| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US08015794B2 |
Variable area flow duct employing secondary flows, and method therefor
A variable area flow duct and method. In one embodiment the flow duct includes a plurality of helical vanes arranged around an interior surface wall of the flow duct. The vanes cause secondary flow vortices to be developed in the vicinity of each of the vanes that effectively reduce the interior cross-sectional area of the duct that a primary flow sees as it flows through the duct. In various embodiments fluidic injection is employed to suppress the formation of the secondary flow vortices during certain phases of operation, for example, during an afterburn phase of operation of a jet aircraft engine which the flow duct is being used with. In another embodiment, an ablative coating is used over the vanes to suppress the formation of the secondary flow vortices. The ablative material is removed by the hot fluid flow during an afterburn phase of operation, thus exposing the vanes and enabling the subsequent formation of secondary flow vortices to narrow the cross-sectional area of the throat. |
| US08015790B2 |
Apparatus and method employing heat pipe for start-up of power plant
An apparatus to facilitate a start-up operation of a combined cycle or rankine cycle power plant is provided and includes a plurality of heat pipes, each of which respectively includes a first portion in thermal communication with exhaust emitted from a heat source and a second portion in thermal communication with the first portion, a cooling unit to cool the second portions of the heat pipes, and a controller which is configured to control the cooling unit to cool the second portions of the heat pipes and to thereby remove heat from exhaust via the first portions of the heat pipes. |
| US08015788B2 |
Heat transfer system for turbine engine using heat pipes
A heat transfer system is provided for a turbine engine of the type including an annular inlet cowling. The heat transfer system includes at least one heat pipe disposed in contact with an interior of the casing. The heat pipe is thermally coupled to a heat source, such that heat from the heat source can be transferred through the heat pipe and into the inlet cowling. |
| US08015785B2 |
Combination grass discharge and mulch plug insert apparatus and method for a lawnmower
A combination grass discharge and mulch plug insert apparatus and method are provided where the insert can include a first end configured for communication with a discharge opening of a lawnmower and a second end also configured for communication with the discharge opening. The first end can be configured for preventing discharge of grass clippings from the lawnmower, whereas the second end can be configured for allowing discharge of grass clippings through the second end. Further, the insert can be reversible such that it can be oriented in either a first position in which the first end is inserted into the discharge opening or a second position in which the second end is attached to the discharge opening. As a result, the lawnmower can be easily converted between mulching and side- or rear-discharge modes of operation. |
| US08015784B2 |
Rotary disk crop harvesting header with an auger and impellers for converging the crop
A crop header has generally horizontal flail disks mounted for driven rotation about generally upright axes. A pair of conditioner rolls is mounted in a discharge opening. A crop converging system includes two over-shot auger elements defined by a common auger shaft with an auger flight carried thereon arranged generally longitudinal of the cutter bar so as to carry the cut crop longitudinally of the cutter bar to the entrance opening. Each auger element is arranged with a forwardmost tangent to the auger flight located behind the axes of the rotary disks and with an outer end thereof spaced outwardly of the respective end of the entrance mouth. The common auger shaft is driven by a common rotary drive with the bottom roll of the conditioner rolls. The augers terminate inwardly of the outer end of the cutter bar to locate the drive inboard of the end plates. |
| US08015781B2 |
Box loader
A loader includes a sling for supporting a one or more items. The sling is secured on opposite sides of a loading chamber. The loader also includes a lowering mechanism. The lowering mechanism can lower the sling. The loader includes a release mechanism that secures one or both sides of the sling. After the sling is lowered by the lowering mechanism an adequate distance to place the one or more items close to the receptacle, the release mechanism releases one or both sides of the sling, which places the one or more items in or on a receptacle. The loader includes a take-up mechanism attached to one side of the sling. The take-up mechanism takes up the sling when the opposite side of the sling is released by the release mechanism. The loader is capable of inserting close fitting items into receptacles, such as a stack of trays of produce. |
| US08015776B2 |
Overhead lug system for packaging machine
A product packaging system is provided having a series of selector wedges that engage the lower portions of a series of products moving along a product infeed conveyor. The selector wedges separate the products into product groups for loading into product cartons moving adjacent the product infeed conveyor. At approximately the same time the selector wedges are engaging the products, a series of lugs are conveyed by an overhead lug system into engagement with each of the products being engaged so as to help stabilize the products and prevent tipping of the products as they are separated and loaded into their corresponding product cartons. |
| US08015775B2 |
Light weight load bearing architectural column
A lightweight load bearing architectural column is disclosed. The column includes an exterior shell formed of a plurality of walls that together define an open interior. An interior load bearing shaft is within the exterior shell and is proportionally smaller than the exterior shell. One portion of the interior load bearing shaft is connected against one interior wall of the exterior shell with the remaining portions of the interior shaft being independent of the other interior walls of the interior shell. |
| US08015774B1 |
Process and apparatus for forming a sheathing retaining anchor
A method for forming a sheathing retaining anchor of a post-tension anchor system includes the steps of: forming an anchor having a bore where the bore has a tapered portion and a constant diameter portion, inserting an end of a tendon through the bore of the anchor so that the end of the tendon extends outwardly of tapered portion of the bore of the anchor, positioning a sheathing lock on the end of the sheathed portion or a tendon, placing a pair of wedges on the unsheathed portion of the tendon, and moving the sheathing lock and the pair of wedges into the bore of the anchor so that the sheathing lock affixes the end of the sheathed portion within the bore and so that the pair of wedges affixes the unsheathed portion within the bore. |
| US08015772B2 |
Two part interlocking unit block wall building system
A stackable masonry unit having male and female elements that cooperate with complementary female and male elements on identical, opposing, adjoining units to create an interlocking two- or three-unit module from single design element. Each interlocking module comprises a portion of a course in a block wall made of cementitious material, e.g., a concrete masonry unit or insulating concrete foam. |
| US08015771B2 |
Building form for concrete floors, walls and beams
A building form that uses two building panels made of a rigid board and rigid insulation are supported by light gauge framing members and integrating two adjacent building panel molds forming a ribbed chamber into which concrete can be poured. The building panels when jointed together form a depression within the mold panel for a concrete rib when concrete is poured over the building panels. In addition, each of the building panels when separated by another fire resistant board thereby forming a space between the panel molds forming a wider forming mold which becomes an integral part of the building panel. The separated building panels also allow for mechanical means to be distributed. Additional forming means can be added for a wider and deeper forming structure. Several different transverse support beams can be used to increase the panel mold structural strength. |
| US08015769B2 |
Connector for securing metal roofing components, metal roof assembly, and method of installing a metal roof
A connector for securing a roofing band to a roofing beam by a threaded fastener may include a circumferential flange portion, first and second recess extending within the circumferential flange portion sized to accept a roofing band, and a central portion extending within the circumferential flange portion between the first recess and the second recess, a middle area of the central portion being offset laterally from the circumferential flange portion by a distance enough to permit the roofing band to be slid through the first and second recesses so that the circumferential flange portion is located on a first side of the roofing band and the middle area of the central portion is located on a second side of the roofing band opposite the first side. A single fastener opening defined through the central portion, the fastener opening sized for receiving a threaded fastener therethrough for fastening the roofing band to a roofing beam. Related roofing assemblies and methods of construction are disclosed. |
| US08015767B2 |
Connector arrangement for a wall panel system
A connector arrangement for a wall panel system is provided which includes connector blocks that join serially-adjacent wall panel frames together in proper alignment with each other. These corner blocks also are matable with a system of spacer strips, light block strips, single-side trim covers and multi-side trim covers which enclose the connector blocks and connector structure. A corner spline arrangement is also provided between adjacent trim covers which spline extends vertically and defines a closed corner, right-angled corner between the interconnected trim covers. |
| US08015766B2 |
Movable walls for on-site construction
A system for partitioning an interior space includes a plurality of slotted, horizontal and vertical frame components configured for stable, permanent or temporary mountings. In one implementation, the frame components are configured to receive a plurality of different panels, such as glass or resin panels (or panes). The panels can be assembled with the frame components on site into virtually any length or shape, and can further be removed and replaced on-site as needed or desired without necessarily requiring complicated deconstruction efforts. In one implementation, a manufacturer can prepare a preliminary assembly. The manufacturer can then insert a plurality of different panels therein in any horizontal or vertical alignment. The manufacturer can then position an end frame-component to complete the sub-assembly after the different panels are inserted therein. |
| US08015763B2 |
Multiple configuration joiner clip
A muntin bar joiner clip having a relatively flat, thin body and first and second muntin bar engagement legs extending from the body. These legs extend along a longitudinal axis of said joiner clip. The body has opposite sides defining substantially parallel major surfaces having substantially parallel opposite edges extending substantially parallel to the axis. A region of weakness such as a line of weakness allows the body to be separated into two portions between the first and second legs. One or more muntin bar abutments project from said body in a direction transverse to the axis and each abutment includes a muntin bar abutment face oriented in a direction transverse to said axis. |
| US08015762B2 |
Window element for inserting in a structural part and method of integration of a window element in a structural part
Window element (1, 23) with a covering tape (7, 36) and a covering means (8, 35) and comprising a window assembly (5, 25) which can be fixed in a hermetically sealed manner to the window frame (4, 24) by means of a retainer (15, 26), the window frame (4, 24) being enclosed by an encircling seal (11, 32) which has an encircling recess (12, 33). |
| US08015760B2 |
Seismic isolation access floor assembly
An access floor assembly includes a base floor, a substructure mounted to the base floor, a bearing plate, formed with a first cavity, mounted to the substructure and disposed apart from the base floor, an isolator plate, formed with a second cavity, overlying the bearing plate, a ball disposed between the bearing plate and the isolator plate contacting the first and second cavities, and a floor plate coupled to the isolator plate and together forming an access floor disposed at an elevated location relative to the base floor. |
| US08015759B1 |
Structural mounting for equipment on a rooftop
A structural support for supporting equipment on a rooftop, which is connected to a frame and to equipment to be supported, comprises a mechanism connecting a base cap and a base connector of the structural support. One of the base cap and the base connector includes at least one plate and the other of the base cap and the base connector includes a pair of plates that receives the at least one plate allowing for pivoting adjustments of the base connector about the base cap when the at least one plate is received within an opening between the pair of plates to achieve desired positioning of the base connector. In one example, a pair of base cap plates is received by a pair of inwardly biased base connector plates. Once a desired position is achieved, a fastening assembly secures the position of the base connector. The structural mounting may also include, for example, a base support, a base flashing, and a rubber base gasket. |
| US08015758B2 |
Noise insulation device for aircraft
Disclosed is a noise insulation device for aircraft, comprising a first opening that is delimited by a series of conducting surfaces whose inner edge is oriented towards the interior of the noise insulation device from a horizontal cross-sectional perspective and whose outer surface is directed towards the side, a roof, and a second opening which is located opposite the first opening and is delimited by walls. The inventive noise insulation device is characterized in that the size of the second opening can be modified by making changes to the walls. |
| US08015757B1 |
Combined sill seal and termite shield (SSTS)
Sill seal and termite shield (SSTS) devices are disclosed. SSTS devices for residential housing are shown for poured concrete, masonry block, and frost protected shallow foundations. The polymeric foam pad of the SSTS device seals the rough foundation wall surface. For the termite shield function, the SSTS devices use a metallic web—either foil or an impenetrable screen—or a nonmetallic web—either plastic sheet or impenetrable scrim. The termite shield or barrier layer is shown as adjacent to a weatherproofing membrane or as an interior layer of an polymeric laminate weatherproofing membrane. Hot melt adhesives attach the foam pad to the weatherproofing membrane and, where applicable, the barrier layer to the weatherproofing membrane. Pressure-activated, hot melt adhesives attach the SSTS device to the sill plate. A release sheet is applied forming a peel-and-stick device. |
| US08015750B2 |
Structure of fixing planting base
A structure for fixing a planting base 100 supporting a planted raising member 106 by a bottom plate 101 to a laying face 300, the structure being provided with a cylinder portion 105 which projects from the bottom plate 101 of the planting base 100 to a top side and top and bottom of which are opened in which an inner diameter is gradually contracted from a top end to a bottom side, a bolt 110 constituting a fixing member is inserted to the cylinder portion 105, the bolt 110 is screwed to and fixed by an anchor holder 120 of the laying face 300 until a position at which a bolt head portion 110a is brought into contact with and caught by an inner face of the cylinder portion 105, and a top face of the bolt head portion 110a is arranged at a height the same as that of a top end of the cylinder portion 105, or arranged at inside of the cylinder portion 105. |
| US08015747B2 |
Electrified bird repellent track
An animal deterring device has a carrier with a first conductive trace that is separated from a second conductive trace. The carrier has a bottom with a first glue trough disposed beneath the first conductive trace. The first conductive trace is coupled to the carrier by a first fastener that extends from the first glue trough to the first conductive trace. |
| US08015744B1 |
Folding rear sight with dual purpose sighting elements
A folding rear sight includes a base member and a spring-loaded sight housing that deploys into an operational position with a simple release lever. The sight includes two separate dual-purpose aiming elements, one fixed, and one that rotates between an inactive position and an active position in front of the fixed element. The top aiming end of the fixed aiming element includes a large diameter close quarter battle (CQB) aperture and an vertically extending sighting notch configured and arranged above the large CQB aperture. The top aiming end of the rotatable aiming element includes a smaller, long-range sighting aperture and an elongated vertically extending sighting notch configured and arranged above the smaller sighting aperture. The dual-purpose aiming elements provide standard aperture sights for situations where the soldier has reasonable time to aim the weapon. The notched sights above the apertures provide a larger, open sighting window, which is easier to align in stressful close combat situations, as well as long range sighting. |
| US08015741B2 |
Chambering and trigger safety device for handgun
A device for assisting in the chambering of a handgun that can also serve as a safety device for preventing unwanted firing of the handgun is disclosed. The device comprises a slide pull that includes an elongate laterally flexible structure having a first end configured for being releasably coupled to a first side of a slide of a handgun and a second end configured for being releasably coupled to a second side of the slide. A trigger restraint is coupled to the slide pull near a mid-portion thereof. In a first position, the slide pull is configured for being grasped by a user in order to chamber a bullet. In a second position, the trigger restraint is positioned relative to the trigger to prevent movement of the trigger that would otherwise cause the weapon to fire. |
| US08015740B2 |
Firearm construction employing three point bearing
A construction for a firearm comprises an action, including a barrel, and a stock. The action is seated to the stock on a three-point bearing system comprising three bearings arranged in a triangular array. This provides for firm seating for the action and results in a more accurate firearm. |
| US08015736B2 |
Dual panel-frame interface system
A dual panel-frame interface system for the construction of portable displays comprises one or more frame members and one or more panel members. Each frame member is adapted to accommodate the releasable connection of two general types of panel members. One type of panel member is generally flexible with mounting gaskets flexibly connected to its peripheral edge for receiving engagement by a mounting groove in the frame member. The other type of panel member is a more rigid, face-mounted type that is placed in clinging engagement directly with a lateral wall of the frame member. The frame member is adapted such that when a rigid type panel member is placed in clinging engagement with the lateral wall, the respective unused mounting groove remains visually obscured from a viewpoint outward of the outer surface of the panel member, thus making the system more visually appealing. Frame members of embodiments may also include inboard and outboard lipped channels to accommodate auxiliary members or accessories, such as lighting systems, wiring tracks, sound absorption blankets and display support elements. |
| US08015735B2 |
Combination ad sign and child seat safety strap
An ad sign to be mounted on a seat back of a shopping cart child seat, the ad sign comprising one or more frame bodies configured to display information content, each frame body having a front side and a back side, one of the one or more frame bodies being configured to be connected to a first face of the seat back; and one or more safety strap anchors integral with the one frame body, the one or more safety strap anchors being configured and adapted for securing a child seat safety strap within the child seat; wherein at least one of the one or more safety strap anchors extends from a perimeter of the one frame body; wherein at least one of the one or more safety strap anchors forms a respective opening, the at least one safety strap anchor being configured such that the child seat safety strap can be passed through the opening and connected to the seat back, and being further configured so as to limit a movement of the child seat safety strap when the strap is passed through the opening and connected to the seat back. |
| US08015732B2 |
Athletic or other performance sensing systems
Articles of footwear and other devices include modules, e.g., for sensing physical and/or physiological characteristics associated with use of the footwear or other devices. Such devices include: (a) a housing, optionally an asymmetrical housing, for receiving an electronic module; (b) release mechanisms for removably mounting the module in the housing; and/or (c) activation/authentication systems for selectively activating the module. Additionally, methods of making articles of footwear or other structures that include such housings, electronic modules, release systems, activation systems, authentication systems, etc. are described. Performance sensing systems and methods of using the above devices for sensing performance characteristics also are described. |
| US08015730B2 |
Footwear with vertically-arranged pump and pressure chambers
An article of footwear with an upper and a sole structure secured to the upper may include one or more fluid systems with a pump chamber and a pressure chamber located adjacent to and below the pump chamber. In one configuration, at least a portion of a fluid within the pump chamber is separated from a fluid within the pressure chamber by a single layer of a polymer material. The fluid system may also include a fluid path extending between the pump chamber and the pressure chamber, and substantially all of the fluid path may be located between the pump chamber and the pressure chamber. In another configuration, at least one-half of a volume of the pump chamber may be located above a highest point of the pressure chamber. |
| US08015729B2 |
Draining insole for shoes
A draining insole for shoes that dislodges foreign objects therein is disclosed; the insole has a plurality of bridges projecting from the insole and with an upper surface on top of which the foot rests; the bridges extending wide-wise of the insole and separately distributed from each other alongside thereof. The insole also includes a plurality of channels, each one of the same separating a bridge from the other; each channel having a pair of open ends and a bottom with a gabled surface. In turn, these bridges are joined at areas where the foot might get hurt; each end of the channel is in fluid communication with one draining hole included in the shoe in order to dislodge foreign matter located at the insole. |
| US08015726B2 |
Automatic clothes dryer
An automatic clothes dryer comprises a cabinet defining an interior space in which is rotatably mounted a drum that defines a drying chamber, a heater assembly having a heating element for heating air, and a motor for rotating the drum. A blower is mounted within the interior space and is fluidly coupled to the drying chamber for moving heated air through the drying chamber. A first temperature sensor is mounted upstream of the heating element. A second temperature sensor is mounted downstream of the blower. Outputs from the temperature sensors are utilized with one or more methods to determine the air flow characteristics through the dryer. |
| US08015725B2 |
Method and machine for the sintering and/or drying of powder materials using infrared radiation
The invention relates to a method and a device, as well as the variants thereof, which operates continuously or discontinuously for the agglomeration and/or drying of powder materials using selective infrared irradiation on a surface which is continually supplied with renewed powder, with or without the spraying of liquids. The process can be performed in sealed conditions or open to the atmosphere, with or without the recovery of volatile components. |
| US08015723B2 |
Device for measuring height
A height measuring device and method of measuring height are disclosed. The device includes a first rod having a first opening through a first end of the first rod. The device also includes a second rod having a first opening through a first end of the second rod. The device further includes a first fastener positioned in the first opening of the first rod and the first opening of the second rod. The first fastener engages the first rod and the second rod. In one embodiment each rod includes a shrinkwrap sleeve having measurement markings thereon. |
| US08015719B2 |
Electricians square
A tool for measuring and marking conduit entry holes in a distribution box. The tool includes a rectangular ruler having a short edge attachment groove proximal to a short edge of the ruler which is configured for engagement by a locking assembly. The tool further includes a handle having a tip face and a side face, and a side face locking assembly that is slidably engaged into the short edge attachment groove. Engagement of the side face locking assembly into the short edge attachment groove couples the handle to the ruler and facilitates the measurement and marking of a depth dimension and a lateral location of one or more conduit entry holes on the distribution box. |
| US08015714B2 |
Shield attachment for hand-held digging tools
The present invention provides a removable shield attachment for hand-held digging tools which is mounted on the tool handle below the tool head so as to not interfere with gripping along the length of the handle. The shield generally comprises a mounting portion adapted to be mounted on the handle below the tool head, a shield portion extending laterally outwardly and upwardly from the mounting portion, and a slot positioned between the mounting portion and the shield portion adapted for passing a blade of the tool head therethrough. In use, the shield portion is positioned above the blade, thereby intercepting debris flying from the blade and towards the worker. The shield is particularly designed for digging tools having a slidably fit tool head that engages an outwardly tapered working end of the handle, with the shield being attached to the handle in the same manner as the tool head itself. |
| US08015713B2 |
Portable handheld work apparatus
A portable handheld work apparatus has a housing (2) which has at least one intake opening (20). A drive motor (4) is mounted in the housing (2) and this drive motor drives a fan wheel (9). The fan wheel (9) inducts a cooling airflow (26) into the housing (2) through the intake opening (20). The cooling airflow (26) is moved to the drive motor (4) by the fan wheel (9). A driven drive element rotating about the rotational axis (35) is provided. To prevent a wrapping of long-fibrous material onto the rotating drive element, it is provided that the drive element is surrounded at least partially by a wrap protector (19, 39) fixed to the housing. The wrap protector has a radially outwardly directed flange (28) referred to the rotational axis (35). The flange (28) is at a distance (a) to an adjacent, rotatably driven component. |
| US08015712B2 |
Safety scalpel
A safety scalpel that incorporates a reusable metal scalpel handle similar in shape and feel to the conventional metal handle preferred by most surgeons, and a disposable blade cartridge that covers the blade before, during and after use, and is easily mounted and released from the scalpel handle. The blade cartridge includes a blade with similar cutting profiles as standard surgical blades, a blade holder that is permanently fixed to the blade, and a blade guard that covers the blade and within which the blade holder is able to slide. The scalpel handle is reusable, while the blade cartridge is disposable. The blade cartridge is attachable and detachable from the scalpel handle. |
| US08015710B1 |
Shaving device and method of use
A shaving device includes one or more collars for shielding certain portions of one or more razor blades. In one version, the collars include a rubber membrane for shielding the razor blades. The collars may or may not slide along a razor head containing one or more razor blades. The combination of the shielded and unshielded razor blade portions facilitates the creation of unique and intricate facial hair designs. The collars may also be used with replacement razor blade cartridges. An alternative design includes a shaving device wherein each razor blade is formed of two or more blade sections separated by partitions integrated into the head of the shaving device. Although ideal for facial hair, the shaving device is useful with any body hair. |
| US08015702B2 |
Metal substrate having electronic devices formed thereon
A method of forming an electronic device on a metal substrate deposits a first seed layer of a first metal on at least one master surface with a roughness less than 400 nm. A supporting metal layer is bonded to the first seed layer to form the metal substrate 10. The metal substrate is removed from the master surface, and at least one electronic device is formed on the seed layer of the metal substrate. |
| US08015701B2 |
Method of manufacturing a flexible printed circuit assembly
A flexible printed circuit assembly with a fluorocarbon dielectric layer and an adhesive layer with reduced thickness. The flexible printed circuit assembly includes a first dielectric layer and a signal trace disposed on the first dielectric layer. An adhesive layer with a thickness smaller than a height of the signal trace is disposed on the first dielectric layer, so that only a portion of a side surface of the signal trace is covered. A second dielectric layer made of fluorocarbon is disposed on the adhesive layer, covering a remaining portion of the side surface of the signal trace and a top surface of the signal trace. |
| US08015699B2 |
Fastener installation system
The blind fastener installation tool also comprises an optional fastener delivery assembly, said optional fastener delivery assembly constituting: (1) a clip-fed fastener delivery system; or (2) a blowline-fed fastener delivery system. |
| US08015697B2 |
Chip mounter for recognizing BGA package through chip mounter
Provided is a chip mounter for recognizing a Ball Grid Array (BGA) package through a chip mounter. The chip mounter includes a BGA package recognition apparatus which includes an image acquisition unit which acquires image information of a BGA package which includes a plurality of solder balls having n patterns (n≧1), a pattern recognition unit which analyzes the image information and outputs information about the BGA package, and a storage unit which stores the information about the BGA package, wherein the pattern recognition unit recognizes the n patterns, selects n seeds respectively corresponding to the n patterns and performs a seed growing operation which groups solder balls which are continuously located adjacent to the seed and have the same pattern as the seed into the same group as the seed, with respect to each of the n seeds. |
| US08015695B2 |
Reinstatement of an existing connection in a lined conduit
A process and apparatus for internally reinstating a connection in a lined conduit is provided. The connection may be a branch pipe or corporation stop that may or may not protrude into the conduit. It may be milled prior to lining. The process includes the step of locating the connection visually or with a probe, such as all eddy current probe. forming at an opening in the lining at the connection and then installing a T-nut with a sealing gasket facing the liner to hold the liner in place and form a seal between the T-nut and liner and the connection. The apparatus includes a motor coupled to a turntable with drive to install the T-nut and a supply of T-nuts mounted on a slide for loading the T-nuts onto the drive for installation of the T-nuts without having to remove the assembly between each installation. |
| US08015693B2 |
Method of manufacturing a thin-film magnetic head having a lower magnetic pole projection projecting toward an upper magnetic pole
A method of forming a thin-film magnetic head comprises a lower magnetic pole layer forming step of forming a lower magnetic pole layer; a lower magnetic pole projection forming step of forming the lower magnetic pole layer with a lower magnetic pole projection; a gap layer forming step of laminating a nonmagnetic gap layer on the lower magnetic pole projection; and an upper magnetic pole forming step of forming an upper magnetic pole on the nonmagnetic gap layer. The lower magnetic pole projection forming step forms the lower magnetic pole projection by simultaneously etching an area including parts adjacent to a part to become the lower magnetic pole projection on both sides in a track width direction and a part adjacent to the part to become the lower magnetic pole projection on the side opposite from a medium-opposing surface in a surface of the lower magnetic pole layer. |
| US08015687B2 |
Method of inserting self-expandable stent in a sheath
A method is disclosed comprising providing a self-expandable stent having a polymeric component. The stent is exposed to a relative humidity of 20% to 100% (RH) or a plasticizing agent is applied to the polymeric component. The diameter of the stent is reduced. The stent having a reduced diameter is inserted in a constraining sheath such that the sheath constrains the stent in a reduced diameter, such that removal of the stent from the sheath causes the stent to self-expand to a greater diameter. |
| US08015684B2 |
Crimping apparatus
An apparatus is disclosed including a workspace for receiving a stent and a delivery device for the stent; a source for exposing the stent in the workspace to a plasticizing agent, vapor, or moisture, wherein the stent can be reduced in diameter in the workspace while under exposure of the plasticizing agent, vapor or moisture; and a device for reducing the diameter of the stent in the workspace to position the stent on or within the deliver device. |
| US08015680B2 |
Pressing apparatus and method
A pressing apparatus is used to press a number of hooks of a speaker mesh to a shell. The pressing apparatus includes a workbench, a first pressing board located above the workbench, a number of bending members extending down from the first pressing board, a second pressing board located above the first pressing board, and a number of pressing members extending down from the second pressing board and slidably passing through the first pressing board. The number of bending members press inner sides of distal ends of the hooks to bend out in response to the first pressing board moving towards the workbench; and the number of pressing members press the distal ends of the hooks to bend further to hold the shell in response to the second pressing board moving towards the workbench. |
| US08015679B2 |
Method and apparatus for clamping rectangular parallelepipedic work
A rectangular parallelepipedic (cuboidal) work is fixed by clamping the opposing two edges between clamp jaws attached to a pair of clamps. With the work fixed, at least one surface of the work is machined. Then, the position of the work is changed by rotating the clamps and the work all together around the rotating axis, and the other surface is machined. The foregoing step is repeated to machine all the six surfaces of the work, during which the work is kept fixed by clamping. |
| US08015678B2 |
Method for cutting a suture to create tissue retainers of a desired shape and size
A method for manufacturing self-retaining suture is disclosed. The method provides for creating and supporting a suture during cutting of tissue-grasping elements at different angular positions. A cutting device is moved through the suture thread along a path which can include longitudinal, transverse, oscillating and depth components to create a desired tissue-grasping element on the surface of the suture. The path of the cutting device and the rotation of the suture relative to the cutting device are controlled so that a plurality of angularly-displaced tissue-grasping elements can be created on the suture. |
| US08015676B1 |
Snap hook with interlocking gate
A snap hook that includes gate that includes and aperture that accepts a male portion that protrudes from the nose portion of the hook is disclosed. The coupling of the nose portion and the gate prevents the unwanted opening of the gate while the hook is under extreme loads. Still further, the use of a slide bar that is moved through translation and rotation when opening the gate of the hook is also disclosed. The translation and rotation motion provides improved cooperation of the components and improves the resistance of undesired movement of the slide bar by forces against a protrusion on the slide bar, and thus provides greater resistance to unwanted opening of the gate. |
| US08015673B2 |
Bolo style clasp with multi-purpose clip
A bolo style clasp or slide is modified and improved by affixing an engagement apparatus to its posterior surface. The engagement apparatus can vary in both size and specie so as to best accommodate the intended coupling item. The addition of the engagement apparatus expands the versatility of the bolo style clasp or slide by allowing it to serve its original ornamental function and any one of several utilities. Further, the anterior surface of the bolo style clasp or slide is hinged so as to allow the surface to rotate exposing an interior area. The interior area can be used for the storage of small items or situating an exchangeable ornamental face. |
| US08015669B2 |
Handle with a hidden belt
This present invention is a handle with a hidden belt, applying to a handle attached on a portable device, which uses torsion springs to draw the belt into the handle. Thus, a user can not only carry the portable device with the handle, but also shoulder or hang the portable device with the hidden belt of the handle. |
| US08015668B2 |
Hinge assembly
A hinge assembly includes a pivotal shaft, a connecting member, a supporting member, a stationary member having an engaging surface, a rotating member having a receiving surface, and a locking member. A first end of the pivotal shaft is fixed to the connecting member. A second of the pivotal shaft is passed through the supporting member, the stationary member, the rotating member, and the locking member. The stationary member is fixed on the supporting member and is rotatable relative to the pivotal shaft. The rotating member is non-rotatable relative to the pivotal shaft. The engaging surface forms two first positioning protrusions and two second positioning protrusions. The receiving surface defines two first positioning grooves to receive the first positioning protrusions and two second positioning grooves to receive the second positioning protrusions. A height of each second positioning protrusion is larger than a height of each first positioning protrusion. |
| US08015667B2 |
Controlled rigging
A method of adjusting a hinged linkage that has at least one linear actuator coupled to it, wherein one end of the actuator couples to the linkage and another end fastens to a stationary mounting by way of a rod with a threaded end that mates with a threaded aperture in a ferrule nut that has a threaded section passing through an aperture in the stationary mounting, comprises the steps of: extending the actuator to open the linkage; placing at least one elastic element with a desired force constant over the threaded section of the ferrule nut; threading an adjustment nut onto the threaded section of the ferrule nut with a desired gap between the adjustment nut and the stationary mounting; retracting the actuator to close the linkage; and rotating the adjustment nut and the ferrule nut together to compress the elastic element against the stationary mounting; extending the actuator to open the linkage; and rotating the adjustment nut to compress the elastic element against the stationary mounting. |
| US08015664B2 |
Twin-wheel caster
The invention relates to a twin-wheel caster provided with a housing containing a journal opening on a top side thereof, which is oriented in a substantially vertical direction for receiving a pivot connecting a roller to a furniture or another object, a shaft-shaped slide opening on the lower side thereof, which is laterally offset with respect to the journal opening and used for receiving a cross head supported by the housing with the aid of a spring, wherein the cross head has a through opening which is oriented in a substantially perpendicular direction with respect to the shaft-shaped slide opening and receives a swivel pin bearing two wheels, is placed in the housing in such a way that it is slidable between rolling and braking positions and recesses embodied in the slide opening limiting walls and used for passing the swivel pin. The housing has two projections which are arranged in the internal space thereof, adjacent to the slide opening, laterally extend from the housing wall and frictionally support two hubs of the wheels in the braking position. |
| US08015662B2 |
Cleaning device
A cleaning device is provided. The cleaning device may include a handle, an activation mechanism moveable between a first position and a second position by a user of the device, a hollow member having a suction opening at an end of the hollow member, an electrically powered motor configured to produce suction at the suction opening, and a bristle support member pivotable relative to the hollow member. The bristle support member may include a plurality of bristles attached thereto. The bristle support member may be operatively coupled to the activation mechanism. When the activation mechanism is in the first position, the bristle support member may be in a closed position adjacent to the suction opening of the hollow member and the plurality of bristles may be positioned to perform a sweeping function. When the activation mechanism is moved to the second position, the bristle support member may be pivoted away from the suction opening of the hollow member to an open position to provide access to the suction opening. |
| US08015660B2 |
Vacuuming device
A vacuuming device has a housing having an air intake and at least one air outlet opening. A suction motor is arranged in the housing. At least two filters are arranged in the housing and each has a flow passage to the suction motor, wherein dirty air sucked into the housing by the suction motor passes through the at least two filters and exits through the at least one air outlet opening. The at least two filters each are provided with a cleaning device and a valve device adapted to close off the flow passage to the suction motor, respectively, as needed. |
| US08015659B2 |
Air flow passage for a vacuum cleaner
A vacuum cleaner is provided having improved pressure loss characteristics. A fluid supply conduit in flow communication with an inlet to a cyclone is integrally formed as part of a cyclone bin. The present invention may be adapted for use with cyclonic separation devices of all types, including single- and multi-stage cyclonic separators. |
| US08015657B2 |
Vacuum electronic power tool sense
A vacuum electronic power tool sense system senses the operation of a power tool that is plugged into an onboard power outlet and the vacuum source is automatically operated to facilitate user clean-up of debris generated by use of the power tool. A delay period can be utilized to maintain the vacuum source is an on state for a predetermined period of time after the power tool is turned off. |
| US08015656B2 |
Wiper blade
Rotation of a tip side of a blade holder toward a windshield at or beyond a predetermined angle is regulated with respect to a wiper arm. A convex portion is formed at a portion of the blade holder opposing to an arm mounting member, and a concave portion is formed at a portion of the arm mounting member opposing to the blade holder, whereby engagement of the convex and concave portions admits rotation of a tip side of the wiper blade toward the windshield at or beyond a predetermined angle to be regulated with respect to the wiper arm. By such a structure, since contact between the wiper arm and the wiper blade is prevented, it is suppressed that a coating of the wiper arm or blade holder is peeled off to bring early its rusty, and that damages of both members make their wiping performance easily deteriorate. |
| US08015652B2 |
Mop wringer with handle being shaped in conformity to a recessed half of top edge
A mop wringer is provided and has a handle being shaped in conformity to a recessed half of a top edge of the mop wringer so that a flat top edge can be formed when the handle is rested upon the recessed half of the top edge. A plurality of mop wringers can be stably stacked so as to facilitate both storage and transport. |
| US08015650B2 |
Fabric sweeper
The present invention is a device for use in cleaning a fabric surface of dust, dirt, pet hair, and other debris present on the surface. The device includes a housing, a cleaning member, such as a roller, and a pair of cleaning material sections on opposite sides of the roller. The cleaning member has a protrusion that selectively engages one of a pair of stops to prevent rotation of the cleaning member past a respective stop. |
| US08015646B2 |
Laundry treating device and method of controlling the same
A laundry treating device includes a first laundry treating device and a second laundry treating device adjacent to the first laundry treating device. A first heater provided in the first laundry treating device and a second heater provided in the second laundry treating device can be selectively and alternatively operated to heat washing water. |
| US08015643B2 |
Vehicle escape tool
An emergency tool for escaping from a motor vehicle has a generally symmetrical body including a handle portion and a cutting portion. The handle portion carries two opposite window breaking elements adapted for breaking and shattering tempered motor vehicle window glass. The cutting portion includes opposite cutters having fingers which define slots for receiving belt webbing material. The cutting slots lead to sharp blades fixed at the closed end of each slot which are adapted for cutting the belt webbing material of motor vehicle seat belts. The body optionally includes at least one compartment for carrying an emergency item such as a fire starting flare or an emergency locating transmitter and may also incorporate optional LED lights to provide illumination for emergency operations. |
| US08015640B2 |
Multi-position cervical pillow and an adjustable pillow set thereof
The present invention pertains to a multi-position cervical pillow and an adjustable pillow set thereof to support a user's head and neck. In a preferred embodiment, the multi-position cervical pillow comprises a rectangular memory foam pad, the transversal cross section of which is bone-shaped with two lobes protruded towards two opposite lateral ends and a shallow trough in between forming a concave head support portion on each of the two support surfaces; said two lobes are different in size and asymmetrical in shape. By inverting and reversing the pillow pad it provides four unique positions. An adjustable pillow set comprises a main multi-position cervical pillow and an unattached ancillary pillow, the upper surface of the latter has a transversally convex, asymmetrical curvature for the main pillow to stack and slide on top of it, forming four stacking configurations, with each providing two unique positions. |
| US08015639B2 |
Folding bed
A folding bed for supporting an intended user having a torso and a pair of lower limbs. First and second supporting sections are provided for supporting respectively the torso and the lower limbs and are pivotally coupled together through a first-to-second section pivotal link for pivotal movement between an extended configuration and a bent configuration. When the first and second supporting sections are respectively in the extended and bent configurations, the first-to-second section pivotal link is respectively at a first and a second level relative to the frame base, the second level being substantially lower than the first level. The first and second supporting sections are movable by the intended user between the extended and bent configurations with the intended user laying in the bed and moving the torso with respect to the lower limbs to change an angle therebetween and cause a corresponding change in an angle between the first and second supporting sections. |
| US08015633B2 |
Retractable shower curtain rod
A shower curtain rod assembly including a shower curtain rod, a mount for mounting the shower curtain road on a first end thereof, and a moveable mount for mounting the shower curtain rod on a second end thereof. The shower curtain is moveable from a first position to a second position to increase the volume of space enclosed by the shower curtain. |
| US08015632B2 |
Wall mounting for a shower head
A wall mounting for a shower is mounted such as to pivot about a horizontal axis at the end thereof against the wall (1). The arm (5) has a fork at the separation from the fixing end. A clamp holder is provided in the region of the front end thereof in which a shower head (8) can be introduced. The fixing between the shower head (8) and the mounting is made by a friction connection, whereby the housing of the shower head is embodied such that it cannot be recognized from the form thereof that said housing serves for fixing. |
| US08015631B2 |
Safety enclosure cover for portable inflatable pool
A safety enclosure cover for a portable air-inflatable swimming pool includes a mat spread on a horizontal surface, with the inflatable pool resting on the mat. An outer rim of the mat extends beyond an outer wall of the inflatable pool. Water is filled into the inflatable pool so that an inflated holding pillow floats on an upper surface of said water. A cover encloses the inflatable pool and the floating holding pillow. An outer edge of the cover is attached to an outer edge of the mat whereby the water and inflatable pool are completely enclosed, so that the floating pillow pushes up on the inside of the cover, thereby the cover is formed into a convex shape so that rainwater is shed from the convexly-shaped cover. |
| US08015630B2 |
Valve mechanism for controlling release of pressurized fluid
A valve mechanism for controlling release of pressurized fluid includes a fluid chamber. A plunger is received in an aperture in the fluid chamber, and is movable between a fluid retention position in which fluid is substantially trapped in the fluid chamber and a fluid release position in which fluid can escape from the fluid chamber through passages in the plunger. The plunger is biased into the fluid retention position. A driver drives a plunger actuator, and the plunger actuator is guided into engagement with the plunger to cause the plunger and the plunger actuator to move in unison and move the plunger into the fluid release position during a first portion of a stroke of the driver towards the fluid chamber, and the plunger actuator is further guided to permit the plunger to return to the fluid retention position during a second portion of the stroke. |
| US08015629B2 |
Dispensing device
A device useful for the delivery of a treatment composition, and a fragrancing effect to a sanitary appliance, especially a toilet bowl. |
| US08015625B2 |
Bicycle helmet adjustment mechanism
A helmet adjustment mechanism is adapted to adjust the size of a helmet having first and second retention members (e.g., plastic straps) movable with respect to each other. The adjustment mechanism includes an actuating member (e.g., a pinion) coupled to at least one of the retention members and movable (e.g., rotatable) in two directions to move at least one of the retention members relative to the other. A clutch mechanism is coupled to the actuating member and includes at least one locking member (e.g., two locking members) that inhibits movement of the actuating member in both of the two directions. The adjustment mechanism also includes a release mechanism (e.g., including a rotary dial) adapted to move the locking member from a locked position to an unlocked position to allow movement of the actuating member. When the actuating member is being moved, the adjustment mechanism also provides a ratcheting detent. |
| US08015624B2 |
Helmet system
A helmet system that employs an outer shell and a unitary inner shell formed with compatible grooves and ridges respectively. The outer shell is formed with a switch. The outer shell and inner shell are further secured together via magnetic force or a system of springs and levers in conjunction with the switch that allows for a user of the helmet system to seamlessly remove the outer shell through either a set amount of breakaway force or by using the switch. |
| US08015619B2 |
Rapid extraction body harness with extendable drag straps
A body harness having an adjustable waist strap; a shoulder strap having a first distal end affixed to a right side of said waist strap and a second distal end affixed to a left side of said waist strap generally opposite from said first distal end so that said shoulder strap is carried by said waist strap in a looping arrangement; a back strap affixed between said waist strap and shoulder strap, wherein said back strap extends approximately between a midpoint of said waist strap and a midpoint of said shoulder strap for supporting the back of the user when being dragged; an elongated drag strap carried by said back strap and disposed generally at the intersection of said back strap and said shoulder strap for extending to facilitate dragging of the user; and, a hand grip carried by said drag strap for increased grip. |
| US08015618B2 |
Evaporative cooling clothing system for reducing body temperature of a wearer of the clothing system
The present invention discloses an evaporative cooling clothing system for reducing body temperature of a wearer of the clothing system. The clothing system includes a clothing article configured using a wicking fabric and a hollow transport defining a cavity for transporting a liquid from a liquid reservoir to an upper region of the clothing article. The hollow transport has an intake section and a dispensing section. The intake section is attached to the liquid reservoir for receiving the liquid, and the dispensing section is attached to the upper region of the clothing article. The upper region of the clothing article receives the liquid from the dispensing section and transfers the liquid to a lower region of the clothing article. The lower region of the clothing article exposes the liquid to an environment surrounding the clothing article for evaporation. |
| US08020214B2 |
Transmitter, receiver, and content transmitting and receiving method
According to one embodiment, a transmitter is configured to transmit content to a receiver. Available dubbing count is set in advance for the content such that the content can be dubbed a plurality of times. The transmitter includes a key exchanger, an encryption processor, and a dubbing management module. The key exchanger performs key exchange to share a common key with the receiver. The encryption processor encrypts, in response to a content request received from the receiver, the content with the common key to transmit the content to the receiver. The dubbing management module reduces, upon receipt of a right transfer request related to the use of the content from the receiver, the available dubbing count by dubbing count indicating the number of times of dubbing of the content. The dubbing count is contained in the right transfer request. |
| US08020209B2 |
System and method of monitoring and controlling application files
A system and method for updating a system that controls files executed on a workstation. The workstation includes a workstation management module configured to detect the launch of an application. A workstation application server receives data associated with the application from the workstation. This data can include a hash value. The application server module can determine one or more categories to associate with the application by referencing an application inventory database or requesting the category from an application database factory. The application database factory can receive applications from multiple application server modules. The application database factory determines whether the application was previously categorized by the application database factory and provides the category to the application server module. Once the application server module has the category, it forwards a hash/policy table to the workstation management module. Upon receipt of the hash/policy table, the workstation management module applies the policy that is associated with the launched application to control access to the application on the workstation. |
| US08020199B2 |
Single sign-on system, method, and access device
A system, method, and access device enabling a user to securely access a plurality of password-protected servers with a single entry of the user's User ID and associated password. When the access device receives the User ID and password from the user, it sends only the User ID to each of the password-protected servers. The servers each return a unique index value to the access device. The access device uses each index value to retrieve different password modification information from a database or lookup table. The access device then creates a plurality of modified passwords based at least in part on the password modification information. The access device then transmits each of the modified passwords to the corresponding password-protected server. |
| US08020195B2 |
Systems and methods for user login
Systems and methods for login a user into a computing system are shown and described. The method can include receiving a request for an anonymous user login, creating an identifying tag responsive to the received request, creating a user account incorporating the identifying tag, and providing to the computing system the created user account to log into the computing system. |
| US08020186B1 |
Methods and systems for distributing on-demand programming
Methods and systems are provided for distributing programming. A fixed linear programming schedule identifying an order of transmission for multiple programs is generated. The programs are transmitted in the order of transmission. An on-demand flag is embedded in at least one of the programs to identify it as available on an on-demand basis. An electronic program guide for the linear schedule displays the programs available on-demand with an on-demand identifier. The identified programs are then made available on an on-demand basis. |
| US08020183B2 |
Audiovisual management system
A system for structuring usage history for audiovisual materials. |
| US08020180B2 |
Digital video signature apparatus and methods for use with video program identification systems
Digital video signature apparatus and methods for use with video program identification systems are disclosed. The disclosed apparatus and methods identify a video program using a sequence of signatures. Each of the signatures includes a set of centroids corresponding to one of a plurality of frames of the video program. The apparatus and methods compare the sequence of signatures to a set of reference sequences of signatures and identify the video program based on the comparison of the sequence of signatures to the set of reference sequences of signatures. |
| US08020179B2 |
Methods and apparatus to adaptively select sensor(s) to gather audience measurement data based on a variable system factor and a quantity of data collectible by the sensors
Methods and apparatus to adaptively gather audience information data are disclosed. The disclosed methods and apparatus monitor system factor(s) and select one or more sensors from a plurality of sensors positioned to gather audience measurement data based on the monitored factor(s). Thus, the disclosed methods and apparatus adapt to the conditions they face by selecting an amount and/or type of audience measurement data they gather. |
| US08020173B2 |
Method and system for associating parameters of containers and contained objects
A system and method for establishing associative relationships between properties of a contained object and corresponding parameters of a container application is disclosed herein. In one embodiment the present system contemplates the establishment of both mutual and unilateral associative relationships, with a particular relationship being specified via a user interface created upon instantiation of the contained object. The associative relationships may be advantageously established without modification of the code comprising the contained object. |
| US08020171B2 |
System and method for creating and deploying applications with new container types
In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention applications are configured with custom modules. A deployment descriptor of an application includes a definition for a new container type and modules of the new container type. A deployment system reads the deployment descriptor and implements the modules of the new container type. The new containers are then available to assist in the deployment of the application. |
| US08020166B2 |
Dynamically controlling the number of busy waiters in a synchronization object
An embodiment of the invention provides an apparatus and a method of dynamically controlling the number of busy waiters in for a synchronization object. The apparatus and method perform the steps of increasing a number of allowed busy waiters if there is a waiter in a sleep state and there are no current busy waiters when a requester releases the synchronization object, and decreasing the number of allowed busy waiters if a busy waiter moves from a busy waiting state to the sleep state. |
| US08020163B2 |
Heterogeneous multiprocessor network on chip devices, methods and operating systems for control thereof
Network on Chip (NoC) Devices, especially Heterogeneous Multiprocessor Network on Chip Devices are described, that optionally contain Reconfigurable Hardware Tiles, as well as Methods and Operating Systems (OS) for Control thereof. In accordance with an aspect of the present invention the Operating Systems handle either (a) run-time traffic management methods or (b) task migration methods, or a combination of these methods. The Operating Systems may be partly distributed but with a centralized master. The traffic management methods and apparatus of the invention use a statistical QoS approach. A system is described having an at least dual Network on Chip as well as methods of operating the same. The system has at least an on-chip communications network, comprising a first on-chip data traffic network (data NoC) and a second on-chip control traffic network (control NoC), having a control network interface component (control NIC) and a data network interface component (data NIC). |
| US08020162B2 |
Employing a resource broker in managing workloads of a peer-to-peer computing environment
A resource broker is used in managing workloads of a peer-to-peer distributed computing environment. The broker is responsible for distributing to a plurality of clients of the peer-to-peer distributed computing environment tasks of one or more workloads of one or more issuers of the environment. The tasks are processed by the clients using a runtime environment provided by the broker. The runtime environment of a client is generic to the one or more issuers and independent of an operating system of the client. |
| US08020160B2 |
User-level read-copy update that does not require disabling preemption or signal handling
A user-level read-copy update (RCU) technique. A user-level RCU subsystem executes within threads of a user-level multithreaded application. The multithreaded application may include reader threads that read RCU-protected data elements in a shared memory and updater threads that update such data elements. The reader and updater threads may be preemptible and comprise signal handlers that process signals. Reader registration and unregistration components in the RCU subsystem respectively register and unregister the reader threads for RCU critical section processing. These operations are performed while the reader threads remain preemptible and with their signal handlers being operational. A grace period detection component in the RCU subsystem considers a registration status of the reader threads and determines when it is safe to perform RCU second-phase update processing to remove stale versions of updated data elements that are being referenced by the reader threads, or take other RCU second-phase update processing actions. |
| US08020159B2 |
System and apparatus for and method of downloading a program, image formation apparatus, and computer product
Programs for executing downloading of a program are stored in an area, i.e a non-rewritable boot area, of a rewritable flash EEPROM. Control programs for the apparatus are stored in the remaining area of the EEPROM. The programs for executing the downloading of the program, which are in the boot area, will not be lost, even if a power disconnection occurs during rewriting of the control program(s) and thus redownloading can be carried out. Information, regarding whether the downloading has failed or how far the program has been downloaded before it failed, is stored. Redownloading can be executed automatically when the power is turned on based on the stored information. |
| US08020157B2 |
Dependency notification
Communication devices that include one or more software components can determine whether a software component is missing, notify a computer server of a software component determined as missing, and request a download of the missing software component to the device. |
| US08020155B2 |
Mechanism for optimizing function execution
A mechanism is provided for managing the referencing of at least two versions of a function. A first version is a single threaded version that does not ensure multi-thread safety. A second version is a multi threaded version that does ensure multi-thread safety. The mechanism determines whether a set of executable code (e.g. a program) is currently executing in single-threaded mode or multi-threaded mode. If the executable code is executing in single-threaded mode, then the mechanism causes the executable code to reference the first version of the function. If the executable code is executing in multi-threaded mode, then the mechanism causes the executable code to reference the second version of the function. By doing so, the mechanism ensures that the additional overhead of ensuring multi-thread safety is incurred only when it is needed. In this manner, the mechanism makes execution of the function more optimal. |
| US08020149B2 |
System and method for mitigating repeated crashes of an application resulting from supplemental code
Provided is a method for mitigating the effects of an application which crashes as the result of supplemental code (e.g., plug-in), particularly a plug-in from a source other than the source of the operating system of the device or the source of the application that crashes. The method includes executing the application. As the application is running, it may be monitored to determine if normal execution of instructions ceases. When that occurs, the system will make a determination if code from a supplemental code module was the cause of the crash, and will make an evaluation if that supplemental code module is from a source other than the source(s) of the operating system and application in question. In some implementations, remedial steps may be provided, such as providing information on subsequent executions of the application. |
| US08020139B1 |
Method and apparatus for implementing a dataflow circuit model using application-specific memory implementations
Method, apparatus, and computer readable medium for implementing a circuit model in an integrated circuit are described. In some examples, the circuit model includes a communication channel between actors. Data portions of at least one data object passed between the actors over the communication channel are identified. An implementation is generated for the circuit model in which data portions are assigned to either local queue storage of the communication channel or centralized shared storage of the communication channel based on levels of access thereof by the actors. |
| US08020138B2 |
Voltage island performance/leakage screen monitor for IP characterization
A method is provided for characterizing performance of a chip having at least one voltage island and at least one performance screen ring oscillator (PSRO). An on-chip performance monitor (OCPM) is incorporated on the voltage island. Performance measurements of the voltage island are generated with only the voltage island under power. Performance measurements of the performance screen ring oscillator (PSRO) are generated with only the voltage island under power. Performance measurements of the performance screen ring oscillator (PSRO) is compared to the performance measurements of the on-chip performance monitor (OCPM) to determine a systematic offset due to the voltage island. Performance models are adjusted using the systematic offset due to the voltage island. |
| US08020136B2 |
Device and method for high-level synthesis
A high-level synthesis unit creates a first register transfer level circuit from an operation level description. A circuit creating unit creates a second register transfer level circuit based on circuit information for creating an additional circuit to be added to the first register transfer level circuit. A circuit connecting unit connects the first register transfer level circuit with the second register transfer level circuit, based on connecting information describing a connecting relation between a signal in the first register transfer level circuit and a signal in the second register transfer level circuit. |
| US08020134B2 |
Method and apparatus for parallel processing of semiconductor chip designs
In one embodiment, the invention is a method and apparatus for parallel processing of semiconductor chip designs. One embodiment of a method for processing a semiconductor chip design includes flattening a netlist corresponding to the semiconductor chip design, performing logic clustering on one or more logic elements incorporated in the flattened netlist to generate one or more clusters, partitioning the semiconductor chip design in accordance with the one or more clusters, and designing the individual partitions in parallel. |
| US08020133B2 |
Semiconductor integrated circuit with multi-cut via and automated layout method for the same
A semiconductor integrated circuit according to an embodiment of the invention includes a single-cut via 60 and a multi-cut via 30 that includes a first via 30a and a second via 30b. An overhang (OHa or OHb) with respect to at least one of the first via 30a and the second via 30b is smaller than an overhang OH with respect to the single-cut via 60. |
| US08020130B2 |
Timing analysis apparatus and method for semiconductor integrated circuit in consideration of power supply and ground noises
In a timing analysis apparatus for use in a semiconductor integrated circuit, which analyzes operation timing of a semiconductor integrated circuit having a logic gate circuit including a plurality of logic gates, a controller detects at least one of a power supply voltage and a ground voltage of a power supply, decomposes the noise waveform into frequency components, classifies the frequency components into low-frequency components lower than a predetermined threshold frequency and high-frequency components higher than the threshold frequency, calculates a static delay time of each of the logic gates due to the low-frequency components, calculates a dynamic delay time of each of the logic gates due to the high-frequency components, and determines a delay time of each of the logic gates by synthesizing the calculated respective delay times. |
| US08020126B2 |
Links and chains verification and validation methodology for digital devices
The links and chains (LNC) of this invention is an applications verification and validation (AVV) methodology. LNC is a hierarchical and systematic approach emphasizing conservation and reuse of effort expended. LNC creates objective metrics for validation. This invention ensures that the device will work in a system environment. LNC is an independent and complementary validation of the design before committing release to tape-out. The chip support library (CSL) and diagnostics used by LNC are natural outputs of the validation and are thus gating items to tape-out release. This ensures a fully tested device. |
| US08020118B2 |
Presentation of items arranged in a hierarchy
An aspect of the present invention provides a computer-implemented method for presenting items in a hierarchy comprising parent items and sub-items. The method comprises the steps of: identifying one or more parent items in the hierarchy, wherein all sub-items of the identified parent items possess a particular property; and presenting the hierarchy in a manner to indicate that all sub-items of the identified parent items possess the particular property. |
| US08020116B2 |
System and method for visualizing a multi-screen workspace on a single display screen
A system (200) and method (600) for visualizing on a single display screen (SDS) a first plurality of display screen windows (FPDSWs) displayed on display screens (234, . . . , 240) of a multi-screen workspace. The method involves determining a relative placement pattern (RPP) for the FPDSWs (250, . . . , 272). The method also involves selecting at least one size reduction factor (SRF) to reduce a combined total area of the FPDSW to fit within a viewing area provided by SDS (224). The method further involves displaying a second plurality of display screen windows (SPDSWs) on the SDS using the SRF and RPP. The SPDSWs (250′, . . . , 272′) are presented such that the FPDSWs having a reduced combined total area is simultaneously viewable on the SDS in the RPP. Notably, the SPDSWs can comprise substantially similar content and attributes of respective display screen windows of the FPDSWs. |
| US08020114B2 |
Enter-then-act input handling
The present invention utilizes input handling to provide enter-then-act capability for user inputs. User inputs are received, and a set of one or more secondary applications are executed using the input. A priority rating may then be calculated for each of the one or more secondary applications in the set, the priority rating indicating how pertinent the input was to a corresponding application. |
| US08020113B2 |
Method and system for synchronizing a display context
A display system automatically presents a format in accordance with a prerecorded display configuration, upon a change of format on a screen of the display system. |
| US08020107B2 |
Web interface for providing system-status on-demand
An Internet web application interfaces to a machine to give users information about the status of the machine. The information on the status of the machine is constantly changing. This design only dynamically builds a web page when the page is requested for viewing. Once built, the page is retained so that the next time it is requested, if the information it contains has not changed, the page can be served without having to be rebuilt. If the information has changed, the design will not update the page until the page has been requested. In addition, the page is only built in the human language requested. |
| US08020105B1 |
Unified user interface for instant messaging and email
The present invention relates to a unified user interface for instant messaging and electronic mail. In one aspect, a single user interface is provided to allow a user to view email and instant messages. Instant messages and email are received and displayed within a common window within a single application. In one aspect, an instant messaging input field is associated with an email message. For example, in one aspect, when a user associated with an email message is available for instant messaging, an input field appears in a preview pane for the email message. In another aspect of the present invention, instant messages may be managed like an email, e.g. filed, printed, forwarded, stored in folders, etc. For example, in one aspect, a transcript of an instant messaging session may be forwarded as an email. |
| US08020101B2 |
User specified transfer of data between applications
A method, information processing system and computer readable medium for transferring data between applications on a computer is disclosed. The method includes selecting data from a first application and selecting a copy-to command for copying the data selected from the first application. The method further includes selecting a second application as a destination for the data selected. The method further includes copying the data selected to a location in the second application. |
| US08020095B2 |
Force feedback system including multi-tasking graphical host environment
A force feedback system provides components for use in a force feedback system including a host computer and a force feedback interface device. An architecture for a host computer allows multi-tasking application programs to interface with the force feedback device without conflicts. One embodiment of a force feedback device provides both relative position reporting and absolute position reporting to allow great flexibility. A different device embodiment provides relative position reporting device allowing maximum compatibility with existing software. Information such as ballistic parameters and screen size sent from the host to the force feedback device allow accurate mouse positions and graphical object positions to be determined in the force feedback environment. Force feedback effects and structures are further described, such as events and enclosures. |
| US08020094B2 |
Editing web pages via a web browser
A browser-based web authoring tool that enables locally editing and rendering web pages comprising a master page and at least one content page and/or style sheets. Techniques are employed in one embodiment to identify areas of the web pages that correspond to master and content pages, such that when a user edits an element within an area, the browser-based web authoring tool can track whether the edit is made to the master page or one of the content pages. |
| US08020089B1 |
Rendering hypertext markup language content
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including medium-encoded computer program products, for rendering hypertext markup language content. In one aspect, a method includes receiving a document specifying a hierarchy of HTML elements, each HTML element having a representation in a first visual representation of the document; translating the HTML elements into a hierarchy of vector object primitives, at least one of the HTML elements being translated into a corresponding vector object primitive; and generating the first visual representation of the document by rendering the hierarchy of vector object primitives. |
| US08020088B2 |
Visual responsibility matrix for technical designs or solutions
A visual responsibility matrix is provided that communicates the scope of a technical design or solution used to perform a service. The visual responsibility matrix is a spreadsheet that contains a logical diagram that is representative of components that are in the scope of the technical design or solution. A matrix contains a listing of each of the components that are in the scope of the technical design or solution and a listing of services that are performed for each of the components. The matrix further includes a name of a party in that has the responsibility to perform the service associated with the component. In addition, the matrix provides the costs associated with fulfilling each responsibility. |
| US08020081B2 |
Multi-level cell memory devices using trellis coded modulation and methods of storing data in and reading data from the memory devices
A multi-level cell (MLC) memory device may include: a MLC memory cell; an outer encoder that encodes data using a first encoding scheme to generate an outer encoded bit stream; and a trellis coded modulation (TCM) modulator that applies a program pulse to the MLC memory cell to write the data in the MLC memory cell. The program pulse may be generated by TCM modulating the outer encoded bit stream. A method of storing data in a MLC memory device, reading data from the MLC memory device, or storing data in and reading data from the MLC memory device may include: encoding data using a first encoding scheme to generate an outer encoded bit stream; and applying a program pulse to a MLC memory cell of the MLC memory device to write the data in the MLC memory cell. The program pulse may be generated by TCM modulating the outer encoded bit stream. |
| US08020080B2 |
Receive circuit
A method and a circuit for decoding a coded signal including a first decoding system capable of receiving the coded signal and of providing a first signal comprising portions considered correct and a second decoding system capable of providing a second signal from the coded signal and from portions considered correct of the first signal. |
| US08020078B2 |
Methods and apparatus for reducing error floors in message passing decoders
An iterative message passing decoder, e.g., an LDPC decoder, operating in conjunction with a soft input-soft output signal processing unit, e.g., an ISI detector, has an error floor performance region influenced by the decoder's sub-optimal message passing nature. Error floor reduction is achieved by a simple message re-initialization mechanism. Decoder edge states, e.g., constraint to variable node messages in decoder memory, are reinitialized, e.g., for an iteration, during the decoding after soft values provided by signal processing unit have improved. During the message re-initialization and for some subsequent amount of iterative decoder processing, extrinsic information fed back from the decoder to the signal processing unit and/or soft values delivered to the decoder from the signal processing unit, in an outer communications loop, is temporarily frozen, e.g., using a switch and a buffer. Then, the outer communications loop is restored as the decoding continues, achieving improved decoding performance. |
| US08020077B1 |
Forward error correction with self-synchronous scramblers
Systems and methods correct multiplied errors generated by feedback taps in self-synchronous descramblers. The multiplication of errors degrades the performance of most linear cyclic error check codes. Disclosed techniques are general applicable to multiplied errors even when those errors are not confined to a single block. Disclosed techniques permit a reduction in the amount of forward error correction used. For example, in general, to correct t errors, a linear cyclic error correction code requires a Hamming distance of at least 1+(2t)[wt(s(x))]. Embodiments of the invention allow correcting the multiplied errors with a Hamming distance of only 1+(t)(1+wt(s(x))) over the block size n, wherein wt(s(x)) is the weight of the scrambler polynomial s(x). |
| US08020076B2 |
Information recording/reproducing apparatus, and information recording medium
In an information recording, a first data processor divides input data into a plurality of frames so as to arrange the plurality of frames for each unit block. The unit block is a unit of error-correction with respect to the input data and the frames include first identification information, respectively. A second data processor inserts a linking block on a boundary portion between unit blocks in the record data. The unit blocks are adjacent to each other. The linking block includes a second identification information and the second identification information is different from each of the first identification information. A controller controls to record the unit block and the linking block on the information recording medium. |
| US08020066B2 |
DTV transmitting system and receiving system and method of processing broadcast data
A DTV transmitting system includes a frame encoder, a randomizer, a block processor, a group formatter, a deinterleaver, and a packet formatter. The frame encoder builds an enhanced data frame and encodes the frame two times for first and second error correction, respectively. It further permutes a plurality of encoded data frames. The randomizer randomizes the permuted enhanced data, and the block processor codes the randomized data at a rate of 1/N1. The group formatter forms a group of enhanced data having one or more data regions and inserts the data coded at the rate of 1/N1 into at least one of the data regions. The deinterleaver deinterleaves the group of enhanced data, and the packet formatter formats the deinterleaved data into enhanced data packets. |
| US08020064B2 |
Decoding apparatus and method
A decoding apparatus and method are described. The decoder includes N successive decoder groups numbered 1 to N arranged in series. Each decoder group includes primary decoding means for decoding the first sequence of codewords in combination with the source sequence of symbols to produce a sequence of primary decoded symbols; intermediate interleaving means for interleaving the sequence of primary decoded symbols using intra-block permutations on the source sequence of symbols and inter-block permutations on each intra-block permuted block across the predetermined number of the intra-block permuted blocks to produce a sequence of intermediate symbols; secondary decoding means for decoding the second sequence of codewords in combination with the sequence of intermediate symbols and a sequence of interleaved source symbols to produce a sequence of secondary decoded symbols; and de-interleaving means for de-interleaving the sequence of secondary decoded symbols to produce a sequence of estimated symbols. |
| US08020063B2 |
High rate, long block length, low density parity check encoder
There is provided a parity check encoder (100) comprising a data memory (PPDM) configured for storing input data, a calculation/parity result data store (CPRDS), and a selector/serializer (SS). The CPRDS (104,106) is coupled to the PPDM (102) and is configured to calculate parity bits in parallel using input data and information contained in a parity check matrix H. The SS (108) is coupled to the PPDM and CPRDS. The SS is configured to generate an encoded output sequence using the input data and parity bits. The matrix H is formed of a plurality of sub-matrices. Each sub-matrix of the sub-matrices is an all zero (0) matrix, an identity matrix, or a circular right shifted version of the identity matrix. A portion B of the matrix H includes a plurality of rows having two (2) ones (1), except for a first row which includes a single one (1). |
| US08020062B2 |
Apparatus and method of encoding/decoding block low density parity check codes in a communication system
An apparatus and method of encoding a block Low Density Parity Check (LDPC) code in a signal transmission apparatus is disclosed. The method includes generating a block LDPC codeword by encoding an information vector using a second parity check matrix when a code rate to be used in the signal transmission apparatus is a second code rate less than a code rate of a first parity check matrix as a first code rate. |
| US08020061B2 |
Method for detecting errors and supporting reconfiguration decisions in mobile radio networks comprising reconfigurable terminals, and corresponding network elements and components
A respective agent platform in network elements and producer-specific agents that are installed directly on platform or by way of agent proxies of agent providers. The agents then receive raw information on arising operating errors by way of a defined interface of the agent platform, and, together with producer-specific information on the respective terminals or types of terminal that are known only to the respective producer, from corresponding compressed decision information for evaluating cases of error and/or for optimizing reconfiguration decisions. The agents then provide the information for the network element or the network operator and/or the agent provider or the terminal producer, via the defined interface. This leads to a higher reliability of the interoperability of terminals and network elements in mobile radio networks including reconfigurable terminals. |
| US08020060B2 |
Method of arranging data in a multi-level cell memory device
A method of storing data includes storing a first portion of data in bit positions of a non-volatile memory having a first probability of error; storing a second portion of the data in bit positions of the non-volatile memory having a second probability of error, wherein the second probability of error is lower than the first probability of error; storing error correction parity bits with the data; and applying an error correction scheme to read data using the error correction parity bits, wherein at least one bit of the first portion is checked for correction before any bit of the second portion is checked for correction. The error correction scheme is stopped before checking for correcting of all the data. |
| US08020058B2 |
Multi-chip digital system having a plurality of controllers with self-identifying signal
The present invention provides for a system. The system includes a plurality of controllers, each controller comprising at least an output pin and a plurality of input pins and configured to receive self-identify control signals through one or more of the plurality of input pins and to transmit a controller self-identify signal through the output pin based on the self-identify control signals. Each output pin is coupled to an external system. A processor couples to a first input pin of the plurality of input pins of each of the plurality of controllers and is configured to generate self-identify control signals and to transmit the self-identify control signals to the plurality of controllers. |
| US08020057B2 |
Comparator circuitry connected to input and output of tristate buffer
A test controller applies test stimulus signals to the input pads of plural die on a wafer in parallel. The test controller also applies encoded test response signals to the output pads of the plural die in parallel. The encoded test response signals are decoded on the die and compared to core test response signals produced from applying the test stimulus signals to core circuits on the die. The comparison produces pass/fail signals that are loaded in to scan cells of an IEEE 1149.1 scan path. The pass/fail signals then may be scanned out of the die to determine the results of the test. |
| US08020056B2 |
Memory channel with bit lane fail-over
Memory apparatus and methods utilizing multiple bit lanes may redirect one or more signals on the bit lanes. A memory agent may include a redrive circuit having a plurality of bit lanes, a memory device or interface, and a fail-over circuit coupled between the plurality of bit lanes and the memory device or interface. |
| US08020055B2 |
Method and apparatus for testing the connectivity of a flash memory chip
In one embodiment of the invention, circuitry and hardware for connectivity testing are fabricated on an IC, and in particular an IC containing a flash memory array. This testing circuitry is electrically connected to the bond pads of the IC. In some embodiments, the testing circuitry includes a boundary scan cell connected to each bond pad, allowing for rapid connectivity testing of flash memory chips in accordance with testing standards such as the JTAG standard. The invention further includes methods in which the pins and/or memory cells of a flash memory chip are sequentially sent a series of data so as to test the connectivity of portions of the IC. The sequentially-sent data is then retrieved and compared to the original data. Discrepancies between these sets of data thus highlight connectivity problems in the IC. |
| US08020054B2 |
Test apparatus and test method
A test apparatus provided in common for a plurality of memories under test, comprising an address generating section that sequentially generates addresses to be tested in the memories under test and a plurality of buffer memories that are provided to correspond respectively to the memories under test and that each store addresses to be independently supplied to the corresponding memory under test. The test apparatus (i) compares block data output by a memory under test in response to a read command to an expected value of this block data, for each generated address, (ii) sequentially stores, in the corresponding buffer memory and in response to detection of a discrepancy in the comparison, the address generated for reading the block data, and (iii) writes, in parallel to the plurality of memories under test, disable data that includes, as individual addresses, the addresses stored in the buffer memory. |
| US08020052B2 |
Fault analysis result generating system and method
A fault analysis result generating system includes an extracting unit, a converting unit, a determining unit, and a result generating unit. The system extracts fault analysis files, converts the fault analysis files to a first predetermined file format which is easy to be processed, converts the fault analysis files with the first predetermined file format to a second predetermined file format, and then transfers the fault analysis files with the second predetermined file format to a learning sharing module. |
| US08020051B2 |
Message handling in a service-oriented architecture
A service call to a backend system is initiated by a user interface in a service-oriented architecture. Thereafter, a service answer is received from the backend system encapsulating a backend error object. The backend error object is mapped to a front end error object. A front end error message can later be presented to a user in the user interface that is derived from the front end error object. Related apparatus, systems, techniques and articles are also described. |
| US08020050B2 |
Validation of computer interconnects
A method of validating multi-cluster computer interconnects includes calculating a cable interconnect table associated with the multi-cluster computer, and distributing the cable interconnect table to a first transceiver in the first computer cluster and a second transceiver in the second computer cluster. The method also includes connecting a first end of a cable to the first transceiver and a second end of the cable to the second transceiver, transmitting a first neighbor identification from the first cluster to the second cluster, and a second neighbor identification from the second cluster to the first cluster, comparing the first neighbor identification with a desired first neighbor identification from the cable interconnect table to establish a first comparison result and the second neighbor identification with a desired second identification from the cable interconnect table to establish a second comparison result, and generating an alert based on the first and second comparison results. |
| US08020049B2 |
Detection of and recovery from an electrical fast transient/burst (EFT/B) on a universal serial bus (USB) device
An Electrical Fast Transient/Burst (EFT/B) detection and recovery system for a Universal Serial Bus (USB) device. The system includes a USB core and a burst controller. The USB core provides serial communications with a host device through a USB data channel. The burst controller is coupled to the USB core. The burst controller detects an EFT/B event and automatically reconnects the USB core to the host device in response to recognition of a suspend state of the USB core by the host device. |
| US08020044B2 |
Distributed batch runner
Method and systems for allocating test scripts across a plurality of test machines is described. A set of test scripts may be maintained where the set of test scripts includes a plurality of test scripts for allocation to a plurality of test machines. A first request for a first test script task may be received from a first test machine of a plurality of test machines. A determination may be made as to whether each test script within the set of test scripts has been allocated. If not, a first unallocated test script to allocate to the first test machine may be determined, and a first test script task may be allocated to the first test machine where the first test script task includes the first unallocated test script. The first unallocated test script then may be identified as an allocated test script in the set of test scripts. |
| US08020042B2 |
System and method for supporting compensation work
A method for supporting compensation work comprises the steps of associating a data structure with a compensation function, and associating the data structure with the at least one event that can be encountered during execution of a forward work. The data structure contains a pair of pointers, which includes a first pointer to a code to be executed for the compensation function, and a second pointer to a stack frame of a closest lexically enclosing scope of a declaration of the compensation function in a computer program text. |
| US08020041B2 |
Method and computer system for making a computer have high availability
A method and a computer system for making a computer achieve high availability. The method includes running a host virtual machine on a host virtual machine container; running a servant virtual machine on the servant virtual machine container; and synchronizing the host virtual machine and the servant virtual machine by using an I/O instruction. The system includes at least two computers including a host computer and a servant computer, each computer including a virtual machine container; a virtual machine running on the virtual machine container; and a communication channel making the virtual machine container execute a virtual machine synchronization operation. The virtual machine synchronization operation of the virtual machine container is triggered by the virtual machine executing I/O instructions. |
| US08020040B2 |
Information processing apparatus for handling errors
In the event of occurrence of an error in a memory in an information processor, a first processor that is one of a number of processors executes an error handler program stored in a first memory that is one of a number of memories. If the first processor fails in correctly operating the error handler program, a second processor different from the first processor executes an error handler program stored in a second memory different from the first memory. |
| US08020035B2 |
Expander circuit for a solid state persistent storage device that provides a plurality of interfaces to corresponding storage controllers
A system includes a solid state persistent storage device, and a plurality of storage controllers to manage access of the solid state persistent storage device. An expander circuit is connected to the solid state persistent storage device and has a plurality of computer-based bus interfaces connected to the corresponding plurality of storage controllers. |
| US08020031B1 |
System and method for customizing a SCSI error response received from a SCSI target in a storage network environment
A system and method for customizing a SCSI error response received from a SCSI target in a storage network environment is disclosed. In a method for customizing a SCSI error response received from a SCSI target in a storage network environment, a SCSI command is received from a SCSI initiator by a SCSI to ATA bridge. The received SCSI command is translated to provide an ATA command. The ATA command is then sent to an ATA drive. The ATA command is executed by the ATA drive. During execution, if an error occurs, an ATA error response is sent by the ATA drive to the SCSI to ATA bridge. The received ATA error response is translated to a SCSI error response. The SCSI to ATA bridge then obtains a customized SCSI error response using an error look-up table. Further the customized SCSI error response is sent to the SCSI initiator. |
| US08020029B2 |
Method and apparatus for rendering game assets in distributed systems
The invention includes a method and apparatus for attempting to synchronize delivery of information at a plurality of receiving systems. The method includes generating, at a sending system, a plurality of current messages adapted for rendering an asset within an application space of a respective plurality of receiving systems, determining an accumulated export error for each of the receiving systems, transmitting the current messages toward the respective receiving systems in a manner adapted to reduce the accumulated export errors. The accumulated export error for a receiving system includes an estimated current message export error for a current message generated by the sending system for the receiving system and an accumulated previous message export error for at least one previous message generated by the sending system for the receiving system. |
| US08020018B2 |
Circuit arrangement and method of operating a circuit arrangement
A circuit arrangement is provided comprising a first partial circuit to receive a supply voltage, a second partial circuit to receive an output signal of the first partial circuit and a first clock signal, the second partial circuit to store the output signal of the first partial circuit depending on the first clock signal, and a control unit to decouple the supply voltage from the first partial circuit for a time period that is shorter than a cycle duration of the first clock signal, wherein the control unit is configured to receive a second clock signal which is derived from the first clock signal by delaying. |
| US08020012B2 |
Power auto-detection apparatus
A power auto-detection apparatus is applied to a power supply of a personal computer or applied to an adapter of a notebook computer. The power auto-detection apparatus has a voltage stabilizing unit, an over-current protective unit, a voltage regulating unit, a signal processing unit, and a regulating resistor. The over-current protective unit provides an over-current protection for the power auto-detection apparatus. The voltage regulating unit electrically connects to a non-ground terminal of the regulating resistor and outputs a first regulating voltage and a second regulating voltage. The signal processing unit electrically connects the voltage regulating unit and receives the second regulating voltage to output a power detection signal to the computer system to automatically detect the output power of the power supply or the adapter. |
| US08020010B2 |
Memory power controller
A memory power controller comprises a clock generation circuitry for generating a first clock signal and a second clock signal responsive to a source clock and a determination that the source clock has a period greater than a predetermined value. The first clock is generated responsive to a determination that the source clock has a period greater than the predetermined value and the second clock is generated responsive to the determination that the source clock has a period less than the predetermined value. Memory time-out circuitry generates a memory enable/disable signal to control operation of an associated memory responsive to the clock signal and the determination that the source clock has a period greater than the predetermined value. The memory time-out circuitry further synchronizes the memory enable/disable signal with the source clock. |
| US08020007B1 |
System and method for obtaining identities
A system and method identifies one of several security token services that can be used to convert an identity token into one containing content, a format and having a signature corresponding to a signing key name that a software service can use. The identification of the security token service that may be used to perform the conversion is made using machine readable information about the signing key name that the software service can use. |
| US08020003B2 |
Creation of electronically processable signature files
Systems and methods can automatically generate and process signature files for an electronic signature list. Data records can be periodically searched for signature-relevant status changes. A multiplicity of documents in paper form can be provided. Each document can contain a predefined blank region for receiving a personal signature and also control information items assigned to the signature. The multiplicity of documents that have received the personal signatures can be scanned-in in a batch processing operation. At least one signature containing the personal signature in electronically processable form and a representation of the assigned control information items file can be generated for each document. The assigned control information items of each document can be independent of their corresponding personal signature in its electronically processable form. The signature files can be dispatched via a communications network controlled by the control information items. |
| US08019999B2 |
Wireless receiver device revocation management
A method of carrying out wireless video communication involves at a wireless receiver (WR) device, providing a digital certificate, the digital certificate containing a High-Bandwidth Digital Copy Protection (HDCP) Key Source Vector (KSV), a device identifier for the WR device, and a digital signature cryptographically binding the identifiers; at the WR, responsive to an initiation of a wireless communication session from a wireless transmitter (WT) device, sending the digital certificate to the WT device; the WT receiving the digital certificate and having the identities in the digital certificate checked against a revocation list; and if one of the WR device's identities has been revoked, halting the wireless communication session. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract. |
| US08019996B2 |
Method for encrypted communication with a computer system and system therefor
To solve problems in that a load on a VPN device is large in a case where the number of terminal devices increases in encrypted communication using a VPN technique, and that only communication between the terminal device and the VPN device is encrypted, thus disabling end-to-end encrypted communication, a communication system is provided, including: a terminal device; a plurality of blades; and a management server that manages the blades, in which: the management server selects a blade, authenticates the terminal device and the selected blade, and mediates encrypted communication path establishment between the terminal device and the selected blade; the terminal device and the blade perform encrypted communication without the mediation of the management server; and the management server requests a validation server to authenticate each terminal. |
| US08019992B2 |
Method for granting user privileges in electronic commerce security domains
An electronic commerce system supports web sites including on-line stores that are accessible by a set of customers and organizations to which stores may belong. Organizations may be defined in accordance with a tree structure. Users accessing a web site are provided with access roles for organizations. The access roles for a user define the portions of the web site for which the user has access privileges. The tree structure of the web site is used to define security domains for users. Users may have access roles of registered customer or administrator. Users without any roles in a security domain are accorded guest privileges within that domain. |
| US08019990B2 |
Authority-neutral certification for multiple-authority PKI environments
A method for facilitating electronic certification, and systems for use therewith, are presented in the context of public key encryption infrastructures. Some aspects of the invention provide methods for facilitating electronic certification using authority-neutral service requests sent by an application, which are then formatted by a server comprising a middleware that can convert the authority-neutral request into certification authority specific objects. The server and middleware then return a response from a selected certification authority back to the service requesting application. Thus, the server and/or middleware act as intermediaries that facilitate user transactions in an environment having multiple certification authorities without undue burden on the applications or the expense and reliability problems associated therewith. |
| US08019989B2 |
Public-key infrastructure in network management
A method of granting a public-key certificate to a managed node in an IT network is provided. A request from the managed node to grant the certificate is received at a certification server. It is ascertained whether an initialization-to-request time interval between an initialization time of the managed node and a request time assigned to the request is within a maximum time interval for automatic certificate grant. The requested certificate is automatically granted if the initialization-to-request time interval is within the maximum time interval. |
| US08019988B2 |
Security protocols for hybrid peer-to-peer file sharing networks
In a hybrid peer-to-peer file sharing network including a receiver peer and a provider peer, the receiver sends the provider a ticket [710] obtained from a server authorizing the receiver to obtain a data object O. The receiver obtains a root value of a hash tree for the object, verifies its digital signature, and sends the provider peer a request for a block of data object O and a request for a corresponding set of hash values from the hash tree [714]. The receiver receives from the provider peer the block of O and the corresponding set of hash values of the hash tree [716] that do not contain any hash value in the local hash tree. The receiver sends the provider an acknowledgement of receipt [718], obtains a block key from the provider [720], decrypts the block, verifies the integrity of the block using the subset of hash values and the local hash tree for O, and updates the local hash tree by adding the subset of hash values to the local hash tree, as well as any newly calculated hash values [722]. The provider may submit to a server the acknowledgements as proof of its service to the receiver. |
| US08019976B2 |
Memory-hazard detection and avoidance instructions for vector processing
A processor that is configured to perform parallel operations in a computer system where one or more memory hazards may be present is described. An instruction fetch unit within the processor is configured to fetch instructions for detecting one or more critical memory hazards between memory addresses if memory operations are performed in parallel on multiple addresses corresponding to at least a partial vector of addresses. Note that critical memory hazards include memory hazards that lead to different results when the memory addresses are processed in parallel than when the memory addresses are processed sequentially. Furthermore, an execution unit within the processor is configured to execute the instructions for detecting the one or more critical memory hazards. |
| US08019973B2 |
Information processing apparatus and method of controlling register
An information processing apparatus and a method of controlling the same that employs a register window system and a Simultaneous Multithreading method for reducing circuit areas by sharing a data transfer bus between threads, said bus connecting a master register and a work register provided for each thread and for avoiding interference in instruction execution with other threads caused by a conflict between accesses to a register between threads. An information processing apparatus and a method of controlling the information processing apparatus employing a register window system for register reading, in which a master register and a work register are held for each thread and a bus for transferring data from the master to the work register is shared by threads in order to realize Simultaneous Multithreading. |
| US08019972B2 |
Digital signal processor having a plurality of independent dedicated processors
A digital signal processor uses a number of independent sub-processors that may be controlled by a master programmable controller. For example, a specialized input processor may process input signals while a specialized output processor may process output signals. Each of these processors may also accomplish math functions when input and output processing is not necessary. The various processors may communicate with one another through general purpose registers which receive data and provide data to any of the processors in the system. Math processors may be added as needed to accomplish desired mathematical functions. In addition, a RAM processor may be utilized to hold the results of intermediate calculations in one embodiment of the present invention. In this way, an adaptable and scaleable design may be implemented that accommodates a variety of different operations without requiring redesign of all the components. |
| US08019968B2 |
3-dimensional L2/L3 cache array to hide translation (TLB) delays
Embodiments of the invention provide a look-aside-look-aside buffer (LLB) configured to retain a portion of the real addresses in a translation look-aside (TLB) buffer to allow prefetching of data from a cache. A subset of real address bits associated with an effective address may be retrieved relatively quickly from the LLB, thereby allowing access to the cache before the complete address translation is available and reducing cache access latency. |
| US08019967B2 |
Robust index storage for non-volatile memory
A non-volatile memory data address translation scheme is described that utilizes a hierarchal address translation system that is stored in the non-volatile memory itself. Embodiments of the present invention utilize a hierarchal address data and translation system wherein the address translation data entries are stored in one or more data structures/tables in the hierarchy, one or more of which can be updated in-place multiple times without having to overwrite data. This hierarchal address translation data structure and multiple update of data entries in the individual tables/data structures allow the hierarchal address translation data structure to be efficiently stored in a non-volatile memory array without markedly inducing write fatigue or adversely affecting the lifetime of the part. The hierarchal address translation of embodiments of the present invention also allow for an address translation layer that does not have to be resident in system RAM for operation. |
| US08019964B2 |
Dynamic address translation with DAT protection
What is provided is an enhanced dynamic address translation facility. In one embodiment, a virtual address to be translated and an initial origin address of any one of a region first table, a region second table, a region third table, or a segment table are obtained. Based on the obtained initial origin address, a segment table entry is obtained which contains a format control and DAT protection fields. If the format control field is enabled, obtaining from the translation table entry a segment-frame absolute address of a large block of data in main storage. The segment-frame absolute address is combined with a page index portion and a byte index portion of the virtual address to form a translated address of the desired block of data. If the DAT protection field is not enabled, fetches and stores are permitted to the desired block of data addressed by the translated virtual address. |
| US08019952B2 |
Storage device for storing data while compressing same value input data
A storage device for storing data, while compressing same value of input data, includes an input processing unit, a data storage, a first-in-first-out memory, and an output processing unit. The input processing unit is configured to, upon receiving an input value, determine whether a data value stored in the data storage at an address location corresponding to the input value is valid. If the data value is invalid, the input processing unit stores an initial value at the address location and stores the input value in the first-in-first-out memory. If the data value is valid, the input processing unit performs an arithmetic operation on the data value and stores the operation result in the address location corresponding to the input value. The output processing unit is configured to read and output the input value stored at a head of the first-in-first-out memory, as well as reading and outputting the data value from the address location of the data storage corresponding to the input value, if one or more input values are stored in the first-in-first-out memory and if the data value stored at the address location of the data storage corresponding to the input value is valid, and to update the data value after the output. |
| US08019949B2 |
High capacity memory subsystem architecture storing interleaved data for reduced bus speed
A high-capacity memory subsystem architecture utilizes multiple memory modules arranged in one or more clusters, each attached to a respective hub which in turn is attached to a memory controller. Within a cluster, data is interleaved so that each data access command accesses all modules of the cluster. The hub communicates with the memory modules at a lower bus frequency, but the distributing of data among multiple modules enables the cluster to maintain the composite data rate of the memory-controller-to-hub bus. Preferably, the memory system employs buffered memory chips having dual-mode operation, one of which supports a cluster configuration in which data is interleaved and the communications buses operate at reduced bus width and/or reduced bus frequency to match the level of interleaving. |
| US08019948B2 |
Multi-path accessible semiconductor memory device having mailbox areas and mailbox access control method thereof
A multipath accessible semiconductor memory device having a mailbox area and a mailbox access control method thereof are provided. The semiconductor memory device includes N number of ports, at least one shared memory area allocated in a memory cell array, and N number of mailbox areas for message communication. The at least one shared memory area is operationally connected to the N number of ports, and is accessible through a plurality of data input/output lines to form a data access path between the at least one shared memory area and one port, having an access right to the at least one memory area, among the N number of ports. The N number of mailbox areas are provided in one-to-one correspondence with the N number of ports and are accessible through the plurality of data input/output lines when an address of a predetermined area of the at least one shared memory area is applied to the semiconductor memory device. An efficient layout of mailboxes and an efficient message access path can be obtained. |
| US08019943B2 |
High endurance non-volatile memory devices
High endurance non-volatile memory devices (NVMD) are described. A high endurance NVMD includes an I/O interface, a NVM controller, a CPU along with a volatile memory subsystem and at least one non-volatile memory (NVM) module. The volatile memory cache subsystem is configured as a data cache subsystem. The at least one NVM module is configured as a data storage when the NVMD is adapted to a host computer system. The I/O interface is configured to receive incoming data from the host to the data cache subsystem and to send request data from the data cache subsystem to the host. The at least one NVM module may comprise at least first and second types of NVM. The first type comprises SLC flash memory while the second type MLC flash. The first type of NVM is configured as a buffer between the data cache subsystem and the second type of NVM. |
| US08019941B2 |
Loosely coupled mass storage computer cluster having a set of data storage controllers interoperable for reading and writing data objects
A method and apparatus redundantly store data, in particular video data objects, in a distributed computer system having at least three processor systems, each processor system being connected in point to point two way channel interconnection with each other processor system. The data is stored in a redundant fashion both at the computer system level as well as the processor system level. Accordingly, the failure of a single processor does not adversely affect the integrity of the data. The computer system can also overlay a switching system connected in a ring fashion for providing a fault tolerance to the failure of a single connected processor system at the switch level. Accordingly, there results a fault tolerant data distribution system. |
| US08019939B2 |
Detecting data mining processes to increase caching efficiency
Methods and apparatus to detect a data mining process are presented. In one embodiment the method comprising monitoring access of a process to a resource and classifying if the process is a data mining process based on at least one of a plurality of monitored values, such as an access rate, an eviction rate, and an I/O consumption value. |
| US08019935B2 |
Random number generation for a host system using a hard disk drive
A hard disk drive is provided for enhancing random number generation. In particular embodiments, the hard disk drive includes a storage subsystem and a controller. The controller generates a random number based on information associated with the storage subsystem. The controller transmits the random number to a host system. |
| US08019927B2 |
Electronic tag system having bank status and controlling method thereof
An electronic tag system, an electronic tag, and a controlling method thereof according to the present invention include an electronic tag that includes a memory having a divided band and a bank status that stores a status of data stored in the divided bank, a controlling circuit that reads and writes the data from and to the bank and changes the status and a controlling device that allows the controlling circuit connected through the electronic tag and an electronic tag reader/writer to transmit and receive the read and written data from and to the bank and issue an instruction to change the status. |
| US08019925B1 |
Methods and structure for dynamically mapped mass storage device
Methods and structures for mapping of logical to physical block addresses within a disk drive to provide independence of the logical block size and the physical disk block size. The independence of the logical and physical block sizes enables numerous beneficial features to improve disk drive capacity, performance and reliability. In one exemplary aspect, indirect mapping table structures and methods map an LBA to an associated IBA representing a block of the same size as the logical block. The IBA is then converted to a corresponding starting quantum unit of data identified by a QA. The QA is, in turn, converted to a disk block identified by a starting DBA and an offset within that DBA. The disk block may be of variable size and is independent of the size of the identified LBA. Numerous other features are enabled by the logical to physical mapping features hereof. |
| US08019924B2 |
System and method for memory hub-based expansion bus
A system memory includes a memory hub controller, a memory module accessible by the memory hub controller, and an expansion module having a processor circuit coupled to the memory module and also having access to the memory module. The memory hub controller is coupled to the memory hub through a first portion of a memory bus on which the memory requests from the memory hub controller and memory responses from the memory hub are coupled. A second portion of the memory bus couples the memory hub to the processor circuit and is used to couple memory requests from the processor circuit and memory responses provided by the memory hub to the processor circuit. |
| US08019922B2 |
Interruption facility for adjunct processor queues
Interruption facility for adjunct processor queues. In response to a queue transitioning from a no replies pending state to a reply pending state, an interruption is initiated. This interruption signals to a processor that a reply to a request is waiting on the queue. In order for the queue to take advantage of the interruption capability, it is enabled for interruptions. |
| US08019921B2 |
Intelligent memory buffer
A technique reduces cost, complexity and/or power consumption of a memory system by including intelligence in a memory buffer circuit of the memory system. An apparatus includes a memory buffer circuit configured to selectively operate in one of a plurality of modes. In a first mode, the memory buffer circuit is configured to interface to a first type of memory device, is configured to enable an input circuit of the memory buffer circuit, and is configured to drive on a terminal of a memory interface of the memory buffer circuit a version of a signal received by the input circuit during a memory operation. In a second mode, the memory buffer circuit is configured to interface to the first type of memory device, is configured to disable the input circuit, and is configured to drive a signal on the terminal during the memory operation. |
| US08019919B2 |
Method for enhancing the memory bandwidth available through a memory module
A method for enhancing the memory bandwidth available through a memory module of a memory system is provided. The memory system includes a memory hub device integrated in a memory module. The memory system includes a first memory device data interface integrated in the memory hub device that communicates with a first set of memory devices integrated in the memory module. The memory system also includes a second memory device data interface integrated in the memory hub device that communicates with a second set of memory devices integrated in the memory module. In the memory system, the first set of memory devices are separate from the second set of memory devices. In the memory system, the first and second set of memory devices are communicated with by the memory hub device via the separate first and second memory device data interfaces. |
| US08019918B2 |
Information processing apparatus requesting registration with peripheral
In a system in which an information processing apparatus and a peripheral are connected to each other. Initially, the information processing apparatus transmits, to the peripheral, a request to use a service provided by the peripheral. The peripheral determines whether to grant use permission to the received request, and notifies the information processing apparatus which has transmitted the request of the determination result. The peripheral stores information associated with the information processing apparatus to which use permission is granted in response to the request. The information processing apparatus then receives, from the peripheral, a response to the request. |
| US08019917B2 |
Digital video/audio capture device and method thereof
In audio/video (AV) capture, two video streaming adapters (VSAs) receive an original input video signal and a compressed input video signal respectively to generate an uncompressed video streaming and a compressed video streaming respectively. The uncompressed video streaming and the compressed video streaming are transmitted to an external device by way of time division duplex. An interlock mechanism prevents concurrent transmission of the uncompressed video streaming and the compressed video streaming, so that the loss of real-time video streaming is reduced. |
| US08019914B1 |
Disk drive implementing shared buffer memory with reduced interrupt latency
A disk drive is disclosed having a disk, a head actuated over the disk, a buffer memory for storing control routine op codes and control routine data, and a microprocessor for receiving the control routine op codes and control routine data. Control circuitry within the disk drive services an access request generated by the microprocessor by accessing the buffer memory, and monitors at least one interrupt. If the interrupt occurs while servicing the access request, the control circuitry enables the microprocessor to execute an interrupt service routine corresponding to the interrupt. Enabling the microprocessor to execute the interrupt service routine rather than wait for the access request reduces the latency in servicing the interrupt. |
| US08019910B2 |
Transaction flow control in PCI express fabric
A computer-executed method for controlling transaction flow in a network comprises communicating transaction packets among a plurality of devices in a network fabric and subdividing a memory into a plurality of memory segments for storing received transaction cycles according to transaction packet type comprising posted, non-posted, and completion cycles. A plurality of transaction cycles are received in the memory segment plurality at a target device and transaction cycle priority is allocated according to transaction packet type wherein posted cycles have highest priority. Cycles are retrieved from the memory segment plurality in an order determined by priority. |
| US08019905B2 |
Video/graphics port adapter and method thereof
A mode of operation of an information handling system is determined based upon configuration information received at a video/graphics port of the information handling system. In response to determining the mode of operation is a first mode of operation, information is provided from the first video/graphics port that represents only a portion of a video image. In response to determining the mode of operation is a second mode of operation, information is provided from the first video/graphics port that represents all of the video image. |
| US08019904B2 |
Image processing device and control method thereof
An image processing device, which can communicate with a distributor distributing setting information to plural image processors, comprises: a first receiver to receive, from the distributor, start information indicating that the distributor starts distributing the setting information to the plural image processors including the image processing device; a second receiver to receive the setting information distributed by the distributor; a detector to detect that the image processing device is operated by a user; and a controller to, in a case where it is detected by the detector that the image processing device is operated, request the distributor to distribute the setting information if the start information is received and the setting information is not received, and execute a process based on the operation detected by the detector if the start information is not received or the setting information is received. |
| US08019897B2 |
Method for viewing, on a client-side device, documents requested from a server-side device
A client-side handheld device requests a server to convert server-side documents into a compression format prior to transmission of said documents to the client. The server retrieves and converts the requested documents to a raster image that is then compressed according to attributes based on information received from the client device in the initial document request. Instead of having to manipulate multiple formats which the original documents are in and supported by the server, the client-side device is preferably optimized in hardware and/or software to support and otherwise take advantage of the requested compression format. The compressed document is then delivered to the client device, in whole or in part, selectively or progressively over time per individual requests prior to displaying the received data to the end-user. Depending on the requested delivery mode, server-side documents are preferably compressed using wavelet compression methods, such as the JPEG 2000 standard, known in the arts. Through such a compression format, documents of sizes (in total bytes) exceeding one or more Megabytes can be compressed down to as small as 30 kilobytes or less. |
| US08019894B2 |
System, method and engine for playing SMIL based multimedia contents
A system for playing SMIL based multimedia contents, comprising: a plurality of SMIL engines for analyzing and interpreting SMIL documents, as well as communicating with and controlling SMIL sub engines, remote media proxies, or local media playing devices; a plurality of remote media proxies for receiving instructions from the upper level SMIL engines, starting or stopping providing media objects to the remote media playing devices, sending back events, and providing basic user interaction capabilities, wherein said a plurality of SMIL engines, a plurality of remote media proxies, and local and remote media playing devices construct a tree-link structure, of which the root node is a SMIL engine, the branch nodes are SMIL engines and remote media proxies, and the leaf nodes are local and remote media playing devices. The corresponding SMIL engines and methods are also provided. The present invention enables the playing of SMIL based multimedia contents on a set of PvC devices, which can be dynamically configured as a new multimedia terminal on demand. |
| US08019890B2 |
Network switch for logical isolation between user network and server unit management network and its operating method
In a network switch including a user network port connectable to a user network, a plurality of down link ports each connectable to one server unit, a server unit management network port connectable to a server unit management network for managing the server unit, a store-and-forward switching unit connected to the user network port, the down link ports and the server unit management network port, and a control unit connected to the store-and-forward switching unit, when a packet that has arrived at one of the down link ports is a dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP) packet including a network boot option, the control unit operates the store-and-forward switching unit to transmit the packet to the server unit management network port. |
| US08019889B1 |
Method and apparatus for making end-host network address translation (NAT) global address and port ranges aware
Disclosed are methods and apparatus for handling data having an embedded address (and port). In general terms, a host of a private network is operable to obtain from its corresponding edge router a global address (GA) and optionally an additional global port range (GPR). When the host then wishes to transmit data out of the private network, the obtained GA (and GPR) may then be used for an embedded address (and port) within data sent by the host to a public network. The obtained GA (and GPR) may also be used by the host to translate its own source address and port in its IP and/or TCP/UDP header if needed. |
| US08019883B1 |
WiFi peripheral mode display system
A wireless peripheral mode is provided by a host system that communicates to a WiFi infrastructure and, utilizing the same WiFi RF subsystem, also communicates to peripherals. The host system may employ additional RF channels for communicating with high bandwidth peripherals, such as display devices, where high levels of QoS may be managed locally. The host system may be a conventional desktop computer system, a notebook computer system, a multi-media access point, a cell phone, a game machine, a portable game machine, a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), a smart phone or any other type of device that benefits from accessing both a WiFi infrastructure and local peripherals. |
| US08019881B2 |
Secure cookies
The present invention relates to methods and systems for creating secure cookies. The methods can be used to create, receive, and transmit secure cookies, confidential cookies, and authentication cookies. |
| US08019876B2 |
Correlating information between internet and call center environments
Coordination of information at the network-based level between call centers connectable over a telecommunications network, such as the telephone network, and a packet network, such as the Internet, creates improved integration of and bonding between a customer's interaction with a Web site and with a call center. Information about the customer and the customer's Web interaction are delivered to the call center agent along with the call, leading to increased productivity and efficiency in call handling as well as improved call routing. Calls may be routed to existing call centers based upon information from the Web experience, and information from the user's Web interaction is shared with the call center. Web interaction information is passed to existing call centers using known call center external control methods, such as DNIS signaling. Information about the Web experience may also be “whispered” to the call center agent, and an agent may “push” Web pages for review by the customer. As a result, customer acquisition and sales tools more powerful than a mere click-to-callback tool can be made available with a combined marketing approach using the Web and call centers. |
| US08019875B1 |
Systems and methods for indicating a user state in a social network
Methods and Systems for determining a user state for a member of a social network are described. According to one embodiment, a method comprising receiving in a network of associated users user state information for a first user, wherein the network of associated users comprises user established relationships between users, determining a current user state for the first user; and outputting to a second user the user state information based at least in part on the current user state and a relationship based permission status is set forth. |
| US08019872B2 |
Systems, methods and computer program products for performing remote data storage for client devices
Remote data storage is performed for client devices that are associated with an enterprise, by performing the following automatically at a given client device in response to authorization from the given client device: obtaining metadata about the given client device; uploading the metadata to a remote data storage system and initiating an initial remote data storage to the remote data storage system using the metadata that was obtained. At the remote data storage system, a load balancing program may be executed to programmatically assign a given client device to a subset of remote data storage devices in response to obtaining the metadata about the given client device. |
| US08019870B1 |
Approach for allocating resources to an apparatus based on alternative resource requirements
An approach for allocating resources to an apparatus based on alternative resource requirements generally involves a resource allocator determining that a resource that satisfies a resource requirement is not available, and based on the resource not being available, the resource allocator determines that another resource that satisfies another resource requirement is available. The resource allocator allocates the other resource to the apparatus, thereby allowing the apparatus to be implemented based on the other resource. The resource requirements are alternatives so that if the one alternative resource requirement cannot be fulfilled, the other alternative resource requirement can be fulfilled. Some alternatives can be preferred over other alternatives in a set of alternative resource requirements. In general, in a set of “n” alternative resource requirements, “m” resource requirements can be specified to be fulfilled, where “m” is less than “n” and “n” is two or greater. |
| US08019866B2 |
System and method for detection of aberrant network behavior by clients of a network access gateway
A system and method for detecting aberrant network behavior. One embodiment provides a system of detecting aberrant network behavior behind a network access gateway comprising a processor, a first network interface coupled to the processor, a second network interface coupled to the processor, a storage media accessible by the processor and a set of computer instructions executable by the processor. The computer instructions can be executable to observe network communications arriving at the first network interface from multiple clients and determine when the traffic of a particular client is indicative of malware infection or other hostile network activity. If the suspicious network communication is determined to be of a sufficient volume, type, or duration the computer instructions can be executable to log such activity to storage media, or to notify an administrative entity via either the first network interface or second network interface, or to make the computer instructions be executable to perform other configured actions related to the functioning of the network access gateway. |
| US08019863B2 |
Synchronizing events between mobile devices and servers
A system, method, and computer program product for synchronizing events between a mobile device and a server are described herein. In an embodiment, the method operates by detecting events to be synchronized between a source and a target, wherein the source and target are one of either a mobile device or a server. The method comprises deducing activities that occurred in order to create the detected event, reading data records corresponding to the deduced activities, and creating packets of operations needed to recreate the deduced activities on the target. The method further comprises queuing the packets of operations and data records and receiving event synchronization results at the source after the queued packets of operations have successfully executed on the target, wherein the synchronization results include a synchronization status and a unique record identifier identifying the event. In an embodiment, personal information manager (PIM) events are synchronized. |
| US08019862B2 |
Collaborative speed determination in distributed systems
The described implementations relate to collaborative speed determination in distributed systems. One method estimates upload speeds of a plurality of hosts. The method sends a first bandwidth probe from a first host to a second host. The method receives, at the first host, a second bandwidth probe sent from the second host. The method determines which of the first and second bandwidth probes was relatively slower. The method designates either of the first or second hosts that sent the relatively slower bandwidth probe as a loser and takes a speed of the bandwidth probe of the loser as a first estimate of the loser's upload speed. |
| US08019856B1 |
Automatic mapping and location discovery of computers in computer networks
A scan client in a subnet of an intranet may be designated as a root agent to provide subnet information to a scan server in the intranet. The subnet information may include addresses of computers belonging to the subnet. The scan server may use subnet information collected from various root agents to build a map of the intranet. The intranet map may be forwarded from the scan server to the root agents, which in turn provide the intranet map to scan clients in their respective subnets. The root agents may also receive antivirus modules from the scan server for distribution to scan clients. A scan client may look for computers indicated in the intranet map to determine whether or not it is connected to the intranet. |
| US08019849B1 |
Server-side storage area network management interface
A centralized Storage Area Network (SAN) management system based on a distributed client-server architecture. The SAN management system may include a SAN management server and a browser client. In one embodiment, the browser client may be a “thin” client that may make minimal use of web technologies on the client side. The SAN management server may gather SAN information, render the SAN information into images in an image format suitable for display by the browser client, and provide the images to the browser client for display. The SAN management system, through the browser client, may provide views into a SAN based on host, device, fabric, and/or storage groups, as well as alerts to diagnose and avoid outages. In one embodiment, the browser client may provide an interface to access features of the SAN management system to perform SAN management functions. |
| US08019847B2 |
Topic based loop detection in a publish/subscribe network
When a new broker is connected to a network, a loop detection message is sent over the new connection created by the new broker. The loop detection message includes topics. At each receiving broker, topics that cannot be propagated to a neighbor broker are removed. If the loop detect message contains no topics, the loop detect message is not propagated further. If the loop detection message returns to the new broker, a loop is detected. |
| US08019845B2 |
Service delivery using profile based management
A computer implemented method, data processing system, and computer program product for automatically aggregating entities via a profile-driven management. A profile is created, wherein the profile includes a set of search criteria comprising one or more server attributes. A list of attributes of each server in the data processing system is obtained. Servers in the plurality of servers whose attributes meet the set of search criteria specified in the profile are then grouped to form a profile group. Once the servers are grouped into a profile, an administrative action may be performed on all of the servers in the profile group simultaneously. |
| US08019843B2 |
System and method for defining attributes, decision rules, or both, for remote execution, claim set II
A system of the invention comprises a design module, execution engine, and performance management module. A first computer hosts the design module which enables a user to define attributes, queries, and decision rules transmitted to the execution engine hosted on a second computer remote to the first computer. The second computer can be located at a credit bureau, credit reporting agency, or other data provider. The second computer runs the execution engine to query a data repository with the user-defined attributes and queries, and applies the user-defined decision rules to produce result data transmitted to a third computer hosting the performance management module for monitoring performance of a benefit or offering made with the result data and the corresponding attributes, queries, and decision rules that generated the result data. |
| US08019842B1 |
System and method for distributing enclosure services data to coordinate shared storage
A system and method for distributing enclosure services information is provided. A plurality of storage systems that are operatively interconnected with one or more intermediate networking devices and/or disk shelves are modified to include a target device driver module that is adapted to receive and process target commands from other storage systems to enable the sharing and retrieval of SES information from a storage shelf's master storage system. |
| US08019840B2 |
Storage area network mapping
A computerized method for determining whether a storage device detected in a SAN is associated with a storage array detected in the SAN, where the storage array has one or more storage devices associated therewith. The computerized method includes obtaining identifying information for the detected storage device, obtaining identifying information for the one or more storage devices associated with the detected storage array, and processing the obtained information to determine whether the detected storage device is one of the one or more storage devices associated with the detected storage array. |
| US08019837B2 |
Providing network identity for virtual machines
Techniques for assigning an internet protocol (IP) address to a virtual machine are provided. The techniques include tunneling a request for an IP address to an initialization protocol server, using the server to mask an identity of one or more guest virtual machines and obtain an IP address for the virtual machine based on a media access control (MAC) address of the virtual machine, and tunneling the IP address to the virtual machine. |
| US08019835B2 |
Automated provisioning of computing networks using a network database data model
A framework for automatically provisioning computing devices includes a central database system and a central file system. Information stored in the database comprises a model of the individual devices, as well as the interconnections of the devices. The central file system stores the software components to be installed on the devices. When provisioning is carried out, the database sends commands to agents located on each device which cause them to retrieve and install the software components from the file system, and to configure the components according to the stored model. |
| US08019832B2 |
Network core access architecture
The proposed architecture is integrated in a generic System on Chip (SoC) and can include or consist of an expanded network interface and an infrastructure for accessing Intellectual Property (IP) cores in the system. The architecture enables the system on chip to communicate with a user workstation connected to a communication network. The invention can be used as a simplified network interface for data exchange, which does not require embedded processors and respective software. The invention can be used to temporarily replace the normal data input and output of an IP core with stimuli and responses used for a variety of purposes. |
| US08019828B2 |
System and method for defining attributes, decision rules, or both, for remote execution, claim set III
A system of the invention comprises a design module, execution engine, and performance management module. A first computer hosts the design module which enables a user to define attributes, queries, and decision rules transmitted to the execution engine hosted on a second computer remote to the first computer. The second computer can be located at a credit bureau, credit reporting agency, or other data provider. The second computer runs the execution engine to query a data repository with the user-defined attributes and queries, and applies the user-defined decision rules to produce result data transmitted to a third computer hosting the performance management module for monitoring performance of a benefit or offering made with the result data and the corresponding attributes, queries, and decision rules that generated the result data. |
| US08019824B2 |
Remotely operating computer software applications using low bandwidth
A system for remote operation of the computer software applications, the system including a remote application controller for associating a master control with both a master application and a master action associated with the master application, and a command receiver/implementer for associating a slave control with both a slave application and a slave action associated with the slave application, where the remote application controller commands the command receiver/implementer to perform the slave action in connection with the performing of the master action. |
| US08019822B2 |
Personalized storage accounts in an electronic file delivery system
An electronic file delivery system reduces the bandwidth an electronic mail server must dedicate to large files and decreases the storage space required for attachments in an electronic mail inbox. The system uploads the large file to the recipient's personalized storage account. The recipient receives an electronic notification of the file in their storage account. The recipient may access the file without additional burden on the electronic mail server resources. |
| US08019818B2 |
Communications network system and methods for using same
A communications network system, comprising: a first user device, wherein the first user device uses a first communications protocol; a second user device, wherein the second user device uses a second communications protocol, different from the first communications protocol; and, a server, in operative communication with the first user device and the second user device, and wherein the server comprises a processor for translating the first communications protocol into the second communications protocol. |
| US08019817B2 |
Collaboration support system and control method thereof
In a system having plural terminals including terminals A, B, when the terminal A is editing a data object and editing information is shared among the plural terminals, if the terminal B performs a changeover operation of displayed page, the editing operation in the terminal A is cancelled, and the editing information is deleted in the other terminals. In the terminal A, the editing information by that time is held, and when the data object is restored, the held editing information is transmitted to the other terminals. Then the initial display status is restored in the other terminals. |
| US08019811B1 |
Application state server-side cache for a state-based client-server application
Response delay associated with a state-based client-server application can be reduced with utilization of an application state server-side cache. A server caches data for a set of one or more possible states of a client-server application that may follow a current state of the application. The server rapidly responds to a client request with data that corresponds to an appropriate new state of the application in accordance with the application state server-side cache. The server determines that the application will transition to the appropriate new state from the current state of the application with the application state server-side cache based, at least in part, on an operation indicated by the client request. |
| US08019809B2 |
Tightly-coupled disk-to-CPU storage server
A storage server for efficiently retrieving data from a plurality of disks in response to user access requests. The server comprises a plurality of processors coupled to disjoint subsets of disks, and a custom non-blocking packet switch for routing data from the processors to users. By tightly coupling the processors to disks and employing an application-specific switch, congestion and disk scheduling bottlenecks are minimized. By making efficient use of bandwidth, the architecture is also capable of receiving real-time data streams from a remote source and distributing these data streams to requesting users. The architecture is particularly well suited to video-on-demand systems in which a video server stores a library of movies and users submit requests to view particular movies. |
| US08019807B2 |
Method and system for communication between computer systems
A system for brokering business service requests in a computer network is disclosed. The system is operative to receive a request for information from a requester, transmit the request to a provider, and return a response to the requester. The broker typically comprises the following components. A requester-side processing stage operative to communicate with the requester; a provider-side processing stage operative to communicate with the provider; and a broking stage operative to exchange data between the requester-side processing stage and the provider-side processing stage. In operation of the business service broker, upon receipt of a request for a requester, the broking stage obtains data required to respond to the request by communicating with a provider through the provider-side processing stage. The brokering stage formulates a response and returns it to the requester through the requester-side processing stage. The mechanism by which the response is obtained is abstracted from the requester. |
| US08019806B2 |
Method and apparatus for displaying network fabric data
The invention relates to graphical user interfaces for managing electronic networks, such computer networks, storage area networks (SANs), and the like. Specifically, the invention provides a simplified means of managing large numbers of parameters associated with devices in such networks. In a preferred embodiment, the invention provides a method of displaying devices forming a network. In a first step, a computer system associated with a graphical user interface queries the network to determine what devices are present in the network, and the interconnections of such devices. The results of this determination are stored, as is the time of this determination. Later, a second query is performed and the results are compared to the first query. Symbols representing elements of the network are displayed on the graphical user interface. When changes are detected between the first and second network query, the changes are indicated by altering the manner in which the symbols are displayed that represent the elements of the network that have changed. |
| US08019790B2 |
System and method of dynamically changing file representations
An information handling system is disclosed and can include a processor and a memory in communication with the processor. Further, a file access monitor can be embedded within the memory. The file access monitor can monitor one or more files within the information handling system and dynamically change a file representation associated with each of the one or more files based on access patterns associated with each of the one or more files. |
| US08019789B2 |
System and method of object-oriented persistence
A system and method for handling an application's access of persisted objects for use within a mobile communications device. The device includes a non-volatile storage device that has at least a portion of its storage locations addressable by the application. A reference table contains the addresses of persisted objects contained in the storage device. Via the reference table, an application can locate persisted objects stored in the storage device. |
| US08019787B2 |
Relationship based tree structure with scoped parameters
A system and method of storing information about tree structures. The method includes, for each given tree, identifying the nodes and the relationships between the nodes, and for each parameter, if more than one node of any of the given tree shares the parameter, then defining a scoping for the parameter to cover all of the nodes to which the parameter is applicable. The scoping includes applying one or more scope types having a varying specificity. The resulting information stored about the tree structure is substantially reduced in size in comparison to information about tree structures stored in a conventional manner, thereby reducing storage space requirements. |
| US08019786B2 |
Method and apparatus for displaying data stored in linked nodes
A computer implemented method of storing, manipulating, assessing, and displaying data and its relationships, and a computer system (with memory) programmed to implement such method. The data is stored into nodes, and visualized as a sea of linked nodes. |
| US08019779B2 |
Efficient locking protocol for sub-document concurrency control using prefix encoded node identifiers in XML databases
A system and method for concurrency control of hierarchically structured data is provided. Lock requests on a target node are processed by exploiting ancestor-descendant information encoded into prefix encoded node identifiers (IDs). A set of implicit locks on ancestor nodes along a path from an immediate parent of a target node to a root node is derived from an explicit lock request on a target node. A logical lock tree describing existing lock modes for ancestor nodes is consulted to determine compatibility with the derived set of implicit locks. If existing lock modes for ancestor nodes are compatible with the derived set of implicit locks, a lock request on a target node is granted. Otherwise, the lock request is denied. A lock release request follows the reverse process; a target node in a particular transaction is released, as are subsequent locks on its ancestors made by the same transaction. |
| US08019778B2 |
System, method, and apparatus for searching information across distributed databases
A master node includes a locality determining table that stores data structures of obtained items, types of conditions that the items should meet, and locality information; a plan generating unit that generates a search plan; a determining unit that obtains the locality information corresponding to the data structure of the item obtained as a sequence and the type of condition for the item and determines whether the item is stored in a distributed manner across different databases; an updating unit that removes a request of creating a logical sequence from the search plan and updates the search plan when the item is not stored in a distributed manner across the different databases; and an execution requestexecution requesting unit that notifies a slave node of a search plan execution request. The slave node includes an execution request receiving unit and an executing unit that executes the search plan. |
| US08019776B2 |
Determining device and determining method for determining processing to be performed based on acquired data
The present invention provides a technique for determining processing to be performed at high speed. When processing to be performed is determined through multiple condition judgments and branches, a comparison target extraction circuit extracts from acquired data multiple pieces of determination data used for the condition judgments and branches and connects the pieces to generate comparison target data. A first database and a second database store reference data generated by connecting a possible value of each of multiple pieces of determination data and also store a processing content to be performed, in which the reference data and the processing content are related to each other. A binary search circuit collectively conducts multiple condition judgments and branches by searching the first database for comparison target data and outputs a processing content to be performed. |
| US08019771B2 |
Method for dynamically finding relations between database tables
A method and system are provided for dynamically relating tables in a federated database based upon a data manipulation language in a query transaction. After the start of a transaction has been detected, a data manipulation language from the transaction is extracted and evaluated to determine the table(s) and column(s) referenced by the transaction language. The data relation output unit determines the relationship(s) between the extracted table(s) and column(s) in real-time and conveys this information through a visual display. |
| US08019770B1 |
Dynamic rendering of content that includes query expressions
A rendering engine dynamically renders content that includes query expressions. The query expressions are resolved by extracting data from a data source. The resolutions to the queries are rendered with the content, according to rules associated with the content. |
| US08019769B2 |
System and method for determining valid citation patterns in electronic documents
A system and method are provided for comparing portions of document text with potential citation components, determining if individual portions correspond to a citation component, and determining if a set of portions correspond to a valid citation pattern. A set of valid citation patterns is provided. Each citation pattern may include a specified combination of citation components. The invention further relates to identifying potential citation components from text in a document, analyzing a pattern of the identified citation components by comparing the pattern to a set of stored citation patterns to determine if the potential citation is a type of citation, and if so, is it a valid (and/or invalid) citation pattern. Once citation patterns have been determined in the document, annotations may be inserted into the document, and subsequent action may be taken, for example, generating a list of citations, providing research services, error-handling, and/or providing other options related to the citations. |
| US08019767B2 |
Correlation-based visualization of service-oriented architecture protocol (SOAP) messages
Correlation-based visualization of markup language messages is implemented. According to an embodiment of the present invention, a message manager receives a markup language message exchanged over a network. Correlation logic applies a template to the markup language message. Correlation logic utilizes at least one rule to visually identify correlated message in the markup language message in a tree structure. The message manager outputs the tree structure. |
| US08019766B2 |
Processes for calculating item distances and performing item clustering
Computer-implemented processes are disclosed for clustering items, and for using item clusters to generate and/or present item recommendations. One process involves calculating distances between items based on how the items are categorized within a hierarchical browse structure. These distance calculations may then be used as a basis for forming clusters of items. |
| US08019764B1 |
System and method for internet endpoint profiling
The present invention relates to a method of profiling an Internet endpoint associated with an Internet Protocol (IP) address, the method includes generating a profiling rule using an Internet search engine, obtaining a search result by inputting the IP address to the Internet search engine, and classifying the Internet endpoint based on the search result using the profiling rule. |
| US08019763B2 |
Propagating relevance from labeled documents to unlabeled documents
A method and system for propagating the relevance of labeled documents to a query to unlabeled documents is provided. The propagation system provides training data that includes queries, documents labeled with their relevance to the queries, and unlabeled documents. The propagation system then calculates the similarity between pairs of documents in the training data. The propagation system then propagates the relevance of the labeled documents to similar, but unlabeled, documents. The propagation system may iteratively propagate labels of the documents until the labels converge on a solution. The training data with the propagated relevances can then be used to train a ranking function. |
| US08019757B2 |
Distributed globally accessible information network implemented to maintain universal accessibility
A distributed information network is constructed for gathering information from sites distributed across a globally accessible computer network, i.e., the Internet. The distributed information network preferably includes a root server that stores a list of multiple distributed sites each represented by metadata. A network browser delivers an information search request to the root server, which in response develops a profiled information search request. The information provider of each of the distributed sites stores metadata corresponding to information content that is retrievable in response to the profiled information search request for search results derivable from the information content to which the metadata correspond. A profiled information communication link between the root server and each of the multiple distribution sites enables formation of a path for delivery of the search results to a destination site, from a site or sites represented by the metadata of the profiled information search request. |
| US08019754B2 |
Method of searching text to find relevant content
A method of locating relevant documents wherein documents are given a fingerprint comprising weights associated with particular topic categories of a classification system, each weight representing a degree to which the document relates to the particular topic category, a first piece of text is identified and given a fingerprint comprising a list of other weights associated with similar topic categories, the other weights representing a degree to which the first piece of text relates to the particular topic category. All or a portion of the universe of documents is searched by comparing the fingerprint for the first piece of text with the fingerprint for each document. You select those documents whose fingerprints have a predetermined degree of mathematical overlap with the fingerprint of the first piece of text. A user fingerprint of the user's recently accessed texts can be used in place of the first piece of text. |
| US08019753B2 |
Method and system for generating a dynamic help document
A method for generating a dynamic help document involves obtaining question-answer pairs associated with a client-server application, determining rankings of the question-answer pairs based on user feedback about the question-answer pairs, and determining a first preferred question-answer pair based on rankings of question-answer pairs. The method further involves generating the dynamic help document using the first preferred question-answer pair, updating rankings of the question-answer pairs based on additional user feedback about the question-answer pairs, determining a second preferred question-answer pair based on updated rankings of the question-answer pairs, and updating the dynamic help document by replacing the first preferred question-answer pair with the second preferred question-answer pair. |
| US08019752B2 |
System and method for information retrieval from object collections with complex interrelationships
A data-driven information navigation system and method enable search and analysis of a set of objects or other materials by certain common attributes that characterize the materials, as well as by relationships among the materials. The invention includes several aspects of a data-driven information navigation system that employs this navigation mode. The navigation system of the present invention includes features of a knowledge base, a navigation model that defines and enables computation of a collection of navigation states, a process for computing navigation states that represent incremental refinements relative to a given navigation state, and methods of implementing the preceding features. |
| US08019750B2 |
System and method for automatically generating database queries
A method of tuning a database query includes selecting a database query, parsing the selected database query to determine relationships between portions of the selected database query, selecting an optimization mode from a plurality of available optimization modes, tuning the selected database query by modifying, at least one portion of the selected database query based on the determined relationships and the selected optimization mode and displaying the modified database query. |
| US08019748B1 |
Web search refinement
Similar queries are identified so that suggested search queries may be provided to a user. A first search query having at least one term associated with a semantic weight is received. A second query having at least one term associated with a semantic weight is received. A first vector is generated based on the first query and the at least one semantic weight of the first query, and a second vector is generated based on the second query and the at least one semantic weight of the second query. A similarity measurement between the first and second search queries is made based at least in part on a comparison of the first vector to the second vector. |
| US08019745B2 |
Data retrieval from a plurality of distinct storage devices using an index value
A first processor receives a request for records from a requester. The records include an index field and the records are stored in a plurality of storage devices associated respectively with a plurality of second processors. Individual storage devices of the plurality of storage devices are physically distinct from one another. Subsequent to the receiving of the request, the first processor retrieves the records from the plurality of storage devices using the plurality of second processors. The first processor then arranges the retrieved records in an order based at least on the index field and provides the retrieved records to the requestor in the order. |
| US08019743B2 |
Method of presenting search results to a user of a social network site
Method of presenting search results to a user of a social network site on the Internet, in which each user of the social network site has a user profile with information regarding the user, includes obtaining content items satisfying a search of information on the Internet by a first user. The content items are ranked as a function of the information in the user profile of the first user such that the content items which are related to the information in the user profile of the first user are ranked higher than the content items which are unrelated to the information in the user profile of the first user. The content items according to ranking are then transferred to a display of the first user via the Internet such that higher ranked content items are displayed on the display prior to lower ranked content items being displayed on the display. |
| US08019742B1 |
Identifying related queries
A method includes receiving search queries. Images are generated that represent the volume of each search query relative to all search queries over a period of time. The images are processed to generate wavelets for each image. Related queries having similar increases or decreases in volume are identified by comparing at least some of the wavelets corresponding to a first query to wavelets corresponding to other queries. |
| US08019740B2 |
Communications in an item tracking system
System and methods for communicating tracking information about tagged items. A tagged item is a tangible item that carries a self-identifying tag. The tracking information can be stored in the tag or in a document that is accessible through an item tracking system. The tracking information can be accessible by multiple consumers having different levels of access. The methods include methods for masking redundancies in the tracking information, filtering the tracking information, and controlling access to the tracking information. |
| US08019736B1 |
Systems and methods for combining a plurality of terrain databases into one terrain database
A present novel and non-trivial system and methods for exacting terrain elevation data contained in a plurality of terrain elevation databases or data sets, combining the terrain elevation data contained in each terrain elevation data set to produce a single, combined terrain database of a common resolution. A system is disclosed that could provide a processor with terrain elevation data from a plurality of terrain elevations data sets having differing resolution and accuracy parameters, a per-point error metric data from a plurality of error metric data sets, and a common resolution parameter. A method is disclosed which for combining terrain elevation data sets having difference resolutions into a single, combined terrain elevation data set having a common resolution utilizing a per-point error metric data from a plurality of error metric data sets. A second method is disclosed for combining a plurality of terrain elevation data sets having different resolutions into terrain elevation data of a single, combined terrain elevation data set having a common resolution by transforming the plurality of terrain elevation data sets into a plurality of terrain frequency data sets and filtering the terrain frequency data sets utilizing a Kalman filter. |
| US08019735B2 |
Systems and methods for query caching
A query caching system and method for enabling the caching of software object instances at the granularity of query level. A query component in a container can issue a query to retrieve a query result from a database within a scope of a transaction. The query result includes one or more instances of a class that represents one or more persisted data entries retrieved from the database. A cache management component retrieves the query result for the query in the cache when a query registration component finds out that another query matches the query in the query registry. If the class is expected to remain unchanged within the transaction, the class can be configured to be used concurrently by multiple users, using an optimistic concurrency strategy. The cached query result can be invalidated during the transaction, when any row in any table in the database associated with the cached query result, or a range of any data entry of the one or more persisted data entries in the query is updated or invalidated. |
| US08019734B2 |
Statistical determination of operator error
Various embodiments of the invention provide systems and methods for estimating a frequency of errors for data processing operators, but without human inspection of documents typed by the operators and without comparing documents typed by the operators against known transcriptions. |
| US08019733B2 |
Capture and transmit dense diagnostic data of a file system
A processor selects file system metadata. A processor identifies each unit of data in a file system. The processor determines if the unit of data contains file system metadata. The processor writes a unit of data of metadata to a diagnostic file system, provided it was determined that the unit of data contains file system metadata. The processor then determines if the unit of data contains user data. If the unit of data contains user data, the processor writes a sparse object to the diagnostic file. |
| US08019732B2 |
Managing access of multiple executing programs to non-local block data storage
Techniques are described for managing access of executing programs to non-local block data storage. In some situations, a block data storage service uses multiple server storage systems to reliably store network-accessible block data storage volumes that may be used by programs executing on other physical computing systems. A group of multiple server block data storage systems that store block data volumes may in some situations be co-located at a data center, and programs that use volumes stored there may execute on other physical computing systems at that data center. If a program using a volume becomes unavailable, another program (e.g., another copy of the same program) may in some situations obtain access to and continue to use the same volume, such as in an automatic manner in some such situations. |
| US08019731B2 |
Method and system for updating an archive of a computer file
A method and system for updating an archive of a computer file to reflect changes made to the file includes selecting one of a plurality of comparison methods as a preferred comparison method. The comparison methods include a first comparison method wherein the file is compared to an archive of the file and a second comparison method wherein a first set of tokens statistically representative of the file is computed and compared to a second set of tokens statistically representative of the archive of the file. The method further includes carrying out the preferred comparison method to generate indicia of differences between the file and the archive of the file for updating the archive of the file. |
| US08019730B2 |
Method and system for updating an archive of a computer file
A method and system for updating an archive of a computer file to reflect changes made to the file includes selecting one of a plurality of comparison methods as a preferred comparison method. The comparison methods include a first comparison method wherein the file is compared to an archive of the file and a second comparison method wherein a first set of tokens statistically representative of the file is computed and compared to a second set of tokens statistically representative of the archive of the file. The method further includes carrying out the preferred comparison method to generate indicia of differences between the file and the archive of the file for updating the archive of the file. |
| US08019729B2 |
System and method for updating file
Provided is a system and method for updating a plurality of the same files consistently. The file update system comprises a first and a second data servers formed as pipe line type network for storing an original file and a duplicate file of the original file respectively, and for updating both the original file and the duplicate file in response to an update request, wherein the first and the second data servers mutually exchange file update information, correct the file update information so as to prevent overlapped update due to a plurality of update requests for the same file, and then update the original file or the duplicate file according to the corrected file update information. |
| US08019728B2 |
Dynamically quantifying and improving the reliability of distributed data storage systems
Data is stored in a distributed data storage system comprising a plurality of disks. When a disk fails, system reliability is restored by executing a set of reconstructions according to a schedule. System reliability is characterized by a dynamic Normalcy Deviation Score. The schedule for executing the set of reconstructions is determined by a minimum intersection policy. A set of reconstructions is received and divided into a set of queues rank-ordered by redundancy level ranging from a lowest redundancy level to a highest redundancy level. For reconstructions in each queue, an intersection matrix is calculated. Diskscores for each disk are calculated. The schedule for the set of reconstructions is based at least in part on the intersection matrices, the Normal Deviation Scores, and the diskscores. |
| US08019721B2 |
Method and system for enhanced data transfer
A system and method for enhanced data transfer are disclosed, the method being applicable to a system comprising a computing device configured to transfer data from a portable device. In one embodiment, the computing device stores a fingerprint of the newest record downloaded from a portable device and stops downloading records from the device when a downloaded record matches the fingerprint. In another embodiment, the computing device stores a fingerprint of the newest record downloaded from a portable device and fully processes records that are downloaded from the device after a downloaded record matches the fingerprint. The system may include a portable device configured to adapt its operation responsive to a system fingerprint provided by the computing device. The portable device may be a medical device. The system may be a healthcare data management system. |
| US08019715B2 |
Data partitioning and critical section reduction for bayesian network structure learning
In a parallel system, multiple threads operate in parallel to perform network structure learning. A global score cache is partitioned into multiple split score caches, which may in one embodiment include associating a score cache with a node of the structure to be learned. With a split score cache, the learning may be performed in split neighbor scoring loops, with the first loop operating on separate score cache partitions, and warming the score cache partitions for the second loop. |
| US08019712B2 |
Intelligent threat assessment module, method and system for space situational awareness system
Threat assessment modules are disclosed that intelligently review evidence of potential threats posed by detected objects within a region of exo-atmospheric space and generate a most probable threat scenario to facilitate administration of counterspace operations. |
| US08019711B1 |
System and method to provide a customized problem solving environment for the development of user thinking about an arbitrary problem
Preferred embodiments of the invention provide systems and methods for facilitating user thinking and developing documentation about an arbitrary problem. Preferred embodiments also provide capabilities to customize or specialize aspects of the facilitation of user thinking and development about a problem or topic. Preferred embodiments of the invention also comprise output to and interface with external or additional computer systems, resources, information sources, agents, and others. |
| US08019705B2 |
Register and active element machines: commands, programs, simulators and translators
In an embodiment, instructions in a computer language are translated into instructions in a register machine language. The instructions in the register machine language are translated into active element machine instructions. The use of the register machine language is optional. In an embodiment, the first translator may translate the instructions into another machine language. In an embodiment, an active element machine may be programmed using instructions for a register machine with elemental register machine instructions, such as push, pop, copy, and jump, and/or using a higher language, such as C, may be emulated with active element instructions executing on an active element machine. |
| US08019703B2 |
Bayesian approach for sensor super-resolution
Bayesian super-resolution techniques fuse multiple low resolution images (possibly from multiple bands) to infer a higher resolution image. The super-resolution and fusion concepts are portable to a wide variety of sensors and environmental models. The procedure is model-based inference of super-resolved information. In this approach, both the point spread function of the sub-sampling process and the multi-frame registration parameters are optimized simultaneously in order to infer an optimal estimate of the super-resolved imagery. The procedure involves a significant number of improvements, among them, more accurate likelihood estimates and a more accurate, efficient, and stable optimization procedure. |
| US08019701B2 |
Training a model of a non-linear process
System and method for modeling a nonlinear process. A combined model for predictive optimization or control of a nonlinear process includes a nonlinear approximator, coupled to a parameterized dynamic or static model, operable to model the nonlinear process. The nonlinear approximator receives process inputs, and generates parameters for the parameterized dynamic model. The parameterized dynamic model receives the parameters and process inputs, and generates predicted process outputs based on the parameters and process inputs, where the predicted process outputs are useable to analyze and/or control the nonlinear process. The combined model may be trained in an integrated manner, e.g., substantially concurrently, by identifying process inputs and outputs (I/O), collecting data for process I/O, determining constraints on model behavior from prior knowledge, formulating an optimization problem, executing an optimization algorithm to determine model parameters subject to the determined constraints, and verifying the compliance of the model with the constraints. |
| US08019700B2 |
Detecting an intrusive landing page
Intrusion features of a landing page associated with sponsored content are identified. A feature score for the landing page based on the identified intrusion features is generated, and if the feature score for the landing page exceeds a feature threshold, the landing page is classified as a candidate landing page. A sponsor account associated with the candidate landing page can be suspended, or sponsored content associated with the candidate landing page can be suspended. |
| US08019699B2 |
Machine learning system
A method for training a classifier to classify elements of a data set according to a characteristic is described. The data set includes N elements with the elements each characterized by at least one feature. The method includes the steps of forming a first labeled subset of elements from the data set with the elements of the first labeled subset each labeled according to whether the element includes the characteristic, training an algorithmic classifier to classify for the characteristic according to the first labeled subset thereby determining which at least one feature is relevant to classifying for the characteristic; and then querying with the classifier an inverted index, with this inverted index formed over the at least one feature and generated from the data set, thereby generating a ranked set of elements from the data set. |
| US08019696B2 |
Method and system to protect and track data from multiple meters on a removable storage medium
A system and method for allowing multiple postage meters to utilize removable storage media to accurately track and protect data generated during use is provided. A unique identifier is provided for each removable storage medium, and the removable storage medium is associated with a single meter. A catalog of additional meters authorized for use with the storage medium is maintained on each medium. When the storage medium is attached to a meter, the meter determines if the storage medium has been authorized for use with the meter or, if allowable, establishes a new entry in the catalog for the meter. Thus, data for a plurality of meters can be maintained on the same storage medium. Any discrepancies that exist between the data stored in the meter and the storage medium can be reconciled by the user, thereby allowing accurate maintenance of the data. |
| US08019690B2 |
Method and system for transacting an anonymous purchase over the internet
A method is provided for transacting an anonymous purchase over the Internet. The method comprises the steps of: (a) acquiring intermediary credit account information (22) from a purchasing intermediary (35, 112); (b) providing transactional purchase information (24), including the intermediary credit account information, to a retailer (16, 128), where the transactional purchase information is provided by the purchaser (134) using a first computing device of a computer-implemented purchasing system (12); and (c) transacting a purchase (26) between the purchaser and the retailer (16, 126) using the intermediary credit account information, thereby maintaining the anonymity of the purchaser (134). A method is also provided for the inexpensive sale of cash cards (40) to a retail outlet (126) and for funding the cash cards (40) upon purchase by a consumer (134). The cash cards (40) are not funded until cash or credit through other credit cards is received from the consumer (134). After the consumer (134) has purchased the cash card (40), the consumer (134) must activate the card, and the purchase intermediary (112) awards commissions. |
| US08019689B1 |
Deriving reputation scores for web sites that accept personally identifiable information
A reputation server is coupled to multiple clients. Each client has a security module that detects submissions of personally identifiable information (PII) from the client to a web site. The security module reports the identity of the web site and the type of submitted PII to the reputation server. The reputation server computes a reputation score for the web site based on the number and type of PII submissions to it. The reputation score represents an assessment of whether the web site is trustworthy. The reputation server provides the reputation scores for the web site to a client. The security module at the client evaluates the reputation score of the web site and optionally generates an alert advising the user not to submit PII to the web site because the site is untrustworthy. |
| US08019686B1 |
Method and system for allowing simultaneous usage of prepaid services
A method and system allows multiple and simultaneous use of a pre-paid calling card. A call management system allows for the completion of multiple calls under one pre-paid calling card account number. Depending on the number of concurrent users, a billing system assigns a portion of the total number of available service units to individualized user accounts. The individualized accounts are debited according to the rate charges for each of the calls and are initially assigned an account balance that allows all concurrent users with the same amount of talk time. |
| US08019680B2 |
Altering card-issuer interchange categories
This document describes tools capable of determining ways in which to alter interchange categories assigned to credit-card transactions. In some embodiments, the tools receive parameters for interchange categories and transaction information for a client (e.g., one or more merchants) that has been charged interchange fees based on some of these categories. The tools may determine, based on these parameters and transaction information, how parameters may be changed to enable similar credit-card transactions to be assigned a lower-cost interchange category and the accompanying potential fee savings. |
| US08019679B2 |
Global compliance processing system for a money transfer system
An improved money transfer system includes a rules database, a customer database, and a transaction processing system. The rules database includes information representative of transaction rules, at least some of which include an aggregation threshold. The customer database includes information representative of customers' transaction histories. The transaction processing system is connected to the rules database and customer database and includes point of entry ports, a customer identifier, a rules coordinator, an aggregation engine, and a transaction rules service. The point of entry ports receive transaction requests from points of entry and provide transaction responses to the points of entry. Based on information received in transaction requests, the customer identifier identifies customers and the rules coordinator determines applicable transaction rules. The aggregation engine determines aggregation values as a function of customers' transaction histories. The transaction rules service determines whether information received in the transaction requests meets the applicable transaction rules and causes the aggregation engine to determine aggregation values if the applicable transaction rules include aggregation thresholds. The transaction rules service generates transaction responses based upon the information received in the transaction requests along with any information received in response to any requests for additional information and any aggregation values, and updates the customer database as a function of the transaction. |
| US08019676B2 |
System and method for dynamically regulating order entry in an electronic trading environment
A system and method are provided for trading a trading strategy defined for at least one tradeable object in an electronic trading environment. More specifically, one example method includes using a first pay-up tick value to determine a first acceptable price level for an order associated with the trading strategy, automatically modifying the first pay-up tick to a second pay-up tick value in response to detecting a predefined condition, and using the second pay-up tick value to determine a second acceptable price level for the order associated with the trading strategy. |
| US08019674B1 |
System and method for creating a market map in an electronic trading environment
A market map interface displays market information and trader-related information associated with at least two tradable objects. In one embodiment, the at least two graphical interfaces may be linked, and a user may define one or more adjustment parameters to be used to adjust the view of information being displayed via the linked graphical interfaces. For instance, a user may initiate repositioning of one of the linked graphical interfaces, thus, effectively, causing other linked graphical interfaces to be repositioned according to the defined adjustment parameters. |
| US08019673B1 |
Implied matrix for tradeable objects
System and methods for displaying implied market data are developed. One example method includes displaying a plurality of indicators corresponding to a plurality of tradeable objects via a graphical interface. Upon identifying a first tradeable object, the method includes determining an implied relationship between the first tradeable object and the at least one of the plurality of tradeable objects. The method further includes displaying a graphical indicator in relation to an indicator corresponding to the first tradeable object and at least one indicator corresponding to the at least one of the plurality of tradeable objects to indicate an implied relationship between the first tradeable object and the at least one of the plurality of tradeable objects. |
| US08019672B2 |
Dynamic price improvement
A system and method is provided to enable traders to price improve on an item at an amount less than a predetermined pricing increment. Traders can improve on the price of the item using different price improvement levels (e.g., four different levels). The price improvement according to the invention is a dynamic price improvement, which enables a dynamic order to maintain a predetermined position in a trading stack relative to other orders in the stack. The dynamic order may maintain its position in the trading stack by adjusting (e.g., increasing or decreasing) its price improvement level depending on market conditions. For example, a dynamic order may increases its price improvement level such that it stays at least one level ahead of the next best order in the trading stack. If the level cannot be further increased, the dynamic order may use its timestamp to maintain its position in the stack. |
| US08019656B2 |
System and method for generating an alternative product recommendation
A method and system for automatically generating a self-updating naturally-reading narrative product summary including assertions about a selected product. In one embodiment, the system and method includes evaluating an existing narrative product summary, comparing an existing attribute name, attribute value, attribute unit, and assertion model, respectively, to a current attribute name, attribute value, attribute unit, and assertion model to determine if one of the comparisons shows a change. The system and method further determines a new attribute associated with the selected product, selects an alternative product, retrieves a new assertion model with assertions that describe the selected product and identify an alternative product in a natural manner. The system and method then generates a naturally-reading narrative product summary by combining the new attribute with the new retrieved assertion model, and by combining the selected alternative product with another retrieved assertion model to recommend the selected alternative product in the narrative. |
| US08019652B1 |
Execution of composite services
Techniques are described for assisting users in dynamically creating and using composite services that are based on other constituent services. In some situations, each constituent service is a Web service (“WS”), and each composite service is a new WS whose execution involves dynamically invoking multiple specified constituent WSes in a specified manner. Such techniques may be used, for example, in conjunction with an electronic WS marketplace via which third-party WS providers make their WSes available to third-party WS consumers who locate and purchase access to those WSes, such as to allow a user to dynamically create a new composite WS that is based on one or more WSes available from other WS providers and that reflects any constraints of the WS marketplace, with the composite WS available for use by other WS consumers. This abstract is not intended for use in interpreting or limiting the scope of the claims. |
| US08019650B2 |
Method and system for producing item comparisons
A method and system for producing an item comparison may initially include obtaining data based on user activity that is indicative of an item and other items likely to be comparable to the item, and recording the data for later access. An item comparison may thereafter present an item of interest to the user along with other items identified based on the recorded data. Prior to producing the item comparison, the user may be provided at least one list of potentially comparable items that can be selected for the item comparison, the list including items in the recorded data that are likely to be comparable to the item of interest. The recorded data may be specific to the user or may include data obtained from other users. Data reflecting user activity with an item comparison may be recorded as additional data indicative of comparable items. |
| US08019646B2 |
Method of providing customer services
Customer services are provided by storing predetermined trigger information in association with predetermined content. A real-time text chat established over a network between at least one agent device and at least one customer device is monitoring for the predetermined trigger information using a monitoring computer. The predetermined content is automatically forwarded to the at least one customer device when the predetermined trigger information is detected in the monitoring. |
| US08019642B2 |
System and process for receiving boosting recommendations for use in providing personalized advertisements to retail customers
A system and process for incorporating recommendation boosting in an automated recommendation system includes presenting a user with a visual electronic interface adapted to receive recommendation boost instructions regarding a boost subject, receiving recommendation boost instructions via the visual electronic interface, wherein the recommendation boost instructions indicate how strongly the boost subject should be recommended or suppressed from being recommended, receiving a set of recommendations from one or more automated product recommendation systems, wherein each recommendation system utilizes one or more selection models or user models and modifying the set of recommendations according to the recommendation boost instructions. |
| US08019640B2 |
Method, apparatus, and program for implementing an automation computing evaluation scale to generate recommendations
An automation assessment tool is provided that defines autonomic technology, processes, organization, and skill sets that apply to autonomic computing. The automation assessment tool provides educational material about autonomic computing and a scale of maturity levels, which is used to assess on-demand preparedness. The automation assessment tool presents a survey and collects answers to the survey questions. The automation assessment tool then determines solutions and recommendations to achieve a target level of on-demand preparedness. |
| US08019638B1 |
Dynamic construction of business analytics
A system and method are provided that enable dynamic construction of analytics for the evaluation of opportunities. A unique decision-focused approach simplifies the evaluation of opportunities and incorporates expertise and future-relevant judgments directly into the decision process, thereby tracking the effectiveness of those decisions with respect to selected metrics. |
| US08019633B2 |
Livestock management systems and methods
This invention relates to systems and methods for managing livestock, such as cattle, from conception to consumption. More particularly, this invention relates to systems and methods in which users, such as producers, feedlot managers, packers, buyers, sellers, and consumers, are brought together through shared information and improved communication. Users may access one or more applications, tools, and/or systems to increase the value of each animal, monitor and track each animal, and improve the efficiency of their operation. |
| US08019631B2 |
System and method for automatically selecting one or more metrics for performing a capacity maturity model integration
A computer implemented method for automatically identifying one or more metrics for performing a CMMI evaluation of an entity, wherein the CMMI evaluation is performed at a particular CMMI level and the method comprises the steps of accessing an electronic database of a plurality of candidate metrics, providing a first list of requirement elements to define a set of specific requirements of the entity, providing a second list of requirement elements to define a set of general requirements of the business field of the entity, searching for a first subset of metrics from the plurality of candidate metrics that match the first list and second list of requirement elements, searching for a second subset of metrics from the first subset of metrics that match with the CMMI level, and outputting the second set of metrics in a user-friendly format suitable for the CMMI evaluation. |
| US08019630B2 |
Dynamic service scheduling
A system includes a number of services and agents interconnected by a communication network. A consumer agent identifies a template specifying one or more events for a task. The consumer agent implements an iterative process in which the template may be further defined and/or refined to provide links to one or more of the services that provide features for fulfilling events within an itinerary. |
| US08019625B2 |
Administrative reports for digital radiology department
A system produces administrative reports for a digital radiology department. The system includes a plurality of digital radiographic systems, each of which has storage for storing digital data in html relating to the use and operation of the system. A computer is in communication with the plurality of digital radiographic systems. The computer has a web browser for collecting digital data relating to the operation and/or use of each digital radiographic system. The computer produces one or more administrative reports based on the collected data. |
| US08019621B2 |
Medical image report data processing system
A system uses a flexible mapping capability in adaptively exchanging image related data between a structured report data format and data formats employed by different types of image processing device. A system provides medical image associated measurement data from different types of imaging device in a particular report format data structure. The system includes an acquisition processor for acquiring measurement data associated with medical images produced by an examination of a particular patient using a particular type of imaging device. A repository of mapping information associates clinical terms used by multiple different types of imaging device with corresponding codes compatible with a particular report format data structure employed for providing an imaging examination report of a particular patient. A data processor uses the repository in converting clinical terms in the acquired measurement data provided using the particular type of imaging device to corresponding codes compatible with a particular report format data structure. The data processor processes the codes corresponding to the converted clinical terms as well as elements of the acquired measurement data for incorporation in the particular report format data structure. |
| US08019617B2 |
System for optimizing transportation scheduling
A computer modeling application is disclosed for finding the optimal solution to maximize total net margin, for the assignment of vehicles (e.g., especially vessels) in an available fleet to perform a set of voyages to transport cargo comprising one or more bulk products during a planning period, as well as an apparatus and method employing the same. The fleet can include term vehicles and spot vehicles. The vehicles, voyages, and cargos can be heterogeneous. In one embodiment, the vehicles are crude carrier vessels and the bulk products are different grades of crude oil. To increase speed, the model is broken into linear programming and mixed integer (linear) programming problems. The model can be run on a real-time basis to support complex scheduling operations. |
| US08019615B2 |
Method and system for decoding GSM speech data using redundancy
Aspects of a method and system for decoding GSM speech data using redundancy are provided. A decoding algorithm in a frame process may be utilized to generate a bit-sequence for GSM speech data received via a burst process. The decoding algorithm may be a modified Viterbi algorithm, for example. The frame process may comprise verifying a CRC for the bit-sequence and/or decrypting the bit-sequence. In some instances, estimates of the bit-sequence may be fed back to the decoding algorithm. A speech stream that satisfies speech constraints may be generated based on the generated bit-sequence. The speech constraints may comprise gain and/or pitch continuity, for example. The generated speech stream may be decoded via a voice decoder that supports full rate (FR), adaptive multi-rate (AMR), and/or enhanced full-rate (EFR) speech coding. Frame process results may be fed back to the burst process to improve decoding of received GSM speech data. |
| US08019610B2 |
Automated sentence planning in a task classification system
The invention relates to a task classification system (900) that interacts with a user. The task classification system (900) may include a recognizer (920) that may recognize symbols in the user's input communication, and a natural language understanding unit (900) that may determine whether the user's input communication can be understood. If the user's input communication can be understood, the natural language understanding unit (930) may generate understanding data. The system may also include a communicative goal generator that may generate communicative goals based on the symbols recognized by the recognizer (920) and understanding data from the natural language understanding unit (930). The generated communicative goals may be related to information needed to be obtained from the user. The system may further include a sentence planning unit (120) that may automatically plan one or more sentences based on the communicative goals generated by the communicative goal generator with at least one of the sentences plans being output to the user. |
| US08019609B2 |
Sonic/ultrasonic authentication method
A method for verifying and identifying users, and for verifying users' identity, by means of an authentication device capable of transmitting, receiving and recording audio or ultrasonic signals, and capable of converting the signals into digital data, and performing digital signal processing. Voice pattern(s) and user(s) information of one or more authorized user(s) are recorded and stored on the authentication device. User(s) identification is verified by inputting to the authentication device a vocal identification signal from a user, and comparing the voice pattern of the vocal identification signal with the recorded voice pattern(s) of the authorized user(s), and if a match is detected issuing an indication that the user is identified as an authorized user. |
| US08019607B2 |
Establishing call-based audio sockets within a componentized voice server
A method of interfacing a telephone application server and a speech engine can include the step of establishing one or more audio sockets in a media converting component of the telephone application server. The audio socket can remain available for approximately a duration of a call. A work unit that requires processing by a speech engine can be detected for the call. An identifier for the audio socket and a data for the work unit can be conveyed to a selected speech engine. Work unit results from the selected speech engine can be received by the media converting component via the previously established audio socket. |
| US08019604B2 |
Method and apparatus for uniterm discovery and voice-to-voice search on mobile device
A method, system and communication device for enabling uniterm discovery from audio content and voice-to-voice searching of audio content stored on a device using discovered uniterms. Received audio/voice input signal is sent to a uniterm discovery and search (UDS) engine within the device. The audio data may be associated with other content that is also stored within the device. The UDS engine retrieves a number of uniterms from the audio data and associates the uniterms with the stored content. When a voice search is initiated at the device, the UDS engine generates a statistical latent lattice model from the voice query and scores the uniterms from the audio database against the latent lattice model. Following a further refinement, the best group of uniterms is then determined and segments of the stored audio data and/or other content corresponding to the best group of uniterms are outputted. |
| US08019603B2 |
Apparatus and method for enhancing speech intelligibility in a mobile terminal
An apparatus and a method for enhancing speech intelligibility in a mobile terminal. A complex spectrum calculator calculates complex spectra of one input frame of an input speech signal by Fourier transform, a speech level calculator calculates its instant levels, an average speech level calculator calculates an average speech level of the speech frame using the instant levels, if the input frame is a speech frame, a scaling factor calculator calculates scaling factors by comparing the average speech level with the instant levels, an HPF characteristic calculator calculates amplitude characteristics using the scaling factors, a HPF high-pass-filters the complex spectra using the amplitude characteristics, a synthesizer converts high-pass-filtered signals to time signals by inverse Fourier transform and synthesizes the time signals, and a combiner outputs an enhanced intelligibility speech signal by combining the synthesized time signal with the input frame. |
| US08019598B2 |
Phase locking method for frequency domain time scale modification based on a bark-scale spectral partition
This invention improves the perceived quality of frequency-domain time scale modification by selection of spectral bands used in phase locking based upon a Bark scale according to the variation in human hearing frequency response. A spectral peak is identified for each band. At these peaks the phases are rotated using the phase vocoder algorithm. For a few spectral lines near these peaks, the phase differences are copied from the non-rotated spectrum. The number selected is preferably 4. Remaining spectral lines within each spectral band located farther from the peak are phase rotated using the phase vocoder algorithm. The boundaries of the spectral bands may be adjusted based upon the digital audio data to maintain important frequency groups within the same spectral band. |
| US08019597B2 |
Scalable encoding apparatus, scalable decoding apparatus, and methods thereof
A scalable encoding apparatus capable of reducing the bit rates of encoded parameters and also capable of efficiently encoding audio signals in which a plurality of harmonic structures are coexistent. In the apparatus, an MDCT analyzer MDCT analyzes an audio signal for converting/encoding processes. A pitch frequency converter determines an inverse of a pitch period to calculate a pitch frequency. A selector selects spectra located at frequencies that are integral multiples of the pitch frequency, and a second layer encoder encodes the selected spectra. |
| US08019596B2 |
Linguistic service platform
Linguistic service platform techniques are described. In implementations, one or more computer-readable media comprise instructions that are executable by a computer to designate a linguistic service having a particular property responsive to an application program interface call specifying the property. Communication may be brokered between the linguistic service and the application so that communication occurs without the application directly communicating with the linguistic service. |
| US08019595B1 |
Computer processes for analyzing and improving document readability
Disclosed are systems and methods for analyzing and improving document readability. For example, a method of reducing writing problems in existing prose is disclosed that can deal with problems related to the word “it” in text. Such a method can include the following steps: scanning prose to determine whether a particular writing problem exists in the prose; determining if at least one sign is present, the sign indicating a possible occurrence or absence of the writing problem, the sign comprising the word “it”; and specifying a proposed edit to a user of the method, the proposed edit changing the prose in a way that addresses the writing problem. Various other rules for improving text are also disclosed. |
| US08019591B2 |
Rapid automatic user training with simulated bilingual user actions and responses in speech-to-speech translation
A system and method for automatic user training in speech-to-speech translation includes integrating an automatic user response system configured to be responsive to a plurality of training items and selecting a training item from the plurality of training items. For the selected training item, in response to an utterance in a first language, the utterance is translated into a second language, and a response to the utterance in the second language is generated. A simulated action corresponding with the response in accordance with a user speaking the second language is also generated. The response and simulated action are output as a learning exercise for learning operations of the automatic user response system. |
| US08019587B1 |
Software upgrade of redundant network components
A method for upgrading redundant network components is disclosed. An application is installed on a network component. The network component is related as a redundant peer with a mate network component operating in an active mode and processing a stable call. The network component is placed in a standby mode. Data of a first version is transferred from the mate network component to the network component. The transferred data is converted from the first version to a second version. The mate network component is switched from the active mode to a standby mode. The network component is switched from the standby mode to an active mode to process the stable call. |
| US08019584B2 |
Method and system for modeling likely invariants in distributed systems
Disclosed is a method and system for modeling invariant relationships between flow intensity measurements in a distributed system. In the method, a measurement is randomly selected from a plurality of flow intensity measurements. The method searched for relationships between the randomly selected measurement and each remaining one of the plurality of flow intensity measurements, and each of the flow intensity measurements having a relationship with the randomly selected measurement is grouped into a cluster with the randomly selected measurement. The method than determines relationships between all of the flow intensity measurements in the cluster. This method is repeated with the remaining flow intensity measurements until all of the flow intensity measurements are grouped into a cluster. |
| US08019583B1 |
Selective functional group simulation of automation control and information systems
A simulation model can individually and selectively simulate sub-processes of a full-scale production system. Such a customized simulator can directly simulate all the processes of a system, any combination of processes of a system, or a single process of a system. The remaining processes of the system are left to be executed by an operator or equivalent software program. The model and corresponding information can be used for test, design, evaluation, adjustment, certification, and training purposes. |
| US08019573B2 |
Drawing conversion assignment and management system
Drawing conversion assignment and management systems are provided that typically include receiving logic, a database, assignment logic, and completion logic. The receiving logic typically receives notification of completion of a land base drawing file. The database creates a drawing conversion job record associated with the land base drawing file. The assignment logic assigns the drawing conversion job record to a draftsman and instructs the database to record the assignment. The completion logic typically receives a request to close the drawing conversion job record, and instructs the database to mark the drawing conversion job record as closed. Methods and other systems are also provided. |
| US08019571B2 |
Abnormality processing system
A system, device, method, and program for informing abnormality, providing a user with abnormality information of equipment in an easy-to-understand manner so that convenience is enhanced. When abnormality occurs in equipment including home electric appliances, abnormality information indicating abnormality is transmitted to a server through an information terminal, and based on a reply from the server, contents of the abnormality are displayed on the terminal. When the abnormality is eliminated, the abnormality display is removed or display on a monitor, etc. are made to inform the elimination of the abnormality. |
| US08019570B2 |
System and method for continuous online safety and reliability monitoring
A system and method for managing a plurality of instrumented function components is disclosed. In one embodiment, operating information about the plurality of instrumented function components is received from an online safety availability application and status information for the plurality of instrumented function components is updated, within an asset management database, based upon the operating information. And based upon the status information, the plurality of instrumented function components are managed. |
| US08019569B2 |
Method for checking a valve
A valve has a valve piston, at least one coil and at least one magnetized component. An induction voltage is induced in the at least one coil, by a movement of the valve piston in the valve through a magnetic field produced by the magnetized component. A reference point is acquired, which is representative of a start of a current activation cycle of the valve. In the current activation cycle a point is determined as a function of a characteristic pattern of the induction voltage, which is representative of an end of a movement process of the valve piston in the valve. A current response time is determined as a function of the point and the reference point. At least one error condition is determined as a function of the response time. An error is identified, when the at least one error condition is satisfied. |
| US08019567B2 |
System and method for evaluating changes in the efficiency of an HVAC system
The invention comprises systems and methods for evaluating changes in the operational efficiency of an HVAC system over time. The climate control system obtains temperature measurements from at least a first location conditioned by the climate system, and status of said HVAC system. One or more processors receives measurements of outside temperatures from at least one source other than said HVAC system and compares said temperature measurements from said first location with expected temperature measurements. The expected temperature measurements are based at least in part upon past temperature measurements. |
| US08019565B2 |
Parameter correction circuit and parameter correction method
In a parameter correction circuit in an LSI, a reference resistor element with high precision having a resistance value set to a target value is connected to an external terminal of the LSI. A constant current from a mirror circuit connected to a current supply flows through the reference resistor element. A voltage value generated in the reference resistor element is measured by a voltage measuring circuit. The constant current also flows through a variable resistor element. The resistance value of the variable resistor element is adjusted so that a voltage generated in the variable resistor element corresponds to the voltage generated by the reference resistor element. |
| US08019564B2 |
Systems and methods for calibrating the loop bandwidth of a phase-locked loop (PLL)
A method for calibrating the loop bandwidth of a phase-locked loop (PLL) is described. At least one resistor in the PLL filter is tuned in accordance with the frequency of an input reference signal. One or more capacitors in the PLL filter are tuned in accordance with the frequency of the input reference signal. Output pulses of one or more voltage controlled oscillators (VCO) are counted. A first charge pump current associated with a target loop bandwidth is counted in accordance with the counted output pulses. A programmable charge pump current is tuned to the calculated first charge pump current. |
| US08019557B2 |
Cavity induced allosteric modification of intermolecular interactions and methods of identifying compounds that effect the same
Method of identifying compounds that modulate intermolecular interactions between a target protein and a modifier are disclosed. Pharmaceutical composition comprising compounds that inhibit intermolecular interactions between a target protein and a modifier are disclosed. Methods of treating individual suffering from inflammatory conditions, undesirable immune responses, immunological conditions and bacterial infections are disclosed. |
| US08019552B2 |
Classification of breast cancer patients using a combination of clinical criteria and informative genesets
The present invention provides prognostic methods for conditions such as cancer, for example, breast cancer, comprising classifying an individual by a plurality of phenotypic, genotypic or clinical characteristics of the condition into a plurality of patient subsets, and analyzing the pattern of expression of prognosis-informative genes identified for that subset in a sample from the individual. The present invention also provides methods for constructing such patient subsets and of identifying prognosis-informative genesets for such subsets. The invention further provides methods of assigning a therapeutic regimen to an individual, microarrays useful for performing prognosis, kits comprising these microarrays, and computer systems and programs for implementing the methods of the invention. |
| US08019551B2 |
Biological dataset profiling of asthma and atopy
Methods and systems for evaluating biological dataset profiles relating to asthma and other atopic conditions are provided, where datasets comprising information for multiple cellular parameters are compared and identified, and used in the evaluation of candidate pharmacologic agents for suitability as therapeutic agents. |
| US08019550B2 |
Drug discovery method
A method of obtaining information about a chemically active area of a target molecule, for example for drug discovery, comprising: providing a set of substantially rigid chemical gauges; reacting said target with a plurality of gauges of said set of gauges; assaying a binding of said gauges with said target to obtain a plurality of assay results; and analyzing said assay results to obtain information about said chemically active area. |
| US08019539B2 |
Navigation system with apparatus for detecting accuracy failures
A navigation system for a vehicle having a receiver operable to receive a plurality of signals from a plurality of transmitters includes a processor and a memory device. The memory device has stored thereon machine-readable instructions that, when executed by the processor, enable the processor to determine a set of error estimates corresponding to pseudo-range measurements derived from the plurality of signals, determine an error covariance matrix for a main navigation solution using ionospheric-delay data, and, using a parity space technique, determine at least one protection level value based on the error covariance matrix. |
| US08019538B2 |
System and method for high accuracy relative navigation
A relative navigation system and method are disclosed. The relative navigation system includes a first sensor unit responsive to a motion of a first position, a second sensor unit responsive to a motion of a second position, and a first processing unit associated with at least one of the first sensor unit and the second sensor unit and communicatively coupled to the first sensor unit and the second sensor unit. The first processing unit is configured to generate relative navigation solution information associated with first sensor unit information and second sensor unit information. |
| US08019536B2 |
Methods, devices, and computer program products for geo-tagged photographic image augmented GPS navigation
A method of providing augmented Global Positioning System (GPS) navigation can include detecting movement of a GPS enabled mobile device along a navigational route and displaying a photographic image on a display of the GPS enabled mobile device responsive to detecting movement of the GPS enabled mobile device along the navigational route provided by the GPS enabled mobile device. Related devices and computer program products are also disclosed. |
| US08019534B2 |
Method and apparatus for map-updating of navigation system
A method and apparatus for map-updating of a navigation system by automatically generating point of interest (POI) data that is not registered and automatically generating a POP alias of POI data that is already registered, the method including: logging at least one piece of point of interest (POI) data if the POI data input in order to find a destination is not found in the navigation terminal; and registering the logged at least one piece of POI data as a candidate POI alias of newly input POI data if a destination designated by the navigation terminal according to the newly input POI data is equal to an arrived destination. |
| US08019531B2 |
Navigation device and method for displaying alternative routes
A navigation device has a route re-calculation function. This is activated by the user touching the screen to task away from the normal navigation map mode to a menu screen which displays multiple types of route re-calculation options. |
| US08019530B2 |
Judging method of load distribution
A method of judging the load distribution of a vehicle without providing a specific load sensor on a vehicle is characterized in that the load distribution by the every wheel of a vehicle or the load distribution by every axle is judged by comparing the result of comparing the calculation value of the rotational speeds of wheels in the predetermined two combinations of wheels with the result of comparing the calculation value of the rotational speeds of wheels in the fore-mentioned predetermined two combinations of wheels at a predetermined load when the vehicle is under brakeage. |
| US08019528B2 |
System and method of controlling combustion phasing in an internal combustion engine
A system for controlling combustion phasing in an internal combustion engine is provided that includes, but is not limited to a first sensor positioned within a first variable volume combustion chamber and a vibration sensor positioned outside of the first and second variable volume combustion chambers. A first signal from the first sensor is used to control the combustion process in the first variable volume combustion chamber and a combination of the first signal from the first sensor and the second signal from the vibration sensor is used to control the combustion process in the at least one second variable volume combustion chamber. |
| US08019527B2 |
Method for operating an internal combustion engine, and associated internal combustion engine
In a method for operating an internal combustion engine including inlet valves with variably adjustable opening curves, during part-load operation, the closing time of the inlet valves and the fuel injection time are controlled as a function of the cylinder internal temperature so as to maintain the cylinder internal temperature relatively low in a controllable manner for reducing NOx emissions. |
| US08019526B2 |
Adapter phasor control hold duty cycle system for an engine
A camshaft phasor control system for an engine includes a camshaft position sensor that generates a current camshaft position signal based on position of a camshaft. A first comparator generates a camshaft position signal based on the current camshaft position signal and a crankshaft position. The second comparator generates an error signal based on the relative camshaft position signal and a commanded camshaft position signal. A control module determines a current control hold duty cycle (CHDC) for a camshaft phasor based on an engine state parameter. The control module also generates a correction signal based on the error signal, adjusts the current CHDC based on the correction signal to generate a commanded CHDC signal, and generates another CHDC based on the commanded CHDC signal. |
| US08019516B2 |
Method for measuring the useful load of a telehandler
A method for measuring the useful load of a telehandler including calculation of the useful load from the change of the axle load on the front axle or the rear axle compared with the vehicle in an unloaded condition, the distance of the useful load from the front axle or the rear axle having a defined value or the load-holding device of the telehandler being in a defined position. |
| US08019501B2 |
Vehicle diagnostic and prognostic methods and systems
Method for predicting failures in vehicular components includes mounting sensors on the vehicle which provide data affected by the operation of the components, obtaining data from the sensors, detecting patterns in the obtained data on the vehicle, analyzing the detected patterns to predict failure of any component, and informing the user, owner, dealer and/or manufacturer of the vehicle about the predicted failure to enable preventative and corrective action to be taken. A vehicle with remote telematics capability includes sensors arranged to provide data about conditions of the vehicle or components, a processor for receiving data provided by the sensors and converting the data into an output constituting a signal about a diagnostic condition of the vehicle or component(s), and a communications unit arranged to transmit the signal. The communications unit can establish a communications channel with a dealer or manufacturer of the vehicle at a location remote from the vehicle. |
| US08019494B1 |
Propellant management system and method for multiple booster rockets
Propellant management systems and methods are provided for controlling the delivery of liquid propellants in a space launch vehicle utilizing multiple rockets. The propellant management systems and methods may be configured to enable substantial simultaneous depletion of liquid propellants in each of a plurality of active rockets during operation of various booster stages of the launch vehicle. |
| US08019492B2 |
Operator fine tracking assist using sensor derived inputs
A preferred embodiment of a method for fine-tracking operator assistance for controlling movement of an object toward a target combines an operator input for guiding the object toward the target with a sensor-derived input from sensor measurement of the object's position relative to the target's position. The combined input is separated into low and high frequency content, and a Low Frequency Authority Limit component applies a pre-determined gain over a selected range to the low frequency content, while a High Frequency Authority Limit component applies a pre-determined gain over a selected range to the high frequency content. The low-frequency gain output is combined with the high-frequency gain output as a total control input for control of the object relative to the target. |
| US08019490B2 |
Imaging and display system to aid helicopter landings in brownout conditions
An imaging and display system provides helicopter pilots with an unobstructed display of a landing area in a brownout or whiteout condition by capturing a high resolution image of the landing area prior to obscuration. Using inertial navigation information from the aircraft or an independent system, the system transforms the image to a desired viewpoint and overlays a representation of the helicopter's current position relative to the landing area. The system thus greatly improves orientation and situational awareness, permitting safe and effective operation under zero visibility brownout conditions. |
| US08019489B2 |
Methods and systems for displaying messages from a plurality of sources
Methods and systems for a flight deck display system for displaying text messages are provided. The system includes an alert generator configured to receive message signals from a plurality of aircraft systems and to generate alert messages based on the received message signals, and a flight deck display screen that includes a screen portion that is separately controlled by the alert generator to display messages received from the alert generator. |
| US08019486B2 |
Voice command control of adjustable bed functions
A controller for an adjustable bed can accept voice input, such as spoken commands to control functions of an adjustable bed. The controller can also accept voice commands to control functions of a second system associated with the bed. One or more voice commands can result in both the adjustable bed and the second system functionality being controlled. |
| US08019485B2 |
System and method for controlling the performance of a power generating system
A method and system for energy management in a power system. Target performance standards are calculated and used to measure performance and to comply with regulatory performance standards. The target performance standards are based on probability theory and are used to control power generation. The amount of corrective power necessary is based on the calculated target performance standards and the deviations of current performance values from the target standards. |
| US08019482B2 |
Method and apparatus for controlling a sprinkler system
A sprinkler system having a method and computer program comprises one or more sprinklers each comprising a sprinkler valve adapted to regulate an amount of fluid delivered by the sprinkler in response to a control signal; a master unit adapted to transmit digital data; and a sprinkler controller comprising a receiver adapted to receive a signal representing the digital data; a media access controller adapted to obtain the digital data from the signal; and a processor adapted to produce the control signal based on the digital data obtained by the media access controller; and an output circuit adapted to provide the control signal to the sprinklers. |
| US08019478B2 |
Control system and method for controlling multi-stage air conditioners
A method of controlling operation of a pair of two-stage air conditioners. The method monitors a temperature of an area served by the air conditioners; activates a first stage of a first or lead air conditioner when the temperature rises above a first set point temperature; activates a first stage of a second or lag air conditioner when the temperature rises above a second set point temperature; activates a second stage of the first air conditioner only if the temperature remains above the second set point temperature beyond a first selected time period; and activates a second stage of the second air conditioner only if the temperature remains above the second set point temperature beyond a second selected time period. Neither of the air conditioners is operated in their less efficient second stages if both air conditioners are not first operating in their high efficiency first stages so that the entire cooling requirements of the area served by the air conditioners is primarily served by the first high efficiency stage of one or both the air conditioners. |
| US08019473B2 |
Manipulator and method of controlling manipulator
A manipulator includes: a drive section which electrically drives a joint; an instruction input section which executes instruction input; a control section which generates a driving signal in response to the instruction input; a sensor which detects an operation status of the joint or the drive section in time series; a setting section which sets an allowable operation range of the drive section; a determination section which determines whether an operation status signal including a detection signal is within the allowable operation range; and a replacement section which, in a case when the operation status signal is determined as deviating from the allowable operation range, replaces the detection signal with a previous detection signal acquired just before the determination of deviance in order to generate a driving signal. |
| US08019471B2 |
Integrated, non-sequential, remote medication management and compliance system
An integrated medication management and compliance system for enabling a care provider to remotely manage and deliver individual doses of therapeutic products to a patient, in a non-sequential fashion. The system includes delivery apparatus remotely located from the care provider, wherein the apparatus stores a plurality of sealed unit dose packages that are delivered to a patient at a scheduled dosing time. The delivery apparatus is coupled to a control facility and to a computer terminal of the care provider by way of a secure communications network. The system enables the patient's medication regimen to be remotely tailored in real-time to accommodate fluid medical conditions. |
| US08019470B2 |
High capacity drawer with mechanical indicator for a dispensing device
One aspect of the invention relates to an assembly comprising a plurality of bins with a plurality of lids associated therewith. Each of the bins has a lock assembly that includes a catch operable to lock the lid in its closed position and a mechanical indicator responsive to the catch. Another aspect of the invention relates to an automated dispensing cabinet that includes a control computer and a plurality of drawers having a plurality of row assemblies therein. Each row assembly has bins that include a tabbed lid, a lock assembly with a catch operable to engage and disengage the tab, and an indicator responsive to the lock assembly. Methods for dispensing from and restocking the remote dispensing systems are also given, as well as a method for indicating which item is to be dispensed from one of a plurality of bins. |
| US08019467B2 |
Scheduling method for processing equipment
Methods and apparatus for processing substrates using a multi-chamber processing system (e.g., a cluster tool) that has an increased system throughput and repeatable wafer processing history are provided. In one embodiment a first substrate is transferred from a first position to a second position and then the first substrate is transferred from the second position to a third position using a first robot. A second substrate is transferred from a first position to a second position and then the second substrate is transferred from the second position to a third position using a second robot. The movement of the first and second robots is synchronized so that the movement from the first position to the second position by the first and second robot is performed within a first time interval. |
| US08019465B2 |
System and methods for increasing efficiency in rapid prototyping processes
A system and methods for batch sorting objects and mapping the objects on a tray having a fixed dimension along an x-axis and a fixed dimension along a y-axis. Certain aspects of the present embodiments include (a) storing the objects in a queue; (b) sorting the objects in the queue according to a dimension of the objects; (c) mapping the objects sequentially into a first column of a plurality of columns on the tray until the first column is filled; (d) mapping the objects into a subsequent column until the subsequent column is filled; (e) repeating step (d) until only a last column in the plurality of columns remains to be filled, or until no more objects remain in the queue; and (f) mapping the objects into the last column in accordance with a column organization plan. In certain embodiments, at least one of the columns, and not necessarily the last column, includes objects mapped in accordance with a column organization plan. |
| US08019461B2 |
Moulding tool for moulding a ceramic green body and use of said moulding tool
The moulding tool is a near-net-shape negative mould for shaping a ceramic green body for the lens. The mould has a shaping surface, which is described by the following equation B: y 1 = cz 2 1 + 1 - ( k + 1 ) c 2 z 2 + a 1 z 2 + a 2 z 4 + a 3 z 6 + a 4 z 8 + … , ( B ) y1 gives a position on an optical axis; x designates a perpendicular distance from the optical axis to the surface; k, c, and a1, a2, a3, a4, . . . are constants describing a surface of the lens to be moulded and z=|x|+b, wherein b is a constant with a value greater than 0 and less than 0.3 mm, which is a measure of a deviation of the shaping surface from the surface of the lens. |
| US08019458B2 |
Creating multi-layer/multi-input/multi-output (MLMIMO) models for metal-gate structures
The invention provides a method of processing a wafer using multilayer processing sequences and Multi-Layer/Multi-Input/Multi-Output (MLMIMO) models and libraries that can include one or more measurement procedures, one or more Poly-Etch (P-E) sequences, and one or more metal-gate etch sequences. The MLMIMO process control uses dynamically interacting behavioral modeling between multiple layers and/or multiple process steps. The multiple layers and/or the multiple process steps can be associated with the creation of lines, trenches, vias, spacers, contacts, and gate structures that can be created using isotropic and/or anisotropic etch processes. |
| US08019453B2 |
Decimator and decimating method for multi-channel audio
A decimator is used to process a multi-channel audio signal, and includes a memory, a controller and a processing unit. The processing unit is used to decimate each input audio component of a multi-channel audio signal to generate corresponding multi-channel operational data. The controller is used to control read and write actions for each audio component of the multi-channel audio signal and the multi-channel operational data into or from the memory. The memory provides a digital signal process for decimation together with the processing unit. The input of the multi-channel audio and the output of the multi-channel operational data are performed through time division. Compared with conventional decimator circuits, the decimator circuit of the present invention reduces the cost and the power consumption of the hardware circuitry. |
| US08019450B2 |
Playback apparatus, playback method, and recording medium
Audio data are played back by a personal computer a relationship with a playback process recognized easily. Displays showing the contents of play lists are arranged and displayed so that the contents become continuous in sequence in a playback sequence from content that is currently being played back from a display of an operation element that causes an image of a playback process to appear or from a display showing the content which is currently being played back. When the playback of one piece of content of one play list from among a plurality of play lists is terminated and one piece of content of an other play list is played back, at least the content that is currently being played back and content to be subsequently played back are displayed so that the contents can be distinguished. |
| US08019448B2 |
Stage device
The vibrations of a second table supported on a first table that is movable in one horizontal direction can be controlled. A stage device includes an XY axis table movable in the X-direction, a Z-axis table supported by a support portion on the XY axis table, a pair of scales that are arranged apart from each other in the X-direction and detect the Z-direction velocity on the Z-axis table, a pair of motors that are arranged apart from each other in the X-direction and drive the Z-axis table in a vertical direction on the Z-axis-table, and a controller controls the drives of the motors based on the Z-direction velocity detected, in which the behavior of pitching vibrations in the Z-axis table is determined by detecting the Z-direction velocity with the scales, and the motors are driven and then the Z-axis table is rotated in a pitching direction so that the pitching vibrations are cancelled. |
| US08019445B2 |
Method and apparatus for optimization of distributed generation
An energy optimization method and control apparatus may be used in a single building or a group of buildings to optimize utility-supplied and renewable sources in order to minimize the total energy cost. Simultaneously, it may also produce and store energy, such as electricity or hydrogen, that can be used to fuel vehicles, provide a means for independent production of household energy needs, or both. Various factors, such as the production of thermal energy and electricity from the renewable sources, the current store of stored energy, the current and expected thermal and electricity requirements of the building (based on a profile), the current and expected electricity loads of the equipment used to process stored energy, the expected thermal and electricity generating capacity of the renewable sources and other factors can be used to determine the mix of renewable-based and utility-based energy that minimizes the total energy cost. |
| US08019442B1 |
Assembly kit for creating paddle-style lead from one or several percutaneous leads and method of lead implantation
In one embodiment, an assembly for conducting pulses from an implantable pulse generator, comprises: at least one percutaneous lead comprising terminals and at least two groups of electrodes, each group of electrodes possessing an intra-group electrode spacing; a frame member comprising first and second arms, the frame member comprising an inner lumen for removably housing the at least one percutaneous lead, each arm of the first and second arms comprising a plurality of apertures that are spaced according to the intra-group electrode spacing to allow conduction of electrical pulses from the electrodes of the at least one percutaneous lead to tissue of the patient when the lead is positioned within the frame member; and a spring member that is connected to the frame member for maintaining the first and second arms of the frame member at a predetermined distance in the absence of an external force on the spring member. |
| US08019433B2 |
Adaptive interference reduction during telemetry
An implantable medical device has a first module for performing telemetry communications with another device and a second module for delivering a high voltage therapy to a patient. The first module is configured to detect a communication error, and the second module is configured to determine a need for the therapy and to charge a capacitor in response to the need for the therapy. The second module is configured to suspend the capacitor charging in response to receiving a notification from the first module corresponding to detecting a communication error. |
| US08019428B2 |
Video processing methods for improving visual acuity and/or perceived image resolution
A method and apparatus for improving visual acuity when providing a visual image from a “high” resolution input device to a “low” resolution output device. The described invention is of particular use when the output device is an array of electrodes as part of a retinal prosthesis used to restore vision to a visually-impaired patient. In that various limitations may, within the foreseeable future, limit the density of such an electrode array (and thus the resolution of the output image), the present invention teaches techniques to assign processed pixel subsets of a higher resolution image to a single electrode. By varying the pixel subsets, e.g., by jittering, and/or altering the processing criteria, the perceived visual acuity may be further improved. Alternatively and additionally, such processing may be further extended to drive neighboring electrodes in combination to thus stimulate virtual electrode sites and thus further enhance visual acuity. |
| US08019423B2 |
Laparoscopic implantation of neurostimulators
A method for altering operation of a nerve related to a given body condition includes the steps of identifying at least one nerve root of a nerve related to the given body condition; laparoscopically implanting at least one electrode on the nerve root; and operating the electrode to electrostimulate the nerve root and alter operation of the nerve. |
| US08019421B2 |
Blood glucose level control
A pancreatic controller, comprising: at least one electrode adapted for electrifying at least a portion of a pancreas; and a controller programmed to electrify said electrode so as to positively control at least the effect of at least two members of a group consisting of blood glucose level, blood insulin level and blood level of another pancreatic hormone. In one example, the controller controls insulin, glucagon and/or glucose blood levels. |
| US08019414B2 |
Treating cancer using electromagnetic fields in combination with other treatment regimens
Chemotherapeutic treatment for certain cancers may be combined with low intensity, intermediate frequency alternating electric fields that are tuned to a particular type of target cell. When the tuned fields were combined with Paclitaxel, Doxorubicin or Cyclophosphamide, excellent results were obtained against human breast cancer cells (MDA-MB-231) and non-small cell lung (H1299) carcinomas in culture. More specifically, cell proliferation inhibition similar to that obtained by drug alone was reached by exposure to the combined treatment at drug concentrations between one and two orders of magnitude lower than for drug-only regimens of treatment. |
| US08019411B2 |
Probes, systems, and methods for examining tissue according to the dielectric properties thereof
The present invention relates to probes, systems, and methods for tissue characterization by its dielectric properties, wherein a physical feature of the probe is designed to define and delimit a tissue volume, at a tissue edge, where characterization takes place. Thus, the probe for tissue-edge characterization comprises: a first inner conductor, which comprises: proximal and distal ends, with respect to a tissue edge, along an x-axis; a first sharp edge, inherently associated with the proximal end; at least one feature, issuing from the first inner conductor, substantially at the proximal end, for forming at least one additional sharp edge, operative to enhance localized electrical fringe fields in the tissue, within a generally predefined tissue volume, at the tissue edge, the tissue volume being generally defined by physical parameters associated with the at least one feature; and a dielectric material, which encloses the conductor, in the y-z planes. |
| US08019403B2 |
Mobile radio transmission unit
The invention relates to a mobile radio transmission unit for transferring data to a control and/or signal processing unit. According to the invention, provision is made for a mobile radio transmission unit for transferring data to a control or a signal processing unit, comprising a sensor arrangement for determining at least one component of a surrounding magnetic field. The sensor arrangement is connected to a monitoring entity which, from the at least one component, ascertains a variable that characterizes the surrounding magnetic field and prevents a transmission by an antenna of the radio transmission unit if the characteristic variable is below a threshold value. |
| US08019397B2 |
Magnetic levitation sliding structure
A magnetic levitation sliding structure including a first slide member, and a first magnetic portion which is disposed in the first slide member to extend along the lengthwise direction of the first slide member and has magnetic poles arranged perpendicular to the lengthwise direction of the first slide member with the lengthwise direction of the first slide member being an extending direction. The structure further includes a second slide member slidingly engaged with the first slide member, and a second magnetic portion which is disposed in the second slide member to extend parallel to the first magnetic portion and has magnetic poles with opposite magnetic polarity to those of the first magnetic portion in order for the first and second magnetic portions to repel each other. |
| US08019394B2 |
Component packaging for handheld communication devices
A handheld communication device may comprise a first housing and a second housing. The first housing may include a first keypad and a battery. The second housing may include a second keypad, at least one display, and a printed circuit board. The second housing may be rotatable relative to the first housing between an open configuration and a closed configuration. The second keypad may face in a substantially same direction as the first keypad in the open configuration, and the second keypad may face in a substantially opposite direction to the first keypad in the closed configuration. |
| US08019393B2 |
Signal receiver circuit
A signal receiver circuit including a transmission gate, a pull-low unit, a boost capacitor, a voltage division unit, and a receiver unit is provided. The transmission gate determines whether to conduct an input signal according to a control signal. The pull-low unit determines whether to pull down the voltage at a terminal of the boost capacitor according to the control signal. The boost capacitor boosts the input signal of the receiver unit. The voltage division unit sends a divided voltage to another terminal of the boost capacitor according to the control signal. When an input signal is received, the boost capacitor boosts the input signal, for overcoming low current issue caused by high threshold voltage of MOS transistors and accordingly the receiver unit achieves full swing. |
| US08019392B2 |
Handsfree apparatus and handsfree system
A handsfree system includes a handsfree apparatus and a phone. The handsfree apparatus has a database including a primary control program and a model-specific program. The primary control program enables the handsfree phone call when coupled with the phone. The model-specific program is operated to resolve a model-dependent constraint by being incorporated in the primary control program. The model-dependent constraint arises when coupled with the phone. The model-specific program is associated with phone model information and program specification information to specify the model-specific program independent of the phone model information. Phone model information and program specification information are acquired from a phone coupled with the handsfree apparatus. Model-specific program corresponding to the acquired program specification information is retrieved from the database when the acquired phone model information is not included in the database. The retrieved model-specific program is executed by incorporating in the primary control program. |
| US08019391B2 |
In-vehicle handsfree apparatus
An in-vehicle handsfree apparatus establishes a handsfree profile connection with each of a first cellular phone and a second cellular phone at the same time. When the first cellular phone is under telephone call, the second cellular phone receives an incoming call. The in-vehicle handsfree apparatus receives from the second cellular phone a ring tone, which is previously registered in the second cellular phone. Herein, the in-vehicle handsfree apparatus does not output the ring tone registered in the second cellular phone. Instead, the in-vehicle handsfree apparatus generates a ring tone to thereby output it in addition to a reception sound received from the first cellular phone under the telephone call. |
| US08019388B2 |
Main menu navigation principle for mobile phone user
A menu-driven electronic device utilizes a display and a single two-dimensional navigation key. The display is configured to selectively display one of a plurality of menus, including a main menu and a sub-menu. The two-dimensional navigation key is configured to select one of a plurality of main menu items and to select a sub-menu item of the sub-menu associated with a selected main menu item. A portion of the plurality of menu main items is displayed. The main menu and the sub-menu can be accessed by maintaining contact with the two-dimensional navigation key. The device is configured to display a main menu item icon to provide a visual reference to the selected main menu item in a menu tree of the menu being displayed. The device is preferably a cellular phone. |
| US08019385B1 |
Load simulation for testing uplink of wireless networks
Systems and methods of testing a base station are provided. A base station can generate simulated user data and combine this data with data received from mobile stations over an air interface. The combined data can then be evaluated to determine the effect of the simulated user data to the data received from mobile stations over the air interface. |
| US08019380B2 |
Integrated communication apparatus
An integrated communication apparatus is linked to the PSTN or the Internet for making a PSTN call or a VoIP call. The integrated communication apparatus includes a Bluetooth earphone having a signal transmitting terminal, and a body having an earphone receiving slot and a control circuit board. The earphone receiving slot is used for receiving the earphone and the signal transmitting terminal of the Bluetooth earphone is electrically connected with the control circuit board. The control circuit board includes a control module. The control module is connected with a Bluetooth module, a wireless VoIP module, a PSTN module, a voice-signal encoding/decoding circuit, a judging and charging circuit, and a voice-signal switching module for operating and controlling the modules and the circuits. The voice-signal switching module is connected with a speaker and a microphone via an ECHO eliminating circuit. |
| US08019377B2 |
Information notification apparatus and portable communication terminal
An information notification apparatus is provided that receives information defined in an electronic device as information about which a notification is to be given, and notifies an information communication terminal about the information. The information notification apparatus receives information from the electronic device. Receiving the information, the apparatus checks whether or not terminal i can communicate. When the terminal can communicate, the notification apparatus notifies terminal i about the information. If the terminal cannot communicate, the received information is written into a device information buffer. This process is performed for all terminals. Accordingly, the terminals are notified about the information by the information notification apparatus. |
| US08019375B2 |
Transport format combination selecting method, wireless communication system, and mobile station
In a method of selecting a transport format combination according to the present invention, a mobile station calculates the transmission power of a first physical channel using a first TFC with respect to each of first TFCs, and determines whether the mobile station is in a transmission capable state or not. Then, the mobile station calculates the sum of the transmission power of first and second physical channels using first and TFCs, with respect to each of combinations of the first and second TFCs, and determines whether the mobile station is in the transmission capable state or not. Then, the mobile station selects a first TFC from the first TFCs wherein the mobile station is in the transmission capable state. Then, the mobile station selects a second TFC from the second TFCs which are included in combinations wherein the mobile station is in the transmission capable state among the combinations including the selected first TFC. Thereafter, the mobile station transmits data in the first and second physical channels using the selected first and second TFCs, respectively. |
| US08019374B2 |
Radio network relocation
There is disclosed a method for serving radio network subsystem relocation from a first radio network controller to a second radio network controller for an established call to a user equipment, comprising transmitting a transmission power control combination index of a radio link established between the user equipment and the first radio network controller to the second radio network controller. |
| US08019367B2 |
Mobile terminated short message service blocking
A method and system allow a mobile subscriber to block reception of mobile terminated (MT) Short Message System (SMS) messages yet still have the ability to send outgoing mobile originated SMS messages. The method and system include determining whether a MT SMS feature setting is enabled or disabled at an SMS layer of a protocol stack of the mobile device and transmitting a mobile device registration message to a mobile network service center as SMS capable or incapable, depending on the MT SMS feature setting. The mobile device may be registered as SMS incapable by setting certain fields within information elements of registration messages. If a MT SMS message is received and the MT SMS feature setting is disabled, then the SMS layer may increment a blocked message counter and transmit a failure message to the service center. The service center may be included in a base station of the mobile network. |
| US08019363B2 |
Facilitating messaging between a mobile device and a user
A method, system and computer program product for instant message communication in a wireless and non-wireless environment. The invented system includes an apparatus that facilitates conversation with individuals not included in the user's buddy group, non-buddies. The system includes at least one additional routing code reserved for conversing with non-buddies. The first time during a user session that the system receives a message originating from or destined for a non-buddy, before routing the message, the non-buddy's personal identifier is associated with one of the reserved routing codes. The mobile user can then reply to the message using the same automated ‘reply’ function available for replies to buddies. The non-buddy routing code assignment is only for the duration of a user session. When the mobile user signs off from the system, the routing code becomes available for reassignment. |
| US08019356B2 |
Location based tracking
The subject matter disclosed herein relates to obtaining position fixes using a position determination method in response to a change in an RF environment. |
| US08019353B1 |
Method and system for reporting fiber optic delay for use in locating a wireless communication device
A method and system for facilitating location of a wireless communication device communicating via a communication path that includes a fiber optic cable is disclosed. The delay associated with a communication propagating through a fiber optic cable can be used to more accurately determine inputs used when locating a device using triangulation. The delay introduced by the cable may vary with the temperature of the cable. Therefore, the temperature associated with the cable is measured and used to determine a delay associated with the fiber optic cable. An indicator of the delay may then be used by a positioning system to more accurately locate a wireless communication device. |
| US08019351B2 |
Multi-hop communications in a wireless network
Systems and techniques are disclosed relating to wireless communications. The systems and techniques involve wireless communications wherein a module or communications device is configured to select first and second terminal pairs, the first terminal pair having a first transmitting terminal and a first receiving terminal, and the second terminal pair having a second transmitting terminal and a second receiving terminal, schedule a first signal transmission from the first transmitting terminal to an intermediate terminal, the first signal transmission being destined for the first receiving terminal, schedule, simultaneously with the first signal transmission, a second signal transmission from the second transmitting terminal to the second receiving terminal, and schedule a power level for each of the first and second signal transmissions that satisfies a target quality parameter for each of the intermediate terminal and the second receiving terminal. |
| US08019350B2 |
Audio coding using de-correlated signals
A multi-channel signal having at least three channels can be reconstructed such, that the reconstructed channels are at least partly de-correlated from each other using a downmixed signal derived from an original multi-channel signal and a set of de-correlated signals provided by a de-correlator (101) that derives the set of de-correlated signals from the down-mix signal, wherein the de-correlated signals within the set of de-correlated signals are mutually mostly orthogonal to each other, i.e. an orthogonality relation between channel pairs is satisfied within an orthogonality tolerance range. |
| US08019349B2 |
Telephone conversation resumption system, telephone conversation resumption program, telephone conversation resumption method, portable terminal and relay apparatus
In a communication network including a relay apparatus and a call control apparatus, a telephone conversation resumption system includes: a reservation unit, when a judgment unit detects communication impossibility between a portable terminal and the relay apparatus, records terminal identification data that specifies the portable terminal and an other-end terminal in a recording unit; a continuation processing unit that generates a call with the other-end terminal indicated by the terminal identification data and transmits a message to the other-end terminal; and a resumption unit that, when the judgment unit detects recovery of the communication state of the portable terminal, requests the call control apparatus to resume the telephone conversation between the portable terminal and the other-end terminal using the terminal identification data. With this configuration, even when the portable terminal becomes impossible to communicate, the telephone conversation resumption system can resume a telephone conversation easily. |
| US08019348B2 |
Combined base transceiver station and base station controller handoff
A system, method, and computer readable medium for a softer handoff comprises receiving a Pilot Strength Measurement Message (PSMM) to request a handoff by a selector distribution unit (SDU), receiving a softer handoff request message by a channel element control (CEC), receiving a softer handoff request message by a radio call control (RCC), receiving a traffic channel assignment message by the CEC, and receiving an indication of an addition of a new sector for the softer handoff by the SDU. |
| US08019345B2 |
Apparatus and method for performing handover in broadband wireless communication system
An apparatus and method for performing a handover in a broadband wireless communication system is provided. In the broadband wireless communication system, a base station includes: a grouping unit for grouping mobile stations by using information on a movement path of each mobile station and information on a received signal strength of a neighboring base station, thereby constituting at least one group; a controller for modifying hystereses of remaining mobile stations among the mobile stations belonging to the same group, if a predetermined number of mobile stations perform handovers; and a transmitter for transmitting a message including modified hysteresis information to the remaining mobile stations belonging to the group. |
| US08019337B2 |
Aircraft data transmission system for transmitting data between an aircraft and a transmission station located outside thereof
The invention relates to an aircraft data transmission system for transmitting data between the aircraft and a transmission station located outside thereof. The inventive system includes a transmitting/receiving device for transmitting and receiving data messaged from the outside of the aircraft, a message managing device comprising a device for carrying out the PER encoding/decoding of said messages, an interface device for displaying the incoming messages to an operator and enabling said operator to generate outgoing messages, an encoding device carrying out a function of encoding the encoding/decoding device and a recording device for recording all incoming and outgoing data messages related to an internal/external communication, which passes through the message processing device and is encoded, on a recording medium. |
| US08019336B2 |
Slice based architecture for a multifunction radio
An electronic radio system multifunction slice (100) for a electronic radio system (400). The slice (100) includes an antenna interface (102), several multi-band transceivers (106-112), a processor (104), and an avionics interface (114). The antenna interface (102) couples to the antenna preconditioners of the aircraft. The processor (104) is coupled to the multi-band transceivers (106-112) and antenna interface (102), and controls the transceivers (106-112) and antenna interface (102) to provide signal and data processing for at least two independent radio function threads. The processor (104) is also coupled to the avionics interface (114), which connects to the avionics network of the aircraft. Each multifunction slice 100 provides a programmable multifunction radio. |
| US08019335B2 |
Identifying neighboring cells in telecommunication network
A network architecture for Wireless Intranet Office (WIO) applications including a local radio network such as a wireless local area network (WLAN) which comprises a Wireless Mobile Center (WMC) arranged to serve as a WLAN access point; a GSM network which comprises a Mobile Station (MS) in a form of a dual-mode cellular phone to access both WLAN and GSM radio technologies, a Base Station (BS) arranged to convert a radio signal from the Mobile Station (MS) for communication, a Mobile Switching Center (MSC) arranged to establish call connection; and a Handover Module implemented in either the Mobile Station (MS) or the Wireless Mobile Center (WMC) for providing seamless mobility between the GSM network and the wireless LAN, when the Mobile Station (MS) roams between the GSM network and the wireless LAN. |
| US08019333B2 |
Apparatus and methods for product acceptance testing on a wireless device
Apparatus, methods, and programs for testing the communications processing ability, and determining product acceptance, of a wireless device. Embodiments include a product acceptance test application disposed on the wireless device and including simulated communications representative of actual communications with a wireless network. A communications processing engine disposed on the wireless device is operable to process the simulated communications, and thereby generates product acceptance data associated with a product acceptance decision. |
| US08019330B2 |
Methods and apparatus for providing manual selection of a communication network for a mobile station
Methods and apparatus for providing manual selection of a communication network for a mobile station are described. A plurality of communication networks are identified by scanning a coverage area within which the mobile station is operating. A plurality of network identifiers corresponding to the plurality of communication networks are then retrieved from memory of a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) in accordance with an Enhanced Operator Name String (EONS) protocol. Preferably, each network identifier is retrieved based on a Mobile Country Code (MCC), a Mobile Network Code (MNC), and a Location Area Code (LAC). The plurality of network identifiers are visually displayed for user selection, and at least two of the network identifiers may be substantially the same. The user selected communication network is registered with and the network identifier associated with this network is visually displayed. |
| US08019325B2 |
Podcasting on a mobile phone
The field of mobile telephony and, more particularly to accessing podcast content from mobile telephones is disclosed. More precisely, a method and a system for downloading a podcast on a Web server onto a mobile terminal, the method including: a step of a platform storing the address of the podcast at the request of a user on the mobile telecommunications network, a step of the platform verifying the update of the podcast and downloading the updated podcast onto this platform, a step of the platform sending the mobile terminal an address on the platform to allow said downloaded podcast to be downloaded by the mobile terminal via the mobile network, and a step of the terminal actually downloading the podcast stored on the platform via the mobile network. |
| US08019323B2 |
Methods for handling an apparatus terminated communication request and communication apparatuses utilizing the same
A communication apparatus is provided. A first subscriber identity card is with a first address and camps on a first cell. A second subscriber identity card is with a second address and camps on a second cell. A processor determines whether a first communication status of the first subscriber identity card reaches a first limitation, determines whether a second communication status of the second subscriber identity card reaches a second limitation, and determines whether to activate a service instructing the first wireless network to transfer a first apparatus terminated communication request of the first subscriber identity card to the second subscriber identity card according to determination results for the first communication status and the second communication status, wherein the first apparatus terminated communication request is initiated from a peer communication entity to request for establishing wireless communication with the first subscriber identity card. |
| US08019322B2 |
Use limiting apparatus, key, and use limiting system for electronic equipment
A use limiting system of electronic equipment capable of suppressing power consumption while preventing unauthorized use by other people by limiting the use in the case of theft or loss of electronic equipment is provided. A key 10 and a use limiting apparatus 20 built into a mobile telephone 1 start polling at predetermined polling intervals and also periodically check an operation state of the mobile telephone 1. When the mobile telephone 1 is in operation at that time, the polling interval of the key 10 and the use limiting apparatus 20 is increased from T1 to T2 and when the mobile telephone 1 is not in operation, the elapsed time from the nearest operation time is clocked by a timer and the polling interval is gradually decreased from T1 or T2 to T3-T5 according to the clocked time and the polling is performed. |
| US08019320B2 |
System and method of managing contactless payment transactions using a mobile communication device as a stored value device
A method handling payment transactions in a system using mobile communication devices as stored value devices is disclosed. A transaction operations server receives multiple records of the transaction from the stored value device—one via a communication channel through the telecommunication provider network, and another via an independent communication channel. The records are reconciled at the transaction server for transaction verification. |
| US08019307B2 |
Method and related electronic device for adjustment of a radio frequency circuit by impedance loading features
A method for adjustment of a radio-frequency circuit by impedance loading features includes designing a plurality of test fixtures each corresponding to an impedance loading area according to a predefined operating frequency band, coupling each of the plurality of test fixtures to a test point of the radio-frequency circuit for measuring a plurality of radio-frequency characteristic sets, determining an optimal impedance loading area of the radio-frequency circuit according to the plurality of radio-frequency characteristic sets, and adjusting the radio-frequency circuit according to the optimal impedance loading area. |
| US08019306B2 |
Amplifier and communication apparatus
A wide-band amplifier includes a band-pass filter made of an LC parallel resonant circuit and an LCR series resonant circuit. Both the LC parallel resonant circuit and the LCR series resonant circuit are connected in parallel to a current amplifier device. The band-pass filter has a plurality of poles as well as zeros provided therebetween in the s-plane, where some of the zeros are situated at locations other than the s-plane origing to improve a characteristic flatness in a passband. The output terminal of the amplifier device serves as an output terminal for the amplifier, so that the problem of group delay does not occur. A capacitance element between the output terminal of the amplifier and GND absorbs parasitic capacitance as part of constants to prevent degradation of the frequency characteristic. |
| US08019299B1 |
Radio communication device and method
One embodiment includes a system configured to identify a preferred channel for radio communication from a plurality of consecutive integer frequencies including preferred channels and non-preferred channels, the system further to generate a plurality of radio channels corresponding to a plurality of consecutive integer frequencies based on a generation of reference frequencies, identifies preferred channels and non-preferred channels from the plurality of radio channels, where frequency synthesizer settling times of the preferred channels are faster than frequency synthesizer settling times of the non-preferred channels, scan the preferred channels for radio activity, select one of preferred channels responsive to the scanned radio activity; and utilize one of the reference frequencies to generate a radio frequency corresponding to the selected one of the preferred channels. |
| US08019297B2 |
Radio receiver, audio system, and method of manufacturing radio receiver
A radio receiver includes a frequency converter, an oscillation circuit, an A/D converter, and a digital demodulator. The A/D converter digitally samples the intermediate frequency signal by using one of an oscillating frequency, a multiplying frequency, and a dividing frequency of the clock signal as a sampling frequency. The digital demodulator performs a digital demodulation processing by using the intermediate frequency signal digitally sampled and by using the one of the oscillating frequency, the multiplying frequency, and the dividing frequency of the clock signal as an operating frequency. The oscillating frequency is within a predetermined range. The predetermined range is at least one of equal to or more than 37.1 MHz and less than or equal to 37.9 MHz, equal to or more than 54.1 MHz and less than or equal to 64.8 MHz, and equal to or more than 74.2 MHz and less than or equal to 75.8 MHz. |
| US08019291B2 |
Method and system for frequency down-conversion and frequency up-conversion
A method and system is described wherein a signal with a lower frequency is up-converted to a higher frequency. In one embodiment, the higher frequency signal is used as a stable frequency and phase reference. In another embodiment, the invention is used as a transmitter. The up-conversion is accomplished by controlling a switch with an oscillating signal, the frequency of the oscillating signal being selected as a sub-harmonic of the desired output frequency. When the invention is being used as a frequency or phase reference, the oscillating signal is not modulated, and controls a switch that is connected to a bias signal. When the invention is being used in the frequency modulation (FM) or phase modulation (PM) implementations, the oscillating signal is modulated by an information signal before it causes the switch to gate the bias signal. In the amplitude modulation implementation (AM), the oscillating signal is not modulated, but rather causes the switch to gate a reference signal that is substantially equal to or proportional to the information signal. In the FM and PM implementations, the signal that is output from the switch is modulated substantially the same as the modulated oscillating signal. In the AM implementation, the signal that is output from the switch has an amplitude that is a function of the information signal. In both embodiments, the output of the switch is filtered, and the desired harmonic is output. |
| US08019289B2 |
Radio frequency transceiver front end circuit with matching circuit voltage divider
A front end circuit for coupling an antenna to a radio frequency (RF) transceiver for time domain duplex systems is disclosed. The front end circuit includes an antenna port, a power amplifier, a low noise amplifier, and a matching network. The output of the power amplifier and the input of the low noise amplifier are coupled to the matching network and connected in common to the antenna. The power amplifier and the low noise amplifier are activated and deactivated in sequence corresponding to the transmit and receive modes of the transceiver, and the matching network minimizes the effect that one has on the other at the designated operating frequency. |
| US08019288B2 |
Apparatus and method for cooperative relay in a wireless communication system based on relay stations
An apparatus and method for cooperative relay in a multiple-antenna wireless communication system based on relay stations (RSs) are provided. The apparatus includes a serial/parallel converter for dividing data into N number of streams, a channel estimator for calculating a first transmission rate at which a RS performing the cooperative relay can perform decoding and a second transmission rate at which all relay stations performing the cooperative relay can commonly perform decoding, and determining transmission rates for each of the N-number streams, and an adaptive modulation and coding (AMC) unit for encoding and modulating the N-number streams according to their respective transmission rates. |
| US08019287B2 |
On demand antenna feedback
A feedback method in which a notification is received that a transmitting device has scheduled a transmission of data to the receiving device. Antenna feedback is generated in response to receipt of the notification. The antenna feedback is sent to the transmitting device. A mobile device includes a wireless network interface and a processor configured to receive a notification that a transmitting device has scheduled transmission of data to the mobile device, to generate antenna feedback in response to receipt of the notification, and to send the antenna feedback over the interface to the transmitting device. |
| US08019281B2 |
Transmission method and transmission system
A transmission method and a transmission system are provided. The transmission method is for communicating an electronic device and a wireless earphone. The wireless earphone has a normal mode and a sleep mode. The transmission method includes the following steps. If the wireless earphone works on the normal mode, then the wireless earphone continuously transmits the data of synchronization signals to the electronic device. If the wireless earphone works on the sleep mode, then the wireless earphone stops transmitting the data of synchronization signals to the electronic device, and simulates the data of synchronization signals. |
| US08019277B2 |
System and method for playing audio file according to received location information
A system and method for playing an audio file, and for providing a user with information on the other party's location by playing an audio file are disclosed. The system is provided with a first audio player and a second audio player, and each audio player is provided with a transceiver unit to receive a message regarding sharing of an audio file and location information transmitted from the other audio player; a location-sensing unit to sense relative location of the two audio players, i.e., the first audio player and the second audio player, based on received location information; a wireless communication unit to receive the audio file transmitted from the other audio player; and a play-management unit for playing the audio file if the sensed relative location is within a short distance. |
| US08019269B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus is provided. The image forming apparatus includes a case comprising an opening for feeding a recording sheet into an interior of the case; a cover comprising an actuator unit, the cover capable of being moved between a closed state in which the cover closes the opening, and an open state in which the cover is displaced forward in a conveying direction of the recording sheet so as to open the opening to the interior of the case, and the actuator unit indicating a displacement of the cover; and a detection unit which detects whether the cover is in the open state or the closed state based on the displacement of the actuator. |
| US08019268B2 |
Polarity controlling device, and cleaner and image forming apparatus using the polarity controlling device
A polarity controlling device for controlling polarity of residual material on an image bearing member, including a blade, to which a first voltage is applied and which has a contact edge contacted with the surface of the image bearing member to charge the residual material, wherein the contact edge is covered with a resin layer including an electroconductive material. A cleaner including the polarity controlling device; a brush contacting the image bearing member to electrostatically collect the charged residual material utilizing potential difference; a collection member contacting the brush to collect the residual material; and a cleaning blade contacting the collection member to scrape the residual material therefrom. An image forming apparatus including an electrostatic image bearing member; a developing device developing the electrostatic image using a developer including a toner to form a toner image; a transfer device transferring the toner image onto a receiving material; and the cleaner. |
| US08019265B2 |
Method and apparatus for stripping media from a surface in an apparatus useful in printing
An apparatus and method for stripping media from a surface and useful in printing may include a first member, a fixing belt, a first nip, a second nip, and a stripping device including a curved stripping edge contacting the inner surface of the fixing belt, the stripping edge being defined by a radius of less than about 10 mm, the stripping edge being spaced from the first outlet end of the first nip by a distance of less than about 10 mm, and the fixing belt bending at a stripping angle of about 20° to about 30° at the stripping edge, the stripping device being adjustably movable by a mechanism to vary the distance from the stripping edge to the first outlet end of the first nip, wherein media are stripped from an outer surface of the fixing belt after exiting from the first outlet end of the first nip. |
| US08019263B2 |
Image forming apparatus belt having a detecting portion for position detection
An image forming apparatus belt includes a belt main body; a guiding member that is fixed to the belt main body along at least a side edge on one side of the belt main body; and a detected portion for position detection that is provided in a slit of the guiding member. |
| US08019262B2 |
Belt transporting apparatus, image forming apparatus and belt member transporting method with obilqueness mitigation
A belt transporting apparatus is provided with a belt member that is rotated; a first roll member that holds the belt member; a second roll member that is provided apart from the first roll member by a first distance, holds the belt member together with the first roll member and is movable toward the first roll member; and a third roll member that is provided apart from the second roll member by a second distance and holds the belt member together with the second roll member. The second distance is longer than the first distance. |
| US08019261B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes a first image carrying member for carrying a first toner image; a second image carrying member for carrying a second toner image in a maximum amount, of the second toner image carried on the second image carrying member, larger than a maximum amount of the first image carried on the first image carrying member; a first transfer member for electrostatically transferring the first toner image onto a transfer medium in a first transfer nip formed by bringing the transfer medium into contact with the first, image bearing member; and a second transfer member for electrostatically transferring the second toner image onto the transfer medium in a second transfer nip formed by bringing the transfer medium into contact with the second bearing member so that a length of the second transfer nip with respect to a movement direction of the transfer member is longer than a length of the first transfer nip with respect to the movement direction. |
| US08019258B2 |
Developing apparatus
An amount-of-developer regulating apparatus configured to restrict the amount of developer carried on a developer bearing member. The amount-of-developer regulating apparatus includes a flexible developer amount regulation member having a contact portion configured to contact with a developer bearing member, and first and second holding portions configured to hold the developer amount regulation member and to contact with the developer amount regulation member at further upstream and further downstream in a direction where the developer bearing member is rotationally moved than the contact portion. With a pressure distribution of the contact portion as to the developer bearing member, there are a plurality of local maximum values in the direction where the developer bearing member is rotationally moved. Thus, the apparatus can be reduced in size, and also image concentration unevenness after long-term use can be prevented. |
| US08019256B2 |
Multi-mode long life monochrome printing system
A multi-mode, long life monochrome printing system that includes (a) a media supply assembly having a media path (b) a moveable intermediate transfer member for receiving images from image output terminal assemblies and for transferring the images to media on the media path; and (c) a plural number of monochrome image output terminal (IOT) assemblies adjacent the moveable intermediate transfer member, each monochrome image output terminal (IOT) assembly being selectably moveable into and out of image transfer relationship with the moveable intermediate transfer member, and each monochrome image output terminal (IOT) assembly having a development unit including developer material having essentially a same color. |
| US08019248B2 |
Sheet conveying apparatus, and image forming apparatus
An upper conveyance guide is provided at an apparatus main body. A guide surface of a lower conveyance guide is provided facing a guide surface of the upper conveyance guide, and can be drawn out in the direction intersecting the sheet conveyance direction with respect to the apparatus main body. A cleaning unit is provided on the backside in the drawing-out direction of the lower conveyance guide, moves together with the lower conveyance guide when the lower conveyance guide is drawn out from the apparatus main body, and cleans the guide surface of the upper conveyance guide. |
| US08019247B2 |
Fusing device and image forming apparatus which turns on an edge heater
A disclosed fusing device includes a fusing part; a pressing part rotatably pressed against the fusing part to form a fusing nip for fusing a toner image onto a sheet; a capacitor; a center heater for heating a center portion of the fusing part; an edge heater for heating edge portions of the fusing part; an auxiliary heater for heating the fusing part; and a control unit configured to continuously turn off the edge heater and to turn on the center heater and the auxiliary heater to heat the fusing part during a fusing process of one or more small-size sheets having a width less than that of the heat generating portion of the center heater. The control unit is configured to turn on the edge heater to heat the fusing part when the capacitor stops discharging electricity during a consecutive fusing process of multiple small-size sheets. |
| US08019245B2 |
Image forming device, and method and computer readable medium therefor
An image forming device includes an image forming unit forming an image on a sheet with an image forming property, a pattern forming unit forming a pattern on an object, a detection value determining unit determining a first detection value representing the image forming property of the image forming unit through detecting the pattern formed on the object by the pattern forming unit, a storage unit storing thereon the first detection value determined by the detection value determining unit, a correction value determining unit determining a correction value for correcting the image forming property with the first detection value stored on the storage unit and a second detection value that has previously stored on the storage unit, and a control unit controlling the image forming unit to form the image with the image forming property corrected based upon the correction value determined by the correction value determining unit. |
| US08019244B2 |
User-friendly image forming apparatus with current supplier for supplying cleaning current, image forming method and recording medium
An image forming apparatus includes: an intermediate transfer belt for, by rotation thereof, transferring a toner image on a surface thereof; a cleaner for removing toner particles after the transfer by rotation of a cleaning brush which touches the surface of the intermediate transfer belt and rotates during the transfer; a current supplier for supplying a cleaning current having a predetermined value (I2) to the cleaning brush in accord with the transfer; and a controller for controlling the intermediate transfer belt, cleaner and current supplier. The controller obtains a current time T1 and a previous rotation end time T2 of the cleaning brush, and when a time period during which the cleaning brush has not rotated, which is calculated from the current time T1 and the rotation end time T2, is equal to a predetermined time period or longer, sets the cleaning current to “I1”. |
| US08019242B2 |
Image forming apparatus and image forming method for suppressing fluctuation of formed images
An image forming apparatus and an image forming method capable of executing process control at appropriate timing are provided. A control section of an image forming apparatus carries out control for determining execution time of process control and executing the process control. The control section includes a counting section, a determining section and a process control management section. The counting section counts a number of printed sheets. The determining section determines on what time process control is to be executed form the counted number of printed sheets for each time zone. The process control management section manages the process control executed at an image forming section with the whole of the image forming apparatus. |
| US08019238B2 |
Image forming apparatus
In an image forming apparatus, an image forming portion forms an image on a rotator. A storage portion stores change characteristics information relevant to correction parameters corresponding to phase points of the rotator. A designating portion designates a correction parameter from the correction parameters based on the change characteristics information. A correcting portion corrects an image forming position on the rotator based on the correction parameter designated by the designating portion. When a first determining portion determines, based on a detecting phase point of the rotator detected by a detecting portion, that the current phase of the rotator corresponds to a shifting phase point, and further a second determining portion determines that the image forming portion is in inactive time, the designation by said designating portion is shifted to the correction parameter corresponding to the shifting phase point. |
| US08019229B2 |
Apparatus, system, method, and program for visible light communication
A visible light communication apparatus enables an operator to visually recognize a communication state during visual light communication. The apparatus includes a light emitting section which emits visible light and which includes a modulator, a visible light emitter, a light emitting element and an emission control section which includes a controller and which controls an emission state of the visible light from the light emitting section. The apparatus controls the emission state according to the communication state. It is hence possible for the operator to visually perceive the communication state during the visible light communication. |
| US08019227B2 |
Information transmitting system, information decoding apparatus, informing method and recording medium
A digital camera 800 receives from lighting units 120a-120l lights temporarily changing in luminance and produces a coordinates data list 8031 of the lighting units. Decoding unit 804 reads change in luminance at each luminance-point coordinates of the lighting unit to decode information. It is judged based on the decoded information of a data format 900, whether plural luminance-point coordinates having the same guidance point ID information 902 are found. When the plural luminance-point coordinates having the same guidance point ID information are found, a location of the plural luminance-point coordinates is analyzed to draw and display a circumscribed polygon having its vertices at these coordinates on a through image in an overlapping manner. A hatched area is set inside the circumscribed polygon and the decoded information is displayed within the hatched area. |
| US08019223B2 |
Method and device for controlling a remote vehicle
A system and method for controlling a remote vehicle comprises a hand-held controller including a laser generator for generating a laser beam. The hand-held controller is manipulable to aim and actuate the laser beam to designate a destination for the remote vehicle. The remote vehicle senses a reflection of the laser beam and moves toward the designated destination. The hand-held controller allows single-handed control of the remote vehicle and one or more of its payloads. A method for controlling a remote vehicle via a laser beam comprises encoding control signals for a remote vehicle into a laser beam that is aimed and sent to a designated destination for the remote vehicle, and sensing a reflection of the laser beam, decoding the control signals for the remote vehicle, and moving toward the designated destination. |
| US08019217B2 |
Storage system and optical module switching method for storage system
An object of the present invention is to continue to send and receive to/from a host when a failure has occurred in a storage device interface. A storage system includes a host and a storage device connected to the host via a communication line, wherein the storage device comprises a communication controller performing data communication with the host by using optical modules, and wherein the communication controller is provided with first optical modules performing data communication with the host; a second optical module performing data communication with the host, in place of a first optical module; and a controller switching, when a failure has occurred in any of the first optical modules, the first optical module in which the failure has occurred to the second optical module. |
| US08019214B2 |
Camera accessory coupling apparatus
A camera accessory coupling apparatus capable of easily and quickly coupling a camera body to a camera accessory is provided. The camera accessory coupling apparatus includes a holder selectively detachable from the camera body; a locking pin, disposed in the holder, a portion of which may enter the holder or exit from the holder; an elastic member contacting the locking pin and applying an elastic force to the locking pin; and a locking lever coupled with the holder and selectively contactable with the elastic member to control the entering and exiting of the locking pin with respect to the holder. |
| US08019213B2 |
Exchangeable lens and imaging device
An exchangeable lens includes: a cam member; a plurality of lenses; a lens holding frame; a drive motor; a worm screw; a worm wheel; a planetary roller; a first rotating member; a first bearing seat; a second rotating member; and a second bearing seat. |
| US08019212B2 |
Optical module for a photographing apparatus and photographing apparatus having the same
An optical module for a photographing device includes a fixed lens group member arranged along a first optical axis direction that faces an object, a reflection member arranged in the rear of the fixed lens group member and outputting an image light in a second optical axis direction perpendicular to the first optical axis direction by reflecting incident image light. The optical module further includes first and second lens groups and a zoom motor for providing power to change a distance between the first and second lens group members. Thus, the optical module has an efficiently configured structure. |
| US08019211B2 |
Zoom lens system, interchangeable lens apparatus and camera system
A zoom lens system includes a compact focusing lens unit and has a suppressed change in image magnification at the time of movement of the focusing lens unit. The system includes an aperture diaphragm, a first lens unit having negative optical power and being closest to the object side, a third lens unit arranged on the object side relative to the aperture diaphragm and being adjacent to the diaphragm, and a fourth lens unit arranged on the image side relative to the aperture diaphragm and being adjacent to the diaphragm. At the time of zooming, interval between the aperture diaphragm and the third lens unit arranged on the object side relative to the diaphragm and being adjacent to the diaphragm varies, and interval between the aperture diaphragm and the fourth lens unit arranged on the image side relative to the diaphragm and being adjacent to the diaphragm varies. |
| US08019207B2 |
Flame simulator of electric fireplace
An apparatus for flame simulation in an electrical fireplace which improves the realism of leaping and flickering flames, comprising a fixed light source, simulated charcoal, and a flame display screen which is arranged above the fixed light source. The simulated charcoal is located in front of the flame display screen. A twisted-style light reflector is located behind the flame display screen and is driven by a motor mounted inside the wall of the electrical fireplace. By rotating the twisted-style light reflector, light emitted from the fixed light source is reflected onto the flame display screen so the simulated dynamic leaping and flickering flames can be seen. The fixed light source also illuminates the simulated charcoal to produce an effect of burning charcoals. A heater produces warm air that is expelled from the fireplace. |
| US08019206B2 |
Glass manufacturing apparatus and a structural member thereof
A hollow tubular body for molten glass by which local-overheating in the electrode for conduction heating is prevented.A hollow tubular body for molten glass by which local-overheating in the electrode for conduction heating is prevented. A hollow tubular body having a platinum or platinum alloy hollow tube, used for conduction heating is characterized in that a ring electrode is joined to the outer circumference of the hollow tube, at least one lead-out electrode is joined to an outer edge of the ring electrode, and the ring electrode comprises a core portion of electrode of platinum or platinum alloy and a thick portion of platinum or platinum alloy or of a metallic material other than platinum or platinum alloy, provided at an outer side of the core portion of electrode. |
| US08019201B2 |
Method and apparatus for providing a copy-protected video signal
A anti-copy programme signal is provided. Copies of the anti-copy video pulses made on a video recorder experience reduced quality and interference in playback making them unpleasant to watch. The uncopied signal can be viewed without any material effect on picture quality. The signal comprises a pulse added to each line of the signal throughout both the visible picture region and throughout the vertical blanking region, as well as a first modulated wave-form added to the vertical synchronization pulses of the signal and a second modulated wave-form added to several lines of the picture signal before the vertical blanking section. The presence of all three of these features together has been found to provide a surprising accumulative effectiveness in causing interference in the reproduction of the modified video signal during playback of the copied video signal, that is greater than the effectiveness provided by the different features taken separately. |
| US08019193B2 |
Setting rate for recording broadcast transmission according to transmission rate
A digital broadcast, in which video data and audio data are transmitted in the form of a transport stream, is received in a digital broadcast receiver and is decoded to provide a received transport stream. A first interface of the digital broadcast receiver is connected to a corresponding interface of a recording apparatus. Information corresponding to a transmission rate of the received transport stream is determined. A recording rate setting command is generated on the basis of the information corresponding to the transmission rate. The recording rate setting command is transmitted to the recording apparatus through the first interface and the corresponding interface when the connection between the first interface and the corresponding interface is initiated, when a request command is received from the recording apparatus, or periodically after predetermined intervals. |
| US08019191B2 |
Method and device for coupling optical waveguides
A device for coupling optical waveguides includes at least one element for accommodating a cartridge. The cartridge is connected to the at least one accommodating element so as to be movable relative thereto while being provided with at least one mounting element for a coupling element to which at least one of the optical waveguides and at least one other optical waveguide can be connected. The at least one accommodating element is embodied so as to accommodate only one cartridge while encompassing two guiding mechanisms which allow the at least one optical waveguide and at least one other optical waveguide to be delivered to the cartridge. The optical waveguides, which run into the at least one accommodating element from different directions, are delivered to the one cartridge via a different of the two guiding mechanisms. The optical waveguides are connected at the coupling element of the cartridge, said coupling element being disposed on the mounting element of the cartridge. |
| US08019186B2 |
Photonic crystal circuit comprising a guided mode adapter and optical system including said circuit coupled with an optical fiber
The invention relates to a photonic crystal circuit comprising a guide produced in a photonic crystal membrane on the surface of a substrate and a mode adapter coupled to said guide, wherein the membrane includes a central point constituting the mode adapter having a section gradient as termination of said guide, said point being suspended so as to allow the propagation of modes in a symmetrical manner. It also relates to an optical system incorporating said circuit coupled to an optical fiber. |
| US08019184B2 |
Pen system for recording handwritten information
A pen system for recording a track of handwritten information created by a handheld electronic pen. The pen system includes the handheld electronic pen and a second memory unit located in an external data storage device. The electronic pen has an image sensor for optically imaging a position-coding pattern printed on a surface, a processor for recording the handwritten information as digital ink and a first memory unit for storing the digital ink. The first and second memory units are connected in such a way that a transmission of digital ink is caused to occur automatically from the first memory unit to the second memory unit. Receipt of the digital ink by the second memory unit causes the second memory unit to associate the track of handwritten information with a stored description of the surface. |
| US08019182B1 |
Digital image modification using pyramid vignettes
The present disclosure includes systems and methods relating to digital image modification using pyramid vignettes. In general, one aspect of the subject matter described in this specification can be embodied in a method that includes receiving a request associated with rendering a photorealistic variation of a master digital image at an original resolution, selecting a digital image template from a number of digital image templates comprising image data associated with the master digital image at various resolutions, the selected image data at a different resolution from the original resolution, and rendering the photorealistic variation of the master digital image using the selected template. |
| US08019174B2 |
Image processing system, image processing method, and image processing program product
An image processing system includes an extraction unit for extracting a local region which contains one target region and at least one or more neighborhood regions from an image signal formed of a plurality of color signals from a CCD, a vectorizing unit for obtaining vector signals which contain the plurality of the color signals as components for each of the target and the neighborhood regions, a weighting set unit for setting weighting factors with respect to each of the vector signals in the local region based on the vector signal in the target region, a filtering unit for performing a filtering process using the weighting factors with respect to the vector signals in the local region, and a noise reducing unit for reducing the noise of the vector signal in the target region based on the vector signal through the filtering process. |
| US08019168B2 |
Motion detecting device and search region variable-shaped motion detector
An overall motion detecting device (1) includes a search region variable-shaped motion detector (2) and an overall motion information generator (3). The overall motion information generator (3) controls a surveillance camera (5) which is an external image capturing system and supplies control information of the surveillance camera (5) (such as moving direction, angular speed and focal length) to the search region variable-shaped motion detector (2) as overall motion information (S3). The search region variable-shaped motion detector (2) calculates a motion vector (mv) while renewing, by picture, a search region having a search shape determined by the overall motion information (S3) and a region area suitable for its operational capability. |
| US08019165B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image processing method, defect detection method, semiconductor device manufacturing method, and program
An image processing apparatus which compresses an image, the apparatus includes: a storage unit which stores a code book, the code book being prepared by allocating identification codes to code blocks, the code blocks being formed by executing quantization processing regarding a plurality of first image blocks as multidimensional vectors, the plurality of first image blocks being generated by cutting, in preset sizes, first regions out of a code book preparation image containing a first edge, each of the first regions surrounding and including an edge point of the first edge, the first edge being detected from the code book preparation image; an edge detection unit which detects a second edge from a compression target image containing the second edge; an image block generation unit which cuts, in preset sizes, second regions out of the compression target image to generate a plurality of second image blocks, each of the second regions surrounding and including an edge point of the detected second edge; a search unit which searches the code book stored in the storage unit for code blocks similar to the second image blocks; and an output unit which outputs information on the identification codes of the similar code blocks which have been searched for and information on coordinates of the edge points of the second image blocks. |
| US08019161B2 |
Method, device and computer program of length measurement
A workpiece size measurement method suitable for length measurement of multilayered circuit elements with increased complexities is disclosed. This method employs a technique for changing measurement conditions in a way pursuant to either an image of workpiece or the situation of a target semiconductor circuit element to be measured when measuring pattern sizes on the workpiece image using design data of the semiconductor circuit element. With such an arrangement, adequate measurement conditions are selectable in accordance with the state of workpiece image and/or the state of a circuit element formed on the workpiece, thereby making it possible to improve the measurement efficiency. A workpiece size measurement apparatus using the technique is also disclosed. |
| US08019152B2 |
Color correction data acquiring system, image processing system, color correction data acquiring method, image processing method, and program
A color correction data acquiring system includes: an analysis unit that analyzes a data uniform part in an input image; and an area setting unit that sets a patch data acquiring area based on an analysis result of the analysis unit. The color correction data acquiring system acquires color correction data based on a patch data in the patch data acquiring area of the input image and a patch data in the patch data acquiring area of a read image. |
| US08019151B2 |
Methods and apparatus for image compression and decompression using graphics processing unit (GPU)
The invention provides, in some aspects, methods for image compression that utilize the central processing unit (CPU) of a digital data processor and its associated graphics processing unit (GPU), together, in order to compress an image. In related aspects of the invention, the GPU is adapted to render at least a portion of an image to an associated texture buffer (i.e., a texture buffer of the GPU) and to transform the resulting image values in that texture buffer to a frequency-based representation. The GPU can, further, order coefficients comprising that frequency-based representation and transfer at least a portion of those coefficients to the associated CPU. That CPU can, in turn, effect transfer of the downloaded coefficients to another digital data processor (or image processing apparatus). Still other aspects of the invention provide methods of image decompression that utilize the central processing unit (CPU) of a digital data processor and its associated graphics processing unit (GPU), together, in order to decompress an image. These methods parallel the compression methods discussed above, albeit in substantially reversed order. Other aspects of the invention provide digital data processing apparatus for image compression, decompression and/or remote image display operating in accord with the methods described above. |
| US08019148B2 |
Image processing apparatus and image processing method
By applying identification processing to each index included in a captured image, a set of an identifier, image coordinates, and an image number is acquired for each index, and the acquired set is registered in a data saving unit. The data saving unit manages the numbers of times of previous identification for respective identifiers. A display unit displays the number of times managed in association with an identifier in a set to be registered every time the set is registered. An index position and orientation calculation unit calculates the positions and orientations of indices corresponding to a set group using the set group registered in a memory. |
| US08019147B2 |
Three-dimensional data registration method for vision measurement in flow style based on double-sided target
The present disclosure is directed to a three-dimensional data registration method for vision measurement in flow style based on a double-sided target. An embodiment of the disclosed method that comprises A. Setting up two digital cameras which can observe the entire measured object; B. Calibrating intrinsic parameters and a transformation between the two digital camera coordinate frames; C. A double-sided target being placed near the measured area of the measured object, the two digital cameras and a vision sensor taking images of at least three non-collinear feature points of the double-sided target; D. Removing the target, measuring the measured area by using the vision sensor; E. Respectively computing the three dimensional coordinates of the feature points in the global coordinate frame and in the vision sensor coordinate frame; F. Estimating the transformation from the vision sensor coordinate frame to the global coordinate frame through the three dimensional coordinates of the three or more non-collinear feature points obtained at step E, then transforming the three dimensional data of the measured area to the global coordinate frame; and G. Repeating step C, D, E, F, then completing three dimensional data registration for all measured areas. The present disclosure improves three dimensional data registration precision and efficiency. |
| US08019145B2 |
Legged locomotion robot
A robot capable of performing appropriate movement control while reducing arithmetic processing for recognizing the shape of a floor. The robot sets a predetermined landing position of steps of the legs on a present assumed floor, which is a floor represented by floor shape information used for a current motion control of the robot, during movement of the robot. An image projection area is set, and is projected on each image captured by cameras mounted on the robot for each predetermined landing position in the vicinity of each of the predetermined landing positions. Shape parameters representing the shape of an actual floor partial area are estimated, forming an actual floor whose image is captured in each partial image area, based on the image of the partial image area generated by projecting the set image projection area on the images captured by the cameras for each partial image area. |
| US08019140B2 |
System and method for determining a size of an airway lumen and a thickness of an airway wall
A method for determining a size of an airway lumen and a thickness of an airway wall includes: computing a centerline of an airway; computing a three-dimensional (3D) gradient of a volume of the airway within a first threshold; positioning a tube along the centerline; iteratively expanding the tube by increasing its radius until the radius of the tube reaches the first threshold; determining inner and outer radii of the tube by checking the 3D gradient computed along an x-axis and a y-axis of the tube at a boundary of the tube at each iteration; and fitting the tube to the airway by using the determined inner and outer radii, wherein the inner radius of the fit tube is half a diameter of the airway lumen and the outer radius of the fit tube minus the inner radius of the fit tube is a thickness of the airway wall. |
| US08019136B2 |
Optical sectioning microscopy
Systems and methods for optical sectioning microscopy with structured illumination are provided. A light source generates a light beam with a spatial pattern for successively illuminating a sample at each phase of a plurality of phases. A detector detects a first set of images of the sample at a first axial resolution and a first lateral resolution, each image being associated with a respective phase of the plurality of phases of the illumination. A processor processes the first set of images to generate an enhanced sectioned image of the sample. More specifically, the processor generates data representing a second set of images at a second axial resolution greater than the first axial resolution; and subsequently, performs spectral analysis on the data representing the second set of images to form data representing the enhanced sectioned image of the sample at a second lateral resolution greater than the first lateral resolution. |
| US08019133B2 |
Method and system for display of structures or regions of interest
A system and a method for extracting regions of interest from a medical image in order to obtain an image useable by a user. The system includes a user interface comprising virtual buttons that the user can select using an input, the buttons enabling the user to control a selected region extraction method using a region growth method to extract a region The region extraction method depend on which virtual buttons are selected by the user. The user interface also includes a window in which the result of extraction of the region of interest can be displayed, as the region is being grown. |
| US08019126B2 |
Biometric data acquisition device, biometric data acquisition method and biometric authentication device
A biometric data acquisition device for acquiring data of a living body by irradiating the living body with light includes: a light source unit that emits light to the living body; a plurality of light receiving elements that receive transmitted light or reflected light, which is transmitted through the living body or reflects from the living body, respectively, by irradiating the living body with the light from the light source unit; an openable and closable gate provided for each of the plurality of light receiving elements; and an opening and closing control unit that controls opening and closing of the gate so as to make uniform intensities of light received by the plurality of light receiving elements. |
| US08019121B2 |
Method and system for processing intensity from input devices for interfacing with a computer program
A method and system for determining an intensity value of an interaction with a computer program is described. The method and device includes capturing an image of a capture zone, identifying an input object in the image, identifying an initial value of a parameter of the input object, capturing a second image of the capture zone, and identifying a second value of the parameter of the input object. The parameter identifies one or more of a shape, color, or brightness of the input object and is affected by human manipulation of the input object. The extent of change in the parameter is calculated, which is the difference between the second value and the first value. An activity input is provided to the computer program, the activity input including an intensity value representing the extent of change of the parameter. A method for detecting an intensity value from sound generating input objects, and a computer video game are also described. |
| US08019117B2 |
Method and apparatus for evaluating solar radiation amount
Disclosed is a method and apparatus for evaluating a solar radiation amount that can realize higher accuracy by virtue of consideration of terrain conditions.Static satellite image data 1 and three-dimensional map model 2 are combined, and a mesh 3 based on plane coordinates is set in accordance with a ground resolution of the static satellite image data 1. A shadow area 4 is calculated based on the three-dimensional map model 2 and a solar position specified by photographing chronological data, and whether or not each cell 8 of the mesh 3 belongs to the shadow area 4 is determined. Also, a solar radiation evaluation component 6 of each cell 8 in an area to be evaluated is obtained with reference to a table 7 associating a pixel value 5 of each pixel in the static satellite image data 1 with the solar radiation evaluation component 6 in an area corresponding to each pixel. In addition, when the cell 8 is determined to belong to the shadow area 4, an evaluation component after terrain condition correction calculated by applying a predetermined correction calculation to the solar radiation evaluation component 6 is obtained. |
| US08019115B2 |
Object authentication using a portable digital image acquisition device
A method is provided for determining whether a test object is an authentic object having an authentication image applied to an authentication image area thereof. The method comprises positioning and orienting a portable image acquisition device for selectively viewing and capturing a magnified image of a target surface area of the test object. The target surface area corresponds to the authentication image area of an authentic object. The method further comprises capturing a magnified digital image of the target surface area using the image capture acquisition device. The captured digital image is then processed to obtain a processed digital image and an authentication result is determined based on whether the processed digital image meets predetermined authentication criteria. |
| US08019097B2 |
Thermoacoustic device
A sound wave generator includes one or more carbon nanotube wire structures. The one or more carbon nanotube wire structures produce sound by means of the thermoacoustic effect. |
| US08019095B2 |
Loudness modification of multichannel audio signals
Scaling, by a desired amount sm, the overall perceived loudness Lm of a multichannel audio signal, wherein perceived loudness is a nonlinear function of signal power P, by scaling the perceived loudness of each individual channel Lc by an amount substantially equal to the desired amount of scaling of the overall perceived loudness of all channels sm, subject to accuracy in calculations and the desired accuracy of the overall perceived loudness scaling sm. The perceived loudness of each individual channel may be scaled by changing the gain of each individual channel, wherein gain is a scaling of a channel's power. Optionally, in addition, the loudness scaling applied to each channel may be modified so as to reduce the difference between the actual overall loudness scaling and the desired amount of overall loudness scaling. |
| US08019093B2 |
Stream segregation for stereo signals
Separating a source in a stereo signal having a left channel and a right channel includes transforming the signal into a short-time transform domain; classifying portions of the signals having similar panning coefficients; segregating a selected one of the classified portions of the signals corresponding to the source; and reconstructing the source from the selected portions of the signals. |
| US08019091B2 |
Voice activity detector (VAD) -based multiple-microphone acoustic noise suppression
Acoustic noise suppression is provided in multiple-microphone systems using Voice Activity Detectors (VAD). A host system receives acoustic signals via multiple microphones. The system also receives information on the vibration of human tissue associated with human voicing activity via the VAD. In response, the system generates a transfer function representative of the received acoustic signals upon determining that voicing information is absent from the received acoustic signals during at least one specified period of time. The system removes noise from the received acoustic signals using the transfer function, thereby producing a denoised acoustic data stream. |
| US08019085B2 |
System and method for sending encrypted messages to a distribution list
A system and method for sending encrypted messages to a distribution list that facilitates the sending of such messages only to individuals or other entities associated with the distribution list that will be able to read the message. In one embodiment, the method comprises the steps of: identifying a distribution list address in a message; determining one or more member addresses associated with the distribution list address; for each member address, determining if a public key for a member identified by the respective member address is available on the computing device; encrypting the message to each member identified by the one or more member addresses for which a public key for the respective member is available on the computing device; sending the encrypted message to the distribution list address if each of the one or more member addresses associated with the distribution list identifies a member for which a public key is available on the computing device; and sending the message to each of the one or more member addresses that identifies a member for which a public key is available on the computing device otherwise. |
| US08019081B2 |
System and method for processing encoded messages
Systems and methods for processing encoded messages at a message receiver. A received encoded message is decoded and stored in a memory. The stored decoded message can subsequently be displayed or otherwise processed without repeating the decoding operations. Decoding operations may include signature verification, decryption, other types of decoding, or some combination thereof. |
| US08019080B2 |
Method and apparatus for providing content service
There is provided a method and apparatus for providing a content service. A method of providing a content service includes generating a plurality of pieces of decryption information according to a continuous period of using a broadcasting service with respect to predetermined contents, encrypting the contents, and decrypting the encrypted contents using the decryption information. |
| US08019069B1 |
Method and apparatus for altering participants in a conference call to topics of interest
The present invention provides an indication to a registered participant of a conference call that an agenda item of interest has been reached. The conference call participant registers to receive a notification signal for particular agenda items that are scheduled to be covered during the conference call. During the conference call, transitions from one agenda item to the next are detected. Such transitions may be detected by receiving a selection by the conference call host or other authority of the agenda item that is to be covered next. Alternatively, a client alerter application may automatically determine which agenda item is being covered. In response to the detection of a transition to a new agenda item, a determination is made as to whether any of the conference call participants has registered to receive notification of the new agenda item. A notification signal is then provided to any participant who has registered to receive such notification. |
| US08019065B2 |
Communication device with capability for handling conditional acceptance of meeting requests
Interacting digitally communicating devices cooperate to schedule future meetings include a capability to handle conditional acceptance of meeting requests. For example, a conditional acceptance may be subject to Boolean logic functions of the acceptance status(es) of other meeting invitees (e.g., the condition that another specific one or more invitees also accept the meeting request). |
| US08019060B2 |
Telephone/transaction entry device and system for entering transaction data into databases
Transaction data is entered by the user in response to prompts in a template. The template and entered data are accumulated into data transactions which are exploded and sent to an external database servers for processing and storage. Each database server may explode the data transaction to produce ancillary records which are then stored, and/or forwards the data transaction or some or all of the ancillary records to other database servers for updating other databases associated with those database servers. The database server(s) may also return data streams for use in completing the fields in the data transaction. |
| US08019052B2 |
System and method for providing a customized dialtone
A system and method for customizing telephone communications is presented. The system and method may include a network node configured to communicate pre-dial content to the user of a communications device, rather than a dial tone. |
| US08019051B1 |
Method and apparatus for ordering communications
The present invention provides for the ranking of messages for presentation to a user based on user behavior with respect to previous messages received from ranked communication endpoints. In particular, the percentage of a message played back by a user can be used to assigned a rank for future messages received from the initiating communication endpoint associated with the subject message. Initiating communication endpoints associated with messages that the user has listened to all or a large proportion of are associated with a relatively high ranking that is applied to future messages from those communication endpoints. Initiating communication endpoints associated with messages that the user listens to only the message header or a small proportion of the message itself are assigned a relatively low ranking. Messages received as textual communications or by a unified messaging application may be ranked according to the order in which the user selects the messages for retrieval. |
| US08019050B2 |
Method and apparatus for providing feedback of vocal quality to a user
Embodiments of the invention relate to a feedback mechanism that informs a user of a communication device to adjust the volume, pitch, tone or other characteristic of his voice so as to compensate for noise in the surrounding environment. The feedback mechanism includes feedback circuitry that analyzes audio signals from the microphone and preferably from one or more additional environmental noise sensors. From the analysis, the feedback circuitry determines characteristics of the user's voice and characteristics of the environmental noise, and provides an analysis of how the user might modify his voice to best compensate for environmental noise. This analysis results in an indication to the user, such as through a vibration, a sound, or graphical indication on the device, which tells the user whether and to what extent the user should adjust a characteristic of his voice to best overcome such environmental noise. |
| US08019045B2 |
X-ray imaging apparatus
An X-ray imaging apparatus includes an imaging unit which is rotatable relative to a platform about a shaft portion perpendicular to an X-ray detecting surface, so as to change the orientation relative to a subject. |
| US08019043B2 |
High-resolution X-ray optic and method for constructing an X-ray optic
Described are optical apparatuses and methods for forming optical apparatuses. The optical apparatus includes a plurality of individually fabricated segments and a holder. Each of the plurality of individually fabricated segments include an inner annular surface and an outer contact surface opposite to the inner annular surface. Each of the inner annular reflecting surfaces define a longitudinal segment axis. The holder contacts each of the outer contact surfaces of the plurality of individually fabricated segments. Each of the longitudinal segment axes of the plurality of individually fabricated segments are linearly aligned. |
| US08019042B2 |
Medical imaging processing and care planning system
A system automatically compares radiotherapy 3D X-Ray images and subsequent images for update and re-planning of treatment and for verification of correct patient and image association. A medical radiation therapy system and workflow includes a task processor for providing task management data for initiating image comparison tasks prior to performing a session of radiotherapy. An image comparator, coupled to the task processor, in response to the task management data, compares a first image of an anatomical portion of a particular patient used for planning radiotherapy for the particular patient, with a second image of the anatomical portion of the particular patient obtained on a subsequent date, by image alignment and comparison of image element representative data of aligned first and second images to determine an image difference representative remainder value and determines whether the image difference representative remainder value exceeds a first predetermined threshold. An output processor, coupled to the image comparator, initiates generation of an alert message indicating a need to review planned radiotherapy treatment for communication to a user in response to a determination the image difference representative remainder value exceeds a predetermined threshold. |
| US08019041B2 |
X-ray diagnosis apparatus
An X-ray tube generates X-rays. A detector detects X-rays generated by the X-ray tube and transmitted through a subject. A C-arm is equipped with the X-ray tube and the detector. An arm support mechanism rotatably supports the C-arm. A top is on which the subject is placed. A bed supports the top so as to change a relative positional relationship along a horizontal direction between the C-arm and the top. The bed supports the top so as to change a relative positional relationship along a vertical direction between the C-arm and the top. A mechanism control unit controls the arm support mechanism and the bed so as to a perpendicular extending from a focus of the X-ray tube intersects the top at a predetermined position thereon, and a distance interval between the X-ray tube and the predetermined position is fixed during rotation of the C-arm. |
| US08019040B2 |
X-ray inspection device and production system
An X-ray inspection device includes a conveying unit, an identification part, and an operation control part. The X-ray inspection device irradiates articles with X-rays while the article is being conveyed, and the article is inspected. The conveying unit is configured and arranged to convey the article. The identification part is configured and arranged to identify whether the article is a test piece or an end product. The operation control part is configured to set operation of the X-ray inspection device to a normal mode in which the article is determined to be defective or not defective when the article has been identified as an end product by the identification part, and to a test mode in which a state of the device is assessed when the article has been identified as a test piece by the identification part. |
| US08019034B2 |
Common state-space multi-channel digital sample timing phase control of multiple read channels for correlated signals
Common sample timing control for sample timing of multiple read channels, wherein the signal clocking of the signals received by the multiple read channels are correlated, for example from parallel tracks of magnetic tape that have been written simultaneously. In one embodiment, a common sample timing control comprises multiple phase error inputs, each indicating phase error of one of the read channels. Logic responsive to the multiple phase error inputs is configured to weight and crosscouple the phase error indication of each phase error input with the phase error indication of each other phase error input, and to apply gain related to the variance of noise of the phase error indications. Feedback logic is responsive to the crosscoupling and is configured to provide a sample timing phase estimate for each read channel. |
| US08019032B2 |
Method and system for channel equalization
One embodiment includes a method of receiving a transmitted signal. The method comprises receiving a signal transmitted over a channel. The signal comprises a known signal and an information signal. The method further includes determining at least one indicator of channel characteristics based at least in part on the portion of the known signal. The method further includes generating a first value indicative of the information signal based at least in part on the at least one indicator of the channel characteristics. The first value comprises an error signal. The method further comprises removing the error signal from the first estimate of the signal based at least in part on the portion of the known signal. Other embodiments include systems for performing the method and methods of making such systems. |
| US08019030B2 |
Reconfigurable alamouti/ABBA decoder circuit, system, and method
A decoder apparatus for decoding a first input set of demodulated data elements obtained by demodulating transmitted data elements received over a transmission channel so as to obtain a corresponding output set of decoded data elements. The decoder apparatus includes a first register a first selector coupled to the first register, a second selector coupled to the second register, and a combiner coupled to the first and the second selection circuits and operable to combine selected demodulated data elements with selected channel description elements. The decoder apparatus still further includes a controller coupled to the first and second selectors and to the combiner, that is adapted to generate a plurality of signals defining a control sequence for driving the first and second selectors and the combiner. Said controller is adapted to be configured so as to generate at least two control sequences according to the selected transmission diversity scheme. |
| US08019023B2 |
Low-complexity scalable architecture for concatenation-assisted symbol-level combining
Systems and methods are provided for decoding signal vectors in multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) systems, where a receiver has received one or more signal vectors from the same transmitted vector. The receiver processes these received signal vectors one by one, and uses information from signal vectors that have already been processed to process the next signal vector. To process a current signal vector, the receiver concatenates the current signal vector with a previously processed signal vector. This concatenated signal vector is decoded using, for example, a maximum-likelihood (ML). To decode the concatenated signal vector, the ML decoder can use a concatenated channel matrix that includes a channel response matrix associated with the current signal vector and a processed version of previous channel response matrices. |
| US08019022B2 |
Jitter-tolerance-enhanced CDR using a GDCO-based phase detector
An embodiment of a clock and data recovery circuit comprising a first clock and data recovery circuit with high bandwidth and a second clock and data recovery circuit with low bandwidth is disclosed. The first clock and data recovery circuit with high bandwidth receives a data signal and a reference signal to demux the data signal into a first signal and a second signal, wherein a second data rate X bps of the first signal and the second signal is half of a first data rate of the data signal. The second clock and data recovery circuit with low bandwidth receives and reduces jitter in the first signal and the second signal to output a first recovery signal and a second recovery signal. |
| US08019015B2 |
Linearization of RF power amplifiers using an adaptive subband predistorter
Predistorting an input signal prior to amplification in an RF power amplifier (206) includes isolating a plurality sub-band signals, each representing a portion of the input signal s(t). The method includes independently modifying an amplitude and a phase of each of the plurality of sub-band signals. The modification of the amplitude and/or phase is performed using a set of signal weighting parameters (weights) w and W, controlling linear and nonlinear modifications respectively, which are determined in an adaptive process by an adaptive controller (224). After modification, each of the sub-bands are summed together to obtain a predistorted input signal for an RF power amplifier (206). |
| US08019013B2 |
Multiple-output multiple-input (MIMO) communication system, MIMO receiver and MIMO receiving method
A receiver that receives a signal from a transmitter, including: a plurality of antennas; a channel estimation unit; a channel accumulation unit; a transmission weight generator; a feedback information transmission unit; and a reception weight generator. The plurality of antennas receive a second signal from the transmitter, the second signal being transmitted by using first feedback information. The channel estimation unit estimates a communication channel state on the basis of the second signal, and then outputs second channel estimation information. The reception weight generator generates reception weight information to be multiplied by the second signal, on the basis of first channel estimation information accumulated in the channel accumulation unit and a first transmission weight. |
| US08019010B2 |
OFDM transmitter and method for multi-user MIMO transmissions
An orthogonal-frequency division multiplexed (OFDM) transmitter is configured to transmit a data unit in accordance with a multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) technique over a wideband channel comprising a 20 MHz channel and another channel using a plurality of spatially diverse antennas. The transmitter is further configured to include in the data unit, a parameter indicating a modulation and coding scheme and a parameter indicating number of spatial streams. Each of the spatial streams is encoded and beamformed for receipt by one or more different receiving stations. |
| US08018998B2 |
Low complexity motion compensated frame interpolation method
Video decoding that employs motion compensated frame interpolation (MCFI) is described. The MCFI technique minimizes computations by limiting motion estimation to blocks having motion vectors that do not represent true motion. The MCFI determines these blocks using a sum of absolute differences (SAD) and a boundary absolute difference (BAD) between a current block and a previous block. The current block and previous block are obtained based on a selected interpolated block and an embedded motion vector for a block within the current frame having the same position as the selected interpolated block. If the SAD and BAD measurements do not meet certain thresholds, the embedded motion vector is classified as not representing true motion. Overlapped block bi-directional motion estimation is then performed to obtain a new motion vector. Overlapped block motion compensation is employed to generate the interpolated frame. Vector smoothing may be performed before generating the interpolated frame. |
| US08018997B2 |
System and method for video encoding
A video encoding method and system are provided for encoding a video sequence. The video sequence includes N sub-sequences which each includes a plurality of frames. When the video encoding system encodes the jth frame in the ith sub-sequence of the video sequence, the frames previous to the jth frame in the ith sub-sequence have been encoded. Based on the encoded frames, an initial quantization scale is generated. According to the initial quantization scale, the jth frame of the ith sub-sequence is encoded in the inter-encoded mode. Whether the jth frame in the ith sub-sequence is a “scene change” relative to the (j−1)th frame in the ith subsequence is judged, and if YES, based on the initial quantization scale, an adjusted quantization scale is generated. Moreover, the jth frame in the ith sub-sequence is re-encoded in accordance with the adjusted quantization scale. |
| US08018994B2 |
Selecting encoding types and predictive modes for encoding video data
In some embodiments, a method of determining encoding type and predictive mode(s) selections for a macroblock of a video frame is provided. In some embodiments, a general method 1) selects the encoding type (16×16 or 4×4) that is initially considered for a macroblock using an encoding type selection algorithm (based on an attribute of the macroblock that is easy to compute), 2) if the 16×16 encoding type is selected in step 1, consider the four 16×16 prediction modes that may be used on the macroblock using conventional methods or an improved 16×16 predictive mode search algorithm based on distortion thresholds, and 3) if the 4×4 encoding type is selected in step 1, select the 4×4 prediction mode to be used for each of the sixteen 4×4 blocks of the macroblock using conventional methods or an improved 4×4 predictive mode search algorithm based on the positional relationships between predictive modes. |
| US08018993B2 |
Relay device and signal decoding device
There is provided a relay device capable of simultaneously transmitting various additional information such as audio information, character information, and image information while suppressing the communication cost and the line use ratio without increasing the calculation cost in the decoding process. The relay device includes an encoded information analysis unit (602) which outputs transmission mode information and an additional information flag to an additional processing unit (603) and outputs an information source code of each layer to the additional processing unit (603) according to the transmission mode information. According to the combination of the transmission mode information and the additional mode information, the additional processing unit (603) performs additional processing of the additional information for the information source code of each layer. An encoded information integration unit (604) integrates the transmission mode information, the additional mode information, the additional information flag, and various information source codes inputted from the additional processing unit (603). |
| US08018991B2 |
Apparatus and method for estimating carrier-to-interference and noise ratio in a communication system
An apparatus and method for estimating a Carrier-to-Interference and Noise Ratio (CINR) in a communication system are provided. In the apparatus and method a signal having a traffic allocation available area that includes a preamble allocation available area is generated by Fast Fourier Transform (FFT)-processing a received symbol, power values of preamble tones included in the preamble allocation available area are calculated, a carrier power value is calculated using the power values of the preamble tones, a partial noise-interference power value is calculated using power differences between the preamble tones and power values of remaining tones other than the preamble tones, a noise power value is calculated using power values of tones included in a noise power estimation area being an area except for the preamble allocation available area in the traffic allocation available area, and the CINR is calculated using the carrier power value, the partial noise-interference power value, and the noise power value. |
| US08018986B2 |
Signal receiving apparatus including equalizer, terminal apparatus, signal receiving method, and signal receiving program
A signal receiving apparatus which can reduce a circuit scale to reduce a cost in a mobile wireless communication system which transmits and receives a spread spectrum signal is provided.The signal receiving apparatus includes a filter coefficient updating unit 104 which generates a filter coefficient w on the basis of an input signal x, a transformational despreading unit 101 which performs a despreading process to the input signal x, and an FIR filter 103 which performs multiplication by using a despreading output z output from the transformational despreading unit and the filter coefficient w output from the filter coefficient updating unit 104 as inputs to output a result which the multiplication results are added as a signal data symbol output S. The transformational despreading unit 101 obtains a despreading output by addition and subtraction between the input signal x and a spread code sequence c. |
| US08018985B2 |
CDMA receivers for the golden code
A Generalized Rake (G-Rake) receiver is adapted for Golden code reception in a CDMA system. Signals transmitted by two or more transmit antennas are received at two or more receiver antennas. The signal from each receiver antenna is despread, and channel estimation is performed for each transmit antenna. G-Rake combining weights are calculated based on impairment correlation across G-Rake fingers and channel coefficients corresponding to each transmit antenna. The despread values from each symbol period are combined over a plurality of symbol periods based on the combining weights. The combined values are processed using coefficients derived from the Golden number to generate a set of decision variables, and the Golden encoded symbols are jointly detected from the decision variables. In some embodiments, spherical decoding and triangularization significantly simplify the decoding problem formulation. |
| US08018980B2 |
Laser diode package with enhanced cooling
A laser diode package assembly includes a reservoir filled with a fusible metal in close proximity to a laser diode. The fusible metal absorbs heat from the laser diode and undergoes a phase change from solid to liquid during the operation of the laser. The metal absorbs heat during the phase transition. Once the laser diode is turned off, the liquid metal cools off and resolidifies. The reservoir is designed such that that the liquid metal does not leave the reservoir even when in liquid state. The laser diode assembly further includes a lid with one or more fin structures that extend into the reservoir and are in contact with the metal in the reservoir. |
| US08018979B2 |
Mode-locked short pulse laser resonator and short pulse laser arrangement
A mode-locked short pulse laser resonator including a pump laser beam input, a non-linear laser medium, a plurality of resonator mirrors as well as a first outcoupler mirror and a second outcoupler mirror, wherein the first outcoupler mirror is arranged for coupling out laser radiation having first spectral properties, and the second outcoupler mirror is arranged for coupling out laser radiation having second spectral properties which are different from the first spectral properties. |
| US08018974B2 |
Method and apparatus for deriving transmission timing of a downlink control channel in support of enhanced uplink operation
A remote station for wireless communication is disclosed. The remote station includes a transmitter configured to transmit packet data on an uplink channel and a receiver. The receiver is configured to receive a first frame having a downlink dedicated physical channel, the first frame being defined by a first propagation delay and a first time offset relative to a reference timing based on a common control physical channel and receive a second frame having a downlink dedicated control channel responsive to the packet data received by a base station, a beginning of the second frame being defined by a second propagation delay and a second time offset from the reference timing, the second time offset being a function of the first time offset. |
| US08018973B2 |
Method to accurately and securely determine propagation delay and distance between sending and receiving node in packet network using cut-through approach and packet network node for executing the method
A method and system for measuring a distance between nodes in a packet network are provided. The system and method include measuring and storing a departure time of a ping packet sent from a source node to a destination node, sending a response packet with respect to the ping packet from the destination node to the source node, cutting through the ping packet or response packet to a successive node or the destination node without an intermediate node delay, computing a round-trip time by measuring an arrival time of the response packet at the source node and measuring the distance between the nodes, based on the round-trip time and speed of the ping packet. |
| US08018970B2 |
Under sampled clock signal synchronization aid device and device for reconstructing undersampled clock signals, for a packet-switched network
A synchronization aid device is part of receiving communication equipment of an IP network, having a primary clock signal consisting of primary clock pulses spaced apart by a first period. This device comprises i) a required to increment its value by one unit on each primary clock pulse and reset its value to zero each time it reaches a value M, ii) detection means required to generate a secondary clock pulse each time the value of the counter is zero, the secondary clock pulses forming a secondary clock signal having a second period equal to M times the first period, and iii) control means required, each time the receiving equipment receives a packet containing at least one first bit having a first value, to initialize the counter with a chosen value. |
| US08018968B2 |
System and method for high precision clock recovery over packet networks
An innovative system and method for achieving high precision clock recovery, i.e. reconstruction of the clock signal having the same frequency, over a packet switched network. The proposed method utilizes a minimum network delay approach, which overcomes the problems caused by delay variation of the network and filters out network jitter, such as noise jitter and other “singular” anomalies causing latency deviations. Minimum network delay is defined herein as the time delay in which a packet remains in the network under assumption that all transmission queues through which the packet passes are empty. |
| US08018966B2 |
Method for scheduling distributed virtual resource blocks
A method for efficiently scheduling virtual resource blocks to physical resource blocks is disclosed. In a wireless mobile communication system that supports a resource block group (RBG) allocation scheme, for distributed mapping of consecutively allocated virtual resource blocks to physical resource blocks, there is proposed a mapping method capable of increasing the number of distributed virtual resource blocks to a maximum while satisfying gap limitations, when the length of the physical resource blocks is different from the length of the distributed virtual resource blocks. Also, the number of distributed virtual resource blocks and the structure of an interleaver are limited for efficient scheduling. |
| US08018953B1 |
Adaptive, deterministic ant routing approach for updating network routing information
An adaptive, deterministic approach for updating network routing information is disclosed. From among a set of routers, each of which is associated with an amount of time relative to a destination, the router that is associated with the lowest amount of time is selected. A “forward ant” data packet, which indicates the destination, is sent to the selected router. A “backward ant” data packet is received. The “backward ant” data packet indicates an amount of time taken for the “forward ant” data packet to travel to the destination. Based on this amount of time, the amount of time that is associated with the selected router is updated. Based on information contained in the “backward ant” data packet, the routing table is updated. |
| US08018950B2 |
Systems and methods for distributing GPS clock to communications devices
A method for synchronizing network elements to a global clock derived from the GPS clock acquired by a plurality of base stations. The global clock is distributed to controllers of various networks, and from there to network access devices. The network access devices further distribute the global clock to various wire-line and local wireless networks and from there, to the users served by these networks. The user equipment is enabled with a simple clock discipliner that adjusts the local clock to the global clock, resulting in a reliable synchronization across the converged communication networks. |
| US08018942B2 |
Recognition systems based on pattern matching
A recognition system for recognizing a data packet includes a data memory for storing data units in a predetermined order. A first data unit includes an instruction for determining a characteristic of the data packet. The first data unit also includes the total number of the data units, and a corresponding sequence number for the first data unit. The recognition system further includes a matching processor coupled to the data memory. The matching processor can execute the instruction in the first data unit to generate a result. The matching processor can also provide an address pointer according to the execution result, the total number of the data units, and the corresponding sequence number of the first data unit. |
| US08018935B2 |
Address search
In general, in one aspect, the disclosure describes a method of searching for an address within a collection of addresses. The method includes identifying a section storing an ordered sub-set of a collection of addresses. The identifying is based on a comparison of the address with at least one section boundary value. The method also includes searching the identified section for a match for the address. |
| US08018929B2 |
Expanded transmission control protocol, methods of operation and apparatus
A communication protocol service in support of TCP based communication is modified to improve the operational efficiency of a server for a particular type of client-server application. The service is modified to support connection pools and connection groups within the connection pools, to enable connections with clients to be grouped and share a common file descriptor. The service is provided with an API to allow an application server to create the connection pools, connection groups and connections. The API also include receive and send services adapted to support the connection pool and connection group architecture, and to allow explicit acknowledgement of received transmissions under control of the application server. Further, in various embodiments, the buffering architecture of the service, as well as acknowledgement of request packets by the service are also modified. |
| US08018928B2 |
Modular approach to the TCP/IPv6 hardware implementation
A method for processing a packet comprising an ordered sequence of packet parts is disclosed. The method uses a set of hardware processing modules, and the method comprises the steps of broadcasting, in a step the next header field of a received packet part to the set of processing modules, and processing, in a step the received packet part by a sub-set of the modules dependent upon the broadcast next header field. |
| US08018923B1 |
Method and apparatus for establishing a link over a preferred media in an ethernet network
A physical layer device comprises an interface that communicates with a media access control (MAC) device. A first circuit attempts to establish a first link using a first transceiver over a first medium. A second circuit attempts to establish a second link using a second transceiver over a second medium that is different than the first medium. A media selector communicates with the interface and the first and second circuits and that enables data flow from the first medium to the MAC device using the interface when the first link is established first. A preferred medium selector communicates with the media selector and is configurable in one of a plurality of medium preference states. |
| US08018920B1 |
Technique for providing intelligent features for calls in a communications network independent of network architecture
Subscriber calls in a communications network (10) are handled in accordance with the subscriber's routing plan for either originating and/or terminating calls irrespective of the manner in which such calls originate and terminate. Upon receipt of a call, a query is launched to a database (36) to obtain a called party routing number for the call destination in accordance with the subscriber's routing plan. Once the called party's routing number is obtained in response to the query, the called party's routing number is mapped a to physical port in the network when the routing number corresponds to a circuit-switched call destination or to an IP address when the called party's routing number corresponds to a packet-based call destination. The call is routed to the call destination in accordance with the mapping. |
| US08018915B2 |
Mobile terminal, control apparatus, home agent and packet communications method
In a packet communications system, a control apparatus implements routing control of a received packet directed for the mobile terminal. The mobile terminal includes a plurality of network interface cards; a communication manager configured to select at least one network interface card among from the plurality of network interface cards, in accordance with information regarding the network interface card; and an upper layer manager configured to receive the packet transmitted from the control apparatus, with using a selected network interface card. |
| US08018914B2 |
Radio communication device, demodulation method, and frequency deflection correction circuit
A demodulation section 13 receives a TDMA-TDD based phase-modulated burst signal of mobile communications and demodulates the burst signal by a synchronous detection system (or a quasi-synchronous detection system). The demodulation section 13 includes a frequency deviation compensation section and a carrier recovery section each having a loop filter 14 with three or more stages of time constants. The time constants are switched by a selector switch 15 based on a control signal from a demodulation control section 16. This achieves quick pull-in and jitter after convergence is minimized, thereby allowing highly efficient performance of frequency deviation compensation, etc. that is required for synchronous detection (or quasi-synchronous detection) without increasing the size of circuit. |
| US08018912B2 |
System and method for a dynamic beacon period in a MAC distributed reservation protocol
A system (400), device (401), and method are provided for decentralized medium access control comprising periodic beacon (600) transmissions of all active devices in beacon slots (204) (302) (303), grouping such beacon slots (204) (302) (303) in at least one contiguous dynamic beacon period (301), and expanding or shrinking this at least one contiguous dynamic beacon period (301) depending on the number of occupied beacon slots (204) (302) (303). The dynamic beacon period (301) adapts to devices (401) joining and leaving the network (400) as well as to collisions of beacon frames (600) on the medium (410). |
| US08018899B2 |
Handoff system and method between different kinds of devices, SIP server and operational method of SIP server
A handoff system and method between different kinds of devices, an SIP server and an application method of the SIP server applied thereto. The handoff system between different kinds of devices includes a plurality of devices; a SIP server which requests a routing path update when a handoff request signal is input from a source device among the plurality devices, and getting a target device to participate in a current session; and a gateway which updates a predetermined routing path when a request signal for the routing path update is input, and transmitting data to the source device and the target device via the updated routing path. |
| US08018898B2 |
Base station and mobile station
One aspect of the present invention relates to a base station wherein either resource blocks resulting from division of a system bandwidth into blocks of consecutive frequency subcarriers or distributed type resource blocks consisting of frequency subcarriers discretely distributed within the system bandwidth and resulting from segmentation of the resource blocks into multiple resource blocks are assigned to mobile stations, the base station including: a scheduling unit configured to assign either the resource blocks or the distributed type resource blocks to the mobile stations at a predefined assignment cycle based on respective downlink reception channel states transmitted from the mobile stations. |
| US08018894B2 |
Method and apparatus for implementing a blind seamless channel change
A method and apparatus for implementing a blind seamless channel change (BSCC) when at least one of a plurality of wireless communication devices is jammed on a current communication channel includes the first wireless communication device transmitting a BSCC message on the current communication channel to a second wireless communication device that includes information relating to a communication channel selected from a plurality of available communication channels that the first wireless communication device is switching to next, and a time period when the first wireless communication device will be transmitting on the selected communication channel. The first wireless communication device switches to the selected communication channel. The second wireless communication device receives the BSCC message and switches to the selected communication channel. The first and second wireless communication devices resume normal wireless communication. |
| US08018891B2 |
Automatic configuration of virtual network switches
In general, techniques are described in which a plurality of network switches automatically configure themselves to operate as a single virtual network switch. A virtual switch is a collection of individual switch devices that operate like as single network switch. As described herein, network switches in a network that are capable of participating in a virtual switch may automatically discover one another. The participating network switches may then elect one of the participating switches as a master switch. The master switch may generate forwarding information and store the forwarding information in the participating switches, including the master switch. The forwarding information causes the participating switches to act like a single network switch. |
| US08018888B1 |
Mobile WLAN repeater system
A network device including a wireless network transceiver, a wireless telephone transceiver, and a control module. The wireless network transceiver and the wireless telephone transceiver are associated with a vehicle and transmit and receive data packets over first and second wireless communication channels, respectively. The control module selects the wireless network transceiver or the wireless telephone transceiver for transmitting and receiving user data based on one of bandwidth quality data, signal strength data, and hop count data associated with the first wireless communication channel. The control module selects an operating mode of one of the wireless network transceiver and the wireless telephone transceiver based on a usage signal. The usage signal is generated based on at least one of a park/neutral switch associated with a drivetrain of the vehicle, a vehicle speed signal generated by a speedometer of the vehicle, and an ignition switch of the vehicle. |
| US08018886B2 |
Digital broadcasting system and data processing method
A digital broadcasting system and a method of processing data are disclosed, which are robust to error when mobile service data are transmitted. To this end, additional encoding is performed for the mobile service data, whereby it is possible to strongly cope with fast channel change while giving robustness to the mobile service data. |
| US08018885B2 |
Code keying in a power savings mode
A device may include logic to enter a power savings mode and wirelessly transmit a first synchronization packet to a remote device within a first transmission time slot in a first power savings cycle, the first synchronization packet including a code that is a member of a set consisting of a predetermined number of codes. In addition, the logic may be configured to sleep after transmitting the first synchronization packet to save energy, awake at a first receive time slot in the first power savings cycle, and receive a reply synchronization packet, the reply synchronization packet including a code is that is a member of the set from the remote device. The logic may be further configured to sleep until a start of a second power savings cycle that follows the first power savings cycle to save energy. |
| US08018884B2 |
Low duty cycle network controller
Operating at least one low duty cycle (LDC) controller to maintain synchronization between the LDC controller and a plurality of LDC terminals operating over a communication network using only overhead channels of the network and conforming to the protocol and timing of said network, wherein synchronization between the LDC controller and the plurality of LDC terminals is maintained separately from the protocol and timing of the communication network, and enables the LDC controller to schedule power down and wake up of the plurality of LDC terminals for durations longer than allowable under the protocol and timing of the communication network. |
| US08018882B1 |
Ad-hoc wireless communication system with variable ATIM window
A local station includes a memory and a control module. The memory stores a first status indicator that represents a number of active conversations in a wireless network and an ad-hoc traffic indication map (ATIM) window. The control module detects a change in the number of active conversations, modifies the first status indicator to generate an updated first status indicator based on the change, and adjusts a length of the ATIM window based on the updated first status indicator. |
| US08018875B2 |
Source-based steering data communications packets for transparent, bump-in-the-wire processing among multiple service applications
Steering data communications packets among multiple service applications in a link-level data communications switching apparatus that includes a link-level data communications switch and data communications ports coupling the switching apparatus to networks organized into pairs of networks, and ports connected to service applications, the switching apparatus further including rules governing the steering of data communications among service applications and networks, at least one rule that includes a network code that identifies a network pair and a direction of travel between the networks, including receiving data communications packets directed to a destination network, each packet containing a source network address, and steering by the switching apparatus each packet, the steering carried out only in accordance with the rules, using neither the source network address of the packet, the destination network address of the packet, nor the link-level identifier of any service application. |
| US08018873B1 |
Enhanced link state protocol for identifying broadcast networks
An enhanced link state protocol is described for uniquely identifying broadcast networks having overlapping address spaces within a network system. A network device generates first and second link state advertisements (LSAs) in accordance with this link state protocol. The first LSA includes a first identifier dependent on layer 3 addressing information assigned to a physical interface of the first network device that interfaces with a layer 2 communication medium, e.g., an IP subnet address prefix. The second LSA includes a second identifier independent of the layer 3 addressing information assigned to the physical interface of the first network device that interfaces with the layer 2 communication medium, e.g., a unique network identifier associated with a broadcast network. By transmitting this second LSA to a second network device, the network device may uniquely identify broadcast networks having overlapping address spaces. |
| US08018872B2 |
Method and apparatus for mitigating layer-2 looping in home networking applications
Embodiments of the invention generally provide a method and apparatus for mitigating layer-2 loops in home networking applications. One embodiment of a method for mitigating layer-2 loops in a network includes detecting a loop between a first terminal in the network and a second terminal in the network, and deactivating at least one active home networking interface at the first terminal. |
| US08018868B2 |
Device and associated method for crosstalk estimation
The present invention relates to a crosstalk estimation device for estimating crosstalk between communication lines in a precoding group. The crosstalk estimation device comprises transmission means for transmitting a pilot sequence and reception means for receiving error feedback on one or more communication lines in the precoding group. The crosstalk estimation device further comprises crosstalk estimation means for combining the pilot sequence with the error feedback in order to obtain a crosstalk estimation between the communication lines. The device further comprises selection means for selecting a subset of one or more communication lines from the precoding group. The transmission means are adapted to transmit the pilot sequence only on the subset. |
| US08018866B1 |
Adaptively applying network acceleration services with an intermediate network device
In general, techniques are described for adaptively applying network acceleration services within an intermediate network device. In particular, the intermediate network device comprises a classifier module that receives network traffic and a servicing engine. The servicing engine applies the network acceleration services to the network traffic in accordance with a service configuration and monitors the application of network acceleration services to determine whether the application of each of the network acceleration services improves the efficiency with which the network traffic is serviced. The servicing engine then dynamically adapts the service configuration to alter the application of the network acceleration services based on the determination. Thereafter, the servicing engine applies the network acceleration services to the network traffic in accordance with the dynamically adapted service configuration to more efficiently service the network traffic. |
| US08018860B1 |
Network maintenance simulator with path re-route prediction
Re-routing interactions are predicted for a communications network including a plurality of network elements. A respective device state image is constructed for each of the plurality of network elements, with each of the device state images including a failover setting of a respective one of the network elements. The device state images are transmitted to a network simulator. The performance of the communications network is simulated in response to the device state images. A prospective network element failover of a predetermined one of the network elements is transmitted to the network simulator. A performance of the communications network is simulated in response to the device state images modified by the prospective network element failover. It is then detected whether an acceptable performance is maintained in view of the prospective network element failover in order to identify whether is will be permissible to perform a maintenance action on the network element which makes it unavailable to the network. |
| US08018859B2 |
Method and apparatus for asynchronous alarm correlation
A method and apparatus for providing asynchronous alarm correlation in packet networks are disclosed. For example, the method receives a trigger, and performs an asynchronous correlation of at least one root cause alarm with at least one symptom alarm. |
| US08018858B2 |
IMS reregistration method and system therefor
A method and system in which upon occurrence of a P-CSCF failure, a network sends an IMS reregistration request message to a UE. An S-CSCF or an AS monitors a P-CSCF to detect occurrence of a failure in the P-CSCF. Upon detecting the occurrence of a P-CSCF failure, the S-CSCF or the AS sends a request message for IMS reregistration to the UEs being served by the failed P-CSCF. In this manner, the UE can continuously receive the service even though a failure occurs in the P-CSCF. |
| US08018857B2 |
Method for supporting SDH/SONET oamp on ethernet
An Ethernet MAC OAMP Control sublayer is provided for supporting SDH/SONET OAMP standard functionality in Ethernet Networks. In accordance with one embodiment, an Ethernet MAC OAMP Control sublayer is provided for processing Ethernet MAC OAMP Control frames. The MAC OAMP Control sublayer provides support for a MAC OAMP Client to implement all of the SDH/SONET OAMP standard functionality. The MAC OAMP Control frame provides support for SDH/SONET OAMP on Ethernet networks. The Network Equipment can use the MAC OAMP Control frames to communicate with the downstream and upstream Network Equipment about various OAMP events, requests, performance parameters, communications channels, maintenance, and test functionality. |
| US08018856B2 |
Director device with visual display arrangement and methods thereof
A director device arrangement for performing a plurality of monitoring functions on data traffic traversing through a network is provided. The director device arrangement includes a power module, a processor module, a set of network ports, a set of switch modules, and at least one monitoring ports. The set of switch modules is configured to include at least a first switch module and a second switch module that interact with one another to perform the plurality of monitoring functions on the data traffic received. The at least one monitoring port is configured to receive at least one of the data traffic traversing through the network, whereas the data traffic is configured to traverse the director device arrangement between the set of network ports irrespective whether power is provided to the circuitry, the processor module, and the set of switch modules of the director device arrangement. |
| US08018855B2 |
Radio bearer specific CQI reporting
An improved mechanism for providing channel state feedback from a user equipment (UE) 800, to a base station 900 is provided, applying radio bearer specific channel state feedback reporting trigger criteria at the UE. In the UE it is initially determined (502) whether at least one channel state feedback reporting trigger criteria is valid or not, comprising the step of determining whether one or more channel state feedback reporting trigger is applied to one or more specific radio bearers. If this is the case, a channel state feedback report of a specified type is generated (510) and transmitted (511) to the base station. Such a mechanism provides for a more efficient control signaling of channel state feedback information between a base station and a UE. |
| US08018854B1 |
Facility and equipment testing for packet networks
A system and method for testing packet switch networks is provided. The method comprises establishing a first network path associated with a first device and a local device. The first network path includes at least a first router, a second router, and a data link layer switch. A first route and a second route along the first network path are established. The method further includes preventing any packets received from the first device via the first route from reaching the local device, allowing packets received via the second route to reach the local device, and directing packets sent by the local device to a test set using the second static route. |
| US08018853B2 |
Using RTCP statistics for media system control
Methods for using communication network statistics in the operation of a real-time communication system are disclosed. Embodiments of the invention may provide improved playback of real-time media streams by incorporating into the algorithms used for playback of the media stream network statistics typically calculated by some transport protocols.An additional aspect of the present invention may include machine-readable storage having stored thereon a computer program having a plurality of code sections executable by a machine for causing the machine to perform the foregoing. |
| US08018852B2 |
Equal-cost source-resolved routing system and method
A method and system for augmenting routing decisions in a network switching device with topology information acquired using source learning are disclosed. In the preferred embodiment, the method of selecting a port to transmit an outbound flow from a first node to a second node comprises the steps of identifying a plurality of ports associated with minimal equal-cost paths from the first node to the second node, and if an inbound flow from the second node is detected on a first port of the plurality of ports of the first node, then transmitting the outbound flow from the first port. In the absence of an inbound flow from the second node, the first node generally selects the port for the outbound flow from the plurality of minimal equal-cost paths. The present invention allows a switching device to take advantage of the path determination made at another router in the network while avoiding inconsistencies between conventional route selection operations and IP source learning in switching devices adapted to perform bridging on IP address. |
| US08018848B2 |
Survivable phone behavior using SIP signaling in a SIP network configuration
Provided are methods, devices, and systems for maintaining a SIP survivable User Agent. The present invention is adapted to allow the User Agent to detect the status of the network, thus providing the User Agent to perform failover/failback operations. The User Agent may be adapted to determine the status of the network based on its own monitoring mechanisms and/or based on messages received from other network components. |
| US08018846B2 |
Transport control method in wireless communication system
A transport control method in a transmitter of a wireless communication system, which includes a transport layer having a congestion control function of transmitting data in a segment basis and retransmitting a segment if an RTO timer expires before receipt of an ACK segment is received in response to transmission of the segment and a MAC layer for detecting receipt of an ACK segment through a wireless link and transporting the detected ACK segment to the transport layer, includes temporarily storing received ACK segments in the MAC layer; detecting an average transmission rate of data segments; and transporting the stored ACK segments to the transport layer at the average transmission rate. Accordingly, by controlling an upward transport rate of a received ACK message by referring to an RTO value of a TCP in a MAC layer, unnecessary retransmission can be prevented by a congestion control function. |
| US08018844B2 |
Reliable message transfer over an unreliable network
In a communications network having a plurality of nodes adapted to communicate with each other, and more than one path available between most source-destination node-pairs, a network interface is associated with each node. Each network interface has a plurality of route tables for defining a plurality of routes for transferring each packet from a source node to a destination node. Each network interface further includes a path status table of path status indicators, e.g., bits, for indicating whether each route in the route tables is usable or is unusable as being associated with a fault. The network manager monitors the network to identify faults and provides the path status indicators to the respective network interfaces. Failed routes in the network are avoided based on the path status indicators. When a failed route is restored, such that the route is usable again, the path status table indicates that the usable state is restored. A balance of route usage in the network is maintained, without modifying routes or establishing different routes, enabling reliable and high-performance message transfer. |
| US08018843B2 |
Faults propagation and protection for connection oriented data paths in packet networks
A communications network comprising components configured to implement a method comprising analyzing a path between a first end point and a second end point, and identifying a partial fault along the path is disclosed. Also disclosed is a method for communicating information within a network, the method comprising: defining a path traversing a plurality of nodes, receiving a fault report from an intermediate node, determining whether the fault report affects the path, and responsive to the determination that the fault report affects the path, transmitting the fault report to an upstream or downstream node in the path. |
| US08018842B2 |
Counter multi-failure system and common link terminal device used therein
Arrangements dealing with multiple link failures occurring in a communication network including a first ring and a second ring connected to the first ring by sharing part of a link in the first ring as a common link. Included is stored link failure information included in the failure detection frame, and where a controller configured to control the communication unit to stop transmission of at least one auxiliary monitor frame in the event of multiple failures including a failure on the common link, but to allow transmission under certain specific circumstances. |
| US08018841B2 |
Interworking an ethernet ring network and an ethernet network with traffic engineered trunks
Interworking an Ethernet Ring network with an Ethernet network with traffic engineered trunks (PBT network) enables traffic engineered trunks to be dual homed to the Ethernet ring network to enable for protection switching between active and backup trunk paths in the PBT network. In one embodiment, the active path will terminate at a first bridge node on the Ethernet ring network and the backup path will terminate at a second bridge node on the Ethernet ring network. Trunk state information is exchanged between the bridge nodes to enable the bridge nodes to determine which of the active and backup paths should be used to forward data on the trunk. Upon a change in trunk state, a flush message is transmitted on the Ethernet ring network to enable the nodes on the Ethernet ring network to relearn the path to the new responsible bridge node. |
| US08018840B2 |
Interference mitigation and adaptive routing in wireless ad-hoc packet-switched networks
Described are an apparatus and method for routing packets through a multiple-hop wireless communications network. Interference with packet switched communications carried by radio frequency (RF) over the multiple-hop wireless communications network is detected. In response to information related to the detected interference, a route is adaptively determined for transmitting packets through the multiple-hop wireless communications network that mitigates the effect of the interference on the packets. |