation of each limb segment by combining signals from various sensors according to calibration information and optimal filtering methods for extracting information from multiple nonlinear sensors in mechanically constrained systems. |
| US07970473B2 |
Systems and methods for detection of VT and VF from remote sensing electrodes
Methods and systems are provided for performing ventricular arrhythmia monitoring using at least two sensing channels that are each associated with different sensing vectors, for example by different pairs of extracardiac remote sensing electrodes. Myopotential associated with each of the sensing channels in monitored, and a ventricular arrhythmia monitoring mode is selected based thereon (e.g., based on determined myopotential levels). Ventricular arrhythmia monitoring is then performed using the selected monitoring mode. |
| US07970472B2 |
System and method of detecting and diagnosing pacing system malfunctions
A method of diagnosing a malfunction of a pacing system includes the steps of receiving a biopotential signal, detecting a pacing system malfunction, detecting a cause of the malfunction, and displaying the detected malfunction and detected cause of the malfunction. A pacing system is also disclosed herein. The system includes an electrode array that receives a biopotential signal associated with the pacing system. A malfunction detector applies a malfunction logic to the biopotential signal to identify a pacing system malfunction and applies a morphology logic to the biopotential signal to identify a morphology of the biopotential signal. An output generator receives an indication of the identified pacing system malfunction and the identified cause of the malfunction and creates an output indicative of the identified pacing system malfunction and the identified cause. |
| US07970464B2 |
Method and system for responding to non-perfusing and non-shockable heart rhythms
A system and method are disclosed for prompting emergency medical personnel who are attending to a patient. When the patient presents a heart rhythm that is a non-perfusing and non-shockable rhythm or perfusing but unstable, the attending personnel are prompted to administer therapy, such as reestablishing perfusion by performing CPR. The attending personnel may also be urged to defer taking the pulse of the patient. |
| US07970460B2 |
Method and apparatus for suppressing power frequency common mode interference
An apparatus for suppressing power frequency common mode interference in a bioelectrical signal measuring system includes a driving circuit configured to amplify and change the phase of a common mode interference signal to produce a first driving signal, wherein the common mode interference signal is extracted from a plurality of first electrodes attached to a patient; phase compensating and processing circuitry electrically connected to the driving circuit for receiving the first driving signal, the phase compensating and processing circuitry configured to produce a second driving signal by phase-compensating the first driving signal based on a characteristic value of power frequency interference in a bioelectrical signal acquired through the plurality of first electrodes; and a switch to receive the first driving signal and the second driving signal, the switch configured to selectively switch between providing the first driving signal and providing the second driving signal to a second electrode attached to the patient. |
| US07970457B2 |
Leak detecting apparatus
A leak detecting apparatus is provided which can detect leak of a liquid injected through an injection needle into a blood vessel of a human body near its surface with high accuracy. The apparatus emits a light ray in a predetermined wavelength band containing a particular wavelength at which the reflectivity for the liquid is lower than the reflectivity for internal tissues of the human body, to the human body at a position thereof where the injection needle is inserted, and detects the light ray in the wavelength band reflected inside the human body. The apparatus measures the average intensity of the detected light ray in the wavelength band and the intensity of the detected light ray at the particular wavelength to determine an occurrence of leak when the ratio of the intensity at the particular wavelength to the measured average intensity in the wavelength band is lower than a predetermined reference value. Variations in human body or physical condition affect the whole of the wavelength band but have no effects on the relative relationships between the wavelength band and the particular wavelength. Thus, the leak of the liquid can be detected without being affected by variations in human body or physical condition. |
| US07970452B2 |
Open architecture imaging apparatus and coil system for magnetic resonance imaging
Apparatus and method for using radio frequency coil systems for magnetic resonance imaging within an open architecture apparatus is provided. The MRI coil system includes a support structure with an open architecture in which secondary support structures, compression systems and plates containing RF coil systems may be introduced. These structures and RF coils can be moved relative to the patient, or removed entirely from the system. In one embodiment the system consists of a tabletop coil system, while another embodiment consists of a dedicated stretcher design. |
| US07970449B2 |
Method and apparatus for background current arrangements for a biosensor
Embodiments of the present invention provide for raising a background current setting for a biosensor above the actual (measured) background current present (i.e., overestimating the background current), particularly in the hypoglycemic range, to improve sensor accuracy and decrease the chance of glucose value overestimation by the sensor. |
| US07970448B2 |
Device and method for determining analyte levels
Devices and methods for determining analyte levels are described. The devices and methods allow for the implantation of analyte-monitoring devices, such as glucose monitoring devices, that result in the delivery of a dependable flow of blood to deliver sample to the implanted device. The devices comprise a unique microarchitectural arrangement in the sensor region that allows accurate data to be obtained over long periods of time. |
| US07970444B2 |
Pivoting mobile terminal
A mobile terminal has a first body, a second body and a connector. The connector includes a ring assembly that is fixed to the second body and rotatably and slidably connected to the first body. The first body is capable of slidably moving along the ring assembly along a longitudinal axis relative to the second body. Additionally, the first body is capable of slidably moving along the ring assembly along the lateral axis relative to the second body, and the first body is further capable of rotatably moving about the ring assembly relative to the second body while maintaining electrical communication with the second body. |
| US07970439B2 |
Systems and methods for visual alerting mechanisms on a mobile communication device
A mobile communication device includes an alerting mechanism comprising a light source, wherein the light source is configured to alert the user via a visual alert that an event has, or is, occurring. The event can be an incoming communication, a voice message, an alarm etc. The visual alert can be synchronized with an audible alert also included in the mobile communication device. |
| US07970438B2 |
Mobile terminal and keypad control method
A mobile terminal including a display unit configured to display a keypad in a second display region and data input from at least the keypad in a first display region, and a controller configured to determine if the keypad displayed in its current form is to be displayed in a new different form, to determine if all of the keypad in the new different form can be displayed to fit within the second display region, and to selectively control the display unit to display a scrolling function for scrolling the keypad displayed in the new different form when all of the keypad can not be displayed to fit within the second display region. |
| US07970430B2 |
Method and apparatus for setting and managing operational dynamics within cognitive radio networks
In certain embodiments, a method for managing operational parameters of a cognitive radio device to minimize non-compliance with a regulatory policy involves sensing a change in an operational condition that will affect compliance with a current operational policy; estimating a time at which the current operational policy will become invalid; selecting a method for determining how to update the current operational policy; and updating the current operational policy of the cognitive radio device. Other embodiments may incorporate more, fewer or other elements. |
| US07970428B2 |
Monitoring and adjusting transmit power level(s) in a communications system
A method and an apparatus is provided for monitoring and adjusting a power level of a transmitting component. The method comprises receiving a request from a remote unit to provide a power level associated with a transmitting component, wherein the request is transmitted over a communications protocol. The method includes measuring a power level of a signal provided by the transmitting component in response to receiving the request from the remote unit, and providing the measured power level to the remote unit over the communications protocol. |
| US07970426B2 |
Method of assigning provisional identification to a subscriber unit and group
The present disclosure provides an efficient and effective method for allocating provisional PUIDs and PGIDs to subscriber units and groups during a failure, such that when the communication system recovers, there is a decrease in or elimination of the number of dropped or missed communications. The present disclosure reserves a range of provisional PUIDs and PGIDs for resource controllers operating in a region of system failure to assign when subscriber units roam into the region of failure in the communication system. The present disclosure addresses creating PUID and PGID ranges for resource controllers to assign to roaming subscriber units in order to allow for assignment of PUIDs and PGIDs during periods of subsystem isolation and site trunking, i.e., when the particular site or subsystem cannot communicate with the rest of the communication system. The present disclosure also addresses recovering from these situations, re-registration, and reallocation of PUIDs and PGIDs. |
| US07970414B1 |
System and method for providing assisted GPS location service to dual mode mobile station
A system for determining position of a mobile station is provided. The mobile station is equipped with a GPS receiver for receiving satellite signals from satellites. The system comprises a wireless wide area network (WWAN) configured to provide an acquisition assistance data for use in acquiring the satellite signals by the GPS receiver to the mobile station that is operable in the WWAN. A position determination entity (PDE) is provided to determine position of the mobile station based on the satellite signals received sent from the mobile station and the acquisition assistance data from the WWAN. A wireless local area network (WLAN) provides RF signals to the mobile station when the mobile station enters into a WLAN area. The mobile station determines the position of the mobile station using the WWAN transceiver and the GPS receiver at the time when the mobile station enters into the WLAN area. The MS then uses this position when it is operating in the WLAN and it is requested to provide location by a LBS application or by the emergency 911 calling service. |
| US07970410B2 |
Method and apparatus for remote initiation of ARINC 615 downloads
A method and apparatus for remotely downloading data from a selected one of a plurality of avionics line replaceable units (LRUs) on an aircraft. In one configuration, a method includes transmitting a message wirelessly to a receiver on the aircraft identifying an LRU having data to be downloaded; selectively switching a communication path from the identified LRU to an aircraft data services link (ADSL) dependent upon the identified LRU; and wirelessly downloading data from the identified LRU utilizing the selectively switched communication path. |
| US07970409B2 |
Wireless communication system, terminal device and base station for wireless communication system, and channel scheduling method thereof
The present invention relates to a method of setting a traffic stream of a wireless communication considering terminal state information. The present invention provides a wireless communication system, comprising a base station for controlling a wireless communication and a terminal device connected to the base station to transmit and receive data, wherein the terminal device transmits terminal state information representing a state thereof to the base station and the base station sets data transmission mode using the received terminal state information. According to the present invention, there is an advantage in that a traffic stream can be maintained considering a state of the terminal, and thus, power consumption of the terminal can be minimized. |
| US07970401B2 |
Associating a handoff address to a communication session
A system and method for associating a handoff address to a communication session includes determining one or more communication sessions are established in a first network. Each of one or more handoff addresses is associated with each of the one or more communication sessions. Associating each of the one or more handoff addresses is according to a temporal order of establishment of the one or more communication sessions. |
| US07970396B2 |
Network-initiated area event triggered positioning method for roaming terminal in mobile communication system
A network-initiated area event triggered positioning method for a terminal in a session-based position information system is discussed. Network-initiation of area-based positioning of a roaming terminal is discriminated according to a proxy mode and a non-proxy mode, and area-based positioning for the roaming terminal is performed in various manners according to whether an SLP for performing the positioning procedure with respect to the discriminated modes is a V-SLP or an H-SLP. |
| US07970394B2 |
Determining coverage of a wireless network
An apparatus and method of determining coverage of a wireless network is disclosed. The method includes traveling to multiple locations around access points of the wireless network, and for a plurality of client applications, measuring a performance parameter between a test client device and nodes of the wireless network, at a plurality of the multiple locations. |
| US07970393B2 |
Systems and methods for rapidly enabling brew-based wireless handsets for content development
An application development system comprises a test-enable authority configured to store test-enable software for a plurality of mobile communication devices. In order to develop new applications, e.g. BREW applications, for a mobile communication device, the mobile communication device should be “test-enabled.” Mobile communication devices can be test-enabled using test-enable software that can, for example, be downloaded from the test-enable authority by a software developer. In one aspect, the test-enable software can install on the developer's computer, run a predetermined number of times and then uninstall. This allows communication device manufacturers to control the number of test-enabled communication devices in the market. In addition, this can save time, money, and effort for communication device manufacturers as well as developers. |
| US07970385B1 |
Reactive management of dropped calls in a wireless communication system
A method and system is disclosed for reactively managing dropped calls in a wireless communication system. A mobile station determines that it has experienced a dropped call. In response, the mobile station allows a user to continue communicating, such as by recording the user's speech, for instance. The mobile station may then play out the recorded speech to the user or to another call participant, such as upon reestablishment of the call. |
| US07970378B2 |
Verifying geographical location of wide area network users
A method for verifying a purported location of a wide area network user is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of receiving information from a user via a wide area network, including a purported geographical location of the network user. A first network address from which the information is received is recoded, and an access code is generated and recorded. The access code is broadcast in a defined region that includes the purported geographical location of the user. A user access code is then received via the wide area network from the user. The user access code is compared with the access code broadcast in a defined region, and the first network address is compared to a second network address from which the user access code is received. If the codes and addresses match, the geographical location of the user is considered verified and the user may be validated. Various methods for broadcasting the access code and various systems for implementing the method are disclosed. |
| US07970377B2 |
Systems and methods for coordinating the coverage and capacity of a wireless base station
A communications base station is installed at a selected new location and the base station, prior to going “on line” monitors the wireless traffic from other base stations within interference range of the new base station's coverage area. The new base station also monitors the wireless traffic between mobile devices within its coverage area and these other base stations. Based upon these monitored conditions, as well as other known conditions, the new base station then determines the transmitting parameter configuration it should imply in order to achieve a desired optimization between capacity and coverage area. After the new base station is on line, a central control can monitor the entire network to determine if any additional changes are necessary and if so the new transceiver, or any other transceiver, can be instructed to monitor itself with respect to interference and to take corrective action to improve overall network coverage and capacity. |
| US07970374B2 |
Multi-wideband communications over power lines
Systems and methods for communicating over a power line are configured to substantially simultaneously communicate over a plurality of wideband frequency ranges. Signals may be communicated two or from a communication node at two different frequencies simultaneously. These signals may be exchanged with different nodes and/or include independent data. In some embodiments, some of the wideband frequency ranges are above 30 MHz. |
| US07970370B2 |
Signal conversion apparatus and signal conversion method
A signal conversion apparatus includes a local oscillator for locally generating a signal having a frequency, a phase shifter for shifting the phase of the locally generated signal output from the local oscillator by an amount determined based on a relationship between the amount of phase shift and the amount of frequency pulling, and a converter for converting an input signal by using the phase-shifted locally generated signal output from the phase shifter. The phase shifter varies impedance between the local oscillator and the converter so that the oscillating frequency of the locally generated signal output from the local oscillator remains unchanged. |
| US07970368B2 |
Wired cellular telephone system
Telephone apparatus, including a cable television (CATV) network interface, which is adapted to be connected to a CATV network so as to receive downstream cellular telephone communication signals transmitted at a downstream intermediate frequency (IF) via the CATV network from a base-station transceiver system (BTS) operative in a cellular telephone network. The apparatus includes a telephone interface, which is adapted to connect to a cellular telephone operative in the cellular telephone network via a physical connection.The apparatus also includes signal conversion circuitry, which is adapted to convert the downstream communication signals received at the downstream IF via the CATV network interface to downstream radio-frequency (RF) cellular telephone signals compatible with the cellular telephone network, and to convey the downstream RF cellular telephone signals to the cellular telephone via the physical connection. |
| US07970367B1 |
System for dual diversity receiver using switched LNAS
System for dual diversity receiver using switched LNAs. A dual diversity receiver is provided that includes two antennas to receive a radio signal, where each antenna produces an antenna signal that is representative of the received radio signal. The receiver includes first and second LNAs that receive the respective antenna signals and output first and second amplified signals. The receiver also includes logic to determine the stronger antenna signal and select one of the LNA outputs for processing by the receiver. |
| US07970362B2 |
RF transmitter with compensation of differential path delay
A transmitter has a power amplifier (40) to amplify an input signal having amplitude modulation, a supply voltage controller (10) to control a supply voltage of the power amplifier (40) according to the envelope, a sensor (R1) for sensing a modulation of a current drawn by the power amplifier (40), a delay detector (20) for detecting a delay of the controlled supply voltage relative to the sensed current, and a delay adjuster (30) for compensating the relative delay according to the detected delay. By sensing a current drawn, the delay detected can include any delay contributed by the power amplifier (40) up to that point, and yet avoid the more complex circuitry needed to derive the delay from an output of the power amplifier. Thus the distortion and out of band emissions caused by differential delays can be reduced more effectively. |
| US07970360B2 |
Electronic device with a distortion correction circuit for a power amplifier, and associated methods
An electronic device includes a radio frequency (RF) modulator, a power amplifier, and a distortion correction circuit coupled between the RF modulator and the power amplifier. The distortion correction circuit includes a variable gain amplifier coupled between the RF modulator and the power amplifier, and an amplitude correction control loop. The amplitude correction control loop includes a first logarithmic converter having an input coupled to the RF modulator, a second logarithmic converter having an input coupled to an output of the power amplifier, and a difference circuit coupled to outputs of the first and second logarithmic converters for controlling the gain of the variable gain amplifier for correcting distortion in an output signal from the power amplifier. |
| US07970357B2 |
Transponder with stabilized oscillator
A coherent RFID tag design having no internal power source is disclosed. The design exhibits a longer detection range and less interference relative to conventional tag designs. The coherent RFID tag design operates in a locked or stabilized fashion, in that the frequency at which energy is parasitically coupled to the RFID tag (via its antenna) is the same as the frequency at which the RFID tag transmits information utilizing the same antenna. The RFID tag design allows a greater number of RFID tags to be deployed, without causing cross-tag interference issues and the like. |
| US07970356B2 |
Method of estimating location of terminal in switched-beamforming based wireless communication system
A terminal location estimation method in a wireless communication system in which an access point (AP) provides an access service to a plurality of terminals includes defining a plurality of beam spaces around the AP through space multiplexing; scheduling the beam spaces according to a predetermined pattern; simultaneously forming a beam in at least one beam space; and detecting the existence and location of a terminal according to whether a response message in response to the formed beam is received. Accordingly, an AP forms beams in a predetermined scheduling pattern, and each of the terminals detecting the beams registers its location by informing the AP that each of the terminals exists in a relevant beam area, and thus, a location of each of the terminals can be estimated without using a complex DOA algorithm. |
| US07970354B1 |
Frequency agile duplex filter
Systems and methods are disclosed for an electronically adjustable signal filter system, which comprises, in some embodiments, a first filter coupled to an antenna coupling network and a second filter, a power amplifier coupled to the first filter, an antenna connected to an antenna coupling network, a pilot tone generator coupled to the first filter, and a first signal source connected to the power amplifier and first filter. In some embodiments, the power amplifier amplifies the first signal, the first filter places a notch into the first signal transmitted to the antenna coupling network, the antenna coupling network combines the first signal and a second signal received from the antenna and transmits a third signal to the second filter. |
| US07970352B2 |
Wireless communication device
According to one embodiment, a wireless communication device includes a housing provided with a first face, a radio-frequency coupler installed in the housing so as to face the first face, a close proximity wireless transfer device configured to execute close proximity wireless transfer with the external device existing within a prescribed wirelessly communicable distance from the radio-frequency coupler, a pressure sensitive sensor configured to measure the pressure applied to the first face near the radio-frequency coupler, a reception data processor configured to process data received by the radio-frequency coupler and the close proximity wireless transfer device, and a controller configured to report to the reception data processor that close proximity wireless transfer is available when the close proximity wireless transfer is available and also a measured value of the pressure sensitive sensor is not smaller than a threshold value. |
| US07970348B2 |
Two fixed-beams TX-diversity
A solution is disclosed for minimizing the amount of hardware and hardware accuracy requirements to simultaneously give the feature of both cell and narrow beams transmission, while enabling methods for capacity/coverage increase. The main property utilized by the present invention for maintaining cell-coverage pattern control, when radiating information in two simultaneous beams, is to use orthogonal polarization states for the two beams. The two orthogonal polarization states may for instance constitute linear polarization slanted at +45° and −45°, respectively. The dedicated broadcast transmission needs to be conveyed defining the total cell coverage area. The total cell coverage area is matched by the coverage of the two fixed narrow-beams. The broadcast signal transmission is divided into two signal streams/paths, one for each of the two fixed narrow-beams (no coherency requirements existing between the two parallel signal streams/paths). The two broadcast signal streams/paths are combined by means of combiner units with the dedicated combined signals from all fixed narrow-beam selected users in each of the two branches. The signals to the two antennas are then transmitted having an orthogonal polarization. |
| US07970347B2 |
Communication systems
A transmission method for use in a multi-hop wireless communication system is provided. Furthermore, the system has access to a time-frequency format for use in assigning available transmission frequency bandwidth during a discrete transmission interval. The format defines a plurality of transmission windows within such an interval, where each window occupies a different part of that interval and has a frequency bandwidth profile within the available transmission frequency bandwidth over its part of that interval. Furthermore, each window being assignable for such a transmission interval to one of said apparatuses for use in transmission. The transmission method for use in this system includes employing said format for one or more such transmission intervals to transmit data and control information together along at least two consecutive said links as a set of successive transmission signals, link by link. Each said signal is transmitted in an available transmission window of said interval(s) and at least two of said signals are transmitted during the same said transmission interval such that said information is transmitted along said consecutive links in fewer transmission intervals than said number of consecutive links. |
| US07970345B2 |
Systems and methods of waveform and/or information splitting for wireless transmission of information to one or more radioterminals over a plurality of transmission paths and/or system elements
Methods of transmitting an information signal in a satellite communications system include splitting the information signal into a first signal component and a second signal component, transmitting the first signal component to a first system element of the satellite communications system, transmitting the second signal component to a second system element of the satellite communications system, combining the first signal component and the second signal component to form a combined signal, and recovering the information signal from the combined signal. Related systems and components are also disclosed. |
| US07970344B2 |
Wireless communication apparatus, wireless communication method and wireless communication system
The objective of the present invention is to suppress an increase in the power consumption for the relaying of signals. A relay station unit 150 is a relay station unit that has as a function the relaying of a signal, and includes: a wireless receiving unit 15; a relay determination unit 23, for determining that a signal received by the wireless receiving unit 15 does not satisfy a predetermined quality, and for permitting reception of a signal from a different relay station unit; a synthesizing unit 18, for generating a transmission signal based on a signal received from a base station unit and a signal received from the different relay station unit; and a wireless transmitting unit 13, for transmitting the signal that is generated. |
| US07970342B1 |
Digital music player accessory with digital communication capability
An accessory for a digital music player establishes bidirectional communications between the digital music player and a remote receiver. The bidirectional communication channel allows song information such as the title, artist and album to be transferred from the digital music player to the remote receiver. This information is then displayed by the remote receiver. The accessory also transmits an FM audio signal to the receiver based upon an audio signal received from the digital music player such that music from the player can be played over the remote receiver. The bidirectional communication channel allows the controls of the remote receiver's controls to be used to control the music being played by the digital music player. The commands and digital information are preferably transferred between the digital music player and the remote receiver in accordance with a Radio Data System or Radio Broadcast Data System format. |
| US07970339B2 |
Sheet feeding device and image forming apparatus
A bookbinding apparatus, having a sheet bundle storing device to store a sheet bundle, a grasping device to grasp the sheet bundle stored in the sheet bundle storing device, a square spine forming device to form a square spine, wherein a pair of forming members bend a coversheet bonded onto a back section of the sheet bundle grasped by the grasping device, a pressure force controlling device to vary a pressure force of the pair of forming members to press a bending section of the coversheet in accordance with bookbinding conditions. |
| US07970338B2 |
Bookbinding device, bookbinding method, and printing device
A CPU of a bookbinding system sets one of a right-opening bookbinding mode for feeding a cover sheet on which a cover is laid out at the left of a spine portion thereof to create a right-opening book, and a left-opening bookbinding mode for feeding a cover sheet on which a cover is laid out at the right of the spine portion to create a left-opening book. Also, the bookbinding system controls a printer unit to invert a print sequence depending on whether the system is set in the right-opening bookbinding mode or is set in the left-opening bookbinding mode. The print sequence or inverted print sequence is set so that, of image data of multiple pages, print image data that should be the top page is arranged appropriately for creating a right-opening book or a left-opening book. |
| US07970337B2 |
Automatic document feeder and manuscript scanner provided with platen cover with easily operable handle
An automatic document feeder is mounted on a platen cover, which is located on a housing of a manuscript scanning section and movable relative to the housing to have open and shut states. The automatic document feeder is provided with: a manuscript stacker adapted to have manuscripts stacked on it; an outer frame structure having the manuscript stacker movable to attain the open and shut states; and a handle section provided integrally with the outer frame structure and disposed anteriorly to the manuscript stacker. The space between the manuscript stacker and the platen cover serves as a manuscript discharging section. The handle section is formed in a shape so as to avoid narrowing the entrance for inserting a hand into the manuscript discharging section. |
| US07970335B2 |
Cleaning device and image forming apparatus
A cleaning device includes a blade disposed so as to contact an image bearing body that bears a developer image. The blade scrapes off a developer adhering to the image bearing body. The blade has an edge portion including first and second surfaces, and is configured so that a distance between the first and second surfaces decreases toward a tip of the edge portion. The first and second surfaces form a predetermined edge angle at the tip of the edge portion. An area of the first surface is smaller than an area of the second surface, and the first surface contacts the image bearing body. |
| US07970334B2 |
Image-carrier protecting agent, protecting-layer forming device, image forming method, image forming apparatus, and process cartridge
A protecting layer is formed on a surface of an image carrier with a protecting agent that contains at least an organic compound having melting property of which penetration at 25° C. ranges from 3 millimeters to 30 millimeters, and organic compound particles having thermal decomposition property of which a weight average particle size ranges from 2 micrometers to 20 micrometers. A melting temperature of the organic compound is lower than a decomposition temperature of the organic compound particles, and a volume ratio of the organic compound to the organic compound particles ranges from 99/1 to 50/50. |
| US07970333B2 |
System and method for protecting an image on a substrate
A system and a method to protect an image on a substrate. The method includes forming an unfused toner image, partially fusing the unfused toner image at a first temperature by exposing the composition to radiation to prevent disruption of the image upon application of the wax-hybrid composition to form a partially fused toner image, cooling the partially fused toner image to a second temperature, providing a protective coating composition comprising a wax-hybrid, applying the protective coating composition over the partially fused toner image, permanently fixing the protective coating composition and partially fused toner image to form a final printed image. |
| US07970332B2 |
Oil less fusing using nano/micro textured fusing surfaces
Exemplary embodiments provide a fixing member having a textured surface, and methods for making and using the textured fixing member. The fixing member can include a substrate having one or more functional layers formed thereon. The one or more functional layers can include an outermost or top surface having a surface wettability that is hydrophobic and/or oleophobic; ultrahydrophobic and/or ultraoleophobic; or superhydrophobic and/or superoleophobic by forming textured features. Such fixing member can be used as an oil-less fusing member for high speed, high quality electrophotographic printing to ensure and maintain a good toner release from the fused toner image on an image supporting material(e.g., a paper sheet), and further assist paper stripping. In addition, the textured surface can provide an oil-free, such as wax-free, toner design for the oil-less fixing process. |
| US07970328B2 |
System and method for preparing magnetic ink character recognition readable documents
Disclosed herein is printing system comprising a first printer configured to print a first set of data on a document, the first printer including a fuser employing fuser oil, and an in-line spray coater configured to deposit a wax coating on a portion of the document to repel or cover fuser oil. A corresponding method is also described. The method and system are useful for preparing MICR encoded documents such as checks. |
| US07970322B2 |
Developing roller, developing apparatus, and image forming apparatus
A developing roller includes a cylindrical sleeve that holds developer on a peripheral surface thereof, and a magnet roller being provided in the sleeve and having a plurality of magnetic poles. The sleeve includes a plurality of micro-recesses formed on the peripheral surface thereof, and the plurality of micro-recesses are arranged dispersedly in the axial direction and the circumferential direction of the sleeve. The densities of the micro-recesses in both end portions of the sleeve are larger than the density of the micro-recesses in a central portion of the sleeve. |
| US07970319B2 |
Charging apparatus, print engine that incorporates the charging apparatus, and image forming apparatus that incorporates the print engine
A charging apparatus includes a charging member and at least one projection formed on the charging member. The charging member includes a surface that faces the surface of a photoconductive body. The at least one projection is formed on the first surface to extend in a direction parallel to the longitudinal direction of the photoconductive body. The projection is in contact with the surface of the photoconductive body. |
| US07970310B2 |
Image forming apparatus for supressing the effects of a band-like toner image
In the image forming apparatus, in ending an image forming operation, a bias voltage having an opposite polarity from the transfer bias voltage is applied to the primary transfer device when at least a region passes through the primary transfer portion, the region passing through the development portion in a state in which the development bias voltage is applied in an uncharged region in the surface of the image bearing member after a charging operation of the charging device is stopped. |
| US07970309B2 |
Image forming apparatus including a power-control feature for flicker suppression
The image forming apparatus includes an image forming part, a fixing part including a heater and a temperature detection element; and a power-control part that controls power to be supplied to the heater according to the detection temperature of the temperature detection element, wherein during the power to be supplied to the heater is controlled so as to keep the detection temperature at a control target temperature, if the on-duty ratio selected so to keep the detection temperature at the control target temperature is a specific on-duty ratio and the specific on-duty ratio continues for a predetermined number of cycles, the power-control part switches to another control cycle different in the number of consecutive half-waves of the AC waveform from the control cycle. |
| US07970308B2 |
Image forming apparatus with loop correcting device
An image forming apparatus of the present invention includes an image bearing member for carrying a toner image, a rotatable endless belt, a transfer member for transferring a toner image from the image bearing member onto the endless belt electrostatically, a detecting device to detect a distance from the endless belt, and controls amount a loop generated in the belt to the predetermined loop amount, based on the distance detected by the detecting device. |
| US07970307B2 |
Methods and apparatus for transferring a toner image via electrophotographics
A transfer apparatus capable of suitably measuring the amount of electric charges transferred from a transfer member to a transfer body and performing a transfer process without degrading the image quality by supplying an amount of electric charges suitable for any type of transfer body onto which an toner image is to be transferred. The transfer apparatus in an image forming apparatus employing an electrophotographic method includes the transfer member electrically charging the transfer body; a charging unit for electrically charging a surface of the transfer member; and voltage sensors for measuring the voltage at each of an upstream area and a downstream area on the transfer member with respect to a transfer nip section of the transfer member. |
| US07970305B2 |
Development apparatus, image forming apparatus and image forming method for consuming degraded toner
The development apparatus that develops an electrostatic latent image formed on an image carrier comprises: a developer roller operable to carry toner on a circumferential surface thereof and develop the electrostatic latent image using the toner; a supply roller operable to perform toner supply to the developer roller; a voltage applier operable to apply a bias voltage V1 to the developer roller and apply a bias voltage V2 to the supply roller; and a controller operable to control the voltage applier in a toner compulsive consumption mode so that a value obtained by subtracting an average S2 of the bias voltage V2 per unit time from an average S1 of the bias voltage V1 per unit time indicates the same polarity as a normal charging polarity of the toner. Here, the toner compulsive consumption mode performs development to compulsively consume the toner carried on the circumferential surface of the developer roller. |
| US07970304B2 |
Method of improving developed flat field uniformity
Flat field uniformity can be improved in images produced by an image development system having a development roller interposed between a supply of developer and an imaging element. A raw feed of developer is supplied from the developer supply to the development roller to produce both a metered feed of developer and an overfeed of developer, which is returned to the supply, from the raw feed. A plurality of mass densities of developer used in the system and a plurality of developer velocities through the system are determined, and respective product values of those developer mass densities and those developer velocities are thereafter calculated or otherwise determined. A maximum value of the respective product values is identified, and the image development system is then operated so that the maximum product value is produced. |
| US07970303B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes: an image bearing body on which surface a solid lubricant is supplied, forming and bearing an image on the surface; a charging member to which a voltage is applied, being in contact with the image bearing body to impart a charge; a voltage applying section that applies the voltage to the charging member, capable of switching the voltage between superimposed voltage on which DC voltage and AC voltage are superimposed and non-superimposed voltage including only DC voltage; an image forming section that forms a toner image; a transfer device that transfers the formed toner image to a transferring body; a cleaning member that contacts the image bearing body to scrape unnecessary substance from the surface; and a voltage switching section that switches the voltage applied to the charging member between the superimposed voltage and the non-superimposed voltage according to an amount of the solid lubricant. |
| US07970302B2 |
Image forming apparatus and printing method therefor
An image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention includes an apparatus main body, an image creating unit that is provided in the apparatus main body and creates an image to be printed on recording paper, a paper feeding mechanism on which plural pieces of the recording paper are stacked as a paper bundle, a paper-type distinguishing device that distinguishes a type of the recording paper from the paper bundle stacked on the paper feeding mechanism, and a printing unit that prints, according to the type of the recording paper distinguished by the paper-type distinguishing device, the image created by the image creating unit on the recording paper. |
| US07970298B2 |
Image forming apparatus with a control for preventing a reduction in accuracy of detecting a toner image
An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member for bearing a toner image; toner image forming means for forming a toner image on the image bearing member; a detecting member for directing light to an object and for detecting the light reflected by the object; a controller for controlling a toner image forming condition of the toner image forming means in accordance with an output of the detecting member with respect to the toner image formed on the image bearing member and an output of the detecting member with respect to the image bearing member; a cleaning member, in contact to the image bearing member, for cleaning the image bearing member; an executing portion for executing, when the output with respect to the image bearing member reaches a reference level, an operation in a cleaning mode in which the cleaning member cleans the image bearing member; and a change portion for changing the reference level in accordance with a use amount of the image bearing member. |
| US07970285B2 |
Multichannel optical transport network optical detection skew calibration
A system and method are provided for calibrating temporal skew in a multichannel optical transport network (OTN) transmission device. The method accepts a pair of 2n-phase shift keying (2n-PSK) modulated signals, as well as a pair of 2p-PSK modulated signals. The 2n-PSK and 2p-PSK signals are converted to 2n-PSK and 2p-PSK optical signals, respectively. The 2n-PSK and 2p-PSK optical signals are orthogonally polarized and transmitted. A timing voltage is generated that is responsive to the intensity of the orthogonally polarized signals. The timing voltage is correlated to a reference frame calibration pattern associated with a preamble/header portion of an OTN frame. Then, the timing voltages associated with the Ix, Qx, Iy, and Qy signal paths are compared, and the misalignment between the timing voltages and the reference frame calibration pattern is minimized in response to adjusting time delay modules in the Ix, Qx, Iy, and Qy signal paths. |
| US07970284B2 |
Optical and electric signals transmission apparatus, optical and electric signals transmission system, and electronic equipment using such a system
An optical and electric signals transmission apparatus includes a receptacle having a light-receiving element and/or a light-receiving element and electrical connecting terminals, a plug having electrical connecting terminals to establish electrical coupling with the receptacle and optical coupling with the light-emitting element and/or the light-receiving element, an electric signal transmission line, and an optical signal transmission line. The receptacle has a fitting recess, and when the plug is fitted in the fitting recess in a direction substantially perpendicular to the optical axis of the light-emitting element or the light-receiving element, the optical coupling, the electrical coupling, and engagement of the receptacle with the plug are established at a location where the fitting recess and the plug are adjacent to each other. |
| US07970283B2 |
High speed SFP transceiver
This disclosure concerns optoelectronic transceivers. In one example, a transceiver is implemented as an uncompensated architecture that is substantially compliant with the SFP MSA and is capable of effective operation at a data rate of about 8.5 Gb/s. The transceiver includes a TOSA, ROSA, a printed circuit board, an LDPA disposed on the printed circuit board and configured for communication with the TOSA and the ROSA. Finally, the transceiver includes SFP compliant optical and electrical connections. |
| US07970282B2 |
Network repeater, repeater controlling method and program product
A bridge controller, which controls relay between terminals including emission units and addresses assigned to the terminals, acquires coordinates of a light-received element in an light receiving unit at which light emitted from an emission unit is received, and stores the acquired coordinates in a location information table memory in association with a logical location on the network. Thereafter, it is determined whether or not the stored coordinates differ from newly acquired coordinates. When it is determined that the stored coordinates differ from the newly acquired coordinates, the logical location associated with the coordinates stored in the storage unit is controlled to be changed and stored. |
| US07970280B2 |
Thermally-floating transmitter wavelength grid of signal channels in a WDM transmission system
A method and apparatus is provided for tracking a thermally floating wavelength signal channel grid generated at an optical transmitter (Tx) in an optical transmission system or optical network where the wavelengths of the individual Tx signal channels may move in wavelength due to, for example, changes in ambient temperature at the optical transmitter but the channel spacing between Tx signal channels along the thermally floating Tx wavelength grid remains constant. An optical receiver (Rx) is provided that has a demultiplexed signal channel grid that may have a different channel spacing from that of the floating Tx wavelength grid, that is either larger, the same as, or smaller Rx grid spacing compared to the Tx grid spacing, and includes a number of demultiplexed channel signal outputs along an Rx channel grid in excess of the number of Tx signal channels on the Tx channel grid so that the optical receiver is capable of detecting the floating Tx channel grid and providing electrical output signals representative of the Tx channel signals transported over the optical network. |
| US07970278B2 |
Flexible open ring optical network and method
A flexible open ring optical network includes a plurality of nodes connected by twin or other suitable optical rings. Each node is operable to passively add and passively drop traffic from the rings. The nodes may include a transport element for each ring. The transport elements include an optical splitter element and an optical combiner element. The optical splitter element is operable to passively combine an add signal including local add traffic and a first transport signal including ingress traffic from a coupled optical ring to generate a second transport signal including egress traffic for transmission on the coupled optical ring. The optical combiner element is coupled to the optical splitter element and is operable to passively split a third transport signal including the ingress traffic to generate a drop signal including local drop traffic and a fourth transport signal including the ingress traffic. Protection switching may be provided by selectively openable switches disposed in and distributed around the rings. |
| US07970274B2 |
Diaphragm control apparatus of interchangeable lens camera
A diaphragm control apparatus in a camera body includes a stepping motor; a lead screw thereof, wherein a slider is driven by the lead screw; a position detector; and a controller. When driving the stepping motor by a predetermined number of steps in a direction to move the slider away from an origin position, the controller detects the slider position before driving the stepping motor stepwise as the origin position via the position detector, and thereafter detects a stepping position of the slider to compare the stepping position with the origin position each time the stepping motor is driven by one step, and counts the number of steps based from the moment at which the stepping position of the slider exceeds a predetermined position in the direction to move the slider away from the origin position against the biasing force of the resilient biaser. |
| US07970267B1 |
Wireless camera flash synchronizer system and method
A system and method of wirelessly communicating a camera synchronization from a camera to a remote device using an externally connected device. A first signal generated after the activation of a camera trigger is received from the camera. Based on the first signal, a transceiver of the externally connected device is switched from a wireless receive mode to a wireless transmit. |
| US07970265B2 |
Control system and method for compensating for image shake of image capture device
A control system for compensating for image shake of an image capture device is provided, including a shake compensating module, a shake compensating switch, a control unit, and a shutter control element operated between a first operating stage and a second operating stage. The shake compensating switch is switched between an active state to enable the shake compensating module and an inactive state to disable the shake compensating module. The control unit enables the shake compensating module when the shake compensating switch is in the active state. The control unit produces a reset signal to disable the shake compensating module when the shutter control element is in the second operating stage before the shake compensating switch is switched to the inactive state. The control unit enables the shake compensating module after a specific period of time from when the shake compensating module was disabled. |
| US07970262B2 |
Buffer descriptor structures for communication between decoder and display manager
A system, method, and apparatus for decoding and displaying images utilizing two processors and two memory units. The decode process receives images which are encoded according to a predetermined standard. Included with the encoded images are parameters which facilitate the decode and display processes. The decode process decodes the encoded images and the encoded parameters and stores each image in a separate image buffer, and each set of associated parameters in a buffer descriptor structure associated with the image buffer. The decode process is carried on by the first processor. The display process utilizes the parameters associated with the image to determine the appropriate display order for each image, and then display the image accordingly on a display device, based on the associated parameters. The first processor carries on the display of the image on the display device. The second processor determines the display order for the images. The second processor and the second memory can be off-chip. |
| US07970260B2 |
Digital media asset management system and method for supporting multiple users
An approach provides editing of digital media. A platform, as maintained by a service provider, provides a remote proxy editing capability of a plurality of media streams. A first one of the media streams is transmitted to a player of a first customer of the service provider. Further, the method comprises transmitting a second one of the media streams to a player of a second customer of the service provider. |
| US07970252B2 |
Information storage medium and information recording/playback system
There are provided an information storage medium capable of real-time recording/playback of digital moving picture information, and a digital information recording/playback system using this medium. In a medium that records/plays back data including video data and control information, the control information (DA21 in FIG. 4; RTR_VMG in FIG. 30) includes information (VOBU entry in FIG. 31) for accessing a specific portion (VOBU) of the video data. |
| US07970251B2 |
Outlet device
An outlet device, which is to be arranged on a wall surface, includes an outlet box in which electric wiring and optical interconnection are to be accommodated, and a cover plate which covers the outlet box. The cover plate includes a plate surface formed with an opening section through which an electric connection port of at least one of a telephone jack and an electric power supply outlet is to be exposed, and a bulged portion formed, on left or right side of the plate surface, to bulge frontward from the plate surface. The bulged portion is operable to accommodate a connection adaptor to which an optical connector attached directly to an end portion of an optical fiber is fitted, and includes a bottom face formed with an opening through which an optical connection port of the connection adaptor is to be exposed so as to be oriented downward. |
| US07970249B2 |
Fiber optic splice enclosure
Certain example embodiments of a splice enclosure include a housing defining an opening for allowing a trunk cable to be passed through the housing. The splice enclosure also includes a splice tray stack pivotally mounted within the housing and a cable management tray that mounts within the housing beneath the splice tray stack. The management tray includes cable retention and/or securement arrangements for mechanically securing the cables to the splice enclosure. |
| US07970247B2 |
Buffer tubes for mid-span storage
Disclosed is a buffer tube that possesses a higher buffer-tube filling coefficient. Optical fibers enclosed within the buffer tube demonstrate improved attenuation performance when subjected to temperature variations between about −40° C. and 70° C. The buffer tube is suitable for deployments requiring mid-span access. |
| US07970244B2 |
Fabrication of an optical ring resonator device
An embodiment of a method for manufacturing an optical ring resonator device is disclosed. The method forms a ring resonator waveguide on a semiconductor substrate, forms an unoriented electro-optic polymer cladding over the ring resonator waveguide, and forms electrodes on the semiconductor substrate. The unoriented electro-optic polymer cladding is configured to change orientation under an applied electric field, and the electrodes are coupled to the optical ring resonator for manipulation of the electric field applied to the oriented electro-optic polymer cladding for rapid voltage tuning of its index. |
| US07970243B2 |
Optical device, optical coupler and integrated circuit
The present invention provides an MMI optical device that can prevent a possible decrease in transmission rate in spite of miniaturization and integration. The optical device includes a rectangular multimode waveguide and an electromagnetic wave absorber of a light source wavelength. The electromagnetic wave absorber is located on at least one side surface of the rectangular multimode waveguide and is located at a predetermined gap from a core of the rectangular multimode waveguide. |
| US07970239B2 |
Hand jitter reduction compensating for rotational motion
The registration of images comprising segmenting an image in a frame into a set of sectors which forms a circle. Generating a plurality of sets of projections in a base frame, wherein each set of projections is generated from any sector amongst the set of sectors from the base frame. Also generating a plurality of sets of projections in a movement frame, wherein each set of projections is generated from any sector amongst the set of sectors from the movement frame. Then summing each set of projections, from any sector amongst the set of sectors from the base frame and summing each set of projections from any sector amongst the set of sectors from the movement frame. Furthermore, comparing a set of each sum of projections from the base frame with a set of each sum of projections from the movement frame, and generating a rotation angle estimate to add to the base frame. |
| US07970232B2 |
Image analysis method, image analysis program, pixel evaluation system having the image analysis method, and pixel evaluation system having the image analysis program
In the case where a digital camera is used for evaluating a display quality of an image display panel, moire is generated due to a shift of a pixel pitch between a pixel of a panel and a pixel of a digital camera, and thus, a great influence is given as measurement deviation. The present invention carries out a panel display quality evaluation at low cost and short time with relieved influence of moire by treating a value, which is obtained by recognizing a coordinate of a panel pixel in a shot image based on an image for detecting a coordinate and positional information thereof with high accuracy and by calculating average luminance by panel pixel unit based on a center position of a coordinate, as representative luminance in each pixel of the panel, in a panel evaluation method of shooting an image display panel with a digital camera. |
| US07970229B2 |
Method and apparatus for visual background subtraction with one or more preprocessing modules
Methods and apparatus are provided for visual background subtraction using one or more preprocessing modules. One or more effects are detected in a received image signal and one or more blocks are selectively enabled to preprocess the image signal to compensate for the detected one or more effects. Visual analysis is then performed on the preprocessed signal using background subtraction. A spatially-variant temporal smoothing of the image signal is also disclosed. The spatially-variant temporal smoothing can be achieved by the mixing of a new intensity value with a previous intensity time-average as determined by a weighting matrix. The mixing can be influenced by a dynamic bias term that is a real-time estimate of a variance at the pixel, such as a degree of change, and the weighting can be determined by a relative stability of an observed value compared to a stability of the time-average. |
| US07970226B2 |
Local image descriptors
A local image descriptor generation technique that produces a descriptor for an image patch is presented. The technique generally involves smoothing the pixels of the image patch, followed by employing a transformation to produce a transform vector for each of a set of sample points spaced across the image patch. The transform vectors are weighted and spatially accumulated to produce a prescribed number of linearly summed vectors. The linearly summed vectors are concatenated to form a raw local image descriptor, which is normalized to produce a finalized descriptor for the image patch. |
| US07970223B2 |
Image encoding apparatus, image decoding apparatus, image encoding method, image decoding method, image encoding program, and image decoding program
A variable-length encoder that feeds a Coded Block Pattern (CBP) as an input symbol to variable-length code output part. Coded symbol memory supplies CBPs in neighboring blocks as coding map table reference information to coding map table provider. Coding map table provider determines a coding map table used in coding of the CBP, based on these CBPs in the neighboring blocks, and provides a coding map table H4 to variable-length code output part. Variable-length coding table provider feeds a variable-length coding table to variable-length code output part. Then the coding target CBP is subjected to variable-length coding, and the resultant is outputted as coded data. This allows information source coding of coding symbols to be performed efficiently according to the coding condition and the property of image. |
| US07970218B1 |
Method, system, and computer-readable medium for the adaptive filtering and compression of video data
A method of filtering and encoding video data in a compressed format is provided. The method includes receiving pixels representing video data from an initial video display, receiving pixels representing video data from a subsequent video display, selecting a group of pixels from the subsequent video display as new video data, determining filtered pixel values from the new video data, and encoding the filtered values in a compressed format for communication to another computer accessible via a computer network. |
| US07970216B2 |
Methods and apparatus for reducing storage size
Prediction-based compression engines are spoon-fed with sequentially efficiently compressible (SEC) streams of input data that make it possible for the compression engines to more efficiently compress or otherwise compact the incoming data than would be possible with streams of input data accepted on a TV-raster scan basis. Various techniques are disclosed for intentionally forming SEC input data streams. Among these are the tight packing of alike files or fragments into concatenation suitcases and the decomposition of files into substantially predictably consistent (SPC) fragments or segments that are routed to different suitcases according to their type. In a graphics-directed embodiment, image frames are partitioned into segment areas that are internally SPC and multidirectional walks (i.e., U-turning walks) are defined in the segment areas where these defined walks are traced during compression and also during decompression. A variety of pre-compression data transformation methods are disclosed for causing apparently random data sequences to appear more compressibly alike to each other. The methods are usable in systems that permit substantially longer times for data compaction operations than for data decompaction operations. |
| US07970213B1 |
Method and system for improving the recognition of text in an image
Various embodiments of the invention describe a method, system and computer-readable storage medium containing instructions for improving the recognition of text present in an image. The image is processed by applying different operators to the image to obtain multiple processed versions of the image. Thereafter, characters and location information of the characters from each of the multiple processed versions of the image are obtained. The location information includes the pixel coordinates of the characters in the text. The text present in the image is edited, based on the relative location of the characters, to improve the recognition of the text in the image. |
| US07970211B2 |
Compact interactive tabletop with projection-vision
The subject application relates to a system(s) and/or methodology that facilitate vision-based projection of any image (still or moving) onto any surface. In particular, a front-projected computer vision-based interactive surface system is provided which uses a new commercially available projection technology to obtain a compact, self-contained form factor. The subject configuration addresses installation, calibration, and portability issues that are primary concerns in most vision-based table systems. The subject application also relates to determining whether an object is touching or hovering over an interactive surface based on an analysis of a shadow image. |
| US07970204B2 |
Image processing device having image sensors that pick up an object that carries out an instructing action
An image processing device comprising: a plurality of image pickup sections that pick-up, from respectively different positions, a same object of sensing which carries out an instructing action, and outputting image information thereof; a position information sensing section which, by carrying out stereo matching on the plurality of image information outputted from the plurality of image pickup sections by using, as an object, two-dimensional regions, which correspond to a search space which is a three-dimensional space set in advance as a space in which the instructing action can be carried out, senses position information expressing matching positions which are positions of the object of sensing in the three-dimensional space at points corresponding to one another in the two-dimensional regions; and a specific position sensing section that senses, among the matching positions expressed by the position information, a specific position which is a matching position which matches predetermined conditions, is provided. |
| US07970184B2 |
Two stage detection for photographic eye artifacts
A digital image acquisition device is for acquiring digital images including one or more preview images. A face detector analyzes the one or more preview images to ascertain information relating to candidate face regions therein. A speed-optimized filter produces a first set of candidate red-eye regions based on the candidate face region information provided by the face detector. |
| US07970180B2 |
Method, apparatus, and program for processing red eyes
During red eye processing, whether a facial image detected from within an entire image is that of a specific person registered in a database is judged. In the case that it is judged that the facial image is of the specific person registered in the database, red eye detection is performed within the facial image, employing red eye detecting parameters, which are also registered in the database. |
| US07970176B2 |
Method and system for gesture classification
The present invention is a method of identifying a user's gestures for use in an interactive game application. Videocamera images of the user are obtained, and feature point locations of a user's body are identified in the images. A similarity measure is used to compare the feature point locations in the images with a library of gestures. The gesture in the library corresponding to the largest calculated similarity measure which is greater than a threshold value of the gesture is identified as the user's gesture. The identified gesture may be integrated into the user's movements within a virtual gaming environment, and visual feedback is provided to the user. |
| US07970170B2 |
Continuous extended range image processing
Methods and systems for image processing are provided. A method for processing images of a scene includes receiving image data of a reference and a current frame; generating N motion vectors that describe motion of the image data within the scene by computing a correlation function on the reference and current frames at each of N registration points; registering the current frame based on the N motion vectors to produce a registered current frame; and updating the image data of the scene based on the registered current frame. Optionally, registered frames may be oversampled. Techniques for generating the N motion vectors according to roll, zoom, shift and optical flow calculations, updating image data of the scene according to switched and intermediate integration approaches, re-introducing smoothed motion into image data of the scene, re-initializing the process, and processing images of a scene and moving target within the scene are provided. |
| US07970169B2 |
Secure stamping of multimedia document collections
Secure stamping of multimedia document collections is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method comprises adding an image to a collection of media objects, and producing a visual representation of the collection that includes the image, where the visual representation has an identifier to identify the collection and graphical content representing the media objects. |
| US07970167B2 |
Deriving identifying data from video and audio
The present invention relates generally to deriving identifying data from sample values representing video or audio. One claim recites a method including: obtaining identifying data from an electronic processor that derives the identifying data from sample values representing audio or video; providing the identifying data to a database; receiving advertising information from the database, the advertising information being associated with the audio or video, and the advertising information having been identified in the database utilizing at least the identifying data; and providing the advertising information to a consumer. Of course, other combinations are provided and claimed too. |
| US07970165B2 |
System and method for watermarking data
System and method for digitally watermarking data. A preferred embodiment comprises a quantizer to limit a data value provided by a signal input to a set of values, a rounder unit coupled to the quantizer, a control unit coupled to the rounder unit and to a watermark input, and a multiplexer having a first input coupled to the rounder unit and a control input coupled to the control unit. The rounder unit rounds a quantized data value to a nearest integer, the control unit provides a control signal based on the rounded, quantized data value and a parity of a watermark provided by the watermark input, and the multiplexer selects between an output of the rounder unit, an incremented output of the counter unit, and a decremented output of the counter unit, based on the control signal provided by the control unit. |
| US07970159B2 |
Headphoning
A noise reducing headset has one or more of the following features: (a) pair of earcups each seated in a yoke assembly mechanically coupled by a headband enclosing a flat spring formed with a slot that runs the length of the spring accommodating electrical wires electrically interconnecting electrical elements in the earcups, (b) each earcup having active noise reducing circuitry, (c) each earcup including a loudspeaker driver located off center in the earcup to allow an internal cavity inside each earcup to accommodate a loudspeaker driver, a microphone and an electronic printed circuit board and one of a battery and plug assembly, (d) one of the earcups accommodating a detachably secured plug assembly having a sensitivity switch covered by the earcup when the plug assembly is fully seated in the earcup, (e) the other earcup having a battery door that may be opened to allow insertion and removal of the battery and covered by a yoke assembly when the headset is worn by a user with the battery fully seated in the earcup. |
| US07970158B2 |
Sound system
A long and narrow loudspeaker on an entire wall gives off a cylindrical wave, which covers the entire room. Extra loudspeakers fixed at an angle against the wall will be heard in another direction, producing angle stereo independent of where one is in the room. Electro-dynamic loudspeakers are made of long plates of iron with air gapes between them where magnetic fields are produced. In the air gaps are strips, which conduct the sound currents. The strips influence directly one or more membranes. The magnetic field can be produced by permanent magnets, electromagnets or through concentration of geomagnetic fields. Long loudspeakers, which use other forces such as electrostatic forces, only need to be made for small sound pressure at the membrane. |
| US07970154B2 |
Condenser microphone
A condenser microphone is obtained, in which the bias of a current amplifier circuit in emitter-follower connection immediately after an impedance converter automatically changes in accordance with the switching of phantom power supply voltages and the maximum output level and the maximum permissible input sound pressure level are increased at any power supply voltage. The condenser microphone comprising a transistor Q2 in emitter-follower connection immediately after an FET 2 that constitutes an impedance converter Q1 has a constant current diode D2 connected to an output transformer TRS that also serves as a transformer for phantom power source supply and resistors R0 and R1 that divide the voltage on the cathode side of the constant current diode D2 into a bias voltage that causes the transistor Q2 to operate. |
| US07970148B1 |
Simultaneous enhancement of transmission loss and absorption coefficient using activated cavities
A method and apparatus for providing simultaneous enhancement of transmission loss and absorption coefficient using activated cavities is presented. A layer of material is provided, and a backing plate having a plurality of cavities on the top surface of said backing plate, is disposed adjacent a top surface of said layer of material. A screen is disposed along the top surface of said cavities on said backing plate and at least one cavity includes an actuator disposed within the cavity and a control system receiving a signal from the microphone and receiving a signal from the accelerometer and providing a drive signal to the actuator to provide an acoustic output to provide simultaneous insertion loss and absorption which serves to minimize a linear combination of the signal from the microphone and the signal from the accelerometer. |
| US07970137B2 |
Content reproduction apparatus, content recording apparatus, network system, and content recording/reproduction method
Content reproduction apparatus, content recording apparatus, network system, and method of recording and reproducing content are provide. The content reproduction apparatus includes an original content reception section for receiving streams of original content; an encrypted content transmission section for encrypting the streams of original content received by the original content reception section for transmission so as to be recorded on an external content recording apparatus through a network; an information transmission section for transmitting information about the transmitted content including identifying information of a self apparatus so as to be recorded on a recording medium of the content recording apparatus in association with the encrypted streams of content; a content requesting section for requesting the content recording apparatus to acquire the encrypted streams of content recorded in association with the identifying information of the self apparatus; and a content reproduction section for receiving the encrypted streams of content transmitted from the content recording apparatus in accordance with the request, and decrypting the encryption for reproduction. |
| US07970136B2 |
Apparatus and materials for two-stage printing of value indicia
A roll of label stock includes a plurality of first regions suitable for being printed on by thermal printing. The first regions are blank. The label stock also includes a plurality of pre-printed color images, each associated with a respective one of the first regions. A stamp printer that prints postage indicia on the label stock refrains from printing an image thereon, but would print images on another type of label stock that does not include pre-printed images. |
| US07970135B1 |
Method for the secure, distributed generation of an encryption key
In a method for the secure, distributed generation of an encryption key for a cryptographic method, where the encryption key, as well as a public key are generated using deterministic methods from a large random number (seed), the seed (S) is generated on the user side by consulting variables known only to the user, and a public key (V) that is transmitted in advance from the trust center. Generation information suitable for generating the seed and, on the basis of which, the seed is able to be derived deterministically from the trust center, by consulting information known only to the center, is produced on the user side, and transmitted to the trust center to create the seed in parallel. |
| US07970134B2 |
Method for generating, operating, and using a sparse w-NAF key for encryption
A method for generating, operating, and using a sparse w-NAF key for encryption is disclosed. The method for generating a key comprises generating a string of a number of coefficients, in which at most one coefficient, excluding 0, among a consecutive w number of coefficients, corresponds to a positive odd integer equal to or less than 2w (w being a natural number equal to or more than 2); and outputting the generated string as a key. Accordingly, an encryption is executed through an exponential operation or scalar multiplication using a sparse w-NAF key having the scarce coefficients, excluding 0, such that an encryption pace is improved. |
| US07970133B2 |
System and method for secure and flexible key schedule generation
The present invention is a method for secure and flexible key schedule generation, which includes loading a key schedule algorithm and a cryptographic algorithm into a cryptographic engine. The method further includes loading the cryptographic algorithm, when selected, into a cryptographic co-processor. The method further includes loading the key schedule algorithm into a separate virtual machine. |
| US07970131B2 |
Elliptic curve cryptosystem apparatus, storage medium storing elliptic curve cryptosystem program, and elliptic curve cryptosystem arithmetic method
A scalar multiplication can be performed on an elliptic curve cryptosystem at a high speed. P is set as an initial value of Q[0], and 2×P is set as an initial value of Q[1]. An elliptic curve doubling ECDBL of Q[d[i]] is performed, and an arithmetic result is stored in Q[2]. An elliptic curve addition ECADD of Q[0] and Q[1] is performed, and an arithmetic result is stored in Q[1]. Q[2−d[i]] is stored in Q[0]. Q[1+d[i]] is stored in Q[1]. The elliptic curve addition ECADD and the elliptic curve doubling ECDBL are concurrently performed in the respective processors. |
| US07970127B2 |
User equipment identification specific scrambling
A base station for use in a code division multiple access communication system comprises circuitry configured to process a user equipment identification (UE ID) by ½ rate convolutionally encoding the UE ID to produce a code. The code is used by the base station for scrambling a high speed shared control channel (HS-SCCH). The base station is configured to transmit a wireless signal. The wireless signal provides the user equipment with payload data carried on a high speed physical downlink shared channel (HS-PDSCH). The HS-PDSCH is associated with the HS-SCCH. |
| US07970126B2 |
Communication terminal with movable display
A communication terminal equipped with a sliding-type flat display module includes a main body and a flat display which slides between retracted and extended positions along a first axis relative to the main body and which rotates to a tilted position along a second axis when in the extended position. The first axis may be substantially perpendicular to the second axis. In the retracted position, the flat display is unable to rotate to the tilted position along the second axis. Also, in this position, the display is partially visible to allow information to be read by a user while at the same time being protected within a receiving part of the terminal. |
| US07970124B2 |
Adaptive gain control based on echo canceller performance information
A system and method for provide a stable gain from an adaptive gain control device in a signal path. An echo canceller is also located in the signal path, and is used to provide performance information regarding losses in the signal. This performance information is fed to the automatic gain control device via a connection. The automatic gain control device thereafter uses the performance information to determine a maximum gain that might be provided based upon losses cause by echo conditions. The gain however is limited in order to provide for a stable system. The performance information includes a loss rate that includes a combination of the echo return loss and the echo return loss enhancement. |
| US07970122B2 |
Circuit method and system for transmitting information
Disclosed is a method and circuit for echo suppression or cancellation. According to some embodiments of the present invention, there is provided a circuit including a Noise-Enhanced-Receiving-Direction unit and Narrow-Band Remover unit or units. |
| US07970111B2 |
Interactive community of interest profile
A system for generating and working with communities of interests is disclosed. In various forms, the present system allows multiple users sharing common interests to interact with each other seamlessly, seek out times when each is available, and other such convenience functions. |
| US07970108B2 |
System and method for providing communications services
An enhanced services system for a telecommunications network includes operator equipment accessible by an operator, and a routing system for routing a call from a caller to the operator equipment. The caller may access e-mail creation and service and/or interpreter services. A method of sending an electronic message includes routing a call from a caller to operator equipment using a routing system, inputting information provided by the caller into the operator equipment to create an electronic message, and sending the electronic message to at least one recipient. A method of translating a telephone conversation includes providing a routing system to connect to operator equipment a call from a caller, routing the call to the operator equipment using the routing system to enable communications between at least the caller and a bilingual operator, and translating at least a portion of the conversation between the caller and a third party. |
| US07970104B2 |
Bearing unit for rotary anodes of X-ray tubes
The invention relates to a bearing unit (1) for rotary anodes of X-ray tubes, with a shaft (2) and a flange element (3), to which a rotary anode can be attached, wherein the bearing unit (1) can be inserted into a cutout within the X-ray tube and locked there. The shaft (2) is held via a first and a second bearing element (4, 5), wherein the first bearing element (4) comprises an inner race (6) fitted on the shaft (2) and a separate outer ring (7). The second bearing element (5) comprises a roller bearing fitted on the shaft (2) with an inner ring (8) and an outer ring (9), wherein a spacer element (10) is fitted between the outer rings (7, 8) of the first and the second bearing element (4, 5). |
| US07970102B2 |
Apparatus and method for detecting foreign materials in a container
The present invention is an apparatus and method for detecting foreign material in containers in a product stream. Two X-ray emitters and two sensor arrays are positioned in a constellation to improve the detection of foreign material. A first x-ray emitter is positioned so that it projects an x-ray beam in a downward manner through the product stream. A second x-ray emitter is positioned so that it projects an x-ray beam in an upward manner through the product stream. Two sensor arrays are each positioned in receiving relation to each of the x-ray beams to receive and provide signals from each of the beams after they have interacted with the product stream. Signals from each of the two sensor arrays are processed and compared with user defined thresholds to detect and indicate the presence of foreign material in containers. |
| US07970100B2 |
Mammography apparatus
A mammography apparatus includes a detector that detects X-rays transmitted through a breast, and an optically transparent or semitransparent pressing panel for pressing the breast. The apparatus further includes a near infrared ray source that provided between the X-ray source and the pressing panel and arranged in a two-dimensional shape in alignment with the pressing panel, and that is movable between a first position in close contact with the pressing panel and a second position outside an X-ray image capture region. Near infrared image capture is carried out using the near infrared ray source by causing the near infrared ray source to be in the first position, and the near infrared ray source is caused to retract to the second position when carrying out X-ray image capture using the X-ray source. |
| US07970098B2 |
Medical imaging method and apparatus allowing localized image quality specification
In a method and device for medical imaging, a number of input parameters with regard to an image exposure are imported into a controller of the imaging device, that associate a desired image quality with a defined image exposure region. A number of control parameters are determined corresponding to each input parameter. The controller supplies each control parameter to the image acquisition apparatus for acquiring the image exposure of the examination region with the desired local image quality. |
| US07970096B2 |
Method of and system for low cost implementation of dual energy CT imaging
The disclosed CT scanner comprises at least one source of X-rays; a detector array comprising a plurality of detectors; and an X-ray filter mask arrangement disposed between the source of X-rays and detector array so as to modify the spectra of the X-rays transmitted from the source through the mask to at least some of the detectors so that the X-ray spectra detected by at least one set of detectors is different from the X-ray spectra detected by at least one other set of detectors. |
| US07970095B2 |
Radioisotope production structures, fuel assemblies having the same, and methods of using the same
Example embodiments are directed to tie plate attachments having irradiation targets and/or fuel assemblies having example embodiment tie plate attachments with irradiation targets and methods of using the same to generate radioisotopes. Example embodiment tie plate attachments may include a plurality of retention bores that permit irradiation targets to be contained in the retention bores. Irradiation targets may be irradiated in an operating nuclear core including the fuel assemblies, generating radioisotopes that may be harvested from the spent nuclear fuel assembly by removing example embodiment tie plate attachments. |
| US07970093B2 |
Method for operating a nuclear reactor
The invention refers to a method for operating a nuclear light water reactor during an operation cycle including a cardinal cycle and a number of successive control rod cycles. The reactor includes a plurality of elongated fuel units containing a nuclear fuel in the form a fissible material, a burnable absorber, and a plurality of control rods introduceable in a respective control rod position. Substantially all control rods are introduced in the core before the reactor is started and an operation cycle is initiated. The reactor is operated during the cardinal cycle with a first control rod configuration with a first group of control rods at least partly introduced and the remaining control rods extracted. The reactor is operated during the subsequent control rod cycles with a respective control rod configuration which each includes a different group of control rods at least partly introduced, wherein the cardinal cycle is substantially longer than each of the subsequent control rod cycles. |
| US07970090B1 |
Method and apparatus for a self-synchronizing system
A self-synchronizing system that provides a master system component and a master clock source to provide a stable timing reference to the master system component. Timing information is then propagated throughout the system via encoded transmissions containing the timing information, or conversely, propagated by request via a training sequence. All system components other than the master system component do not require a separate clock input, since frequency coherency is maintained by internal time bases that have been calibrated to the frequency of the propagated timing information. |
| US07970089B2 |
Apparatus for data recovery in a synchronous chip-to-chip system
An apparatus that reduces sampling errors for data communicated between devices uses phase information acquired from a timing reference signal such as a strobe signal to align a data-sampling signal for sampling a data signal that was sent along with the timing reference signal. The data-sampling signal may be provided by adjustably delaying a clock signal according to the phase information acquired from the strobe signal. The data-sampling signal may also have an improved waveform compared to the timing reference signal, including a fifty percent duty cycle and sharp transitions. The phase information acquired from the timing reference signal may also be used for other purposes, such as aligning received data with a local clock domain, or transmitting data so that it arrives at a remote device in synchronism with a reference clock signal at the remote device. |
| US07970086B2 |
System and method for clock drift compensation
A method for processing a signal includes monitoring an over-sampled signal to detect deviations in a number of fill samples, and providing an electronic delay adjustment to a signal path. If a deviation in the number of fill samples is detected, the electronic delay adjustment from the signal path is removed in one or more steps until all of the electronic delay adjustment is removed from the signal path. |
| US07970081B2 |
Delay-doppler channel response demodulation method and apparatus
A wireless communication device uses a time-invariant delay-Doppler channel response estimate for received signal demodulation. The device provides coherent signal demodulation by accounting for frequency and time selectivity in a land-based mobile communication environment, which arise mainly because of delay and Doppler shifts, respectively. In one embodiment, the wireless communication device includes a channel estimator that estimates channel response in a wireless communication network by estimating a delay-Doppler response of a wireless communication channel to obtain a delay-Doppler channel response estimate and converting the delay-Doppler channel response estimate to a time-varying channel response estimate, e.g., a time-varying frequency or impulse response. The delay-Doppler response may be estimated in a continuous or discrete domain. In one embodiment, the channel estimator includes a delay-Doppler correlator that measures the delay-Doppler response by observing a response of a wireless communication channel to a pilot signal and converting the observed response to a delay-Doppler domain. |
| US07970080B1 |
Modes of operations in QAM modems using hysteresis sub-states
A method of automated acquisition of a QAM signal is provided. The method employs a State machine progressing from an initial State to a final State. The State machine comprises: a symbol timing recovery loop; a carrier loop; a coarse frequency loop; and an equalizer. The method comprises: (A) Performing an automatic gain control (AGC) operation on an incoming QAM signal; (B) Performing a symbol timing recovery of an input QAM signal by adjusting a sampling clock of the symbol timing recovery loop; (C) Performing a Blind Equalization of the QAM signal without carrier lock; (D) Performing a carrier recovery of the QAM signal; and (E) Performing a decision directed equalization (DDE) of the QAM signal by updating a set of coefficients of the equalizer by using a decision based algorithm. |
| US07970079B1 |
Phase shift keying wireless communication apparatus and method
A network device includes a first demodulation path to recover a header portion of a data packet. A second demodulation path recovers a payload portion of the data packet. The second demodulation path includes a down sampler to down sample a payload portion of the data packet. An equalizer equalizes an output of the down sampler. A correlator receives an output of the equalizer. A demodulation controller selects the output of the equalizer or an output of the correlator based on the header portion. |
| US07970078B2 |
Method and receiver for estimating the channel impulse response using a constant modulus interference removal iteration
A receiver and associated method estimates a channel impulse response of the communications signal. A communications signal is received as a burst of transmitted symbols, including a known training sequence. The joint estimation of timing offset and initial channel impulse response is determined based on the cross-correlations of the known transmitted symbols and received communications signal. A constant modulus interference removal iteration is applied to improve the initial channel impulse estimation. |
| US07970077B2 |
Estimation of symbols of transmitted signals using hypotheses
A method of estimating a symbol that has been transmitted into a channel connecting a modulator for producing modulation symbols and an equaliser, wherein a channel estimate describes said channel and the method comprises: calculating a metric for each of a number of hypotheses of a sequence commencing with the symbol under estimation followed by a number of subsequently transmitted symbols, each symbol in the sequence occupying a respective node of the sequence; and deeming the symbol at the beginning of the hypothesis that has the best metric to be the symbol under estimation; wherein calculating a metric for a given hypothesis comprises: calculating a discrepancy metric at each node of the given hypothesis; and combining the discrepancy metrics of nodes in the given hypothesis to produce the metric; and wherein a discrepancy metric for a given node of a given hypothesis is an assessment of the difference between: a sample received from said channel at a time point corresponding to said given node; and a sample that would be received at that time point if said channel estimate were acting on a model signal comprising the symbols of the given hypothesis up to the given node preceded by any estimates of symbols transmitted into the channel immediately prior to said time point as may be required to fill the estimated channel. The invention also relates to corresponding apparatus. |
| US07970076B2 |
Wireless apparatus
A wireless apparatus which performs a frequency conversion on a received signal with a mixer and an analog filter, and which corrects for distortion of the received signal, which occurs because the analog filter is not an ideal one, using a digital filter disables the filtering of the received signal by the digital filter when determining from the reception power level (or reception amplitude level) of the received signal that the filtering of the received signal by the digital filter will increase the distortion of the received signal. |
| US07970073B2 |
Apparatus and method for transmitting/receiving data in multi-user multi-antenna communication system
Provided is an apparatus and method for transmitting/receiving data in a multi-user multi-antenna communication system. A data transmitting apparatus and method computes a RX filter or a TX filter for each user receiver in an improved scheme, selects a codebook correlating with the computed TX filter or the computed RX filter, and transmits an index of the selected TX filter codebook or an index of the selected RX filter codebook to a receiver. A data receiving apparatus and method receives the codebook index and detects a corresponding RX filter from the codebook by using the received codebook index. |
| US07970070B2 |
Adaptive frequency domain equalization in OFDM based communication system
An apparatus, system, and method of performing adaptive frequency domain equalization in an Orthogonal Frequency Domain Multiplexing (OFDM) based communication system transmitting data information, wherein the method comprises receiving OFDM symbols comprising scattered pilots; obtaining channel estimates on every third bin of the scattered pilots in a frequency domain, wherein the channel estimates are obtained by performing an interpolation in a time domain across the received OFDM symbols; estimating an original channel based on the channel estimates, wherein the original channel in the time domain is estimated by applying a finite impulse response (FIR) low-pass filter in a frequency domain, wherein the FIR low-pass filter is adaptive according to a delay span of an original channel impulse response and is sufficiently wide to cover the delay span of the original channel impulse response; and dividing the received OFDM symbols by the channel estimate to obtain transmitted data information. |
| US07970064B2 |
Transmitter, method for generating a plurality of long preambles and communication device
A transmitter that has a determination unit for determining a plurality of symbols (301) such that each symbol (301) has a tail component (302) and the plurality is determined in such a way that the tail components (302) are substantially equal and a tone generation unit for arranging the plurality of symbols (301) to form a plurality of long preambles (300) such that the plurality of long preambles (300) are tone-interleaved. |
| US07970059B2 |
Variable length coding method and variable length decoding method
A variable length coding method is comprised of: a coefficient value scanning step in which an RL sequence generation unit 203, a reordering unit 202, and a binarization unit 203 scan coefficient values within a block in a predetermined scanning order starting at a higher-frequency component toward a lower-frequency component; and an arithmetic coding step in which an arithmetic coding unit 205 and a table storage unit 204 perform arithmetic coding on the absolute values of the coefficient values according to the scanning order used in the coefficient value scanning step, by switching between probability tables 1˜4 for use, wherein, in the arithmetic coding step, a probability table to be used is switched to another probability table in one direction, when the arithmetic-coded absolute values of the coefficient values include an absolute value exceeding a predetermined threshold value. |
| US07970052B2 |
Method and apparatus for encoding and/or decoding moving pictures
A method of encoding moving pictures using a plurality of quantization matrices. The method involves selecting one of the plurality of quantization matrices in consideration of an at least one characteristics of an input image; transforming the input image; and quantizing the transformed input image using the selected quantization matrix. |
| US07970051B2 |
Method and apparatus for encoding and/or decoding moving pictures
A method of encoding moving pictures using a plurality of quantization matrices. The method involves selecting one of the plurality of quantization matrices in consideration of an at least one characteristics of an input image; transforming the input image; and quantizing the transformed input image using the selected quantization matrix. |
| US07970049B2 |
Method and apparatus for encoding video in conjunction with a host processor
An external video device includes inputs for receiving an audio video signal from a source. The device includes in one enclosure audio and video processor portions configured such that the audio and video processors use a general purpose external bus for coupling electrical signals from the video device to a host computer. In one embodiment, the general purpose external bus is one of an IEEE-1394 bus or a USB bus. The general purpose external bus is used to transmit video from the host computer to the external video encoder and thereby to enhance the encoding efficiency. |
| US07970047B2 |
UWB channel estimation using new generating TR transceivers
The present invention presents a simple and novel channel estimation scheme for UWB communication systems. As disclosed herein, the present invention maximizes the extraction of information by incorporating a new generation of transmitted-reference (Tr) transceivers that utilize a single reference pulse(s) or a preamble of reference pulses to provide improved channel estimation while offering higher Bit Error Rate (BER) performance and data rates without diluting the transmitter power. |
| US07970046B2 |
Block time domain equalizer for time reversal-space time block code system and method for encoding and equalizing received signal in the block time domain equalizer
Provided is a block Time Domain Equalizer (TDE) for a Time Reversal-Space Time Block Codes (TR-STBC) system. The block TDE comprises a block equalizer which generates an output based on an equalizer tap weight with respect to two consecutively received blocks, an equalizer tap weight updating unit which generates an error vector based on the output and the equalizer tap weight and updates the equalizer tap weight using the error vector, and a signal processing unit which processes the output into a digital signal wherein zero padding is eliminated from the output. |
| US07970044B2 |
Soft chip modem
A system and method that provides a user multiple, simultaneous uses of a single analog line. The system comprises a modem, wherein the modem compresses a signal traveling through the analog line. The modem provides simultaneous transmission of two or more speech or data calls. |
| US07970039B2 |
Laser apparatus
In a first embodiment, the invention makes use of a Neodymium doped YAG (Nd:YAG) gain medium placed in an optical resonant cavity formed by two mirrors. Power extraction is maximized for a specific laser cavity. In particular the concave curvature on the rod ends contributes a negative lensing component to modify the strength of the thermal lens. In a second embodiment the present invention uses an amplifier rod medium with curved ends to act as lensing elements to collect emission from the laser gain medium and/or oscillator described in the first embodiment of the invention. The combination of thermal lens and curved rod ends produces a lensing effect which allows light to be directly coupled from a laser. In addition, variation of the input pump power allows for control of the thermal lens formed within the amplifier rod. |
| US07970037B2 |
Arrangement for RF power delivery to a gas discharge laser with cascaded transmission line sections
RF power is transmitted to a CO2 gas discharge laser form a source of RF power via a series combination of transmission line sections. The lengths and characteristic impedances of the transmission line sections are selected to transform the impedance of the RF power source to the operating impedance of the laser. |
| US07970033B2 |
Semiconductor device and electronic equipment using same
A semiconductor device includes: a first lead having an element mounting portion; a second lead located in a same plane as the first lead, with a predetermined space left between the first lead and the second lead; a molding encapsulant made of a resin for fixing the leads; and a semiconductor element affixed to a top surface of the element mounting portion of the first lead. The molding encapsulant covers at least part of each of upper and lower surfaces of the leads. A resin injection hole mark, which is a mark of a hole through which the encapsulant has been injected, is left on the encapsulant, and part of the resin injection hole mark is located above the first lead or the second lead, and the remaining part of the resin injection hole mark is located above a space between the first lead and the second lead. |
| US07970032B2 |
Method and device for reducing laser phase noise
The present invention relates to a method and device for reducing the phase noise of a laser signal from a laser source. This device comprises a first current generator for supplying a driving current to the laser source in view of producing the laser signal. A phase noise detector is responsive to the laser wavelength for generating a phase error signal and a second current generator is responsive to the phase error signal for generating a compensation current added to the driving current supplied to the laser source for generating a phase-adjusted laser signal. The device therefore defines a phase stabilization loop formed by the phase noise detector and the second current generator, for reducing the phase noise of the laser signal. |
| US07970028B2 |
System and methods for speckle reduction
A method of operating a laser source comprising is provided. The method reduces speckle contrast in a projected image by creating a plurality of statistically independent speckle patterns. The method comprises generating a plurality of sub-beams that define an optical mode. The method further comprises controlling the phase of selected sub-beams to continuously sequence the laser source through a plurality of orthogonal optical modes. The plurality of orthogonal modes create a corresponding number of statistically independent speckle patterns, thus reducing speckle contrast in a image projected using the laser source by time averaging. |
| US07970027B2 |
Electromagnetic energy distributions for electromagnetically induced mechanical cutting
Output optical energy pulses including relatively high energy magnitudes at the beginning of each pulse are disclosed. As a result of the relatively high energy magnitudes which lead each pulse, the leading edge of each pulse includes a relatively large slope. This slope is preferably greater than or equal to 5. Additionally, the full-width half-max value of the output optical energy distributions are between 0.025 and 250 microseconds and, more preferably, are about 70 microseconds. A flashlamp is used to drive the laser system, and a current is used to drive the flashlamp. A flashlamp current generating circuit includes a solid core inductor which has an inductance of 50 microhenries and a capacitor which has a capacitance of 50 microfarads. |
| US07970026B2 |
Multiple output repetitively pulsed laser
A continuously pumped, mode-locked laser is disclosed, which includes a cavity dumper that can remove a constant fraction of the light from the cavity at every 1/f period of time, independent of the time at which the first pulse in a train is initiated. The cavity dumper includes a modulator and two output arms, denoted as a primary output arm and a secondary output arm. When a user desires a train of pulses, the pulses are directed to the primary output arm. Between trains of pulses, when no pulse is desired by the user, the pulses are directed to the secondary output arm, which terminates in an absorber or at a secondary optical system. In this manner, the energy contained in each output pulse is essentially constant, from pulse-to-pulse and from train-to-train. This may overcome the disadvantage of many lasers that have a single output arm, in which the first pulse in a train may have an energy that depends on the length of the inactive period that immediately precedes the train. |
| US07970025B2 |
System and method for tuning adjusting the central frequency of a laser while maintaining frequency stabilization to an external reference
A method and system for stabilizing a laser to a frequency reference with an adjustable offset. The method locks a sideband signal generated by passing an incoming laser beam through the phase modulator to a frequency reference, and adjusts a carrier frequency relative to the locked sideband signal by changing a phase modulation frequency input to the phase modulator. The sideband signal can be a single sideband (SSB), dual sideband (DSB), or an electronic sideband (ESB) signal. Two separate electro-optic modulators can produce the DSB signal. The two electro-optic modulators can be a broadband modulator and a resonant modulator. With a DSB signal, the method can introduce two sinusoidal phase modulations at the phase modulator. With ESB signals, the method can further drive the optical phase modulator with an electrical signal with nominal frequency Ω1 that is phase modulated at a frequency Ω2. |
| US07970024B2 |
Tunable diode laser system with external resonator
A tunable diode laser system with external resonator in Littrow or Littman configuration has an optical lattice on which the light beam from a laser diode is diffracted, a support element to hold the lattice or to hold a mirror, which reflects the light diffracted by the lattice, and an actuator to change the position of the lattice or the mirror. The tunable diode laser system enables a reliable mode-hop-free tuning and furthermore is easy and economical to realize by having the support element include a carrier, on which the lattice or the mirror is arranged, and a base body, while the actuator acts on the carrier and rests against the base body. The carrier is connected to the base body via linkages, such that a linear deflection of the actuator is transformed into a rotation of the carrier in the plane of the light beam, while the center of rotation lies outside the base body. |
| US07970023B2 |
Fiber laser arrangement having a high beaming power
A fiber laser arrangement having a high beaming power includes a plurality of continuously operating coherent individual fiber lasers. Pumping energy generated by a common master oscillator operated in the longitudinal mode is distributed to the fiber lasers by way of a fiber splitter, in a branched manner. An integrated electro-optical phase shifter is assigned to each individual fiber laser, and can be controlled by an electronic control system. By appropriate displacements of the optical phases in individual phases of the fiber laser arrangement atmospheric turbulence effects on the propagation path of the laser radiation to a target are compensated in order to obtain an optimal focusing of the entire laser radiation onto the remote target. |
| US07970016B2 |
Systems and methods for transmission and reception of data including frequency and channel code selection
Systems and methods are disclosed for wireless transmission and reception of data including processing and buffering features. According to one or more exemplary aspects, there is provided a wireless audio receiver for receiving a plurality of packets of encoded audio data. Moreover, the receiver includes at least one receiving component that receives the plurality of packets to generate a plurality of decoded signals, a decoding component that decodes the first packet of encoded data transmitted to produce decoded data, and a selecting component that identifies the mechanisms for receiving additional encoded data. Other exemplary embodiments may include one or more receiving components that processing data regarding antenna, frequencies and channels selected for transmission, as well as an audio component that receives the decoded signals and produces decoded audio signals. |
| US07970012B2 |
Packet processing using a multi-port memory
A packet processing method for exchanging packet data through a plurality of layers is disclosed, that comprises the steps of storing the entire packet to a packet memory; and storing part of each packet of the packet data used in processes of a layer 2 processing portion and a layer 3 processing portion of the plurality of layers to a multi-port shared memory, the layer 2 processing portion and the layer 3 processing portion accessing the same memory space of the multi-port shared memory. In addition, a pipeline processing system is used so that when the layer 2 processing portion and the layer 3 processing portion access the shared memory, they do not interfere with each other. |
| US07970011B2 |
Apparatus and methods for incorporating bandwidth forecasting and dynamic bandwidth allocation into a broadband communication system
A method for providing network access to a shared access communications medium for a plurality of users includes the steps of conducting predictive admission control by arbitrating user requests for access to the shared medium based on predicted aggregate demands, conducting lookahead scheduling for use in making user channel assignments by forecasting schedule transmission opportunities one or more channels of the shared medium, and balancing load by making channel assignments such that a plurality users are each assigned a respective channel of the shared medium based upon a predicted need. Congestion parameters can predicted for each channel of the shared medium and mapped to a congestion measure using a mathematical function that takes into account packet loss rate, packet delay, packet delay jitter, and available capacity. |
| US07970010B2 |
Upstream channel bonding in a cable communications system
A method for increasing upstream bandwidth per cable modem user in a cable communications system that includes a cable modem termination system (CMTS) and a plurality of cable modems is provided. The method permits a cable modem to transmit data to the CMTS on multiple upstream channels simultaneously using a technique called “channel bonding.” Channel bonding allows smaller bandwidth upstream channels to be bonded together to create a larger bandwidth pipe. |
| US07970005B2 |
Channel bonding receiving apparatus and method for expanding channel bonding receiving band
Provided is a channel bonding receiving apparatus and method for expanding a channel bonding receiving band in a cable modem. The channel bonding receiving apparatus includes a channel bonding dividing unit for dividing a channel bonding broadband signal into a plurality of band signals and extracting a corresponding channel bonding signal from each of the divided band signals; and a channel routing unit for routing each of the extracted channel bonding signals to a corresponding demodulator. |
| US07970004B2 |
Method and system for providing multicast contention resolution
An approach is provided for providing contention resolution for resources of a network. Individual contention resolution parameters are determined for respective multicast groups of terminals. The terminals within each of multicast groups able to perform contention resolution over a contention channel based on the respective individual contention resolution parameters. |
| US07970001B2 |
Receiver apparatus and communication method in a communication system wherein a plurality of system bandwidths are set
A receiver apparatus wherein the processing amount for CQI (Channel Quality Indicator) measurements in a communication system having a plurality of system bandwidths can be reduced. In this apparatus, a narrow band CQI measurement part (109) measures, as a narrow band CQI, the CQI in resource blocks the number of which is required for the CQI measurement from the start position of a narrow bandwidth transmitted from a transmitter apparatus; a wide band CQI measurement part (110) extracts, from a system bandwidth transmitted from the transmitter apparatus, resource blocks the number of which is required for the CQI measurement, and then measures, as a wide band CQI representative of the channel quality of the whole system bandwidth, an average CQI in the extracted resource blocks; and a feedback information generating part (111) generates feedback information including both the narrow band CQI and the wide band CQI. |
| US07969999B2 |
Signal packet relay device
A packet-signaling relay device selectively relays incoming signal packets, and includes a random number generation unit which generates a random number, a delete threshold generation unit which generates a delete threshold based on an objective delete probability, a comparison unit which compares the random number and the delete threshold to generate a comparison result, and a delete determination unit which generates a delete/storage determination result based on the comparison result. The packet-signaling relay device further includes a packet receiving-and-storing unit which is responsive to the comparison result to selectively delete or store incoming signal packets, and a sending unit for sending the signal packets stored in the packet receiving-and-storing unit. |
| US07969996B2 |
Tunneling apparatus and tunnel frame sorting method and its program for use therein
The present invention provides a tunneling apparatus which can perform tunneling without requiring the network to be suspended or requiring the existing configuration of a local network to be modified. The frame sorting part 11 determines whether or not a frame input from a local network through a physical interface is an encapsulated tunnel frame. If such frame is a tunnel frame, the frame sorting part 11 outputs such frame to the decapsulation unit of the tunneling part 13. If such frame is not a tunnel frame, the frame sorting part 11 outputs such frame to at least one of the address resolution unit of the kernel part 12 and the encapsulation unit of the tunneling part, based on the characteristics of such frame. |
| US07969984B2 |
Network-initiated IMS registration in a communication system
The invention relates to a method and a system for the network-initiated IMS registration of a telecommunication terminal. According to said method, the network transmits a message having specific characteristics to the terminal via an existing communication link, and the terminal recognizes said message as an IMS registration request based on the characteristics of the message end subsequently sends a registration message to the network to register with the IMS. |
| US07969983B2 |
Network scaling with summarized internet protocol label switched paths
In one example embodiment, a system and method are shown that includes receiving information defining a route to a network device. Further, a routing summary summarizing the route to the network device is generated. Additionally, an aggregate label is selected that corresponds to a defined class and to the routing summary. Moreover, the aggregate label and the defined class are advertised into a domain. |
| US07969982B2 |
Method and device for processing real-time data
A method and a device are disclosed for processing data packets which comprise real-time data packets. The data packets are classified first by a co-processor unit into at least one first data packet type comprising real-time data packets, and a second data packet type. The data packets of the first data packet type are processed via a first data path with a further co-processor unit while the data packets of the second data packet type are processed via a second data path which comprises a main processor unit. Thus real-time data packets are processed without using the main processor unit. |
| US07969980B1 |
Internet protocol multicast distribution in Ethernet networks
Methods and systems for distributing multicast messages in a network are disclosed. The use of such a method or system in an Ethernet network can result in a reduction in the number of flooded multicast messages. One method can involve receiving a companion message, which includes a multicast address, at a network device and extracting the multicast address from the companion message. The multicast address can then be associated with a VLAN and an interface of the network device. Another method involves receiving a join message, which identifies a multicast group being joined, and generating a companion message corresponding to the join message. The companion message includes an address of the multicast group. |
| US07969978B2 |
Method and apparatus for providing congruent multicast and unicast routing
A method and apparatus for enabling congruent multicast and unicast routing in a Virtual Private Network (VPN) are disclosed. For example, the present method receives a request to join a multicast group to receive multicast data traffic by a receiver behind a remote Provider Edge (PE) router. The method then discovers a multicast source to allow said remote PE router to use a direct path to receive said multicast data traffic from a source. |
| US07969974B2 |
System and method for providing a multipath switchover between redundant streams
A method is provided in one example embodiment and it includes receiving a first plurality of packets from an active stream at an output device and communicating the first plurality of packets to a next destination. The method also includes receiving a second plurality of packets from a standby stream of the output device, the streams are sent by an input device. The method further includes performing a switchover at the output device such that the second plurality of packets is communicated to the next destination and the first plurality of packets is not. The switchover is triggered when a portion of the first plurality of the packets from the active stream is not received during a period of time that is greater than a majority of inter-arrival times of the second plurality of packets on the standby stream. |
| US07969971B2 |
Ethernet extension for the data center
The present invention provides methods and devices for implementing a Low Latency Ethernet (“LLE”) solution, also referred to herein as a Data Center Ethernet (“DCE”) solution, which simplifies the connectivity of data centers and provides a high bandwidth, low latency network for carrying Ethernet and storage traffic. Some aspects of the invention involve transforming FC frames into a format suitable for transport on an Ethernet. Some preferred implementations of the invention implement multiple virtual lanes (“VLs”) in a single physical connection of a data center or similar network. Some VLs are “drop” VLs, with Ethernet-like behavior, and others are “no-drop” lanes with FC-like behavior. Some preferred implementations of the invention provide guaranteed bandwidth based on credits and VL. Active buffer management allows for both high reliability and low latency while using small frame buffers. Preferably, the rules for active buffer management are different for drop and no drop VLs. |
| US07969963B2 |
Method for estimating relative clock frequency offsets to improve radio ranging errors
A method and system improves two-way radio ranging accuracy by estimating a relative clock frequency offset between a first clock X of a first transceiver and a second clock Y a second transceiver. The first transceiver transmits a first packet at time t0 received by the second transceiver at a time t1. The second transceiver transmits a second packet at a time t2 received by first transceiver at a time t3. The second transceiver transmits a third packet at a time t4 received at a time t5. The relative clock frequency offset is then Δ f XY ′ ≅ 2 f ( N 24 Y - N 35 X ) N 24 Y + N 35 X , where f is a nominal clock frequency of the first and second clocks, NY24 is a measured first delay between times t2 and t4 of the second clock, NX35 is a measured second delay between times t3 and t5 of the first clock X. |
| US07969957B2 |
Interleave apparatus and interleave method
An interleave apparatus and an interleave method for preventing an increase in the number of retransmissions to improve the throughput. In a wireless communication apparatus having the interleave apparatus, a data holding part (1021) two-dimensionally arranges and holds bit sequences. A first index calculating part (1022) sequentially calculates first indexes to be used for reading, in a column direction, the bit sequences arranged in a row direction. A second index calculating part (1023) sequentially calculates second indexes to be used for reversing the order of the upper-order and lower-order bits to be read from the even-numbered columns when the bit sequences are read in accordance with the first indexes. A third index calculating part (1024) sequentially calculates third indexes to be used for reading the bit sequences from a different start position in accordance with the number of retransmissions. A reading part (1025) reads the bit sequences in the order that is in accordance with the third indexes. A mapping part (103) maps the read bit sequences to the respectively corresponding subcarriers. |
| US07969956B2 |
System and method for integrating call control and data network access components
A system and method for integrating the call control signaling pathway with data network access components. A call control server agent is resident on a network device that provides a first interface from an access network to a packet-switched data network. The call control server agent receives data session initiation requests and passes the requests to the call control server agent. The call control server agent also performs proxy server functions and provides a source of information relating to data sessions directly to the access network. |
| US07969953B1 |
Mobile device handoff while maintaining connectivity with multiple access points
A method, system, and computer-readable media are provided for allowing a mobile device to maintain communication connectivity during a handoff between wireless access points. In one aspect, the method may include negotiating security association information and establishing a first communication tunnel by tunneling an inner IP address within a first outer IP address. The method may further include authenticating a request for establishing a second communication tunnel by identifying the negotiated security association information within the request. Additionally, the method may include establishing the second communication tunnel by tunneling the inner IP address within a second outer IP address. Moreover, the method may include pushing data associated with the communication session through the second communication tunnel. |
| US07969952B2 |
Method of implementing multicast routing system in mobile ad-hoc network environment
Disclosed is a method of implementing a multicast routing system in a mobile ad-hoc network environment. The method includes causing control packets for data transmission to be transmitted from a source node to object nodes in accordance with a predetermined method when data to be transmitted from the source node to the object nodes exists, forming, in a tree structure, information concerning nodes on paths through which the control packets are transmitted, and causing the source node to transmit the data to the object nodes using the formed tree structure. |
| US07969949B2 |
Method and base station for bandwidth allocation in wireless single-hop self-backhaul networks
The present invention discloses a method and a base station for allocating bandwidth for subscriber stations and a backhaul station through taking into joint consideration uplink and down bandwidth requests from respective subscriber stations in a wireless single-hop self-backhaul network. Upon receipt of information on bandwidth requests from the subscriber stations, the base station takes uplink and downlink bandwidth requests into joint consideration, allocates bandwidth for the subscriber stations and the backhaul station, and then notifies the subscriber stations and the backhaul station. Since bandwidth allocation is no longer based on uplink and downlink resources separately, a relatively high system bandwidth utilization ratio can be achieved and uplink and downlink bandwidth fairness for asymmetric traffic be ensured even if the network is overloaded. |
| US07969948B2 |
Method for implementing HSDPA for TD-SCDMA
The present invention discloses a method for implementing multi-carrier HSDPA for TD-SCDMA system, comprises: establishing a multi-carrier cell at the network side, wherein multiple carrier resources in the multi-carrier cell being managed and allocated as a whole at the network side; configuring HS-PDSCH resources on at least one of the carriers of the multi-carrier cell, and at least one pair of HS-SCCH and HS-SICH physical channel resources on at least one of the carriers, at the same time, creating a MAC-hs to manage the channel resources on the carriers and the configuration of the MAC-hs entity itself; the network side allocating HSDPA resources to a user terminal, and sending the HSDPA resources to the user terminal; and the network side dynamically allocating the HSDPA resources on at least one carrier for the user terminal to transmit service data. |
| US07969947B2 |
Mobile TV broadcast systems and methods based on TD-SCDMA network
A mobile TV broadcast system based on TD-SCDMA network is disclosed herein. |
| US07969943B2 |
User apparatus, base station apparatus, and method in mobile communication system
A user apparatus transmits an uplink control signal to a base station apparatus using a single carrier scheme. The user apparatus includes: a unit configured to receive a downlink control signal and a downlink data signal; a unit configured to prepare acknowledgement information indicating positive acknowledgement or negative acknowledgement for the downlink data signal; a unit configured to prepare the uplink control signal including the acknowledgement information; a unit configured to transmit the uplink control signal using different resources which are different from resources that can be used for an uplink data signal; and a storage unit configured to store predetermined correspondence relationship which uniquely associates resources of the downlink control signal or the downlink data signal with resources used for the uplink control signal. |
| US07969940B2 |
Method and system for assigning radio resources in cellular system using wired relay stations
A method of assigning radio resources in a cellular system using wired Relay Stations (RSs) includes: a Base Station (BS) gathering feed-back control information of all Mobile Stations (MSs) via the RSs in a cell of the BS; a first process, wherein the MSs are divided into two groups according to a channel state of each MS; a second process, wherein sub-channels are dynamically assigned to MSs belonging to a group, in which a channel state of each MS is good, of the two groups; and a third process, wherein sub-channels are dynamically assigned to MSs belonging to a group, in which a channel state of each MS is bad, of the two groups by considering a resource state per RS and a channel gain between sub-channels. |
| US07969938B2 |
Method and apparatus for providing multimedia broadcast/multicast service according to mobility of user equipment
A method and apparatus for notifying a UE of the PFLs of MBMS services in a new cell when the UE moves from an old cell to a new cell in a CELL_DCH state in the case of FLC are provided. An SRNC informs the UE of the PFLs of UE-joined MBMS services in the new cell. If the new cell is managed by a DRNC, the DRNC informs the SRNC of the PFLs of the UE-joined MBMS services and the SRNC transmits the PFL information to the UE so that the UE can move to a corresponding PFL. |
| US07969937B2 |
System and method for centralized station management
In one embodiment of the invention, a wireless network is adapted with a wireless network switch in communication with a plurality of access points, which are in communication with one or more stations. Coupled to the access points over an interconnect, the wireless network switch is adapted to receive a DEAUTHENTICATION message sent by one of the plurality of access points in the same coverage area of the station so as to detect the DEAUTHENTICATION message and to block communications between the plurality of access points and the station in response to determining that the DEAUTHENTICATION message is invalid. |
| US07969934B2 |
System and method for transferring wireless network access passwords
The present disclosure provides an access node for transferring and/or assigning network passwords. The access node includes a first interface for sending and receiving communication of a first type to and from a first node operating in a wireless local area network (WLAN). The access node also includes a second interface for sending and receiving communication of a second type to and from a second node in a mobile network, such as a GSM/GPRS network. The access node further includes a short messaging service (SMS) module for sending and receiving SMS messages to the second node carrying an OTP allocated. The access node also includes a mechanism to verify a precondition before the OTP is sent to the second node. |
| US07969933B2 |
System and method for facilitating a persistent application session with anonymity between a mobile host and a network host
System and method for facilitating a persistent application session with anonymity between a mobile host and a network host in a wireless communication environment. The system and method include establishing a first communication session between the mobile host and the network host through a first radio access point; receiving a first mobile host identifier and a mobile host address from the mobile host during the first communication session, wherein the first mobile host identifier is different from the mobile host address; terminating the first communication session due to movement of the mobile host; establishing a second communication session between the mobile host and the network host using the first mobile host identifier, through a second radio access point; and receiving a second mobile host identifier from the mobile host during the second communication session, wherein the second mobile host identifier is different from the first mobile host identifier and the mobile host address. |
| US07969928B2 |
Method and apparatus for battery-aware dynamic bandwidth allocation for wireless sensor networks
A method and apparatus that allocates bandwidth among wireless sensor nodes in a wireless sensor network (WSN) is disclosed. The method may include allocating transmission time slots for a plurality of wireless sensor nodes based on at least one channel quality metric, determining battery levels in each of the plurality of wireless sensor nodes and average battery level of all of the plurality of wireless sensor nodes, determining differences in battery level between each of the plurality of wireless sensor nodes and average battery level of all of the plurality of wireless sensor nodes, wherein if any such difference is above a predetermined threshold, increasing the transmission time slots allocation of wireless sensor nodes having higher battery levels relative to other wireless sensor nodes in the plurality of wireless sensor nodes. |
| US07969925B2 |
Peer-to-peer mobile data transfer method and device
A technique is provided for a direct data transfer session, including for multimedia content, between mobile devices without the need for using a separate multimedia server to store multimedia content. Direct data transfer sessions between mobile devices are established by transmitting necessary address information through page-based messaging services that utilize the underlying digital mobile network databases and services to resolve the identification and location of the mobile devices. |
| US07969917B2 |
Local area network of serial intelligent cells
A serial intelligent cell (SIC) and a connection topology for local area networks using Electrically-conducting media. A local area network can be configured from a plurality of SIC's interconnected so that all communications between two adjacent SIC's is both point-to-point and bidirectional. Each SIC can be connected to one or more other SIC's to allow redundant communication paths. Communications in different areas of a SIC network are independent of one another, so that, unlike current bus topology and star topology, there is no fundamental limit on the size or extent of a SIC network. Each SIC can optionally be connected to one or more data terminals, computers, telephones, sensors, actuators, etc., to facilitate interconnectivity among such devices. Networks according to the present invention can be configured for a variety of applications, including a local telephone system, remote computer bus extender, multiplexers, PABX/PBX functionality, security systems, and local broadcasting services. The network can use dedicated wiring, as well as existing wiring as the in-house telephone or electrical wiring. |
| US07969915B2 |
Technical enhancements to STP (IEEE 802.1D) implementation
An embodiment includes a method of minimizing the delay in convergence time for a complex STP topology following a topology change in the network system in the spanning tree protocol (STP) standard, including: receiving, by a root port of a first bridge, a data message that includes identification of a current root bridge and a priority value of the current root bridge; receiving, by a second port of the first bridge, a second data message from a second bridge; and if a message age timer of the first bridge has less than a limiting message age time value remaining before expiry, then blocking a reply, by the second port of the first bridge, to the second data message from the second bridge. |
| US07969914B1 |
Method for establishing and operating a mobile Ad-Hoc network
A method for creating an ad-hoc network that assembles a MANET inductively with no need for any node to request any information, needing only to hear information from an ad-hoc group of at least one node, to select its uplink relay node from the group. The resulting tree-structure network efficiently communicates information upstream to a root node and to all intermediate relay nodes. Downstream communication is enabled by having nodes remember node addresses of information packets arriving from respective downstream nodes. |
| US07969911B2 |
Hierarchical communication system providing intelligent data, program and processing migration
A hierarchical communication system, arranged in a spanning tree configuration, is described in which wired and wireless communication networks exhibiting substantially different characteristics are employed in an overall scheme to link portable or mobile computing devices. Copies of data, program code and processing resources are migrated from their source toward requesting destinations based on request frequency, communication link costs and available local storage and/or processing resources. Each appropriately configured network device acts as an active participant in network migration. In addition, portable two-dimensional (2-D) code reading terminals are configured to wirelessly communicate compressed 2-D images toward stationary access servers that identify the code image through decoding and through comparison with a database of images that have previously been decoded and stored. |
| US07969899B2 |
Electronic device, system on chip and method of monitoring data traffic
Therefore, an electronic device is provided which comprises a plurality of processing units (IP1-IP6), and a network-based interconnect (N) coupling the processing units (IP1-IP6) for enabling at least one first communication path (C) between the processing units (IP1-IP6). The electronic device furthermore comprises at least one first monitoring unit (P1) for monitoring a data traffic of the at least one first communication path and for outputting monitoring results via at least one second communication path (MC1), and at least one second monitoring unit (P2) for monitoring a data traffic of the at least one second communication path (C) and for outputting monitoring results via at least one third communication path (MC2). |
| US07969896B2 |
Method and system for providing connectivity outage detection for MPLS core networks based on service level agreement
Method and system for providing network connectivity outage detection for MPLS cores based on service level agreement (SLA) parameters including receiving a service level agreement parameter, determining a probe interval associated with the service level agreement parameter, and performing network connectivity outage detection based on the service level agreement parameter, is disclosed. |
| US07969894B2 |
System and method for dead gateway detection
A system and method for detecting a next-hop dead gateway is disclosed. In one embodiment, a method for detecting the next-hop dead gateway includes sending an Internet Protocol (IP) packet by a host to a next-hop gateway associated with the host, receiving the IP packet by the host from the next-hop gateway upon reviewing a routing table and the destination field in the IP header associated with the IP packet, determining whether the IP packet is received from the next-hop gateway within a first predetermined time interval, if so, declaring the next-hop gateway as alive, and if not, declaring the next-hop gateway as dead. In some embodiments, source and destination fields in IP header associated with the IP packet include IP address associated with the host. The method may further include encapsulating the IP packet with a data link layer protocol associated with the host and the next-hop gateway. |
| US07969891B2 |
Adjustment of clock approximations
Techniques to adjust clock approximations are described, which may be used to synchronize content output at a client. In an implementation, timestamps derived from a universal time source are allocated to respective program clock reference (PCR) timestamps in content received by a network operator during an interval of time to form ordered pairs of timestamps. An approximation is computed of a plurality of the ordered pairs of timestamps for the interval and the approximation is adjusted using an ordered pair of timestamps taken from a previous approximation. |
| US07969890B2 |
Methods, systems, and computer program products for load balanced and symmetric path computations for VoIP traffic engineering
The subject matter described herein includes methods, systems, and computer program products for load balanced and symmetric SPF path computations for VoIP traffic engineering. One method includes advertising an output interface cost in a first direction over a first network segment between a source IP device and a destination IP device that is different from an output interface cost in advertised in a second direction over the first network segment. A plurality of available network paths between the source IP device and the destination IP device is identified. A path cost is calculated for each of the available network paths from the source IP device to the destination IP device. Calculating a path cost includes, for paths that include the first network segment, substituting the output interface cost advertised in the first direction with the output interface cost advertised in the second direction. The path costs are ranked based on the calculated costs. A lowest cost path is selected from the ranked paths. Both directions of a media session are assigned to the lowest cost path. |
| US07969884B1 |
Method and system for weight and rate scheduling
A method and system for scheduling data dequeuing in a data communication network having a plurality of data queues and a hierarchical scheduler with a plurality of scheduling nodes. A determination is made as to which scheduler nodes and which data queues are eligible for dequeuing scheduling based upon at least one predetermined data rate limitation and availability of data at an eligible descendant node. Data is scheduled for transmission from one of the plurality of data queues. Scheduling data for transmission includes selecting one or more child scheduler nodes which are descendents of the one data queue but to whom the eligible child is not known to be eligible. |
| US07969883B2 |
Retransmission scheme for lossy media
A transmitter device (210) and associated receiver device (211) providing a retransmission scheme for use in communications involving lossy media. The transmitter device (210) receives data packets (201) from a source and adds protection to selected subflows before delivering (203, 206) them to the receiver device (211). The receiver device (211) is able to remove the protection and process (207) the data packets further. The retransmission scheme introduces greater reliability on the lossy medium by restricting the retransmission (208, 209) to a particular link and to selected subflows of traffic in the connection between a source and a destination. |
| US07969881B2 |
Providing proportionally fair bandwidth allocation in communication systems
Sharing a resource may include the use of label values associated with information units presented to the resource. The label values may be determined based on, for example, arrival rates and/or committed flow rates. Criteria may be applied to label values to determine if the associated information units may be dropped. |
| US07969880B2 |
Device and method for relaying packets
Computing process with a computational expression is executed using seed information including at least one of destination information and source information associated with a received packet. It is preferable to select a physical port for transmission of the received packet based on the result of the computation. It is also preferable to select a port group for transmission of the received packet based on the result of the computation. Here, the computational expression is capable of being modified. Meanwhile, the physical port for transmission of the received packet is selected from a plurality of candidate ports among the plurality of physical ports. The port group for transmission of the received packet is selected from among a plurality of port groups including a mutually different candidate port. |
| US07969877B2 |
Packet transmission scheduling technique
A packet data transmission method of the HSDPA system includes collecting information on the quality of physical channels, a status of the MAC buffer, the priority level of data, the delay of data, and the like, determining the transmission order of data and the size of a data block to be transmitted based on the collected information, and transmitting the data block through the physical layer according to the order of transmissions. Since the HSDPA scheduler takes into account the delay of data, the quality of real-time services can be improved. |
| US07969871B2 |
Communication control apparatus, communication control method, recording medium storing communication control program
A communication control apparatus has a setting unit for setting a receiving filter for discarding a broadcast frame received continuously not less than a predetermined threshold during a predetermined N number of time slots.The apparatus has a storage unit for canceling the set receiving filter when receiving the broadcast frame less than the threshold at N+1st time slot after the continuous reception at the N times, and storing the cancellation of the receiving filter. The apparatus has a control unit for not discarding the broadcast frame when the broadcast frame not less than the threshold is received at N+2nd time slot after the N+1st time slot and the cancellation of the receiving frame is stored. |
| US07969869B2 |
Method and apparatus for failure resilient forwarding of data over a computer network
In one embodiment, a method and an apparatus for failure-resilient forwarding of data over a computer network include introducing a marker into the data stream, e.g., at the sending node, and allowing, in turn, forwarding nodes and/or receivers to efficiently track data stream reception. The marker functions as a checkpoint for the data transport process, and is identified and indexed at each forwarding node and receiver. Each receiver saves the marker prior to delivering data to an application, thereby designating a point in the data stream at which all preceding data is confirmed to have been delivered to the application. Thus, if a forwarding node fails, the receiver may request stream data from an alternate forwarding node by specifying to the alternate forwarding node to provide data starting from the marker. |
| US07969859B2 |
Method and system for dynamically allocating sub-carriers in an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing network
A method of dynamically allocating sub-carriers for communication in an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplex network is provided. The method includes monitoring network conditions and allocating sub-carriers for the base station to a set of downlink sub-carriers or to a set of uplink sub-carriers based on the network conditions. |
| US07969854B2 |
Optical pickup device and objective lens used in the same
An optical system has an optical functional surface including a common region used for conducting information recording and/or reproducing for both of a first optical information recording medium and a second optical information recording medium. The common region comprises a refractive surface of an imaginary basic aspherical surface and a optical path difference providing structure in which plural ring-shapes zones are separated around the center of an optical axis and neighboring ring-shaped zones are displaced to each other in a direction of an optical axis so as to cause an optical path difference obtained by multiplying a predetermined wavelength λs (λ1<λs<λ2) with almost an integer. The refractive surface of the imaginary basic aspherical surface is structured such that a spherical aberration becomes under on the first information recording medium and a spherical aberration becomes over on the second information recording medium. |
| US07969852B2 |
Optical pickup apparatus
An optical pickup apparatus includes: a first light source; a second light source; a light-converging optical system including a coupling lens and an objective lens; and a photodetector. The optical pickup apparatus is capable of recording and/or reproducing information by converging a light flux from each of the first and second light sources with the light-converging optical system on an information recording surface of each of first and second optical information recording media through a protective layer, and by detecting the light flux reflected from the information recording surface and passing through the light-converging optical system again, on the photodetector. The optical pickup apparatus satisfies predetermined conditions according to an optical path length from each of first and second light sources and the information recording medium, a magnification of the objective lens, and a magnification of the light-converging optical system. |
| US07969844B2 |
Optical disc device
An optical disc apparatus includes: a defect detecting section 124 for detecting, based on a light detection signal and with respect to a preset detection reference level, a fingerprint or a bubble on the disc 102 as a defect to output a defect detection signal; and a waveform shaping section 126 to output a hold signal that holds, in response to the defect detection signal, a signal from a tracking control section 109 at a level just before the defect has occurred. The apparatus is initially operated not to hold the signal from the tracking control section 109 even if there is a defect. But once a tracking failure has occurred during a read operation, settings are changed to hold the signal from the tracking control section 109 against the defect while the read operation is retried. |
| US07969843B2 |
Write once disc allowing management of data area, method of managing the data area, and apparatus and method for reproducing data from write once disc
A write once disc allowing management of a data area, includes a lead-in zone, a data area, and a lead-out zone. The write once disc includes a predetermined area storing area allocation information which indicates whether at least one section of the data area is allocated for disc defect management. In the disc and method, area allocation information specifying a structure of the data area is recorded on the disc, thus allowing a recording/reproducing apparatus to recognize the data area structure. Therefore, allocating areas, such as a spare area, for disc defect management other than an area for storing user data, to the data area is possible. The allocation of the areas for disc defect management to the data area enables effective use of the write once disc. |
| US07969842B2 |
Playback device and management information acquiring method
A playback device includes a reading section that performs reading from a recording medium, and a control section that acquires the latest temporary management information recorded last on the recording medium. The control section executes a read control process of controlling the reading section so that when reading pointer information in a temporary management information unit recorded last in a temporary management information unit recording area, reading of data is executed from a predetermined position located before a segment in which the pointer information is included, and an information acquiring process of executing a process for acquiring the temporary management information pointed to by the pointer information from the data read in response to the read control process. |
| US07969837B2 |
Dubbing device for dubbing data
The present invention is a dubbing device for dubbing data from a portable first recording medium such as a CD-DA (compact disc digital audio) to a second recording medium such as a hard disk drive (HDD), in which dubbing to the second recording medium with a large capacity is automatically carried out when reproducing data from the first recording medium. When data is reproduced from the first recording medium, database means is searched on the basis of identification information for the first recording medium and execution control of dubbing is performed in accordance with the result of search for recording history information. For example, whether or not data to be reproduced from the first recording medium has been already recorded on the second recording medium is discriminated, and dubbing is carried out if the data to be reproduced data has not been recorded on the second recording medium. |
| US07969833B2 |
Optical disc apparatus
In servo control within an optical disc apparatus, when iterative learning control is started, the servo characteristics are modified to servo characteristic giving increased gains during a given period of time. Under this condition, the iterative learning control is provided. |
| US07969831B2 |
Method of controlling servo in optical disc device and servo control device using the same
A method of controlling a servo in an optical disc device and a servo control device using the method, in which the servo control device controls a servo for printing on a label surface of an optical disc and includes an optical pickup unit, an error signal generation unit, and a control unit. The optical pickup unit outputs a plurality of signals corresponding to a position of an object lens in response to light reflected from the label surface. The error signal generation unit outputs an error signal by selecting or combining one or more of the plurality of signals. The control unit adjusts the position of the object lens in response to the error signal. Therefore, because the position of the object lens can be adjusted with an increased range, the spot size of a beam condensed by the object lens can be adjusted within an increased range, and a data recording time can be reduced. Moreover, data retention characteristics and recording quality can be improved. |
| US07969829B2 |
Objective lens driving apparatus, optical pickup, and information recording/reproducing apparatus
An objective lens driving device is provided with an objective lens; a lens holder for holding the objective lens; a pair of linear suspension springs for supporting the lens holder at each one end; a spring holder whereupon the other ends the springs are fixed; and a driving means for at least driving the objective lens in a tracking direction together with the lens holder. The linear suspension springs have narrowed or widened end compared with the other end in plan view from an optical axis direction. The lens holder is supported to be driven in the tracking direction, by having the cross point of the two lines, which pass the suspension spring ends on one side and are vertical to the extending directions of the linear suspension springs, respectively, at the driving center. |
| US07969826B2 |
Thermally assisted magnetic recording head having movable mirror for optical switching
In a thermally assisted magnetic recording head support mechanism, an increase in the temperature of a heat source for supplying an optical near-field transducer with light, due to heat generation by the heat source, is checked while holding back an increase in weight of a slider and lessening transmission loss of light.The thermally assisted magnetic recording head support mechanism is made up such that a suspension 5 has one end holding a slider 4 on which a magnetic head 3 having a read element 31, write element 32, and an optical near-field transducer 34 is mounted, and the other end of the suspension 5 is held by a carriage 6. The optical block 15 provided with one light source 10, and an optical switching mechanism capable of switching a guidance destination of irradiated light from light source 10 is attached to an arm 62 or a support 61 of the carriage 6 having a wide heat release area, thereby guiding light from the optical block 15 to the optical near-field transducer 34 via an optical waveguide 14. |
| US07969822B2 |
System and method for extending GPS to divers and underwater vehicles
A navigation system extends satellite navigation to divers, underwater vehicles, and surface vessels. The navigation system comprises a location reference unit and a plurality of sub-surface beacon units. The location reference unit includes a receiver to receive navigation signals from earth-orbiting satellites and/or an inertial navigation system. The location reference unit further includes control circuits to communicate with to sub-surface beacon units and to transmit location information to said sub-surface beacon units, and a transceiver to transmit location information to the sub-surface beacon units. The beacon units include control circuits to determine the location of the beacon unit based on location information received from the location reference unit, and a transceiver to receive location information from the location reference unit and to transmit location information to a guided unit to provide navigation assistance to the guided unit. |
| US07969818B2 |
Method for regularizing offset distribution in towed seismic streamer data
Seismic data from towed marine streamers are sorted into two-dimensional common midpoint gathers of traces. The gathered traces are ordered by offset. The offset distribution of the ordered traces is regularized. The source and receiver coordinates of the regularized traces are adjusted to reflect the regularizing. |
| US07969816B2 |
Memory device
Systems and methods for reading data from or writing data to a memory device. The methods involve receiving a first pulse signal having a first pulse frequency at the memory device. The methods also involve generating, at the memory device, a second pulse signal using the first pulse signal. The second pulse signal is a compliment of the first pulse signal. The second pulse signal has a second pulse frequency that is equal to the first frequency. The fist pulse signal is used to control first read/write operations so that first data is output from or input to the memory device at a first data rate. The first and second pulse signals are used to control second read/write operations so that second data is output from or input to the memory device at a second data rate. The second data rate is twice the first data rate. |
| US07969811B2 |
Semiconductor memory device highly integrated in direction of columns
First and second read word lines are provided in each set made of two adjacent rows. First, second, third, and fourth read bit lines are provided in each column. Each of the first and second read word lines is connected to memory cells in a corresponding one of the sets. Each of the first and third read bit lines is connected to a memory cell in one row in each of the sets, out of memory cells in a corresponding one of the columns. Each of the second and fourth read bit lines is connected to a memory cell in the other row in each of the sets, out of the memory cells in the corresponding one of the columns. |
| US07969805B2 |
Coupling methods and architectures for information processing
A structure comprising (i) a first information device, (ii) a second information device, (iii) a first coupling element and (iv) a second coupling element is provided. The first information device has at least a first lobe and a second lobe that are in electrical communication with each other. The second information device and has at least a first lobe and a second lobe that are in electrical communication with each other. The first coupling element inductively couples the first lobe of the first information device to the first lobe of the second information device. The second coupling element inductively couples the first lobe of the first information device to the second lobe of the second information device. |
| US07969804B1 |
Memory architecture having a reference current generator that provides two reference currents
A memory architecture is provided with an array of non-volatile memory cells arranged in rows and columns, and a sense amplifier coupled to at least one column within the array for sensing a data bit stored within one of the non-volatile memory cells. In order to provide accurate sensing, a reference current generator is provided and coupled to the sense amplifier. The reference current generator provides a first reference current having adjustable magnitude and adjustable slope, and a second reference current having adjustable magnitude, but constant slope. The first reference current is supplied to the sense amplifier for sensing the data bit. The second reference current is supplied to a control block for generating clock signals used to control sense amplifier timing. |
| US07969798B2 |
Phase change memory devices and read methods using elapsed time-based read voltages
A variable resistance memory device includes a memory cell connected to a bit line and a clamp circuit configured to provide either a first read voltage or a second read voltage to the bit line according to an elapsed time from a write operation of the memory cell. Related methods are also described. |
| US07969787B2 |
Semiconductor device and control method of the same
The present invention provides a semiconductor memory and a control method therefor, the semiconductor device including a first current-voltage conversion circuit (16) connected to a core cell (12) provided in a nonvolatile memory cell array (10), a second current-voltage conversion circuit (26) connected to a reference cell (22) through a reference cell data line (24), a sense amplifier (18) sensing an output from the first current-voltage conversion circuit and an output from the second current-voltage conversion circuit, a compare circuit (28) comparing a voltage level at the reference cell data line with a predefined voltage level, and a charging circuit (30) charging the reference cell data line, if the voltage level at the reference cell data line is lower than the predefined voltage level during pre-charging the reference cell data line. According to the present invention, the pre-charging period of the reference cell data line can be shortened, and the data read time can be shortened. |
| US07969785B1 |
Low voltage non-volatile memory with charge trapping layer
Methods, circuits, processes, devices, and/or arrangements for a non-volatile memory (NVM) cell operable at relatively low voltages are disclosed. In one embodiment, an NVM cell can include: (i) a gate over a charge trapping layer, the charge trapping layer being insulated from the gate by a first insulating layer, the charge trapping layer being insulated from a channel by a second insulating layer; and (ii) source and drain on either side of the channel, the channel being under the second insulating layer, where the NVM cell is configured to be erased by channel-induced hot holes (CHH). |
| US07969781B2 |
Method of controlling memory system
A memory unit includes a plurality of first blocks each having a first block size. Each of the first blocks stores data of a plurality of second blocks each having a second block size which is smaller than the first block size. A control unit writes the data of the second block in the first block. The control unit is configured such that in a case where the second block to be written is a block that is to be written in the same first block as the second block that is already written in the first block, the second block to be written is written in the same first block even if an address of the second block to be written is not consecutive to an address of the second block that is already written in the first block. |
| US07969778B2 |
System that compensates for coupling based on sensing a neighbor using coupling
Shifts in the apparent charge stored on a floating gate (or other charge storing element) of a non-volatile memory cell can occur because of the coupling of an electric field based on the charge stored in adjacent floating gates (or other adjacent charge storing elements). To compensate for this coupling, the read or programming process for a given memory cell can take into account the programmed state of an adjacent memory cell. To determine whether compensation is needed, a process can be performed that includes sensing information about the programmed state of an adjacent memory cell (e.g., on an adjacent bit line or other location). |
| US07969772B2 |
Magnetic mechanical switch
A method and apparatus for managing data, particularly in regard to non-volatile memory cells. In some embodiments, at least two actuating conductors are at least partially surrounded by a main ferromagnetic core and an adjacent hard magnet. When current is conducted through the actuating conductors, a flexible beam is induced to traverse a first air gap that defines a high resistance position and a low resistance position. |
| US07969770B2 |
Programmable via devices in back end of line level
Programmable via devices and methods for the fabrication thereof are provided. In one aspect, a programmable via device is provided. The programmable via device comprises a first dielectric layer; at least one isolation layer over the first dielectric layer; a heater within the isolation layer; a capping layer over a side of the isolation layer opposite the first dielectric layer; at least one programmable via extending through the capping layer and at least a portion of the isolation layer and in contact with the heater, the programmable via comprising at least one phase change material; a conductive cap over the programmable via; a second dielectric layer over a side of the capping layer opposite the isolation layer; a first conductive via and a second conductive via, each extending through the second dielectric layer, the capping layer and at least a portion of the isolation layer and in contact with the heater; and a third conductive via extending through the second dielectric layer and in contact with the conductive cap. |
| US07969766B2 |
Semiconductor memory device
In a multiport SRAM memory cell of the present invention, an access transistor of a first port is disposed in a p-type well, and an access transistor of a second port is disposed in a p-type well. The gates of all of transistors disposed in a memory cell extend in the same direction. With the configuration, a semiconductor memory device having a low-power consumption type SRAM memory cell with an increased margin of variations in manufacturing, by which a bit line can be shortened in a multiport SRAM memory cell or an associative memory, can be obtained. |
| US07969763B2 |
Detector circuit for detecting an external manipulation of an electrical circuit, circuit arrangement comprising a plurality of detector circuits, memory device and method for operating a detector circuit
A detector circuit for detecting an external manipulation of an electrical circuit. The detector circuit includes a digital circuit which is sensitive to at least one of the effects of ionizing radiation or fluctuations of a supply voltage, and the output state of the digital circuit is indicative of an attack. |
| US07969761B2 |
Semiconductor memory device, memory device support and memory module
In one embodiment, the semiconductor memory device includes at least a first semiconductor memory die, and a surface of the semiconductor memory device includes a plurality of connectors. At least one of the plurality of connectors is electrically connected to the first semiconductor memory die. The plurality of connectors include at least first and second control signal connectors. The first control signal connector is for a first control signal of a first type, the second control signal connector is for a second control signal of the first type, and the first and second control signal connectors are disposed in different areas of the surface. For example, the first type may be a chip select signal, a clock enable signal, or an on die termination enable signal. |
| US07969760B2 |
Semiconductor memory device and manufacturing method of the same
The invention provides a voltage applying structure having a reduced area penalty with respect to a data line. A wiring forming a global data line and a local data line formed in a p-type well region are connected via a select transistor. Two select lines are formed on a gate electrode of the select transistor. One select line is electrically connected to the gate electrode of the select transistor, however, the other select line is not connected to the select transistor. That is, an insulator film is formed between the select line and the gate electrode. As mentioned above, two select lines shorter than a gate length are provided on one select transistor. The select line is structured such as to be connected to the other select transistor. |
| US07969759B1 |
Method and apparatus for improving SRAM write operations
A memory cell includes a first access transistor, first and second pull-up transistors, a depletion transistor, and first and second pull-down transistors. The first access transistor is connected to a word line and connected between a first bit line and a first data node. The first pull-up transistor is connected to a first power supply point and the second pull-up transistor is connected to the first power supply point and the second data node. The first pull-down transistor is connected to a second power supply point and to the first data node and the second pull-down transistor is connected to the depletion transistor and to the second data node. The depletion transistor is connected to the word line and to the second power supply point. |
| US07969754B2 |
Control circuit for a switch unit of a clocked power supply circuit, and resonance converter
A control circuit for a switch unit of a clocked power supply receives an auxiliary signal from a resonant transformer driven by the switch unit and detects reference crossing moments when the auxiliary signal crosses a reference value. A driver is controllable to switch the switch unit, and a synchronization circuit synchronizes a turn-on of the switch unit within a predetermined time interval around a zero crossing of a voltage present across the switch unit, or of a current flowing through the switch unit. The synchronization circuit receives information about the reference crossing moments and provides a turn-on signal to the driver with a fixed phase delay at the reference crossing moments, so as to define turn-on moments at which the driver is to turn on the switch unit. |
| US07969753B2 |
Maintaining a constant output voltage by sampling and holding a voltage across an auxiliary winding
A lower-cost and more precise control methodology of regulating the output voltage of a flyback converter from the primary side is provided, which works accurately in either continuous voltage mode (CCM) and discontinuous mode (DCM), and can be applied to most small, medium and high power applications such cell phone chargers, power management in desktop computers and networking equipment, and, generally, to a wide spectrum of power management applications. Two highly integrated semiconductor chips based on this control methodology are also described that require very few components to build a constant voltage flyback converter. |
| US07969750B2 |
Electrical enclosure and support assembly therefor
A support assembly is provided for supporting an electrical enclosure with respect to an electrical busway and with respect to a support structure, such as a wall, which is disposed proximate to the electrical busway. The support assembly includes at least one mounting assembly having a plurality of mounting elements. A first one of the mounting elements is coupled to the electrical enclosure. A second different one of the mounting elements is coupled to the support structure. A number of coupling assemblies interconnect the mounting elements. The first one of the mounting elements is movable with respect to the second different one of the mounting elements, in order to enable the electrical enclosure to move with the electrical busway and with respect to the support structure. |
| US07969741B2 |
Substrate structure
It is intended to provide a substrate structure ensuring a shielding property and a heat discharge property of a resin part that collectively covers a plurality of electronic components and capable of downsizing, thinning, and a reduction in number of components. The substrate structure 20 of the first embodiment is provided with a substrate 21, a plurality of electronic components 22 mounted along the substrate 21, and a resin part 25 that covers the electronic components 22 and is in close contact with the substrate 21. In the substrate structure 20, the resin part 25 is provided with a reinforcing heat discharge layer 26 covering the electronic components 22 and having a heat conductivity and a reinforcing property and a shield layer 27 covering the reinforcing heat discharge layer 26, and a surface o28 of the shield layer 27 is formed into a predetermined shape corresponding to a surface structure of the display device 30 adjacent to the resin part 25. |
| US07969734B2 |
Unique cooling scheme for advanced thermal management of high flux electronics
Disclosed is a system for cooling an electronics package. The system includes a fluid pump and a microcooler assembly. The system utilizes one or more cooling layers interspersed with layers of electronics in the electronics package. Each cooling layer has an array of cooling channels formed in a substrate, an input manifold through which cooling fluid is provided for distribution through the array of cooling channels, and an output manifold which collects fluid from the array of cooling channels. The elements of the cooling system are integrated by conduits including a package conduit for passage of fluid from the fluid pump to the electronics package, a cooler conduit for passage of fluid from the electronics package to the microcooler assembly, and a pump conduit for passage of fluid from the microcooler assembly to the fluid pump. Also disclosed is a method for cooling the electronics package. |
| US07969732B1 |
Support device for supporting a tablet computer device
A support device has a base body having top and bottom surfaces. The bottom surface supports the base body upon a work-surface, and the top surface is disposed on a top surface plane that is rotated about 20 degrees from the plane of the work-surface. The top surface further includes a support slot construction that is adapted to support a tablet computer device in two work positions. The support slot construction includes a rear sidewall and a first front sidewall spaced apart from each other by a first bottom surface, which together hold the tablet computer device on a first plane that is rotated about 75 degrees from the work surface plane. A second front sidewall spaced apart from the first front sidewall by a second bottom surface together supporting the tablet computer device on a second plane that is rotated about 65 degrees from the plane of the work-surface. |
| US07969731B2 |
Portable computing device having latching mechanism
A portable computing device includes a base including a first surface, and a lid that is pivotably connected to the base and includes a second surface. One of the first surface and the second surface defines a through opening. A latching mechanism for locking the lid onto the base includes a protruding tab that protrudes from the other one of the first surface and the second surface and defines a through hole. The latching mechanism also includes a hook arranged within and rotatably connected to one of the base and the lid. The hook is configured for engaging the through hole of the protruding tab extending through the through opening, to lock the lid onto the base. An elastic member is provided to apply a spring force to the hook to cause the hook to rotate back to an original position after the hook disengages from the protruding tab. |
| US07969730B1 |
Portable computer with thermal control and power source shield
A portable computer having a partially sealed cooling system is disclosed. The portable computer contains heat transfer materials that function to remove heat from a sealed area of the portable computer to an unsealed area where the heat may be more effectively dissipated. A portable computer having a power source shield is also disclosed. The shield may be formed to partially surround a portion of the power source, and may be formed by partially enclosing a power source in a conductive material; forming an opening in the conductive material on one side of the power source; installing the power source near an edge of the electronic device; and orienting the power source so that the opening faces the edge of the electronic device. |
| US07969722B2 |
Flip type portable electronic device
The invention discloses a flip type portable electronic device which includes a main body and a cover. The main body includes a hinged end. The cover includes an assembling end that hinged with the hinged end of the main body. The assembling end of the cover defines a notch allowing for deformation of the assembling end. The flip type potable electronic device has simple structure and is easy to be assembled and detached that enhances the assembling efficiency and lowers the maintenance cost. |
| US07969721B2 |
Portable computer
A portable computer includes a host, a display portion and a plurality of functional modules. The display portion is pivotally connected with the host and has an accommodation concave space. Each of the functional modules has the same connecting structure to be engaged within the accommodation concave space. Either one of the functional modules is installed within the accommodation concave space. |
| US07969717B1 |
Computer server
A server includes a casing, a motherboard and a power supply module received in the casing. The casing includes a bottom plate and a first sidewall substantially perpendicular to the bottom plate. The first sidewall defines a through hole close to the bottom plate. The motherboard is substantially parallel with the bottom plate and is fixed above the through hole. The motherboard includes a first surface and a second surface. A receiving space is defined between the second surface and a bottom plate. A number of electrical elements are disposed on the first surface. The power supply module can be inserted through the through hole to be received in the receiving space. |
| US07969714B2 |
Apparatus for controlling monitor and method thereof
An apparatus and method for controlling a monitor are disclosed to easily retract or protract a monitor. The method for controlling a monitor includes drawing out a monitor in a horizontal direction of the monitor from a monitor reception space; rotating the monitor by a first pre-set angle in the horizontal direction; and rotating the rotated monitor by a second pre-set angle in a left or right direction of the monitor. |
| US07969712B2 |
Power integrity circuits with EMI benefits
A stable power, low electromagnetic interference (EMI) apparatus and method for connecting electronic devices and circuit boards is disclosed. The apparatus involves a capacitor which includes a body member, a set of power terminals and a set of ground terminals connected to the top of the body member. The set of power terminals and the set of ground terminals alternate one with another. As a result of this configuration, a high inductance on the PCB side is achieved. The capacitor further includes a set of terminals connected to the bottom of the body member and includes metal planes within the body member. The metal planes are positioned to electrically connect either the set of power terminals or the set of ground terminals to the set of terminals. |
| US07969711B2 |
Multiple electronic components: combination capacitor and Zener diode
A Zener diode—capacitor combination wherein a Zener diode is mounted in the capacitor body and connected in parallel with the capacitor after the capacitor has been voltage tested. A welded strap or jumper wire completing the diode circuit or a connection of separate terminations during soldering may be used to complete the circuit. |
| US07969708B2 |
Alpha tantalum capacitor plate
A method for forming an alpha-tantalum layer comprising disposing a nitrogen containing base layer on a semiconductor substrate, bombarding the nitrogen containing base layer with a bombarding element, thereby forming an alpha-tantalum seed layer, and sputtering a layer of tantalum on the alpha-tantalum seed layer, thereby forming a surface layer of substantially alpha-tantalum. |
| US07969707B2 |
Method of bipolar ion generation and aerodynamic ion generator
An aerodynamic ion generator is disclosed. The generator includes an electric motor coupled to a propeller for placing in an airflow to generate electrical energy, with ionizing electrodes coupled to the propeller; a generator powered by the electric motor for generating AC high-voltage; an electrical transmission arrangement for transmitting the AC high voltage to the ionizing electrodes of different polarities; and a cleaning device that includes arms, each of the arms for cleaning a corresponding ionizing electrode of the ionizing electrodes and pivotally attached to a shaft located on the propeller wherein most of the mass of the arm is closer to a cleaning end of the arm than to the shaft that arm is attached to. |
| US07969705B2 |
Residual magnetic devices and methods
Residual magnetic locks, brakes, rotation inhibitors, clutches, actuators, and latches. The residual magnetic devices can include a core housing and an armature. The residual magnetic devices can include a coil that receives a magnetization current to create an irreversible residual magnetic force between the core housing and the armature. |
| US07969699B2 |
ESD protection trigger circuit
This invention discloses a trigger circuit for an electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection device, the ESD protection device being turned on during an ESD event and being turned off during a normal operation, the trigger circuit comprises a voltage sensing circuit coupled to a bonding pad, the voltage sensing circuit being configured to produce a first predetermined voltage during a ESD event, and to produce a second predetermined voltage complimentary to the first predetermined voltage during a normal operation, and a voltage converting circuit having a positive feedback circuit and coupled between the voltage sensing circuit and the ESD protection device for converting the first predetermined voltage to a third predetermined voltage for turning on the ESD protection device, and for converting the second predetermined voltage to a fourth predetermined voltage for turning off the ESD protection device. |
| US07969698B2 |
Cascode active shunt gate oxide protect during electrostatic discharge event
A method and apparatus to provide electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection to electronic circuits using a gate clamp circuit. |
| US07969695B2 |
Superconducting magnetic coil with a quench protection circuit, and MRT apparatus embodying same
A superconductive magnetic coil arrangement has a superconducting magnetic coil and a circuit for quench protection. The quench protection circuit includes at least one diode connected in parallel with a portion of the superconductive magnetic coil. The at least one diode is in thermal contact with the superconductive magnetic coil A magnetic resonance tomography apparatus embodies such a magnetic coil arrangement. |
| US07969692B2 |
Magnetic reading head with first and second element units each including a ferromagnetic layer and each with a different spin-polarization
A magnetic head includes a pair of ferromagnetic electrodes, namely, a first ferromagnetic electrode layer which is in contact with a portion of a first electrode layer with a first insulating barrier layer interposed in between; and a second ferromagnetic electrode layer which is in contact with another portion of the first electrode layer with a second insulating barrier layer interposed in between. The first electrode layer and the first ferromagnetic layer collectively constitute part of a current-supplying circuit. Moreover, the first electrode layer and the second ferromagnetic layer which are in contact with the first electrode layer with the second insulating barrier layer interposed in between in a region where the two layers are not in contact with the first insulating barrier layer, collectively constitute part of a voltage-measurement circuit. Spin-polarization at the interface in an intersecting region of the second ferromagnetic layer and the second insulating barrier layer, is greater than spin-polarization at the interface in an intersecting region of the first ferromagnetic layer and the first insulating barrier layer. |
| US07969687B2 |
Magnetic head with delayed connection heater shunting
A slider structure that allows a grounded heater element to be employed, while also allowing a decision of whether the slider is to be an “up” slider or a “down” slider to be made in a late stage in the formation of the slider. The slider includes electrical contact pads for making electrical connection with the heater element. The slider also includes a dedicated ground path formed on the slider body at a location that is removed from either of the first and second contact pads, ground path providing electrical connectivity to the slider body. At a late stage in the manufacture of the read and write head, a determination can be made as to which contact pad is to be a ground pad, and that pad can be electrically connected with the ground path. |
| US07969685B2 |
ABS design for dynamic flying height (DFH) applications
A DFH (Dynamic Flying Height) type slider ABS design has a stable flying height and a DFH efficiency that is uniform across the entire disk surface. These properties are a result of embedding the read/write head and heater in a trapezoidally bridged micro-pad having a very small surface area. The micro-pad is surrounded by a wing-like structure that projects from a central rail in the ABS and the micro pad is connected to an inner edge of that structure by a bridge having a trapezoidal shape. The trapezoidal shape responds effectively to variations in air flow direction and pressure point as the slider moves across the disk surface and, as a result, provides the uniform DFH efficiency. At the same time, the projecting wings and adjacent topology help to direct the airflow around the micro-pad and provide the stable flying height. |
| US07969683B2 |
Write first design for a perpendicular thin film head
A magnetic head structure for perpendicular recording and reading. The head structure includes a write head portion for writing data to magnetic media via lines of flux oriented substantially perpendicular to a surface of the media facing the write head portion. The write head portion includes a first pole piece having a first pole tip, a probe pole piece with a probe pole tip for emitting magnetic flux, an insulation stack positioned between the pole pieces, and one or more write coils embedded in the insulation stack. A read head portion that has been fabricated after the write head portion is coupled to the write head portion. |
| US07969681B2 |
Disk drive and control method thereof
Embodiments in accordance with the present invention reduce the structural stress applied to a head, and to achieve the effective control, when the clearance between the head and a disk is adjusted by using a heater. According to one embodiment, the hard disk controller/microprocessing unit (HDC/MPU) controls a slew rate of a heater at the time of TFC (Thermal Fly height Control). In response to processing conditions, a HDC/MPU changes a slew rate of the output of electric current/voltage applied to the heater. This makes it possible to reduce the head stress, and to achieve the effective TFC. To be more specific, with reference to a temperature/slew rate table, the HDC/MPU changes a slew rate in response to the temperature in the read/write processing. |
| US07969679B2 |
Servo area test method of a magnetic recording medium and a test device
A read signal for one revolution of each of a plurality of tracks jitter of which is cancelled is obtained and a binary-coded image data for the read signal is generated and the track number position of each servo area is specified from the binary-coded image data. Further, a read signal in this position in radial direction is obtained from the track number position of each of the specified servo areas and the servo area is tested by the read signal. |
| US07969672B2 |
Lens device and imaging device
It is intended to carry out a focusing operation suitably in each case of automatic focusing and manual focus adjustment. Therefore, in the present invention, there is provided a first focus ring 1 movable between a first position and a second position on an optical axis. Further, a first rotation-angle detection unit detecting a rotation amount of the first focus ring 1 at the first position, a second focus ring 2 coupled to the first focus ring 1 when the first focus ring 1 is at the first position, and a second rotation-angle detection unit detecting a rotation amount of the second focus ring 2 are provided. When the first focus ring 1 is at the first position, a focus lens is driven based on the rotation amount detected by the first rotation-angle detection unit, and when the first focus ring 1 is at the second position, the focus lens is driven based on the rotation amount detected by the second rotation-angle detection unit. |
| US07969671B2 |
Voice coil motor having holes and sockets for receiving positioning members
An exemplary voice coil motor includes a housing and a movable unit. A top panel of the housing has two positioning through holes. The movable unit includes a barrel holder, and a coil wrapped around the barrel holder. The barrel holder has two positioning sockets corresponding to the two positioning through holes. Each of two positioning members is fittingly received through one positioning hole and in the corresponding positioning socket, such that the barrel holder is fixed relative to the housing while the positioning members are engaged in the positioning through holes and the positioning sockets. |
| US07969663B2 |
Projection objective for immersion lithography
A projection objective suitable for immersion microlithography is designed as a single-waist system with five lens groups, and has a first lens group of negative refractive power, a second lens group of positive refractive power, a third lens group of negative refractive power, a fourth lens group of positive refractive power and a fifth lens group of positive refractive power. The fourth lens group has an entrance surface (E) that lies in the vicinity of a point of inflection of a marginal ray height between the third lens group (LG3) and the fourth lens group (LG4). No negative lens of substantial refractive power is arranged between the entrance surface and the system diaphragm (5). Embodiments of inventive projection objectives achieve a very high numerical aperture NA>1 in conjunction with a large image field and are distinguished by a compact design size. For working wavelengths below 200 nm, structural widths of substantially under 100 nm can be resolved when use is made of immersion fluids between the projection objective and substrate. |
| US07969661B2 |
Wide angle zoom lens and image pickup device using the same
A wide angle zoom lens, includes, from an object side in the following order: a first lens group that has a negative refractive power; a second lens group that has a positive refractive power; and a third lens group. When variable magnification is carried out from a wide angle end to a telephoto end, the first and second lens groups move while the third lens group remains fixed, so that an air space between the first lens group and the second lens group becomes narrow and that a space between the second lens group and the third lens group becomes wide. The first and second lens groups each include at least one positive lens and one negative lens. The third lens group includes one positive or negative meniscus lens whose convex surface faces an image surface. The following conditional expressions (1) and (2) are satisfied: 1.4≦|f1|/fw≦1.8 (1); and 1.7≦f2/fw≦2.1 (2) where f1 is a focal length of the first lens group of the wide angle zoom lens; f2 is a focal length of the second lens group of the wide angle zoom lens; and fw is a focal length of the entire system at the wide angle end of the wide angle zoom lens. |
| US07969660B2 |
Materials and methods for producing lenses
The subject invention provides methods for creating wavefront aberrators with a desired refractive index profile that is stable against thermal and/or solar exposure. The invention further provides wavefront aberrators produced according to the methods described herein. |
| US07969659B2 |
Grin lens microscope system
A device for magnifying an object comprising an SSID having at least one imaging array disposed on a distal end thereof. The device further comprises a first optical element disposed on the distal end of the SSID wherein the first optical element has a distal end and a proximal end defining a first longitudinal length. A GRIN lens is disposed on the distal end of the first optical element and a second optical element is disposed on the distal end of the GRIN lens defining a second longitudinal length. The first longitudinal length and the second longitudinal length are configured such that when viewing the object at a predetermined wavelength of light, the object is magnified at a predetermined level of magnification and the focal plane of the magnified object is aligned at the proximal end of the first optical element. |
| US07969658B2 |
Eyepiece optical system and electronic view finder incorporating the same
The invention relates to an eyepiece optical system that, albeit being of small size, works in favor of gaining an angle of field and optical performance, and an electronic view finder incorporating such an eyepiece optical system. Specifically, the invention is characterized by comprising, in order from an object side to an exit side thereof, a first lens group that is a single lens that has positive refracting power and is in a meniscus configuration concave on its object side, a second lens group that is a single lens that has negative refracting power and is in a meniscus configuration concave on its object side, and a third lens group that is a single lens that has positive refracting power, wherein an object-side concave lens surface in the first lens group is an aspheric surface, an object-side concave lens surface in the second lens group is an aspheric surface, and an exit-side lens surface in the third lens group is an aspheric surface.Alternatively, the eyepiece optical system is characterized by comprising a first lens group having a curved refractive surface, and a rear lens group having positive refracting power, wherein while the first lens group remains fixed, the rear lens group moves along an optical axis with satisfaction of given conditions, thereby implementing diopter adjustment. |
| US07969657B2 |
Imaging systems for eyeglass-based display devices
Disclosed are imaging systems and eyeglass-based display devices. In one embodiment, an imaging system includes an image source that generates images, a optical element that manipulates the images, and a beam splitter positioned between the image source and the optical element that reflects the images onto an eye of a user of the imaging system, wherein each of the image source, optical element, and beam splitter are aligned along the same optical axis. |