Document Document Title
US08001753B2 Grass raking system
A raking attachment for a riding mower supports raking elements in a forward path of a cutting deck. The raking attachment includes a forward extending frame formed by longitudinal frame members positioned with first ends rigidly attached to a riding mower frame and with a second end forming attaching points at a fixed height off the ground. A transverse frame is pivotally attached to the forward extending frame by pivot posts. A rake assembly with at least one row of flexible rake tines disposed across the entire transverse width of the cutting deck is attached to the transverse frame and pivots therewith to contact the ground surface for raking. The rake tines can be raised to a non-raking position or the downward force of the rake tines against the ground surface can be varied by varying the pivot angle of the transverse frame over a range of pivot angles.
US08001747B2 Method and apparatus for forming and filling flexible packaging
An apparatus (100) for forming and filling flexible bags with a viscous product, said apparatus including: a support (104) for a supply (106) of a tubular web (108) of flexible packaging material; at least one guide (110) for accepting from said supply a continuous feed of the tubular web of packaging material; a bag forming (300) assembly for forming adjacent bags from the tubular web wherein the forming assembly further includes a sealing member (305) for providing a seal across the web, which seal is commonly formed along oblique edges of the adjacent bags; at least one drive mechanism (150) for griping and drawing the packaging material through said at least one guide; a cutting device for cutting first and second bags drawn from the supply, wherein the first bags are each adjacent to respective second bags; a plurality of transport carriages (210, 220, 230, 240, 250, 260), said carriages including a gripping means (270) being arranged to grip and carry first and second bags; a plurality of filling devices (400, 450) associated with the transport carriages, said filling devices charging a flexible pocket of the bags with a viscous material; and at least one sealing device (500, 550) for sealing the charged pocket of the bags.
US08001745B2 Systems for monitoring and controlling usage of materials
Material usage tracking systems for monitoring and optimizing usage of stretch film on a stretch wrapping machine is provided. A system includes a rotary encoder collar securable to a pre-stretch roller of a stretch wrapping machine and a proximity sensor securable proximate to the rotary encoder collar. Upon installation, the proximity sensor measures the revolutions of the pre-stretch roller when the stretch wrapping machine is wrapping a product or pallet. The system also includes a controller in communication with the proximity sensor. The controller converts the revolutions of the pre-stretch roller to measurements of the amount of stretch film pulled off a film roll in the stretch wrapping machine based on data received from the proximity sensor. Different uses for the data collected by the material usage tracking system and different ways of presentation of the data are also provided.
US08001743B2 Accessory for profiles for sliding windows or doors
An accessory for profiles used for making frames for sliding windows or doors comprising, amongst other things, a fixed frame formed by two crosspieces and two stiles; the profile forming the first lower crosspiece comprises two sliding tracks, parallel with one another, presented by a lower base body, and heat insulation elements; this profile having an element for connecting and joining two halves of the profile, transversally separate relative to the length of the tracks and together forming the whole of the lower crosspiece; this connecting and joining element also has heat insulation properties.
US08001741B2 Covering panel
The invention relates to a cladding panel having at least two pairs of side edges lying substantially opposite one another. The cladding panel includes a coupling mechanism structured and arranged on at least one of the at least two pairs of side edges, and including a groove and a tongue extending along respective side edges of the at least one pair. A roughening formed on at least a section of at least one of the tongue and the groove.
US08001740B2 Ballistic and forced entry resistant construction
A ballistic and forced entry resistant construction in which a sidewall is made up of a plurality of vertical columns, at least one perimeter floor sill section, at least one perimeter ceiling sill section, a plurality of bottom internal sleeves at spaced intervals extending upward from the perimeter floor sill section, a plurality of top internal sleeves at spaced intervals extending downward from the perimeter ceiling sill section, a plurality of upper outer panels, a plurality of lower outer panels, and a plurality of inner wall panels. A connecting tube is used to connect the upper and lower outer plates. The vertical columns are located between the bottom and top internal sleeves such that the sleeves fit inside the opposite ends of vertical columns and the upper and lower outer panels are located between vertical support columns.
US08001738B2 Airloop window wall system
An airloop wall system with durable water-tightness performance is disclosed. The system comprises a base anchor member secured to a top surface of a first floor slab, a base track connected to the base anchor, a base flashing for repelling moisture, a first ceiling anchor member secured to a bottom surface of the first floor slab, a first ceiling track connected to the first ceiling anchor member, a slab edge panel attached to the base track and the first ceiling track, a second ceiling anchor member secured to a bottom surface of a second floor slab, a second ceiling track connected to the second ceiling anchor member, a panel sill frame attached to the base track, a panel head frame attached to the second ceiling track, two jamb frames, and a panel secured between the frames. Corners of the frames are miter-matched such that air spaces inside form an airloop.
US08001736B2 Exterior wall assembly including moisture transportation feature
An exterior wall assembly includes a wall frame supporting an interior wall layer and an exterior wall layer opposite the interior wall layer, a flexible sheet disposed within the exterior wall assembly, and a seal attached to the flexible sheet and configured to prevent ingress of water toward the wall frame. The flexible sheet is configured to transport moisture from between the interior wall layer and the exterior wall layer to a location outside of the exterior wall assembly.
US08001730B2 System for modular building construction
Construction systems for erecting building structures comprise a plurality of prefabricated interconnectable modular building units, each unit comprising a frame shaped as a rectangular parallelopiped and comprised of framing members and a plurality of nodes, each node situated at a corner of said frame for selective interconnection with other units, the frame having at least one attachment point separate from the nodes for selective attachment to the frame of at least one adjacent unit, the nodes and the exterior dimensions of the frame conforming to ISO shipping standards such that each unit is transportable using the ISO intermodal transportation system, and such that when the units are aggregated horizontally and vertically and adjacent units are interconnected, a building structure comprising at least one habitable space is formed. The modular units are assembled in a factory remote from the job site, and are there constructed to a semi-finished state, including installation of one or more of interior fit-out systems and finishes, exterior envelope systems, plumbing systems, electrical systems, environmental systems, and fire protection systems, following which the semi-finished modular units are transported from the factory to the job site, where they are craned into place and secured to form the structure being erected, a plurality of adjacent pairs of semi-finished modular units also being “stitched” together, and the semi-finished modular units are thereafter constructed to a finished state.
US08001729B2 Gutter cover installation
A gutter cover installation for covering a roof eave gutter to prevent debris from entering the gutter includes a main portion of the gutter cover formed with a pattern of openings and an outer edge of the outer side of the gutter cover projecting out and down past an outer wall of the gutter to form a diverter preventing overflow from flowing over the outer surface of the gutter outer wall and thereby avoid staining the same. The gutter cover inner side is held up by segments formed on the inner side of the cover forming a channel which projects down below the main portion and is engaged with a mounting bracket installed within the gutter to be supported thereby. An elastomeric sealing strip is inserted into the channel and projects up and back into engagement with a drip edge or fascia installed at the roof eave.
US08001725B2 Shaft joint
A shaft such as a worm drive shaft for a movable barrier operator is disclosed. The shaft includes at least two shaft segments having connection ends. The shaft segments include respective connection ends permitting a first connection end to be joined with a second connection end by inserting a portion of at least one of the connection ends within the other connection end along the longitudinal axis of the shaft. The shaft segments may be retained by a resiliently expandable connector such as a snap ring. The connector may expand to permit the joining and then contract to be received within a surface recess on a connection end. The connector may be part of or pre-assembled on a connection end, such as by being positioned within a surface recess thereof. The connector may provide a pre-determined position for joining the first and second connection ends.
US08001724B2 Rotating barrier
A rotating barrier having a rotating arm assembly has at least one blocking arm which is formed at least over part of its length by a resiliently flexible core piece and is provided with an outer sheath.
US08001723B2 Tool, system, method, and plant for promoting growth of seedling, seedling set for planting, and planting method
The present invention is to provide a technology capable of planting seedlings in soil in planting ground such as dry land and allowing the seedling to root securely and grow without artificially supplying water continuously. Not only is a seedling fixed inside an upper opening portion of a tube having a length to a deep water-containing layer in the planting ground but also a growing medium is put inside the tube at a hardness that allows the root of the seedling to grow long downward, and the root of the seedling is allowed to grow below the tube, thereby obtaining the seedling having a long root. A vertical hole having approximately the same diameter as that of the tube is dug in the ground of the planting ground until reaching a soil layer having water quality and water quantity necessary for growth of plant, the seedling having the long root is buried in the vertical hole together with the tube, thereby planting the seedling in the planting ground.
US08001721B2 Plant cultivation system
To provide a system for producing safe and high nutrition vegetables at low cost.A plant cultivation system for cultivating a plant on a nonporous hydrophilic film, which comprises a nonporous hydrophilic film and a feeding means for supplying water or a nutrient fluid to the lower surface of the film in the absence of a hydroponic tank for accommodating water or a nutrient fluid and cultivating a plant therein. As the feeding means, use is made of a water absorbing material which is in contact with the film and which is disposed between the film and a water impermeable material. A system for producing safe and high nutrition vegetables at low cost can be obtained by disposing the water impermeable material directly on ground soil, whereupon the water absorbing material and an irrigation tube are disposed, followed by disposing the film thereon.
US08001720B2 Data processing apparatus, printing apparatus and method of creating mask pattern
A data processing apparatus includes a mask processor for performing a mask process for binary data, which is obtained by a binarization process using a dot arrangement pattern, by using mask patterns having print permitting pixels to generate binary data used for each of a plurality of scans of a print head to a same area of a print medium. An arrangement pattern of pixels that correspond to both of first data representing the print permitting pixels in at least one of the mask patterns and second data representing pixels to which dots are printed in the dot arrangement pattern satisfies the characteristics of (a) power spectrums of a low frequency region are smaller than power spectrums of a high frequency region, and (b) a peak of the power spectrums does not exist in a region lower side of half of the low frequency region.
US08001719B2 Method for producing rapidly renewable chitinous material using fungal fruiting bodies and product made thereby
The method of growing a fungal fruiting body requires exposing a mycelium of a desired organism type to environmental conditions sufficient to induce fruiting of fungal primordium in the organism type followed by enclosing the fungal primordium within a mold of a designated shape representing a near net shape volume of a desired final product. The fungal primordium is allowed to grow and fill the mold to form a mass of fungal tissue equivalent in shape to the designated shape of the mold after which the mass of fungal tissue is removed from the mold and dried.
US08001711B2 Rollable display device with strain reduction
A rollable display device including an inner housing (102) having an inner slot (108), a rollable display (106) having a bend portion (118), which is disposed through the inner slot (108), and a strain reducer (100) operably connected to the rollable display (106) to reduce strain at the bend portion (118). The strain reducer (100) acts by increasing radius of the bend portion (31), locating a neutral line of the rollable display (106) at a selected layer of the bend portion (31), and/or reducing cycling of the bend portion (31).
US08001706B2 Cover for embellishing footwear
A decorative cover for embellishing footwear is disclosed, having a cover incorporated with a sock. The cover is worn over the footwear for covering and enhancing it with at least one embellishment. The sock encloses a user's foot and is incorporated with the cover at the top of the sock to prevent the cover slipping down. To hold the cover down over the footwear, a disconnecting strap extends under the arch of the footwear. To hold the cover securely against the footwear, a zippered seam runs along the rear of the cover parallel to a user's leg.
US08001696B2 Vehicle compass compensation
A calibration method for calibrating a compass system suitable for use in a vehicle includes sampling data points of a magnetic field with a magneto-responsive sensor and processing output signals of the sensor via compass circuitry. The compass circuitry includes an analog-to-digital converter for converting analog signals of the sensor to digital signals and a digital-to-analog converter for converting digital signals to analog signals that are supplied to the sensor for adjusting the sensor. The output signals of the sensor are adjusted to be within an operable range of an analog-to-digital converter via an initial calibration mode. After completion of the initial calibration mode, output signals of the sensor are processed to determine when the output signals are outside a range of the analog-to-digital converter. An output of a digital-to-analog converter is adjusted to reposition the output signals of the sensor to be within the range of the analog-to-digital converter.
US08001695B2 Axle guide assembly for drywall coating box
An axle guide assembly for a drywall coating box. The axle guide assembly comprises one or more, preferably two, axle guides. Each axle guide is a clip that fits onto an axle of a drywall coating box in order to allow coating mud to be applied to the outside of a corner bead. As the axle guide assembly is slid down the corner bead, mud is applied to the corner bead.
US08001694B2 Fixed line rotary head trimmer with quick friction rotational lock for string trimmer machine
A trimmer head which receives fixed-length trimmer line segments has a housing with a side wall forming an open end with opposed holes formed therein. The trimmer head receives an insert that is rotated by the main housing. The insert has an arcuate channel from the first hole to the second hole adjacent the opposed side of the insert body when the insert body is in a load/unload position. The insert body is rotatable and movable axially with respect to the housing to an operational position where the line segment is forced to take an indirect path between the first and second holes securing the line segment in place during use of the trimmer head.
US08001693B2 Closable knife with opening mechanism
A knife includes a handle and a blade coupled to the handle so as to be movable between an open position in which the blade extends from the handle, and a closed position, in which the blade is received within the handle. A detent mechanism is configured to resist movement of the blade from the closed position toward the open position while less than a threshold bias is applied to the blade toward the open position, but to release the blade to move toward the open position when at least the threshold bias is applied to the blade toward the open position. The threshold bias is of such a degree that, when the blade is released by the detent mechanism, sufficient energy is imparted by the bias to the blade to carry the blade from the closed position to the open position.
US08001679B2 Compression tool with adjustable pushing length
A compression tool for connecting end connectors to coaxial cable ends includes a die for supporting a cable thereon, a slider axially spaced from the die for compressing against an end connector, which is fitted around but not yet crimped onto the cable end, and a handle connected to the slider via an inner link. A push button on the handle can be selectively inserted in a front or a rear locating hole provided on the inner link. When the handle is pivotally turned downward, the push button forces the inner link forward while the inner link is pivotally turned about the push button, so that the slider connected to the inner link is pushed forward toward the die. By inserting the push button in the front or the rear locating hole, the slider can be pushed forward by a shorter or a longer length, respectively.
US08001678B2 Component mounting apparatus
A component mounting apparatus for mounting a plurality of components on a board. The apparatus is provided with a board holding device for holding the board at a board holding position, a first mounting head for holding and taking out a component fed from a first component feeding position and mounting the component on the board held at the board holding position, a second mounting head for holding and taking out the component fed from a second component feeding position and mounting the component on the held board, and a component feeding device having a wafer holding table for holding a wafer on which the respective components are fed so that the wafer holding table can be moved reciprocationally between the first component feeding position and the second component feeding position.
US08001677B2 Automated tracking and storage system for use with an automated thermal battery manufacturing system
The present invention is directed at a system for automatically manufacturing thermal batteries. In the present invention, thermal batteries are manufactured using a press system, a stacking system and an enclosing system. The present invention uses a tracking, storage, and/or retrieval system to track various components used in the manufacturing process to improve manufacturing quality and to track the various components throughout the manufacturing process.
US08001676B2 Component placement apparatus
Component placement apparatus (1, 21) comprising a storage device (2) for storing components, means (5, 25, 71, 81, 91) for transporting a component from the storage device (2) to a transfer device (6, 26) comprising at least one component pickup position (11), and a component pick and place device (7) for picking up a component from the pickup position and placing the component on a desired location on a substrate (8) positioned on a substrate support. The transfer device (6, 26) is movable between a position relatively close to the stationary storage device (2) and a variable desired position above the substrate support relatively close to the movable pick and place device whilst the means (5, 25, 71, 81, 91) for transporting a component from the storing device to the transfer device (6, 26) comprise guiding means for guiding a tape (4) comprising components from reel (3) located in the storage device (2) into the component pickup position (11) on the transfer device (6, 26).
US08001671B2 Method for securing a beverage container to a mounting surface
A method for using an insulated holder is provided. The holder includes first and second polarized magnetic materials positioned at the sleeve portion. The first and second polarized magnetic materials each have first and second poles, the first pole of the first polarized magnetic material being positioned opposite and adjacent to the second pole of the second magnetic material and the second pole of the first polarized magnetic material being positioned opposite and adjacent to the first pole of the second magnetic material. The holder is placed adjacent to and in contact with said mounting surface.
US08001670B2 Method for assembling at least two elements by means of a crimping rivet
A method for assembling at least two elements by a crimping rivet including a head and a stem, and an associated fitting tool including a traction rod. The method includes the following successive steps. A securing step that secures a part of the stem of the rivet by die-stamping on a corresponding part of the traction rod of the fitting tool inserted inside the stem of the rivet. An inserting step that inserts the rivet in corresponding holes of the elements to be assembled. A crimping step that crimps the rivet by the fitting tool. A separating step that separates the fitting tool by radial deformation of the part of the stem on which die-stamping was applied.
US08001669B2 Pressurized cleaning of a turbine engine component
A method of repairing a turbine engine component includes providing a turbine engine component having a first surface and a second surface. A porous structure extends from the first surface to the second surface. The first surface is exposed to a first pressure and the second surface is exposed to a second pressure. The first pressure is higher than the second pressure. A difference between the first pressure and the second pressure is used to pass a cleaning liquid through the porous structure from the first surface to the second surface.
US08001667B2 Apparatus for holding lens holder
An apparatus (10) for holding lens holders includes a first board (14) and a second board (16). The first board includes a plurality of through slots (146) defined therein. The second board includes a base portion (160) and a plurality of elongated protrusions (162) for insertion in and sliding in the respective slots. The protrusions extend from the base portion. The first board and the second board are attached to each other with the protrusions inserted in the slots. The first board and the second board cooperatively form a plurality of receptacles between the first inner surfaces in the slots and the first surface of the protrusions. A platform (12) with one of the first board and the second board are secured thereon. A driving device (20) is configured for driving the other one of the first board and the second board to move relative to the one secured on the table to change a size of the receptacles.
US08001665B2 Door hinge repair apparatus and method
Apparatus for use in repairing, and methods of repairing, a door hinge of a vehicle includes use of a substitute hinge bracket and at least one pin configured to be received through at least one opening of a vehicle frame bracket. A locking portion of the at least one pin and a locking surface that defines an opening in the hinge bracket are configured such that the at least one pin is locked in a fixed position relative to the hinge bracket when assembled. Further, another repair apparatus includes a substitute pin having an interference portion for forming an interference fit with one or more surfaces defining an opening of a factory hinge bracket.
US08001663B2 Safety carabiner
One embodiment of the present invention relates to an automatically locking carabiner system including a frame, a gate, a gate biasing system, and a gate locking system. The frame and gate form a continuously enclosed inner region in a closed configuration with respect to the frame. When in an engaged state, the gate locking system is configured to automatically lock the gate in the closed configuration with respect to the frame. The gate locking system may include a trigger coupled to the frame such that the position of the trigger corresponds to the state of the gate locking system. The trigger may be positioned on an opposite side of the frame from the gate with respect to the inner region. The force required to disengage the gate locking system may be substantially opposite that which is required to transition the gate to the open configuration with respect to the frame.
US08001657B2 Adjustable security system for bracelets
The present invention discloses a safety device for a bracelet including a system for adjusting the circumferential length of the bracelet. This system comprises; first and second curvilinear elongated elements, each having a slot and a plurality of notches; a clasp comprising a third curvilinear elongated element having a set of grooves, wherein the grooves receive one of the first or second elongated elements for slidably gliding the elements relative to one another, and a fourth curvilinear elongated element; a button slidably secured in each slot of said first and second curvilinear elongated elements to slidably secure said first and second curvilinear elongated elements together; a set of stop reliefs are provided within said grooves for limiting the sliding motion of the first and second curvilinear elongated elements. The third and fourth curvilinear elongated elements are engaged with one another after the safety device is adjusted to a desired position in order to lock the device in that desired position.
US08001656B2 Handle for mounting in an opening
A handle has at least one holding plate which can be mounted in an opening in a thin wall such as a sheet-metal cabinet door, a head part, such as a flange or olive-shaped handle, which overlaps the rim of the opening of the thin wall on its (outer) side, and a body part which proceeds from the head part and can be pushed through the opening in the thin wall, and a holding part which is carried by the body part, supported on the other (rear) side of the thin wall, and is separate from the body part, wherein the holding part is formed by holding elements which project in a flexible manner from the body part in the direction of its outer surface and whose free end has an inclined surface for supporting the body part on the rim or edge of the opening without play.
US08001652B2 Upright vacuum cleaner with cyclonic airflow
An upright vacuum cleaner (A) includes an upright housing section (B) and a nozzle section (C). A cyclonic airflow dirt and dust separating chamber (54) is defined in said upright housing section. A suction source (E) pulls air and entrained dirt, dust, and other contaminants through a main suction opening (26) formed in the underside (24) of the nozzle and into the cyclonic airflow chamber (54). The cyclonic airflow chamber causes the suction airstream to travel in a cyclonic path such that the entrained contaminants are separated therefrom and deposited into a dirt container (52) that defines the chamber (54). A main filter element (K) filters residual contaminants from the suction airstream between the chamber and the suction source. The main filter element is preferably made from high-density polyethylene porous filter media. A final filter assembly (F) filters the suction airstream discharged by the suction source to ensure that the air discharged into the atmosphere is contaminant free, including those contaminants introduced into the airstream by the suction source itself.
US08001649B2 Wiper assembly for sweeping a glass surface on a vehicle
A wiper assembly for sweeping a glass surface on a vehicle. The wiper assembly includes a windshield washer assembly connected to the windshield wiper drive arm of the vehicle for controllably dispensing washer fluid directly down onto the glass surface of the vehicle. The wiper assembly also includes a novel control unit carried by the vehicle for controlling the dispensing of the washing liquid from the windshield washer assembly. Uniquely, the control unit includes a sensor that is operably associated with the pump for sensing the position of the wiper arm as it moves upwardly and downwardly relative to the glass surface and for controllably energizing the pump at selected positions of the wiper drive arm so that the washer fluid is always dispensed forwardly of the wiper blade to avoid smearing.
US08001638B1 Size convertible mattress
A mattress converts from a crib mattress with side walls and end walls surrounding an infant sleeping surface on a central mattress section therebetween to a twin mattress with a substantially planar sleeping surface to support a reclining child or adult. The end walls and side walls are tethered or hingedly connected to the central mattress section and are moveable from an upright position (crib mattress) to an open position (twin mattress). Sidewall extensions are hingedly connected to the side walls and are pivotably moveable from a first position above the side walls to a second position axially aligned with the side walls when the side walls are in the open position.
US08001637B1 Portable changing table
A portable changing table of the present disclosure includes at least one extendable arm assembly moveable between a retracted position and an extended position. The at least one extendable arm assembly is removably securable to a support structure. The portable changing table further includes a collapsible frame hingedly secured to the at least one extendable arm assembly, wherein the collapsible frame is moveable between a stowed position and a deployed position. The portable changing table further includes a flexible support member secured to a portion of the collapsible frame. The flexible support member extends across a portion of the collapsible frame in the deployed position.
US08001629B2 Floor drain and sanitary installation with such a floor drain, and method of fitting such a sanitary installation
A shower drainage arrangement that has a vertically extending drain opening (13) for the shower water which is to be channelled away. Arranged downstream of the drain opening (13) is a stench trap (14), which can be connected to a disposal line (19). The drainage arrangement (13) has an inflow housing (12) which can be installed in a vertical wall (8, 4) and which forms a chamber (18) which is arranged downstream of the drain opening (13) and is intended to allow inspection of the stench trap (14). A covering (11) is preferably positioned on the front of the inflow housing (12), and this covering can be removed to allow inspection of the stench trap (14). The invention allows straightforward production of a shower with a drain opening (13) arranged in a wall.
US08001628B2 System and method for providing tempered fluid
The present invention is directed to methods and apparatus for tempering the temperature of a liquid in a fluid conducting system. More particularly, some embodiments of the invention relates to tempering the temperature of water supplied to a fixture from a water heater in a fluid conducting system. The system can include a heater for heating the fluid and a diffuser for slowing the rate at which water provided to a decontamination fixture is heated.
US08001625B2 Water conserving improved toilet
An efficient dual-use toilet that provides a simple, easy-to-use and reliable solution to the problem of wasted toilet flush water is disclosed. The improved toilet provides a two-compartment toilet bowl, wherein the main bowl is used for solid waste and a hydrophobic secondary bowl is used for liquid waste. When only the secondary bowl is used, the toilet does not require flushing. When the toilet is flushed for solid wastes, water simultaneously cleanses the secondary bowl. Importantly, the drain line for the secondary bowl is configured such that during the flush cycle air is prevented coming back through the sewer system and into the household. The system is fully automatic and provides a very easy-to-learn “flush and forget” solution for the user. The amount of water flushed to the sewer system is greatly reduced, and consequently so is the burden on fresh water supply systems as well as the energy cost in required to deliver water.
US08001624B1 Removable hunter knit liner for use with a protective helmet
A winter liner system, including a hunter knit liner for wear underneath a protective helmet. The hunter knit liner fully encircles, and partially covers, the head of the wearer and includes a decorative exterior layer, an interior layer, and an interior foam layer sandwiched therebetween. The liner has two ear flaps extending downwardly to cover ears, and a looping band on each ear flap for holding the chinstrap of the helmet. At least one ear flap includes a side pocket integrated therein. The liner includes an elongated bill extending downwardly and horizontally across the front portion. The bill has an exterior surface which adheres directly to the front of the helmet. A plurality of snapping mechanisms, which include male snap heads embedded within the helmet and cooperating female snap receptacles integrated into the liner, removably securing the liner into the helmet.
US08001622B1 Pad for helmet or the like
A pad (10), a plurality of which can be positioned in a helmet (21) or the like for comfort and protection, includes a first generally rectangular fabric material (11) having truncated corners (25). A first generally rectangular foam material (12) having truncated corners (24) includes a top surface, a bottom surface, and side surfaces (18), the top surface being attached to the first fabric material (11). A second generally rectangular foam material (14) having truncated corners (22) includes a top surface, a bottom surface, and side surfaces (19) having a scallop (23), the top surface being attached to the bottom surface of the first foam material (14). A second generally rectangular fabric material (16) having truncated corners (22) and sides having a scallop (23) is attached to the bottom surface of the second foam material (14). The side surfaces (18, 19) of the first and second foam materials (12, 14) are exposed. The first foam material (12) is an open-celled polyurethane, and the second foam material (14) is an impact rate dependent polyurethane having a thickness at least as great or greater than the thickness of the first foam material (12).
US08001619B1 Lapel stiffener
A lapel stiffener includes a stiffener strip and a peel-off label. A pressure sensitive adhesive is applied to one side of the stiffener strip. The peel-off label is applied over the pressure sensitive adhesive. The peel-off label is removed and the pressure sensitive adhesive is pressed on to an inside surface of a lapel. A second embodiment of the lapel stiffener includes the stiffener strip, a strip retainer pocket and a strip storage pocket. The strip retainer pocket is formed by securing a strip of material behind a lapel to receive the stiffener strip. The strip storage pocket is formed on a bottom of the lapel. A third embodiment of the lapel stiffener preferably includes the stiffener strip and a strip retainer cavity. The strip retainer cavity is formed by securing a strip of material behind a lapel. The strip retainer cavity surrounds the stiffener strip.
US08006316B2 Scanning ion conductance microscopy for the investigation of living cells
A method for interrogating a surface using scanning probe microscopy comprises bringing a scanning probe into proximity with the surface and controlling the position of the probe relative to the surface to maintain a constant distance, characterized in that pressure is applied to the surface by a regulated flow of liquid through the probe, with subsequent monitoring of the position of the probe, wherein movement of the probe indicates a consequent movement of the surface.
US08006313B1 Non-machine specific optical-media based copy protection
A method of preventing use of an illegally copied optical medium comprises the step of identifying the media type of the optical medium to determine whether the optical medium is an original version or an unauthorized copy. If the media type indicates that the optical medium is an original version, use of the optical medium is not prevented. If the media type indicates that the optical medium is an unauthorized copy, use of the optical medium is inhibited. The media type can be identified by reviewing a medium-type code field contained in a mode parameter header of the optical medium, which corresponds to the media type of the optical medium, and is a feature integrated into the media that cannot be copied.
US08006311B2 System and methodology for validating compliance of anti-piracy security and reporting thereupon
A movie anti-piracy system with sensing and reporting is provided. An anti-piracy subsystem is utilized to preclude, interfere with and/or prevent copying of the movie. Anti-piracy compliance sensing selectively provides compliance violation signals respectively to a sensor response controller. The controller is responsive to the compliance violation signals to provide a violation status (and other data) signal output to a control center. The control center responds to the violation status and other data signals, from one or a plurality of theaters, and provides for reporting of information (such as security compliance, attendance, etc.) to one or multiple reporting sites (such as movie distribution studios, etc.). In a preferred embodiment, the control center determines whether there are violations of providing of anti-piracy protection within a theater (or theaters) and provides reporting on the anti-piracy compliance status and data. If a violation is indicated, then the control center sends a violation signal such as to the sensor response controller which can trigger an alarm and/or activate a violation inhibit output to shut down the movie projector and/or communicate to the control center for reporting purposes.
US08006310B2 Disk control unit
A disk control unit of a storage system stores identifies of initiators that are capable of communications with storage devices and information of the storage devices correlated with the initiators. When an initiator performs a discovery processing, the disk control unit judges based on the information correlated with the initiator whether or not the initiator accessing to a storage device is illegal, and denies the access if illegal.
US08006309B2 Information processing device and communication method
An interface receives, in a ticket request, service ID data designating a service to be provided, together with user ID data and apparatus ID data, from an external apparatus, and receives a cancellation request including the user ID data and the apparatus ID data from the external apparatus. A processor produces a result of an authentication based on the user ID data and the apparatus ID data upon a reception of the ticket request, and deletes, from a memory, the apparatus ID data after deleting, from the memory, the service ID data, when the interface receives, from the external apparatus, the cancellation request requesting a deletion of the apparatus ID data. The interface transmits a ticket to the external apparatus, in response to the reception of the ticket request, based on the result of the authentication based on the user ID data and the apparatus ID data.
US08006306B2 Exploit-based worm propagation mitigation
A system, method and computer program product for exploit-based worm detection and mitigation are disclosed. The system, method, and computer program product are configured to identify a signature representing content prevalent in network traffic, determine if the traffic including the signature exhibits propagation, determine if the traffic including the signature exhibits connectedness, and generate a worm signature based on the signature if the signature exhibits both connectedness and propagation.
US08006304B2 System and method for ARP anti-spoofing security
A system and method that provides for copying ARP replies, and generating data packets which include the ARP reply, and other information such as an identification of the port on the ARP reply was received. These data packets are then transmitted to an ARP collector which stores the ARP reply and port information. The ARP collector then uses this stored information, and analyzes future data packets relative to the stored information to detect occurrences of ARP spoofing. The ARP collector further provides for generating alerts and taking security actions when ARP reply spoofing is detected.
US08006303B1 System, method and program product for intrusion protection of a network
Intrusion protection. A first packet en route to a first destination is received. A first value representing a benefit for analyzing the first packet for intrusions in relation to a cost for analyzing the first packet for intrusions is automatically determined. An automatic determination is made that the first value is sufficiently high to warrant an analysis of the first packet for intrusions, and in response, the first packet is analyzed for intrusions. If the analysis of the first packet for intrusions indicates an intrusion, the first packet is discarded without forwarding the first packet to the first destination. A second packet en route to a second destination is received. A second value representing a benefit for analyzing the second packet for intrusions in relation to a cost for analyzing the second packet for intrusions is automatically determined. An automatic determination is made that the second value is not sufficiently high to warrant analysis of the second packet for intrusions, and in response, the second packet is forwarded to a next hop en route to the second destination without analyzing the second packet for intrusions.
US08006302B2 Method and system for detecting unauthorized use of a communication network
A system for detecting unauthorised use of a network is provided with a pattern matching engine for searching attack signatures into data packets, and with a response analysis engine for detecting response signatures into data packets sent back from an attacked network/computer. When a suspect signature has been detected into a packet, the system enters an alarm status starting a monitoring process on the packets sent back from the potentially attacked network/computer. An alarm is generated only in case the analysis of the response packets produces as well a positive result. Such intrusion detection system is much less prone to false positives and misdiagnosis than a conventional pattern matching intrusion detection system.
US08006300B2 Two-channel challenge-response authentication method in random partial shared secret recognition system
Random partial shared secret recognition is combined with using more than one communication channel between server-side resources and two logical or physical client-side data processing machines. After a first security tier, a first communication channel is opened to a first data processing machine on the client side. The session proceeds by delivering an authentication challenge, identifying a random subset of an authentication credential, to a second data processing machine on the client side using a second communication channel. Next, the user enters an authentication response in the first data processing machine, based on a random subset of the authentication credential. The authentication response is returned to the server side on the first communication channel for matching. The authentication credential can be a one-session-only credential delivered to the user for one session, or a static credential used many times.
US08006298B1 Fraud detection system and method
A computer implemented method is provided for detecting potential fraud or unauthorized activity when resetting an application password in an application in which a computer system including a call center dashboard system and a fraud detection interface. The method includes the steps of initiating the resetting of a user's application password for an application. The method further includes the steps of determining when an application ID is duplicated in the call center dashboard data store for the application and preparing an error report when the application ID is duplicated in the data store. The method also includes the steps of submitting a reset password for the application using the password criteria of the application. The method further includes the steps of storing the reset password in the user profile of the user when the application ID is not duplicated and the password conforms to the password criteria.
US08006288B2 Method and apparatus for accessing a computer application program
In some embodiments, a request may be generated to register a computing device of a user to a registration issuer, and in response a device related credential for the computing device may be obtained, the device related credential being for exclusive use of that computing device and being related to a unique identifier of the user. A request for a credential for an application program may be generated, and in response an application credential for the application program may be obtained, the application credential being related to the unique identifier of the user. A request for access to the application program may be generated, the request comprising the application credential and the device related credential. In response to the request for access, access to the application may be granted if the device related credential and the application credential relate to the same unique user identifier.
US08006286B2 System and method for managing and controlling data
A system for managing and controlling data. The system includes provisions for easily and rapidly updating and managing a computer system, particularly a complex computer system in which several computers communicate with one another. The system also includes a central database which plays a key role in the management and control of the computer system. Most of the management functions are retained in the central database and remote offices, which generally do not retain data management information, communicate with the central office to retrieve data management information. The system also includes a novel approach to manipulating data.
US08006283B2 Method and system for triggering internet applications using messages
There is described a system and a method for triggering an Internet application from an Internet-enabled computing device having access to information specific to a user, namely user-specific information. The Internet-enabled computing device being for coupling to a network, and the method comprising: receiving a message from the user via the network, the message having associated thereto user identification; comparing the user identification with the user-specific information; validating the user identification using the comparison; and upon positive validation, triggering the Internet application from the Internet-enabled computing device using the received message.
US08006279B2 Distributive system for marking and blocking video and audio content related to video and audio programs
A system is provided for rating multimedia content streamed over a data network as a series of data frames, segments, or packets and for administering display of the rated content. The system includes at least one content source device for creating raw multimedia content; an intermediate content marking and delivery agent for marking and delivering the content created; and a content receiving device for displaying or rejecting delivered content according to detection of and comparison of content markings applied to at least one preset value. In one aspect, the content marking follows some existing or devised rating system and whereupon the marked content is identifiable at the receiving end for each received data frame, segment, or data packet carrying content in a payload.
US08006274B2 Synchronized media experience
A synchronized media experience is described. A media server identifies a group of two or more remote media entertainment systems through which user-controlled play of media content may be presented. The server generates and transmits one or more synchronization commands to the remote media entertainment systems to synchronize presentation of a particular media content through the two or more remote media entertainment systems. A control command entered by a user of one of the remote media entertainment systems may be communicated to each of the two or more remote media entertainment systems to enable synchronized, user controlled presentation of the particular media content.
US08006272B2 Method and apparatus of displaying bit stream data, method and apparatus for generating bit stream data, and storage medium
According to a data display method, data having a program unit and instruction data for the program unit multiplexed on bit stream data is received. The program unit is extracted from the received data and is stored in a memory. The instruction data is extracted from the received data, and the program unit or part thereof specified by the instruction data is read from the memory and is executed. Then, the bit stream data and the execution result are displayed. This ensures smooth synchronization of reproduction of a bit stream with execution of an associated program and efficient use of resources.
US08006270B2 Method and system for delivering multimedia contents to a set top box using a mobile telephony network
A method for enabling use of contents by a user of at least one set top box adapted to receive broadcast TV signals, includes: establishing an association between at least one identifier of the user in a communications network, and at least one identifier of the at least one user's set top box; notifying the user via the communications network of the availability of the contents, wherein the notifying includes exploiting the at least one identifier of the user in the communications network; upon receiving a confirmation by the user, delivering the contents to the user's set top box, wherein the delivering includes identifying the at least one user's set top box exploiting the at least one identifier thereof.
US08006266B2 Method for using only feedback from shows that improve the performance of the recommender system
In customizing a user profile employed by a recommendation system, users are prompted for feedback regarding content that is the subject of the recommendation system. Only feedback that does not degrade performance of the recommendation system, as measured by the error rate, is accepted and utilized to modify the user profile. Feedback that would degrade performance is discarded without being employed to alter the user profile. In this manner, error is continually driven toward a minimum by system changes based on feedback.
US08006263B2 Interactive television program guide with remote access
An interactive television program guide with remote access is provided. The interactive television program guide is implemented on interactive television program guide equipment. A remote program guide access device is connected to the interactive television program guide equipment by a remote access link to provide a user with remote access to program guide functions.
US08006260B2 Apparatus and method for parental control using V-chip plus+ and master password
A method and apparatus for exercising access control over television programs using a parental control user interface that has different functions is provided. The method requires a password to enter into a master mode for obtaining access to all the functions of the parental control user interface. Once in the master mode, the user may enter a criterion for blocking a television program from being viewed or recorded or the user can override an already blocked television program.If a user, not in the master mode, attempts to watch or record a program that meets the blocking criterion and the program does not meet the overriding criterion, a prompt is provided to the user to enter the password. Upon entering a correct password, the program is unblocked.
US08006256B2 Optical disc medium having clamping region with protruding structures
A recording layer is described that is at least partially or entirely positioned at a distance T7 of less than 0.4 mm with respect to the second surface. When the optical recording medium is clamped in a drive, the recording layer has a “higher” position than a recording layer of a known DVD. The layer structure of the described optical recording medium reduces the thickness of the disc in an area of the recording layer. In particular, a thickness T1 of only 0.4 to 0.7 mm is possible while maintaining the reliability of the optical recording medium (i.e. without reading problems in most or all drives). Further, the optical recording medium may have only one substrate, i.e. only one disc of polycarbonate, whereas the other side of the recording layer is only covered by a protective lacquer.
US08006253B2 Version-adaptive serialization and deserialization
Methods for serializing and deserializing a program object are disclosed. Serialized data may be generated to convey a representation of the program object. The serialized data may include data identifying a class for the program object, and a data type and at least one data value for each data member comprising the program object. The program object may be reconstructed from the serialized data according to a definition of the identified class. A received data member may be reconstructed if the received data type is an expected data type according to the class definition. A received data member may be ignored if the expected data type according to the class definition is a null data type. Default data may be substituted for a received null data member if the expected data type according to the class definition is not a null data type. The received data type may be converted to an expected data type according to the class definition.
US08006252B2 Data processing system with intercepting instructions
A data processing system with intercepting instructions comprising an operating system for supporting processes, such that the process are associated with one or more resources and the operating system being arranged to police the accessing by processes of resources so as to inhibit a process from accessing resources with which it is not associated. Part of this system is an interface for interfacing between each process and the operating system and a memory for storing state information for at least one process. The interface may be arranged to analyze instructions from the processes to the operating system, and upon detecting an instruction to re-initialize a process cause state information corresponding to that pre-existing state information to be stored in the memory as state information for the re-initialized process and to be associated with the resource.
US08006250B1 Creating an object in an object-oriented programming platform
An application programming interface is provided in an object-oriented programming platform for developing applications. A method comprises, in response to a first message received at a first object that contains one or more properties, creating a second object that responds to a second message sent thereto responsive to sending of the first message to the first object and returning the second object. By returning, for example, key-value collection proxies by specific key-value coding methods a read-only or a read-write access may be allowed to a collection of a container object's related objects. A specific implementation of one object's class may change over time without requiring changes in another object's implementation.
US08006248B2 Method, apparatus and computer program for facilitating communication between a client application and a server application
Responsive to a client application initiating a synchronous communication with a server application by sending a request via an asynchronous communication manager, one or more checks are performed to identify a cause of any failure to provide a response to the client application satisfying synchronous communication criteria. The results of one or more checks are used to determine whether to back out any data updates performed by/on behalf of the server application in response to the request.
US08006244B2 Controller for multiple instruction thread processors
A mechanism controls a multi-thread processor so that when a first thread encounters a latency event for a first predefined time interval temporary control is transferred to an alternate execution thread for duration of the first predefined time interval and then back to the original thread. The mechanism grants full control to the alternate execution thread when a latency event for a second predefined time interval is encountered. The first predefined time interval is termed short latency event whereas the second time interval is termed long latency event.
US08006236B1 System and method for compiling high-level primitive programs into primitive program micro-code
Systems and methods for compiling high-level primitive programs are used to generate primitive program micro-code for execution by a primitive processor. A compiler is configured to produce micro-code for a specific target primitive processor based on the target primitive processor's capabilities. The compiler supports features of the high-level primitive program by providing conversions for different applications programming interface conventions, determining output primitive types, initializing attribute arrays based on primitive input profile modifiers, and determining vertex set lengths from specified primitive input types.
US08006231B2 Apparatus and method to automate the testing of a graphical user interface
A method is disclosed to automate the testing of a graphical user interface. The method supplies a computing device comprising a code base, wherein a graphical user interface (“GUI”) is generated when that code base is executed, and wherein that GUI comprises a plurality of interactable graphical objects. The method color codes in the code base each of the plurality of interactable graphical objects, and then executes the code base. The method selects one of the color-coded interactable graphical objects as a test object. Using the color of the selected interactable graphical object, the method locates and activates that test object, and ascertains if an expected result was observed after activating the color-coded test object. If an expected result is not observed after activating the test object, the method generates an error message.
US08006229B2 Program maintenance support device and program for the same
The present invention includes program storing unit 11 for storing a program, parsing/dependence-information generating unit 12 for generating dependence information and a syntax tree for a program, dependence-information storing unit 13 for storing dependence information, syntax-tree storing unit 14 for storing a syntax tree, dependence-information tracking unit 17 for extracting interface information on a program fragment according to specifying-information specifying the program fragment and extracting a part of a program fragment associated with interface information according to selection information for selecting the interface information, and information input/output unit 15 for passing specifying-information and selection information to dependence-information tracking unit 17 and outputting interface information and a part of a program fragment passed from dependence-information tracking unit 17.
US08006223B2 Method and system for estimating project plans for packaged software applications
A system for estimating and generating project plans for implementing packaged software applications, the system includes: a view layer configured to act as a user interface for user inputs and system outputs; a model and control layer configured to implement rules based on a series of estimation and implementation models, and to perform calculations of project plan details and project plan schedules; an estimation knowledge base layer configured to hold and derive the series of estimation and implementation models; and wherein the system for estimating and generating multi-dimensional project plans for implementing packaged software applications is carried out over networks comprising: the Internet, intranets, local area networks (LAN), and wireless local area networks (WLAN).
US08006221B2 System and method for testing multiple processor modes for processor design verification and validation
A system and method for generating a test case and a bit mask that allows a test case executor the ability to re-execute the test case multiple times using different machine state register bit sets. A test case generator creates a bit mask based upon identified invariant bits and semi-invariant bits. The test case generator includes compensation values corresponding to the semi-invariant bits into a test case, and provides the test case, along with the bit mask, to a test case executor. In turn, the test case executor dispatches the test case multiple times, each time with a different machine state register bit set, to a processor. Each of the machine state register bit sets places the processor in different modes.
US08006219B2 Wiring path information creating method and wiring path information creating apparatus
A wiring processing apparatus decides each group formed by sorting signals that flow between component pins. Then, the wiring processing apparatus reads printed circuit board data and identifies a net cluster that belongs to each group. After a net cluster that belongs to each group is identified, the wiring processing apparatus refers to the printed circuit board data about the identified net cluster, and automatically creates each wiring route that indicates a wiring scanning area of the signal cluster in each group. Thus the wiring processing apparatus displays them on the printed board data. After the wiring route is automatically created, the wiring processing apparatus automatically creates wiring route information that corresponds to each wiring route, and controls them according to each wiring route.
US08006218B2 Power mesh arrangement method utilized in an integrated circuit having multiple power domains
The invention discloses a power mesh arrangement method utilized in an integrated circuit having multiple power domains. The arrangement method includes: forming a first partial local power mesh according to a position of a first power domain; forming a second partial local power mesh according to a position of a second power domain; forming a global power mesh, utilized for providing powers needed by the first and the second power domains; coupling the first partial local power mesh to the global power mesh and the first power domain; and coupling the second partial local power mesh to the global power mesh and the second power domain.
US08006209B2 Method and system for outputting a sequence of commands and data described by a flowchart
The present invention is a method and system for outputting a sequence of commands and data described by a flowchart. The method includes steps as follows. A flowchart describing a sequence of commands and data is received. The flowchart includes a plurality of flowchart symbols. Each of the plurality of flowchart symbols is assigned a ROM (read only memory) record. Assigned ROM records are stored in a ROM. A processor is generated to include the ROM, wherein the processor receives as input a CLOCK signal, a RESET signal, an ENABLE signal and N binary inputs x1, x2, . . . xN, and outputs the sequence of commands and data.
US08006208B2 Reducing coupling between wires of an electronic circuit
A routing method for reducing coupling between wires of an electronic circuit is proposed, wherein sets of nets are classified according to their coupling characteristics, and spacing between wires assigned to the sets of nets is chosen according to the coupling characteristics.
US08006207B2 Parallel intrusion search in hierarchical VLSI designs with substituting scan line
Mechanisms are provided for performing intrusion searching of a hierarchical integrated circuit design. These mechanisms may receive the hierarchical integrated circuit design and perform a parallel intrusion search operation, that utilizes a substituting scan line, on the hierarchical integrated circuit design to identify intrusions of geometric objects in the hierarchical integrated circuit design. The mechanisms may further record intrusions of geometric objects in the hierarchical integrated circuit design identified by the parallel intrusion search operation. The parallel intrusion search operation may utilize a plurality of separate intrusion searches executed by the data processing system in parallel on the hierarchical integrated circuit design.
US08006206B1 Gated clock conversion
Gated clock signals in ASIC designs are automatically optimized for implementation with a programmable device. Components having gated clock signals are identified and converted to operate directly from the base clock signal. To maintain compatibility, the data signal to the component is modified to connect with additional input logic responsive to a clock enable signal. The input logic modifies the signal received by the component's data input so that the component's output in response to the clock enable signal is unchanged. To this end, a system and method may identify the logic cone associated with a gated clock signal, convert this logic cone into a Boolean expression, and determine cofactors of the base clock signal from this Boolean expression. The input logic and clock enable logic are derived from an analysis of the cofactors of the base clock signal.
US08006204B2 Automated processor generation system for designing a configurable processor and method for the same
An automated processor design tool uses a description of customized processor instruction set extensions in a standardized language to develop a configurable definition of a target instruction set, a Hardware Description Language description of circuitry necessary to implement the instruction set, and development tools such as a compiler, assembler, debugger and simulator which can be used to develop applications for the processor and to verify it. Implementation of the processor circuitry can be optimized for various criteria such as area, power consumption, speed and the like. Once a processor configuration is developed, it can be tested and inputs to the system modified to iteratively optimize the processor implementation. By providing a constrained domain of extensions and optimizations, the process can be automated to a high degree, thereby facilitating fast and reliable development.
US08006200B2 Facilitated search for online collaboration platform
In an example embodiment, an online advertising management platform receives a login that identifies a user as a user allowed access to an account maintained by the platform. The platform displays a toolbar having a textbox that allows the user to search for data relating to all accounts to which the user has access. The platform displays a combo box after the user enters a fixed number of characters in the textbox. The combo box includes a list of descriptions of each data object that is accessible and that is relevant to the fixed number of characters. The platform locates the combo box contiguous to the toolbar over some but not all of the view displaying the data relating to the order. The platform displays a data object, rather than a page of search results, after the user clicks a description of a data object from the combo box.
US08006198B2 Display control device, image processing device and display control method
A technique is provided, which can help the user to know well that process modes have been switched among them, thereby enabling the user to work more efficiently.A display control device is provided, which comprises: a selection information acquisition unit 201 that acquires selection information representing which process mode has been selected from a plurality of process modes in which different processes are performed; and a control unit 202 that displays display objects corresponding to set items related to the process mode selected, in a first display region on a screen, and display objects corresponding to any process mode not selected, in a second display region narrower than the first display region on the screen, on the basis of the selection information acquired by the selection information acquisition unit 201.
US08006197B1 Method and apparatus for output of search results
Methods and systems for generating search results for output to a user. A number of “views” of search results may be provided each having particular formats. In a product search engine implementation, a grid view may be provided that allows multi-column display of product-related search results. In other implementations, a user may be able to select between multiple output modes/formats, and may even be able to select how search results should be output (e.g., what type and format of cues should be output for each search result).
US08006192B1 Layered graphical user interface
A method of creating a graphical user interface having control(s) to direct any task through a computer system is provided. One application of the user interface is for manipulating a time based stream of information to create a presentation. The methods use a layered graphic file that is accessed by an application program to generate the user interface. Each layer of the graphic file contains a control object to an element of the user interface. The control objects are capable of being revised in order to make alterations to the user interface. Other aspects of the present invention relating to the graphical user interface are also described.
US08006190B2 Social namespace addressing for non-unique identifiers
A device, system, and method are directed towards enabling a user to disambiguate an identity of a member included in a user's social network (USN), and towards enabling an operation to be performed based on information about the member. The USN is determined. The namespace identifier (NID) of the member is received. If the NID is non-unique within the USN, member distinctions are determined for members in the USN who are associated with the same NID. The member distinctions are sent to the user. The user makes a selection of one of the members associated with one of the member distinctions. Based on the selection, information about the selected member is received. The operation is enabled to be performed based on the information about the selected member. The operation may include addressing the selected member, enabling a communication between the user and the selected member, or the like.
US08006187B1 Checkpoint sequence fallout metrics management during path analysis
Tools and techniques are provided for interactive fallout analysis. Checkpoints, such as web pages visited, are defined through user input. As the second and subsequent checkpoints are added, fallout metrics are automatically calculated and displayed for the checkpoint pairs. The user receives fallout information interactively, in response to each change in the sequence of checkpoints, rather than being forced to define all checkpoints and then wait while the fallout metrics are calculated for a batch of checkpoint definition changes. Special coloring or other visualization highlights indicate when the fallout between two checkpoints is total.
US08006181B2 System for handling novel words in a spellchecking module
A system for adding words to an online dictionary used for spellchecking is described. A spellchecker module compares words of an electronic document with words in the online dictionary and identifies a word in the electronic document that is missing from the dictionary. After a user indicates a desire to add the missing word to the dictionary, the spellchecker module determines at least one related-word form of the missing word. The related-word forms depend upon the part of speech of the missing word. The spellchecker can prompt the user to identify the part of speech and then to verify each determined related-word form. The spellchecker concurrently adds the missing word and at least one related-word form of the missing word to the online dictionary in a single ‘add-to-dictionary’ operation.
US08006179B2 Wrapping nodes in a drawing canvas
Wrapping nodes in a drawing canvas may be provided. A plurality of nodes may be received and a location to wrap the plurality of nodes may be determined. The location may be between two consecutive nodes in the plurality of nodes. Furthermore, a direction may be determined to place a first subset of the plurality of nodes comprising at least one node in the plurality of nodes and being subsequent to the determined location. The plurality of nodes may be balanced using at least one of the following: i) placing nodes within the plurality of nodes to an end of available space within the drawing canvas; ii) placing a first predetermined number of nodes of the plurality of nodes per row; and iii) evenly spacing a second predetermined number of nodes of the plurality of nodes.
US08006172B2 Auxiliary path iterative decoding
A parallel iterative decoding system interposed between a network interface and a block memory matrix receives encoded data and both stores the data in a First-In-First-Out (“FIFO”) memory block and processes it through a timing recovery engine. The timing recovery engine delivers to an iterative decoder synchronized data samples and detects cycle slip. The iterative decoder thereafter performs a predetermined number of iterations to decode the data. Responsive to encoded data failing to converge after the predetermined number of iterations, the encoded data is communicated from the FIFO memory to an auxiliary decoder module. The auxiliary iterative error correction code decoder performs a second predetermined number of iterations to decode the data wherein the number of iterations performed by the auxiliary iterative error correction code decoder is greater than the primary iterative error correction code decoder. Converged data from the auxiliary decoder replaces otherwise null data stored in the block matrix memory.
US08006171B2 Apparatus for random parity check and correction with BCH code
An apparatus for random parity check and correction with BCH code is provided, including a Bose-Chaudhuri-Hocquenghem (BCH) parity check code encoder, a channel, a BCH parity check code decoder, and a static random access memory (SRAM). The BCH parity check code encoder uses the BCH encoding to encode the parity check code in writing to flash memory. The channel is connected to the BCH parity check code encoder to compute the parity check code and the message polynomial into receiving data. The BCH parity check code decoder is connected to the channel for inputting the receiving data and using BCH decoding to compute the eigen value and error address. The SRAM is connected to the BCH parity check code decoder so as to read error address from static RAM, correct the data and restores the corrected data to the SRAM. Therefore, this achieves the object of random parity check and correction with BCH code.
US08006169B2 Data transfer error checking
An RNIC implementation that performs direct data placement to memory where all segments of a particular connection are aligned, or moves data through reassembly buffers where all segments of a particular connection are non-aligned. The type of connection that cuts-through without accessing the reassembly buffers is referred to as a “Fast” connection because it is highly likely to be aligned, while the other type is referred to as a “Slow” connection. When a consumer establishes a connection, it specifies a connection type. The connection type can change from Fast to Slow and back. The invention reduces memory bandwidth, latency, error recovery using TCP retransmit and provides for a “graceful recovery” from an empty receive queue. The implementation also may conduct CRC validation for a majority of inbound DDP segments in the Fast connection before sending a TCP acknowledgement (Ack) confirming segment reception.
US08006162B2 Method for padding and puncturing low density parity check code
Disclosed is a method for puncturing a Low Density Parity Check (LDPC) code that is expressed by a factor graph having a check node and a variable node, connected to each other by an edge, and is decoded by a parity check matrix including a parity part having a single weight-3 column and a dual-diagonal matrix. The method includes selecting 1-step recoverable (1-SR) variable nodes with the highest quality including a variable node mapped to a weight-3 column, and setting a first puncturing priority group using the selected 1-SR variable nodes, selecting k-step recoverable (k-SR) variable nodes with the highest quality in the next step k taking into account the variable nodes selected in the current step, and setting a priority group for each individual step, puncturing an LDPC code mapped to a variable node belonging to a corresponding group according to priority of each group obtained in the preceding steps.
US08006157B2 Resource-light method and apparatus for outlier detection
Outlier detection methods and apparatus have light computational resources requirement, especially on the storage requirement, and yet achieve a state-of-the-art predictive performance. The outlier detection problem is first reduced to that of a classification learning problem, and then selective sampling based on uncertainty of prediction is applied to further reduce the amount of data required for data analysis, resulting in enhanced predictive performance. The reduction to classification essentially consists in using the unlabeled normal data as positive examples, and randomly generated synthesized examples as negative examples. Application of selective sampling makes use of an underlying, arbitrary classification learning algorithm, the data labeled by the above procedure, and proceeds iteratively. Each iteration consisting of selection of a smaller sub-sample from the input data, training of the underlying classification algorithm with the selected data, and storing the classifier output by the classification algorithm. The selection is done by essentially choosing examples that are harder to classify with the classifiers obtained in the preceding iterations. The final output hypothesis is a voting function of the classifiers obtained in the iterations of the above procedure.
US08006152B2 Scan chain fail diagnostics
A method comprises generating a test pattern for a device under test (DUT), wherein the DUT comprises a plurality of scan chains coupled to a plurality of multiple input shift registers (MISRs). The plurality of faults detected by a first MISR and by a second MISR are identified. In the event the plurality of faults detected by the first MISR does not include any of the plurality of faults detected by the second MISR and the plurality of faults detected by the second MISR does not include any of the plurality of faults detected by the first MISR, the first MISR and the second MISR are coupled as an independent MISR pair. The test pattern is applied to the DUT to generate a scan chain output. The independent MISR pair captures the scan chain output to generate a test signature. The test signature is compared with a known good signature.
US08006148B2 Test mode control circuit and method for using the same in semiconductor memory device
A test mode control circuit of a semiconductor memory device includes an input unit configured to input test mode data for at least one of a plurality of test modes, and a test mode controlling unit configured to enable/disable a test mode according to the number of inputs of the test mode data.
US08006146B2 Test apparatus and test method for testing a plurality of devices under test
Provided is a test apparatus for testing a plurality of devices under test, the test apparatus including: a data supplying section that concurrently supplies test data to the plurality of devices under test; a writing control section that controls the test data to be concurrently written to the plurality of devices under test; and a reading control section that successively reads the test data from each of the plurality of devices under test. The plurality of devices under test may be a plurality of memories under test.
US08006144B2 Memory testing
This application discloses a data processing apparatus comprising: at least one memory; processing logic operable to perform data processing operations on data and operable to access said at least one memory; and memory testing logic operable to perform a transparent algorithm testing routine on said at least one memory, said data processing apparatus impeding said processing logic from accessing said at least one memory while said memory testing logic is performing said testing routine; wherein said processing logic and said memory testing logic are operable to detect a system event, said memory testing logic being operable when performing said testing routine to respond to detection of said system event by stopping said testing routine and restoring said at least one memory to an initial state, said initial state being a state it was in immediately prior to commencement of said testing routine, whereupon said data processing apparatus is operable to allow said processing logic to access said at least one memory.
US08006139B2 Degeneration control device and degeneration control program
A degeneration control device that controls degeneration of a cache having a plurality of ways based on an error that occurs in response to an access request, includes a cache line degeneration information memory unit, which stores cache line degeneration information that indicates whether a cache line constituting each of the plurality of ways is degenerated, and a degeneration control unit, which writes, when an error that occurs in response to the access request causes a predetermined condition to be met, cache line degeneration information that indicates a predetermined cache line where the error occurs is degenerated in the cache line degeneration information memory unit.
US08006138B2 Software quality assessment based on semantic similarities
A method for software processing includes accepting quality information, which includes names of elements of software code and respective quality indications regarding tested acceptability of the elements. The names are processed to extract a list of substrings that occur in the names. Respective metrics are assigned to the substrings responsively to the quality indications of the elements in whose names the substrings occur. At least some of the substrings are presented to a user in accordance with the assigned metrics.
US08006137B2 Computer debug method
A computer debug method includes following steps: a Power-On Self Test (POST) is started; several function tests of the POST are executed respectively, wherein at least one set of codes corresponding to each following executing function test is stored in a memory before executing each of the function tests; when the POST is interrupted, wait for a user to input a guess signal through an input device; compare the set of stored codes in the memory with the guess signal; a signal representing that the set of stored codes in the memory equals to the guess signal is output if the set of stored codes in the memory equals to the guess signal.
US08006136B2 Automatic grammar based fault detection and isolation
The present disclosure relates to automated testing of hardware and software systems. In some embodiments, a testing framework that generates a set of test cases for a system under test using a grammar is disclosed. The grammar may include terminal and nonterminal symbols with tags that describe a test sequence. The testing framework can use the grammar to generate a set of test cases. The testing framework can then receive feedback about the execution of the set of test cases from the system under test. In response to the feedback, the testing framework can generate a new set of grammars by automatically modifying or inserting tags in the original grammar. The new set of grammars can then be used to generate further test cases that intelligently explore the system under test for correctness, conformance, performance, security, or reliability.
US08006129B2 Detecting and preventing the split-brain condition in redundant processing units
In an example embodiment the occurrence of the split-brain condition in a High-Availability system, having active and standby processing units, is detected, its cause is diagnosed, and the cause is treated to prevent interruption of service. Diagnosis and treatment procedures are performed at the active processing unit prior to being performed at the standby processing unit.
US08006125B1 Automatic detection and recovery of corrupt disk metadata
Provided is a technique to automatically detect and recover a computer system after a failed attempt to read a partition, for example, a failed attempt to boot a target operating system, caused by corrupt disk metadata, such as a corrupt partition table metadata or a corrupt boot sector metadata.
US08006122B2 Methods, systems, and computer products for detection of and policy directed resolution of signaling sympathy sickness in a multisystem cluster
A system and method for detection of and a policy directed resolution of signaling sympathy sickness. Embodiments include a system having a communication among the members, each member having a cross-system coupling facility (XCF), and a method of managing sympathy sickness, the method including detecting a sympathy sickness condition affecting at least one of the members, documenting the sympathy sickness condition and implementing a policy rule to resolve the sympathy sickness condition.
US08006114B2 Software programmable timing architecture
An apparatus for generating a digital signal pattern may comprises a memory, a program sequencer, first and second circuits, and an event execution unit. The memory may have stored therein a plurality of instructions that, when executed, cause a digital signal pattern to be generated on a plurality of nodes. The program sequencer may be configured to control a sequence in which the plurality of instructions are retrieved from the memory and executed. The first circuit may sequentially step through a plurality of different output states in response to a clock signal. The second circuit may identify an output event when an output state of the first circuit corresponds to an output state identified by retrieved instructions of a particular type. The event execution unit may control states of signals on the plurality of nodes in a manner specified by the retrieved instructions of the particular type in response to the second circuit identifying an output event.
US08006112B2 System and method for managing blades after a power supply unit failure
Systems and methods for managing blades in the event of a power supply unit failure are disclosed. A method may include determining whether a reduced power capacity of the non-failed power supply units is sufficient to provide an aggregate minimum power requirement of the resources in response to a failure of a particular power supply unit. The method may also include powering down a low-priority resource and not powering down a second resource having a higher priority than the low-priority resource if the reduced power capacity of the non-failed power supply units is not sufficient to provide the aggregate minimum power requirement of the resources.
US08006109B2 Information processing apparatus and power supply control method
According to one embodiment, an information processing apparatus includes a housing, a power supply incorporated in the housing, a conversion unit which converts a voltage supplied from the power supply, a detection unit which detects a voltage supplied from the power supply, and a control unit which, when the voltage detected by the detection unit has become less than or equal to a specific threshold value, controls the power supply so as to lower not only a voltage output from the conversion unit by a specific percentage but also a voltage supplied to the detection unit by a specific percentage.
US08006104B1 Ethernet powered computing device and system
Apparatus and systems provide processing capabilities while utilizing power received via an Ethernet. A computing device has an Ethernet connector for receiving power and data, internal power supply circuitry for extracting power from the Ethernet connector, and a Central Processing Unit (CPU) for receiving the power. A housing may encompass the components of the computing device and be configured for installation in an electrical wall box. The housing may include a display or connectors for peripherals. A system includes at least two computing devices. Each device has an Ethernet connector for receiving power and communicating with other devices and are installed within a housing within an electrical wall box. One device has a display for receiving user input instructions for transmittal to another device, while another device has a peripheral connector for controlling a peripheral according to the instructions.
US08006102B2 Method and apparatus for transmitting content data and recording and/or reproducing apparatus
A data transmission method and apparatus for transmitting data, such as encrypted content data. A device that is to be a destination of transmission is authenticated. If the device has not been authenticated, encrypted data read out from a storage unit is decrypted to give decoded data which then is re-encrypted based on innate key data acquired from the device that is to be the destination of transmission to give re-encrypted data. The re-encrypted data is then transmitted to the device that is to be a destination of transmission.
US08006100B2 Enhancing trusted platform module performance
A computer system comprises a system trust module for taking measurements for platform specific firmware during a system boot and a trust subsystem comprising a subsystem trust module for taking measurements for software provisioned on the computer system. The subsystem trust module is in communication with the system trust module.
US08006097B2 Password generation using genre selection
Presently disclosed herein are a method, system, and computer-readable medium for managing a user-defined genre-based password. In one embodiment, the method includes steps for creating a genre-based tree that can be used to prompt a user in remembering a user-created password. In an exemplary embodiment, the method for creating the password includes the steps of: presenting, to a user, a first question; receiving, from the user, a first input answer to the first question; presenting, to the user, a subsequent question that is based on the first input answer to the first question; receiving, from the user, a subsequent input answer to the subsequent question; and based on the first input answer and the subsequent input answer, creating a pathway of nodes, in a genre-based tree, to a correct end-node, wherein content of the correct end-node, which is based on the subsequent input answer, provides a basis for a user-defined password, and wherein the content of the correct end-node prompts the user to remember the user-defined password.
US08006094B2 Trustworthy timestamps and certifiable clocks using logs linked by cryptographic hashes
A method and apparatus for creating and/or using trustworthy timestamps and certifiable clocks using logs linked by cryptographic hashes. In one embodiment, the method comprises maintaining a first, chained-hash log; associating a first clock with the chained-hash log, and entangling the first log; with a second by adding a time-stamped synchronization entry to the chained-hash log, where the synchronization entry has a second time indication associated with the second log and a hash of one or more entries in the first log.
US08006090B2 System and method for combining user and platform authentication in negotiated channel security protocols
A network security handshake exchange for combining user and platform authentication. The security handshake exchange performs operations on a pre-master secret to increase identity verification and security. The pre-master secret is augmented and authenticated with platform identity and user identity credentials of one endpoint. A second phase of exchanges may include exchange of a master secret that is the pre-master secret modified with platform identity and user identity of the other endpoint.
US08006087B2 Systems and methods for secure transaction management and electronic rights protection
The present invention provides systems and methods for secure transaction management and electronic rights protection. Electronic appliances such as computers equipped in accordance with the present invention help to ensure that information is accessed and used only in authorized ways, and maintain the integrity, availability, and/or confidentiality of the information. Such electronic appliances provide a distributed virtual distribution environment (VDE) that may enforce a secure chain of handling and control, for example, to control and/or meter or otherwise monitor use of electronically stored or disseminated information. Such a virtual distribution environment may be used to protect rights of various participants in electronic commerce and other electronic or electronic-facilitated transactions. Distributed and other operating systems, environments and architectures, such as, for example, those using tamper-resistant hardware-based processors, may establish security at each node. These techniques may be used to support an all-electronic information distribution, for example, utilizing the “electronic highway.”
US08006086B2 Revocation of cryptographic digital certificates
A computer system (110) provides validity status proofs each of which proves the validity or invalidity of a set (F) of one or more digital certificates (104). The computer system may decide to cache a validity proof for a set F to later provide the cached proof to other parties. The caching decision is based on the caching priority of the set F. The priority may depend on the number of certificates in the set F, the sum of the remaining validity periods for the certificates in the set, and other factors.
US08006080B2 Apparatus, method, computer program and recording medium for processing information
An information processing apparatus for transitioning from an operating state for performing a process in accordance with an application program to a pause state and for transitioning back from the pause state to the operating state in one of a plurality of startup methods, may include a startup method determination unit for determining whether the startup method in a transition from the pause state to the operating state is a predetermined one of the plurality of startup methods, a capacity calculation unit for calculating a capacity available in a recording medium loaded on own information processing apparatus if the startup method is the predetermined one of the plurality of startup methods, and a recovery execution determination unit for determining whether to perform a recovery program for recovering an index of a file system managing data, recorded on the recording medium, based on the calculated capacity available in the recording medium.
US08006079B2 System and method for fast restart of a guest operating system in a virtual machine environment
The present invention provides a system and method for fast restart of a guest operating system executing on a virtual machine operating system in a virtual machine environment. During initialization, the guest operating system saves a set of checkpoint information to persistent storage. Upon detection of an error condition during operation, the guest operating system begins a re-initialization procedure in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention. During the re-initialization procedure, the guest operating system retrieves the checkpoint information and configures itself using the retrieved information. By utilizing the retrieved information, the guest operating system avoids the need to perform lengthy configuration discovery routines, thereby shortening the re-initialization time substantially.
US08006074B1 Methods and apparatus for executing extended custom instructions
Methods and apparatus are provided for efficiently executing extended custom instructions on a programmable chip. Components of a processor core such as arithmetic logic units, program sequencer units, and address generation units are integrated with customizable logic blocks. Various customizable logic blocks can be invoked in a pipelined manner using an available customized instruction set while allowing a processor to continue simultaneous operation. Program counter snooping is also provided to add custom instruction functionality to a processor with no additional provisions for adding custom instructions.
US08006068B1 Processor access to data cache with fixed or low variable latency via instructions to an auxiliary processing unit
Access to data storage is described. A general-purpose processor and an auxiliary processing unit (APU) interface coupled to the general-purpose processor are provided. Data storage coupled to the general-purpose processor via the APU interface is provided for a fixed or low variable read latency access and a fixed write latency access to the data storage. A first instruction is passed to the general-purpose processor and to the APU interface. The first instruction is identified as part of a set of instructions accessible by the APU interface. The first instruction is used to write data into the data storage. A second instruction is passed to the general-purpose processor and to the APU interface. The second instruction is identified as part of the set of instructions accessible by the APU interface. The second instruction is used to read the data from the data storage, and the data is then output.
US08006065B2 Method and system for combining page buffer list entries to optimize caching of translated addresses
Certain aspects of a method and system for combining page buffer list entries (PBLEs) to optimize caching of translated addresses are disclosed. Aspects of a method may include encoding at least two page buffer list entries in a remote direct memory access (RDMA) memory map into at least two contiguous memory locations by utilizing a remainder of a physical address corresponding to the two page buffer list entries. The first memory location of the two contiguous memory locations may comprise a base address and a contiguous length of the first page buffer list entry. The second memory location of the two contiguous memory locations may comprise a virtual address and a contiguous length of the second page buffer list entry.
US08006064B2 Lock-free vector utilizing a resource allocator for assigning memory exclusively to a thread
Methods, systems, and articles for receiving, by a lock-free vector of a computing device, a request from a thread of the computing device to write data to the lock-free vector are described herein. In various embodiments, the lock-free vector may then determine whether the lock-free vector is growing and, if the lock-free vector is not growing, may allocate a first portion of memory of the lock-free vector exclusively to the requesting thread. In some embodiments, the allocating may comprise allocating using a resource allocator of the lock-free vector.
US08006063B2 Management method and a management system for volume
It is made possible to update information registered in a database of iSNS, SLP and the like in response to a configurational change in a storage device, and for a host computer to discover a disk volume. In response to changes in contents of operation to alter a storage configuration such as in creating or deleting a volume or LUN, contents of the alteration are reflected in the database of iSNS or SLP. Also, in response to a change in setting of LUN masking, a discovery domain of iSNS or attribute values of SLP are updated so that the host computer can discover the disk volume. Also, objects and services are reregistered periodically according to a registration period of iSNS or lifetime of SLP to prevent registered contents from expiring.
US08006062B1 Apparatus, system, and method for extended serial presence detect for memory performance optimization
A computing system has a mode of operation in which at least two different memory parameter profiles are read by a BIOS to configure memory. In one implementation the memory parameter profiles are stored in a serial presence detect memory using an extended serial presence detect format.
US08006058B2 Method and securing electronic device data processing
A method for securing electronic device processes against attacks (e.g. side channel attacks) during the processing of sensitive and/or confidential data by a Central Processing Unit (CPU) to the volatile memory (e.g. RAM) of an electronic device such as, for example, a smart card, a PDA or a cellular phone is described herein. The method involves the storage of the confidential data to a dynamically and randomly assigned memory location, thereby rendering more difficult the analysis and subsequently the attacks (e.g. side channel attacks).
US08006055B2 Fine granularity hierarchiacal memory protection
Protection entries and techniques for providing fine granularity computer memory protection are described herein. A method of protecting a computer memory may include separating or parsing the computer memory, containing data or code, into blocks and creating protection entries for each block. The protection entries optionally include a reference field for identifying a block of memory, and a protection field for specifying one or more levels of access to the identified block of memory. The protection entries may then be used to pass messages between various system entities, the messages specifying one or more levels of access to the one or more blocks of memory or code.
US08006052B1 Systems and methods for tracking portions of a logical volume that have never been written by a host
Embodiments of the invention exploit the fact that not all portions of a logical volume may include data written by a host. Accordingly, an embodiment of the invention includes setting a designated set of bits to 1 in a meta data table when a logical volume is initialized. These bits may be referred to herein as Never Written by Host (NWBH) bits. Separately, or in combination, an embodiment of the invention includes setting a NWBH bit to 0 when data is written to the associated portion of the logical volume. Separately, or in combination, an embodiment of the invention includes reading the NWBH bit upon receiving a read command associated with the associated portion of the logical volume. If the NWBH bit is equal to 1, data is not read from the associated portion of the logical volume; if the NWBH bit is equal to 0, data is read from the associated portion of the logical volume.
US08006049B2 Export of logical volumes by pools
A virtual tape server for implementing a method for exporting one or more logical volumes contained in a source physical volume pool. The method involves an activation of an export clone pool to clone an identity of the source physical volume pool into the export clone pool based on the logical volumes, an exportation of the export clone pool including the logical volumes subsequent to the activation of the export clone pool, and a deactivation of the export clone pool to purge the identity of the source physical volume pool from the export clone pool subsequent to the exportation of the export clone pool.
US08006048B2 Signal processing circuit
A signal processing circuit includes a signal processing section which generates first address data and second address data in accordance with data processing, reads data stored in an external memory based on the first address data and the second address data for performing a predetermined processing, and outputs processed data along with the first address data and the second address data, an address conversion section which, receiving the first address data and the second address data input thereto, holds at least 1 bit of the first address and outputs third address data, and also adds the at least 1 bit of the held first address data to the second address and outputs fourth address data, and a data interface which performs a writing operation or a reading operation of the data processed by the signal processing section with respect to the external memory on the basis of a time when the address conversion section outputs the third address data and the forth address data.
US08006045B2 Dummy write operations
A dummy write operation is disclosed that mimics an actual write operation to a memory array. In some implementations, a dummy write operation mimics an actual write operation by starting a charge pump, selecting a correct data line in the memory array, and by following the sequencing of an actual write operation. By mimicking an actual write operation, an attacker cannot use power analysis to distinguish between dummy and actual write operations. For example, PIN comparison operations would present the same or substantially the same power trace for both positive and negative comparisons, making it difficult for an attacker to determine if a retry count was written to NVM.
US08006037B2 Using external memory devices to improve system performance
The invention is directed towards a system and method that utilizes external memory devices to cache sectors from a rotating storage device (e.g., a hard drive) to improve system performance. When an external memory device (EMD) is plugged into the computing device or onto a network in which the computing device is connected, the system recognizes the EMD and populates the EMD with disk sectors. The system routes I/O read requests directed to the disk sector to the EMD cache instead of the actual disk sector. The use of EMDs increases performance and productivity on the computing device systems for a fraction of the cost of adding memory to the computing device.
US08006036B2 Storage system and data management method
The present invention comprises a CHA 110 which transmits/receives data to/from an external device, a DKA 140 which transmits/receives data to/from an HDD unit 200, a primary cache unit 120 which has a primary cache memory 124, a secondary cache unit 130 which is installed between the primary cache unit 120 and the DKA 140 and has a secondary cache memory 134, a CCP 121 which stores write target data received by the CHA 110 in the primary cache memory 124, and a CCP 131 which stores the write target data in the secondary cache memory 134, and transfers the write target data stored in the secondary cache memory 134 to the DKA 140.
US08006034B2 Information recording medium, recording and/or reproducing apparatus, and recording and/or reproducing method
An information recording medium, recording and/or reproducing apparatuses, and recording and/or reproducing methods which enable effective management of a last data recording address of a data area of the information recording medium. The information recording medium includes a data area for recording user data, temporary recording management information for managing a data recording status of the data area and temporary disc management information for managing the information recording medium, wherein the temporary disc management information includes first information regarding a last recorded location of data in the data area and second information regarding whether the information regarding the last recorded location is consistent with an actual last recorded location of the data area.
US08006032B2 Optimal solution to control data channels
A dynamic random access memory (DRAM) controller may comprise two sub-controllers, each capable of handling a respective N-bit interface (e.g. 64-bit interface). Each sub-controller may also be configurable to be (2*N)-bit (e.g. 128-bit) capable with respect to control logic, for controlling a logical 128-bit data path. In ganged mode, each sub-controller may logically operate as if it were handling data in 128-bit chunks, (i.e. handling the entire 128-bit data path), while actual full bandwidth may be achieved by having one of the sub-controllers operate on commands and a first N-bit portion of each (2*N)-bit chunk of data, and having the other sub-controller operate on a “copy” of the commands with a corresponding remaining N-bit portion of each (2*N)-bit chunk of data. Once the basic input/output system (BIOS) has configured and initialized the two DRAM controllers to operate in ganged mode, the BIOS and all software may no longer need to be aware that two memory controllers are used to access a single (2*N)-bit wide channel.
US08006025B2 Architecture for an output buffered switch with input groups
Embodiments of the present invention provide a system that transfers data between the components in the computer system through a switch. In these embodiments, the switch includes multiple switch chips which are coupled together and are configured to collectively function as a switch. During operation, each switch chip, receives cells from the subset of the set of inputs and selectively transfers each of the cells to at least one output of the subset of the set of outputs coupled to the switch chip or of the subset of the set of outputs coupled to the other switch chips.
US08006024B2 Multi-port system and method for routing a data element within an interconnection fabric
The present invention relates generally to a generic fabric interconnect system and method for providing a data path between and among nodes and processing elements within an interconnection fabric. More specifically, there is provided a device accessible by a host processor for expanding access over a first bus to a second bus, the first bus and the second bus each being adapted to separately connect to respective ones of a plurality of bus-compatible devices, each device which comprise a link, a first circuit adapted to couple between the first bus and the link, and a second circuit adapted to couple between the link and the second bus, the first circuit and the second circuit each being operated as a bridge and being operable to (a) send outgoing information serially through said link in a form different from that of the first bus and the second bus (b) approve an initial exchange between the first bus and the second bus in response to pending bus transactions having a characteristic signifying a destination across a device, and (c) allow the host processor, communicating through the first bus, to individually address different selectable ones of the bus-compatible devices on the second bus: (i) using on the first bus substantially the same type of addressing as is used to access devices on the first bus, and (ii) without first employing a second, intervening one of the bus-compatible devices on the second bus.
US08006022B2 Data transmission device
The invention relates to a data transmission device for transmitting data between a first bus system and a second bus system with a copy table (103) for providing an output sequence of data of the first bus system and a transmission device (101) for transmitting data between the first bus system and the second bus system according to the output sequence.
US08006018B2 System and method to stack an open NAND flash interface module over a minicard
A system includes a minicard host connector and an open NAND flash interface host connector. The minicard host connector is configured to receive a minicard. The open NAND flash interface host connector is in physical communication with the minicard host connector and configured to receive an open NAND flash interface card. The open NAND flash interface host connector includes first and second retention arms extending from opposite ends of the open NAND flash interface host connector. The open NAND flash interface host connector is sufficiently wide for the minicard host connector to fit between the first and second retention arms.
US08006004B2 Non-intrusive debug port interface
A processor having a core configured to control a keyboard and a plurality of pins connected to the core, configured to transfer signals from the processor to the keyboard. A controller is configured to transfer signals from one or more registers through at least one of the pins, intermittently with signals transferred to the keyboard.
US08006002B2 Methods and systems for automatic configuration of peripherals
Peripherals and data processing systems are disclosed which can be configured to interact based upon sensor data. In one embodiment, a peripheral, which is configured to be used with a data processing system, includes an interface to couple the peripheral to the data processing system, and at least one sensor, such as a proximity sensor, to sense a user of the peripheral, and a processor coupled to the interface and to the at least one sensor, wherein the processor configures the peripheral in response to data from the at least one sensor. The peripheral may communicate sensor data from its sensors to the data processing system, which may be a wireless PDA, and the data processing system analyzes the sensor data from its sensors and from the peripheral's sensors to decide how to configure the peripheral and/or the data processing system based on the sensor.
US08006000B2 Bridge, processor unit, information processing apparatus, and access control method
There is provided a technique of accessing a memory of a processor from a peripheral device, thereby the security is ensured while efficiency is being pursued. An address converter 14 includes an address conversion table for converting an effective address into a physical address. The address conversion table stores the effective address to which an area in a memory of a processor unit 10 is allocated to each peripheral device 30 and identification information of an access source to which access permission is given, in association with each other. When the peripheral device 30 accesses, the address converter 14 determines to permit access to the effective address under the condition that the device identification information, included in an access request packet, by which the peripheral device 30 can be uniquely identified, matches the identification information of the access source corresponding to the effective address, in the address conversion table, designated by the access request packet.
US08005993B2 System and method of a storage expansion unit for a network attached storage device
A system and method of a storage expansion unit for a network attached storage device. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are storage expander systems comprising an enclosure, a communications port (the communication port configured to configured to operate under a communications protocol suitable for operatively accessing long term storage devices), and a port expander circuit within the enclosure and coupled to the communications port (the port expander circuit configured to have a plurality of secondary ports that operate under the communications protocol). The storage expansion system is configured to couple to a network attached storage device over the communications port, and wherein the storage expansion system is configured to facilitate external long-term storage for the network attached storage device.
US08005990B2 Efficient decoding of mobile multimedia multicast system non real-time service files
A technique for decoding code packets of file delivery protocol (FDP) and file delivery control protocol (FDCP) messages, the FDP messages comprising fields having values used to generate an indices of a data packets, the FDCP messages comprising a value of a minimum number of code packets required, the code packets formed from a linear combination of the data packets of a file fragment, the method includes constructing data structures adapted to decode the code packets of the file fragment, the data structures comprising at least one of code nodes, a code graph, an inverse code graph, a data packet decode array, and a data packet decode order list, processing the FDP messages until a parameters required for decoding are extracted, and populating the inverse code graph with a reference to the code node.
US08005987B2 Multi-representation media event handoff
A system and method provides transition continuity for an event across a plurality of media representation device types. The system and method allow identification information for a media event such as a sports game, talk show, music, video, etc. to be handed-off between various media presentation devices such as radios, broadcast televisions, cable television set top boxes, an internet connected computer, satellite receivers, and multimedia cellular phones. A multi-representation media event hand-off method includes receiving (804) a first event identifier that corresponds to a first media representation of an event, correlating (808) the first event identifier to a second event identifier that corresponds to a second media representation of the event, and transmitting (810) data indicative of the second event identifier to a media device that facilitates presentation of the second media representation.
US08005985B2 Method and apparatus for utilizing an audibly coded signal to conduct commerce over the internet
A method and apparatus for utilizing a coded audio/video signal to conduct commerce over the Internet. Broadcast information is broadcast from a remote location on a secondary network containing video over the secondary network to a location thereon proximate the location of the user PC. Unique information is encoded in the broadcast information representative of a location on the primary network of the remote node. The broadcast information is received and displayed on a video display at the location on the secondary network proximate the user PC. The user PC is connected to the remote node utilizing the unique information, and in accordance thereto, in response to receiving the unique information encoded within the broadcast information broadcast over the secondary network. The user is prompted to interface with the user PC by displaying a video image on the video display at approximately the same time as broadcast of the unique information over the secondary network in association with the broadcast information.
US08005984B2 Flexible procedure for quiescing multiplexed client
A method, system and article of manufacture are disclosed for quiescing multiplexed client messaging conversations. The invention uses plural independent mutexes to stop the application sends from both ends of a client/server channel, while allowing unsolicited control flows from the server to client to also be handled and quiesced. Once the channel is quiesced a channel-wide renegotiation, such as SSL secret key reset, can flow. The channel can then restart, again with the possibility of unsolicited server to client flows. The preferred embodiment of the invention provides a number of important advantages. For example, this embodiment allows channel-wide negotiation flows to occur on a multiplexed channel without the need to wait for application conversations to complete. It also allows channel-wide negotiation flows to occur on a multiplexed channel on which unsolicited server to client flows can occur.
US08005979B2 System and method for uniquely identifying processes and entities in clusters
Entities within a cluster are uniquely identified with a node ID and an engine ID. The node ID uniquely identifies a node within a cluster of nodes and the engine ID uniquely identifies one of several engines included in the node. Entities may be further identified with a cluster ID, an engine type ID, and/or a virtual server ID. At least some of these IDs may be included in communications received from clients and used to route the communications to the cluster entity identified by the included IDs.
US08005976B2 Establishing optimal latency in streaming data applications that use data packets
Embodiments for an apparatus and method are provided that can build latency in streaming applications that use data packets. In an embodiment, a system has an under-run forecasting mechanism, a statistics monitoring mechanism, and a playback queuing mechanism. The under-run forecasting mechanism determines an estimate of when a supply of data packets to convert will be exhausted. The statistics monitoring mechanism measures the arrival fluctuations of the supply of data packets. The playback queuing mechanism can build the latency.
US08005975B2 Reducing or minimizing delays in peer-to-peer communications such as peer-to-peer video streaming
A new P2P streaming method and apparatus disseminates video chunks to all peers with the minimum (or at least reduced) delay. After obtaining a new video chunk, a peer keeps transmitting (uploading) that video chunk to other peers until all peers receive it. The approach quickly increases the aggregate bandwidth that can be utilized to transmit a video chunk. For example, the aggregate peer bandwidth used to transmit a video chunk can double every time slot. For a homogeneous P2P streaming system with N peers, a time slot is defined as a unit of the single chunk transmission delay between two peers. Using the P2P streaming method, a video chunk can be disseminated to all peers within 1+log2 N time slots.
US08005971B2 Apparatus for communicating with a network
An apparatus for communicating with a network comprises a queue and logic. The queue has at least one entry stored therein. The at least one entry respectively points to at least one data packet. The logic is configured to read the at least one entry from the queue and to retrieve the at least one data packet based on the at least one entry. The logic is configured to transition to a sleep state based on a determination that a new entry for reading, by the logic, from the queue is unavailable for a specified amount of time.
US08005970B2 Systems and methods for managing a domain name registrant's social websites
Systems and methods of the present invention allow for managing multiple social websites. An exemplary method may comprise the steps of registering a domain name to a Registrant, generating a Social Domain (that corresponds to a social website) by concatenating at least one subdomain to the Registrant's domain name, mapping the Social Domain to a URL for the Registrant's social website webpage, entering the Social Domain in a browser, and displaying the Registrant's social website webpage.
US08005963B2 Method and apparatus for preventing counterfeiting of a network-side media access control address
A method and apparatus is provided for preventing the counterfeiting of a network-side Media Access Control (MAC) address. The method includes: receiving a message from a user equipment (UE) and resolving the message from the UE in order to obtain a MAC address of the UE; learning the MAC address of the UE if the MAC address of the UE is different from a known MAC address of a network-side equipment; learning the MAC address of the network-side equipment; and generating a MAC address learning table by utilizing the learned MAC address of the network-side equipment and setting the MAC address learning table to be a static address table, and/or filtering messages having source MAC addresses being the MAC address of the network-side equipment and from other user-side ports by utilizing the learned MAC address of the network-side equipment.
US08005962B2 System and method for using virtual IP addresses in a multi-user server system
A method of handling network access in a multi-user server system is disclosed. In the disclose system, a virtual network adapter is created for each user session on the multi-user server system. Each virtual network adapter receives its own independent IP address such that each individual user session appears to be a unique network node to other systems on the computer network.
US08005957B2 Network traffic prioritization
Prioritizing network traffic among two or more distinct channels of communication within a single application in a node configured to communicate with one or more other nodes over a network is disclosed. For a particular time quantum, a bandwidth quantum may be distributed amongst two or more communication channels according to priorities associated with those channels.
US08005956B2 System for allocating resources in a distributed computing system
According to one embodiment, a distributed computing system includes a resource control system coupled to a web server. The web server configured in a service oriented architecture and operable to provide a business application by executing a plurality of services on a plurality of computers configured in the distributed computing system. The resource control system is operable to determine a performance parameter of the business application, and provision or un-provision one of the plurality of computers according to the determined performance parameter.
US08005954B2 System and method for managing end user approval for charging in a network environment
An apparatus for managing information in a network environment is provided that includes a content service gateway operable to communicate with an end user in order to facilitate a communication session. The communication session relates to a request by the end user for content or for a service. A quota server coupled to the content service gateway is operable to receive a service authorization request from the content service gateway relating to the communication session. The service authorization request operates to authorize access to the service or to the content for the end user.
US08005951B2 Method for creating an extensible content distribution framework
In a network of digital computers (20), a method for facilitating access by a first digital computer (24) to a file that is stored in a local file system tree (198) of a second digital computer (22). The method includes establishing, by recursively combining hierarchical file system trees (198) that are exported from one or more NDCs (50), a hierarchical domain tree (200) that encompasses digital computers (24, 26B, 26A and 22) in the network of digital computers (20). A domain manager (212) receives policy attributes, a new type of extended attributes, and enforces policies specified therein. In a particularly preferred embodiment the policy attributes identify at least one module that must be loaded by the first digital computer (24) to extend capabilities of the first digital computer (24) used in processing a file requested from the local file system tree (198) of the second digital computer (22).
US08005948B2 Correlating subjective user states with objective occurrences associated with a user
A computationally implemented method includes, but is not limited to: acquiring subjective user state data including at least a first subjective user state and a second subjective user state; acquiring objective context data including at least a first context data indicative of a first objective occurrence associated with a user and a second context data indicative of a second objective occurrence associated with the user; and correlating the subjective user state data with the objective context data. In addition to the foregoing, other method aspects are described in the claims, drawings, and text forming a part of the present disclosure.
US08005946B2 Managing navigation history for intra-page state transitions
An intra Web-page navigation history mechanism allows history points to be tracked even for state transitions within the same Web page. A Web page may be subjected to a number of different state changes as the Web application executes. Along the way, a number of the state changes may be tracked as history points. When a history point is created, associated state is also recorded. When the history point is again navigated to, a navigation event may be raised along with the associated state for the history point. Various components (whether on the server or client) may listen to that event and reconstruct their respective states by using selective portions of the reconstruction state.
US08005940B2 Method and system for unit testing web framework applications
The lifetime of a data structure containing information for processing a client request is manipulated so that the information remains available to a review and/or testing process. After examination, the information may be discarded.
US08005931B2 Service providing apparatus
A service providing apparatus 100 capable of providing a service while effectively managing execution codes and screen configuration information stored in the apparatus includes: a display apparatus 108; a communication unit 101; an obtaining unit 151 for obtaining an execution code for providing the service through communication unit 101; an execution code storage 102 for storing the obtained execution code; a screen configuration information storage 103 for storing screen configuration information defining screen configuration to be displayed at the time of execution of the execution code; and a management unit 104 managing these units such that by the time the service is provided, the execution code and screen configuration information necessary for providing the service are stored in the execution code storage 102 and screen configuration information storage 103, and executing, in response to a service providing instruction, the execution code stored in the execution code storage 102 using the screen configuration information stored in the screen configuration information storage 103.
US08005928B2 Network type content reproducing system
The network type audio system includes a content server storing a large number of music data pieces, an audio client reproducing music, and a controller monitoring and controlling the audio client through the content server. The audio client requests the server to provide the music data of a music piece selected in response to the user's operation. The content server returns the music data of the selected music piece in response to the request from the audio client. The music data is distributed from the content server to the audio client on the basis of a specified amount. The audio client notifies the content server of its status. The content server notifies the controller of the status of the audio client. The controller displays the status. The controller also instructs the audio client to reproduce the music piece selected in response to the user's operation through the content server.
US08005923B2 System and method of obfuscating queue management
The present invention is generally directed to a method, system, and article of manufacture that avoid exposing the sensitive information (e.g., infrastructure details) to untrusted clients. For example, in one embodiment of the present invention, message destinations are protected from a client in an HTTP bridged scenario. Thus, according to one embodiment of the present invention, the replyTo message destination are obfuscated (e.g., via a hash function) and sent to the client as a replyTo address. Consequently, the embodiments of the present invention negate the requirement to expose the sensitive information to the untrusted client applications.
US08005922B2 Remote control in a wireless communication system
Apparatus and methods for wireless systems provide a mechanism to enhance the communication capabilities of wireless users. In an embodiment, a mobile wireless device is configured to access and control an application executable on a wireless server. In an embodiment, a wireless server is configured to execute an application resident on the wireless server under the control of a set of commands from a mobile wireless device. In various embodiments, the executed application can be an application different from an application to maintain and control a wireless communication link between the mobile wireless device and the wireless server.
US08005913B1 Controlling, filtering, and monitoring of mobile device access to the internet, data, voice, and applications
Systems and methods for controlling, filtering, and monitoring mobile device access to the internet are disclosed. According to an embodiment a server is responsible for controlling, filtering and monitoring internet activity. For every request, the server interacts with back-end databases that categorize requests, and based on user/carrier/corporate settings, allow or disallow access to particular content.
US08005909B2 System and method for facilitating a ready social network
The invention provides system and method wherein the system collects user activity data including call log information from network equipment, handset and other context specific user activity data including time of call and location information to enable various applications to use the information collected and build social network. In accordance with the method of the invention, the user activity data collected is used to form individual social networks. The networks are formed based on clusters identified by mining the data collected. Furthermore, various applications are provided access to the clustered data to assist in individual social networking. The system of the invention comprises of an application server comprising a centralized data center providing social networking services through a plurality of networks, the networks in-turn connecting a plurality of users through their individual network terminal stations to the application server.
US08005906B2 Contextual mobile local search based on social network vitality information
A system, apparatus, and method are directed to managing contextual based mobile searches. A context oriented user interface interprets inputs from a mobile user based on vitality information. In one embodiment, the input may be interpreted as a request to perform a context-based search over a network using at least some of the vitality information. Vitality information may include a location of the mobile device, a time of day, an event, information from the mobile user's calendar, past behavior of the mobile user, weather, social networking data, aggregate behaviors, or even information about proximity of a social contact. By employing vitality information to perform a mobile search, better search results and a richer user experience may be provided that includes a sense of community, a sense of presence (e.g., a sense of “here-ness.”). In one embodiment, the mobile user may provide comments to others regarding the search results.
US08005900B2 Retrieving information for processing a received electronic message
System and techniques are described for retrieving information relating to a received electronic message. Upon receipt of an incoming electronic message in a computer system, meta information stored in the computer system is accessed. The meta information identifies a first pre-selected class of a plurality of classes of stored fact information. A portion of the stored fact information that is a member of the first pre-selected class is retrieved. The retrieved portion of the stored fact information is stored in an electronic file that is associated with the incoming electronic message such that a rule for processing the incoming electronic message can be applied to the retrieved portion.
US08005893B2 Relay server and relay communication system
A relay server stores registered terminal information and information about the relay servers that form a relay group permitting connection among each other, about a shared resource, about terminals sharing the resource, and about a message to be transmitted in association with the resource. When an operation instruction regarding the resource held by another terminal is received from the registered terminal to which the relay server is connected, the relay server relays the operation instruction to another relay server. When the message is transmitted to the other terminal by the terminal, message information is relayed.
US08005891B2 Method for training a server for content delivery based on communication of state information from a mobile device browser
A method for training a server for content delivery based on communication of state information from a mobile device browser, the method comprising providing a control channel between the server and mobile device browser, transmitting over the control channel a plurality of request messages from the mobile device browser to the server for Web pages, each of the messages indicating browsing-related state data, and implementing heuristic algorithms within the server to detect and learn patterns of the request messages, pre-fetching at least hypertext content of Web pages that the server has learned will likely be requested, and embedding the hypertext content in response codes within response messages over the control channel from the server to the mobile device browser.
US08005890B2 System and method for obtaining and executing instructions from a private network
Systems and methods for website and application monitoring and testing inside from a private network are presented. An agent module resident on an agent device inside the secured network periodically sends an HTTP message to a controller server and receives an HTTP response. The agent module parses out a set of instructions from the content of the HTTP response and executes the instructions. The agent module collects and compiles responsive information resulting from the instructions being executed and sends the compiled information to the controller server for storage and reporting.
US08005884B2 Relaxed remainder constraints with comparison rounding
A system and method for efficient floating-point rounding in computer systems. A computer system may include at least one floating-point unit for floating-point arithmetic operations such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, division and square root. For the division operation, the constraints for the remainder may be relaxed in order to reduce the area for look-up tables. An extra internal precision bit may not be used. Only one quotient may be calculated, rather than two, further reducing needed hardware to perform the rounding. Comparison logic may be required that may add a couple of cycles to the rounding computation beyond the calculation of the remainder. However, the extra latency is much smaller than a second floating-point multiply accumulate latency.
US08005868B2 System and method for multiple distinct aggregate queries
There is disclosed a system and method for executing multiple distinct aggregate queries. In an embodiment, the method comprises: providing at least one Counting Bloom Filter for each distinct column of an input data stream; reviewing count values in the at least one Counting Bloom Filter for the existence of duplicates in each distinct column; and if necessary, using a distinct hash operator to remove duplicates from each distinct column of the input data stream, thereby removing the need for replicating the input data stream and minimizing distinct hash operator processing. Also, the use of Counting Bloom Filters for monitoring data streams allow an early duplicate removal of the input stream of data, resulting in savings in computation time and memory resources.
US08005865B2 Systems and methods for notifying listeners of events
In one embodiment, systems and methods are provided for tracking events wherein an event system monitors certain areas of a system. When an event occurs in one area of the system, the event system notifies the processes listening to that area of the system of the event.
US08005864B2 Index aging and merging
Systems and methods for processing an index are described. An index may be merged with another index of comparable age and size into a single index. Since older indexes are less likely to need updating, they are “set aside” to age based on certain adaptive criteria such as the age and size of the index, percentage of deletions, and how long it takes to update the index. An index that has been set aside may be compacted into a format that is optimized for fast searching.
US08005862B2 Classifying content resources using structured patterns
Methods and apparatus are described for classifying content resources in a data set according to an external classification scheme using structural patterns associated with the data set.
US08005857B2 Object search UI and dragging object results
A unique object navigation system, user interface, and method that facilitate faster and smoother navigation of objects are provided. For example, the system can generate a plurality of objects that can be rendered on a display space that spans a single page in length, thereby mitigating the need to navigate through multiple pages. The system can determine the length of the page according to the number of objects generated. To view off-screen objects, an infinite scroll component can be employed. The amount of scroll space needed to view the plurality of objects can be determined in part by the length of the page and/or by the number of objects. The objects can also be viewed in a film strip format that is infinitely scrollable. The film strip view allows a view of the objects to be maintained while also viewing a selected object in greater detail at the same time.
US08005850B2 Search systems and methods with integration of user annotations
Computer systems and methods allow users to annotate content items found in a corpus such as the World Wide Web. Annotations, which can include any descriptive and/or evaluative metadata related to a document, are collected from a user and stored in association with that user. Users are able to annotate and view their annotations for any document they encounter while interacting with the corpus, including hits returned in a search of the corpus. Users are also able to search their annotations or to limit searches to documents they have annotated. Metadata from annotations can also be aggregated across users and aggregated metadata applied in generating search results.
US08005849B2 Database access server with reformatting
A database access server includes a network interface device and a processing device coupled to the network interface device via a bus. The network interface device receives a data request. The processing device retrieves data having a first data type. The processing device further reformats the retrieved data to create reformatted data having a second data type, and sends the reformatted data in response to the data request.
US08005845B2 System and method for automatically ranking lines of text
Disclosed are apparatus and methods for ranking lines of text. In one embodiment, an intent of a query is ascertained. A relevance of each one of a plurality of lines of text of a document is determined based upon the intent of the query, content of the query, and content of each of the plurality of lines of text. The plurality of lines of text may then be ranked according to the determined relevance of each of the plurality of lines of text.
US08005841B1 Methods, systems, and products for classifying content segments
Methods, systems, and products are disclosed for classifying content segments. A set of annotations is received that occur within a segment of time-varying content. Each annotation is scored to each node in an ontology. The segment is classified based on at least one of the scores.
US08005838B2 Aggregating discovery data in a discovery interface
A discovery interface presents aggregated discovery data in a discovery interface through which a user may select between television content and Internet Protocol content. In one implementation, the discovery interface includes a television channel region associated with a television channel that lists television programs. The discovery interface further includes an Internet Protocol content region associated with the television channel that lists Internet Protocol content based on user navigation within the television channel region.
US08005836B2 Method and system for performing logical partial declustering
A method and system for performing logical partial declustering in a shared-nothing database environment. The solution defines a partial declustering technique that can be used to dynamically adapt the declustering of base tables or intermediate result sets. The partial declustering technique is defined to limit the number of partitions (P) involved in an operation. The technique is defined to limit the operation to a subset of the system partitioning map (SPM). There are two components: the association between the data values and partitions is altered by restricting the data values to P′ partition values where P′ is less than P; and the actual partitions of the SPM selected are then derived based on a seed derived from a dynamic parameter, such as a session number, or a static parameter, such as a table identifier. In the case of intermediate result sets the number of P′ partitions selected is a cost based decision based on the estimated number of rows in the input intermediate result sets. In the case of a base table the number of P′ partitions is selected based on the table DDL. There is no physical partitioning definitions, rather logical partitions are defined based on subsetting the SPM.
US08005834B2 Method and apparatus to map associations with BitSets
Database systems using BitSets to model and manage relationships between and/or among entities describing the corresponding fast user defined scalar and column functions used for BitSets, including a technique to model categorization and steps to perform rule evaluation from retrieving the entities associated with ancestors and descendent categories, as well as a technique to model Boolean Expression using Bitsets for relationships and the steps to perform fast Boolean evaluation.
US08005833B2 User profile classification by web usage analysis
Demographic information of an Internet user is predicted based on an analysis of accessed web pages. Web pages accessed by the Internet user are detected and mapped to a user path vector which is converted to a normalized weighted user path vector. A centroid vector identifies web page access patterns of users with a shared user profile attribute. The user profile attribute is assigned to the Internet user based on a comparison of the vectors. Bias values are also assigned to a set of web pages and a user profile attribute can be predicted for an Internet user based on the bias values of web pages accessed by the user. User attributes can also be predicted based on the results of an expectation maximization process. Demographic information can be predicted based on the combined results of a vector comparison, bias determination, or expectation maximization process.
US08005824B2 On the role of market economics in ranking search results
A method of and service for searching computerized networks, such as the internet, that first performs a search based on a user query to produce results that are ranked. The results comprise references to entities (addresses on the network, such as web sites). Before reporting the results to the user, the invention provides that the search entity contacts the entities listed in the search results to determine whether entities listed in the search results desire to change their rank when compared to other entities listed in the results. If some entities do desire to change their rank, the invention charges fees to entities that increase their rank and credits (pays fees) to entities that decrease their rank. A portion of the amount charged to entities that increase their rank can be paid to the entity performing the search (helping to support the high quality search engines), and a portion will go to the entities that voluntarily decrease their rank within the search results (helping to support high-content web sites).
US08005823B1 Community search optimization
A community search system may utilize the results of previous queries from community members and user feedback associated with those results to provide results for subsequent, similar queries from within the same community. Thus, by modifying and combining query results based, in part, on user feedback regarding previous results for similar queries, the trial and error of the many may improve the results for an individual. Users may be grouped into communities whose members are associated by common interests or characteristics. Feedback from one community member may be used to modify the query results for other community members. By analyzing user feedback with the community regarding query results, negative, incorrect or unnecessary results may be omitted or removed from subsequent results for similar queries.
US08005819B2 Indexing and searching product identifiers
A system, method and computer program product for processing a search query is presented. The method according to one embodiment includes receiving a search query containing one or more terms; processing the query to add one or more bi-words as terms to the query; searching a search index having product identifiers and individual logical parts of the product identifiers in association with particular documents or portions thereof indexed into different fields in context and content parts of the index; generating a context score based on at least some of the terms matching the product identifiers and the individual logical parts in the context part of the index; generating a content score based on at least some of the terms matching content terms in the content part of the index; and generating a document score by combining the context score and content score.
US08005818B2 Apparatus and method for maintaining metadata version awareness during set evaluation for OLAP hierarchies
A computer readable storage medium comprises executable instructions to receive a query referencing a set of members of an OLAP hierarchy. The query is parsed into a syntax tree. Changes to the OLAP hierarchy metadata are received. The syntax tree is refined in response to the changes. The query is evaluated to return results that are independent of the changes to the OLAP hierarchy metadata.
US08005817B1 System and method for providing structure and content scoring for XML
A system, method and computer readable medium are disclosed. The method embodiment relates to a method of computing score of candidate answers to a database query. The method comprises receiving a database query, assigning a first score to a match to the query, the first score being associated with a relative importance of an individual keyword in a collection of documents based on all structural and content predicates in the query, assigning a second score to the match, the second score being associated with a relative importance of a keyword in an individual document and using the assigned first score and second score to compute an answer score for the query.
US08005815B2 Search engine
A search engine for retrieving documents from a database including a semantic document editor that allows a user to edit an existing document by creating searchable compound words that contains information contextually relevant to the contents of the document. The editor associates the created compound words with the document to produce an enhanced document having the compounds words associated therewith. A database is provided for storing enhanced documents and a semantic query editor is provided that enables a searcher to address the database of enhanced documents with a query. The query editor receives the query and converts it into one or more compound search words that contain contextually relevant information. A search module is provided that receives the searchable compound words and locates the relevant enhanced documents that have compound words associated with the document matching the searchable compound words. An output module presents any located documents to the searcher.
US08005812B1 Collaborative modeling environment
A system may receive a model, extract information from the model, form a group of tags using the extracted information, and associate the group of tags with the model. The system may further receive a search query including one or more sequences of characters and determine whether to provide the model in a list of models created for the search query, based on the one or more sequences of characters and the group of tags.
US08005808B2 Information processing apparatus and information processing method
In an information processing apparatus connectable to a terminal through a network, a terminal type of the terminal is specified based on a first request requesting Web information, said first request sent from the terminal through the network, and reference Web information is generated so as to include reference path created by adding terminal type information showing the specified terminal type to a path indicated in the first request for accessing the Web information and to allow the terminal to automatically accesses to the reference path. Then, the reference Web information is sent to the terminal as a response with respect to the first request, and a second request for requesting the Web information specified by the reference path is received.
US08005806B2 System and method for information retrieval using context information
A system and method of collecting information and associated context are provided. Information is retrieved using context information by receiving a search request to identify an information item, the search request including a context comprising circumstantial information related to a previous experience with the information item, and searching at least one data store using the context item, so as to identify the information item associated with the context.
US08005802B2 Partial evaluation of rule sets
Described herein are various approaches that allow rules to be used to specify actions, that alleviate the complexity and burden of developing and maintaining rules in a rules-based messaging system, and that provide more efficient ways of evaluating rules. The approaches allow rules to specify user-defined transformation functions for transforming messages, to specify when and how to perform row migration, and to specify other types of actions. Rules are grouped into rule sets. Several types of rule sets, referred to as positive and negative rule sets, allow users to use rules that are less complex to develop and maintain. Rule sets are evaluated more efficiently by attempting to evaluate the rule set with less information than is needed to evaluate all the rules in the rule set. Also, the results of rules evaluations that are based on a set of values are cached for later retrieval.
US08005796B2 Method and apparatus for synchronizing applications for data recovery using storage based journaling
Disclosed is a method to synchronize the state of an application and an application's objects with data stored on the storage system. The storage system provides API's to create special data, called a marker journal, and stores it on a journal volume. The marker contains application information, e.g. file name, operation on the file, timestamp, etc. Since the journal volume contains markers as well as any changed data in the chronological order, IO activities to the storage system and application activities can be synchronized.
US08005793B1 Retaining persistent point in time data during volume migration
Provided is a method and system for performing volume migrations while retaining persistent point in time data of the migrated volume. Specifically, by using a collective persistent point in time data map that describes a collection of persistent point in time data of a volume to be migrated, the collective persistent point in time data map and volume data can be migrated during a quiesced period of user activity. Then, during a non-quiesced period of user activity, the persistent point in time data can be transferred to the location of the migrated volume in real-time.
US08005790B2 Object cloning management system and method
A system and method for automatically handling data objects within groupings in a PACS network. Where a data object belonging to one grouping is moved to or copied into another grouping, certain associated data objects will automatically be moved or copied to the other grouping. Similarly, where some data objects are deleted from a grouping, data objects associated with objects which will not be deleted are automatically protected from deletion.
US08005787B2 Data replication method
To ensure data consistency for a new data replica created for a computing system, the transmission and receipt of messages altering the data are monitored and replication of the data is permitted when all changes to the data that have been transmitted to the data have been received.
US08005784B2 Supervised rank aggregation based on rankings
A method and system for rank aggregation of entities based on supervised learning is provided. A rank aggregation system provides an order-based aggregation of rankings of entities by learning weights within an optimization framework for combining the rankings of the entities using labeled training data and the ordering of the individual rankings. The rank aggregation system is provided with multiple rankings of entities. The rank aggregation system is also provided with training data that indicates the relative ranking of pairs of entities. The rank aggregation system then learns weights for each of the ranking sources by attempting to optimize the difference between the relative rankings of pairs of entities using the weights and the relative rankings of pairs of entities of the training data.
US08005778B2 Modular system for optimizing knowledge yield in the digital workplace
A networked computer system, architecture, and method are provided for optimizing human and intellectual capital in the digital workplace environment.
US08005775B2 System and method for detecting human judgment drift and variation control
The present invention relates to methods, systems, and computer readable media comprising instructions for rescaling human judgment data for one or more items of content. The method of the present invention comprises generating one or more test sets comprising one or more items of content and generating one or more benchmark sets comprising one or more items of content common to each of the test sets. Judgment data for the one or more items of content comprising the one or more test sets from one or more human editors is received. A variation correction factor and a drift correction factor are identified for each of the one or more human editors. The variation correction factor and drift correction factor associated with each respective human editor are thereafter applied to the one or more items of content comprising the test set for which each human editor provided judgment data.
US08005772B2 Segment-preserving crossover in genetic algorithms
Cross over (S560) in a genetic algorithm (128) is adapted for deriving an optimal mask (S540), or set of segments of a line. Each mask of a chromosome is subject to cross over with the respective mask of the other parent. Any overlapping part, whether a filtering (320) or pass-through part (350), is retained in the child (334) to preserve commonality. The part is preferably, potentially extended, according to one parent or the other, as decided pseudo-randomly (430). In a preferred application, spectrums of candidate blood constituents are masked for fitting to ensemble spectrums of test blood samples (S610, S620). The developed masks are applicable to constituent spectrums to create masked spectrums (S710) which are then applicable to an actual blood sample to be analyzed (S720).
US08005769B2 Computer-implemented method of generating association rules from data stream and data mining system
A method of generating association rules from a data stream, which is a non-limited data set composed of transactions, includes: when itemsets in the generated transactions and the counts of the itemsets are managed using a prefix tree, and each node of the prefix tree has information on the count of a specific itemset corresponding to the node and a specific item, updating the information of a node corresponding to the itemset or adding a new node on the basis of the itemset included in the generated transaction and the count of the itemset; comparing the support of the itemset corresponding to each of the nodes of the prefix tree with a minimum support to select frequent itemsets; and visiting all or some of the nodes corresponding to the selected frequent itemsets and generating the association rule on the basis of the information of each of the visited nodes.
US08005761B1 Dynamically determining actual delivery information for orders based on actual order fulfillment plans
A method, system, and computer-readable medium for dynamically generating actual fulfillment plans for a current order or a potential order so as to enhance the future fulfillment process for expected future orders is described. In some situations, actual delivery information based on one or more such actual fulfillment plans will then be provided to a customer, such as by displaying actual delivery date and/or time before or during the ordering process based on one or more actual fulfillment plans that can be or will be used to fulfill the order. A variety of types of criteria can be used to evaluate the effects of using a fulfillment plan to fulfill a current order, including criteria that consider the modeled future cost of fulfilling expected future orders, such as an overall cost of fulfilling all orders during a specified time period that is at least partially in the future.
US08005760B1 Fee transaction system and method for intellectual property acquistion and/or maintenance
A facility has been developed whereby an applicant (or his representative) may initiate performance of an intellectual property service such as the making of a maintenance fee, annuity, renewal, tax or other payments and transact the associated fees coincident therewith. Such a facility has several advantages including the ability to reduce float time. Outside the context of annuity-type payments, similar facilities may be employed in conjunction with preparation, filing and prosecution support tools to similarly transact fees associated with the performance of intellectual property services at or about the time such intellectual property services are performed. An intellectual property portal or hub is employed, which in some realizations is hosted on a public, packet switched data network and communicates with both applicants (or representatives) and associates. In some realizations, the intellectual property portal facilitates selection, by applicants (or representatives) of particular jurisdictions and associates based at least in part on fee quotations made in accordance with particulars of an intellectual property filing and in accordance with fee structures of the particular jurisdictions and foreign associates. In addition, some realizations of the intellectual property filing portal facilitate registration of associate- and jurisdiction-specific services and fee schedules.
US08005758B2 Encryption/decryption method and apparatus for controlling content use based on license information
A method and apparatus for encrypting or decrypting digital content are provided. In the method, a binding range is selected from a plurality of binding ranges of content use based on license information of the content, and the content is encrypted based on the selected binding range so that the content can be used only within the selected binding range. Accordingly, it is possible to limit content use to a plurality of binding ranges of use of the content, using license information of the content.
US08005757B2 Specifiying security for an element by assigning a scaled value representative of the relative security thereof
To determine whether digital content can be released to an element such as a computer application or module, a scaled value representative of the relative security of the element is associated therewith, and the digital content has a corresponding digital license setting forth a security requirement. The security requirement is obtained from the digital license and the scaled value is obtained from the element, and the scaled value of the element is compared to the security requirement of the digital license to determine whether the scaled value satisfies the security requirement. The digital content is not released to the element if the scaled value does not satisfy the security requirement.
US08005756B2 Debit purchasing of stored value card for use by and/or delivery to others
A method of issuing a purchase card is provided. The method includes the steps of presenting a purchaser with the opportunity to buy the purchase card, determining whether the purchaser has sufficient funds to pay for the purchase card, creating a purchase card account for a recipient designated by the purchaser, and issuing the purchase card. The purchase card may also be issued in connection with another credit card, for example as a rebate for purchases on the credit card. The purchase card may also be converted to a credit card.
US08005750B1 Method and system for providing principal protection exposure to equity markets
Various embodiments of the present invention relate to methods and systems for providing principal protection exposure to equity markets. More particularly, one embodiment of the present invention relates to a computer implementable method for performing data processing operations associated with providing principal protection exposure to an equity market, comprising the steps of: carrying out a sale of a trust certificate to generate proceeds, which sale is from a trust to a first entity; allocating a portion of the proceeds of the sale of the trust certificate to a purchase of an equity security, which purchase is by the trust from the equity market; and allocating a portion of the proceeds of the sale of the trust certificate to a purchase of a put option on the equity security, which purchase is by the trust from a second entity; wherein the sale of the trust certificate to the first entity, combined with the purchase of the equity security by the trust and the purchase of the put option by the trust, provides the first entity principal protection exposure to the equity market without causing substantial income statement volatility.
US08005747B2 Method and apparatus for generating a sale offer over an electronic network system
A method and apparatus are disclosed for communicating sale offers through an electronic network system. The method includes inputting a sale offer parameter for randomly generating at least one sale offer to purchase a product or service on the electronic network system at an offer price substantially less than a current value of the offered product or service in a competitive marketplace. The method further includes randomly displaying, through the electronic network system, the at least one sale offer at the offer price to a buyer in communication with the electronic network system at an unexpected period of time; and withdrawing the display of the randomly generated sale offer in response to an absence of an indication of acceptance of the randomly generated sale offer by the buyer within a predetermined period of time after displaying the randomly generated sale offer.
US08005744B2 Methods and systems for facilitating bids on products and services
Methods and systems for bidding on items include a predetermined price or range associated with an item, the price not disclosed to bidders. Successful bids conform to a predetermined success rule(s) determined independently of the amounts of other bids. Successful bids can be immediately communicated to the successful bidders. Price adjustments, typically discounts, can be determined and communicated prior to fulfillment.
US08005743B2 Electronic trading confirmation system
A system and method of confirming trades of financial instruments such as OTC derivatives is disclosed. The system includes a data interface which accepts data relating to a trade from both the trader and counter party. The data includes different data fields of differing importance. The system includes a matching engine which compares the submitted data and assigns the trade a status depending on which of the data fields match. The system allows a user to filter trades on their status and display the details relating to that trade. The system also allows a user to display the data fields and change the data fields in order to change the status of the trades. The system thus allows a user to electronically confirm a trade and also identify unmatched trades and the information necessary to reconcile such unmatched trades.
US08005741B2 Pension administration system and method
The present invention is a universal pension administration system that allows multiple companies to use the same system for valuation report generation, benefit calculation, database administration, and trust payment direction. Plan Actuaries define a pension plan by answering questions related to the plan. A Developer Actuary uses tools to develop a pension plan framework that defines plan questions and logic and calculations to support the plan definition. A first tool is used to define the logic for pension plan definition, calculation sequencing, and report generation. In the calculation sequencing, rules are defined to refer to spreadsheets in which complex calculations related to the plan are performed. A second tool is used to design discrete calculation objects using a standard client-based spreadsheet. The spreadsheets are sequenced on a server in any manner as dictated by expert system code generated from the calculation-sequencing tool. Plan Participants access an online account to obtain information regarding benefits.
US08005736B2 Multi-level transaction flow monitoring
An apparatus for monitoring transactions in a computer system includes monitoring events reported by components of the computer system responsively to a flow of the transactions through the system. A state machine model and a rule-based model are jointly applied to the monitored events, so as to identify respective transaction-level events and business-level events. A status of the flow of the transactions is assessed responsively to the transaction-level events and the business-level events.
US08005735B2 Encrypting and storing data from a financial prospectus
A first portion of data is selected. The first portion of data is capable of being converted from a human-readable format to an electronically readable format. The first portion of data is capable of being stored in an optical bar code. A printed publication includes the first portion of data in the human-readable format. The first portion of data is encrypted. The first portion of data is stored on the optical bar code. The optical bar code is incorporated into the printed publication. The first portion of data is read from the optical bar code using a bar code scanner without removing the optical bar code from the printed publication.
US08005734B1 Insurance on demand transaction management system
An intermittent risk exposure liability insurance method comprising the steps of: establishing an Internet business site enabled for communication with insurers and insureds through Internet service providers; enrolling the insureds in intermittent risk exposure liability insurance policies, the policies providing for a variable insurance premium rate depending upon an intermittent use of an insured article; logging start and completion times of each intermittent use of the insured article on the Internet business site by the insured; verifying start and completion times of use of the insured article in accordance with the logged start and completion times; and applying and billing premium insurance rates in accordance with the verified and logged start and completion times of use.
US08005731B1 Real time vehicle purchase request management method and system
A method and system for managing a purchase request in a Data Center system. The Data Center system receives a purchase request from a plurality of potential buyers. The Data Center system provides access to a plurality of remotely located vehicle dealer or dealer groups. The dealer accesses the purchase request and displays its details. The dealer may then assign the handling of the purchase request to a salesperson. The salesperson ascertains a purchase request property such as an immediate buyer, based upon the purchase request property. The Data Center system further contains one or more action response modules which assist the user to act in response to the ascertained purchase request property. Thus, the Data Center system assists the dealership to efficiently act upon a purchase request.
US08005729B1 Environment modification using system and usage data
Environment modification using system and usage data is described, including receiving environmental data from one or more sources, the environmental data being associated with an environment, determining a change in the environmental data by comparing a current value for the environmental data to a mean value for the environmental data, the change being expressed as a delta value, and applying the delta value to the environmental data to evolve the environment.
US08005726B1 Method and system for interactive rate plan recommender
A method and system for analyzing rate plans for communication services may include obtaining usage data for a user from a database of historical usage data for the user and determining rate plan costs based on the usage data. The method and system may include obtaining information from a user and determining, based on the user information, if usage data for the communication services may be available for the user and obtaining the usage data from inputs by the user, including uploads of electronic bills, when the usage data is not available from the database. The method may be implemented on a web-based site server, which can connect to a decision engine for analyzing the usage data and determining the costs for the rate plan. The decision engine may access the historical usage database through one or more Application Program Interfaces operating on one or more billing servers.
US08005718B2 Ink cartridge vending machine
A vending machine capable of refilling used ink cartridges as well as dispensing filled ink cartridges is closed. The vending machine includes at least one cartridge receptacle for receiving an ink cartridge, a user interface, a display unit, a nozzle health check module, a printhead servicing module, an ink reservoir, an ink refilling unit, a compartment containing new ink cartridges, a compartment containing filled, second-hand ink cartridges, and a recycle compartment for receiving discarded ink cartridges. The user is presented by the display unit with the option of (a) refilling a used cartridge, (b) purchasing a filled cartridge, or (c) returning a used cartridge in exchange for a purchase rebate or a discount voucher. When the user selects the option of refilling, the vending machine executes a refilling subroutine which includes checking the nozzle health.
US08005716B1 Methods and systems for establishing a keyword utilizing path navigation information
Systems and methods for determining and utilizing path navigation information. In one aspect, a method includes determining an article containing at least one item, determining a path associated with the article, and identifying at least one term associated with the at least one item based at least in part on the path.
US08005707B1 Computer-implemented systems and methods for defining events
Computer-implemented systems and methods to process time-series data. As an example, a system and method can use a first data store to store time series data, and a second data store to store definitions of events. A dummy variable is generated when data from an event's definition is applied to time series data.
US08005706B1 Method for identifying risks for dependent projects based on an enhanced telecom operations map
A method is provided for risk management in project management. A risk is identified for a project during a concept phase for the project prior to an analysis phase for the project. A probability for an identified risk and an impact severity for the identified risk are analyzed to determine a risk exposure for the project. A risk response plan is developed based on the risk exposure. The risk exposure is mitigated by executing a portion of the risk response plan.
US08005704B2 Method and system for tracking of work-item revisions
A method for work-item tracking, in a computer system that includes client computers and at least one server maintaining a database, includes defining at least one work item, associating version identifiers with corresponding versions of at least one work item, and storing, in the database, work-item data. The work-item data can include the current version of the work item, one or more prior versions of the work item, and the version identifiers. A computer readable medium is encoded with a program that, when executed, can perform the method for work-item tracking.
US08005696B2 Incremental searching in multi-passenger multi-route travel planning
A multiple routes for multiple passengers are produced by ordering passenger groups and for each passenger group, constructing an individual query and sending the individual query to a travel planning system. Solutions based on the individual query are received from the travel planning system and a single individual solution is selected from the response. Constraints are added to subsequent individual queries based on previously selected individual solutions and joint travel requirements or preferences.
US08005694B1 Systems and methods of automating consideration of low cholesterol risk
Systems, methods, and computer-readable media automate determination of a risk category for low cholesterol associated with issuance of a life insurance policy.
US08005693B2 Process for determining a confidence factor for insurance underwriting suitable for use by an automated system
A process is described for evaluating the decision-making confidence of a process and system for at least a partial underwriting of insurance policies where placement of an insurance application to an underwriting category is based on its similarity to previous insurance applications. The confidence factor computed is a measure of the correctness of the decision for a given application for insurance.
US08005690B2 Dynamic modeling and scoring risk assessment
The invention provides for modeling and scoring risk-assessment and a set of insurance products derived therefrom. Risk indicators are determined at a selected time. A population is assessed at that time and afterward for those risk indicators and for consequences associated therewith. Population members are coupled to client devices for determining risk indicators and consequences. A server receives data from each client, and in response thereto and in conjunction with an expert operator, (1) reassesses weights assigned to the risk indicators, (2) determines new risk indicators, (3) determines new measures for determining risk indicators and consequences, and (4) presents treatment options to each population member. The server determines, in response to the data from each client, and possibly other data, a measure of risk for each indicated consequence or for a set of such consequences. The server provides this measure with regard to each population member, or with regard to population subsets. The expert operator uses this measure to determine either (1) an individual course of treatment, (2) a resource utilization review model, (3) a risk-assessment model, or (4) an insurance pricing model, for each individual population member or for selected population subsets. Information requested by the client, information determined and presented by the server, and responsive measurements, are adapted dynamically to changing population aspects or changing population membership, or of an external environment having relevance to the population.
US08005685B1 Ranking air travel search results based upon user criteria
A facility for ranking a list of priced alternatives is described. The facility attributes criteria to a user. The facility determines values for the criteria based on information about the user. The facility uses the determined values to adjust the actual prices of the priced options. The facility uses the adjusted prices to rank a list of options and presents them to a user.
US08005683B2 Servicing of information requests in a voice user interface
A VoiceXML Dialog Engine (“VDE”) is employed to handle requests via a brokered session from a media communications server. The VDE interfaces with one or more information providers, such as a script server or an audio server, in order to service the requests received via the brokered session. The VDE can provide a response to the requests to the media communications server based on information retrieved from the information providers.
US08005675B2 Apparatus and method for audio analysis
An apparatus and method for an improved audio analysis process is disclosed. The improvement concerns the accuracy level of the results and the rate of false alarms produced by the audio analysis process. The proposed apparatus and method provides a three-stage audio analysis route. The three-stage analysis process includes a pre-analysis stage, a main analysis stage and a post analysis stage.
US08005674B2 Data modeling of class independent recognition models
A recognition model set is generated. A technique is described to take advantage of the logarithm likelihood of real data for cross entropy to measure the mismatch between a training data and a training data derived model, and compare such type of mismatches between class dependent models and class independent model for evidence of model replacement. By using change of cross entropies in the decision of adding class independent Gaussian Mixture Models (GMMs), the good performance of class dependent models is largely retained, while decreasing the size and complexity of the model.
US08005671B2 Systems and methods for dynamic normalization to reduce loss in precision for low-level signals
A normalization factor for a current frame of a signal may be determined. The normalization factor may depend on an amplitude of the current frame of the signal. The normalization factor may also depend on values of states after one or more operations were performed on a previous frame of a normalized signal. The current frame of the signal may be normalized based on the normalization factor that is determined. The states' normalization factor may be adjusted based on the normalization factor that is determined.
US08005669B2 Method and system for reducing a voice signal noise
A method is provided whereby, before being subjected to a low rate voice coding, an incoming digital voice signal is chronologically segmented into blocks, the blocks are broken down respectively, in chronological order, into frequency components by a transformation in the frequency range and the frequency components are multiplied by weight factors depending on the frequency and modifiable in time, a frequency component being multiplied by the last weight factor calculated for the frequency component if the factor is less than the current weight factor.
US08005668B2 Adaptive confidence thresholds in telematics system speech recognition
A method of configuring a speech recognition unit in a vehicle. The method includes receiving a noise error from the speech recognition unit responsive to a user voice command and reducing a confidence threshold for an appropriate grammar set responsive to the received noise error.
US08005666B2 Automatic system for temporal alignment of music audio signal with lyrics
An automatic system for temporal alignment between a music audio signal and lyrics is provided. The automatic system can prevent accuracy for temporal alignment from being lowered due to the influence of non-vocal sections. Alignment means of the system is provided with a phone model for singing voice that estimates phonemes corresponding to temporal-alignment features or features available for temporal alignment. The alignment means receives temporal-alignment features outputted from temporal-alignment feature extraction means, information on the vocal and non-vocal sections outputted from vocal section estimation means, and a phoneme network, and performs an alignment operation on condition that no phoneme exists at least in non-vocal sections.
US08005660B2 Hierarchical stochastic analysis process optimization for integrated circuit design and manufacture
An Integrated Circuit Design tool incorporating a Stochastic Analysis Process (“SAP”) is described. The SAP can be applied on many levels of circuit components including transistor devices, logic gate devices, and System-on-Chip or chip designs. The SAP replaces the large number of traditional Monte Carlo simulations with operations using a small number of sampling points or corners. The SAP is a hierarchical approach using a model fitting process to generate a model that can be used with any number of performance metrics to generate performance variation predictions along with corresponding statistical information (e.g., mean, three-sigma probability, etc.). A hierarchical SAP process breaks an overall circuit into a plurality of subcircuits and performs circuit simulation and SAP analysis steps on each subcircuit. An integration and reduction process combines the analysis results of each subcircuit, and a final SPICE/SAP process provides a model for the overall circuit based on the subcircuits.
US08005659B2 Simulation of coupled objects
A simulator for simulating a first object and a second object that is coupled to the first object is disclosed. The simulator models the first and second objects as a plurality of segments, with each segment having a plurality of nodes connected by one or more edges. The simulator then indexes each of the nodes and couples at least one node of the first object to a node of the second object. The indexing and coupling is based on the current simulated position of the first and second objects. The simulator then generates and solves a linear system of equations Ay=b from the indexing, and updates a position of each of the nodes. The simulator flow then dynamically re-indexes the nodes, and continues in a loop.
US08005656B1 Apparatus and method for evaluation of design
A method of evaluating a design model, including: providing a design model; simulating a behavior of at least one digital user in said model; simulating at least one environmental effect modulated by said model and affecting or affected by at least one of said at least one digital user; and evaluating said design model based on a result of said simulations.
US08005654B2 Method, apparatus and computer program product for intelligent workload control of distributed storage
A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided for generating a multiple-input, multiple output (MIMO) workload model of a distributed storage environment on a plurality of predictive controller devices. The MIMO models can then be utilized by the predictive controller to manage storage resources on a distributed storage system.
US08005653B2 Modeller for a high-security system
A modeller for a system for determining a residual error probability. The modeller includes a component modeller, which is adapted to receive an error probability and to model a change of the error probability due to a behaviour of a system component, in order to output a changed error probability as residual error probability.
US08005651B2 Custom braces, casts and devices and methods for designing and fabricating
A custom device and method for fabricating the custom device includes marking a body with reference points and/or other indicators. Multiple images of the body from multiple angles are then obtained. The images are used to determine the contours of the body and the other markings are located and used to design the custom device. The custom device can be fabricated as a single piece structure or in multiple pieces that are assembled to complete the custom device.
US08005650B2 Enhanced flattening for cable and wiring harnesses in computer-aided design drawings
Embodiments of the invention include a method for generating a two-dimensional (2D) flattened nailboard representation of a wiring harness in a three-dimensional (3D) computer-aided design (CAD) model. The nailboard representation invention may be used to provide a dimensionally accurate “flattened” view of a complex 3D wiring harness depicted in a CAD model, without cutting any of the wires included in the harness, and minimizing the overlap of multiple exposed wires present in wire loops.
US08005649B2 Device for validating measurements of a dynamic magnitude
The invention relates to a device for validating measurements of a dynamic magnitude x coming from an article having main sensors placed thereon on three main axes for measuring of said dynamic magnitude x. The device includes at least two additional sensors for measuring at least two additional components of the dynamic magnitude. The additional sensors are placed on the article on at least two additional axes that are concurrent with the three main axes and that are not contained in any of the planes defined by any pair of the three main axes. The device further includes a unit for determining an estimator U representative of the dynamic magnitude from the components; and means for validating the determination of the estimator U representative of the dynamic magnitude, as well as an error detector and a localization unit for locating valid components of the dynamic magnitude.
US08005646B2 Plant alarm apparatus and plant alarm method
A plant alarm apparatus has: plant data input means for periodically taking in plant data; a latest plant data value table for temporarily storing latest values of the plant data; plant data recording means for taking out the latest values of the data of the latest plant data value table and storing them in a plant history data table; alarm-triggering value alteration means for updating the points for detecting plant abnormality in an alarm-triggering value registration table in response to a request by an operator; alarm-triggering condition editing means for registering alarm-triggering conditions of points showing a foretoken of abnormality; deviation-from-limit-value determining means for reading the stored values of the alarm-triggering value registration table and the alarm-triggering condition table and comparing the limit values of the points for detecting abnormality; and alarm notification output means for outputting the outcome of the comparison.
US08005643B2 System and method for measuring the quality of document sets
Systems and methods are described that calculate the interestingness of a set of one or more records in a database, either absolutely (i.e., compared to an overall collection of records) or relative to some other set of records. In one embodiment, the measure is a relative entropy value that has been normalized. Various applications of the measure are described in the context of an information retrieval system. These applications include, for example, guiding query interpretation, guiding view selection and summarization, intelligent ranges, event detection, concept triggers and interpreting user actions, hierarchy discovery, and adaptive data mining.
US08005642B2 Predictive angular sensor readout
A sensor readout includes a selector circuit, a predictor circuit, and a select controller. The selector circuit receives a plurality of actual sensor inputs. Each actual sensor input is provided to the selector circuit along a corresponding channel. The selector circuit also passes a selected sensor input. The predictor circuit receives the selected sensor input into a signal history and generates predicted sensor inputs. The select controller receives the predicted sensor inputs, determines which of the predicted sensor inputs is most changed from the actual sensor inputs as the most changed input, and directs the selector circuit to pass a next signal on a the channel having the most changed input.
US08005641B2 Temperature sensing circuit with hysteresis and time delay
A semiconductor device that may include temperature sensing circuits is disclosed. The temperature-sensing circuits include an amplifier, a transistor, a temperature threshold resistance and a hysteresis resistance, and a latch. The amplifier includes a positive input and a negative input where the negative input is configured to be driven by a temperature-independent signal. The transistor is electrically coupled to the positive input where the transistor is configured to be controlled by a temperature signal. The temperature threshold resistance and a hysteresis resistance is electrically coupled in series to the positive input, wherein the hysteresis resistance is configured to be controlled, at least in part, by an output of the amplifier. The latch is configured to latch the output of the amplifier after a time delay initiated by a transition of a temperature detect signal.
US08005640B2 Thermal response geothermal testing unit
An apparatus for performing a thermal response test to determine thermo-physical properties of a geothermal heat exchange resource. The apparatus includes a geothermal heat exchanger adapted to circulate a fluid through a loop in a sample borehole in the geothermal heat exchange resource and a variable speed pumping system capable of time-dynamic control of a fluid flow rate of the fluid. A multi-stage heating system is capable of applying a series of time-dynamic heat pulses to the fluid. The apparatus further includes a fluid temperature sensor and one or more fluid pressure, fluid density and/or fluid flow rate sensors, the sensors measuring data on the properties of the fluid that are predictive of the thermo-physical properties of the geothermal heat exchange resource.
US08005637B2 Method and apparatus for measuring characteristics of an electrical device
An arrangement to determine at least one electrical feature of an electrical device including a signal injection unit configured to inject first and second test signals into the electrical device, a signal conversion unit configured to measure electrical qualities in electrical circuits resulting from the test signals, and a processing device including at least two input channels configured to receive the measured electrical quantities and to determine the electrical feature based on the measured electrical quantities. The arrangement further may include a mixing unit configured to add the measurements of a first electrical quantity determined from the test signals and based thereon generate a first mixed signal, to add the measurements of a second electrical quantity from the test signals and based thereon generate a second mixed signal, and to supply the first and second mixed signals to first and second input channels.
US08005636B2 Method of controlling clock signal
A method of controlling a clock signal with a print controller is provided. In response to receiving an external signal, the print controller determines the number of cycles of a clock signal generated by a ring oscillator of the print controller during a predetermined number of cycles of the external signal or the number of cycles of the external signal during a predetermined number of cycles of the clock signal and outputs the determined number of cycles to an external circuit. In response to receiving a trim value from clock trim circuitry of the print controller which trims the frequency of the clock signal based on the determined number of cycles from the external circuit, the trim value is stored in memory of the print controller. The clock trim circuitry is controlled to trim the frequency of the clock signal generated by the ring oscillator using the trim value.
US08005634B2 Copper wiring module control
Techniques for controlling an output property during wafer processing include forwarding feedforward and feedback information between functional units in a wafer manufacturing facility. At least some embodiments of the invention envision implementing such techniques in a copper wiring module to optimize a sheet resistance or an interconnect line resistance. Initially, a first wafer property is measured during or after processing by a plating process. Subsequently, the wafer is forwarded to a polishing process. A second wafer property is then measured during or after processing by the second process. At least one of these first and second wafer properties are used to optimize the second process. Specifically, one or more target parameters of a second process recipe are adjusted in a manner that obtains a desired final output property on the wafer by using these first and second wafer properties.
US08005626B2 System and computer readable medium for discovering gene regulatory models and genetic networks using relational fuzzy models
A system and computer readable medium for discovering gene regulatory models using relational fuzzy models. A system is provided that includes a data selection system that clusters gene expression data into a set of clusters and identifies a representative subset of genes from the set of clusters; and a relational fuzzy modeling system that builds a relational fuzzy model using the representative subset.
US08005622B2 Computerized system and method for safely transfusing blood products
The present invention relates to a system and method for safely transfusing blood to a patient in a computerized healthcare environment is provided. A blood product to be administered to a patient is identified and the patient is identified. A database containing a plurality of blood compatibility test results is accessed and it is determined whether the database contains a blood compatibility test result for the identified blood product and identified patient. If so, it is determined whether the test result indicates that the identified blood product is compatible for the identified patient.
US08005618B2 Logging while drilling system
A logging-while-drilling system for efficiently providing a reliable measurement of various petrophysical properties of subsurface earth formations. The logging-while-drilling system generally includes drilling a wellbore within an earth formation, circulating a fluid within the wellbore and injecting it inside the earth formation under pressure, taking a first measurement of the earth formation as altered by the injected fluid within the earth formation during an initial stage of drilling the wellbore, taking a second measurement of the earth formation as altered by the injected fluid within the earth formation during a later stage after the initial stage of drilling the wellbore and determining a zero-time state measurement of the earth formation from a combination of the first measurement and the second measurement, wherein the zero-time state measurement represents the earth formation prior to drilling the wellbore, and determining an infinite-time state measurement of the earth formation from another combination of the first measurement and the second measurement, wherein the infinite-time state measurement represents the earth formation as altered by the injected fluid within the earth formation, assuming the injection had continued indefinitely. Different combinations of the zero-time state measurement, the first measurement, the second measurement, and the infinite-time state measurement, are used to determine the petrophysical parameters of the earth formation, such as but not limited to, volumetric composition, permeability, wettability, and reservoir rock-type.
US08005616B2 Method for determining relevant objects
Disclosed is a method for determining relevant objects in the vicinity of a motor vehicle by an environmental detection sensor. A calculation of the probable trajectory of objects is thus not necessary. The only objects that are classified as relevant are those with a greater probability of a collision despite an average driver response such as evasive action and/or braking. The probability of a collision is determined in accordance with at least two values that are calculated from vehicle and environmental data. A first value describes future evasive action or evasive action that has already been initiated and a second value describes a deceleration operation. Each of the two or more values is delimited by a threshold value, which indicates the start of a critical range. The braking devices are activated if at least one of the determined values lies in the critical range.
US08005614B2 Method for monitoring the integrity of an aircraft position computed on board
A method for monitoring the integrity of an aircraft position computed on board including on-board means for monitoring the aircraft position that are able to detect common-mode failures. Dissimilar computing channels of the aircraft position are utilized, the dissimilar channels being on-board in the aircraft. Each aircraft position primary computing channel is supplemented by a dissimilar computing channel, which allows the coherence of the primary aircraft position, the position computed by the primary computing channels, to be verified. Mechanisms for verifying the reliability of the results from dissimilar computing channels are implemented to limit a loss of performance from the utilization of dissimilar computing channels, which are less performing than primary computing channels.
US08005610B2 Method and device for determining the length of a shortest path in a network
A computer-implemented method for pre-processing a network, wherein the network comprises nodes and edges, each edge having a length measured according to a given metric, comprises the steps of selecting a source and a target node; determining a transit node for the selection; determining a length of a shortest path between the source node and the transit node; and storing it. A method for determining the length of a shortest path in the network may use the pre-processed network to answer the shortest path query in constant time.
US08005609B2 Route calculation method for a vehicle navigation system
Traffic information, including flow information and incident information, obtained through a traffic management system for providing and facilitating the exchange of traffic information between a remote location and a vehicle may be used in route calculation by a navigation device. The navigation device may recalculate a route based on anticipated user error. Alternatively, the navigation device may recalculate a route using received traffic information triggered by the receipt of a traffic information update, or triggered by the passage of an amount of time. The broadcast rate of traffic information updates may vary temporally (providing more frequent updates during peak commute times) or geographically (providing more frequent updates to metropolitan areas with increased traffic information needs). If route calculation is triggered by an elapsed amount of time, the amount of time may vary to be shorter during peak commute times. Additional route calculation techniques allow the incorporation of historical traffic information or the use of the most recent traffic information if incomplete traffic information is available. Still further route calculation techniques may calculate a best route by avoiding zigzagging or evaluating an assigned cost of a potential route.
US08005606B2 Idle control system of direct-cylinder-fuel-injection spark-ignition engine
When a predetermined operation state during idling is set, an ignition timing is set to a basic ignition timing at or following a compression top dead center point, and a temperature rise controlling operation is carried out for injecting fuel prior to the basic ignition timing. Then, a target value of an intake air quantity is set in accordance with an engine request torque that is set when controlling a temperature rise. Thereafter, a limit value of the intake air quantity that is set when controlling the temperature rise is set. When the target value of the intake air quantity is less than the limit value, the intake air quantity is adjusted so as to become the target value, whereas, when the target value is greater than the limit value, the intake air quantity is adjusted so as to become the limit value. Further, when the target value of the intake air quantity is less than the limit value, the ignition timing is fixed to the basic ignition timing, whereas, when the target value is greater than the limit value, the ignition timing is corrected towards a spark advance side from the basic ignition timing on the basis of insufficient air quantity.
US08005600B2 Method and device for controlling a drive system
The present invention generally relates to a method and a device for controlling a drive system, in particular a hydraulic traveling drive of a crane, a caterpillar, an industrial truck or a construction machine, which has at least one drive unit for an element to be driven. The invention relates to a control device for controlling such drive system, comprising a control signal circuit for providing an actuating signal for adjusting the at least one drive unit in dependence on a specified desired value of an output parameter as well as a specified power limit value for the at least one drive unit.
US08005596B2 System for dynamically determining vehicle rear/trunk loading for use in a vehicle control system
A control system (18) and method for an automotive vehicle (10) includes a pitch rate sensor (37) generating a pitch rate signal, a longitudinal acceleration sensor (36) generating a longitudinal acceleration signal, and a yaw rate sensor (28) generating a yaw rate signal. A safety system (44) and the sensors are coupled to a controller. From the sensors, the controller (26) determines an added mass and a position of the added mass, a pitch gradient and/or a pitch acceleration coefficient that takes into account the added mass and position. The controller controls a vehicle system in response to the added mass and the position of the added mass, the pitch gradient and/or pitch acceleration coefficient variables.
US08005595B2 Occupant monitoring and restraint status system
An occupant monitoring and restraint status system is provided. The system includes an occupant boarding and de-boarding system. The occupant boarding and de-boarding system detects boarding and de-boarding of occupants. The system also includes a bench type seat that has a plurality of seat locations. Each of these seat locations includes a seat belt system which has a status sensor to detect a state of the seat belt system. Each seat location also includes an occupant sensing system. The occupant sensing system detects the presence and identity of an occupant at the seat location. The system further includes a display which includes a seat status indicator for each of the plurality of seat locations. The seat status indicators include information regarding a presence of an occupant, an occupant identity, and a state of a seat belt system.
US08005593B2 Method for determining a torque on a steering train of a vehicle with dynamic drive system
The present invention relates to a method for determining a torque on a steering train. The method comprises the method steps: determining angular signals through a position sensor of an electric motor which supports the rotational movement of the steering train, determining of measuring and control variables of a dynamic drive system as well as evaluating the angular signals and the measuring and control variables of the dynamic drive system.
US08005589B2 Method and system for addressing improper towing of a vehicle
A method and system that can be used to address improper towing of a vehicle so that unnecessary damage to the vehicle can be detected, recorded, prevented, avoided, etc. According to an exemplary embodiment, the method uses a vehicle power signal and one or more wheel movement signal(s) to detect instances of improper towing and, if detected, initiates a remedial action. Remedial actions could include, for example, alerting the tow truck operator through a visual and/or audible alarm, sending a wireless warning message to a remote call center, and recording the relevant information for subsequent analysis. In one embodiment, the wheel movement signals are provided by tire pressure monitoring (TPM) sensors already located in the vehicle.
US08005583B2 Method and device for determining the air turbulence likely to be encountered by an aircraft
A method and device for determining the air turbulence likely to be encountered by a first aircraft may use a turbulence indication from a second aircraft so as to make and use a prediction of the impact of the turbulence on the first aircraft if it is located in a particular position.
US08005582B2 Apparatuses and methods for displaying and receiving tactical and strategic flight guidance information
Methods and apparatuses for displaying and receiving tactical and strategic flight guidance information are disclosed. A method in accordance with one aspect of the invention includes displaying at least one first indicator to an operator of the aircraft, with a first indicator corresponding to a first instruction input by the operator for directing a first aircraft behavior and implemented upon receiving an activation instruction from the operator. At least one second indicator corresponding to a second instruction for directing a second aircraft behavior at least proximately the same as the first aircraft behavior is displayed, with the at least one second instruction to be automatically implemented at a future time. The at least one second indicator is at least approximately the same as the at least one first indicator. Indicators can be hierarchically organized to simplify presentation and reduce pilot training time.
US08005581B2 Systems and methods for communicating aircraft data
Systems and methods for communicating aircraft data are provided. In this regard, a representative system includes a data reduction system operative to: receive aircraft data; store a first set of the aircraft data; analyze a next set of the aircraft data; and store the next set of the aircraft data if the next set of aircraft data differs from the first set of the aircraft data.
US08005579B2 Vehicle control device and method
A vehicle control device and method. To reduce consumption, the device and method test the state of each member used to input a command or interpret the wishes of the driver with the aid of a computer that is dedicated to each electricity-consuming resource. According to the device and method, when the engine is stopped, the accessories are no longer started up by pressing the start button.
US08005577B2 Apparatus for controlling the movement of furniture parts which can be moved with respect to one another, and piece of furniture
The invention relates to a device for controlling the movement of furniture parts which can be moved with respect to one another, having a drive unit by means of which a first furniture part can be moved in a driven manner relative to a second furniture part via a monitoring unit for monitoring the movement of the first furniture part. According to the invention, the monitoring unit is designed to record a movement pattern of the first furniture part if the moving first furniture part collides with an object, and to use this movement pattern as the basis for further monitoring of the movement of the first furniture part. A piece of furniture with a device according to the invention is also disclosed.
US08005574B2 Vibration suppressing method and device
A stable rotation speed is acquired by finely changing a rotation speed of a rotary shaft 3 based on an expected stable rotation speed, and calculating an amount of change of a k′ number, and the like. Therefore, a more accurate rotation speed can be acquired, and “chatter vibration” generated during machining can be suppressed more effectively than a conventional method. As a result, a quality of a workpiece surface can be improved, and a tool wear and the like can be suppressed.
US08005569B2 Installation for sorting mailings according to sorting directions
Disclosed is an installation for sorting incoming mailings which are assigned to a first plurality of first preselected directions or a second plurality of second remaining sorting directions, according to which the mailings are distributed to receptacles of a track, each mailing being deposited into one of several first receptacles for the first plurality of first preselected sorting directions or into at least one of the other receptacles for the second plurality of second remaining sorting directions. At least one external receptacle from an additional track is replaced with a receptacle from one of the preselected first sorting directions of the track via an interface at least during one passage of the track, the additional track is used as a storage device for the receptacles, and replaced receptacles can be redirected to the respective track thereof via the interface.
US08005568B2 System and method for tracking of mail using a universal coding system
A method of tracking trays through a delivery system. The method comprises: generating an enhanced label, the enhanced label comprising a routing code and a label unique identifier, the enhanced label being applied to the tray; associating a tray with a container, the container having a container unique identifier; and receiving a load container scan, the load container scan associating the container unique identifier with the enhanced label.
US08005567B2 Method and control system for generating machine tool control data
A control system (41) comprises a control program (42) which accesses a stored database (43) holding a predefined set of rules for performing predetermined machine tool operations, from which rules computer instructions can be derived for controlling an NC machine tool. A solid model (44) of a component to be manufactured is input to the control program (42). The solid model (44) is in the form of a computer model programmed using the International Geometry Export Standard (IGES). In operation, the control program (42) performs a feature recognition operation on the IGES data to identify geometric features present in the solid model (44). Having identified the geometric features present, the control program (42) uses the set of rules in the database (43) to generate control data in the form of a composite set of computer instructions for working the features of the component represented in the solid model (44).
US08005565B2 Drilling system and method
A drilling system includes a controller, a human-machine interface, and a drilling device. The controller stores a drilling procedure and a startup mode module for the drilling procedure, and generates an information list which includes location information and corresponding procedure line number for each hole. The human-machine interface is configured for selecting the startup mode module for the drilling procedure, and for inputting a query information corresponding to the selected startup mode module. The controller invokes the corresponding procedure line according to the inputted query information to restart the drilling process to enable the drilling device to return to work.
US08005561B2 Method for self-synchronization of modular production systems
A system and method for self-synchronization of modular production systems having components with various alternative capabilities for processing and transporting work units along transport highways, for various component/transport highway configurations. The method includes determining jobs of interest, with each job requiring the production of at least one work unit. The configuration of the components, including at least one machine module, and the transport highway is determined. Each component duration time is determined and a default self-synchronization time is identified. The default self-synchronization time is optimized by adjusting not less than one component duration time.
US08005559B2 Optimizing task assignments for multi-head tape laydown
The operation of automated tape heads used to layup a composite structure is optimized in order to reduce layup time and better balance tape head loading. Ply data is generated that defines the ply segments and tape courses for each sequence of the layup. Each sequence is partitioned into groups of either ply segments or tape courses for the sequence. Multiple possible tape head assignments are generated in which the individual tape heads are assigned to the groups A final set of tape head assignments are selected based on the assignments that minimize the time required to complete the layup.
US08005553B2 Automatic configuration of synchronous block execution for control modules run in fieldbus networks
A method or apparatus automatically configures a control module for synchronous execution on a Fieldbus segment of a process control network by determining if all of the critical function blocks of a particular control module can be assigned to FOUNDATION® Fieldbus field devices or to the I/O device associated with a particular Fieldbus segment. If so, the method or apparatus automatically assigns the function blocks of the control module, which would otherwise be scheduled to execute in a controller, to the I/O device for the Fieldbus segment. This technique enables all of the critical or necessary function blocks within the control module to execute in one macrocycle of the Fieldbus segment, thereby executing synchronously on a Fieldbus segment. This operation, in turn, increases the overall execution rate of the control module with respect to control modules that have function blocks split between a controller and field devices on a Fieldbus segment, which has been the traditional manner of configuring control modules implemented using devices on a Fieldbus segment.
US08005550B2 Medical electrical lead
A medical device lead is presented. The lead includes one or more jacketed conductive elements. The jacket comprises one or more covers. A first cover of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) is in direct contact with the at least one conductive element. At least one conductive element and a ePTFE cover are coiled. The coiled conductive element can substantially retain its original coiled shape.
US08005549B2 Medical electrical lead
A method of manufacture of a medical device lead. The lead includes one or more jacketed conductive elements. The jacket comprises one or more covers. The jacketed conductive element is formed by introducing a polymeric material over a conductive element, coupling the conductive element around a mandrel to form a coil shape, annealing the polymeric material over the at least one conductive element and setting a coiled shape in the at least one conductive element; and then removing the at least one conductive element from the mandrel.The coiled conductive element as manufactured thus substantially retains its original coiled shape.
US08005548B2 Harmonic cold plasma device and associated methods
A method for generating atmospheric pressure cold plasma inside a hand-held unit discharges cold plasma with simultaneously different rf wavelengths and their harmonics. The unit includes an rf tuning network that is powered by a low-voltage power supply connected to a series of high-voltage coils and capacitors. The rf energy signal is transferred to a primary containment chamber and dispersed through an electrode plate network of various sizes and thicknesses to create multiple frequencies. Helium gas is introduced into the first primary containment chamber, where electron separation is initiated. The energized gas flows into a secondary magnetic compression chamber, where a balanced frequency network grid with capacitance creates the final electron separation, which is inverted magnetically and exits through an orifice with a nozzle. The cold plasma thus generated has been shown to be capable of accelerating a healing process in flesh wounds on animal laboratory specimens.
US08005544B2 Endocardial pacing devices and methods useful for resynchronization and defibrillation
Various methods and apparatus are implemented for modifying cardiac operation, for treating a condition of a patient's heart, and for monitoring cardiac operation. An electrode arrangement is used to capture the myocardium for re-synchronization of the left and right ventricles by providing first and second signal components having opposite polarity on respective electrodes. Use of a defibrillation lead may also be particularly useful. Other aspects involve use of such cardiac modulation technique to facilitate mechanically and/or electrically synchronous contractions for resynchronization, and a technique for pacing and/or mapping by generating pulses for delivery to a cardiac site useful for improving heart function as measured, e.g., by QRS width, fractionation, late LV activation timing, mechanical synchronicity of free wall and septal wall, effective throughput/pressure, or a combination thereof.
US08005539B2 Implantable medical device crosstalk evaluation and mitigation
Electrical crosstalk between two implantable medical devices or two different therapy modules of a common implantable medical device may be evaluated, and, in some examples, mitigated. In some examples, one of the implantable medical devices or therapy modules delivers electrical stimulation to a nonmyocardial tissue site or a nonvascular cardiac tissue site, and the other implantable medical device or therapy module delivers cardiac rhythm management therapy to a heart of the patient.
US08005538B2 Stimulating catheter
An apparatus for delivery of a substance to an anatomical region in a body can include a catheter comprising a catheter body, and one or more electrically conductive elements supported by the catheter body and in electrical communication with one or more sources of electrical stimulus. The catheter body can comprise a lumen therein, a substantially closed distal end, and an infusion section configured to permit fluid to pass through the catheter body and that can have a length that is less than or equal to the length of the catheter body. In some embodiments, the apparatus can comprise a coiled member positioned within the lumen of the catheter body. The coiled member can comprise adjacent coils and can permit the uniform flow of the substance through one or more holes formed in the catheter body.
US08005535B2 System and methods for performing surgical procedures and assessments
The present invention involves systems and related methods for performing surgical procedures and assessments, including the use of neurophysiology-based monitoring to: (a) determine nerve proximity and nerve direction to surgical instruments employed in accessing a surgical target site; (b) assess the pathology (health or status) of a nerve or nerve root before, during, or after a surgical procedure; and/or (c) assess pedicle integrity before, during or after pedicle screw placement, all in an automated, easy to use, and easy to interpret fashion so as to provide a surgeon-driven system.
US08005531B2 Method and apparatus with reduced electrode system specific ECG interpretation
A method and apparatus for processing electrocardiographic signals of a patient. The apparatus comprises ten or fewer electrodes connected to a patient at at least one of the standard twelve lead ECG electrode positions. The apparatus further comprises a plurality of ECG interpretation algorithms, each of the algorithms specifically tailored for analyzing a twelve lead ECG comprising both measured and derived ECG leads. The method of the present invention comprises determining whether an ECG lead is measured or derived and selecting an ECG interpretation algorithm based upon this determination.
US08005530B2 Method and apparatus for imaging abdominal aorta and aortic aneurysms
Technique and apparatus for acquiring anatomic information used in diagnosing and characterizing abdominal aortic aneurismal disease and the like. This technique provides anatomic information, in the form of images, using a combination of a plurality of magnetic resonance angiography sequences, including a spin-echo and four contrast enhanced (e.g., gadolinium) magnetic resonance angiography sequences. The anatomic images may be used in, for example, pre-operative, operative and post-operative evaluation of aortic pathology, including aneurysms, atherosclerosis, and occlusive disease of branch vessels such as the renal arteries. The gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance angiography provides sufficient anatomic detail to detect aneurysms and all relevant major branch vessel abnormalities seen at angiography operation. This technique and apparatus allows for imaging the aorta at a fraction of the cost of conventional aortography and without the risks of arterial catheterization or iodinated contrast.
US08005525B2 Systems and methods for replacing signal artifacts in a glucose sensor data stream
Systems and methods for minimizing or eliminating transient non-glucose related signal noise due to non-glucose rate limiting phenomenon such as ischemia, pH changes, temperatures changes, and the like. The system monitors a data stream from a glucose sensor and detects signal artifacts that have higher amplitude than electronic or diffusion-related system noise. The system replaces some or the entire data stream continually or intermittently including signal estimation methods that particularly address transient signal artifacts. The system is also capable of detecting the severity of the signal artifacts and selectively applying one or more signal estimation algorithm factors responsive to the severity of the signal artifacts, which includes selectively applying distinct sets of parameters to a signal estimation algorithm or selectively applying distinct signal estimation algorithms.
US08005523B2 Signal processing for pulse oximetry
A signal processing technique for estimating the frequency of a pulsatile signal (including but not limited to pulse oximetry signals) is disclosed. Each of the functions contained within a pre-selected set of functions is compared to the input signal at many different time-shifts, and the function/time-shift combination that best matches the input signal is selected. The frequency of the best-matching function is then used as the best estimate of the frequency of the input signal. Optionally, once a function has been selected, the rising portion of the selected function can be correlated in time to the rising portion of the input signal. Improved results can then be obtained by basing the oxygen saturation level calculations on samples taken from the rising portion of the input signal.
US08005521B2 Portable terminal
A portable terminal comprising first and second bodies, and a hinge unit configured to fold or unfold the first and second bodies in a rotational manner.
US08005520B2 Mobile electronic device
A mobile electronic device includes a main body, a support frame, and a switch. When the support frame is in the first mode and used to support the main body, the main body is required to execute the first function by the support frame and the switch. For example, the first function is used to control the display and includes related functions of multimedia reproducing. In addition, when the support frame is in the second mode and used to support the main body, the main body is required to execute the second function by the support frame and the switch. For example, the second function is used to control the speaker and includes related functions. Whereby, the mobile electronic device includes different two modes to instinctively and automatically switch between video and audio files reproducing.
US08005516B2 Mobile information terminal
The mobile information terminal comprises a first casing having an operation unit on the surface, a second casing having a display unit on the surface, and a joint mechanism. This joint mechanism joints the first casing and the second casing in an openable manner, and joints the first casing and the second casing such that the display unit can be shifted in the open state between the transversely long state and the longitudinally long state with respect to the first casing. A hinge pin for jointing the first casing and the second casing in the openable manner is positioned in the closed state above the second casing with respect to the surface of the first casing.
US08005510B2 Cell site power conservation
Systems, apparatus, methods, and manufactures for conserving power in a communications system such as a communications service cell site. The methods include adjusting the RF coverage of the cell site antenna, selective control of the RF output transmit power, selective control of the communications bit rate, transfer of communications to other cell sites, adjustment of indicators such that mobile devices transfer communications to other cell sites, and reallocation of logical slots between radios in the cell site.
US08005508B2 Portable terminal device incorporating non-contact IC card
In a portable terminal 10 incorporating a non-contact IC 20, the non-contact IC 20 includes a card appli storage region 24 in which a card appli is stored, and the portable terminal 10 includes an appli storage region 15 in which appli's inclusive of the card appli are stored. When the non-contact IC 20 executes non-contact communication with an external R/W 30 to store the card appli selected by the external R/W 30 in the card appli storage region, a storage region for the card appli is ensured in such a manner that the card appli already stored in the appli storage region 24 is saved into the appli storage region 15. The saving of the card appli stored in the card appli storage region 24 of the non-contact IC 20 is executed using a trilateral communicating function.
US08005504B2 Wireless communication apparatus having wireless communication functions conforming to incompatible communication standards
A wireless communication apparatus is provided. The wireless communication apparatus includes wireless communication functions conforming to incompatible first and second communication standards. The wireless communication apparatus includes a first transceiver that performs a wireless communication operation conforming to the first communication standard and includes a first transmission/reception port, a second transceiver that performs a wireless communication operation conforming to the second communication standard and includes a second transmission/reception port, a shared antenna shared by the first and the second transceivers, an antenna connecting unit that connects the shared antenna and the first and the second transmission/reception ports, and a control unit that controls the communication operations in the first and the second transceivers.
US08005499B2 Method, apparatus and computer program providing signaling of configurable power step sizes for high speed uplink packet access (HSUPA)
A set of power control step size increments are determined such that at least two step size increments differ from one another. The set is sent to a Mobile Station MS. A first power command to the MS informs of a first power for a uplink data transmission on a radio resource (E-DPDCH). To change power on the same radio resource, an offset is computed, the set of step size increments is accessed to determine which one, or combination of them, yield the offset, and the MS is informed of the second power by a second message that identifies those elements of the set that alone or in combination yield the offset. The MS determines the second power as a function of the first power and the step size increment(s) from the second message.
US08005497B2 Floor control over high latency networks in an interoperability and collaboration system
Methods and apparatus for assigning floor control based upon when a floor control request was initiated are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method includes receiving a first request for floor control from a first endpoint and granting the floor control to the first endpoint. The method also includes receiving a second request for floor control from a second endpoint, that has approximately the same priority level as the first endpoint, and determining if the first request was initiated from the first endpoint at approximately the same time or earlier than the second request was initiated from the second endpoint. If it is determined that the first request was not initiated from the first endpoint at approximately the same time or earlier than the second request was initiated from the second endpoint, then floor control is preempted from the first endpoint and granted to the second endpoint.
US08005494B2 Providing to sender of message an identifier of service provider associated with recipient of the message
An apparatus in one example comprises a gateway component that provides an identifier of a service provider to a sender of a message through employment of a user address associated with the recipient of the message.
US08005492B2 Sending quick paging messages and regular paging messages in a wireless communications system
Sending quick paging or regular paging messages is disclosed. The format of the quick paging or regular paging message is compressed in a systematic way without losing any information. Additional bits can be embedded in and extracted from the comparison between each pair of remaining partial numbers that are not compressed further.
US08005489B2 Location based messaging method and system
A method for providing location based messaging to a mobile user with a wireless portable receiving device includes sending a message to the portable device including content based on the location and the direction of travel of the portable device. In the method, the location and direction of travel of the portable device are determined, and a message is established. The message includes content based on the location and travel direction of the device.
US08005481B2 Uplink scheduling in a mobile telecommunication network
A node B comprises a downlink data scheduler and an uplink data scheduler. Information associated with a downlink data transfer is transferred from the downlink data scheduler to said uplink data scheduler. The uplink data scheduler schedules an uplink data transfer as a result of the transmission of the downlink data transfer.
US08005478B2 Handover request method for use in portable internet system and mobile communication terminal using the same
A handover request method for use in a portable Internet system and a mobile communication terminal using the same are disclosed. The handover request method of the mobile communication terminal in the portable Internet system according to an embodiment includes operating, by the mobile communication terminal, a timer when a handover request of the mobile communication terminal is rejected by a base station; collecting information of at least one neighbor base station during the operation of the timer; and selectively re-attempting the handover request to the base station using the collected information.
US08005474B2 Cell phone locator method
A method of locating a cellular phone on an aircraft includes detecting a cellular phone transmission of a passenger on an aircraft, logging a subscriber number and a serial number of the phone, transmitting the subscriber number and the serial number of the phone to a common carrier for caller identification information, attempting to match the caller identification information with a database, displaying a name and a seat number of the passenger if a match was found between the caller identification information and the database, and recording all information related to the cellular phone transmission.
US08005472B2 Method of reporting poor RF coverage in a wireless network
The present invention provides a method for storing data relating to network conditions in a mobile unit. A mobile station receives a signal from a base station. The mobile station stores data associated with the signal in memory within the mobile unit. When the mobile unit determines that the signal has been dropped, the mobile unit freezes the memory until it can transmit the data to a network outage data center. This helps the system diagnose and correct transient service outages.
US08005469B2 System and method for handling data transfers
Systems and methods for managing data transfers between a secure location and a less secure location. A data transfer checker operating on a mobile device determines whether an attempted data transfer between two locations is permitted. If it is not permitted, then the data transfer is prevented and the user may be notified of the data transfer prevention.
US08005462B2 System and method of retrieving electronic mail
A communications system and method includes a mobile device having a mail user agent. A mobile office platform as a server includes a mail agent that is operative with the mail user agent for accessing one or more electronic mailboxes of the mail user agent using at least one protocol specific connector. The mobile office platform is operative for providing only the n-most recent mail headers of electronic messages to the mail user agent.
US08005458B2 Device and method for detecting and preventing sensitive information leakage from portable terminal
A device and method for detecting and preventing sensitive information leakage from a portable terminal is provided. A device for detecting and preventing leakage of sensitive information from a portable terminal includes a data storage unit that stores data containing sensitive information, an external interface that interfaces the portable terminal with the external, a sensitive information manager that detects and prevents leakage of the sensitive information stored in the data storage unit through the external interface, and a sensitive information leakage detecting and preventing unit that is disposed between the data storage unit and the external interface to detect and prevent the leakage of the sensitive information.
US08005451B2 Filter circuit and radio communication apparatus
There is provided with a filter circuit, including: an input terminal configured to input signals; a band stop filter configured to have a center frequency of input signals from the input terminal in a stop band and configured to reflect signals in the stop band that is included in the input signals and pass signals outside the stop band; a band pass filter configured to have a pass band including the stop band, and configured to pass signals in the pass band out of the signals having passed through the band stop filter; a synthesis circuit configured to synthesize the signals reflected on the band stop filter and the signals having passed through the band pass filter to obtain synthesis signals; and an output terminal configured to output the synthesis signals.
US08005447B2 Method and apparatus for providing a dual-loop phase lock loop
A method and apparatus for providing a dual-loop phase lock loop (PLL) for a radio-frequency (RF) receiver is provided. The dual-loop PLL may include coarse tuning circuitry and fine tuning circuitry. The coarse turning circuitry and fine tuning circuitry may be arranged in parallel. Both of the coarse tuning circuitry and fine tuning circuitry provide respective tuning signals to a voltage-controlled oscillator (e.g., a varactor tuned VCO). The coarse tuning circuitry and the fine tuning circuitry may provide the respective tuning signals simultaneously. In addition, coarse and fine tuning circuitry may be formed monolithically with other elements of the dual-loop PLL so as to provide a highly-integratable having a wide frequency lock range and high sensitivity.
US08005446B2 Apparatus, and associated method, for operating upon received data at a receiving station capable of diversity operation
Apparatus, and an associated method, for a receiving station, such as the receive part of a mobile station, that has diversity antennas. The receiving station includes both legacy demodulators and a diversity demodulator. Calculations are made to determine signal indicia associated with the signal energy detected at the diversity antennas. Responsive to the signal indicia, selection is made as to whether to utilize demodulation data, demodulated pursuant to a diversity demodulation technique or pursuant to a legacy demodulation technique. As the characteristics of received signals change, reselection of the demodulation is correspondingly made, such as on a frame-by-frame basis of frame-formatted data.
US08005433B2 Methods and arrangements for noise rise estimation
A received total wideband power (61A) in a wireless communications system is measured a number of times during a time interval. Preferably, also code powers ((C/I)i) are measured, directly or indirectly. A probability distribution of a first power quantity (63A, 63B), typically total received power is estimated from the set of measurements, preferably using Kalman filtering techniques, and preferably also a probability distribution of a second power quantity (62A, 62B) related to noise and interference signals. A conditional probability distribution of a noise rise measure to be determined is based at least on the probability distribution of the total power (63A, 63B). From that conditional probability distribution, a value of the noise rise measure is calculated. In a preferred embodiment, the noise rise measure is based on a quotient between total power and a noise floor, and the conditional probability distribution of the noise rise is therefore based on a conditional probability distribution of noise floor quantity (64). The conditional probability distribution of the noise floor quantity (64) is in turn based on the probability distribution of the extreme value of a second power quantity (62A, 62B) related to noise and interference signals and a prior determined probability distribution of a noise power floor.
US08005431B2 Controlling attenuation of an antenna signal in a communication terminal to reestablish a lost communication link
Some embodiments of the present invention are directed to methods of operating communication terminals. A wireless communication link is established between first and second communication terminals and communication signals are exchanged therebetween. The first communication terminal is controlled to continue over time to increase a power level at which it transmits communication signals to the second communication terminal in response to detecting loss of the wireless communication link and while continuing attempts to reestablish the communication link with the second communication terminal. The first communication terminal is further controlled, in response to detecting loss of the communication link, to increase a level of attenuation that it applies to communication signals from the second communication terminal, and to then more gradually decrease the level of attenuation over time in response to continuing attempts to reestablish the communication link with the second communication terminal.
US08005430B2 Method and system for reducing signal interference
Signals propagating on an aggressor communication channel can cause interference in a victim communication channel. A sensor coupled to the aggressor channel can obtain a sample of the aggressor signal. The sensor can be integrated with or embedded in a system, such as a flex circuit or a circuit board, that comprises the aggressor channel. The sensor can comprise a dedicated conductor or circuit trace that is near an aggressor conductor, a victim conductor, or an EM field associated with the interference. An interference compensation circuit can receive the sample from the sensor. The interference compensation circuit can have at least two operational modes of operation. In the first mode, the circuit can actively generate or output a compensation signal that cancels, corrects, or suppresses the interference. The second mode can be a standby, idle, power-saving, passive, or sleep mode.
US08005420B2 Method and apparatus for seamlessly switching reception between mutlimedia streams in a wireless communication system
Techniques to seamlessly switch reception between multimedia programs are described. For “continued decoding”, a wireless device continues to receive, decode, decompress, and (optionally) display a current program, even after a new program has been selected, until overhead information needed to decode the new program is received. After receiving the overhead information, the wireless device decodes the new program but continues to decompress the current program. The wireless device decompresses the new program after decoding this program. For “early decoding”, the wireless device receives a user input and identifies a program with potential for user selection. The identified program may be the one highlighted by the user input or a program anticipated to be selected based on the user input. The wireless device initiates decoding of the identified program, prior to its selection, so that the program can be decompressed and displayed earlier if it is subsequently selected.
US08005417B2 Bookbinding system with an adhesive replenishing rate controller
A bookbinding system comprising: an image forming apparatus; and a bookbinding apparatus; wherein both the image forming apparatus and the bookbinding apparatus include a communication section respectively, for transmitting information from the image forming apparatus to the bookbinding apparatus; the bookbinding apparatus comprises a coating section for coating adhesive on a stack of sheets, a replenishing section for replenishing adhesive to the coating section, and a controller for controlling the replenishing section; and the controller controls replenishment rate of the adhesive by the replenishing section, based on information transmitted from the image forming apparatus through the communication section.
US08005416B2 Gripping device, plate member, and gripping method
A gripping device that grips a plate member provided with a long plate body, a first recess formed along a shorter length of the plate body, and a second recess formed at a position spaced apart from the first recess along a longer length of the plate body, the gripping device including: a first movable member entering the first recess; a second movable member entering the second recess; and opposing members opposed to the first and second movable members along the shorter length of the plate body and serving to grip the plate member in cooperation with the first and second movable members, wherein the gripping device grips the plate member by causing the second movable member to press against at least two positions of the second recess as well as the first movable member to press against a bottom of the first recess.
US08005415B2 Method and apparatus for printing using a tandem electrostatographic printer
A tandem color electrostatographic printer apparatus has five or more color printing stations or modules for applying respective color separation toner images to a receiver member to form a pentachrome color image in a single pass. A fuser station fuses the pentachrome color image. A clear toner overcoat is then applied to the fused pentachrome toner image and enhanced glossing of the image is provided by a belt glosser to improve color gamut.
US08005414B2 Image heating apparatus
An image bearing apparatus includes an image heating belt heating a toner image on a sheet in a nip; a roller, opposing the belt, and forming the nip between the belt and itself; a pad, sandwiching the belt between the roller and itself, and pressing the belt toward the roller in the nip; a device pressing at least one of the pad and the roller so that the belt is pressed between the pad and the roller in the nip; and a device changing a pressure in the nip by the pressing device. The pad has a thickness, at its longitudinal central portion, larger than that at its longitudinal end portions. The pad has two curved surfaces, each being curved toward the opposing roller so that the longitudinal central portion of the pad is closer to the opposing roller than the longitudinal end portions of the pad.
US08005411B2 Image forming apparatus having a transfer unit including an elastic member
An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member for bearing a toner image; a rotatable intermediary transfer member; and a transfer unit, configured and positioned to form a transfer nip between the intermediary transfer member and the image bearing member, for transferring the toner image from the image bearing member onto a surface of the intermediary transfer member. The transfer unit includes a sheet member on which the intermediary transfer member is slidable, and includes an elastic member for urging the sheet member toward the intermediary transfer member at a position of the transfer nip. The sheet member is provided with a reinforcing portion, having a linear expansion coefficient different from that of the sheet member, in an area in which the elastic member urges the sheet member.
US08005409B2 Development device
A development device includes an open-ended housing, a rotatable roller, an array of multiple primary electrodes, a voltage source, a sealing member, and a secondary electrode. The housing accommodates toner for application to the photoconductive surface through an end opening thereof. The roller has an outer circumferential surface to deliver the toner from within the housing to a development zone. The array of multiple primary electrodes are aligned with each other on the roller surface. The voltage source applies a periodic pulse voltage to at least a subset of the primary electrodes to generate an oscillating primary electric field. The sealing member seals clearance between the roller surface and an edge of the end opening downstream from the development zone. The secondary electrode generates a secondary electric field to force the toner from the sealing member toward the roller surface to prevent premature removal of the toner.
US08005408B2 Developing blade and its manufacturing method
A developing blade (1) comprises a support member (2) having a coefficient of elasticity in the range of 0.5×104 to 4.0×104 kg/mm2 and a moment of inertia of area (Iz) in the range of 6.5E-04 to 1.2E-02, and a blade member (4) located on one surface of the support member (2) along one side edge (2A). The blade member (4) is made of a rubber material having a 25% modulus of no greater than 0.85 MPa, and has a moment of inertia of area (Iz) in the range of 8E-02 to 1.2E+01, and the blade member (4) has a warping of no greater than 10 mm in the longitudinal direction.
US08005404B2 Developing device and image forming apparatus having the same
A developing device is provided that facilitates developing agent delivery upward. A cartridge includes a developing roller, a supply roller, and a container disposed below the supply roller. The container can have an upper portion formed with an opening having upper and lower edges. A conveying member can be rotatably disposed in and in rotational contact with an inner surface of the container for delivering the developing agent upward. The developing agent container can include a first wall portion for receiving developing agent through the opening. The first wall portion extends from the lower edge in a downstream direction with respect to a rotational direction of the conveying member toward a bottommost portion of the supply roller. The container also includes a second wall portion extending from the upper edge in an upstream direction. The conveying member can be in simultaneous sliding contact with the first and second wall portions.
US08005403B2 Image forming apparatus with movable developing unit
An image forming apparatus includes: a latent image bearing member on which an electrostatic latent image is to be formed; a developing unit which contains the developer and performs a development process to develop the electrostatic latent image formed on the latent image bearing member; and a movement mechanism which moves the developing unit toward the latent image bearing member when the development process is performed, and moves the developing unit away from the latent image bearing member and changes the attitude of the developing unit with, respect to the latent image bearing member when the development process is not performed.
US08005392B2 Image forming device with pressing members, process cartridge, and developer cartridge
A developer cartridge according to one aspect of the invention is attachable to a photoconductor unit that comprises a photoconductive drum. The developer cartridge comprises: a developing frame; a developing roller rotatably supported by the developing frame, and pressed to the photoconductive drum in a pressing direction when the developer cartridge is attached to the photoconductor cartridge; a memory unit attached to the developing frame; and a terminal electrically connected to the memory unit and disposed at an outer portion of the developing frame at a position substantially opposite to the developing roller with respect to the pressing direction.
US08005388B2 Media velocity, media present and bubble control in an electrophotographic process
In an image forming device, the actual speed of a media sheet through a fuser is detected and the fuser speed is controlled so as to maintain a bubble in the media sheet within predetermined limits. A media sheet speed sensor is disposed downstream of the fuser nip. The sensor may be a rotary optical encoder generating a signal comprising a series of pulses, the spacing of the pulses indicative of the speed of at least the leading edge of a media sheet actuating the sensor. Based on the actual speed of the media sheet, the speed of the fuser is adjusted to maintain a desired bubble in the media sheet, when the media sheet is engaged by both the fuser nip and another nip in the media path, such as a toner transfer nip.
US08005387B2 Apparatus for forming multi-color image with control of unintended reverse-transfer of developer image onto photoconductor
An apparatus for forming a multi-color is disclosed which includes a controller that performs an anti reverse-transfer control such that a surface potential of a previously-formed separated-developer-image subset of a plurality of single-color separated-developer-images which has been previously transferred onto an image transferred medium is reduced, prior to a subsequent transfer in which a remainder of the plurality of separated-developer-images is transferred onto the image transferred medium after a previous transfer of the previously-formed separated developer-image subset onto the image transferred medium, to thereby prevent a reverse transfer of a part of a developer material on the image transferred medium from the image transferred medium onto a photoconductor at the subsequent transfer.
US08005386B2 Image forming apparatus having density sensor for developer bearing member
In an image forming apparatus having a toner density sensor which emits light to a developer carried on a developing sleeve and which detects developer density by a reflection output value from the developer, when a reflection output value when the developer is initially set with respect to the illumination light of the toner density sensor is defined as A and a reflection output value of a region of at least the developing sleeve which is opposed to the toner density sensor when the developer is not carried on the developing sleeve is defined as B, a value of B/A is in a range of 0.3
US08005385B2 Electrophotographic system to enable direct sensing of toner quantity
A system is provided that determines the amount of toner on a photo receptor in a xerographic operation. A photo receptor is charged in one or more locations to create an image. A developer places a patch of a predetermined amount of toner onto the one or more charge locations of the photo receptor. A light emitting diode projects light onto the photo receptor, wherein the intensity of the light varies based on the voltage provided to the LED. An optical reflective sensor measures the reflectance of the toner placed on the photo receptor, the amount of reflectance of the toner is related in a known way to the intensity of the LED. A direct relationship between LED intensity and the reflectance of the toner allow for accurate extrapolation at LED intensities greater than the point of saturation.
US08005384B2 Liquid developer collecting system and image forming apparatus including the same
A liquid developer collecting system. A collection section collects liquid developer from a photosensitive body. A storage section stores liquid developer collected by the collection section. A first feed unit feeds liquid developer from the storage section to a concentration control unit.
US08005379B2 Image forming apparatus and image forming method
An image forming apparatus is provided with a control section which stores detection results of a toner sensor regarding detection patterns. When forming a plurality of detection patterns on an intermediate transfer belt, the control section determines circumference-directional lengths of the detection patterns formed this time, based on the detection results of the toner sensor regarding the detection patterns formed immediately before. Thereby, the waste toner amount and toner consumption are not only decreased but also the time taken to detect the density of a detection pattern is reduced, while maintaining the detecting accuracy thereof.
US08005377B2 Image forming device
An image forming device includes an image carrier having a surface onto which an electrostatic latent image is formed, a development station including a case made of a conductive body and one or more developer rollers, which supply toner housed in the case to the surface of the image carrier, and develop the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the image carrier as a toner image, a unit, which forms a standard concentration toner image of on the surface of the image carrier, a detector, which detects a toner adhesion amount of the standard concentration toner image formed on the surface of the image carrier by the standard concentration toner image-forming unit, and a voltage controller, which controls a bias voltage to be applied to the case according to a detected result of the toner adhesion amount of the standard concentration toner image by the detector.
US08005376B2 Image forming apparatus, cartridge and image forming method
An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit to receive an image forming agent from a cartridge having a state indicating element to form an image, a state setting unit to open the state indicating element, and a controller to determine a usage amount of the image forming agent used to form the image by recognizing identification information of the cartridge, and to control the state setting unit to open the state indicating element of the cartridge if the usage amount of the image forming agent is equal to or greater than a preset value.
US08005375B2 Optical receiver systems and methods for polarization demultiplexing, PMD compensation, and DXPSK demodulation
A simplified optical receiver architecture capable of tracking and demultiplexing polarization-multiplexed signals, dynamically compensating for PMD using a variety of polarization controller technologies, and reducing the number of delay line demodulators by two for both DPSK and DQPSK modulation is illustrated. Once polarization is stabilized at the first stage of the cascaded system of the present invention, subsequent stages can be simplified and cost reduced.
US08005366B2 Reconnection method in peripheral interface using visible light communication
A reconnection method and device for a peripheral interface using VLC provide a protocol for when a communication link between a primary device and a secondary device is disconnected. The primary device generates an R-XID message including reconnection information and a warning indication signal indicating the disconnection. The secondary device aligns the communication link with the primary device using the warning indication signal, receives the R-XID message from the primary device by the secondary device, and transmits an R-XID response message for the R-XID message to the primary device.
US08005363B2 Passive optical network with wavelength division multiplexing
In one embodiment, a passive optical network is provided that includes: an optical line terminal (OLT) configured to transmit a plurality of downstream signals into a corresponding plurality of passive optical networks and to receive a corresponding plurality of upstream signals from the plurality of passive optical networks, wherein each downstream signal is separated in wavelength from the remaining wavelength signals, and wherein each upstream signal is separated in wavelength from the remaining upstream signal; a Mux/Demux configured to multiplex the downstream signals from the OLT into a optical fiber and to demultiplex upstream signals from the optical fibers to the OLT; and a splitter configured to split the downstream signals from the OLT to a plurality of optical network units such that each optical network unit receives the plurality of downstream signals.
US08005359B2 Network element for signals of the optical transport network (OTN)
A crossconnect for asynchronous OTN signals operates synchronously internally at an internal clock rate. Received OTN signals are synchronized to an internal frame format by stuffing. The synchronized signals are parallelized and switched with a switching matrix comprising synchronously operating integrated circuits that operate at the internal clock rate. At the output, the synchronized signals are again destuffed and are transmitted again at the original bit rate.
US08005353B2 Flow-through heater
A flow-through heater includes a heating element and a liquid-bearing tube connected to the heating element. The liquid-bearing tube has a flat area on which a thermostat is mounted.
US08005352B2 Heat treating device
A heat treating device including a treatment room for accommodating therein a substrate, a plurality of light sources, which is disposed above the treatment room, for irradiating the substrate, a first reflector, whose inner surface is a reflective surface of a dome shape, for reflecting and directing a part of light emitted from each light source to the substrate, and a plurality of second reflectors, each of which is provided for each light source, for reflecting and focusing light emitted from each light source and directing it to the substrate. The reflective surface of each of the second reflectors is a part of a spheroidal surface or a curved surface approximate to it surrounding a first focal point in such a manner that the first focal point is formed at a position near each light source and a second focal point is formed on a side of the substrate.
US08005351B2 Irradiance pulse heat-treating methods and apparatus
A method of heat-treating a workpiece includes generating an initial heating portion and a subsequent sustaining portion of an irradiance pulse incident on a target surface area of the workpiece. A combined duration of the initial heating portion and the subsequent sustaining portion is less than a thermal conduction time of the workpiece. The initial heating portion heats the target surface area to a desired temperature and the subsequent sustaining portion maintains the target surface area within a desired range from the desired temperature. Another method includes generating such an initial heating portion and subsequent sustaining portion of an irradiance pulse, monitoring at least one parameter indicative of a presently completed amount of a desired thermal process during the irradiance pulse, and modifying the irradiance pulse in response to deviation of the at least one parameter from an expected value.
US08005349B2 Electric evaporator device of volatile substances with adjustable evaporation intensity
The present invention relates to an electric evaporator device of volatile substances with adjustable evaporation intensity. A heating plate (4) defines a first chamber (6) separated from a second chamber (8), wherein a heat generator (5) is located inside the first chamber (6). A regulation opening (13), located in the first chamber (6), allows the exit of a heated air flow from the first chamber to regulate the temperature both in the first chamber (6) and the heating plate (4), enabling thus the regulation of the evaporation rate.
US08005342B2 Digital camera
A digital camera includes a signal processing circuit. The signal processing circuit makes signal processing on the camera data read from a camera data area of an SDRAM to produce YUV data for record. A thin-out circuit makes a thin-out processing on the recording YUV data to produce YUV data for display. The display YUV data and the recording YUV data thus produced are written respectively to a display data area and a recording data area of the SDRAM and thereafter processed for display on a display and record to a flash memory. The access speed to SDRAM is 48 MHz and the processing speed of the signal processing circuit and thin-out circuit is 12 MHz. Consequently, the YUV data for display and YUV data for record is written concurrently with reading out of the camera data.
US08005340B2 Data recording apparatus
Related arts have failed to realize a data recording/reproducing apparatus having the ability to, while video-audio data is being recorded in a first recording medium, notify a user of the number of second recording media to which the recorded video-audio data is equivalent. For breaking through the situation, a data recording/reproducing apparatus in accordance with the present invention includes a module which monitors an amount of video-audio data recorded in a first recording medium, and a module which displays an equivalent of the amount of recorded video-audio data in terms of the capacity of a second recording medium.
US08005338B2 Recording and reproducing device
The following configuration is preferable for providing a digital broadcast-enabled recording and reproducing device involving no lip-sync error and offering good usability. For example, the recording and reproducing device includes a receiver that receives digital broadcast data, a video/audio signal generator that generates a video signal and an audio signal included in the digital broadcast data received by the receiver, an image processing unit that executes image processing of the video signal input from the video/audio signal generator; and a delay unit that receives the audio signal generated by the video/audio signal generator to adjust time lag between the received audio signal and the video signal processed by the image processing unit.
US08005330B2 Optical transmission element and method for producing an optical transmission element
An optical transmission element comprises optical waveguides embedded into a UV-curing protective layer. The optical waveguides and the UV-curing protective layer are surrounded by a sheath, on which spherical elements are arranged. A conductive layer is applied on the sheath and the spherical elements arranged thereon, said conductive layer having a resistivity. of an order of magnitude of 5·1010 ohms per meter measured at a temperature of between 18 degrees Celsius and 24 degrees Celsius and a relative humidity of 45 percent. In the case of an optical transmission element of this type, electrostatic charging when the optical transmission element is blown into an empty conduit is avoided to the greatest possible extent, such that possible blowing-in lengths within a range of between 500 meters and 1000 meters are obtained.
US08005328B2 Optical add/drop module
A WDM add/drop module. The drop portion of the add/drop module is accomplished by using thin film filters or thin film interleavers. The add portion of the add/drop module uses fused fiber interleavers for the less critical stages of the multiplexing process. In a final stage, fused fiber interleavers can be placed in series. A thin film intervleaver having a flattop frequency response may also be used for the critical stage where the multiplexed channels are more closely spaced. The frequency response of the thin film interleaver is relatively constant across a bandwith of a channel while having a drop off at the channel edge to reduce cross talk.
US08005326B2 Optical clock signal distribution using through-silicon vias
An integrated circuit structure includes a semiconductor chip including a front surface and a back surface; a via extending from the back surface of the semiconductor chip into the semiconductor chip, wherein the via is light transparent; and a photon detector in the semiconductor chip and exposed to the via.
US08005325B2 Apparatus for sensing a motion
The present disclosure provides an apparatus for sensing a motion. The apparatus comprises an optical fibre portion comprising a Bragg grating and an element for reducing an impact of an external force that is transversal to the Bragg grating. Further, the apparatus comprises a contact region arranged so that movement of a further region, that is in direct or indirect contact with the contact region and moves in a direction along a portion of the apparatus, causes movement of the optical fibre portion at the contact region. The apparatus also comprises a holder arranged for reducing movement of the optical fibre portion at a holding region when the optical fibre portion is moved at the contact surface. The apparatus is arranged so that movement of the contact region relative to the holding region causes a change in strain of the Bragg grating.
US08005322B2 Polarization-independent optical isolator
It is provided a polarization-independent optical isolator without depending on the polarized wave of the light being input to the waveguide-type optical isolator, in particular, it is able to completely isolate the propagating light of the backward direction.
US08005320B2 Image pickup apparatus, solid-state imaging device, and image generating method
In an image pickup apparatus of the present invention, a CCD 11 in which a plurality of pixels are arranged in a two-dimensional array, thereof the number of effective horizontal pixels is H and the number of effective vertical pixels is V; a aspect switching operator 18 that sets one of a plurality of aspect modes including a first aspect mode and a second aspect mode; an image processor 141 that generates first image data for recording in the first aspect mode, and generates second image data for recording in the second aspect mode, wherein the first image data for recording is generated using image data that is generated with pixels being H1 horizontal pixels by V1 vertical pixels included in the pixels on the CCD 11 or image data that is obtained by subjecting said image data to predetermined processing, the second image data for recording is generated using image data that is generated with pixels being H2 horizontal pixels by V2 vertical pixels included in the pixels on the solid-state imaging device or image data that is obtained by subjecting said image data to predetermined processing, and the first image data for recording and the second image data for recording satisfy the following relationships: H2
US08005316B1 System and method for editing image data for media repurposing
The present invention is directed to a system and method which allow for the automatic cropping and file generation of images from an existing image for display on multiple devices. An image, such as a video image, is provided to an Integrated Development Environment (IDE). Next a mask or plurality of masks representative of different displays are applied to the image. The mask can be moved such that the content author can display an area of interest in the desired device. Once the mask is in place a crop is generated based on the mask. As frames are advanced the mask may be moved as the area of interest moves. Again a crop is made based on the mask. Once completed a file of the images is generated for each device represented by the mask that is displayable for the device.
US08005305B2 Method and apparatus for generating a halftoned image from a compressed image
A method and apparatus are provided for generating a halftoned image from an image compressed by a domain transformation yielding coefficients for resulting domain components and by a coding operation by which these coefficients are coded. The method includes performing a decoding operation by which decoded coefficients (yp) are obtained and performing a thresholding operation by which a bitmap is obtained, wherein only certain decoded coefficients (yp) verifying a selection criterion are selected and taken into account in the thresholding operation.
US08005301B2 Method of difference sensing through optical coherent change detection
A method of difference sensing. A first step involves producing a reference image using temporal averaging and spatial averaging. A second step involves producing a test image. A third step involves computationally comparing the reference image with the test image to arrive at a resulting difference image. The temporal averaging and spatial averaging effectively isolates in the difference image coherent changes imbeded in a complex and rapidly changing environment from transient changes inherent to the complex and rapidly changing environment.
US08005300B2 Image search system, image search method, and storage medium
An image search system includes a first calculation section that calculates a first similarity score of each registered image with respect to an input image on the basis of image features of the registered and the input image, a second calculation section that calculates a second similarity score of each registered image with respect to the input image on the basis of text features of the registered and the input image, a candidate extraction section that extracts one or more candidate images on the basis of the first and the second similarity scores of each registered image, a third calculation section that calculates a third similarity score of each candidate image on the basis of projection waveforms of the input image and the candidate image, and a search section that determines one or more registered images similar to the input image on the basis of the third similarity score.
US08005299B2 Adjusting colorants specified in a digital image
A method for making a device link (90) for a color management system, with an associated imaging apparatus (20), wherein the device link specifies a transformation of digital-image colorant combinations to imaging-apparatus colorant combinations. The device link converts the digital image (70) to a modified digital image (100) represented using the imaging-apparatus colorant combinations, thereby allowing the imaging apparatus to produce an output image (170) having output-image colors matching reference-image colors at corresponding physical locations in a reference image (80). The method includes establishing an association between selected digital-image colorant combinations and reference-image colors, determining for each associated measured reference-image color a suitable imaging-apparatus colorant combination that will produce the reference-image color when rendered by the imaging apparatus, extending the transformation to all other digital-image colorant combinations by means of a mathematical interpolation, and encoding and encapsulating the transformation in a digital form as a device link.
US08005297B2 Method and apparatus for adaptive and self-calibrated sensor green channel gain balancing
A method and apparatus for adaptive green channel odd-even mismatch removal to effectuate the disappearance of artifacts caused by the odd-even mismatch in a demosaic processed image. In one example, a calibrated GR channel gain for red rows and a calibrated GB channel gain for blue rows are determined and are a function of valid pixels only in each respective region. After the calibration, in a correction process, the green pixels in red rows of a region are multiplied by the calibrated GR channel gain, and the green pixels in blue rows are multiplied by the calibrated GB channel gain.
US08005295B2 Apparatus and method for image processing, image processing program and image processor
Corresponding points or a motion vector is generated with reduced positional error even if incoming images have been shot under different illumination conditions.An image processing apparatus (100, 120) includes an initial corresponding point computing section (113) for computing and outputting multiple sets of corresponding points across multiple images and a corresponding point recomputing section (104), which selects reference corresponding points, consisting of multiple sets of initial corresponding points with small error, from the multiple sets of initial corresponding points by using a photometric constraint equation and a geometric constraint equation, newly computes aimed corresponding points associated with those reference corresponding points, and then outputs the reference corresponding points and the aimed corresponding points as corresponding points.
US08005291B2 Inspecting method by using mark partitioning
The present invention relates to a mark partitioning inspection method. A reference image and an inspection image are respectively acquired, and a correlation in a character unit for the reference image and the inspection image is obtained, and then the correlation value is compared with a first threshold value that has been previously set. Then, when the correlation value is greater than the first threshold value, the relevant character is partitioned into a predetermined number of regions, and a correlation between the reference image and the inspection image is obtained for each of the partitioned regions, and then a difference between the maximum and minimum values of the correlation is compared with a second threshold value that has been previously set. Here, even if a low defectiveness is revealed, the mark partitioning inspection method is capable of precisely determining whether or not it is defective, by determining the inspection image to be defective if the difference between the maximum and minimum values of the correlation is greater than the second threshold value, and by determining the inspection image to be normal when the difference between the maximum and minimum values of the correlation is smaller than the second threshold value.
US08005289B2 Cross-frame object reconstruction for image-based cytology applications
Methods, computer software, and systems for analyzing a biological specimen (e.g., a cytological specimen) on a slide are provided. Magnified image data frames of the biological specimen are taken at different locations on the slide. An object that is not entirely contained within at least one of the image data frames is identified, and complementary portions of the object respectively located in different ones of the image data frames are matched. A fully integrated object is created from the matched object portions. Attributes of the integrated object are then analyzed.
US08005287B2 Method of reconstructing CT image data
A method is disclosed for reconstructing CT image data. In at least one embodiment, the method includes providing measured CT projection data p based on the CT projection data p, reconstructing first CT image data fk=1, and on the basis of the first image data fk=1 iteratively generating k+1-th CT-image data according to the formula: fk+1=fk−α(Q(Pfk−p)+βR(fk)) until the standard ∥fk+1−fk∥2 is ≦n, with the reconstruction operator Q containing a noise weighting according to Q=B·Wstatist.·H. Aside from suppressing “cone” artifacts, the proposed method of at least one embodiment indicates a significant reduction in the image noise even after a few iterations.
US08005281B2 Systems, methods and apparatus to distribute images for quality control
Systems, methods and apparatus are provided through which in some embodiments an image acquisition station transmits images that have been identified as having inadequate diagnostic quality to a computer system of an image quality consultant. The image quality consultant may develop recommendations on how to improve the quality, and the recommendations are communicated to appropriate personnel.
US08005273B2 Systems and methods for identifying a document with forged information in non-signature information fields
Methods and systems are provided for analyzing and assessing documents using a writing profile for documents, such as a payment instrument. A method may include providing a document to a computer system. In an embodiment, the method may further include comparing writing in one or more non-signature information fields of the document to at least one forger writing profile representation. In some embodiments, at least one forger writing profile representation may be obtained from at least one non-signature information field of at least one document that includes forged information. In an embodiment, the document may be identified as a document including forged information from an approximate match of at least one forger writing profile representation with writing in the document.
US08005269B2 Method for image-based driver identification in a motor vehicle
A method for image-based driver identification in a motor vehicle is provided. At least one two-dimensional driver facial image is recorded using a camera. Recorded driver facial images are temporarily stored. The temporarily stored driver facial images are compared to two-dimensional reference images of each possible driver from multiple possible drivers of the motor vehicle. The current recording angle between the camera and the facial normal line of the driver is determined by a device not otherwise used for image-based driver identification and relayed to the method for image-based driver identification and the recording of a driver facial image is triggered when the current recording angle reaches a specific preset value.
US08005268B2 Digital image acquisition control and correction method and apparatus
An unsatisfactory scene is disqualified as an image acquisition control for a camera. An image is acquired. One or more mouth regions are determined. The mouth regions are analyzed to determined whether they are frowning, and if so, then the scene is disqualified as a candidate for a processed, permanent image while the mouth is completing the frowning.
US08005264B2 Method of automatically detecting and tracking successive frames in a region of interesting by an electronic imaging device
A method of automatically detecting and tracking successive frames in a region of interesting by an electronic imaging device includes: decomposing a frame into intensity, color and direction features according to human perceptions; filtering an input image by a Gaussian pyramid to obtain levels of pyramid representations by down sampling; calculating the features of pyramid representations; using a linear center-surround operator similar to a biological perception to expedite the calculation of a mean value of the peripheral region; using the difference of each feature between a small central region and the peripheral region as a measured value; overlaying the pyramid feature maps to obtain a conspicuity map and unify the conspicuity maps of the three features; obtaining a saliency map of the frames by linear combination; and using the saliency map for a segmentation to mark an interesting region of a frame in the large region of the conspicuity maps.
US08005263B2 Hand sign recognition using label assignment
A method and system for recognizing hand signs that include overlapping or adjoining hands from a depth image. A linked structure comprising multiple segments is generated from the depth image including overlapping or adjoining hands. The hand pose of the overlapping or adjoining hands is determined using either (i) a constrained optimization process in which a cost function and constraint conditions are used to classify segments of the linked graph to two hands or (ii) a tree search process in which a tree structure including a plurality of nodes is used to obtain the most-likely hand pose represented by the depth image. After determining the hand pose, the segments of the linked structure are matched with stored shapes to determine the sign represented by the depth image.
US08005260B2 Correcting video coding errors using an automatic recognition result
A method for sorting mail includes performing an automatic address recognition process on a digitized image of a mail piece and generating a plurality of conditional address recognition results and a plurality of confirmation values each associated with one of the plurality of conditional address recognition results. The method can include sending the digitized image, the plurality of conditional address recognition results and the plurality of confirmation values to a video coding system. The method can include detecting a possible error in a first video coding result, the possible error detected using error correction information including information from the automatic address recognition process. The method may include indicating the possible error to a video coding operator, and performing a video coding operation to obtain a second video coding result and arbitrating or selecting one of the results as output.
US08005255B2 Content selecting method and content selecting apparatus
A content selecting method allows a target content to be selected as desired from a plurality of contents. The method includes transforming a three-dimensional image into a content selection image made up of a two-dimensional image viewed from a predetermined point of view, the three-dimensional image including content indicators each representing one of a plurality of contents, each of the content indicators being designated by a plurality of three-dimensional coordinates made of first, second and third impression item values obtained by converting three items representative of impressions of each content into numerical terms; displaying the content selection image; and discriminating a target content selected from the plurality of contents in accordance with the position of a selected target part on the content selection image and with the positions of the plurality of content indicators on the content selection image.
US08005253B2 Speaker
The invention is intended to enhance the driving efficiency in a speaker being less in distortion. In order to achieve the purpose, there is provided a damper disposed rather closer to a magnetic circuit than the diaphragm, of which the inner rim is connected to a voice coil body, and the outer rim of the damper is connected to the frame via the second edge. The second edge is protruded toward the diaphragm or the opposite side thereof. The damper has such a structure that the first protrusion protruding toward the diaphragm and the second protrusion protruding in a direction opposite to the first protrusion are alternately repeated in a plurality of times, and the first protrusion and the second protrusion are different in size from each other. The smaller protrusion out of the first and second protrusions is same in protruding direction as the second edge.
US08005246B2 Hearing aid apparatus
There is described a hearing aid comprising input transducer means for converting input acoustic signals into electrical input signals, signal processor means and output transducer means. The signal processor means is operable to divide said electrical input signals into a plurality of frequency bands and to perform a contrast enhancement operation in each said frequency band, to increase the difference between the amplitudes of those frequency components of the input electrical signals having a relatively high amplitude and those frequency components thereof having a relatively low amplitude to produce output electrical signals in each said respective frequency bands. The output transducer means is operable to produce an output acoustic signal corresponding to a combination of said output electrical signals.
US08005241B2 Mute circuit for a microphone
An apparatus having a microphone and a mute circuit (not shown in detail here) operable to be actuated by a rotating door assembly. The apparatus provides a mute circuit suitable to mute the audio microphone when the rotating door assembly is in a closed position and unmute the audio microphone when the rotating door assembly is not in the closed position. Additionally, the mute circuit is impervious to generating audible disturbances in the microphone signal when the rotating assembly door is rotated between open and closed positions. This advantageously allows for the microphone to essentially transition to off when the rotating door assembly is closed and transition to on when the rotating door assembly is open and do so without additional audio disturbance.
US08005240B2 Speaker with frequency directed dual drivers
A speaker that includes a pair of spaced-apart, in-plane mounted drivers connected in series to a network for applying the appropriate frequency component of the electrical input drive signal to each of the drivers is disclosed. A frequency dependent shunting network, such as a low pass filter, is applied to one of the drivers so as to gradually mute the one driver as a desired frequency is approached. The result is an aesthetically pleasing speaker that has dual in-plane drivers and that produces superior sound quality throughout the entire frequency range of the speaker, including those ranges in which dual, in plane, drivers tend to acoustically interfere with each other.
US08005239B2 Audio noise reduction
A method for reducing audio noise in an audio signal acquisition is described herein. The method includes: receiving an input audio signal; separating the input audio signal into a high-frequency portion and a low-frequency portion based on a threshold frequency; synthesizing the low-frequency portion to at least reduce any audio noise therein to generate a new low-frequency portion; combining the high-frequency portion and the new low-frequency portion to form a new audio signal representing the input audio signal; and outputting the new audio signal for the audio signal acquisition.
US08005237B2 Sensor array beamformer post-processor
A novel beamforming post-processor technique with enhanced noise suppression capability. The present beam forming post-processor technique is a non-linear post-processing technique for sensor arrays (e.g., microphone arrays) which improves the directivity and signal separation capabilities. The technique works in so-called instantaneous direction of arrival space, estimates the probability for sound coming from a given incident angle or look-up direction and applies a time-varying, gain based, spatio-temporal filter for suppressing sounds coming from directions other than the sound source direction resulting in minimal artifacts and musical noise.
US08005236B2 Control of data presentation using a wireless home entertainment hub
A method for controlling presentation of data through a wireless home entertainment hub in a home entertainment system includes obtaining a registration for one or more source devices and for one or more sink devices. An indication is received at the wireless home entertainment hub that at least one of the source devices has become active. An instruction is transmitted to the sink devices to receive data from the at least one active source device. An indication is transmitted to at least one active source device that at least one of the sink devices is ready to receive data.
US08005234B2 Method for synthesizing impulse response and method for creating reverberation
An impulse response synthesis method is carried out by a dispersion calculation process for calculating a dispersion of phase characteristics in association with a given room based on a volume of the room, a degree of sound absorption of the room, and a distance between a sound source and a receiving point arranged in the room, a noise creation process for creating a noise having the dispersion of the phase characteristics calculated in the dispersion calculation process, a trend addition process for adding a phase trend to the noise created by the noise creation process in accordance with the distance between the sound source and the receiving point and obtaining a phase characteristic of a minimum-phase component from the noise added with the phase trend, and a synthesis process for synthesizing an impulse response based on the phase characteristic of the minimum-phase component, the impulse response being used to create reverberation for the room.
US08005229B2 Method and an apparatus for decoding an audio signal
A method for processing an audio signal, comprising: receiving a downmix signal, an object information, and a mix information; generating a downmix processing information using the object information and the mix information; processing the downmix signal using the downmix processing information; and, generating a multi-channel information using the object information and the mix information, wherein the number of channel of the downmix signal is equal to the number of channel of the processed downmix signal is disclosed.
US08005225B2 Hierarchical threshold tree-based broadcast encryption method
A hierarchical threshold tree-based broadcast encryption method includes a first step for a server initialization and a user subscription, a second step of distributing a message to enable a privileged user (authorized user) to decrypt a group key, and a third step of the privileged user (authorized user) decrypting the message using the group key. According to the method, it is possible to prevent any group of revocators from obtaining the group key using their secret information and information being broadcast by the server.
US08005223B2 System and method for exchanging encryption keys between a mobile device and a peripheral device
Embodiments of a system and method for providing additional security for data being transmitted across a wireless connection that has been established using a known wireless protocol (e.g. Bluetooth) are described. An encryption key is exchanged between a computing device (e.g. a mobile device) and a wireless peripheral device (e.g. a keyboard, a printer). In exemplary embodiments, the encryption key is generated at one of the two devices. Data associated with the encryption key is output at the one device, which can be input by the user at the other device. The encryption key is then recovered at the other device from the input, thereby completing the key exchange. The encryption key can then be used to encrypt and decrypt data transmitted over the established wireless connection, providing additional security.
US08005222B2 Radio communication system, radio communication device, radio communication method, and computer program
A scrambling initial value is shared without deteriorating transmission efficiency.On the transmission side, a scrambling initial value is created based on a part of a physical layer header not scrambled, a transmission signal sequence scrambled is created by calculating an exclusive-OR operation between a scrambled sequence generated from the scrambling initial value and a transmission data sequence, and is transmitted. On the reception side, the same descrambling initial value as the scrambling initial value is created based on a part of a physical header of a reception frame, and a reception data sequence is descrambled by calculating an exclusive-OR operation between a descrambled sequence generated from this descrambling initial value and a reception signal sequence scrambled.
US08005221B2 Chaotic spread spectrum communications system receiver
A method is provided for coherently demodulating a chaotic sequence spread spectrum signal at a receiver (104). The method includes receiving a chaotic sequence spread spectrum signal including a plurality of information symbols. The method also includes generating a first string of discrete time chaotic samples. The first string of discrete time chaotic samples is identical to a second string of discrete time chaotic samples generated at a transmitter. The method further includes processing the chaotic sequence spread spectrum signal at the receiver to identify a time offset and a frequency offset relative to the first string of discrete time chaotic samples. Each of the discrete time chaotic samples of the first string of discrete time chaotic samples has a shorter sample time interval than the duration of the information symbols.
US08005215B2 Table shuffle cipher system
A system including a pseudo-random number generator having a register to store an extended state having a reduced state and a dynamic constant, an initialization module to initialize a part of the extended state based on a Key and/or an Initial Value, a state update module to update the reduced state, an output word module to generate output words, the state update module and the output word module being adapted to operate through cyclical rounds, each round including updating the reduced state and then generating one of the output words, and an update dynamic constant module to update the dynamic constant, wherein in a majority of the rounds, updating of the reduced state and/or generation of the output word is based on the dynamic constant, and the dynamic constant is only updated in a minority of the rounds. Related apparatus and method are also described.
US08005214B2 Data transmission system
A cipher key is generated by first information shared in secrete between a data transmitting unit 10 and a data receiving unit 20, second information derived from duplication control information of transmit data and third information which is time change information shared between the data transmitting unit and the data receiving unit to cipher data by a CPU 12 by using the above-mentioned cipher key to transmit, from the data transmitting unit 10 to the data receiving unit 20, transmit data in which the duplication control information and the time change information are added to the ciphered data.
US08005213B2 Method, apparatus, and computer program for generating session keys for encryption of image data
An object of this invention is to protect the right of a content holder without any necessity of a special storage medium incorporating a copyright protecting mechanism when the content holder does not coincide with a content creator. Information for encryption key generation is input. An encryption key is generated from the information for encryption key generation. Encryption key verification data is acquired from a storage medium, and the validity of the generated encryption key is authenticated based on the verification data. Generated data is encrypted by using the encryption key whose validity is authenticated by the authentication. The encrypted data is stored in the storage medium.
US08005212B2 Device and method for performing a cryptoalgorithm
A device for executing a cryptoalgorithm including a central processing unit for a first sub-group of operations and for a flow control of the cryptoalgorithm as well as a hardware circuit for a second sub-group of operations, wherein the first sub-group preferably includes arithmetic and/or logic operations, while the second sub-group includes rotation operations, permutation operations, substitution operations or selection operations.
US08005201B2 Call protecting method and device for personalized ring back tone in an intelligent network
The present invention relates to a call protecting method for the coloring ring back tones in an intelligent network, wherein said intelligent network includes an intelligent network service control point (SCP), a service switch point (SSP) and an intelligent peripheral (IP). The method includes the following steps: an IP-state detecting module is added to the IP for detecting whether the IP is available; the IP-state detecting module sends a state-query request to the IP for checking whether the IP is available; if the IP returns a result of availability, the SCP will direct the SSP to connect the call to the IP; if IP returns a result of unavailability, or returns no IP-state detecting result on time, then the SCP will direct the SSP to connect to the called directly rather than to the IP. In the invention, the call-releasing phenomenon due to the IP state is avoided, the call completing ratio of the coloring ring back tone system is increased, and thus the problem that the subscriber can not receive the call due to the use of the coloring ring back tone is mitigated.
US08005200B2 System and method for control of communications connections and notifications
A method and system for selectively establishing a communications connection between an origin and destination in a communications network based on one or mediations rules and one or more lists of prohibited and exempted destination identifiers either in real-time using a control unit or with a pre-check using an analysis unit while also providing notification messages associated with the allowed or designated allowed communications connections.
US08005196B1 Systems and methods for multi-tiered priority messaging
Various systems and methods for providing and updating electronic communications are disclosed. For example, a system for utilizing multi-tiered messages is disclosed that includes receiving a message that has a message content, a condition and a future control rule exclusively associated with the message. At least the message content is delivered, and upon satisfaction of the condition, the future control rule is applied to the individual message.
US08005194B2 Technique for handling incoming reply messages
Messages are handled by a determination that an incoming message is in response to a previous outgoing message, where the previous outgoing message is sent from the computing device. The previous outgoing message is identified, as stored on the computing device. Data that indicates information relating to receiving the incoming message is provided with at least (i) a listing of the previous outgoing message, or (ii) a body of the previous outgoing message.
US08005186B2 Complex imaging system for dental
A dental complex imaging system includes a base and chair on the base for allowing a patient sit; a base-mounted pole adjacent to the chair; a support part extending toward the patient; an expanding and contracting part pivotally coupled to the support part; a radiation generator that moves with the part for emitting radiation for an imaging mode selected from cephalography, panoramic radiography, and CT scanning; a detector disposed on the other side of the part and opposed to the generator; and a controller for reading imaging information, wherein the generator is disposed to slide to adjust a distance between itself and the detector according to the imaging mode while the patient sits on the chair.
US08005185B2 Method to determine phase and/or amplitude between interfering, adjacent x-ray beams in a detector pixel in a talbot interferometer
In a method to determine phase and/or amplitude between interfering, adjacent x-ray beams in a detector pixel in a Talbot interferometer for projective and tomographical x-ray phase contrast imaging and/or x-ray dark field imaging, after an irradiation of the examination subject with at least two coherent or quasi-coherent x-rays, an interference of the at least two coherent or quasi-coherent x-rays with the aid of an irradiated phase grating is generated, and the variation of multiple intensity measurements in temporal succession after an analysis grating is determined in relation to known displacements of one of the gratings or of an x-ray source fashioned like a grating, positioned upstream in the beam path, relative to one of the gratings. The integrating intensity measurements ensue during a relative movement—thus not during the standstill—of one of the upstream gratings or of the x-ray source fashioned like a grating or of the examination subject, with known speed behavior over a final time interval of a final distance.
US08005180B2 Data decision apparatus and error measurement apparatus
The object of the present invention is to provide a data decision apparatus and an error measurement apparatus which can set the phase of the clock to the optimum state with respect to the data signal without continuously sweeping of the phase, and can keep the state for a long time. The data decision apparatus according to the present invention comprises a delay device (34) for delaying a data signal (Dc) outputted from a decision device (31) by one bit, a first phase detector (35) for detecting a phase difference between a data signal (Db) to be inputted to the decision device (31) and the data signal (Dc) outputted from the decision device (31), a second phase detector (36) for detecting a phase difference between the data signal (Dc) outputted from the decision device (31) and a data signal (Dd) outputted from the delay device (34), a third phase detector (37) for outputting a base voltage with respect to the output values of the first and second phase detectors (35 and 36), and a phase controller (38) for controlling a phase shift amount of a variable delay device (32) to equalize an output value (P1) of the first phase detector (35) to a center value between an output value (P2) of the second phase detector (36) and the base voltage (P3).
US08005178B2 Synchronous network device
A physical layer device comprises a first port that embeds a first clock into data transmitted over a first physical medium; a second port that embeds a second clock into data transmitted over a second physical medium; a first selection module that outputs the first clock to the first port based on one of a locally generated clock and a recovered clock; and a second selection module that outputs the second clock to the second port based on one of the locally generated clock and the recovered clock. A method comprises embedding a first clock into data transmitted over a first physical medium; embedding a second clock into data transmitted over a second physical medium; generating the first clock based on one of a locally generated clock and a recovered clock; and generating the second clock based on one of the locally generated clock and the recovered clock.
US08005173B2 Coarse frequency offset estimation for digital multimedia broadcasting
A method of estimating a coarse frequency offset of Digital Multimedia Broadcasting (DMB) transmission frames includes receiving the DMB transmission frames including a synchronization channel having a phase reference symbol, circularly shifting the phase reference symbol by applying a circular shift to the phase reference symbol, numerically correlating the circularly shifted phase reference symbol with a known correct phase reference symbol to obtain a highest peak and a side peaks of the numeric correlation, and computing a phase reference symbol angle based on a multiplication of the peak and a carrier spacing of the DMB transmission frames. The peak is determined when the circularly shifted phase reference symbol is equal to the known correct phase reference symbol. The peak and side peaks corresponding to the peak are operated in a range of a maximum value of the circular shift.
US08005172B2 Acquisition apparatus and method
An acquisition apparatus includes: a first phase-calculating section that calculates a first correlation value by performing correlating operation of a reception signal and a reference signal and determines whether or not the first correlation value is equal to or greater than a first threshold; a threshold calculating section that calculates a second threshold by performing averaging operation of the first correlation value and the first threshold when the first correlation value is equal to or greater than the first threshold; and a second phase-calculating section that calculates a second correlation value by performing correlating operation of the reception signal and the reference signal on a basis of a phase of the reference signal which realizes the first correlation value equal to or greater than the first threshold, and determines whether or not the second correlation value is equal to or greater than the second threshold.
US08005171B2 Systems and method for generating a common preamble for use in a wireless communication system
A UWB system comprising a plurality of piconets, wherein each piconet uses a different code to generate a preamble for use in communicating with a plurality of remote communication devices. The preamble can be generated from the combination of repeated versions of the code, negative versions of the code, and no code or zero, the codes used have a perfect autocorrelation function and optimal cross-correlation.
US08005167B2 Digital broadcasting system and method of processing data in digital broadcasting system
The present invention provides a data processing method. The data processing method includes receiving a broadcast signal in which main service data and mobile service data are multiplexed, acquiring transmission-parameter-channel signaling information including transmission parameter information of the mobile service data, and fast-information-channel signaling information, acquiring binding information describing a relationship between at least one ensemble transferring the mobile service data and a first virtual channel contained in any of the at least one ensemble by decoding fast-information-channel signaling information, acquiring ensemble identification information transferring the first virtual channel using the binding information, and receiving at least one mobile service data group transferring an ensemble according to the ensemble identification information, parsing service table information contained in the ensemble and decoding content data contained in the first virtual channel using the parsed service table information, and displaying the decoded content data.
US08005166B2 System for digital television broadcasting using modified 2/3 trellis coding
8VSB-compatible DTV broadcasting that employs outer coding of a sort in which interleaved data and outer coding parity are inner coded by the ⅔ trellis code encoder is improved. This is done by recoding each successive pair of bits in the interleaved data and outer coding parity in accordance with an “anti-Gray” code before being inner coded by the ⅔ trellis code encoder. Accordingly, in the DTV receiver an adjacent-bin error during data slicing may generate a double-bit error in a pair of bits as ⅔ trellis decoded, but this is reduced to a single-bit error after the pair of bits is recoded in accordance with a Gray coding procedure. In one example of such recoding, 10 and 11 bit-pairs of the interleaved data and outer coding parity are recoded to 11 and 10 bit-pairs respectively, but the 00 and 01 bit-pairs are not recoded.
US08005165B2 MIMO-OFDM transmission device, MIMO-OFDM transmission method, reception apparatus and reception method
A MIMO-OFDM transmission and reception apparatus is provided which allows high accuracy estimation of frequency offset; high accuracy estimation of a transmission path fluctuation and high accuracy synchronization/signal detection. A mapping section generates a plurality of OFDM signals. In these OFDM signals, some pilot carriers are assigned to the same carrier position and orthogonal sequences are assigned to the same time slot in the same carrier position.
US08005161B2 Method, hardware product, and computer program product for performing high data rate wireless transmission
A method, a hardware product, and a computer program product for performing high data rate wireless transmission and reception. Minimum shift-keyed (MSK) data is transmitted by multiplexing a first MSK data stream and a second MSK data stream wherein the first MSK data stream is substantially 90-degree phase-shifted with respect to the second MSK data stream. The transmitted MSK data is received by performing phase recovery and demodulation using an FM discriminator having a demodulation circuit for implementing a 45-degree phase shift prior to demodulation.
US08005159B2 Methods for channel estimation in the presence of transmit beamforming
The present invention relates to a method for estimating a propagation channel in the presence of transmit beam-forming within a receiver, accounting for the structure of two logical channels referred as to a common channel and a dedicated physical channel (CPICH, DPCH) and based on a common structure of corresponding propagation channels, said DPCH channel comprising two sub-channels (DPDCH, DPCCH), said propagation channels being modeled as a linear superposition of a finite number of discrete multipath components following an uncorrelated-scattering wide-sense stationary model, a multipath component being characterized by a time-varying multipath complex coefficient and a delay. Use: RAKE Receiver.
US08005156B2 Method and apparatus of recursive time-frequency channel estimation
An approach is provided for estimating a channel of a multi-carrier transmission by splitting an interpolation or extrapolation or smoothing of estimates into a frequency domain part and a time domain part, wherein the channel estimation unit is configured to use for both the frequency domain part and the time domain part respective recursive filters, and wherein at least one of the recursive filters is adapted to channel conditions of the multi-carrier transmission.
US08005154B2 Method and apparatus for transmitting and receiving shared control channel message in a wireless communication system using orthogonal frequency division multiple access
A method and apparatus for transmitting/receiving a shared control channel message in an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) wireless communication system are provided. The message transmission apparatus receives feedback information from a terminal; determines whether to transmit data by applying preceding; and transmits, in the shared control channel message, control information whose message type is differently set according to the application of the preceding. The message reception apparatus receives the shared control channel message from a base station; determines a message type of the shared control channel message; and if the message type is a Transmit Diversity (TD)-Forward Link Assignment Message (FLAM), demodulates data by at least one of Single Input Single Output (SISO) and Spatial Time Transmit Diversity (STTD) as indicated by the TD-FLAM.
US08005153B2 Method and apparatus for increasing the number of orthogonal signals using block spreading
Embodiments of the invention apply block spreading to transmitted signals to increase the number orthogonally multiplexed signals. The principle of the disclosed invention can be applied to reference signals, acknowledgement signals, and channel quality indication signals. In any given time interval, the set of transmitted signals is defined by two sequences: the baseline sequence, and the block spreading sequence. Different transmitters using the same baseline sequence can be identified by using different block spreading sequences.
US08005150B2 Motion image distribution system, motion image distribution method, server for motion image distribution system, and user terminal for motion image distribution system
A motion image distribution system includes a server and a use terminal. The server generates a feature quantity table CHT1 representing a data structure of motion image encoded data VDE, and authenticates the motion image encoded data VDE by using the generated feature quantity table CHT1. Then, the server transmits the motion image encoded data VDE and the feature quantity table CHT1 to the user terminal. The user terminal generates a feature quantity table CHT2 representing a data structure of the received motion image encoded data VDE, and authenticates received motion image encoded data VDE by using the generated feature quantity table CHT2. Then, the user terminal plays back the motion image encoded data VDE and outputs motion image playback information.
US08005147B2 Method of operating a video decoding system
A system and method for decoding a digital video data stream. In one aspect, a plurality of hardware acceleration modules are used together with a core processor. The accelerators operate in a decoding pipeline wherein, in any given stage, each accelerator operates on a particular macroblock of video data. In the subsequent pipeline stage, each accelerator works on the next macroblock in the data stream, which was worked on by another one of the accelerators in the previous stage. The core processor polls all of the accelerators during each stage. When all accelerators finish their tasks for a given stage, the core processor initiates the next stage. In another aspect, two variable-length decoders are employed to simultaneously decode two macroblock rows of a video frame. Each variable-length decoder works to decode an assigned row and the rows are variable-length decoded in parallel. The variable-length decoders operate as part of a pipeline wherein the variable-length decoders alternate, stage-by-stage, decoding macroblocks.
US08005146B2 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.
US08005144B2 Bi-directional predicting method for video coding/decoding
The invention discloses a bi-directional prediction method for video coding/decoding. When bi-directional prediction coding at the coding end, firstly the given forward candidate motion vector of the current image block is obtained for every image block of the current B-frame; the backward candidate motion vector is obtained through calculation, and the candidate bi-directional prediction reference block is obtained through bi-directional prediction method; the match is computed within the given searching scope and/or the given matching threshold; finally the optimal matching block is selected to determine the final forward motion vector, and the backward motion vector and the block residual. The present invention achieves the object of bi-directional prediction by coding a single motion vector, furthermore, it will not enhance the complexity of searching for a matching block at the coding end, and may save amount of coding the motion vector and represent the motion of the objects in video more actually. The present invention realizes a new prediction coding type by combining the forward prediction coding with the backward.
US08005143B2 Imaging decoding apparatus
An image decoding apparatus is capable of decoding coded bit streams with different coding schemes. The image decoding apparatus includes a coding scheme decision section for deciding a coding scheme from coding scheme identification information multiplexed into a coded bit stream, a setting unit for setting header information on a second coding scheme in accordance with header information in a first coding scheme, and a decoder for decoding image coded data in the first coding scheme in response to the header information on the second coding scheme, which is set.
US08005138B2 Seamless switching of scalable video bitstreams
A seamless bitstream switching schema is presented. The schema takes advantage of both the high coding efficiency of non-scalable bitstreams and the flexibility of scalable bitstreams. Small bandwidth fluctuations are accommodated by the scalability of the bitstreams, while large bandwidth fluctuations are tolerated by switching among scalable bitstreams. This seamless bitstream switching schema significantly improves the efficiency of scalable video coding over a broad range of bit rates.
US08005136B2 Dual PDFE system with forward-backward Viterbi
The present invention provides a novel technique for improving the performance of equalizers by reducing the effects of error propagation in equalizers that use a Viterbi Decoder. Methods and systems are described that can improve the performance of equalizers by reducing the effects of error propagation in equalizers that use a Viterbi Decoder. Systems and methods of symbol correction in prediction decision feedback equalization (“pDFE”) architectures are described. Systems are described that include one or more enhanced Viterbi decoders together with novel methods of symbol correction to obtain better system performance. Systems and methods are described that utilize dual pDFEs and can use a blending algorithm to reduce errors in symbol decoding. Dual pDFEs are described that include forward and backward Viterbi decoders wherein the backward Viterbi decoded may operate on time reversed data blocks and with some degree of latency. Forward and backward Viterbi decoders can generate different decoded symbols from the same equalized data. A blending algorithm is described for weighting results based on reliability of the respective decoded symbols. A forward-backward blender can additionally increase performance of the second pDFE by blending long delayed trellis symbols from the first Viterbi decoder with symbols output by the second Viterbi decoder.
US08005133B2 Displaying eye-diagram and digital diagnostic data using network analyzers
Methods and apparatuses for displaying information for analyzing a signal transmitted in a communication system. The method can include displaying digital diagnostic data received from a monitoring interface of a transceiver. An eye-diagram for the signal is also displayed. The digital diagnostic data, network protocol analysis results, and/or the eye-diagram can be selectively displayed using a combined unit or stand alone units. Additionally, results of network protocol analysis can also be displayed with the digital diagnostic data and eye diagram.
US08005129B2 Acquisition circuit for low chip rate option for mobile telecommunication system
A User Equipment (UE) receives and samples communication signals, where the communication signals have a time frame format, a transmission chip rate and a synchronization code associated with a time slot that includes a midamble that indicates a modulation of the synchronization code where a specified modulation of received synchronization codes identifies the timing for a timeslot in which data is to be received. The UE preferably includes a synchronization code determination circuit, a midamble determination circuit, and a phase modulation sequence detection circuit operatively associated with the midamble determination circuit. The UE can be configured for use with the low chip rate option of the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) Universal Mobile Telecommunication System (UMTS) standards that employ a predefined set of downlink SYNC codes that point to midambles which indicate SYNC code modulation sequence to enables reading of data in a subsequent Broadcast Channel (BCH) message.
US08005128B1 Methods for estimation and interference cancellation for signal processing
A receiver in a CDMA system comprises a front end processor that generates a combined signal per source. A symbol estimator processes the combined signal to produce symbol estimates. An S-Matrix Generation module refines these symbol estimates based on the subchannel symbol estimates. An interference canceller is configured for cancelling interference from at least one of the plurality of received signals for producing at least one interference-cancelled signal.
US08005127B2 Retransmission in a cellular communication system
An apparatus comprises a detection processor (203) for detecting retransmission feedback messages in response to a detection threshold. A threshold processor (207) determines the detection threshold in response to a noise estimate generated by a noise processor (209). The noise processor comprises a sub-symbol generator (211) which divides a retransmission feedback symbol into a plurality of sub-symbols. Each of the sub-symbols is despread by a spreading code with a lower spreading factor than a spreading factor of the retransmission feedback symbol. A difference generator (213) then generates difference symbol values between the plurality of sub-symbols and a noise estimator (215) generates the noise estimate in response to the difference symbol values, for example by determining the variance of the difference symbol values. An improved noise estimate may be determined resulting in improved detection performance and thus improved retransmission performance.
US08005119B2 Integrated circuit
An integrated circuit multiplexes transmission data faster than by a system clock, and transfers a timing pulse Txclk for that multiplexing and a multiplexed signal Txdata from a transmitter chip 100 to a receiver chip 150 through communications by inductive coupling, respectively. Because of a transfer by inductive coupling being broadband, close-proximity wireless communications, the receiver chip 150 can faithfully obtain timing information on the timing pulse Txclk including jitter generated by a simple oscillator, and can thus accurately restore original data even by a high-speed transmission. This allows, in an integrated circuit that carries out communications by inductive coupling between chips to be stacked and mounted, carrying out communications between semiconductor chips with a small required area and faster than by a system clock.
US08005112B2 Service connection method and architecture
A point-to-point protocol (PPP) proxy module enables subscribers to seamlessly establish multiple, simultaneous PPP connections with one or more telecommunications networks through different service providers offering various services. The PPP connections are established over an access network maintained by an access provider. The subscriber performs a service selection process over a PPP connection that serves as dedicated control link between the subscriber's customer premises equipment (CPE) and the PPP proxy module. When a subscriber performs the service selection process, the PPP proxy module references stored information about the selected telecommunications network, and establishes a PPP connection that serves as a transmission link for media or other content between the CPE and a telecommunications network having the selected service. The information stored in the PPP proxy module is sufficient to configure the parameters of both a network access layer and an Internet protocol (IP) layer of the transmission link.
US08005110B2 Single carrier/DS-CDMA packet transmission method, an uplink packet transmission method in a multi-carrier/DS-CDMA mobile communications system, and a structure of a downlink channel in a multi-carrier/DS-CDMA mobile communications system
The present invention provides a single carrier/DS-CDMA packet transmission method wherein a predetermined time slot is assigned to reservation demand packet transmission in regard to a spreading code, and the reservation demand packet and data packets are time-multiplexed for transmission. An uplink packet transmission method in a multi-carrier/DS-CDMA mobile communication system is also provided, wherein frames are set up in each communication channel of a subcarrier, time slots which are time-segments of the frames are set up further, and a mobile station spreads a packet to be transmitted by a spreading code and the information signal is transmitted to a base station in a predetermined time slot. A downlink channel configuration in a multi-carrier/DS-CDMA mobile communication system is further provided, wherein a plurality of communication channels assigned to each of a plurality of subcarriers are divided for every predetermined time frame, and multiplexed, and the plurality of the communication channels assigned to each subcarrier include a common-control channel used by a plurality of users in common, and communication channels peculiar to each user.
US08005109B2 Method and network apparatus for adjusting communication resources within a community
A method and a network apparatus for adjusting communication resources in a community are disclosed. When the topological structure of the community changes, e.g., when new base station joins or exits, and when the community combines or splits, each base station re-allocates the communication resources by using a uniform algorithm, or the server or one base station in the community re-allocates the communication resources uniformly, then the base stations in the community are adjusted to the their own available resource at the same time based on the re-allocation results. The communication resources includes not only the frequency spectrum, but also those are exclusively occupied by a base station required by its normal operation, e.g., time slot, CDMA code word, sub-channel etc. With the present disclosure, the automatic optimum allocation and adjustment of the communication resources in a community could be realized.
US08005105B2 Method and system for configuring fibre channel ports
A fiber channel switch element for routing fiber channel frame is provided. The switch element includes a fiber channel port that can be configured to support plural data transfer rates. The data transfer rate may be 1 G, 2 G, 4 G, 8 G or 10 G. The switch element includes a clock configuration module for providing a clock signal that is based on the data transfer rate. A receive segment of the fiber channel port sends a signal to a transmit segment to avoid an under flow condition. The receive segment also waits for a certain frame length after a fiber channel frame is written and before the fiber channel frame is read, depending upon a data transfer rate of a source port. Multiple lanes may be configured as a single 10 G multi lane port or as multiple individual ports.
US08005104B2 Method and apparatus for controlling the flow of packets through a network switch
A method for transferring data includes connecting N ports of a crossbar to N devices, respectively, where N is an integer greater than one. Inbound data is received at one of the N ports from a respective one of the N devices. Dedicated connections are provided between an input buffer of one of the N ports and N−1 output buffers associated with others of the N ports, respectively. At least one of the N−1 output buffers of the others of the N ports is selected to output outbound data corresponding to the inbound data. The inbound data from the input buffer of one of the N ports is selectively transferred to at least one of the N−1 output buffers of the others of the N ports.
US08005101B1 Scalable architecture for deep-packet processing
A system as described herein offers flexible and high-performance packet processing, and a unique scaling technology that matches the resource requirements with the demands of the individual application and operating environment. According to one aspect, the architecture enables wire-speed execution of any Packet Handling application, at any packet size. According to another aspect, the invention provides a general-purpose computing platform that enables Packet Handling applications to be dynamically developed and put into service, for a configurable set of traffic and with configurable amounts of processing power. According to a further aspect, the dynamically scalable architecture of the invention enables the processing power of the appliance to be freely adjusted to the performance requirements of a given application, without requiring any special configuration changes. According to another aspect, the present invention provides an internal traffic management scheme that ensures fair allocation of system resources from network traffic loads and guarantees proper load distribution among the various application processors. According to another aspect, arbitrary numbers of network interfaces and network processors to scale the amount network processing throughput in accordance with the needs of the device and/or managed network(s).
US08005095B2 Carrier ethernet over DOCSIS
A network includes a provider edge device with logic to encapsulate Ethernet frames received from customer equipment into Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification (DOCSIS) frames using Layer Two Tunneling Protocol. The provider edge device further includes logic to implement a virtual switch instance (VSI).
US08005091B2 Apparatus and method of generating and maintaining hybrid connection identifications (IDs) for peer-to-peer wireless networks
An apparatus and method are disclosed for generating a transmission connection identifier (CID) for a transmitter/receiver pair in a wireless network. The CID may be selected from or mapped to a hybrid CID space comprising a first set of orthogonal CIDs and a second set of non-orthogonal (random or pseudo-random) CIDs. When a transmitter device wants to initiate a peer-to-peer connection with a receiver device, the transmitter and receiver devices attempt to obtain a CID to identify their connection within a traffic channel in a shared frequency space. The first and/or second device attempt to select a CID from the first set of orthogonal CIDs. However, if a CID collision is detected, the first and second devices select their CID from the second set of non-orthogonal CIDs. The selected transmission CID may be used during a time slot or interval to facilitate communications between the first and second devices.
US08005089B2 Updating next-expected TSN and receiver window to avoid stall conditions
Updating the next-expected transmission sequence number (NET) or the receiver window position to ensure that the NET always falls within the receiver window range to prevent unnecessary delays in delivering data blocks in order to avoid stall conditions and achieve high speed data transmission capabilities for a high-speed downlink packet access (HSDPA) system.
US08005083B1 Applying differentiated services within a cable network using customer-aware network router
In general, techniques are described to increase customer awareness within a network device of a cable network. Based on this increased awareness, a layer 3 network device, such as a router, may apply services that augment services applied by a Cable Modem Termination System (CMTS). The network device may be positioned between the CMTS and a backend network of the cable network. The network device may include a control unit to access the CMTS to determine network information and at least one network interface that receives network traffic. The control unit may apply at least one of a plurality of services provided by the network device to the network traffic based on the network information learned from the CMTS. Often, at least one of the differentiated services may comprise a service not provided by the CMTS and, consequently, a service that may augment those services currently provided by the CMTS.
US08005082B2 Concurrent enablement of persistent information unit pacing
Provided are a method, system, and article of manufacture, in which a logical path is established between a control unit and a channel over a fiber channel connection. Code for persistent information unit pacing is loaded into the control unit and the channel. An indicator is set in node descriptors of the control unit and the channel to indicate concurrent enablement of persistent pacing while retaining the established logical path between the control unit and the channel.
US08005072B2 Synchronization of multiple base stations in a wireless communication system
A plurality of CMTS devices are linked together and synchronized to facilitate communication between the respective CMTS devices and respective downstream cable modems. According to one embodiment of the invention, one of the CMTS devices is designated as a master device, and the other CMTS devices are designated as slave devices. The respective CMTS devices are connected to each other by means of a synchronization bus. The master CMTS device then generates and broadcasts a future time stamp value, which is received by the respective slave CMTS devices. When the time stamp counter in the master CMTS device reaches the transmitted value, a control signal is broadcast over the synchronization bus. The slave CMTS devices then retrieve the time stamp value and reset their respective local time stamp counters to the received value. In this manner, the CMTS devices are synchronized.
US08005070B2 Extension of a local area phone system to a wide area network with handoff features
A soft switch 134 providing wireless PBX voice services to a local area network (WLAN) is used to extend PBX functionality to the cellular domain. A dual mode remote unit is capable of receiving signals both in the cellular system as well as the WLAN. The cellular system is comprised of a data-bearing path and a voice-bearing path. When the dual mode remote unit is within the WLAN, it communicates both voice over IP (VoIP) signaling as well as session initiation protocol (SIP) control signaling over the WLAN. When the remote unit is outside the WLAN, it communicates voice signaling over the voice-bearing path of the cellular network using a standard cellular voice channel. In parallel, it uses the data-bearing path of the cellular network to transmit SIP control signaling.
US08005068B2 Method of setting up a connection for calls
The invention relates to a telecommunications system comprising at least a terminal (11) from which a connection can be set up to the Internet (12); and an exchange (14) for routing calls on the basis of information in a register (16). The system further comprises an Internet server (13) comprising means for controlling the installment of the software required in the terminal (11) for making and receiving VoIP calls and the activation of the application required for making and receiving VoIP calls as a response to the request transmitted from the terminal (11); means for changing call forwarding information in the register (16); means for converting the data flow transmitted from the exchange (14) to the terminal (11) into a mode suitable for the terminal (11).
US08005066B2 Techniques for path finding and terrain analysis
A system for path finding and terrain analysis. The system includes at least one processing unit, a graph processing unit and an artificial intelligence logic unit. A local bus is coupled to the at least one processing unit, the graph processing unit, the artificial intelligence unit and a bus interface unit. A memory bus is coupled to said bus interface unit, the at least one processing unit, a data memory, and a program memory. The graph processing unit further includes a network of interconnected nodes. Each of said nodes have at least one digitally programmable delay unit.
US08005060B2 Beamforming techniques to improve ranging signal detection
Ranging code detection techniques are provided. Energy is received at a plurality of antennas of a first wireless communication device and received signals are generated from the received energy. The received energy comprises a ranging transmission from one or more second wireless communication devices, wherein each ranging transmission comprises a ranging code selected from a set of possible ranging codes. A ranging code specific receive beamforming weight vector is generated for a ranging code in the set of possible ranging codes from the received signals. The ranging code specific receive beamforming weight vector is applied to corresponding ranging code specific signals derived from the received signals to produce ranging code specific beamformed signals. The ranging code specific beamformed signals are correlated to produce correlation results. A determination is made as to whether the ranging code is present in the received energy based on the correlation results.
US08005058B2 Methods and apparatus for use in switching communication operations between a wireless wide area network and a wireless local area network
Methods and apparatus for use by a mobile communication device in switching operation for communications from a wireless wide area network (WWAN) to a wireless local area network (WLAN) are disclosed. While providing operation for communications in the WWAN, the mobile device continually maintains visited cell site history information in its memory. The visited cell site history information is indicative of one or more visited cell sites of the WWAN that served the mobile device over a moving time period of its operation. The mobile device continually monitors the visited cell site history information to identify whether it has been contained within a local geographic region over the moving time period. When the mobile device is identified to have been contained within the local geographic region, it is permitted to operate for communications with the WLAN. In response to such permission, the mobile device may enable its WLAN radio transceiver and select the WLAN for communications. Advantageously, switching operation for communications from the WWAN to the WLAN is performed only when appropriate. The WLAN radio transceiver may be enabled only when needed, which reduces power consumption and saves battery life in mobile device.
US08005056B2 Internet protocol address allocation method using base station and mobile terminal, and system therefor
An Internet Protocol (IP) address allocation method, system and mobile terminal, mobile terminal including a radio frequency (RF) unit for transmitting a signal requesting allocation of an IP address for access to Internet to a base station and receiving information about an identifier of the base station and information about an IP address range allocated to the base station from the base station, and a controller for controlling the RF unit to transmit the IP address allocation request signal to the base station, selecting an IP address using the identifier information and IP address range information received through the RF unit, and controlling the RF unit to send a signal requesting use of the selected IP address to an IP address server through the base station. An IP address is acquired using a base station so that an IP address allocation time can be shortened.
US08005055B2 Method and apparatus for determining and managing congestion in a wireless communications system
An improved method of network management, particularly in the context of standards IEEE802.11 and IEEE802.11k, through two new MAC measurements, with attendant advantages. The two new measurements include WTRU uplink traffic loading measurement, and an AP service loading measurement and is generally applicable at least to layers 1 and 2 as applied to a least 802.11k in the context of OFDM and CDMA 2000 systems, but is applicable to other scenarios as well. A Method for determining and advertising congestion is also provided for a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) system. The present invention also introduces a method for managing congestion when congestion is detected. This aspect of the present invention applies primarily to wireless systems that use the Carrier Sense Multiple Access/Collision Avoidance (CSMA/CA) mechanism. The methods are advantageously implemented in selectively configured WTRUs of various forms.
US08005051B2 Re-transmission control method and relay station apparatus in a relay communication system
An apparatus for relaying wireless communication between a transmitting station and a receiving station includes, parts for receiving data including control data and plural data blocks from the transmitting station, for detecting whether there is an error in the plural data blocks, part for updating the control data when an error is detected in one of the plural data blocks, for preventing an error-detected data block from being transferred to the receiving station, for transferring the updated control data and remaining data blocks to the receiving station, for generating a first negative response signal corresponding to the error-detected data block, for storing the first negative response signal, for combining the first negative response signal with an affirmative response signal or a second negative response signal received from the receiving station according to error detection results by the receiving station, and for transmitting the combined response signal to the transmitting station.
US08005043B2 Method and apparatus for scheduling downlink packets in a mobile communication system
A method and apparatus for scheduling downlink packets in a mobile communication system are provided, in which a BS prioritizes MSs, while accounting for types of services provided to the MSs, generates one single-user candidate transmission format and M multi-user candidate transmission formats corresponding to a DRC value received from an MS with a highest priority level, estimates per-slot effective data rates for the single-user candidate transmission format and all of the multi-user candidate transmission formats, and transmits a downlink packet in a candidate transmission format having a maximum per-slot effective data rate.
US08005042B2 Method and apparatus for high rate packet data transmission
In a data communication system capable of variable rate transmission, high rate packet data transmission improves utilization of the forward link and decreases the transmission delay. Data transmission on the forward link is time multiplexed and the base station transmits at the highest data rate supported by the forward link at each time slot to one mobile station. The data rate is determined by the largest C/I measurement of the forward link signals as measured at the mobile station. Upon determination of a data packet received in error, the mobile station transmits a NACK message back to the base station. The NACK message results in retransmission of the data packet received in error. The data packets can be transmitted out of sequence by the use of sequence number to identify each data unit within the data packets.
US08005040B2 RLC/MAC protocol
In the LAPDm a short message service is implemented by pre-emption of every second signalling message when there is a short message to be sent. Same pre-emption mechanism is also needed when the RLC/MAC protocol is used on the data link layer instead of the LAPDm. The mechanism is provided by defining at least two different identities to be used with frames transmitted on the signalling channel; and pre-empting frames on the MAC at least on the basis of the identity relating to a frame. The identities are preferably identified on the basis of the signalling radio bearer of the frame.
US08005037B2 Communication control method, radio base station, and radio control station
A communication control method for a mobile communication system having a plurality of mobile stations, a radio base station, and a radio control station comprises a measurement step, an evaluation step, and a control step. In the measurement step, a plurality of congestion parameters related to factors generating congestion is measured in a mobile communication system. In the evaluation step, the radio control station evaluates a congestion degree corresponding to each of the plurality of congestion parameters. In the control step, a communication setting between the radio base station and at least one of the plurality of mobile stations is controlled in accordance with a control instruction transmitted from the radio control station to the radio base station when at least one of the plurality of congestion degrees is a prescribed level or more.
US08005031B2 Apparatus and method for transmitting and receiving a signal in a wireless communication system
A method and apparatus for transmitting and receiving a signal in a wireless communication system. The wireless communication system includes a transmitter with at least four transmit antennas and a receiver with at least one receive antenna. Space Frequency Block Coding (SFBC) processes are performed for input signals on a basis of two antenna pairs. Signal blocks whose number corresponds to the number of transmit antennas are output. A Space Time Block Coding (STBC) process is performed for the signal blocks generated according to the antenna pairs. Signals carried by single carriers are transmitted through the at least four transmit antennas mapped to the signal blocks.
US08005027B2 Method and apparatus for multicasting with feedback information
A method for multicasting a packet begins by providing a buffer for each of two user equipments (UEs) in communication with a base station. A determination is made whether there is a previously unsent packet at the base station. A second determination is made whether both UE buffers are non-empty. A non-empty buffer is flushed if there is no previously unsent packet and if one of the buffers is non-empty. A packet is selected to be transmitted if there is a previously unsent packet or if both buffers are non-empty. The buffers are updated based on feedback received from the UEs.
US08005020B2 Wireless mesh network with multisized timeslots for TDMA communication
A wireless mesh network uses communication frames that can include timeslots of different sizes depending on communication speed capabilities of the devices assigned to the timeslots. The communication frame is divided into timeslot increments of equal length. The timeslots are made up of one or more timeslot increments.
US08005018B2 System and method for the quality status analysis of an access network supporting broadband telecommunication services
A system for the quality status analysis of an access network of a fixed network infrastructure. The access network has a plurality of cables, a set thereof supporting broadband transmissive systems. The analysis system is configured repeatedly to draw from remote positions, static network information stored in the first data sources, and dynamic network information, relating to the broadband transmissive systems, from second data sources; and has an information processing module configured to collect the static and dynamic network information from the information acquisition module, and process the static and dynamic network information from the information acquisition module, and process the static and dynamic network information to obtain an index representing the quality status of the access network. In particular, the dynamic network information is linked to measurements taken during transmission on the broadband systems that are already installed and active in the network.
US08005016B2 Provider link state bridging (PLSB) computation method
A method of multicast route computation in a link state protocol controlled network. A spanning tree is computed from a first node to every other node in the network using a known spanning tree protocol. The network is then divided into two or more partitions, each partition encompassing an immediate neighbor node of the first node and any nodes of the network subtending the neighbor node on the spanning tree. Two or more of the partitions are merged when a predetermined criterion is satisfied. Nodes within all of the partitions except a largest one of the partitions are then identified, and each identified node examined to identify node pairs for which a respective shortest path traverses the first node.
US08005015B2 Signaling framework for negotiating and executing composition of registries
Systems, methods, devices and software for negotiating and executing registry composition are described. Signaling frameworks for both of these aspects of registry composition are provided.
US08005011B2 Method and system for measuring network performance
A method for measuring network performance is disclosed to solve the problem in active network performance measurement that a measurement point on receiving a packet is unable to determine the source of the packet after the network address translation (NAT). The method includes that a first measurement point constructs a probe packet containing address information about the first measurement point in a data field thereof based on a measurement instruction and sends the probe packet to a second measurement point via a NAT device for translating the network address, and the second measurement point receives the probe packet and determines the source of the packet according to the address information in the packet; and finally calculates network performance metrics, according to related information in the probe packet. A network system is also disclosed.
US08005007B2 Method, adjusting apparatus and system for improving line stability
A method for improving line stability, an adjusting apparatus and a system are provided. The method includes determining an Operating Performance Value (OPV) on a current Digital Subscriber Line (DSL); and if the OPV is below a preset Target Performance Value (TPV), adjusting Management Information Base (MIB) parameters in a line template. The apparatus includes a determining unit and an adjusting unit. With the provided method, apparatus, and system, the error correction capability of the DSL line can be updated with the actual bit error ratio to adapt to a complex environment and to improve the line stability.
US08005005B2 Method, apparatus and communication system for estimating on-off traffic characteristic and recording medium recording program for estimating on-off traffic characteristic
An ON-OFF traffic characteristic can be analyzed in real time from a measurement value without requiring detailed data analysis which is performed using measurement values accumulated for a predetermined time period through a high-performance measurement apparatus. A packet length and a packet transfer time interval of a communication traffic are first measured, and a data transfer rate variance indicator is computed based on a relative entropy value between the measured packet transfer time interval and a packet transfer time interval in case of transferring at a constant transfer rate. A predetermined traffic characteristic value is at least approximately computed using the computed data transfer rate variance indicator.
US08005001B2 Congestion-resilient link adaptation method
A congestion-resilient link adaptation method is provided. The link adaptation method for selecting any one of modes having mapped transmission parameters includes the steps of: estimating a channel-induced error number indicating the number of channel-induced transmission failures in a current mode and comparing the estimated channel-induced error number with a mode-down threshold; and determining whether the mode-down is performed based on the comparison result. Thus, higher throughput can be achieved without use of additional hardware or protocols.
US08005000B1 Effective measurement/notification of SLA in a service oriented networked environment
In one embodiment, one or more network devices located on a call path for packets destined to a server running applications examines payloads included in the packets to associate different ones of the packets to different ones of the applications. Information about the packets and the associations are used to determine which ones of the applications conform to their respective Service Level Agreements (SLAs).
US08004999B2 Method and apparatus for depicting throughput on TCP and RLC layer of UMTS system
A method of creating a graphical display illustrating throughput of data across a protocol layer. A first graphical indication is displayed which illustrates of the number of data units received, by a protocol layer, for each of a plurality of transmission intervals. A second graphical indication is displayed which illustrated the number of data units output by the protocol layer for each of a plurality of transmission intervals.
US08004994B1 System and method for intelligently analyzing performance of a device under test
A method and apparatus is provided that enables accurate measurement of drop rate and delay in a System Under Test (SUT) by one or more monitoring devices even when the frame error rate of the monitoring devices may be imperfect. During a packet drop measurement process, ancillary information is identified and analyzed to determine if the ancillary information can be used to infer receipt of packets when explicit information regarding receipt is not present. A delay measurement process incorporates the time required to re-transmit packets into the delay measurement to more accurately reflect SUT operation.
US08004993B2 Multirouter for time-controlled communication system
To relay messages in a time-controlled communication system with a star coupler arranged as a multirouter, messages arriving via ports are relayed according to a rule defined in the star coupler. Relaying paths are switched according to a rule defined in the star router which describes relaying paths for messages, namely in the synchronized operating state depending on the time according to the global time basis of the communication system. Two relaying paths can occur simultaneously in at least one time slot whereby they are in disjunction to one another. Each port belongs to only one relaying path respectively at any time. A check is conducted on the basis of a message's content as to whether the relaying of the message complies with an acceptance rule. Relaying of the message to those target ports which do not match the rule is cancelled or ended under the invalidation of the message.
US08004992B2 Adding hybrid ARQ to WLAN protocols with MAC based feedback
A wireless node having a MAC layer configured to coordinate access to a shared wireless medium using a MAC protocol, a PHY layer configured to provide an interface to the shared wireless medium, and a HARQ layer between the MAC and PHY layers, the HARQ layer being configured to support HARQ using the MAC protocol.
US08004991B1 Method and system for processing network information
Method and system for processing TCP segments is provided. The method includes assigning a TCP connection to a queue; and assigning a maximum burst size for the TCP connection; wherein a queue establishes a priority for the TCP connection and the priority is based on a maximum transmission rate assigned to the queue. The system includes a host system that establishes a network connection via a network adapter; wherein a host application sets a byte count and a time interval value for at least two queues that have different priority to transmit TCP segments; assigns a TCP connection to a queue; and assigns a maximum burst size for the TCP connection.
US08004988B2 Ethernet controller
An Ethernet controller has a buffer memory for receiving data packets, a data flow control unit for controlling the data flow to Ethernet controller, a packet counter, packet counter control logic for incrementing and decrementing the packet counter, a first register for storing a watermark, and a comparator logic coupled to the packet counter and the register for sending control signals to the data flow control unit.
US08004986B2 Method for transmitting data from RLC layer in radio communication system
Disclosed is a method for transmitting data from an RLC layer in a radio communication system. The method includes the steps of storing RLC SDUs transferred from an upper layer in a transmission buffer, transmitting RLC PDUs on which the RLC SDUs stored in the transmission buffer are loaded to a receiving side in order, discarding the RLC SDUs stored in the transmission buffer, checking whether a transmission mode indicator is configured, and transmitting discard information about the discarded RLC SDUs to the receiving side entirely or in part in accordance with whether the transmission MRW mode indicator is configured.
US08004984B2 Routing control technique in MPLS
This invention is to provide a technique enabling efficient routing in the entire network by totally viewing a state of the entire network from a specific server. An information processing method for managing paths between arbitrary nodes in a specific network according to the invention, includes: obtaining data concerning a utilization state of each link constituting a path, from associated nodes in the specific network; and calculating a value of dynamic transmission bandwidth in an entire path by using the data concerning the utilization state of each link constituting the path, and storing the calculated value into a management data storage. By the dynamic transmission bandwidth, that is, bandwidth, which can actually be used for communication to be carried out from now, it becomes possible to carry out efficient routing.
US08004980B2 High performance probabilistic rate policer
A data flow rate policer enforces data flow policies for a number of data flows using a probabilistic policy enforcement mechanism. The policer includes a memory that stores the state of each data flow in a compact data structure. Additionally, the policer includes one or more policing engines that implement the actual data flow policies based on information derived from the data structures. The policing engines may be implemented in hardware to increase performance.
US08004979B2 Call admission control for mobility-capable telecommunications terminals
A method and apparatus are disclosed that enable taking into consideration the variation in channel occupancy of a particular terminal or terminals during the call admission process. A channel utilization manager accounts for the probabilistic nature of the call admission decision by using a pre-determined, statistically justified value to represent the channel occupancy. The “per-call” channel occupancy value is determined by a number of factors, including the shared-communications channel data rate. Channel occupancy is incorporated into one or more cumulative distribution functions (CDF), which are evaluated by the channel utilization manager as part of the call admission process. In turn, each channel-occupancy CDF of a shared-communications channel can be generated from a CDF of the terminals' data rates on that channel, which data rates can be determined analytically or empirically.
US08004977B2 Method of implementing packet-based resource allocation and persistent resource allocation in a wireless communication system
The present invention provides a method of allocating resources in a wireless communication system. The method includes requesting persistent allocation of resources for a data spurt in response to detecting the beginning of the data spurt and performing non-persistent resource allocation for at least one packet in the data spurt. The non-persistent resource allocation is performed in response to determining that persistent resources are not available for allocation. The method also includes transmitting the packet using the allocated non-persistent resources.
US08004972B2 Quality of service in communication systems
A method for communication systems configured to provide wireless data communications for users is disclosed. The disclosed method includes communicating information with a node of a radio access part of the communication system. The information includes a first set of quality of service information and a second set of quality of service information. The second set of quality of service information is indicative of the nature of the information of the first set of quality of service information.
US08004971B1 Method and system for scaling network traffic managers using connection keys
A method and system is directed to distributing a flow of packets over a network to multiple traffic management devices. An apparatus receives each packet from a network and may act as a layer 2 switch, or router, to distribute the packet to one of a group of traffic management devices. The apparatus also may receive packets from servers for which the traffic management devices are managing communications. When distributing packets, a target traffic management device is selected from the group of traffic management devices. A connection key associated with the received packet and an identifier associated with the selected traffic management device are saved such that subsequent received packets in the flow of packets are delivered to the same traffic management device.
US08004968B2 Provider edge-controlled redundancy using pseudo link aggregation control protocol
In one embodiment, a system comprises a plurality of provider edge (PE) devices, the PE devices having a plurality of ports; and a pseudo-link aggregation control protocol (LACP) module instantiated for each of the ports. The pseudo-LACP module allows the PE devices to support dual-homing of an access side, the access side including either an access node or an access network, without running any control protocol for redundancy on the access side.
US08004967B2 Ring network routing method and ring network node
The present invention discloses a method for routing in a ring network, the ring network comprising multiple connected nodes, wherein, the method includes: each node in the ring network acquiring topology information of the ring network, obtaining under-ring routings learnt by the other nodes from a under-ring network, calculating a main path and a backup path to each routing according to the acquired topology information of the ring network, creating an FRR switch table, and switching between the main path and the backup path according to the FRR switch table when a failure occurs in the ring network. Accordingly, the present invention also provides a node in the ring network. Adopting technical scheme provided by the present invention, a simple routing implementation for ring network and fast convergence when a failure occurs can be provided.
US08004961B1 Independently configurable port redirection in a multi-port ethernet physical layer
A multi-port Ethernet Physical (PHY) layer device includes multiplexed datapaths and control logic such that each transmit data connection for a port may be mapped to any combination of the transmit data connections for one of multiple Media Access Control (MAC) layers, and each received data connection for a port may independently be mapped to an combination of the receive data connections for one of the MAC layers and the transmit data connection(s) for the other port(s). The device may be configured to operate in normal and port swap modes, to support failover switching and/or dedicated redundant connections, as a cable extender or media converter, as a snoop device, to form an Ethernet ring topology, for broadcast transmit or mirrored receive, or as a unidirectional repeater.
US08004957B2 Recording and reproducing method and recording and reproducing apparatus
A recording and reproducing method has a recording pulse generating step of generating a recording pulse to set timing of a beam emitted from a laser according to data to be recorded on an information recording medium; a laser power control step of controlling a laser drive current according to a recording laser power; a beam detecting step of detecting a power of the beam emitted from the laser; a signal detecting step of detecting a signal level of a reproduction signal read out from the information recording medium; a step of binarizing the reproduction signal to generate a binarized signal; a step of generating a data signal synchronized with a reference clock signal with use of the binarized signal; and a step of detecting a shift in time interval between the binarized signal and the reference clock signal and feeding the shift back to the recording pulse.
US08004956B2 Optical disc drive, optical pickup and optical component used therefor
Provided are an optical pick up and an optical component used for the optical pickup which are capable of preventing or restraining occurrence of deviation and unbalance which are caused by assembly errors during manufacturing of optical components, a temperature variation or the like. The optical pickup comprises a laser, a polarization changeover element for changing over a direction of polarization of an optical beam emitted from the laser, a beam splitting element for splitting the laser beam into a plurality of optical paths in accordance with a direction of a polarization, a plurality of objective lenses for focusing laser beams onto a recording layer of the optical disc, a rise-up mirror, and a plurality of coupling lenses arranged respectively intermediate of the plurality of optical paths led to the plurality of objective lenses. The rise-up mirror is arranged intermediate of the plurality of optical paths led to the plurality of objective lenses and adapted to be used common to respective optical beams on the plurality of optical paths. The plurality of the coupling lenses are coupled to and held on one and the same drive portion.
US08004951B2 Pickup device
A pickup device includes an irradiation optical system including an object lens for focusing light flux on a track of a recording surface of an optical recording media having a plurality of recording layers stacked while a spacer layer is interposed between the recording layers to form a spot and a detection optical system including an photo detector having a plurality of light receiving parts for receiving returning light reflected from the spot through the object lens to perform photoelectric conversion. The pickup device controls a position of the object leans according to an electrical signal calculated from outputs of the light receiving parts. The pickup device further includes an astigmatic device for providing astigmatism to the returning light directed to the light receiving parts and a division device, having divisional regions divided by a division line extending in an astigmatic direction about an optical axis of the returning light, for dividing the returning light having the astigmatism into a plurality of partial light fluxes divided for the respective divisional regions along the optical axis of returning light. The neighboring divisional regions provide the partial light fluxes with an optical action so that interference between the corresponding partial light fluxes does not occur on the light receiving parts.
US08004946B2 Information processor, failure prediction method, and computer product
According to one embodiment, an information processor includes an optical disc drive, a recorder, and a determination module. The optical disc drive includes a loading mechanism that loads and ejects an optical disc. The recorder obtains state information indicating the operating state of the loading mechanism to record the state information. The determination module determines that, when a value related to failure prediction of the loading mechanism satisfies a predetermined condition, there is a risk of failure in the loading mechanism. The value is calculated from a combination of a plurality of indices contained in the state information.
US08004945B2 Recording medium access device
An information reproduction device according to the present invention is a device for accessing a recording medium having first address information and second address information recorded thereon. The first address information is represented by a shape formed on the recording medium in advance; and the second address information is recorded on the recording medium together with data. The information reproduction device includes a head section for accessing the recording medium to generate a reproduction signal; a first detection section for detecting the first address information from the reproduction signal; a second detection section for detecting the second address information from the reproduction signal; and a control section for, based on a detection result of either the first detection section or the second detection section which detected the address information first, controlling an access after the detection to the recording medium.
US08004942B1 Method and apparatus for reading
Aspects of the disclosure provide a method to efficiently calibrate parameters of a memory reading device. The method can include defining two or more value sets for the parameters of the memory reading device to read a memory medium, reading the memory medium with the parameters set respectively at the value sets, receiving performance signals corresponding to operation of the memory reading device having the parameters set at the value sets, respectively, and setting the parameters of the memory reading device for reading the memory medium based on the performance signals.
US08004937B2 Optical pickup and optical disk apparatus
There is provided a optical pickup in which a movable part is support by a fixed part through an elastic supporting member, one end of the elastic supporting member being fixed to a support base and the other end of the elastic supporting member being fixed to an terminal protrusion of a lens supporting member, and moreover, the winding wire of a driving coil entwined with the terminal protrusion is electrically connected to the elastic supporting member. At this time, the terminal protrusions adjacent in the height direction of the lens supporting member are formed so as to protrude in different directions from the surface of the lens supporting member.
US08004928B2 Active driver control circuit for semiconductor memory apparatus
An active driver control circuit for a semiconductor memory apparatus includes an asynchronous decoding unit that can be activated in response to a bank selection signal, when an external command is a read or write command, can generate an enabled read/write enable signal, and when a precharge signal is enabled, disable the enabled read/write enable signal, a synchronous decoding unit that can be activated in response to the bank selection signal, can generate an enabled active enable signal when the external command is an active command, when the external command is a precharge command, can generate the precharge signal, and output the active enable signal and the precharge signal in synchronization with a clock, and an active driver control signal generating unit that can generate an active driver control signal in response to the active enable signal and the read/write enable signal.
US08004927B2 Reversible-polarity decoder circuit and method
Circuits and methods are described for decoding exemplary memory arrays of programmable and, in some embodiments, re-writable passive element memory cells, which are particularly useful for extremely dense three-dimensional memory arrays having more than one memory plane. In addition, circuits and methods are described for selecting one or more array blocks of such a memory array, for selecting one or more word lines and bit lines within selected array blocks, for conveying data information to and from selected memory cells within selected array blocks, and for conveying unselected bias conditions to unselected array blocks.
US08004926B2 System and method for memory array decoding
A memory system includes Q memory blocks that each include M memory sub-blocks. The memory system also includes Q word line decoders that each are associated with a different one of the Q memory blocks. The memory system also includes a bit line decoder and Q×M switch modules. Each Q×M switch module selectively controls access to up to J of the M memory sub-blocks of the Q memory blocks. The Q word line decoders and the bit line decoder access less than M memory sub-blocks in at least two of the Q memory blocks during one of a read and write operation. M and Q are integers greater than 1, and J is an integer greater than or equal to 1.
US08004923B2 Semiconductor device including internal voltage generation circuit
A semiconductor integrated circuit device has a negative voltage generation circuit provided at each power supply circuit unit for six memory macros. Therefore, the response with respect to variation in a negative voltage is increased. In a standby mode, a negative voltage supply line for the six memory macros is connected by a switch circuit, and only a negative voltage generation circuit of one power supply circuit unit among six negative voltage generation circuits of the six power supply circuit units is rendered active. Thus, increase in standby current can be prevented.
US08004922B2 Power island with independent power characteristics for memory and logic
A power island for a system-on-a-chip (SoC) includes a first segment, a second segment, and a supply line. The first segment includes a hardware device and operates the hardware device at first power characteristics indicative of at least a first voltage. The second segment includes scalable logic and operates the scalable logic at second power characteristics indicative of at least a second voltage. The second power characteristics of the scalable logic are different from the first power characteristics of the hardware device. The supply line receives an external supply signal (VDD) and directs the external supply signal to both the first segment and the second segment. The second segment changes at least one power characteristic of the external supply signal to operate the scalable logic according to the second power characteristics.
US08004919B2 Methods and apparatus for extending the effective thermal operating range of a memory
Apparatus and systems are provided for thermal regulation of a memory integrated circuit (“IC”). The apparatus and systems may include a thermal sensor on a memory IC, and a heating element coupled to the thermal sensor. The heating element is adapted to heat the memory IC in response to a signal from the thermal sensor. Other aspects are also provided.
US08004915B1 Area-efficient memory built-in-self-test circuitry with advanced debug capabilities for distributed memory blocks
An integrated circuit is provided with built-in-self test circuitry. The integrated circuit may have multiple blocks of memory. The memory may be tested using the built-in-self test circuitry. Each memory block may include a satellite address generator that is used in generating test addresses for the memory blocks. Each memory block may also include failure analysis logic and output response analyzer logic. Stalling logic may be used to individually stall memory block testing on a block-by-block basis during memory tests. Address buffer circuitry such as first-in-first-out buffers may be used to provide randomized memory addresses during testing.
US08004913B2 Redundancy architecture for an integrated circuit memory
An integrated circuit memory includes multiple memory banks grouped into repair groups Group0, Group1. One memory has redundant rows which can be used to substitute for a defective row found within any of the memory banks within the common repair group concerned. Redundant columns of memory cells may be substituted for defective columns by multiplexing circuitry. This multiplexing circuitry shifts the bit lines selected to form part of a bit group to access a given data bit by an amount less than the multiplexing width being supported by that multiplexing circuitry thereby reducing the number of redundant columns which need be provided.
US08004908B2 Double edge triggered flip-flop circuit
In a double edge triggered flip-flop circuit, a first latch circuit latches input data at either one of rising edge and falling edge of clock signal. A second latch circuit, which is provided in parallel with the first latch circuit, latches the input data at the other of the either one of rising edge and falling edge of the clock signal. At least one of the first latch circuit and the second latch circuit is configured by an SRAM (Static Random Access Memory) type.
US08004906B2 Nonvolatile memory device and method of operating and fabricating the same
Provided is a method of reliably operating a highly integratable nonvolatile memory device. The nonvolatile memory device may include a string selection transistor, a plurality of memory transistors, and a ground selection transistor between a bit line and a common source line. In the nonvolatile memory device, data may be erased from the memory transistors by applying an erasing voltage to the bit line or the common source line.
US08004890B2 Operation method of non-volatile memory
An operation method of a non-volatile memory for reducing the second-bit effect in the non-volatile memory is suitable for an N-level memory cell having a first storage position and a second storage position (wherein N is a positive integer greater than 2). The method includes following steps: determining sets of operation levels for operating the first storage position according to the level of the second storage position; when the level of the second storage position is a lower level, operating the first storage position according to a first set of operation levels; when the level of the second storage position is a higher level, operating the first storage position according to a second set of operation levels. Each of the levels in the second set of operation levels is greater than the corresponding level in the first set of operation levels.
US08004889B2 Semiconductor memory device capable of lowering a write voltage
A memory cell array is configured so that a plurality of memory cells storing one value of an n value (n is a natural number more than 2) are arranged in a matrix. A control circuit controls the voltage of a word line and a bit line in accordance with input data. The control circuit supplies a first voltage to a word line of a selected cell in a write operation, and supplies a second voltage to at least one word line adjacent to the selected cell. Thereafter, the control circuit changes a voltage of the at least one word line adjacent to the selected cell from the second voltage to a third voltage (second voltage
US08004884B2 Iterative write pausing techniques to improve read latency of memory systems
Iterative write pausing techniques to improve read latency of memory systems including memory systems with phase change memory (PCM) devices. A PCM device includes a plurality of memory locations and a mechanism for executing an iterative write to one or more of the memory locations in response to receiving a write command that includes data to be written. The executing includes initiating the iterative write, updating a state of the iterative write, pausing the iterative write including saving the state in response to receiving a pause command, and resuming the iterative write in response to receiving a resume command. The resuming is responsive to the saved state and to the data to be written.
US08004883B2 Thermally assisted multi-bit MRAM
Methods of writing to a multi-bit MRAM memory unit are described. The method includes to self-detected writing to a multi-bit (i.e., multilevel) thermally assisted MRAM. The self-detected writing increases a reading margin between data state levels and decreases reading margin variability due to cell resistance variation.
US08004880B2 Read disturb reduction circuit for spin transfer torque magnetoresistive random access memory
Systems, circuits and methods for reducing read disturbances in Spin Transfer Torque Magnetoresistive Random Access Memory (STT-MRAM) are disclosed. A resistive element can be used during the read operation to control the read current and control read disturbances. An isolation element can be used to isolate the resistive element from the circuit during write operations.
US08004876B2 Configurable molecular switch array
A computing system for implementing at least one electronic circuit with gain comprises at least one two-dimensional molecular switch array. The molecular switch array is formed by assembling two or more crossed planes of wires into a configuration of devices. Each device comprises a junction formed by a pair of crossed wires and at least one connector species that connects the pair of crossed wires in the junction. The junction has a functional dimension in nanometers, and includes a switching capability provided by both (1) one or more connector species and the pair of crossed wires and (2) a configurable nano-scale wire transistor having a first state that functions as a transistor and a second state that functions as a conducting semiconductor wire. Specific connections are made to interconnect the devices and connect the devices to two structures that provide high and low voltages.
US08004871B2 Semiconductor memory device including FET memory elements
A memory cell includes a memory element including a MFSFET having a gate insulating film made of a ferroelectric film, and a selection switching element including a MISFET having a gate insulating film made of a paraelectric film. A load element for a read operation is connected in series to the memory cell. The ferroelectric film and the paraelectric film are stacked with a semiconductor film being interposed therebetween. The semiconductor film forms a common channel shared by the MFSFET and the MISFET. The load element includes a MISFET having a channel made of the semiconductor film or a resistance element having a resistor made of the semiconductor film.
US08004869B2 Memory circuit arrangement and method for the production thereof
A memory circuit arrangement and fabrication method thereof are presented in which the parts of the memory circuit arrangement are situated on two different substrates. An integrated memory cell array is situated on one substrate. An integrated control circuit that controls access to the memory cells is situated on the other (logic circuit) substrate. The control circuit controls sequences when reading, writing or erasing content of a memory cell. The logic circuit substrate also contains a CPU and encryption coprocessor. The memory circuit contains a sense amplifier, with the aid of which the memory state of a memory cell can be determined, and a decoding circuit that selects a word or bit line.
US08004866B2 Method and apparatus to remove energy from DC loads
A DC output power converter or DC switch device that includes methods and apparatus to reverse the current in the connected load, thereby draining the load's energy until the voltage in the load is brought to a (near) zero potential and held there.
US08004863B2 Circuit device and method of providing feedback across an isolation barrier
In an embodiment, a circuit device includes a network interface responsive to a powered network to receive a power supply and data and includes an electrical isolation barrier adapted to define a non-isolated power domain and an isolated power domain. The circuit device further includes a first control circuit associated with the non-isolated power domain. The first control circuit is coupled to a primary winding of a transformer to control current flow via the primary winding. The circuit device also includes a second control circuit associated with the isolated power domain. The second control circuit is coupled to a secondary winding of the transformer and is adapted to detect a power error associated with the secondary winding. The second control circuit transfers a command across the electrical isolation barrier to the first control circuit to adjust a current at the primary winding in response to detecting the power error.
US08004860B2 Radiofrequency and electromagnetic interference shielding
An electrical device comprising an electronic component mounted to a surface of a printed circuit board, a ground connection on said surface, and electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding. The EMI shielding includes an electrical insulator coating the electronic component, the insulator contacting the surface, and a conductive layer covering the electrical insulator, and contacting the electrical insulator and the ground connection.
US08004858B2 Arrangement for installing a communication unit in an apparatus
An arrangement for installing a communication unit in an apparatus having a security housing, such as a mail processing apparatus, including a cavity bay located at a non-secure region of the apparatus that is accessible by a cover that is non-destructibly detachable from the security housing. The bay receives a pluggable communication unit that has a connection element connectible by a plug-in movement with a connection element of a motherboard located in the secure region of the apparatus: The cavity has at least one further connection element that is electrically conductively and mechanically connected with a metal chassis part of the apparatus in the security housing. This further connection element protrudes into the cavity and establishes contact with the communication unit for grounding thereof.
US08004856B2 Solder and lead-free electronic circuit and method of manufacturing same
An electronic circuit contains a circuit board with conducting tracks to which one or more electronic components with conducting contacts are positioned overlying portions of the conducting tracks and each such electronic component is held in place by a clamp that covers and is contact with the top surface of the electronic components so as to hold their conducting contacts in electrical contact with the conducting tracks of the circuit board. The clamp can include a resilient layer held between the top surface of electronic components and a rigid clamping sheet.
US08004855B2 Reconfigurable data processing system
A reconfigurable processing system is provided that comprises a plurality of programmable processing modules arranged on a circuit board. Each of the programmable processing modules is capable of being populated by a programmable integrated circuit of a variety of processing capabilities. Conductive traces on the circuit board connect to the programmable processing modules and the conductive traces are arranged on the circuit board so as to accommodate use of the programmable integrated circuits of varying processing capabilities in the programmable processing modules without the need to alter conductive trace footprints on the circuit board for the programmable processing modules. At least one interface circuit arranged on the circuit board to interface signals to and from the circuit board.